In just one hour ...

...we are off to pick up my mom from the airport. Evan is trying to get some rest before she gets here. Why does Lufthansa always have to arrive exactly during Evan's nap time? Last time my mom and Tommy came to visit we let Evan skip his nap just to sit around the airport for over almost two hours when he could have been getting some much needed zzz's in his crib. So this time we plan on going later, and hopefully things will work out okay this way. It should take her a while to get through customs. They even took pictures and finger prints last time, so we should have some wiggle space. Good thing we live only 16 min from the airport.

Anyways. I wanted to post some pictures from last week before I got too busy taking new ones. These were taken at our pool. Remember this? It turns out he still loves this swim ring best. It puts him in a natural swimming position, and keeps him from accidentally getting his face under water too often, although he is learning to deal with that pretty well.


We also took his little sail boat to the pool, but he sunk it within the first few minutes. And with the sails wet it didn't float anymore, so we will have to give it another try soon.



On Saturday we met with his little friend Michael, and his parents. The kids had a blast, like usual. Evan is so gentle with Michael, and very patient. He usually cuts him some slack for doing things Evan knows shouldn't be done, like throwing sand all over the place. We are trying to explain to him that Michael is very little and still learning, and that babies don't always understand what we are trying to tell them.





And here is one of Evan's newest hobbies. He loves to do somersaults, although he usually ends up sideways. While we were at the park, he decided that it would be fun for his dad and Miles to join in. Good thing they are big children at heart!


Almost time to wake my little guy and go to the airport. Looks like the plane is going to be on time. The next ten days will be pretty busy, although hopefully a little more relaxed then the last time they were here. We plan on showing my mom the area, so that she can see that it can also be a very nice place to live. Last time they came here it was all cold and rain the whole time through, and of course all gray and muddy. I can't wait for her to see some of the beautiful nature you can find here. Multnomah Falls will be one of the stops, as well as Cannon Beach, Oregon. We also have tickets for "Thomas the Tank Engine" which will take us through some beautiful scenery just by itself. Evan has been talking about the Thomas train ride ever since we bought the tickets, and he can barely wait. He knows that it won' t be long now because grandma will be getting here today.
Of course we are pretty limited as to where or how far we can go, because we still have to make sure that Evan gets to take his nap at midday. He can skip once maybe, but if we do that too often he will just be cranky and tired and that's not worth it. We want him to have a happy time with his grandma.
Some other places we will be visiting are Toys'r'us, the Learning Palace (they have lots of "Thomas the Tank Engine" accessories), many playgrounds, and the carousel at the mall, as well as Tuesday Story Time at the library! Those are Evan's plans for Grandma! I am sure we will have a great time! The next update will probably be after my mom flies back to Germany. I will make sure to show lots of pictures. Have fun!

We're having a boy!!

The ultrasound last week went great! We found out that I am at about 22 weeks right now, and also that we are having a little baby boy!!! It was very easy to see, so there should be no doubts! We are so thrilled to know the gender, and can't wait to meet our little Noah! We are so very excited for Evan too, because how fun is it to have a brother?!? They will most likely share similar interests, and probably be up to all kinds of trouble! It will be so much fun! Here is a picture of our little Noah!


Evan was super patient and well behaved at the ultrasound. He is very excited about Noah, and talks to him all the time. He even tries to feel him kick, and pets my belly as to massage the baby! Charles also felt Noah kick for the first time this week, and he was so very excited! Feeling the baby kick, from the outside especially, makes it so much more real, even for me!

Father's Day was great! First thing in the morning Evan ran over to Charles with his present, yelling "Happy Birthday, Papa!". The present Evan and I had put together over the last several weeks was a folder for college with Evan's paintings on it. I had Evan paint pictures that I slid into the front and back cover of the folder, and also had him draw on the tabs inside the folder. That way Charles can have Evan's artwork with him while he is at school.

After the present was opened and cards were read, Charles and Evan spent the rest of the morning putting together this little wooden sailboat! They both had so much fun with it! Before his nap, Evan took Charles out for lunch - just the two of them! I wish I could have gone too, but really wanted to give the two of them some one on one time! In the afternoon we walked to a nearby playground to get Evan moving and outside into the sun and fresh air! It was a fun walk! Here are some pictures from the sailboat building!






Of course we also celebrated Charles' birthday last week. We had Charles come home early form work so that we could spent the rest of the day together. Evan was so excited about it, and couldn't wait to give him his presents! He is so good about it too. Whenever we have a present that he knows about, we tell him that it is a surprise, and that so and so can't know yet. So whenever Charles asked him what his present was, all Evan said "Surprise!", and "nein have it" ("nein" being German for "no" or in this case "not"). I tend to give things away, so I am even more astonished by his ability to not tell the birthday child about the surprise! And he doesn't even seem to have a hard time with it. I can learn a lot from my little boy!




