Whoa, die is zwanger!

I'm now just days away from my due date, and feeling it. Yesterday I stopped into the Hema and heard a guy say to someone, after I had passed, 'Whoa, die is zwanger!' Which you could translate into something like, 'Dang, she's pregnant!' It's a good thing we don't have a full length mirror in the house and I'm thankful that Neil keeps trying to convince me that I look good.

There's not much to update on this blog, just thought I'd update that the baby has not arrived yet. We're all excited for it to happen and can't wait to meet this little one. 'Can't wait' it also a good term in this situation because I do truly feel like I can't wait any longer (please, let this one not be overdue!). In the mean time I am keeping myself busy with all things domestic, including knitting some fun baby items, like this little red bonnet in the picture. I found this baby alpaca wool that feels like it was spun in heaven. Nothing could be better for a tender newborn head.

Summer Holidays

We got back from being on a long holiday in St. Louis, B.C. Canada and Florida. Thought I would share some pictures...

Cameron fully submerged in bridal flowers and television (note: we don't have t.v. at home, so this was a novelty for him)

Amazing bridal flower mastermind: mother


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The only way to beat the heat


Beautiful British Columbia. Check out the cutest baby highland cow all the way on the right!


"Paradise"


Honey farm.


Tricia and Aiden. This is the happiest child I have ever encountered.


Bridal falls


Wedding!


This is what happens when Neil starts taking pictures...who knows? (Let's not forget that this is during the wedding.)


The wedding was peacock-themed.


Florida


Beach.

Giant bubble gum mom heading into water.

Her morning elegance

Something reminded me of this music video today and thought I would post...

10 reasons I'm super happy

10. The blauwe regen (wisteria) vine has reached all the way up to our flat this year and is blooming. It smells like heaven, and is so beautiful.

9. I'm going to see these guys soon:


8. Neil gets/has gotten lots of days off recently for public holidays, so we've had more days together. This picture was in our neighborhood on Bevrijdingsdag (independence day?), last week.


7. We just celebrated Koninginnedag on april 30th, one of my favorite days of the year. The weather wasn't ideal in the morning, but it was still great. This is my favorite find of the day. A vintage children's tray that cost me 1 euro, which the woman selling it said was given to her when she was a child. Why would you sell this???


6. I'm finished with school! (this is HUGE) No more juggling lectures and babysitters and shoolwork and family and a household and everything else at one time. Ahhhh, relief.


5. I get to do fun things now that school is done, like knit while Cameron is sleeping.

And go to places like Artis (Amsterdam zoo) while Cameron is awake.


4. Cameron is funny. Here he managed to pull a bag of nappies from under his bed.


3. Neil is an amazing husband. Who still likes Duplo.


2. We're having a baby! (due in september) We're super excited.


1. I love Jesus!

Best.

Mothersday from chris roeleveld on Vimeo.

A video my brother once made for my mom for mother's day. I know it's not the mother's day season, but it's still the best. And my throat gets a little tight every time I watch it. (well, the first time I shed a tear too)

Before the half year mark!

It seems like my blog habits have a certain trend. 1 month in between, 3 months in between, now 6 months...At this rate the next post can be expected at some point in november 2010.

I really hope that this won't happen and that I can make some attempt at sharing more frequently (although if I had anybody who was interested in this blog I am sure I have lost all hope for anyone to be interested now). I admire those who can keep up so well. Blogs are popping up everywhere. Now, even my grandparents have started a blog! Amazing people.

I have to say, though, there have been good reasons not to blog for so long. I have been really busy with good things and there were a lot of things that needed to have a higher priority than to update this blog. And not that I have nothing to do now, but things have slowed down a bit and I have this month and next month to enjoy a bit quieter agenda and to-do list. Things will pick up in January when I dive into full-time classes again until about april or may.

I hope I can share some of the things that i have been getting into lately like food production issues, knitting, learning how to be a mama, cooking, farming and the list goes on, although I think those are the biggest. If anything I hope this can be a place where I can get some of my own thoughts and ideas organized...

Milestones!

Wow! So many things have been happening since the last time I posted anything-that was over 3 months ago. Things have been really busy here and it has been hard to find the time for things like blogging (not that anyone really is waiting for a post...)

Here is a short summary of what has happened:
Mom came to visit
Went to Scotland for 2 weeks
Cameron turned one
Cameron started to walk on his own
Cameron is trying to say some words
Kate is trying to finish up her internship and started full-time classes

It seems like the last month Cameron has grown so much and is really not a baby anymore but a little boy. It's so fun to be part of. I think we can say that his first word is uh-oh, which he's been saying the last couple of days. He's also been intensely interested in zippers lately.

It was fun to celebrate his first birthday. It was a beautiful sunny day. It is still surreal to think back on this last year with him. From going into labor and knowing he was on his way into the world, to looking into his eyes in the middle of the night that first night, to worrying about why he was crying, to little sounds and giggles, to eating and crawling and then walking and playing and then now. (and that skips a lot of big things!) One thing I love that he has been into the last week is reading books. People who know Cameron would say 'active' is an understatement when describing him, so sitting on my lap wasn't exactly his favorite thing to do. But for the last few days he's been enjoying reading books on our lap. It'll even go so far that he'll grab the book and then walk over to sit on our lap. I love it and I love the close contact it gives. He's learned how to point and will enthusiastically point at different things in the book and make some sort of noise.

We had a lovely holiday in Scotland in the beginning of April. We had some beautiful weather (nice surprise!), took some walks, let granny and papa enjoy Cameron, saw lots of family and my mom and Elisabeth were also able to make it over for easter weekend (since my mom was in Holland at this time). Neil was busy planting trees and dreaming...
Here are some pictures to capture some good moments of the last while. Hopefully it won't be another 3 months before I post again!