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First, I wanted to blog a couple more favorite pictures from Cadzand. Here, Olivia has a fantastic time being photographed and adored in her first-time pigtails.

Holland is a wonderful bicycling country, and we got out once as a group to go on a picnic. We rented a cool double-seater to carry Olivia and Lyra, and on the way home, against all odds, with wobbly heads and trying not to be leaned upon by each other, they both fell asleep.

On our way home, the three of us stopped in Bruges for a couple of nights before meeting Kate in Brussels for the Eurostar ride through the Chunnel back to London. Bruges is a lovely city full of historic buildings and joy-of-joys, horse-drawn carriages - FULL of them! Olivia had a hey-day watching them come and go. She signed by patting her bottom and pointing at the horses that she really wanted to sit on them. I'm keeping my eyes open for a pony-ride now!
Less to do directly with Olivia, we also brought home a ton of belgian chocolate - yum!
After less than a week at home, we all spent a week in Edinburgh where Bob had some work to do. Olivia and mama kept busy going to the playground, the Botanical Gardens which has a nice waterfall in the rock garden (just ask Olivia), and the zoo, where Olivia saw many favourite animals she'd never seen in real life before. The zebras were a big hit, as were the rock-hopping penguins and the gibbons. The pygmy hippos were a little scary for some reason, whereas she _really_ wanted to get in to the rhinoceros' enclosure to play with their big blue ball...

But now we're home for the long haul, which is a comfortable feeling. Preparing food in our own kitchen, reading all Olivia's books, seeing mama & Olivia's friends, welcoming papa home for lunch in the middle of the day, sleeping in our own bed, making plans for Olivia's _second_ birthday next month - WOW! What a joy to be Olivia's mama and papa and together at home at last.

Cadzand

Olivia was _so_ happy when Bob got home from 3 weeks in Greenland. She missed him terribly the whole time, expecting him home from work on his bicycle at any time.

A few days after Bob got home, we took the train to Cadzand to spend a week on the coast of Holland with friends Kate, Wim, Lyra and Wim's family.

Olivia's getting to be a real pro at having a good time on the beach - when the waves aren't frightening her, she loves splashing in them.

Also, alot of time spent sitting on the warm sand filling (and emptying) buckets, and burying feet and toes (and poking them out again)!
Kate, Wim and Lyra are adored by Olivia (as well as us!) and are honorary family here in Cambridge.
For lots more pics look at our flickr site (there's a link at the introduction at the top left of this page).

Sidmouth with Grandma

We spent an enjoyable week in Sidmouth, on the coast south of Exeter, in August. Here is Olivia, impatient to be out the door with her beach bucket and shovel.

We spent the first couple of really sunny days on other activities, so by the time we got to the beach it was cool, windy and rainy. But Olivia really enjoyed the beach rain or shine.

There was alot of relatively safe walking area for Olivia, so she spent a great deal of time running around, and making people smile too. She really managed to tire herself out every day. Here she is with mama, dashing around the esplanade. She really developed a craving for ice cream cones this week, and even created her own sign for them - a fist held up to the mouth!
We stayed in historical Pebble Cottage, and briefly visited Yeovil looking for genealogy info.

Oh, What a Busy Summer!

It feels like we have been on the go even when we haven't been on the go this summer because time at home has mostly been spent recovering from and getting ready for various travels. Olivia has been a champ through it all though, and even when tired often remains cheerful until she finally just zonks out. Grandma caught this charming picture of Olivia during one of our moments at home in August. We have barely had blocks of more than a week at a time at home this summer - each time, Olivia seems simply delighted to be surrounded by her familiar toys and everything.
After we returned from the U.S., we had a couple of weeks in Cambridge before Bob left for a 3-week field season in Greenland. Olivia's Grandma Steffens came to spend that time with Olivia and mama - and was immediatley incorporated as a member of Olivia's 'pack'. She and Olivia had a great time getting to know each other as we traveled to Stratford-Upon-Avon for a few days, then down to Sidmouth on the coast near Exeter for a week of relaxation. Olivia had a good time on the long train rides, walking up and down the cars, charming other passengers, though naps don't come easily on the train so it is tiring travel...

Olivia and Grandma get excited about a performer juggling on a unicycle in the park in Stratford. Notice a family resemblance?

Next, she absolutely _had_ to have a ride on the beautiful carousel horses - so exciting! I explained to her that when we got on, we would have to stay on until it stopped, but as soon as it started moving up and down, around and round, she had big second thoughts, signing 'milk, milk, milk' and 'down, down, down'! As soon as we got off she wanted another go, of course! If ever you are there, look for her horse, "Victoria".

Sleep Landmark!

Olivia has just spent her 7th night in a row (with Paps's help) without breastfeeding in the middle of the night - hurrah! Good sleeping Olivia!