I really don't have time to be sitting here blogging...I need to get ready to head out to home ec class this morning and I need to finish packing our suitcase for our trip. We are planning to leave around 3 tomorrow morning! BUT I needed to get the story and pictures of Two's ultrasound on my blog before vacation took over and I totally forgot to write about it.
So, we had Two's ultrasound scheduled for 8:00 yesterday morning (11-9), right around the 20 week mark. Monica spent the night here Sunday night so she could stay with Lydia, which was a wonderful help especially since we ended up at the hospital way longer than we had planned on (and Lydia LOVES Monica!). :)
We got to the hospital around 7:45 and checked in then sat and waited for the doctor to get there. It was about 8:15 and he still wasn't there so the technician called his office and also paged him but they couldn't seem to locate him. Around 8:45 the tech said she had a patient coming in at 9 so even if the dr showed up at that point there was no time for him to use the machine before she needed it. I called the doctors office from the hospital to find out what we were supposed to do. They said they had not seen the Dr yet either but we could try to re-schedule. I said we were leaving on vacation and I'd like to have it done before we leave. So, after a few phone calls and talking to different people we got it worked out that the tech would just do the ultrasound after she was done with her 9:00 patient. Jake ran home to let Monica know why we weren't home yet and also to get a few things that we had forgotten when we left the first time (my keys to do the church deposit and eggs for Alice). Well, about 9:15 the tech says 'it doesn't look like my 9:00 is showing up either, so you can come on back'. I didn't want to because Jake wasn't back yet but she said it would take some time and he wouldn't miss much. She started by taking all the necessary measurements: bone lengths, head measurements, heart measurements, etc. Everything measured 20 weeks and 3 days except for the head, which measured 19 weeks and 5 days. I said 'he has a little head!'. She laughed and said, 'no that is just fine, there is a range to fall into'. I think my official week/day yesterday was 19 weeks 3 days...so everything was just perfect. The measurements put Two in the 60th percentile and estimated weight at 12 ounces. We got to see all four chambers of the little heart and really nice pictures of the spine, bladder, stomach, kidneys, etc. Little Two seems to be perfect and healthy. :) We took a few looks between those little legs but weren't able to see a lot. The cord was going down between the legs and left just a small space for gender detection. There was nothing obviously boy about it so the tech said she'd guess that Two is a girl. She said she'd still put 'undetermined' in her report though. I'm afraid to say for SURE that it's a girl...but I suppose that is what the consensus is. :) :) For all of the measurements Two lay nice and still, sleeping I guess. But then when it was time to take some pictures for us to bring home that changed. Little Two was doing somersaults and waving her little arms and legs all around. We got to watch some wonderful 'video' of her as she put on a little show for us. Needless to say, it was hard to get any good pictures with her being so wiggly!! It was very fun watching her though. She clasped her hands together at one point and put them towards her mouth. We could see her little mouth open and close. It is just so amazing that her little body is perfectly formed and very functional at only 20 weeks old. She is a tiny little human being, already with her own personality. I'm a little afraid of what that personality is going to bring to us, lol. She certainly is an active little one!!!! :) But I am very very excited to meet her and hold her and cuddle her and love her and watch her grow.....only 20 more weeks. :) :) :)
So, here are the pictures we got from the ultrasound:
Here is an arm and a hand...the hand is on the left with the fingers pointing left and you can see the two arm bones going off to the right.

Here is the bottom of a little foot. I like this picture because we got one just like this from Lydia's first ultrasound too:
And this is her face, with the top of her head to the left and looking at us. The dark spot at the left is her forehead and her right eye on the bottom left. Her left hand is up at the top, just below her chin then the gray area to the right is her chest and belly:


And because everyone is always interested in the belly growth progress, here is a picture of my 20 week belly: HALF WAY THERE!!! :) :)
And that was our first "meeting" of Two. I'm kinda hoping that we'll be able to get another ultrasound a little later on to confirm gender, but I'm not sure if that is possible. I think the doctor owes us one since he didn't show up when he was supposed to. Oh yeah, Jake actualy met him on the road when he was coming back home before the ultrasound. Apparently he just forgot about us. :)

