Washington DC (again) and more!!

Hi everyone, sorry it's been a while :) We have been flat out......... those of you that watch Mum's blog know that she got here safely back on the 16th, early actually, that is very strange for an American airline!! Ted has been in Sydney since the 17th for a work thing, catching up with some mates as well no doubt.

Mum, the girls and I have been doing a bit of shopping, as girls do :) Mum has a bit of an addiction to Santa's, yes I know weird!!! And I have seen more fabric in the last week than almost my entire life!! I was also very embarrassed when she took photos in the supermarket, she said the fruit and veg was displayed so nice!!! She said I can have the photo to attach here, but I think there are better things to show u!!! LOL!!! We spent a lot of last week just hanging around in local area, showing Mum where we live.
We headed to Washington DC on Saturday so Mum could see the sights. I went with a new camera, so you can imagine how many photos I took!! We did a "hop-on, hop-off" bus tour as with 2 kids under 3 we didn't imagine a lot of walking would be a good idea. It was a fantastic way to see a lot in a short amount of time. There is so much to see you could spend a month in DC and not see everything!! Hearing the commentary on the way around gives you a bit of info on the sights as well which is good. I really liked 'Union Station' it was amazing, as was the 'Lincoln Memorial'. Both were massive!! Next time I go to DC I want to go to the 'Air and Space Museum', it looks like a great place to spend a day. I think Mum had a good time, she loved the 'White House' (check out the photo). The girls were great, Victoria spent most of the time in the Baby carrier and Charlotte loved going on the Bus so they were really good (except for the few moments when Charlotte was tired and didn't want to walk!!) The trip home seemed to take forever (it's about a 3 1/2 hr drive on a good run, it took us about 5hrs!!). Between feeding stops, loo stops and Jenn is tired stops it took a while :)

Everyone here is gearing up for Halloween on Sunday night, people decorate their houses, they look so cool and the costumes you can get are fantastic. We will be in New York as of Sunday so we will see Halloween for the first time New York style. People in Virginia keep commenting that New Yorkers are 'interesting', looks like we will have a good few days :)

Victoria is growing quickly, at last check she was weighing 9lbs 3oz, so back past birth weight, good news!! She has managed to grow in length as well and her sight is getting pretty good. Now when she is awake she actually focuses on things. She smiles a lot, not sure if this is still a 'wind thing' or if she thinks I'm funny!! Victoria also has a boyfriend......yes I know not a month old yet but who can resist the handsome Jayden (he is 5 weeks older than Victoria, his parents are fellow Aussies in Virginia as well).

As we all expected Charlotte is very helpful, always wanted to put dirty nappies in the bin or pat Victoria when she is crying and say "it's alright, it's alright". She has also become an expert at putting the dummy back in :)

We are all looking forward to seeing Ted on Sunday in New York, Mum and I are going to see West Side Story on Tuesday night before we fly home on Wednesday. Ted has also promised me a fancy dinner somewhere in the Big Apple, can't wait :) Stand by for the New York photos with my new camera, I think there might be another Hop-on, Hop-off bus trip coming...........

More Fall Photos

Fall in Virginia Beach

Well Fall is here!! The weather is cooling down a bit, I wore jeans today for the 3rd time since we arrived, (it's a shame I still have a little belly and they were maternity jeans!! Ted is laughing at me as I write this....he thinks this is funny, clearly I don't!! Like he can talk, he has put on 5kg since we arrived....oh look at that, he just stopped laughing :) ).

Yesterday we spent some time outside in the front yard, and from previous pictures you would have noticed we have a few trees (if your interested look up our address on google earth, there are so many trees you can't see the house!!), all of which will loose there leaves. Lucky we have a blower!! Anyway, Charlotte had a ball playing in the pile of leaves we raked up for her, see the attached photos.

Today Ted went back to work so it was just me and my 2 girls. We had to do a spot of shopping (nothing exciting, nappies and a few other baby things) and then we had lunch with some friends. It was nice to get out of the house, but at the same time it was raining when we arrived at lunch so I learnt very quickly how difficult it can be to negotiate 2 small children in and out of the car in the rain!! Lucky our friend Toni was watching out for us and came to the rescue......Thanks Toni :)

After we got home I took a cute photo of Charlotte and Victoria together, I was cooking dinner and Charlotte got her step and put it down next to Victoria and told me she was going to sit and read Victoria a story, it was very cute!! Every book started "Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess in a high tower............." (Thanks Dora).

Very excited, 2 sleeps till Nanna arrives :) but sad as only 3 sleeps till Daddy leaves :(

Well, we have had a very interesting first 10 days with Victoria. She is a very sleepy little princess during the day.........not so much during the night!! I think Ted and I both forgot how little sleep you get when there is a newborn in the house. Charlotte is loving the fact that she is a big sister, so very helpful as I'm sure u can imagine!!!

We also said goodbye to Grandpa last Wednesday, it was great to have him here for the 2 and a bit weeks, just a shame he didn't get more time with Victoria. Unfortunately he had to go back to work :(

Charlotte is very excited that Nanna Stroud is arriving on Saturday, I have not yet mentioned that Daddy is leaving for 3 weeks on Sunday, this is the first time she will be old enough to realise that he is gone, so I think it will be very interesting to see how she goes, I think Mum and I will have our work cut out for us!!!

Mum and I are very excited about doing a few trips while she is here, we have a trip to New York booked for the end of the month, Ted is going to watch the girls while Mum and I go to see West Side Story, can't wait, just need to find something that I can wear that will fit!!! My fabulous husband is also going to take me out to a romantic dinner in New York, no idea where yet..... let me know if anyone has any ideas :) Hopefully Mum, the girls and I will get to Washington DC for a few days as well.

Ted heads back to Sydney on Sunday for a conference, I'm a little jealous, but at the same time loving life here and glad I don't have to sit on a plane for all that time again, it's a long way :) But also very thankful that Mum will be here to help out with my 2 girls :)

Also big thanks to everyone for the gifts and best wishes on the arrival of Victoria, it was nice to get a few little surprises in the hospital when you are so far from home :)