Sittin' easy... sleeping soundly

This picture is nicely dated... there was a time I could go nowhere without a burp cloth on my shoulder... Thanks to Josephine for the cute PJs!

And thanks to Jen for this outfit, from Leo's time!

Big Brother

With a new baby comes new roles for us all -- Léo is Big Brother now!

Thanks to mamie for capturing the moment of pride and joy!

Posh photos of Hélène

One of the nice services provided by the hospital was to send a professional photographer to take portraits of Hélène (and us) while we were there. Have a look!

Mainely Vacation

It was getting hot in New Jersey, so we decided to migrate North to New Hampshire and Maine for some vacation. Quick update: Leo is 4 and 3/4 now, and as the first photo makes clear, he is a powerhouse. Oh, and I am pregnant -- expecting a baby in the second half of October. 

Showing off our ability to withstand frigid water at Diana's Baths. Also, did I mention I'm pregnant?

There's an incredible model train club in North Conway, NH. Here, Leo watches a model railroadman make some fixes on the track as Thomas speeds by.

Even better: outside, there was the real thing!

Some people get to live in cabooses! (Cabeese?)

The style of the station house puzzled us. It turned out that some rich Dad let his son design it as a graduation present, and the son decided to do it Russian-style. Everything train-related should be designed by enthusiastic sons.

Can we take it home?

In Maine -- hoping for a dip in Lake Sebago -- we miscalculated and came to the area that warned against "bodily contact" with the water to the tune of a $2,500 fine (it's Portland's drinking water). So we looked but did NOT touch.

We made up for it at the Touch Tank in the Portland Children's Museum.

As a bonus, the museum also had a space shuttle to fly.

And a fishing boat to steer.

And a fire engine to drive.

Portland Children's Museum ROCKS.

Along the way ever further North, we dropped in to see my friend Erica's Co-Efficiency Farm.

Their dog and ducks have an Understanding.

The outhouse appealed to the engineer in Leo.

Then on to the coast of Maine. We arrived into Castine on a misty evening, and spotted this seahorse wind-vane.

The next day was lovely and sunny.  Paul grumbled a little.

Leo leaped into action, hording seashells and rocks. Heavy ones.

Thank goodness some were buried, pirate style. Look for the X!

First Trip to NYC: Dinosaur Edition!

We went on our first family trip to New York City. Funny taking the train in the opposite direction to the school!

Zoom!

And then we took the subway from 34th street.

To the Natural History Museum! To see dinosaurs!

Big ones!

Good thing the park is right across the street. Nice place for a picnic lunch.

Lovely view over the lake.

and even a glimpse of ... possibly... Micawber.

Happy Snowy New Year (a mere month late)

We had a visit from Auntie Rebecca for Christmas. We made a French Yule log:

yum!

The day after Christmas, it snowed A LOT:


So Leo got into his bear suit, extra scarf, and jacket to go shovel the snow:


Later, it snowed some more. Paul and Leo did their best to build a snowman with the very powdery snow, but it was really more of a snow cone. With eyes.


Then it snowed again. This time the snow was perfect for building a real snow man!


Paul gave him some eyes made of sippy cup tops.


A good thing, too, otherwise you wouldn't be able to see the snow man at all, especially after it snowed again:


Where did our backyard go?


The snow is higher than Leo now. If we make it outside maybe we will take some more photos!

Close Encounters of a Sheepish Kind

That thing is a lot bigger than me. But if I stay close to Daddy's legs maybe it will think I am as big as it.


All in all though I feel safer up here, looking at what is going on down there.


And what a lot is going on! Grabbing sheep, splashing in footbaths, climbing fences...

Flipping sheep!


And... selling them? What are those two up to?



Aunt Deirdre looks like she knows...