The newest member

Josh and I could't be more thrilled to introduce Callen Wesling Thompson. Callen is doing remarkably well despite arriving almost a month early.

Labor and delivery:

I have to say this portion was surprising calm and went well. My water broke around 2am Thursday morning. Luckily we had just taken a birthing class or I would have thought that I was peeing my pants. Josh and I quickly called the nurse to get advice on what to do. We were advised to get to the hospital within the next three hours. Using the time we showered, packed, and got the dogs ready to be collected. Arriving around 4am, we were quickly admitted and told that we would be staying at the hospital until our boy arrived. While waiting, we discussed how excited we were and ultimately how unprepared we felt. Surprisingly time flew and by 11:30am I started to feel the contractions. Josh was the best support, when a contraction started he would rub my back or head and would breathe with me. During this time I went from 6 to 9 to 10 inches dilated in about an hour. Both labor and delivery went very quick. At 1:26 pm on May 9th, 2013 Callen Wesling Thompson was born weighing 5.5 ounces and measured 18.5 inches long. The doctors were very respectful of our wishes and allowed Josh and me to have about 5 minutes with our baby before the NICU team came to assess our peanut. Everyone was impressed with how healthy he was for being so early. Josh and I felt truly blessed and relieved to hear that Callen was a strong little boy.

The next two days:

The next few days were spent in the hospital. Callen and myself were monitored very closely. We spent a lot of time with the booby nurse who answered all of our questions and created a plan to get Callen breastfeeding. Being premature, the concern was/is that Callen would have difficulty sucking, which would affect his ability to quickly gain some much needed weight. Josh and I were amazed by the support and encouragement we received from the nurses and doctors. We were pleased that we felt in control and that our wishes and wants were heard and respected.

Surprises:

Although our time with Callen has been short, we have experienced some surprises. For example, we didn't realize that breastfeeding was going to be a team sport. Because we need to use the SS system, Josh has been up with me every 2-3 hours to help feed Callen. We are also surprised by Dax and Callie's reaction to our newest member. They get excited when he is around. They enjoy smelling him and kissing his feet, but other then that they seem like Callen has been here all along.

We couldn't be more in love with our man. I have been spending most of my day just admiring, holding, or reading to him. I can't get enough of his sweetness!

Settling in

Josh and I have been living in California for three weeks and I think it is starting to sink in that we live here again. Josh is in full swing with work and I have been looking for ways to get connected in our community. I have gone to two mom coffee mornings that I found through Meet-Up and we will be going to a couple's picnic and dinner over the next week. We have recently signed up for baby classes and are anxious to get started. We also have gone back to Sacramento to visit friends and the school that I use to teach. And now that our doggies are back with us we are starting to feel back to normal, and they are enjoying the constant sunshine. We recently met with a trainer to get our babies ready for our future peanut. We were told to download an app of a baby crying and then give Dax and Callie treats whenever they hear the sound. I think they are enjoying this type of training.

I know I need a new one because our man is much bigger now.

View of the Bay

Hike with the pups

Just the highlights!

Now that Josh and I are back in sunny California, we have used the past couple days to reflect on our favorite moments from living abroad. The past few years have been such a life changing experience that we will forever cherish. We took over 24 trips, visited 14 countries and learned many valuable experiences along the way.

Our first trip to Malaga, Spain. We enjoyed the sites, tapas, and sangria.

Our second trip to Spain included Barcelona. We loved checking out Gaudi's famous architecture. 

Big Ben in London

This is Tyne church in Prague. My friend Erin and I visited Prague for the Christmas Markets.

We went to Brussels for Josh's birthday. We enjoyed sampling lots of various types of beers.

Josh and I took a few trips to France. Some time was spent in Paris, but our last trip included touring the south of France and wine tasting.

One of our favorite trips was to sunny Portugal. The sites were incredible, the hikes were awe inspiring, and the food was delicious.

Josh took me to Amsterdam for my birthday. We had so much fun cruising the canals and walking the cobblestone streets.

