Vacation

Ally and I left Blaire for a week (thanks Marilyn) and went to the Caribbean for the first time.  We stayed on St. Thomas, but hit most of the surrounding virgin islands, both US and British.  It is very beautiful and VERY warm.  We got the ceremonial tropical vacation sunburn, experienced the best snorkeling I've done so far, and saw some of the most beautiful beaches ever.  I've included some pictures to help tell the story.

On a separate note, it was much harder than I anticipated being away from Blaire for a week.  I missed her a lot, as I know Ally did.  Admittedly, it was really nice being able to go where we wanted, when we wanted without the restrictions a small child brings.  That said, at every beach I found myself, if only for a minute, wanting to play with Blaire in the sand.  It only took me a minute to realize that I wouldn't be enjoying the sun and water nearly as much if I was chasing her around, keeping her out of harms way and trying to avoid too much sun.  Still, I wish she could have dropped in for about a half hour each day, played, and then gone back to the sure care of her grandmother so that we could move on to the next adventure.  It's a funny relationship one has with ones children, simultaneously wanting them around while feeling relieved they aren't.

The Baths, Virgin Gorda- British Virgin Islands

Magens Bay- St Thomas

Trunk Bay- St John

Cinnamon Bay- St John

Maho Bay- St John

21 Months already?

Blaire Abigail is 21 months.  With baby #2 on the way, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on my pregnancy with Blaire and the day she came into the world.  Here she is now, a very busy toddler.  Enjoy a few of her new faves as well as her latest tricks ...

Loves to kick, jump and dance.  She loves to spin in a circle with her arms in the air saying, "dance."  She's even forming little sentences and says, "I kick the ball."  Her favorite thing in the whole world right now is the mini trampoline at her baby gym.

Our little baby genius can count to two and loves to point out when she sees two of anything.  She also knows several colors and can identify quite a few letters too!  She can also identify pretty much all of her body parts and loves to point out everything from eyebrows and knees ("two knees!") to more "private" areas.  Hilarious!

She's becoming such a big girl and has even started a little potty training.

Miss Blaire is a charmer on the playground.  She loves to hug and kiss the other "babies."  We keep saying, "it's an election year!"  I am convinced she is going to be the best big sister to the new baby.

She's been busy the past couple months and has enjoyed art class, french school, baby gym, and trips to the museum.  She's hoping the LA weather will improve so she can debut her new swimsuit on the beach (as of now, she requests it almost daily).  Complete with her hot pink dress shoes, it makes quite the ensemble.  Our baby fashionista!

What a joy she is.  She makes us smile and laugh every day with the things she says and does.

No more high chair for this baby!

Our Irish Girl 

Super Baby!  She loves to wear her lovey like a cape.

No more photos, please!

Expecting

I guess at this point everyone who reads this will already know we are expecting a little brother or sister for Blaire.  We are very excited, though candidly it's been difficult getting my head around the whole thing.  In many ways it feels like we've just gotten used to having Blaire and have finally adjusted to our child rearing life.  Adding another kid to the mix not only seems abstract, it seems impossible.

Since Ally and I both have siblings with multiple kids and who frankly have a lot less help than we do, I know that raising multiple children is possible.  I hope that I'm not the only parent to ever feel like they can barley handle one child, and so are completely intimidated by the thought of having two.  I'm assuming (praying) that it will happen, we will adjust, and before we know it we won't remember what life was like without two children.  It just seems like a lot to hope for, especially since I still remember what life was like pre-children.

To be fair I remember being very nervous about having Blaire for similar reasons.  I already felt time constrained by work and church, and had no idea how to take care of a baby, and yet somehow we've managed.  But the thing is, currently we can both concentrate on Blaire.  We can tag team when things are tough.  When Ally was pregnant with Blaire and didn't feel well, or needed a nap, she could just rest.  Now if I'm at work, she can't just go lie down, unless of course she doesn't mind Blaire tearing the place apart and endangering herself in the process.  I realize I am expressing the dilemma of many a mother or parent, but now it's happing to me so it seems like a much bigger deal.

As I said though, we couldn't be happier.  The more our now little one grows, the more excited we get.  Ally had an ultra-sound last week and for the first time it really looked like a baby.  Can't wait to meet him or her.

Home for the Holidays

We stayed close to home this holiday season.  We so enjoyed celebrating with our own little family and beginning some new holiday traditions.  Enjoy some photos of the Thompsons at home in LA LA Land.

18 Months

Blaire hit the 18 month mark a couple weeks ago.  I've often heard parents say that they can't believe how fast time goes and how quickly their kids grow up.  If the future is anything like the last 18 months then I get it.

Blaire has really begun to figure out what things are and how things work.  She is to the point where she has her own agenda and has opinions on how things should go.  It's both the most fun and the most frustrating she's ever been.  I love it.

She is signing and talking a lot.  It's been fun to hear her speak all the words she's been signing for months. She even speaks a little spanish.  She calls shoes "zapatos" and says "besos" (kisses) when saying goodbye.  

She recieved a play kitchen for Christmas and loves cooking with her mom.  She also got a little shopping cart and pushes it around the house full of play food and other items.

She could very well end up a politician.  Everywhere she goes she waves and says "hi" or "bye" to the people she sees.  She knows how to work a room!  We recently flew home to LA and were seated on the front row of the plane.  She personally greeted all the passengers as they boarded the plane.  Hilarious!

She loves to dance, especially to Momma's 80's mix.

She likes horses and every time she sees one makes the sign for horse and says "neigh, neigh".

Started nursery at church.

She hides things everywhere (still don't know where the extra set of car keys is).

LOVES the beach.  

She is basically everything one would expect from a 18 month old little girl, plus I think a little more (at least it feels like it to us).  She makes us very happy.

LOVES Bella

Deer Valley Vacay

Saratoga Hot Springs 

Relaxing 

Mischief in Brawley

Mustang

I've wanted a classic Mustang for years, but really got the bug this past June while we were vacationing in Napa and I saw one for sale while I was out for a run.  I couldn't get the Napa car out of my head, and even flew back up to test drive it in late August.  Ultimately I passed, but didn't stop my search.

In September I was out looking at a local Mustang shop when I met a 20-something Russian kid who was interested in helping me restore a car.  In fact he already had one in mind.  I spent the last four months picking, tires, colors, interiors, audio, and waiting impatiently for the finished product.  As with most things of this nature, there were some bumps in the road, but I'm really happy with the result.

Before

What a mess

Really?

Just back from paint

The finished product

Decided to go with the two-tone blue

My Baby's Not A Baby Anymore

Our baby girl is 15 months old!  I feel like up until now I have done a good job keeping her alive but we are officially entering unchartered waters ... we now have a toddler!  Now that Blaire is walking, she is way too busy to do much of anything else (eating, napping, walks in the stroller).   It must be exciting to have this new freedom but it is making mommy's job so much harder!  That said, she is so much fun and I absolutely love watching her discover her world.

Our Toddler ...

Walking!

Has the cutest curls behind her ears.

Can sign a plethora of words (milk, water, cookie, kitty, daddy, more, eat, bird, dog, ball).

Still doesn't say "momma".  I've accepted that I might always be known as "bob".

Thinks her kitty is a dog and follows her around the house saying, "woof".

Is bilingual.  Okay, maybe just one word (agua), but I'll take it.

Goes "weeooo" when she hears a siren.

Furrows her brow frequently (she already thinks mommy and daddy are crazy).

Walks around with her arms in the air like she's heading to a party. 

Loves to do her baby yoga on the fluffy rug in her room.

Is all girl (loves to wear shoes and jewelry).