In only ONE week we leave for PA! Everyone is very excited. ...I don't think Lydia knows we are going, but if she understood I know she'd join in the excitement too. :) Jake had some extra leave time he needed to use up so we're going to get to stay for two and a half weeks! That's the longest stretch I'll have been in PA since I lived there! :) Of course, we'll get to have Thanksgiving with Mom's side of the family while we are there. I can't remember the last time I was home for Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving. When I was a growing up it was my favorite holiday. I think it probably still is, but things are different now. I think I like it so much because it can be a special time without all the commercialism of other holidays, especially Christmas. It is important to give thanks for things always but I like having a time set aside to remember all the things we have to be thankful for. AND for recognizing the One to whom we give that thanks. If it weren't for Jesus Christ we'd have nothing at all to be thankful for.
And this year we have two little ones to be thankful for in our family...how special is that!? Little Two is doing well according to our checkup on Monday. The heart rate was around 130, but that isn't totally accurate because "he" did his best to avoid the doppler. Even the doctor thought it was funny how active "he" was. I could feel him just a wiggling and 'running' around in there. I'm measuring a little big for 19 weeks but if I remember right I measured a little big with Lydia also for a while. The best news is that we have our ultrasound scheduled for this coming Monday morning!!!! We are so excited to get to 'meet' Two!! We're especially excited to see if "he" is a he or a she. I'm sticking with 'he', Jake is sticking with 'she'. :) I honestly don't care either way, although we think it would be neat for Lydia to have a sister close to her age. I've had a 'boy' feeling for the last 19 weeks though....can't wait to see if I'm right or wrong. :) :) :)
I just finished ironing my maternity clothes and hanging them in the closet. I don't feel ready for them quite yet but I don't think its going to be long. I'm still undecided about taking them to PA or not...I'd hate to out grow my regular clothes while we are there and not have them, but I don't want to pack a ton of clothes either. We'll see....maybe I'll grow a whole lot in the next week and not have a choice to make. :) I didn't write down how many weeks I was with Lydia when I had to start wearing them, but I think it was sometime towards the end of March. So that would have been around 22 weeks and I'll be 23 weeks with Two when we get back from PA....so, yeah, I may need them.
I don't think there is too much new to report on Lydia's end of things. She is saying more words and sounds by the day! Yesterday she learned what the letter 'P' says, although she isn't consistent with it yet. She also said "nut nut" a few times referring to Peanut, which was very cute. :) I made beef stew with dumplings for supper last night and she LOVED it. I think it was the first time she cleaned her plate and wanted more, lol. She is a great eater anyway but it was just funny to see her like it so much. She ate it all up at lunch today too. So, there is a note to remember: Lydia loves beef stew. :)
Our weeks have been pretty full lately and this week before we leave is no exception. I'm teaching the home school girls how to make totes for their home ec class right now so we have that on Tuesday. Thursdays we have ladies Bible study at church. Of course, Wednesday nights we have church and Friday nights we have Masters Club. This Saturday we're having Jake's parents and Great Grandparents over for lunch so I have that to get ready for on Friday and Saturday morning. Monday after the ultrasound I think Monica is coming over to get some help with her tote making. Really the only time I have left to pack before we leave is Tuesday afternoon....and we leave Wednesday morning! Well, time goes faster when your busy so the next week should fly! :)
AND I've started doing research for Ken Fielder of First Bible International. I'm helping to compile information on different people groups around the world who have never had a Bible in their own language or even heard about Jesus. I have a burden that these people will hear about salvation through Jesus and this seems to be a tangible way to help. From the information gathered Prayer Profiles will be made on each people group to be distributed so that other can pray for them. Prayer is a very important part of reaching the lost for Christ and I am really excited to be a part of getting this information out there. It is also a wonderful way to use my internet time for something useful rather than just brain-numbing waste. I'm finding it very interesting and fun as well as learning a lot of new things! :) If you'd like to learn more about First Bible and what they are doing to reach people for Christ you can go to their website here: www.FristBible.net
And now I'm going to go enjoy feeling Two wiggle around while Lydia takes her nap. :)

Lydia is now learning how to drink from a 'big girl' cup. Here is a video of her very first try. She thought it was very fun and she did a pretty good job! :)

I thought it would be fun to list the words Lydia can say now. I'm not even sure how many she does say, so this will be a good way to count. She jabbers and "talks" constantly- from the time she wakes up till she goes to sleep, but not much of it is understandable yet. There are some things she says constantly that I'm not quite sure what they mean yet, such as a word that starts with an 's' that she says every time she wants to color and do stickers....I think it means 'sticker' but it doesn't really sound much like sticker.

