Less than 3 weeks to go!

That about tells the tale of the tape. We are getting closer and closer to the due date for the baby-to-be-named later. In fact, we are headed to the hospital for a tour aimed at siblings-to-be today. Sara is looking forward to that. Danette is doing well and everything seems "normal" and on-track.

This week was another snowy one, in fact I think we are going to come up just an inch or so short of the snowiest January on record in Cleveland. We had a little melt back that resulted in close to half our snow disappearing, but all of that and then some has returned, all pretty much in one day this week. I now have some snow banks at the house that are getting difficult to see over.... reminds me of growing up in MN.

Sara is doing well, full of energy, etc. The last couple of weeks have been fun because she started spontaneously giving hugs and saying "I love you" at least in response to the same, which hadn't been her style before. She is also excited to help get the room ready for the baby whenever she can.

This week also so the delivery of my new fixed focal-length f/1.8 lens for my camera, so I have been playing with that. The plan is for it to be very useful for taking pictures of the the kids in natural light/low light in the house, etc. So far it seems like a good idea, but I do have to be far more careful with the focus.

Anyway, here are some pictures for the week.



Painting at her easel



Big smile before school



getting good at ignoring the man behind the camera - in a good way

Oy! down to 4 weeks.

Guess it has been a while since I posted anything... oh well.

2009 has been going well so far. Sara is being Sara, growing, learning more, and pushing boundaries everyday like a good 2.5 year old. The only downside of the month thus far has really been the weather - shoveling or snowblowing 2-3 times a day gets a little old. It also turns out that there must be a gap in the insulation(?) near where our computer sits, so when the temps approach zero, as they had been... the computer is avoided.



A morning pic (1/10) during the cold and snowy month



Snow at probably its deepest on 1/20

Even had to go out and "rake" the snow off the roof twice so far this month to try to deal with all the icicles that were building up.

We have been doing a few other things as well. As we are obviously getting closer to the new baby (27 days or less, one way or another), we have been trying to get a few more things prepared. Everything seems on track and everyone healthy it appears. We even made it out to pre-register Danette this morning and we will have a tour aimed at young siblings to-be next weekend.

However, much to our chagrin, we realized that we just were not going to get the baby's room stripped of its wallpaper and painted in time.... just not enough hours on the weekends that are left with all the other usual things to do. The wallpaper was the real nemesis, of course. So for the first time, we broke down and hired someone to come in and take care of the wallpaper and painting inside our house. Felt a little odd to not do it ourselves, but it is done now. Given that it took two pros a whole solid weekend, we are glad we don't have it hanging over our heads anymore.



Before



During, yup the walls were never painted/primed before the wallpaper went up - Nice!





After

Now we are just working to get the room set up.... but we have some time to work there...

Anyway, needless to say, at least someone enjoyed the snow when it was warm enough to be out for a while...



playing



snow angels



Even a pic with Dad



getting into games more and more, though a little difficult to find good age appropriate ones still, but she loves them regardless



Trip to the Children's Museum on MLK day.



Being Sara, getting up early and having breakfast w/Dad even though she could be sleeping.

Sara has also become even more aware of what's going on around her... or at least she is narrating it more. This week she saw a particular man on the TV, and said "That's Barack Obama!" yup, it was. She was also quite excited when she recognized someone talking about him on the radio on our way to school. Sara also apparently announced at school that she wants to be a doctor and drive the ambulance, but she has to wait until she is older and can go to college and be old enough to drive. Moments like these are pretty neat, especially when balanced with the other half of the typical two-year old equation....

Happy 2009!

Does this say I like to celebrate the new year with cupcakes or what?!?

Happy new year everyone! We hope that you have had a joyous holiday season. It has certainly been a fun and busy time here.

Grandma D. left on the 26th and Grandma and Grandpa H. showed up on the 28th (their anniversary, as usual) - and left this morning.... On the 27th we had unseasonably warm weather and Sara and I went to the park, yes, the park in December - 65 and breezy! We had a little more xmas on the 28th (see pics below). Sara had great fun helping everyone open their gifts, and in some cases trying them on!

Lots of game and book and toy time around the house the last couple of weeks, and sleeping-in, which is very odd for the little girl.... maybe she is growing - again.

The baby-to-be is doing well too, growing a lot. We are now zoning in on an auspicious end to the third week of February. Though, we do still need to get the room ready for the kiddo.....



December at the park



On the slide for the holidays!



Now I am really ready to cook.



I am helping Mom see how this looks!



Waiting for her last gift from Grandma and Grandpa