It's been a while, but we're back!

It's been quite a while since I posted, and so I admit to being a very bad blogger. So I'll try to sum up the past few months.

December was Jamie's birthday and Christmas. Jamie had so many gifts that we actually had to save some for Christmas because he got too tired to open all of them on his birthday. Probably it would be best to open gifts before dinner instead of after next time. We had a nice dinner at Olive Garden, and Lil B came and gave Jamie a betta fish that we've named Alpha Beta. He loved his chocolate cake, too! Here's his favorite present:


Christmas was so much fun. We spoiled each other rotten, but especially spoiled Jamie. Here's another photo:


He started walking a few steps at a time in December, and just in the last week he's started walking pretty much everywhere without holding on. He loves his freedom! He's trying to walk as quickly as possible now, and he's so proud of himself. He got his first molar in, too, and has 3 others working their way down in fits.



In January, he slowly got used to his new skills and started calling out Mama, Dada, and Nana on a regular basis and now uses them when he wants each of us specifically all the time. He's started playing with the dogs. He tries to get Tigger to chase her, and sometimes she tries. He's learning to pet the dogs gently, and Murphy loves it! Jamie has learned to try to throw or roll a ball for Alex, which of course thrills Alex no end. Murphy is desperate for Jamie to play with him. Jamie had his hearing test in January, but when they tried to do the test, he freaked out and they couldn't do it. We'll have to go back again and try a different type of test and hopefully he'll be more cooperative.

We're expecting a new baby in June. We had a level 2 ultrasound in January to look for a CDH, but everything looks good. It looks like the diaphragm is intact, but of course it could have a hernia on the left, but still not be breached by the abdominal organs yet, so we'll keep our eyes open for symptoms, just in case. And at the ultrasound, we did find that the baby is a girl! Her name is Rhiannon, and we'll call her Renna. Jamie will be a big brother, and I think he'll be thrilled and very loving. So far she's just as active as Jamie was, but I haven't been able to feel her as much because the placenta is anterior. Julie got me a fetal doppler for my birthday, and I've been able to hear her heartbeat whenever I want, and it's wonderful! :) I found a doctor in Crown Point who will do a vbac, and I can have my doula teacher as my doula! It's great! We're taking a Bradley childbirth class, and so Michael is getting the training I got from my doula classes. It's been really wonderful. I did find out from one of the other mothers that her doctor does vbacs, including vbacs after primary sections. I did talk to a doctor at the same practice and he wouldn't, and he'd been the one I heard would do them, so I didn't interview any others. Oh, well. I'm happy with my new OB.

Jamie's crib was recalled last June, and I only found out two weeks ago. I found that the manufacturer is giving vouchers to those who had recalled cribs after sending them certain information and photos of labels. We'll be able to get a new crib with a credit of the highest retail value of the crib. I've picked out a crib that doesn't have drop sides and it converts to a toddler bed and to a full bed. We'll have to order it and it should only take a week or two to arrive. By then Jamie will be ready for a toddler bed. He's been sleeping on the mattress on the floor since we found out, and the first night was really rough, but since then he's been a pro about it. He seems to love the freedom of being able to get up and leave the bedroom after naps and to get off and on the mattress to play with his toys, even in the middle of the night.

I've had a few FO since my last posting, but the most recent is a baby sweater for Renna that is just adorable. It's a little too big so it can't be a take home outfit like I was planning, but she'll get some wear out of it once it fits. I still need to make pants to go with it. I have a blanket waiting to be made called Diamonds for Rhiannon. After reading the name, I knew I had to have it. I've been working on a sweater for Jamie, too and I'm about halfway through. Then I'll make the February Lady sweater for me.