Long Time Coming

We have not chatted in a while.  Things this summer have been a bit nuts.  I feel like the summer came and went and now we are already preparing for our journey back to the USA for good.  Yes, that’s right.  We are heading back to the USA and packing up in Germany.  Due to that, I feel I need to finish my online journal journey of CD growing up in Germany.

Now as some time has passed from these events until now, I will most likely just post pictures with a little description.  Plus, I have just been too exhausted and drained lately to do it…and there is a lot to do!  I would rather spend my time hugging CD and playing with him.   🙂

We left off at the end of June, right after his 2 year birthday party.  Wow.  That was a lot of fun!  Now we move on to other things.  🙂

26 June:

I had tried to get a play group started with kids who were a little older than CD as he was feeling like he was the “big kid on the block” and taking advantage of the younger friends he had.  I kept telling him that he will have no friends if he keeps treating them like that.  Of course he did not listen.  We did manage to meet an older boy and have some meetups at the park, but it was tough with the summertime holiday (vacation) schedules.  On one occasion, the boys were all about the trucks at the park.  One worker was kind enough to let the boys sit and play in the truck.

Park Truck

Driving the Big Truck

27 June:

We had some play time at O’s.  The boys love looking out the window and seeing the cars go by on the street below.  Thanks O for teaching CD to say “car”!

Look…a car!

28 June

We celebrated Aunt C’s birthday by unwrapping some fun toys ourselves!

Cookie Monster and Elmo!

Eating a good meal

And topping the day off with some ice cream at Vapianos

29 June

A day of who knows what…looks like more eating and a trip to the train station.

Mama’s Little Helper

Pineapple

Egg

Snacks

Ice Pop

Ice Pop

Train Station

Flower Fun

30 June

Looks like a day of a little University and Palmengarten fun.

Bike Time

University Bike

University

Running

Running

Music Time

Palmengarten

Palmengarten

Palmengarten

Palmengarten Water Play with Mama’s Umbrella

Palmengarten

Palmengarten

Palmengarten

And then came the “accident”.  CD fell into the water pit and came up soaking wet.  He then refused to wear any clothes so the compromise was this:

Walk of Shame 🙂

Walk of Shame 🙂

And he refused to sit in the stroller with the blanket on his legs.  So our only thing to do was a walk of shame home.  🙂  People thought it was hilarious and CD did not care…so I did not care.  🙂  The joys and non-restrictions of being a kid.  No adult would be fine walking home mid-day in their underwear.  🙂

So that brings us through June…now just July, August, September, October and part of November to go!

Off to bed to rest up for another post tomorrow…hopefully!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hamburg, Germany

C had bought tickets to the Lion King in Hamburg as a gift for CD’s birthday.  Unfortunately, C had to travel so CD and I went alone.

It was a relaxing trip and we stayed in a wonderful location. CD got to run around in the pedestrian areas that were just a stones throw away from the hotel.

We took the train on Friday, 21 June.

Waiting for the train

Waiting on the platform

Some entertainment on the train

CD did such a good job on the train.  He had a good time and it was a wonderful trip.  We were comfortable and had nice company to travel with on the train.

Once we arrived at the hotel, I knew that CD would need to get up and move since he had been contained on a train…with no nap for a little over 4 hours.  So we just quick threw the bags in the room and headed out to explore and run a bit.

Must…run…off…energy

Watching himself run in the glass

This was right outside the hotel.  There was a long path where CD could run freely and I felt comfortable.  We…I mean CD, did this for quite some time and then we moved on to explore some of the area around us.

CD running into the Welcome Center courtyard

CD at fountain

Self-portrait in the wind. It was windy all over the city.

Watching the ducks.

Fountain in the water.

It is WATER, but Conor wanted to drink out of the water-glass at the hotel restaurant so I let him.

22 June was the real reason we came to Hamburg: The Lion King show.  I was worried about nap time and the start of the show, but all worked out well.  In the morning we went to Miniatur Wunderland (Miniatur Wunderland – Wikipedia).  Conor enjoyed it and it was great for him.  They even had a baby change area…where they provided diapers and baby wipes, a kids theater with mini Ikea chairs, a play area with big bean bags, ladders, toys and paper and crayons to draw.  It was wonderful!

Outside Miniatur Wunderland

The bellman at the hotel gave us an umbrella, but CD thought it was his walking stick.  🙂

# of USA guests to the location

CD looking at a display in the educational section of the place

Miniatur Wunderland Trains – YouTube  Some of the video of the trains at Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany.

Miniatur Wunderland Plane Take Off – YouTube  One of the planes taking off at Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany.

Playground

Beer garden

CD is REALLY into cranes right now. He points out EVERY ONE he sees, so I took a picture of the ones here.

In the kids theater. In the mini Ikea chair.

Play area

Play area

Play area

Play area

Play area

Play area

CD playing with a lion. Little did he know that later that day we would be going to see the Lion King.

Riding in the toy train

The restaurant actually had these seats to sit in…like you were on a real train. CUTE!

CD snack

We then headed back to the hotel to get lunch, nap and prepare for the Lion King.

CD LOVED the water and SO wanted to get in it.

Instead, I took him to the hotel “pool” which was really a spa and had “kid hours” to not disturb the other spa guests.  We had a blast at the spa, but the pool water was too chilly, so CD had more fun in the shower.  🙂  Such a water baby!

On the ferry to the show

On the ferry to the show

The venue

The venue

CD’s head looking at the closed stage curtain

Waiting for the show to start

Waiting for the show to start

Waiting for the show to start

Watching the show

NO ONE took pictures and when I tried…the lighting didn’t make the pictures come out so we just sat and enjoyed the show.

Intermission snack time…and run time

Intermission snack time…and run time

The “cast”

The “cast”

CD watching the cast accepting the wild applause from the audience

CD enjoyed the show but only got antsy at the very end.  The show from start to finish was 3 hours.  He enjoyed ALL of the applause throughout the show from the audience and joined in on it.  He pointed out the giraffes and enjoyed when the “animals” came down the stairs and right past us.  He laughed at points when you really shouldn’t have laughed, but that is part of the joy of being a child…you don’t have the social ques to know that.  You are just innocent as a child…which is sweet.

After the show

Ferry ride after the show

Ferry ride after the show

Ship seen from the ferry

Ice cream after the show

Ice cream after the show

CD checking out a street performer

Street performer

CD playing the instruments that the street performer had for the children to play

CD playing the instruments that the street performer had for the children to play

CD Playing with a Street Performer in Hamburg, Germany – YouTube  CD playing the instruments that the street performer had for the children to play.  He loved it and it was a great idea for a street performer.  He knew his crowd and we for sure paid him since it was such a GREAT idea!

Tired baby

Sunday morning (23 June) came when we were going to be packing and getting ready to leave by early afternoon.  I woke up early and so did CD, but I just rolled over and so did CD.  At 8am I moved around and started to pack.  Then 9am I opened the curtains and turned on the radio.  Finally, at 9:30 CD popped his head up in the crib.  This had never happened, but was great….besides the fact that I was STARVING as I was unable to get dinner Saturday night….long story.  We quickly shuffled off to breakfast, where I lost most of my meal to CD, but he had a hearty breakfast after a great sleep.  🙂

Hard boiled egg

Baked beans…English style

We then relaxed and headed to the train station for our trip back to Frankfurt.  When we got to the train station…UGH!!!  DOUBLE BIG UGH!!!  The escalators up to the train station were not working so I had to pick off passer-by people to help lift the stroller and bag to the upper level.  Then when we got there…DOUBLE UGH AGAIN as there were only stairs and escalators down to the train tracks.  After a fumble and recovery…of luggage, not CD, we made it down and actually ended up chatting with the lady who we almost knocked out with our luggage.  She was sweet and had grown boys of her own.   THANK GOD for the sweet traveler!  P.S.  I ALWAYS pretend I don’t understand if someone is yelling or scolding me.  HA!  Then I given them a sneer and walk away.  She was sweet though.  🙂

When we got on the train, it was already full, someone took our reserved seats and refused to move, so I brushed it off and it actually worked to our advantage as we got one of the special “Quiet” cabins ALL to ourselves.  We traveled for a long time in there where CD was able to move around, read, eat snack and chat at all the things he saw traveling by through the window.

Quiet cabin car on train…with hotel stuffed sheep they gave us!

Quiet cabin car on train…with hotel stuffed sheep they gave us!

The next group to join us in the car was a mom and a 6-year-old boy.  CD and the boy had a BLAST with each other.  They kept saying “boo” to each other.  CD shared his Ipad and snacks and had a great time with the entertaining boy.  The mom and I were able to talk too, which was nice.  They didn’t stay on the train too long, but it made a chunk of the travel pass by with fun.

That now ends our trip to Hamburg, Germany.  What I took away from it:  CD LOVES: the water (which I kind of knew), cranes and entertaining travel partners.  😉

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures…End of Catching Up

This will bring you up to date on CD.

“Bus Stop” Ab Workout – YouTube   CD loves to sit here when I’m in the bedroom doing stuff.  C’s folded clothes are the perfect height for him to sit on while he holds the “bus” poles.  Not sure if you can see the smudges on the pole where he always holds it.  🙂  He is working his abs as he is getting ready for bathing suit weather.  🙂

LOVES the goats!

Can you spot CD in the line looking at the camels?

Having a “moment” to himself to take care of “business”

Are you serious???

Winning the race

Each of them is driving on their countries “correct” side

Merry-go-around

Result of playing in the parks

Yet again 🙂

Thirsty boy

Perfect polo

Snoozing

Chicken stick

“I see” the flowers with his “happy meal” box

Face paint sunscreen

Ice cream time

With Little E

With the big boys

The result of playing with the big boys

Morning snack

Watching the rain

Driving a firetruck

Stealing a pram from the play area. Literally had to chase him down because he would not return with it! 🙂

Learning to “blow” the dandelion seeds

Running…can’t…stop

Airplane run

“Let me in please”

Intriguing leaf

Cool hat

Cool shades

Let’s dig

Kickball

Working together

Helping hands

First bike ride

Racing doggies

O’s birthday party. Who is by the food table???? Yes, that would be CD.

For Uncle TS- Police Car

Boy clubhouse meeting

Unwrapping a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

You get the wrapper Mama

Truck time

Contact Lens Wearing CD – YouTube  CD putting his contact lenses in his eyes in the morning.  Just kidding!  He is pretending to put them in just like Mama.  🙂

Play kitchen

CD wants to keep wearing his winter boots and hat…and mittens too!

Sunny day shopping

Play date with friends

Mama’s new shoes fit…kind of. 🙂

Chopstick lunch

Grüne sauce festival

Hanging with E

Park with E

Spring-y thing

Someone else playing too!

New shades

Outfit of choice in the morning: polar bear long sleeve shirt, no pants and winter boots. Thank goodness we didn’t have to go anywhere until later in the day. 🙂

Bike ride to play date

Play date

Watering the flowers

GP would be proud. CD was ALL over the Black & Decker tool bench. He loved the “working” drill.

Let me just say I’m pretty wiped out today.  We had an okay morning, but then things kind of went downhill from there.  CD is FULL-BLOWN toddler right now.  LOVES to say “Nein” (No) and has his own opinion.  I can deal with these.  What I can’t deal with is being slapped.  Yes, he does it…just like a bunch of other toddlers.  We are working through it and I hope to get to the end of it soon…for my sake.  🙂

Hope you all enjoy the photo shoot of CD.  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdam/ Tulip Festival Trip

What do you do when you can’t sleep…for several days/weeks?  You blog at midnight knowing you will be wide awake at 4am.  

We went on a trip to Amsterdam and the Tulip Festival with a L, her 2 kids and her m-i-l.  We had a great time and it was the first time in a while that I felt “free” and I know I can control that- other parts of my life I can’t.  It was exhilarating!  We rented a car this time and made the drive.  It’s amazing what being behind the wheel of a car can do for me.  Has some deep seeded calming and healing properties.

Waiting to pick up the rental car

Fast asleep!

Along the way we stopped at a rest stop and it was BY FAR the coolest rest stop I have been to:  It had a kid play area complete with slide and all!

Train Play

Once we got to our apartment rentals, we settled in for the night.  We all had dinner together and then CD and I went to our apartment.  The place was pretty cool and if I can get around it, I will never stay in a hotel room while I live in Europe.  It is just so much easier and more relaxing when it is a setup like this with a child.  Both parties are happier!  🙂

The next day (18 April), we explored Amsterdam.  It was a gorgeous day, despite the VERY STRONG winds.  We were literally blown over half of the time!  Amsterdam is a lot of fun and I would return in a heartbeat.  There were TONS of people so unfortunately CD did not get to walk much, but he did get to really use the travel stroller!  It was great and I love it.

Bike Parking

They aren’t kidding you when they talk about ALL THE BIKES in Holland.  It is no joke.  This was just one area where there were literally hundreds of bikes parked.  They also have parking garages…meant just for bikes!!!  It is insane.  And the people who ride the bikes claim the road as their own.  They don’t stop, even if they are going to get hit by a car!

Central Train Station

L had mentioned prior to our trip about the vending machines in Central Station and other areas.  I told her we needed to get something from them and we hunted them down in the train station.  It was fabulous and fun!  You pop your money into the black slots and then you open the windowed door to retrieve your food.  We had the croquettes and of course fries with mayo!  Yum!

Vending Machine Lunch

A chunk of our time was spent doing a boat tour of Amsterdam- what better way to see the city than by its canals?!

Cruising on the boat…or should I say greenhouse?

The boat tour was a good way to get out of the way of the fierce wind, however with it being sunny and us being enclosed in a glass ceiling, it made us a bit sweaty.  CD stripped down to his striped t-shirt.

Greenhouse Hair

Furniture Hook

One of the interesting facts on the boat tour was that there are hooks off of the roofs of the buildings that they now use to hoist furniture/ or other bulk items into buildings with since most of the passageways are too narrow.  I feel like most of the places in Philly need this.  Would make things a lot easier.

Muntorren

Madame Tussauds

Anne Frank House

Funny note:  While we were out for the day, both CD and E peed through their outfits.  Luckily, E had lost her shoe which brought us into a department store in order to find her another pair of shoes.  We both ended up buying new outfits for the kids!  HA!  I swear the outfit that CD peed in is cursed as it is the same one that he peed in on our ski trip.   He wasn’t in his diaper long for either of them!  HA!

We then headed back to the apartments after a long day.  CD then went to town on inhaling food and eating all of the humus.  We had to buy more.  🙂

Amster-dancing – YouTube

And then at night we had some fun.  Here we come RED LIGHT DISTRICT!!!!  With babies in tow.

The District

Red Lights!

CD shrouded

19 April we woke up and did the Diamond tour.  Learned a bit more about diamonds.  I did not purchase any of them though.  🙂

Diamond Lecture Amusement

Cookies…Not Carats

We then headed out to the Tulip Festival.  Arriving at Keukenhof, this is what we saw:

Bundled Up

It was chilly when we arrived and there were rain storms that went through so we decided to grab something to eat first and then head out afterwards.  When we were ready to explore the flowers, the skies had cleared a bit though it was still chilly.

I was here!

Look Mama, Tulips!

Tulip Design with Tulips

Keukenhof Music – YouTube

Happy as a tulip dancing to the music

Wooden Shoes

This will be the size of CD’s feet once he is finished growing!

And then there were the indoor flowers.

With O

Spotting the Windmill

Wee one’s trundle-bed

Making new friends

Do-pa

Chasing O- Ring around the tulip bush

CD with O and a new friend

And this concluded our trip.  Here is a photo of the group by O:

And here is a photo by m-i-l with O in the picture:

We then headed to the airport to say goodbye to m-i-l.  While there we  grabbed some food from the vending machine for one last hurrah prior to our drive to head back to Frankfurt.  Couldn’t resist!  🙂

There was also a reminder of Brother Bear at the airport too:

Pug in Esprit ad

CD got changed into his pajamas and we started the night drive back to Frankfurt.

Dino Jammies

Oh the Interesting Things!

****Check out the comment from my friend in the last post to see yet another video of CD laughing.  O in entertaining him at the park on 1 April.  Thanks for the video M!****

2 April

We have been feeding the birds outside our bedroom windows in preparation for one of CD’s Easter gifts- a bird feeding station.  The Easter Bunny thought that CD would have fun watching the birds, and he does.  I can never get pictures of the birds at the spots until today.  This is just one of the feeder rings that we have.  CD has a window viewing station too.

Bird

Went shopping since we couldn’t go for last 2 days.  I decided to go to the bigger store so I could be guaranteed that I get everything for the dinner I had planned for tonight.  But wait, they don’t carry what I need.  Only the little one does.  Ditch that dinner plan and save it for another day when I can get the ingredients.

