Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Sleepy Girl, sleepy girl...

I have to say I'm a little bit proud when I see this photo. (My heart is glowing) Knowing how much I loved escaping into books, and still do, I'm thrilled that the last thing Sophia wants to do before she goes to bed is to have 5 minutes more with a book. It's hard to say no, and doesn't really even make sense to when I go in 5 min later & she is asleep with the light on, books in hand.

Personally, I don't know how she ended up in this position, but she was able to move her fingers.

St Martins Day in Germany


Last week we celebrated St Martin's Day at Sophia's school. The week before we had all made the lanterns, and the kids had special lights (no candles this year), and the singing & walk were done during the day so it wasn't exactly the same as last year... Of course last year it was zero degrees & pouring while we were outside.


Anyway, the kids had prepared a number of songs, and were able to perform them with & without the parents right next to them. Sophia was a bit embarrassed at first & would barely look at us, but it was so great to see all of the kids perform, and to finally hear the actual songs (rather than her interpretation of the songs) that she had been singing for weeks!




St Martin's Day from Moya Z on Vimeo.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Alexandra at 6 months... Check-up


An interesting check-up today to say the least... Sophia is on a 2 day break for Parent Teacher Conferences (ours is postponed because Troy is traveling), and so she had to come with us this morning.

Alexandra was a star. She went thru all of her tests with flying colors (apart from not being able to pay attention to the hearing test because Sophia kept talking & running around the room so the ear attachment kept flying out of Alexandra's ear as her head was spinning). And the doctor felt she has a very good personality because she didn't cry when he was throwing her around in the air to see what her reactions were. (all of those body movement tests that they do to newborns in the US, they still do to the 6 month olds here - I've forgotten if they did it to Sophia?!)


So then we came to the shot. I have to say, one of the best things about getting immunizations in Europe is the combined shots that they have. For the 6 immunizations that Alexandra received today she only had one shot. AMAZING! The other amazing thing, the drugs are from a US company (the doctor keeps telling me that as if to re-assure me that it makes the meds safer for my daughter), why don't we have this in the US?


Anyway, Alexandra handled the shot like a pro. She looked down at her leg, and made a squeak saying "Wow, that hurts." And then looked at me when it was over. At the same time Sophia is in the corner screaming "THEY ARE PRICKING HER!" over & over again with tears filling her eyes.


Then Sophia looked at me & said, "I'm never coming back here."


Alexandra is now 71cm (about 28") and 7,240 grams (almost 16lbs). No teeth yet, but the doctor said it is way to early for that... He was surprised when I told him how early Sophia got hers! Safely above average in both height & weight. Basically a happy & healthy child. And very smile-y (that threw him off a bit...)





We start them early


This evening as I was getting dinner ready I put Alexandra in the entry to play, and Sophia brought her computer to play with as well. Before I knew it, both girls were on their stomachs, enthralled by the screen.

At least they were learning the alphabet in French... ;-)



Sunday, November 09, 2008

Take my picture please!

Can you tell we take a lot of photos? We were walking downtown last weekend, on a beautiful fall day, when Sophia saw a very photogenic pillar, hopped behind it & yelled, "Take my picture daddy!" She actually wouldn't move until we took the photo.
As it happens, she picked a good spot. The residence of the Hapsburg family is behind her left shoulder, and Odeonsplatz behind her head.
She's already got a good eye!