Meet "Placido/a"

Yup, that's him/her from our first (and hopefully last) ultrasound today! We've been lovingly calling the little monkey "Placido" or "Placida," as we figure that the next baby must be, has to be a bit more easygoing than his/her big brother (though we know that two high-energy parents rarely equal a chill baby, at least colic-free would be nice the next time around). It's hard to believe we're almost halfway through this pregnancy, and even harder to believe that I won't be birthing Lucas again, that this baby has its own looks, personality, ultrasound pictures, etc.!

Below you're getting a taste of the newest technology, where you get to see your babe in creepy 3D images, which essentially make her/him look like she/he has molten wax dripping off her/his very skeletal face and body (this shot is from is a 4D or "real time" movement image, which is basically the same thing, although a summary explanation of the entire concept is still beyond us):

And as opposed to the first time around, when we chose not to know Lucas's sex (thereby driving the grandparents crazy), this time we figured we'd try to find out, mostly to do whatever possible to help Lucas feel even slightly more prepared for a little sibling. We'll reveal to you what the sex is, but you've got to play our little game for a while and guess. (Those of you who already know can still vote!) Maybe it won't be as fun for some of you, as you're not here to tell how I'm carrying (same as Lucas, but with more weight than the last time at this point), whether or not the baby is "taking away my beauty" (girl) and other lovely unsolicited (and really awful, usually!) myths that people love to offer to us preggers. Vote anyway, and we'll tell ya', well, when we decide to tell ya':

Is it a Placido, or a Placida?
	Male
	Female
pollcode.com free polls

Lucas Has A Special Announcement To Make:

Learning to help -- Lucas decides that baby is hungry for canned corn and white bread:

Ask Lucas where the baby is, and he points to and kisses (er, licks) Mama's belly. (And -- whoops! -- sometimes Papi's belly, too.)

A game he loves to play with play-doh these days: "Mama Snake, Papi Snake, Baby Snakes; Baby Balls, Papi Ball, Mama Ball:"

Estimated D.O.A.: 4/6/08

Too Funny

Thanks to our friend Malissa, who put together this photo of Lucas, called "Lucas the Bad Mama Jama":

730 days

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sweet Boy, Lukie-Dookie, Lucas-Mucus-Pukus (gotta get him ready for middle school), Moquito, Little Man, Big Boy, Lefty, Little Love! We can't believe that we have a two-year old on our hands - and that it's you -- and that you're ours! We love your affectionate and sensitive nature, your exuberance for life, your fabulous full-faced smile, and your sweet pot belly! It's been 730 days since you came and rocked our world, and yet we can't imagine going back to life before you! Today we celebrate you together with many of your favorite people, as well as plenty of yellow #40:

Lemme at that school bus cake!

You lucky boy: lots of love and fun gifts, too!

NYC Transit Museum

Lucas has been bouncing off the walls with joy since his grandparents arrived in town a couple of days ago to help us celebrate his 2nd birthday. It was a cold, blustery day today -- too much for outings to the park -- so where does one take their train- and bus-loving child in order to fill up the afternoon? Here, of course! Otherwise known as hog heaven!

All Hallow's Eve

It's that time of year again, when we dress up our unsuspecting little one and parade him around in the streets. Lucas only half seemed to notice/care that he had a special vest on (luckily the gel-in-the-hair application went unnoticed, too), then it was all about his new toy motorcycle and then sometimes receiving weird little boxes from neighbors and strangers on the street. We're taking advantage of the fact that he has at least one more year without say in what he gets to dress up as and is still relatively oblivious (until tonight, that is) to the idea of candy.

You can't tell here, but the side of his sunglasses reads, "Thugs."

Lucas opens wide while Christopher picks a wedgie. Priceless!

This is the "Oh look, Mama's pulling out the camera again, so I'll just look away" trend that we've been seeing lately. Needless to say, he thinks it's a lot more charming than we do. . .

Children and parents beware: what happens at the end of the day after consuming all that sugar:

"It's Electric! (Boogie Woogie Woogie)"

Sunday Fun

It's been a busy week around here and the weekend was no different. But there's always Sunday afternoon and time with Lucas's beloved Tio and Tia to be lazy and relax. First, a visit to our neighborhood's art fair, where Lucas seemed to almost be showing off his Tio and Tia with a huge grin on his face as they walked around:

Visiting (and then -- we kid you not -- kicking) the decorated pumpkins (before we made a swift removal and moved on to make trouble elsewhere):

To Tia and Tio's house, where the silliness really began:

I turn away for two minutes (mind you, leaving Lucas with three other adults) and this is what happens:

We're gonna pay for this later when Lucas decides he wants to play this game at home:

Wanting To Be A Part Of All The Activity

More Pics from (Where Else?) The Park The Other Day

Big-Kid Swings

He's saying "up," and though he usually sits on mama's lap on the big-kid swings, this day he tried it out solo. He seemed to understand the leg-pumping thing but not so much the hang-on-tight part. He also says "higher" like a Brooklynite: "Hi-yuh!"

Another fun swing that Lucas likes -- it has the buckles he loves to snap plus it twists!

One-Track Minded

It's trains and buses all day long, we're afraid. First thing in the morning after Lucas wakes up (and after lots of snuggling with Mama and Papi), he runs to his favorite toys in the living room, moving them along the walls and along our bodies, making them crash or setting them up side by side to compare. He talks to them, sings to them, narrates their noises, bathes with them, sometimes goes to sleep with one. We don't leave the house without Bertie the Bus or James the train, and at the park he pretends to let them ride on every surface possible. Here's a glance at Lucas's handiwork before he goes to bed at night so that they'll all be together in the living room and ready for him in the morning:

And here's what he did one day when I told him to grab a train to get ready to go outside:

And here's rare proof (more for my own sake, really) that he sometimes plays (at our weekly playgroup) with other toys:

Just Hangin'

Miles For Midwives

This morning Papi and Lucas participated in the Miles for Midwives Run in Prospect Park, where over 300 people walked/ran and we enjoyed the warm weather while meeting up with old friends.