The King Family

Mar 2, 2012

38 week mama & 22 month Scarlett

Happy March! We've finally reached BABY MONTH!!! Hurray!!

FYI-- This is going to be an abbreviated post...mostly because I'm tired and lazy :)

Here's an updated 38 week photo of my big belly:

And a comparison from last pregnancy (I'm even wearing the same shirt!):

Pregnancy Update in a Nutshell:
How Far Along: 38 weeks
Weight Gain: 23 pounds
Baby's Size: 6-7 lbs, 19-20" long
Movement: Still just lots of sharp jabs. I'm still not sleeping :(
Measuring: On track! Baby finally slowed down and is measuring exactly where it should.
Mama's Health: All is good. Only complaint is I can't get comfortable.
Gender Prediction: BOY....I think?
Names: Packed the baby name book. We do well under pressure :)
Etc.: Check out photos in the email of our updates- trying to make room for a 4th body in a 2 bd house is quite a task!
Labor Progress: Well, there is none. Hopefully something will change before my Monday 39 wk appt! Due date, March 15. Tentative induction date, March 21.

Scarlett 22 Month Update in a Nutshell
Miss Scarlett is 22 months! She seems excited about feeding the baby "babas" but we are still not sure how much she understands?! She definitely knows that mama's big belly gets in the way of her sitting on my lap and me carrying her as often.

Talking
This kid never stops talking! Yesterday's newest word was, "Fire engine." Where did she learn it? I have NO idea. This week's newest phrase is, "Mama, what that?" She now is constantly asking me what things are all day long.

Independence
We went on our preschool tour last Monday with Mimi & Daddy. Scarlett walked right into the 2's class, past 5 "big girls" and made herself right at home with the toys. The other girls just stopped and stared and this confident little toddler. It was hysterical. Then, soon after, she made herself comfortable, sitting in between a group of boys and one of the teachers with the playdough at the craft table. We got the impression that preschool is right up her alley :) She is all signed up for the fall!

Scarlett loves spending time with her people with, "no mommy, no daddy." She constantly asks to see Mimi & Boppy without us. When Kailyn the babysitter came over earlier this week, she immediately told me, "Mama, bye-bye. Scarlett and Kailyn play." Ha. I took the hint and left while she was happy!

Biggest Challenge
The foot stomping and whining has arrived. All month our constant reminder to Scarlett has been that if she wants something she needs to keep her feet quiet and use her big girl voice. This is a DAILY/HOURLY reminder. She definitely tests Jeremy's and my patience! It is quite exhausting to talk so calmly and repeat the same rules over and over again. We are trying to keep it simple with her....hopefully it gets easier?!

Biggest Highlight
Scarlett's memory is amazing! She can point out places all over town that we've been to only once or twice! I.E. Driving by Casa Grande High School back parking lot (where she has watched only 2 of Jeremy's basketball games), she pointed and said, "Daddy basketball!"

And, yesterday driving by New Yorker Pizza she pointed and said, "Bodie & Harry pizza!" since we ate pizza with the Knueppels there two weeks ago. It's crazy! I'm constantly amazed at the new words, phrases, recognition, etc. from such a little person!

Scarlett's favorite activity, music class!

Hiking with Daddy!

First ice cream cone!

Warm, Feb evening walk

Happy Hazel

First haircut!

Ta Da! A cute, blonde bob!

Happy March! Wishing you all a warm and enjoyable month.
We are thrilled to meet our new little one and can't wait to share the news as soon as it happens!
lots of love,
the kings!

Feb 7, 2012

Scarlett 21 Months & 35 Week Preg Update

Pregnancy Update: 35 weeks!

Now, 35 weeks

Last pregnancy at 35 weeks

Here's what's going on with baby #2 in a nutshell....
How Far Along: 35 weeks
Weight Gain: 19.5 pounds (WOAH! Up 7 lbs since the last update!)
Baby's Size: 5.5 lb & 18" long
Movement: Not as much rolling and flipping since there isn't much room- just lots of jabs. I'm still not sleeping :(
Measuring: On track! Baby finally slowed down and is measuring exactly where it should.
Mama's Health: I am anemic after all. Ugh. Now I'm on iron supplements for the rest of the pregnancy.
Gender Prediction: BOY. Yes, and I'm sewing lots of boy stuff in preparation, which means I could be jinxing myself?!
Names: Still to be determined. We have yet to break out the name book. There's still time....?!
Etc.: Our house is almost ready to accommodate another body. The baby will be in a mini crib in our room for the first few weeks/months/how long we can tolerate him/her! We have a few minor home improvement projects left, and then we are ready!

Scarlett 21 Month Update

January FLEW by! We are loving every minute we have left with just Miss Scarlett. She is such a silly, silly little girl. We signed her up for preschool for the fall, which I know she will just LOVE. Now we are just trying to stay busy until the baby arrives.
Newest Tricks
Potty Training is still going awesome. The days are down pat, and diapers still for naps and night. This mama is so happy to only have one in diapers come March!

