she walks!

On her 17 month birthday on January 21 (and be reminded that 17 months is the cut off for "normal" age for walking), Maura took her first independent steps. From then until now, only two short weeks later, she has gone from taking 3 steps to walking around the house, turning around, squatting and picking things up, and then coming at you with her arms wide open for a hug. As everyone said, I can hardly remember what it was like when she didn't walk. I'm relieved, sure, but more overjoyed that she is enjoying herself so much and getting so confident. She is certainly a full-on toddler at this point, picky about her food, cranky one minute and lovely the next, but I really am lucky that she has stayed quite happy through almost every stage. This face makes up for any amount of half-chewed fish sticks I pick up off the floor.


I'm getting more and more excited for the boy to get here. As much as I love being pregnant, it's so much different this time around, and I know now that's because I know how great it will be when he gets here so I just want him to hurry and up and do it! I'll be 25 weeks on Wednesday and have a hard time believing I have 15 weeks to go. Sleep is tumultuous, depending on the day -- a mix of nightmares, chills, anxiety, insomnia and utter exhaustion. I'm not having to pee 40 times a night like I did with Maura, but paybacks are hell and the alternative is much, much more unsettling. I got so good at peeing at night I could almost do it without opening my eyes. Waking up from a nightmare thinking someone is robbing my house -- not so much.

Otherwise, he seems to be growing fine -- I'm GIGANTIC, as big as I was when I delivered Maura. I've only gained 3 lbs., but the belly is fully out of control. He's a quiet baby during the day, and kicks the hell out of my pelvis at night. It still feels like he's trying to crawl out, and I could seriously use one of those belly support belts but I'm just too ick feeling right now to add some kind of contraption to my wardrobe. I want to be in nothing but pajamas these days. I have another appointment on Wednesday and we'll see then how big he's gotten. Last month he was measuring a week ahead still on ultrasound and my belly was two to three weeks ahead. Yikes. We could have a 10 pounder on our hands.

Here's some more recent photos of the walking. When I can figure out how to upload a video, I will.