No rest for this waddling mama!

The "terrible-twos", I fear, have entered into our lives, and with no hesitation or forewarning! I know all parents, well most, experience this stage, and I am not alone, so this is not an effort to vent, or for anyone to feel pitty, or anything of the like... I simply am finding humor in it today as I reflect on the weekend and thought I would share some of our experience. From one weekend to the next, it seems, Emma went from this sweet, beautiful, "obedient" toddler to this sweet, beautiful, defiant toddler without the blink of an eye! "No!" has lost all meaning and has almost triggered an "oh yea?" response which leads our sweet angel to keep going after the thing we say "no!" to. Opening cabinets, even if we stand and hold the cabinet shut, she persists in tears to attempt to open it through our strength, stairs, cups of water on the table, etc... This weekend, I think my blood pressure sky rocketed at least 5 times as I made every effort to maintain my composure, grasp on to my patience, and teach Emma that "No!" means "No!" and we mean it.

These moments don't go without some laughter though... laughter which I have to hide until she's not looking if I want her to take me seriously, right? Well, she recently discovered the cat door. And if I didn't know better, she's trying to use it to escape her "No!" filled world since she's coming in to her independent, exploratory and very confident self... I can imagine she feels quite restricted. Trying to explain that when we say "no" it's for her safety just isn't cutting it. Well, as many times as we have told her "No, you can't go out the cat door", I still find her attempting to escape, many times hitting her head on the way in or out, or both, which inevitably results in crying. This weekend, however, she's mastered the exit and entry to the point she is able to get her upper torso through the cat door, and make her way back in without a sound. I couldn't help but capture it on camera before I pulled her out and, yes, you guessed it, gave her another "No cat door lecture" (keeping in mind her lectures are 5 words max) and walked her to the living room...

This was one for sharing, however, she also learned the rough side and what could happen if we don't listen when mommy or daddy says "No", too. Those moments are when my blood pressure rises because as much as we try to prevent them from harm's way, sometimes kids have to learn the hard way and us as parents grieve for their pain as we mend their boo-boos while fuming on the inside and wanting to say "I TOLD YOU NOT TO!".  But, "I told you so" must be kept to yourself and the "I'm sorry you are hurt" must come through and take over your emotions. It's such an emotional tug-of-war at times but I am learning that kids will get hurt, and I can't prevent EVERY injury...while this doesn't prevent me from having complete anxiety when we are in an environment where she could get hurt (which, for a toddler, is really anywhere), I am learning to accept, especially with how active she is, she most likely won't escape the next couple years without some bandaids, arnica, ice packs and tears of pain - though I will try my darndest to prevent it all!!

Even with the "terrible-twos" on the horizon, she never seizes to bring joy and laughter to our lives! She's coming in to her own little personality and has become so expressive with her eyes and her eyebrows. Not to mention using more words; "Uh-uh" when you ask her a question and she opts for a negative response, nodding of the head when she wants to say "yes", "guys", "bye", this weekend she said "up" when she woke up from her nap and wanted me to pick her up from her crib, "uh oh" and recently said "Dillon" (Dillon is Auntie Pokie Jo's younger son). In addition, she has mastered the animal noises of dogs, cats, monkeys (with arm motion), tigers, bears, roosters, elephants, and more. We were at a restaurant yesterday and all of a sudden she started the "Rawr!" noise so I looked up and thought, where does she see a tiger? Sure enough, the restaurant had art work on the wall of masks of animals, a tiger was one, and as soon as we figured that out she started meowing to the cat mask that was right next to it. She is learning so much every day and is non stop entertainment to say the least :)

And the verdict is in....

As some of you know, I am now 22 weeks into this pregnancy (almost 6 months) and this pregnancy has been QUITE different than when I was prego with Emma. She made it a walk in the park... most days I forgot I was pregnant! However, this time around, I haven't been so lucky haha but it's all worth it in the end when I get to hold our beautiful, healthy baby in my arms and let them know I forgive you for all of the pain over the past nine months because your perfection outweighs it all!! From migraines twice or more a week, to sciatic problems, to back aches and hip pain, etc... every day it's a new ailment. One thing I don't have this time around is any aversions to food... and really no cravings of any sort. I just want SWEETS all of the time! So, in an effort to control my diet, that becomes difficult. But, fruit more times than not soothes the sweet tooth so that's good :) I do want cottage cheese and pineapple almost daily so I guess I can consider that a craving.

Considering the extreme difference in this pregnancy I was CONVINCED we were having a boy. So much so that whenever I talked to Emma about her sibling in my belly, I would tell her "your little brother...".  We picked out baby boy names and prepared to buy all the boy baby gear and clothes. This isn't because we preferred a little boy over another little girl (well I guess I may be speaking for myself there and not Matt) or anything remotely of the sort, I was just highly convinced, not to mention I had dreams that we had a baby boy so I ran with my intuition. In fact, before we got pregnant this time around, I had told Matt that I wanted Emma to have a sister. I grew up with 2 sisters, both older than me by 6 and 7 years (they're 11 months apart) and I can't imagine not having them in my life growing up. We are best friends and at the end of the day, a sister is the closest, best friend you will ever find. Through anything, you can count on them to support you, to be there for you, to make you laugh, at times to make you cry, and know that no matter what, their love is unconditional. I am lucky to have friends who I consider sisters just the same, but it was always nice to know that when worse came to worse, and if all else failed, I ALWAYS had my sisters. This can be said for brothers too. I also have 3 brothers, one who is older, a twin and a younger brother. So either way, boy or girl, it was a win win situation and I was going to be ecstatic with the results :)

So on April 19th, 2012, we found out the sex of our Baby Powell # 2...and I couldn't be happier!!!

I already have plans of turning their playroom into an area for dress up, barbies, dolls, house, and all the other imaginary girly activities they'll want to play!! Emma is already in big sister mode, having always had an independent spirit, and now wanting to help all the time. From cleaning to buckling herself in to her own car seat (although she hasn't successfully buckled in, she tries!), and when around other babies, trying to buckle them into their car seats (picture below of her buckling Charlee in who is 2 months old), touching them gently and so attentive if they start to cry. Recently she has noticed my growing belly and has begun kissing it! So cute... although when we are in public and she wants to try to pull my shirt up to kiss the belly it can make for some awkwardness ;) 

I cannot wait for Emma to meet her little sister and vice versa! And to see their relationship grow over the years. I am so happy for both of them. Matt, well he is adjusting to the idea of a house full of ladies... I just tell him he's a lucky man!!