Friday, October 29, 2010

Visit with friends

Eric and Courtney came out to visit two months ago. Courtney put up a few posts on her fabulous blog about the trip so I thought I would copy them and paste them here. I think the quality of the photos are better on her blog.

Featherstone Pics - Part 1 of 3 (written by Courtney)

Thursday, September 16, 2010. As promised, here are the Featherstone photos. There are about 90 of them but I'm just showing you the best. Sorry there are so many. They are just *that* good. Plus, the Featherstones are moving to Kuala Lumpur (for Mike's job - congrats, Mike!) soon so I'm sure that Erin won't get a chance to put these up on her blog (feel free to link to here, Erin).

So Andrew is 23 months in these photos. Eric and I were trying to decide whether Andrew's golden-locks were more "Queen West Hipster" (for 'hipster' definition, click here) or "Abercrombie and Fitch model." In this case, where he's rocking out what I can only assume is a vintage, silk-screened dino-shirt, he's channeling his inner-Hipster. We see A LOT of them in our area of Toronto, so I like to think that I could spot them a mile away. PS - those highlights in his hair are totally natural, no need to be jealous:



I can't believe how much Andrew has grown! This is what he looked like the last time that we saw them back in July (aha! Now I know where all my time went before Stampede; I knew that I was super busy from mid-June until now but I couldn't remember what had us running around before Stampede. Eureka!). Bath time photos from this trip to compare to the ones back from July (PS - I took these ones, so proud):





We stopped off at this amazing Tex Mex place for take-out before getting to the Featherstones (they had taken us there during our previous visit to Baltimore and I was so amazed that I requested it for this meal). By the time we finally arrived (a little stop at Target - which then had us entering Baltimore at the height of rush hour - threw off our ETA), Mike was on a conference call with Asia so the 3 of us ate without him. It was worth the traffic to get my mixed-meat burritos!

When we were done, BF Deuce (Baby Feather the Second, or commonly known as Joseph), needed to be put down somewhere quiet. Since Mike was in the master bedroom on the phone, Erin asked Eric to move the bassinet from their bedroom into Andrew's, just a short distance down the hall. When Mike was done with his call, Andrew was ready for bed so Eric moved the bassinet back into the master.

During the first move of the bassinet, I'm pretty sure that Eric bumped each door frame with each of the legs and hit the hallway walls ever 6" inches... and that was without a baby inside. Does this seem like a good idea when BF Deuce is sleeping in peace and Eric looks like this???



Careful... careful... careful...



Victorious! Eric made it without incident.

Our first picture of Baby Joseph. Just like an angel:


Featherstone Pics - Part 2 of 3

(written by Courtney)

Friday, September 17, 2010. After a very long day for us, we got back to the Featherstones to find that Erin and Baby Joseph were still awake (BF2 is 1 month old in these photos). He was pretty tired, but just like Andrew 2 years before, he perked up when his entire field of vision was filled with Eric's face:



I have no idea what it is. Andrew would be fussing and kicking around, and from the first day that we met him (at 3 weeks... gasp! I was trying to look for a link to the pictures that we had from that visit, and I think that they were taken at a time before I attempted to post everything. Another thing to add to my list of to-dos...) he would stop and stare, enamored with Eric's face. So weird. So jealous.

So Joseph was tired and fussing a little too when we got back. As usual, Eric had the camera in hand and I was the one was supposed to make faces at him to make him smile. I think that I just agitated him more. We switched. Joseph went from not happy to this in one second:



Poor little guy. It was so late and he just couldn't get to sleep (probably because we interrupted his pre-bedtime snack and was still hungry, sorry Erin!). He's even got baby bags under his eyes:







Featherstone Pics - Part 3 of 3

(written by Courtney)

Saturday, September 18, 2010. Warning. This is a big one.

Our third and final day in Baltimore started out with some photos. We had to get as many in as possible because we weren't sure when we were going to see our Feather friends next.

Uhhhhhhh... it's morning. Why are you bothering me so early? Can't a guy just have his gock in peace? (Andrew calls his milk "gock".)



Rocking the bed head and the Canadian beaver t-shirt we brought down for him (Yay to Eric for picking something so cute):



BF Deuce hanging out on the floor while Erin was making us pancakes for breakfast. Thanks, mom!



Floor-time didn't last long. When Eric recognized a chance to play with the little one he pounced (note the awesome set of pictures that I took):



More smiling at Eric's face (left). You can pretty much hear him say "Mmmm hmmm" (with attitude) in the picture on the right. If only he could snap his fingers and move his head side to side:



One month old toes:



We moved to better light in the nook. It was now my turn to hold Joseph. Look at the enthusiasm on my face - I was hoping it might rub off on him...



... I think that all it did was help him to enthusiastically pass some gas. EFFORT!!!



So it took a while and a lot of guidance from Erin to get BF2 into this position. My hair was in his mouth, his face was in my shoulder instead of over it, there was very little back/neck support, etc. It was a disaster despite the quality of these photos of him trying to eat my shirt:



The photos above were of Joseph backlit. We turned around so that the warm-tinted morning light would light his face:



He's just as photogenic as his older brother at this age:



I posted this one before as a teaser, but I had to include it again because I love it so much. The "welcome" on the wall in the background, Eric looking at J and smiling, the same "clam hold" that Eric used to hold Andrew in, and most importantly the look on J's face:



And I know that Erin isn't going to like that I'm posting these ones (because of the prominent double-chin-age) but there are just too cute not to share. I couldn't let them fall into digital oblivion. Not these expressions:



And certainly not these ones:




Finally, the best for last. This one makes me laugh out loud (seriously, it does) every time I see it because all I can see him saying is, "Hello, ladies..." in a deep, suave, Casanova-type voice. Am I right?