New Traveling Buddy

On the walk, CD saw this huge phone and decided he was going to use it just like Mama’s.  Doesn’t quite work the same.  🙂

Making BIG phone calls

CD then had lunch and was back for a long nap.  While he napped, I chugged on with the blog.  Now I’m caught up!

I also met with our German teacher to get paperwork organized to send in to get money back for having CD here.  Stressful time but funny.  CD has not been tooting too much lately.  Then the German teacher shows up and he starts cracking them like no other.  Of course me, the civilized mother, couldn’t stop laughing after he did the first one, but then I composed myself and focused on the task at hand-getting the info that we needed for the paperwork.

We have some sad news:  CD was playing around with his favorite shopping cart, when he fell on it and disconnected the wheel from the bottom part.  CD was fine- not hurt but I told him I would try to fix the cart.  What came in handy to do this you might ask????!!!  Ducktape for sure!  I just hope it holds otherwise I will need to go to Toys R Us (UGH!) and hope they still carry them.  You can see the break above the yellow wheel on the blue frame part.

Broken Cart

Mode of Transportation 2 – YouTube  CD Army crawling on the floor.

CD had also taken one of our glass jars and used it as a toy.  He thought the sound that it made when it rolled was awesome.  It really was and I want him to experience all the sounds, smells, tastes, sights, feelings of his world…within reason, so I let him roll it a bit.  I made sure he wasn’t too rough with it to break it, but it would take a lot to actually crack it.

Glass Jar Toy

Glass Jar Roll – YouTube  CD rolling a glass jar.

3 April

We had plans with friends to go to the zoo.  We were ready and actually were able to leave on time to get to the zoo!  CD for some reason wanted to listen and followed everything I asked, so when he was ready I slapped his coat on him and ran with it!  🙂

When we saw our concierge, he had a present for CD!  He really is great with CD.  They both look forward to seeing each other.  We thanked him and then CD wanted to eat it.  I told him it was too early in the morning for chocolate.  He didn’t agree but gave up the fight.

Concierge Chocolate Gift

We took the Ubahn to the zoo and right before we got off, I wanted to send myself a reminder of something, so I took out my phone and set the reminder.  Then I got off the Ubahn, walked down the platform, went up one lift (elevator), walked to the next lift (elevator), went up that lift and then finally came out onto ground level.  At this point it was exactly 11:00, when we were all supposed to meet.  So I went and reached for my phone.  But wait…no phone…in ANY of my pockets!!!!!!  FREAKING OUT AND PANIC sets in as this is my only form of communication besides my computer at home, which still could not help me if I needed to call an ambulance or any form of emergency response crew.  This is how you think as a mom.  If I was single I would be like: “man, I lost my phone.  I need to go and put a block on it.”  But as a mom you say: “what am I going to do if my child is choking, can’t breathe, is turning blue and NO ONE around me will let me use their phone to make a life or death situation phone call.”  Sorry for the grim thought, but it is true.  That is also why I carry a first aid kit with me everywhere I go with CD.  When it is just me, who cares if I fall and start bleeding??  Anyway, back to the story.  I basically rip EVERYTHING apart on the corner of the street- extra clothes, snacks, wallet, keys, etc. are strewn about in my frantic yet organized search for my phone.  NOTHING.  I then decide I will retrace my steps.  Can’t find anything all the way down to the tracks of the Ubahn.  I go back up and wait for a friend to arrive.  L shows up first so I ask her to call my phone.  She does.  NOTHING.  I tell her to text it saying if someone finds it to respond.  NOTHING.  I give up as there is nothing I can do right then in there….and I know I’m with friends who would let me use their phone if an emergency happened.  🙂  We then go into the zoo to have some fun.  I was upset though because I wouldn’t be able to get any pictures of CD at the zoo.  And he had a great time.  All the little birds had their babies out and CD was able to get REALLY close to them.  It was cute!

We met with L and some of her older son’s school buddies.  One of the families happened to be the family that we sat across from on the Easter Bunny Tram!!!  It is a small world after all I guess.

And then tragedy struck again.  CD had reached into my bag and got out a little Ernie figurine that N had sent him.  He wanted to show the big boys his toy and he did.  He also showed the zebras it as it plummeted down into their enclosure. The one dad that was with us (the one from the Bunny Tram) said he would jump down and get it and I told him that was very kind, but it was a long way down, I would just ask a worker and I didn’t want him to get arrested.  He laughed and thought it best not to do it.  All CD could say was “uh oh.”  At the end of our outing to the zoo, I found a worker who told me that I could return tomorrow to hopefully reclaim the poor lost Ernie.  I pray they get him and I can get him back.  Fingers crossed- look for an update on this one.

Also, shortly before we left, I was standing with L, J and our kids when those cute Mama and Daddy birds literally flew right between J and myself.  I freaked out as I don’t really like birds flying at my head (ever since that awful mockingbird season awhile ago).  J and L had a good laugh at me freaking out but in the end we were ALL able to laugh….after I removed my fingernails from J’s arm.  🙂

Good news of the trip?  I recovered my phone.  J had offered up one of her’s so that I would have a phone in case of an emergency until I got something figured out, but luckily I didn’t need to borrow it.  THANK YOU!

When we returned to the apartment, I wanted to check on 2 packages that were supposedly attempted to be delivered but nothing ever happened with them.  As soon as I reread the note that DHL had left, I realized that our neighbor had the packages.  Now I felt bad as they were housing our stuff for a few days now.  As soon as I found this out, our neighbor rang our bell and I apologized for the misunderstanding.

The packages were CD’s new travel stroller.  Yes, the one that I searched multiple countries, called around places, had an awful experience at Toys R Us, etc.  It really came!!!!  I put it together and so far love it.  CD does too as he refused to get out of it and commanded that I stroll him around the apartment in it.  What a goof!

New Travel Stroller…Or Living Room Chair

HUGE Sun Canopy

Resting My Feet

Travel Buddies

The other package is a combo stroller/bike thing.  Can’t quite explain it.  Will put it together tomorrow as I’m too tired from my eventful day and blogging to do it tonight.

P.S.  CD doesn’t get the point that he is supposed to go to bed at nighttime.  He thinks it is ludicrous that I am putting him to bed when it is still light outside.  He doesn’t complain, so I don’t mind but he is awake in his crib for a awhile by himself before he falls asleep.

Easter Weekend

I had heard about an Easter Bunny Tram ride that you could take the kids on and said “sign us up”.  A few days before I planned our route to get to the tram stop.  We would have to take 2 Ubahn lines and then walk.  Not bad since I knew the general layout of where we were going, but not the end location.  I had also decided that I was going to carry CD in the baby carrier since there probably wasn’t going to be too much room on the tram.  This was going to be a big feat, but I was prepared for it.

Then I woke up on 30 March- the day of the Easter Bunny Tram.  And I had pulled my neck, which means this whole, carrying CD and actually just moving in general was going to be quite tough.  We did it though and rode the 2 Ubahns and then started our walk to the final location- the tram stop, when what do I notice about halfway through our walk????  The bus, that runs from literally right outside our apartment door, drops off here!  Ugh!  Anyway, I noted it and told CD we would be riding the bus back after the tram experience.

We had a good time going all over the city.  It was a decorated tram car with window clings and decorated eggs hanging from the bars you would hold onto on the inside.

Tram front view

Tram side view

CD’s seat

Snuggle Bunny

Self portrait

Corralled children

When the tram finally stopped, everyone got off to listen to the directions (in German) for the egg hunt.  I understood that you were to pick up 3 different kinds of candy.  Then we were off and running.

COMPLETELY missed the “bunny hole”!

Mama sent him back in that direction.

Finally!

We found the egg!

And ANOTHER stick!

CD’s basket

Now, you read that I mentioned 3 pieces of candy, right?  And you see 3 things in his basket, right?  Well, the pink little egg doesn’t count because they gave that with the basket.  So we really only have 2 pieces.  CD was done at this point and saw the older kids who took off like the hare in The Tortoise and the Hare (like the bunny reference??) were now on their way to play on the playground.  CD wanted to go too.  So we went.  Kind of.  They had a person standing between the egg hunt area and the playground to CHECK YOUR BASKET!  Most of the time they had to tell kids they took TOO MANY things, but in CD’s case, they told him to go back and get more.  I told them 3 times that he isn’t going to eat it, and we really don’t need it.  Plus the real reason?  I knew CD wanted to play and it would have taken me FOREVER to find 1 piece of candy in the field as most of the candy was already scooped up by the other kids.  FINALLY, they let us just go.  I thanked the person.  🙂

Picking pebbles

Pebbles – YouTube  CD adding a tripping hazard to the stairs leading to the slide at the playground.

