2 1/4

Monkey,

Every day your structured word waterfalls take me on a incredible journey through your thoughts and imagination. You bless me with saying out loud many of your feelings and thoughts. It enables me to peek into your character as if I was looking into a diorama showing the interactive theater show called "Monkey's life".

The primary set of the show would be our living room filled with countless bright colored props: your toys. Toys, toys, toys. You have so many. January and February were Duplo months. But bouncing further into 2008, you also gained interest in other things like your Little People school bus, your many toy cars, drawing, doing crafts with mommy and reading books. The arrival of this somewhat hesitating spring has taken you to many joyful trips to the playgrounds in our neighborhood.

The main character of the show, you, is growing into a young, handsome, funny and intelligent boy. Me and your dad are characters too, but we are also responsible for the set, the props and the well being of the main character and his sister. Yes, your show has gained a adorable little character, your baby sister Roo.

You are still the star of your own show, but you and her are a bit like Bert and Ernie. Together most of the time, known for the laugh - until - you - pee - your - pants - funny - conversations (though at this point still one way - conversations), sometimes a little annoyed with each other but overall, you seem to have bonded really well with her.

Sometimes the show takes you to an outside set, like toddler soccer and swimming with mommy or daddy. The toddler soccer class is more about playing and interacting with mommy and daddy than it is actual practice. You enjoy it, but wish there would be more exercises with a ball.

Days with you are filled with fun. You're quite the comedian. Your jokes and monologues remind me of the Sahara dry humor your daddy has. Must be the genes.

Your character loves more than it dislikes.

You love giving gifts and receiving gifts.
You love eating deserts.
You love your bath. But hate the shower.
You love to eat fish. But refuse to eat beans and leafy veggies.

You love me and your daddy.

You told us that a few weeks ago.

And I think that triggered spring.

I love you too little Monkey. I hope to be part of your show for a very long time.
Mommy

(Letter to Monkey, 2 years & 3 months)

Playing with your toy cars on our self-made road.

Just a thought

As I type this, I'm drinking a big cup of hot green tea in bed. I snuggled up under the flowery bed cover. I'm nursing Roo. I can hear my husband reading a bedtime story to Monkey and the birds singing in the garden. If I look to my right through our French doors, I see our new baby apple tree proudly showing of beautiful white flowers on the few twigs it has. Next to the apple tree a young nectarine tree waits patiently to be planted later this week.

I am tired. The good kind of tired. Tired of another busy but wonderful weekend spend with family, spend buying and planting fruit trees in our garden, spend enjoying the sun, the husband, the toddler and the baby.

I've done a million things these last few days, thought a million thoughts and smiled a million smiles (and yawned a million yawns.)

But all that bliss, all those wonderful feelings fade away when I think of my first time swimming and playing with Monkey today. He gave me trust and we had fun. He got over a few fears and we had even more fun.

I remember my dad and I swimming on a vacation, a long, long time ago. I was older than Monkey is now, but I vividly remember how we had fun in the water just like I did with Monkey today. How I clinged to his spotty white shoulders. How I trusted him. It is one of my first memories of life and I hold on to them dearly. Monkey is probably too young to remember today. But I hope today will be a lifelong memory for me.

My husband has moved on from reading stories to Monkey to giving the little apple tree and the new plants water. I think about how it's water that provided fun today and it's water that gives life to spring and just about anything on earth.

Life is bliss. I love spring.

My crystal ball foresees a lot of accidents in the near future

The chart

+

The reward stickers

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The potty

+

The insane amount of big boy boxers (MOM I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SHOWED PHOTOS OF MY UNDERWEAR TO THE INTERNET).

+

The guide

Monkey has been showing all signs of being ready to be potty trained a few months now. We deliberately waited until a few months after the birth of his baby sister, because that already was a big change in his life. But when he opened water TWICE this week on the ground on PURPOSE while I was getting his clothes, I decided to get the book out. The book had some great suggestions (at least, they sound great NOW, but when #2's fly through the air next week I might change my opinion).

This week? Is practice week (before we go hard core potty training next week, bwahaha I am afraid).

Monkey gets a small sticker for sitting on the potty for 5 to 10 minutes. A big sticker if he does a #1 or a #2. So far he only earned small stickers. He did try to cheat by claiming passing gas is worth a sticker too. Gas will not get you out of those Pampers, so I don't think so little buddy.

