girl time

We popped in to visit our favorite neighbors and their girls while we were in VA. The girls have gotten so big and amazed us with how grown-up they seem. Addie immediately picked up on the girl vibe and Lydia and Emma were her new best friends. With all their wonderfull girl toys and dolls how could any little girl resist. The three girls played while the parents all watched and reminisced about how Lydia was only one when we first moved in next door to them. Time flies and we decided if we still lived close by the three girls would have lots of fun playing together.

Aunt Meg!

Megan made the drive from New York to Maryland for a long visit with us during our trip home. I loved having my sister there! We all miss Megan so much. We got to see lots of her when we lived in VA and really miss those visits. Megan was a huge help with Addie during her visit. She did lots of the heavy lifting for me and chased Addie around to put on her (you fill in the blank) shoes, coat, pants, diaper! Thanks Megan. Addie had fun playing with her Aunt Megan but was a bit unsure of the resemblance between her Mommy and this other blonde lady. I think she never quite got over the fact that Megan was a Mommy impostor! It was pretty funny. Megan as always came along with us for the ride. She's family so she always comes along for the ride and is a super sport about it. We love you Meg! Here Addie is putting some make-up on Megan.

Gast Family Fun

Another joyous family get-together was thrown during our stay in the States. We spent lots of time at the Dotson's home for all sorts of family functions before we moved and really miss the warm welcoming family time that is always prevalent in their home. Mr. Kevin's family was enamored with Addie and she quickly fell in love with them too. A wonderful meal was cooked for Chelsea's birthday right before she headed back to college so we all enjoyed the evening of good food and good company. Once again Addie was at home with their dog Linus (Lucy's buddy).

winter clothes

I loved dressing Adelaide in cold-weather clothes. She looked so cute in her jeans, tennis shoes, and little layered shirts ensembles. At first the long sleeved and footie PJs freaked her out but it soon became normal. Her hat and coat I ordered from Old Navy before we left worked perfectly in the freezing temperatures of Maryland. I had missed the cozy sweaters, long pants, and socks that are a must in the winters in the States. One thing I hadn't factored in was my pregnant belly fitting in my post-pregnancy winter coat! We all ended our three weeks with dry skin, chapped lips, and a new appreciation for the tropical weather of the Philippines. Flip-flops and t-shirts never felt better!

Rolly Pollies fun

While at home Addie was lucky enough to have two evenings at Rolly Pollies (thank you Elyse!). The first evening she played with her Kiki and the second evening with her Daddy. I've decided this place trumps Gymboree. The running trampoline, foam pit, giant bouncy castle with a slide! It's all great fun for the little ones (an the adults too). Take a look at Addie playing with Kiki. She had her tongue hanging out the entire time-I guess it helped her balance!! Kiki admitted to being sore the next day after Rolly Pollies.

Missing DC?

It's amazing that I am admitting this but...I miss DC...home really. I miss the 14th street bridge, the Metro, Georgetown walks, seeing the National Mall daily. Even the hustle and bustle of traffic and people with their important jobs is something I miss being in the Philippines. Everyone in DC has an agenda (not so much in the P.I.). We stayed in MD so unfortunately we didn't get to spend as much time in DC or VA as I would have liked. Plus the weather was too bitter cold to really do any outdoor walking or exploring in our old neighborhoods. We didn't even make a trip to Whole Foods, Carlyle, Maggie Moos, Clarendon! Arg! The lesson I learned with our R&R home was that all those favorite places aren't going anywhere. They will be there when we get back. Thank goodness! The hardest for me was driving down our street in Arlington and going back to our house. We met our tenant, saw our property manager, checked out the work we had done on the house and I couldn't stop from tearing up. I miss our little home and all the memories we have in it. It was hard to see it there without us living in it. Addie climbed up the stairs and I think vaguely remembered the place. Anyway, it was sad for me and made me miss home even more than I already do.

Our trip to DC involved a wonderful visit to the Museum of Natural History (my all time favorite of the Smithsonians). The new ocean exhibits were completed and we had so much fun showing Addie all the displays. Our favorite part was the new butterfly pavilion where we observed hundreds of live butterflies. They actually landed on us. Amazing! Addie still points in the air and says "fly" whenever we see pictures of butterflies now. It made an impression on all of us.

Daddy time

For three straight weeks Adelaide had an endless supply of time with her Daddy. I loved the shared parenting and the break that it allowed me. Addie loved the quality time she had with her Dad. Justin soaked it all up and enjoyed it as well. We are starting the count-down to March 18 when Addie and I head to the Washington to wait for the birth of Hokie Bird #2. Sadly this means we are going to be without Justin/Daddy for maybe a month before the birth and then the same amount of time afterwards (he'll be with us in the middle of course for the birth). He's dreading the separation and I am too. Addie won't dread it until it's upon her so right it was good they got some good Daddy-daughter time in.