Cutiefiles hits the road: Belgium and Holland
Easter roadtrip! Elena had the week off from daycare which forced me to actually plan ahead.
Please pack this for me.
We first headed West to Belgium, stopping in Ghent. It’s a university city, and very cool. We walked around, bought some chocolates and looked at the old buildings on the canal. Then we headed to Ypres, to see the Flanders field area from WWI. There is a giant memorial to the hundreds of thousands of Commonwealth forces that fought here. Over 60,000 died there from Australia alone. But the soldiers also came from the West Indies, India and New Zealand. The town was full of these plastic cats that were perched on buildings and were set with motion sensors, so that when you got close to them the would meow. This is because they have a festival where they throw cats (stuffed) off buildings every three years. It was sort of public art campaign gone wrong. We got lost searching for a museum with restored bunkers and got there after it closed, but we still the idea of what it meant to hold the line, fighting over position in fields that went on forever, with hardly a rise and fall. A recent binge of Downton Abbey was also helpful preparation.
Then we headed to Bruges, and I would have to say all the fuss about Bruges is true. Rows of medieval buildings in top condition. Not just a few blocks but the whole town. As if the Anthropology store is a real place. The tourists are there in droves, and actually they have made the whole city into a playground, but it was great fun to wander around and eat more chocolates and waffles.
The city hall in Bruges, like being inside a golden egg. Elena crawled around cause it was empty.
Then we headed North to Delft in Holland, which is the home to Royal Dutch blue china or Delftware. It is made in the style of 17th Century Chinese porcelain and all hand painted (the real stuff). We had a miserable walk in the rain finding the museum and factory store, but then got a rich history of the dinnerware, and a solid (oops) turn through the gift shop. I was not able to resist the pull to buy something royal that also happened to have a bunny on it.
They dipped a cow in porcelain.
Good shopping was also had in Bruges, where I found a miniature folding chair in Pantone turquoise for Elena. She likes to sit in it backwards which is not safe. We also bought her a wooden tea set. About ten minutes after arriving home it she had taken it out of the box herself. Having tea with her is like tea with an earthquake. Sure glad it is wood. I thought I would have to worry about her daddy buying her toys but it was me who could not be stopped.
From Delft we headed to Keukenhof, another tourist haven. Its a giant park among the tulip fields, where you learn that a tulip is not just a tulip and that the Dutch invented them 400 years ago. You know all those fields of color you have seen in pictures? I hate to ruin it for you but they are farming the tulip bulb to send it near and far. The flower ends up in a giant pile. But it was also a great chance to eat a hot stroopwafel (its a waffle cookie with syrup in it), and some poffertjes (perhaps my most favorite food, its like a mini pancake).
Thank goodness the rain stopped for our tulip fest. The tulips are happy growing because of the sandy soil — so you guessed it, our next stop was the North Sea. We spent our last night in an odd beach hotel called Lekker which I recommend it to anyone who hates customer service and loves hot pink and black.
Well-earned sunshine at Holland's Jersey shore.
Our final stop on the drive back was in no less than the world cheese capital, Gouda. Which you can pronounce Htshch-oa-da if you are in Europe. But you can still say Goo-da to me. I was looking around for a cheese roll the size of a three story building. But this is not allowed due to zoning restrictions. We loaded up on some samples and some more blue and white windmill schwag and hit the road to Bonn.
Would you like some cheese?
I am also pleased to report that while we parked alongside a canal with no barrier on it, I did not drive the car into the water. Elena is a great traveler, passing out when we’re on the road, and bouncing in her stroller when we are sightseeing. She had a good number of french fries and was happy to pose for photos.
More photos to come when I get my camera sorted out!
Cutiefiles update, celebrating the life of Connie Fleming
My dear readers, its been to long! It has not been for lack of stories. Like when Elena put her banana in the vuvuzela.
We got back to Bonn in mid-January, but soon after headed back to the airport to go to Seattle. My Grandma Connie died at the age of 81. She suffered from dementia and had not really been herself for some time. This last year, my mom would visit her in her nursing home and show her pictures of Elena on the I-phone. It was nice to celebrate to her life and remember her for who she was. She had strong opinions, loved to read, travel, had a great sense of style, and enjoyed ice cream and a glass of wine.
