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Hey Fam, this is my zoo!!! I cannot believe I haven’t been here for 2 weeks! The cows missed me.

Uncle Al, this is how you drive a John Deere.

Last week, Pinto turned negative 26 weeks old (so 14 weeks in utero). Pinto emailed his/her dad an update on his/her development….

Hi Dad!

Here’s what I’m up to this week…..

This week’s big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he’ll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you’re having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: Your baby’s stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body’s growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that’s in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He’s starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby’s liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it’s doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can’t feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist’s hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Love, Pinto

And, Jordan responded:

A lemon! Pinto, you are such a big…pinto! it says that your arms will be proportionate to the rest of your body by the end of this week, but I bet you have your daddy’s arms and they already are. 🙂 Can’t wait to feel your kicks!!!

Love,
Dad

Speaking of kicks, on Thursday night, after eating a very fast dinner of french toast*, I felt a little wave in the corner of my belly. So, I think that was my first Pinto kick! It makes sense that it happened after a dinner of sugary wonderfulness. The asterik* refers to why the dinner was so fast… I had gotten home kinda late from my 3rd day of work training that went well into the evening. I was eating dinner while reading Natalie stories before bedtime. Even though Natalie had already had two helpings of dinner, she was very interested to see the french toast and syrup. She was eating so quickly, saying more, that it was almost a competition. Not only was I not in the mood to share much of my french toast, but I didn’t think that sugary syrup – after brushing teeth – 20 min. before bed time was a good idea!

So, now to compare… here’s a picture of Natalie at 15 weeks in utero…

And here is a picture of Pinto at 15 weeks in utero.  As you can see, Natalie was confused as to why her Dad would take a picture of just me, so she made sure to get in there.  Looks like she is ready for that big sister role!

It’s never too early to start NAND practice. Rocket pockets 2037… Here Natalie comes!!!

Photo credit: Pop

Natalie’s preschool was supposed to open last Tuesday, Sept. 4 (right after Labor Day), but didn’t due to licensing issues with the State.  So, Jordan and I each took two of the four days this week for Mommy/Daughter or Daddy/Daughter days!  We had a great time!

Natalie took me to the Children’s Museum on both of my days.  I haven’t been there for a couple months, so it was fun to see her interact with the exhibits in a new way.  On the second day, she also wanted to do nearly all the same activities, in the same order.  Good memory!

Boo! You didn't expect to find me in this tent, did you?

 Natalie also had some serious water painting to do – on both days.  It was hard to pry her away from this exhibit.

I like to call this method... double-fisted

 We ended each day with more double-fisting… ensuring a stamp on each fist!  Natalie loved the pandas and robots.  Does anyone have a suggestion on where I can get some fun small stamps for her?  I’ve tried Amazon and Target, without any lucky.

Yeah, did you see my stamps? More, more!

Natalie also arranged a couple play dates for us.  I wasn’t able to get pictures of all our friends who were there – Henry, Anna, Taylor – but I did manage to catch some of Megan and Natalie running around.

(Molly's voice...) Excuse, me, Nat... but you're going a little to slow on this balance beam!

Hey Molly, wait up! We're supposed to go down together! Does all this speed happen when you turn 2?

Natalie decided to take her Dad to Mr. Singer at the zoo on both of his days too!  Natalie is still loving cows… I asked her, “What’s your favorite animal at the zoo?”  She answered, “cow poo.”  As you may recall from a few posts ago, seeing the cow poo has had a lasting effect on her. 

Um, are you sure we're supposed to be feeding the cows? What if they poop on me?

Feed the cows again, Dada! That was fun!

Although we’re eager for Natalie’s “school” to open, both Jordan and I had fabulous days with Natalie and wish those could happen more often.  Thankfully, until school opens, Nana and Pop are pitching in a lot (esp with short notice, given the teacher’s strike) and we found a SAHM (stay at home mom) from church with a son a little younger than Natalie who is helping too.  Three pics from their adventures this week:

Oh, Pop... you really like all kinds of fish, don't you?

 

Its okay, Mousey... no need to be scared. Nana said that all the fish at the Shedd are nice

 

Hugs! Thanks for sharing your super awesome car and tunnel with me, Frankie!

I try not to let Natalie play with my phone, but after a long day of a teachers strike and a headache courtesy of Pinto, I did. And this pic resulted. 🙂

Natalie has news to share…

Yep, that's right - I'm going to be a big sister! As long as I don't have to share my bubbles...

Natalie will be a fantastic big sister!  She likes babies and is increasingly compassionate.  She is very concerned whenever someone else is crying – she often thinks its due to a boo boo.  She is quick to send her “Mousey” over for some kisses to make the person feel better.  We’re still working on sharing, but what 20-month-old isn’t?  She also has a lot of fun tricks to share with a little sibling… for example, just this morning at the Children’s Museum, Natalie invented a nose-picking device!

See, you insert it in your nostril like this....

However, Natalie has about six months to wait before she really puts her big sisterhood into action… “Pinto” (bean’s) is expected to arrive around:

So, Natalie and “Pinto” will be about 2 years, 3 months apart.  We’re hoping – close enough to be friends with each other, but far enough away that they have their own space.

My pregnancy has been going well so far – I was tired in the first trimester, of course, but getting less so now.  My food aversions haven’t been nearly as strong as the first time around, but oddly enough, are pretty similar (e.g. Cracklin Oat Bran – my fav non-pregnancy cereal – and coffee – not for me, but anyone around me).  At just more than 13 weeks old, Pinto is weighing in at 1 oz. and is 3 inches long.  S/he is definitely eager to show everyone that s/he is here – I feel like my belly has been sticking out for at least a month.

Thanks for sharing in this fun news with us!  Love, Erin, Jordan and Natalie

Pa and Ma came to visit! Ma spoiled Natalie with new Dora and Minnie clothes – her favs!

Cheese! I just learned how to do this for pics! Speaking of cheese, can I have some? Please?

I’m a big girl now! It’s ponytail time!

Check out this great stoop I found!

Thanks for visiting Ma and Pa! Come back soon!!! And bring baby Trevor with you. I miss him and want to take him to the zoo.

Photo and quote credit: Kaila

Natalie and Kaila love to see Mr Singer at the Farm Zoo! Cows are her fav animal right now. Today, she was particularly amazed with cow poo, which ended up being our entire dinner conversation. Cow poo. Poo poo cow. Poo poo. Cow poo pie. You get her point!

A little impromptu gymnastics.

Natalie loves playing hide and seek. A new favorite spot:

She is a surprise I am happy to see every time!