Life's Pretty Boring Here:

So I have been hearing from people that my blog has been slacking - well in my defense I have been fighting off a nasty cold that had me laying on the couch most nights under a blanket with a box of tissue handy!

The other reason is that things are pretty boring here. Not much to report. David has been our little parrot - repeating everything we say (or trying very hard). Right now we're working on having him say the word Thank-You. He's getting better using it on his own but he for the most part he just repeats it after we say it.

Hard to believe he'll be 1-1/2 a week from Saturday! I am also excited to say that his 12-18 month pants are a little short on him (especially when he sits down) although the 18-24 month pants are a little long - at least he's growing a little bit! We'll know for sure at his 18 month check up on February 11. Below are some recent pictures of the little guy!

Big Smiles!


Eating his snack and sitting on the wrong part of his chair...goofball!


His "do not disturb" face!

At the Playground...

Well the indoor playground. One of the Doc's Attending's mentioned this playhouse over on the other side of town and we decided to check it out today. It was a nice place - although from the looks of things the outdoor playground area has all the "fun" climbing stuff, swings and slides -but it won't open until April 1st. In any case David still seemed to have a good time exploring.

He liked to climb the stairs and when he would come down the stairs we'd say "one more" and he would say "one more" then say "AGAIN!" and run around to the other side to start over again!

The Halfway Point: 20 Weeks!

Today marks the halfway point! It's going by really fast. It's completely uneventful. I am sure that is because I have one already to keep me occupied. David's new favorite thing is to use the coffee table to climb up onto the couch. Fun times!

Here are some halfway point tidbits:

1. I am now big enough that people aren't afraid to ask me "Oh! Are you expecting?" - the Doc said that I should tell them No.

2. My three vices are Italian Hoagies, Reubens and Iced Coffee. Other than that I have been really good about eating better this time around. I WILL NOT gain 50lbs.

3. I am grateful that as of right now I can still sleep on my belly.

4. The Doc is grateful that I haven't had any major meltdowns although there is still plenty of time left for that to happen!

So there you have it. Halfway done and just looking forward to our very busy spring and of course moving back to Boston!

Some People Call Me the Space Cowboy:

Tonight the Doc told me that he won a $5 gift card to Dunks while at his Noon Conference. Often on Friday's they have a "question of the day" contest where they submit an answer to a clinical question. Since usually more than one person will get the right answer they add a pop culture bonus question (music, sports, TV, movie related).

Today's bonus question was four song lyrics. He was the only one to get all four correct, in fact he was the only one who got more than two correct. I asked him what they were and he read them off to me. Since he didn't have the option to use Google - I didn't either and I didn't get a single one. Not even the last one, to which he replied "Seriously, that's YOUR kind of music?!"

Below are the four song lyrics that won the Doc his prize:

1. Don't call it a comeback - I been here for years - LL Cool J - Mamma Said Knock You Out
2. In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey - Beck - Loser
3. Load up on guns - Bring your friends - Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
4. Oh Baby Baby, how was I supposed to know - Britney Spears - Baby One More Time

So yeah, the Doc knows the lyrics to Britney Spears songs better than me.

Fun with new Toys:

David got some really cool toys for Christmas and loves playing with them all. It's funny how short the attention span of a 17 month old is. He plays with each toy for about a minute before moving onto the next.






He also got some really cute outfits. My favorite was the Cape Cod Sweatshirts he got from his Great Aunt and Uncle!

It's ANOTHER Boy!

Today we had our big ultrasound and with a couple phone calls and some finagling of the Doc's schedule he was able to "run" the six blocks or so from his clinic to the hospital so he could be there for the big news.

The U/S tech began scanning and right away we saw a very healthy heartbeat (145bpm). We saw that he was facing down and I thought for sure I was going to leave without finding out. After about 20 minutes of measurements we took a break and the Doc suggested that maybe if I peed it would free up some space for the little bugger to move around.

I came back and jumped up and down a couple times (I figured - what the heck). She started the scan again and still he was in the wrong position. She had me lay on my left side to see if that would shift him around (which meant I couldn't see the screen anymore) when I heard the Doc say "Is that...oh..." I knew right away that it was a boy.