Thanks Courtney for the fabulous pics. You guys are the best and we will miss you. Please note we are planning on your taking Joseph's 6 month pictures out in KL. Plus we may need the bassinet moved again.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

Fall in Shenandoah Valley

We are currently here



driving along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, VA.

It has been on our list of things to do while on the East Coast. Since we only have two weekends left we spontaneously decided Saturday afternoon to make the 3 hour trip.


Andrew's favorite Dr Seuss books are helping him stay busy on the road.

It seems we picked a good weekend to go. The fall colors are gorgeous now almost at their peak. We are trying to enjoy every minute because we won't get much of this in our new hot & tropical home.

Love
E


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, September 30, 2010

We're moving abroad





I know rumors have been swirling, but now it's official so I can finally post it on the blog.
We're moving abroad to Malaysia.








W H E R E ?
We are heading to Kuala Lumpur (referred to as "KL"), the capital of Malaysia. Malaysia borders Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. It is known for its beaches, the Petronas Towers (aka the final scenes of Entrapment), and its cultural diversity (Chinese, Indians, Malaysians, etc.).



W H Y ?
Mike just signed the offer to be the finance manager for Asia ("Mr. manager" for those Arrested Development fans) which requires us to move to the Asia HQ in KL. "Manager" in this case doesn't necessarily mean managing people but something more like "work your butt off for the CFO." But Mike really likes the CFO so that is good.

W H E N ?
We are leaving to KL in mid October with the boys for a month long house hunting trip. Mike will be working over there while we find a flat and explore the city. Then we come back for the holidays, and head out in January permanently.


Luckily for me just about everyone speaks English--all the street signs are in English as well as Bahasa. It is also religiously diverse. Lining the streets of KL there are mosques next to cathedrals next to Buddhist temples.





I have always known that we would move abroad sooner or later. I figured we'd probably move to China or Hong Kong since Mike speaks Chinese. I never thought our first international move would be to Malaysia.


I have been talking to a bunch of Americans that live over there ("expats"). Everyone is so nice and they all love living in KL. But let's be honest, I really am most excited about the beaches. After growing up in CA, I think the beach is in my blood.


We know most of you are way cooler than us and have already seen southeast Asia so send us all your travel recommendations.

We hope you come visit us. And we will keep you updated with all the details. Especially exciting will be our report of an 18 hour plane flight with two kids under the age of two.

Love
E

Selamat Datang!

Running in circles

Andrew all of a sudden started running in circles after he found two bunnies. He is saying "diddy" for bunny.

YouTube Video

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

A-N-D-R-E-W

So when I set Andrew in his crib for his nap this morning he turned around and read the letters of his name in order. It was fun for me because I have never seen him read his name before.

He is now in his crib jabbering away before he falls asleep. It is so cute how he has turned into such a jabber-box. He is also parroting everything we say. He has learned so much this year. I am excited to see what else he learns when he turns two next month.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Going to church



I know you're probably not supposed to take pictures at church but Andrew was so cute this week in his suit. Here we are going up the elevator. Andrew loves to read the numbers of all the floors, and always says "stah!" when he sees the star for the ground floor.

We got there a little late so here we are waiting for the prayer to be over so we can go in.



And here is little Joseph. He is not very happy eating in new places so breastfeeding at church is always an adventure. We tried bringing a bottle this week, which he succeeded in spitting all over his clean shirt. This was taken before he soiled his cute shirt. Thanks Robyn for this outfit! It is a 6 month outfit we tried on him and it fits! The legs were a bit long but it worked.


Update on the boys



Sorry I have been so absent from the blogging world. I have been so busy. I even downloaded blogpress so I could post more blog updates by using my phone. Hopefully I will be much more present soon once things calm down.

Mike is back from his trip and I am learning how to deal with two kids. Andrew has been so sweet and really been good at independent play. He sits in his crib for 40 mins after his nap reading books so I can get things done. He loves to play with his train table (a gift from baby Joseph), his dinosaurs, and his alphabet magnets.

He can draw a v and a z (aka scribbles) on his little chalkboard. I have learned that chalk is safe because if he writes on things I can wipe it off.

He loves his "diddy!" (aka bunny). He always says "diddy!" with a big smile and very enthusiastic, excited high voice. If I draw his diddy on the chalkboard, he gets so excited he runs off to get his diddy from his crib, and lays him right on the picture on the chalkboard.




He now loves numbers even more than letters if that is even possible. He will go around the house finding the same number (he will get a "2" from the fridge magnets, a "2" from the blocks, and a "2" from the Melissa and doug set) and carry them around saying "doo! doo! doo!" ("doo" = "two"). It is very cute to watch because he gets so excited. He has known his numbers for a month or so but now is putting them together in sequential order. Just starting this week he has been walking around counting in order.

Joseph is growing growing growing.

We just visited the pediatrician (who is awesome because he has helped us so much with Andrews medical condition navigating the johns Hopkins system) and here are the latest stats. I don't know how we make such big babies.





- Joseph G at 7.5 wks
15 lb 12 oz
25 in long

Andrew M at 22 mos
33 lb





Sending love to you all,
E

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Sleep




Well the good news this morning is that little 7 week old Joseph slept really well last night. Usually he wakes at 2, 4, 6, and 7. Last night he slept the night until 5am and then went back again until almost 8am. For once I feel like I got a decent night's sleep.

I have been struggling with feedings for the last two weeks because J wants to eat every two hours. I am working on moving him back to three hours slowly and yesterday I got him to 2.5, so maybe that is why he had a better night. Hey, I'll take it!


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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Joseph at one month old






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