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What’s a grandparent to do?  Literally.  Should they feed the baby, or are you or your mate nursing?  Should they change the diapers or are you both managing that just fine.  Do you want them to babysit, or do you need to be the one to put your child to bed?

Modern grandparents tend to want to help, but they don’t know how.  And sometimes they feel out-of-place and uncomfortable because they think you don’t want them around.

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And then I cried in front of the technician.  Again, please check again.  Are you sure?  Can I have a picture?  When the doctor arrived I asked him to triple check.  Yes, it’s a girl.  No doubt.  Yippie!  Healthy, of course is most important, but a girl?  I can’t believe it.

My husband was happy too because a) I was so happy, b) he wanted a girl since we already have a boy, and c) we could avoid a bris (a Jewish ritual circumcision).

And then I called my mom and she screamed with joy “I’m having a third girl!”   To which I responded, “No mom, you have two girls, me and my sister.  This third one is mine.”  No offense was taken.  I called my my sister and my in-laws.  Joyfulness spread like wildfire.

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Anatomy Scan: This is where my mind is this week (except during potty training episodes in which I can’t think at all!).  On Friday, my husband and I will go to the doctor and I will have a Level 2 ultrasound.  We will find out that day, or early next week, about whether everything looks normal.  Just another exciting and nerve-wracking adventure in pregnancy.

And we’ll find out the baby’s sex too.  That’s when my hubby and I will start *really* thinking about baby names.  Our method with our first child was to wait to have serious name discussions until after we found out the sex.  It worked out so well (we are both so happy with Blake’s name), that we’re taking the same route again.  And then we will keep the name a secret until birth.  Did you share your child’s name before birth?

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In my search for the perfect potty training method, I discovered the holy grail: “Potty Training” should be renamed “Parent Training.”  Every book about potty training relies heavily on the parent as cheerleader, housekeeper, laundry-cleaner and teacher.

I introduced my son to the toilet (we put a potty seat on it), a couple weeks ago and he took to it really fast.  He liked the whole experience and learned quickly.  Until today it was optional.  Now it’s the real deal.  My son was happy to participate and peed in the potty at nearly every try today, but I’m exhausted!  Just because he pees in the potty, doesn’t mean he doesn’t pee out of the potty. Cleaning up the numerous accidents, keeping him entertained on the potty for a significant portion of the day with songs and books, and continuously talking to him about what it all means and how proud I am of his sissy, has me worn out.

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I admit it.  I’m a Buyer.  Toys, games, clothes are nearly 95% purchased.  I’m jealous of my sister-in-law, Ruth, the ultimate Maker.  The thing is, she enjoys the process of discovering how to make something and then doing it.  She has real skills, I don’t.

I can find household items and reinvent them as baby toys (see my post on cheap baby toys), but to make something out of nothing?  I did take Home Economics in middle school (do they teach that anymore?) where I learned to sew, but I’ve forgotten it all.  I wonder how many women today actually know how to sew more than a hem…

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