TIME TO "WEIGH IN"

So here we are -- March 20, 2009 -- and Dr. Janis Fee says that Wendy could go into labor Sunday or Monday, putting us well ahead of our April 12 due date. But don't worry -- it's fine. Wendy is nearly full-term (37 weeks) and ultrasound measurements put Ella at around 7 pounds already. She's gonna be a little fatty, regardless of her actual birth date!

For those of you in to juicy details, Dr. Fee based this prediction on the fact that Wendy is already 2.5 cm dilated and Ella's head is definitely low and ready to go. Naturally, this prediction has Wendy tickled. So this weekend will entail lots of walks and, just in case we don't get another chance, a trip to the movies courtesy of Auntie Emily Babysitting, Inc.

So it's time to drop your predictions on birth date and other vitals. Will you let the doc's haphazard prediction sway you? Or will you stick to nature's rule with a date closer to April 12? Leave your predictions below in COMMENTS.

Just for fun, here's what you guys predicted last year ahead of Mya's big day:

Mya Audrey Velazquez
Born: February 25, 2008 @ 1:22 p.m.
Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 20 1/2 in.

Gwin, you were close with your guess of February 24, but Jenny Pearson, you nailed the delivery date. Yes, it still counts even though it was an induction.

Sergio, by going with the "under" on Melinda's guess, nailed the 8 lbs. 3 oz. birth weight.

Mama Val, you got her length correct at 20.5, as did Gwin.

We'll keep everyone posted! Prayers for a safe, swift and (relatively) pain free labor are appreciated!

P.S. Someone also asked earlier if we were registered and where. We are registered for some stuff -- mostly necessity items -- at Babies R Us again. Ella will have plenty of hand-me-downs from her big sister, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind a few items of her own!

ELLA'S ALMOST HERE!

My little red riding hood at 31 weeks. Hot mama!

The last few weeks have been very hectic for the family Velazquez. We are realizing that we are ill prepared for the arrival of Ella Grace, which is slated for April 12 but is more likely the end of March. We still need to install the new car seat for Mya, get her bassinet in place, pack our hospital bag and sleep (at least once) for eight consecutive hours. Wish us luck!

Wendy's belly is just about as big now as it was when she was full term with Mya, so that puts Ella's predicted birth weight at just short of a metric ton. This pregnancy has been difficult for Wendy -- her ligaments never fully healed in her pelvis after Mya, so naturally with each ounce Ella puts on, there is extreme pressure and pain on Wendy's nether regions all day long. But she's a trooper and still rubs her belly and talks to Ella all the time.

Meanwhile, Mya -- who turned one this week -- is walking around and getting into everything! Other parents weren't lying when they told us that life would be way different once she started taking steps. But alas, we're managing and happy to see her developing those leg muscles for Olympics 2024. You're our cash cow, Mya Moo! No pressure...

On a side note, the girls took some Valentine's day pics for me as a gift (see below). Amy, Wendy's sister, is an amazing photographer -- we wish she would start making money doing it! The pics are of Wendy, Mya and the baby belly!

But first -- our first 3D peeks in at Ella in utero, courtesy of the ladies (Terry, Kim and Ashley) at Before the Stork 4D (www.beforethestork4D.com). We had all the grandparents there to watch on their big screen! Enjoy, and be sure to start checking more often as the due date nears!

Little Ella was all over the place during the ultrasound, but we managed to catch this serene moment with her sucking her thumb.

This one we can't really explain. Several times during the ultrasound, she just stuck her tongue out, a la Air Jordan. Maybe she was invoking her inner Bud Man with a "Whasaaaaaaap?!"

Look at how plump these cheeks are already!! Depending on when she comes, she could out-plump her big sister's birth weight.

Tongue...again.

This was the final image of the exam. We'll see you soon, Ella Grace!

Mya loves showing off those two bottom teeth, even when she's getting into mischief.

In general, Mya hates hats, bows, clips and rubber bands and anything else in her hair or on her head -- unless SHE'S the one putting them on! Stubborn little moo moo.

Our little girl. Life is good...

THE BEST TIME TO BLOG

My lovely ladies posing for a pic at Melinda's New Year's gathering.

What is the best time to blog? Over your morning coffee? Just as you're settling into bed, perhaps? Maybe you should blog whenever the urge hits -- when your thoughts are most blogworthy. Is it all of the above? We contend that the best time to blog is...(drum roll)...

...whenever you can. And when you're spending most of your day wrangling around your 10.75-month old (that was for you, Paterson), moments of digital creativity are few and far between. I'm sure the other parents out there know wht I'm talking about. In any event, we wanted to update you on what's been going on at Casa de Velazquez.

Mya went from dragging to crawling to standing in what seemed to be a week. She hasn't taken any steps yet -- she can step pretty well with help -- but she is cruising on all the furniture, reaching for everything and eating anything she can get her hands on. Her latest non-edible indulgence? A rubber band that she pulled out of her hair. (insert shameless rubber poop joke here)

Mya just visited her new pediatrician. She'd just gotten over a cold and was feeling very social, waving and smiling at the entire staff. We found out that Mya is 23 pounds (she's lost 2-3 pounds) and 29 3/4 inches -- both place her, not suprisingly, in the 95th percentile for her age group. Olympics 2024, here we come!

