More Finn...the first 3 weeks

Our first three weeks as a family of 4!


3 weeks old

chunker!



first bath!



big brother is very very proud and also very helpful...


look at those eyes!


first meeting

love.

It's a boy!!

Introducing Finn Thomas, who came to us on July 31st at 2:24 am. 3770 g and 50 cm (break out the metric conversion chart!). He is absolutely delightful and our family feels so complete now. We are all totally in love. :-)

Kindergarten

I guess the time had to come sooner or later...when our sweet little boy would have to go out a little further into the world, to spread his wings a bit without us. After much discussion and contemplation and sampling various options, we have enrolled him in a little Waldorf Kindergarten. I have always held the philosophy close to my heart, at least as it pertains to small children, and we had a very good feeling after visiting. So we took the plunge!


Small play area



little wooden playhouse


the building

a big new step for our little family...and it comes right alongside the addition of a new family member. Never a dull moment!

Our new arrival...

(I can't believe I'm posting this photo of myself!) :-)

So I'm not yet talking about the belly arrival, but the little blue one on my neck! We went to the playground today in a neighboring town...and as we sat innocently at a table, a little blue parakeet landed near us. I reached out for it and it was tame! So what else could we do besides bring it home? Of course, such things must happen on a Sunday (Murphy's law?) when every shop in the entire country is closed. And of course we are not well equipped for bird ownership, so as I type, this bird has free reign in the living room.

Anyway, the photo is also of me...beached on my comfy chair...and 9 months pregnant! Taking it easy while I have the chance. :-)

Bits of Spring so far...

A beautiful day in Morges on the Lake of Geneva


Planting seeds and watching them grow


First day of an exciting new career! Look how grown up he looks...:-)


Kite flying


Silly pasta making


Gang of Easter Egg hunters

And that about sums it up.

Six Months

Truly not the best photo, but...I do what I can. And I'm so late in posting this, that this picture shows me with a 6 month belly even though I'm 7 months already...and I did quite a bit of growing in the meantime! I'll try to catch up...I promise. Anyway, everything's going well...I can't believe we'll be a family of four in just a couple of months!

FIVE months!

a flesh-revealing 5 month photo! I recently had the *big* 20 week control...everything looks great! And I'm over the halfway hump! woohoo!

It's starting to feel more and more real (especially as the baby is moving around like crazy now). We've been thinking a lot about names. I think we have them narrowed down...but I'm not telling you! :-)

Beautiful Winter Days

We have had AMAZING winter weather the past few weeks...thank you universe! This has allowed for some great weekend getaways and day trips, and lots of running around outside.


Promenade in Vevey.


Lake of Murten.


Open cafe terraces....in February!!


and lots of lounging around in the sunshine.

And now that I'm fully and truly in the middle of my second trimester, I'm feeling GREAT and it's absolutely the perfect time to take full advantage of the outdoors again. YAY!

my valentine

My sweetie surprised me with a heart shaped pizza for lunch today. He actually asked them to shape it that way...isn't it cute?!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. Hoping your hearts are as full of love as mine. xoxoxo

Dino Fasnacht part 2

This time a much bigger parade in Biel...and with his friend Elizabeth. Lots of confetti was thrown...I can tell you that much! They city organized a kids dance party afterwards, complete with free apple juice and cookies. And it was sunny!! And still is!! Those of you in California will never truly understand how meaningful this is. :-)

Anyway, that's it for Fasnacht/Carnaval this year. I hope we've all adequately chased off the bad spirits of winter so that spring can make a timely appearance. Let's hope!

More about the belly...

Ok, so here's the story:

1. I'm 4 months pregnant

2. I felt terrible for much of the first trimester...very different from the first time around, when I had no symptoms at all.

3. Due date is July 26th. My 35th birthday is on July 23rd.

4. We don't know the gender, but this may change next month.

5. Names are not yet selected, but there is a list in progress. Any suggestions? Nothing terribly biblical, mind you.

6. The birth will postpone our first foreign service posting abroad...but it's a small price to pay. :-)

7. A certain someone is extremely happy about becoming a big brother!

8. This means that there is NO chance for a return visit to California this year.

9. My belly now at 4 months is as big as it was last time at 6 months.

10. We don't plan to have any more after this, so we're trying to enjoy it while it lasts!!

Dino Fasnacht

It's that time of year again. Time to dress up, play loud music, throw confetti, and chase away the winter. We had so much fun, we're thinking of hitting two parades this year. Party animals!

hint hint

too many cookies? or....????

fun in the snow

tracking...




sledding...



snowmen...



and most importantly, snowballs.

Happy New Year.

christmas morning

cute new pj's from Gigi...


a bald eagle in the stocking...



and endless stacks of pancakes. :-)

merry christmas and frohe Festtage

We wish you a merry, merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! We'll be thinking of you...

I'll leave you with a few photos from St. Nick's day (Dec. 6th) when a certain magical someone visited our home and gave the little one the full run down of all good and not-so-good deeds done throughout the year (he knows if you've been bad or good so be good, for goodness sake). Then he sang "Rudolph" for Santa and shared his Christmas present wish list: 1 mammoth, 1 baby mammoth, 1 yellow T-Rex, and one bald eagle. (No, the dino phase is NOT over) :-) St. Nick then left him with the customary "Chlaussack" or santa bag filled with clementines, peanuts and chocolates.

We'll see how he does this year.

Happy Holidays!

Blast from the Past

2nd birthday party

I'm an aunt! (again...)

and there you have it

Already snow...and it's only the beginning of November. I think mother nature has to make up for the warm winter last year. Let the hibernation begin!

five

Happy Birthday, my darling.