Dear Spring, We're ready for you now. Love, Reykjavik.

We are all settling back into the routine of regular life in Reykjavik after the extravagant Christmas adventure to the US and A.

The days are getting longer here in Reykjavik, and when you are so very far north, you feel every extra minute of light bringing you out of the deep dark winter. It makes me excited for spring...for flowers and green, buds on the trees, sunny days, calm weather, and new beginnings. Big news; we are MOVING in a couple of months! Tumi's parents have bought a beautiful 3 bedroom apartment with a bathtub and a great big kitchen and a dishwasher and enough space for our expanding family to rent from them, so we can move in April 1st! It is just down the street from where we are now, and I am very happy to be in the same neighborhood. There is a big balcony, and I anticipate nightly BBQs this summer (when I will be able to have a beer with that Icelandic lamb fillet...Imagine!) and lively games of Kubb in the backyard :) This knowledge that we will move in a few months is having a weird effect on me...now when I think, "Gosh, these floors are dirty, I should really mop them" I always think "Nah, let's just move instead!" We're gonna live in a pigsty the next 2 months, for sure! Very excited to move...

Tumi started back at school and will complete his teaching certificate this spring, but is focusing most of his attentions on his journalism studies. In Iceland, they let student journalists intern at the major news organizations during their second semester of graduate level studies, so Tumi was 'working' last week in addition to the regular classes. He seems to have found a way to turn his passion for sports into something he can do for a living, and we (the non-sports oriented members of the family) have just stepped back in amazement to watch him flourish in this new career!

I have been working part time as well, doing an evaluation for the UN University Fisheries Training Program, which is based here in Iceland. I am truly enjoying the work, and feel so fortunate that the opportunity for part time employment, in line with my interests and career goals, popped up between maternity leaves (the project will be done at the beginning of May this year!).

It has been a bit of a challenge finding time to get my work done, since I am technically still a 100% full time stay-at-home-mom and Elsa hasn't started with daycare or anything like that yet. We have been able to swing a schedule over the past month where her Amma or Afi or Pabbi or babysitter can take her for a couple of hours a few times a week in which I can get some work done. She is on the waiting list for daycare through the University, and they said it was likely that she would be able to enter this spring, but we're just waiting for news on that.

Next Tummy Baby (NTB) is doing well. He started wiggling and kicking around in there, and I'm starting to look pregnant (not just feel it!). I went to the midwife this morning, and she said he seemed to be growing well and had a fine heartbeat. They changed my due date...did you know they could do that? Anyway, I was due on May 20th, but then after the ultrasound, they estimated May 27th. The midwife refused to tell me only one date, insisting instead on saying "He will be born around the end of May" which I find a bit frustrating. Now when people ask when my baby is due, I'll have to say "May...towards the end, I think" instead of "May 2oth." But I suppose it will be an adventure waiting to see just when he feels ready to come out! Not having a true due date means that anytime basically from the middle of May on, we're on yellow alert!

Elsa Maria, my precious little sweet baby girl, is turning into a toddler before my eyes! She is *almost* walking on her own. She spends most of her day standing, cruzin' from couch to coffee table, to chair, to kitchen cabinets, around the table, to walker-toy, and back to couch. My little lady is highly mobile, and basically refuses to crawl unless she really needs to get somewhere. This new daredevil spirit has gotten her into some trouble lately, since she tends to have more confidence in her abilities than she ought to at 10 months old. She has started to climb. I kid you not...CLIMB. She has a box (for playing with and putting toys in and such) that she has taken to pushing over to the bookshelf and trying to STAND ON TOP OF so she can reach the higher shelves. More interesting books, perhaps? I have decided to embrace the fact that my daughter is clearly one of those fearless go-get-em-adventuring-girls (I think she gets it from Aunt Gunnhildur) but as a mom it sure sucks to see your little baby with a black eye (like the one she got from a nasty spill yesterday).

Anyway, I should sign off before my little daredevil wakes up from her nap. Keep in touch, y'all!

This is the best picture I could manage of Elsa's shiner (just below the right eye...yowch!)

She got some extra time with the plug after taking a particularly rotten tumble...

Reading to Bergrun (from next door) and Elsa...

And Elsa thinks...Mom, what is *she* doing here?

Happy baby in her favorite play place

Making it rain
Mom! Stop taking pictures of me! I'm busy in the shower!!!

Good example of her cruising skills

Smelling flowers with Caitlin

Oatmeal does amazing things for your complexion. You should try it!

A daughter after her father´s heart

Huh?

Good to be back among the toys!