Week 16; 22.5 months-Ty's love of the Today Show, Kissing Lizzie, some videos, and Baby Bluey Moving!

Welcome Week 16: Baby Bluey is an avocado!
Here is what I said in my last pregnancy this week "This is the first week that I have felt good every single day. Now, I'm not saying that I feel perfect or that some mornings aren't a little difficult, but I'm definitely over the hump! Couldn't be more thrilled!".....and I'm delighted to say that I feel the same way! Apparently week 16 is a magical week for me! I have actually felt normal (or as normal as you can feel when you're pregnant). Thank goodness!

Here's my picture baby #2:
Here's my picture from when I was pregnant with TylerHere are some pictures of Tyler this week:
Anyone that know's Tyler, knows that he LOVES the Today Show! ...no I'm not kidding. He hardly watches any TV. Since he was born he's basically only watched some UVA sports with his Daddy and the Today show in our bed and at breakfast. I really don't believe in kids watching a lot of TV because I think they should be playing with toys or playing outside. That said, Tyler has learned a lot from the Today Show. Just this week, he's learned what a tornado is (something I can't imagine he would have learned about if it weren't for the Today show) He gets so excited when it comes on and he know all of the anchors, reporters, and politicians that they talk about.

Here's how he says their names: Ah Roter (he doesn't have /l/'s yet!) , Matt Yawer, Ann Turry, Matayie (Natalie Moralis), Savanah, Chut Todd (Chuck Todd), Madid Dredory (David Gregory), Chut Bell (Chuck Bell), Tom Turein (Tom Kierein), Peter Ayexander, Tarah Tintaneeah (Carl Kintaneah), Mitt Romey, Rit Santorum, Newt, Obama, Justin Bieber, and Usher. He literally knows all of these people! I really need to take a video of him talking about all of these people. It's pretty funny! I guess it's in the genes...my mom, Suz, and I all love the Today show and watch it pretty religiously!

When Tyler gets up in the mornings (around 7 am), we bring him into our bed for snuggle time. Sometimes we all go back to sleep for a little bit, and other times, we talk about the day ("Who's coming to my house today?" is a common question) or play little games. These days it's been taking us longer to get out of bed (Thank you Baby Bluey for making me tired) so we've been turning the Today Show on for a few minutes before going downstairs for breakfast where the Today Show continues. Here's a picture of Ty watching The Today Show in our bed: Last night we had our friends Becca, Gray, Alex (age 5), and Lizzie (will be 2 in May) over for dinner. Tyler is in love with Lizzie and he worships Alex. They have the best time together. Here's a picture of Tyler giving Lizzie a big smooch. He grabbed her neck with both hands and pulled her in for the big kiss! Gotta love it!
Here's a video of Ty from this week talking about our friend Chris (who is very tall) and saying BOOOO DUKE!


In Baby Bluey news: I forgot to say that at 12 weeks, while I was reading Ty a bedtime story, I felt Baby Bluey kick me or punch me. Probably as a first time mom, I would not know what this was, but for the 2nd time around, this feeling is obvious. I know it's super early, but I even asked my OB about it and she said it's definitely possible. I hadn't felt it since until this past week where I probably felt the baby move a total of 10 times. These times were more like the baby was rolling or moving and not kicking or punching. Pretty exciting!

Here's the information below about our little munchkin:


Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.
Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.Your baby now gets the hiccups, but since they have fluid instead of air in the trachea they don’t make any sound. They also like to play, by pulling and tugging and squeezing on the umbilical cord.The baby’s legs are beginning to grow longer than the arms now and the movement of all of the baby’s limbs is becoming more coordinated. The eyes have reached their final destination on the head and are no longer on the sides of the face. The baby is urinating about every 40-45 minutes and Meconium – the first stool the baby produces is beginning to collect in the bowels.More-developed facial muscles may lead to various expressions, such as squinting and frowning.

• Fat begins to form underneath skin, providing your baby with insulation for the coming months.
• Did you know that both baby and placenta are now about the same size?
• Your little one has reached 4.57 inches (11.6cm) and approximately 3.53 ounces (100gm).
• His head and neck are held straighter now.
• This is a week of "mights!" You might hear the tiny thumps of his heartbeat with an external monitor now. The genitals are developed sufficiently that an experienced sonographer might be able to determine if your baby is a boy or a girl.
• Her heart is pumping as much as 6 gallons of blood a day and beats at a rate about double your heart rate.
• If you could take a peek inside, you would witness your child's reflexes in action! (Sucking, swallowing and blinking are now evident.) She is probably even hiccuping even though you don't feel it yet!
• Your baby has learned to breathe! This is apparent from the regular movements of his chest. Isn't it amazing that he is able to breathe "underwater," inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid? These actions help the lungs to develop and grow.