I love Italy and we were able to take three trips there. One of my favorite places was Cinque Terre. During our stay we hiked from town to town, through vineyards and sampled each town's delicacies.

Josh and I loved our cooking course in Tuscany.

Our last trip to Italy included Venice. We were there during El Carnavale. 

Us in Scotland. 

King Ludwig's castle in Germany. I also went to Germany to the Frankfurt Christmas Market with my friend Carrie, and then went again with my friend Frances.

Fisherman's Wharf in Budapest.

Just one picture to try to capture the time was had in Africa. This was a life changing experience.

We also loved the memories created in Ireland. We spent lots of time touring the Emerald Isle, but our favorite time was spent with friends. We also had over 30 visitors and loved exploring with them as well.

Kinsale is known as the culinary capital of Ireland. Every year the Good Food Circle would host a gourmet festival in Kinsale called the Mad Hatters. For the festival everyone would dress up in crazy hats and enjoy great food.

Josh loved going to the rugby matches and watching them in the local pub.

Kinsale

Josh and I took sailing courses with our friends Mike and Maire. 

We loved touring Ireland and finding amazing places.

We loved our castle stay in Wexford.

The stunning views of Ireland.

And again, we loved all of our visitors!

We just loved our time abroad and are thankful for all the opportunities it afforded us. But now we look to our future in California and the upcoming arrival of our little peanut.

Exploring Ireland

When Josh and I first discussed moving to Ireland we both decided that it was important to not only see Europe, but we wanted to explore Ireland as well. Some of our best weekends were spent traveling the Emerald Isle. During our time here we have ventured; as far North as Belfast, the vast majority of West Cork, Killarney, Dublin, Wexford, Dingle, Galway, Claire, and Mizen Head in the South. Recently we took a quick get-away to Skibbereen. We found a mini-stonehenge, took a walk around Lough Hyne, and checked out Heir Island.

Drombeg Stone Circle

Heir Island

Views of Baltimore

We also took a trip to Kilkenny for the weekend. We visited the castle, an Abbey in ruins, and Josh enjoyed a whiskey tasting at the infamous Dylan's.

Kilkenny Castle

Abbey in ruins.

As our time in Ireland comes to a close, we realize how much we are going to miss touring around Ireland, there really isn't a place more beautiful and untouched then here.

El Carnaval de Venice

Italy is easily one of my favorite countries. I am in love with its culture, scenery, and overall beauty. There is just something charming and enchanting about Italy. In early February Josh and I went to Venice to experience El Carnaval, one of Italy's most popular festivals. 

I love the history of the Carnival. The festival was known as either a time when titles were stripped away and commoners were able to mingle among the elites or as a night where one could live as their alter ego. 

The first night of our arrival, we attended a masquerade ball. Before the ball, we went to get fitted for our costumes. It became very clear very quick that I would not be fitting into a fancy dress that required a corset, my baby was not willing to be squished for the evening. So I was dressed in a petty coat and Josh was dressed as the magician of the ball.

We had a gondola take us to the ball, it was a grande entrance!

Josh trying on his costume for the evening. He was the magician of the ball. His outfit was complete with a mask. At the ball we mingling with others, enjoyed a delicious meal, listened to Opera, and danced the night away. 

St. Mark's basilica in the early morning.

Doge's Palace

Street vendors lined the street during the festivities.

Each night we would happen upon this rag-tag group. They were such a lively band.

On our second day we took time to just get lost and explore the winding streets of Venice. We stopped at cafes and shops. We also took in all of the Carnaval's offerings. We witnessed sword fights, parades, and watched as people walked the cobbled stone streets in their masks.

The costumes were absolutely stunning!

She was my favorite!

St. Marco's Square

On our last day, Josh and I decided to explore the islands of Venice. We went to Murano and saw the glass workers, but our favorite island was Burano.

In Burano, the houses lining the street were vibrant colors and very charming. 

Baby pose!

Our gondola ride took us through the winding waterways through Venice and ended on the Grand Canal.

Sunset gondola ride. It was a perfect way to finish our trip !