Good times with Grandma and Grandpa in the 80's on the deck.
While I talk to my family often, we don’t have many moments where we gather together and talk about the past and the people who raised us. Now I know — lots of hours and love has gone into each branch of the family tree. It was moving to be there with Elena, and be part of this shift in generations. Life marching on. I wrote an elegy for her, I’ll post it after the jump.
My sister, mother, Elena and I with my Grandma's long time friend Joan.
Babyfest with cousin Abigail and Aunt Diana.
Dim sum!
Uncle Alex at Goodfellows.
Back in Bonn we have been getting back into our routine. Last Monday Elena took some steps. Daddy rushed home, but she did not do it again. The week passed, no more steps. Then, on Monday, she took a few more. I guess she is secretly walking at daycare, practicing to surprise us. We have started going to a grupo de juegos — for other babies and mamas who want to jugar in espanol. We are learning some new songs, para dormir un elephante, necessite un chupute gigante– to put an elephant to bed, you need a giant pacifer. Now imagine the hand motions. While everyone else can walk, she is still the best dancer and hand clapper.
Help me up Daddy!
Pass the cone por favor.
Carnival came to Bonn, and while we were not prepared for the party at daycare — everyone had costumes except for Elena– (oops) Elena still enjoyed a celebratory baby brunch complete with Berliners (jelly donuts).
Wearing a carnival hat with Dino.
Between all those bouts of jet lag, a nasty cold (for all three of us), and being on the verge of walking, Elena has not been sleeping so well and all has not been tranquil at cutiefiles HQ. But we are still having fun and looking good.
All in the family in Curaçao and Venezuela
We have just left Curaçao, and now are in Caracas. What a happy island. One reason it was so happy is that Elena was with her abuela and they had a very good time. Living in Germany away from family, holidays are like jumping into the deep end of the pool. We went from our gang of 3 to a pack of 9, making decisions as a group on what to eat, who is driving whom where…. Add a language barrier, a baby, and you have got a party– or at least a reality TV show.
Hello from Curacao!
We have both responded well to the tropical air. Elena wakes up in the morning at 7, comes out into the sun, and lights up even more that usual. I can see her little face telling me: Mommy, this is good air.
On our last day, we drove to the end of the island to meet up with uncle Jairo, who is known for bringing the party wherever he goes, including to our wedding in New York City and Jesus’ wedding last summer (where he closed down a roof top bar in the meatpacking district, his wife singing “My Way” with a live band).
This time was no exception, there were various cousins and other tios and suddenly we were 20 people, four generations, on a tropical night in a leafy place. I was in heaven: the beautiful beach, dirt road, crickets and birds barking over each other, bats cutting through the twilight. The sun sank in a flaming ball over the ocean as we walked along the coral filled beach, looking up at the turquoise colonial houses.
But Jairo’s clan was planning on leaving this place the next day because there was no internet or TV and it was so far away. (It was less than an hour from civilization). At this moment, I felt more at one with this family than I ever have felt, and also quite alien, as I was ready to ask if I could sleep there. As my brother said, it was a tropical Camp Sealth.
I have been going to Venezeula for 6 years now, and I am sure all you spouses can agree visiting the in laws has its challenges, and add to that a different culture and a language barrier. But, bring a baby along and integration comes more naturally.
The first few days I watched Elena in the chaos, being passed from one arms to the next. Her wide eyes seemed to be saying, these are my people? I have a clan? I can imagine her growing up in this– learning how to talk over everyone, argue stubbornly about something unimportant and repeat que buena la sopa over and over. It will be natural. She won’t have to just say si and smile at everyone and hope for the best like her mother. She can fight about who is driving the car and where. I am just afraid she will be on Blackberry messenger at age 11. In fact, I recommend visiting your inlaws on a tropical island. I may have no influence on who is driving the car and what’s for lunch, but I can go to the pool and that is enough for me.
I need a table for 18!
Eso!
