Lily's first sled ride. Not much snow left on the ground, but we found a patch big enough to ride. She had a BLAST and kept asking to go again and again. It was a nice gift for Thanksgiving.

Mark and Lily have some music time in the mornings and this morning, Lily was a little tired. Mark looked away fro a few moments and came back to find her passed out, moracas in hand.

back when I was sane...

This pregnancy isn’t really shaping up to be anything like Lily’s. Physically I’m hitting the same milestones at about the same time, but emotionally it’s so different. I am angry a lot of the time; frustrated; over tired; just not a nice person. I’m mad at my husband, for NO reason… or at least, for invented ones. I feel emotionally unhinged, like I don’t know what overwhelming feeling will chose to pour out of me at any given moment; letting laughter turn into tears or a burst of unreasonable anger. It’s NUTS! I know it’s hormonal and I need to just slow down and give myself space to live in it, but it’s exhausting. I actually asked him last night if he was planning to leave this insane wife of his. I said, “No wonder men leave their wives when pregnant.” And he replied with, “yep” and a great round of laughter and hugs, snuggling up to me as I sobbed and laughed all at the same time. Mark says it must be a boy to be giving me so much trouble!

There are a ton of environmental changes for me this time around: I’m working full time, nursing a toddler, living in a new home (that has it’s issues), Mark is at home full time but still trying to take gigs and carpentry jobs here and there, etc, etc. These items alone (and not the gender of our baby) could be providing the emotional challenges I’m experiencing. To be fair, I do know that I could be a LOT more insane than I feel right now. The actual outbursts are few and far between and mostly aimed at my poor husband, meaning I’m able to keep my sanity in polite company. I never had to deal with any serious depression or emotional instability post Lily’s birth, so maybe this is my “payback.” OR, maybe Mark is right and this, my dear, is a boy growing inside me. Only 26 weeks before we find out!

fat pants

We're doing well... too busy, which isn't really a new thing. Lily is on the verge of talking, babbling like crazy and experimenting with her voice all the time. She likes to screech and then smile all big at you. I just screech back at her! My belly is starting to grow and only my "fat pants" fit now. Will try to post a photo soon. Am having a blast pulling out my old maternity clothes and enjoying checking out the stuff friends have passed on. Can't wear it all just yet. Feeling fat. ;)

I have no idea how to help Lily understand about this new baby. She's so young. She can understand when we ask her to do simple things: "Lily, pick up the toy and put it away" or "Put your hat on". But how do you explain the concept of a new child? How do you tell her a baby brother or sister is growing in Mamas tummy and will come to live with is next year? Matt and I are about 22 months apart, so I should ask my mom how she handled it.

Then there's the big question about tandem nursing. Lil is still happy to nurse and I feel she is too young to wean. I know my supply is dropping but so far no major complaints from the girly. When I come home from work she'll run to our chair and bang on it, waiting for me to come scoop her up and cuddle in. I love the reconnect. She is having some latch issues when she switches from one side to the other; I don't know if she being sloppy or what. Other than that, we're doing fine with nursing and I don't see her stopping any time soon so I guess that answers my tandem question! We'll figure it out as we go.

Anyway, that's the latest. I'll ask Mark to take a photo of the ever expanding belly soon and get it online. Cheers!