Kris and I started discussing boy names yesterday. By discussing I mean me reading through a baby name book and throwing out options and Kris saying no to them all. :) OK, so there is one possible name that we agree on. I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to names while Kris is more a unique namer. Annika was a nice compromise for us in that it's a traditional name that isn't used very often. The one boy name we can agree on is not that traditional if you ask me and I'm having a little bit of a hard time with it. I do like it though and if it comes to February and that is the only name we've found that we can agree on, then I think it will be OK. I'm only at H though in the book so maybe there's another option out there?

The Pampered Chef party went well Thursday night. It was a bit chaotic but Annika seemed to handle it pretty well. There were a couple times when she took toys away. I returned them to whoever was playing with it and talked with Annika about sharing. She's so young that I'm sure the concept is a little beyond her comprehension levels right now. And she looked at me quite a bit as if to say "Um, Mom? Yeah, that girl over there is playing with my horse, doll, block, etc." There were no screaming matches or biting or any other typical toddler behavior. All the little girls were just angels if you ask me. We tried to get a group shot of them but it was pretty late by that point and they were getting quite restless. Auntie Krystle stayed late after everyone else had gone. I think she needed some Annika time. She's used to seeing Annika once a week on our scrapbooking nights and having lots of one on one time but she's been traveling so much for work that there's been no time for that lately. I let Annika stay up late so that she could play with Auntie Krystle. I, of course, was relishing the sister time as well. I miss my sister! I'm hoping the traveling quiets down for her soon so she can spend some more time with me (selfish anyone?) and Annika and her boyfriend Pierce and just generally relaxing once in a while!

This weekend was pretty quiet for us. Saturday was gymnastics class. Annika gets a little bored during the obstacle course and balance beam work, Kris said. Although she did do a somersault all by herself during the obstacle course. I wish I had seen that! Maybe I can get her to re-create it at home for me. Annika really loved the trampoline time and the foam ball pit time though. Of course! And she put up a little fuss when it was time to go but it was not the full blown tantrum that the first class was. I think she's realizing that while play time is over for now, we will be coming back. It's cute though during the week how she asks to go to gymnastics each time we get her ready to go outside or for a car ride. The rest of Saturday was napping and resting and relaxing. Yesterday was more of the same. Uncle Mathias came over to visit and watch the Vikings game with us. Annika had been asking about him all week and each time I had to tell her that he was at school. He was home working this weekend and I'm glad I called to see if he had time to come visit us. Annika was a little shy at first but when she warmed up she was very content to sit in his lap and snuggle on the recliner with him. And then it was time to play "Get you" where she would run around and he would tickle her tummy whenever she came near him. I love hearing her laugh and giggle and I think Uncle Mathias was enjoying himself too.

This week will hopefully be nice and quiet for us. Wednesday is my 20 week midwife appointment. We'll get the ultrasound report then and I have a bunch of questions to ask about the hospital. I'd like to know some of their policies and procedures since this is a different hospital than what I delivered Annika in. I also need to take a look at the class schedule and see if there are any classes we'd like to sign up for. Kris said he would take a refresher childbirth class if I decided I wanted to take it. We'll also sign up for the hosptial tour, of course. I don't know if there is anything else or not.

And can I just say how awesome I think it is that I got a couple comments on my last post? I never get comments! You people are too quiet! Hi Robyn and Mrs. Flinger! By the way, I found Mrs. Flinger by reading Amalah's Daily Dose. You should check out all 3 of those blogs if you have time. Mrs. Flinger and Amalah's blogs are hilarious and Amy does a great job of pointing out new and interesting happenings in the blog world at the Daily Dose. Mrs. Flinger had a really thought provoking post today. I, too, have major control issues that I've worked on over the years. And while reading her post I started thinking about my parenting style with Annika. I'm surprised that I'm as relaxed and laid back as I am with her. Sure, in her first year I was controlling over those items I felt were important (making sure she breastfed whenever she wanted to keep my supply up, not feeding her the no-no first year foods like honey and egg whites and peanut products, etc.) Other than that though, when it comes to discipline and her behavior, I think I'm pretty relaxed. I hope there's not a bunch of friends and family members laughing at me right now saying "Oh no you aren't girlfriend!" I'm hoping I can keep my control freak tendencies at bay when I have two children to care for and discipline too. Yikes!

I wonder if I should add links to all the great blogs I read on the sidebar. I don't know how many of you would be interested in that. Currently the three listed are personal friends of mine outside of the internet. Let me know if you'd like to see a new link list!