Seconds aren't all the same.....

I am 19 weeks, this week. It's funny how when I was pregnant for the first time, every time I took a pic of myself, I always picked the one where my belly looked the biggest.

Now, that I am pregnant for the second time, I can honestly say that I do not share the same sentiment.

No matter how many photos I take, I just feel huge in every one of them. I have even gone as far as to compare a pic of me at however many weeks this pregnancy to one of me, from my first pregnancy, at the same amount of weeks.

And NO, they did not equal the same.

For the most part I am fine with it, but on the extra bloated days, I might have a minor pity party for myself. Even if only for a brief moment.

Here I am at 19ish weeks in all my glory.

and this one is my favorite, but I look huge!!! I know it is how I am standing with my fantastic posture and all................

 I have my 20 week appointment next week. I am excited about that. I cannot believe I am already half way there. It's always so hard to mourn the passing when you are so excited for the finish line. Yet, my heart does break knowing that so much of this has already passed. Last pregnancy, last labor, last baby. Even with all the smiles and happiness, there is still such a raw ache when I think about that.

me

Holy Catch-up!!

I guess I have been MIA for a while. I'm not completely without excuse, but we have been quite busy around here.


Summer is about over and fall is just around the corner. Ryden started pre-school, part-time, two weeks ago. And he absolutely loves it. Never a tear, and I hardly get a kiss and a good-bye when I drop him off. Thankfully, he does oblige me after several failed attempts. Other than the fact of not being embarrassed of me *his mom*, you would think I was dropping off a teenager.   wah!

One of my new favorites is he is starting to say how he feels. When a tv show ends, he will say, "I feel sad." It is so cute. Or if he gets frustrated he will start to get upset, and say, "I sad... I cry." (Even though he is not even crying, I guess he just wants to.)
But the best is.... in the past couple of days, he is now saying, "I feel happy!" I love it. And he says it at completely appropriate times. It is just too much.

Ryden is also nursing a case of strep throat. This is his second time getting it in just 3 months. I miss when we was a little nursling that never got sick. I guess those days are gone, too.
Thankfully, he loves taking his medicine, and never got a fever this time. He did however have to miss two days of school this week. He even missed the day that they made play dough in the kitchen. And I had already told him all about it, so, I felt pretty bad for him.
Tomorrow, when his cousins get here, I am going to let him get in the pool for the first time in over a week. Poor guy.

I am learning that my true test of patience as an adult and parent is not letting a two year old get the best of me. Normally, no problem. But when we are both feeling lousy is when he decides it would be the best time to test mommy's boundaries. Man, they are born opportunist! The other day he actually giggled at me when I was telling him why he couldn't do something. Then he proceeded to do said 'no-no'. I think I was in utter shock for a minute, and actually had to take a moment to cool off.

Oh, the betrayal!!!!

So, in one of my most mature moments ever, I showed him by putting him to bed without telling him goodnight and that I love him. I can sit here and shake my head at how dumb I was then, but at the time, oh- I meant it! I figured that I had shown him for not listening to mommy.
Thank God the stupid wore off about 5 minutes later when I promptly went to his room to tell him how much mommy loved him and that I was sorry for getting mad.

He then began to say, "I kick a screen!" which was what the whole incident was about in the first place. He actually knew why I shunned him.

Like I said, this patience thing, I'm still learning. And to not let a two year old get the best of me.... again, still learning.
In all of this learning, there are a few moments that I am proud of.
There was a phase a couple of months ago where he started to whine about stuff. This was new to me because he had never really whined before. And, oh man, did I hate it. Something about a kid whining that is like nails on a chalkboard.
My first reaction was to tell him not to whine, but after saying it a couple of times, I realized how useless those words were.
That is when I figured out to tell him, "I understand you are upset, but use your words." After a couple of days, we were as good as new.  Every once in a while, he might start it again, but it only lasts for several instances and then he stops.
It does make me happy to know I do a have moment of brilliance here and there to make up for my moments of pure stupidity! hah!

But my absolute favorite is something that my mom just taught Ryden today. It's hearing him say, "baby brother". Yep, that's right. Ryden is going to be a proud big brother to a sweet little baby boy come this February.

