Ludicrous Speed

I know I've said this a million times before, but SERIOUSLY! What happened to my baby? She has had such a growth spurt lately. Her favorite little jeans are now above her ankles. She talks like a little adult and says the funniest grown up things. She is so excited to be a big sister and asks me every few days when the baby is going to come out. She tells me she'll help change the baby's diapers, and practices on Elmo. Speaking of diapers, there are none in our house!!! I have tried in vain to make her potty-training fit into my schedule, but that isn't how it happened. We are going to Phoenix this week, and I wanted to wait until after our trip, but last Thursday she decided she did NOT want to wear diapers or pull-ups ever again. "They itch mom!" So that day she went in the potty all day and we even took a trip to Costco and the grocery store where she used the potty as well. We gave her diapers to her little friend and she has been doing so well. I'm seriously amazed and I just realized that I needed to trust that she could do it, instead of assuming it would be horrible and visualizing all the accidents. She is so proud of herself and always lets everyone know, "Hey guys! I just went wee wee!!"
In other big girl news, I took her to the dentist again last week, and I figured they'd just peek into her mouth like they did the first time. Instead, it was little tiny girl meets big person dental appointment - they cleaned her teeth and she laid there so still and opened her mouth so well. When they were done she said to the hygenist, "I think I get a new toothbrush now." They gave her a purple one, and let her pick a fluorescent pink penguin out of their toy drawer, too. Her dentist is by the beach, so we went there after to celebrate.









I'm so used to the growing up happening gradually and hardly being noticeable. This last week was leaps and bounds of it and I'm still trying to soak it in. Next step, big girl bed!!!

Ich spreche nicht Deutsches

We're back! And here's what we did...

1. Ate lots and lots of yummy food

Duh.


Best ice cream ever that we made sure to eat nightly.


Two cute ice creams on a date.



2. We visited some beautiful and interesting places...


Kaiser Wilhelm Kirche - it was completely bombed out in the war, but it was left standing as a memorial, and the new church is right next door.


Brandenburger Tor






Outside the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe - before I went inside and cried my eyes out.


Eastside Gallery - the section of the wall that is still standing 20 years later.




Pergamon Museum is the best ever - This is the original disassembled and reconstructed Gate of Babylon (Ishtar Gate).


Gate to Miletus - an ancient Greek city.


Pergamon Altar - from 2nd century BC greece. It's crazy they have all this indoors!

3. And to get all of these places, we rode the Subway a lot...





We were a little nervous about not sprechening the Deutsch ourselves, but we learned all that we needed to get by: Eine bratwurst bitter (gimme a brat), Eine trinkshokolade mit sahne bitte (I need some of that awesome German hot chocolate), Vo ist die toiletten (I am 5 months pregnant and really need to pee), vo ist die geldautomat (Where is the atm).

A big thanks to Germany for being the best ever. Auf Wiedersehn!

Flyin' the Coop

I had a wonderful birthday celebrating with Grandpa, Omie, and Erry before they sent us off on our wild adventure. Kerstin made me an amazing birthday dinner, and she and J baked me the yummiest cake. Josie helped me blow out the candles. About 50 times.





We are so so so lucky and grateful for our wonderful family who were more than happy to manhandle the J-bird for a week so that we could go to Germany and just enjoy each other and not worry about our baby bird.







We missed her so much. We talked to her on the phone every night - hearing the sweetest "I love you mommy" always helped me to fall asleep even though we were so far away. I was worried that she'd be mad or traumatized by us leaving for so long, but she was perfectly happy. We were dying to see her, and she was very happy to see us, but she had a great week playing with her Omie and Aunt Erry.


Sweet reunion. Tonight she said "Dad, come over on the couch and snuggle and watch a movie." We couldn't have been gone from this little snuggle-bug much longer!

Sweet numero dos

Contrary to my own "maternal instinct" and everyone who I run into predicting this baby is a bambino, it's a girl!! We are both so happy and excited - truly, truly, truly. Ben was running victory laps around the exam room. I am so happy for J to have a sister - sisters are such a special blessing. When we explained to Josie she was going to have a baby sister she said "We need to make her a dress!" We can't wait to meet her.

Back from the dead

We're back! The move went okay, much easier than the last. There were a few small casualties, like when Ben opened the box with the cake stand from our wedding to find it had broken. Not just broken, shattered into a million pieces. It's okay and I've moved on because moving always reminds me that it's important not to be attached to things anyway, and I love the feeling of being rid of all the junk that I really didn't need.
We love our new house - the last time we moved Josie asked me over and over if we could go back to the old house. This time she hasn't mentioned it once! She loves the deep bathtub here and the carpet since she has been used to all hardwood floors. When we first got here she went into gymnast mode and rolled and sommersaulted all over the whole house.


The little gymnast at Miss Jenn's.

So, in a nutshell, last week was a big week, but this week is even bigger! Today I am 20 weeks along! I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going. On Wednesday morning we get to find out what kind of baby is in there. CAN'T wait. Last week I finally went from "I think that was the baby kicking" to definitely feeling little tiny kicks and jabs. The first time the baby kicked hard enough to know, I called Ben over and he was able to feel it too. It was amazing. I love this feeling and I can't wait to get a better look at the little babe. Just a side note: Belly is huge.
On Wednesday evening, Kerstin, Steve and Erika are coming into town to stay with Josie while Ben and I take our "pre-baby, Ben's 30th birthday, Lindsey's 29th birthday, 7th wedding anniversary" trip to Berlin, Germany. Berlin is my favorite city in the world. Again, CAN'T wait.
On Friday, this old lady will wake up as a 29 year old. I am not sure why 29 is hitting me hard, but I am suddenly feeling so old. Hopefully once my birthday is over I'll feel young again.



Some quotes:
J:Dad, you don't need to go to work. You need to stay here and eat waffles (waffles sounds like 'golf balls').
Benj: But I have to go to work so I can buy you toys.
J: Dad, I already have toys.



Josie and I were getting ready to go out and she says "Mom, you look so cute." Talk about making my day.

J: Mom, I'm gonna get married like Cindarelly getted married.
Mom: Yeah, when you're older.
J: I'm not older, I'm Josie!