Wendy, as you can see from the pics here, is getting bigger by the day. Her belly is absolutely in full bloom and I'm loving it. She is bigger sooner than she was last time, which is fun for me (and me alone). Back problems have kept her from exercising as much as she did last time through but she walks when she can and chases Mya plenty, so her weight gain is pacing just right.

Doctor Fee -- our new OB, who sports an ironic, if comical, name -- says that little Ella Grace is growing at a great pace and may even make her debut 1-2 weeks ahead of her April 12 due date. We're back in church here in the OC and feeling very much at home again. Despite how crazy things are right now, we feel incredibly blessed and all of you reading this are a big part of that.

Stay tuned for more updates! We'll try to be better about it, but again -- time for blogging is tougher and tougher to come by!

You guys may see this holiday pic resurface next Christmas card season. Thanks for looking at the camera, Mya.

Wendy's bulbous belly in all of its glory, circa week 26. "Love Child" is right! (except for all the cheesy, hippy connotations)

More belly photos -- just because. This was taken around Week 25.

Mya getting all "crazy eyes" on us. What? Like you don't give your kid a cup of Taster's Choice in the morning?

Nothing too exciting here -- it's Mya looking into the big tank on her first visit to the Long Beach Aquarium.

ESTROGEN-OPOLIS!!!

Mya orders a chimichanga.

Estrogenopolois (noun): Home in which the man is overrun by females and, as a result, is subjected to Real Housewives of Orange County, candles and feelings.

This is where Eric will live. Last week, we got final confirmation...we are having another girl! Our previous OB in the valley -- the lovely Dr. Russo (she will be missed!) -- gave us a 90% chance that we were having a girl. That 10% margin of error was shattered when the latest ultrasound revealed a huge lack of penis-osity.

Penis-osity (noun): Anatomical ownership of a penis.

So we'll end up with a second girl! Pretty sure that Wendy is going to be sneaking chemical castration solution into all of my beverages from here on out, so don't go counting on us adding a boy to our litter. We're very excited. Wendy is due April 12 or 13 and, despite grandma Patsy's objections, going to be naming her Ella Grace. (Sorry, mama...it's not after your mother-in-law, we promise. We just like the name!) In other news, we're spending Christmas week in our new home without the benefit of health or immunity. We're all sick.

Plague-ified (adjective): Household-wide cold or flu infection, often accompanied by a week of sleeplessness, clothes covered in vomit and barely-legal doses of immune-boosting supplements.

BUT...we're looking forward to seeing Mya -- now 10 months old! -- rifle through Christmas presents in the next two days, even though she'll have far more interest in the wrapping paper than in any of the zillion gifts her grandparents are going to get her. Here, you'll see a few recent pics of our growing Mamu. She's a handful. She went from doing the Army crawl to a regular crawl pretty quickly, and overnight seemed to start pulling herself up into a standing position. Now, she's standing on her own for around 30 seconds at a time. But she often becomes so impressed with herself, she starts clapping and falls on her bum. Here's some recent pics and video for you to peek at. Her two-tooth smile and goofy grin are just -- to quote Wendy -- "the bees knees!"

Anyone see the resemblance between this shot and the cover for Michael Jackson's Thriller album?

Mya enjoys a morning laugh with her daddy.

Don't worry...if this black cat crossed your path on Halloween, it meant good luck for the year to come! (Or another baby for mommy and daddy...)

Even after getting scratched on her face by our kitty Bengal at grandma Patsy's, Mya-moo is still all smiles in her new house. Life...is...good!

Her little giggles are the perfect cure after a long commute or a rough day at the office.

BOUNCING BABY (BOY?)

So here we are again. Baby No. 2 is on the way. By the ticker to the right here, you'll see that we're expecting somewhere in mid-April. Our O.B. -- Dr. Joie Russo -- predicted April 12, but that will likely change a few times before baby shows up.

This time has been a bit different. We know what to expect and are understandably less paranoid about every little thing. This week marked the start of Wendy's second trimester (where did the time go???) and, thankfully, Wendy's finally starting to feel better. She endured about eight straight weeks of 24/7 nausea and general pregnancy-induced malaise.

But new baby is doing great (see above pic), bouncing up a storm in his mama's belly. During this 13-week ultrasound, we got quite a treat. At one point, he "jumped" from one side of his sac to the other. It was an amazing, athletic move that left us laughing and, once again, amazed at how the Lord builds babies. Today, a little fetal leap. Tomorrow -- because that's how it will seem -- a pair of squishy baby thighs, diapers and gummy smiles. Wow.

(NOTE: The word "his" was a deliberate and shameless attempt by baby's daddy at the Jedi mind trick. In fairness, this ultrasound session didn't yield any conclusive evidence one way or the other on baby's gender. Dr. Bradley, our perinatologist, gave us an admitted poor estimate of 60% that we're having a girl.)

Stay tuned for more updates!

