California!

Kai's finally taking a decent nap so I will just blog for a second. We're into our 3rd day here and all is well. We went to Disneyland this morning and took Kai on a bunch of rides, although, he seemed to like riding the horsie (Carousel) the best.

(Kai and the boy cousins watching Diego on the plane)

All 16 Chapmans at Chapman University
I will blog more later...Kai just got up and I think we are heading back to see the parade

Week 13

Just thought I would throw this picture in before we go. I'm really trying to savour every bit of this pregnancy and each stage as it could be our last one and I'm just excited to actually be at this point. I'm also trying to ensure that we get just as many pics of #2 as we did of Kai:) Finally, I did not take a lot of pregnancy pictures last time and I would rather take too many, than not enough.

Our ultrasound is August 15th and I'm so excited to find out if there is/are one or two babies in there AND we are also finding out the sex of our baby too. Last time, we found out and it really helped me to bond with our baby boy before he was born. Also, I was able to tell my mom that there would finally be a boy in our family and what his name would be. I really need a lot of time/preparation to adapt to change so I'm very thankful that this is an option for us. I'm pretty certain that this one is a girl for 3 reasons (the first two are sort of myths but still, a reason):

a. the baby's heartbeat was 155bpm...if higher than 140 bpm it's often said that it is a girl (Kai's was always lower than 140)

b. I feel completely different this time. Way less nausea and way more tired.

c. Generally, when people have a harder time conceiving, they have a girl. Why? The sperm carrying the X chromosome are larger and stronger and therefore can withstand more difficult environments. It does depend on when the child was conceived (generally, closer to ovulation=boy because conditions are perfect for the smaller, faster Y sperm) but overall, if it has been more difficult, a girl is the result!

After having a boy, I would love another because I `get' them and the idea of a teenage girl that is anything like I was, freaks me out. Practically speaking, I have all the boy clothes ready to go. Although, girl clothes are awfully cute!!!! Whatever happens, we are just praying for a healthy baby that will stay nice and comfy in my uterus as long as it needs:)

23 Months Old

Wow, I can't believe he will be 2 in just one month. I'll have to figure out if we are going to have a party or something. I would say it is extremely easy (at this point) to have just one kid, especially at his age. I'm nervous about what's to come with a newborn in the house and a full year of being exhausted again but this post is about Kai so I won't even go there:)

(eating his fav. food of the month; watermelon. I may have shaved off a bit too much of his hair but it will grow back:))

There haven't been many changes over this month except that his vocab continues to grow and his sentences are getting longer and longer. He loves to run and climb and we've realized we need to make sure that we tire him out each day with a lot of exercise, otherwise, he gets a bit too wild (hitting, throwing etc). Gary even ran with him all the way to Extra Foods this month...not with a stroller, Kai actually ran there! They did take a break to watch the diggers but still, I always put him in a stroller so he def. has some endurance now.

This is his `I wanna go to Extra Poods' face. He can turn this off quite quickly. He loves going for our daily walks and it sure was nice to go outside while it was drizzling!!!! Woohoo!! Yesterday when I went to get him from his nap, he was singing and I wasn't quite sure what it was. When I opened the door, he exclaimed that he was singing happy birthday to his puppy. So cute:)

Hanging out on daddy's shoulders, def. a fav. mode of transportation. I'm finding it difficult to carry him already, it feels like I'm pulling and stretching stuff so I try not to. I prob. won't blog again until we get back from Disneyland, although, we are bringing our laptop along so maybe I will update there. I don't like posting that we are gone but don't fret, we have someone staying at our house so I feel okay about it. I'm a little worried about the heat there and the fact that we have to get up at 3:30am to leave! Regardless, I'm just excited for Kai to have a fun time hanging out with his gramma, grandpa, aunties, uncles and cousins for a week straight.

Backyard Fun in the Sun

Sweating away in his bed. He seriously takes all of these things to bed with him and they all have names too. I don't know if you can see the yellow ball with the green markers on it, it's a Hep C Virus:) After his nap, we head out to Maria's house to hang out for the afternoon and for dinner as both of our husbands are out for the day...

Ani and Kai in the pool. Kai wanted to go nakie but Ani wouldn't let him in the pool that way:) I won't mention the exact comment she made...

