Happy Scccarrrry Halloween!

Scary Hedgehog

This was the best I could do before his Kinderkrippe this morning.

Alex insisted on putting his new shoes on, so he was distracted.  

Then he refused to keep the hood on.  However, he liked it on me and kissed the nose. 

We'll try to get some more pics later.

Bats!!

At twilight we turned down the lights, opened the shutters fully and watched the aerobatics of our neighboring bats feasting.

Alex stood on the window ledge leaning on me and hands fully pressed against the window. There was lots of fast bat-spotting and counting:

"One little bat! WaHaHaHa!!! Two little bats!! WaHaHaHa!!!"

It was fun watching them swoosh around, up, down, to and fro.

Milestone?

Alex's crib is now a "big-boy-bed".



He still cries like a baby when in it though. Just ask his Dad who tortured him for 40 minutes trying to get Alex to sleep in it tonight. So we revert to the "falling asleep in Mom&Dad's bed and mysteriously waking up in big-boy-bed" routine from the first night.

Hopefully he'll transition back to his bed eventually. Cuz like this... romance=not happening.

Cute

I love these guys!!!

Totoro and Chibi

What is Cy talking about?

Frankfurt Visit

Last weekend we went to Frankfurt. We had a great time!
We were able to catch-up with good friends, enjoy some yummy food, smooth wine and comfortable conversations. On Saturday we did a bit of shopping and on Sunday we took in the beauty of the Palmengarten. Truth be told, we did more in Frankfurt this past weekend than on many of the weekends when we lived there!! Ahhh Frankfurt! I miss you!

Oh poop.

This week Alex started half-days in his new Kinderkrippe (daycare). We are now complete week 1 of an estimated 2 week integration period.

I had planned to make my first post something cute and sweet but yesterday (Thursday) I noticed a sign on the door that had apparently been there all week. Not so cute and maybe only bittersweet... If that. More like icing.

Yep... I missed it. I did some research. Hopefully we won't catch either.

Let the good times roll!

I'll post something fun another time. For now we are happy (and relatively healthy - just a new boogery nose for Alex) and both he and I are transitioning relatively well.

Halloween Costume

While I was in Canada I went to Pottery Barn Kids. Brutal. I love that place. I usually browse, but this time I couldn't resist and got Alex a Halloween costume. They have awesome costumes!!! And they're not exactly cheap.

We won't reveal the costume until Halloween, however, we were considering dressing him in it for a couple days around Halloween... and again if it still fits him next year... Heeheehee! Did someone say "cheap mom - wants to get her money's worth?" By then he might have something to say about this!

PBK's Costumes Catalogue

Back to Basel

Well, we're back!

After a longgggggg flight back (Alex got maybe 3 hours of sleep lying on my outstretched lap (feet extended to the bulkhead wall like a bridge and him spanning me heavily)... I can see why kids need their own seats at 2...) I maybe got 2 hours of "sleep".

After which, it was time to land. Alex cried so hard while we were landing it almost led me to tears. I believe I was very patient. "Humm", I thought... "the seatbelt light is off. Maybe walking will sooth him". But wait! Now that we are walking, everyone can see the screaming baby and his mom who can't control her child - and then I spot the fully-strapped-in flight attendants, so I rush back to my seat and buckle-up in time to wonder innocently who on earth could have warranted the sarcastic "we are landing, sit the F down" announcement. I mean really, who can be that stupid!?

Then the advice pours in... Yes, neighbour, his ears. He won't drink or suck his finger as he is too busy screaming his head off. Yes other neighbour, he was really good until now. Yes another freaking neighbour, we tried that... Ultimately the poor kid is exhausted and the fact that you were the only one with your light on in the whole freaking dark and sleeping plane, couldn't possibly have anything to do with anyone's discomfort! Damn-you for your "concern"!!! Roar!!!!! Then, thank god! "Look Alex! Trees!! We're landing!!! We will see Papa now! Thank god!

And the crying stopped. Miraculously.

We slept in until noon local time today (12 hours for me and 13 for Alex). Of course we also had afternoon naps before the sleep-marathon. Hehe!

Today we had a lovely day and went to the zoo. It was a party! So many friends were there with their ever-grown kiddies and with so many news updates! It was great to be so warmly received. It really eased our return. Thank you girls! I can't wait to go over all the exciting news in detail and spend much more time together in the weeks to come!

Yay!!!

Canada

I can't begin to explain how wonderful it was to be in Canada these last 3 weeks!

Despite my "mom" obligations, I was able to meet up with family and friends.

I stayed with my mom who was super in helping me with the countless things a mom with a toddler needs. She played a lot with Alexander and he was quite in love with her and really became attached to her. He would call for her constantly "Vovó, Vovó, Vo-vó!" and would even call her Mama sometimes! She and I did lots of chatting and catching-up. It was wonderful!

Christina came to visit on a regular basis making it seem like I was back home having special times become normal (although it never stopped being special). Alex loved her and her story telling "...and she said, want to see my plane? Oh and do you like my belt?" or something hilarious like that... When 'reading the pictures' in a Melanie Lyne catalogue...

Also, Alexander decided he wants a dog and kept suggesting talking Charlie and Jeremy out on walks. He walked Jeremy twice and did a darn good job!

My dad and I hung out quite a bit and he and Alex had so much fun that they both had some solid throaty laughs going! We even managed to surprise Naomi after school one day (she's almost my height now and as beautiful as ever).

We had Sunday family brunches where the whole troop showed up including Alistair who is back in TO working on a successful career (when did all the kids grow up)!??

I also spent some wonderful time with my dear girlfriends. We gossiped, caught-up on our busy lives, gave tight hugs, had achy throats (holding back tears), shared ups and downs... Were made into hug-sandwiches by Alex who was running around hugging all of us girls! Oh and I think he got a crush on Mila (Ivana's daughter). She gave him a toy and then thoroughly explained how to use it. He listened intently then wouldn't stop saying her name! "mee-ya, me-ya".

I didn't quite feel as caught-up as I thought I would and haven't begun to tell all the stories of the great times I had... But my heart is warmed. I needed this visit! Thanks everyone! Alexander and I got to enjoy a taste of life on the other side of my world.
After the second week Alex became quite home-sick and towards the end of our stay he was struggling with all the good-bye's. Me too, so surely that didn't help.

Now we are back and Alex is happy to be reunited with his Papa. His toys are all new again and he has repeatedly pushed the buttons on each of his noise-making books... Sorry, story telling song books. He's a happy boy.