Baby Alex

Here he is!! Now Cecelia AND Delaney have boyfriends!!

Welcome Alex

My best friend, Melissa, gave birth to her second son just this afternoon!!!

Baby Alex came in at 8 pounds 10 ounces!!

Above is a picture of her and her oldest, Anthony. Erik and Melissa do make good looking children.

Pictures and details to follow.

Congrats Tortorice Family!

Not to forget baby #3

Baby in belly is getting bigger now - about 3 1/2 inches, or the size of a lemon. The baby apparently can make faces and may even be sucking it's thumb (and since it's a Heer baby it probably is. For more info see: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-14-weeks

Here's what the belly looks like in a tight fitting ensemble.

Cold Weather=Homebound

Although I actually got out of the house quite a bit this weekend (dinner with friends, hair appt., work, Tastefully Simple party), the kids were cooped up all weekend. It was just simply too damn cold to even transport them from one location to the next.
Even with my "happenings" I did spend the majority of the weekend at home with the family. When you spend that much time together, inside, you get to really see what the kids are up to and in to.
So, here's a little breakdown of the kids and what's new:
CECELIA:
*Never wants to eat * Constantly singing and dancing - still * Bugs her sister * Likes to play on the computer (this is new) * Has lots and lots to say, whether it's a real story or a made up story * Is in to dress up * Reads lots of books *Pretends to be teacher * Likes to give and receive backrubs * Mimicks Mom quite a bit - in language and behavior
The funniest part of hanging out with Cecelia is just waiting to see what she's going to say next. As most of you know, the mind of a 4 year old is quite imaginitive. As we speak she is telling Delaney to "quiet down because she's trying to make her grocery list".

DELANEY:
* A little parrot - will try and say whatever word you say last * Eats a ton * Loves to do anything her sister is doing * Very cuddly - but mostly with mom.....* Mommy's girl * Wears socks on her hands * Walks around with her eyes shut * LOVES to brush her teeth * Likes to look in between her toes and anyone else's who will let her * Plays with baby dolls * Spins in circles until she can't stand up * Doesn't like strangers
This is a big age for growth and change and we're enjoying watching her transition from baby to kid. Right now she is both.

Oh, what fun.

Undecided

Okay, so the baby "name game" has begun in my head in the last couple of days. Now I don't know if it's because I've been coming up with more girl names, or because I have only experienced girl babies, but I got the feeling today that I am carrying a girl.
For anyone who says they know the gender of their unborn child before finding out, I hand it to you. I also think it's a shot in the dark.

Heavenly Day

Just an ordinary day - Cecelia to preschool, Delaney and I to the bank, gas station, car wash, etc.
When we got home after picking CeCe back up she had a whole song about her and 3 friends from class that she made up. It was actually pretty good.
Delaney has figured out that her finger fits perfectly in her nose. She doesn't do anything with it, just smiles and laughes because it's a new funny trick.
The girls are napping. There's a 13+ week old baby in my belly.
Heavenly day.

Communication.

A lot of things got me to thinking of this topic: my reaching out to a new friend, the last post I wrote, Bonnie's latest blog and conversations between myself and my children (at different ages) as well as my husband, friends and family.
Communication between Moms is so important to me. Sharing and comparing the excitement as well as the bumps in the road. If it weren't for that I would probably never get out of bed.
Speaking what's on our mind - whether it's a random thought, or something we've been rolling around in our head and heart for days.
It's how we change our style and tone depending on who we're talking to. We speak freely and openly with our family. We pour our hearts out to our spouses. We laugh and really say what's on our minds with our friends.
We teach our children the art of communication as soon as possible so we can use that great tool to help understand eachother.
I guess it's just necessary to make the world go 'round.

Here's What I Want To Know

Why, oh why, do people harm children? I really don't want to drag you down and make you think of depressing things, but sometimes I feel like I just can't take it anymore.
Last night I was, literally, in tears watching the news. First came the Dad who left his 2 year old in the car in frigid temperatures so he could go to the strip club. The child had hypothermia, but is OK. The second story was enough to make me sick. Father throws child down the stairs in drug induced psychotic state. The 4 year old girl did not survive due to head trauma.
I believe in God, I really do. Sometimes it is SO HARD to understand why a innocent child has to suffer, though! Can't these precious little people be spared?
I look at my little ones and can't FATHOM torturing or hurting them. I understand the frustration that comes along with parenting - believe me. But, to take advantage of my strengh and power over a child is beyond disgusting. If you hurt your child you are a loser. Bully. Coward. Disgrace. Snake.
Again, I hate to pay tribute to such woeful topics, but sometimes my thoughts consume me.

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE....

that, is the question.

I am referring, here, to the privates of an unborn child. Yes, crass as it may sound.

I just read my friend Sarah's blog because she had her ultrasound this morning and found out she's having a GIRL! I have to admit, when it comes to other people finding out the sex of their baby I am very impatient and usually chomping at the bit for that announcement.
As most of you know, Bill and I did not find out the sex of our babies until they were born. I found it to be very, very exciting and if you can wait, just once, you might be happy you did.
However, for this baby we have decided to find out if it will be a boy or a girl. Reasons being: a) planning (do we need to paint over the purple wall, can I just wash the girls' hand me down clothes, etc, etc) and b) since we have been givin the opportunity to have multiple pregnancies I thought it would be fun to do things a little different and see which way I liked better and for what reasons.
So, in the 6-8 weeks until the ultrasound I will be guessing and theorizing on which gender I think I'm carrying. Today, I think it's a boy. First of all, this pregnancy is completely different than the other two. Secondly, there has been a run on girls lately so maybe it's time for a boy??
We'll see if I change my mind in the weeks to come, but for now, that is my guess.
And, as a disclaimer I would like to say to everyone that I am EXTREMELY PROUD to have daughters and if I am to be blessed with another tiny pink girl I will be just as happy, just as proud and just as excited as I have been with my other two. I mean, girls rule if you haven't noticed.

The Beating of the Heart

We've reached three months now everyone. That magical date where you can sort of breath a sigh of relief knowing that you made it through the fragile part of your pregnancy.
I had been sort of worried about my lack of symptoms (and weight loss) so I decided to bring the whole family in for my confirmation doctor's appointment on the 28th.
The test came back positive but I still didn't feel secure. And, since I had everyone there, I thought it would be cool for them all to hear the heartbeat - if we could.
It was no problem at all. The doctor brought in the the little doppler and jellied up my tummy. She let Cecelia hold the speaker while she searched around for baby.
Sure enough, there is was, loud and clear. The four of us (plus doc) sat in silence listening to the whoosh-whoosh sound of our little bean. My heart swelled, I couldn't stop smiling.
To know everything was OK was such a relief and I felt myself relax instantly.
There we were, our little family, all together just enjoying the beating of the heart.

Happy Birthday Cecelia!

Oh, I can't believe she's 4.

My first favorite memory of Cecelia was our first night in the hospital after she was born. She was just 6 little pounds and didn't have the sucking thing down real well. The nurses were afraid (because of how little she was) she would lose too much weight and wanted me to have as much "skin on skin" as possible. They woke me up in the middle of the night and had me undress. They put my little CeCe girl right in the bed with me just in her diaper. I will never ever forget how small and warm she was lying next to me. I would feel her little leg move against me and it felt amazing.

I love this girl so much it hurts.

She's a big girl now and that stings a little, but it is so much fun!! She's the family entertainment with her singing and dancing and constant motion. She's smart and funny and all the things I hoped she'd be.

She's a super big sister and the best daughter in the world!

Happy Birthday our little peanut butter!!!!