Malú was over at grandma and grandpa's a bit more as we were dealing with Herbert's car trouble. She had dinner there, but dad told me she just didn't want to eat. We talked to her about it, but there was no particular reason for it. She has a mind of her own.
As our holiday is coming up, we went to the travel agent downtown to see what they had. We quickly decided our destination was the island of Mallorca near Spain. We looked at a couple of hotels and apartments, but couldn't decide, so we left. Herbert and I discussed what we wanted to do and how long we wanted to go. This would be Malú's first time on a plane. I'm not such a swimming pool and beach type of person, so 8 days were more than enough for me. We went back to the travel agent the following week and booked the original hotel / apartment that we had seen, so our holiday was taken care of.
Neighbour's day is also coming up and we are going to try to sell Malú's baby clothes and stuff. I dreaded going through her things. I litterally felt sick to my stomach and very sad as this means it's final. I already knew when Malú was a newborn, that that was it for me, just 1 child was enough. Herbert and I had the talk and it was clear, we both felt the same way, so we decided we are "one and done". I'm a much happier mom with only 1 child. Things are finally getting easier with Malú getting more "independant" and this way we can also still have time to ourselves. We also don't want to start all over again.
This 9/11 it has been 11 years ago since 4 planes were hijacked from US airports and crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near the city of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We remember those whose lives were taken and those who lost their loved ones ...
Fall started on the 21st. and so did my vacation. Weatherwise, summer was already over. Malú got a runny nose, a fever, she was coughing. That Sunday, it was Neighbour's day. It turned out well. I would have liked to sell more clothes, but overall, we made some good cash. Malú stayed at grandma and grandpa's that day and they came over a couple of times (it was litterally accross the street from them). Malú's fever came back and her ear was hurting.
Had some time to myself that first week as Herbert still had to work. My car was due for the yearly check up and passed it. As Malú was still complaining about her ear hurting, I took her to the doctor's office. She did very well and there was nothing wrong, it was just the runny nose, no infections whatsoever. Very relieved.
My old boss will start a new job at another company, so had a fun evening with my co-workers at a Spanish restaurant for his going away.
So looking forward to our upcoming holiday.
Love, Astrid xx
vrijdag 12 oktober 2012
vrijdag 7 september 2012
August 2012 - has summer started yet ??
July has been so cold ... August turned out like summer. But when it rains, it pours, right ??
It finally warmed up to t-shirt weather. We went biking with Malú, to the playground and she just played outside a lot. But then it turned really HOT with temps up to 37 celsius / 99 F. We do not have aircon in our house. We kept everything closed up during the day, but it still warmed up inside in the end and we couldn't sleep well anymore.
Anouk went to kindergarten for the first time on 13 Aug. All went well. We picked her up from her new "school" for the first time on Wednesday. Malú is now also eager to go to school, because of Anouk.
Malú always took an afternoon nap at daycare, but she decided that's over with. There are a couple more kids her age, who don't nap anymore, so she also stays awake and plays. She had to get used to that at first, because she was absolutely exhausted when she came home, crying over the silliest things.
My godfather uncle Leo (my dad's brother) turned 75 on 23 Aug. We went to celebrate a day early. My sister Wendy had a meeting at school, so I picked up Anouk and all 3 of us (Anouk, Malú and I) went to uncle Leo's birthday. We sat outside and had a great time.
Herbert had to get a part in his car replaced (not sure what the word is in English), but it totally went wrong and he couldn't use his car at all. So Herbert used my car and on the days I worked, we all went in my car, dropped Malú off at daycare, drove to my work, then Herbert took it and drove to his work. I drove back with a co-worker. Almost after almost 3 weeks, his car was finally fixed and I could use my car again whenever I wanted it. Such a luxury problem, but if you are used to having 2 cars, it's such a bummer if 1 breaks down
One day, Malú and I went downtown and I got a lot of stuff at the drugstore and I told Malú the bag was heavy. Malú responded: "then don't buy so much". So much logic to this.
Love, Astrid xx
It finally warmed up to t-shirt weather. We went biking with Malú, to the playground and she just played outside a lot. But then it turned really HOT with temps up to 37 celsius / 99 F. We do not have aircon in our house. We kept everything closed up during the day, but it still warmed up inside in the end and we couldn't sleep well anymore.
