Weekend fun

We had such a lovely weekend the week before last.  On Sunday evening, we said it was so fun and just seemed longer than a normal weekend for some reason.  We didn't have any big plans.  We spent Saturday morning at the Zurich Zoo and Sunday after church and naps, we went to hang out at a river in Winterthur ("Vinter-tour") about 30 minutes away.  It reminded us of our days hanging out at the New River in Virginia.  Here are a few photos of our weekend.

We saw quite a few animals that I had never seen before (or don't remember seeing).  We saw orangutans, gorillas, snow leopards, tigers, baboons, penguins, camels, and a baby elephant.  It was quite a bit of walking, but fun to see all the different animals.

Our babies

Eulach River in Winterthur

Maddie and Daddy were busy exploring, throwing rocks in the river, walking in the river and collecting leaves.  Carter and I were not-so-busy sitting on the blanket and watching.

2 months in

It seems that a lot has happened in the last month.  The first month felt like we were just trying to survive, get acquainted with this new life, and figure out the basics like grocery shopping.
This month has also been very full of new things.  But it seems like we are making progress and adjusting well since just a month ago.

I can't tell you enough how good it feels to be in our permanent apartment.  It feels as though we can breathe.  We are starting to call it home.  The little comforts of being "home" is nice.  I mentioned a lot of them already.  I still need to hang some pictures and things.  Once I do that, I will give you a little tour!

In the friend department, things are really looking up for me.  Just the last two weeks have been wonderful.  We have gone to at least one event from the meetup.com group each week.  The last couple weeks, we've actually gone to an "early childhood development" group that meets weekly.  It's been like a little class for Maddie.  We played with balls, worked on eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills with puzzles and little games, and we even did a craft this week (ripping paper and glue sticking it on to an image).  She loved it.  Another huge thing that happened was that I met Sara.  I had to go to Kloten Stadt office (city office) to hand in some form that I didn't know how to fill out related to taxes.  It was all in German.  I was supposed to mail it back but instead, I just went with both kids right up to the city office, handed them the form, and said, "I don't understand how to fill this out.  Do you speak English?  I am an unemployed stay at home mother.  No job and not looking for employment anytime in the near future."  Thankfully, the kind woman spoke English and it was a quick "check the boxes" and sign here thing.  Easy peasy.  Since we already had to pay for parking at the grocery store parking garage, we made a morning of it and walked to the park.  I was holding Carter and an older woman was walking by with a little girl, came over, and proceeded to talk and touch Carter's head.  Judging by her voice inflection and expressions, it was clear that she thought he was adorable.  Then she looked at me and asked me a question or two.  I blankly stared at her smiling, and responded, "English?"  This happens a lot.  If I had a Swiss franc for every time this happens, I could probably go to Starbucks in Zurich once a week.  This time, a sweet Swiss girl sitting across the sandbox said, "She asks if it is a boy or a girl."  And folks, that was how I met my first Swiss friend!  She has 3 children, one of which is a 2.5 year old boy.  We got to talking and a couple days later, I went to her house for a play date.  Maddie had a ball playing with new toys, with her new friend, and with their two little pet bunnies.  The next day, I met her at a park and she introduced me to her Australian friend who also has a boy and a girl just about Maddie's age.  Both girls are so sweet.  I truly feel like Sara has scooped me up and has been a huge God send and I've only known her for a week!  She understands what I'm going through since her and her husband were expats in London for a few years.  They didn't know English just like we don't know German.  She's been so helpful answering random questions and giving me information like where to find second hand kids toys.  A man came over to look at our washing machine on Friday morning and I happened to be on the phone with her when he was looking at it.  Well, he didn't speak English and was confused because it was working now, but I was trying to tell him that it didn't work and wasn't spinning a few days ago.  She was so sweet and translated for me.  I'm so thankful to have these two new friends with kids for Maddie to play with and speak English with and on top of that, they both live just 10 minutes away!  All the other play dates I've gone to have been 35-45 minutes away.  So, just know that if you have prayed for this, prayers are being answered.  Hopefully we find just a few good friends that we can have regular play dates with...it makes such a difference.

In the sleep department, things are slowly improving.  It seems that we take a few steps forward and then a step or two back.  With the transitions come the steps backward.  (So I'm not so looking forward to more sleep adjustment during and after our trips back home although it is worth it.)  Last week, I threw up my hands and decided that something needed to change.  Maddie has been waking up 1x but usually 2x a night.  Carter's room is right next to Maddie's so every little peep that I heard from him, I jumped out of bed and ran to his room.  Yes, literally ran.  I was/am terrified that he will wake her up.  About a week ago, we threw a couple mattresses on the floor in Carter's, put him in our room, and closed the door.  Now he is sleeping on the other side of the apartment.  I've been waking up to feed him just 2x a night now which seems so much better than 5, 6, or 7x a night (pretty much every hour).

I can't believe it's already September!  The weather is feeling cool and crisp here already.  The last couple days it's been in the high 50s and overcast, so I'm already pulling out scarves and sweaters!  I also cannot believe our baby brother is getting married A WEEK FROM TODAY!  And that Maddie is TURNING 2 YEARS OLD in a couple days.  What?!

I have their first pediatric appointment on Tuesday morning.  We are placing bets on how much Carter weighs.  Feel free to "weigh in" your thoughts.

This week is a big one with those celebrations.  On Wednesday, we're actually headed home to NC/WV to visit the families each for almost a week.  This will be our big trip home this year and we'll spend Thanksgiving and Christmas here.  I am fully prepared to gain 10 lbs in Chick Fil A, Pita Delight, cheaper *good* ice cream, and American favorites like hot dogs and hamburgers and steaks.  Yum.  We have eaten steak once since living here! (Well, Bryce maybe more since he has had a meal or two with coworkers.)  I am excited for other things, too...  To let family love on our little ones.  To close my eyes, just sit, and listen to everyone and understand every word.  To go to Starbucks with just Bryce and talk about the days we would go for coffee just the two of us.  To watch Maddie play with her cousins.  To sit and have long talks with my sisters and Kim.  To have a weenie roast with the Whiteds.  To sit and have a big delicious Dad-made breakfast at the table with the family in our jammies.  To smell the bacon that Roger is cooking extra crispy for us while we are still laying in bed.  To go to the Der Dog Haus and eat beer battered fries and drink sweet tea.  Maybe to even sleep in one morning.  To celebrate 6 years married to my love!  More than anything, I am so excited to celebrate Aaron and Christin's wedding and just be with family.

Happy September!

Zurich

A couple weeks ago, again, we planned on going to Mürren in the Swiss Alps for the weekend, but again, the weather looked bad.  We cancelled our hotel for the second time and stayed home.  We were looking up all these weekend trip locations we want to see and checking the weather, but it looked so cruddy almost everywhere.  Funny thing is, Zurich was nice weather.  From talking with people, I get the idea that Zurich is often cloudy.  With that, we spent half the day in Zurich (finally!) since it's just a 20 minute drive in to the city center.  The only thing I had seen up until then was the Zurich airport which isn't even really in the city.

The weather all of a sudden went from pretty cloudy to sunny and warm right after lunch.

It's interesting how things change (like everything) once you have kids.  Before, we would try to see as much as possible, walk until our feet hurt, eat at whatever place we wanted to or heard was worth it, stay out after dark, carry as little as possible.  Well, that's all over and each of those things don't really happen anymore.  I had this conversation with a sweet girl from Idaho who I met through meetup.com.  (sidenote: We each have 2 kids of the same genders and within months of the same age...aaaaand she moved to Tokyo this week.  Boo!  At least we got to get together a couple times and she gave me some good stories and advice after having lived here for 3-4 years.)  Anyways, with the sweet little ones, we definitely go about travel differently.  Depending on where and what the plan is, we bring one or all or any combination of the following: BOB duallie stroller, lightweight umbrella stroller, Ergo baby carrier, Osprey Poco Plus hiking kid backpack carrier, good walking shoes, and of course, diapers, wipes, and lots of snacks.  We are flexible with reason because Carter can fall asleep in the stroller or Ergo very easily.  Maddie can take cat naps in the stroller or the hiking backpack.  But who are we kidding, she's not a long napper kind of girl even in the perfect circumstances, which we are learning is okay.  We try to eat dinner not much later than 6 or 7 and get back to our place early for bedtimes.  On a regular day, Maddie is in bed by 7:30pm and Carter by 7pm.  Little cute cafes aren't so convenient anymore.  The louder and bigger a restaurant is, the better, a playground or outdoor seating or "take away" (carry out) is ideal.  After talking it over with my new friend now located in Tokyo, we agreed that even though having kids has changed the way we travel in what seems to be not-so-convenient ways, we don't mind it.  It's actually helped us (me especially) slow down and enjoy the every day aspects of a new place, like finding the best park to picnic at, or just strolling instead of rushing from one monument to the next or trying to cross off all the tourist attractions in the city.  It's actually kind of nice.

Back to our day in Zurich.  Zurich is a fun city right on a beautiful huge lake with a picturesque old town, big old church, great restaurants and cafes.  I think that I just described almost every big city in Switzerland.

