8 Weeks Old

I cannot believe how fast and slow these past weeks have been. Shelby has changed so much in such a short amount of time. She is holding her head up and smiling and cooing at anybody that comes around. I gave her some tummy time on the Boppy the other day and she was just wiggling all around. The past few nights she has slept eight hours straight and seems to be taking better naps during the day. She is still in Newborn clothes but weighs a little over 11 pounds. She looked like she was losing her hair for a few weeks, but now it's coming back and it's brown. Once she is consistantly sleeping that long stretch we will be putting her in the room with Gabe. And speaking of Gabe, he has been such a great big brother so far. He gets a little rough sometimes, but Shelby doesn't complain much. He does kiss her a lot and tells her he loves her all the time. Jeremy and I are certainly in need of alone time but are just happy to have two healthy and happy children. And shelby already has Jeremy wrapped around her teeny pinky.

Tis the Season

Well we had a great Christmas with my family this year. Gabe got some awesome gifts including a pirate ship, Elmo Drill, remote control truck and a huge chair for him to lounge in. He was hilarious unwrapping all the gifts. If it was a box that he couldn't see what was inside, he would just throw the box and open something else. Shelby slept through the opening of presents (of course). We went to my Aunt and Uncle's house for lunch and we had a wonderful feast. There were eleven of us total including the two babies. We played games, watched The Grinch (who's idea do you think that was?) and Home Alone. Shelby was overwhelmed from all the action and decided to nap in the "Peanut". Gabe had to go home and nap for a while as well. By the time the day was over, we had all eaten too much and laughed so much our bellies hurt. It was really a fun holiday and I am so glad we have these two wild children to remind us how exciting it can be.

Gabriel's New Vocabulary

Over the past month Gabe has really begun to speak more clearly and put sentences together. It is amazing to hear his speech change. I can carry on a small conversation with him now and some of the things he says are so hilarious. He repeats lines from his cartoons or something Jeremy or I have said to him. I think it's so crazy how fast children grow and change. I can tell when his little brain is working really hard to come up with something to say. And the cutest thing of all is that he tries to carry on a conversation with Shelby. He will tell her what he is doing or watching and ask if she likes it. He explains the book he is looking at or the page he is coloring. I am so glad that we were able to give him a sibling. Even though soon I know he will be mad that she is touching his things. But for now, I am enjoying watching him be a great big brother.

The Six Hour Nap

I had no idea that babies could do this, but my daughter did yesterday. She fought going to sleep all morning and then at twelve she finally gave in. I woke her at 2 to eat and she fell back asleep until 6. I had to wake her then too. I couldn't believe it. And the only reason why I didn't freak out was the pediatrician had told me at our last visit that some babies do this. I didn't really believe her, but Shelby proved Dr. Harper right. And thankfully she still did her regular routine last night. Hallelujah for babies that sleep.

Crying, Crying, Crying

Wow. I had almost forgotten what it feels like to have a baby that cries a lot. Gabe cried most of the time he was awake until 3 months old. I have lucked out with Shelby until now. The past few days she has been extremely fussy in the afternoon and evening. She will go down for her nap only to wake a little while later and cry. Then she falls asleep for a bit and wakes up crying again. AAGGHHH. She will sleep in the sling I have but she is getting heavier everyday and when she is in it for a long period of time my back hurts. I hope this is just a phase and she will begin to sleep better. On a positive note, she is sleeping longer at night. Last night she slept from 12:30 to 6. Hopefully this time will begin to get longer soon. But for only being six weeks old, she is doing well. Thank goodness Gabe is a good sleeper. He is still taking his naps and sleeping until 7 or 8 in the morning.

Shelby's First Photo Shoot

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1 Month Down

Shelby has certainly changed our world in just one short month. We are getting much less sleep and having a crying baby once again sure does bring on some stress. But she is such a happy baby too. We went for her checkup and she weighs 9 pounds and has grown over an inch. She still fits into newborn clothes, but I am sure that is soon to change. She is smiling at me and lifting her head, which is great. She is also tracking us as we walk across the room. The pediatrician says she is behaving more like a two month old, because of her motor skills being a bit farther along. This is all good news. Jeremy and I take turns during the night getting up with her so we are both pretty worn out. But we know this stage won't last forever. This is our last week of meals being brought to us so we may be eating lots of Peanut Butter sandwiches (which I know Gabe won't mind) and our little house usually stays pretty messy. Our little man is adjusting remarkably well. He really loves Shelby and is always asking where she is and making sure I am taking care of her. He is listening less to us, but that is to be expected. We are putting him in a big boy bed very soon so when Shelby begins sleeping longer at night they will share a room. We'll see how all that works out.

