That's a lot of meat!

We're beginning to fill the freezer again. Ed is doing his part by BBQing nearly 20 pounds of pork for pork sandwiches (yes, it was delicious, as usual!).

It was almost as big as Matilda!

So fancy!

This is Matilda, Chili and I getting ready to leave for church. Notice Matilda's pearls! They were a birthday gift from Shanti and Laura, and Matilda loves them.

Matilda's Words and other updates

Matilda has over 30 words now! She can say:

hi
bye-bye
daddy
ball
hat
socks
shoes
feet
face
cup
dog
cat
see
it
guys
up
please
oh-no
dance
cook-cook (cookie)
shake
sit
fish
flower
baby
potty
book
beans
egg
done
down
slide
swing
bath
sheep

She is walking more and more--she even walked all the way across Grandpa's office yesterday on her own and she will really take off if she's holding just one hand.

She is learning to identify colors, animals and body parts. So far she knows teeth, eyes, nose, ears, face, hands, feet, toes and hair for body parts. She can pick out pictures of cats, dogs, horses, sheep, and fish. She is also getting very good at identifying red, yellow and circles.

She can climb up stairs and is learning how to get down.

She has favorite books that she wants us to read to her all the time and can even pick things out on the pages (such as "show me the red circle") and do the activities in the activity books (like Pat The Bunny)

She has 12 teeth--including 4 molars, and 2 of her incisors are beginning to work their way in.

She is a very good eater. Some of her favorite foods are watermelon, kidney beans and salmon.

She likes to try to brush and comb her hair and is learning to brush her teeth.

She loves to see other babies and says "hi baby!" to nearly all of them. She is still a little unsure about other adults though.

She likes to play hide and seek and is very good at getting into cabinets and cupboards (as well as Romper's cage!) She can play peek-a-boo and "So big!" and when you ask how old she is, she will hold up one finger. She enjoys going to the playground but hates being in the grass. She likes to dig holes and play on the swings. She loves balloons, water and animals, but is still a little scared of beards and mustaches. She really enjoys going to the grocery store. She loves music and Yo Gabba Gabba and likes to dance along.

And every morning she comes to me, pats my belly, says "hi baby!" and gives my belly a kiss. I think she'll be a nice big sister.

Chili is just over 29 weeks done. That means we could have as few as 8 weeks left or as many as 12. I'm certainly hoping for something closer to the former. Chili is about 3 pounds now and already head-down. Chili's bones are fully formed and his or her eyes are sensitive to light already. Chili is a VERY active little baby in there and kicks me much more than Matilda did. We're all getting very excited to meet the newest little member of our family.

Don't forget to vote in the gender poll!

The play-date

Natalie brought Boston out to visit last weekend and the kids had a blast! They arrived late Friday night while Matilda was already sleeping. In the morning, Boston crawled into Matilda's room and Matilda got all excited, smiled, waved and said "Hi baby!!" They played together constantly! They both ate well and waited for their turn in the high chair. They played duets on Matilda's piano, danced and played with the music table, played in the yard and went to the park. At the park, they crawled all over exploring. Matilda liked to dig holes and Boston kept trying to eat the wood chips! Of course they got dirty and had baths.
Matilda spent a lot of time trying to give Boston kisses and he spent a lot of time trying to evade those kisses. They also chased each other around and played their own little game going in and out of the dog cage. They were much too busy to have fits or even really get in trouble and both seemed quite happy with the other's company. (Even with the kissing and Matilda's relentless pursuit of Boston's sippy cups!)
It was a wonderful visit and I can't wait to see them again in December. We took tons of pictures, here are some of my favorites from the weekend:

One Year Later

Look how much they've grown!

August 2008--the first time they met (Matilda was 7 weeks old, Boston was 3 1/2 weeks old)


August 2009--one year later on the same mat:

Raspberries

Matilda just bein' Matilda:

Little places

Yesterday, Matilda pulled all of my PJs out of the dresser and climbed in for a game of peek-a-boo. Lately she really LOVES to hide--especially in cabinets and in the dog cage. It's pretty funny to see how many tiny spots she fits in!

