Let's Recap: 2012

The other night, Chocolate came up as a subject.  Isabel leaned back on the couch and declared "Awbell love chocolate!"

"Daddy love Chocolate too!"

Heidi turned her head, "Mommy loves chocolate three!"

Isabel thought for a moment.

"Awbell chocolate one!"



It's been a big year.  Let's recap.



Emmett!  We had the happiest, smile-iest baby ever.  He's just barely started crawling, but has figured out how to climb the stairs.  He loves adult food, but hates baby food.  Whenever he looks at something, he puts his thumb and forefinger togther and taps it with the tip of his finger.  He doesn't sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time, ever.

Isabel!  She can talk now, more or less.  She discovered the Transformers, Doctor Who, and Spider-Man. (Or, as she calls them, Trammy-former, Doca WHO!, and Talking Pider-man.  I do not know why spider-man gets that adjective, but wow is it appropriate.)  She got an Electrician's Shirt just like her dad had when he was a kid.  She loves doing "projects."  Her favorite toys include Optimus Prime and a drill.  Take THAT, gender stereotypes.

Heidi!  Discovered Pinterest.  Went ALL-IN on the idea that IKEA is legos for adults.  She has now been pregnant or nursing continuiously for four years straight.  Had a baby surgically removed from her body.

Gabe!  Has a child who loves the Transformers, Doctor Who, and Spider-Man, which means he's accomplished all of his parenting goals.  Quitting eating pork has seen mixed success.  Learning iOS programming also met with mixed success.  Has his hair the longest it's ever been, then cut it off.  He's about to quit his job again, because it's been a few years and that's his career specialty.  (Surprise, anyone from work who knows this blog exists!)



(Also, the mayan post-apocalypse sure looks a lot like the mayan PRE-apocalypse?  What's the next doomsday date?  UNIX time rollover?  I guess we can slack off until 2038.)

Second Course

I suppose, one one way, the best description of the last months is the near-total lack of blog updates. Eyeballing the blog archive posts-per-year count tells a story.

For the benefit of readers only getting their news from this outlet, let me skip to the punchline: we're having another baby. Tomorrow.

Looking back, this fact has totally escaped mention on the blog. That neatly sums up what it like to be pregnant and have a 2 year old: no time for blogs.

It's also something of a case study in clichés about second children in general; Isabel got weekly size comparison updates, Number Two gets a single note dashed off while his sister is distracted by brushing her teeth.

I promise this is the last time we won't have as much time for you as we do for her.

The doctor called and moved our c-section from noon to 7:30 am, which means we now have to be at the hospital at 5:30 instead of 10. Thats… kind of a bummer.

It's currently 10:42. In 9 hours, we will have a son.

Stay on Target!

T-Minus 9 Weeks as of today.

OUR LIL PUMPKIN!

So amazed I have just 10 weeks to go!
(sing "The Final Countdown" here :D)

2 Pounds and Over a Foot Long!

No, that is not a headline for an ad about a Tacos de Alcopoco Burrito (see Monday, June 8, 2009), it's our baby! Our little bun in the oven is not so little anymore!

IT'S A GIRL!

After today's ultrasound, we know we are going to have a daughter this December! Say hello to Isabelle Lovell Helman :)

20 WEEKS: HALF WAY!

That is one sweet lil melon :)

WEEK 19: Such is Mango!

Our sweetie baby is getting tropical this week, we'll be 5 months as of Sunday!!!

18 WEEKS: Our Lil Sweet Potato!

Super Exciting! 4.5 months is almost 1/2 way there :)

WEEK 15: Feeling like I'm pregnant

Up until now I just felt sick, but as of yesterday, something has changed. I went to take a nap and rolled onto my stomach and for the first time I felt like there was something there. I guess it is time for 5.25 months of side sleeping now :)

Week 14: It would seem the symptoms weren't psychosomatic after all.

G: IT HAS A FACE!

H: And it looks like Gabe :)

G: Hi there, little guy. We don't know what you're favorite food is, or what you like to do for fun, or even what you're gender is, but we love you already. Welcome aboard.

Week 13: Hello Second Trimester! :)

This week, it is a bitty little peach :) ADORABLE! We find out more facts this Thursday with ultrasound photos, will post soon...

PREGGO REPORT: 12 weeks and steady as she goes...

So I am 12 weeks and 1 day today! I feel relieved and not ill at the moment; great feelings I haven't experienced much in the past 12 weeks :)

The baby is 2+ inches long and the size of a plum. How adorable is that!? I love the websites that equate fetal size to fruit, too cute.

The statistics took an exciting shift in our favor over the weekend, for those of you who don't know, 12 weeks is a marker all preg women wait for. Chances of the baby taking off at this point are significantly lower and we have moved into the wonderful territory of "90% Chance of Awesomeness!"

Thanks for all the well wishes and support!