Cago Tio

Our Catalan friends, Cristian and Adriana, introduced me to their Christmas tradition of cago tio. Since we were so busy with visitors over Christmas, we waited until this weekend to see if they fed cago tio well. Adriana had warned us that it started to smell in their house because cago tio was constipated and really needed to use the bathroom ... My parents sang this song with Adriana and hit the cago tio (with knitting needles, I believe). Interestingly enough, he really releaved himself and we got some presents !
What an amazing tradition! Thank you Cristian and Adriana, for teaching me about Cago tio! (Adriana really seemed to enjoy playing with my toys and she wants to come over again to play with them some more. She especially enjoyed my stuffed cow, "Lola", and the voice box with the cow sounds:)

Hopes and expectations ...

While Mami turned her back on the "boys", they got in trouble ... They were nice enough to even take some pictures of their adventure ...

First day back to work

Just a quick update on our day today ... (thanks for all the support I got!): Andrin had actually a pretty good night, but Mami had a difficult time sleeping since I was thinking about going back to work and could not sleep. We made it to Jasper around the time that I intended to be there and that without any stress. Andrin even enjoyed the car ride and was "talking" with me (he has not been enjoying car rides lately). I then nursed Andrin at daycare (which is just up the hill from my office) and then left him there in the wonderful care of our daycare ladies. I made my way down the hill the hill and it felt lonely without my baby boy! In the beginning, time went by really slowly, but then it flew by. I was really proud that I picked him up after two hours and not earlier. They told me that he had taken a nap and as soon as they tried to put him down, he was awake again (I guess they did not really believe me when I told them about his little "habit" ...:) When I got up there to get him, I talked with one of the daycare ladies and he got upset when he heard my voice and I did not take him right away in my arms. He cried and wanted to be nursed again, but after two minutes, he seemed to be assured that Mami was back and that he was not that hungry after all. Andrin spent the rest of the day with me. I am proud of myself since I actually got some things done. He was a sweetheart and even though he only took two more catnaps, he was not cranky. At the moment, he is sleeping in his crib. We had our support group for first time parents today and he actually feel asleep on our car ride home. I know that not every day will go as smoothly, but Andrin proved me that I worried too much!

Going back to work ...

Yes, I will be going back to work tomorrow after staying home for 14 weeks (courtesy of my boss since I would only be allowed 12 weeks). Please do not ask me how I feel about it, because I am not entirely sure. On the one hand, I am looking forward to work with "my children" again and to interact with adults. I feel fortunate because I feel like I am part of a family at Jasper Mountain where I work. It makes it a little bit easier that I know that they are extremely forthcoming and supportive ... BUT ... how do I know that my "little" baby will be OK? What will they do in daycare if he cries? What if he misses me? I never imagined that it would be so hard to leave my baby. One of my coworkers mentioned that it is a good sign that I feel like I do ... because it means that I am attached to Andrin ... Sometimes it is not as easy to think as optimistic and positive. When I tell you that Andrin will be in day care only for two hours in the beginning, you probably will start to laugh and ask yourself why I am making this into such a big deal. But I also know that all the mommies out there will understand! The fact that I am going back to work is a little bit easier because Andrin will be only minutes away from me, I can continue breastfeeding, and I am allowed to bring him to work (there have been many offers of willing hands to hold him). Still, it will be hard ... (also the part about getting up in the morning since Andrin continues to struggle to sleep at night).

Good bye Opa and Oma Britschgi

As you can tell by our smiles, we took quite a lot of pictures. There were some technical challenges involved :)

Playtime with my Opa.

Another farewell ... My Oma and Opa Britschgi left today as well (all the grandparents will arrive about the same time in Switzerland since Opa Cabernard spent a day in Denver). Thanks so much for visiting us and we will miss you! Fortunately, we will already see you soon in Switzerland again!

Good bye Opa Cabernard!

Good bye Opa Cabernard! Thank you so much for visiting me and for spending time with me. Have a safe trip back home and we will see you again in June for your 70th birthday in Switzerland!

Happy New Year!

We wish you all a Happy New Year with lots of joy, laughter (my Godmother announced 2009 to be the year of laughter) and happiness from the Cabernard family! (No, we did not make it until midnight ... Andrin even decided that he did not need to get up at midnight and slept until 2.00 am; the first long night in a long time ...)