Back by popular demand

Recent photos:
(Nov and Dec) http://picasaweb.google.com/meredythhw/NovDec?authkey=ImMiraUkXvs#

(Jan and Feb) http://picasaweb.google.com/meredythhw/JanFeb09?authkey=RQaY7TXXUzI#

I can't believe it's been three months since we've posted on the blog. I'd like to say it's because I've been busy (being pregnant, handling an active toddler, hosting visitors for Thanksgiving, Christmas, January, and traveling to Texas/Colorado for three weeks), but I haven't really been that busy. I've just been lazy, I guess.

But, I'm back in the saddle and ready to get re-connected with those we love.

Feeling nostalgic
I just looked through pictures of Kort from the past year and a half while waiting for our most recent photos to upload. I'm overwhelmed by how much he has grown and changed. I can't even remember those sweet baby moments like I thought I would. Now he is such a boy -- and a pretty rough and tumble boy at that.














I can't keep track of the words he now knows. Wheel, car, tractor, money (pronounced um-nee), milk, dude, knee, broke (which he uses for a variety meanings, including when his pants fall down) are just a few. We, of course, think he's very smart and very advanced, because he knows so many body parts--and can now tell you the word instead of just pointing. He can point to objects like a clock or a dog in a book and he can perfectly disassemble the play kitchen I just got him. He now can reach all of our door handles, so he has a grand old time closing himself in rooms alone. And, like most toddlers, he has just become interested in flushing the toilet and 'washing dishes' in the sink. And, a temper tantrum can strike up at any point--especially when mom has stopped him from any of the above before he was ready to stop.

Did I mention that he's only a year and a half? You're telling me we still have yet to see the terrible twos? Or right, those come just as the new baby arrives. Great.

Missing my little man
Kort and I are both having a bit of separation anxiety. He started going to a day care (called 'nursery' here) 2 afternoons a week. He seemed to love the first session, but he's cried pretty hard the last two times I've left him. I know it's good for him and me both, but I just wish I could go poke my head in the school every hour or so after I've left him to see if he's having fun. The former teacher in me knows that wouldn't do any good--he'd start crying all over again, and it wouldn't help him develop his independence (blah, blah, blah...). But the mom in me hates it and feels a bit empty without him for three hours (though I sure can get a lot done. It was great to take the dogs to the vet without a heavy toddler to carry today).

Three months 'til baby W #2
I just hit the three month mark til my due date. I truly can not believe that we'll be greeting a new baby so soon. Don't even ask if I'm ready, because the answer is "Absolutely not". We haven't done a single thing to get ready for this kiddo--except borrow a few baby items from folks who were getting rid of things here and bring some (boy) baby clothes back from the U.S. I just had my first friend tell me "it's definitely a boy" by the way I'm carrying. I'm carrying the same as I did with Kort--so either it's a boy, or I just look like this when I'm pregnant. I don't feel quite as big this time as I was with Kort, but I'm still big and getting uncomfortable...and I have a long way to go!

Good times ahead
Nothing is set in stone, but we're planning a weekend trip to Rome (next week!) and hopefully a birthday weekend for my mom in Dublin when she visits during her Spring Break. Then, maybe Andy and I can get at least one more trip in April before the baby comes in May. We've been trying to do some budgeting so we have room for travel (there are some good deals out there). But, I realized we won't be doing much travel around Europe immediately after the babe arrives...so we better do it now! But, there are just too many places I want to go and not enough vacation time and money.