14 Months

This is crazy late, but I couldn't let the month go by without acknowledgement.  These monthly updates are getting harder to write; it's impossible to remember all the new things you've learned and started doing.  Everyday there's a new word, gesture or expression.  A lot of mommy bloggers stop the monthly updates after the first year, but this blog is your baby book, and I want to remember these little details (belated or not).

At 14 months you are...

Running.  Walking is too easy, and you like a challenge.  You also don't like to look where you're walking, so you trip a lot.

Dancing.  You are an excellent dancer, and your Auntie Fallon is so very proud.

Still quite the head-flinger.  You hate to be held or restrained via shopping cart or stroller for more than 5 minutes.  The staff and customers of Old Navy thoroughly enjoyed watching you run rampant through the store.  (I did not enjoy cleaning your black feet afterwards, since I forgot your shoes in the car.)

Saying No, Stop (pronounced dop) and Thank you (pronounced dan-ku) in addition to last month's vocabulary.

Ready to open a kissing booth!  You have mastered the art of closed-mouth kisses, and pucker up anytime someone asks for a kiss.

Going to be quite flexible one day, thanks to Grammy's "Big Stretch" routine that she's been practicing with you since you were just an itty bitty.

Also doing lots of headstands.  Gymnastics, here we come!

Sneaky.  If someone catches you with something you shouldn't have, you quickly hide it behind your back.

Helpful.  You like to close doors and hand me clean laundry one piece at a time.

Cleanly.  You know how to brush your teeth and hair.  And speaking of hair, you have curls!

Kind of a bully.  You bite, slap, and scratch everyone, including yourself.  You also hit yourself in the head with your hands or sippy cup and yell, Ow!

An excellent (but messy) eater!  And always more interested in what others are eating than what you have...even if it's the same thing.

No longer throwing your sippy cups and suddenly much more accepting of different types of cups.

A big fan of the juice box after Grammy introduced it a couple weeks ago. 

Ready for swimming season!  You love your baby pool!

Insistent on playing with your water table at least once a day.

Everyone please ignore the fact that she is wearing little boy clothes...she ran out of clean clothes at daycare.

Able to point to your eyes, nose, mouth, ears and belly button when asked.

Still utterly infatuated with Barney and Friends.  It's the only show that will hold your attention from start to finish.  You enjoy watching it from your rocking chair.

Tugging on my leg (occasionally pulling down my pants) and yelling, "Mama Mama Mama" when you want to be picked up.  And if I don't get to you quickly enough, you blow raspberries on my legs to remind me.

The Tantrum Queen.  You let out the most desperate, agonizing cry after someone tells you "No".

Very impatient when it comes to diaper and outfit changes.

Perfectly content laying on the floor.  If you're tired or bored, you'll drop to the floor and just look around.  Sometimes we'll toss you a pillow, if we're feeling generous.  (Kidding!)

 
Glued to your blankie.  You drag it everywhere.  Including the dinner table.  Ick.

Still spending Mondays with Mommy, and in daycare Tuesday through Friday. You are very popular.  All the older kids yell, Hi Baby Lucy, I like your shoes! when we arrive in the mornings.

Transitioning to one very long nap instead of two shorter naps.  This makes me happy.

Sleeping from 8 pm - 7 am.  On the weekends you'll lay in bed and chat with yourself for up to an hour before demanding freedom.  This makes me very happy.

Sleeping on the lowest crib setting, with no immediate plans to transition to a toddler bed.
 
On a healthy streak!  Just a 24-hour stomach bug over the last month.

Without molars to my knowledge.  You have 7 teeth, and are cutting #8.

Taking after Daddy in the freckle department.

Miss Skinny!  Never thought I'd see the day!!  You are down to 23 pounds.  My favorite leg and neck rolls are disappearing.  ::chokes back soft sobs::

... inches long (will update later)

Wearing one-size pocket diapers, size 2 covers, and a combination of 18 month and 24 month clothing.

This last month was yet another reminder that we desperately need to finish babyproofing.  You bit through every.single.K-Cup and even dropped a bottle of (very expensive) truffle oil.  And you just don't look like a baby to me anymore, Lu.  You're all grown up.  You're so smart and fast, I'm in total shock.  You used to be this helpless little newborn that couldn't even hold your head up, and now you're folding laundry!  I fully expect to walk into the kitchen tomorrow morning and find you cooking breakfast.  I love you so much, Princess.  Though I wish you'd let me cuddle you more!  I can't wait to see you as a big sister in action.

