England for New Years

After spending a week in a developing country (Morrocco) without any trouble, we arrived in freezing England to find that poor Nassim and Erfan were without power most of the day.  Though the power turned on again in the evening, it was back off in the early morning making for a very cold start to our first full day in England.  This continued for the next 2 days so we had to be pretty creative coming up with ways to get out of the house with our 3 little ones, and keep them warm and entertained.  Our adventure to a mall was more tiring and less fun, so the next day we opted for a sweet soft play center closer to home.  Here are some cute pictures of the little ones play.  This trip I feel like there was more playing together and awareness of each other than our last visit, and it was all so much fun.
We also got to see Sonja, despite the cold, when she met up with us 2 days in a row.  It was a lot of fun despite the external circumstances.

Liam sitting on the machine that blew out air 

Cuteness - Lua bean

 

Lua and Liam trying to climb up a slide - Lua has her hands full! 

We were trying to get a sibling non-candid shot and this is the best I could do!

Leo and Lua 

On Dec 28th Liam officially became a walker.  We have some film footage of the event, but unfortunately I can't seem to upload videos on the blog these days.  It was such a fun moment and he was only wobbly for the first day before he became quite confident about it all.  The best part for me was that his hands would be up and in front of him and flapping like little wings as he walked.  So so cute.

Here are a couple of photos from a lunch out in Stratford.  

Liam about to draw a masterpiece on the menu 

I had a nicer picture of Erf and Nass, but Lua looked worse, sorry nass! 

Leo practicing a sad/funny face

We were also lucky to have a day with Keith, Charlene and Otto because they made the trekk up to Ettington from London.  It was lovely to see them and catch up again.  We miss them in Switzerland!

Otto and Char 

Char, Otto and Lua  

The family - Otto not looking so happy! 

The six of us go for a group shot!

We had a really nice week despite the power issues, and love that the cousins got another chance to play together.  Here's looking forward to February!

A Marrakech Christmas

We have finally returned (more permanently) home after what feels like a long time traveling.  Rather than go through the ordeal of flying long distance, we opted to take a trip to Marrakech, and from there spend a little time in England visiting Nass and co.  With some aprehension of what we might be getting into, we dove in and off we went.  And all turned out fine! 

We had a great 6 nights at the beautiful Dar Beija Riad.  There we were taken care of extremely well by the manager and housekeeper, and as the only guests for the first 4 nights, we had a run of the place.  Our room on the top floor was exquisite, with a beautiful balcony and views of the city around us.  The location of the riad was perfect for twice daily walks to the main square - Djemaa el Fna, and from the all the intricate winding streets of the Medina souks.

Liam on the bed in our beautiful suite (the Tasslite suite)

We managed to keep Liam's schedule in tact and after we put him to sleep we were able to have a wonderful quiet dinner downstairs at the riad.  The food came from their restaurant (Kozybar) and was delicious!  Despite sleeping in the same room as Liam and hearing the call to prayer at 5am, we had pretty decent nights.

 

Wandering the streets of the medina 

Self portrait at the orange juice stand 

Liam and James in the Souks 

Liam loved heading out in the stroller or ergo and watching all the colors go by.  There was so much stimulation in sight, smell and sound!  He was also motivated to practice walking independently as he was without his walker.  He took his first few steps multiple times in those days.  An all time favorite for him was the fresh squeezed orange juice sold all around the square for just 4 Dirham (the equivalent of 50c) a glass.  The first time we gave him a taste with a straw he sucked it back like his eyes might pop out!  

Liam sucking back a glass of some very tasty orange juice

 

Finally a family picture at the Bahia Palace 

An incredible full rainbow over the entire square 

More oj 

Liam loved the Berber pillows on our floor.  It made for good climbing and walking buffers! 

For some reason Liam was terrified taking a bath, so we started showering with him and he adored the gorgeous rain shower we had!

At the Majorelle gardens - Liam points out the fish

Christmas day - they even put up a Christmas tree for us

Najia (the housekeeper) and Rachid (hotel manager) were so great with Liam, and so often just taking him from us so we could have a moment to eat breakfast etc.

James managed to find candyfloss, and a lot of it, somewhere in the heart of Marrakech

 

View from our room terrace.  The tree in the distance is a giant Eucalyptus tree that towers over the 3 story buildings of the Medina

We also managed to find a few bits and pieces to bring home as memorabilia, since we realize that we travel so much but have no sign of it in our lives.  Along with candlesticks and pillow cushions, we ordered a cedar mirror and camel skin small trunk.  Now we wait to see if those arrive!  