Talking-- Scarlett takes after her chatterbox parents and talks, talks, talks. Yesterday she put together her first 4-word sentence, "Mama, I did it!" I can almost always understand what she is saying, so her frustration level is minimal.

This girl is also QUITE the monkey! We have been going to kindergym 1-3 times a week for the past 6 months and it is absolutely remarkable how strong and coordinated she has gotten in that time! She can climb a ladder, walk the beam, jump on the trampoline, pull herself up on the bar and rings, and can do the zipline ALL BE HERSELF! She loves it all!

Scarlett's Favorite Toy This Month
Her purse! Scarlett's babysitter gave her a purse and she is absolutely obsessed. We never leave home without it. And it is always stuffed with a few trains & miniature baby dolls or animals. She is my little shadow, so if I'm carrying my purse on my shoulder/forearm/wrist, she will do the same. Quite the lady :)

Biggest Thrill
Scarlett LOVES activities. She looks forward to each thing that we do on a weekly basis: park, music class, kindergym, playdates, daycare, & storytime at the library. She asks every morning for the daily agenda!

Biggest Highlight/Biggest Challenge

Highlight-- After MONTHS of reminding, prompting, & repeating, Scarlett has started to use her manners on her own! It's not constant, but about once or twice a day, a "Thank you, mama" or, "More snacks, please!" comes out all on it's own! I get VERY excited about that! The rest of the time, we remind her to use her "big girl words" and she says them immediately and without hesitation (still pretty good).

Challenge-- Our challenge the past month is teaching Scarlett to cope with not getting what she wants when she wants it. I think that is going to be a constant challenge throughout the next year. We remind her that big girls don't cry when they don't get what they want, etc, etc, and that usually works. But it is hard and frustrating for all of us!

Sweetest Moment

Scarlett is getting really good at solo play. I love listening to her play with her doll house and with her baby dolls. It goes to show me that she hears everything I/we say, because she mimics us with when she talks to her dolls. I love hearing her use those same expressions or sayings that we use at home.
Last week, I caught her rocking her dolly on the couch saying sweetly, "No cry dolly, no cry."
I just love this age and think she is absolutely precious.

Visiting with Papa for the weekend

Being silly with Daddy & Hazel

Taking a "nap" with Coco Dolly

xoxo, the kings!

Jan 1, 2012

Happy New Year & 20 Month Update

Happy, happy 2012!
I'm proud to say that we made it up until 12:05a.m. to ring in the new year! :)
We spent our night last night with the Fleischmanns and Bluffs and their adorable daughters. New Years potluck at our house and then managed to get all three kids to sleep so we could enjoy some adult time. A great, mellow night!

Pregnancy Update

30 Weeks!

Here's what's going on with baby #2 in a nutshell....
How Far Along: 30 weeks
Weight Gain: 12.5 pounds
Baby's Size: 3 lb & 15-16" long
Movement: ALL NIGHT. I'm not sleeping very well these days!
Measuring: BIG. Doctor predicts 9lb baby as of now (Scarlett was 8.6, 21")
Mama's Health: Great! Passed gestational diabetes test and iron test. (hurray! Last pregnancy I was anemic.)
Gender Prediction: BOY
Names: Still to be determined. We are lagging on the names on the second time around!

Scarlett 20 Month Update
We had a fabulous Christmas! Santa came a little early and we celebrated with Cody, Mimi, & Boppy here in Petaluma on the 22nd. Then we headed down to OC from the 23rd-27th to spend Christmas with my family & also worked in a morning at the park with the Larabees in San Diego. Great, great holiday.

She seemed excited....until we got to Santa's lap!

Christmas morning and Nonni's

Newest Tricks

We have a fully potty trained little lady! After about a month of taking this potty training thing seriously, Scarlett is finally in big girl undies and accident free for over a week! She is still in pull-ups and diapers for naps and bedtime, but she has the daytime thing down! She survived two airplane rides, car rides, market trips, park trips, and our church Christmas pageant accident free. She's very good at telling us now and NEVER forgets to remind us of her rewards (M&Ms for peepee, and sucker for poops).

Enjoying her potty training reward!

OUR Favorite Toys This Month

Jeremy: His Belgian Dubbel beer-making kit

Elisa: My new dutch oven

Scarlett: her dollhouse, and Kiki & Coco book with her own rag doll

Biggest Thrill

COUSINS. We talk about them, sing about them, watch videos of them, and compare EVERYTHING we do to what they do, from baby Malin all the way to BIG boy Shane! We also need to credit Hanley for giving Scarlett a 75% push towards potty training just because she's a big girl and wears undies. We want to do everything that big kids do, of course!

Biggest Highlight/Biggest Challenge

Answer: POTTY TRAINING for both! Luckily our "official" potty training lasted less than a month. Mommy and daddy were exhausted!

