Care Package: Poptarts Galore

Recently we got a care package from the US! PopTarts galore. And I love me some PopTarts. As soon as the box was opened, PJ claimed them for himself. Of course.

You'll notice we didn't even wait to look through the care package before we opened a box and threw two into toaster.

Mine! All mine!

After we got over the PopTart excitement, PJ wandered off and I got to sort through precious, precious, precious girl baby clothes for Jelly Bean. Its getting real, people. 50 days left! 

xo

Why the British Royal Pregnancy Mattered

In case you failed to hear about it, the future Queen of England was pregnant and had the future King of England a little while back. It wasn't that big of a deal in the news - just hundreds of reports from all over the world sitting around in the blistering sun right in front of a hospital for weeks on end - but it turns out that, for me at least, her pregnancy did matter.

Why, you ask, dear reader?

Because these reasonably-priced dresses exist. Not only are they really cute on a belly but they are also nursing-friendly. These dresses were around when I was pregnant with PJ but they were so not reasonably-priced. At all. And now, not only are they around and cute and nursing-friendly, but they cost less than 60euro each.

Even my sister says so.


xx

Bassit Ball

And the second birthday continues! The last gift from the US - a basketball set - arrived about a week ago but with the awful heat, we haven't been able to convince PJ to help us put it together. But tonight was finally the night.

Thankfully the set was really easy to put together, with the exception of the net, and went quickly because as soon as PJ saw a ball, he had very, very little patience to get going playing his "bassit ball."

PJ excited about opening his gift.

PJ and papa filling the stand with water.

Me putting the net onto the rim. That was annoying.

When it was all put together, the Mr. showed PJ how to shoot a basket once and then he was off.

 PJ approaching the net for the first time.

PJ's first basket ever.

Totally fun!

He played with it for a little while; boy got moves.

Thanks 'Uncle Franny' and 'Kiwi'.


xo

Week 30 and Still Baking

The jelly bean and I entered week 30 today! Exactly 10 weeks until our due date and she is still flipping and spinning in her own private world. YEAH!

We had another scare this past weekend that led to two rough days but the doctor assured me that we are both doing fine. Oma also helped out, spending an entire afternoon with PJ so that I could sleep and relax. And my boys even helped out with a short leg massage:

xo

Pregnancy Update

When I last really wrote about my pregnancy with our little jelly bean, I outlined why I've been feeling like shit and that I felt guilty for how much work I've missed, while at the same time hoping that the entire experience was helping me get better at respecting my physical boundaries.

 

A number of people reached out to me with love and support. Thank you. Many of you asked for an update. Here it is:

 

I'm now in the third trimester - 29 weeks!! - and I feel good. As in, I feel better now than I have in my entire pregnancy.

 

How did that happen? Well, first, I got over the guilt of not working as soon as I heard the words 'danger of early labor' and 'need to see a specialist' (translated from German). I'll tell ya, when the life of my unborn child is at risk suddenly work concerns fly right on out of every window within a 50 mile radius. Almost instantly the guilt was replaced by thankfulness that I live in a culture that honors people as people and not just as workers, one in which I cannot get fired for facing a crisis of health or be dropped by my health insurance. In fact, I continue receiving my income AND complete health insurance through the government systems.

 

Additionally - and more importantly - deep gratitude that all signs of early labor have stabilized and our little jelly bean, while small, is healthy and growing.

 

And, second, I finally got sick. PJ brought home some sort of "kissing disease" virus that gave him all sorts of sores in his mouth. It was miserable; he survived on cuddles and ice cream. And although the doctor insisted that it wasn't something that I could get ... you guessed it: I got it too. Not as bad as PJ but I had one heck of a sore in my mouth. My body rallied and kicked the virus' ass and suddenly I felt all over better. I'm supposing my body needed a good kick to really go after whatever was making me feel like crap and raising the infection levels in my blood. Whatever. I feel so much better.

