Gettin' Ready for Richard's Visit

Raining Cats

Brian and I went to a movie tonight, leaving Gracie with her favorite babysitter. When we got home, she told us that baby got kitty good while we were gone! Kitty likes to sit in the window sill like the above photo whenever I open the window. Apparently Gracie snuck up on kitty and pulled her tail, sending her flying across the room to get away! Brave little kitty was back on the window sill moments after Gracie was put down for the night.

POV

We brought the van to our friends in Milwaukee to make a minor repair today. Gracie was a bit confused when her carseat was in the Saturn, but took advantage of the new point of view to waved to our friend behind us the entire trip to Daddy's work to drop off the car. She then had another adventure when we put the carseat back in the van-forward facing! She was very excited to share a Popsicle with our friend, who was in the front seat. Our adventures tired her out, and she has been sleeping for almost two hours!

Key! (Gracie's name for Kitty)

Tired of videos if Gracie and Kitty?
I just can't help it, that cat's patience is awesome.
She has bit Gracie twice-but to be fair, Gracie was flattening her!

So Big!

Gracie never ceases to amaze me. My sweet baby not only can get around the apartment so fast it's not even safe to go to the fridge without locking her up, but she is starting to ask for a diaper change! She used to holler at diaper time until she realized it was just diaper time. Daddy made up a "Diapy Time" song, to help her understand that it's just diaper time, not nap time when we lay her down for a change. The other day, she actually picked up a diaper and a wipe and handed them to Daddy for a change! Later, I said "Gracie, do you need a new diaper?" and instead of running, like normal she smiled and walked right to me for a change! She also has started to take her sippy cup out of our hands and drink on her own. She's fine, as long as it's full, otherwise she doesn't tip it high enough yet. I can't get over how grown up she is already!

Halfway Done!

Week 20- halfway done! I had another ultrasound today, and this time she was pretty certain of the gender-but we'll get to that. Once again, she couldn't see the chambers of the heart. I told her that makes me a bit concerned, as the doc has also been having trouble finding baby's heartbeat at checkups-we've only heard it once! She said not to be concerned, baby's just small still. I have yet another ultrasound schedule for six weeks from now. I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the ultrasounds, I've had five already! Granted, we did find out about Broster much earlier than we found out about Gracie. Anyway, I have a doctor appointment on the 26th, so we will see what she has to say about the whole thing. I haven't seen her since before my last ultrasound. Curious about gender? It's a girl! Now for a name. . .

BabyCenter's thoughts on Broster:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

19 Weeks

Broster has been kind to me this week. With the exception of a little heartburn, I've been feeling really well. It's been an exhausting week, but that is more due to a full schedule than the baby. Daddy and I are pretty sure Snuffy is starting to work on her first molars. She is constantly chewing or sucking in her finger, and is much whinier than normal. When I get out the bottle of teething tables, she gets excited and grabs at them before I can even get them open! Poor baby, I hope it goes quickly, and she gets a bunch popping out very soon!

BabyCenter's thoughts on Broster:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.