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!

Getting Ready

What Swine Flu?

Meet me in St. Louie, Louie...

When we arrived in St. Louis, fresh from our mini vacation in San Fran, we had a massive 'to do' list each and everyday to accomplish. We wanted to get as many wedding tasks and appointments as we could out of the way before the international visitors arrived to town. Get social security card, get wedding license, hair trial, makeup trial, get dress altered, dry clean suits, practice dance, write vows, flowers, engagement photos....the lists never seemed to end.

Getting the wedding license was actually pretty cool. That made the whole thing sink in. And everywhere we went people were just so darn friendly. 'congrats on the marriage, wow your son is cute.' Hmmm...maybe it was because we had Luca in tow everywhere we went. People can't resist talking to you when you've got a little boy stealing the show. We had to raise our right hand and solemly swear on the marriage at the wedding license place. It was hard not to giggle during this....it just seemed so formal and unecessary to be swearing the truth to some random office worker in downtown Clayton.


James and I also visited the local YMCA gym that Mom and Bob are members at. Okay, this place is awesome. Puts City Fitness to shame (although the group fitness classes are way better back home) but the thing that was really cool about the YMCA. FREE CHILDCARE. Yes, that's right completly free. You could drop your kids off, go for a workout or swim, have a coffee (which was also free), read a magazine, and then go collect the kids. How cool is that!? If we move to the States, we'll definitly be looking at real estate close to the YMCA.

James had is SECOND stag night in Vegas, which gave me two more days or wedding errands. Want details on Vegas? Ask him, b/c I'm in the dark. To be honest, I don't really care. Yeah, you think most brides would be worried about a stag night in Vegas, but I totally trust James (and know he didn't have much money to blow on gambling - cause we have none, and also know that Vegas, although fun in small doses, probably wouldn't really be his cup of tea)....But then again....VEGAS, baby! I'm sure the guys had a great time.
Then the kiwis arrived. First Mars and Karl, which we entertained at my parents house for the night and we filled them up on wholesome American foods (steak n' potatoes, dr peppers, root beers, lots of veg/fruit, biscuits n' gravy, gooey butter cake....) Then next Jo, Bruce, Barry, and Judy.

We crammed a lot in those few days. We wanted to show them the best of St. Louis, and I can safely say that we had a great time.....a few pics from the week prior to the wedding....

Visiting winieries in rural towns outside of NZ. Sampling and drinking way too much wine, and enjoying the gorgeous warm spring weather.

Picnic at one of the winieries

Karl not handling his wine too well....what's with all the water Karl? Ha ha

Checking out downtown STL and the Botanical Gardens. Look, both Grandma and Oma with Luca at the same time. Double the babysitters!

Hanging out at Six Flags theme park, and going on so many rollercosters I thought my head was going to explode...

Karl sampling a Huge turkey leg at Six Flags.

Also on the St. Louis activity list were going to a Cardinals Baseball game, shopping....oh....the massive shoe stores and discount clothing stores!!!, wandering around Downtown St. Louis, the arch, eating at the golf clubhouse, factory tour of Anheuisure Busch (I have no idea how to spell that).

Midweek more visitors starting arriving. First James Dad, then his Aunt and also Phil and Alice from the UK. Thankfully Pete and Rolly also made it (I think they liked Vegas a bit too much...hee hee). After we had everyone in town....that's when the real fun started...

We truly do hope our visitors got a good glimpse of American way of life, and we loved hosting you.