Swinging happily

After some playing at the park, we then boarded the tram again for the return trip.

Snack time on tram

CD ended up falling asleep on the ride back.  We had a good time and I remembered to take the bus home.  It was so much easier!

Afterwards, we went to Rewe to get some things as the stores were closed on Friday, but open today and then were going to be closed on Sunday and Monday for Easter.

A new way to push my bag

Cart boy

Adding to the stick collection, again

31 March  –

Happy Easter!  AND changing the clocks!  I knew it was coming, but didn’t expect it when I woke up this morning.  Oh well.

CD was SO excited to see his Easter surprises.  Especially his chocolate!  He went straight for it at 7:30 am!

Easter 2013 – YouTube  CD going straight for the chocolates and Ernie from N.  The yellow capsule inside the chocolate egg contains a toy.  We know which grandparent he takes after…GP!

The loot

The stash

Spinning the top since he likes stuff that spins.

Using HIS sand toys!

Again, holiday mix up. He loves the book Uncle C!

In the afternoon, we decided we would go to our little courtyard and test out the sand toys.

Ready to go, Mama

Here I come sand!

Sand time

Where is CD? – YouTube  CD decided he wanted to hide behind the bush.

1 April  –

Happy April Fools Day!  We didn’t play any jokes on each other, so that was good.  We did however have an awfully stressful day with teething.  Nothing made CD happy besides sitting and holding him.  Poor thing.  And all he wanted to eat was bananas and all he wanted to drink was milk.  I told him he would turn into a bloated banana smoothie if he kept this up.

Meltdown

And yup, those are spilled Cheerios on the floor in the back.  He apparently did not want those.  🙂

We did have some happy moments.

Stick in hole to the right side of picture. Happy CD!

We had planned on going to the park and we did, after our first short nap in a while (only an hour compared to his 3 hour naps that he has been taking lately).

On the way to the park with Woody. Could not leave the apartment without him!

Finally, our OWN shovel!

Using our shovel

Using our sand mold thing

Hello

Not our ball

Again, not our ball

Not our stroller

Not our stroller, but a different one than the above picture

O: using our rake. CD in background: not our shovel

Not our shovel

Notice a trend yet?!?!? Thought so.  And one more hint if you haven’t gotten it yet:

Not our trike

Who did use our sand toys you ask?  O and other children.  I guess that is what happens.  It is a communal thing going on at the playground…to some extent.

Almost. Caught. Up. With. Posts.

22 March  –

We are back in Germany and CD decides to have some fun with the bubble wrap we had on hand.  N had originally sent some in one of her packages.  We had also brought it on our ski trip as it is a quick and fun toy.  You can step on it, pop it with your fingers and squeeze it.  Oh the fun!

Bubble Wrap Tap Dancing

Bubble Wrap Tap Dancing – YouTube

We then lined up our friends and told them how much we love them.  This much (with arms outstretched)!

I love you thiiiiiiiiiis much!

Then we pretended to be Daddy.

Put on your snazzy shoes

And listened to some music

22 March  –

We have been practicing drinking from a cup.  This was the first day that CD really got it.

Glug, Glug

So Happy!

You can see the marks from the cup on his forehead and going up from the corners of his mouth.

23 March  –

This was another big day for us.  CD went with C to his boss’ house to have their daughter babysit him for a school service project.  I made sure that I packed my day so I would not miss CD too much.  I rallied what friends I could to go out for a few hours.  The girls had a good time and so did CD.

On the train to babysitting land

What?!?! CD even took a nap?!?! Good boy!

Babysitter time

24 March  –

CD had so much fun yesterday, that when I was in the bathroom, he brought his car seat to me, hopped in and asked me to buckle him in there so he could do it all again.

Car ride, please

Instead I took him on the UBahn to an indoor play place that rotates locations every so often.  The company also has a mobile unit that goes to the parks in the summertime and sets up shop there for a few days or so.  When we got there, we couldn’t miss it as there was a line to get in to the place.  I realized then that it would be well worth it for CD.  And it was.  He had so much fun with all the toys and gadgets.

Conveyor belt ride

Riding the Belt – YouTube  As I have mentioned before, CD likes this.  He still is learning to wait in line though.  But he does put his index finger up when I tell him to “wait”.  So cute!!!!

Getting into one of the bounce houses

Now Mama can’t get me out. Can you spot me? I’m all the way in the back to the right of the big balloon.

Riding the VGF

Riding the VGF – YouTube  You can see the grin on CD’s face.  He thought it was great.  He also had his shot at making the train move, but he is still a little too young for it.  He did a good job at it though!

We played with some familiar toys.

Rody the Red (Italian Christmas) Donkey

Ball Pit Smile

Waiting for the slide

25 March  –

We put Woody on a high pedestal.

Woody, the King

Stole chocolate eggs from Rewe. I paid for them but he kept taking more from the display.

And hung out with L and her daughter E.  E thinks it is funny to push her head into CD’s leg.  He doesn’t mind until the very end.  E Using CD as a source of Laughing – YouTube

26 March  –

Picking Daisies

And played with our growing collection of sticks.

Stick

And I prepared for the upcoming Easter party I was hosting.  I went to one place that sells American style cupcakes to see if they would sell me their icing, as I had already made the “cupcakes”.  But they said no.  Boo.  So I got my own icing and made them look fabulous!

27 March  –

Easter Party here we come!

Now all week CD had been stealing chocolate eggs from the store displays and eating them.  And then at home I had to hide them because I found him taking those too.  At the last-minute, I put them out on the table ready for the party and what do I find???  Little hands had gotten into them!  🙂

I want one of those!

No? Then I will cry.

I had decorated the window with the window markers N had sent us.  I love them and they are so easy to use/clean up.

Happy Easter Window

It says “Happy Easter”, has a decorated egg and a bunny on it.  I also had my bumble bee decorated little eggs hanging on it too.

The spread

Do you know what you spell if you take the “s” out of Easter?  Eater.  That is right!  And from the above pictures, you can tell I have a good eater on my hands!  CD was all over the food!  🙂  We had chicken, mozzarella and tomato sauce pockets, zucchini tots, humus and bread sticks, nut and poppy roll, cupcakes and cookies.  And of course some candy.

Cupcakes and Cookies

The cookies that I made had little designs of bunnies and flowers on them.  They were just the standard sugar cookie with confectionary sugar icing.  Yummy little bites!

CD’s Easter Outfit

O was the first to arrive.

CD was so happy to see O

Then the girls arrived.

E Squared

Feeding E

Since E knows how much CD loves Bert and Ernie, she decided to get him Cookie Monster for Easter.  Thanks E!

Cookie Monster

We had an egg hunt.

Looking for hidden eggs

Check out the grin. Love it!

Stealing plastic eggs now

CD waited until E found the blue egg and then he took it from her.  She was kind of ok with it.  L told her she could find another one and that made it better.

On the hunt

Could it be????

An Easter Egg!!!!

We also snuck in some egg decorating.  But that ended up not going over too well.  Kids are still a little too young.

After everyone left, we cleaned up and I started to make dinner.  I had to go into the freezer for something (our freezer is on the bottom) and when I turned around, I saw this:

A Christmas Story?

I think CD got his holidays mixed up a bit.  However, you do receive gifts and candy at both of them, so maybe he wasn’t that far off in his thinking.  Luckily, our freezer is not very cold and he could not really stick his tongue to the door.  🙂

28 March  –

We apparently only watched Toy Story on the BIG SCREEN (not CD’s iPad) since these are the only pictures I have from the day and I don’t remember off-hand what else we did.

Big screen VIP viewing

Anytime that Woody would come up on the screen (which is a lot), CD would hold his up to the TV.

29 March  –

We headed to the regular lunch date, but WAY late and timing did not work for other people.  So we went alone…well, Woody came too.

Traveling Buddy

Playing on the other side

We always sit on one side of the restaurant.  Today we went over to the other (dark) side since all the seats were taken on our regular side.  There are toys for the kids to play with here, but it is tough to navigate with a stroller.  CD had fun playing with the toys, but not so much with one boy who was there.  He was mean.  Out right mean.  And where were his parents????  Off at another table drinking away and not caring what their little boy was doing.  CD learned to stay away from him and started playing either by himself or with an older boy who was there.  I made sure I hid Woody as I did not want a scene with Sid happening from the movie.  You’re welcome Woody.  I almost posted a picture of the other little boy.  And it looks like he has a mean face on so it would have been perfect.  But I can’t do that.  It just isn’t right.