Welcome Shelby

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These were taken a few hours after Shelby was born.

Pirate

Gabe did not want to have anything to do with a Halloween costume this year. And since we were in the hospital, we figured it wouldn't be the best idea for Jeremy to take him Trick-or-Treating and have a ton of candy for when we came home the next day. The child is truly obsessed with candy.
But Gabe did attend a birthday on Halloween that was Pirate themed. He loves pirates and got a great party favor. Here he is showing it off. He walks around the house saying, "Aargh, I a pirate". He even got Jeremy to put on the hat.

Baby Dolls Already

My Mom brought down some of my sister and I's old Lego's for Gabe to play with. In the container were a few Cabbage Patch figurines. Gabe saw them and immediately took them over to Shelby. He laid them right in a row beside her little hands. It was so adorable. Every time he gave her one he said, "Here baby Shelby". I think it's so interesting he gave her the dolls and not a Lego block or truck. I know that he doesn't understand the difference in the sexes yet, but it still surprises me that he would choose those to give to her.

Shelby's Entrance

Well, I never expected to be able to say that I gave birth the old natural way. But that is exactly what happened. We went in the night before to receive medication to soften my cervix. By 4:30 a.m I was having contractions but they were not registering on the monitor. At 6:20 I was dilated to 2 and began a low dose of pitocin. The contractions began coming 2 minutes apart and were extremely intense. The pitocin was turned off 20 minutes later due to Shelby's falling heart rate. At 7:20 I was allowed to stand and asked why the contractions were not showing up on the monitor still. I thought maybe I was being a baby about the pain. My nurse moved the monitor on my belly and immediately the contractions showed up and were spiking all the way to the top. At 7:35 I asked for my epidural, was checked and my water broke I was dilated to 5. About two minutes later I felt the need to push. At 7:50 the anthestesiolgist showed up and I was dilated to 9. So I could not have any medication. My doctor was performing an emergency c-section at another hospital and never made it. My nurse was prepared to deliver Shelby, but a mid-wife happened to be on the floor and came in to do the job. I pushed four times and Shelby was born at 8:14. She weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 and 1/2 inches long. It all happened so fast and was just incredible. The pain was so intense but I am truly glad that it happened this way. I was able to have Shelby on my chest when she came out and we were only apart for a little while afterward. I am amazed at the love I feel for her and the more love I feel for Gabe.
Jeremy was absolutely amazing. He was so calm during the whole process and really kept me in check. He told me afterward that he was so scared when they said I could not have any medicine. But I never saw his fears. It is so sweet to see him hold his baby girl. Since we have been home Gabe has been great. He loves on her, gives her the paci, rubs her feet and just watches her. I know that this won't last forever, but he is not behaving jealously at all.
Here is a little clip from earlier today. Enjoy our little brown haired girl.

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

We only have two days left before I reach my due date. I cannot believe it is already the end. But then I can't believe that it has been so long. I think the last few weeks of waiting for anything are always the hardest. I did not get to experience this with Gabe, since he came three weeks early. I think that every little pinch or pull I experience may be labor starting. But, no luck. Miss Shelby seems to be content right where she is. So, I will let the outside world give her a little push. I know in a few weeks I will be sleep deprived and wishing I was pregnant again but right now, I am ready to have my body back.

Last Night Out

The girls and I got together for a Mom's Night Out which we try to do twice a month. These are so much fun and the topics of conversation are always interesting. With only a few days to go before Shelby arrives, I had to enjoy one last night out because it will be a while before I can go again.There are three of us pregnant in the group (as of right now) so we had to pose for a shot showing the differences in our pregnancies. Arianna is in her first trimester, Bonnie is around 23 weeks and I am one day shy of 39 weeks. I think it's so great to have other moms to share this experience with. Of course, we all thought that I would be having a c-section very soon but then I went to the doctor the next day got a huge surprise-Shelby flipped.

