Safety first...

Hot season has officially hit here in Thailand, which means, we're always looking for ways to cool down.  Jon got up at 4am this morning to catch a "March Madness" game with a friend and when he left the house, shortly after 4, it was already 24 degrees celsius.  Needless to say, temperatures and humidity are "gettin' up there" during the heat of the day.

So, here's how Callie spent part of this evening.  

This kid isn't taking any chances.  

Safety must come first ;)

Baby Callie vs. Baby #2...

= a very different picture. :)

Here's what I looked like at around 26 weeks when I was pregnant with Callie...

And here's what I look like now at 28 weeks with Baby #2...

Today marks the start of the 3rd trimester and I can't believe that we're already on the "home stretch" of this pregnancy.  The exhaustion has set in again (though I'm not sure it ever really left) but other than that, I'm feeling really good overall.  Thankful for the disappearance of the "phantom pain" and looking forward to the arrival of this little bundle. :)

Our Callie-bear...

Many of you have been asking how Callie is doing these days so I thought I'd give a little update and share a few pictures of our ever-growing, ever-changing "big girl."  She's 2.5 years old now and definitely keeps us on our toes :)

One of the most incredible answers to prayer, that we've seen since being in Thailand, is that Callie feels totally comfortable with her nanny.  Not only is Callie comfortable with her nanny, Boh, but she absolutely adores her!  Boh comes to take care of Callie 3 days a week while we go to language school and I have to say... nothing warms my heart more these days, then when we arrive home on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, to the sounds of sheer joy and laughter as Callie plays in the backyard with Boh, or we find them playing toys inside together.  And without fail, each time we return home, Callie comes running to me, declaring, "Mommy!  I had SOOO much fun with Phii Boh today!"  Its incredible and we truly see Boh as one of God's biggest gifts to us here.

Callie's other favourite person here in Thailand is "Auntie" Carmen.  Our dear friend and fellow teammate, Carmen, takes Callie the other 2 mornings a week while we're at school, and its never hard to get Callie out the door in the morning when she knows she's going to Auntie Carmen's house.  Here is just ONE of the many beautiful pieces of art she's crafted while with Auntie Carmen :)

Carmen has a daughter, JJ, who is just 6 months older than Callie.  Although the closeness in age proves to make things "interesting" at times, they're learning how to play better together everyday and I can see that a friendship is blossoming between them.  I mean... what says friendship more than a shirtless painting session, right!? ;)

As I've mentioned in another post, Callie absolutely LOVES the outdoor playground at the Chiang Mai Night Safari.  It truly is her "happy place."  Here she is enjoying the climbing structures/slides on a morning out with Auntie Carmen and JJ...

So. much. FUN. :)

Other than that, Callie continues to show us the terrible/wonderful sides of the age of 2.  (Those who have kids or nieces and nephews will understand this very well :))  And although there are moments where I contemplate pulling my hair out, I have to say that the good far outweighs the bad and she brings us SO much joy.  She's constantly talking our ears off and telling us the funniest stories (if only I could daily videotape the crazy stuff she says) and we're really trying to savour these last couple of months we have with just her (before the baby arrives).

So that is just a really brief update on our little monkey.  Thanks to those of you who have faithfully pray for this little one... she has adjusted quite well to life here in Thailand and we know its been a true answer to prayer.