Belly Bumps

Life is so crazy these days with everything everyone else is dealing with too (I don't claim to be the only one suffering from it!) - kids, kids on the way, work, personal commitments... but, I do have to say that everything feels very rewarding at the end of each exhausting day. Life may be crazy, but it is good. Very good.

I went for the "super ultrasound" today and everything is going really well - the baby on the way is very healthy and still due Sept. 2. Of course in the lobby of the doctor's office, a woman said - are you due this month? Um, no. I wish I had a camera when I told her I was only 4.5 months along. Yup - totally overachieving in the belly growth category per usual. :)

Easter was great and we had Keith's family in town for a week. It was a blur - but they were able to spend lots of quality time with our little terror, Frankie. And, they said they really enjoyed it... I think they're telling the truth!

His new name at daycare (we've been told) is "Frankie NO!" We're trying to determine if he's willful, hard of hearing, or just going through an early case of Terrible 2's (it's certainly not OUR fault!)

My mom is here for the next few weeks before heading back to Ohio - so our "second wife" will be gone soon and date nights will decrease... the good news is that Frankie started saying "GG" last week - not a moment too soon!

Work is really busy now for both Keith and I... but we're enjoying what we do and the crazy schedule that is our life. Big hugs to everyone!

Kamili's Visit

There's a phenomenon that happens when you have a child... no one cares any longer about the parents - and everyone says things like, "Frankie came to Ohio." Our friend Emily calls she and her husband the "Natalie transport system." Well, I'm continuing the vicious cycle... because Kamili came to visit us this weekend. Oh - and so did Blake and Emeka. :) It was great to see them and to get to hold a baby girl! Keith was a natural (and a total sucker for her big brown eyes). Frankie really didn't take too much notice of her, even when I was holding her... so maybe he won't be so bad with another baby in the house after all. Maybe.

The Stats

We had the 15-month check-up today at the pediatrician's office and learned that Frankie is still tall, but is actually slimming down. He's 33 inches tall (95th perecentile) and 26.2 pounds (75th percentile). I'm home sick today and taking care of him... being sick (and pregnant - did you know?) and taking care of a 15 month old is about the most exhausting thing on the planet!

Peek-a-Boo

This blog is as much for Keith as it is for the rest of the world. With him working so many hours, he's missing out on some of the fun "everyday" things that are happening around here. While Frankie is always a huge fan of peek-a-boo, it reached a level of hysteria when he realized he could play it with the shower curtain in his bathroom.

Pink Eye Strikes the Arnold Family

It looks painful, doesn't it? Frankie has his first case of pink eye, which means that Keith and I are taking turns staying home from work with him. He's in a great mood... just oozing gunk. Hopefully it only lasts another day. My eyes are itching just looking at him!

The Frankie Arnold Story: 14 Months

It has been a while since the last update... and cannot believe how quickly time is flying by. I think last I wrote, Frankie was turning one and here we are three months later. We were on the brink of 2008 when our little toddler stood up in the middle of the room and just started walking right over to us. Amazing! So, in no time, he has gone from walking to running and really keeping us on our toes.

We are hearing some words... Daddy, Mommy, dog, fan, mine - and his favorite - more (most often used in conjunction with food or milk.) While most kids slim down once they start walking, Frankie seems to be bucking the trend by counteracting all forms of exercise with a VERY healthy appetite. The good news is that he doesn't really dislike anything - unless it's bland. So, he eats what we eat - chicken piccata, eggplant parmigiano, whatever!

I do have to say that we're hopeful that an increase in his vocabulary will decrease the whining. I don't know who he gets that from (his Aunt Blake??) - but the kid is a full-fledged whiner! I'm sure our parenting style has NOTHING to do with it!

Frankie may not look like he has a bit of Mexican in him, but his propensity to dance and sing ONLY to La Bamba seems to prove that he has some latino in his veins! That, and he loves slinging the love with kisses every chance he gets.

Jasmine is in complete defense mode these days... dodging flying sippy cups and "curious" hands. Her last attempt at peace and quiet (the sanctity of under our bed) was disturbed for the first time last night. Thankfully, Frankie still has all ten fingers.

Onto other topics outside of our little boy... Keith is up to his eyeballs at work - in the throws of busy season. It leaves his time at home with family few and far between unfortunately. Things will calm down after the end of this month - thank goodness! And, I started a new little business as a rep for a line called Wildtree... it is a line of all natural food (yummy and easy to prepare dishes). It's nothing I'll ever do full-time, but I love the products and it's really easy to talk about food I love!

I'll put a couple of recent photos of the little man on the move in here... hope you're all well. Kisses!