Where has the time gone?

Our little boy is growing up at an accelerated rate, so it seems.

“Mauldin no!” I say… constantly.

Where has the time gone? I feel like someone has taken a remote and pushed fast forward.

“Mauldin, what did we say?” I continue as he stops in his tracks on his way to the dog bed… as soon as I look away he turns his little butt around and heads right back to his previous direction of naughtiness. Our son has a weird fascination with our pets... he loves them. As soon as he heads their way our little Westie, Andy, runs in fear of being pummelled by a 18lb 10 month old!

I feel as if every day he accomplishes something new. Thankfully I have been around to see each one surface. I was there when Mauldin said “Da-da” as his first word, which I might add is one of the only things he says with a repeating vengeance.

“Mauldin,” I repeat and head over to pick him up and replace him away from the dog bowls full of water. “I said no to the dog bowls.” He loves getting into their bowls. I came home today and my wife informed me...

"Go say hello to your son and don't even ask me why he is wet!"

"What?" I retorted.

"I looked away for a second and he was "in" Andy's bowl," Laura explained.

The kid can officially climb the stairs with no assistance, he is cruising like nobody’s business, the child is eating solid foods and feeding himself, holding his bottle on his own and clapping! The boy claps, patty cake is a fun game he likes to play.

Not only is Mauldin about to have a birthday, his first birthday mind you, but we will soon be another plus one to the Skates family unit.
We are now coming up on the 20 week mark for our little girl… Elle will be here before we know it and we are so unprepared. It seems as if with Mauldin we had tons of diapers, wipes, clothes, etc… we have a couple of bags of clothes for our little princess, but her nursery is still a guest room, no bedding has been purchased, what is going on? We are usually so far ahead, we are planners, this is so out of our character, but the urgency just isn’t … I don’t know, around as much as it was the first time. We are so much more laid back with this pregnancy!

I guess the freakout with happen after we come home with our shiny, brand new, bouncing baby girl.

It still hasn’t totally hit me yet. I assume when it does you may find me on the floor.

Happy Groundhog Day, everyone.

"Mauldin what did I say about the dog beds?"

It's a girl!

I guess I should start saving... honestly, I don't know how...

1. I am going to handle my little girl dating and

2. I don't know how I will be able to afford her wedding.

Yes, it is official, the Mrs. and I will be having a little girl come this summer!

Epic. Here is a picture of our beauty, Elle.

Superior awardage...

Okay, I was awarded this fantastic award from Lynn over at S3xinthepantry... so Thank you Lynn!

Here are the rules for the Superior Scribbler:

•Each Superior Scribbler must pass The Award on to 5 Bloggy Friends.

• Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

• Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog.

• Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blogI'm passing this along to the following Superior Scribblers:

DC Urban Dad

FoF

Ihavetowipehiswhat

Seattle Dad

The Busy Dad

Congrats gentlemen! Your turn... pass it on!

Are you the Gate Keeper?

Or the Key Master?

Okay, I couldn't resist...

It is my own fault, I know this, I provked and actually led to it.
What am I talking about, you ask?

Our son can climb the stairs... I do not just mean he can get his leg up on one step... ut uh... the boy can scale the whole stair case on his own. We, of course, stay behind for support just in case he were to miss a "step," but our little man rocks. If we aren't careful he may be rock climbing soon... or maybe splunking!

I, for about a month, have been practicing with MJ showing and helping him make it up the stairs... who knew he could catch on so quick!?

Walking? Nawh, he hasn't got the grasp on that yet... he tends to stand on his tip-toes. Not sure when this goes out of style for babies, but lets all hope soon.

We have started the more hardcore baby proofing... I mean we first put out all the plug-in covers and the padded gummy covers on the fireplace, we have taken things out of reach, but I have put off putting up the dredded "GATE."

So, this weekend, Sunday to be exact, will be the dredded day where our home becomes more structured and confined...

Don't get me wrong, I know we need a gate, I expected the gate... but I wasn't sure I, uhhmm he was ready for it until we caught him acting like he was from the Jefferson's... "Movin' on up!"

Although, in place of the deluxe apartment is the upstairs landing... which at the moment house a couple of large holiday nutcrackers.

