Adventures in Baby Led Weaning - Part 2

This is Tess's second experience with chicken.  Don't think she consumes much yet.  Most of it gets spit back out, but she is getting better at getting it in there.  And they say that she gets nutrients from sucking and gnawing as well.    It's just so funny to watch her go at it though!  And we have to make sure she is breast fed before we eat - otherwise she is too hungry, and really tries to shove it in there, and gets really frustrated and upset!

Sometimes she misses (she kept sticking it in her eye tonight.)

Sometimes she makes it.

Sometimes she just looks at it.

But she's definitely into it!  And, she's totally in control!

We plan to take the rug up before we really get going next month.  But it hasn't been too bad yet - Thank goodness for jute rugs!

Strawberry Day

When Luna's Oma was a little girl, she told her mother that she wished she could eat as many strawberries as she wanted.  So Luna's Great Oma decided that every year June 27th (their wedding anniversary) would be Strawberry Day.  And Strawberry Day is a day where everybody gets to eat as many strawberries as they want!  We were excited to adopt the tradition this year.

So Luna started the day with strawberries in her cereal...

We included this little surprise note in her snack box at school.  It had strawberries on it, of course.

I wrote it in German so that her teacher could read it to her.

Our bountiful supply...

Dinner was a strawberry and watermelon salad.

Tess had more adventures in baby led weaning with some watermelon.

Not exactly strawberries for her on this strawberry extravaganza, but watermelon was a bit easier to grab on to!

Yes, it was very messy.

But she loved it.

Even had to lick the bib for dessert.

And for dessert, we had these little strawberry "shortcakes."  I had a full day, so I used store bought shells.  They were still nummy.  Or perhaps I should say Lecker! (Dutch for yummy!)

Strawberry Day...

was a...

huge success!

Except I thought yesterday was the 27th - so we ended up celebrating a whole day early!  Oh well, we'll get it right next year!  Happy Strawberry Day everyone!

Weekend Pics

On Friday Luna had a birthday party to attend... she looked so cute, and posed so well.  Wish I had a picture of what she looked like when we picked her up!  Her face was painted and I think half the paint was on her shirt!

Also dressed for the day...

Sunday we went to Fuerth so that Bas could run the half marathon.

These pictures are totally overexposed, as I had to take them so quickly.  He finished in 1:37 - which was apparently "taking it easy."  And he finished strong.

While we waited, Luna got her face painted again!

Adventures in Baby Led Weaning - Part 1

Haarlem Canal Run

We went up to Haarlem this weekend so that Bas and Luna could participate in the annual "Grachtenloop" or Canal Run.  He has run in this race for years.  We also managed to introduce Tess to her Opa... finally!

Luna teaching Opa to use the iPad.

Our two little Dutch girls with Oma.

Always lots of fresh, beautiful flowers in the house!

Luna ran in the 800 meter race.

She quickly dispensed with her little, orange crown.

I think that's a grimace... did I say she ran?  Maybe pulled was more like it!

And at the finish... begging to be carried. :)

A hoot from Mama, and she was inspired to sprint to the finish!

The racers...

Cousins keeping busy while we wait for the start!

At the half way I could tell he was running fast!

And here he comes down the home stretch... lookin' good!

And after achieving a personal best of 42:47, we celebrated with everybody at the Brinkmann cafe on the Grote Markt (main square).

Proud Opa.

Luna loves staying with Oma and Opa while we are in town... they get to have tea.

And play in the princess castle.

Everybody commented on what a smiley baby Tess is.  She is.

We visited some good friends, who also had their second daughter 10 days after Tess was born.  Bente.

They weren't really sure whether to be friends or duke it out.

Luna and Florine, their older daughter, who is almost 3.

On Sunday morning, we celebrated Father's Day.  The envelope for Luna's card says Papa Anmny. After she wrote it she asked me what it said... :)

She made the flower on the front, refusing all help from me.

It has a rainbow inside.

The girls and I had lots of "fun" making Papa's gift.  I'm pretty sure they did anyway! (I\m not complaining, it was just rather stressful trying to get both girls picture ready, and posed all by myself!)

Joke got the girls matching shirts and sweaters, so we brought them to wear while we were there.

Before we left, Bas's sister and her family came over for a visit.  Here, Luna and her cousin Dana are playing princess!  They manage to communicate somehow, though Dana speaks Dutch and Luna replies in German.

The littlest cousins, Tess and Steef.

Bas and Merel with all the kids.

And the in-law -wife, -husband and -dog respectively!

As usual, we had a great time!  Although after getting a speeding ticket on my way there, I swore that Bas was going to have to drive on these trips in the future!  Oh well, it was worth it!