Regular Boring Update

As promised- and I know you have all been wasting away by your computers, pulling your hair out in anticipation- here is a general update on things in the By The Way household. I know, I know. You're so welcome, you adoring masses. Or...mom. Love ya too mom! Here goes:

J:
J? What J? Have you seen him? Anyone? Not me. J gets out the door around 4:30am. I know for a fact that he kisses me goodbye every day, because it's tradition and we stick to it like a fiddler on a roof. But I have no actual memory of it, because, like a normal person, I am SLEEPING. He works long hours, no weekends, and has had some very, very crazy patients lately to entertain me with tales of. But he's loving being a real doctor, getting to see patients instead of sit in a classroom, and from what I hear they love him too. Of course!
While we don't get to see him a lot around the house, between the two of us Little One and I have spent a lot of time at the hospital for various appointments, and he usually slips away long enough to send Little One into a fit of excited screaming and hugging and begging to play with the pen light. He's tired, but he's hanging in there. And when he IS home it's hard to tell who is more thrilled about it, him or Little One. Despite being gone a lot, J is amazing (I think) in that he has created a really close relationship with his daughter. Seeing them together adoring the heck out of each other is my happiest time. Because it's so sweet...ok and partly because whoever is playing with Her is on empty-the-potty duty. Unwritten rule.

C and Fetus (currently a packaged deal): Doing ok! Exclamation point! Because that is a great big step up! ! While I still am feeling tired and really queasy in the evenings (and have yet to hit 48 hours without puking at least once) it's a world better than it was. I feel much better about being able to take care of things around here and get out when I need (or want) to. At almost 17 weeks, I have still not gained any weight. But somehow still feel like a walrus that needs to waddle around. And I do rock a little belly now, which is kind of fun for me, because I like seeing people doing the intent look/double-take that says "is she? or maybe just a little too much cheesecake? Or is she...?" The really fun part though is that I can feel the little bugger kicking around in there now, which is and always has been the only part of pregnancy I can say I "like" without lying.
Said fetus is also doing great, growing and squirming and looking stylish in the sonograms. We do not know yet if it's a boy or girl, but YES we are finding out as soon as scientifically possible. Because, have I mentioned this? I am a planner. I NEED to know what to put in the nursery, and what societally-mandated gender-stereotyped outfits to hang in the closet. Also, we could maybe pick out a name a little earlier than as-we-are-literally-walking-out-the-hospital-door this time. Probably won't, but we could. At least try.

Little One: Constantly knocking our socks off with another New Thing. Her 2 year check up was on Her birthday, in which the doctor actually asked to see my purse for proof that I don't carry a diaper or extra set of undies when we go out. Believe it, missy. And in which Little One wowed her by demonstrating Her extensive knowledge of the names of anatomical parts, some of which I would not mind if She had left out, or at least not used mine as a demo. And at which She weighed in at a hefty 22lb, earning Her a spot in the 4th percentile. Because She is obviously growing and thriving, Dr and I are not concerned about this. And in fact, I am rather amused that I was able to bring out most of Her 12month sized winter clothes from last year for a re-run.
Despite being a bit petite, Little One has no shortage of personality. She gets more fun and hilarious by the second, it seems. She has Her share of stubborn moments, which I would love to call Terrible Twos, except that Double-genetic Curse would probably be more accurate. Overall, though, She's a breeze to parent and turning into a pretty fun buddy to have around all the time. She can have real conversations now, which is SO COOL. And Her imagination is wild.
She's very excited that we have a new baby-in-the-tummy, though She has informed me that She will NOT be sharing Her pretty hair-ties. "These, these one? My. Little One hair tie. No baby. Baby, other ones. Mommy, you find other one baby. These one mine, k? Okay!" Oh yes. The word "mine" somehow weaseled its way into Her vocab exactly a week before last Tuesday, and while it hasn't been repeated often since, like a horse can sense an impending earthquake, I feel the "mine" tsunami coming. We have arrived at TWO.

Doggies: Oh doggies. Poor babies, so often left out of posts. The dogs are a big deal in our house right now. For awhile now we have been having some problems with one of our furry babies. I will probably share more later. But right now we are looking seriously into ways to help her. I have an appointment an hour away on Monday, and we will see how it goes. But the decisions we are making around our little pet are a big topic around here lately.
Generally though, around the house, they are both learning to live with a toddler and starting to accept that being dressed in hats and necklaces, receiving fake manicures and fur-styles, and being taken on "walks" around (and around, and around, and around...) the living room are just unavoidable parts of life. They do seem to enjoy having stories read to them every morning in their bed, though. Who doesn't love that?

Generally Speaking: We are all enjoying the cool fall air, the change of seasons, and each other. I get out to see my and Little One's friends as often as I can, and J goes on little adventures with us as often as he can, but generally we are sticking pretty close to home these days. Sort of wrapped up in all we have to do and in each other when we have the chance. Looking forward to all the holidays and excitement coming in the months ahead. And enjoying the simple and fleeting things about today and all the days until Big Changes come. Like sleeping all night, for instance. Which I think I'll go appreciate right now.
Night!