Boy or Girl?

We only have 12 weeks left. We still don't know if we're expecting a boy or girl and would love to hear your predictions. I took an "old wives tales" gender prediction test. It said I had a 51% chance of having a girl and 49% chance of having a boy... not exactly going out on any limbs to make that prediction!

So, it's time for you to start guessing!

To help you out here are some stats:

Baby Chili's heart rate is consistently 150 or above. So was Matilda's.

The Chinese gender prediction charts say we're expecting a girl. They also said Matilda would be a boy.

I'm craving salt and sweets more this time and not wild about meat or fish at all. With Matilda I was all about spicy and sour.

I've gained about 9 pounds so far this time. I didn't gain any with Matilda.

I have no "feelings" about whether this is a boy or a girl. I thought Matilda was a boy.

This baby kicks quite a bit more than Matilda did.

I had more severe morning sickness this time, but it didn't last as long (stopped around week 12 this time, with Matilda I was still sick at week 18).

I love orange juice.

I'm not breaking out. My hair and nails are growing at about the same rate they did before I was pregnant. Same as with Matilda.

I just dangled my wedding ring over my belly--it swung up and down (like head to toes,) not side to side. I did not try this with Matilda.

Finally, here are comparison belly pictures so you can decide how you think I'm carrying.

Chili 20 weeks:


Matilda 20 weeks:


Chili 27 weeks:


Matilda 28 weeks:

Look at that face!

We let Matilda try an oreo last night. Like anyone would, she decided she'd better go hide while she ate it.

She looked quite surprised that we actually found her under the table:


When we told her she'd have to come out she gave us the "really? You're kidding." look:


We assured her we were not kidding. She remained unimpressed:


We told her we were going to have to come in and get her. She began to realize we meant business:


She was not happy to see Daddy on the floor coming to pull her out:


She did enjoy the cookie though.

update

We're in the third trimester now. Baby Chili is growing great and Matilda loves to point at my belly and say "hi baby!"

Matilda's New PJs

These are Matilda's new big-girl jammies. SO big!!


story time!


"walking" with Mommy before bed


I think she likes them!

How old is Matilda?

She might be a *tiny* bit cranky today, but she does know how old she is!

Another trip to Door County

We went up to Door County for a week and Matilda had a great time.

She went swimming:



Played in the yard:




And had her first official visit to Wilson's! She ate raisins, fries and chicken fingers and waved and said "Hi!" to every other little girl in the restaurant. She was so friendly and had a good time out with Mommy and Daddy.




Sorry lady, whoever you are. *snicker*

Pat the Bunny

Here's Matilda reading one of her favorite stories with Daddy:

Talking with Matilda

She has something to say:

Happy

Matilda is happy this morning.





And it's Boston's first birthday! Matilda wishes her cousin a very happy birthday and wants to share this old post from the first time she and Boston met--they were SO little! That mat they are laying on is a little less than 18x36 inches!

A Day in the Life of Matilda--Evening

7:15, time to fill up the tub!


Bathtime is my favorite time of day!


After bath, I get a fresh diaper, clean jammies and Daddy brushes my hair.


Then I want to read stories.


Daddy is the best story reader. After stories it's 8:00, time for my last cup of milk and going to bed.

A Day in the Life of Matilda--Late Afternoon

Normally I wake up from my nap at 4:00. But it's a lot of work being as cute as I am so here it is, 4:30 and I'm still sleeping!


5:10 I finally wake up.


Still feeling a little drowsy so a snuggle with Mommy while I drink my cup of milk is in order.


Mommy finally got me some fresh clothes, like she promised. We're getting ready to go out to dinner with Daddy and Grandap--I'm ready!


6:30 was dinner time. I had grilled cheese--mmmm!!! After dinner Daddy and I had playtime!

A Day in the Life of Matilda--Mid-Afternoon

12:30 is lunch time. We had shopping to do so we went out to lunch with Daddy today!


I had pizza! Yummy!


I spilled milk on my dress. Mommy said she'd give me a fresh one after my nap.


Play time! I love listening to silly songs.


2:30 time for another nap.