May to June-"Where on earth did April go?" I keep asking. Soon we are going to be enrolling Carter in University. Good Dog! Is this what they mean about time getting away from you? Seriously.
Much has happened since the middle of May, but I will only report on the "Carter and 2.0 happeneings"-with a quip and a story here and there.
Carter Dictionary:
Ca = Car
Cuk = Truck
Gu = light (not sure why)
Pupup = Puppy (in response to any barking)
NighNigh = "Good night I am going to bed" or "Good lord I am tired people! Put me to bed already!"
Weird Happenings:
Carter went through a brief stage just before we went to Winnipeg where he refused to bath. Bathing was a terrible suggested activity, and was considered an offence against toddler humanity. Frankly, we could not figure out (nor have we really figured out exactly why this was). We went from bathing every night almost all the time, to going 2-3 days (longest stretch 4 days while in Winnipeg). Matt tried bathing in the tub with him with some success, but the event usually ended in tears, and adamant climbing out of the tub (Matt can be a little sensitive at times). We do have the water a little cooler now, so that could have been it. It seems you can spend a lot of energy trying to determine the cause of a meltdown, with little result. I am not sure it is anything we did that impacted the change in this behaviour. The one benefit is that we now are not so stringent about bathing every night. Maybe in the end we were the ones learning from this process.
Cool things:
What isn't cool, that is the question!
-Carter can now get himself into his own car seat-something that hadn't occurred to me that he would even want to do, but he seems to enjoy
-Also a nice independent move is walking with an adult holding our hand. He doesn't always want to do this, "By myself! I will do it by myself!" It is often so strange to think that there was a time that we had to haul him around in a bucket car seat to get from point a to point b.
-Using a big boy fork and spoon, and even loading them up at times on his own.
-Initiating a kiss to someone (he is not a big kisser, but it is nice that more often then not, he goes for the closed mouth!)
Les Dents:
Still only 8. The eye teeth keep threatening to come up, but they are pretty happy in their gummy home.
Sleeping:
For now, there is no 2.0 disruption, so things are still good on this front. At some point in the next 12 months we will convert to a toddler/big boy bed, but for now we are content to use the crib. The idea that he could get out of bed at any time is unnerving. However, I imagine during potty training, this is something that would need to be in place!
Carter is half way between needing a morning nap, and no longer needing it. When he does get it, he usually goes to sleep later at night (closer to 8:00 vs. just after 7:00). Regardless, we usually have him in bed by 7:00. With a crib, if he were not sleepy, I imagine him reeking havoc around his room until he goes to sleep. I can't imagine-don't make me go there. I am shaking my head right now at the thought of it. Worse yet, keeping his little brother/sister in the next room up as well.
2.0 Updates
Activity Level:
2.0 seems to be a more active baby. Looking back and comparing, I think Carter was also pretty laid back in utero. I have had a few moments where I wonder if the moving child in my abdomen is a distraction for those who are trying to have a conversation with me-if not watching the movement, seeing the look of surprise cross my face when the baby moves in a way I didn't know was possible in my body.
Matt has commented that he also has noticed a change in how this baby moves vs. his big brother (I am not crazy, ya'll-it is true!) It is cool to see Matt get excited when he feels the baby move, especially when the baby kicks an obstruction out of his/her way (like a hand pressing down to feel it, a fetal heart monitor pressing on my abdomen to gage heartbeat, etc.)
Growth:
Seems to be on target. Last doctor's appointment fundal height measurements were 29cm at 28 weeks-which is in the normal range. Typically, you measure 28cm for 28 weeks, 29 cm for 29 weeks. But Carter tended to measure a little on the bigger side as well.
It is hard to provide updates on a child that you really can't see-and have a parasitic relationship with to this point. The baby seems to like eating and sleeping and moving-yup. Pretty straight forward fetal type of stuff, right? When there is more to report, I shall do so. People are beginning to bet/guess on due dates, sex etc. I am not taking any money, but there is one pool that has begun to start at one of my work places. Matt and I also have to get started on creating our list of names-so that we have a place to start when at the hospital.
Once the baby's room looks a little more presentable (e.g. crib in the room, all the storage junk that is currently residing in there out and stored elsewhere) I will post pictures of the awesome painting job Ant Jennette did last week. We chose blue on three walls, and white on the wall with the closet. It looks amazing-thanks Ant Jennette!