Anouk went to kindergarten for the first time on 13 Aug. All went well. We picked her up from her new "school" for the first time on Wednesday. Malú is now also eager to go to school, because of Anouk.
Malú always took an afternoon nap at daycare, but she decided that's over with. There are a couple more kids her age, who don't nap anymore, so she also stays awake and plays. She had to get used to that at first, because she was absolutely exhausted when she came home, crying over the silliest things.
My godfather uncle Leo (my dad's brother) turned 75 on 23 Aug. We went to celebrate a day early. My sister Wendy had a meeting at school, so I picked up Anouk and all 3 of us (Anouk, Malú and I) went to uncle Leo's birthday. We sat outside and had a great time.
Herbert had to get a part in his car replaced (not sure what the word is in English), but it totally went wrong and he couldn't use his car at all. So Herbert used my car and on the days I worked, we all went in my car, dropped Malú off at daycare, drove to my work, then Herbert took it and drove to his work. I drove back with a co-worker. Almost after almost 3 weeks, his car was finally fixed and I could use my car again whenever I wanted it. Such a luxury problem, but if you are used to having 2 cars, it's such a bummer if 1 breaks down
One day, Malú and I went downtown and I got a lot of stuff at the drugstore and I told Malú the bag was heavy. Malú responded: "then don't buy so much". So much logic to this.
Love, Astrid xx
zondag 19 augustus 2012
July 2012 - birthday celebrations and summer fun
Oh my gosh, where did the first half year go ?? I can't believe it's July already. When the heck did that happen ??
On the first day of July, we celebrated my niece Anouk's 4th birthday, which means, she will be going to school (kindergarten) after the summer. We had a nice afternoon and all had dinner together at my sister's house. Anouk's actual birthday is the 4th.
My co-worker started his 3 week vacation. I was prepared for a busy time at work. The first week was still busy, but then it quiet down. Malú is notorious for getting sick in any vacation of my co-worker and behold ... it also happened this time. It was "only" a fever and it only lasted a couple of days. She was still playing and running around as normal.
We had a lot of rain this month and we were anxiously awaiting "summer". It was also quite cold for the time of year. We pulled our long sleeve shirts out again. Then it finally warmed up and it turned around to summerlike temperatures.
We celebrated my sister's partner Leon's birthday and went out to dinner at a restaurant in Germany (right accross the border). We had a great afternoon and a lovely dinner. Malú played and ran around with cousin Anouk and she passed out as soon as she hit the sack.
My mom had the spot removed in the hospital and her results came back negative. The skin cancer is gone, so that was really good news !!
Then the time came ... it was hovering over me for a couple of days already ... a sad day ... it had been 1 year and a half since my uncle chris passed away ... we wore our orange shirts in his honour.
I talk to Malú a lot about my uncle Chris and have a picture of him with the rose on the cabinet in our living room. Trying to keep all the beautiful memories alive. I miss you xx
We had a couple of fun days with my sister Wendy and daughter Anouk. Had lunch at their house a few times, took the girls out for icecream and they rode their bikes along the river Maas. Malú and Anouk splattered in the little pools together and Malú also went swimming with aunt Wendy, grandma and Anouk in a big pool.
The last week of July, we celebrated my 36th birthday. I always thought people who were 36 were really old, but here I am: 36. If you asked me 10 years ago what my life would look like at 36, I had no idea. I'm not so sure what life looked like at 26 and I also don't know what my life will look like at 46. Hopefully, I will still be in good health and with a loving family.
All the people that matter to me were at my birthday party. I'm hoping to spend a lot more birthdays with these people ...
Love, Astrid xx
On the first day of July, we celebrated my niece Anouk's 4th birthday, which means, she will be going to school (kindergarten) after the summer. We had a nice afternoon and all had dinner together at my sister's house. Anouk's actual birthday is the 4th.
My co-worker started his 3 week vacation. I was prepared for a busy time at work. The first week was still busy, but then it quiet down. Malú is notorious for getting sick in any vacation of my co-worker and behold ... it also happened this time. It was "only" a fever and it only lasted a couple of days. She was still playing and running around as normal.
We had a lot of rain this month and we were anxiously awaiting "summer". It was also quite cold for the time of year. We pulled our long sleeve shirts out again. Then it finally warmed up and it turned around to summerlike temperatures.