Letters for Roo: Three months

A party with lily white and baby pink balloons, a huge chocolate cake with a heavenly topping and the sound of cheerful children's music playing. That's what I really wanted to do yesterday when you turned three months. You see, my sweet little Roo, turning three months is a big moment in the life of a newborn. It's a bit like turning 16 or 18. From the newborn mainly sleeping or crying to get one of three basic needs: milk, sleep or a clean diaper, to a little person interacting with people to interact. To communicate. To smile, play and learn.

You are one funny girl. Because you sure laugh a lot. It is the most precious thing to watch. We spend many hours just smiling at each other. It is your favorite thing to do. And you really try to engage others in your smiling games. And if I get distracted from playing smiles with you, you make little sounds to retrieve my attention.

Yesterday, you grabbed a toy hanging on your car seat. It was the first time I saw you grab something, and hold it. Your daddy saw it too. Every time the toy escaped from your little hands, you found it again and held it.

You eat! Not only breast milk, but your fingers too. You LOVE sucking on those little fingers. You prefer having three in your mouth at the same time. And I hear you suck on them at night when you wake up at 5 AM. They soothe you right back to sleep. And if the don't? You want to hold my fingers (or you daddy's fingers) and that definitely sends you right back to your baby dreams.

But most of the time, you sleep through the night. And it's bliss for everyone. Your bedtime is somewhere between 9 PM and 10 PM. We semi-wake you up for a 11 PM night feeding. You don't really wake up, but enough to drink for about 10 minutes. I believe it are these sleepy feedings that help you sleep through the night. And you don't wake up very early. We usually don't get to see your blue eyes until 9 AM, sometimes even 9.30 AM.

I spend the mornings playing with your big brother. He loves the special attention and the alone time with mommy. But if you're not awake by 9.30, we both miss you too much to keep playing Duplos and we come get you. And whether you wake up by yourself or if we wake you, you are all smiles when you open you big blue eyes and see us.

My sweet girl, your smiles and cooing fill the house with happiness. And every day with you in our family is a blessing from above. And I hope blessings are infinite because mommy and daddy sure got more than our share with you and your brother.

Love always,
Mom

Why all my dinner parties start at Wikipedia

That and 6 other weird fact abouts moi, that's what the charming McMommy tagged me for (like ages ago, but you know, kind of busy here with the kids).

7 things you always wanted to know about Nadine (or not, but in that case, pretend)

1. Even though Dutch is my native language, most of our cookbooks are American or English. The cooking process always starts with converting ounces to grams and translating ingredients in Wiki.
2. I don't do sports. I know I should, but I just dislike being that active. Being naturally slim doesn't help getting me into sports either (but I am NOT complaining). I put picking up some sport on my 101-goal list, because I do think it is important and I definitely want to give a good example to my children.
3. I have never done artificial sun tanning and will never. I am afraid that it will turn me into a Oompa Loompa

   Great. Now I have that song stuck in my head. Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do
   

4. I don't have a favorite movie. And if I had, I would probably not remember the name, because,
5. I don't have a good memory for those things. Names of actors, book titles, movie titles, song titles, all get deleted by my brain. But ask me what weather it was and how I was feeling on this and that day and who said what to the girl in the pink striped dress? I'd know. Numbers seem to stick well too. Like how much things cost and such.

6. I hate fresh cilantro. A good guacamole can be totally uneatable for me when my taste buds find too much cilantro in it. But when we cook something Mexican (or something else that requires cilantro) I do put in a little in hopes of getting over the dislike.
7. They (you know THEY the fashion experts) say "every girl should have a little black dress". I don't have it. In fact, I have very few dresses.

If you feel tagged, join the party. Here are the rules for those who want to play by the book:

1. Link your tagger. Post the rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself (random or weird)
3. Tag 7 friends
4. Leave a comment letting them know they have been tagged.

FRAGILE! This side up! DO NOT BEND!

A "handle with care" label . That is what I'll stick on my forehead June 4th 2008 just before my surgery. (YES I finally scheduled the surgery.)

Monday I had a blood test taken and I had an intake with the anesthesiologist (anesthesiologist: this whole surgery thing has done wonders to my English vocabulary, I could play hangman with a Brit and actually have a chance at winning) .

