Ladies Man

A few weeks ago, my good friend Kari needed my help watching the girls. I was so excited because 1) Cooper loves spending time with her girls E and G and 2) Kari never seems to need or ask for help so I was thrilled to be able to lend a hand to her for once.

We had a great night of playing, coloring, watching videos, eating popcorn, playing hide and seek, and even a little excercising.

Here are the little Picasso's producing their masterpieces on a giant sheet of paper.

Often Kari and I will get together and do a workout video in my living room, and the girls like to join in. At E's request, I put on "6 Round Slim Down" for them and both E and G were very excited to each have their own workout mat. As you can see, neither Cooper nor Kayla share their committment to physical fitness.

And this is what a guy looks like after spending the day with two high maintenance girls.

Random Pictures You Don't Want To See

The hubs bought me a little hand held camera for Christmas to replace the one that we used to have which mysteriously broke in the hands of said hubs who claims that it most certainly was not dropped. I, for one, am still skeptical regarding series of events surrouding the camera breaking incident. Regardless, we now have a new one. And while the picture quality is not as good as my last one, I am enjoying the candid shots that we are able to capture with a smaller camera. So, here are a few terrible pictures we have taken lately.

What chu talkin' 'bout Willis?

My Cute Hubby

My cute Coopi

Proof that I am allergic to ironing.

CHEESE!

Kayla on her sofa

Morning pictures of me before shower and make-up are ABSOLUTELY NOT allowed!

But this? Surprise shower pictures of Peter are TOTALLY allowed!

But not all the pictures from this camera are terrible. Here are a couple of shots from 2 weeks ago when Cooper went sledding with the little boys next door.

Cooper is on the middle sled in the light blue jacket and red cap.

Here's a little closer with his good pal Otto in the driver's seat. They are both having a blast!

On The Mend

(WARNING: The following post contains images which clearly demonstrate that I am a total and complete failure when it comes to altering any type of photographic image. However, it has been proven on many previous occasions that I have no shame so view at your own risk.)

I was determined not to write about my brutal cold, but after more than a week I am starting to feel better, and I couldn't feel more relieved. Cooper came down with a nasty sounding cough about a week and a half ago. Then, a few days later I was hit with about 2000 lbs of sinus pressure and sore throat. Over the course of the week, things got progressively worse and I ended up with Laryngitis, crazy sinus issues, and a throat that was so sore and swollen it felt as if I was breathing through a straw. Being prego and all means that girlfriend here ain't allowed any serious medication.



Peter took Cooper and I to the doctor on Tuesday in the hopes of some relief. You know that great feeling when you are sick, finally go to the doctor and that doctor prescribes you hefty doses of wonderful meds? Then you rush to the pharmacy to fill those prescriptions because you can't take another minute of misery, scurry home and curl up in bed with the drugs that bring the promise of clear nasal passages and an end to coughing up your toenails. Yeah, well I didn't get that.


Germany is the land of homeopathic medical practices, so I was instructed to breathe in some steam, drink some herbal tea, and maybe even suck on a sage throat lozenge when the situation is really dire. All of which, I was already doing. Cooper didn't fare any better either. So, instead of the whole scurry home scenario, we all scurried to McD's for some comfort food and hit the grocery store for popsicles and ice cream. Now that is my form of homeopathy!


I must say that this guy here makes a great nurse.





Oops, that isn't quite right. Let's try that again:
Well, that's a little better if we can overlook the fact that Peter the hunky doctor is missing a neck. But seriously, the sweet hubs took wonderful care of me, staying home from work, and putting Cooper to bed at night. I really got lots of time to rest and am thrilled to finally be getting better.

A few days ago, though, Peter started in with his own symptoms and just the thought of all the great drugs that he could partake in was like living out a fantasy. I swear, talk of pharmaceuticals could have been an aphrodisiac! Just mention things like Tylenol PM (oh my), Nyquil (yes, that's good), Sudafed (that's really hot), and Mucinex (don't stop), and suddenly I am like Meg Ryan in that diner in When Harry Met Sally. That is how badly I was craving cold medicine.


Hey, maybe making it through all this without medication means that I am ready for natural child birth without an epidural!


Just kidding. I would never even think of something so ridiculous. I mean, that's just crazy talk!



Hope you all are healthy or at least heavily medicated.

Movin' On Up

This past spring I ran into a little issue with Cooper after he discovered that he could crawl out of his crib on his own. A skill to be expected from a 2 year old, and at that time most parents derive that their little one is ready to move up to a big kid bed. The problem was that Cooper didn't understand at the time what we meant when we would tell him that he had to stay in his bed. Our bedtime routine, which had always been pleasant, successful, and relatively short, was getting longer and longer. On average we were spending about an hour reading, rocking, and singing till our little guy was sleepy enough to lay down. Then we would put him in his crib and leave the room. That was his cue to climb on out and party, party, party! It would take at least another hour of repeatedly putting him back in his crib before he would finally fall asleep. Each night we would count the number of times we had to put him back in bed, and each night that number climbed higher. We reached an average of over 60 times in the evening and Peter and I were just worn down. To make matters worse, he would than wake up at some point in the middle of the night and the whole thing would ensue again. I found it easier to spend about an hour rocking him back to sleep than 2 hours chasing him back to bed.

Then we did some research, and had my Aunt Brenda bring this peace of heaven with her from the States.

