Barbarian Night

Michael had spaghetti tonight. Miam miam.

Squatter

Michael squats really well. I think he's going to grow up to be a catcher. Plus, he uses his left hand really well so maybe he'll be left-handed. Do you know how rare a left handed catcher is? They play for years. He'll make millions. Happy New Year. I made it.
Brian!

Nic Wooden Toys

While we were in Germany, Michael LOVED this toy called the "Multi Race" model Medi-S from the toy museum. Click on this link:
http://www.nictoys.com/htm/neu.htm

I am trying to find out how to buy them! We went to a toy store in Germany and they didn't have it. Still googling all over trying to find a retailer...America/Germany/France and I asked for a catalogue via the e-mail.

Just a random thought.
P

Guilt

So we had to get Michael to get used to sleeping in his crib again after sleeping with his parents for like 3 weeks (travelling/etc). It was a nightmare.

He cried for 45 minutes, threw up, then cried for another 10 more minutes. Slept for about 2 hours. Woke up, cried for an hour. And then just little cries here or there for another hour. Slept until 7:00 and then Brian slept with him on the couch until 8:30am.

*sigh*

And today...today is the day that Michael said "Mom" for real. He did it about 10-12 times today and at different points throughout the day. While he was walking towards me. While he was looking at me. While he was hugging me. It was so wonderful to hear his TRUE first word be "Mom."

And then the guilt set in. After such a horrible night, he rewards me with this. And this wonderful moment was so bittersweet.

The only thing that makes me feel better is that he HAS to sleep in his crib. No ifs ands or buts about it. We're just not a huge co-sleeping kind of family. It's just not us.

And tonight? He went down like a champ. Cried for about one minute and then went to sleep. He is such a good boy. We just don't deserve him! Why God gave us such a sweet and wonderful blessing...I'll never know!

Love,
P

Clue...

One clue that you have lived in Paris too long:

I went to the Pottery Barn website today and thought the prices were CHEAP.

For the same price as an entire Pottery barn living room, I could buy ONE couch. And maybe one accent pillow.

P

Nurnberg

If you like Christmas decorations, you HAVE to go to Nuremberg one day! It's like Christmas Handmade Hobby Lobby Mecca! Here I am at just ONE of the stalls of Christmas goods:

We ate EVERY meal (except for breakfast which was free at the hotel) at the Christmas market. Total food consumption for all 3 of us a day at the Christmas market included:

• 15-20 mini bratwursts
• 2-3 hamburgers
• 1 steak burger
• 1 curry wurst
• 2 cups of gluhwein
• LOTS of bread.
• 1 lebkochen (soft doughy gingerbread cookie)

It was the anti-diet HEAVEN. I think the whole month of December was the ANTI-diet.

Friday, December 21st
Arrived and checked into our hotel. Went immediately to the market, stopped at the first wurst-stand and bought a sandwich stuffed with 3 mini bratwursts. Delicious. Shopped a ton at the market and then shopped at the stores around Nurnberg.

Saturday, December 22nd
More shopping and eating. We took Michael to a Toy Museum in the morning! It was amazing! Nuremberg is known for its wooden toys so we checked it out. We skipped most of the museum and ended up on the Kid's activity floor. Michael LOVED it there! He played for an hour easily. He played with all of their wooden puzzles, this cool ramp thing that we tried to find to buy him for Christmas, and with the drawer full of pots and pans. He loves pots and pans and watching me cook. I wonder if we have a chef on our hands! Brian and I at one point pulled out a cool wooden memory game and played that with one another. It was hilarious seeing how much we DIDN'T remember and that just cracked us up to bits as you can imagine our stilly reactions. John would have WHOOOOped us for sure.

Afterwards, we went to a toy store to try to find the wooden toy Michael liked. No luck.

In the afternoon, we wandered up to the Imperial Castle and poked around. Not too impressive I must say compared to Versailles or Neuschwanstein, but we got a family picture for the scrapbook:

Sunday, December 23rd
After a tip from THE MOM, we found the children's double decker old AWESOME carrousel. It was amazing! It had 2 floors and the top and these little look out points. So cute. Upon finding the carrousel, we also found the KINDER christmas market! A market JUST for little kids!!! It was amazing! There were rides, food, and a little toy house FULL of playmobil stuff. It was packed and we couldn't go, but we rode the rides instead! Here's Brian and Michael on the carrousel:

Waiting to get on the Mini ferris wheel! We finished the afternoon there, eating stand food, and the free gingerbread cookies. Michael liked those! Then, we headed to the airport, super early. Super Phuongster style! Before we got on the U, I saw a sign at the bank that read -4 degrees Celsius. No wonder I spent most of the time like this:
Love,

P

P.S. My favorite picture so far of Michael and I!!!!!