So now it is a waiting game. I am super excited that she is in the correct position and that I do not have to go through surgery. I am doing a lot of walking and squats so my legs are already tired. But I am willing to do about anything to get this baby moving. We received a bassinet from a friend this week and Gabe has been in it nonstop for the past few days. At first he was saying, "my bed" but now he says, "it's Shelby's bed". We'll see how many times he tries to get in with her once she comes home. With only one week to my due date, I am feeling great. On the ultrasound, Shelby was weighing in at 7.5 pounds and seems to have very long legs. I have gained a total of 10 pounds so Shelby is almost all the extra weight. I hope she doesn't get much bigger for obvious reasons. Jeremy is doing great and really encouraging me to keep my spirits up and going for this delivery. I know he is much more at ease now that I do not have to go into surgery. We had to redo our schedule a bit for those coming to help, but that's okay. We will soon need all the help we can get.

Fun In The Yard

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Gabe's Smile

I love to see my little boy smile. It is one of the things that lights up my day. Since we have moved, the days feel very long and this boy usually contributes to that. I am so close to the end of this pregnancy and I know my frazzled nerves wear on Gabe. He has been acting out and is just so full of energy. I know the changes have been difficult for him and the poor child has no idea what is about to happen in a few weeks. And even though I can get so upset with him sometimes, that sweet smile seems to make it all better. I remember when he was a newborn and just waiting for him to recognize me and smile. Now he flashes those pretty teeth when he is happy or wants something. I am so glad to have a happy child (well most of the time).

We Have Moved

How wonderful it is to be in a house again. We moved to Diamondhead, which is about 20 minutes west of Gulfport. My uncle found us this great little house with a fenced in yard. It is in the quietest neighborhood you could imagine and we absolutely love it. Gabe woke up the first morning at 5:30 wanting to go outside and play. He has escaped several times out the front door but thankfully I caught him in time and there is NO traffic on our little circle street. We still have some unpacking to do and Jeremy is so sore from moving everything. He told me the next time we move we will be hiring someone to do all the work and I fully agree. It is so nice to just let Gabe run wild outside and not have to worry about him. He has been a bit crazy since we moved in here but that is to be expected. I just hope he gets adjusted before Shelby arrives.

7 Weeks Left

Oh boy. I am really feeling the aches and pains of pregnancy now. My feet are so sore by the end of the day. And when Shelby decides to turn her whole body around, OH MY GOSH. Last week I was watching her push both sides of my stomach at the same time, talk about uncomfortable. But there are some good things that come along with being this far ahead in the game. Jeremy and I are both getting so anxious to see her. Just thinking about how big she will be and what she will look like is extremely exciting. I went to the hospital a few weeks ago to register and the secretary gave me a quick tour of the maternity floor. I realized when I was in a delivery room that I am definitely nervous about the labor and delivery process and I hope it goes much smoother than Gabe's.
And Saturday morning we had a bit of a scare. I had to go into the hospital because of some bleeding. We discovered that Shelby is breech right now and her position is irritating my cervix. This is also the suggested cause for all of my discomfort over the past few weeks. So God willingly she will change positions. But whatever happens, I just hope that both of us are safe and healthy. I can honestly say too that I am glad I haven't gained much weight (5 pounds so far). I do not want to have to worry about losing it after she is born and I know what a struggle it is for many moms. I do worry about the sleepness nights and taking care of two little ones by myself during the day. Thankfully, Jeremy has four weeks of vacation (two extras for all the hours he put in earlier this year) so he will be taking two after my mom leaves. But after that, I am on my own. I know that millions of moms do it all the time and we will be fine, it's just such a change from one wild child to two. But it is very exciting and I cannot wait to meet our little girl.

My Big Boy

I went shopping yesterday and got Gabe some new clothes for Winter (well not really winter here). Jeremy surprised me today and put the cutest outfit on him. Usually, Daddy dresses him in whatever is lying around. When Gabe came into the bedroom he said, "Look at me Mommy." He was so adorable and I started to cry. He looked so old. Well, like a 3 or 4 year old. I am always shocked when this happens and I suddenly realized that time flies by and he is growing everyday. I love him so much and cannot wait to see how he continues to change. I just hope he doesn't grow too fast.

