Three-day weekend

We love having papa for three days to ourselves. We found Mischa a dog sitter for when we fly to Utah next month. Then we played at a Sparkle Lab in the American History Museum.We went shopping at TJ Max and got some cool stuff ;-) for cheap... a dress for me, running shoes for papa, Curious George books for Sonia and additional train tracks for Feo. Plus tried on hats... I have to say trying on hats was my fave activity when I was a kid shopping with my mom. Then on Monday it was warm and sunny so we went to see our friends a the National Zoo.

Baby panda was up and eating his lunch. Too bad he is going to China soon (all US born panda babies belong to China. They are here on a loan for a few years after they birth then they are shipped away)... I hope they treat him well there.

We saw not a hedgehog. It is a look alike from Madagascar, a small tenrec. It has no needles. Sonia wanted to pet him.

An older lady stood right behind us. She smiled at me and told me my son was flirting with her... he is quite a cooer and will try huge smiles, laughing and giggles if you are close by.

Feo's crib

Last week we put together Feo's bed. He is not ready to sleep on his own yet neither am I but here it is... The mattress frame went up, a quilted bumper was neatly tied up and two jolly kids gazed at my finished work... a joyful moment.

This little quilt and a bumper are designed by me. I also made a big quilt in red with the same large squares that came from a book. It is too big for Feo but I am thinking to put it up on the wall.Sonia's baby Dear also has a matching quilt.

It is perfect for Sonia's baby ;-)

We are flying to Utah soon and I can't wait to find new fabrics for my summer projects! When I went shopping for my first quilt for Sonia's new bed Jeremy about had a heart attack... he didn't think I could finish putting all the little scraps of fabric together but I somehow managed it. Now I am much more confident and even make my own designs ;-)

Today at the library we made fun walkie-talkies out of plastic cups. Sonia and I played with it whole day long and when papa came home, he also tried them out. So simple and it works!

Right before bedtime I caught Sonia reading Feo a new book from the library. Feo intently listens to every word of Sonia's story ;-)

Sister and brother...

Feo fell asleep in the bouncy chair while I was making a dinner the other night .

"Mama, Feo would like some lovies," Sonia said and then she went to work. By the time Feo woke up, he was swaddled in many blankets and surrounded by little friends ;-)

I know what Pediatrics recommend: do not cover babies with blankets and do not put any stuffed toys next to them... but that would be so boring!

All aboard... Norwegian Christmas trains

To finish our New Year's celebration we went to see a Norwegian train winding its way through the mountains and fjords at the Union Station.

A wooden church reminded me of Russian Kizhi on the North

there were trolls and everything to Sonia's delight.

New 2010 year

Today I ran my first run. Mischa was ecstatic about it ;-) It was so lovely outside with an inch of fresh snow on trees, cars and side walks. I am still recovering and could only run for about a mile and a half... without pushing too hard. I hope in a few weeks to go on longer, four to five miles once again.
We watched Alyssa and Audrey on New Year's eve and then went to a little party until about 10pm... Sonia ate lots and lots of cookies ;-)
New Years Day we visited Baltimore and went to see an aquarium built right over the water of the Chesapeake bay. It hosts a center for dolphins along with lots of fish, sharks, amoebas and all other sea creatures.
A huge extinct shark makes for a lovely family shot... note the harbor and a ship Huge tubes with bubbles were huge among the toddler crowd. pink Amoebas... mine and Sonia's favesAt the aquarium they gave us snuggies to carry Feo around... he loved hanging out with his papa whole day A funky lizard was diving and chasing Sonia around Sea turtles and a reflection of Sonia and Feo watching them I also got to go shopping at my fave Feiline's basement and got $120 Jeans for only $20; plus a new coat for Sonia and wool work pants for Jeremy: all for great prices. Top it off with delicious dinner at PF Chang's all thanks to my mom. Thank you mom for an awesome Christmas gift!