Michael looked at me today and said "Mom." I think. Not sure. He did it twice. Said, "Mom" and waited for me to answer. But that's it. I am going to see if he does it again tomorrow at all because it just seems to good to be true.

Today, he climbed in his Dad's lap and said "Da Da". "Da" But not quite sure if that was babbling or not either.

*sigh* One day, he WILL talk!

Love,
P

Conversations

Brian's latest funny moment:

Me: Ok, when we move to Delaware or Pennsylvania, I would like a sprawling one story house that is pretty old but renovated beautifully with columns in the front and a house in the back for my parents to live.

Brian: So what you are saying to me is that you want me to buy Monticello.

Parents' Blitzkreig

Brian's parents came to Paris for a short but very fun visit! They found $440 RT tickets from DALLAS. Crazy, but true. Here is a recap of our days!

Saturday, December 1st
The Parents arrived 30 minutes early and we almost missed them walking in the terminal! After passing out at the apt and unpacking, we headed over to the playground in front of the Eiffel Tower (Champs des Mars) for Michael to play in his favorite playground. However, when we arrived, we found Michael asleep. So we enjoyed our sandwiches, watched other kids play, and then had some nice warm drinks at a nearby cafe. Afterwards, Michael finally woke up and played in the dark on this fun little train set thingy they have:

Sunday, December 2nd
It rained ALL DAY. We went to church where Brian understood the entire homily and I understand probably half of it. The priest was speaking VERY slowly. And since it rained all day, we stayed home, took naps, ate chicken pot pie (thanks AK for the recipe!) and played Pinochle (as we were apt to do every night they were here!)

Monday, December 3rd
This day started out perfectly for me!! The grandparents took Michael to his favorite park near our house, Saint Medard while I had a leisurely morning in at my own apartment. It was a HUGE treat for me. I got to curl my hair, put on makeup, get dressed, enjoy a cup of tea, wrap presents, and watch a movie...all by myself in the comfort of my own home with no one else around. You see, this is a treat b/c whenever the nanny comes, I usually leave the house. To run errands, or stay away otherwise Michael will want to be with me. So I NEVER get time alone in my own home. It was a HUGE deal for me.
Anyways, here is one of my favorite shots at the park while the grandparents played with him until he passed out!

That afternoon, Brian's mom and I went shopping and ran errands and found Michael asleep with Grandpa ALL AFTERNOON. There goes BEDTIME! For dinner, we met Brian over by Montparnasse and had Crepes! Mmmmm!!!

Tuesday, busy day December 4th
Michael and I went to our first storytime lapsit! There were tons of cookies/etc for treats so Michael was pretty happy! It was funny because the kids are just going crazy and only playing attention to the parts of the story that had funny noises. It was basically mayhem with food. At the end of the story time, there were about 3 kids in a row pushing around chairs into the corner.

Afterwards, we had lunch at a place called Biuollon's by Galeries Lafayette which had standard French food. It was pretty good and Michael took a nap! When he woke, we visited the window displays at Galeries Lafayette. This department store sets up these elaborate window displays for the kids and provides a ramp for them to see better. Here's Michael not quite getting it. Look AT the window Michael!
Then, we went to see Santa and had pictures taken! That takes us up to only 3:00pm...only the beginning of the day for Brian's mom! ;o) So then we went over to the Tuilleries and Michael went on his first Carrousel ride!
It was SO fun. I hadn't been on one in ages so I had a great time too...TOO good of a time! I totally let Grandpa take all the pics of Michael b/c he had a better angle and I was having too good of a time. Then...we walked over to the Orsay and afterwards went to the Champs Elysees to see the lights. Whew....finally done. ;o) Met Brian at home for dinner!

Wednesday, December 5th
Parents went home early in the morning. Life resembles normal again until December 10th when we headed to ROME!

Next, Nurnberg recap!

Love,
P

Has it Really Been a MONTH?

I. am. embarrased. It's really been a MONTH since we've posted? Well, a lot can change in a month and it has!

Michael makes more noises now and goes around practicing his intonations. Uhhh...ohhhh...ahhhh..uhhh...but not in a montonous sound. With his voice rising up and then down. I guess he's practicing to be Vietnamese.