Liam comes undone

Yesterday James and I left Liam in the bathroom on his own for about 4 mins.  I came in to check on him and this is what I discovered:

We are very excited about this age.  Liam has, in the last week or so, tried out his first independent steps.  I won't say he's walking yet (though his daddy thinks he is), but he's so so close and definitely gaining confidence with each time he lets go of something and stumbles forward a step or two.

His first top tooth has now broken through the skin and with it, we have broken down and succumbed to magical anti-teething pain solutions.  We have been told by a few reliable sources that amber necklaces worn by babies help with teething pain.  Though Liam is a brave fellow, a few nights this week the pain got the better of him and we were just desperate to help him out.  So amber necklace it is (along with more traditional pain killers and gum gel)!

We're off to Marrakech tomorrow morning.  Here's hoping we have an easy trip!

My 30th Birthday Weekend

I know that turning 30 is supposed to be some big deal, so it might come as a surprise to hear how tame my birthday weekend really ended up being.  There were no crazy parties or late nights but I'm not sure how many people can claim they built a house on their 30th birthday.  So what if it was just a gingerbread house, and if, in fact, it was less house looking and more bombay slum.
The weekend celebrations started with great food at a newly discovered Indian restaurant in Lugano - Degli Amici.  What a great find!  All 24 or so of us were pleased with the food.  (We were responsible and had a babysitter so Liam could stay home).
Saturday morning was the TASIS Gingerbread house building competition.  I have no idea which group one, but our team of Andy and Emily Abell and James, Liam and I sure were creative!
Sunday evening Beril and Courtenay had a small girls dinner for me at Beril's house.  Delicious Thai food and no worrying about the baby since James was home with him.

Anyway, here are few pictures from dinner on Friday night, and our Saturday morning Gingerbread house competition. 

Normal us at my birthday dinner

 Normal Matt and Jen 

 Leigh and Gavin

 James with his leg of lamb

 Emily and Alli

 Sat Gingerbread house dream team - The Abells and us

 Design team hard at work - oh wait, James is feeding Liam!  Just Andy hard at work

 The finished product - please note the licorice and jelly head person hanging from the front of the building in a Mission Impossible stunt to break into our building!

Thanksgiving

November really was quite a remarkable month for Liam.  Along with becoming a 10 month old he suddenly (since our trip to England) stopped crying before bed and naps.  It has made such a difference in our world and I think all of us are happier for it.  The decision in mid October to switch him to 1 nap a day was probably a big part of it, and ever since then he is almost always happy to go to sleep around 12:15pm and then his bed time is pretty much 6:30pm.  He usually sleeps till around 7am, sometimes a bit later, and seldom earlier, and his naps have increased from their usual 30 mins to often around 1 hour and sometimes even a bit more.  This is all quite a huge deal in this house.  Truly a reason for thanks giving!

And speaking of thanksgiving, this year for Thanksgiving we once again found ourselves in Lugano because James was on duty all weekend.  We made the most of it by having our own little Thanksgiving get-together with the Walsers and Leigh and Stirling.  We waited till Friday for our late afternoon meal since by then most kids had left, and then we went to town with all the fixings.  Homemade pumpkin and pecan pies, cranberry sauce, a green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, salad (and that's just what we made!).  Eric and Kat brought the turkey, gravy and stuffing, and Leigh came with mashed potatoes.  It was a lot of food and a lot of excitement.  The three little ones fared well despite it getting close to bed time.

Our dinner table - we moved it into the living room for space

 Liam's thanksgiving meal

 Drake and Kat 

 Leigh, Stirling, Kat, Drake, Eric, Liam and James

 The Children - Drake, Stirling and Liam

So much else seems to be changing and happening with Liam these days and we're so busy living in it that I forget to write it down.  I have to say though I feel like this age is my absolute favorite and I wish he'd stay this way for a long time.  It's so so fun to hang out and play with him and he's so interactive.

