Nomad and Babies

The title for this entry explains itself, but I thought I would still say something

because we all know I am not one for keeping my mouth shut. 

Josiah has been with us for 5 days now and will stay with us for a week longer. 

We are enjoying having him immensely. 

He's my best friend and a very "chill" guy. So it's very relaxing having him around. 

Shakinah is crazy about him now, and even as I am typing she is following him around the house 

and crying, because she can't get to him. 

She loves to cuddle with him, which is saying a lot because she cuddles with no one. 

As a mother stress is part of your daily life. 

Worrying ages you quickly.

And I think after this experience I aged about 10 years 

In all fairness. Josiah was great and probably was a more cautious rider than I am with her. 

then we went in sat in the park for awhile.

Thursday we went into utrecht and did some shopping. 

Shakinah really enjoyed herself

Then I told her to get off 

and this was her response 

Nice. Very respectful kid. 

xx

Bethany

The other day I was washing dishes and Johan frantically called for me to come in the room

I got very nervous so I ran into the living room with soaking hands

and ran into find Shakinah snuggling with Farah in her basket

(which technically she's not allowed to do but it was pretty darn cute).

Ki loves to hang out in the kitchen while I cook or clean and to open the cupboards and discover (destroy) what's inside. Her recent find has been the strainer, which she loves to put on her head.

Then she started yelling into it. For like 10 minutes straight. 

Then Johan told her to be quiet and this is the look she gave him. 

As we have seen before. Shakinah likes to make dinner an experience.

The other day she was eating appelstroop on her bread and she thought what a great idea to play with it

if you enlarge this (by clicking on the picture) you can see her two teeth. 

So cute

There was even appelstroop in her diaper. 

Classic. 

xx

Bethany

Of course Shakinah is at an age where it's hard to get her to sit still. 

So we have quite a few shots of her trying to lunge off everyone's laps. 

Shakinah enjoyed every moment of the attention she was getting!

...

My friend Eleanor, who I met on the ship, is from the Netherlands...so when I moved here I cannot express what is meant that She also lived in the same country. Over the years she has become an irreplaceable person in my life. Unfortunately (well, I guess fortunately for her) she fell in love and got married to a South African, and moved there. Which was  few weeks after Shakinah was born. I have felt her absence keenly, but was overjoyed to have her back in the Netherlands again (only for a short vacation).

Ki and Ellie got on quite splendidly. 

Although, Eleanor did have to say, " I can't believe what I'm about to say, but Shakinah is a bit of a redhead." I almost had a heart attack and bought hair dye on the spot (no offense Ellie ;). But it's just not true.

We had a day like the old times. It was spectacular. 

This is how Shakinah gives kisses. It's a little aggressive. A real Dutch lady. 

Shakinah with her Great Grandmother

It was very sweet to see :)

...

Until tomorrow

xx

Bethany

Oh man...

(don't worry people...the bottle was empty)

Shakinah always has a ball when people come to visit. She is so social

And love to climb over everyone and steal all of the attention

my friend Marta stopped by the other day, and Shakinah was terrorizing poor Marta. Climbing all over her like she was a play gym. 

Monday Johan and I decided to take Shakinah to the zoo...

So what that really means is Johan took Bethany to the zoo and Shakinah got to eat a cookie and sleep 

hah. 

But it was probably the weirdest zoo experience I've ever had. 

Shakinah loved this polar bear statue

can't you tell?

She wanted to stay on it forever. 

then we saw this in the reindeer section. Guess one of them didn't make it. 

And then it seemed that all the animals were in heat...

Every cage we went by the animals were mounting eachother. 

It just was kind of surreal. 

she was so proud of herself

it was too funny seeing her crawling in her little cape. 

I have been having this desire to grow something for awhile now

so when my friend Rhode gave me a little can of some flowers...I cannot describe how happy I was

and proud that they are growing. 

Johan and I since we got married have this orchid. 

This Orchid for the first two years of our marriage...always was in bloom. 

It was beautiful to see. 

Then when I got pregnant. It died. Not that the blooms fell off, but the leaves shriveled up. 

I could not bare to throw it out. So I put it behind a chair in Shakinah's room, and I didn't look at it for 8 months (don't ask how dusty it was behind  there. 

my survivor plant. So now once again it sits on our window sill. 

Thriving as ever. 

Johan and I decided to go for a Bike ride yesterday

and we ended up going to the nature reserve in Wageningen 

They have free roaming horses and cows (amongst other animals) 

and it was just very beautiful and peaceful. 

i call this one...the pout. 

this was so unexpected, but was perfect to see

sleeping baby 

what a great day

xx

Bethany