Fun At The Waterpark

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Joy

So Sweet

Jeremy came home from running errands the other day and wanted to wake Gabe from his nap. I was on the phone so I told him to just look in on him and see if he was awake yet. When he came back to me, he said that I had to come and see Gabe in his bed. When I looked at him I almost cried. He was in the same position he used to sleep in as a newborn (I know he wasn't supposed to be on his tummy, but it was the only way he would sleep). He had all his pacis right next to his face and he just looked so peaceful. I started taking the photos and he didn't even flinch. Even when I got right by his face he just kept on sleeping. I think we went to the waterpark earlier in the day so I guess he was exhausted from running around in the water and sun. It's so amazing how sweet and innocent he looks laying in his crib. Gabriel has so much energy right now and is enthralled with pushing his limits. Jeremy and I wonder sometimes if Shelby will be the same way. When he is sleeping this well, I totally take adavantage and just lay in silence sometimes. And I now fully understand when people say never wake a sleeping baby.

Our Trip to Atlanta

We went to visit my sister and husband last weekend in Atlanta and Gabe was definitely the entertainment. He ran around the apartment with the dog and two cats, well one cat the other hid from him the whole time. It rained for most of the trip so the child had a lot of pinned up energy. We finally found something for him to get it out, which was dancing. Jessie turned the music up and boy did Gabe give us a show. We took him to McDonald's for lunch one day and to play. Mark almost got stuck in the play tunnel but Gabe had a blast. He and Mark also took a dip in the freezing pool water and Gabe's lips were blue by the time we went home. Jeremy and I enjoyed ourselves as well and want to move now. It was really nice to spend time with family and I am so glad that they live much closer than New York City.

Things I Love About Being Pregnant

I have said since I was pregnant with Gabe that I thought this act of nature is one of the strangest things a female body goes through. There are several things that I love about being in this position that I didn't really enjoy last time. First, I really enjoy being pregnant at least at this stage. I am not too big, but you can definitely tell that there is a baby in the belly. I love feeling Shelby move and seeing it too. Gabe didn't do this until later, and it's so amazing to me. Gabe has really surprised me with this whole baby thing. When he sees my belly, he smiles and talks to Shelby. Then he sticks his belly out as far as he can and says "Shelby, Shelby." I love seeing that and am anxious to see how he will actually be with her. Jeremy has been so busy lately that he has not really been able to participate in all the doctor's appointments. But it's so funny to me when we looks at me in the evening and says, "Your belly is getting so big," like he just noticed it was there. I also love the fact I have not gained any weight. this has not been on purpose, but I am really happy about it. I am hoping I don't get huge at the end, but I am really not worried about that. As Shelby gets bigger, the less room I have and really, the less I want to eat. I feel so stuffed after a bowl of cereal. I also love saying, "It's a girl." It is so exciting to me and I cannot wait to see what Shelby looks like. I also enjoy looking at all the clothes and am excited to get hand-me-downs from some friends. There are a few complaints, but not many. I have headaches almost everyday and do get nauseous on occasion. I am also having a lot of trouble sleeping and my body aches at the end of the day. But I guess everything has good and bad sides to it. And my belly looks a bit strange with no tan, but that's okay. Gabe and I are in the sun everyday and are both getting "brown as biscuits" as my mom always used to say when I was younger.

Father's Day

Oh, what a great day. It was Jeremy's first whole day off since March, so he really deserved it. We decided to not waste the day away in the apartment and go to a beautiful beach. So we drove 2 hours into Alabama and went to Orange Beach. When we got there, we just stared at the beach and Gabe kept screaching with delight. The clear water and white sand was such a sight. Unfortunately, the beach in Gulfport looks nothing like that. So we gathered ALL of our beach gear and headed to the water. Gabe was itching to get in, but remained surprisingly patient as I changed him and slathered him with sunscreen. But once I said go, he took off at full blast. He and Jeremy played forever in the water and sand. I just enjoyed the view and sat in the shade. Being pregnant in the summer is so different from the winter. I am not uncomfortable, but I do notice the heat way more. Gabe loved the waves but seemed to be scared of them at the same time. He would run right up the the water and then when it would hit him he would scream and laugh all at once. I entertained Gabe for a bit in the sand, while Jeremy took a short rest. It is really amazing to see his imagination come to life and the way he connects things together. He was so enthralled with filling his buckets with sand AND water. He got so upset if there was too much of one and not the other, already a perfectionist. Then we all got in the water and enjoyed the waves and warm breeze. I know it may sound cheesy, but it really was a great day and one that we will remember. Jeremy has worked so much since we have been here, so it was special to us.

