Happy birthday big guy

Big Tim, you were born exactly two years ago. Up until the birth of your baby sister, you were still mommy's baby. But now, I have to admit, compared to your tiny sister, you are a big boy. And a big brother. And I am so happy we celebrated your birthday two weeks early, so you at least had your own party. Because you deserve nothing less. I hope life will turn out to be one big party for you.

Love, mom

PS: you totally rock those new firetruck rain boots! I am happy you agreed to at least not wear them in bed.

Helllllllllp Everything under control

Everything is under control. Just cruising along, taking the kids (multiple!!!) to the store. Calm. Relax.

But the truth? We want the nurse back!!!!!! It's the first morning without the nurse, and the house looks like a war battle between dirty dishes, Duplo, baby clothes and other pink things. It's a good thing Tim throws away the diapers. So it doesn't actually smell like a battlefield (what does a battlefield smell like?).

Also? I had the FIRST I am alone with Tim and Lisa and Lisa wouldn't stop crying and Tim tried to compensate the lack of attention and the overkill of sound with banging his Duplo parts against each other. Nice. I did stay calm though. I did!

And now they are both asleep. In their own beds I might add, which is great because little miss Lisa was all "I only want to sleep on mommy's breasts" this morning.

So why am I blogging and not cleaning house? Because this morning I seriousely did something which caused the area down there (points down there, *wink wink*) to hurt like no ones business. I guess lifting things (like toddlers) is not the best thing for me. So I am in bed resting, while my husband cleans house (applaud!!). I am SO happy he'll also be home with us next week.

Anyway, yeah we got that great nurse system here (the only thing not so great is, that they LEAVE after 7 days). But you know, in case of emergency we got the Dutch "not satisfied? return and get your money back" system:

JUST KIDDING!!

The Netherlands is a crazy country, but we are not THAT crazy. It's a store where you can buy or rent baby stuff. We never did the rent thing though. Baby things must be cleaner than a sterile hospital room, as far as I'm concerned.

SOOO. Where was I? Yeah. Explosion. Husband is cleaning result of explosion. Baby and toddler in bed.....

Oh you need a cute baby picture! Lisa in her winter coat. Her first time out. Everybody: Awwwww.

But missing the nurse. She kept everything under control.

And made sure everyone got their baths or got time to shower.

But I guess I can do it too. See, clean baby:

But for now, charging up to face the battle field again recuperating in the bedroom. Thinking about writing the birth story and the Rupert and the Frog Song. Because they are connected. They are! Pom pom pom pom.

Letters for Lisa: one week

My dearest Lisa,

Today you are one week old. One week of being part of my life. One week of being part of our family. One week of your lifelong journey on this earth.

In fact, last week at this hour, you were not even born yet. The whole family was napping. Your big brother Tim was napping. Your father and I were taking a nap too, because we didn't sleep well the night before.

We were sound asleep, not aware our lives would change forever in just 9.5 hours. Though the last few days prior to your birth, I had a strong feeling you were about to be part of our family. And after the nap, and after I went into a hot tub with your big brother Tim, I knew for sure, my girl was going to come any minute now.

Since I gave birth to you and the doctor gave you to me, I have loved you. It's not that I didn't love you when you grew inside me. But it's that precious moment right after you were born, we really bonded. You looked at me, I looked at you. I cuddled you, talked to you, smiled at you and we gave each other a lot of nose- nose eskimo kisses. Your brother loves those too.

I am very happy we got to get to know each other than. Because the first few days after you were born, you held your eyes shut. The day before yesterday you really started to open your beautiful blue eyes and look around. Now every one can see, what I had the honor of seeing the evening your were born. Your innocent and pure character.

My dearest Lisa, I was worried I wouldn't be able to love you as much as I love your brother. I worried about that, even in the first few days you spend mostly in my arms. I cried over it.

But now I know for sure, my heart has plenty of love. For everyone in this family and beyond. Love is infinite, like the sky and heaven. And when I look up there and stare at the blue infinity in the sky, I see a perfect sun beam caring over the plants in our garden, showing the pureness and beauty of life.

And that sun beam is you, Lisa. With your birth, you showed me yet again the beauty of life.

Love,
Mom

Bye bye nurse... and more pics!

