Baby 2

Baby number 2 is coming along well. I had a 36 weeks check up last week and, just like with Kaio, my belly is too small for being 8 months pregnant. The midwife sent me for a scan to check if the baby was 'okay'. When this happened, 2 1/2 years ago while pregnant with Kaio, I completely panicked, but this time around I already knew that everything was okay in my belly. The scan showed a healthy baby, average size and at 2.2kg baby, who was kicking away and moving a lot.
This pregnancy has been different then my previous one:
- With Kaio I was very strict with all the things I could and could not eat, this time around I even had sushi a couple of time!
- My skin is much better this time around (I had bad acne with Kaio)
- I do not have the linea negra (a dark line that runs vertically over the belly)
- I have anemia and very low blood pressure this time around
- I had much more energy and slept much better while pregnant with Kaio
- I find this baby much more active and sometimes even painful with all the movements (this was specially the case when the baby was transversal)
- I have not had the peanut M&Ms + ice cream craving I had with Kaio
- I've been able to share some great moments with Kaio in preparation for the new baby (washing the cloths together, talking about holding the new baby, have Kaio point out 'our baby' to other people, etc)
- I've learned how to balance my belly and hold Kaio without falling!
One thing that has definitely not changed is that I love being pregnant. The fact that a small little baby is growing inside of me and will bring us so much joy (and worry) is just mind blowing and amazing.
Some people ask me how will it be possible to love another child as much as I do love Kaio, and I have no doubt that it will not be a problem. Nor will my love for Kaio diminish. As my dear friends Melissa puts it - the love will not be split in half but multiplied by two! (how it all fits in our hearts is a mystery!)
1) Belly and I
2) Me balancing kaio and the belly while looking at airplanes!

Funny toddler

A couple of cute stories:
- The other day I took Kaio to nursery and his two girlfriends (Nina and Bella) came running to greet him. They both kissed and hugged him. Kaio was all smiles. The two girls started pushing each other out of the way to be closer to Kaio and showing off their 'toys'. It was so cute to see how they just adore Kaio.
- Kaio seems to think that when daddy is not with us, he is 'corre corre' (running). The other day I asked him - "does Vinny run?" Kaio said - "SIM", "does Kaio run?" "SIM", "does daddy run?" "SIM" and finally - "does mommy run?" "NAO!" I guess I am the lazy one in the family!
- Kaio recently has been comparing several things with a family scenario. He has a big, medium and a small ball and he points at the big ball and says 'daddy ball', the medium ball 'mommy ball' and the small ball 'baby ball'.
- The other day we were taking a bath and he was washing the baby (=my belly) and I was telling him that the baby would soon come out and be with us. He then looked at my belly and said (at my belly): 'baby out, Kaio hold'... ADORABLE! Today he also said: 'baby out, play Kaio' and went about to show his toys to my belly.
- He started playing very nicely with teddy bears and building little games with them - the other day he had his big teddy bear ('daddy bear') read a book to the little one ('baby bear') and he placed the little one on the daddy's lap and the book in front of them!
- He is very comfortable in sitting on his potty and has been telling us when he has done a 'poopy' to change his nappy, which are all good signs to start the potty training.
- He loves to help me cook dinner. He gets the wooden spoon and does 'mistura' (mix). He also knows that when there is steam it is 'hot'.
- He has been saying a lot of words and it surprised how fast he picks new words up and builds sentences. Both in Portuguese and English.
Pictures:
1) Wearing mommy's (unused) glasses.
2) Kaio reading 'The Economist' while sitting on the potty
3) Sleeping with his buddies (he 'needs' all 3 to go to bed) - donkey, squirrel and bear!

7 weeks before baby 2!

We are all getting really excited and ready for baby nbr 2. Kaio seems to understand it and is very interested in everything related to 'mommy's baby'. Today he helped me wash all the tiny baby cloths and start getting everything ready. He also wanted to carry the new born nappies for 'the baby' when walking home from the store.
Kaio has been saying certain words in British English and it is absolutely adorable. The other day he said 'mommy, woter'. I had no idea what he was saying until someone pointed it out - woter is how Brits say water. He also says daddy and mommy with a British accent!
Kaio still loves music and specially guitars, he is always asking for people to draw guitars and he uses objects as 'instruments', pretending they are drums, pianos or guitars! And now he has started using a microphone and starts 'singing' and dancing.
This week I had a catch up with Kaio's carer at the nursery to discuss his progress. She said he is doing really well. He is a very sweet boy and everyone absolutely adores him (his carers from previous rooms come to cuddle with him daily! He has been at the nursery since he was 7 months - he is very popular) She also said Kaio is very advanced with his colors, knowing the basics (red, blue, green, yellow -his favorite -, green, brown, black, white, pink, purple and orange) very well. He is also very good in making the animal's sounds and identifying them. However she mentioned that he has little interest in numbers. When they start any activity with numbers he tends to loose interest pretty fast. (although, this weekend, I was very surprised and impressed when he started counting, in Portuguese, the stairs going doing to the basement - up to 7!)
Some pics:
1) A real musician - a hoody, (daddy's) big shoes and his guitar!
2) He was practicing to carry around the baby in the Baby Bjorn

A fun week day with Kaio

It has been very busy at work and I have been away several nights, so I decided to have a 'Kaio and Mommy' day. We had a great day! We started the day in having breakfast at our own pace. (very slow and 'chatting'). We then turned on the sound and danced and sang to his favorite songs. (he was dancing around on the couch with his guitar in his hand). After that we went to the indoor swimming pool. Initially he was a bit apprehensive about it (since the last time we were at a pool was in Tunisia, 3 months ago.) However after a couple of minutes he was running around, jumping in the pool and really enjoying himself. At one point, when we were hugging and giggling, he suddenly realized daddy wasn't with us.. (it seemed like he really wanted daddy to be there with us on that fun moment) and said 'Daddy? Daddy corre' (daddy runs). Jason ran into work that morning and Kaio knows when he sees daddy with his running gear that he is going for a run! Clever boy!
Kaio helped me prepar lunch. He really enjoys stirring and putting things in the pot. He usually says - 'Dado juda' (=Kaio ajuda = Kaio helps). After a 2 1/2 hrs nap we went to the store together (on his bike) and he was helping me pick fruit, yogurt and cereal. It is so fun to see him have opinions and tastes!
We did some playing, drawing and painting and finished the day with watching a documentary on pandas. He was very intrigued with it and kept saying - 'mommy, daddy, baby, oma' while pointing at the different pandas.
When Jason got home he could see that Kaio and mommy were in a great mood because we had such a fun day together.
The picture on the top speaks for itself. (It also shows why I get so many comments in how our hair collor is so similar! Both our hair are in it's natural color!)
Below: Kaio LOVES boxes! And Kaio in his drummer imitation (and PJs)