Happy New Year 2013!

Happy 2013!

We got to celebrate with Sweetheart and her mom who were visiting Germany from the US. It was a great couple of days together and PJ and Sweetheart had an excellent time together.

 

Beautiful Sweetheart and her mommy.

It took PJ a little while to warm up to sharing his toys but within 30 minutes, he was so overwhelmed with the joy of having Sweetheart in the house that he was a goof the vast majority of the time. We actually have a video of him flipping out with joy but I can't get it to load. Instead, here is one of many silly faces he made at the camera.

 

And once they started playing with each other, there was no stopping them.  Here is one short video.

 

And two pictures. Please don't let these fool you, Sophie isn't passive; she is a pro and holding her own ground. Its just that I was able to get decent pictures when PJ had whatever toy it was at the time and wasn't trying to steal back his toys.

 

Though to be honest, those pictures are pretty funny.

 

 

 

To see how much they've grown, check out this blog post with the same toy.

 

Of course, the mommies enjoyed the time that the babies were playing with each other to finally catch up and reconnect. As much as we may try to send back emails and keep up over Facebook and phone calls, face-to-face is just better. Especially now that we are both moms of children the same age, its great to see how similar and how different they - and we - have become. Our children are so different and we have become different parents too, which is such a blessing!

 

Now she just needs to move back to Germany already!

 



We also confirmed, for all three of us adults, that while twins would be somehow manageable, it sure keeps your hands super full! While we were at the local playground, the Mr. took over both kids on the swings. Hilarity ensued.

Before feeding the kids dinner, we put off a short firework display for them. Sophie was totally into it!



After a looooong process of getting - and keeping - the kids asleep on New Years Eve, we finally enjoyed significant amounts of wine and champagne and a relaxed meal with just the adults. Then, per German tradition, the fireworks started. Just like last year, PJ joined us for the excitement. Sweetheart slept through the chaos.

The Steinbach clan at midnight.

Little PJ or Lisa from the Simpsons?

 

 

2012 was a good year; 2013 is going to be epic!

xx
The Sandy Hook survivors returned to school today. Please continue to pray for them and please join me in Demanding a Plan.



Bye Bye Part-Time

Today is my last day of working part-time. Is that insane? Maybe. Is it driving me crazy to rush here, there, and everywhere - always late, always behind - and somehow still feel the burn for more? Totally. Do I have conflicting feelings about working more? Yeah, occassionally. Do I have feelings of excitement at working more? Yeah, a lot of the time.

Is it possible to work full-time and still rock the mommy thing; have a wonderful child; a good relationship; and not totally lose your mind? I think so - Lord, I hope so - and I've got role models. For example, Sweetheart's mommy, that working mom friend I already wrote about, and another colleague/friend with two children and a kick-ass role at my company.

We'll find out if I join their club in the coming weeks. Until then, the adventure continues.


xo

Freddie 2.0

While we were in the US, PJ built a friendship with my friends' little puppy dog Freddie Fourpaws. Everyone was pretty sad when we the relationship went on hold because we flew back to Germany, especially since hardly anyone we know here has a puppy.

But no fear: solutions will always be found!

At the American baby shower way back when, we were gifted a toy from Sweetheart's dad's own childhood. (Yeah, how freaking cool is that!?!) It is a dog that makes a really loud 'barking' noise when pulled along the floor. I'm pretty sure that most of us had one when we were young. It also has a bunch of metal and floppy ears and other pieces that most likely led it to being pulled off the market but, hey, we are all still alive and kicking.*

As little man has grown in confidence walking - no more crawling in these parts - he has started to befriend this dog toy, even starting to pull it behind him. For some reason I started calling it Freddie, even petting it and pulling it along too. PJ gleefully picked up on that and there we go: certainly not an upgrade, but the continuation of a lovely friendship.

Just don't tell Freddie Fourpaws.



PJ and Freddie 2.0



PJ making Freddie 'bark'.





xo
*I'm not sure yet how, but I'm positive that statement will come back to haunt me.

Sweetheart Visits Again

**Whoops - I forgot to hit "publish" about, what, three weeks ago?**

Remember how lucky I was to share my pregnancy with a close friend who was pregnant at the same time? And how her precious one was born just one day after PJ and how our little babies - mine the long and lean Duracell baby and hers the dimpled little Buddha baby (nicknamed Sweetheart starting now) - finally met each other in December?

Sweetheart was back in town and our little ones got to play together again. Supposedly babies don't play with each other until they are two or so years old. I beg to differ.

Our little ones warming up to each other in the Schwetzingen Castle gardens.

Later the little ones playing at the standing table together.

Sitting next to each other, playing together.

Our little ones are still so different but they are both equally special. I sure do hope they get to spend a lot more time together in the future!

xo