Some stuff that's been happening: Liam's first top tooth is coming in right now, that'll be his third tooth altogether.  He's also becoming more and more confident in his standing, walking and running around, and is letting going of things and standing steady for a few seconds before putting hands back out.  He's been eating like a champ, and by Nov was down to 2 milk feeds a day.  (Now it's just 1 before bed time.)  However, he has shown no interest in formula and very little interest in cows milk, so he's just pretty much been a water guy.  He talks ALL the time.  And I mean really talks.  Just because we don't understand him doesn't mean he's not saying meaningful things!  He is constantly standing up in his highchair - my mom considers this karma since I did the same thing - and he's climbing the staircase completely unassisted (and sometimes unaccompanied if he can manage to dart off while we are unawares!)  Anyway, just wanted to get it all down to remember some of this great time.  He's really a love.  My favorite of all favorite things he does has to be the slobbery kisses I get from him all the time.  What a little huggy love!

Trip to England - Oct 2010

Liam and I went on our first solo adventure this past week.  It was just a 2 hour flight to England, but not having done the whole parenting thing on my own till now, I wasn't sure what I was in for.  As it turns out, we had quite a remarkable week, even in spite of the cold that most of us ended up with.  The cousins got to meet for the first time and we had great fun and laughter and the odd tear in a house full of little ones.  There was always a little body to run after, feed, change or put to bed, but somehow it all worked out pretty well.  There were many opportunities for all children to learn a little about sharing too!

"Goodbye Daddy" - at Milan airport getting ready to leave

 Liam and Lua's first meeting was over a xylophone.  Turns out they have similar interests!

 Lua is such a love and every time she comes across a soft toy or piece of fabric she gives it a snuggle!  Here she is with Liam's new hippo from Grandma Gail

 At the park Liam was excited to get to try out all the different equipment.  I think this really was his first interactive playground experience, and the swings were definitely a favorite.  Here he is with Nassim on the rocking horse.  He seems quite a natural!

 Three sisters and 2 wee ones in pouches.  Amazingly enough I'm looking as pale as Nassim here!

 It was so fun to see how Liam and Leo interacted.  Leo would try and figure out what would make Liam laugh and would do it over and over again if it worked.  Here they are just hanging out and playing on their own.

 Still a bit of an eater of all and sundry - Liam naws on the tail of Lua or Leo's lion.

 I loved witnessing this moment.  Nassim and Leo were playing in the sun room with Liam and it was joyful to watch.

 Though this is a bit ambiguous this is actually the moment that Lua was going in to give Liam a kiss!

After 6 days in Ettington we went in to London so we could visit Keith, Charlene and Otto.  That was probably the most complex traveling and even so, went off without any major glitches.  Both Liam and I were a bit under the weather still, but greatly enjoyed getting to see the three of them as well as Sonja.

 Liam and Otto getting into mischief in the kitchen

 Char reads Otto a book while Liam takes over his special chair

9 Month Madness

Liam has a second tooth.  Monday was miserable.  Well Monday Liam was miserable.  I guess the tooth coming through was causing a lot of pain and it was hard for him to be distracted by games or toys.  He spent most of the day seeking me out and climbing on me, clinging tight and half crying.  It wasn't fun. 
Gratefully by Tuesday morning things had improved, the tooth had peeked through the surface and I think things have been pretty much better since then.

Before I forget, here's a funny Monday story - I put Liam in his bed for nap and left him to it.  An hour later, still awake, still crying, I went in.  And when I found him he was standing at the bars of his crib (nothing new there) holding his PANTS (and by pants I mean trousers, not his undies), in his hand.  I have no idea how he got them off, but he did.  I was so amused I gave up any attempt to have him nap.  That night we put him to sleep in one of his sleeping bags that snaps over the shoulder and zips up the side.  He woke up in the middle of the night crying, and when James went in to check on him, he was out of his sleeping bag and holding it in his hand.  Little houdini!

We walked the percorsa vita with some friends this week - twice in fact for Liam and I, and once with James.  Just a couple of pictures from the walk on Sunday:

James and Liam hanging out on the walk

 Alessandra and Liam

 Liam and James examine the foliage

We bought Liam one of those obnoxious push walkers in garish colors and with all those sound effects and songs to boot.  He loves it, of course.  He does pushes it around the house, but he also loves the ball game at the front where he can pick up the little balls and dump them into the slot at the top, resulting in a lovely sound that encourages repetition!  He also likes to play one of the songs over and over and does a little butt wiggle to dance to it.
Here are a couple of videos of him from today: 

Other happenings this side of the Gottard - we have ferrets or some other lively and large animals living in the ceiling of our kitchen. We've been listening to them scrape and scratch around for the past few weeks, getting more and more distressed about it.  The landlord is working on the situation, but a few more weeks have gone by with no results.  Here's hoping something changes soon or the weight of them multiplying above us will no doubt cave the ceiling in!