How many Russo's can you fit on the staircase?  Answer:  2.5

 

Naming Baby Boy

Boy names are tough, there's a lot to live up to.  I have to read every consideration outloud, and picture him at every age.  His name has to be unique and strong; it has to have nickname potential; it has to be bad.ass.  Most importantly, I have to love it as much as I Love Lucy.  So clever.  (What??  Didn't I ever tell you guys that Lucille Ball is her namesake?)

Before I share his name, I thought it'd be fun to take a look at The Contenders...
Cooper (Coop)
Dakota
Gabriel (Gabe)
Isaac
Jordan
Theodore (Teddy or Theo, but NOT Ted)
Vincent (Vinny)

And, just for fun, a look at some names that I liked, but Casey vetoed...
Atticus
Adrian
Fisher
Fletcher
Phineas (Finn)
Sawyer
Sidney (Sid)
Sullivan (Sully)

We had a really hard time agreeing on names - as you can see from the long list of vetoes - and we eventually had to compromise.  Casey wanted to use his middle name, Jordan, and I wanted to use just about any other name.  So we scratched our original plan to use Anthony for a middle name (after my dad's middle name, since Lucy's is after my mom), and landed on...........

Parker Jordan 

27 Weeks - Third Trimester

How far along?  27w1d

How big is baby?  Rutabaga!  13.6-14.8 inches and 1.5-2.5 pounds; brain and lungs are uber busy developing.

Physical differences from last week?  I weighed 126.4 pounds on Friday morning; which is a 4 pound gain from last week (back to my weight from two weeks ago), and an overall gain of 16.8 pounds.  My belly feels BIG.  Thinking about buying a maternity support belt...   I'm wearing regular pants and shorts with the belly band, and maternity shirts and dresses.  My belly button is flat and there are no new stretch marks to report.  Hallelujah!

(Just for giggles, compare to me at 27 weeks with Lucy)

How I'm feeling?  I was very weak and lethargic through Friday, but now I feel back to my regular (pregnant) self.  All signs of the stomach bug have vanished.  My chief complaint is lower back pain; contractions are becoming more intense; and suddenly getting up 1-3 times each night to pee.  The big craving this week was for Chompie's Black and White Cookies.  I ate 6, thanks to Auntie Fallon. 

What's been on my mind?  Starting freezer cooking. 

What I'm looking forward to?  Growth ultrasound on Tuesday, which was rescheduled due to the unexpected hospital visit.  Also have my Glucose Test on Thursday.  ::fingers crossed::

Best moment this week?  Choosing a name for Babe.  It's done.  It's decided.  We love it and will share sometime this week.  We even bought the letters to decorate and hang over his crib!

First Freckle

We officially have a Ginger in the making!!  Eeeeeee!

Going Home!

It's official, I'm going to be discharged from Antepartum this morning!!!  The on-call doctor visited me this morning at 5:30 and gave the order. 

Here's a recap from the last time I posted...

The plan was to be discharged first thing Tuesday morning, but I woke up extremely sick - the typical symptoms of a stomach bug in full swing.  I think I was sick 9 times.  No one was able to reach my doctor, because she had had that early morning delivery (remember she visited me at 2:00 am?) and then a full day of office visits.  We had no plan - no diagnosis, no antibiotics, I still thought there was a chance I'd be discharged.   My nurse collected a sample for labs and continued giving Zofran and Immodium in the mean time; eventually my clear liquid diet was revoked and I wasn't allowed to eat or drink at all.  The on-call doctor finally made her rounds at 6:00 pm; she ordered two more labs, a blanket antibiotic, and the B.R.A.T. diet. 

Wednesday morning started very similarly to the last:  sick, sick, sick.  The on-call doctor came by around 10:30 am, and hoped I could be discharged that afternoon assuming the antibiotic would get the stomach bug under control.  And it did.  I haven't been sick since.  Unfortunately, my Potassium levels crashed again, I developed a low-grade fever, and I started having contractions both times on the monitor; and so I added another night to my stay.  Also, like to add that I spent all of Wednesday laying flat and on my left side to prevent contractions.  That got old real quick, let me tell ya.  I had 6 more bags of Potassium and two more blood draws; they actually ran out of veins to draw from and had to begin re-poking.  That was excrutiating.  My Potassium levels will continue to be monitored  for the duration of this pregnancy.

