HDBD: 23 Weeks

*How far along?: 23 Weeks

*Total weight gain: 7lbs

*How big is baby?: The size of papaya!

*Sleep?: I'm sleeping, but it's good some nights and not so good other nights.  Overall I can't complain.

*Best moment this week?: Lillian taking her first step!

*Movement?: Yes! I can see my belly moving now.  And some nights he moves so much I can't get to sleep.

*Food cravings?:  chocolate.

*Labor signs?: Nope. Nada.  My back is getting sore though and my hips ache.

*Belly button in or out?: In, but definitely getting shallow.

*What I miss: Being able to stand up past 5pm without an aching back/hips

*What I'm looking forward to:  Hopefully another ultrasound soon!

Sarah

Latest Happenings

You know how they say when your baby is working on motor skills, the speech skills take a back seat, or vise versa?  Well, leave it to Lillian to NOT do things that way.

Lately her new skills are:

Point to her mouth, ears, hair, belly
Cruise around all the furniture including around corners and from one piece of furniture to another
Point in a book to a dog, car, shoes, fish, cat
Sign dog, more, eat, milk, please
Walk up to 22 steps holding onto both my hands
Take one step independently
Say mama and no (usually it's just Ma, but she's starting to actually add the second syllable)

So clearly she's had a boost in her motor and speech.  She's already 18 months old *tear* so I know this isn't amazing to most people, but it's major major progress for us.  I'm very happy for her and really hope that we don't hit any plateaus while we're on this milestone kick.

Sarah

I SURRENDER!

Do you hear that?  Huh?  I SURRENDER.  To whoever it is that decided they wanted to attack my email account and my facebook account simultaneously and change the passwords so I couldn't access them, I surrender.  You win.  I'm official throwing my hands up and saying I'M DONE.  

To the one who shall remain nameless who has been terrorizing my family since Christmas... I surrender to you too.  You win.  You win the biggest asshole award.  Congratulations.  You may join the facebook/email stealer jerk in the group of  "Mean people that are trying to bring the world down one measly person at a time."

To the person at Office Depot that claimed they rid my computer of all viruses in two hours and then charged me the amount of money it takes to feed my family in two weeks, only to have the same virus pop up 3 days later and then my email and facebook hacked into...  I surrender to you - join the other two.  You all win. In fact, you're all the next Charlie Sheen.  You're all  #WINNING hard core.  Pat yourselves on the back.

To the ones who didn't win, but earn an honorable mention for trying:

All I wanted was to find a Grape/Cranberry Juice. JUST Grape and Cranberry.  Every "Grape Cranberry" juice I found in the store - including organic and natural juice brands had this fine print...  "Blended with another juice." You will not win this.  My cravings are bigger than you.  Even if I have to buy simple grape juice and simple cranberry juice and mix them together to get what I want, you still don't win.  And yes, I will be drinking it in a wine glass because when you're pregnant, even ice water tastes better in a wine glass. 

Screw you Electrolux Ergorapido Ulta.  You do not suck adequately.  If it weren't for the fact that you were a Christmas gift from my Mother-In-Law, I would throw you in the trash. My floors deserve better and my nesting instincts will win this battle.  I'm sick of courting you only to find that the low maintenance broom and dustpan cleans my kitchen floor better.

To the Keurig I once loved.  We had such a great relationship.  You were prompt and cheery and giving for over a year.  But then you stopped brewing a full cup of coffee.  In fact now you don't brew anything at all.  Don't think I'm letting you off that easy, you're in this relationship for the long haul.  We can patch this up I'm sure.  XOXOXO

Sarah

HDBD: 22 Weeks

*How far along?: 22 Weeks

*Total weight gain: 7lbs
*How big is baby?:  The size of spaghetti squash!

*Maternity clothes?:  Yes, but surprisingly I can still wear my low rise jeans just fine.

*Sleep?:  I'm sleeping fine but daylight savings time sucks.
*Best moment this week?: Lillian learning to sign milk. 
*Movement?: He's really active at night and any time I eat.  Also any time I lean forward... apparently he's not a fan of being smashed.
*Food cravings?:  Carbs.
*Labor signs?: Nope. Nada.

*Belly button in or out?: In, but definitely getting shallow.

*What I miss: wine
*What I'm looking forward to:  Getting Lillian's new crib put together and starting the new bedroom.

Sarah

I Saw the Sign

We've been working with Lillian for at least a year with sign language.  We've always signed "more" "all done" "milk" "eat" and just started adding things like "dog" "frog" "cat" "play" etc.  She's imitated some signs here and there, but never instigated them on her own in a way that we knew she was communicating... until today!

Today we had a break through! While waiting for our lunch to arrive at a local restaurant, Lillian signed "eat" and I told her, yes we are going to eat (this is still pretty new and usually she only does it when prompted).  Then I offered her a drink of my water so she could at least have something to drink while we were waiting.  She shook her head no at me and then SHE SIGNED MILK!  I couldn't believe she actually asked for something specifically!  I'm so proud of her first of all that she knew how to ask for milk, and second of all that she was willing to communicate with us rather than just whine or throw a fit. 

Lately I've been doing my best to ignore her whine and ask her what she wants. Then I go through a list of common things she wants and try to sign the ones I know.  It's SO nice to finally communicate with her, even if it's over something so basic.

Lately I've been talking with my therapist about how difficult it is to feel like I keep trying and trying and trying to teach her basic skills to keep up with her milestones, and it's been such a slow and tedious process.  She swore to me once Lillian started communicating more it would become easier on me and more rewarding.  She couldn't be more right.  The big giant teethy grins she's started giving us and the kisses and waving hello has been great.  Each new way she communicates makes us feel like we're getting love back from her and it gives us the drive to keep going and keep trying to teach her.  It really feels great.

You knew this was coming, right? :)