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I

BACK IN THE USA

We moved back to the States in October 2010 - time to get the blog up and running again soon.

xx

Mel

Say Cheese!!!!

We had the 'To Do List' written out long before Maisie was born. Had Maisie arrived on her due date we would have had a tight deadline getting all her travel documents ready, given she was a week overdue we were now cutting it fine.

Our flight to Australia is scheduled for 6th February, in order for us to get Little Miss Maisie her first passport we first needed her birth certificate √, we are now waiting for her Australian Citizenship to be finalized before we can apply for her Australian Passport.

Dealing with the different bureaucratic offices over the holiday period is the least of our problems, our biggest concern - the Passport Photo.

What silly person came up with the ruling that a 2 week old baby's passport photo has to meet the following strict criteria:

• Baby must be straight
• Eyes must be open
• Blank facial expression
• Mouth must be closed
• Parents arms must not be in photo

Understandably there were a few poses that did not make the cut.

A little bit of patience and Bingo!!!! we got the winning shot. √√√



All seems to be on track.... looks like we won't be needing to send Maisie separately by FedEx.

Just 5 weeks to go.

See you soon

XX

Mel

MERRY CHRISTMAS WISHES TO ALL

Merry Christmas Wishes to our Dear Family & Friends.
We can't wait to see you all in 2009.

Hugs and Kisses

XX

Daz, Mel & Maisie

COME ON HOME MISS MAISIE

As wonderful as the staff were at CPMC, after 6 nights there we really just wanted to have our little Miss Maisie all to ourselves.

Today - Tuesday 23rd December we brought our little 5 day old bundle of joy home.... just in time for Christmas.



Carseat installed √ Check



Super cute baby loaded √√ Check



We were ready to ride.

Home Sweet Home

There's a new boss in town - don't we know it.

And we love it.

XX

Mel

Introducing Maisie Grace Wood

More Photos can be found at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/woodwoods/sets/72157611362316365/ (Click Here)

Will update the story within a couple of days, when I am not typing with my eyes closed.

XX
Mel, Daz and Maisie

ALL THINGS BABY WOODWOODS

With less than one week until Baby WoodWoods due date the countdown is definitely on.

The bag is packed, the camera is charged - we are all ready..... now it's just up to Baby WoodWoods to decide when she wants to make her grand appearance. Just the start to the control she will have over our lives from here on out.

Darren is fully prepared for his role in the labor and delivery room. Our McMoyler Method birthing classes have us feeling as prepared as we possibly could. I almost didn't need to be there, the classes heavily focused on the important role that the partner plays during and after the birth.

Here is Darren demonstrating different positions for birth....


And of course what better way to see the benefits of swaddling than to wrap up a full size Dazza. We have adopted this method at home whenever Darren pulls a tantrum. (This along with a pacifier usually does the trick).


We were both spoilt by our employer's who put on great Baby Shower's for us.

The fantastic girls at Video Egg threw my colleague Kate and I a fun filled night with the gals. Cocktails - the tipsy kind and not so tipsy version along with cupcakes, fun and giggles provided a base for a great night. We were so spoilt and Baby WoodWoods is going to look mighty cute is some of the gorgeous outfits.





Not to be left out Darren was also provided a baby shower by his colleagues. Some great gifts and vouchers have us fully stocked up with the necessities we require.

All that is left is to get our little American set up with Australian Citzenship and a Passport, we will then be ready to fly our baby girl home in early 2009.

It is yet to be seen if Baby WoodWoods will be sharing a birthday with her Grandpa Wood (8th), Granny Woods (12th) or maybe her Uncle Matty (21st)...Here's hoping she doesn't choose the last option.

Whatever date she chooses we are ready and could not be more excited....Whatever I scream to the contrary half way through labor is not to be held against me.

We can't wait to meet you our Baby WoodWoods.

XX

Mel (Mummy Mommy to be)

TWO YEAR HONEYMOON

Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary to Us!!!!

What a wonderful journey the last 2 years have been - It truly has been like one long continuous honeymoon.








We have had a spectacular 2 years of married life in America, along with the pending arrival of Baby WoodWoods we had lots to celebrate.


No late night dinner or cocktails at the bar - but a lovely breakfast in the elegant surrounds of the Palace Hotel Garden Court.



I could not think of a better way to start the day - not only a milestone for us but also a history making day in American Politics.

So what memento could we find to keep with traditional wedding anniversary gifts???

