Being snobby helps

Before we flew of to Washington for 12 days, we discussed renting a car and getting a car seat. FreezeM compared the prices of renting a car seat with buying one. Buying would be either the same price of cheaper than renting. He suggested we could buy one and give it to a charity before we'd fly back to Europe, rather than just making the rental company happy.

Zandria got the car seat for us and offered to find a charity to give it to. I thought I'd safe her time and the effort. I made the bold assumption that the hotel housekeeping would know someone, pregnant or with a baby, in need of a car seat. How arrogant is that. Very, I know. But I just figured leaving a note in the room, would do no harm. Worst case scenario (and I was a bit afraid of that), housekeeping would be offended and would just throw away the note thinking we were snobs or something. Besides that, I was a little concerned I might be doing something that didn't go well with hotel policy. But both things I could blame on us being European: we don't know any better.

So Monday morning we left a note for housekeeping. When we came back I found the sweetest note of C. saying a couple of thank you's and "Will pick it up at 5".

At exactly 5 there was a very gentle knock on the door. We opened and a very cheerful Columbian woman in her thirties walked in. She talked about how happy she was with our offer. Turns out that our maid found out she was pregnant just a few days ago. She didn't plan to have a baby. But she was SO happy. We had a nice talk (even though our native languages weren't English, she was from Colombia and had only lived in the US for 8 months) and off she went to bring it downstairs to her boyfriend. It was just awesome to see and meet her.

Donating money to a cause is something that makes me happy. But you don't really get to see what your money did. Meeting C. and seeing what a small gift can do, that is awesome.

I'm glad we decided to be snobby.

Oh my god, they're taking a baby on board

So we're home! The last 18 hours in a nutshell...

Wakie wakie little Tim....

We started with a last breakfast with Zandria. So far we've met her in Amsterdam, The Hague, L.A. and Washington. What's next?

Breakfast at Old Ebbitt, just a short stroll from our hotel.

Hugs & kisses. Where will we meet next?

Our way back home began with Beth picking us up from our hotel at 2 PM. After check in we went through security. I hate that part. Especially when you have to take off your belt and shoes. I was holding Tim (who I had to take out of the stroller) and walked through the detector. I was told to get back and remove my shoes. I did, walked on my socks through the detector. When I got a annoyed "the baby's shoes too." He was wearing sandals. Sandals.

Boarding the plane I got quite a few - Oh my god, they're taking a baby on board, please don't let them sit next to me-looks. Whereas on the way to the US I didn't get those at all. But, whatever. We were seated in the front row middle isle, next to a man that literally sighed and looked annoyed when he saw Tim. I went to the main flight attended and asked him very politely if there was any two-seat window space available, we would be very happy to take it as it would be more comfortable with the baby. He DOUBLED my request! We got to move to an empty row with FOUR seats. So Tim got to sleep like six out of the seven hours right in between us. Perfect solution. Both our flights were with KLM and I highly recommend it. Great staff, enough space, personal entertainment system and a little less than horrible flight food.

Ssssshh

The time difference is 6 hours. So even though Tim slept for 6 hours (he normally sleeps 12 hours), it was already 7.30 AM when we arived at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. My father picked us up and we were home at 10.

We all napped for about 3 hours and we forced ourselves out of bed. Don't want the jet lag to win this battle. But after a night of pretty much not any sleep for me.. getting up after such a short nap was not easy. Every bone, muscle, vein, cell (and what else there is in there) was protesting with little signs saying: Nap too short, stay in bed - Nap too short, stay in bed - Nap too short, stay in bed - I found two muscles that where willing to help me get into the shower.

Tim wasn't really happy about the fact we disturbed his nap either. So after a little late lunch, we took him to the playground. Where he played. And I played dead.

Tim is asleep now, from 7 PM. His normal sleeping time. I'm hoping he'll sleep through the night and ignores the jet lag. It's really weird to be at home again. For one we have to do the laundry ourselves. I'm kind of hoping that if I throw it in the bathtub, housekeeping will pick it up and do it for us.

It's goodbye

In less than 24 hours we'll be on our way back home. Beth is going to drive us to the Dulles Airport after 12 days of fun, beautiful sights, great moments, fine cuisine, and wonderful friends.

Admittedly, DC is the first US area I had to get used to instead of fallen in love head over heals at first sight. With getting used to, I'm especially referring to the business area our hotel is in. But in a few days I loved it, and now I'll miss it. Even though G.W. forgot to invite us for dinner.

Tim is saying: Mr. Bush come out and meet me! I'm cute!

See you on the other side of the ocean!

Meeting people

This has been a weird vacation. In a good way, I mean. We have met and hang out with a lot of people here.

We started we our rendez vous with Zandria, she picked us up from the airport and we were very lucky to hang out with her for a few days. Besides from being an awesome friend, she also is our personal chauffeur, she took us to just about everything we wanted to. We also got to meet a good friend of hers. Luckily, today we get to hang out with both of them some more today.

Yesterday we had lunch with Chris, Beth and they beautiful daughter Mia. It was great meeting up with them again. Having read their blogs for so many years, I thought I knew they were pretty nice people. But they're way nicer than I imagined. They're cool, fun and they have amazing parenting skills. The love for their daughter shows in about every step they take and the way they hang out with her is really awesome. Mia has a little crush on Tim, but I think Tim thinks about her too. Every time we say Mia he gets a grin on his face.

We also got to meet TJ, Nicole and their very cute son yesterday. We had dinner in a Mexican restaurant where they celebrated Cinco de Mayo. It was really great to meet them after reading about their lives on their blogs for I think at least 4 years. We had a lot of fun.