Elena has gotten a lot of presents, a talking rabbit in English, and Mickey Mouse, “hola, soy Mickey Mouse! Me gusta levantar temprano en las mananas! (I like to get up early every morning– oh Mickey, your mother is tired!) This will go well with her other new talking rabbit who speaks German. We can assemble a little choir.
We have one carry on reserved for talking animals
and one reserved for shoes.
Gracias todos for all the presents!
The day before we left Curaçao, Luis went to golf at the Hyatt and we hit the beach. It was the first time the stars aligned so Elena could play in the sand. We sat in the tide and dug in the sand for hours. Then I gave her a bath in the sink.
There is so much of this stuff.
Too many pina coladas.
Bon bini mi dushi!
I can’t bring myself to buy any other flavors of baby food besides guava and mango, and her abuela makes her mashed green bananas and soup out of vegetables that I don’t know the names of. Abuela also insists on a bath everyday. Elena is ravenous and growing as we watch. She ate an entire banana while we were the supermarket that I am not sure we paid for. Still no first steps, but she turned on the TV with the remote (we don’t have a proper one in Bonn, so she learned this quick), tried to put her daddy’s shoes on her feet, fed herself with a spoon and has been removing all the magnets from the refrigerator.
So, a belated Happy New Year from all of us! And congratulations to Manuel and Julie on their engagement, we are very excited that Elena will be getting a new tia, and also have another chance to wear a pretty dress. We have a few more days here in the sun in Venezuela. Bonn, we will see you soon.
What is it you want me to do?
In front of Willemsted, downtown Curacao.
Birthday bash report
How come a baby will tear up any book on the shelf, but not the wrapping paper of her birthday present?
We are late posting the full birthday report because the second the party was over we both came down with the flu. Ugh. We leave tomorrow night to stay at the airport, then fly early in the morning to Venezuela, and then to the island of Curaçao in the Carribbean. Seems hard to believe, since we woke up this morning to two inches of mushy snow in the dark. My job tomorrow is to decide which baby sun dresses to pack. I am not complaining.
We set the birthday bash for 2pm on Saturday, and Elena was sound asleep when the guests began to arrive. She was understandably quite surprised to find a party going on in the living room when she woke up. It took her a bit of time to adjust. We got some cool toys, a stacking alligator, a singing doll, a Santa Claus outfit and a very special fish.
A fish that sings in the bathtub, you don’t say?
Mommy these shoes are not practical
Thanks for coming to my party.
What did you get me?
I'll start with the candle.
I am very pleased to report that we raised $845 for the orphan Christmas party in Kenya. Truly a cutiefiles team team effort! The transfer is on its way and I will let you know what happens. Two hundred children are coming to the party. Maybe more if the word spreads, and I have no doubt it will.
I hope you readers are ready to get festive, our next post will be from Curaçao with Abuela and the rest of the gang. Now that I think of it, we can more or less say Happy Birthday to the blog, its been a year of cutieness, with lots more to continue.
Daddy’s back from Africa
Lots of news in the world this week, even for a mommy blog.
After two weeks, Luis is back from the climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa. Despite head-scratching outcomes, he has come home singing sho-sho-loza. It is not the first COP he has come home singing from. After Copenhagen it was “Oh! It’s getting hot in here, there is too much carbon in the atmosphere…”
(Side note, in the US the average carbon emissions per person : 17.9 tons, Germany 9.6. )
Regardless of the details, I love seeing these ladies in charge:
Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UNFCCC and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the South African minister of foreign affairs, hug after a deal is made at 6am. The other key figure was Connie Hedegaard, chief negotiator of the EU. Lady power!
Despite finally arriving after 30+ hours of travel, he then stayed up until 6am watching the live webcast. We are still getting him adjusted to not drafting agreed text. Congratulations to all the people who really worked hard these past weeks.
On to the good stuff: presents!
En espanol: Hi-po-po-ti-mo.
We had to search youtube to find out what noise a hippo makes, which was an excellent research project.
And a vuvuzela of course.
The neighbors will love this.
Busy week continues at Cutiefiles HQ. We are planning for Elena’s first birthday. Sure to be an exclusive event including finger paint and Christmas cookies.
I’m super psyched, the cutiefiles community has come forward to help support a Christmas party for a group of orphans in Western Kenya. Each child will get a school uniform as a present, and be made to feel special. Big thank you to Katja, Diana, Pat Z, Anna S., Tshering, Teresa, Laurence, Victor, Diana and the UN Spouses for getting on board. We are going to donate about $750 that will be matched locally. More updates on this to come, its not too late to join the cause and really spoil these kids for a few hours, just let me know if you want in.
Two hours in America
We visited America today. Well, we drove to see Nikita and took a trip to the commissary. I have been fantasizing about it for months, and it was even better than expected. I am home now wishing I bought more graham cracker pie crusts, and graham crackers for that matter. Sharp cheddar. Celestial seasoning. Salsa. Cheerios. Butterscotch chips. Annie’s. I spent most of the time rejoicing in the baking aisle. Christmas, finally!
Now I reflecting on the power of the store. How strange it is that you can live in Germany but really live in America (and even do you shopping on Sunday). They even sell Kona coffee from Hawaii (but you need a ration card.)
Going shopping was like a reunion. There are so many associations that come with these brands. My grandma making fudge with marshmallow whip. My mother’s enchiladas. Eating macaroni and cheese after school with my sister. I went shopping with my mother every week to huge supermarkets for years, its in my blood.
All the prices were in dollars (and low at that). But now I am home feeling silly for thinking about how I should have bought triscuits. There is plenty of food in Germany, just not as many options, so what is my deal? Many of these things I had forgotten existed. Was it just the rush of the kill? The forbidden fruit? Am I homesick? But when you think about it, food is so central to how we live, it makes sense that the store had a powerful effect. It is winter time, and I am building a giant nest with a baby.
But, I would not want to live on the military base, no thank you. The whole town made Bonn look pretty fancy. Elena was a good traveler, and thoroughly enjoyed Nikita’s boyfriend Matthew’s musical talents. We also took a trip to the Christmas market.
Pass the gluhwein!
You can't catch me.
I’m totally excited about this Christmas market find:
My new house.
I think winter is now really showing its face, the rain has come. Time to start planning for the big birthday party!
I want a purple balloon.
A pumpkin for all seasons
I am on a major pumpkin kick.
Funny enough, Diana was too, until she was baking so much pumpkin bread her boyfriend made her stop. Luckily Elena is on my side. It just so magical to buy a chunk of this huge squash at the market for 2 euros, cook it for an hour so it melts, zap it in the blender and suddenly it is the buttery nutty thing that you can eat straight, put it in waffles, muffins, feed it to your baby, make coconut curry soup… yummm… the possibilities are endless.
Look at that color.
Maybe its for the best there is no canned Libby’s here, otherwise I never would have discovered this whole new world.
It does leave stains though. Luis does not understand, but he is in Durban. So let the feast continue! I can’t wait to read Elena The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, a formative text apparently.
It's great for my hair.
Poor Elena has been fighting sickness, and is not 100%. And, with the sun up at 8 and down at 4, its hard to get good light for photos.
clean again!
Today at daycare when I came to get her, everyone was literally running around in circles screaming. She was in her taxi (walker) also running around and screaming. Mary was watching out for her that she did not get bumped too bad in the traffic. I’m not sure she wanted to leave with me.
girly girl for about five minutes.
Luis is back in one week, Daddy we miss you!
11 month round-up
We have been playing some football. Co-ed unfortunately was not all it’s cracked up to be. When you run into a 6.5, two hundred pound dude there is never a good outcome. As a mommy, I need to not break any bones.
Go team!
We had to make a small trip to the radiologist to make sure everything was in order, and Elena tore through the hallways on all fours. While surely against the rules, I think she made some of the old guys with canes smile.
Elena has been going to the tagemutter (Ms. Mary) all week, and having a ball. She has a new older sister, Violeta, and as the youngest of the pack she gets the princess treatment.
I'm ready to go.
