Gametes In Love

Baby & Daddy cuddles

Now is this comfy TV watching or what?

This year’s European snow blizzard left my mom stranded in Bulgaria. I’m happy that she gets to spend this holiday with her mom, but also a bit sad since we had planned for her to join us here. However, Skype was our friend today and brought both S’ and my (missing) family closer for even just a little while.

Our day started surprisingly late. G didn’t wake up until 7:30am. Given that yesterday was a 6:00am wake-up call, I had expected today’s to be the same. I should be thankful, though, since next year, G will likely be knocking down our door at 5:00am to open gifts. Late last night, after my stomach bug had finally ran it’s course, I finished putting out the rest of G’s toys, specifically the big ones that I had not enough paper-wrapping skills in the world to manage. Until now, the rest of the gifts had been under our tree and G paid absolutely no attention to them. However, as he walked into the dining room this morning and saw his shopping cart and easel, his eyes lit up and immediately asked to “open it!” Then all was lost. Daddy was still brushing teeth upstairs. My mom was trying to get connected to Skype, and here I was with an impatient toddler trying to keep him away from new toys. It’s like keeping peasants from the invasion of the Bastille.

G’s main role today was to hand out boxes. He did an excellent job. Until now, he’s had no interest in wrapped packages. I think as of today that will change.

S2 on the other hand, spent the morning session of activities 1) eating; 2) pooping; 3) supervising the gift distribution. In that order.

Mom and Grandma. 6,500 miles away, but still with us today.

The tree: pre-gift opening devastation

G and his Daddy

“Where’s my loot?”

Holding up gifts for Gamma to see

Winner of the “Most annoying toy!” category this year. Also, winner of “Batteries will magically run out overnight” category toy too. I need to take video of this for you to understand why. Cute otherwise.

G, showing off his new tool-set to Grammie.

Christmas is hard work. S2 conked out for a heroic 4hr nap.

A week ago, we took the boys on a walk around one of the streets in the neighborhood, known to decorate for the holidays. I hope we’ll get to do this every year. G is excited about the lights, so we thought it’d be fun. And it was. Every house on the street was decorated. Some far exceeding Christmas lights quotas. Apparently, decorating for the holidays is listed in the purchase docs if you buy a home here. Talk about pressure, huh?

Look at this crazyness!

Merry Christmas!

Would you like some time off from school/your job? Have you missed some cuddle time with your toddler? Has it been awhile since you’ve bonded with the porcelain god? Well, then come on down to Crazy Jumpers and rent a bounce house for your child’s next party event.

I jest. But it is true. Every single time a child at G’s daycare celebrates a birthday, and the parents rent a bounce-house, it feels like the plague spreads through the school 2-3 days later. Every.single.effin.time. Last Thursday I saw a bouncer deflated as I was picking G up. I joked saying “Gee, I wonder what bug we’ll fall victim to this time?” Well, this event’s party favor? The stomach flu.

S came down with it yesterday and he was miserable. I’m falling victim to it today, and I am hoping… no… praying, that the boys (especially S2) don’t go through this next. We think G might have had it a few days back, and gotten off with the, ughmn, rear-end effects, but not with the pukies. I am at least thankful that S is stronger today and can handle him while it’s my turn to lick wounds in bed. Having us both be bathroom confined with two kids has to be impossible. I gotta tell you, this whole “In sickness and in health” part of wedding vows has a whole different meaning when you add kids to the mix.

The part that sucks is that G doesn’t even like bounce houses. He’s scared of them. The closest he’s come to being in one is at the opening, while no one else is inside. Yet, once his friends get sick and drool over all the toys, he comes down with it too. And as much as the teachers do a great job sanitizing, by then it’s just too late.

Yes, I know this is a side effect of daycare, and normally I can roll with the punches. Today I’m just pissy because 1) the parents got sick too; 2) I have an infant that I can’t do anything for if he gets it; 3) my family is visiting and I worry about passing it onto them, and 4) did I mention it’s Christmas Eve?

Merry Christmas y’all. I hope someone leaves some Gatorade under the tree.

How far along: 7w
Weight: me = 126.2 (I gained 2lb last week? What?); beeb = less than 1 aspirin pill
Baby size: 1/2″ long, about the size of a blueberry
Sleep: All.the.time and at the drop of a hat
Gender: TBD, although our families are already making guesses. S’ mom has a 1 vote in for girl and my dad has 1 vote in for boy.
Movement: Too early to tell, but bowel movement is at a stand-still 🙂
Feeling: Crummy, but significantly better over 2 weeks ago. Plus there’s nothing better than hurling in my desk’s trash can to the listening ears of 5 people sitting around me. If this is not a key-off that I’m pregnant, I don’t know what is.
What I miss: Dropping G off at school. I need a long time to be able to get out of bed in the morning (as to avoid inviting the puke faerie over for breakfast) and getting up in time to take G in has thus far proven un-feasible. I’m hoping we can go back to our routine soon.
What I am looking forward to: New progesterone meds coming in this week. I have a theory that I feel poopie 1 part due to morning sickness, and 2 parts due to the Endometrin I’m on now. Looking forward to putting my theory to the test.
Weekly Wisdom: Sleep. It’s good.
Milestones: 1 u/s showed us a heart-beat
Food cravings: Anything I can hold down
Best moment this week: Seeing our 1 healthy little kid
Fetal development: Every essential organ has begun to form. The hair and nipple follicles are forming, and the eyelids and tongue have begun formation. Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs. The trunk begins to straighten out and the embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of the tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks. Both hemispheres of your baby’s brain are growing, and its liver is churning out red blood cells until its bone marrow forms and takes over this role. It also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby’s growing intestines is bulging into its umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from its tiny body.