My Little Ducks

We live in a pretty small house, yet Delaney and Elliot follow me around everywhere. Even if I'm doing dishes in the kitchen and they can see me from the family room, that's not good enough for them-they always want to be right next to me-like on top of me.

This morning, like most mornings, they packed up their toys and whatever else they were doing in the family room and planted themselves right next to the kitchen sink where I was doing dishes. They remind me of little ducks following their mama!

It's A Girl????

At our 13-week ultrasound, we were told that we are having a little boy. She seemed pretty sure of herself and said that if the baby was a girl that we better let her know!

Now, at our 20-week ultrasound, we were told (by a different woman) that we're definitely having a little girl.

What in the world????

And then our doctor looked at the pictures (from the 20-week ultrasound) and told us that it definitely looked like a girl 'from this data', but that ultrasounds aren't always correct. And then he told us that 13-weeks is really too early to be sure about the sex and that the 2nd trimester ultrasound is much more accurate. But then he told us that the 'handful' of ultrasounds that are wrong are usually little boys that are just hiding their 'business'. And then he told us that he would tell us if the baby was a girl or boy in about 20 weeks. And then he told us that a group of midwives did a study and found that the best predictor of sex was the mother's dreams. What???--I can't even remember my dreams from a week ago, much less from before we thought the baby was a little boy!

And of course, if there's one thing that they're going to get wrong with the ultrasound, please let it be the sex. Thankfully, the baby looked 'perfect'---but now, I don't really trust the ultrasound for anything!

We could get another ultrasound, but I feel like that would just confuse me even more, so maybe we'll just find out the baby's sex the old fashioned way--wait and see what happens in September!

Dave and I already had a knife fight re a little boy's name. I guess that we should move onto the next battle--a little girl's name.

And We're Home

Dave and I and the kids left Grandma B and Pepah's house and headed to the airport early yesterday--like really early--all of us were up by 5:45 AM. I was worried about traveling with a sick Elliot and tempermental Delaney. Traveling with two toddlers is just really, really not fun.

The trip started off a little rocky-Delaney refused to take off her shoes and sweatshirt at the security checkpoint and was adamant that doll-doll (name of her favorite doll) NOT go through the x-ray machine. Great. We got past that hurtle and were on our way to Chicago and then to Reno.

Elliot was really cranky and Delaney had a pretty serious meltdown while we were boarding the plane in Chicago---three different couples sat in front of us, then turned around (at her screams), whispered to each other and then found different seats! Being a parent of a toddler is totally humbling.

Laney pulled herself together and fell asleep for about 40 minutes. Elliot calmed down and snoozed for about 30 minutes. At this point, I was seriously worried, we still had a long flight in front of us and two very tired kids. However, the trip really turned around and both Elliot and Laney did great for the duration of the flight--Delaney watched Clifford on her DVD player and Elliot squirmed and wiggled his way around while Daddy acted more or less like a circus clown to keep him entertained.

Dave and I were so relieved when we got to Reno, found our suitcase and then our car. And then---Delaney said---Mommy, I need to cough. I turned my head around and she started vomiting. It wasn't pretty. At all. It was a pretty brutal drive home and all that I could think of was the four of us coming down with the stomach flu.

But after the car ride home, Delaney rebounded and has seemed pretty much normal. Perhaps, we lucked out this time and it was just a fluke?

Yes, we're exhausted today. The kids went to bed after 7 PM and Delaney had already finished her breakfast by 5 AM, but I'm just so relieved that Elliot is on the mend and that Delaney is okay. And it's always nice to get away and spend time with my family, and it's always nice to come home.

Visitors!

Aunt Lynde and Uncle Sang drove up from Richmond to spend the weekend with us. They brought goodies for the kids and new energy to entertain Delaney! Delaney loves new people and new experiences, so she was in heaven. She played stickers with Lynde and latched on to Sang's hand on a walk to the pond. And I was thrilled to spend time with my little sister! My mom, Lynde and I even got away for lunch-it was wonderful.

The Sickies

This little boy never got over his cold and woke up with a fever this morning. He's been pretty cranky the last couple of days, but I didn't know if his teeth were bothering him or if he was still feeling crummy. Since he had a fever this morning, my mom and I headed to urgent care, where the PA told us that 'from what she could see' his right ear was infected. Sounded like she was a bit iffy, but better to err on the side of caution (especially with our flights tomorrow!). Poor little guy.

Playing At Preschool

The kids and I have spent a few mornings at my mom's preschool. It's pretty much the perfect place for them--lots of new toys, 'big' kids and plenty of busyness. Delaney is very attentive at preschool during circle time and the structured activities; she loves to learn--let's hope this lasts into her own preschool career!

Pittsburgh Aviary

It was a rainy and chilly day so we, along with a million preschoolers and a very large mothers of multiples group, decided to try the Pittsburgh Aviary.

Delaney was totally enthralled with the birds and the educational presentations. She 'fed' tropical birds live worms and grapes-instead of holding the worms above her head, she more or less squealed and threw the worms to the ground. But who can blame her? Elliot also 'fed' the birds a worm (he followed Laney's throw-it-on-the-floor tactic), but my mom and I were genuinely concerned that he was going to try to eat the worm, so we were pretty relieved!

An aviary hospital worker brought out a duck to show the kids--Elliot LOVES ducks and kept smiling, pointing and saying--Duck, duck, duck, duck, duck.... When the worker asked Elliot what sound a duck makes, he shouted--BAAA, BAAA, BAAA! It was hilarious.

Delaney and my mom fed lories nectar-I wish that I could've taken some pictures of this-it was absolutely beautiful-but I was too busy chasing Elliot, preventing him from destroying the bushes, climbing onto the rocks and playing in undetermined muck on the floor.

At one point, a large bird swooped down in front of Elliot-frightening him. Delaney sweetly held his hand for the remainder of our visit, reassuring him--It's okay Elliot, don't be scared. This made me so happy-it was precious.

Delaney and Elliot leaving the aviary.