Our own private nurse/ breast feeding/ baby expert. That's what we had for the last 6 days. It's called maternity home care ('kraamzorg' in Dutch) and all Dutch families get it through health insurance.

The nurse helps take care of the baby, the mommy, the house (has done ALL the laundry so far, hooray!), the other children in the house, the people visiting the baby and she also provides some basic baby and nursing education. She tells about the development of the baby through the week, what to expect when you're nursing and she also tells things about what's happening in mommy's body, like the change in hormones.

She's truly a wonderful person, and I am sad tomorrow is her last day.

Especially since we got the same nurse as we did with Tim! You can see her picture with Timhere.

And when she walked in and said hi to Tim, I am convinced he recognized her. Though I know that's kind of silly, as I don't think Tim's brain were developed enough to actually remember people he saw the first few days of his life.

That has not stopped him from falling in love with her. She has been his favorite person ever since she came here. I thought I wasn't replaceable, but I was wrong. He has been so enthusiastic, I have never seen him act that way with anyone else. He has been kissing her, hugging her. And she has been just crazy about him too.

So as of Sunday, we are on our own. Tim will lose a friend. But at least our laundry baskets won't be as empty anymore.

That's our wonder nurse

Taking care of all the kids while mommy naps.

Mom & her daughter

Does she look like her mom?

Hello little Lisa! It looks like you're smiling, but in fact you were filling up your diaper. AGAIN.

The boys already love you!

Update from the baby factory.. facts & photos

* Thank you all for your sweet and heartwarming comments! I try to reply to everyone.. but you know, kinda got my hands full with this second baby thing going on.

* We are all doing great. Lisa is very content most of the time. She sleeps a lot. She does have some cramps every now and than. But overall? Happy healthy baby.

* My breasts look like there nine months pregnant!

* Not complaining though, the milk factory is doing is job and has been giving Lisa milk since the day before yesterday. Hooray! The girls still rock.

* I posted a blog a week ago, complaining about a night of just 2 hours of sleep?

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA
I was SO funny, and I did not even realize it.

The first night we didn't sleep more than 2... we were too excited too sleep.
The second night we slept 20 MINUTES. Meaning the husband slept 10 minutes and I slept 10 minutes.
The third night was better.. we slept 5 hours.. In little one hour segments.

But LAST night made up for all of that. Lisa and her parents slept from 0:30 untill 6:45!! Keep it up Lisa :))

* On with the photos:

Daddy and his little girl...

Look Tim, the baby got you a gift!

It's Elmo!! (actually Tim pronounced it as Oma! - which means grandma in Dutch)

Sure, Lisa would love a kiss from Elmo!

Aww, yeah perhaps the baby wants a pacifier. You're so sweet to your little sister!

Sticking my tongue out to the internet people!

Vroom vroom! You're still mommy's little monkey!!

Hello world, it's me ... Lisa

And we're back...

... from the hospital with a beautiful baby girl!!!!!! We named her Lisa :)

Everything went quick and smooth, as smooth as childbirth gets. She was born 21:20, just three hours after Nadine's previous post. We only spent four hours in the hospital, and the last hour was spent waiting for the paperwork. So we're a bit overwhelmed. More and pictures tomorrow!

Bye now,
FreezeM

Ouch

Ehm. Ouch. I think this might be it.

Or last night's spaghetti.

If toys were us

Seriously I urge you to skip this insane post and do something useful with your life, like taking out the trash, clipping your toe nails, or getting your grandma a feather boa for her retirement home 70's party.

...

Still here? I have warned you. This post is written after a long night, with just TWO hours of sleep. Combined with a cup of pregnancy hormones and1/4 teaspoon craziness. And perhaps too much lead in Tim's toys.

...

I have noticed some weird things in the toy room living room.

First: Fisher Price Little People are not little. They are a Little obese. Now, the term Little People suggests these plastic dolls are in fact mini versions of humans. I'm kind of worried how this will effect Tim's world view.

Little People 2008:

But now look at the slimmer vintage version:

You got to hand it to Fisher Price to go with the trend that the world's population is getting fatter everyday.
Not that I have any right to call anyone fat. At 38 weeks I am somewhat whale-sized.