It's been a very long, surreal week.  I haven't seen Lucy since Monday afternoon, and I'm having withdrawals.  Also haven't showered since Monday...(I intended to shower yesterday, but the mandatory bedrest thwarted that plan.)  The lab results still aren't back, so there is no formal diagnosis; all I know is today is the first day I don't feel nauseous and I'm happy.  I've never been this sick in my adult life; in fact, I don't think I've been sick this long in my entire life.  I never expected to be admitted or stay nearly as long as I did, and I sure as heck didn't expect to miss Auntie Fallon's high school graduation.  

(Non-blurry picture to come, I promise!)

 

OB Triage and the Antepartum Unit

That's where Babe and I have landed ourselves...

I mentioned my stomach bug in my last weekly update, and I'm sad to say it's still lingering.  This is day 5.

When I paged the on-call doctor over the weekend he told me it would be best to go to the hospital then; I, however, felt like things were improving and didn't want to waste a trip to the hospital.  I woke up on Monday feeling less lethargic and more optimistic, but still had to run to the bathroom within minutes of eating or drinking anything, and had no appetite or thirst.  Casey and my mom urged me to at least call my doctor; and she told me to go to the hospital for IV fluids.  So Grammy left work to take over Lucy Duty (since Monday is usually Mommy and Lulu Day), and Casey and I got to the hospital around noon.  We were taken back to OB Triage right away; they examined me, gave me Zofran and Immodium, listened to Babe for over an hour, gave me IV fluids, and took blood for labs.  You have no idea how hard it is to say the phrase, "I haven't really been able to urinate..." when asked to produce a urine sample.  The hospital doctor came in just before 5:00 pm to review my blood test results.  In addition to being dehydrated, my Potassium levels were extremely low.  He called Dr. O, and they decided to keep me overnight for a Potassium IV and monitoring.  Casey left to grab some clothes and tooth brushes, and I was moved to the Antepartum Unit.

The room was spacious and much more comfortable than Triage.  (Seriously, Scottsdale Healthcare > Banner Good Samaritan.)  My Potassium IV was started shortly after, and that's when I died.  Kind of.  The nurse warned me that Potassium is one of the most painful medications to administer via IV, and that it might "sting a little".  (Oral medication was not an option because it can cause nausea and vomiting.)  I felt the Potassium as soon as the IV was started.  Normally, I consider my pain tolerance to be pretty high, but that Potassium turned me into the most pathetic thing.  I couldn't move my hand, I couldn't think, I could barely speak, and I even started shaking.  And it really sucked because my cell phone was dead and Casey wasn't back yet, so I was completely alone with the TV stuck on the channel guide - because my hand was immobilized from the pain.  It felt like my arm was on fire and every bone was being crushed.  I paged the nurse after 6 whole minutes, and she tried three different combinations of drip speeds and dilutions before finding something that wasn't completely miserable.  The plan was to have four bags administered over four hours, and then a blood draw two hours after the last bag.  Casey got back around 8:00 pm, and we spent the night watching movies and eating broth, as I've been restricted to a clear liquid diet.  My last bag of Potassium ended at 11:30 pm, had my blood drawn at 1:30 am, and a visit from Dr. O shortly after (she was in the hospital for a delivery).  She said if my levels were normal in the morning, I could be discharged first thing.

We woke up early, at 5:00 am, because Casey had to leave for work, and I started getting sick at 5:30.  Which was unexpected.  Like, really unexpected.  I've been sick four more times, and now I'm just hanging.  No one really knows what to do with me.  They're running more tests, and gave me more Zofran and Immodium.  Now we wait and see what Dr. O wants to do.  There's a chance I'll be here another night, and there's a chance I'll get discharged.  Will be sure to keep everyone updated!

26 Weeks and an "OB Problem"

How far along?  26w1d

How big is baby?  Head of lettuce!  He is 13.6-14.8 inches long and weighs 1.5-2.5 pounds; his eyes are forming and will open soon, eyelashes have grown, his immune system is developing, and he's taking practice breaths (of amniotic fluid). 

Physical differences from last week?  I've lost almost 6 pounds in the last 3 days...  I weighed 127.8 on Wednesday, and it's been dropping due to a stomach bug that Lucy and I have been sharing since Thursday night; this morning I was 122.4.  I'm pretty dehydrated, all traces of swelling are gone, and my bump even seems smaller.  Not ideal for tomorrow's growth ultrasound...