The new job is going fine, as my friend Elisabeth pointed out, “it’s almost easier to go sit in an office all day.” I would have to (quietly) agree. To have the lunch hour free and talk with a friend or meet someone new is such a luxury (there is even a Friday lunch yoga class). Ms. Mary is an expert, she has a schedule and has set up a baby haven. They go from room to room– time to sing, a time for the chicken dance, time for pizza, nap time, and time to play outside. Apparently Elena loves going outside, she stands up in her too-big Baby Tom’s holding onto the little playhouse.
But the days are not too long, I pick her up at 4:00. (Even so, I might look at a few pics with the I-phone at work.)
Today was St. Martins, and there was a parade of little people carrying lanterns down our street and singing songs. I love this tradition, and though I’m not sure I understand it yet, I can’t wait for Elena to make her own lantern.
Too slow Daddy.
Time to work, time to play
So your favorite mommy blogger has headed back to the office. I now have the new challenge of getting out the door without being slobbered on (and find shirts that still button ahh hem). After I dropped Elena off the first day I could have cried, but it is now day two and I think I have the hang of it. So far its fun, I am on the 15th floor with a nice view of the river.
Reminds me of a certain East River office view.
I am managing an award for projects that promote soil health and sustainable land management. It’s very sexy. I get to chase various important people around and promote the award, so it combines my other gigs (headhunting, writing) quite well. So far 20 hours a weeks seems a perfect amount. I must say I was proud to receive my new green UN badge today. The post is for five months.
Elena has been having fun. Teresa and fam moved to Leipzig this weekend (sad), but after they packed the first load of their furniture into the van they realized they needed somewhere to stay. So, a full house for the weekend. Elena loved waking up in the morning to find a friend in her living room. Everyone left inspired to procreate.
Let me see that.
Elena has had two full days now at daycare and played hard. When she comes home she needs another nap to recover. Ms. Mary says she is eating a lot.
Bring on the play.
Tuesday was a holiday, so we headed to Nicole’s to play with Nicholas. He has the best toys of any toddler in Bonn, and he is even pretty good at sharing.
How does this work Nicholas?
In motion and laughing like a dolphin.
I know, too long, I’m sorry my cutiefiles readers. There is lots of news, in no particular order:
Last week we checked out the Wildpark with Iris and Teresa. It’s just all these animals roaming around — sheep, goats, furry llamas, large wild boar families (the biggest one eats everything). Cheap entertainment.
Many Wildschwein in the mud.
These look nice.
Teresa is very brave.
So this one really speaks for itself, Uncle Manuel was having fun with a scanner. Luis has explained to me that there is a difference, her face is not as wide.
Like father like daughter.
We are also super excited that Leymah Gbowee won the Nobel Peace Prize, since I have known her for years through my previous work with the Lutheran church. Her story is very inspiring, she organized women in Liberia during the civil war to physically surround the peace negotiations until they agreed to peace. It is a huge victory for the women’s rights community, especially all the women, peace and security activists. We hung out with Leymah at the Women of the ELCA triennial in July. We are going to have to print out one of these photos of Elena and Leymah for the mantle. It was so cool to turn on the radio and the TV and hear her talking everywhere, even the Germans talking about her. I can’t wait to get a copy of her book.
Leymah, let's call Liberia.
We are also super proud of my cousin Susie, who was walking along Alki beach with her friend and her four-year old, who road off the bulkhead on his bike. Susy then jumped off the sea wall into Puget Sound to rescue him, and broke her leg. Wow! You are a hero and you can go walking with us anytime.
And, things will be changing a bit for cutie HQ. In a few weeks I will be starting a part time job at the UN Convention on Desertification, so Elena will be going to daycare. Despite lots of people telling me scary stories about waiting lists that are years long, we appear to have secured a spot with Ms. Mary, who is originally from Peru so Elena can habla espanol. I was feeling guilty for even thinking about it, but we had a trial date and it was just cutie land there.
Ms. Mary has maybe six toddlers, and they all play, sing songs, then eat lunch together at a little table and after take a nap. I set Elena down and she did not even notice I had left. Ms. Mary lights scented candles, so I even left feeling relaxed. Miraculous. So, this will be much better than the current situation with me trying to get something done while Elena tries to eat some dirt or rub her gums with a cell phone charger.
I'm ready to make some friends.