PICTURE THIS...

We interrupt your normal text-heavy helping of updates in place of this picture-caption installment. Also included: Video of peek-a-boo and evidence of Mya's drinking problem. Enjoy the Mya...she turns 8 months next week!
Here's a shot of Mya, doing a wardrobe test-run for her future at the convent.

As you may have gathered, Miss Mya absolutely hates the camera. (NOTE: Mya absolutely loves the camera.)

The only thing she likes more than looking into the camera lens? Looking at herself in the mirror.

Mya loves trying on hats now. Here, she sports her mom's diva Rhythm Nation lid.

Pictured here in her new room in Orange, Mya holds her future -- and our retirement plan -- in her hands. Yes, that is a mini-Wilson beach volleyball. Olympics 2028?

We caught Mya tangling herself up in her floor gym. Her embarrassment is evident.

Mya and her daddy enjoy a quiet weekend morning on the couch. Not pictured: the obscenely-soiled diaper she gifted us upon waking.

"I love wearing dad's fedora!" coos Mya. "Uhh, wait...why does dad have a fedora? Is this the 20s? What's wrong with this guy? I'm surprised he's not using a gunpowder flash camera."



Mya's an easy mark for dad's primitive sense of humor.



Video evidence of Mya's drinking problem.

LIFE AND TIMES OF A FERTILE FAMILY

The brown-eyed beauty you see shooting adorable glances at you here is now nearly seven months old, if you can believe it. We believe it because hardly anything she has in her closet fits her anymore.

Mya, at a doc's appointment just two weeks ago, was 18 lbs. 7 1/2 oz. and 27 1/2 inches long. Interestingly, at the same age, her mother was 15 lbs. 12 1/2 oz. and 26 1/2 inches long. Those differences are amazing! Just goes to show that Mya is putting on baby chub at an alarming rate, but that her height is keeping up pretty well.

Also, as you know from the previous blog entry, we are currently expecting our second child. Wendy is now 9 weeks prego with our second offspring, according to our OB, Mya's delivering doc, Dr. Joie Russo. We had the privilege of seeing our new baby on screen for the first time. Seeing that little heartbeat is no less breathtaking the second time through. No one can tell us that life begins anywhere but conception...

So needless to say, it's fun and exciting times in the Velazquez household. Stay tuned for more. In the meantime, please help yourself to these photos selections of miss Mya Moo from the last few weeks. Also posted are two videos of her enjoying tummy time with mama and her cracking up at daddy's Elmo giggle. Comments are welcome...

UHH...YOU'RE WHAT?

NO, this is not our baby, BUT...

For those of you who haven't heard yet, we're crazy people. On Sunday, August 10, Wendy informed me that she is, in fact, with child. More to the point, she shoved a positive pregnancy test in my face and said "I TOLD YOU!" Point taken. (Seven weeks now, hence the random, Google-pulled pic of a 7-week ultrasound.)

We had blood drawn twice that week -- on Tuesday and again on Friday -- to check her hCG levels to make sure. And what do you know? Her levels had nearly tripled and we were officially, lab-confirmed preggers.

To answer your questions:

1. Yes, we are a little bit crazy.

2. Yes, it was a little bit of a surprise.

3. Mya is six months old.

4. Yes, we ARE excited...thanks for asking.

Initially, we were taken aback but we are an awesome team and are really happy to have been blessed with another pregnancy. Wendy is getting back into pregnancy mode. She's eating better, exercising, and resting. But she's also already enjoying the perks of early pregnancy: fatigue, nausea, sleeplessness, temperature fluctuation and vertigo. Ahh, the joys of motherhood.

So we appreciate everyone's prayers and well-wishes. We plan to keep everyone up to date, as always, right here on the blog. Our first doctor's appointment for this one is September 3 -- stay tuned!

(NOTE: When speaking to Wendy, do not under any circumstances, reference the several instances of twins on her side of the family.)

FROM THE VIDEO LIBRARY

Here's a small assortment of our favorite short videos of Mya from the last month or so. Included are her first real giggles, her lovely singing voice, her first trip to the beach and the first -- although certainly not the last time -- she decided to punch her dad in the face for a half hour. Enjoy!

MYA'S SWEET 16

That's right...this lovely little face belongs to a little girl bordering on 16 pounds. At just over 21 weeks old, she's still growing at a pretty good pace. In the span of a week and a half, she put on almost a pound and a half, likely due to the fact that she graduated into the glorious (and messy) world of baby food.

This past month, she also had her first swim! On the 4th of July, she took a dip in grammy Ethel's pool. Then on the 5th, she went in my aunt Vickie's pool! It was utterly hilarious to see her kicking her little chubby feet and splashing around in the water -- she definitely enjoyed it. See our family photo below for a peek at her swimsuit!

On the development front, we're "encouraging" her to say "mama" as her first word, but who knows how long it'll be before that happens? She has made the "ma" sound with Wendy's encouragement, but we wouldn't be surprised if her first word was "donut" or "nap" -- just because we talk about those things often in this household. For now, enjoy the new pics and as always, feel free to leave us comments.