How I'm feeling?  (Pre-bug) I was experiencing nightly, mild swelling in my hands and feet, lower back pain, and heartburn - my relationship with buffalo chicken is officially over until August.  The big craving this week was for turkey burgers from the little cafe by my office.  (Post-bug) I am nauseous, achy, weak, and in the bathroom every 15 minutes.  The only time I'm not completely miserable is when I'm sleeping.  I have no appetite; I'm extremely sensitive to all smells; and I can't walk across the house or even hold Lucy. 

What's been on my mind?  (Pre-bug) accomplished a few things on my pregnancy checklist: researched circumcision, made my birth plan, pre-registered with the hospital, and I think we've even decided on a name for Babe! 

What I'm looking forward to?  Seeing Baby Boy on the big screen tomorrow, hopefully hearing some good news about his growth, and being healthy again.

Best moment this week?  Hugged Casey and Babe kicked him in the leg. 

Onto my "OB Problem"...  That's the kind of appointment I had Thursday afternoon.  My c-section incision has been causing all sorts of problems from the beginning of this pregnancy.  It previously only hurt when I went from sitting to standing, or really overexerted myself, but now it's a constant source of pain.  It's also extremely swollen, to the point of being lopsided.  I tried researching online to see if the pain and swelling were typical of subsequent pregnancies, but couldn't find any information; just the opposite, most women experience total numbness in the surrounding area.  I reluctantly called my doctor Thursday morning, and she had me come in the same day.  She ruled out infection, and thinks the problem is a swollen ligament or hernia.  She recommended icing it and a maternity support belt.  We'll monitor the swelling for the next month, and if there's no improvement, I'll be put in contact with a surgeon to repair the hernia.

Babymoon Dreams

We didn't take a babymoon with Lucy, and we won't with Babe either - at least not after seeing the daycare quote for two.  We're 21 years old.  The biggest financial obligation for most peeps our age is a car payment.  We don't have the means, and we don't really have the time to spare as we get closer and closer to third trimester.  That being said, I'm not sad or surprised.  I'm sure we'll still have that extravagant, kid-free vacation one day.  (Am still holding out hope for a Lucy-free weekend somewhere before Babe is born, be it in Casa de Shelton or a tent.)  In the meantime, let's all drool over my virtual babymoon at L'AUBERGE de SEDONA. 

Creekside massage??!  *swoon*

source

25 Weeks

How far along?  25w3d

How big is baby?  Cauliflower!  13.6-14.8 inches and 1.5-2.5 pounds; he has developed a sense of equilibrium (please Baby Boy, do NOT think that's an excuse to be breech), and he's getting chubby and hairy!

Physical differences from last week?  I weighed 126.6 pounds on Saturday morning; which is a 1.5 pound gain from last week, and an overall gain of, meh, 17 pounds.  No new stretch marks, and the belly button is flat and sore; wearing regular pants and shorts, maternity tops and dresses (including some new pieces that I picked up over the weekend!).  The only exercise I got this week was from chasing Lucy around the house - which was plenty!  I've been asking my mom the same question every week since first trimester, "Have I gotten fat all over yet?"  Her answer has been no up until this week...  This week her response was, "Well your face is starting to get a little fuller".  /dies



Crappy cell phone picture at work...
(Hopefully I'll remember to post a proper picture tonight!)

How I'm feeling?  Pretty good overall!  Starting to feel achy by the end of the day and grunting when getting up from the floor or bending.  Two times this week I was overwhelmed with crazy pregnant lady emotion: when my meatloaf wasn't cooked through and Lu threw her third spoon on the floor, and then again at Auntie Fallon's Senior Dance Recital.  My two cravings were for Banana Dream Cake and Diet Pepsi.  Gasp!  I know what you're thinking...  You're thinking, "Z-OMG  she prefers Pepsi to Coke?!  she's drinking soda while pregnant?!!"  I'm totally ashamed, but I had this exact craving last time too.  If it's any consolation, I try to drink caffeine free, and limit myself to one glass a day.

What's been on my mind?  Redecorating the master bedroom.  (Seriously, can I be anymore pregnant?  Crying over meatloaf and now starting unnecessary renovation projects??)  Also, that I need to start my Hypnobirthing self-study soon.  Eep.

What I'm looking forward to?  Knocking out my pregnancy to-do list so that I can actually relax in the evenings before this kid is born, and swimming weather!

Best moment this week?  Finding this on Pinterest:

Messy Eater

That would be YOU, Lu.  You are messy.  Messy, messy, messy. 