Anyway, the anesthesiologist explained I had to have general anesthesia and asked me if me teeth were good. Why? "Because we might damage them while using the oxygen tube".

WOOOOO! BACK UP! BACK UP!

You get the cyst out and possibly a few teeth?

Where did I sign up for that? I have never heard of people loosing teeth at a standard procedure. In what year are we? 1549?

I better have our family picture taken soon. While I can still say cheese without being embarrassed about it.

The mental image of me, missing my teeth. How can I have "my moment" with Hugh Grant (my gyno is a Hugh Grant look-a-like, I should tell him, maybe he can win a look-a-like-contest!) toothless? Toothless. Possibly drooling due to the anesthesia.

It's like finally meeting your celebrity crush on a beautiful white sandy beach in Hawaii, but not being all gorgeous, elegant, slim and available showing your Pilates abs in your most sexy but yet classy bikini just like in your dreams. Noooooo, instead, you're 5 months pregnant, wearing your wedding gown and your husband is standing there right next to you. Ooooh I did that already!

Anyway. Where was I. Josh Holloway... no Hugh Grant.

Handle with care... teeth.. I believe I made my point.

If I had one.

Overreacting? Yeah, probably.

I prefer to overreact on this minor chance of loosing my beloved teeth than to share the emotions that came over me when I had to pass the waiting areas for the MRI-scans and CT-scans and the intensive care unit to get to the anesthesia department. It kind of makes the whole tooth thing sound like whining about how you (possibly) dropped your chocolate chip ice cream on the perfect beach on your perfect vacation while enjoying perfect weather with your perfect family. The only appropriate reaction to that is smile and show those white pearls. Whether you miss a few or not.

I was the only wearing more than a bathing suit.

I nursed Monkey for almost 10 months. Not once in public. I don't have anything against breastfeeding in public, it just isn't my thing. I'm too embarrassed, shy, whatever, to get the girls out. I feel way too naked doing that.

Today I set my irrational fears and emotions aside (because I know that's what they are: irrational) and decided if millions of other women can do it. I can do it.

Of course I picked the perfect occasion for my first time nursing in public.

I didn't do it at a rock concert.

NOOOOOO, I nursed Roo in a place where I thought it was very likely that breastfeeding would be accepted. A place were most people were partially naked (so you know, the tiniest glimpse of my milk factory wouldn't be noticed), where most people were either a mom or a dad and where most people were with a toddler.

Monkey's swimming class! (perfect place, it felt like burping in a trucker's cafe).Today I joined my husband and Monkey to their toddler swimming class. I took Roo too, and we were sitting on a bench cheering at our men in the water.. and than, well, it was feeding time.

So it was either miss Monkey's swimming class (it was first time joining the guys) or get over it.

So I waved when Monkey checked if I was still there, watched him cry when they all had to go under the water, saw him hold on to his daddy as if he would never, ever let go, smiled confident as he struggled to walk in the water and saw him forget all his water fears to grab a ball that was floating around.

Anyone else got over a fear today?

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1

Husband, every day with you feels like the New Year's Eve we spend on Times Square in 2004. Our marriage is the sum of the excitement, feelings of togetherness and tradition and emotions the counting down to 12 o'clock and the descending of the new year's ball brings. Our two beautiful children are the fireworks and the confetti. Without them the night would still have been gorgeous, fun and precious, but with them, we live true magic.

Happy 2.5 year anniversary and 32rd happy birthday my darling husband. You are my best New Years Eve, my dearest friend, my love and my future. I love you.

Ooh, that's so nice of you to say! (and an award)

This is probably the only post on here on which you can comment "Nadine, you don't look a day older than Roo, are you sure you aren't sisters?" Not that I would ever tell you what you should comment, it's merely a suggestion.

The real mini me...

The mini me

Note the dress, my mom kept it for almost 30 years (I'm 29. TWENTY NINE. For a few months anyway.). And now Roo wears it.

Also note how mini me (the real mini me) is holding her head up. My mom claims I was only 2.5 months old when that picture was taken, I don't know. I'm thinking they broke my back to get me to pose like that. Or I should do even more tummy time exercises with Roo (which she HATES but I make her do them 3 times a day), because this is just about the highest she can lift her head while on her tummy.

What did you say? We look a like? We could be sisters?

Ah, bless you. You made my day!

Blogging about that (what a coincidence), it's AWARD time.

