First (real) dentist visit

Chase went to the dentist this week for his first dental exam and cleaning.  The dental hygienist and the dentist both did a great job with him, first explaining what each tool was for (which my little engineer was very interested in. of course).

This took the mystery out of their purpose so he was very willing (although still his usual cautious little self) to let her use each instrument in his mouth.

The only thing he was not ok with was sitting in the big chair that tilted back.  Ever the super-cautious child, he is very smart in knowing when he is not in control of something.  That chair that the lady tilted back was not in his control and he didn't like it one bit.  He felt more in control of his Mama's lap.  So that's where he sat during the exam part.

He looks so grown up.  :(

Trouble

I know I post (and talk) a lot about how great Chase is and all the wonderful things he's doing.  But I like to also keep it real.  And keeping it real involves also sharing the moments where Chase does things that aren't so wonderful.  Like pushing other kids.

Here's a note that was written to us from his teachers last week.  Not that pushing other kids is a laughing matter.  But I did laugh (not in front of the teachers of course) a little.  Of course we talked to Chase about how this is not okay.  He understands and this is normally not a problem.

While keeping it real I would like to add that it's the first note he's gotten (or conversation we've had with the teachers) since he's been in 'school' for the last 10 months.  So he's still pretty great, I think.  :)

There's a monster in my bed

We went ahead and picked up this cute dragon costume when we saw it a few weeks ago, confident (even though he wasn't with us at the time) that he'd love it.  We were correct.  He loves it so much that he insisted on wearing it to bed last night.

Matt thought I'd lost my mind to allow this but I thought 'why not?'

Life's too short not to be able to sleep in your Halloween costume, right?  :)

23 weeks

My sister requested that I send her a belly picture this past weekend so Matt assisted with that:

23 weeks, here we are!  It's not really going as quickly as I'd hoped but I still don't think I'm in any position to complain.  I'm feeling bigger but overall pretty good.

According to babycenter.com, our little guy is currently measuring about 11 inches and weighing in a little over a pound.  Basically about the equivalent of a mango.

this is just some random woman holding a mango, by the way.

Feeling crafty

With the discovery of pinterest I have realized that maybe I don't hate 'crafts' as much as I thought.  I'm not very creative at ALL but I have discovered that I can just 'borrow' other people's ideas.  Sometimes I even get crazy and change them a little bit.  Maybe I'm more creative than I thought.

I've been collecting things for my various projects over the last few months.  I absolutely love yard sales and thrift shops.  It's one of my guilty pleasures.  That and coupons.  Oh and food network.

I found this silver tray for 50 cents at a yard sale recently.  I've discovered that in addition to yard sales, thrift shops, coupons and food network, I also have a love for chalkboard paint.  I'm always trying to find things I can use my chalkboard paint on in our house.  I think Matt's a little nervous.  In fact, I know he's nervous.

But this project turned out ok, right?  I painted the tray, cut some ribbon and then hot glued the ribbon to the back.

Watch out, Matt...I'm just getting started.  :)

Sick boy

This past Tues. I dropped Chase off at daycare and he ran off to play with his friends with a smile on his face, ready to start the day.

About 3 hours later, I got a call from his teacher saying that he had a fever.  His temperature was 102 and he hadn't eaten any of his lunch.  So I ran in to tell my boss that I wouldn't be able to make my afternoon meeting and headed out to pick up my little boy.  When I got to school he was fast asleep on the child-size couch, asleep with sand in his shoes, on his back, out like a light.  I scooped him up and when he opened his sleeply little eyes and said, "Mommy?  I don't feel so good" I about cried.

So we went home and spent the afternoon reading books, cuddling and this sick little boy slept and slept.

I enjoyed all the cuddles but I did not enjoy seeing my usually energetic child laying with head on the couch, not feeling good.  Breaks a Mama's heart.