A Bit of Freedom

Wow. It has been so nice having some time to myself. Gabe went to stay with my parents for 4 days and I have had some wonderful alone time. When I talked to my Mom she said she was exhausted and I knew just how she felt. But I am glad that she and my Dad enjoyed having him for the week. I actually went to playgroup without a child. It was really great spending time with my friends without having to worry about nap time or diaper change. I enjoyed being around everyone with no worries. I also got some packing done so that is one less thing to worry about when the time comes to move. I have read some books, worked on Sudoku puzzles and basically layed on the couch. Jeremy and I have savored the quiet evenings alone and ironically spent most of the time talking about Gabe and Shelby. Thankfully Jeremy is finally starting to get home at a very decent time and will soon have a normal work schedule. Poor thing, he hasn't had that since we moved here almost one year ago. He has done a lot of sleeping lately, which I am sure he needs at least a week to catch up on all he's missed. Every time I spoke with Gabe on the phone he sounded completely content which helped me feel more comfortable with him being gone. I have missed him, but I feel rejuvenated and ready to take care of my little wild man again ( until the next break).

It's A Girl

Oh my gosh. I could not believe it when the tech said it was a girl. I had decided in the waiting room that I was going to be happy either way. It's not like I could change the result, right? I was so nervous going into the room, I just wanted to make sure all the parts were in the right place and everything was normal. Of course, everything was fine and then she asked if we wanted to know the sex. I said yes and then you know the rest. I cried a bit of happy tears and Jeremy was so excited. He said that he knew it was a girl but he didn't want to get my hopes up. The tech said the baby weighs eleven ounces-in the 97th percentile. So we see that my lack of weight gain is not an issue because she is getting everything she needs. We decided to name her Shelby Elizabeth, that being my middle name as well. Jeremy and I both love Shelby and it sounds so southern, so girly. Anyways, my appointment went well and I will go back in four weeks. I cannot wait to start shopping for all the adorable clothes that come along with having a girl. I told Gabe he was going to have a baby sister and he just looked at me. I guess he won't really understand until she gets here. Now we will have one of each and I think that will be it for us. Jeremy used to want five until he realized how much kids actually cost. We have 22 weeks left to prepare and to be honest, I hope the time does not go by too quickly. This pregnancy is much more enjoyable than the first and we want to get all the time in with Gabe that we can because once Shelby gets here, everything will change again.

Spending Time With The Grandparents

Gabe and I went to see my parents last week. Jeremy has been working so much and I really wanted to go home for a bit. So the first adventure was driving during the day. I had not done this with since we lived in East Tennessee and I was worried about what he would do. Most of the way there he behaved quite well. Then once we got about 2 hours away, he wanted out of the car right away I found myself singing the silliest songs and pointing out things on the road that I never would have looked at before. It's amazing what you will do to keep a child quiet. We finally arrived at the house and Gabe was so excited. Thankfully, he decided to behave once w got there and went bonkers over all the Shrek stuff my Mom had gotten him (yes, Shrek and dinosaurs are competing for first place in my child's heart). Dad got to teach Gabe some of the basics of golf, which was fun to observe. Gabe just wants to hit everything while Dad is trying to teach him the correct form. It was so interesting to watch Gabe because he really tried to get my parents to save him whenever I tried to discipline him. One day I thought my Mom and I were both going to pull our hair out because he kept going back and forth between us trying to get us to give him what the other wouldn't. But other than the occasional two-year-old tantrum we really enjoyed our visit. We got to visit with some of my friends and that is always a nice treat for me. Gabe has been fascinated with lawn mowers for a while now and a neighbor was having his lawn cut one afternoon. Mom and Gabe watched carefully as the two guys did their job and Gabriel could not get enough of it. They had to walk around the house and get just close enough to observe, but not get too scared. It is so much fun to watch Gabe with his grandparents. We will be going back in a week and they will be keeping Gabe so I cannot wait to hear his version of what they do.

Being Pregnant..

I am four months along now and this pregnancy is so different from the first. Thankfully there aren't nearly as many visits to the bathroom and I am able to eat. Although, I am not eating much and my doctor is constantly on me for not gaining weight. I am more tired for very obvious reasons and that little red head does not give an inch :) My mind seems to be playing tricks on me and I have come to the conclusion that pregnancy makes my hormones go nuts and I go a bit crazy. The depression is more noticable with this one, but I can recognize it and know that it's not me it's just what my body does. Hopefully when I see my doctor this week she can give me some advice on what to do. Of course there are some very exciting moments. I am already feeling the baby move and am also showing more and more everyday. When I see newborn outfits I get all excited think about those first few months when all babies want to do is cuddle. I still have a while to go and cannot wait to find out the sex in just 2 weeks.

