It's a ...

Wally and I went to our 20 week appointment yesterday. First and foremost, the anatomy scan showed that Baby Doyle #2 is a healthy, active, 12 oz. baby!!!

But...it also showed that Baby Doyle #2 is...

A GIRL!!!!

We are over the moon with excitement. Mainly because she is healthy! She is also growing as she should...measuring 20 weeks, 2 days where I am 20 weeks, 3 days.

Everybody asked if I thought if I was having a boy or a girl. And my standard response was "I think it's a girl ONLY because the two pregnancies have been identical. But, I don't feel like it's one or the other." But, I do know that no two pregnancies are the same and that didn't necessarily indicate another girl.

On a side note - I went into this ultrasound expecting the tech to say "I can't tell the gender. The baby won't uncurl from a ball." I say that because we had to have 3...yes, 3...ultrasounds before we knew that Caroline was a girl.

Without further ado, meet Baby Girl #2 (name TBD)

Doesn't she have the most perfect little profile?

I think this is looking down on top of her head and she's got her hands cupped in front of her face.

Perfect teeny, tiny little toes!

And I told myself that I wouldn't spend my entire pregnancy (and after the birth, for that matter) comparing this baby to Caroline. And y'all might think I'm crazy. But, the moment I saw that profile picture above I said to myself "That looks JUST like Caroline!" And doesn't it???

Caroline on the right, #2 on the left

Gymnastics

We enrolled Caroline into a Mommy, Daddy & Me gymnastics class this summer. She LOVED it. Actually that is an understatement. She talked about it all the time. And on Tuesdays when I'd pick her up from school and remind her that we had gymnastics that afternoon, she'd say "We go hoooooome! Put on my lee-do-tard! Wash my faaaaaace! Comb my haaaaaair! Put on my flip flops! We go to gymnastics!!!"

Here are some pictures from her last class. She did so very well from the very beginning but was scared to try some things. Over the course of the class, she improved tremendously and got braver and braver as time went on.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear. It may also be my hormones. But, whatever. I was sad on the last class because I knew it was coming to an end and I knew how much she loved being there. They don't offer fall/winter gymnastics at a time that I can attend, but I did sign her up for Mommy & Me dance class at a more available time. I will have to leave work early one day a week to take her but my wonderful work family is ok with that.

Walking the mini beam. Excuse Daddy's scowl. He wasn't really mad.

She can do a flip on that same mini beam without falling off!

I just thought this was a cute picture.


Jumping into the pit. This was one of the things she didn't to do until towards the end of the class. Then, I couldn't hardly get her out of the pit! Both literally and figuratively. It was hard for me with my bump in the way!

Walking the big beam with no assistance. So it was easier since both feet fit side by side. So what?

Bear walk on the parallel bars. Another thing she was too scared to do at first.

Smiling for mommy at dinner afterwards. So beautiful!

Too tired to hold her head up and eat. I feel that way too sometimes!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Kids say the darnedest things, don't they? Caroline is no exception. She listens to every word you say - even if it looks like she's not paying attention. Then she repeats exactly what she hears and 99% of the time uses it in the correct context.

Lately as she's been a little mocking bird, I think "I need to quit saying that. I don't need her saying that at school." And, I don't necessarily mean certain four-letter words that she has picked up on so quickly. Other times I think "She must get that at school because I don't say that." Ha!

Here are some of the things she likes to repeat:

"Do you understand me?" When she's being bossy, she makes her point pointedly and follows it with "Do you understand me? OK?!"

"This is your last chance!" When I picked Caroline up from school one day last week her teacher said "Caroline had us laughing today at naptime." (That's when most parents cringe, right? I did.) The teacher continued, "Some kids weren't on their mat when we were trying to go down for nap and Caroline was standing up and pointing 'Get on your mat RIGHT NOW! This is your last chance!'"

"I'm ready to listen, Mommy." This usually comes in time out. I can only guess that she hears that at school. I don't think I say that (yet). She says this when she doesn't want to be in time out. And she may or may not be in time out for not listening.

An addition to the one above, today she told me "I'm ready to put my listening ears on, Mommy."

"One, two, three. Eyes on me." I don't think there's any explanation for this. But, I can safely say that this is not something I say to her.

"One last time!!" Obviously she says this when she thinks she's not done doing something. And I usually am telling her "That was the last time!"

"Do it again and I'm gonna spank!" Well, her school doesn't say that (I hope) but I do. And I know I probably shouldn't let her get away with (insert whatever) the first time, but 9 times out of ten it works and she stops.

Some that I can claim and are proud of: "You look beautiful!" (Substitute "gorgeous" or "pretty" depending on the mood.) "I am so proud of you!" "That's a great job!"

As you can see, she's a little "monkey see, monkey do". And I can truly say I wouldn't have it any other way. She keeps us in stitches and what's a day without laughter?

Visit with Lindsay & Courtney

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin Lindsay and her friend Courtney came to visit us for a week. It is always so special when Lindsay comes for a visit. She has grown into a such a sweet little lady and will also be so very close to my heart. (And Caroline's! She's her god-mother!) Lindsay is getting ready to start her sophomore year in college, but I can remember holding her for the first time a couple of days after she was born. Almost 20 years ago!!!

I was so happy that Lindsay brought Courtney, too. She is just as sweet as Lindsay and Caroline took right to her, too. I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked, but we did have a great time with everybody together.

The girls went to the beach a couple of days, I took one day off to do "Myrtle Beach tourist" stuff (eat at Margaritaville & go to the Wonder Works museum), ate at Miyabi's, and the girls even cooked us dinner one night! What a treat!

I hope you both come back next summer!!

Here are the girls having a 4-Wheeler race

Three beautiful girls!!

Lindsay and Caroline - probably one of my most favorite pictures ever.

Had to have one close-up of the big girls on the little girl toys!

What Caroline Has Learned....

Caroline has been well educated summer. Here are some of the things she has learned...

She has learned that her Daddy give good kisses in the kiddie pool, too. She also learned to sit still for a pony-tail, too!

She has learned that everything is better with the right pair of shades on.

She has learned to pick out clothes herself. Nobody says they have to match.

She has learned to love her sweet new cousin, Griffin. She has also learned that he usually has a scared look on his face when she comes around.

She has learned to play patty-cake with her cousin Griffin.

She has learned that when we say "Oh, his cheeks are so squeezable!" that we don't actually mean it. Well, kinda. I do sneak a squeeze every now and then.

PS - I think Griffin learned why he needs to be scared when Caroline comes around!

Murrells Inlet Fire Station / Tucker's B-Day Party

We sure have been busy! And I don't even know where to begin. Back in July, my sweet friend Kristin had Tucker's 3rd birthday party at the Murrells Inlet Fire Station. What a wonderful idea!

One of the firemen came out in his regular uniform and brought all his equipment to change into in front of the kids. Mainly not to freak them out. Unfortunately, Caroline had to go potty during all this, so when we walked back out, this is what we saw. She was probably the only one in there who was scared of the fireman!

Next, they were awesome enough to give us rides around the block in a real big fire truck! I think the kids enjoyed it as much as the adults did. (Not to mention there were some pretty cute firemen hanging around.) We had to do the rides in shifts because there were lots of kids there, including Caroline's older boyfriend, Wade. AKA "The Man".

What a sweet little (big) boy!

Don't they look cute together? This is about as close as Wade will get to Caroline. Hee hee - if it were up to her, she'd be hugging on him all day!

In between rides, the kids got to play around on some of the other firetrucks in the station.

My big, big girl. How do they grow up so fast?

Enjoying some sweets after playing on the firetrucks.