Escaping the heat

This past weekend, we escaped the heat and had a wonderful day with Opa Jumbo. Andrin loved the cool water of the swimming pool and the Legos. We also retrieved some more of our things that we stored with Opa Jumbo. I was so surprised to see Andrin in the water. He was swimming, jumping in the water, and just loving it ...

and splash ...

Enjoying his lunch ...

Taking a break from the water with the Legos.

A week of unpacking ...

It is a bad sign if your husband points out that you have not posted a new blog for quite a while ... but I think I have a good excuse: our boxes arrived on Tuesday morning (after being delayed for another day at the customs!) and I have unpacked about 60 boxes so far. There are a few left in Clemens' office (that I will not unpack) and our books are still in boxes in the living room because we already ran out of bookshelf space ... yes, I already made reservations for a rental car so that Bigna and I can take another trip to IKEA next Monday.

But this past week has been exciting for several reasons:

• Andrin started a playgroup three mornings. It is an English-speaking playgroup and ever since he is going there, he has been using more English words again. On Monday morning, I expected the worst and it was no problem at all. I dropped him off, helped him get settled and then left when he was absorbed in play. On Wednesday morning, Papa dropped him off and was told by the teachers to leave after a while and Andrin just cried and cried. They later told me that he went to a corner of the room and stood against the wall with his Teva sandals pressed to his face. When they checked on him after a while, he had his eyes closed and a smile on his face. They thought that he was fooling them and put him on the couch. He was actually asleep (standing, I know, how could he?) and slept for 30 minutes and then was happy as could be. On Friday, I dropped him off and he was crying after I left for a short while and then was happy.
  
• We have had a heat wave here and it has been difficult to keep everyone happy and comfortable. We took a lot of trips to the park to get into the cold water.
  
• Bigna has started to eat solids. She likes the rice cereal and also had some carrots. She loves to sit in her high chair (thanks, Jasper Mountain!!) and is sitting quite sturdy.
  
• Overall, it seems like Bigna just made a big jump in her development in the last week. She seems to be so much bigger and not the little baby anymore! Oh, did I mention that she already has her second bottom tooth?! She is now rolling all over the place and even turns herself during the night to her belly to sleep.
  

But which better way to show what we have been doing than some pictures ...

Andrin and his favorite past time ... fishing with the fishing pole that Opa made for him ...

I just love this picture of our little bean ...

Bigna's interpretation of fishing ...

Andrin feeding his fish ...

First rice cereal ...

This morning, Andrin went straight into Bigna's room and climbed into her bed to play with her...

Wonderful to get up in the morning to such a beautiful smiling girl ...

Andrin leaving with Papa to go to the lab to take care of his flies and watch some Winnie the Pooh ...

Our boxes ...

We are pleased to let you know that your household goods will be delivered this Monday August 22^nd.

Our truck will be at your residence at ± 16h00

Bigna's six month checkup

Last Thursday, Bigna had her first Swiss checkup with our new pediatrician. It was quite a different experience than in Eugene. But I am sure that we will get used to a different style and then feel like that this is the only way to do a checkup. The pediatrician was happy, even though he said that it is about time to start Bigna on solids. Also, he heard our concerns about her tilted head and we will consult with a physiotherapist to see what she thinks. But here are the stats:

weight: 7.7 kg (17 pounds); 75th percentile
height: 68 cm (27 inches); 50th percentile

Another FIRST

At the moment, it seems like there are new developmental milestones hit every day ... Quite an exciting time for everyone.
Last night, we moved Bigna's crib (my parents did a wonderful job remodeling the crib that already my father slept in, it was made in 1946!) to her new room. We were not brave enough to move her directly to Andrin's room, but she had a great first night in her room. She went down around 8.30 pm and slept until 6.00 am!!!

Update on our boxes

Some of you have been asking me about our boxes from Eugene. Here is the official word from the moving company:

Please be informed that your shipment has already arrived at the port of Antwerp but has been put on hold by customs.

Reason: Documents 2^nd portion inside container not OK.

We’ll only be able to get your goods released once the agent that’s handling the 2^nd portion has took care of all necessary documents.

We wish to apologize for this inconvenience but please note that this is happening entirely beyond our will.

Swiss playgrounds

Andrin hit another milestone ... no more afternoon naps! It was quite the adjustment for Mami ... but it makes bedtimes so much easier since he falls asleep in a matter of minutes and that already at eight o'clock! But that gives us so much more time and I do not feel like we have to hassle home for the afternoon nap since Bigna still naps wherever Mami will carry her in the Ergo ... We just uploaded some pictures from our phones to give us an impression of Swiss playgrounds ...

Andrin's duck on our little (private) playground.

Bigna likes to swing.

Playing with water ...

Papi just had to see this.

Claramatte. The excavator was a big hit.

Andreas-Heusser-Strasse ... More water.

A wading pool.

Andrin loves these swings.

Playing with a life-sized dinosaur in a nearby park (in walking distance, Gruen 80).

Enjoying a special treat ... Ice cream.

Schuetzenmattpark .. another ice cream. Andrin always wants the white ones = vanilla.

Wading pool with seal.

Gruen 80. One of our favorite playgrounds. Funny, but the play structure is built in the town that I grew up in ...

Bigna's way to enjoy the parks/playgrounds.

Little climber ...

Our week in pictures

We had a busy week and some really nice weather ... Reason enough to discover more playgrounds, to play in our garden, and take the chance to show Tuuli Basel for the first time.

Andrin watching his beloved Winnie the Pooh.

Mami working and Bigna sleeping ...

Morning play in a big bed.

Andrin clearly has been deprived of his artistic expression (I am sorry, Nana!). We got him pencils and markers and he has been quite the productive artist. He started commenting on his pieces. He is often drawing church steeples, church bells (he is fascinated by them), and also cows.

Just wait to see what he was up to ...

The markers were put away because he started drawing on our new couch ...

Not a problem for this little innovator and builder ...

Tuuli visited us and we enjoyed crossing the Rhine with one of the famous boats.

Another train ... This time with quite important cargo.
The wash that Mami folded ...

Our happy girl.

After an afternoon in the park, Andrin fell asleep in the tram on the way back home. I had to wake him up and he was not a happy camper ...

Another tea party ... Andrin is using Mami's old tea pot and cups.