Standing Up

Dear Penelope,

On Sunday, you stood up in the middle of the room without holding on to anything!  Wahoo!  Since then you have continued to practice standing up without support.  You're pretty wobbly but you're getting better.

When we have you try to take a few steps without holding on you lean forward to get going.  This doesn't work very well because you lose your balance and pretty much face plant into our arms and lap while taking one or two steps.  I'm sure you'll figure out the whole balance thing soon enough.

You love riding on your little push bike.  Technically it's Michela's bike but she's too tall for it and you're the perfect size.  We have taken it out for a spin a few times and  you're pretty fast!  You also learned how to turn!  I love watching you scoot down the street.

I love all your activity.  Keep up the good work!

With all my love,

Mommy

Kicks and Anatomy Scan

Dear Coconut,

The night before our anatomy scan I felt you kick from the outside!  It's about time!  Of course, when Daddy tried to feel, you stopped kicking.  You don't have to be shy.  I look forward to seeing your movements all over as you get bigger.

We saw you again yesterday morning! We found out that you're healthy, growing right on track with our July 16 due date, wiggly, and a BOY!  I know there was a 50% chance of you being a boy but I was still surprised when I saw your boy parts.   I started crying after the technician confirmed that you are a boy by drawing an arrow on the ultrasound and writing "boy".  Daddy and I are so excited to have you join our family.  I guess my initial instinct to call you "little dude" was correct!   I suppose you can say that my initial instinct is 3 for 3.  Pretty good if you ask me!  We are now on the hunt for the perfect name.  Until then, you're my coconut!

When we got home we handed Grammy a scratch off and a quarter.  This is how we shared your news to Grammy, Nana, and Papi.  :)  Daddy called Papa to tell him after Grammy scratched her ticket.

I made 2 scratch offs.  One for girl and one for boy.  I wrote "Baby" on the back of the boy scratch offs and "Quillinan" on the back of the girl scratch offs.  Last week I mailed one of each to Nana and Papi.  When I got home I gave Grammy the "baby" scratch off.  I called and told Nana and Papi which to scratch for the reveal.

Michela and Penelope helped me by giving me their thumbprints.  Can you tell which print belongs to each big sister?

I know, I know.  I'm a dork for making scratch offs to announce that you're a boy but it was fun.  And you'll learn soon enough that I do lots of silly things in the name of fun.  :)

I love you baby boy!

Keep growing strong!

With all my love,

Mommy

Wiggle wiggle

Dear Coconut,

Wiggle around a bit more would ya?  I am feeling you more often so my fears are now gone but I would love it if you would wiggle more.  I felt your sisters kick on the outside at this point but you are my "chill" baby.  I think that's a good thing considering you're joining a family of busy girls but a big kick here and there would be nice.

I can't wait to see you again next week!  I love the smile you gave us last time. I can't wait to see what you show us this time.

I love you little Coconut!

With all my love,

Mommy

Michela Photo Dump

Dear Michela,

As you grow you are getting more and more creative.  You're also developing more responsibility around the house.  For instance, you make your bed at least once a day.  You also put napkins on the table for dinner.  Another chore is to make sure your chair is pushed in when you leave the table and your water cup is in the sink after dinner.  We also expect you to help clean up your toys.  I'd say that you're pretty good at completing your responsibilities!  

Anything and everything can talk and hold a conversation in your imagination.  A bristle block will talk to another bristle block.  A sock will talk to your foot.  A crayon will ask another crayon a question about color.  Your strawberry will ask your toast if you should eat it.  And your spoon will ask your yogurt if it's yummy.  I love listening to you play.  You crack me up!

Making your bed for the first time!  I think you did pretty good!

Why play on the play ground when you can pick weeds out of the sand? Look at those roots!

Your imagination is awesome!  Here you are pretending to be riding on a train.

Yes, you're in your underwear and sitting in a bucket. By the way, your underwear is inside out. hehe

"You've got your bucket hat,
10 gallon bucket hat!"
This is our chant when we put on our bucket hat.

Preschool is getting closer for you.  Daddy and I started researching different programs and are a little shocked by prices.  I'm sure we'll find something that will be perfect for you and not too harsh on our bank account.  Tonight I'm going to an information session for the Safari Preschool at Las Palmas Park.  My only problem thus far with that program is that it's 3 days a week instead of 2.  But it's also only 2.5 hours (3 days a week).  We'll see.  You're pretty excited about starting preschool in the fall.  We talk about it a few times a week.

I love you Michela Grace!

With all my love,

Mommy

Penelope Photo Dump

Dear Penelope,

   There are so many times I want to write you a letter but either I don't have the time or I'm too tired at night.  So here's my photo dump of the last few days.

From the kitchen I heard you cry.  I found you stuck in the bristle block bucket! I had to take your picture before helping you out.

After Michela saw how hard I was laughing at you she gave the bucket a try. You realized it that it wasn't so bad in the bucket and had fun the second time you wedged yourself inside.

You have a bucket hat!

Playing with Valentine stickers.

Yummy water!

Playing in the sand is your favorite activity at the park.

I love this picture. 

You are now 14 months old and still not walking.  Can you tell I'm getting impatient?  I'm not worried - just impatient.  You will walk while holding one hand, holding on the furniture, and while pushing a toy / laundry basket.  You are even skilled enough to push the play shopping cart that gives zero support AND go backwards!  You just wont let go and walk unassisted.  That's okay.  You have plenty of time to walk in your life and now is the time to crawl (when you don't have knee caps).

You also try to climb on everything.  You learned that the toy box is a great place to sit and read.  The other day you tried climbing on my dinning room chair.  I had to nix that idea though because I had to make lunch and couldn't properly supervise.

"B" words are your favorite words thus far.  They're the easiest to say!  You say: ball, book, bath, bowl, uh-oh, mama, dada, papa, and bubble.  There may be a few others but I think that sums up your current vocal vocabulary.

I love you baby girl.  Keep being silly!

With all my love,

Mommy

16 Weeks: Monthly Check-in

**I'm a slacker.  I had this ready to post last week but failed to upload the pictures until today.  Tomorrow we will be 17 weeks but the picture was taken last week.  **


How far along?: 16 Weeks  

Total weight gain?: Zero

Maternity clothes?: Yes.  I made the switch when I didn't feel like fighting with my other pants.    

Stretch marks?: Nope

Sleep?: When I'm asleep I'm good.  I have a hard time falling asleep though.  

Food cravings?: Starburst 

Labor signs?: No

Belly button in or out?: In.

What I miss?: Same as last time - Energy.  You seem to be sucking all my energy out of me.  I fall asleep almost daily around 7/7:30.  It's kind of pathetic.  But then again, growing  a human is hard work!

What I'm looking forward to?:  Our Anatomy Scan on February 21st!

Best moment this week?: Finding out that you're going to have a cousin 2 months younger than you!

Movement?: Yes. Maybe. Possibly. Perhaps

Belly:  We have grown in the last month!  

Dear Coconut,

Every once in a while I think I feel you move but when I sit and concentrate, I don't feel you.  Of course that makes me worry.  It's weird because I don't remember feeling this way with your sisters.  I always had the mentality to "believe everything is okay unless I see blood."  I haven't seen blood so I should believe everything is okay right?  Right.  Easier said than done apparently.  I don't worry all the time, just once in a while.  I can't wait for Feb. 21st to get here so I can see your heart beating!  Well that or for you to really start kicking!

Love you Coconut!  Please keep growing strong!

With all my love,

Mommy

**Update:  You started kicking more frequently as of last night.  Thank you!  :)  Also, this is the month I get to see you again!  YAY!**