Parker Baby!: Second trimester, baby bump....and Addie sans diaper!

Lots of news over the last few weeks.......I'll start with the new little peanut! Just in the last week people at work who didn't know about the pregnancy previously are starting to notice my little belly and learn our exciting news! I can't believe how much sooner I have "popped out" this time! The doctor said it is like a "home that was lived in before....they move right in." I thought that was quite entertaining! The good news is that I am feeling much better these days! The nausea has subsided and I am getting my energy back. The last couple of weeks I have been taking less naps/rest breaks when Addie goes down for her nap....and I've been able to get a lot more done around the house. I'm also back to running 3-4 times/week! I've had some rough days battling headaches....but it seems like a little caffeine or a tylenol seems to do the trick. The doctor said a little caffeine a day is perfectly fine! I made a huge discovery a couple weeks ago.....and solved my sushi craving! I learned that eating rolls with cooked fish or even just vegetables is enough to satisfy this void during pregnancy.....one night I ordered $25 worth of sushi from Origami and downed it in one sitting.....definitely not good on the budget.....but ahhhh!, I felt so much better!
This morning I had an OB appointment. I'm right at 14 1/2 weeks and measuring on track! I have gained about 3 1/2 pounds, which my MD said is just fine. Babies heart rate was super easy to locate today...right in the middle below my belly button, and 150 bpm! There is something so special about hearing the heartbeat each month! Addison came up on the table and lied down next to me during that part of the appointment and said, "baby" as she patted my tummy......so precious! She is starting to get the hang out of it. The highlight of today was scheduling our level 2 ultrasound and appointment....Tuesday, July 3 we will find out the gender of our little peanut! I promise to post a first belly pic soon....
On to Addison......our little wild woman these days! She has decided that diapers are absolutely no fun! She regularly removes them and "delivers them to me"......sometimes filled with pee or poop, and sometimes just to get them off! It is an absolute battle during diaper changes, as she runs as quickly as she can away from me when it is time! She believe that diapers have one purpose.....they are for her baby! I think it is time to get a little more serious about potty training. Although we still sit on the potty regularly when she requests it, we have not really encouraged it at other times and have very few successful trips. I am going to start searching out tips on this process....as I'd love to have the bulk of it in place before peanut #2 arrives!
Besides loving to run sans diaper.....Addison has picked up on many new words lately! Her language is really expanding as she is starting to string a couple words together at a time. She'll say things like, "up mama", "no wa-wa (Wally)", "Addie chair".......it's so cute to watch her communication develop, and she is so proud of herself. We have also noticed a ton of improvement with her language through singing! She commonly chimes in to songs that we have sung to her frequently like wheels on the bus, baa baa black sheep, 1-2-I love you, and twinkle, twinkle little star. She even hums that tune to the alphabet song!
Addison's new excitement around the house is her BUS!!! It is actually what I would refer to as a car, but ever since we bought it she has called it her bus. It is a mickey mouse clubhouse car with lots of gadgets that play music, and equipped with a seat that she can push forward/backward with her feet to propel, and a handlebar for pushing. She LOVES IT!!! Other fun in the last couple weeks has been jumping in/out of and swimming in her friend Wi-Wi's (William's) baby pool on hot days...she has really enjoyed it! We had our last music class for the semester on the 21st, and decided to take the summer off before restarting in the fall. We will miss seeing Miss Cheryl and Addison's little music buddies on Mondays! We have decided to try a gymnastics class for the summer at Little Gym starting in a couple weeks on Wednesday mornings! We went for a trial class and Addison absolutely loved it! She was climbing on all of the equipment from the start of the class, including the balance beam, bolsters, air mat and even the bars! I think this will bring some new fun for the summer months!
We look forward to the weeks ahead.....our 4-year wedding anniversary this Thursday, and our family vacation/stay-cation June 9-June 17! We are planning to go to a cabin in Wisconsin for a few days, and other than that will just enjoy our time off together here in the Cities! We have ENT graduation, a friend's wedding, Father's Day, Noah's brother coming to visit that week...shall be fun!!! :-)