Big secrets!

It has occurred to me that I can blog my little heart out, about things that are a secret......as long as I don't publish the post! So, I will continue on with my blogging, and then publish all of these later on. How much later? Well, after all our friends and family hear about this.

That's right folks, we are expecting our second little bambino! We weren't joking when we said we wanted our kids close together. Count them up, it's going to be 15 months between the two of them. We're going to get all the bottles, binkies, and diapers over with. I am 7 weeks and 3 days as I type this, and Eric and I have known for about 2 weeks. I've had bloodwork that came out great, as well as two ultrasounds. The second was far enough along to show a heartbeat, which means the risk of miscarriage is now less than 5%. So, lots of good news around these parts. My "guess date" is April 13. Hopefully this one will come early too, and we'll get a March baby! I'm thrilled to not be pregnant in the middle of the summer. Although, we were kinda hoping for at least a June baby. Our fertility is obviously off the charts.

We'll be finding out what this baby is, probably around the end of October. When we do, we'll have a gender party! What's a gender party you ask? It's a fabulous idea I'm stealing from my friend Tara in Charlotte. At the ultrasound, we'll look away when they scan between the legs. The tech will put the result in an envelope, which we'll take to a baker. The baker will add either red or blue dye to the yellow cake mix, making the batter either pink or blue. We then have our "party" which is a cookout with family and close friends. For dessert, well, cake of course! Eric and I will cut the cake and peek in, to be the first ones to see what we're having. Then we'll announce it to everyone! I can't wait to have this party, I think it'll be a really fun time.

The Final Countdown

We are down to just two weeks before we move, and I can't believe it. I'm in utter shock. How did this happen? When did I ever agree to move back to SC? Oh well, it's too late to change my mind now, so I'd better hope for the best. But in all seriousness, I'm getting kinda excited. I already have my first Bunco party planned (attending, not hosting). Plus a trip to She weekend, plus a wine and cheese party. It helps that we've already got a trip back to Charlotte planned- to watch the Bills and Panthers! It's on October 25th, and I'm going to buy Eric tickets for his birthday. It'll be fun for him to see his hometown team play here in the Queen city. We may also have to come back for Octoberfest. That's usually a humdinger.

Eric is with Drake, in Florence, until later tonight. I miss my boys. I work tonight, so I won't see them until in the morning. Insert sad face here. I need some Drake snuggles!!! He is such a sweet little man, and just so content all the time. I really don't know what parents do with high needs babies. We are so lucky to have such a happy baby!

Do You Remember?

I hardly remember Drake ever being this tiny.

An update on the Drakester

All good news from Drake's appointments this week. First and foremost, his sweat chloride test was negative, which mean he does not have cystic fibrosis. This was obviously our biggest worry. We were impressed with the GI office. First we saw the nurse practitioner, then the nutritionist, then finally the doctor. When looking at Drake's weight trends since birth, side by side with when he started formula, they believe that his decrease in weight gain is associated with going on formula. The higher fat content of my breastmilk (probably d/t my love of french fries) was really plumping my little man up. Since my supply took a nosedive, so did his rate of weight gain.

Another contributing factor is Drake's "excessive happiness". The kid rarely cries and complains. Not even to eat. Which, we've discovered, is a problem. Instead of giving him four bottles a day, we've increased it to six. We basically are offering him bottles, even without him acting hungry. Anything to get in the extra calories. And the fact that he is loving solids helps get in some extra calories.

We're thrilled that there isn't anything wrong with our little dude! Now I just have to get over my sadness and guilt of not having enough milk for him. Just seeing how often he smiles and laughs certainly makes it better though!

Just a couple of photos from tonight, that show how close Drake is to a real crawl. He's plenty mobile, rolling and scooting all around. The true crawl should be happening any day now. That's certainly going to be bittersweet. Time to childproof!

This child seriously has the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen!

He's starting to get those knees up under him.
Getting MAD at his inability to propel himself forward.
Pushups!
More pushups!

Update

All of the tests and studies done on Drake's poop last week were negative. No c-diff, no e-coli, no rotavirus. Plus whatever else they ran. I think Mommy's instincts were right; that loose stool was simply associated with the little respiratory virus he had. Now to wait and see the GI specialist on Wednesday.

Missing Charlotte...

There are SO many things I will miss about Charlotte. I know it's going to be a huge adjustment moving to Florence, with lots of homesick nights. Eric has promised that we can move back if I'm miserable in a few years. I'm hoping for an easy transition, and find solace in the fact that I can be back here in just 2 1/2 hours.

The first and foremost thing I will miss is my friends! Eric and I have an amazing support system of friends here, that rivals none other. There is nothing like my Sugars. Through the past couple of years, we've lost a couple to Seattle, California, and Columbia. And now me to Florence. Thank heavens for girls trips where we all still get to throw down together.

I'm really gonna miss the food here. Eric and I are beginning to accept that the food is probably going to be hugely disappointing in Florence. I am already having withdrawal from Bombay Grille, the best Indian food ever. Then there is Sole (best spanish ever), and Hef's (best blue cheese burger ever). Of course, there are all the really nice places that we don't frequently eat at, but it's nice to have them around if we want a good steak. Like Morton's, Ruth Chris, and the place across from Brio. The grocery stores are an entirely different issue. I LOVE EARTHFARE!!! I am really going to miss it, and all the TajMaTeeters. (That's a huge Harris Teeter for those who don't know). I would do a back handspring if Florence got an Earthfare.

The shopping, oh the shopping. I live 5 minutes from Southpark mall, enough said. Nothing will ever compare. I love Nordstrom's like a fat kid loves cake. I'll miss having a Babies R Us nearby, plus a HUGE outlet mall. Now I'm going to have to drive an hour and half to a Carter's outlet. That is a tragedy my friends.

I'm hoping that after six months in Florence, I will find places to eat and shop at, that enable me to survive. Thankfully there is always internet shopping!