Today is 18.5 weeks (19 on Saturday) and everything looked great with the baby, we saw hands and legs and even got to see fingers and toes - something I didn't remember getting to see very clearly with David. Check out this really neat hand shot:



Things are going so well with this pregnancy that if it were not for the big GIANT belly I now have (as you see from the above shot) and the constant peeing I really wouldn't believe it! Now I just have to wait 20 or so more weeks (preferably not more than 20) to finally meet this little guy in person. We have chosen a name for the little guy and so let me introduce you to Shaun Scott - check out his first profile shot!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that Santa was good to everyone as he was to all of us. This year the Doc worked the Christmas break. Friday he started a 10pm to 10am shift on one of the general medicine wards and will finish Thursday at 8am. Then we'll make our trek to NH to celebrate Christmas again!

I got out of work at Noon yesterday and did some last minute shopping (and somehow I am still not done). I picked up the little guy at daycare and we came home to wake up Daddy! We decided to grab a bite to eat at the Super China Buffet...yummy! David enjoyed his Lo Mein but I think the Red Jello squares were his favorite. After we got him high on sugar we headed home where it was time to get ready for bed.

David's hair has gotten so long on the sides and front we decided we would give him his first haircut so after his bath we got him dressed in his Christmas PJ's and snipped away. Unfortunately he didn't sit still and so it was a little crooked in front. I was able to get it straight but now it's a little too short. He still looks cute - but I am glad we got his portraits taken before we butchered his hair. Next time I think we'll just take him somewhere!

Before the Haircut:


After the Haircut:


This morning David woke me up at 7am and we came downstairs and spent a quite morning playing with the new Hallmark snowman I bought for him. My supervisors wife watched him for us the other night and they told me he spent all night playing with the one they had so I couldn't resist when I was shopping the other day. The Doc was less than thrilled with me!

I made us some breakfast and then when the Doc came home we ate and then opened the presents that Santa had left for David. To get in the Christmas spirit I bought the Doc and I matching Santa hats and like a good sport the Doc obliged for a minute and I was able to capture this picture:


We had a nice relaxing day and David had a blast playing with all his toys.

Owen Benjamin has Arrived!

Congrats to Ben, Robyn and brand new big sister Maddie. Owen Benjamin was born yesterday 12/21/07 at 12:15pm weighing in at a teeny 7lbs 3oz.

Check out the new family pictures on their blog.

Happy Holidays!

Check out David's Christmas Portraits...to get him to smile we had to yell "Yeah" and then he would yell right back...that is why the second picture it looks like he's singing!

I am the walrus...goo goo g'joob!

15 Weeks & My Great Fall (again)*

I suppose it's time for my first baby update. Up until today I haven't really had anything to report. In fact, I have to keep reminding myself that I am preggo again. I suppose the growing belly helps but so far things have been pretty uneventful and with that said I really can't complain!

OK, back to my story, since I now have my first pregnancy tale to tell. This story basically stems down to the fact that pregnancy does a number on my ability to stay on two feet. That's right, I fell (again)*. I couldn't fall during my pregnancy with David and not fall during this one - I didn't want to play favorites!

Here's what happened: I got off the El at 15th & Market Street so that I could get my morning Dunkin Donuts. I walked down the stairs into the "underground" and walked past the lady handing out the Free Metro's when BAM...next thing I know I am on the ground. My right foot slipped out from under me on the wet tile (it had rained last night in Philly). I couldn't have been more embarrassed as I had no "phantom" piece of wood chip to blame this time.

Three very nice gentlemen stopped to help me up and as I gathered my things and what little was left of my ego I was on my way. Let me tell you, there is nothing like an Ice Cold Dunkin Donuts Coffee to help you bounce back! As soon as I got to work I called the Doc who said to me, "Smooth", real nice huh?! I couldn't even get one ounce of sympathy from him. Thankfully I work with mostly women who were very concerned for my well being! So there you have it...I guess it's just my thing now. I'll call it my pregnancy "trademark".