Ah!  Look at those hands!!!

I realize it's been awhile since I last talked about your eating habits, so I thought an update was in order.

Your favorite food is still peas.  (I think it's more their size and shape than flavor.)  You stuff as many peas in your mouth as possible, and then tip forward to watch them all fall out.

You also love carbs: crackers, (baked) french fries, baked potatoes with butter, bread, cupcakes.

I hate sharing kale chips with you - hate is a strong word, but I sincerely mean it.  You turn those delicious, crispy chips into confetti. 

The bathtub drain is probably going to get clogged one of these days from all the food stuck to you.  In the last week I've wiped marshmallow fluff from your armpit, peeled salmon off your tush, and pulled tiny pieces of kale confetti out of every roll of chub.

Our dinner dress code is diaper only.  This is because you'll only tolerate a bib for approximately two minutes before ripping it off.

I really need to buy some kind of splat mat or vinyl table cloth for the floor beneath your highchair...  Every night I have to sweep or vaccum, and then spot clean the floor on my hands and knees.

You're latest habit is sucking the juice/flavor out of whatever you're eating and then spitting it out afterward.  So it seems like you're eating a ton, but you're really not.  And I don't know how to fix that.

You hate to be spoon-fed, but love to feed yourself.

Grammy set you in a regular chair at breakfast this morning...it was adorable.  Now I'm on the hunt for a booster seat.

I occasionally give you an apple to gnaw on while I make dinner.  It's a great way to pacify you for 10 minutes.  (This is extremely upsetting to Grampy, because fruit is sacred to him.)

I think that's about all I have...you've been throwing using a sippy cup for the past month or so.  And what a relief that is!

Maternity Clothes

I hate them.  I hate clothes in general.  Not that I'm an exhibitionist, but I refuse to spend gobs of money on awesome clothes.  And as a result, I have a rather limited wardrobe.  When I was pregnant with Lu, the first place I checked for maternity clothes was eBay and Craigslist.  I added pieces as I needed them - mainly from Kohls and Motherhood - and my mom also bought me a ton of stuff because she's just awesome.  She's actually the one who discovered the reasonable prices and cute selection that is Old Navy.

My first pregnancy went from July through March, so the bulk of my maternity wear is for winter weather.  Since I got pregnant in December, most of those clothes have been totally useless.  It also doesn't help that I started this pregnancy out almost 15 pounds lighter, and the clothes that would be seasonally appropriate are just way too big.  (Seriously, parachute pants...not a good look for me.)  Luckily, I've been able to continue wearing all of my regular pants and shorts this time (with the help of a little self-control and the belly band); but I'm forcing myself to buy a few things this weekend, because I cannot keep rotating these same 6 shirts for the next three months!!!  (Please, please, please don't let all things size small be picked over!)

24 Weeks and Viable

Happy Viability Day, Baby Boy!  (You are sooo NOT welcome to join us yet, but at least you're able to if you absolutely must.)

How far along?  24w2d

How big is baby?  Grapefruit!  (Call me crazy, but isn't a cantaloupe larger than a grapefruit??)  Still 10.5-11.8 inches and 12.7-20.8 ounces; see-through skin is becoming opaque and pink.  

Physical differences from last week?  I weighed 125 pounds on Thursday night at my prenatal visit; which is a 2 pound gain from last week, and an overall gain of 15.4 pounds.  I'm sort of indifferent about my weight gain these days.  Compared to the eating habits of my first pregnancy, I've been a saint; and my gain is perfectly normal.  Dr. O said my belly was measuring a few days ahead.  No new stretch marks and the belly button is flat (and tender!).  Wearing regular pants and shorts with the belly band, maternity tops and dresses.

How I'm feeling?  My incision is pretty achy; had two bloody noses during the week and some wicked bloody gums; significantly less heartburn (ironic...considering last week's purchase); and very painful BH contractions during Lu's bathtime/bedtime routine.  Haven't been able to get enough watermelon or sweet potatoes.  Also, still didn't get my brownie sundae - though my sweet brother made a darn good attempt. 

What's been on my mind?  Haha. 

What I'm looking forward to?  Tons coming up on the agenda!  We've got a growth ultrasound on May 21, Auntie Fallon's high school graduation on May 23, Glucose Test on May 31, and *squeeeeee* my baby shower on June 10.

Best moment this week?  Grammy got to feel Babe kick on Thursday, and we painted the nursery on Saturday!  (Pictures to come!!!)