Looks like in our house June is all about dad! I think we should declare June as the official "Spoil Papa Month"! However, Evan didn't completely forget about spoiling me a little bit as well. Here is what I got just a few days ago. Am I lucky, or what!?!


Evan is waking up from his nap, so that's all for now. I have one more picture for you before I go. Our little artist was hard at work!

From the left to the right you can see a sun (purple), a road (green), two trees (at the bottom of the picture, one in brown and green, the other one orange), the letter "E" above the trees (black; he likes putting in extra lines on purpose - you can tell because he will look at you and smile as he makes the extra lines, trying to see what your reaction will be) and of course two cars and a bunch of dotted lines.

He made another one with clouds and grass and a colored car, but that one will be a surprise for his Miau-Oma when she gets here next week. We are so excited to have her visit! Too bad she is only staying for ten days, but at least she will be back in October, when Noah will be born! I bet I will be glad to have the extra help! And it will be just so much fun to be able to catch up with my mom! Have fun!

The perfect swimming hole, as of yet!

Like mentioned before, we have been looking around to find a good place for us to swim this summer, besides the community pool (which is always crowded). So far we have been at two parks. One has a fairly big river going through, which is were people go to swim. It is rather shallow and has a slow current, so I think it will be great! Evan definitely approves of the place, probably because there are about a million rocks that he can pick up and drop back into the water - one of his favorite past times. And it is only a 30 min drive from us!




There was also a playground at the park. Evan was so very proud of himself for sitting on the carousel all by himself while the big kids pushed. I, of course, was terrified! He tends to say "done" in a really quiet voice, so it would have been hard for us to even hear him in case he decided that he was done. Then as soon as the word "done" is out of his mouth, he tends to let go of whatever it is that he is holding on to at the time. Also, you never really know just how fast the big kids think they need to go, and if he will be able to hold on to it as long as it might be needed for us to get to him. I guess I was worried for nothing. Everything went just fine! And he was so very very proud of himself, you could see it written in his face! He did great!


Another park we found is right here in Vancouver. He likes it because he can walk around the creek and play in the mud. It also is surrounded by big trees, which keeps it cool even on the hot days. That´s always a plus considering that our apartment must equal a sauna on these kind of days! Good thing we just now bought an air conditioner. Now to just get it installed in a side opening window...! Not impossible, just not so pretty as if it was a top opening window. At least it should keep the place cool and allow Evan to have some restful nights from now on.


As for the pregnancy, things are going great! Of course I have plenty leg cramps, back aches and about a thousand trips to the bathroom, but I think there is no way out of this. I am getting soooo big, it´s not even funny! I am already getting reluctant to move around a lot, and I am just 20 weeks along. So very different from my pregnancy with Evan. I can also feel the baby kick now. We are all looking forward to the ultrasound on Wednesday! I can´t wait to find out if we are having a boy or a girl! Most importantly we want it to be healthy, of course!

Evan is very involved in the pregnancy. He showers the baby with kisses and hugs, and talks to it all the time. He tells me to eat certain things he thinks are yummy, as to share with the baby! He will be a wonderful big brother! What else could a mom want than for her firstborn to be excited about his baby sister or brother?? Have a look yourself and see how involved he is! Unfortunately I have no pictures of him hugging the belly, or kissing it, yet! But I will post them if I am lucky enough to get some!


It might be hard to recognize, but he is holding his baby dolls hands while we are driving somewhere! He likes to hold baby Michaels hand as well, whenever he gets to ride in the car with him.


We can´t wait to get him a full set of baby doll equipment! That way he can play along and get familiar with all the things babies do. He already mentioned how excited he would be to be having his very own doll swing!

And this is what he does whenever he is not playing with his baby doll! He must spend like at least half the day driving and parking his wheeled toys! And if he doesn´t park his indoor cars, he is busy parking his sand box cars...! Little boys and their wheeled toys!


Have fun!

Summertime!

This week we finally ventured out to the pool a few times. The heat has gotten so unbearable that we just had to go and cool off in the cold water! The first few times Evan was just content sitting on the steps playing with his toys, but when we took a brand new green swim ring there was no holding him back getting all wet!! He loves using the swim ring, and he loves playing wild with his dad, splashing and jumping into the water! Can you tell he likes green?!!?



And here is one more masterpiece of our little artist! Enjoy!