Our next appointment will be on the 21st and then hopefully we'll be able to schedule our big ultrasound the following week. Will we be able to use the wardrobe we've already accumulated for David or do I get to go shopping for a whole new one??!!! Guess we'll know for sure soon enough!

*click on the link for the story of my first fall

Thanksgiving Week 2007

A Weekend of Firsts

Last weekend we all went to D.C. for our very first college football game. I hadn't been to a game before - BU canned their football team the year after the Doc started. We went to see Colgate (Ben's alma mater) play Georgetown. I was pretty excited to see my first college football game because I love football. I envisioned a large stadium, lots of people in school colors out to show their school spirit, and a huge marching band.

The whole ride to Georgetown the Doc kept telling me that they were I-AA teams. I couldn't figure out why he was saying that over and over and then we arrived at the "stadium". I saw some people on what resembled a soccer field with cheap bleachers and some goal posts. I looked at the Doc and said "Is that it?" The Doc said (in a duh sort of tone) "It's I-AA...that's what I kept telling you". So I was expecting to be at a USC game or something...whatever.


Needless to say it was still fun (besides the cold $3 hot dogs) and the best part was that Colgate won! David had fun and cheered when they scored a touchdown.


That night we went to our first Korean restaurant. It was really good. It's an all you can eat buffet and the meat is cooked right at your table on a small grill. I even tried my very first piece of sushi! Ben told me that if I wanted to try it - this would be the perfect opportunity since it was part of the buffet price. It was surprisingly not fishy and it was definitely not as scary as I made it out to be. I actually stared at the piece of sushi trying to psych myself out for it.



It was a fun weekend and considering that Maddie and David went without naps for a good part of the weekend they were in pretty good spirits. We just have to start working on their sharing skills!

This is NOT my kid:

David loves to Swiffer. I do not love to Swiffer. I think there must have been a mix up at the hospital and my REAL son is somewhere right now sitting on his behind drinking a YooHoo and eating nachos.

Daddy's Boy

He is Daddy's boy alright. I am sure he'll be playing Halo by his second birthday!

Yeah the Pats RULE!!

David says TOUCHDOWN! What a great game!

Unhappy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Last year I borrowed a pumpkin costume and dressed up David and he cried and cried. He finally stopped long enough for me to take a cute picture of him:


This year he cried and cried and didn't stop! I never got around to buying candy this year so David and I just hung out. I had the costume so I figured I could at least get some cute pictures...Oh well! Thankfully the costume was given to me so it's not like my money was wasted!





After I took the costume off - he stopped crying immediately.

The Doc's Birthday Present:

Is going to be a little brother or sister for David! Yes we're nuts. We're knocked up again. Today was our first appointment and our first chance to see the little bean. The OB said that the baby is measuring perfect for our due date of: 5/31/08.

Of course the chances of having the baby on the Doc's birthday is about 4% (at least I think that is what I heard somewhere). Today we are 9 weeks and 2 days along which means only 215 days to go! Then three weeks later we move back to the home of the World Series Champions!



On a side note David is short but not stout as he is in the 18th percentile (29.8in) for height and 26th for weight (22lbs). Our Ped said that David is healthy and happy and right on schedule for his milestones...even though the Doc seems to think he is slow (you know because he isn't reading Marcel Proust yet). So that is our news and we're really excited!

After watching David with Cameron earlier this month I knew he would be OK. He was so cute with the new baby he patted his head and looked at me and smiled. He said "Oh"! Then he proceeded to gently bounce him in the chair. However, that could all change when the new baby doesn't leave at the end of the night!

Kitty!

David finally got the best of Trot today. He was able to sneak up and touch his nose before Trot bolted - he's such a wimp.


Here is another cute picture I took today of him playing with his building blocks.


Tomorrow we are going to David's 15 month check up - I know right in just 12 days he will be 15 months old. Crazy! It just means that we are that much closer to moving back to New England. I will post his stats tomorrow - but I am pretty sure you could say he's short and stout!

Stephie at the World Series...

My friend Stephie is at Fenway Park getting ready to watch game 2 of the World Series. Lucky!

Go Sox...I told the Doc I may have to divorce him so I can marry Josh Beckett!