16 Weeks 4 Days

I was looking through some old photos today and ran across one that was taken when I was 16 weeks, 4 days pregnant with Caleb. Since I happen to be exactly 16 weeks, 4 days today, I thought it would be fun to take picture and put the two side by side.

The new pic is kind of lame (we just got back from a trip to the grocery store, and it is very hot and humid out!) but still it gives you an idea of how the two pregnancies are comparing.

I've always heard you show sooner with the 2nd, but I definitely showed sooner with Caleb. I think the difference can be attributed to two things: 1) Working at the City of Modesto required massive amounts of sitting still and 2) Living in Singapore requires massive amounts of exercise.

My kid's smarter than your kid. . .

I've recently been feeling quite proud of Caleb. After all, he says "bus," "rice," and "cheese," and cheers "go, team, go" every time we pass by a soccer field. He can point out fish and monkeys, elephants and snakes, horses and cows in his animal picture book. And, he signs please and thank-you without needing to be reminded. Pretty good, right?

But, this is not a "my kid is smarter than your kid" post. . . this is more like a "your kid is smarter than my kid" admission. Actually, this is really a "your kid is way stinkin' smarter than all of our future kids combined" admission!

Watch for yourself. . . I think you'll agree.

Update on Chair Time

If you read my original post, you know my goal was to have Caleb sitting for Chair Time for 30-minutes by the end of March. I underestimated his abilities! For the last week, Caleb has been quietly "reading" on his chair for 35 minutes at a time!

This was a good reminder to me that toddlers are capable of much more than we often realize. Their behavior (or misbehavior) is often (not always, but often) a reflection of our expectations. I am guilty of making excuses for Caleb in many situations where I probably shouldn't. I am not talking about being hard-nosed or ungracious for times when he is truly tired or hungry or upset for some reason, but a lot of times, I am the problem because I am either too lazy or too preoccupied to let Caleb know what my expectations are or to consistently follow through with consequences.

Like most kids his age, he still LOVES to please me. When I ask him to do simple tasks, he usually jumps on the opportunity. . . even when that task is to sit quietly on the bus with his hands folded. I need to remember this and use it to my advantage right now, because it won't always be this easy to train him!

Recipe for a Fun Bath

Mix Together:
1 dirty little boy
1/2 tub luke-warm water
1 Tbs bubble bath
3 Crayola Bath Tub Fingerpaints

Add a dash of creativity and a pinch of silliness.
Allow to set for at least 30 minutes!






Thanks, Yvette, for providing the Finger Paints =)

What happens when you dress your 17-month-old in size 18-months

Yesterday morning, I was at the kitchen sink when suddenly I heard Caleb behind me in the entryway.

"Mommy. . . Mommmmy."

"What's up, Bud?" I said, without turning around.

"Mommmmmmmmmy. . . " he said in a whine.

"Goofy-Goof, you need to stop whining and tell Mommy what you need in a nice voice."

"Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy. . . "

I finally turned around and saw this:


I don't know if it was his predicament or the look on his face that made me laugh so hard. All I can say is that I'm thankful I had my camera nearby.

Just for Fletch

Can't-Tag-Me-But-I-Can-Tag-You-I'd-Rather-Be-A-Dog-Named-Killer Fletch challenged me to complete the "What's on your desk" meme. Being the good sport that I am, I am playing along.

My "desk"
(aka an end table in the living room because space in our flat is limited)

Inventory: A bunch of random cords on the floor, a telephone, a MacBook Pro and a few books. Nothing fancy, but it foots the bill around here.

Would you rather. . .

I've been tagged by my favorite female cousin with a mid-western accent =)

Here is the game: If you are tagged, you have to post a "Would you rather" on YOUR blog and then tag 5 people.

Would you rather be a dog named Killer or a cat named Fluffy?
(I'll confess I saw this one somewhere)

I'm tagging Christianne, Yvette, Kirsten, Elizabeth and the recently-returned-blogger, Howiesgal. (I would have tagged Fletch but he just announced a few days ago that he's too good to do these. However, in this case, it is quite sad that he doesn't do them because with creativity such as his, I can only imagine that it would have been a great "would you rather. . .")

Can't wait to see what you all come up with!