We celebrated my sister's partner Leon's birthday and went out to dinner at a restaurant in Germany (right accross the border). We had a great afternoon and a lovely dinner. Malú played and ran around with cousin Anouk and she passed out as soon as she hit the sack.
My mom had the spot removed in the hospital and her results came back negative. The skin cancer is gone, so that was really good news !!
Then the time came ... it was hovering over me for a couple of days already ... a sad day ... it had been 1 year and a half since my uncle chris passed away ... we wore our orange shirts in his honour.
I talk to Malú a lot about my uncle Chris and have a picture of him with the rose on the cabinet in our living room. Trying to keep all the beautiful memories alive. I miss you xx
We had a couple of fun days with my sister Wendy and daughter Anouk. Had lunch at their house a few times, took the girls out for icecream and they rode their bikes along the river Maas. Malú and Anouk splattered in the little pools together and Malú also went swimming with aunt Wendy, grandma and Anouk in a big pool.
The last week of July, we celebrated my 36th birthday. I always thought people who were 36 were really old, but here I am: 36. If you asked me 10 years ago what my life would look like at 36, I had no idea. I'm not so sure what life looked like at 26 and I also don't know what my life will look like at 46. Hopefully, I will still be in good health and with a loving family.
All the people that matter to me were at my birthday party. I'm hoping to spend a lot more birthdays with these people ...
Love, Astrid xx
June 2012 - European Soccer Championship fail, Malú's dry nights and invasion of the ants
Herbert started his new job. He likes it to be back on a routine again. It's still a lot of new info.
My mom had a "spot", a sort of birthmark on the side of her head, behind her glasses. She went to the doctor and they cut a small piece out and examined it. The results came back and that "spot" is skin cancer. She will have to have the rest removed at the hospital and hopefully that will be it ...
Early June, the European Soccer Championship started in Poland and the Ukraine and we hopelessly failed:
Netherlands - Denmark: 0-1
Netherlands - Germany: 1-2 (at least 1 goal)
Portugal - Netherlands: 2-1 and that was it, we were sent home ...
Being the number 2 of the world 2 years ago, winning from Argentina and Brazil of all countries, it was a HUGE disappointment.
Malú is doing great going to the bathroom and she is only wearing underwear. We are sooo proud of her !! She was still wearing a diaper at night, but for a while, we noticed her diapers were still dry in the morning when she woke up. So mid June, we decided it was time for her to try to sleep without a diaper at night and has kept her bed dry ever since !! Yet another milestone !!
We celebrated Herbert's Father's day, but didn't do much. We had a great breakfast with all kinds of yummy-ness.
Herbert had a beach volley tournament towards the last week of June. Malú and I had planned to go watch daddy play, but it rained ALL day, so the afternoon games even got cancelled.
It seemed like a bad horror movie, but it was very real. We had an invasion of ants at our house. I had seen 1 or 2 in the days before, but didn't think much of it. A couple of days later, I got up and I spent an hour and a half cleaning up all the ants. YUCK !! After that it was just an occasional one that lost its way I guess.
Love, Astrid xx
My mom had a "spot", a sort of birthmark on the side of her head, behind her glasses. She went to the doctor and they cut a small piece out and examined it. The results came back and that "spot" is skin cancer. She will have to have the rest removed at the hospital and hopefully that will be it ...
Early June, the European Soccer Championship started in Poland and the Ukraine and we hopelessly failed:
Netherlands - Denmark: 0-1
Netherlands - Germany: 1-2 (at least 1 goal)
Portugal - Netherlands: 2-1 and that was it, we were sent home ...
Being the number 2 of the world 2 years ago, winning from Argentina and Brazil of all countries, it was a HUGE disappointment.
Malú is doing great going to the bathroom and she is only wearing underwear. We are sooo proud of her !! She was still wearing a diaper at night, but for a while, we noticed her diapers were still dry in the morning when she woke up. So mid June, we decided it was time for her to try to sleep without a diaper at night and has kept her bed dry ever since !! Yet another milestone !!
We celebrated Herbert's Father's day, but didn't do much. We had a great breakfast with all kinds of yummy-ness.
Herbert had a beach volley tournament towards the last week of June. Malú and I had planned to go watch daddy play, but it rained ALL day, so the afternoon games even got cancelled.