I would point out the LP 2008 camel toe too (just click to enlarge the photo the LP on the left is sporting a nice camel toe), but Chris kindly pointed out the whole Little People camel toe waaaaaaaay before. At least I THINK it was Chris. I am afraid to search his site for camel toe and end up in one of his search string post where he'll call me a pervert. Oh hold on, it was his wife Beth who blogged about it, here.

Second, I have noticed Duplo Village has a serious inbreed issue. Isn't that illegal? All the villagers of Duplo Village look alike. It must be one of those small town niece, nephew, brother, sister things. See:

Tim, don't tamper with the evidence. Mommy is taking very important pictures.

I should stop now before you all think I have lost it. But I'd like to point out another interesting toy fact. We got Tim a 'Bed Time Noddy'. The doll is supposed to blush and say "Ooooooh, I am SO sleepy". He does blush, but what he says, sounds more like "Ooooooh, I am SO sleazy."

Classy huh?

Tim plays hours a day with the big Little People, the inbreed Duplo, and sleazy Noddy. Will he ever be normal? Or will he end up like me, blogging about toddler toys when I should be doing something useful, like things I suggested above. But my grandma is dead, so forget the boa. Skip clipping the toe nails too: I can't reach my feet. Heck, I can't even SEE them. And making trash, yes. Writing trash, yes. Taking out the trash, hell no. Not at 38 weeks.

Can you tell I have only slept TWO hours last night? Part of it has to do with the fact I had a minor menstruation like cramp just as we turned of the light. That will get you wide awake when you're 38 weeks along! Also Tim and I have been fighting some flu, cold, bacteria virus thing. We both have soar throats and both have had trouble sleeping at night. And we have all those IMPORTANT things to think and blog about.

Can I be honest? And question to all 2nd, 3rd, 4th time mommies

When I think of the moment I'll go in labor I am terrified. Not just because I know this whole birth thing is painful and really, who in their right mind goes through it again? Oh me. Yeah. Terrified because Tim was born very quickly: 3.5 hours after the first contraction that I experienced as 'somewhat' painful.

Question to all second/ third/ fourth time mommies out there: did your second, third, etc. baby come quicker? How much? And did baby #2.. 3.. 4.. arrive at a convenient moment, say when your hubby was home, the youngest in bed or was playing at grandma's?

Just asking. In my worst nightmare, I can't reach anyone until the babies head 'pops' out while Tim is watching in horror and I have to ask him to get some blankets to wrap the baby in.

There you have it. Last week hormones got the better of me and I cried because I have to go through it again. Cried because 2 hours of those 3.5 hours felt like one huge contraction without a pause. Cried because I know how ungrateful, egoistic, complaining, nasty bitch I must be to be feeling that way. As opposed to feeling lucky about the quick delivery with a healthy baby and a healthy me.

Than I ate something and felt better! Hormones are so easily satisfied.

Anyway. I'm 38 weeks pregnant. Can I complain be honest again? The belly is starting to get in the way. I would not mind giving birth at this point.

On the other hand. Can I honest yet again? I am SO enjoying my time alone with Tim. And SO enjoying the peace and quiet mommy time after we brought him to bed (usually at 7 PM)... And SO enjoying the full nights of sleep. Both will disappear when our little girl is born.

Oh and while I am at this whole honesty, confession thing? For the last 9 months or so, I have been more concentrated on getting no stretch marks (I have NONE, yay!) than the health of our baby girl? The possibility the birth will go wrong or my baby girl is ill, just popped in my head a few days ago. I hardly gave this whole 'healthy baby' thing any thought or prayer these last 9 months. And I know plenty of women who didn't have a healthy baby, had emergency c-sections and are still struggling with their own health. See. Egoistic me.

I'm not really that nice. Or maybe it's hormones talking again.

It's a good thing I just baked 20 chocolate banana muffins.

And it's a good thing I am - despite the brutal honesty above - looking forward to giving birth and welcoming our little girl into this world.

Because the beauty that comes with new life always wins over the pain and the practical things like no sleep and turning into a milk cow for at least 9 months.

But our baby girl's name won't be Eve. And really, why couldn't she just have stayed away from that effin apple? She could have had a banana chocolate muffin, just like me.

My 101 things in 1001 days

Ever since I saw this meme over at Zandria's, I wanted to create it too. Now I finally have come up with a list of 101 tasks to complete in 1001. It's not a New Years resolution list. I don't do those. It's a list of things I really want to do in 1001 days, but also things that I don't have to do. Which is why - up until now - I let daily routine and life get in the way of those things and they end up being postponed all the time. It's not before you actually turn a list like that into goals, you'll be likely to do them.

I plan to write about completing the tasks on this blog, so it will also be away of remembering the fun things you do in life.

More about the 101 in 1001 days meme here.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Family
1 Make Tim's first year photo album
(shame on me!)
2 Make my daughter's first year photo album
3 Have at least 20 family outings to places we have never visited before
4 With my family, make at least three creative things with things found on one of our family outings (like beach pebbles or forest leaves) and hang it somewhere in the house
5 Make our wedding photo album
6 Learn Tim how to ride a bike
7 Get Tim and his little sister on at least one family bike ride
8 Breastfeed our daughter for at least 9 months (just like with Tim)
9 Learn our daughter sign language (just like with Tim)
10 Have a family portret taken of our family of four and put it up the wall
11 Take Tim swimming at least 3 times
12 Make Tim's second year photo album
13 Make sure Tim has at least 15 fun outings with mom, dad or both of us without his little sister.
14 Go to at least 6 fun outings, plays, musicals or something cultural with my husband without kids
15 Write quarterly letters to Tim and post them on my blog
16 Write monthly letters of the first year of our daughter and post them on my blog
17 For the period of 1001 days, make quarterly videos of our family.

Kitchen
18 Make a Mexican mole
19 Make a recipe book with photos and at least 30 recipes we've tried as a family
20 Make at least one meal with organic ingredients solely grown by farmers in the area
21 Make up a new pie recipe, with only the basics/ ideas from a recipe, perfect it, and share it.
22 Finally learn to make a good muffin, and make it
23 Home make every meal for our daughter (just like with Tim)
24 Prepare at least 3 meals of every season of one year with solely seasonal vegetables
25 Prepare at least 3 fresh made fruit juices of every season for one year with solely seasonal fruits
26 Make 3 different kinds of ice cream, one must be vegan
27 Replace all our old kitchen pans with high quality non teflon coated pans
28 Make 5 never tried different kinds of bread
29 Make 5 new soups
30 Eat raw food for at least 2 consecutive days
31 Try a new vegan recipe every day, for one week
32 Try a new vegetarian recipe every day, for one week
33 Try 20 recipes with at least one ingredient I have never used before
34 Read more about vitamins and nutrition and check if we need to adjust our eating habits

House
35 Pimp/ recycle at least one piece of self owned furniture and re-use it
36 Buy at least one piece of furniture second hand
37 Make a list of home improvement things that need to be done and make a plan to actually realize those things.
38 Do three 'man things' around the house
39 Re-do/ pimp our garden
40 Pimp Tim's room
41 Make part of our garden a vegetable & fruit garden

Back to basics
42 Replace three beauty or cleaning products by natural products. For at least 21 days in a row.
43 Replace three throw away things I use on a daily basis by a non throw away version.
44 Don't buy new stuff (other than the daily basics like food/ diapers/ etc.) for 21 days in a row
45 Make a list of things we're already doing in our home that are good for the environment, add 10 things that could be added to that list and do at least 5 of those.
46 Reduce washing hair every day to every other day for 21 days but with the intention to make this a permanent change.
47 Celebrate one anniversary with the husband on a maximum budget of 100 euros (instead of the normal bathing ourselves in luxury) and it has to include something fun, a dinner and a night.
48 Don't use the laundry dryer for at least two weeks in a row.
49 Look up the history of 10 objects I daily use and write/ blog about it
50 Don't watch TV for one week, no matter what. (I know this one is on my husband's list as well)

Out
51 Go to a play or musical with Tim
52 Visit an art exposition
53 Find and do 5 'free' things to do in the neighborhood and review
54 As a tourist, visit 3 cities in The Netherlands I have never visited before
55 Go to a market
56 Attend a wine tasting evening
57 Visit 3 Dutch museums
58 Take Tim to an indoor playground
59 Take a international family vacation
60 Go to a concert with my husband
61 Watch a cultural movie in the Filmhuis

Creativity and music
62 Make Tim one piece of clothing
63 Make his little sister one piece of clothing
64 Make all tree ornaments for next Christmas (and next.. and next..)
65 Do something with the many foreign and old Dutch coins the husband and I have collected over the years
66 Design my daughter's birth announcement
67 Take improv lessons
68 Take piano lessons
69 Get a piano
70 Learn the basics of digital photography

Media and books
71 Watch at least five documentaries
72 Read 3 classic books
73 Read one biography of an interesting person or someone I admire
74 Read 5 books (other than the ones above) and review them
75 Read at least 3 non novel books

Me
76 Don't drink regular coffee for 7 days in a row (decaf is allowed!)
77 Attend a church service (I know this one is on my husband's list as well)
78 Don't complain about anything to anyone for 7 days in a row. Not even on my blog.
79 Get my drivers license
80 Make a new 101 in 1001 days
81 Make a list of places to visit before I die
82 Update the photo on my blog at least 2 times
83 Write a 101 list for things I am grateful for and make photos of at least 10 of the items on the list and make something with those photos so it will last.
84 Ride my bike to work for at least a week
85 Get a manicure (never had one!)
86 Get a pedicure (never had one!)
87 Get a beauty face treatment (never had one!)
88 Take up a sports and stick to it for at least once a week for a month
89 Floss every day for 21 days in a row
90 Replace the tennis shoes I have been wearing for over six years

Not me
91 Get, make, buy at least 2 very personal special presents for someone, that was special made for that someone.
92 Bake at least 3 pies and give them away "just because"
93 Get a recycle tree for Christmas
94 Participate in two different kinds of volunteer work, both taking up at least two hours.
95 'Buy' 3 'to do birthday gifts' (in stead of 'to have gifts')
96 Write a good and worthy contribution to Wikipedia
97 Add reviews of our Portugal vacation to Tripadvisor

Crazy/ fun
98 Find national holidays from 3 different countries and 'celebrate' them with friends or family or just the four of us by making the foods that go with the tradition of that country and find the history of those holidays
99 Surprise husband with a day out
100 Host 5 fun dinner just because parties for friends or family
101 Get at least one photo accepted to I-Stockphoto.com

Happy early birthday and two year letter

We celebrated Tim's birthday yesterday. His birthday isn't until January 30th. But that's my due date and I really did not want him to miss his birthday party. We decided on a small party (as that's all I can handle at this point in pregnancy). So we invited close family and just a few friends. But man, he got SO spoiled! He now has a complete Duplo village. Little People drove into our house in a school bus and our living room is no officially a parking lot. I'm thinking we should charge by the hour.
I even got myself to bake two pies (with help of my 8 year old niece and darling husband): a white chocolate banana layer cake and a spice and honey bunt cake. Mmm. Leftovers anyone?

Before eating the cake, we all sang happy birthday. He was surprised and looked at everyone with a big question mark, but he so loved it. Ahh, my heart melts again.

Early birthday party means early quarterly letter. Just in case Tim's sister is born a little early. And she can come now, because this birthday party really was the one mental block I had until I want to go into labour.

Tim's two year letter

My dearest Tim,

You're almost two. Your quarterly letter is a bit early. Your baby sister is due on your birthday and I don't want to risk missing this letter. You already grow so fast, and it's hard to remember all the things you do and have done. These letters help me to remember, and I hope one day you'll enjoy them to.

I still get all warm inside when I think of you. You're the sweetest little boy on earth. You enjoy everything, adapt very well to almost every situation, are always happy and cheerful, you sleep well, eat everything - you ate Pecten jacobaeus shells, salicornia and asparagus for Christmas dinner! - Your favorite is fish but you also use your many teeth to chew on fresh veggies. I'm embarrassed to say, I only noticed one tooth I knew was coming: your first. You woke up a couple of nights because the thing was giving you pain. All your other teeth and molars? I have no idea how and when you got them. All I know is that we brush a full mouth of teeth every evening.

You have started talking. You started doing it when we went to Lissabon, just two months ago. You started with mommy, daddy, car and Lala (the name of your favorite Telletubby). We heard you practice those words in bed. For a while you combined your words with your sign language. But now? You're a waterfall of words and everyday you learn a few new ones. You like to describe what's happening "mommy breakfast, daddy breakfast, Tim breakfast". That's right my dear, you have learned to say your name a few days ago. You've been saying it proudly ever since.

I have never seen you throw a tantrum. I believe that's pretty unique for a two year old. That's not to say you haven't started exploring your boundaries. You like to say 'no' and do things you're not allowed. Like throwing things at the cats and chasing them. But when I get down on my knees and gently ask you to stop, you usually stop and give me a kiss and a hug.

You adapt very well to changes in your life. Moving to our new home hasn't had much influence on you and smaller changes like going on international vacations haven't seem to bother you either. There is an upcoming change that will be huge for you. The birth of your baby sister.

I am sure you'll love her and everything will work out just fine. But the thought that I have to divide my attention between you and your baby sister breaks my heart. I know how much work a little baby requires. How much time I will have to spend with her, comforting her, nursing her. I am worried her crying will wake you up. I am worried she'll turn your life up side down and I am worried you won't like it and be sad about it. I am worried about breaking your little heart, which has brought me nothing but beautiful moments.

I would say you're perfect, but they say there is no such thing as perfect on earth. Maybe God made an exception when he gave us you.

Love always,
Mom

Delurking day and quess the birthday of baby #2

Chris over at Rude Cactus has declared today Delurking Day (his post is not up yet, as I'm in Europe, I'm 8 hours ahead of time, and Tim is napping as we speak, so it's now or never). I've always wondered what it takes to be able to declare a day (like other important days, Thanksgiving, Labour, Christmas Day and now Delurking Day), but now I know. You have to be as cool as Chris, and you get to name your day!

So you're in for a interactive post! Delurking Day means, that if you've been reading this blog but haven't been commenting - I'm not judging here, I love both commenters and non-commenters - I'm asking you for this post to come out and play, say hello, wave hi. You don't have to say your name, just say hi!

While I'm at it, I'm stealing another idea of the Cactus family. Chris' lovely wife (who is just 2 weeks 'behind' me with being pregnant, she's 35 weeks along) Beth, posted a game I'd like to steal borrow. You can guess the actual day of birth of baby #2.

The one closest to the actual date & time gets to name the baby. Ha! You think. No, I'll announce the three best guessers on my blog.

I'm not sure if there's anything that I can tell you that will help you to predict the actual date. I mean, are there really clues you're about to give birth other than the fact you're 37 weeks along? Here's a bit of information that might or might not help you.

* my due date is January 30th
* Tim was born 3 days early on...
* ... January 30th 2006 (I have actually had people joke we only have sex once a year, in April. What can I say. It's the husbands birthday in April. Just JOKING people. Move on.)
* the baby has been head down & secured down there for at least 3 weeks
* my belly has been practicing contractions like crazy for the last week or so
* and if it is a sign at all (you tell me?) for the last 2 days I've been feeling a little different, like my hormones
are even more messed up than they already were.
* in those 2 days my hair went from amazing to even bald is better.
* for the same last 2 days or so, I have been feeling terrified this baby will come and that I can reach no one except maybe the hospital.
* I have cold feet. Literately.
* I want to play a game of Scrabble. The game the husband and I were playing when contractions started.

Now, come out and play or just delurk and say hi!! *waves hi* Or you could check out the nursery and make me feel better by commenting how cute it is.

A glimpse of the nursery AND the belly in the nursery

You're in for a treat today! I finally managed to get my HUGE ass in gear and get some photos of the belly (well you have to thank the hubby for those) and the nursery. Just a GLIMPSE of the nursery. The room is too messy to share. I may walk like a stranded whale, but I still have some dignity and refuse to show the internet our mess.

Big things first. The belly at 37 weeks. Holy cow (I am guessing I am really holy in India! Don't you think? Moooo)

Though I realize I am not THAT big (the outfit I am wearing is not maternity wear but a medium sized H&M suit, it's my uniform and I live in it), there are moments I feel like a whale. But I guess at 37 weeks, it is not that bad. Tim can still hug the belly:

Some time ago someone actually dared to ask me how much fatter I am now, than I was with Tim. I managed to be polite and respond I didn't know. But the rudeness just baffled me. Especially the "don't they weigh you?" follow up question. It's prove there are people with bigger mouths than my belly.

Anyways.

