There's no place like home...

Oh, there’s no place like home
For the holidays, ’cause no matter
How far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can’t beat
Home, sweet home
See you soon!!

A few firsts...

First laugh with Dad

First chat with Mom

Betsy is the Besty

BETSY came to visit!!! She basically owns this town now. Otie instantly fell in love with her, how could he not.

Sometimes the camera flash catches Otie a little off-guard

At the Fashion V Sport exhibit at the Victoria and Albert museum (you might have thought Bets was a 5 year old at Disney Land for the first time, she was in heaven)

Our Thanksgiving feast at the Evans...just before Betsy's hot date- and I mean REALLY hot date

We crammed so much into the week. This is after braving the shopping crowds at Oxford street. Betsy can literally shop til she drops. I think Otie's face says it all.

Betsy made my Thanksgiving, it was so fun to have her here- even though she was quite the stickler about not letting me sing Christmas songs until after Thanksgiving.

Lounging with his favorite aunt...just kidding Heidi (maybe if you ever came to visit...)

After a successful trip to Primark

Again...a little curious about the flash

Top of Primrose Hill

Betsy could get a smile out of Otie whenever she talked. It was so cute, his eyes would follow her wherever she walked around the room. And when she would go around a corner he would just stare at it until she came back.

Ty and Bets bought matching hats at Portobello road because it was freezing

Betsy is probably the most thoughtful and caring person I know. It always amazes me the little things she does for people. She HAND MADE the cutest mug for Otie, I will have to take a picture of it. Everywhere we went she was finding little things that she wanted to get for people- unfortunately (or fortunately) there is a weight limit for baggage these days so she was forced to limit her purchases. Thanks for coming Bets! Otie loves you and misses you already.

Helpful husband...maybe a little too helpful

I must first say that Ty is the best husband in the world. He was been so helpful with Otis from middle of the night diaper changes to playing with Otie when he's up and ready to play at 5am, to lots of dishes and now....laundry.

Those of you that live or have lived in London know how crappy the washer/dryers are. They are combined into one tiny machine (usually taking up all your cupboard space in the kitchen). If you're lucky you can fit a pair of pants, a shirt or two and maybe a sock into one load. And if you're even more lucky when the cycle is done 5 hours later they come out clean, wrinkled and damp- never dry.

So yesterday Ty did a load of laundry and I remember hearing him saying to himself that he was amazing and got the clothes to come out dry- I didn't think anything of it. So this morning when he takes another load out (bless his heart) he says, "I'm a miracle worker, that's 2 loads of laundry that I've made come out dry...it almost makes me wonder if..." then he trailed off. So this time I knew something wasn't right. I peek around the corner to find him smelling some clothes. I check the settings of the machine and lo and behold he had never set the wash cycle, only the dry. So with the many blowouts that Otie does, we were left with dirty, yellow stained clothes- but at least they're dry. To his defense, Ty did tell me he had sprayed them with stain remover. Unfortunately sweetheart, that doesn't do much if the clothes never get washed.

The great thing about this is that now after 6 months of living here, Ty has learned to use the washing machine!

Ode to my Otie

So I don't think I written a poem since Mr. Godfrey's high school English class where Nanette and I were getting kicked out for laughing uncontrollably. But in the days leading up to having Otis, I had lots of spare time and decided to write a poem. I thought it was only appropriate to write another one now that he is here. I'm obviously not out to win any awards, but I thought I would post them so I don't lose track of them.

Ode to my baby...

Aching back and swollen legs mean very long London days
not far to the tube, but have to 'wee'- so back home wishing an end to this phase.
Just 12 more days until you're here,
don't wait long after that or mommy will have a constant sneer.
Cankles and stretch marks, some joys of the last few weeks
have brought out a few hidden mean streaks.

Your daddy's long legs, you have already
I just wish you would hold them still and steady.
A kick in the ribs and a jab to the bladder,
and the sleepless nights make me sadder and sadder.

But the feeling of you moving inside of me
is a miracle and a blessing I would never trade, you see.
I will miss your hiccups, your flips and turns
and your dad kissing my belly and caring concerns.

Can't wait to see your hands and feet
and seeing your face will be the sweetest treat.
"It will all be worth it", so I've been told
I know that you will always be a sight to behold.

To be a mother is the highest calling
often I wonder if I should have done more stalling.
Am I ready to take care of another being-
loving, providing and teaching all about skiing?

I stare at my bump, it's you I know,
I think of the fun we'll have and my heart starts to glow.
Soon we will see you, you will fit in one palm-
please don't delay, lots of love, --your mom.

Ode to my Otie

You were supposed to come on day 14,
But it was day 11 in the taxi that we were making a scene.
Huffing and puffing could this really be it?
It hadn't been long but I was ready to quit.

18 hours later it was taking too long
Your heart rate was dropping so we had to move on
They said the word c-section, your dad remained calm
But I cried my eyes out and said, "I must call my mom".

You were born at 8:26 on that same night
When I held you in my arms everything was alright.
Nothing else mattered, the rest is a blur,
It was immediate and unconditional love, that's for sure.

Sometimes I feel we have great conversations, without even saying a word
When you eat, you take time to stop and stare with a smile and nothing needs to be heard.
You are an angel straight from Heaven, God's gift to me is you,
At 11 weeks now you love "Luigi", the frog (named by Dad), he always makes you coo.

We spend our days at the Heath or Regents park,
Even now when in London it's too early getting dark.
Up and down the stairs of the tube, you'll always be my London lad
When at home, you stare at your hero, you'll one day call "Dad".

I love to watch you discover the world,
I love when you wriggle and your long toes are curled.
I love how much you love the bath
I love to watch you look around when we're on Primrose path.

Now on this day of love and Thanksgiving
You give my life purpose, you're my reason for living.
I'm thankful for your big blue eyes, the right one specked with brown
I'm thankful for your chubby cheeks, your lips and pouty frown.

I'm thankful for your great long legs, definitely from your Dad
I'm thankful for your sweet and loving smile, it always makes me glad.
I'm thankful for how you've changed my heart,
The capacity to love I didn't know I had at the start.

Aching back and swollen legs meant very long London days,
But now you're here, the aches are gone and I wish no end to this wonderful phase.
I know you'll get older, each day you grow, now you don't fit in my palm,
But you'll be mine forever, we'll have so much fun. Lots of love, --your mom