A Desperate Lack of Lap

We are definitely running out of lap over here with the baby coming anyday.

And, the little guy's pace is just a wee bit speedier than his mamas.

Cooking Again!

While there are bits here and there that still need finishing the kitchen addition is very nearly complete. We are loving the space and spent almost all of the weekend unpacking, washing, and putting away our kitchen accoutrements. Callum has moved into the play space quite well and loves the little bench for watching "co-alls" or squirrels, which crack him up endlessly. And, it has to be said they are pretty funny creatures.

No! Mine!

Our camera broke, first just a little bit and then completely went kaput. Good timing, right? With a kitchen nearly finished and a baby two and a half weeks away. Murphy's law.

So, no pictures. But, really anyone who knows a near-two year old toddler doesn't need a picture to capture this universal concept. Oh yes, NO and MINE have entered our home, our sidewalks, our park, and our lives. Callum has finally figured out that you don't have to choose between two options, you can scream NO! instead. Sometimes it just comes out, at nothing and directed nowhere...just an overwhelming need to assert his independence. In fact, in what has to be in the top ten of all toddler moments we overhead him yell NO! in his sleep! Ha!

A Sneak Peek

This hallway used to be our kitchen (it ended right about where the cat is). It will soon house a coat closet, powder room, and pantry.

This is the right side of the kitchen, with Xavier hard at work, complete with bookshelves, a sitting bench and an office desk built by our contractor.
And, here is Mike (who built the shelving and bench/desk area) working on the kitchen. They aren't the best photos but give a little taste of what we've got going on.

They say it will be done in one week!

Rocks in my Pocket

Not a whole lot going on here this weekend and that suited all of us. Breakfast and playtime at the park with friends, lots of playing with trucks, special playtime with papa, and a casual birthday party for a one year old friend. I also got to introduce my buddy Paige to one of my favorite springtime activities.

Moving rocks. Oh yes, some admire the budding crocuses but I like to take advantage of the warm weather by picking up rocks, putting them in holes, lining them up, identifying which ones are big and which are little, and putting them in my pocket. Paige was a great sport and so was everyone else who listened to me talking about "rocks in my pocket" for the rest of the day.

Babymoon plus 1

Around these parts its popular to take a "babymoon"--it's akin to a honeymoon but taken just before a new baby arrives. We never took one before Callum was born but decided recently that it would be fun to take a little trip before Baby2 arrives, while we are still a family of 3.
So, we cashed in on a long-overdue gift and booked a room at the Jersey City Hyatt, which is literally on a pier over the water with an incredible view of Manhattan. From our room we could see the Statue of Liberty (which is technically in Jersey waters not that we Jerseyites are touchy about this one.).
The trip itself wasn't full of crazy adventures but we did take a quick trip into Hoboken, which was holding it's St. Patrick's Day festival early. We also watched alot of boats, swam in the swimming pool, took lots of train trips, and ate some new fun foods. Here is the little man himself enjoying the lightrail train (much less intimidating than the regular train).

And, here he is in a great little cafe showing off his new trick...the heavily crossed arms. It came out of nowhere, for real, and he is doing it all the time. It's particularly fun with two trucks in his hand. His favorite part of the trip, by far, was riding the elevator. He would say "Elevator Hiding." to describe it with its doors closed, then proudly push the buttons, be a little scared by the actual motion, and march off with confidence. Anytime we were just hanging out in the hotel room, he was asking "Elevator? Elevator?". Doesn't take much to make him happy.

Lots of Words are Funny

But some send me into fits! Like...Armadillo, Wheelbarrow, Doctor Diemer (our retired pediatrician), Zippity Do-Da, and when people call my mom Melissa. I love it when my parents say these words but I bust a gut everytime I say them. My parents laugh along but I don't think they fully appreciate my highly developed sense of humor.