A Beautiful Weekend!

So most of yesterday was spent in front of the computer getting expense reports done. But we finally finished and at 4pm we headed out for a walk to a nearby park we hadn't been to yet. The Thames Barrier Park. It is a gorgeous riverside park with huge fields, lots of pretty flowers and trees, and the weather was perfect!

So we hung out for a bit, let Tucker check out if he liked the grass or not (yes for a brief second - then not too sure about it!)

Then we headed back via the Fox Excel Pub. We had some very delicious cheese and meats and olives and hung out for a little bit before going home. Even Tucker got in the swing of things!

It was a great ending to the day - well until we got home and Tucker had a 30 minute meltdown before bed! Then woke up at 12:15 and again at 4 and finally for good at 7:15. No staying down until 2:30am last night!

I haven't told you all about the folks I have been meeting yet either. There is a great Child Center about a half mile from our house - a great use of tax money! They have all sorts of groups for kids 5 and under. We go on Tuesdays to the Under 1's group. There I met a couple gals and turned out one lives right across the street from me. Esther and her daughter Jessica who is 6 months. Through them I met Sam and her 9 month old daughter Isabella. We have also gone to the Mums and Tums group at Esther's church on Wednesdays - more Moms and babies and hanging out! It has been really nice and I am thankful for having met them. We may go to the Pushy Moms exercise group on Monday as well - bunch of moms and strollers exercising in the park!

So - things are picking up here - looking a bit better all around. Yay!

Catching Up and Growing Up and Coming Home!

Man oh man is Tucker changing and growing! It is amazing how week to week he is just learning new things, getting bigger, stronger, and both of us are feeling more confidant. He is 16 weeks as of yesterday - and will be 4 months old next Saturday - I can't believe it! His neck is SO strong - almost bobble head free. He is a drooling machine - oh my his clothes are just sopping wet. But I know that teeth could be 5 days away or 5 months away!

Had a good visit with my Dad and his wife. They were very helpful and we got out and did a few fun things. Went up to visit my cousin and her family - fun BBQ in the sun, rain, and sleet! Tucker got to meet their dog and get his feet licked - too funny.

Have made reservations for my Mom to come in July, then we will be flying home together with Tucker and I get to visit family and friends for 3 weeks! I am so excited to see everyone. It will be an awesome time.

And best of all Abbey will be coming home with me then in August!!! Yay! The family will be complete. Mom and Dad and Baby and Dog!

Tucker is starting to sleep a little longer during the night. A majority of his nights in the last 3 weeks have been until 12:30 or 2am for his first wake up! 2am is wonderful! If it is earlier he has another wake up about 2:30-3:30 and then 5ish, or just 5ish. Then I have been bringing him into bed with me cause it is SO light outside he won;t go back to sleep and I CANNOT get up at 5am and deal with the day yet. So I nurse him in bed, he falls asleep for a little longer and then we are both happy. We need to get blackout blinds!

We had a great Father's Day - Andrew got a card specially made by Tucker with foot and hand prints! Went to the Wright Brother's Oyster and Porter House (I had neither) but Andrew and my Dad loved it!

Well - Tucker is waking up from his pre bedtime nap so gotta run!

These times they are a changin'

Time goes so fast and so slow - all at the same time. My days sometimes seem like they drag ON and ON and sometimes I go - what happened, where did the day go? Tucker is changing every day. He is getting so big and strong! The neck muscles are developing wonderfully and he smiles and giggles and is so intent on watching things. He loves to be held sitting in your lap facing out - watching the rest of the room. And he kicks and runs in place with his little legs and just acts like he is about to take off!! Love him!

I am having a bit of a hard time just with feelings of missing friends and family back home and like I just sit in the house and don't know too many people here and jealous of Andrew leaving to go to work and talk to adults and have a life outside of Tucker. At the same time - I am so fortunate to have this special time with Tucker and don't want to take it for granted. Just difficult at times here in London.

Looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family in less than 2 months when tucker and I come to the states for a visit. And get Abbey! Yay - I miss my puppy dog!

Well, Tucker is napping and I have had a full few days so I am going to join him. We went to Buckingham Palace and a wonderful street market with my Dad and his wife. Andrew and I got a night out for my birthday as well while they babysat (first time leaving him! It was good - and needed) But now I am enjoying a day in my sweats.

Thanks to all of you for your love and support!!!

Weekend Fun

Saturday is here and Daddy is home from work. Tucker slept pretty well - but he has started adding an extra wake up again in the night. Still down until about midnight - but now up at 2:30ish, 4:30ish, and again at 6:30 - but then I do get to sleep until 6:30 instead of him getting up at 2:30ish and then 5:30 - and staying up. So, who knows! He is now napping for longer than he normally does during the day. Usually it is about 20-45 minutes here and there. He has now been down since about 10:15 and it is 11:30! He is 3 months and should be having a growth spurt at some point (since I have learned babies don't read the books and do what they are supposed to do when they are supposed to do it!) So maybe that is the extra feeding and sleeping now. He is a cutie pie though no matter what!

I am trying to now get motivated to start working out again. It is hard after not doing a whole lot, but I am eating way too many cookies and sitting on my butt way too much. Summer is here - cannot even think about wearing a bathing suit - Ha! Nope! So, I am hoping I can start a bit of running on the weekends when Andrew is home, and try to do some indoor stuff during the week while Tucker is napping. He watched me do some yoga the other day - I have a great yoga DVD that makes you sweat, but I can't do it every day - I get bored easily. But I gotta do something cause I am going to start being unhappy with myself/body/etc if I don't. I know - 9 months to put this weight on - 9 months to take it off - but you gotta start somewhere right?

My Dad and his wife will be here Tuesday - so I can probably get a little running in the next 2 weeks as well while they are around. Get up, feed Tucker, pass him off, go for a jog. I just need to get a jumpstart, then I will be back in a groove and go from there.

Then, I will be home to visit everyone in just over 8 weeks! I cannot wait! It has been tough. I looked at a friend's FaceBook page a couple days ago and saw her pictures froma little bit ago of when she gave birth and all the friends visiting in the hospital, etc. I missed that. Tucker has missed that. You all have missed that. I am a little sad that all of you have not gotten to meet him yet - but you will soon and that will be wonderful! I have had such amazing support and love from so many of my friends and family. That has what has gotten us through. I have felt very alone at times. I have Andrew and Tucker - but Andrew goes to work for about 11 hours a day and Tucker, well, doesn't talk much;) Don;t get me wrong - I LOVE the amount of time I have gotten with him and know how special this bonding has been for both of us. But I sit in my house, no tv yet, hanging with Tucker, reading books, and going for walks. It sounds lovely, but can get to you after awhile. Need a little more stimulation/interaction at times. I don't know - I can't complain - he is happy and healthy and we are so fortunate to have this experience. I am looking forward to taking him out into London and exploring and sightseeing now that he is getting a little more settled and I am a little less scared of being out with him. I have the whole nursing in public thing down, got his stroller, carrier, and diaper bag - we are good to go.

So, it is a beautiful day outside. Andrew has gone to a coworkers house to pick up a bike he is borrowing for the next year and a half. He will start biking to work on the Greenway! Saves money and gets him exercise! Then we need to do a few errands. he wants some more summer workshirts, we need a couple new cooking pans, and I just need to get out of the house. Then maybe I will go for a jog this evening and let the boys hang out for a bit.

Have a great weekend all - love you!