Big undie-wearing girl

Sweetest Moment
At 20 months, Scarlett now knows her family, near and far. This is especially wonderful for me, since none of my family lives in town. November and December were months FILLED with family moments: LOTS of cousin time, Mimi & Boppy kidnapping Scarlett for lots of playtime, Nonni's visit and Xmas at her house, Park time with Grandpa "Papa" Norm, babysitting time and lots of playtime with Uncle Coco, hugs & music time with Uncle Evi, and Christmas Eve & Day with all of my aunties/uncles/cousins. Scarlett has the names down and is now herself around everyone- silly, smiley, and busy!

Happy New Year to all!!

Love, the kings!

Dec 3, 2011

19 months and 25 weeks!

Happy Holidays everyone!
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and had tons of King family time since all of Jeremy's sibs came home for the long weekend (there were 26 of us for Thanksgiving dinner!). Scarlett was in heaven with her four cousins :)

Pregnancy Update: 25 Weeks!

All is going great with baby #2. Lots of kicking at night while I'm trying to sleep. Scarlett now loves to look under my shirt to see if the baby is crying in my belly. Pretty funny. I had my 24 week appt last week and am up for a total of 10 pounds. Heart rate is 155 and baby is around 13.5" and 1.5lbs at this point. I have my gestational diabetes blood test next week (yuck!). After that I will be in my 3rd trimester (really?! how did that happen so fast?) and will start seeing my doc every 2 weeks.
We talked about an induction date casually since I was induced at +8 days past my due date last time. Looking at the 3rd weekend of March if this baby doesn't arrive on his/her own!
I'm DETERMINED that this is a boy....99.9% sure! Although Jeremy reminds me that I bought boy bedding for Scarlett last time and that wasn't the case :) We will see!

Scarlett 19 Month Update
We are loving months 18 and 19! Can't they just arrive at this age and skip past the whole baby thing? This is delightful! Scarlett can talk, is sturdy and stable to run, jump, climb, and play. LOVE this age!

Newest Tricks
Still TONS of talking! This kid doesn't ever stop talking (wonder where she gets that, huh?!). Scarlett is getting good at 2-3 word phrases: Move mommy!, Sit daddy., Hazel outside peepee., etc. She blabs to the checker at the market, the old ladies that we walk by in town, you name them, she will talk to them.

Also, we have been dabbling with potty training (Scarlett's move, not ours) since 14 months. But, this past month she has really started to take it seriously after she saw her BIG cousins Hanley and Shane using the potty and wearing big kid undies. Also, mommy got serious and started offering M&Ms for potty bribes rather than boring old Fig Newtons. She will do ANYTHING for M&Ms! Yesterday, she managed four peepees in 30 minutes for her treat! Also, Mimi brought over some big girl undies (we call them "hannies" after Hanley) which S has been wearing in the house exclusively for the past week. We will see if this progresses! Wouldn't it be nice to have one in diapers come March?!

Favorite Toy This Month
Her cousins! She got to see the Larabee kids for 10 days and baby Malin for 6 days over Thanksgiving!

Biggest Thrill
We are still obsessed with big girls.
Hanley's 10 day appearance made quite the impression on Scarlett. Since she's left, we've named a doll after her ("Hanny") and now talk about her all the time. Scarlett can't wait to be a big girl just like Hanley some day. H was so sweet over Thanksgiving, leading Scarlett around Mimi & Bop's house, hand in hand, giving S wagon rides, and playing in Bop's cardboard fort for hours!

Scarlett also took a major liking to big girl Camryn during our 3 day weekend visiting the Brennans last month. Cam is 4 and a half! Such a big girl in S's eyes. When the Brennan Christmas card arrived this week, Scarlett took it and put it in her room and loves pointing out, "Ami."

Biggest Highlight/Biggest Challenge
Holy moly, an immobile toddler in a leg cast was BRUTAL. Scarlett's leg got twisted on the slide early last month and we ended up in the ER and in a half cast for 5 days until the swelling went down. Thankfully nothing was broken, but she wasn't able to walk on it for almost 2 weeks, which meant that this pregnant mama was carrying around my 27 pound toddler all day. Needless to say, when the cousins arrived and distracted her enough to limp around the house, we were are happy. It still occasionally bothers her but the sprain is definitely on the mend and almost healed. Hurray!

Sweetest Moment
Scarlett loves to mimic us. It's precious. Now we can totally tell that she is taking it all in and listening, observing, and absorbing everything we say or do. She "talks" to Nonni on her big girl phone like her mommy does, and has started saying our signature phrases like, "Let's go." or "Be right back." At daycare this week, Angela said that Scarlett kept putting her play phone down her pants. I started laughing because I knew she was mimicking me. I always put my phone in my back pants pocket. And after hearing my major praises after she goes on the big girl potty, Scarlett started praising herself every time she goes with, "Yeah baby! Go peepee, go!"

Here are some of my fav photos from this month: