Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Urban Babies Wear Black
When Ellie was born, we bought a funny board book called "Urban Babies Wear Black". Each page has a different yuppie-baby thing: urban babies jog, urban babies do yoga, urban babies drink latte... It's this last one that caught our minds when we took Ellie out this week. She was happily spooning the froth off my coffee drink when I looked at Markus and quoted, "Urban babies drink latte." Immediately, our cheerful little myna bird grinned and shouted, "LATTE!" How many 20 month olds have that in their vocab banks, I ask you.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Dipe Squad on the move
The Dipe Squad is back in The Hague, but we took a little time for R&R between Ocean Springs and Holland. Over our past few visits to the DC area, Markus has started to realize the beauty of Virginia, but he still hadn't seen much of it. To remedy this and our desperate need for a mental break from all stressful topics (job, house, moves, etc.), we reserved a few nights' stay at the Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah National Park just about halfway along Skyline Drive. If you haven't done this, you really should! Shenandoah is absolutely beautiful! It is the most popular in the fall for the leaf-peepers, but we had gorgeous weather in May and the trails were relatively empty of hikers, making it easier to see wildlife (so many deer!) and enjoy the abundant wildflowers in bloom.
We brought the baby hiking backpack to carry Ellie along the trails, but we forgot to clear this with Ellie first. She was not a fan. As it turned out, we did only one hike: Rapidan Camp. Thankfully, it turned out to be the best choice, as we were the only ones there and received a private tour at our destination! Prepare yourself for a little history lesson, folks!
Rapidan Camp was the private retreat of Herbert Hoover, America's 31st president who was in the White House from 1929 to 1933. Herbert Hoover was the first full-time president. The 30 presidents before him took 3-4 months off in the summer like Congress and they returned to their homes during that time. Hoover decided that wouldn't do during the Depression years, but he did require occasional time away from Washington. He sent out one of his men to find a spot that met some very specific requirements: it had to be within 100 miles of Washington, it had to have great fishing and it had to be above 2500 feet to escape the worst humidity and mosquitos. A site was found in what was to eventually become Shenandoah National Park. Hoover bought over 100 acres with his own money, but 150 Marines cleared the spot and the roads to it and built a camp with several cabins for guests, cabinet members, and important visitors, as well as other buildings including a mess hall, a "town hall" (where games were played and everyone could meet to chat), an office to request items from the Filipino servants who had been reassigned from the mothballed presidental yacht...
Rapidan Camp is located at the headwaters of the Rapidan River, and Hoover apparently was so eager to get fishing that he would often be in the river with his rod and reel without changing out of his suit and tie straight from the drive from Washington. When Roosevelt was elected, Hoover offered Rapidan Camp to him, but Roosevelt didn't like the spot. He found a different place and named it "Shangrilah"...a name that was later changed to "Camp David". So there you have it. Rapidan Camp--a fairly humble and quite cozy cabin in the woods--was the first "Camp David." Be prepared to be quizzed later.
Ellie handled the trek to and from Rapidan Camp with minimal complaints, but she made it clear that repeating such hikes would not be advisable. The next day, we drove instead to Luray Caverns (the largest cave system on the Eastern Shore) and then on to Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States) and Charlottesville.
During this trip, we purchased a National Parks Passport for Ellie, and we're starting to collect some good stamps. She's been to Mount Vernon and Monticello, on the Appalacian Trail (though just for a dozen yards or so), and in Shenandoah. She's also been to Great Falls National Park, though we didn't get a stamp yet. We're so happy to have the opportunities to visit these wonderful places. The US truly has an amazing national parks system, and we love to take advantage of it!
On the way out, we stayed one last night with Mimi, whom Ellie was THRILLED to see! That part of our stay went way too fast, so we hope we'll be able to plan a real vacation with Mimi sometime in the fall. For now, we need to recover from jetlag and unpack the massive amounts of luggage we always seem to take with us.
We brought the baby hiking backpack to carry Ellie along the trails, but we forgot to clear this with Ellie first. She was not a fan. As it turned out, we did only one hike: Rapidan Camp. Thankfully, it turned out to be the best choice, as we were the only ones there and received a private tour at our destination! Prepare yourself for a little history lesson, folks!
Rapidan Camp was the private retreat of Herbert Hoover, America's 31st president who was in the White House from 1929 to 1933. Herbert Hoover was the first full-time president. The 30 presidents before him took 3-4 months off in the summer like Congress and they returned to their homes during that time. Hoover decided that wouldn't do during the Depression years, but he did require occasional time away from Washington. He sent out one of his men to find a spot that met some very specific requirements: it had to be within 100 miles of Washington, it had to have great fishing and it had to be above 2500 feet to escape the worst humidity and mosquitos. A site was found in what was to eventually become Shenandoah National Park. Hoover bought over 100 acres with his own money, but 150 Marines cleared the spot and the roads to it and built a camp with several cabins for guests, cabinet members, and important visitors, as well as other buildings including a mess hall, a "town hall" (where games were played and everyone could meet to chat), an office to request items from the Filipino servants who had been reassigned from the mothballed presidental yacht...
Rapidan Camp is located at the headwaters of the Rapidan River, and Hoover apparently was so eager to get fishing that he would often be in the river with his rod and reel without changing out of his suit and tie straight from the drive from Washington. When Roosevelt was elected, Hoover offered Rapidan Camp to him, but Roosevelt didn't like the spot. He found a different place and named it "Shangrilah"...a name that was later changed to "Camp David". So there you have it. Rapidan Camp--a fairly humble and quite cozy cabin in the woods--was the first "Camp David." Be prepared to be quizzed later.
Ellie handled the trek to and from Rapidan Camp with minimal complaints, but she made it clear that repeating such hikes would not be advisable. The next day, we drove instead to Luray Caverns (the largest cave system on the Eastern Shore) and then on to Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States) and Charlottesville.
During this trip, we purchased a National Parks Passport for Ellie, and we're starting to collect some good stamps. She's been to Mount Vernon and Monticello, on the Appalacian Trail (though just for a dozen yards or so), and in Shenandoah. She's also been to Great Falls National Park, though we didn't get a stamp yet. We're so happy to have the opportunities to visit these wonderful places. The US truly has an amazing national parks system, and we love to take advantage of it!
On the way out, we stayed one last night with Mimi, whom Ellie was THRILLED to see! That part of our stay went way too fast, so we hope we'll be able to plan a real vacation with Mimi sometime in the fall. For now, we need to recover from jetlag and unpack the massive amounts of luggage we always seem to take with us.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
New Week, New Pics
Plugging along! The house is starting to resemble a house! Yes, folks, we now have walls. The sheetrock is up and finished. It's amazing what difference that made in my sanity. Now, we can really see how the many small changes we tacked onto the repairs are making a big impact. The house really will be beautiful, if it's ever done (which I'm starting to believe may happen this year, possibly in the next several weeks). With Markus here to party with Ellie this week, I was able to accomplish many of my tasks towards house completion, including (drum roll please) purchasing kitchen cabinets! For those of you who've heard too much about the house, you know I had a complete kitchen worked up with Home Depot which didn't come through for a myriad of reasons. Happy am I to have found all of the cabinets for the kitchen in stock now at a local warehouse for half the price! Score! The countertops will also be half the price when they are ordered post-cabinet install. Given the increasingly loud vacuum-sucking sound of money from our wallets by this house, we are thrilled to not only get a deal but get it NOW. This philosophy has resulted in all the lighting fixtures and flooring being purchased and ready to go this week as well. The search for perfection is over; the acceptance of acceptable look, good price and immediately available is here.
One unexpected bonus of being here is my new appreciation of my contractor's situation. While I have no idea (and really no confidence) that he works hard while I'm gone, he does work very hard when I'm here...but his people don't necessarily do the same. I was witness to the day his drywall finishers skipped a day of work to penalize him for using another crew to hang drywall since they were going too slowly. I have been witness to multiple useless days on behalf of his siding hangers. They show up at 10, are gone for lunch by 11 and can be gone for hours with no explanation...and I've been here to see him call them repeatedly and eventually hire others. The fact is construction people down here are tired. They have been working all day every day since Katrina for homeowners who all (like me) want their home done yesterday. There is always too much work to finish and take a break, and there will always be someone at their backs unsatisfied with the pace. At this point, many of them work with the philosophy that they will find other work at any time if they get fired...so they don't always care about what they do or when they do it. Of course it's not everybody, but for those who are wearing out, I can't say that I blame them.
Despite our little triumphs and larger epiphanies, the house remains a big strain on our nerves. On Wednesday, we celebrated a belated Mother's Day with a day off in New Orleans. It was the first time since Katrina that both of us felt like outside visitors instead of visiting what felt like home. The city has changed without us, but it was still nice to wander in the familiar, eat in the beloved spots, and see dear friends. Markus treated Jennifer to a massage at a lovely day spa and a necklace from New Orleans designer Mignon Faget. Spoiled rotten and oh-so-happy!
New Orleans cityscape from the Mississippi River ferry
dear friends Elio and Irina
Ellie has been very patient with all of this house madness, particularly now that Markus can play with her while Jennifer runs errands and gets fiesty. She is completely loved and is enjoying her playtime at the park, the beach, and in Mary's yard. Her vocabulary is exploding with new words every day, and she is a busy bee.
helping with the yardwork
two swingers
And finally, for those of you who have never been here, here's a look at why we are putting ourselves through this. This is the view from our new-and-improved back porch.
One unexpected bonus of being here is my new appreciation of my contractor's situation. While I have no idea (and really no confidence) that he works hard while I'm gone, he does work very hard when I'm here...but his people don't necessarily do the same. I was witness to the day his drywall finishers skipped a day of work to penalize him for using another crew to hang drywall since they were going too slowly. I have been witness to multiple useless days on behalf of his siding hangers. They show up at 10, are gone for lunch by 11 and can be gone for hours with no explanation...and I've been here to see him call them repeatedly and eventually hire others. The fact is construction people down here are tired. They have been working all day every day since Katrina for homeowners who all (like me) want their home done yesterday. There is always too much work to finish and take a break, and there will always be someone at their backs unsatisfied with the pace. At this point, many of them work with the philosophy that they will find other work at any time if they get fired...so they don't always care about what they do or when they do it. Of course it's not everybody, but for those who are wearing out, I can't say that I blame them.
Despite our little triumphs and larger epiphanies, the house remains a big strain on our nerves. On Wednesday, we celebrated a belated Mother's Day with a day off in New Orleans. It was the first time since Katrina that both of us felt like outside visitors instead of visiting what felt like home. The city has changed without us, but it was still nice to wander in the familiar, eat in the beloved spots, and see dear friends. Markus treated Jennifer to a massage at a lovely day spa and a necklace from New Orleans designer Mignon Faget. Spoiled rotten and oh-so-happy!
New Orleans cityscape from the Mississippi River ferry
dear friends Elio and Irina
Ellie has been very patient with all of this house madness, particularly now that Markus can play with her while Jennifer runs errands and gets fiesty. She is completely loved and is enjoying her playtime at the park, the beach, and in Mary's yard. Her vocabulary is exploding with new words every day, and she is a busy bee.
helping with the yardwork
two swingers
And finally, for those of you who have never been here, here's a look at why we are putting ourselves through this. This is the view from our new-and-improved back porch.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Pics of the week
House nowhere near finished, but check out that beautiful blue sky!
Happy bunny on the playground. This week's favorite word: "SLIDE!"
Local wildlife presents King of the Cat Food Pile
Happy bunny on the playground. This week's favorite word: "SLIDE!"
Local wildlife presents King of the Cat Food Pile
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
The House
Ellie and I are back in Mississippi to deal with THE HOUSE (dum dum DUM!). Although the agreed deadline had completion sometime in mid-April, the house is NOT FINISHED. The house is not close to finished. The house has no finished walls (it was and is gutted). This is a bad thing, especially when you come down for the purpose of installing a kitchen (walls are required for this) and flooring (also good to have walls first) and finding renters (again, walls handy). The good news is that the porch expansion looks AMAZING, and the other improvements we made alongside the repairs are making a big difference. The house is going to be beautiful, if and when it is ever finished. The bad news is that the contractor and his crew seem to enjoy the porch as much as we do, and they have set up a comfy lawn chair surrounded by evidence of much cigarette smoking. Given that I am a staunch non-smoker and even more importantly the fact that the house is all BARE WOOD and insulation, I am not amused. I may have to invite an alligator or two out of the bayou to help me deal with this problem.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Auntie Awesome
This weekend, we visited Auntie Awesome and marveled over her amazing array of jewelry. Of course, Ellie HAD to try it on...and the more, the better!
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Fun at the festival
And you think you had an exciting Saturday! When is the last time you remembered to bring your mouth harp and a back-up dancer to a party?
And yes, I took this little video. Mimi was going wild at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival as only a knitter could, so Ellie and I settled ourselves down in front of the stage for some live entertainment. This little segment was during the break of the band whose instruments included a washtub bass, a washboard and cans rhythm section, a fiddle, and a harmonica. Ellie LOVED it!
And yes, I took this little video. Mimi was going wild at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival as only a knitter could, so Ellie and I settled ourselves down in front of the stage for some live entertainment. This little segment was during the break of the band whose instruments included a washtub bass, a washboard and cans rhythm section, a fiddle, and a harmonica. Ellie LOVED it!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Stateside
Ellie and Jennifer are stateside! Right now, we're in Virginia visiting the Mimi, and we're having soooo much fun! Ellie is crazy about her Mimi, so she's doing her adorable best to be cute every second for extra love and attention (as if that were necessary!). Her vocabulary is undergoing a mini-explosion. She says new words every day, and she tries to repeat almost every word she hears. Just in the past few days, she's started saying "geese", "cool", "rice", "slide", "apple", and so many others she just attempts. So far, almost all of her words are English, expect of course the ever-popular "nein", and one of her favorite vegetables: "mais" (corn). This week, she's added "ei" (egg) when she watches her favorite movie, "The Ugly Duckling" (which we downloaded here after repeated requests for "SWAN!"). It will be another week before Markus can join us, but we are already looking forward to it! We miss him so much, and Ellie is starting to notice that the workday that must be keeping him away is getting a bit too long.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Baby Lolo
There has been a new addition to the family: Baby Lolo. For all you edge-of-the-seat types, calm down! Baby Lolo belongs to Ellie. Our little love seemed to want a little love of her own, and now Ellie has her first realistically-featured baby doll (whose eyes open and close; very important!). After trying out many names, we settled on Lolo since it's the only one Ellie will consistently repeat. We're not quite sure if Ellie let Lolo out of her grip for a single second during the first 24 hours. Even in her sleep, the bond was tight! So, this weekend, we bought a stroller for Baby Lolo. Oh boy! Let's just say this has gone over EXTREMELY well.
As you can see, wearing oneself out is no excuse to let go of the stroller.
This weekend was exciting for many reasons. Top of the list for Ellie, of course, was Stroller Olympics with Baby Lolo. She walked her all around Blijdorp, and she even remembered to pause at different exhibits so Baby Lolo could see. She strolled down to Parliament to feed the birds, and when we got near the water, she made sure to press her foot down on the back of the stroller like Mama does (to brake, which her stroller lacks...but why be particular?). In the adult realm, Markus's good friend Alex from Cape Town finally caught up to us! He stopped in town for a brief (less than 24 hour) visit on his way from Canada to South Africa. Markus hadn't seen him in 8 years, so it was a fun reunion! We hope Alex will be able to stay longer next time! Now, we are slowly gearing up for a trip back to the States. While we are soooo excited to see family and friends, the main drive for the visit at this time is to finally sort out the house. The house was supposed to be finished three weeks ago, but of course, that deadline seems irrelevant to our errant contractor. With a small miracle, he may be close by the time I get into town. Wish us luck!
As you can see, wearing oneself out is no excuse to let go of the stroller.
This weekend was exciting for many reasons. Top of the list for Ellie, of course, was Stroller Olympics with Baby Lolo. She walked her all around Blijdorp, and she even remembered to pause at different exhibits so Baby Lolo could see. She strolled down to Parliament to feed the birds, and when we got near the water, she made sure to press her foot down on the back of the stroller like Mama does (to brake, which her stroller lacks...but why be particular?). In the adult realm, Markus's good friend Alex from Cape Town finally caught up to us! He stopped in town for a brief (less than 24 hour) visit on his way from Canada to South Africa. Markus hadn't seen him in 8 years, so it was a fun reunion! We hope Alex will be able to stay longer next time! Now, we are slowly gearing up for a trip back to the States. While we are soooo excited to see family and friends, the main drive for the visit at this time is to finally sort out the house. The house was supposed to be finished three weeks ago, but of course, that deadline seems irrelevant to our errant contractor. With a small miracle, he may be close by the time I get into town. Wish us luck!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Motherhood isn't for wimps
Speaking as someone who is admittedly sensitive, I have to say that becoming a mother has increased my sensitivity on all topics relating to children and babies at least tenfold (if not hundred-fold). Classic example: Ellie really enjoys watching the Pixar shorts we have downloaded from iTunes. To provide some variety, I also downloaded several of the Disney shorts for her. I remember watching them on the Disney Channel when I was a child, and I liked them. One I specifically remembered and downloaded is "The Ugly Duckling." Well, now it seems I CAN'T WATCH IT. That sweet, good-natured little swan hatches, and no one wants him. The duck whom he thinks is his mother is mean to him and rejects him. The only acceptance he finds is from a decoy, until it bonks him on the head while bobbing in the water. He cries and is miserable and all alone, and I CAN'T STAND IT! I cry every time! I even start crying of happiness when the mother swan finally finds and embraces him.
And don't even get me started on "The Little Matchgirl."
This did not happen pre-birth.
Sensitive women be warned!
And don't even get me started on "The Little Matchgirl."
This did not happen pre-birth.
Sensitive women be warned!
A very Dutch experience
Yesterday afternoon, Charlotte and I were out for lunch together in the beautiful sunshine while Ellie slept soundly in her stroller. I ordered a coffee, which turned out to be undrinkable. Charlotte insisted I tell the server, though I had no belief that the server would care (it wasn't a coffee place, so it isn't their specialty). At the end of the meal when we had our server's attention, Charlotte politely informed her that my coffee was undrinkable and tasted quite bitter. The server's response did not disappoint. She merely said, "Yes, that's how it tastes."
Welcome to Holland.
Welcome to Holland.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Keukenhof
Beware: if you aren't interested in my picture fest, RUN AWAY NOW.
Yesterday morning, the dipe squad and Profesora Brancaforte visited Keukenhof, a spectacular public garden that is only open two months per year when the bulbs are a-bloomin'. One danger of having an amazing camera with LOTS of memory is taking too many photos. I shot over 200, deleted down to 88, and narrowed it further from there to post here. I still had a hard time weeding things out, so don't get lost as you tiptoe through the tulips!
Given its limited availability, Keukenhof was quite crowded, even early in the day. As we left before lunch, cars were lined up for several kilometers all the way back to the main highway. License plates were from all over Europe (The Netherlands, Germany, and the UK being the most prevalent). We heard that Easter weekend saw over 25,000 visitors at Keukenhof! As happy as we are to have avoided that madness, we were sorry that Markus's mom and sister missed it. We just hadn't thought of it...a side effect of being a first-timer! Looking forward to next year! If you have a to-do-before-I-die list, we suggest adding "see the tulips blooming in Holland" to it. You won't be sorry!
Yesterday morning, the dipe squad and Profesora Brancaforte visited Keukenhof, a spectacular public garden that is only open two months per year when the bulbs are a-bloomin'. One danger of having an amazing camera with LOTS of memory is taking too many photos. I shot over 200, deleted down to 88, and narrowed it further from there to post here. I still had a hard time weeding things out, so don't get lost as you tiptoe through the tulips!
Given its limited availability, Keukenhof was quite crowded, even early in the day. As we left before lunch, cars were lined up for several kilometers all the way back to the main highway. License plates were from all over Europe (The Netherlands, Germany, and the UK being the most prevalent). We heard that Easter weekend saw over 25,000 visitors at Keukenhof! As happy as we are to have avoided that madness, we were sorry that Markus's mom and sister missed it. We just hadn't thought of it...a side effect of being a first-timer! Looking forward to next year! If you have a to-do-before-I-die list, we suggest adding "see the tulips blooming in Holland" to it. You won't be sorry!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Good times with good friends
This evening, we enjoyed a visit from our friends Michiel and Aafke and their three gorgeous blond kiddos. Beautiful springtime weather allowed for a relaxing dinner outside. The kids ran and played like mad things, and the adults were able to sit and chat over good food at (once again) the delightful family-friendly place nearby.
The weather has been amazing this past week or so. We have been blessed with sunny day after sunny day. Ellie and I are being sure not to take this for granted, and we have spent all available time playing outside. Indoors, the dust bunnies are starting to get territorial, but they may have to wait for a rainy day before there is serious intervention.
I realize I've been running a picture-heavy blog recently, and today will be no exception. Here are a few more shots of our latest fun. The first two were taken on Oma's last day in town out at the Scheveningen beach; the other is pretty self-explanatory. Ellie is just as dessert-obsessed as her mama. I have myself (and her papa!) to blame.
We hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend!
The weather has been amazing this past week or so. We have been blessed with sunny day after sunny day. Ellie and I are being sure not to take this for granted, and we have spent all available time playing outside. Indoors, the dust bunnies are starting to get territorial, but they may have to wait for a rainy day before there is serious intervention.
I realize I've been running a picture-heavy blog recently, and today will be no exception. Here are a few more shots of our latest fun. The first two were taken on Oma's last day in town out at the Scheveningen beach; the other is pretty self-explanatory. Ellie is just as dessert-obsessed as her mama. I have myself (and her papa!) to blame.
We hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Outside Central Station
Something tells me that the Dutch would manage well if there were to be an energy crisis...
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Happy Easter!
Greetings from the tail-end of our four day Easter weekend! Markus's mom and sister came into town for a visit (their first since Christmas!), and it was wonderful to spend time with them!
Ellie held everyone in thrall. Her development has hit the fast-forward button lately, and she is doing new things and trying new words every day. The weather also cooperated beautifully, and we enjoyed a lovely Easter weekend together. We made a day trip to Gouda and spent some time at the Rotterdam zoo, as well as jaunts to the beach and Clingendael park. Unfortunately, the Gouda trip was the only one without sunshine. We drove out of it leaving The Hague and ended up with some cold greyness that may have negatively impacted our impressions of the city. We will have to try it again sometime in the future. The city hall was beautiful, but there wasn't much else to speak for the town as we saw it.
Blijdorp is always a favorite, and we had a fun time there. The zoo is so big that there is always something new to see. Springtime means the flowering trees are in bloom, and new leaves are budding everywhere we look.
Easter lunch was good food in good company! Jennifer prepared a vegetarian entree of pasta with asparagus, hazelnuts and mascarpone cheese with some bread and a side salad. Dessert was a heavenly strawberry icebox pie. Yummy springtime treats!
When all was done, we relaxed and enjoyed ourselves in the garden.
Alas, there are always chores. Having a little helper makes a big difference!
We hope you and yours had a lovely weekend! Happy Easter to all!
Ellie held everyone in thrall. Her development has hit the fast-forward button lately, and she is doing new things and trying new words every day. The weather also cooperated beautifully, and we enjoyed a lovely Easter weekend together. We made a day trip to Gouda and spent some time at the Rotterdam zoo, as well as jaunts to the beach and Clingendael park. Unfortunately, the Gouda trip was the only one without sunshine. We drove out of it leaving The Hague and ended up with some cold greyness that may have negatively impacted our impressions of the city. We will have to try it again sometime in the future. The city hall was beautiful, but there wasn't much else to speak for the town as we saw it.
Blijdorp is always a favorite, and we had a fun time there. The zoo is so big that there is always something new to see. Springtime means the flowering trees are in bloom, and new leaves are budding everywhere we look.
Easter lunch was good food in good company! Jennifer prepared a vegetarian entree of pasta with asparagus, hazelnuts and mascarpone cheese with some bread and a side salad. Dessert was a heavenly strawberry icebox pie. Yummy springtime treats!
When all was done, we relaxed and enjoyed ourselves in the garden.
Alas, there are always chores. Having a little helper makes a big difference!
We hope you and yours had a lovely weekend! Happy Easter to all!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Clingendael
We were blessed with beautiful spring weather this weekend! Unfortunately, Markus and I took turns battling a nasty stomach bug over the weekend, too. Thankfully, it seems to have missed the third person in the house (won't mention names so sickness demons won't hear), and we were able to take turns keeping her busy (no mean feat these days!).
This afternoon's family excursion was to Clingendael park. What gorgeous grounds! What a beautiful place to soak up every wonderful bit of a sunny spring day! Clingendael apparently used to be a private estate (must research this to learn more), and it has truly amazing property. These days, the mansion house is home to an international affairs school. The grounds are both wooded and open farmland with lots of animals for kiddos to see and feed. We were so excited to see so many lambs, and of course, the many different birds must be chased and/or fed. Ellie was happy to run around and burn some energy with her pokey parents in tow.
just visiting the locals...(not the mansion house, in case you wondered)
practicing animal sounds for call and response? Ellie insistently "baaaa"-ed at the sheep to no avail.
so many stones, so little time
What do you mean geese don't eat stones?!
This afternoon's family excursion was to Clingendael park. What gorgeous grounds! What a beautiful place to soak up every wonderful bit of a sunny spring day! Clingendael apparently used to be a private estate (must research this to learn more), and it has truly amazing property. These days, the mansion house is home to an international affairs school. The grounds are both wooded and open farmland with lots of animals for kiddos to see and feed. We were so excited to see so many lambs, and of course, the many different birds must be chased and/or fed. Ellie was happy to run around and burn some energy with her pokey parents in tow.
just visiting the locals...(not the mansion house, in case you wondered)
practicing animal sounds for call and response? Ellie insistently "baaaa"-ed at the sheep to no avail.
so many stones, so little time
What do you mean geese don't eat stones?!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
TOMS shoes
This is not an advertisement. You haven't checked up on spam. I heard about TOMS shoes this summer, and I signed up for their e-newsletter. Today, the company sent a link to the video clip below, as well as the latest blog entry: 4th Grade. Before you get any further, you might be wondering what this is all about. TOMS is a small shoemaking company with an international development idea at heart. They make incredibly basic canvas shoes based on a traditional Argentine shoe, which they sell at quite high prices...but the special part is that they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold. The video clip is from their 2006 shoe drop, and it's very moving. Of course, the big downside to giving shoes is that the children in need will outgrow the shoes and want/need more. On the other hand, it's a beautiful, simple idea, and couldn't we all use more of those? I just wanted to share.
Monday, March 26, 2007
A Visit to the Consultation Bureau
This morning, Ellie had her first visit to the Consultation Bureau. The Consultation Bureau is an institution here in Holland that looks after children's development and well-being from birth to age four. It is not the same as a pediatrician's office. If the child is sick, he or she visits the family doctor and may be referred on to a specialist at the children's hospital from there. The Consultation Bureau is a well-baby clinic (of sorts). Being a foreign concept to me, I admit that I lived in moderate dread of it until recently. Today's visit wiped out any remaining reservations I might have had. It is truly impressive! Recently, The Netherlands topped a UNICEF list for best countries for children, and I am starting to understand why. I find it amazing that there is a state institution in place to follow infant and toddler development and well-being. Wow.
A little over a week ago, the Consultation Bureau sent a nurse to our home (by appointment beforehand). She came to set up all the initial administrative hoopla (shot records, developmental milestones, etc.). They say this initial visit is done in the home for the convenience of the parents and comfort of the children, but we also suspect it is a good way for them to check out the home environment for red flags. The idea of being inspected had me in a frenzy, but when you think about it, what a brilliant thing! It's not as if the nurse really inspected my home, but you know yourself that you can get a feel for how people live when you enter their homes, even briefly. That home visit is a good way for the state to check the welfare of the child at the start.
Today's visit to the local office was for a well-baby check-up and (alas) immunizations. When we arrived, we were told that one other family was waiting ahead of us, so when we saw them go in, I was asked to strip Ellie down to a clean diaper. The rooms were nice and warm for that purpose. Ellie didn't mind at all. She ran around like a monkey in her nappy, playing in a toy house they had set up and dancing with a doll she found. A staff person took her height and weight measurements, and then Ellie went back to running around naked and free.
When it was our turn, we went into the office and Ellie sat on the large desk, which was heavily padded on one end for a sitting space. The doctor (?--she introduced herself by name not title and she wasn't wearing a lab coat...on the other hand, neither does our family doctor, so I just don't know) handed her some small colored wooden blocks, and then she watched to see what Ellie would do with them. She explained to me that she was going to check Ellie's development through observation. After a few minutes of playing, the doctor (?) offered Ellie a tiny wadded up piece of paper in her open palm. She asked Ellie to take it and put it back; then she moved her palm closer to Ellie's other hand and repeated the process (checking pincer grasp, ability to use both hands equally well, hand-eye coordination, ability to follow simple commands). Then, she put a block back in front of Ellie and handed her another one, asking her to stack it on top. She repeated this one on the other side as well, and then she checked to see if Ellie would lift blocks in both hands at the same time. After that, she got out a soft, colored ball and placed Ellie on the floor. She wanted to check her balance and steadiness while walking and standing. Ellie carried the ball all around. She wasn't interested in throwing it as requested (easy way to check how steady she is when she throws the ball), but she seemed more than steady enough to satisfy. All in all, it was fascinating to me. In the US, I take Ellie to a pediatrician's office that I rave about, and they don't check these things at all. They may ask how she does, but they don't observe it. Ellie just enjoyed playing, so the little tests didn't phase her a bit! Unfortunately, the immunizations at the end did upset her quite a bit, but that's understandable. We may be done with those now until she's four. Hooray!
Finally, since this is labeled a "life in Holland" post, I have to tack on a photo of Ellie at the end of our journey. The Consultation Bureau we will use is about 10 minutes away by bike. We were happy to have beautiful sunny weather for our trip!
A little over a week ago, the Consultation Bureau sent a nurse to our home (by appointment beforehand). She came to set up all the initial administrative hoopla (shot records, developmental milestones, etc.). They say this initial visit is done in the home for the convenience of the parents and comfort of the children, but we also suspect it is a good way for them to check out the home environment for red flags. The idea of being inspected had me in a frenzy, but when you think about it, what a brilliant thing! It's not as if the nurse really inspected my home, but you know yourself that you can get a feel for how people live when you enter their homes, even briefly. That home visit is a good way for the state to check the welfare of the child at the start.
Today's visit to the local office was for a well-baby check-up and (alas) immunizations. When we arrived, we were told that one other family was waiting ahead of us, so when we saw them go in, I was asked to strip Ellie down to a clean diaper. The rooms were nice and warm for that purpose. Ellie didn't mind at all. She ran around like a monkey in her nappy, playing in a toy house they had set up and dancing with a doll she found. A staff person took her height and weight measurements, and then Ellie went back to running around naked and free.
When it was our turn, we went into the office and Ellie sat on the large desk, which was heavily padded on one end for a sitting space. The doctor (?--she introduced herself by name not title and she wasn't wearing a lab coat...on the other hand, neither does our family doctor, so I just don't know) handed her some small colored wooden blocks, and then she watched to see what Ellie would do with them. She explained to me that she was going to check Ellie's development through observation. After a few minutes of playing, the doctor (?) offered Ellie a tiny wadded up piece of paper in her open palm. She asked Ellie to take it and put it back; then she moved her palm closer to Ellie's other hand and repeated the process (checking pincer grasp, ability to use both hands equally well, hand-eye coordination, ability to follow simple commands). Then, she put a block back in front of Ellie and handed her another one, asking her to stack it on top. She repeated this one on the other side as well, and then she checked to see if Ellie would lift blocks in both hands at the same time. After that, she got out a soft, colored ball and placed Ellie on the floor. She wanted to check her balance and steadiness while walking and standing. Ellie carried the ball all around. She wasn't interested in throwing it as requested (easy way to check how steady she is when she throws the ball), but she seemed more than steady enough to satisfy. All in all, it was fascinating to me. In the US, I take Ellie to a pediatrician's office that I rave about, and they don't check these things at all. They may ask how she does, but they don't observe it. Ellie just enjoyed playing, so the little tests didn't phase her a bit! Unfortunately, the immunizations at the end did upset her quite a bit, but that's understandable. We may be done with those now until she's four. Hooray!
Finally, since this is labeled a "life in Holland" post, I have to tack on a photo of Ellie at the end of our journey. The Consultation Bureau we will use is about 10 minutes away by bike. We were happy to have beautiful sunny weather for our trip!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Blijdorp (aka the Rotterdam Zoo)
In the past few weeks, we seem to have developed a new little family tradition of visiting Blijdorp, the Rotterdam Zoo, every Sunday morning. By car, Rotterdam is pretty convenient (only about 15 minutes down the road), and the zoo is quite nice. Near the entrance is a large oceanarium, which is separated into zones (North Sea, Caribbean, etc.). On rainy days, we pretty much stick to that, since it's all indoors and Ellie loves watching the fish.
On the sunny days, we walk throughout the zoo and see what we can see before the Little Monkey who lives with us gets tired. Blijdorp is a lovely zoo. It was designed all in one go and (more importantly) with active children in mind. There are lots of fun little passageways in and around exhibits. Taller kids can poke their heads up through a tunnel right in the middle of the groundhogs. Most creeks can be crossed via a bridge or by hopping across large stones for the more adventurous tikes.
Of course, the animals are a great bonus, and we feel so lucky to be in a place where Ellie can go see the animals that we show her in books. The elephants seem to top her list of favorites (she cries a bit when we leave them), and on this visit she was fascinated by the indoor butterfly garden. Jennifer always favors the big cats, and Markus just dreams of South Africa where the animals aren't caged at all. At least we can enjoy the beautiful spring sunshine together, and watching Ellie discover new things is always rewarding!
On the sunny days, we walk throughout the zoo and see what we can see before the Little Monkey who lives with us gets tired. Blijdorp is a lovely zoo. It was designed all in one go and (more importantly) with active children in mind. There are lots of fun little passageways in and around exhibits. Taller kids can poke their heads up through a tunnel right in the middle of the groundhogs. Most creeks can be crossed via a bridge or by hopping across large stones for the more adventurous tikes.
Of course, the animals are a great bonus, and we feel so lucky to be in a place where Ellie can go see the animals that we show her in books. The elephants seem to top her list of favorites (she cries a bit when we leave them), and on this visit she was fascinated by the indoor butterfly garden. Jennifer always favors the big cats, and Markus just dreams of South Africa where the animals aren't caged at all. At least we can enjoy the beautiful spring sunshine together, and watching Ellie discover new things is always rewarding!
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