Luckily, he recovered almost as quickly as he got sick.  In fact, I think he's even started figuring out how to work us by saying he doesn't feel good.  He got to sleep with us an extra night (don't judge), got to go to Bebe's an extra night and would've stayed home another day with Matt or me if we'd been able to skip the day of work.  That didn't happen so today was his first day back at 'school'.

 

Here he is with his new BFF, Jacob.  Complete with his T-ball medal that he got a few weeks ago.  Man I love that kid.  :)

Can I bam on it?

Yesterday afternoon after Chase and I got home (me- work, Chase- Bebe's), he inspected the less-cluttered dining room and more cluttered garage (we're having a yard sale in a couple of weeks).  Chase spent a few days with Bebe and Pop's and Matt and I cleaned the garage, priced yard sale items and moved them all into the now-cluttered, full-of-yardsale-junk garage.  When I drove into the garage, I immediately got nervous about all the things Chase would demand to take out of the yardsale piles and bring back into our house.  He did as I expected but I laid down the law.  I only let him bring in one old toy that he insisted he needed (even though he hasn't touched it in 2 years).

When we went inside, he spotted these 2 shining buckets that were sitting in the dining room- I like them but have no idea where I want them stored/used (anyone have any suggestions?).  He decided they should be used for drums.

He asked for some spoons so he could 'bam on them'.

This 'music' he was making was probably the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life.  I think my ears might still be ringing from it, actually.

But he had a blast and especially enjoyed my exaggerated squeals from the loud noise.

I expected baby boy #2 to be kicking and thrashing from the loud noise.  Maybe all that cheese dip and Mexican food I ate for lunch kept him well insulated.  :)

At any rate, it was an (loud) afternoon that I want to remember.

Just funny

Chase makes me laugh so much these days.  Check out the look he had going on yesterday before school:

He is so fully of personality and loves to pretend.  He also loves to put random hats on (or even buckets that he pretends to be police hats).  It makes me laugh to think back to when he was younger.  I would try to put hats on him or sunglasses and he absolutely hated it.  Not anymore.  :)

My boys

We had our 18- week ultrasound yesterday and got the exciting news that IT'S A BOY!  We're having another boy!  I'm excited about the sweet simplicity of little boys but of course a little sad that there are no ribbons, bows or pretty little monogrammed dresses in our immediate future.  But, you know what makes me especially excited?  Another one of these:

I'm excited about the fun energy that little boys bring into your life.

And the sweet little things they say.  Like the way he told me he liked my scarf yesterday (otherwise known as my skirt).  He felt it, looked at me and said, "Mommy, I like your scarf.  It's preeetty".

 

I'm excited about more sporting events and father-son bonding moments like this:

And I'm pretty excited about the mother-son bonding moments like this:

At the UNC hospital waiting room, waiting for our ultrasound.

Besides.  Don't they say that little boys sure do love their mamas?  :)

17 weeks

I haven't posted much  about this pregnancy since announcing our big news.  However, when one of my friends requested a baby bump picture I thought that maybe I should also add it to the blog.  Even if no one else is interested in seeing me look like I ate too much, it's a good way to document this journey.

 

It's hard to believe we're already at 17 weeks.  And it's even harder to believe that we get to find out the gender of the baby next week!  Matt and I are so excited to find out about that.

Other things for the sake of 'documenting' and remembering this 2nd pregnancy: I'm feeling much better than I was all throughout the first trimester, thank God.  Still pretty tired but not feeling as sick as I was.  My back is starting to hurt sometimes if I overdo it.  It's different than when I pregnant with Chase.  With that pregnancy, my back hurt throughout the whole pregnancy but it hurt more to sit for long periods of time.  With this one, if I stand for too long it starts hurting and only feels better when I sit or lay down.

Chase is really funny about the baby, too.  Anytime we talk about the baby in my tummy he says that he has a tiny baby is HIS tummy.  And it's always a tiny baby that he talks about.  never just a baby.  Yesterday morning he announced to Matt and I that he was going downstairs to fix breakfast.  He rubbed his stomach to demonstrate and said, "My tiny baby's hungry."  I laughed and asked if he needed my help.