Sunday, December 7, 2008

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!!

Friday, December 5, 2008

A few firsts...

First laugh with Dad

First chat with Mom

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

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.


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

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!

Monday, December 1, 2008

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

Monday, November 24, 2008

Missing Dad at work today....

Ty emailed me from work and told me he needs a blog post, he's missing Otis (and I'm sure me as well)...so here are a few of the latest pics.Otie sleeping in his Frankenstein pose
Our cute little stinker
I've learned that taking a baby to church is no easy feat. I've opted out of the hour long 2 bus journey and started paying for a taxi. Usually Ty has to leave before me so I'm left running around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to get out the door on time. Most Sundays I'm lucky if I brush my hair and teeth. Luckily, Otie always looks this cute...



It's getting pretty cold here so we have to get all bundled up before we go out for the day. In London your stroller is basically your car so Otie is out in the cold a lot of the day. I'm always concerned that he's too warm or not warm enough, while Otie is mostly just concerned with trying to eat anything that comes near his mouth.
loving his old school stegosaurus jammies
hanging out on the play mat with Cate and Pearce- friends that live right across the street, all born within 2 weeks of each other
Otie finds his hand...

Friday, November 21, 2008

Go Utes


Good luck to the Utes tomorrow.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

What Otie's been up to...

turning 2 months old...
meeting his honorary grandma Wendy...

hanging out with some pals...

lounging with the ladies...

going to the movies...

(This was awesome, it's called the "Scream". It was a showing of the new James Bond where you can bring your babies. Tea and cake is comes with the ticket, it was a blast and Otie was an angel and just chilled on my lap through the whole thing)

and lots of walks in the Heath!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Homesick....

"If you were to assemble a United States play ground, you would need to locate a place for your capital. A place where the landscape itself looks like it was created by Dr. Seuss with a back hoe. A place where it's possible to wake up in summer time and drive to winter. In short- you need Utah."
-Johnny Moseley
A friend of ours just lent us last year's Warren Miller ski movie. As soon as I heard Warren's voice I started bawling. I've been going to his films every year with my dad since I was little. I'm not sure I can survive another ski season away from Utah. I can't wait to take Otie to his first Warren Miller. We've watched last years a few times already and he hasn't said anything about it yet, but I'm pretty sure he loves it. Ty is going to London's premier of this year's Warren Miller this Thursday...I know, who would've thought they come to London? But it starts past Otie's bed time so I think I'll stay home with him.

All I can say is that it better be a white Christmas....a very white Christmas.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Like father like son



Tuesday, November 4, 2008

COSTCO in London!!

*Don't mind the bags under my eyes, my raggedy hair or my dissheveled appearance. I have a 6 week old*

It was like a trip to heaven and back! As you can tell, I was too excited to really pose for a picture, but I was pointing to the "Costco" on the shopping cart. It just felt like home being in Costco, I was so happy.

A friend of mine has a car and a Costco membership, so we took the journey out there and made a whole day of it. Luckily my mom was still in town and could help me decide what I should get because I was so overwhelmed. And we did only have a Prius- so not a lot of room. Anyway, we were there for hours (I only had to go feed Otie in a nasty bathroom stall twice) and we left with a car packed to the max with just enough breathing room for Otis to survive the car ride.

I told Ty that I had a big surprise for him when he came home. When he saw our counter full of all the loot, he just laughed and said, "honey, I think you went a little overboard". And now, I have to admit, I'm pretty sure I did. But I have 18 eggs, 2 jumbo sized shampoos, 8 soaps, about 50 clementines, more oreos than I can count and alot more to show for it.


Friday, October 31, 2008

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!



Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Look who's smiling!!

But he makes you work for it...


Grandpa and Otie became best buddies pretty fast. Maybe partly because Otis' hairline is slowly but surely starting to look more like his Grandpa's.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Going private

We decided to make our blog private so leave a comment with your email address or email me so we can add you!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Cutest sad face ever

I'm in trouble if Otie's pouty face is always this cute because I don't think I'll ever be able to say no to him

Friday, October 17, 2008

Regents Park today

Today we went for a walk with some friends around Primrose Hill and Regents Park. It was such a beautiful day.

with Amy and baby Ella
Adelaide and Pearce with Annabel and Archie
Otie and his good buddy Archie (look at that beautiful hair!!)

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The boys

Nick and Clay are in Europe! They have stayed with us a few days and are coming back after they travel around Scotland, Sweden and Denmark. I agreed to letting them stay before I had the baby...

Then I had the baby... and in the midst of learning to breastfeed and how to survive on little sleep I wasn't too sure about having 2 bachelors stay with us and our 3 week old. But they've been great guests and Otis was happy to meet a few of his "Godfathers" as Ty calls them.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Otie is 1 month old!

Heidi gave us the idea to take a picture of Otis each month next to the same thing to compare his growth. In this first picture he is only 5 days old and wasn't too happy that I took off his jammies for the photo op, so I decided to leave them on this month.1 month old and almost grown out of his moses basket
Otie loves to snuggles and always curls up so tiny
You can tell this is just how he sat comfy in my belly with his knees tucked high up and his feet crossed.

Otis finally got to meet his Grandma B. One morning I walked out to find my dad holding him singing "10 little speckled frogs" and Otis was just staring at him, it was such a tender moment to happen upon.
We just started introducing a bottle a few nights a week and Ty loves feeding him. But it always makes me laugh to see him using my nursing pillow when he does.