A Few Photos

Finally got a new camera and here are some photos we took with it.

Kieran's new favorite shirt is his Baltimore Ravens sweatshirt from Zadie. He has worn it 3 days in a row.

Kieran and his silly birthday "hat" the stars say Happy Birthday.

We went duckpin bowling for his birthday. He had a great time, especially because Gma brought orange balls (his favorite color) for him to use.

Kieran's birthday cake. Orange writing, of course.

The Stats - Year 4

Kieran had his four year doctors appointment yesterday. He did GREAT with getting shots, though he's told me he doesn't want to do it again. I have tried to explain that I would not ask him to do it if it wasn't important - he's not buying it.

He's managed to jump to the 25th percentile for weight and height. Weighing in at 30 lbs 6 oz he's still too small for a booster seat but he's 3 ft and 1 1/4 inches tall so he may need to switch from the carseat we've got as his head goes above the back.

His vocabulary is ever-growing. Sometimes he'll ask for the definition of a word, sometimes he'll just fake it. Don't know which I like more. He's also very into helping. Today I brought his clean laundry down to his room and, without being asked, he started to put his clothes away. He doesn't know how to fold yet so I had to go back and help, but he was very happy that he knew where things went.

Best Pre-Big-Brother Ever

Kieran is starting to get that I'm pregnant. It helps that my stomach is popping a little bit. I showed him my bigger belly the other night and he rubbed it with his hands and told the baby he loved it.

He asked if I thought it was a boy or girl. I told him I really didn't know. He said "I think it's a boy, what do you think Mommy?" I said again that I didnt' know.

"I think you think it's a girl."

Whatever gave him that idea is beyond me.

The other night I was waiting in his room while Ken was upstairs giving Kieran his bath. Kieran comes running into the room and bops his head right into my stomach. When I let out an "oof" he backed up and said "Sorry baby!" He then looked up at me and asked if he could give the baby a hug. I said of course he could and he put his hands on either side of my tummy and squeezed very gently. He then kissed my stomach and said "I love you baby."

Of course, we haven't gone into the fact that babies are helpless and when this kid is born it'll need a lot of our help and attention. But, I guess we'll get there. For now, he loves the baby, let's keep it that way.

The Big Brother Era

Yep, we're ready to annouce it, though we're not 100% out of the woods on tests, that Kieran will be a big brother in July.

We told Kieran on New Year's Eve over dinner. He seems to understand the concept (there's a baby in mommy's belly) but it's hard as I'm not really showing yet. Too smart for his own good, he's already asked if the reason I've not been feeling well is because of the baby in my belly. Everything I read told me to tell him "no" so he doesn't blame the baby for making mommy sick, so a little white lie for now.

My family is very excited though I have likely ruined my dad's birthday plans (he wanted the whole family to go to Disney in August - no way I'm taking a one-month-old to wake everyone up all night). I think he's going to forgive me.

My brother, dad and mom have all said they think "boy". Ken & I just aren't sure. We had a sonogram (not the anatomy one, that's not until February) recently and we were telling the doctor that everyone was guessing boy. She asked if she could have a guess too - we said "Sure, why not?" She guessed girl. When we asked her if that was based on any experience or just a gut feel she told us we'd have to wait.

Grrr. I hate waiting.