"sorta miserable, thanks"

Let me just start by saying, be prepared if you're going to read this one because I'm keepin' it real (in other words, too much information).

Tyler thinks it's quite wrong when I say this, but I sometimes wish the gestation for humans was the same as it is for dogs! How lovely to be able to wait till you are actually really ready to have a baby, get pregnant and then 9 weeks later, you're done!!!

Following are highlights from the 1st trimester with baby #2:

• lying on the bathroom floor while waiting to vomit
• 10 days with no bowel movement
• eating fiber and fruit and drinking water till you think you'll explode, resulting in bowel movements that are no more manageable than they were before
• lots of Miralax, Colace and Dulcolax suppositories... and an enema
• insomnia
• headaches
• dehydration
• motion sickness from typing, reading or watching TV
• tunnel vision and seeing stars every time you get up
• breaking out like a teenager
• feeling like the baby is literally sucking the life out of you
• shedding a layer of dry skin like a snake about everyday
• the return of heartburn
• getting the urge to vomit from the physical exertion of having a conversation with someone
• almost decking someone because they accidentally brushed up against your SUPER sore swollen boobs
• not even realizing you have already started peeing before you made it to the bathroom
• oh and let's not forget the weepiness and mood swings

Here are a few bonus highlights due to the fact that I am no longer taking Plaquenil (since I'm pregnant) for Sjögren's syndrome:

• burning eyes
• very very dry skin
• frantic itching from head to toe (the loveliness of this part is just getting ramped up)
• randomly aching bones/joints

Regardless of the above, which I fully realize is not that bad, Tyler, Nyla and I have survived (with few scars and battle wounds) a not so lovely 1st trimester. I will gladly carry this baby past the due date if I never have to have morning sickness again. However... If I have to carry it that long, PLEASE God, make it possible for an epidural at delivery this time (or any drugs for that matter). AMEN!

two and a half years

Height: 37 1/2"

Weight: 34 lbs.
Head Circumference: 20 1/4"

Nyla hasn't been to the doctor lately, but I measured and weighed her out of curiosity. Her height is in the 88th percentile on the growth chart and her weight is at about the 93rd. Head circumference is at 99%... At least it's back on the chart. ;)

At first I called this posting "developments" as I have called a posting like this in the past. And although I included several (possibly boring) notes about what Nyla is learning and what she can do, I really don't mean to focus on how smart or not-smart she is, or anything like that. Those mentions are more for me to track how I'm doing in teaching her things, so I can see how she/we are progressing, and just so I can remember how it all took place! It's true I'm curious whether she's ahead or behind in certain areas, and I really have no idea what's normal, but I'm not overly concerned with it. I know she could be better at all these things, and others I haven't mentioned, if I put more effort into working on them with her.

At 2 1/2 years old, Nyla:

• wears mostly 4T clothing and size 8 or 9 shoes.
• can count to 13 (but we really haven't worked on counting for a while).
• loves to sing and has the following favorite songs (at the moment): ABC Song, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Rock-a-Bye Baby.
• loves to dance and listen to music (especially Taylor Swift in the car... and then she demands certain songs of hers).
• recognizes about 15 of the 26 capital letters of the alphabet and associates each with at least one thing or person. For example, "I is for ice cream," "C is for Cassidy," "C is for Cash," "Z is for zebra."
• speaks in complete sentences, uses pronouns (i.e., I, me, you, your), understands and uses opposites in conversation (such as big/little, heavy/light, on/off, open/close), and we can understand her about 75% of the time (at least I can).
• continues to love TV a little too much. Her favorites right now include Dora the Explorer, Dino Dan, Wonder Pets! and Elmo's World.
• has recognized about 10 colors for quite a long time and only knows basic shapes, although she is now starting to work on those more.
• still doesn't seem to favor one hand over the other.
• still would mainly live on fruit and milk if we let her.
• is learning to pedal the tricycle she received for Christmas.
• is going to potty train soon. I promise.
• is comical and silly, never stops talking and is a joy to be around.  I could sit and watch her interacting with other people for hours.
• clings to Tyler and I and acts shy when we first arrive to a place or event, whether it's very familiar or new. I think it's more that she feels awkward when we first arrive because she feels like everyone is looking at her. But she warms up quickly and shows no signs of shyness once the focus is off of her.
• used to play best with the older kids, but now is obviously most excited when a child her age shows up.
• is just like her dad in that she is very social, bored to be at home and likes to do all things in life in the company of others. Those are probably exactly the ways that she is opposite of me. :)
• is like her mom in that she is cautious in new situations. She does not dive into anything new very quickly. The only other thing I can think of that is sort of like me is that Nyla has always been very good at taking care of her babies and pretend play. I dislike pretend play as an adult, but was good at it as a child and could do it for hours by myself. That's the only thing she will almost, sort of, do by herself... for 5 minutes anyway. ;)

duck, duck, silly goose

As everyone knows, kids say the funniest/strangest/darndest things. Here are a few thoughts that surprised me as they came randomly from our 2 year old over the last few months.

~ I bought a long skinny baguette from Wal-Mart bakery and when Nyla saw it she said, “Oh! A dinosaur bone!” (I assume she picked this up from watching Dino Dan.)

~ Nyla started jumping up and down on the changing table and said, “Yee haw! Ride a horse like Grandpa Kenny!”

~ A Taylor Swift song came on the radio and Nyla touched her hair and said, "Nyla has curly hair like Taylor Swift."

~ Nyla gets on her knees by her bed to say prayers each night and for some reason she came up with this prayer that she says every single time, no matter what Tyler or I pray with her. "Dear Jesus, thank you for the Bible in the sky. Amen."

~ I’ve told you this one before, but it’s still one of my favorites…
Nyla: "I pooped."
Me: "No, you tooted." 
Nyla: "Daddy tooted more."

eight years, plus some news

Then... January 4th, 2003

Now...

~ Highlights of Year #8 ~
(in sort of chronological order)

1. Tyler grew/expanded his cow herd from 20 cows and 1 bull to 70 cows and 3 bulls.

2. Tyler, Nyla and I visited Uncle Mike in Seattle.

3. AJ turned 10 years old. :)

4. Nyla turned 2 years old, learned to talk in complete sentences, and graduated from crib to toddler bed.

5. The company I work for celebrated its 10th anniversary.

6. Tyler turned 30.

7. I turned 30.

8. Castle Rock Wellness Center opened!

9. For those that don't already know, Firefox Majestic Breeden #2 is on the way. I'm going on 11 weeks along and the due date is July 29th. And yes, we will find out if it's a boy or girl at the first opportunity. :)

For our anniversary this year, Tyler and I are going together to Rock Haven Spa. Tyler also gave me the gift of joining in on a girls' weekend to Winter Park, Colorado. Although... if I know Tyler, he would have included me in on that regardless of having an occasion/reason to give it to me. :)