Instead, I will post pictures of CD.  🙂  Happy little fellow.

Working hard

Concentration

After our late lunch/almost dinner- side note: there should be some term for this type of meal between lunch and dinner.  Breakfast and lunch have it : brunch.  Why not between the other two?  What would it be called??  “Lunner”?  Yeah, doesn’t quite have a ring to it.  Anyway, after our whatever-you-want-to-call-it meal, I had promised CD we would go to the park.  So we did.

I found the needle in the haystack pebble!

Running with the precious pebble

What’s that? Birds?

Adding to the stick collection

Easter has not come yet, so that is NOT our shovel.

Who Stole the Sand from the Sandbox? – YouTube  CD shoveling the sand out of the sand area and onto the walkway.  That is not our shovel.  And by the way, the boy who comes into the picture at the end???  These shovels are also not his either!  HA!

Driving the Firetruck

Merry-go-round – YouTube

Free Ride – YouTube  CD getting a push from the other boy who had the shovel.  The little boy can’t see as his hat is over his eyes, but he doesn’t seem to mind giving CD a whirl.  He was a nice kid.

Brussels Belgium Holiday

18 March – We leave to ride the bus to the train station.  I have CD in his stroller, the small rolling luggage and then his BabyBjorn travel crib.  We are ready to go.  As I am waiting to cross the street, the bus comes.  Ugh. Missed that one, but I factored in some extra time for things just like this.  So I’m still playing it cool.  We cross the street and wait for the next bus.  After a few minutes, something has me check the bus schedule.  WHAT?!?!  The ONLY time that it does NOT run every 10 minutes is between the bus I JUST MISSED and the NEXT bus- a WHOLE 30 minutes difference.  I did not plan on this.  Ugh!  At this point I have to quickly figure out what I need to do to get to the train station on time. I walked in the opposite direction of the Ubahn, the bus is not coming in the timeframe that I need, I can either leg it down to the train station and then be a COMPLETE sweaty p-o’ed person, or I could hope and pray that the taxi que has a taxi, one that also can hold our things AND has a baby seat fit for CD’s size (most of the regular kid seats are just booster seats).  I decide I have to pass by the taxi que anyway so I will just stop and ask.

Wouldn’t you know?  Someone was on my side.  A taxi was waiting that could hold our things AND had the right baby seat!!!  I nearly kissed the driver!  We made it to the train station and then met M and O who were already there.

Waiting for the train

Traveling by train is also tough when you are with a kid…in a stroller…and with a bag.  It would have been cool if it was myself with CD and a friend, but that friend also had her kid, stroller and bag.  To get the bags and strollers onto the train, you had to make it over a gap and then up about 3 stairs.  And in Germany, EVERYONE thinks that the train is going to leave without them so they are shuffling past you in a hurry to get their non-reserved seats.  We eventually found some nice guy to help us load our things.  I would travel this way in a heartbeat if I were traveling alone or with help.  It was a great time and actually quite relaxing.  Do they have trains to the East Coast of the USA from Europe yet??????  Now that would be great!  🙂  MUCH easier than a long airplane ride.

Now the train experience was fun though once it started and all of our junk was stored.  The kids had a good time.

Riding the train

Train snack time

Enjoying the train ride

Watching the world pass by while biting Ernie’s nose

Really the only thing to see along the way was Koln.  It was nice to spot things that we had seen on our trip there from the train.

Our journey ended without many problems, so we were happy to step off the train.  And then a problem.  Where were the lifts/escalators to get off of the platform???  Everyone else quickly ran down the stairs so we were left with no one to ask.  We walked ALL the way to one end of the platform….nothing.  And then we walk in the other direction to find the lift.  We take that it.

We then have a little bit of time before we can check into the place that we were staying.  So we walk around the train station and then stop in Haagen-Dazs to get a drink and something to eat for the boys.

All the possible flavors…too bad Mama says no.

Before we head out to our place, I tell M I need to go to the bathroom since it has been about 7 hours since I had gone last.  I decide I am leaving everything with her besides CD who has a breakdown and screams thinking I brought him to another country to leave him there…alone.  So he comes in tow with me, cutting off the circulation to my pinkie finger as we walk.  Well, the bathroom is all the way on the other side of the train station and when I finally find it, relief sets in knowing I will be able to use it very shortly.  Someone is not on my side now.  I walk to the door and realize that I forgot…you have to PAY to use public bathrooms!!!!  Ugh!  No relief.  We walk back to M and O and head out to our place.

When we arrive, I basically shake the apartment owner’s hand and then ask for the bathroom.  I told him M could get all the details as I really needed to go…now.  The place was perfect and in an easy location to get to things.  The boys had fun playing and hanging out with each other.

Once we had our bags put away…and everyone went to the bathroom/got a diaper change, we decided to head out for the day.  Our first mission?  Find the peeing statues…no pun intended.  They really are peeing!

First there is Manneken Pis – Wikipedia

Manneken Pis

Then we went to Grand Place – Wikipedia

Grand Place

Grand Place

It really was a beautiful little square.  The buildings were amazing!

On the walk back to our place, I saw some fun signs.

Belgian Beer

I did not eat those frites!

19 March  –  We got ready for our day and since the weather was not nice, we decided to go to an indoor kids cafe that M had found online.

Before we headed out the door though, this happened:  CD Laugh – YouTube

And then we cleaned up some crumbs from the boys’ breakfast.  Good thing they had a Swiffer as who knows what CD would have done with the vacuum! (Check later in the post to see what CD would do with the vacuum).

Swiffer time!

It is not the best picture of CD Swiffering, but he was going at about 110% energy while doing it.

On our walk to the cafe

Cafe time- must fuel up first

Remember how I mentioned we like to push chairs? Here we go again!

And again

And then we do this with the chair.

For Aunt C: At a school desk!

On our trip back we saw St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral – Wikipedia

St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral

St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral with 2 Saints in the picture!

And we also walked through here Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert – Wikipedia

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Entrance

Inside Galeries Royales Saint

And we were on the hunt for the other 2 peeing statues.  The Jeanneke Pis – Wikipedia was a bit hard to find, but in the end we did.  It was down a very small “street” next to a Delirium Café.

CD with the peeing girl

At this point CD had pretty much had it with being in the stroller.  We had walked past the entrance to the street a few times, so he thought we were being silly.

We then returned to Grand Place to let the beast free!

Grand Place Run Around

This was stressful as he doesn’t like to stay close when there is stuff to see.  He was here, he was there, he was everywhere.  Ugh!

When then found peeing statue #3.  List complete!

Zinneke Pis

The peeing dog, aka Zinneke Pis – Wikipédia, was BY FAR the hardest to find, but we were able to do it.  By this time my phone had died so I used M’s picture of this.  Thanks M!

We then headed back to the place where we were staying to get some dinner.

Snacks

Then drinks

Playing

“Chair” In Action! – YouTube

20 March  –  Another day of not nice weather.  We had planned to go to Atomium – Wikipedia AND Mini-Europe – Wikipedia today.  But the weather was not cooperating with us on this trip…and neither was public transportation.  The transportation system with kids is a nightmare.  ‘Nuf said.

We made it to Atomium and had to leave the strollers at the ticket booth as they were not allowed in the Atomium itself.  Well, CD wanted to play outside and DID NOT want to go inside.  We tried to coax him with everything we had and eventually got him through the gate.

We rode up the lift to the observation level, which we could not see much due to the weather.

Atomium

It really is a cool looking “building”.

Bribe: Snack

Looking down from the top sphere

You definitely get the “dizzy” feeling when you look down.  M asked me at one point, “Is it moving?”  I told her yes, since it was built to sway.  🙂

CD did get a souvenir flattened Euro from one of the crank machine on the top-level.  Not sure if we still have it though.  🙂  I think this started his fascination with wanting to hold money coins.

Observation deck track- it was a circular path and you best believe CD ran around in circles

We never made it to Mini Europe as it started to snow when we were gong to head there.  Here is the closest that we got to it:

Aerial view of Mini Europe

We let the boys play on each level as it made it a bit easier to move through the building.

What do you have?

Why can’t we push this one???

Happy as a clam to be running and free!

CD in the Atomium – YouTube

What goes up, must come down

CD holding my hand while riding the escalator down

After we called it quits at the Atomium, we headed back to get something to eat.  This is when I wanted to get all of my fixes from Brussels- beer, waffles, frites and chocolate (which I saved for later).

We found a place that served it all and decided to split the meal.

