Mom, can we please go outside?

Tks Mom, being outside ROCKS!!!

I want to go over there....

Please....over there....

Mom, let go...it's OKAY!

Seriously...let go!


I'm almost there....Ahhhh, made it. Tks, Mom!!!

Mom saying..."hey, big guy, what are you trying to do? where do you want to go? i'm not going to let go, this is concrete...not carpet!" well, we can see who won :)

Down on the farm

Daddy bought me a new hat, I left it on for a couple of pics....

But, then I had more fun playing with it!

Daddy leaves for Texas

Scott leaves for Texas tomorrow, our long vacation at home is coming to an end...BOO HOO!!! I am headed to Austin June 4-7 to do some house searching, keeping our fingers crossed that we find something in 2 days, lofty goal...but attainable (I hope!). Scott will come back to the St. Louis area a couple times during the month of June and then home for his high school reunion in July. After the reunion (weekend of the 11th) Carsten and I will join Daddy in Austin. Hope to see some of you before we head out and hope that the end of the school year and start of summer is treating you all well.

Need to babyproof the house!

Carsten is on the move...and he is fast!!!

I am a very happy baby! Need a smile, I can light up your day!
Getting big, check out my hamhocks...rice cereal and veggies, yummy!!!

Home

We have been home for about 5 weeks now and have been enjoying every second! We are enjoying spending time with family and friends and just relaxing while trying to coordinate our move to Austin, Texas. That is right, we are on the move again...Texas, here we come. Scott, Carsten and I will be headed to Austin the beginning of June.

Scott will be working in an outside sales position with Watlow...Carsten and I will work on finding a house, getting settled and returning to American life.

We hope all is well with everyone, looking forward to hearing from you all and hope to see many of you before we move!

Carsten is now sleeping through the night, not just 6 hours...but 10 or 12, ahhhh...it is bliss! He is sitting up, scooting all over the place, eating solids, giving kisses, and babbling "da da da da"! He is getting so big...so fast!

Cousins! Ah, it is so nice to be home.

It is with tears streaming down my face as I write to say that the world has lost a dear friend, amazing father, and loving husband. I only met Brian O'Neill one time, but from stories and reading of Angie's blog I feel like I knew him better than some people I have known my whole life. It is today, St. Patrick's Day, that the Lord called him home. Please keep the O'Neill family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Carsten is mobile

Our Trip Down Unda

Scott, Carsten and I went 'down unda' to visit friends and relax. We started the trip in Singapore, Scott did some work, Carsten and I spent the day hanging out on Orchard Rd, lunching with a friend from Shanghai and making a few purchases we couldn't find in Shanghai. It was Carsten's first experience with hot, humid weather...he managed...although, man does he sweat!

After Singapore we flew to Brisbane to meet our friends Beck, Tony, and their son Elliot, who is four weeks older than Carsten. We drove to Beck's parent's place in Toowoomba and had a glorious weekend catching up over a few "cuppa's". Carsten and Elliot had so much fun playing together, we are anxiously awaiting the next time they see one another!

On Sunday afternoon we set out from Toowoomba en route to the Whitsunday Islands. We drove 1000+km and arrived in Airlie Beach on Tuesday afternoon. From Airlie Beach we took a boat to Daydream Island where we stayed at Daydream Resort...ahhh, it was nice. The resort was a step back to 1986 and the food was nothing to write home about, but it was relaxing and Carsten had a wonderful time swimming. Scott and I took a helicopter ride out over the Great Barrier Reef and also landed on Whitehaven Beach for one hour. The sand is so soft and fine and remains very cool, so your feetsies don't burn when you walk, it was glorious! The helicopter ride was definitely a highlight of the trip.Our resort on Daydream Island

Whitehaven Beach

After relaxing in the sunshine we flew back to Brisbane for two nights and one day. We visited the Koala Sanctuary, and then dined at the Belgian Brewhouse. Tasty beverages to cap off a wonderful Aussie vacation!


While on vacation our little man starting rolling over...