The lovely Alison gave me the "make my day award. "

I've been reading her blog for a while, and love every post. She's not only a brilliant and funny writer, she's a single mom. Being a parent my self (that sounds SO grown up and all), I have more than the deepest respect for single parents. It's a two person job and you totally rock the world for being able to do it alone. My hat is off to you Alison!

The rules:

1. Write a post with links to five blogs that make your day.
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Display the "You Make My Day Award" logo.
4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs or emailing them the news.

Every blog on my blogroll earned a place there because it made my day at some point. But the rules say pick five, so I'll follow Alison's example and throw all the blogs in the magic hat, shake it and let the bunny pick five.

The Dorsal Stream RM touches me with his NYC family posts. He's a talented writer and photographer and he blesses the internet with posts about his life with his lovely wife and two beautiful children. I say beautiful, though I have no idea what he and his family look like. But the way he describes them and their adventures, it's pure beauty and I just can't help but fall in love with his family. His wife occasionally drops by my blog and leaves the funniest comments. Go check them out!

Mrs. Mogul If funny blogs are your thing, let Mrs. Mogul entertain you with her many hilarious posts about herself as a big city mom, about celebrities and about her adventures in the big city. She has a toddler born a few days apart from Monkey and she'll be welcoming a big city baby in a few months!

Teahouseblossom THB is funny, intelligent and writes about her life as a young career woman in NYC. (Woops. I promise you there are bloggers not in the NYC area that make my day too.). She's about to be married and she writes vividly about the organization of this upcoming event.

Arkie Mama One of my favorite "mommy blogs". Her posts about her family of 6 (4 children! I cannot even begin to imagine) are often hilarious and well written. She has the talent to write about not only the fun times but also the tough times in life in a funny, insightful and serious way. Making you laugh, but when you close her blog, you can't help but think about what she just said. It's people like Arkie Mama who can send a good message, a life lesson as you will, but not in a teacher kind of way.

And than, there's Heidi of Viking Conquest. Heidi and her beautiful family are on a long trip to Europe. Her posts about her journey through different parts of the continent make my day. Not just because of her gorgeous pictures, but because the guts it takes to take your family and live your dream. For me reading her blog is like hearing that quote "Live life like there's no tomorrow" (who said that anyway). And for that, she often makes my day. A true inspiration.

What a LONG post. It took me several days, segmented in about 2.4 gazillion 1 - second - writing - blocks to actually write it. I feel like I gave birth all over. Actually, I gave birth to both my children under 3.5 hours, so this post was way more difficult to get out.

The noice that brings silence at cooking time

What doesn't belong in this photo?

23 hours of the 24 hours of my mother of two - days I can handle pretty good (if I do say so myself, I am so modest). But that one hour, say, between 5 PM and 6 PM? I get a little stressed. Because in that one hour I have two problems and one big challenge: to magically turn ingredients into a healthy dinner on the table.

I present problems A and B:

Problem A: a 2-year old toddler who has been experiencing with skipping naps and between 5 and 6 goes nuts from from lack of energy "Let's see what mommy does when I stick a cucumber in the cats ear" and "Let's see what mommy does when I play soccer with a tomato" and "Let's see what mommy does when I try to feed my baby sister potatoes"

Problem B: a two month old baby, who's favorite time to cry is between 5 PM and 6 PM.

See how cooking a meal can be challenging?

In general I fix "problem A", by letting Monkey help me. He's got his own apron and oven gloves and I let him snack of the vegetables. If I ignore the occasional flying pieces of carrot and unions, this works pretty well.

I've tried the apron on "Problem B". But the blue apron doesn't go well with her pink clothes she's not really into that yet. A few days ago, the clock turned to cooking time and little miss Roo started to cry. The loudness of that crying (you won't believe the volume that comes out of this little pink thing) caused a brain fart which made me remember an article about white noise and colic babies.

And voila: a hair blower in the kitchen.

Laugh all you want (I bet our gas & electricity company does) But it WORKED! The baby was happily asleep. And when the baby is happy, mommy is happy and when mommy is happy EVERYBODY is happy (and feed)

I said HAPPY... SMILE.

What's that? SMIIIIIIIIIIIIILE to the internet people.

Good kid. Now take that zucchini out of that cat's ass and give it back to mommy. I need it for the salad I'll have to throw it away now.