It's a GIRL!

Welcome, Olive Carlton Zwicker! She was born at home on February 23, 2012, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and measuring 20 3/4 inches. She's a doll, and we're all so happy to have her with us! Life just got a lot more interesting for all of us!

Little Two Catchup

While I've been trying to get caught up on this blog, it occurs to me that there hasn't been much attention paid to the new little one's pending arrival. Believe me, the anticipation is there for this one, but it hasn't been quite the same as the first time around. Our lives right now are drastically different from what they were in 2008, obviously. Our family of three is going to change in ways we can and cannot imagine. Still, the thought of another little CCEZ joining us three makes me happier than I can say. 

I hear a lot about how the second child gets less attention and fewer pictures taken than the first, and I'm beginning to believe it. Recognizing this, I feel like I need to redouble my efforts to make sure this bundle of joy gets equal facetime in the digital world. It will likely take a more focused effort, but I think I'm up to the task. Wish me luck! 

And without further ado, here are the belly photos (the countdown hasn't been as tight as with Tommy, but here's what we got):

Week 29

Week 34

Week 38: Nidhi decorates the belly with a Mendhi design. Tommy tells complete strangers, "My mama has a big belly with a design!"

Week 39

Today is the official due date for this child. Unless he or she arrives in the next half hour, then we're going to go over 40 weeks. No real surprise there, but it seems like the waiting has been harder this time. Tommy arrived late, too, at week 41. So maybe our kids are just destined to inherit their parents' preference not to rush things.  Stay tuned, folks, it could be anytime now!

Peanutttttt Peanut Buttah...and Jelly!

This is an instant classic performance by Tommy from November. Enjoy!

Preparing for the 2024 or 2028 Olympics

More January Pics

Here are the best of the rest from January. The first few are from the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex open gym on Wednesdays. This is the perfect venue for Tommy to get some of his energy going. They have a huge gymnastics arena with a huge foam pit, rings, balance beams, a rope swing, trampolines and everything else you can imagine in a gymnastics arena. He loves it! It's $6 for only one hour each Wednesday, and it takes about 25 minutes to get there, but it's totally worth it. I'll try to get some videos up showing what he gets into. So much fun. And Papa joins in the fun every once in a while (and luckily avoids major injury each time...knock on wood!)

One of those contraptions where you can drop a coin in and it rolls around and around and around until it drops. Always a fun way to end the gymnastics trips.

Ordering fish and chips at Eamonn's in Old Town Alexandria.

More of that dance move. He breaks it out at random times and  we can't stop laughing at it.

Duckpin bowling in Maryland. This was a really fun activity. He can roll these balls with no problem and loves to see the "cones" get knocked down.

Making faces at Turner at Taqueria Poblano in Del Ray. We've been going to this spot after most every midwife appointment, since it's close to Old Town and we absolutely love it.

Papa cooked some beignets from Cafe du Monde in the letters of Tommy's name.

Luray

For our final getaway before baby #2 joins us in this world, we rented a log cabin in Luray, VA. It was a perfect trip to leave the city behind and just be. We were joined by a friend and her two kids, and we all really enjoyed our time together in the mountains. We got through the maze at the Luray Caverns grounds, then visited the caverns below. There is so much beauty beneath the ground down there. Truly amazing. The two three-year-olds got along incredibly well, and played beautifully outside on their own for two hours before we could finally force ourselves to leave. It was just so nice to have a long weekend to reset ourselves and prepare for the next little one's arrival.

These next four photos need a little context. Although it appears Tommy is angrily threatening to toss his good friend into the fire in front of them, he is, in fact, performing his latest and greatest dance move. It's a combination funky chicken/angry bird dance, complete with flailing arms and hands and a face which leaves no doubt that it comes from somewhere deep down in his soul. It's really something to behold.

New Year's on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

To ring in 2012, we headed over to the Hyatt in Cambridge, Maryland with the Chen Nguyen family. We took advantage of the gorgeous weather, relaxed, ate very well, and even got to hit the links on New Year's Day! What a great trip to start off the year. Take away the Hoos' loss in the Chick-Fil-A bowl, and it would have been perfect. Can't have it all, I guess.

First activity on the agenda - bike ride! Tommy and the girls zoomed along the trails on the grounds of the resort. They even got so far out of our sight that we had to run to catch up. Bold, I tell ya.

Tommy even tried a pedal bike and loved it. Looks like the Skuut paid off as far as gaining balance and confidence to ride a big-kid bike. Plus he's kind of fearless.

The kids joined the fathers at the end of their round. It was so cute to see them all running towards us as we approached the 17th green. Then they rode along as we played the 18th. Tommy had to get in on the action. Here, he breaks the proper attire rule and wears his swimsuit on his head while trying to hit a shot. He's a wild child. The next John Daly perhaps...minus all the drama hopefully.