august going going

our family of three

First of all, momsy news: she is doing much, much better; how I wish we could have gone out there to see her! And to see my dad and sisters too... Sarah and Claire were both able to be there, and Sarah is still over at Thetis, helping and supporting and probably being her fabulous Sarah-self. We've been able to skype and chat on the phone on an almost daily basis, and even though it's been just over a week, she is doing miles and miles better... yay. And we're still waiting on news from my sister Karin - who was due last Thursday - but it looks like things may happen soon; she's getting induced some time tonight or tomorrow (unsure) SO... a new babe is coming very very soon! And our bean isn't too far behind the Ratchinsky-Osberg newbie - eep! Tomorrow makes 37 weeks (!!!) - I'd better remember to take a picture...

And the response from Steve and Rod's world-class Crowe River diving show has reached the top dogs; if the vid had been posted a few days earlier they would have been helicoptered into London for last minute wild-card competitions alongside other renowned divers already in attendance at the 2012 Olympic Games. If summer training continues to be as promising they'll be a shoe-in for Rio... n'est pas? Especially if you consider the steely focus that kept Steve in the competition for his third dive, because get this: he noticed that his wedding ring was missing after the Straight-In Front Dive (and you'll notice him notice in the video if you look closely) but still went on to compete and give his best for the Front Bum Drop in the Pike Position. For real! The guys were scouring the river bottom for a solid ten-minutes before Steve spotted it nestled in the mud - ak. Good thing no one stepped on it because it would have been a goner for sure. Brave Uncle Ralph threw his in (to more shallow waters) to test the does it sink? or does it rest on the surface of the mud? business and found that it sunk pretty quickly (and easily) - good thing we were all around to find his too.

I forgot to post this video of Hendrik reciting one of his favourite new rhymes - I love it!
He's talking more and more, and more and more in his sleep too. Last night he asked for more blue-blues, and he's been up a few times asking for blankie (normale) and daddy to sing him a song ("daddy sing you song"). He requests "mystery song" which is in fact Eddie Vedder's Society, which is just the cutest, sweetest thing ever (such a good song). Some other current favourite expressions/words include "gentlemen", "just monkies do that" (after being told he'll get an owwie if he jumps on the couch, a la  No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed) and he even asked what we were having for dinner tonight - ! (We had beef and rice, a solid, easy crowd-pleaser (recipe care of the Brinkmans)... recipe to follow at the end o' the blog).

The rest of our time in B-ville was good... smokin' hot, but good. We took care of a few errand-y type things but also found time for a bit of away-time too - taking advantage of grandparental babysitters! Steve golfed with a few of his buddies on Saturday, and I went out for lunch with my cousin Katie, and then walked up and down Queen Street before I threw in the towel around 5:30. It was so so so so hot - thank goodness for AC and that vacated spot on the GO-train on my way home. When Bob picked me up at the station in Oshawa at 7:15 it was still 33 degrees. Hot. Hot hot hot. But that's summer, right? Here are a few pics of G-ma and G-pa with Hendrik at the Bowmanille Zoo:

So we're back in Gatineau and are planning on staying put for a good chunk of time now. There are lists (to-do) to take care of and I have appointments and I have my one week of work starting next Monday. Yes, it's true. I'm coaching a volleyball camp next week (does that sound crazy?) and I really hope that I feel good doing it even though I'll be less than three weeks away from my due date. And then there's that: we have to be here / want to be here (here as in Ottawa/Gatineau) for baby's imminent arrival. I know that productivity levels will plunge with a newborn around (right?) so we're trying to get things organized and ready for the before, during and after phases of new baby plus think ahead to the whole moving to China thing. So on that note, I'll go and work on those lists and then go to bed early... yeah, right!

Beef and Rice
brown 1 lb (ish) ground beef + an onion; when almost cooked add 1 cup of (uncooked) rice... throw in 1 tsp salt, some pepper, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp paprika, 1 can (small) tomato paste, 1 can (small) tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups boiling water and bring it all to a boil. bake in a large casserole dish (covered) at 300 for 1 1/2 hours, with the lid/cover off for the last 20 or so. easy + yums!