Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

I had my little sick buddy at home with me again today. This means that my little sick buddy got to accompany me to the hospital for my 24 week scan. Sophie was as good as gold, and the scan looked great. (And yes, to answer your and Emma's question, the baby still appears to be a girl.) I think I may have actually met my consultant today too, but I was in and out of her office so quickly that I forgot to ask her for her name. Assuming she was my consultant, I was impressed by the fact that she appeared to have genuinely studied my file before I entered the room. So instead of asking me why I was there, she began by telling me what her plans were for my care. This was a very nice change. I think, based on my history, we were both expecting my scan to show some change, but since it didn't (and that's a good thing), she sent me on my way and instructed me to "stay pregnant." I intend to follow those orders to the best of my abilities. I'll be back again...

Summertime has come to Wales, and I am enjoying it for more than one reason. Of course the main reason is that sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy, but also the arrival of summer means I am progressing further along in my pregnancy and things seem to be going well. With every week that passes, I feel more and more confident. I have even bought a few items of baby gear (since all of ours has been left in the US... nevermind though, baby shopping isn't torture!) On Saturday evening we joined some friends at our local-ish pub and had a meal outside while the kids played in the garden. It was a completely lovely evening, and made me happy that there are only three more weeks left in school for my two little duckies. I am looking forward to more relaxed, summer nights when we aren't scrambling to bed when the sun is still up. On Sunday morning we decided to have church at the local fruit farm. Emma, Sophie and I had a perfectly lovely girls' day out and returned with a heap ...

Today was "Show Off Day" in Emma and Sophie's classes, so I got to spend this sunny morning with my girls in their school environment. Emma showed me all of the work she's been doing. Her artwork and writing are so impressive. There is definitely room for another writer in the family. I suppose we should attribute her artistic skills to Mimi. Emma's drawings are so detailed and fantastic. I am excited about how she will develop these gifts in the years to come. Sophie also took me through her classroom where I couldn't help but notice her lovely photograph hung up at the front of the room since she was the Superstar of the Day! Sophie also showed me her tray full of excellent work. Her reading is coming along really well and earned her a reading trophy recently. There was definitely cause to "show off" today. Sophie also took me into the infants' garden where there are lots of flowers as well as apples and tomatoes growing. She likes to go out an...

One of the best things about having children is that you are allowed to see life through their eyes. The things you thought were just ordinary turn out to be truly exciting. I love the fact that my kids get so excited about hot chocolate and picnics in the back garden. Yesterday, we had to run out to the post office at our local mini Tesco, and while we were there I noticed that the blackberries were on sale. I sent each girl to get a shopping basket (since that's the only way to be fair), and let them each carry a punnet of blackberries. We also picked up a few other things like curry sauce and bramley apple sausages which thrilled my two little moppets to no end. When we got home I washed the blackberries and mixed them with some capped strawberries. I called the girls into the kitchen for this snack, and they were downright giddy. While I emptied the dishwasher, I listened to their ever-so-civilized conversation about how lovely the berries were. Sophie couldn't beli...

Sophie has been super excited about Father's Day for a while now. For the last two weeks every paper and drawing she has brought home from school has been specified "FOR DAD" and has been placed in a special secret hiding place ready for today. So this morning it came as no surprise that Sophie and Emma both were in our bed before 7:00, ready to get the Father's Day festivities going. So much for a Father's Day lie in! Just after 7:00, Sophie brought up the presents and cards. Nothing extreme. George is not terribly bothered with presents so we typically get him some nice chocolates and a "Dad" t-shirt. The girls had also compiled a list of things they love about their dad. The list included lighthearted things like "Dad's fantastic pancakes" and "booty stamps" (best not to ask), but it also included some slightly more profound items such as: "Dad cheers us up when we're sad" and "He talks to us about imp...

Today was Sports Day at Radyr Primary, and luckily after a very wet Wednesday, the weather turned out to be decent. Neither Emma nor Sophie seem to enjoy the races very much at this point, but both did well on the field games and seemed to have a good time of it... Above Sophie is pictured playing "Foxes and Geese." She was one of the foxes and captured plenty of geese. Here is Emma jumping through some hoops...literally. Emma did manage to pick up third place in the javelin throw and earn some points for Red House. I wish Sophie's eyes were open in this one!! Here she is pictured with her best boy friend, Harry. The two of them sat together and chatted in between all of the races and games. Go, Sophie, go!! The girls at the end of the morning.... Sophie was not at all pleased that I was going home and she had to go back to class.

Yesterday Emma's school had the big music assembly for upcoming juniors. Emma will officially move from "infants" to "juniors" next year, and this means (among other things) she can start learning an instrument in school. She had already told me that she wasn't interested in playing "anything that you have to blow in." Her instrument of choice was the violin. Here is where I reveal what a terrible mother I am because have you ever heard a 7 year old try to play the violin? It is something I don't think I can cope with on top of the sleep deprivation that comes along with having a screaming newborn in the house. So her Dad and I have talked her into having a go with the guitar instead. If she is still gung ho about the violin in a couple more years, we will oblige, but for now, I think the guitar will be much more tolerable. On another note...when I picked the kids up from school today, it was pouring down with rain. When we got home, So...