Weeks 15 and 16- Growing and Learning to be a Big Brother

Weeks 15 and 16 have flown by. Now that your Mom is over the first tri-mester nasties and has gone back to her regular work hours, it's life back to normal. Except for the whole prepping-for-another-child-while-raising-an-awesome-2-year-old-and-constantly-feeding-a-pregnant-wife thing. But, it's so crazy. It seems just like yesterday you were our little secret, and now the whole world knows. You're growing quickly, and supposedly you can even hear us now, since your ear drums are forming. And no, you can't get your ears pierced just yet. You'll have to wait. Sorry. You as a bump are growing too, and becoming quite popular around the house. I, of course, try to hug you and sing or talk to you whenever I get a chance. The dogs try to take up residence on you as often as they can. And your Mom and you get up to go the restroom like every two hours!

Week 15, with a special guest

But, you are also becoming more popular with your Big Brother! We've been reminding him almost daily that Mommy has a baby in her belly, or that Aidan's sister is in Mommy's belly. He had been mostly confused, but is nice enough to not treat us like we're crazy. But, lately he seems to be getting the hang of it. We ask him if he wants to kiss his sister, or tickle the baby, or kiss the new baby, and he goes right over to the growing bump and complies. Although sometimes he accidentally hits the arm or a boob, but he seems to be getting the general idea.

He's even starting to say 'baby' when we ask him what's in Mommy's belly!

So, you're in good hands, little girl. You've got a big brother in training.

Look at this special moment we completely set up and had to bribe Aidan with chocolate to get a picture of:

Week 16, with another special guest
 

So...we had to give him a little chocolate chip to get him in the picture, but it sure came out great! Hey, when you're playing in your room, you  don't always want to be bothered with photo-ops, but, for his little sister (and chocolate), Aidan will always be there!

Last week you were the size of an orange...this week you are the size of an avocado!

You're growing hair, ear bones and taste buds too! We're growing more and more fond of you day by day...and your Mom is growing more and more hungry too...and you'd better believe you're going to be growing accustomed to our voices...I'm scheduling a belly-singing session for tonight.

With your Big Brother, Two dogs and Father by your side whenever we get a chance (and your Mother 100% by your side because you're kind of conjoined at the moment), you're going to be getting all the love you can get to help you grow strong, healthy and happy.

Orange You Glad I went to the Airport?

You are officially well into your 15th week inside your Mom's belly. The fruit equivalent of your size, on average, is a naval orange! The site says that on average a baby at your age will be 4 inches in length...although you were 4 inches from rump to crown about two weeks ago!

But still, an orange is a pretty big piece of produce! You are continuing to grow in your Mom's tummy and nearing normal proportions. This week your legs should finally be longer than your arms. No wonder in the video you were so easily touching your toes! Your arms were longer than your legs. But not any more!

On a good note, though, Oranges are very good for you. And you've been very good to your Mother! The post-plane nausea has all-but disappeared, and she's gotten her appetite back; although she's now mostly hungry for Egg Drop soup and egg rolls.

The site also says you should be very busy in there, wiggling and squirming around, though your Mommy can't feel it quite yet. But she's looking more and more pregnant each day! Check this one out from our trip to Maine:

Someone else has been moving around like crazy this week too: me! But I wasn't in anyone's belly...I was in a plane. But at the airport in Chicago yesterday afternoon, waiting to come home you and your Mom, I saw stars from one of your Mom's most favorite television shows: "Myth Busters."

I went up to the stars, Tory, Grant and Kari, and got their autographs, a picture and chatted with them.

I even asked them for advice on baby names, since your Mom and I seem to have writer's block on baby boy names!

Now Kari, who apparently just had a baby girl 10 months ago, said she couldn't give me her best boy names, in case she had a boy next. Then she offered "a boy named Sue" (which is a Johnny Cash song and also completely not an option for your name).

After some moments of thinking, Kari and Tory both offered up the name "Buster."

"Buster" is their show's famous crash-test dummy who gets stabbed, beaten up, drowned, exploded and abused in every episode.

The bruised and battered "Buster."

I also pointed out that "Buster" from "Arrested Development" doesn't fare to well either (See below).

But, Tory added that "Buster Keaton" did quite well with that name. And, hey, the name "Keaton" isn't too bad... but it's not an option either!

So, needless to say, the Mythbusters, who can solve nearly every conundrum thrown at them, couldn't do anything to help bypass this baby naming boondoggle! Well, except maybe they contributed two names that are definitely off the list (and weren't on the list to begin with!)

But don't worry; your Mom and I will have a great name picked out for you by the time you are ready to come out into the world!