Saying goodbye

We had to say goodbye to more friends who are headed back home. Over the past year and half we have become friends with Drew, Heather and newcomer to the family Dominic. We toasted our friendship and good times at Issimo. Carsten had to say goodbye to his new friend Dominic, but we are looking forward to making new memories in a different city in the future.

Chinese New Year 2009

We celebrated another Chinese New Year in Shanghai and enjoyed every minute. Aside from nightly fireworks the city is so quiet and peaceful. It is the biggest mass migration of people in the world, everyone going home to visit family and friends, for most Chinese Nationals this is the only time of year they see their children, parents, husbands. Can you imagine?

We celebrated the New Year with dinner at our place with old and new friends, a wonderful time had by all...I hope :) Here is a video of the fireworks, Fourth of July fireworks will never be the same.

Perspective....

As each of you start your day, from: maybe checking our blog for new pictures of Carsten, to: reading the morning paper, having a cup of coffee, calling your mom, getting your children ready for school, getting yourself ready for work, thinking about all the things you have to do today, please take a moment and pray for our friends Brian, Angie, Grant and Gavin O'Neill. He has been battling cancer for the past 12 years and the Lord has decided it is time for Brian to join him. The family is dealing with a lot more than any of us can ever imagine, so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult journey. Her blog is an inspiration and she has to be the most amazing mother and wife on the planet...do some reading and you will see what I mean. Click KEEP BELIEVING to access her site.

Here are their prayer requests:

• For the most beautiful end of days that anyone could possibly experience
• For our peace - for Brian's acceptance
• For our financial future
• For Gavin and Grant - to not fear, to feel normal, to feel at ease and peace. For me to be able to make that happen for them
• Renewed emphasis in our spiritual/prayer life

Back home and recharged

After a wonderful trip home and then a fantastic visit from Aunt Beth and Uncle Jason we are recharged and over the jet lag. I didn't think jet lag would bother Carsten so much, but should have realized it effected him just as much as it does us. The Chinese New Year is just around the corner, we are hosting a dinner on Sunday evening with about 15 people, should be a wonderful time with friends. After Chinese New Year we plan on going to Australia to visit our friends Tony, Beck and their new baby Elliot. After a weekend visit with them just outside of Brisbane we are headed north to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Should be a very intersting vacation with a 4 month old! I will get back to ya on whether or not it is recommended :) Hope everyone is doing well.

Christmas 2008

My two men...so handsome!

We had a busy, but wonderful trip home for Christmas. Carsten met all his relatives and a few friends. We are so sorry that we did not get to see everyone, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Happy Baby

Carsten gives a smile...Happy Baby!

Julie's Leaving Party

The time has come, unfortunately, to say goodbye to our dear friend Julie. Scott and I met Julie when we first moved to China in the spring of 2006 and we are so fortunate to have made wonderful memories over the past 2 1/2 years. She will be moving back to London next weekend. On Saturday we went to her leaving party and Carsten was (of course) the hit of the party! Julie we love ya and you will be missed, can't wait until we see you again in the near future.

Scott,Stephanne,Carsten

  

Stephanne,Heather,Paulina,Julie,Jen

  

The ladies love me!

"The Happy Table"

In the first few weeks Carsten dreaded getting his diaper and clothes changed, my parents can attest to the screaming rage coming out of such a tiny human being. It is quite amazing how time can change little ones and how the time goes so fast. He is now 6 weeks old and we have now what we call "The Happy Table".

Two nights ago Carsten was being Mr. Fussykins, so Scott experimented...he laid Carsten on the changing table and voila! he soon became "The Happy Baby". We really like "The Happy Baby", so of course Mom had to get out the video camera. He performed by making a new coo sound and "talking" to Dad, check video below.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Scott, Carsten and I joined a small group of friends at Bubba's Texas BBQ for a Thanksgiving feast. It did not compare to back home, but did not disappoint. We feasted on turkey, stuffing, veggies, mashed taters and pumpkin pie.

 
Carsten says waz up my peeps!
 













Ginger and Carsten


 










James and Carsten