BIG NEWS!!

We have been keeping relatively quiet lately but we have big news.

Joaquin is going to be a big brother! More specifically, he is going to have a little sister. We are so excited we can finally talk about it.

Those of you who have been around for a while probably remember that I was "out" about my pregnancy with Joaquin much earlier. Well... things changed since then. First of all, I had another miscarriage earlier this year. Additionally, a few people from my office know about this blog and I didn't want the news to spread at work before I was ready. And, let's be honest, between work and family, I have just been crazy busy these days.

So, here's all of the important information so far:

1) I had my NT Scan a couple of weeks ago and everything looked great. It was a huge relief.

2) I am due on December 20, 2012. I am hopeful we can make it at least a few days into December for this one.

3) Starting in about a week, I will be getting weekly shots of a drug called McKenna (or maybe Makenna, I should probably know this), which my OB has prescribed to help prevent another pre-term birth (see #2 above). I hope it works, because it doesn't sound very fun.

4) We confirmed over the weekend that we are having a girl.

5) Her name is: NOEMI REBECCA

Last of all --- YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited and feel so incredibly lucky to be welcoming another baby into our home. We will worry about where to fit her in our tiny house in a few months ;-)

Love, Melissa

Finally!!!

After months and months of Joaquin saying pretty much only one word ("CAT"), he is now saying "Mama." This makes me soo happy!

Joaquin is Smart

Of course I think this, but still.

Joaquin can now correctly identify his hair, nose, ears, mouth, hands and feet. We are working on his belly now, which he gets sometimes but often aims a bit low (hah!).

It is pretty cute, but you have to catch him in the right mood. Sometimes when I ask where his hair is, he just looks at me like "Mom, really? We've gone over this. I'm busy." He's probably right.

Either way, it is adorable, so I keep asking him. I hope the words will follow soon. He talks a lot but the only consistent word is "cat", which is so random because we are a dog family.

Skinny Boy

Joaquin is still in the 5th percentile for weight. This despite several months of extra feedings, and purposeful fattening up with cheeses, full fat yogurts, butter covered everything and even some chocolate.

It is beyond frustrating because we know he is perfectly healthy. He is happy, energetic, growing and developing exactly as he should. And, honestly, with the obesity problems so common to kids these days, I'm not so sure I'd want Joaquin in the 50th percentile. But, so long as he remains as skinny as he is, we are forced to return to the pediatrician monthly for weight checks.

The visits are unbearable. Joaquin hates going to the office and screams non-stop the entire time we are there. He starts shaking and just seems generally terrified.

So, as I mentioned earlier, we have started nightly desserts. We have also started Joaquin on whole milk (sometimes even adding some extra cream).

We think it is working. Unfortunately, with all of the extra fatty foods around I think Jay and I are going to end up gaining weight faster than Joaquin!

Funny hair

Pictures from Joaquin's Pal, Ben's B-Day Party

Taken in July

More Cuteness

Here are some more pictures of Joaquin taken in the las couple months: