Happy First Birthday, Andrin!!

Godfather John and aunt Keiko are reminding Andrin that he is turning 1!

Cake for Andrin.

Papi is trying to figure out the pull-along crocodile from Cheryl and Larry.

Sensory balls from Beau, Becky and Hazel!

The quaking frog from godfather Thomas and Nicole.

Hazel gives Wichtel a ride on Adrin's new wheely cow.

Andrin with his Wichtel.

Andrin does not yet enjoy sitting on his wheely cow, but he likes to push it around and "mooh."

Discovering the crocodile in the morning.

Playing with godfather Thomas.

Talking with Opa on Skype.

With godfather Thomas.

Yesterday and today, we celebrated Andrin's first birthday. He got many presents, many phone calls and well wishes. Yesterday, he also got special visitors, his godfather, Thomas and his girlfriend, Nicole, came all the way from Switzerland to celebrate!
On Sunday, we had some friends over for a little party. Unfortunately, Andrin was not feeling too well. He had a fever and was teething pretty intensely. At times, he just wanted to sit with Mami and cuddle and that was it. He got to see his cake, but then did not even get to eat a piece of cake because he was feeling under the weather!
When he got up on Monday morning, he was feeling better and also became interested in all the wonderful presents that he got the day before. He was playing with his new pull-along crocodile, his new Wichtel, his balls, the bath frog, and ...

On Monday, Andrin also had an appointment with a nose-ear-throat specialist and we got bad news: recommendation to put tubes in his ears! Andrin has surgery on Thursday, October 15th. We are all hoping that this will put an end on his recurring ear infections, especially since we are heading in the winter/fall.

We miss you, Papi!

Papi has left last Sunday to do some work at Janelia Farm nearby Washington D.C. and then to a congress in Cold Spring Harbor where he also gave a talk. This means that I have been home alone with Mami. We won't tell everything that we have been doing, but just wanted to share some videos of my new favorite things to do.

Tubing ...

Yesterday, we spent time at our friend Dana's house with our group of parents and babies from Birth to Three. There was a tube and after some initial reservation and fears, Andrin loved to crawl back and forth. How lucky for Andrin to have a play therapist as a Mami ... Of course she already had a tube like that from IKEA. Unfortunately for her clients, the tube is now at home and Andrin already enjoyed playing in it.

P.s. Did you notice the cell phone in Andrin's little hands? He did not know how to make it through the tube without leaving it behind (I guess he was expecting a really important phone call or was considering calling when he got stuck midway:). He developed his own system: he would throw the cell phone in front of him and then crawl up to it and then throw it a little bit further. I guess this cell phone will not make it for three years like the old one did!





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Play, eat, read, and more play ...

Let me tell you what I have been doing lately ... I have been playing a lot, even with things that are not supposed to be toys. Also, I have enjoyed reading (and as you can tell, my Mami updated my clothes and I am now officially in the 12-18 months clothes!) And I have been tasting all these different foods. Papi was thrilled to see me eat pasta. At times, my mouth was just not big enough for everything that I wanted to put in there at the same time. And as you can see, I discovered how to pull myself up in my crib. So most of the time, I welcome my parents with a big smile and standing up after my naps and in the morning.

And if you wondered what we did this weekend ... we had a quiet weekend. We got some vegetables for our winter garden and a sleeping bag liner for Papi when he goes camping to the Deschutes in October (he said that he does not want to freeze ...). Papi had to work a lot since he will be leaving next weekend for the east coast where he has to give a talk at a conference. On Sunday, I went to an Ultimate Frisbee game with Mami to cheer for the Jasper team.

Oranje boven!

I am a drummer boy!

This video is for uncle Kevin :) Andrin is connecting two of your favorite things: drumming and cooking!

Playing with Papi

Labor Day Weekend

We are in the middle of Labor Day Weekend. Normal people get tomorrow off ... but Femeke will have to go in to do a family therapy with an out-of-town family and Clemens will be trailing off to the lab again. But this does not mean that we have not enjoyed the weekend so far. It has been rather nice to have some quiet time at home. The weather has been interesting ... switching between clear blue skies and heavy rain. We took walks with Andrin (yes, in the rain as well), went to get some more books for Mami to read, worked on the scrapbook, and played and played and played ..). Andrin has been teething and even though he does not have a fever this time, he has not been feeling well. He is rather attached and whenever Mami is around, he has to cling to her legs and just wants to be held ...

on the move ... this is a man with a mission ...

Peeking around the corner ... I might miss something going on in the other room ...

Discovering the drawer underneath the oven ...

Sleeping has been difficult as well ...

Playing and trying to get the camera at the same time ...

I am an Oregonian ... (Mami decided that I needed an early birthday present :)

Usually, this cabinet is locked ...

Oh oh ... I think I got caught!

Food, food, food

watermelon ...

plum ...

homegrown tomatoes ...

After not feeling like eating for a while (maybe it was the new tooth, maybe that nasty virus, maybe the new iron supplement, maybe ...), I have surprised my parents by eating a lot and also a wide variety of foods. I prefer to be able to feed myself and it is a lot of fun.