April Update

Ollie asleep on the sofa after we returned from the US of A.  

Ollie and I on Easter Sunday.

I don't think Risby knows what's coming yet...

I have to confess that I have been delinquent in picture taking.  Don't fret, the new camera battery is on its way!  Until then, I have some web cam shots for you to feast your eyes on.

Here's what's happening in our world...

We had a nice Easter, without snow this year.  I went to a local church with some good friends and Ollie and I were lucky enough to be invited to my friend's mother's house for an Easter egg hunt and a yummy Easter dinner complete with Yorkshire pudding.  We had a lovely, and very British, experience.

Ollie is weighing in at 27 pounds, which puts him in the 25% for both height and weight.  That's a HUGE deal for us since we've been battling the growth curve since I stopped nursing Ollie at 7 and a half months and his food allergies came into full swing.

My mother-in-law was right, and my life would be much easier if my oldest child is potty trained before my youngest child makes her appearance.  We've said farewell to diapers during the waking hours of the day (which means he still wears one for naps and night time) and we've had both successes and learning moments (some people call them accidents).  I've got a good perspective right now...I know that he won't go off to college in diapers.  Keep your fingers crossed!

The little girl (still nameless) seems to be doing well.  Perhaps I don't have time to think about it, but she doesn't seem to be quite as active as O man was while he was still on the inside.  I hope this is a good sign for the future : )

I'm still filling the days with lots and lots of little things.  There's rarely a dull moment around here.  Between little girl clothes and potty training, the laundry alone keeps me on my toes.  I also spent all day yesterday cleaning the living room.  I mean REALLY cleaning it.  I haven't sent the drapes off to the cleaners, but everything else had a good wash from the baseboards to the picture frames.  Maybe its spring, maybe its the pregnancy, but mostly I was tired of looking at the results of little a little boy with sticky hands!  I found jello in the oddest places.  It was a good stay at home activity while I reminded Ollie every thirty minutes to use the potty.

While fields of yellow rapeseed may be beautiful to behold, they wreak havoc on my sinuses.  Pregnant and allergic are not a good combination, so I've resorted to benedryll at night.  Just a few more weeks, I hope!!

Hope everyone is doing well.  Happy Spring.  We always love updates, so let us know how you're doing : )

Cheers,

Dori

Braving the Rain

If you wait for only the good weather in England, you'll wait a long time.  With a go get 'em spirit, my friend Julie and I braved the drizzle and threat of heavy rain with our two - two and and half year old toddlers to walk into town and enjoy the company of others bustling about their Saturday morning errands.  Bury has a new shopping center in town - still an outdoor shopping area - with lots of nice shops to wander around.  Although we only bought a couple of decaf latte's (Julie's little girl is due a week before ours), we enjoyed being out and about.  

The shopping center is nice, but I wonder what it will do to our small town.  The new shops will surely draw some of the Cambridge shopping crowd, but will the little shops in town centre survive in the down economy?  Only time will tell.

License Renewal

My friend Kate threatened to revote my blogging license soon if I didn't post, so here is a very overdue update.  

O man and I are back in the UK after a wonderful visit in the states.  We're very lucky to have family that takes such great care of both of us while we're home.  Grandma and Grandpa Spaulding were a constant help with O man and gave me plenty of nights out, and cousin Amy was kind enough to join me at the movies (one of my favorite things to do) while the Grandparents watched O man.  The Mackay side was a blast as always, and there was rarely a dull moment.  They were also extremely helpful with Ollie and he sure loved playing with his cousins.  He's still talking about Katie and Aunt Becky's house.

Ollie continues to amaze me with his development.  His jump doesn't have any air yet, but he's a good runner.  O has also begun to ask, "Why?" and I've already used the dreaded, "Because I said so!" answer.  He's inquisitive like his father, that's for sure.  

While we're still a far cry from potty training, Ollie is getting used to the potty and its become a part of our daily routine and conversation.

I'm sure that we'll have issues once the (nameless) little girl arrives, but O is showing some good signs.  He found an ultrasound pic today and was very proud to claim the picture of his baby.  He even recognized what the picture was!

All in all, Ollie keeps my hands full and helps the time fly both for the pregnancy and until my better half returns.  

Hope everyone is doing well!  I look forward to hearing from you if you get the chance.

Cheers,

D