Bbelle and Bailey

Ani eating dessert

Kai ecstatic that Bailey was playing fetch with him

My dad (Opie to the kids) came for dinner too

Kai loving his first popsicle. I was going to keep his hair long to prevent burning on his neck etc but I think it just makes him too sweaty so tomorrow could be a haircut day.

B-belle and Opie

Sweatfest

Wow. So hot. I have nothing to blog about except the fact that besides church, we have been hiding out in our house. Kai loves playing outside with the water hose and baby pool but its just too hot to be out there with him. Gary is heading out Go Karting with the brother in laws this afternooon and I will be taking Kai to Ani's house to play in their backyard. I will get pictures there and post them:)

I am officially out of my regular pants/shorts/skirts. This has happened way too fast. I believe I wore my normal jeans until about 5 months pregnant last time. I just went to Thyme Maternity and got a pair of shorts on sale ($19). The only other maternity summer stuff I have are skirts and capris. I'm nervous about the heat in Disneyland and hope that there is a lot of shade there! I have been waking up (from terrible dreams every night...getting in car accidents, students dying etc) feeling very dehydrated. I know I should drink more water, I just don't really enjoy drinking water and my new water bottle is a twist off top with a wider mouth which is just not conducive to frequent drinking!

I had bought a waffle maker (just like last time, craving the waffles!) and we made 2 waffles yesterday and then it just stopped. Grrrrrrr...we'll have to find a better one.

Well, better have a nap before Gary leaves...I will post pictures later.

BBQ

Yesterday, for our first day of summer holidays, we went to the Voses for a bbq. It was relaxing and Kai loved running around their backyard. The food was great and so was the company:)
Here the kids are full out into the bubbles

Kai and Matthew. Kai kept asking Maffew for some bawter so Maffew gave it to him:) He sprayed him from head down but that was fine because then Kai could run around nakie for a bit.

All three of us pregnant...I was a couple months behind Torie last time and we repeated it this time around too. So, from left to right, me (3 months), Melissa (7.5 months), Torie (5 months).

Today I have spent most of the day in bed. I feel quite sick and am unable to eat anything. I wish I could just sleep for 24 hours straight. I hope that this is short lived and that I will be fine for Disneyland. Gary has been very helpful and I'm so glad he's home for the next 2 months!!! Kai has been unusually grumpy/crying in the past couple days...maybe he had too much fun at gramma's house or he's just missing playing with all the day care kids. We were supposed to go camping today but my sister was unable to secure a spot. That's okay, we've got lots of time to go. Well, I think I'll head back to bed. Have a good long weekend everyone!

No Way Jose

Me: Kai, can I sleep with your teddy bear?

Kai: No way, Jose!

The other day, Kai was with us at school. He picked up a protractor and said with excitement, `Letter D!'. Funny kid, it does look like a `D'.

This video is for kai's aunties...it's just him counting to 10:)

He is soooooo sweet. I love that kiddo. His bubbi (blanket that he's used for over a year and can't sleep without) was cut in half a while back. Fortunately we did that because we have lost one! I'm a little nervous about it as we are down to one now and am thinking we'll have to cut this one in half. I know he would be able to live without it, eventually, but it provides him with so much happiness and security so I love that he has it. We've searched our house from top to bottom and we never let it leave the car unless he is at someone's house for daycare....hopefully it turns up!

(11 week picture)

Today I had a doctor's appointment that I've actually been really nervous for. I know that everything feels like its going well, but you just never know. The doctor first found the placenta and then he found the baby's heartbeat...a strong 155bpm. Upon palpating my uterus he let me know that it is quite a bit larger than it should be at this point. I know I am only 12 weeks along as I have been charting. This could possibly mean twins but I guess we will find out mid August during our ultrasound. I know I'm probably growing a big baby but my uterus shouldn't feel that big at this point because I'm thinking all babies are about the same size at this time. I guess our decision on whether to have 2 or 3 kids would then be solved for us:)

(Gary with one of our first strawberries from our plant...he said I missed out, it was apparently fabulous)

Gary and I have our last school event tonight; the graduation evening. I went to the store and bought a ton of candy's and almonds to last me through the ceremony (5-7pm) as I will be absolutely famished.