It seemed like a bad horror movie, but it was very real. We had an invasion of ants at our house. I had seen 1 or 2 in the days before, but didn't think much of it. A couple of days later, I got up and I spent an hour and a half cleaning up all the ants. YUCK !! After that it was just an occasional one that lost its way I guess.
Love, Astrid xx
May 2012
Herbert is still unemployed, but his interviews seem to have picked up. We had a 2 week vacation, but stayed home. That was partly because things were not working out so well between Herbert and I with him home 24/7 ... sooo difficult ...
Had a fun Mother's day with a "home made" present made at daycare from Malú. They put coloured pieces of paper on a glass pot and put seeds in it. Had a lovely breakfast with buns out of the oven, a boilt egg, strawberries - so yummy. Went to mom and dad's in the afternoon and that about did it, because at dinner time, Malú started to cry and didn't want to eat. She was overtired and we put her in bed.
For Ascension day, we went to the fair in Kevelaer, a town in Germany. It's a tradition. When I was a young Astrid, my mom and dad would take us. Malú went on a couple of rides and had a ball !!
After a lot of rain, it finally got warm, like hot !! We went out for icecream a couple of times and enjoyed the sun. In the evenings we took walks at the river Maas (that runs right by our house) expecting a cooler breeze, but it was just as warm.
Malú had also been doing a great job going to the bathroom. She was still wearing a diaper (pull ups) during the day, but it was time to switch to underwear. NO MORE DIAPERS - YAAAY !!
Towards the last week of May, we had the best news. After Herbert had a 2nd job interview, he FINALLY got the JOB !! After being home for 5 and a half months, it was time for a new beginning !!
Congrats, babe !!
Love, Astrid xx
Had a fun Mother's day with a "home made" present made at daycare from Malú. They put coloured pieces of paper on a glass pot and put seeds in it. Had a lovely breakfast with buns out of the oven, a boilt egg, strawberries - so yummy. Went to mom and dad's in the afternoon and that about did it, because at dinner time, Malú started to cry and didn't want to eat. She was overtired and we put her in bed.
For Ascension day, we went to the fair in Kevelaer, a town in Germany. It's a tradition. When I was a young Astrid, my mom and dad would take us. Malú went on a couple of rides and had a ball !!
After a lot of rain, it finally got warm, like hot !! We went out for icecream a couple of times and enjoyed the sun. In the evenings we took walks at the river Maas (that runs right by our house) expecting a cooler breeze, but it was just as warm.
Malú had also been doing a great job going to the bathroom. She was still wearing a diaper (pull ups) during the day, but it was time to switch to underwear. NO MORE DIAPERS - YAAAY !!
Towards the last week of May, we had the best news. After Herbert had a 2nd job interview, he FINALLY got the JOB !! After being home for 5 and a half months, it was time for a new beginning !!
Congrats, babe !!
Love, Astrid xx
April 2012 - sick yet again ...
April started with Malú being sick yet again - diarhea, throwing up, fever - you get the picture.
Then Herbert and I got ill too. Germs were flying around and we didn't seem to ged rid of that ugly virus.
We spent Easter quietly at home. We have 2 days of Easter here. On Easter Sunday, Malú had her egghunt. The bunny hid the eggs in some pretty unusual places like her sandbox. After the egghunt, we had a lovely breakfast and spent the rest of the day relaxing, we didn't go anywhere.
On Easter Monday, my mom and dad came over for brunch. Freshly baked buns out of the oven (they burnt a little bit), pear juice, yummy raisin bread, sugar bread and so on. Oh, and eggs of course !! Everyone was stuffed and we had a great time.
Malú also had her 3 year check up. She was 99 cm / 3 feet & almost 3 inches and 14.6 kgs (32 pounds). Her eye test was flawless. I'm glad she doesn't have my eyes.
Mid April we celebrated Malú's birthday weekend or couple of days for that matter. We had her 3rd birthday party on Sunday, 15 April. All of the people that matter to her were there (minus my aunt and uncle, who unfortunately couldn't make it). She got spoilt lots and we had a fun afternoon. On Monday, they celebrated her birthday at daycare. They have a no candy policy, so she treated the kids to raisins, a cookie (ohoh) and a small toy. On Tuesday, 17 April (her actual) birthday, she stayed home from daycare and we had a fun day together just the 3 of us. The day started out great with her getting her BIG present from us: A BIKE !! In the afternoon, we went to an indoor playground, because we thought the weather was going to be bad / worse. She had a ball !! We went out to dinner for stuffed pancakes and icecream afterwards. Such a fun day !!
