It's all happening!

This spring has been full of big changes for our little family. To start with, Elsa María turned one. It was a fantastic party, complete with kids and cakes and a birthday girl who had no clue what it was all about. Our daredevil little one has made the transition into toddlerhood with a respectable number of big bumps and tumbles, the biggest of which was just last week when she fell down the basement stairs at her grandparents' house. It seems she is always collecting new and interesting bruises, and the two from the stairs fiasco are just now starting to fade (and are being replaced by one on her cheek from the coffee table...). We are all very thankful that despite all her nasty falls she is still in one (ever-gutsy) piece!

Elsa started playschool shortly after her birthday. She is going to one that is associated with the University of Iceland, and only has kids who are under two years old. There was an adjustment period, in which the parents come to the school with their child, and gradually leave them there for more and more time until they are staying there all day without their moms and dads. Elsa made it through this transition very gracefully. There were a few times she cried when we left her there, but the staff are amazingly adept at distracting and entertaining the little ones who are sad to see their parents leave. I'm grateful that she will be able to be there most of the time nowadays, since things are about to get even more crazy in about a month when her little brother arrives. It is comforting to see that she is thriving there...she seems to really like the new environment, new toys, and kids her size. She fits right in!

After that big change, there was an even bigger one when we moved to a wonderful new spacious apartment! There was much prep work (painting, packing, etc) so having Elsa well taken care of during the day was quite a blessing during that process. I discovered that 8 months into pregnancy is the perfect time to move...it felt like my role during the whole move was more of a supervisory position than the hands-on helping variety. I worked hard, but did the little things like packing and unpacking, and directing all the strong men who were lifting the boxes up and down the stairs where they should put things. We had a lot of help, so the moving day itself was a breeze. We are still working on making our new home comfortable and acquiring the things we need to settle in before the baby arrives, but it is wonderful to have so much more space, and a dishwasher, and a bathtub, and a room for each of our kids (born and un-).

This Easter finds us in a bit of a limbo...I feel like I've been using the word 'transition' a lot lately. Elsa made the transition to toddlerhood, the transition to playschool, we transitioned into a new home, and Tumi is transitioning from the role of student to one of journalist this summer. As for me, I am wrapping up the project I was working on this spring for the UN University, and transitioning into the 'new mom' thing once again. I am less apprehensive about birth and newborn-mothering than I was the last time around...all that stuff is still really fresh in my memory, so it isn't scary, just feels like more of the same. It is overwhelming to imagine taking care of a just-turned-one-year-old-daredevil AND a newborn baby, but I am trusting that the combination of playschool, Tumi, grandmas, and Aunt Gunnhildur will make it possible for me to hold onto some shred of sanity this summer. So for now, I'm trying to relax and enjoy the last month (or so) of pregnancy. I'm sure that like all 8-month pregnant moms, I find myself longing to not be pregnant anymore...I daydream about having a cold beer, wearing clothes that fit and look nice, being regular-sized, not being tired all the time, not having to use the bathroom every 15 minutes...but then I tell myself that it's only one more month, and who knows if I'll have another baby (certainly not anytime soon!) so I might as well kick-back and enjoy it.

Elsa enjoying a windy spring day on our old balcony

Showing off one of the infamous head-bruises and her spaghetti face
Elsa's Angel Food birthday cake (a Davidson family tradition)
The less-traditional (but far more impressive) 'Very Hungry Caterpillar' cake made by my dear friend Charlotte who is gifted with such crafty skills

More bruises
Ridin' in the car
Getting ready for an outing to escape the packing mess

Packing up the old apartment at Framnesvegur...extra credit points to those who can spot the baby girl (hint, bald, pink, window....)

Elsa's favorite spot in our new house...she'll have to find a new place to sit once the garbage starts to go there!
Elsa helping Mama unpack the new kitchen
Rocking in the rocking chair at our favorite coffeeshop

Tumi had hot chocolate and Elsa had 'toy lion fish'...both were quite satisfied.