She does still do some sign language, which consists of:
"please"-she says a lot, whenever she wants something
"thank you"- she has to say after each meal and is starting to say more frequently lately without prompting, which I think is nice...she's learning to be polite. :)
"more"- most often used in reference to food
"all done"- when she's done eating or if she is done with a toy; also when we get somewhere in the van she signs all done when we stop and shut the engine off.
and her own version of "help", which is holding both hands out in front of her.
She waves hi/bye all the time- to Peanut when she's going upstairs for a nap and to her bed when we're leaving her room from a nap, to her toys...everything.
She gives kisses, which is enough to melt any heart. When I put her to bed she lays there and smiles at me and gives kisses, makes me want to pick her back up and love her to pieces. :)
She also nods her head yes and no (at appropriate times)

Her un-prompted spoken words are:
That - 'dat'
That one
This
This one
Yeah (three or four different versions of yeah- the happy one, the pathetic one, etc.)
Yup
No
Nope
Watch
Wow
Whoa
Ouch (typically followed by giggling)
Milk - "mutch"

She has quite a few words that she'll repeat if someone says them first but I'm not sure what they all are. One of them is "rock".

She also makes quite a few animal sounds. She'll do these if asked or if she sees a picture of one or hears the noise on a toy. She does:
Dog - 'arsh'
Cat- 'mow'
Cow- 'maaa'
Pig- a funny noise in her throat
Chicken- 'da da da da'
Horse- blows air through loose lips, not sure how to describe that
Elephant- blows air through tight lips, different than a horse
She also knows what cars/tractors/trucks say- she makes a 'vroom' noise when she drives something.

She knows the hand/body motions to a few rhymes/songs. She does all three verses of "This little Light of Mine", "Deep and Wide", "If you're happy and you know it..."(clap your hands, stomp your feet), "Ring Around the Rosy" and "London Bridge is Falling Down" (walking under Daddy's legs).

I find it amazing how much she understands. I think she probably comprehends 99% of things we say to her. She can follow complex 'commands' and often will do things or say things based on something not said directly to her. It is so fun seeing her learn and understand.

If I think of more things she knows I'll post it. I'm sure in another year or so I'll enjoy reading the things she was doing at 15 months....as she talks my ear off. :)

It's been a fun and busy week! On Wednesday (the 14th) last week Grammy and Grandbuddy came to spend four days with us. The time always goes so fast when they are here but we managed to pack lots of fun into those few days. Lydia very much enjoyed having two extra playmates around and she got lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles. ...enough hugs and kisses and cuddles to last her till Thanksgiving. :) I really enjoy watching other people enjoy her, whether it is Grammy and Grandbuddy or anyone else. It is fun to see her interact with people besides Jake and I, especially when those people love her. Is that a normal parent feeling? The last two Sundays Lydia has gone to the 2-4 year old Sunday school class. I made sure the teachers understood that I don't want her there if she is a distraction to the other kids, if she won't sit still and listen like everyone else. I don't stay with her because she would probably feel more inclined to try to get up and play if I was there so I haven't gotten to watch how she does but the teachers have assured me that she does very well. I guess she does get up once or twice during the 45 minutes but will sit back down and it doesn't bother the other kids. It makes me a proud Mommy that my little girl is growing up and going to Sunday school like a big girl. :) She even brings home little papers that she colors and puts stickers on. :) :) I am very glad she is doing well with it because in March I'm going to have Two with us in adult Sunday school and it would probably be pretty hard to keep track of both of them AND keep things quiet. :)
The other night I had a dream about Two being born. It was a boy and he was so tiny and cuddly. To be honest, the newborn stage isn't my favorite. Of course, I LOVED taking care of Lydia when she was tiny and will love Two also but they're so much more fun as they get older and interact more. But in my dream it was wonderful to hold my tiny little baby and feel that total dependence they have on us. I'm really looking forward to it. :) I can't wait till we find out gender so I can start getting out all those cute little clothes!!!!! :) :)
I'm also excited about something else I'm going to try with Two: Baby Wearing. I've looked into different options and talked to ladies who have worn their babies and I think I've decided to try the "ring sling". I am going to make my own rather than spend the 40-60 dollars they want for a name brand one. :) The idea is being able to carry Two and have my hands free to take care of/ play with Lydia and do other tasks. We do have a baby carrier, which I will use as Two gets older but I didn't have much luck with that with Lydia until she was big enough to hold her own head up. The ring sling will allow Two to be laying and cuddled close while still giving me use of my hands. I'm not sure why I am so excited about this, but I really am!!
Can you believe in another few weeks we'll be half way to Two's arrival!? But first we have to make it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentines Day....and maybe even April Fools if Two decides to be late. :)
I'll leave you with a few pictures from Grammy and Grandbuddy's visit. I don't have too many pictures from their time here because I had planned on using the pictures off of their camera but then wasn't able to get them onto our computer. But I have a few:

Mr Potato Head's glasses:

Grandbuddy attracted some 'friends' with his supper:
Grandbuddy swing!:

I just looked at my tickers at the top of my blog and my heart jumped and said "ack!, how did Two get so far along on his/her timeline!". We still have a ways to go but WOW he/she seems to be moving along quite rapidly! Part of me says "yay, I want to meet that new little person" and part of me says "NO NOT YET!" ;-)
Well, we had two doctors appts yesterday. Lydia's 15 month checkup and Two's 15 week checkup. Both went very well and we are happy to have two healthy little ones.
Lydia weighed 26 lbs on the digital scale with all her clothes/diaper on...so that may or may not be truely accurate. They measured her at 31 inches, but they did it standing up and were not very precise at all. I measured her today and I'm calling her 32, if not 32.5. So, those measurements put her in 88th%tile for weight and 95th for height. That is pretty consistent with what she has been over the last year, minus some weight since she is thinning out some as she grows. She still isn't skinny by any means, haha, but she's healthy. :) She is right on track for all her developmental things according to the doctor, but we knew that. :) The doctor did hear a heart murmur when listening to Lydia's heart but said we won't be concerned about it unless it still shows up at her 18 month appt. If it is still there they'll refer us to Dartmouth for an echo just to check it out. So, we'll see how that is in January. I'm sure it is nothing since she is a healthy, happy, energetic kid. :)
Two was right in the center and easy to find this time. His/her heart rate was 130, which is slower than Lydia's ever was so I'm sticking to my "its a boy" theory (even though heart rate isn't really an accurate way to tell this early on). :) We have another appt November 2nd for some blood work and to schedule our ultrasound. Hopefully the second week of November we'll know if its a he or a she! :) :)
This afternoon Lydia and I went out to play in the leaves! I took some pictures:

I was such a great blog writer two years ago!! I just went back and read some of the things I had written while I was pregnant with Lydia. I wrote nice stories and shared lots of pictures...it was fun to read! Maybe some day I'll become a good blog writer again. But I'm not sure after my long absence from good writing and picture sharing that I actually have any readers left! I am glad that I have the blog to go back to though, as I think I've said before. I was thinking that this pregnancy was a lot different than Lydia's but now I'm not so sure. I know I was not as sick with this one, it started later and ended sooner! But it was right around this time with her that I said I felt fat and I am feeling fat with this one now too. I was thinking I was going to show sooner this time around but maybe it won't end up being by too much. I was interested to read when I felt Lydia moving around for the first time(s) and it isn't too many more weeks away! I have felt Two moving, or more of just feeling him/her there at times....pushing against me, but nothing consistent. But I think in another four weeks or so I'll surely be able to feel him/her often. :) We'll see!! I don't want to constantly compare Lydia and Two but I'm sure as he/she grows, even after he/she is born, I'm going to look back and see what Lydia was doing at whatever age. I'm not sure if that matters as a point of reference or if I shouldn't do that at all? I know I'll love Two no matter how different he/she is from Lydia though so I guess I won't worry about it. Sometimes it seems like it would be hard to have the same amount of love for another little person since I love Lydia so very much but on the other hand it seems just natural that I'd love him/her the same. I'm looking forward to having two little people to love and care for! :) :)
Well, in totally unrelated news...I had to turn the heat on this morning. I didn't want to but it was 61 in the house all day yesterday and Lydia and I had to stay in our warm PJs all day. This morning it was 60 and I decided we didn't need to live in 60 degrees all day. I put it up to 65 the after it was warm turned it down to 63. It is still 65 in here so at least the furnace isn't running much. It is probably pretty close to the same temp outside now though so that helps. Winter is coooooooming. aaaaaah. ;)
In two more weeks my parents will be here!! They'll only be here for two full days :( They are coming on Thursday the 15th and leaving on Suday the 18th. The main reason they are coming (well, other than seeing Lydia and my birthday of course) is to deliver our new van to us. We found it online at a dealer in PA so they went and looked at it. We did the paperwork via overnight mail this week so our 'new' van is sitting in my parent's driveway even as we speak! It's an '06 (Chrysler Town and Country) so it isn't new but Dad said it is in good shape. We're praying it will be a good vehicle for us and last through our years of having babies. :) :)