33 weeks and counting.....

We're so close to having a little boy! In a few weeks I'll be considered full-term, and that is such a relief - to know if the baby comes right then, he'll be just fine on his own, no help from machines and such. I may have mentioned before that we only have two bedrooms in our current house. Adeline's room is very girly, but I haven't touched it yet, partly because we're still looking for a new house (wouldn't wait to repaint and redecorate only to move in a few months), and secondly because I don't know how to make the room unisex (jungle animals, maybe?). And, lastly, just because I don't have the energy. Second babies are definitely different than firsts.

I love looking at other mom's blogs, and recently Mary Kathryn S. had pictures of her little boy in the coolest blow-up kiddie pool thing. She was kind enough to pass on that it could be found at Wal-mart for only $20! So, on my next trip, I picked one up for Adeline. She loved it, you can tell from the pictures below. Thanks Mary Kathryn!





We've had a really lazy weekend, the last that we'll probably have for awhile. I think just about every weekend from now until the baby gets here will be filled with obligations, some fun and some not fun. I'm really sad that we will be missing out on a few weddings! Our friend, Elise, gets married soon, but it will be too close to my due date to be traveling. I do not know if you follow us on here, Elise, but I know you will be a gorgeous bride! You other law school friends will have to give her a hug for us. Some of David's friends from college are getting married too, in Birmingham and in Jackson, and we won't be making those either. I have learned that is another reason to not have a baby during the summer (other than the heat), you miss all the wedding fun!

I came across a delicious coffee recipe the other night. Those of you who know me know that has nothing to do with pregnancy cravings. I love fancy coffee drinks, and probably spent the equivalent of my law school tuition at coffee shops. Anyway, I went to Food Network the other night and typed in "coffee," and this is one of the recipes I found. It's so good! Props to Emeril, want to make sure to give him his credit : )

Chocolate-y Café Au Lait

1 1/2 cups whole milk
2/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 ( 2-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 strip orange peel, about 1/2 inch by 3 inches
10 whole cloves
2 to 2 1/2 cups hot brewed strong coffee
1/4 cup cold heavy cream
Ground cinnamon, for garnish
Cocoa, for garnish

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, 2/3 cup of the sugar, and cocoa until smooth. Add the cinnamon sticks, orange peel and cloves and bring to a simmer, stirring, to dissolve the sugar and prevent the cocoa from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.

In a medium bowl, whip the cream with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar until thick and frothy, and peaks form. Set aside.

Strain the milk mixture into a coffee pot or carafe and add 2 cups of the hot coffee (2 1/2 cups for stronger coffee flavor, to taste). Pour into cups or small mugs and top each with a dollop of the sweetened whipped cream.

Serve immediately.

Hope you had a great weekend!

and a Happy Father's Day for you dads out there! Dave said he wanted a box of fried chicken and time to watch the Bulldogs play, so that's what he got! (And some other stuff too ofcourse : ) Too bad his team couldn't make the day perfect!





Lately Adeline's vocabulary seems to grow by at least 10 words every day, and now she's trying to put sentences together. That's amazing to watch. She get so frustrated sometimes when she can't get us to understand what she wants/needs. She's still obsessed with the stuffed animals, but only certain stuffed animals. Primarily bears - of any variety - bunnies, and a frog. You can see most of them lined up on the windowsill behind her in one of the pictures. They have to sit in the highchair with her too, and if they aren't there NO ONE is going to eat until we find them.

According to the ticker, I'm 32 weeks. Wow, this pregnancy has gone by so quickly. No current problems, and I really need for things to stay that way. I did go ahead and pre-register at the hospital, just because that makes the process go a little more quickly. I'll be at a different hospital this time, but this one is really nice, so I don't expect to have any complaints.

Can't sleep....

So I thought I would update my poor, forgotten blog. I rarely have free time these days, and am really wishing for high speed internet so I could update without having to set aside an afternoon to do so.

Above is Adeline striking a diva pose. This child has way more attitude/personality than I ever even thought about having. It's funny to watch her becoming very particular about certain things, like, she has to carry a couple of stuffed animals or dolls just about everywhere. I've GOT to take a picture of her in the high chair at meal-time. She has the chair so stuffed with animals that there's barely room for her to sit in there! And at bedtime, same story, we have to take a few to lay down with us. It's cute, and so much fun to watch.

Speaking of fun, we seem to know lots of you who are expecting right now! I won't out you on the blog, because I don't know if you want the info to be THAT public, but we are so excited about our friends who are joining us in parenthood! I've been thinking lately about how Pregnancy: Round Two is different from the first go round:

1. You're not dying to tell every stranger in line at Wal-Mart that you are expecting - because you know these are the same people who will (at seven months) ask if you're "due any day now." They can wait to find out.

2. You try to stay out of maternity clothes AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. (This time, I wore regular size 10 clothes up until about six months - whether they really fit or not).

3. You DO NOT subscribe to the "I'm eating for two!" theory. I found out all that makes you is FAT. And it gets you in trouble with the doctor.

4. Not as much fluid retention with baby #2! That is the most welcome change. With Adeline, my rings didn't fit by the six month mark and my face looked big and puffy. Not so this time - thank goodness!

5. Contractions (the Braxton-Hicks kind) start much earlier, like around 5 months, and are much more intense. My doctor is especially concerned with these. He has questioned me, in-depth, at my last two appointments. I haven't thought much about them until he asked.

6. You also are certain about feeling the baby move at a much earlier point. I could feel this baby moving at around 14 weeks, with Adeline, it was closer to 20-something before I really realized what was happening.

7. Labor is not such a scary thing. One word: epidural.

8. YOU ARE SO TIRED. For the first four months or so at least. This was much worse than when I was pregnant with Adeline. I'm sure it has something to do with having to chase her! But I really thought on some days that the exhaustion was going to kill me!

9. You know carrying the baby in your belly is not the hard part. Bringing baby home and realizing you are responsible for a little life is.

10. You know that however difficult the day -or week- is, it is all absolutely worth it - because you've seen how the little one gets cuter and sweeter every day!