I promise you there is actually a crib in the nursery. But it is filled with clean laundry and other tiny baby stuff. You'll just have to take my word for it. I'll just show you the non-messy items in the nursery, like the lamps:

We still have to put things up the wall. I think we'll manage to do that before the weekend. Though we plan on letting our little girl sleep in our bed (in a co-sleeper) for the first few months. So she doesn't actually need a tidy room or wall decoration.

And finally Tim showing off the enormously pink wall in the nursery:

It took my husband and his mother 3 whole days to get all the wallpaper up!

If the baby is born today, she won't be considered premature. It is a frightening and exciting idea things will change any minute now!

The pink that ate our wallet...

... and our laundry machine if the waterfall of tiny pink clothes, bed sheets & bath stuff doesn't stop.

I thought that with all of Tim's baby stuff, we were good to go for baby #2. However. We managed to spend 2 hours in a baby store last week. And empty our wallets. And we did go with a shopping list and didn't buy anything that wasn't on the list.

Except for the bottle warmer. Which we didn't get when Tim was little.. I plan to breastfeed our daughter just like I did with Tim. But when I'm not around (when I'll go back to work).. I just couldn't bare the thought of my darling husband struggling with a au bain marie on the stove while chasing a toddler. So bottle warmer we bought.

Like with every shopping spree - if you can call this a spree, we really bought things necessary - I felt guilty opening the bags, removing the tags. Does a baby really NEED all the stuff? What if we belonged to an African tribe and lived in tents?

We would not have bought the bottle warmer. It's hot in Africa. Plus.. I probably wouldn't have a job where it was not OK to have a baby sucking on my breasts.

On the bright sight, I would not need those elegant breastfeeding bras.

Heck, I wouldn't even have had to vacuum clean the laundry machine. Or shower the nursery furniture. Can you tell I'm nesting? And hormones are eating my brain? My husband did not comment on the showering with furniture part, he did give me a look.

But the drawers are VERY clean and shiny!

Lucky for our wallets (what's left of them anyway), the expected birth of a new baby comes with help & gifts. There's one thing we got that's not for the baby, but for Tim. My parents are giving us the Bugaboo wheeled board. I'm VERY curious how Tim will like that. He has to give up his sitting space for the baby, because there is just no way we're getting another stroller. Since he's been walking we've been taking him on walks. He's now very used to walking to the supermarket and short walks. But still, his stroller will be his sister's, and he gets to stand. But if we lived in Africa.. you get the point.

Was there really a point to this post? Or am I just rambling to avoid posting pictures of the nursery? I forgot to take pictures today and well, I want it to be more finished than it is now. You'll just have to wait a few more days.

If I have a few more days. Today, for an hour or two, the husband and I were in doubt if the baby was coming. The very thought of that caused so much stress, our little daughter will think we're not ready and probably be two weeks late!

But I did pack my hospital bag.

Now, I'm back to designing the birth announcement, nesting, laundry and finishing the room. And watching Dexter. Our latest addiction.

The loot, the food and the hood

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! We certainly did. Tim was spoiled by Santa so much, we actually stopped unwrapping gifts even though there was still one gift for him under the tree. Santa will just have to save that one for Tim's birthday in less than a month.

The Christmas loot consisted of anything between books and cars, however we have a winner: Duplo. Since Christmas you can walk in here and there's a very good chance you'll find Tim and myself in our PJ's playing Lego Duplo.

I got spoiled too. Among other things, Santa got me the orange juicer (if that's what it's called) I've wanted for at least ten years! It's my Duplo! I am in love. OJ anyone?

On to the food: too much! The dinner for 12 we hosted on December 26th (it's Second day of Christmas here, I have no idea why we have two days of Christmas, but I am not complaining) was a blast. Dinner turned out great (or at least, I like to think so). Dinner was vegetarian, (though we are not 100% vegetarian, we do eat (mostly white) organic meat and fish two or three days a week.). This year, we just thought the tradition to slaughter so many animals just to have a cheerful Christmas dinner, is a bit cruel. So vega we went. I'm not sure everyone appreciated it (we have ONE vegetarian in our family, she's 8) but no one commented on the lack of meat.

And I can't leave you for the weekend without posting a picture of Tim's favorite toy. The carton box that came with the Duplo. No matter how many colorful plastic toys you can stuff your house with, the wrapping always wins.

AND: the nursery is just about ready. I am doing a massive amount of pink laundry as we speak. I'll post pictures soon!