Towards the end of April, Malú's daycare had an open house, that Herbert helped organize. She painted, they painted her face like a princess, she jumped on the aircastle, ran around, ate hotdogs ... It was a fun day.
Workwise, my co-worker had a 2 week holiday right when our warehouse in Sweden was closing up and they were moving it to Venlo. It was sooo busy and I was glad when his holiday was over.
So this was April in a "flash".
Love, Astrid xx
Then Herbert and I got ill too. Germs were flying around and we didn't seem to ged rid of that ugly virus.
We spent Easter quietly at home. We have 2 days of Easter here. On Easter Sunday, Malú had her egghunt. The bunny hid the eggs in some pretty unusual places like her sandbox. After the egghunt, we had a lovely breakfast and spent the rest of the day relaxing, we didn't go anywhere.
On Easter Monday, my mom and dad came over for brunch. Freshly baked buns out of the oven (they burnt a little bit), pear juice, yummy raisin bread, sugar bread and so on. Oh, and eggs of course !! Everyone was stuffed and we had a great time.
Malú also had her 3 year check up. She was 99 cm / 3 feet & almost 3 inches and 14.6 kgs (32 pounds). Her eye test was flawless. I'm glad she doesn't have my eyes.
Mid April we celebrated Malú's birthday weekend or couple of days for that matter. We had her 3rd birthday party on Sunday, 15 April. All of the people that matter to her were there (minus my aunt and uncle, who unfortunately couldn't make it). She got spoilt lots and we had a fun afternoon. On Monday, they celebrated her birthday at daycare. They have a no candy policy, so she treated the kids to raisins, a cookie (ohoh) and a small toy. On Tuesday, 17 April (her actual) birthday, she stayed home from daycare and we had a fun day together just the 3 of us. The day started out great with her getting her BIG present from us: A BIKE !! In the afternoon, we went to an indoor playground, because we thought the weather was going to be bad / worse. She had a ball !! We went out to dinner for stuffed pancakes and icecream afterwards. Such a fun day !!
Towards the end of April, Malú's daycare had an open house, that Herbert helped organize. She painted, they painted her face like a princess, she jumped on the aircastle, ran around, ate hotdogs ... It was a fun day.
Workwise, my co-worker had a 2 week holiday right when our warehouse in Sweden was closing up and they were moving it to Venlo. It was sooo busy and I was glad when his holiday was over.
So this was April in a "flash".
Love, Astrid xx
March 2012
I guess I'm not the most frequent blogger ...
March 2012 will go into the books as a very "sick" month. We have all been ill a lot. And when we thought we were OK again, it started ALL over. It's the worst thing, seeing your child ill. You really want to take over, but you can't. There is not much you can do for them. The weird thing is, after they have been sick, there is something new they can do. With Malú it resulted in improvement in communication. She knew a few more words and spoke even better sentences.
The last week of March, Malú transitioned from her baby bed to a big girl bed - another milestone !! It was a sad, but also a happy moment for me. From looking big in her crib, she looked so little in that big bed.
The end of March, we had an event here called "Venloop". There are several kid's runs, a 10 km / 6 mile run and the half marathon. A couple of my co-workers participated in the 10 km / 6 mile run and they did a fantastic job. We went and watched. Malú clapped and yelled and so did I - ha.
Love, Astrid xx
March 2012 will go into the books as a very "sick" month. We have all been ill a lot. And when we thought we were OK again, it started ALL over. It's the worst thing, seeing your child ill. You really want to take over, but you can't. There is not much you can do for them. The weird thing is, after they have been sick, there is something new they can do. With Malú it resulted in improvement in communication. She knew a few more words and spoke even better sentences.
The last week of March, Malú transitioned from her baby bed to a big girl bed - another milestone !! It was a sad, but also a happy moment for me. From looking big in her crib, she looked so little in that big bed.
The end of March, we had an event here called "Venloop". There are several kid's runs, a 10 km / 6 mile run and the half marathon. A couple of my co-workers participated in the 10 km / 6 mile run and they did a fantastic job. We went and watched. Malú clapped and yelled and so did I - ha.
Love, Astrid xx
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