And he shall be called...

Our little baby boy has a name!  It was the first one to be tossed out after we found out we were having a boy and it quickly started to just feel right.

• When you have Jacob, Courtney, Jack, and Cora, you have to think about whether the new baby needed to follow suit with similar letters...

• When you are on baby number three, "fitting in" with the other two names is something to consider...

• But in the end, it pretty much just has to sit right with Mama :)

Jack, Cora, and Luke

So, he shall be called "Baby Luke".  Full name, to be determined! 

• L for Luke means our names are all Js, Cs, and Ls when you include our last name
• Jack and Luke = perfect in my book!  And, along with Cora, all classic, 4 letter names!
• Once Mama was on board with Baby Luke, well, the rest is history.

And this is how Cora (currently and perhaps forever known as "Towa") talks to her little baby brother:

What you should NEVER say to a pregnant woman. Ever.

You've probably read posts like this before, but apparently not everyone has.  As a pregnant woman who seems to invite comments, let me say, it is NEVER appropriate to speculate on a woman's due date.  Chances are you will be wrong. 

I'm firmly convinced that most people don't know what a full-term, 40-week pregnant woman looks like.  Even if you've been one, apparently you can forget.  Here is a small sampling of what I heard in the last week (between 25 and 26 weeks pregnant.)

"Oh a New Year's baby!"  (only if you count mid-March as the new year)
"Looks like we're having a Christmas baby!"  (No. Not even close.)
"You look like you could go into labor any minute."  (Trust me, this is not what I'd be acting like if I were verging on labor.)
"Have you dropped or is it a boy?" (Can we please refrain from talking about things dropping in my pelvis?")

To the common "Not too much longer, eh?" I generally respond "It's longer than you might think."  Then I smile and walk away.  It's easier to be vague and let the comments roll off.  But depending on the wording, sometimes I end up answering "No, not due until March."  To which I heard this week:

"Well then it must be twins." 

Don't ever tell someone they look like they are having twins.  Why is it even necessary to write this?  Why would you TELL someone they look like they have two babies inside their belly? The few pregnant women who are indeed having twins will probably readily offer that information to you. A bystander doesn't need to "diagnose" twins!  I mean really!

Would you believe the below conversation really happened?

"Actually, I'm not due until March."
"Well then it must be twins."
"No, just one baby."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"I mean you're really sure?  They can check for that now, right?"

 That is just so wrong.

26 weeks with big sister Cora

A Party in Pictures

It is awesome to celebrate someone you love with such nice people!  Today, we celebrated Jack's 5th birthday with his 5th park birthday party.

5 parties, 5 years, 5 different parks.  All in December in New Orleans with a track record of four great 60s/70s weather days and one cold, misty day.  Today was one of the beautiful weather days!

Our invite list has varied some, from mainly our own friends to expanding to friends we've made through our children, to now a large group of these friends + Jack's great Waldorf class community.

A look back:

1st Birthday - he's maintained the great appetite

2nd Birthday - a double ear infection didn't slow him down!

3rd Birthday - it's all fire, all the time - and the fire truck visits the party!

Probably my favorite Mommy-Jack picture of all time

4th Birthday - we started at the NOLA Fire Museum

Our one cold birthday party, but still so much fun thanks to our friends' bounce house!

5th Birthday - it's Officer Jack this year

This kid has some awesome friends and they all had a blast playing together

Jack requested kiwi on his cupcake

A visit from Officer White - he said Jack's party came up in roll call today!

A visit from Captain Hennessey and the Magazine Station's Engine #1

The only thing we forgot to bring was extra clothes for Cora. (Diaper blowout)  In 75 degree weather, it didn't matter!

FIVE!

Well you know it's going to be a good day when the first thing you hear is...

"Mommy and Daddy - it's time for some birthday snuggles!" as the birthday boy runs into our room to jump into bed with us.

That about sums up Jack at five.  He's just a sweetheart.

I love celebrating this little guy.  His December 3rd birthday tends to fall at a crazy time as we typically travel for Thanksgiving and then come home to the rush of December, but we managed to pack a lot into this week, somewhat successfully (i.e. we (I) didn't get too tired and lose my temper too often).

Birthday eve had us out buying and decorating our Christmas tree, which the kids LOVED!

Birthday morning (post-snuggles) consisted of breakfast in bed and some presents.

Birthday school-day was a fun affair for Jack as he got to wear the birthday crown and cape, enjoyed birthday privileges (line leader and a special story), and got to bring in a special snack. We decided on yogurt with special toppings which Jack picked (kiwi, blackberries, pineapple, chocolate chips, and Craisins.)

Birthday afternoon was a Mommy-Jack affair as he accompanied me for the first time to a midwife appointment.  There, he got to measure my belly and hold the Doppler to hear baby's heartbeat.  Then we hand delivered birthday party invitations to the police and fire stations, hoping that some community heroes might be free this weekend to stop by Jack's birthday party.

Then some play time.  A few new toys make old toys more interesting.

Birthday dinner was pizza at church before choir practice.  Our church was offering pizza to anyone coming to choir or to help decorate for the holidays.  Jack loves his weekly choir practices and play time with friends, so this worked out great.  After sweetly telling a few people it was his birthday, he got a little amped and suddenly yelled out to some newcomers: "Say Happy Birthday to me!"  He's not perfect ;)

Birthday culmination was eating the kiwi-strawberry sorbet that Jacob and Jack had made together earlier and opening the final presents.

And wouldn't you know, Jack, who knew he wasn't actually five until sometime in the evening, called out from his bed "Am I 5 yet?" at exactly 8:38, the moment he was born.  So that got him some extra hugs and kisses.

We love this guy SO MUCH.  He's so smart, so loving, and such an interesting little fellow to spend our days with.

*The bandaid in all the pictures came from our book-loving little guy's excitement at the public library on Monday night, when he tripped and fell head first into the corner of the fish aquarium.  After a lot of blood and some super-caring assistance from our favorite librarian Ms. Jo, I managed to load both kids back into the stroller and walk home.  The cut didn't seem that deep, but since it was SMACK in the middle of his forehead, I wanted confirmation it didn't need some help to heal well, so I took Jack to Urgent Care where he got a good cleaning and a $25 bandaid :)