This is the non maternity dress that I bought for my sisters weddings this summer and I'm wearing it to grad too. I think it should contain my belly for the weddings.

Well, gramma should be here in a minute to pick up Kai so we better go!

Unsolicited thanks

Kai: Mommy?
Me: Yes Kai?
Kai: Thank you applesauce. Thank you backpack.

I had bought him his first backpack in the morning and had given him applesauce as a snack about an hour before the conversation. Usually after we give him something, we have to say `What do you say?' but it looks like he's learning:) He is a funny guy. He'll climb into his bed and throw all his teddy bears out saying `Make room for Kai!'. He also took Mr. Potato Head's arms to bed last night. Just the arms. He loves being outside more than anything and often, he'll look at me and say, `Running?' and then he'll just take off as fast as his legs will go. That kid loves to run. Cross country runner? Hmmmmm. He's very good now at counting any object up to 10. He is afraid of flies because he thinks they are bees. He loves bigger kids, he thinks they are so fun to watch. I love that kid.

I just finished reading my 3rd book since last week:) Whenever I get towards the end of a good book, I can't stop reading but I don't want it to ever end. The book I just finished was `The Other Side of The Bridge'. I liked it because it followed several families over half a century and each chapter it would rotate between the 40's and the 60's. I love reading.

Hike Numero Uno

His `Cheese!' face

Watching soccer

Today Gary and I went on a short hike. We dropped Kai off at gramma's house (with all the cousins there too!) and then we head out to Cultus Lake. We did a short-ish hike called `Teapot Hill' but I think it was more than a hill. It was about 1.5 hours and my heart rate went up pretty fast:) Afterwards, we had a picnic lunch at the beach and then went to the mall to buy myself some nice new earrings. I had a pair of small, white gold hoops with diamonds that Gary bought me for Christmas 2007 and I lost them in Mexico. They were the nicest earrings I have ever had and I just though that if I lost them, then I didn't deserve new ones. Well, after 1/2 a year, I changed my mind. I finally decided I would really like another pair of earrings that I can just wear all the time without having to take them out each night, so I splurged. We also got Purdy's Chocolate ice cream bars...yum yum! Great morning with just Gary and I, we need to do that more often. Kai was def. NOT ready to leave gramma's as he was having way too much fun. I'm glad he loves it there so much!

Uh, this waist strap doesn't go where it is supposed to!

Gary being nerdy and identifying trees and foliage

The first look out (that's Cultus Lake down there)

Terrible shot at the top...trying to get us and the lake way down there:)

Video of Kai `I gonna go hiking'

Gary made the best dinner ever...mashed potatoes with bbq chicken covered in cheese, bacon and guacamole:).

One more week

Just a few random pictures as nothing has really happened this week...

Kai hanging out with his girl Chapman cousins at Aldergrove Lake. He loved the lake and he loves his cousins.

Kai started limping yesterday and I don't think its from a fall so we are keeping an eye on him. I've heard of a viral infection that can cause a swollen hip joint so I'm just making sure that he doesn't get a fever etc. It hasn't gotten worse and he hasn't complained about it, it just seems strange to appear all of a sudden.

This is Kai's Diego watching face. I am very relieved to have a 20 minute break in the morning and in the evening each day. He is finally into tv! I know I shouldn't celebrate this but Diego is educational, I've learned a lot about things like spectacled bears and whale sharks:)

Next Thursday is officially our last day of work as we celebrate in the graduation evening. I'm looking forward to this summer and hope that we use our time wisely. We have 5 weddings, a week at Disneyland, a few days at Green Lake and I'm really hoping for a camping trip too. We haven't been taking any pictures or videos as nothing has really happened this week...just went to work each day.

I've been feeling `evening sickness' every day from 3pm onwards which sucks because Gary always makes amazing dinners and I can't eat them. I eat large meals in the morning to compensate:) I hope this passes because Gary's creative juices really get going in the summer with lots of time to look at recipe books and plan elaborate meals:) We are planning on doing a hike on Saturday but don't really know which one to do. It has to be a day hike and not ridiculously hard as I'm already a little shorter on breath and Gary still has his chest injury. Any suggestions? It will be sans Kai.

Here's a video of Kai's favourite song `Take Me Out to the Ball Game'.