We just had our 20 week ultrasound today (I am actually 18 and a half weeks) and opted to find out the sex. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know, but Eric did, and so, I caved.
And I'm really glad we did.

I already feel like I am in over my head thinking about raising two little boys. Oh man, that patience thing that I mentioned earlier, I imagine I better get it down now!!

Pregnancy has been good to me again like last time. And it's such a smoother sail having done it before. I feel so much more of a calmness not worrying about what is to come. Really quite peaceful and lovely.

We have no idea what we are going to name this little guy. But I think we have decided that whatever name or names we come up with, we are going to keep to ourselves until this little one makes his way to the outside. After finding out the sex, I just feel that there is something that we have to keep for just us. :)

And might I add, that he had the most beautiful profile during the ultrasound. The lady kept going on about him, and Eric said you should see our other son, and proceeded to show her a pic. Love him for that.
And when the tech decided to snap the shot of what sex the baby was, she paused the screen like they do when they are getting sizes, and Eric asked her if she was measuring it.... haha. Love him for that, too.
Here are couple of the scans. :)

sweet baby boy profile

 

 

sucking his thumb

he's all boy

And I do realize I am probably going to have to do something with the name of the blog.

until then,

the four of us :)

New post, new house, new season.... but same ol' nonsense!!!!!!!

A little over a month, and I can say we are pretty settled in to the new diggs. As long as you don't count those "several" boxes that are still in my garage. And I use the word several very loosely. :)

It's been a while since I last updated, so, let me think of what's new in the world of Ryden.

... first off, much to his delight, Seven the kitty has decided to love him every now and then.



hmmm, what else...
At least 20 times a day we hear the words: a pole, a boat, a dock, a reel, 'shimp', a hook......
And I don't mean twenty all together, I mean each word- 20 times. Sounds cute, but I now find it quite maddening.
And I have also kicked myself, many a times, for ever thinking it was a good idea to buy him his own fishing pole. They are not house friendly, car friendly, swing friendly or anywhere else he decides to carry it. All THE TIME.
His other favorite right now, is Spiderman.
Well, actually, 'a man' (how he says Spiderman)
He and Eric laid on the couch the other week and watched some of Spiderman 2. We then let him watch the DVD a few times. Although, after I watched a few portions of it, I have now put the parental block on it. A bit too much violence for the comprehension of a 21 month old.
Needless to say, he hasn't been very happy with this. I'm thinking a couple more weeks, and he will maybe forget?


and did I mention, he is WAY too cool for school?


As of right now, it has been about 3 months since the beginning of our potty learning adventure. Ryden is still an underwear boy, except for over-night. Not sure how to kick the diaper there. Sometimes he wakes up dry, and sometimes he doesn't. He has also stopped saying pee pee right when he wakes up and proceeds to hang out in his bed for a little while playing with his toys. I'm sure this is when he probably pees. Every once in a while I remind him to tell us when he wakes up in the morning, but.... nada.
I'm hoping that this one will just come, eventually, with time. I don't really want to wake him up, before I go to bed, and take him to pee. I feel like that will just disturb his sleep. I dunno.
If anyone has some advice for me, let me know. :)

Other than that, I think he has had about a handful of accidents in the past 3 months, and that is it. One of them was my fault, for not taking him to the potty, after a big play at the park, and then putting him in his carseat. He was super full from drinking so much water.
And a reminder for any of you that have a youngster newly in undies, buy one of those puddle pads for your carseat. Even though my carseat needed a cleaning, it was a pain in the butt to do. Wish the one I have, had been in his seat and not the closet. Ughh!!

Sometimes when I am sitting back and reflecting on how gracious life has been to us, I can never seem to truly put into words how grateful I am. As wonderful as life has been these past years, it is only getting better.
We are back with family, Ryden is doing fantastic, Eric is loving his job and finally feels as though he is being utilized for his talents, we are renting a really lovely home, I get to see porpoises swimming in my back, back yard almost daily and my animals are all relatively healthy.
I'm a little bored but am working on that and the list goes on......
Not to mention, we are getting our boat next weekend, and are beyond excited. I think we will be watching the fireworks on the fourth from our boat in the river.
Life is truly good, and I will always be thankful!!!!!!

LOve,
The Foridians- us