19 Months and 37 weeks!

Sounds like a lot, huh?
















Life is so full, busy, take-your-breath-away kind of busy these days, I feel as if this may be my last chance to catch up on things before everything changes.

1. Lizzy is head down and sitting on go this week. We're still 2 weeks and 2 days from our carefully planned c-section, so I hope she's content, although I can't wait to see her precious face and hold her. (oh, and dress her. I still can't believe how adorable little girl clothes are!)

2. Some things I forgot to mention from Jay's 18 month update
-We've ordered new shoes for Spring in a size 9 Wide. He has a little man's foot all of the sudden. It is just crazy.
-We've introduced peanut butter with no issue, so he literally can eat anything and everything now, although it seems that his tolerance of many foods is decreasing instead of increasing.(Ironically, he also tried Salmon patties this week at Dede's and LOVED them. We're on day 3 of leftover Salmon patties, but the kid won't eat mac-n-cheese. Hilarious.)
- He's officially changed daddy's name to "Dally". Dally calls him Dilly, and they are inseparable. We still call Jay Turkey all the time. Thankfully, he'll answer to just about anything.
- We hear a lot of "Uh-oh, I okay!" these days. Anytime he stumbles, trips, falls, or bumps into anything he's shouting "Uh-oh, I okay!" before he really hits the ground. Very entertaining.

3. Potty interest- There really is no rhyme or reason, but some days Jay asks to go to the potty. Actually now he says, "Tee-tee potty candy-candy." I am not actively potty training him nor am I thinking that would be a good idea with our little Lizzy on the way, but when he asks we go sit on the potty and he successfully tee-tees. I bought a clear candy jar, filled with M&Ms and if he goes, he gets candy. Fairly simple. I am not setting timers or asking him, but I did want to reinforce the positive behavior when he shows an interest. That being said, once he goes he will continue to ask every few minutes and go sit on the potty and make himself dribble out a little tinkle just for the candy. I have been letting this go on two or three times then move on to something to distract him. The truth is as pregnant as I am, its really a lot of work to hurry to the potty, undress the bottom half, help him up on the potty, cheer him on, wash hands, give candy, redress and celebrate too many times in a row. It is what it is. :) I hope things remain this positive when training time actually comes (don't ask me when that will be). If Mimi was feeling better, I would go ahead and potty train him now, she's a pro and I do feel like he's pretty much ready; but since she's still sick and won't be here to help I am taking the easy way out and delaying until after we're all set with Lizzy and some sort of "new normal" schedule.

4. I also want to take a moment to remember how lucky we are to have the support of our amazing friends and family these days. To write down just how crazy life has been over the past several months would be altogether overwhelming. For those of you who know us you know we've been through the sale of our home, the move, a quest for the "right" home for our next move and my mom's illness all while preparing to become a family of 4. I cannot say enough about our friends who have been praying with us and for us. I literally have felt God's presence over the last few weeks and have experienced the feeling of being carried through some of these days. There have never been so many unknowns in my life, but I know that all of God's plans are perfect. If you've never been in a situation where God has had to carry you through each day, know that you are blessed beyond measure-but be comforted by the peace of knowing that it really happens, just when you need it and it's a peace that really can't be described.

Speaking of peace, can you believe this little guy?? He looks so full of mischief here. What in the world was he up to?

17...and 18

SO many changes!

Jay's 18 month appointment went great!
36" tall
30 pounds

Can you believe it??

And at 18 months, 2 days Jay graduated to his big boy bed!

Slept "like a baby" (ha!) all night from the very first night. Jay was SO excited to help Daddio put up the bed with his play-tools and once the mattress was in place climbed right up and said "Bed, Bed, Bed" while bouncing around. We spent most of the afternoon in his room making the bed and climbing up and down while playing toys. I hoped he would be really comfortable for the transition and it worked like a dream.

His morning naps are going well in the bed, and afternoon naps had become a struggle in the crib anyway. (Maybe the light at that time of day, this time of year? Maybe our schedule being busier? Maybe the fact that he's 18 months old and no longer needs 2-2hour naps every day??) So, some days we take two naps and some days just one. Its been tough to keep on schedule this week because Jay came down with a bad respiratory virus and hasn't been feeling great coupled with a mid-week trip to Nashville for three days/two nights in a hotel.

The most notable change about this age is Jay's vocabulary. Seriously. He blows me away with all of the things he says/tries to say, what he remembers and little sentences he's stringing together. Just today Daddio and I realized he now has full conversations with you, not repeating what you say but answering and asking questions. I can't believe my ears some days.

His love for trucks, tractors and all things that go Vrrrooom seems to intensify every day. I'm also becoming quite the tractor-spotter myself and have been known to purposely slow down on the interstate so a garbage truck can pass us so Jay can tell me all about it as we ride along. I LOVE IT.

Jay's eating habits have become quite predictable as toddlers go. Lots of chicken nuggets, soup, crackers, goldfish, snack cookies, yogurt, toast and FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT these days. His veggies are down to corn and refried beans mostly, so I promise, once he gets better, we're upping our veggie intake one way or another. While he's been sick I have introduced Fruitables juice boxes because I've been a bit worried about his nutrition this week and trying to cut back on dairy because of the drainage and cough. He still loves water and has enjoyed this little treat of a bit of juice this week. Maybe we'll stick with it, maybe we won't.

I'm just so proud of our busy, big little Turkey these days. He's really been a trooper with the changes we're going through and is the best little buddy I could dream of.


**I've been terrible about taking pictures. It is what it is. Life is happening all around us and is full to say the least.