Here comes #2

* We think we're due around Valentine's day but will have a better idea after our first scan. Approximatly 11 weeks down.

* We've gone the midwife route this time around - she seems great, and isn't a fan of the home birth (either are we!)

* I'm feeling good, thanks for asking. I wasn't a few weeks ago though...felt really ill and extremly tired, but feeling good now.


* Luca will be just over two years old when the new baby arrives

* We're already started training Luca with a doll, he's pretty good with it, except for when the doll gets into his bed, or he gets frustrated and throws the doll on the ground. We won't really explain to him about the new baby until the bump gets a bit bigger.

*We're hoping to be moved into the new house prior to the birth. Hoping.

* We're going to leave the sex a suprise - at least that's the plan right now.

* Keeping the sex a suprise is going to kill me!

* A GIRL!? A GIRL!? Oh, how I'd love a girl to buy dresses, and take to dance lessons and ....

* If baby is a boy I'll delete that last line (but....A GIRL!?!)

* Two little boys would be quite cute too :-)

Lions, Tigers, Bears Oh MY!

St. Louis has this incredible Zoo - right in the middle of the city, and the best thing about it...it's free. Needless to say we took advantage of it while I was home for the wedding. Luca went once while James and I were on our honeymoon (with Grandma Cassie and James' Dad) and then we took him again when we got back. He seemed to enjoy looking at all the animals that we read about in our books. Tip....if you're got young kids don't even bother wasting your time looking at anything that isn't REALLY big, REALLY colourful, or moves REALLY fast....so reptile house, out of the question. A few of our favourites from the day... ROOOAAAR!!! Of course the tigers

There's just something so cute about baby animals. Especially baby elephants. I love them.

Don't worry, it's not real.

More babies. These were just walking around the footpaths of the zoo. I was hoping that some zoo keeper would shush them out of the public eye. I'd hate for some over zealous little kids to scare the bejezzus out of these precious baby peacocks.

Look Luca...just like the monkeys in your room!

Best seat in the house. I didn't even realize I was wearing my animal print shirt and animal print sunglasses. Ha...I look like I belong in a cage too.

Stopping for a grape break. This zoo stuff is tiring work.

Grandma Cassie and Luca

It's been a while

Grandma Cassie giving Luca a haircut...after two different attempts, it actually looked good. Call me cheap, but I just couldn't justify spending $16 US dollars on a haircut. Unfortunatly I don't think I'm confident to cut his hair myself...but luckily in NZ there's a place behind our house that does it for $7 NZ Dollars.

yeah, buddy....I know...I wish I was lying in the sun right now too!

Wow - it's been a long time. I don't even know where to begin....

The wedding - one word. AMAZING. The honeymoon - one word. INCREDIBLE. It took me about 3 weeks of being back in NZ to really get used to being back. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining or being a whiny American, but after coming off the high of the wedding stuff, and the warmth of summer, and the familiarities of home....well it was a bit hard to say the least. I came back to freezing weather in a freezing house and working full time. Doesn't that sound lovely? The best thing was being reunited with my husband. Still not used to that word...ha ha.

The past month has been occupied with winter illnesses, Luca's mysterious rash, work, and trying to make a million decisions regarding our new house. Have you heard? We're building a house! No more freezing house for us. This one will be centrally heated.....woo-hoo!