My Smart Boy! (yes, I'm bragging)

London and I just returned from a week in Pennsylvania and had a great time. (I will post about that soon). He will be 22 months Aug. 5th and has gone through so many changes over the past few weeks. He is saying all kinds of things and I'm sure well over 200 words. He still pronounces stuff a little funny and I often have to translate some stuff for other people. But, he is getting so good at telling me what he wants and is working on saying please and thank you. He is also such a big helper. He throw away his wrappers after he eats a snack, washes and dries his hands, and likes to sweep and pick up toys. Today he walked down the stairs all by himself (holding onto the rail of course) and was so proud! He kept smiling and said, "I did by self." He is also very good at building intricate train tracks and buildings with his blocks. He loves to look through books and can name lots of objects and colors. He is also working on counting to 10. Right now he can count to 3 but needs help to keep going. London loves to be outside and we have been enjoying the pool. He is trying new foods and oddly prefers fruits and veggies over sweet snacks. I have been enjoying my summer so much with him! It is amazing to be with him all day and watch him learn and grow. I am going to miss him so much when I go back to work but after only 10 weeks, I'll be back him for 3 months on maternity leave :-) For now, I'm going to enjoy him and relax as I grow another little miracle.

London's First Parade: 4th of July

We took London to his first parade on the 4th of July. The parade was downtown and was sponsored by Shriners. We knew London would be super psyched to see the tiny cars. It was ungodly hot as we walked around the city searching for some AC and food. Most of the restaurants were closed with the exception of some super pricey steakhouses...no thanks. We finally found a little mart that served pizza, had AC, and a bathroom for this suffering preggo! We ate, cooled down, and then headed back out to hell for the parade. We settled on the curb and got ready for the parade. London was so cute. He was cheering and oohing and aahing at regular cars as they drove by. When the parade started, London was mesmerized...he was clapping, cheering, and so excited about the cars, horses, trucks, buses, and clowns. He got a handshake from a clown, a giant squirrel and the only thing that scared him was a confetti-shooting clown. He was pissed that he made a mess on the street and was trying to get the shriner guy next to us to clean it up...haha. We definitely plan on bringing him again next year, and by then we'll also have an 8 month old...new family tradition :-)

"Help Mama"...."Help Daddy"

London's new favorite thing to do is "help." He loves to put laundry in the washing machine and is obsessed with helping daddy with anything that has to do with putting something together or working outside. He likes to follow Kary around with his toy tools and "help." It is adorable! Kary bought a weed whacker and blower today and London wanted to help carry it in, put it together, and read the instructions. Here he is helping daddy get started...

London Update

London is growing and changing so much each day and I am so excited to be able to witness it all! I have been with my little man 24 hours a day for about a month now and I love it! We have had some issues after the surgery but things are starting to get back to normal. London typically becomes very scared of baths (due to pain on tender area) and has an extreme fear of sleeping alone after surgery. It has happened all 3 times and it takes some time and patience to get him back comfortable. We hit the 2 week post-surgery Friday and London was cleared to go back to the pool and he is back to splashing and enjoying bubble baths with no pain. We took him to get the catheter removed on Friday. Dr. Perez was in surgery all day and since Friday is Kary's only day off, we went in and had his assistant remove it. She was very sweet and felt so bad when London was hysterical. Kary had to hold him down while I attempted to calm him down with kisses and conversation about cars. It didn't work, poor guy screamed through the snipping of the stitches. We knew that the surgery probably wasn't 100% successful because we could see the results, but the asst confirmed that some of it did not work :-( He still has urine leaking out the bottom. This is frustrating to us because we hate him going through these surgeries and we are just ready for him to be done! We go back to see Dr. Perez in about 2 weeks and will find out more. If it doesn't affect his pee stream too bad, we may wait a few years until he can be more aware to take it easy and his constipation issues will be resolved. We think a lot of the pushing contributed to some of the stitches not holding. As long as potty training is not compromised too much, we will wait a bit and give him, and us!, a bit of a break from surgeries. London has been such a big helper and loves to help with laundry and cleaning up his toys. He is talking so much and repeating everything. He is becoming a bit addicted to mama having me around so much so I am trying to help him gain a bit more independence. He is eating so much better lately and loves playing outside and in the pool. He dunks his face in the water, splashes and squeals the whole time, sometimes probably annoying the "partier" crowd....but he could care less...we cleared out a whole adult party the other night with our wild toddler in the pool...it may have been just a coincidence but it was pretty funny. London will be 21 months in just a few days and he is definitely a little boy now. He cracks me up every day and is a perfect combo of Kary and I. I am enjoying every moment I have with him.

20 Weeks: Halfway There!!

Yesterday I started my 21st week and now I am over the hump and a little over halfway there. This is both exciting and a bit unnerving. At this point with London's pregnancy, we had so much planned and prepared. We have done nothing so far to prepare for this little one, besides me working on my maternity leave funds. Luckily, we have almost everything we need for baby girl and the items we do need are little things like pacifiers, bottle nipples, etc. But, I am hoping to get a new breast pump and monitor too and those will be a bit pricey...yikes.. We have decided to give the new baby London's crib and give London a whole new room including a new bed and dresser. That may also get pricey and no shower this time :-( The baby has been so active and she is most rambunctious at night when I finally relax on the couch. Kary can feel her kicking like crazy and this is even sooner than he was able to feel London. It helps to make him feel more connected. I have been feeling pretty good despite the intense heat. I sometimes forget I'm pregnant but my ever-growing belly is starting to be a constant reminder. I have gained 9lbs so far and am really trying to keep things in check this time. I gained 40lbs with London and it took 6 months to get back to my original weight and I have never really gotten the squishy parts firm yet. Kary and I got a free treadmill from one of his clients a few weeks ago and this week I have really taken charge and am working out every day. I do a fast-paced walk with a 3 minute jog and then do some squats, and lots of arm exercises. It is a little over 20 min of working out a day and since I am not a seasoned exerciser, I am hoping it will make a difference. I know that a lot of woman get a lot more back fat and love handles when pregnant with girls...it may be an old wives tale but I am not taking any chances. I make sure to cocoa butter the 'ol belly every single night and I am hoping to be 2/2 pregnancies with zero stretch marks...fingers crossed! I have loved spending time with London this summer and we have been frequenting the pool which helps keep me cool and comfortable in this hot southern sun. I am getting excited to meet the baby but feel like we have so much to do! I am also starting a brand new job in a new school and new district so that is going to be both exciting and a little scary to be out of my comfort zone. However, at this school my stress level will be way down. Our plan is to have London's room done and start him sleeping in his big boy bed about mid August. That way we can get him acclimated before I go back to work. I am so grateful to have my summer off to plan and take care of myself and my baby...and of course get awesome quality time with my most favorite little guy.