Tonight Anouk - who we saw Friday too for a lovely dinner in Bethesda - will pick us up for a BBQ at their house. We're very much looking forward to that. Anouk is a Dutch girl who's been living in DC for a few years. She's a lot of fun to hang out with and we're eager to meet her not yet husband Jacco.

So after today, there's just Monday. Our last full day in DC. We're still debating what to do Monday. Maybe George W. will call us. He's about the only one we haven't met this trip. Even though our hotel is so close, we're practically neighbors!

Memorial

Dear grandpa,

Thousands of miles away from home, May 4th comes along. Here it's just like any other day, for people at home it's Memorial Day. We decided it was a good day to visit Arlington National Cemetery and remember those who died in World War II and you. You were lucky to survive the war. But I know the war left you with memories you spend your life trying to forget. I wasn't fortunate to know you, but today I remembered you.

Together with my husband, friends and your great grandson we witnessed a ceremony. And as the music was playing and the sun placed a beautiful light upon the memorial building of the Unknown Soldier, it was truly as if you were there for just that moment.

Remembering,
Nadine

The new president, wild baby, sorry and excuse me

Off to the White House he went:

Today was kind of slow (like holidays should be :) We left the hotel at 10.30 this morning. Visited the National Air & Space museum, which was invested by high school kids. We escaped and went to Eastern Market, which appeared to be burned down. No luck there either. So we headed to a organic supermarket to get some food for Tim.

And just now we had dinner in a Italian restaurant called Aria. There Tim showed us how not to behave at dinner. It's a good thing the restaurant was quiet. The proof:

I hope TJ and Nicole still want to have dinner with us Saturday after seeing that!

And since I'm sharing little movies.. here's one of Tim running around like a mad man in the museum of Natural history. We're kind of torn between keeping him from running (.. into other people) and keeping him close to us. He's still a baby. He LOVES to explore new things and run around. But I don't want him bumping into people, because that's kinda rude.

On that note, I'm really curious. When do I use "Sorry" and when do I use "Excuse me?".

As you can see, we're learning how to deal with baby puberty!

D.C. pictures #2

Enjoying ourselves! The proof yesterdays and todays pictures:

Letting the expert choose a wine

Visiting George. Although we haven't actually been inside yet.

The Capitol outside

And inside. And would you believe that even though it was beautiful inside, people were actually making pictures of Tim?

OK, who can resist such a cutie?

Searching for relatives in the Museum of Natural History

Ah! Found one!

Visiting the Baltimore aquarium

BIG fish

We loved Baltimore harbor!

And having a lovely dinner tonight at our hotels restaurant. Where I can recommend the duck...

..and my finger.

D.C. pictures!

We are really enjoying our holiday! The city is great, the weather couldn't be better and we got to hang around with some awesome people.

Sunday we spend a very nice afternoon with Chris, Beth, their unbelievable cute daughter Mia and Zandria I think Mia stole Bambi's eyes. She has the biggest brown eyes you'll ever see. It was awesome hanging out with all of them. And they didn't even laugh at our European accent! We only know them through our blogs and I think it's just the coolest thing how internet makes the world just a little bit smaller.

Some pictures of our trip:

Tim is really into monuments

Me, Tim & Zandria next to the reflecting pool

The monument again

Walking around with daddy

Watching the bears at the zoo

Getting hugs and kisses from Mia

According to Tim, the waterfall was the coolest animal.

All of us together in the zoo. Made with Chris' really cool remote controlled camera.

JL'd in DC*

*jet lagged in our hotel room at 6 AM in DC

I'm not really good at adjusting to time difference. I've been awake since 4.30 AM. FreezeM is doing a lot better. Tim however is just a little angel. He has magically adjusted perfectly in his normal sleeping routine. Hooray!

He handled the plane right pretty good too. He cried only once or twice. And that probably had more to do with him being hungry than the plane itself.

The lovely Zandria picked us up from Dulles airport Friday and drove us to our hotel. We spend a great day with her yesterday at the Mall. We saw the Washington monument, the Lincoln memorial and the reflection pool. I am in awe about all the HUGE buildings here in D.C.

Today we're going to the zoo with Zandria and the cutest couple Chris and Beth. It's a bit strange to meet people that you've only known through reading each others blogs. It's been many years since I visited a zoo. And Tim has NEVER been to one. So I'm pretty excited about today.

Now if I can only get over this jet lag! Tonight I am going to drink a LOT of coffee so I'll force myself to not sleep until 12. And hopefully, that will launch me into a normal sleeping hours again.

The second day of Christmas

For those who don’t know, in The Netherlands we celebrate two days of Christmas. Don’t ask me why. Usually the first day is spend at one family and the second day at the other side of the family. At least, I think that’s what most couples do.

But not today:
The hubby is painting the living room ceiling in our new house. Tim is sleeping in his crib. And while I should be getting ready to visit my in-laws, I am laying in bed with my Apple, drinking hot tea and eating some toast with French cheese.

I could not resist our comfy bed when I put Tim in his crib. We’ve been very busy in our new house. Also, my parents came to visit us yesterday. And while I thought about making a simple dinner, I cannot do simple. So we spend hours and hours in the kitchen. I have to say, we made the best chicken ever! It was flambéed chicken in Dutch gin, cooked in beer. It was delicious. And for the very first time, I made a vegan chocolate cake. Mmmm! It was GREAT. You’ll find the recipe here.

Happy holidays everyone!

(this is our best attempt of making Tim wear a Santa hat)

Now, how will I get out of bed?