No words yet though...*sigh*

He gestures:

• When he wants to be picked up, he holds his arms up and closes his fingers to tell you to come here.
• He puts all his fingers together to a point to indicate that he wants more of something.

I guess that's only 2.

He recognizes Vietnamese words! I can say Vo Thay (which means clap) and he starts to clap.

On MOnday, he figured out how to put the rings back ON his stackable ring thing and he'll put one on and clap for himself! Same with his little pull toy with the stackable things! I taught him how to do it before we left for Rome and he would cry in frustration b/c he couldn't do it. We came back and on Monday, he did it. First shot. I'm so proud. That's really all it takes. Wonder what I'll think when he graduates High School..."My boy is a GENIUS!!!"

Thursday before we left for Rome (so that would make it Dec.6), he started looking at and playing with his penis when he would get naked before getting in the bath tub.

Yesterday, he had his first cheese soft taco.

I think that's it for special observations of Michael. Can't believe I am SO behind!

Love,
P

Roma: Le Fin

Sunday, December 9th: My amazing husband gave me breakfast in bed!!!! Michael was a bit interested as well...but what a treat it was for me! I didn't HAVE to share! But I did...


Here are some of my fav pics in Rome. To be honest, it was too cold and I was sick and so my shots are a bit uninspired I feel. Ahhh...c'est la vie!

Michael Playing at the Roman Ruins on Palatine Hill

Brian and Michael at St. Peter's Square

Michael at the Colliseum

Family Picture at the Colliseum!

Friday, Michael and I went to a park near Termini train station and met Brian there after his conference. Michael played in a swing for his first time! Infant swings (and swings in general) are NOT very common in Paris at all. So it was a BIG treat! Afterwards, we had lunch at this CRAZY eatery that we hit RIGHT at the lunch hour rush. It was one of those where you can order pizzas/pastas to go and stand there and eat. I met something called Lasagna Genovese (which is like a lasagna with pesto and cheese) and I fell in love.

Afterwards, we went to the Borghese Gallery, which was beautiful and set in the Borghese Gardens. Go figure. The Borghese gallery has awesome sculptures of Bernini and had an exhibition of Canova going on which was pretty cool. But it's the STUFFIEST museum I have EVER been to and the most expensive. I was not too impressed with all their rules:

• You must make a reservation to go because they only allow 300 people in at a time to limit crowding
• No strollers
• You must go DOWNSTAIRS to check your stroller...and only after you have purchased their overpriced ticket of 13 euro. I think the Louvre is less...and it's like 60 times bigger and more famous.
• No diaper bag or anything like that allowed.
• You must be out of the museum within a 2 hour time frame.

I understand these rules are to protect their collection but COME ON. Ok...done ranting now.

Michael liked the rooms there! He wandered all around and tried to touch things...but of course he's not allowed. I was holding him and standing near a bust of a nude woman. He smiled at her really coyly, looked at her breasts, and then tried to touch them. Uh. Oh.

After that, we strolled through the Borghese Gardens and went shopping near the Spanish Steps! There were roasting chestnuts everywhere and now I can understand that song "Chestnuts roasting on an Open fire." And I know the smell now! I never understood why that song came to be but now I see...

On Saturday, we shopped...pretty much all day. And since we got a late start, that was fine! I was sick and it was the coldest day of our trip so I got a whole lotta nothing! But Brian made away like a bandit! We wandered over to Campo de Fiori, the Pantheon, and went home.

Sunday, we woke up and should have shopped b/c I felt better, it was warmer, and there were STORES OPEN AT 9:30! We didn't know...and so we missed the boat. I got a pair of boot socks. oo...la...la...

Then we went home. VOILA. Le Fin.

Next entry will be The Parent's Visit, and then our party last night at Pierre Dufours' (Air Liquide's 3rd in command or somewhere pretty high up there). As you can see, this blog is my virtual scrapbook so when I do my actual scrapbook, I have everything I need right here! So you must suffer through the rather uninteresting details.

Love,

P

Roma: Part Deux

I.Love.Italian.Food.From.Italy.

It is amazing! So different than Italian food in the states. No more Olive Garden or Carinos for me! The only place I can think of that comes close...is a place called Vespaio in Austin. And that's fusion of some sort! But if I have any readers from the ATX, head over to Vespaio for a fancy dinner one night. It's worth it!