Beer: Check

Waffles: Check- with some chocolate

Frites: Check

This is about the ONLY time that CD would share the mayo that came with the frites.  He decided that he owned the little cup that the mayo came in and that it was all his!

No frites need for mayo, just fingers!

Our traveling band 🙂  All there!

I’ll finish it for you!

On our walk back to our place, we ran into more transportation issues.  STAIRS EVERYWHERE!  After awhile it became actually funny, kind of and I had to take pictures of them.  No way to get up them so we needed to go around them!

The capital of Stairs!

When we made our way around the stairs, we found a little park where we let the boys run.  And boy did they have fun.  It will be one of my fondest memories of Brussels.  Yes, I know, I can do the SAME thing in Germany, but the sheer joy on both of their faces and being with friends was just extra special to me.  :*)

O would run and CD would chase him.  Never the other way around.

Except this once

Come and get me!

Devising a plan

Brussels Playground Romp – YouTube

We then headed to the Royal Palace of Brussels – Wikipedia but they were closed, so we weren’t able to go inside.

Royal Palace at a glance

We then headed for the bus stop that would bring us closer to our place so we could end the day of sight-seeing.  When we got to the bus stop, we saw a bus come… and go.  We went “huh, that was weird.”  And then M said maybe we need to flag the bus down.  I thought that was crazy.  You only do that for taxis.  But she was right.  The next bus was about a half and hour after the one we just missed and low and behold, she was right!!!  You had to flag the bus down even though you are standing under a sign specific for that bus route.  What else does the bus driver think you are doing there??!?  I’m still a little confused.  While waiting for the bus, O entertained CD by shaking his head from side to side and this made CD laugh like he did on the playground video.  It helped pass the time even though we were chilly.

O Entertaining CD – YouTube

21 March  –  I know it was a day late, but it was just better planning for me to take CD’s 21 month birthday picture today.  He spent another birthday on holiday!  Lucky kid!!!

21 Month Birthday

When then packed our things to say goodbye to Brussels.  We had to make sure we left the place clean before we left as other people were coming right after us.  M vacuumed while I got the other stuff.  Remember how I said I was thankful they had a Swiffer because who knows what CD would do with the vacuum?  Well we found out now.  He would not leave M alone with it.  I had to keep him away from it.  He helps me vacuum at home, but when you are trying to get everything together to leave, it is not too helpful.

We then headed to the train station to find a lift that would bring us to our platform.  After some searching (not a really easy train station to figure out) we found it and decided to settle down to have a coffee/tea.

CD’s friend at coffee/tea time

Tea Pod- good in theory, doesn’t really work

The tea leaves are in the sleeve that has tiny holes in it.  It is supposed to “leak” out the flavor, but my peppermint tea did not have much flavor.  Still a cool idea.  Much less mess.

We had a good little snack and then headed to the platform.  Wait…what is that?!?!?!  They changed the platform?????  Now we have to find the new platform and lift with little time.  Well, we made it and settled into our seats before the train took off.  I had the perfect setup for our bags and all.

If I can’t sit next to you, Mama, I want to be with O

O: Tell your Mama you want to sit back here with me.

CD has the look on his face like “please, can I go?  I promise to be good!”  So I let him go.

Playing on the train

Then they told us after a little while on the train that we would need to change trains due to some “accident” on the tracks ahead of us.  Unload everything…including a sleeping O to wait for a new train.  This was not good for CD.  He did not like this at all.  But what are you going to do?  We then got on the new train and were finally able to get some of the Belgian chocolate.

One of us enjoyed it! 😉

In a tunnel shot. I’m becoming a fan of these kind of shots. 🙂

Our journey ended and we made it back to Germany.  We said goodbye to M and O and headed for the bus to take us home.  It was a fun journey and we look forward to travel again, but it is always nice to return to HOME.

Fast Forward 4x

22 February  –  When we returned to Germany, we made sure that we went to the regular Friday playgroup, but unfortunately, no one else made it as kids naps were all haywire.

Missing E :*(

C had also gotten CD a gift – to help him continue his love affair at home.

B & E Buds

All MINE!

23 February  –  We learned to climb on the chair to get to the radio…and brought Bert with us as a co-conspiritor.

Music and Men

25 February  –  We had some donkey fun and showed off our locks after a sweaty nap.

Rody the Donkey

He looks a little sleepy still- or contemplating a hard question

26 February  –  We went shopping and stood in the little bit of snow that was left.  Of course I didn’t have his boots on, so we played and then got inside to dry off his feet.

Still a winter wonderland

28 February  –  We hung out with some friends.

They’re Back!

Can’t WAIT to take him to Sesame Place!!!  That will be SO much fun!

Young love

J and I were strolling the kids next to each other and then we look down and what do we see?!?!?!  They are holding hands.  Sweet!

1 March  –  Am I SOOOO glad that this day is in my past!  I have been trying to find a travel stroller for CD for some of our upcoming trips but don’t want to spend a fortune on one.  They are really expensive here or you get the kind that looks like they are only meant to hold a baby doll and you see a 4 year old crumpled up in it trying to “look” comfotrable as mom or dad wheels them along.  Not going for either of those.  So I did as much research as possible and found one that seems like it would be good.  I scoured the Internet to try to buy it online- non available.  Then I went to the manufacturer’s website- they only sell to stores, you can’t buy direct from them.  I then emailed and called stores in Germany and within Europe to see if they have/will ship to Germany.  Found one in UK and put them on my “wait” list if I couldn’t find it in Germany.  Called Toys R Us here, since their website said they had them but I needed someone to put the order in for me as my bank card here literally lets me do nothing online.  So, I bundled CD up and headed on the long journey to Toys R Us to have them order it for me.  I got confirmation over the phone that they could do this prior to legging it to the place.  Needless to say after 2.5+ hours in the store “waiting”, I voiced my disgust with them and left.  I will not get into further details because my “southern” mom taught me that if I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.

CD did however make out on this trip.  The one store clerk felt bad for him as he was screaming and squirming a lot.  She gave him free bubbles, balloon, tokens to ride the rides.  I made sure that I told her I was not angry with her as she was just the poor pawn that the manager “put out there” so they would not have to deal with me.  Good idea on their part.  🙂

Free balloon- free static

Little Ferris Wheel Type Ride – YouTube

And what do you do after a stressful morning and some new fun?  You pass out on the ride home.  🙂

Napping Joe Cool Style

And after you have rested and regained your sense that it was in fact a CRAZY morning, you then go and tell your friends about it.

Listening buddy

Oh yeah, and you take another friend’s dummy (pacifier) to help soothe the reliving of the morning.

2 March  –   I have started to let CD walk, as he doesn’t enjoy just riding in the stroller too much anymore.  He wants to be out there, touching everything and exploring his world.  I will usually let him walk back from the stores as we go on the non-busy streets.  He has been a champ at doing this and I usually give him something light to carry to slow him down a bit.

Carrying his groceries

This day was also one of the birthday parties of this year.  Birthdays Galore

4 March  –  We decided to meet up with J and L to have lunch since we would not be seeing L for a few days as she was going on holiday.  This was an awful plan as it was right at CD’s nap time.  I decided that I would wear him in the baby carrier so that he would be more likely to fall asleep than in the stroller.  He did not.  We got our food and as we were all enjoying it, CD THREW UP.  And I did what any mama would do.  I stuck my hands under his mouth to catch it.  And you know who was right behind me to do the same thing????  L.  She grabbed the napkins and put her hands under mine!!  Kinda gross but that’s love.  🙂  All I could think was, “we are about to eat, CD puked in front of a pregnant girl.  I bet she still has her appetite.”

CD had been under the weather due to teething again.  His bottom left far back tooth popped through and now we are just waiting on the last three.  They are swollen lumps in his mouth right now so I know it is going to be a tough time.  He then finally fell asleep in my arms as the other girls were having their coffees- I don’t drink coffee so I declined it.

Self portrait

We did however have some fun on the way back to the apartment.

Park Time- Come here Mama

Driving the firetruck

Picking Daisies

And after a hard day of playing, as boy needs to eat.

Forget the stick, I’m going straight for the hummus!

What?!?! The “stick” is a breadstick?

Ok. I will eat that too!

