Leon's Firsts

While we were on hibernation mode from blogging, Leon had several new firsts.

He had sushi for the first time (he loved it!). Ok, I know toddlers probably shouldn´t eat raw fish (well American children according to various books and experts but millions of children in other parts of the world eat all types of sushi and other items). We were not planning on giving him any but he grabbed a piece and then another. I think he was most intrigued by eating what his dad was eating; he especially liked using the chop sticks.

That same day, he had his first real hair cut. I have attempted to cut Leon's hair myself but was never successful enough to call it a haircut. We took him to a fancy kid's salon. As you can see in this picture, he hated the process.
Almost as much as he hated....



He had his first dentist appointment. Some books and experts say children should go to the dentist as soon as they have their first tooth or at one but others say 2. Here the children are not accepted to see a dentist until they are 2. The dentist said Leon´s teeth are healthy and look like they are coming in fine. We doesn´t have the best genes for teeth. Both Jeff and I had braces and I reached 32 with three baby teeth (I had one removed in high school. So what I am saying is I kept four of my teeth that I got before I turned 2 which usually are replaced by your adult teeth when you are a little older. This is apparently hereditary. Hopefully he Leon doesn´t have to deal with that.

Photo shoot with Leon

When I was pregnant last time I did the whole sexy, look at me I'm pregnant photo shoot. This time I did a look at me, fit mom, with my toddler shoot. I really expected Leon to participate a little more. In almost two hours we took 100 pics with only six or so that I like. :) Leon was not really into it.

Here are some of the pics I like the most.

Time for Some Tools of the Incompetant

A month later and we have an internet connection again at home. Seriously. Sometimes I love living overseas and other times!!!!

A lot has happened with both Leon and #2. I had my 23 week/March check up today for #2. Spine, heart, fingers, etc all checked out fine on the ultrasound. This baby moves ALL the time. When you are pregnant at a certain point most doctors ask you to check once a day if the baby moves at least 10 times in two hours. Well #2 moves so much all the time that I would never need to check on that. I asked the doctor today is it possible for a baby to move too much and he said no, movement is good. Um... A friend told me her son moved a lot and is a very active baby.

That's good right? I mean, did I really want to have a chilled out baby and then toddler who never jumps up and down in the crib for hours, who never tries to climb up bookcases, or fit inside of dog cages/baskets/boxes etc? Isn't it good to have two very active children?

Only time will tell. Also, only time will tell if our baby is a he, a she, or a he/she. Ok, sorry scratch that last thing, not funny when I'm talking about my own child. :)

#2 Update---Protect the Unborn Child

#2 is 18 weeks old and is the size (so they say) of a bell pepper. I want to share an annoying but funny story that happened this week. Ok so I'll be the first to admit my eating habits are slacking with #2. I hope he/she does not fail school/get cut from XYZ team and then find out that I ate better with Leon and blame me. But my options and my desire just don't have me excited about eating.

This week I dragged myself to my job's cafeteria to get something for lunch. They never have plain simple and healthy stuff it's always seafood (everything still in it's shell) with pasta and special sauce, chicken smothered with special sauce, brown broccoli, or something that sounds familiar but doesn't look like it should. So I asked for a cheese sandwich with tomato on whole wheat bread and then I said, oh and French fries. They didn't have any. Yes, saturated fats and French fries are bad. I know. Honestly I have had French fries maybe 2-3 (3 tops) times this pregnancy. They were out of fries.

I felt the person beside me staring. So I started small talking with her. She was getting a chicken burger and I said, "oh too bad they don't have French fries." And she said, "I don't eat fries and you shouldn't either, it's not good for your unborn child."

I wanted to say:

No sh-t. But I was also thinking about smoking some crack after work. Guess I shouldn't do that either. Da-n this baby!

I said:

I know...I really don't eat lots of fried foods. It's just hard. I always have a yucky taste in my mouth...and there are no good options...

I continued to ramble until my food came. Then I checked out the drink refrigerator looking at the various types of juice. I NEVER drink juice. When I’m not pregnant I just ignore juice. Don't get me wrong juice is not bad. But I just have always seen it as a waste of calories and usually loaded with sugar that overpowers whatever antioxidants might be left in the juice.

Mrs. Know it all said you should just drink water.

I paid for my food and quickly walked away. Pregnant Jehan is a ghetto Jehan. And I didn't want to be starting something.

P is for Pato and Pee Pee

Informal potty training has begun for Leon. We've run out of diapers. Well technically we have run out to Huggies diapers from the U.S. I have some Pampers from the store here. I swear they are not the same Pampers they sell in the U.S. I don't know why they are so much cheaper! Is it because there's regulation not regulating here or because the moms haven't organized and protested? Stand up Venezuelan Mommy bloggers!!! Diapers here are also super expensive. They are a luxury item. I think a week's worth is like $25. So today I let Leon run around diaper free for a bit to see what would happen. I pointed to the potty for pee and he walked over and peed. He was so excited that I was so excited that he said "mas" and kept trying and trying and finally a trickle came out and mostly got on the seat and his floor. Ok, no, not too graphic and not TMI...I'm talking about a barely 21 month of baby/toddler!!!

Later he peed on the floor. He was also watching Winnie the Pooh at the time (yeah, I know TV is bad. I'm all alone though and I have to let him do something for 10 mins while I get the lunch on the table or clean up some mess etc).

Lots of people say boys are hard to potty train but I think Leon is ready. He says pee pee when he has peed and lets you know when he is about to poop too! He also hates to have on his diaper these days.

We are planning a trip to the U.S. soon so I am a little hesitant to potty train now before that trip.

But well see how tomorrow goes!

Ps No picture today...don't want to end up in jail on child porn charges

Leon is TWENTY Months old; Number 2 is 17 Weeks

I can't believe that Leon is already 20 months old. Running around (he refuses just to walk), saying over 30 words (mostly in Spanish), and he knows what he wants and where he wants it. Here is a photo of Leon from a birthday party last weekend. Meanwhile Leon's sibling "number two" is growing too. He/she is 17 weeks old and the size of a turnip. Pregnancy is going ok except for random headaches, lack of desire to eat what's available (and strong desire to eat what's not) and the urge to gag every time I brush my teeth. Oh, and I'm still tired but maybe not as exhausted as the last entry.

Excues Might Be Tools of the Incompetant...

But I have a great excuse for my absenteeism.

First, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays all around.

I'm four months pregnant with the child we affectionately call "number 2."

I have been EXHAUSTED. When I said EXHAUSTED I mean it feels like I have been running marathons, doing the last week of preps for a big fitness show, pulling together my EER around April 5 etc etc. My last pregnancy every day when I came home from work, I quickly walked the dog and then plopped myself on the coach for about 3-4 hours eating my "pre-dinner" and watching Grey's Anatomy re-runs (I caught up on several seasons those months). But now when I drag myself in from work, I walk Posa and then play with Leon for 2-3 hours. Last pregnancy I also woke up with Jeff and ate breakfast while he ran with Posa kissed him good by and then went back to bed (prepregancy I worked out in the gym for an hour before work). Now I get up around 5:30/6:00 am and spend time with Leon before I go to work.

Soon I'm hoping the second wind comes around and that I can arrange for more sleep.

ps

Sorry no pictures...some cute red head destroyed the camera Christmas morning.