Cravings & Tandem Nursing

I want pickled green beans. SO BAD! Actually, I am craving anything pickled although pickled green beans from New Orleans are my favorite. My food intake has been stranger than last time. I'm craving more and more ethnic food. I've always loved ethnic food, but this time I seem to be living off of it. It also might be the reason for my headaches I've been having. The spices and salt content in ethnic food have been known to give pregnant chicks headaches.

Another topic that's on my mind: Tandem Nursing. So Xaelen sort of, kind of, mostly weaned about a month ago. I say "sort of" because I have no milk left. No milk means no nursing. But he is still obsessed with "boobie" and wants "boobie" even if just to hold and nuzzle up against. The problem is, he'll say "just holding" and then slowly sneak his mouth over to my nipple and begin suckling. I don't have the heart to cut him off completely. I've been reading the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" and I'm thinking this might be the route we go with, although I'm not sure Adam is going to be super excited about it. I'll keep y'all posted.

3rd day in a row

Well, it appears that 6:15am is the magic number. That appears to be what Xaelen has chosen as his new wakeup time. It wasn't a fluke! It's been 3 mornings now, in a row! And of course, he is sleeping by himself which makes it even sweeter! It only took 21 months, and we've finally gotten him to sleep through the night, by himself, and wake at a decent hour. Woohoo!

I guess we get to do it all again with #2. Speaking of #2, we had our big ultrasound last night. Everything looks good - organs are functioning properly and the penis is still there - so #2 is certain to be a boy!

My belly has official popped and I look fully pregnant, rather than just fat. The belly looks very similar to the way it looked with Xaelen. It sits up high and straight out. If you see me from behind - I don't really look pregnant. The horrid symptoms of early pregnancy have worn off, so I'm officially in the pleasant part of pregnancy - glow, energy, joy. I'm sure in a few months I'll be in the delightful last stage of pregnancy where I will feel like a beached whale with heartburn, backaches and a constantly full bladder. Such fun to look forward to.

Happy day!

Xaelen is an early morning riser. Really early. Regardless of when he goes to sleep in the evening, he always wakes up EARLY. Usually that would be between 4:30 and 5:30am. The sad part is, he never really goes back to sleep after that, no matter who cuddles with him or whose bed he's in.

This morning, I woke up at 6:15am in a bit of a panic. *I* woke up. Not *someone* woke me up with his crying "Maaaaaaaaaaamaaaaaaaaaaa". I actually woke up earlier than him! I should have been ecstatic and reveling in the moment. Instead, I got worried. LOL! I tiptoed in to his room, took a look and found a snoring Xaelen with his butt up in the air draped over his favorite pillow. Hurray!

I tiptoed quietly out, but I guess not quiet enough. As I was about 20 feet from his door, I heard "Mama?".

I'm stoked! Can we have a repeat of this tomorrow morning? Please? Pretty please? With sugar on top?

I swear, I love this man....