5 March  –  I had found another indoor play area that is meant for older kids but on Tuesday mornings, they shut the place down so that only 0-2 year olds can go and play.  And not fear getting trampled by the older kids.  Plus they give out free coffee.  That was what I used to lure my friends to go with me.  I also told them that they could draw sticks to see who would get my cup as I don’t drink coffee.  We had been trying to go for a while (since January) but never made it.  First, I was incredibly sick and could not peel myself off the bathroom floor let alone go and bounce around with CD.  I was glad that we finally went.  J and her daughter E came along for the journey along with M and her son O.  We also explored a new area of town as none of us had ever been there.  After the play area, we headed back to the city to grab lunch.  No throwing up this time, phew!  Then we went to the park because this week’s weather had been wonderful.  Sun, warmer temperature.  Lovely!

Riding the car

Car up close

“Slide”

Germany has these “slide” type things where it is a conveyor belt with tubes that roll.  Then you put your kid in a plastic carton and send them down the belt.  We were introduced to these last year at the Frankfurt kids fest.  CD loves them and has a good time doing it.

Then there was trampoline time with O.

Come on O, let’s jump!

I bounce you!

I have a daredevil on my hands.  Other kids are wary of some things, CD, eh, not so much.  O didn’t really make it on to the trampoline, so I jumped on and helped CD bounce.  He enjoyed it and let out his full belly laugh.

And we found the mechanical rides as well.  🙂

Lightning McQueen

Kangaroo!

And we push the chairs here too.

Chair pushing. Loads of fun!

Then we nap.

Sweet dreams

Then we play while moms try to eat.

Boy time

Park time

So here are CD and O in the sand at the park.  O is covering himself with sand and CD is helping him.  CD decides he wants to eat the sand and get messy too.  Oh wait, J and E were with us too.  Where could E be?  She has on her new shoes and refuses to touch her feet to the sand in fear of getting her feet/shoes dirty and grimy.  J ends up carrying her.  HA!  Boys and girls.

And after a long day, Mama finally bought her spring flowers.  On the walk home a lady commented on how nicely I decorated the stroller.  🙂  P.S.  The flowers look awful now.  There is no point in “buying” flowers.  ARGH!

Primrose

6 March –  We again went to the park with M and J as the weather was gorgeous.  I walked around in only a tank top and thinner sweater, but still bigger boots.  (Need to pull out/buy spring time shoes as I don’t really have transition shoes).  We had a fun time and CD has been enjoying the use of other kid’s sandbox toys.  Little does he know what he is getting for Easter!  Mama asked the Easter Bunny if CD could have some sand toys!

More flower…picking.  🙂

Flower time

Park truck

Pinwheel Pose

I had bought CD a pinwheel and he loves it.  Great use of a Euro!

March 7  –  Busy, busy day.  I picked up a used toy for CD that I thought he would like.  Then I had to go to the bank as my card was not working much anymore and that is my only way that I pay for things.  Then it was off to the main train station to get a train card since we will be traveling by train a bit in the near future.  Now, everyone talks about how seedy the train station area is.  I didn’t really notice it on the walk to the train station, but when I left is when I noticed things.  Europe doesn’t really sensor nudity so imagine bilboards in seedy areas without nudity sensors.  🙂  Not wild but still a little shocking.

We then went to meet M and J for lunch, however it got prolonged since J took awhile to get to us.  M and I let the boys run around a bit as it was nice outside.  CD enjoyed the music guys that we see a lot and he got a few dances in before J arrived.

FYI: Not CD’s cup

“Helping” O take a drink

Dance time – YouTube

Dance Time 2 – YouTube

Dance Time 3 – YouTube

And then there was entertaining O, who HATES to be out of the stroller.  Peek-A-Boo – YouTube

Lunch was fabulous!  The food was good, the service was fabulous and fast that we all decided we would be going back to the location again.  J and I have past it many times and kept saying we should go there, but never really made it definite until today.  Sorry we waited so long.

Sharing toys

The boxes that the kids have were part of the kids fun box that the restaurant gives out to children who eat there.  It contains a few toys, a drink, snack and some other things I don’t remember.  Well worth it even if it is just for them to play with while you shovel food into your mouth.  🙂

Stinky Toes – YouTube

March 8 – I finally went to the mom and baby workout group that I have bookmarked on my computer ages ago.  We made it just in time and had a good time.  It is nice because the instructor doesn’t speak much English so she says everything in German.  I just follow the moves for the most part and remember key words.  We did the warm-up and CD was fine with it.  Then the second group of exercises we did was when CD started to not like it.  I basically begged, pleaded, whined to him to let me get through the hour-long session and then we could play in the park.  He wasn’t buying it (even though it was the truth).  My only option was to get him out of the stroller and pray that he stayed close to me.  Well, he did.  When we were doing lunges, he was holding my hand and doing them right by my side.  All of the other moms thought it was cute- all of their kids were still little and not rambunctious.  We made it through the workout…kind of and then I let CD play in the playground.  By this time it was close to being lunch time so I wanted to walk home….well, CD wanted to walk home too and not be pushed in the stroller.  It was a LONG walk out of the park and onto the first road as CD pointed to everything and said “I see”.  He gained a walking stick for the long journey and also tried to break into a BMW car.  He apparently thought we were going to go for a drive.  He walked right up to it, put his hand on the handle and pulled it.  No alarm went off, thankfully.  CD then made it home to have lunch and nap. Then it was our regular meetup at the restaurant with the girls.

Meeting at the usual spot

Look Mama!

Yup, that is CD standing on the chair, O looking at CD knowing that he is going to get into trouble.  Then CD looks as us as to say “what are you going to do about this Mama?”.  Then O looks at us with a concerned look on his face.  And O then does what any upstanding friend would do when you are going to get into trouble.  He bolts and leaves CD standing on the chair to get into trouble by himself.  🙂

Mode of Transportation – YouTube

March 9 – CD woke up in a BADDDDDD mood.  Gave him some medicine and he just was not happy.   Loved to throw everything at me.  CD got his first haircut from C and did pretty well with it.  We went out to get some groceries and then came home for lunch and nap.  After his nap I got to go out and work on the blog while C watched CD.  This sounded like a great idea, but the blog work never really happened as I could not connect to the Internet.  So in the end I just lugged extra weight (laptop) around that I did need to.

Home haircut

Yes, we did it during snack time so that CD could have something to focus on while the haircut was happening.  It was a good idea in theory and it did work, however, I did have to replace a few snacks before he ate them because they got covered in hair.

Happy Hair!

He looks like such a big boy now it’s crazy!

March 10 – Chatted with GM, N and Aunt C.  Busy FaceTime day.  Went to park.  Started raining on walk to park.  Stayed to play at park and then rode bus home…about 2 blocks!

Snack- Go Temple!

Up close and personal

Park- with someone else’s shovel!

March 11 – Cleaning lady came.  CD so excited to see her.  Went to meet L and E at bakery to catch up after their trip.  Bitter cold outside.  Did I say bitter?  I meant BITTER COLD OUTSIDE!!!!!!!  So we spent most of today inside doing this:

Shape Train

March 12 – Snow overnight.  Decided to go out and get groceries since there were no open spots to have them delivered.  Got out, bitter cold, got groceries and then on walk home, BITTER COLD and felt awful.  Almost passed out when got home but was able to sit before it happened.  Stayed in and watched the snow pile up outside.  Then went out for a late trip to see Ernie and Bert with J and E.  J was locked out of her building so she had to wait a bit to get in so we also had dinner.  Was tasty, but tough with two toddlers that new it was bedtime.  Lift was out at Ubahn station and had to lug stroller up 2 flights of stairs.  We saw tons of places where the snow fell from the rooftops and they had the sidewalks marked off in tape so that no one would walk under them.  That was how much snow fell, how quickly it fell and how heavy it was.

Snow Time

Street in the morning- before most of the snow fell

Our balcony which NEVER gets snow on it. Now had it piled up.

Thankful for the big-wheels!

B & E Again

CD, B and E squared

Ball Pit

Climbing

Escape the spiked ball!

At night we booked trip to Brussles online with the friend that we were going to travel with.  Looking forward to it.  Look for that post soon!

March 13 – Headed out in the morning to meet with J and E and M and O to have the kids play in the snow that fell.  It was still pretty cold but it was a good idea.  We headed on the bus there so that we would not be out in the cold too long.

CD, O and M

“Deep” snow

Playing with someone else’s toys

Halfway through our outing, we decided to warm up and get something to eat.  The kids had just as much fun inside as they did outside.

E entertaining CD – YouTube

Sporting Mama’s sunglasses

Borrowing a friend’s sled

Side note:  Someone needs to make waterproof GOOD gloves for toddlers.  Yes, toddlers DO play with things and will also play with snow.  Their hands WILL get wet if companies ONLY make fleece “gloves”.  Another million dollar idea.  Who is willing to do the brunt work??  I will definitely back you!!!  Along with other moms of toddler BOYS….because guess what??  E was here too and she refused to stand in the snow.  J had to put her in the swing so that she would not be upset.  🙂

Building…

…our snowman!