Life is Tough

When you are little and you want to grow up all you think about is getting to drive, staying up all night and never having anyone ever telling you what to do. But the reality is that it's a pain to have to drive yourself everywhere, staying up all night is overrated and you will always have someone telling you what to do. I look at Gabe and wonder when he will start to wish he was out of the house or when the first time will be when he tells me he doesn't like me. I do not dwell on these things, but they are there. Today we went to the beach and I had a great time just watching him play in the water and run after the birds. He was so amazed by the waves and the sand. Was I ever that way? I am sure I was at one time or another. How do we lose that amazement with the world? How do you explain to your child about death and sickness and hurt that happens all the time? What do I say the first time he comes to me with a problem? I want to tell him to stand up for himself and to not let others push him around, but to be gentle and considerate. And how in the world do I teach a boy that? That it is OKAY to cry and you cannot always be tough. That talking to someone about your troubles is sometimes the best way to solve them. I guess when the time comes I will know what to say but it scares the stuffing out of me to think of it.

Gabriel's 2nd Birthday

Wow!! I cannot believe that Gabe is two years old. It seems that time really does fly when you have a child. Gabe has brought so much laughter and fun into our lives I cannot imagine being without him. He is such a blessing to have and I never know what to expect from him each and every day. I don't know how I will love another baby as much as I love him.
We had a Sesame Street celebration for our little man at my parents' house. All of his friends were able to come and they had a blast! From climbing in and out the doggie door to trying to take Gabe's new presents that they liked, the little party goers were more than we could handle! Gabe certainly had a great time altough he was a bit apprehansive about blowing the candles out. But he ripped into his presents like a pro and loved all of them. By the time it was all over, every single adult there was exhausted! This birthday was much more fun than last year's. Now that Gabe understands more, he definitely knows what to do!! I cannot wait to see what the next year brings and how Gabe reacts to the new baby in October.

Spring Is Here!

This time of year is extremely enjoyable on the Gulf Coast. The warm sunny days and cool nights almost make up for the sweltering summer heat that is soon to come! This past week my Mom's group had its' first Easter Party. We dressed up ourselves and our children for some family photos and everyone looked wonderful. We then ate all the delicious food everyone provided and soaked up the afternoon sun. After eating, we hid a TON of eggs and let the kids go wild on the hunt. Gabriel decided to open each individual egg that he found and eat the treat, which most of the other kids did too. After the hunt we posed for a great group shot and decided to call it a day. Most of the children were ready for naps and so were some Moms! It truly was a great day and I am so glad to have all of these friends!

The Nashville Zoo

When we went to TN for a week in March, one of our stops was the Nashville Zoo. Jeremy had never been with us so it was a treat for Gabe to have his Dad there. Gabriel was so excited when we got to the zoo!! He was running around trying to look at everything at once. We saw the monkeys first and they always make the craziest noises. Then we stopped at the bird exhibit.
We were able to go inside the exhibit and watch the birds fly around. Jeremy got some food to feed them and the birds began landing all over him. Gabriel was not afraid of the birds at all and kept putting his arm out so the birds would land on him. We then saw elephants, alligators, tigers, a jaguar, and some other neat animals. Gabe enjoyed looking at the map of the park and directed us where to go next. After a few hours of walking and looking at the animals, Gabe began throwing a professional temper tantrum, so we knew it was time to go. We enjoyed a picnic lunch outside the zoo and then made our way home.

Newbie

Since finding out that I was pregnant I have been very nauseous, but not nearly as bad as I was with Gabe. I am already showing some and things just seem to be happening a lot faster. Yesterday I had some bleeding, so I made a doctor's appointment. Everything turned out to be fine but I was told to rest as much as possible, which is not very easy when I have a child that goes 100 miles an hour all day!! I had an ultrasound and was able to see the baby and even hear the heartbeat. Everything looked normal and I amamazed at the miracle of a child. Even though I have gone through this once already, it still stuns me that there is a human inside me with a heartbeat faster than mine. This pregnancy is totally different from my first and I keep thinking, "Maybe this means it's a girl." I know that there is really no connection, but I am hoping!! Jeremy has been wonderful to me and has eaten many sandiwches and left overs since I do not have the stomach to cook. Gabriel does not really notice any changes so far, he is more interested in the Doodlebops and playing outside. Hopefully I will be feeling better soon.

