Memorial Day Road Trip

We ventured up to New York for a very long Memorial Day weekend.  We stopped off in Syracuse so that we could do a little work on our new house and then spent the weekend at the River.  

Carter wasn't quite sure what rhubarb was for, but he sure liked picking it.

Tamsin tried out many of her new smiles on Aunt Jenn...

and some other faces as well...

Grammy was the baby holder extraordinaire.

Four generation happy hour!

Carter spent hours making laps of the cottage...

and playing in the boats... 

and watching projects from the dock.

Thanks to Gram for taking so many great pictures!

In other news, Carter asked to hold Tamsin for the first time tonight.  So after dinner, we sat him down on the couch, handed him the baby and smiles all around:

Baby in a PFD

Like a glove. She actually fell asleep on the choppy ride to the cottage. She's currently sleeping, on the couch, in her life jacket as if she were born to do it. I think Tamsin might be the sailor in the family.

We've Had a Full House...

Luckily, we had arranged for Marni to come to help us out when our new littlie was due and she came just in time!  She arrived exactly one week before Tamsin was born, and really has taken the reins with Carter:

We don't know what we would have done without her these past 6 weeks!  She took care of Carter while Mom/Dad/Tamsin were in the hospital and has been babysitting, cooking, and doing laundry ever since.  She's leaving tomorrow and we are sorely going to miss her!  (Not just because she makes a mean plate of Brussels sprouts.)

In other news, Tamsin has been doing her thing:

Looking

Eating (we've started doing a once-daily bottle in preparation for daycare)

Cuddling

Bathing

Napping

...and doing it well.  She's nursing and sleeping like a champ and she doesn't spit up nearly as much as Carter used to (whew!).  Her one month doctor's appointment is next Friday, so we'll report back as to how she's doing (although, we're pretty sure she's healthy as a horse).

Carter has been doing pretty dang well with learning about being a big brother.  I'm sure I will regret saying that in a year, but now he's being very sweet with her - when he acknowledges her existence, that is.  Marni's been lavishing him with attention, so he's been pretty distracted.  He did, briefly, loan her his blankie, however.

The Jordan's came to visit for the weekend after they returned from Europe - Carter's been talking about going to Grandad's house this summer ever since they left!

Gram was enthralled with Tamsin and spent a LOT of time getting her cuddle on.

We had a crazy weekend then - there was a birthday party on Saturday (at which Carter was given a Thomas the Tank Engine Tattoo), then our friends the Swedes' came over with their daughter Saga...

And Carter and Saga ran around the front yard for a while being super - cute:

Aunt Jenn, Gram and Marni were able to relax on the couch with Tamsin and some wine:

And the week after they left we all went to the National Zoo in DC where we didn't get many pictures, but Carter LOVED pushing the stroller:

All in all, we are getting along pretty well with the new addition to our house.  It's a little bit of a challenge (I'm sure it will get harder before it will get easier), but so far so good.  (It's SO nice not to be pregnant anymore!)  Tamsin is one sweet baby and is fitting in nicely. 

Tamsin Turns Zero

Today is Tamsin's due date.

Happy Zeroth Birthday Sweet Girl!