 

We have around 80 days until the due date, hoping that jelly bean chooses to bake for that long. And if she chooses to come as late as her brother, I hope I can remember the fear that sat in my heart for a few weeks while the words 'danger of early labor' waltzed around my soul.

 

 

xo

PJ'sS 2nd Birthday Party

Due to PJ and I being a bit sick on his actual birthday, we rescheduled his party. It finally took place and thankfully a handful of kids could come and the entire experience was what a kid's birthday party should be: relaxed, loud, and fun.

We started with the second cake I've ever made from scratch. This time I also made the icing from scratch. Talk about make-your-teeth-ache-sweet!

The whole Steinbach clan blowing out the candles.

PJ wasn't that impressed with the candles.

He took them out as soon as possible to get to the cake.



PJ with his cake, ready to chow down.

After the cake - and props to the Germans that managed to eat a full (small) piece of that American sweetness - more friends arrived and one of them brought water balloons! PJ only needed to be shown once what to do with them and then he was OFF.

PJ aiming for his daddy.

Zoom in and check out PJ's face: this was serious business.

Sadly, but as can be expected with three men and four boys, the balloons were gone far too quickly. But PJ learned a lesson for life....that he keeps trying to repeat.

I have no idea why this is funny but the Mr. wanted a picture.

After the balloon fight, the boys took off. I'm telling you: the more kids, the less work. They took off, climbing on things, jumping off of said things, chasing each other, and only coming around the adults for food and drink.

Boys climbing.

Boys jumping (in the background).

This is why older friends are important:
they teach you things.

Far too quickly the sun began to sink and little boys started to yawn and get a little tired-grumpy. But it was a lovely afternoon full of noise and people who like and enjoy. Win-win-win.


xo

Wattwanderung

The tides of the North Sea are extreme. The water level difference between high and low tide can be over three meters or darn near ten feet. During the low tide, kilometers (miles) of mud are exposed as far as the eye can see. In some places that mud is thick enough to cross during low tide in something called a "wattwanderung."

But, since the tide returns along difficult to see or track channels that can quickly and very unexpectantly trap people far out from the actual land on "earth" that will soon be ten feet below water (in other words, "you gonna drown, fool"), it is highly recommended to attempt a wattwanderung only in good health and only with an experience guide.

Yet, a wattwanderung remains a "must do" while visiting the North Sea. Sure, its deadly and all that but...well, people are strange.

The Mr. was really excited about going on a wattwanderung; I was open to it. We talked about all sorts of possibilites for how we could make it work so that all three of us could go and landed on the idea that he would carry PJ in a backpack.

But as we learned more about the challenges of a wattwanderung, how long this one was going to be (4 hours minimum), the weather turned chilly, and my nausea and body pain continued...we decided that the Mr. would join the excursion and PJ and I would hang out back on the farm.

PJ and I joined the group to send them off. To grasp just how cold it had gotten in the picture below I have on two shirts, a jacket, a scarf, jeans, thick socks, and wellingtons. And I was cold. The charming young lady next to me has on shorts and is barefoot. Turns out her outfit was sensible.

PJ and I joined the group for a few feet before we both lost interest and turned back. See how everyone has on shorts and are barefoot? In just six hours or so where they are standing will be underneath between four and ten feet of water. All of it.

PJ and I were less than impressed. It was cold, windy, and muddy. So we went home...

...and took a three hour nap together. God, I love sleep.

Meanwhile, the Mr., our host (pictured below), and the entire wattwanderung group sunk thigh-deep into mud (check out her pants for how far she sunk in...shorts would have been better), cut their feet on shells hidden beneath the mud, got rained on, froze everywhere except for where the mud had created a warm protective layer around their legs and feet...and supposedly had an awesome time together.

People are strange.

A few weeks later the Mr. and I exchanged our thoughts about our totally different days. Can you believe it? He actually thinks he got the better deal with his wattwanderung. Please, PJ and I slept for three hours.

Three. Hours.

If that isn't the perfect vacation day, I really don't know what is.



xo