Mommy and me day...

So, Ms. Maureen has been under the weather and called out sick today. Which means that I got to stay home with Ginger today (and Paul will take tomorrow, if neccessary). Ginger is FULL of life these days, so I knew that being couped up all day in the house would get pretty boring for the both of us!

I've always been a little jealous of my stay-at-home mom friends that get to take their children to story time at the library, so I set out to find what time our local branch held storytime. We were in luck- it was hosted today, at 10:30am. So, off we went!

Can I share a little secret, between you and I? Ginger was the (and I say this in the most loving way!) monster of the class. Out of 8 children, she was the one running around, trying to climb on the chair, not excited about giving back the musical instruments, and no interest in sitting on the mat to watch as the librarian read the story. Now granted, the other children were either 3+ years old, or under a year (not walking) so she was the only one really in that stage where she does NOT sit still for every long.

But here's the best part- I loved EVERY minute of it. As she ran around the community room, shaking her maracas while it was quiet story time, I smiled and had a hard time resisting laughing. Sure, part of me wished that she could have understood the intent of the 30 minutes, but this girl had no fear in exploring, smiling, laughing, and skipping around the room filled with books.

Afterwards we stopped by Paul's work, where proud Daddy walked her around and showed off how much she'd grown up since our last visit. She has a few women there who ADORE her, so we left for lunch with a few new little toys.

Paul, Ginger and I enjoyed a quick lunch at Rubio's, then headed back to drop Paul off, and then G and I headed home. Take a look at this priceless shot as we pulled into the driveway- clearly this girl had a GREAT day so far!

Down to 1 final bottle!

Well, it's taken me longer than I anticipated, but this morning we went for it and decided no more morning bottle. In my mind, she was going to lose it, so I continued to give her a few ounces of milk to get her morning started, but after learning that a friend from work has a baby 3 months younger than Ginger, who is just weaning from the final bottle, I knew I needed to get the show on the road.

As in most cases, it was all in my mind. She did just fine! She rubbed her eyes and tried to grab my hand, looking for the bottle, but we went straight for the high chair, where I had preset a bowl of cherrios, and dropped some milk into the bowl. I gave her the spoon, and she was looking at me with a "HUH?" expression on her face. But one bite and she was smiling, awake, and happy girl.

Now, onto that final evening bottle. I hope to cut that within a week at most- my doctor tells me she really has no need for a bottle anymore, but it's comforting to the both of us! But I know better, I need to help little one grow up and be a big girl. :)

Zin-Zer!!

Ginger surprised us the other night with a new word- she can say her own name now! We play this little game where I point to Dad, and she says "dada" and then point to myself, and she says "mama", and in the past, I would point to her and Daddy would say "Ginger!".

Well, two days ago she wanted to show off her skills. So when I pointed to her, she responded with "Zin Zer!" Paul and I looked at each other with HUGE smiles on our faces. Again, we pointed to her, and even more clearly she said "Zin Zer!" We played this game a few more times, then she became bored with it and ran off. We were cracking up! It was so cute!

So yesterday, it's all she wanted to do. Zin Zer, Zin Zer, Zin Zer!! Ms. Maureen even said that all day long, she was running around saying her name (and pointing to her playmate Brianna, and saying "Na Na".)

Our little girl is growing up! Such a smart one!

SURPRISE!! (...again....)

I just knew it. As early as my birthday, April 3rd, I knew I was pregnant. See, I was at the mall having Ginger's spring photos taken, and something felt different, or vaguely familiar, should I say. Everything was fine until the moment we went back to view the photos and make our selection. I started feeling a bit nauseous and crampy, and was alone with Ginger, still having to walk through the parking lot, get her strapped in, and get her home. On the day before Easter.

Needless to say I was sitting in traffic, dialing Paul on my cell and telling him "get ready for me to fly into the driveway- I'm feeling terrible". As I got out of the car, Paul stated "well don't you always feel a bit off this time of the month?" as I shot a glaring look back. Yep, I knew I was pregnant.

I still waited faithfully for my monthly friend, and alas, she never came. On the 6th I was nervous, on the 7th anxious, and on the 8th I just couldn't take it anymore. So at 7:55am I was off to the drugstore. And the pregnancy test sat in my car, while I distracted myself with errands (I took a few days off work because we were thinking about taking a vacation, and it never worked out, but I kept the time off anyhow). Here's some irony for you- I went to grab a terriyaki bowl to eat while my car was getting an oil change/car wash, and you won't believe the fortune I got in fortune cookie. It said "An unexpected visitor will bring you good blessings". Really?!?!? I just couldn't wait any longer, that was toooo telling for me- I knew, just knew that I was pregnant.

So, I come home, race to the restroom, and take the test. I sit and watch and for about the first two minutes- I see nothing. Not one line or two, I saw NO line at all. But, by the 3rd minute, there it was. That second pink line. No denying it.

Yet again, this was not "planned". Although my mom points out that I can't really say that if I'm not on birth control, which I have not been. I had an IUD inserted and removed a few months ago- I was one of those statistics that got the nausea, cramping, and my body rejected the IUD. After that, I wanted to just be free for a little bit. Well, here you go with "a little bit".

We are experiencing a range of emotions right now, mostly due to the fact that we didn't take control over deciding when we would take this next step. I mean, since finding out I was preggo, I've read a TON of women who have a 5, 6, 7 month old baby and are already preggo. God Bless them- I think I would faint if that had happened to us. So we can't complain, Ginger is 15 months old, and will be just shy of 2 years old when baby #2 is born. A little younger than we had planned, but we'll take it.

Ginger's Spring Pics