We parked right in old town by the Fraumünster.  Instead of eating in a cute little cafe for lunch, we saved the money and meltdowns, brought a picnic lunch, and ate on a blanket in a park right on the lake.  We brought the double BOB stroller which is awesome because we don't have to carry the kids, but it also limits what we can do since it won't fit through all doorways.

The Grossmunster

There was a big flea market right near the lake but parking didn't take long to find.  After our picnic, we walked along the lake, watched a few people paddle boarding and swimming, then walked around old town.  We went to the Grossmünster and actually paid the 4 CHF to climb the stairs up to the top of one of the towers to overlook the city.  We got some good looks and giggles as we climbed these narrow stairs each with a baby in our arms.  But totally worth it!  It was gorgeous to see the city from a bird's eye view.

So...I wasn't supposed to take any photos in the church...I hope that I am not offending you by showing you these.

Some of the stairs were narrow and claustrophobic, others were more wide open.

Awesome views!

With the babes at the top of the tower...those gaps in the side had us holding on to Maddie the entire time.  It's always an adventure.

Need to remember to have lollipops on hand for "I'm tired and ready to get home" moments

Fraumunster courtyard

Then we walked a little more, stopped for some stracciatella ice cream, which is my favorite flavor here that you don't really see in the States, and headed back to the car.

There are a few other things on my list to see/do in Zurich, but we'll be back.  In fact, we're headed back into the city tomorrow with a friend if the weather cooperates.

Half day and day trips are really enjoyable with the kids in tow and make it a little easier on everyone if it's doable.

Carter: 4 months old

Carter turned 4 months old this weekend.

A few pictures from my phone over the last few weeks...

He looks like such a teenager in this hoodie.

Swaddled and ready for a nap

Saturday. He turned 4 months old.

This picture cracks me up.  We were at Grossmunster Church in Zurich on Saturday and I snapped this when the light was shining on him like an angel.

What's new

He is the happiest baby around.  Smiling and giggling all the time.  He just fusses or cries when he's hungry or needs to sleep.  Normal baby business.  He hasn't rolled over yet, but he seems to be interested in sitting up since he does sit ups a lot.  When we lay him on his back, he leans quite a bit to the side and starts to move like he will roll over, but never actually does.  He is able to hold his head up well, but can get a little wobbly when tired.  He can sit in the bumbo but his reflux doesn't like that position much since he spits up within a minute of sitting in it.  He is discovering his feet and hands always gnawing on them.  He is reaching for, grabbing, and holding toys now.  He usually brings toys to his mouth as soon as he gets a hold of them.  He really can't keep his hands out of his mouth.  At this point, he seems very social.  He likes to be in on the action around people and prefers to watch or chat with whoever is around.  He's "talking" a lot and has "conversations" or grunts back when talked to.

I could not wait to try solids.  He was not a fan the first time.  Should I have tried it with breastmilk?  I don't know.  We will keep trying.  We are still only breastfeeding which is going great.  He is a cute little chunk.  It's funny, with Madison, from the beginning, I was having to supplement formula.  In my mind, I felt like my body just couldn't breastfeed or it wouldn't make enough to feed a baby.  Boy was I wrong.  This kid is not going hungry.  Now if I can just get him to sleep longer stretches at night.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that solid foods will help in that area.

This month is the first that I've noticed his love growing for his big sister.  He intently watches her.  Even though she is just as crazy around him, he is really starting to enjoy her.

Sleep

It seems that the week I wrote the 3 month update, he was on an awesome streak waking just 1-2x a night.  Well, that was extremely short lived.  I think this month has been the most sleep deprived I have felt since maybe college.  Or ever.  He has been waking up 3-4x a night and there have been many nights where it was every hour.  I remember one night that I counted up to 9 times that I got up.

The last couple days he has woken up 2x each night, so here's to hoping that this is a new thing.  He still sleeps swaddled in the rock n play.  He ran out of his reflux medicine so I'm hesitant to lay him flat.

Naps are still 2-3 a day, but aren't super scheduled.  It is almost every day at 9am that he is ready for his morning nap.

We haven't actually had a well check up visit to the pediatrician since he was 6 weeks old, so I have no clue about weight and height.  Hopefully in the next week or so we get in there.  I'm so curious to see where he is on the charts, even though it doesn't matter that much...he seems like a pretty healthy little guy.

Sitting here, staring at this picture, I'm just so in love.  Before having Carter, I worried that my heart and love wouldn't be as great or strong enough for two little ones.  But seriously, I am so in love with him.  It's like your heart grows twice the size.  Such a funny thing to think back to the days before Carter was here.  Now that he is here, I can't imagine life without him.

P.S. This was Madison at 4 months.  So long ago!