I'll keep ya posted on the installation of said "gates!"

Here we go again...

Alright, I want to first apologize for being so MIA and non-blogger like. I admit I have had a lot going on... I mean, I got it goin' on.

Let me just spill the beans right here, right now and get it over with. No need to go into the "I've got some major news to tell," or make you play the "Guess what" game.

We are now officially expecting... expecting what you ask? Expecting to not go out as much anymore, expecting to not go on our 2 year anniversary trip to the Bahamas and most certainly not expecting the be sleeping well in about, oh seven months.

Okay, maybe I am being just a bit alusive, but comon' it's kinda lame to just be like...

"My wife's pregnant, again!"

We discovered this about this time last week.

Let me set the scene for you.... about how we found out I mean, not the conception. I mean seriously you thought I was gonna give you THAT kind of detail.

My wife was home from work on this sunny, or was it rainy, Tuesday afternoon around 11 AM. She had just picked up our son from Daycare because she had decided to run some errands sans 7 1/2 month old. Earlier that morning I was woken up by the sounds of puking, ralphing, food being regur... okay you get the point.

"I just can't shake this," my wife, Laura, says while embracing the white, porcelin bowl.

"I guess it is just all that drainage from your sinuses," I replied.

My wife had been throwing up off and on for about three weeks and we had just assumed it was sinus drainage. (Looking back we are so stupid.)

While I was on my way to take our son, Mauldin, to daycare I called Laura on the phone.

"Why don't you stop and pick up a pregnancy test while you are out," I suggested.

"Okay, if you think I should," she said.

"I think you should," I insisted.

Fast forward to 10:30 AM, I get a phone call from Laura.

"What are you doing for lunch today?" she asked.

"Oh, I don't know, I haven't thought about it, why? You want me to come have lunch with you?"

"Yes."

I kinda played around with her for a bit on my phone on my way. I decided not to call her until I was atleast down our road.

I recieve a text saying: "Where are you?"

I proceed to dial our home number...

"I am sorry, I just left the office," I lied.

"Awh, okay, I really wish you were home," Laura said.

"Me too!"

I was actually just 2 minutes down the road and finally as I round the corner to our house I say well, I will let you go, I should be home in about 10 minutes, as I hit the garage door opener. She doesn't even notice the noise as I pull up to the house.

"Laura," I said.

"What?"

"I'm home!" I said "See you..." I see her at the door, she has a smile on her face from ear to ear.

I proceeded to push end on my phone and place it in my pocket and shut the door to my dirty, black Honda accord.

I walk inside and she gives me a huge hug.

I can tell something good is about to happen. She had surprise-face. I am assuming she made me lunch and a nice, yummy sandwich and a glass of tea would be waiting for me at the table. (It apparently doesn't take a lot to get me excited these days.)

I walk over to the table and instead of a sandwich I am handed a positive pregnancy test. I look up at Laura and she has smile and tears in her eyes.

"I'm pregnant."

I hugged her tight as I could and laughed.

"So this was my surprise?" I asked.

"Yeah! What do you think?" Laura said.

"I dunno! A Publix sub!" I said... "I'm in shock, I'm elated, I'm excited, what about you?"

"I'm still in shock too."

"Well, I guess we aren't getting a TV for Christmas anymore, huh?" I said.

"Nope, I guess we need to cancel our trip to Sandals," she continued. "Yep, so we are gonna be parents, again!"

We stood there and just starred at the pregnany test and the only thing I could say is...

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she replied. "I took two! I'm sooooo pregnant, surprise~!"

We both look over at Mauldin in his "saucer" and say "you're gonna be a big brother, what do you think about that?"

He proceeded to let out a huge rasberry.

"I think that is how my mom is going to react," I said.

So, here we go again. We are about to embark on the adventure of parenthood, again. I guess I should now change the blog description, how does this sound?

My wife and I got married and found out we were pregnant shortly after one month of marital bliss! Then we found out we were expecting again after our son was only 7 months old. Read on to find out our trials and tribulations for a couple who are taking on the epic quest of parenthood with two kids only 15 months apart!

We are due June 25th - Excitment abounds!