Mardi Gras 2006

Mardi Gras has always been something my family participated in. I remember when my Dad and uncle built a tall seat for us little ones to sit in so we could see the floats and actually catch some beads. It was so much fun going to the parades and seeing all the costumes and amazing decorations on the floats. Of course when you are little, you don't realize all the crazy adult things that go on during this time! This year we wanted to take Gabe to some parades and let him experience it for himself. I knew he would not understand much about what was going on, but I wanted him to see the floats and have some fun with us. The first parade we went to was in Biloxi. Jennifer and her daughter Peyton were in this parade. They are in our Mommy and Me group and so we wanted to cheer them on. It just so happened that this Saturday was one of the coldest and nastiest days of the winter. It was so windy!!! But we were there and cheered on our friends. Gabe was very intimidated and did not seem too interested in what was happening. The only thing he really responded to was a little weenie dog dressed up. He cried when the police came by and were blaring their sirens. We got him a few beads, but he would not even wear them. Thank goodness he was more receptive to the second parade we attended.

Mom was here for a few days and we went to the Diamondhead parade with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Keith, Victoria, Meghan and DeLance. Gabe ran around with Jeremy and Mom and seemed to be really enjoying himself. We had fun just hanging out and seeing all the kids anxiously waiting for the parade. Once it began, Gabe seemed scared. But after a few minutes he was putting his head down every time Jeremy caught a bead so he would put it on his neck. When it was all said and done, Gabe looked like Mr. T with all his beads! We all had a great time and I was so glad that Mom got to spend time with Gabe. And a few days later he found them in his room and decided to put them on again and show off his "shinyyy beesss."

Our Busy Life

Since meeting several families over the past few months, our whole family has gotten a lot busier. From playdates every Wednesday, to hanging out at someone's home we are two little social butterflies. Gabriel certainly has blossomed and really gets along with most of the children. And of course, the friendships have been great for Jeremy and I as well! We all have definitely gotten into a routine, which is very comforting. Jeremy works plenty of hours and when he comes home, he belongs to Gabe!! I get such a laugh from watching them run around and scream their heads off. Gabe and I are usually at the library, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center and anywhere else other moms and kids are during the day. Other times we just stay home in our pajamas and watch PBS all day. I am so thankful for my Mommy and Me group that I started along with another mom. Most of us have just moved to the area, so it has really helped everyone. We also spend a lot of time with my Aunt and Uncle in Diamondhead. They have Gabe over to spend the night often, which is nice for Jeremy and I to get some alone time! I cannot believe that we have lived here for almost eight months. Gabriel's 2nd birthday is quickly coming and we will be celebrating big time. I cannot believe that he will be 2. He is becoming more independent and tries to dress himself and dress me too. And with another baby on the way, I need him to be as independent as possible! When Jeremy told him there was a baby in my belly, he stuck his paci in my belly button and said, "BayBee." I cannot wait to see him doing his big brother duties. The way he hugs on babies whenever sees them, assures me that he will be protective of the baby and maybe a bit unwilling to share mom. We definitely don't know how long we will be in Gulfport, but for now we are content here.

Gabriel's Obsession

I have never seen a toddler love dinosaurs or King Kong as much as Gabe. He carries around the movie covers and even sleeps with them. That may sound strange, but Jeremy and I think that it's sweet. He gets extremely excited when he reads a dinosaur book, sees them on TV or when someone even mentions the word dinosaur. My Uncle introduced him to King Kong this past week and Gabe is having a hard time choosing his favorite! Whenever Jeremy comes home from work, Gabriel runs right up to him and shows him the movie and starts yelling, "Dino" or "Kin Kon!" It's amazing to us that he does not get scared of these animals. They are scary to me! But my little boy is truly obsessed. It is so wonderful to see Gabe's imagination developing more and more everyday and to watch his mind "connect the dots." He also loves Sesame Street and looks for "Bi Bir" wherever we go. But the dinos and King Kong are first in this kid's world (besides mom and dad).