Updated US photos

We've sort of been MIA from our blog lately. We have been very busy trying to finish/start up new home projects. Our deadline to wrap things up is closing in upon us. Greg is away this week in Baltimore, so I promised to post today's US pictures for him to see before he gets home. Baby Bean is measuring 2 pounds, 11 ounces (high normal) and everything continues to look good. Claudette accompanied me to the appointment today and was in awe of the technological advances in the last 35 years. She was glued to the monitor. The excitement of the session was watching the baby suck his/her thumb (which is why the lips are parted in picture 2).

Stay tuned for belly shots and updated reno pictures!

Baby Bean

7 weeks on 3 Feb 2010



13 weeks on 16 Mar 2010 : Sitting Up



13 weeks on 16 Mar 2010 : "Hi world"



19 weeks on 29 Apr 2010: Looking at you (head on view of the baby's face: see the lips, nose, and eyes?)



19 weeks on 29 Apr 2010: Stop taking my picture please. (Baby with arms crossed in front of the face.)




Here's a glimpse of the Baby Bean that has been making me so hungry and tired lately. Things are looking great so far. Baby is measuring in at 11 oz and is sized appropriate for the due date of 22 Sept 2010. Baby will be arriving at least a week early. We have decided not to find out the sex of the baby this time around, though Greg and multiple others are convinced that it's a girl. Our next ultrasound will be in 4 weeks.

Graham's tree

Claudette and Charles surprised us with a beautiful redbud tree for Graham. We planted it this weekend in the front yard: visible from both the kitchen window and the front door. Greg figures it weighed about 500lbs, so luckily we only had to get it down into the hole. We are so thrilled to have this new addition.

Hazard lights

This weekend, we picked up 2 rhodies from Christine for our front yard. This meant a drive down the turnpike with the very large bushes blowing in the breeze behind our cars. We got quite a few looks, but we love the new shrubs. Thanks to Christine and Todd!!

Room Update

Greg has been working on the built-in unit for the office and the window/door trimwork. The wainscoting has been painted its official color, and things are looking up!

Yard Update

So, this picture shows part of the mess that was the front fern/pricker/birch trees. (Looking out from the front door.)




This is how it actually looks now! Yea! We're so excited to have grass. (We have to admit that we actually had a pro do this. We had two trees and a large shrub moved around in the yard.)

Tree trimming

Here is our professional tree trimming crew. Thank god for ropes and climbing gear I'd say. The tree looks so much better now.

A man and his dog

My Mom and Ozzie were out to visit this weekend. Ozzie spent all day on Saturday following Greg around the yard. He's a faithful, very well trained companion.

Reno Update

Hello again. It's been a while since we've posted anything. We are making progress on the first floor updates. We have walls and wainscoting in the office. The hall closet has finally been finished and is complete with adjustable shelves. No real news on the bathroom.



Next up: painting the beadboard, hanging the molding and trim, and building the built-in bookshelf. Then on the the powder room.

Christmas celebration #3!

We celebrated Christmas for the third time on Jan 1 and 2. It was good to see my parents and brothers, especially Doug who is being shipped off to Afghanistan on Jan 5. We had a full house - including dogs and cats. We played lots of board games and tried to stay in out of the snowy weather.

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas Day! I got the best gift ever - a 50 year old train for under our Christmas tree! I always loved the trains that my grandparents had when I was a kid. I particularly loved the smoking engine that belonged to my Grandmother. The cats were quite happy and both played with their new toys during the days. They actually opened their own gifts - Now that's talent! Merry Christmas!

Santa Clause is coming to town.

Christmas eve was a great time. We had a fantastic meal and our own entertainment: Tucker. He was really involved in opening presents this year and knew just what to do with all of his gifts. He hopped right now his new fire engine and tricycle and took off through the house. He even put his feet on the bike pedals. We were so happy to have the whole family in attendance this year.



After dinner and a secret Santa exchange, we competed in a Gingerbread house decorating contest. Ryan/Christine vs Greg/Heather vs Matt(who didn't want an official partner, but did need Claudette to assist at times).



Christine/Ryan's house was completed first and was quite pretty. They were the most determined team and completed the task the quickest. They certainly had the icing with the best consistency. They also earned extra points by only using ingredients which were included in the original packaging of the kit.



Greg and I were the comic relief of the bunch with a house that crumbled multiple times until the roof finally broke into 3 pieces. We were unable to salvage it, but are happy to report that Santa visited our "Katrina-style" house first.



Matt assembled and reassembled the structure of his house 2 or 3 times before he was satisfied with its stability and alignment. He opted to use several ingredients which were not included in the package, but deemd by Judge Charles to be admissible. Matt did not complete his house until the very early hours of the morning when the other contestants were already tucked away in bed.





Tucker winded down the evening in his monster PJs and a nap on the couch.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

We're brothers!

The cats were in full cuddle mode tonight. They spent at least about an hour and half snuggling together under the Christmas tree. They are behaving to the fullest in the hopes that Santa Paws will be good to them this year.

Day Off

Today we enjoyed a day off from work to visit with friends from Colorado. We had a great time catching up and watching little Amelia make friends with the cats. It is so nice to have a random day off to relax.

Nor'easter

This weekend we had our first chance this winter to clear snow out of the driveway. Greg and I found ourselves thanking Dannie again for selling us the snow blower. We imagined Greg's co-workers in New Jersey shoveling their driveway. (The same people who were laughing at Greg on Friday for owning a snow blower).

The cats wanted to go outside on Sunday, so we threw them out the door. Pocket was the least thrilled, but even Scratch made a path directly back to the door.