Here, they treat us like Royalty because we have a BAMBINO! At the Vatican Museum, the would let us take shortcuts, directing us to other places. Show us the elevators, let us to the front of lines/etc. IN restaurants, the wait staff act like we've done them this ENORMOUS favor by bringing in the baby! And they let him run rampant in the restaurant and think it's darling. SO different than in France. IN Paris, they let you into the mayhem that is the Louvre and say.. GO. See if you can find the elevator!

Anyways, Michael and I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon shopping around in the neighborhood we're staying in. Michael took a humungous 2 hour nap (WHOOP!). For dinner, we went around the corner to a place called Target, which delicious and trendy. Wish Rick Steves' would have mentioned that since we showed up in blue jeans and Michael just had a food stained track suit over his pajamas. EEK.

During the meal, MIchael hurt himself. There was a set of 3 steps and he was climbing up them. I wasn't watching closely enough b/c I was tired (although it is no excuse). He kind of did this weird fall back thing and got a little bitty cut on his chin and a small bruise about the size of a dime. :o( . It only takes a second for the kid to hurt himself and it's always the second where I am not watching.

Today, Michael and I went to the Colliseum, Palatine Hill, AND Roman Forum! I am amazed I made it home because I carried MIchael in the Ergo the entire way. I thought my legs were going to give out from under me after it! Wish I could post pictures. I had to take my Canon Point and Shoot and watch MIchael/carry him at the same time so I didn't get the kind of shots I wanted. But hey, better some than NONE.

The ruins were absolutely amazing. Talk about history coming to life. The Rick Steves' tours were absoultely essential and super informative. I had a bit of trouble at Palatine Hill, but eventually found most things. I missed 2 things but by then was so tired of hiking around that I just gave up.

I can't put into words how neat it is to see these kind of things in real life...the scale/magnitude of it all. EVERYTHING. I'll just have to post pics when I get home.

Michael was super funny today. He was in copy cat mode:

He saw me holding up my camera to take a picture today so he then held up his wagon wheel and tried to take a picture with it.

While sitting on the bus, he saw me reach over to grab onto the pole next to the window. So he in turn decided to help me with the pole as well and held on as long as I did. Then he flirted with a girl in another seat.

When we got back to the room, he brought me my camera, gave it to me...and then gave me this huge cheesy grin. I tried to give it back, but he just pushed the camera back at me. That was when I realized, he wanted me to take pictures of him! So I have these 3 super funny pictures of MIchael grinning and posing for the Camera. HOW PRECIOUS. Gotta love it.

Michael is in a MUCH better mood today b/c he slept much better last night and got almost 11 hours of sleep.

Well, I wanted to go shopping this afternoon, but I just am too tired. So we're gonna hang around until Brian gets home and eat dinner together. Tomorrow, I may go do the Travestere walk in the morning untiL Brian gets back after lunch. Then we're all heading over to the Borghese gallery and dinner on Campo de Feori.

LOVE THIS ROME PLACE!
P

ROMA!

Hi everyone!

We haven't posted in a while because:
1.) Thanksgiving for 16 people took the wind out of me
2.)Brian's parents came and took the wind out of me, but in a good way :o)

But here we are in Rome! We just arrived on Monday and are navigating our way around. Monday had some funny moments:

Michael went through the metal detector by himself for the first time at the airport. They asked if he could walk. I said yes...and they put him on the ground and made him walk through! In his PJ's nonetheless!

Brian went to register for his conference. He came back and said his registration day was Tuesday, the 11th. Which Monday, the 10th...was DEFINITELY not. Very funny...very BRIAN.

Michael is of course having trouble sleeping. During one of his wake up episodes, I was trying to pat him back to sleep...but then Michael woke up Brian. And Brian starts saying "Michael gets EVERYTHING." So then I find myself patting Brian adn Michael saying "Shh...shhh...trying to get them back to sleep." Finally, they were back to bed and I had to read Rick Steves' Italy to get MYSELF back to sleep.

Tuesday, we went to the Vatican Museum and saw St. Peter's. They were putting up a Christmas tree in the square! We are going to go back and check it out later this week.

Today, so far, I went to the Pantheon. It was very neat...but a little anticlimatic.

MIchael just took a slam so I have to go change him now. Not sure what the afternoon holds. May go to the Colliseum and see me some Roman ruins. Or I may just go shopping! Here's my very laid back itinerary while Brian's at his conference:

Wed (today): Pantheon (check)
Thursday: Colliseum/Forum/Palatine Hills
Friday: Shop

More later!

Love to all,
P