Let's go tobogganing, eh?

So, we're in Canada! And what does Canada have, besides Nana and Papa to cuddle, aunts and uncles to entertain, and eight cousins to play with? Canada has snow!

Tyler took Ben for a sledding/toboggan adventure in the backyard on this beautiful, 10-degree, day. Fortunately he had cousin Caleb's old snowsuit, boots, sweater, mittens and hat to keep him warm!

And I got some cute pictures and video...in my pj's, inside the warm house.

ready to tear up the powder

that's a Canadian maple leaf hat, if you're wondering about Tyler

"weeeee!"

warm wishes...

from our family to yours...

Merry Christmas!

Halfway there people!

Last week, I hit the halfway mark in my pregnancy - 20 weeks!

Here's Zoe doting on her little sister (21 weeks):

"Seriously? Really think we need another one of those, Mom?"

Well, she'll grow on her... I'm still giddy over these female pronouns, by the way! The world seems to have taken on a pinkish hue as visions of bloomers, ruffles, and hair bows dance in my head. My mom has already sent some sweet newborn onesies and I racked up at a local consignment shop. I have to say that it's a little overwhelming to stand in a store and know that I can't leave a single item overlooked - boys' and girls'!

I've been feeling her move for the past few weeks, and just love it. I thought it was odd that she seems to be so much lower than Ben was. My doctor said that it's just the way it is after your first. Ohhh....grrreeeaat.

Not nearly as much heartburn this time around, which makes me wonder if I'll actually need those hairbows for a while! I was chomping on the Tums like candy with Ben, but have only needed to pop one a handful of times with this baby.

So, all is well in babyland.

We do have a name but are still working out some kinks in spelling, nicknames - hope to have something solid to annouce soon!

Our San Fransisco Treat!

When the opportunity arose in November to visit my sister and her husband in California, we jumped!

Friday: checking out the Redwoods in the rain, touring the Korbel and Sterling vineyards (picked up a bottle of celebratory champagne for once baby girl comes) and enjoying a Thai feast prepared by our hosts.

Saturday: nature day at beautiful, but chilly, Bodega Bay and then an off-the-itinerary drive to the Golden Gate bridge and dinner in Sausalito!

Sunday: was spent in the big city, riding a cable car, eating at Fisherman's Wharf, looking at stinky sea lions, shopping and my first In-and-Out burger experience!

Monday: On our way to the airport, we drove through Muir Forest and jumped out for a quick peek at the Muir Beach overlook - really, really gorgeous.

So many pictures were taken during our trip that I had to condense it to some favorites. (click on the slideshow to read full captions and see bigger images.)

Such a fun trip, sorry it took us so long to do it! Ben was enthralled with Aunt "Dess" and Uncle "Motmo" and still lights up when we mention them. He also was an amazing little traveler, once again - enduring looooong plane rides, adjusting to the time change, sleeping in a borrowed pack-n-play, and napping on the go!

We'll miss Michael but are looking forward to seeing Jess again in less than a week...could get used to these once-a-month visits!

"Dingduh Behs - hey!"

Shock and awe...

We're having a baby girl! Shock and awe. And so thankful (seems to be an inadequate word) for a healthy baby with perfect-looking measurements.

Here she is...

These are her parts in question...

She's doing a little dance...

Actually, her hand and foot never strayed far from her face!
But at least we got a good view of her perfect hand. Sweet baby girl, we're shocked to bring pink into our little family. We're in awe of our Creator who knits you into being and holds you in the palm of His hand.

Grow, baby, grow!

This is how we gobble, gobble, gobble!

We spent Thanksgiving at my parents' in Nashville!

Ben and I waited patiently

on the cooker and her carver

and also the dark-meat eater

(Canadian's all on his own with this one!)

Ben did a little reading to pass the time

but eventually staged a sit-in by the oven

In the end, it was worth the wait!

"Nice work, Grandma. Even if I did only eat a PB&J."

Twenty-two months old!

I know I keep talking about how much Ben has been talking. But seriously - we, his teachers and our family just keep marveling over how much his vocabulary has exploded lately. He really is such a parrot and such a jabberbox.

Loves to say "I did it!" and "ready....ready....GO!"

Sometimes when Ben is ready to get up before we are, I'll go get him and put him back in bed with us. Sometimes he'll cuddle, sometimes he'll wrestle and lay on my head. One morning he laid there for a minute, then popped his thumb out and said, "Daddy. Melmo. Couch?" Well, Daddy was in the shower, Elmo was not on TV, but we could go to the couch. So he settled for Mommy, Dorge (Curious George), couch.

He's in size 5 diapers still, wearing 18-24 month clothes, and has all of his teeth except for the back molars. He goes to bed by 8 and wakes up between 6:30 and 7, with a 2-hour nap midday. (well, when he's at school - I'm not that great at keeping him on schedule at home...)

His favorite dinner is chicken-poppyseed casserole or spaghetti, loves some french fries, pizza, and sometimes peas, eats lots of Mini Wheats cereal and recently enjoys pineapple.

We've had lots of fun adventures and activities over the past month and many more coming this month that I hope to post about soon!