first bicycle

For his 2nd birthday, Calvin received his first bicycle from Mom and Dad. Unfortunately, he needs to grow about another inch before he can sit on the seat and have his feet flat on the ground. This is one of those beginner bikes that teaches a child to balance first, so it doesn't have any pedals. He loves it, even though he can only straddle it and waddle along. He especially likes the bell.


I went away last weekend for a girls' night in London with my aunt Mary and cousins Kath and Helen. We had a wonderful weekend and saw the musical "Jersey Boys" on the West End, which was really enjoyable. I wish I could see them (my cousins and aunt, not the Jersey Boys) more often. It's funny, I thought living in England would mean it would be really easy to drive to Wales for a quick weekend but that has turned out not to be the case. The driving does seem to take longer than it does in the US. Or maybe I'm becoming an "island-minded" girl?

I should mention that the weekend in London was also thanks to Nick, who looked after our little dude. This picture shows a happy chappy but he wasn't always so angelic for Dad. Then again, he did have a nasty cold. So thank you for the much needed break Nick!

Two!

Well it's happened...Calvin turned 2 on March 3rd and fully committed himself to being a toddler. My parents (Grandad and Nan) came out to visit for the week and to spoil their grandson. He loved it.
Unfortunately, I didn't take a lot of pictures and my usual photographer was busy (being a brilliant scientist, of course) but here are a few that capture the week. The grandparents visit was VERY short (especially for me!) but I am thankful they could make it out for Cal's birthday and will be coming back in June for the new arrival. I'm calling him "Bertie" for now, after Bertie Wooster of whom the phrase "Tinkerty Tonk" comes from. And it sounds very English too.

paparazzi at bedtime

Sunday morning pancakes

The chicken pox patient and his cat await Dad's pancakes.

forts

There is nothing like spending Sunday morning, lounging in your fort, and reading a little Scientific American with Dad.

another heir to the throne

The latest news around here is that we are expecting our second baby boy at the end of June. We had the ultrasound yesterday and he was modest at first, crossing his legs until the very end of the exam.


Because of Calvin's early arrival, I went to see a doctor about my high-risk situation (instead of just seeing my midwife, like you normally do here). It turns out that because they don't know why I went into preterm labor, there is nothing for them to monitor closely on me for the next ~20 weeks. Also, my chances of having another preterm birth are only 10%. So because of these reasons, I'm being treated as a normal pregnancy. I'm happy about this and I have the doctor's phone number (and the delivery ward's phone number) should I have any questions. I now know what contractions feel like (vs Braxton-Hicks, for all those who know the pregnancy lingo) so I'm comfortable with being on alert for my own body.

Now I just have to learn how I'm going to live in a house full of dudes.

rewind

My new year's resolution of blogging more often hasn't worked out so well, has it? We'll see if a Groundhog Day resolution gives me more incentive.

Cal wondering what to do with all this snow

To recap December and early January, we were in snowy Minnesota for ~3 weeks with our families. Surprisingly, we didn't take a lot of pictures this year (I only took 3) and we did more relaxing or going out to see movies since we had our wonderful supply of babysitters on hand. Calvin had his first introduction to more than 1 inch of snow and didn't seem that interested in it...yet. However, he LOVED opening more Christmas presents and playing with Duplos and cars. He even went to the Mall of America twice and had a lot of fun on some of the rides (particularly driving the trucks). We were sorry to leave the grandparents (I think maybe I was the saddest...I liked not having to do anything but knit) but we're looking forward to their visits to Cambridge this coming year.

Intense car playing

Duplo stacking

There was lots of lounging around

And the occasional unhappiness of thinking Daddy is leaving without you

More pictures from our trip home are here.