Bottle Thrower turned Sippy Thrower

"I've never seen a baby throw their bottle as much as she does." 
-Grammy

You've got quite the arm on you, missy.  It must have been around 11 months, when you switched to formula, that we really noticed how frequently and powerfully you pitched your bottles.   

You managed to crack every bottle ring we owned in a matter of weeks.  And cracked bottle rings mean one thing, and one thing only:  LEAKAGE.  I can't tell you how many puddles of formula and milk I've wiped up in the last 3 months.  (Grammy is still upset about all the spots on her carpet.) 

And then there was that time you tossed your bottle overboard in Mommy's new Jeep, and I didn't find it until we got home; naturally, by that time, all 8 ounces of whole milk had drained into the seats. 

Of course, as my belly grows and grows, my patience shrinks and shrinks.  Many a time this big ol' pregnant lady has been wedged in the glider, between you and the boppy, straining to pick up your bottle/sippy with my feet.  (And many a time I've had to eventually get up because I just couldn't reach the damn thing.) 

I have to give you some credit, though, because in the last couple weeks we've begun to work on handing the sippy to Mommy (or whomever) when you're all done with it, and you seem to be catching on.  My new beef is with your "spill-proof" sippy cups.  They were spill-proof for all of 5 minutes...until you chewed through the spout.

Logistics (Bedtime and Finances)

My head nearly exploded yesterday.  Over a crib.  For some reason I felt the need to analyze our sleeping arrangements, bedtime routines, and budget after Baby Boy joins our little family, because of a crib.  And now I'm going to regurgitate that thought process here.  You lucky readers!

It started off innocently enough, just thinking about our plans to paint the nursery tomorrow, excited to have the room painted and the furniture rearranged.  But that led to the inevitable question I've been struggling with for months...  When to buy the second crib?  It would be nice to run out and buy it, and get it set up this weekend; the room would feel that much more complete.  But, on the other hand, it would take up a lot of floor space that we don't necessarily need to sacrifice yet.  Then I wondered...  Do we even need a second crib? 

We bed-shared for the first 9 months of Goosey's life.  Surely we would do the same with Babe, right?  I loved bed-sharing.  But, I also love my space and privacy.  After discussing with Casey, I know that he also really loved it; and it was decided.  But that didn't stop me from briefly considering co-sleeping, in an effort to maintain closeness, convenience, and comfort; and I actually spent about 30 minutes pricing out white mini cribs - because the cinnamon wood would clash with our bedroom set - before realizing my stupidity.  (Yes, you read that right, I actually considered buying a third crib, merely for aesthetic purposes.)  The decision to bed-share was reaffirmed, but I still didn't know if we needed a second crib! 

If we bed-shared for 6-9 months before transitioning to the crib and sleep training, Lucy would be almost 2 years old and in a toddler bed.  We could buy a coordinating toddler bed for Lucy, and Babe could use the crib.  Save a little money and whatnot.  Brilliant, right??  But there are no coordinating toddler beds for the Graco Sarah Convertible Crib.  And I need their furniture to coordinate, people!  So long as these kids share a room!!!  (Which, for the record, will be at least 1 or 2 years - because, oh yes, I even thought about the possibility of moving yesterday.)  In addition to my fixation on wood tones, the savings on a toddler bed vs. a convertible crib is less than $50; and I think the crib would have a higher resale value.  So, it was decided...  Lucy would keep her crib and Babe would have his own, matching crib; but, wait, that means our kids are really going to share a bedroom.  What if they wake each other up?!?!?!

The weight of it finally hit me.  The first few weeks of Cry-It-Out will be brutal, and I'm sure he won't sleep through the night right away.  Then there's my rowdy toddler that likes to squeal and climb, and chat with herself for 10-15 minutes before finally closing her eyes.  After googling and discussing with my mom, it seems like our only option is to have different bedtimes.  Babe first, then Lucy.

In my mind, I had accomplished a lot:
Need a second crib?  You betcha!
Bed-sharing?  Yup!
Bedtime dilemma?  Solved!

BUT...(there's always one big butt that gets in the way, eh?)

What.about.money?  Better quadruple check our projected budget for August 2012...  Only to find a slight miscalculation has been made and we cannot afford full time daycare for two kids.  Scary, right??  Sadly, we don't have an answer for this one just yet.  Mucho (mucho, mucho) to consider.

I'm amazed if you survived that monster post.  Does your head hurt?