Olympic Fun!

Oh my, six months has passed without a post! Well this one is important, as we attended the 2012 Olympics this year! We thought, as well as the British public, that the Olympics were absolutely terrific and London did a fantastic job putting it on for 2012. We were very fortunate to get tickets to some of the events - track and field, diving, beach volleyball and women's soccer (thanks to Meghan!). We had good Gustie friend's Steffan and Meghan also come to visit us during this time and join us for the events - it made it even more fun to share in the excitement with good pals. Overall, the two weeks were some of the best we've had living in the UK!

In review - Brian and Steffan saw beach volleyball being played at Horse Guards Parade in central London (across from Buckingham Palace). On another day, the guys went to Wembley stadium to watch women's soccer - Japan vs France in a semifinal. The four of us, plus Anders, went to a Track and Field morning session. We were up early from Oxford and took a bus directly to the Olympic Park. We could take his stroller all the way up to the Olympic Stadium where they had a stroller park. The Olympics were very family/baby friendly, which was terrific for us and many others. Anders did pretty well in the stadium, after a bit of food and a snooze. We all then walked around the Park to check out the other venues, the Olympic shop, the jumbo outdoor screen TVs, and the NBC studio! (We had just missed that day's Today Show recording.) Brian then took the baby home to Oxford, while I was able to go to women's 10m platform diving prelims in the aquatic center with Meghan. Diving was my favorite sport of these games - the men were amazing! I took a late bus home and arrived to my two sound asleep boys.

Check out our little video from inside the stadium: http://youtu.be/vofat5KGGpg

We hope you enjoyed London 2012 too!

Welcome Anders John Smith!

There is a new addition to our little family - Anders John Smith was born Thursday 2 February, 5:03pm at 8 lbs 3 3/4oz. We are smitten with our new little guy and have been taking these past two months to get to know him. He's a big growing boy and a pretty content baby I would say generally. Grandma Marcy came for two weeks, during his 2-4 weeks of life and I sure appreciated her third pair of hands and just her company. It was ideal that when she arrived, it was when Brian had to go back to work, so I didn't feel abandoned too soon!

We are now working out, I wouldn't say a routine, but a flow. Anders has already a bit of an internal clock, so he likes to eat about every 2.5 hours and typically falls within similar time periods within the day. Some days he sleeps a lot while others he a bit more fussy - and especially at the witching hour. But he loves going to walks in our fancy (aka expensive) pram - and especially we enjoy it too while the British spring weather is really great right now.

We've accomplished many bus trips into town, visits to friends, having friends visit, coffee shops, the pub, and some Dr appointments. We also meet at a baby group each Tues (although he's still too little really) and with the NCT mums and babies on Thursdays. Sometimes we also go to the Big Scream movie on Wednesday, which I really enjoy.

Brian is still working out his work/home balance - I can tell that he really wants to be home more now to see Anders! Which I love, but I know he needs his time to work too. So hopefully that will even out over time.

As much as we educated ourselves and prepared, you still can't be 100% prepared for what it's like to have a baby! So it's been a steep learning curve. I felt like we hit a milestone at the 1-month mark- we were all surviving! Now I feel slightly back into normalcy, but it's definitely a new normal. We will definitely have challenges as it's just the two of us living here, taking care of Anders - versus having family or easier child care around. But so many others are doing it here too, and Oxford is really family friendly. I'm taking advantage of my 12 month maternity leave and so thankful I can have up to that much! In the US, I might already have to be back to full-time work.

Well here we enter our new phase of life after 10-years of child-free marriage bliss! :)