1st Year - Paper

Our "Paper" Caricature Drawing




2nd Year - Cotton

A Special Customized "Cotton" Cushion Cover




Thanks Mum for bringing my design and idea to life...

I will have to start giving some thought to our 3rd year gift idea - Leather.
Ummmmm thinking!!! thinking!!!

Hugs All Round

XX
Mel

BACK TO TAHOE

And the nesting continues as I travel back in time to update the blog in preparation for Baby WoodWoods.

Darren and I had a great time in Lake Tahoe in the winter but we had heard that it was quite the sight in the summertime as well. So when we were treated to a visit from my wonderful sis-in-law Donna and Rachel it seemed like the perfect opportunity for a weekend getaway. (Trip Photos)


Settling in to our awesome accommodation at The Village at Squaw Valley, surrounded by the majestic peaks that were previously covered in soft white snow - this time around they were now decorated with an assortment of wild flowers.






There is a lot to do in a weekend at Tahoe and since none of us suffered from altitude sickness our first adventure was a trip up the Squaw Valley Cable Car.


Climbing to 8200 vertical feet to reach the top where you will find a restaurant, pool and ice-skating rink.





We just enjoyed a wander about and posed for few photo opportunities - capturing the breathtaking scenery around us.

Admiring Mother Nature is all well and good but even a pregnant woman needs some adventure. However, for the safety of Baby WoodWoods the extreme level had to be pretty low.





We found our fun, care of the Truckee River Rafting Company…. A self guided raft trip floating down the beautiful Truckee River.




It took about 3 hours, once you stop for a bit along the way to enjoy a swim or just dry off after falling overboard. Yes it all looked tame enough but approaching a rather fast corner and with Donna casually perched high up at the back of the raft she wasn’t really ready to bang into the side of the river bank – and in she plonked.




I think the hardest thing was trying to refrain from the hysterical laughter and desire to capture the moment on camera whilst at the same time trying to slow down the raft and make sure Donna was okay.

It was a great weekend in Tahoe and fantastic to spend some quality time with Donna and Rachel.

After their week exploring San Francisco they were off to what they do best – Road Tripping.
They left to explore some of our favorite destinations including Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon and Las Vegas before flying out to New York and the UK.

Darren and I also had a destination to get to……. HOME sweet home.

Out of all the destinations in the world that Darren’s San Francisco based company would have to send him for a customer visit who would have thought that his first overseas work trip would be to little old Adelaide.

I wasn’t going to miss out on the opportunity to show off my baby bump to family and friends. So I took off for what no doubt was my last plane trip anywhere before Baby WoodWoods arrives into the world.

I have a feeling it's all Baby WoodWoods related from here on out..

XX

Mel

NESTING WITH THE WOODWOODS

So I think it's time the whole pregnancy 'nesting' instinct kicked in for me. I will start by tidying up my blog and catching up to real time – so we will be all ready for when Baby WoodWoods arrives.

My blog doesn’t even know if Baby WoodWoods will be a boy or a girl - so let's get that crossed off my catch up list.

I admit that for a bit of fun I participated in all the old wives’ tale methods to help me predict the sex of our unborn baby. I also asked my crystal - to include a method considered a bit more new age.

Now there were a number of points I agreed with on one list that was predicting a boy if:

• You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy √
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles √
• Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you √√√√

(Now the list did really state that last point but I am only joking that it is relevant to you Dazza ☺)

You can see I was almost convinced it was a boy and my crystal reinforced my belief.

Did I listen to dear hubby? No Siree. Darren had been absolutely confident from the early days that Baby WoodWoods would be a little girl. So when the big ultrasound day arrived all would be revealed… we were hoping.

All the important and crucial factors were checked relating to the health of our baby and now on to the fun stuff.

To quote our ultrasound technician:

“I see labia……. It’s a Girl!”

Hey! that is what she said.

Proud daddy was beaming next to me…. Beaming because he was confident all along that Baby WoodWoods would be a girl – He has the Gift.

Reflecting back I may have put too much faith in my crystal's anticlockwise motion, telling me that lots of blue would be gracing the nursery.

I spread the news quickly and we could almost hear the sighs of relief across the Pacific. I don't think my boy name suggestions were very popular.

Well, I must go now and keep working on my girl name list…. My ideas are endless – it will be a hit!!!!!

1. Paris Galaxy Wood

2. Francisca San Wood

3. Holly Wood


Q. Have I maybe been in America too long????


XX

Mel


Oh Yeah - The baby belly is getting bigger by the day - and updated weekly in the Baby Belly set.

25 weeks