Heading for the slide

SO hungry after a big day!

14 March  –  We headed out to meet friends for lunch.  Grown people sit at tables to eat.  Toddlers sit…well…in the middle of everything!

Lunching in the middle

Or they hide in corners!

We then went “shopping” to see ALL the SURPLUS of BOYS clothing that they have out there.  Um, what?!?!  What I really meant to say is the 5 shirts for boys aged 0-10 and the whole departments set up for girls aged 0-3 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months.  Not really but you get the picture.  Boys clothes?  NOTHING.  Girls clothes?  Masses to choose from.

We did however see this shirt…none the less in the GIRLS section.

Miss you Brother Bear

L and I then had Girls Night.  Since no one else could make it, we did not want to cancel and headed to a small little place near her apartment.  We had an amazing time and it was actually really nice just being the 2 of us as we learned a lot about each other.  Another good night with L!

15 March  –  We cleaned as we were preparing for our trip to Brussels.  I had an AWESOME video of CD vacuuming, but he deleted it from my phone before I could put it on my computer.  Argh!

I’ll help Mama

16 March  –  I walk out of the kitchen to find…THIS…..!!!!!

Being a boy. I must climb!

Throwing my first snowball

Also had a great video of CD with the snowball, but yes, he deleted that one too!  🙂

 

Watching Toy Story

I should have placed a drool rag under his chin in the above picture!

17 March  – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  CD had a BIG breakfast that he used both hands and big spoons to shovel it into his mouth.

Yummy!

And then CD had HIS FIRST REAL BABYSITTER!!!!!!  I went to the movies with L to see Les Misérables.  It was great! I did keep thinking about CD, but as I know the babysitter and L has used her for over a year with her 2 kids and J has used her with E- who is cool with her and not many other people.  I knew CD would be ok and she would not harm him. They only thing that did not work is it took him a long time to fall asleep, but he did with her, which was good.  L and I then got to have a quick bite to eat before heading home in the snow.

Irish Flag Lunch- Green beans, chicken, sweet potato

I had told the babysitter that he may eat more than what was on the above plate so there was more in the fridge.  She told me when I got home that he ate his plateful, and then half of everything in the fridge.  She said he was a “good eater” as she meant he will eat you out of house…I mean apartment and home…I mean flat.  

CD was happy to see me when he woke up, which was literally as soon as I was finished talking to the babysitter and was taking my shoes off of my feet.

Lucky Irish Shirt

 

We then made sure all of our things were in order as we were heading to Brussels, Belgium the following morning!

 

***Please excuse if I ended my sentences in prepositions.  I hate that with a passion, but I fall into the BAD habit when I’m tired, or hunkering down and weeding through stuff…as I am doing now.  Also, I know I have switched how I list the dates (# first or after the month), but let’s face it, I’m not going back to check it.  If something doesn’t make sense, breeze over it as I also have not proof-read it.  I am praying that I don’t have any obscene typos.  If I do, please let me know so I can fix those.  Also, I must go and rest as I gave myself Carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand.

Look forward to the Brussles post!

3 Countries in 5 Days!

We had been in the US (first country) for a while where we did a lot of fun stuff.  See USA “Quick” Post

We returned to Germany (second country) on 5 January and then quickly unpacked and packed again to fly to London, UK (third country).

On the flight from the States to Germany, I gave CD medicine to see if he would sleep.  Guess what?  It was absolutely POINTLESS.  Will never do that again.  I thought I would be able to get some rest before getting into the craziness of being back in Germany.  NOPE.  And the only time that he was in the bassinett and resting was for about 20 minutes.  In that time I went to the loo, then could not get out as all the flight attendants had opened the emergency medical bags in the aisle right there, so I was stuck in the loo.  When they finally moved, I quickly went to my seat and then ended up talking to the young boy who was with the person having the medical emergency mid-flight.  I guess that is what a mom would do though…try to calm the boy as flight attendants go to work.    It was kind of scary but in the end everything was fine.

All of our time immediately in Germany was for unpacking, booking flights and then packing again.  We did celebrate Little Christmas though.

Little Christmas

And CD must have known that he would be getting on another plane soon:

Look d plane!

And we did get in some Germany playground time!

Play time

We flew out to visit J and E in London on Thursday, 10 January.  Now let me tell you about this flight.  All that is needed to be said is it was less than 2 hours.  WOW!  We had the whole row to ourselves and CD even NAPPED!  WHAT?!?!  I know, I couldn’t believe it either but I will take it when it comes.  🙂  It was fabulous after coming off of the long flight with a non-sleeping baby from the States flight to Germany.

Pre-flight picture

Hired car ride to J’s

London was fun.  We had a great time.  The only thing is it is not very stroller friendly.  So we lugged babies in carriers along with diaper bags full of anything you would need while out all around town.  It was well worth it though.  E and CD had a blast, had bath time together and the most amazing thing?  As soon as we walked into J’s place, CD was right at ease and immediately started playing and talking to E.  He remembered her and they were best buddies again.  We had Skyped a few times over the holidays and it was a lot of fun.  Thank goodness for technology that way!

Here are some pictures from the trip.

The National Gallery

Trafalgar Square- Nelson’s Column

I told J about the artist who did the lions and how he crafted the hind legs after his dogs because he never saw lions before and lions can’t sit like that!  She didn’t know!  Or at least that is what the tour guide told me on my last visit to London.

Trafalgar Square Gate

Horse Guards

PM’s Place

You can see all the reporters outside the gray building waiting for someone to come outside.

Big Ben with double decker buses!

Big B at night

London Eye

The Eye at night

You can see a loose CD below it.  He had a great time running loose in this area.  He was entertaining everyone who walked past him.

CD running free!

This is the same area near the London Eye.  You can see the buildings in the background of the picture.  That is what I like about it and why I snapped the picture quickly before he ran away.  J and I planned on riding on the Eye, but it had been closed those few days that we were on holiday for regular maintenance.  Bummer.  Would have loved to see the view from there.  Instead we went to the playground and a restaurant that I just happened to see that they offered FREE GOOD baby food.  We took them up on that offer.  Then we headed to the Aquarium.  I had told J multiple times we have tried to make it to the Baltimore Aquarium in the States, but never did.  So I made sure we did it here.

Playground Sheep

London Aquarium

CD outline with stingray

Let me in

I see!

Sharks

Almost through the aquarium

#3

Phone Booth

Now the only picture I did not get was of the taxis.    I got the double decker bus and the phone booth, so 2 out of 3 isn’t bad I guess when you are lugging extra poundage around!  😉

On Saturday, we had planned to go to the Natural History museum so we headed into town.  It was so cold that we ended up at a restaurant that had hanging puppets from the ceiling- kind of creepy but CD thought they were cool.  We then “tried” to have a meal as both kiddos were running around.  Towards the end when we said it was enough and we would never be able to take them to the museum in the state they were in, I decided to take CD to the bathroom to change his diaper before we left.  Well, in the bathroom CD SCREAMED at the top of his lungs and I thought, I wonder if anyone could hear him since the bathrooms were kind of out of the way and there was music playing in the restaurant.  Well, when we got back to the table, J said she heard CD and we both just broke out laughing.  HA!  That ended our day.

We did walk around a few places and visited some of the same things that I had done on my previous trip to London.  We purchased the pug shirt that CD wore on Brother Bear’s birthday at one of the street markets.  Happy Birthday Brother Bear!

The only bad part of the trip was that I had lost one of CD’s shoes that I brought with us…the new ones from GM- the cool little boy sneakers!  I was SO upset that once the kids were to bed, I left J’s apartment and trekked back as far as I could trying to desperately find it.  There was no luck.  I panicked as I knew I would not be able to replace shoes for him in Germany as the shoes in Germany don’t fit his feet.  J told me that we could take the kids on Sunday to see if we could find something for CD in London.  We both got the kiddos feet sized and the lady said that CD’s feet were one size short of registering as the fattest feet.  HA!!!  Well, I told her I knew that and asked her to point me in the direction of the “chunky” feet shoes.  🙂   Luckily I was able to get a pair that fit his foot.  They are now if full use almost every day.  🙂

Our last day there we headed to Camden Lock for some lunch and to browse around the shops.  This was fun and I enjoyed it a lot.

Camden Lock

We then headed back to Germany.