Ahhh . . . the crib tent. It was the answer to all our prayers and sleepy time woes. It worked perfectly and Cooper just loved it. In fact, when I would go to wake him up in the mornings and unzip his tent, he would stand up, re-zip it and fall back down into his bed to enjoy more sleepy time.

When we found out we were expecting baby #2, we knew that we would have to make the transition soon. Plus, our tall little boy would soon be much to long to stretch out in his crib. So, just after Christmas we brought in the big boy bed. Here's Cooper's new bed, and it even has a tent!

We didn't know what to expect with this transition, but given our previous experience we were prepared for a battle at night. Surprisingly, it was so much easier than we ever thought. Proof that our last attempt was only unsuccessful because Cooper wasn't ready yet.

The first night he cried and was a little scared. After a few tries, I put him back in his crib. The second night he was content for about 20 minutes and then got scared again. Peter soothed him and left him in his big bed. Then he climbed out and Peter and I traded off putting him back in. It was only a few times over the course of an hour, but he finally fell asleep in the new bed. Each night got better, and I have to credit Peter for really taking over the project and getting Cooper accustomed to the new arrangement. Each night got shorter and shorter, and after just a couple weeks, he goes to bed like a champ and typically does not get out of bed at all anymore. Nap times didn't happen for a while, and Cooper would just stay awake. However, he now goes down easy for naps as well.

I would love to show you an adorable picture of my sweet little angel soundly sleeping in his new big boy bed, however we have a very strict policy in this house that we fully adhere to at all times. It is called "DO NOT WAKE IT!!"

We are so happy the transition was as easy as it was. I didn't want to write about it too soon and jinx it. We are now one step closer to welcoming the new baby into our home with an empty crib!

It's Time to Check-In

That's the e-mail I received today from Delta. You see, I have this whole screwy system with my flights between the US and Germany. Since I moved here from the US, I of course bought a round trip ticket with the return as far out as I could book it which is 6 months. Therefore, after 6 months, every time I would use my return flight to the US I would have to book another flight to get myself and Cooper back to Germany. And since round trip tickets are significantly cheaper than one-way (I will never understand that logic), I would end up with another flight back to the US every 6 months. While this cycle has been an expensive one to maintain, it has done wonders for my psyche always knowing when I would get to return home to Georgia.

The last trip to Augusta in October required yet another purchase of a ticket. I booked the round-trip (because again . . . it's cheaper) and scheduled the return for a time when I knew it would still be safe for me to fly considering the pregnancy. At the time, I knew that unless there was a major event or need, I would not be using that return trip to Augusta. I was fine with that. I really didn't give it a whole lot of thought, until last weekend. Peter, Cooper, and I were in the car on a Saturday morning and I just had a bluesy feeling that I couldn't shake. The best way I could describe it to Peter was that I felt as if there was something I was supposed to be doing, but I couldn't remember what it was. Turns out, that something was preparing for a trip back home that I wouldn't actually take. And this leaves me with the uneasy feeling of not knowing when I will go back. Ick.

You would think that I would have enough to look forward to what with the baby coming in May and possible visitors within a few months after that. But that trip back home was always my security blanket and now I don't have that anymore.

On the bright side, we are covered in snow here and I don't have to shovel a single bit of it this winter! And there is another great accomplishment in our household which I will write about later.

Just know that I am missing all my homies and hope that you all are having a wonderful start to the New Year!

A Tragic Predicament

It is a tragedy in a Southerner's life when sweet tea, cheddar cheese, and grits are uncommon luxury items only to be enjoyed once every few months when I'm lucky. Can I get an AMEN?

Today I have all three. It's a good day.

And Cooper just had his 4th massive stinky diaper of the day and I haven't changed a single one. It is a very good day, indeed.

Amen.

Christmas 2009 Photos

You know, I wish I was one of those creative blog writers who always has great titles for their blog posts. After racking my brain for a whole 28 seconds (I didn't want to overexert myself and pull something) "Christmas 2009 Photos" was really the best that I could do. I would like to say that I will do better in 2010, but I don't like making promises I can't keep.


Besides all the food and eating that we did around here during the Merry Season, we got a visit from the Christkind.

That little baby brought lots of goodies for our not so little baby. There is the Miele playkitchen and off to the right you can see a little part of a new play house for Cooper. That was a big hit. I got a new digital camera which is smaller and more portable than my big Canon. Peter got the Wii Active, however the Christkind didn't know that TVs are different in this country so the Wii Active bought in Europe won't play on the Sony Flatscreen bought in the US. You didn't hear it from me, but that Christkind isn't the brightest. Since the Wii Active (which was going to be the answer to the entire Claus family's weight loss goals) will have to be returned, we can no longer be held responsible or accountable for achieving a healthy weight. Luckily, after hearing about the Wii Active debacle, the Christkind has promised to puchase another one in the US as soon as feasible. Peter also got a shiny new highly ergonomic snow shovel which will sure make snow shoveling an enjoyable endeavor for Pete this winter. Peter's dad received a gift that he has been talking about for quite some time. The Christkind threatened to give the gift to someone more deserving if Opa didn't get up and do a happy dance. I am proud to announce that Opa can still shake his groove thang! I do believe the Christkindwas quite pleased with his display of appreciation.


Somehow the Christkind made a trip by Aunt Christina's house to pick up the sheets she made for Cooper's new bed. They are just adorable!
The next day (Christmas Day 25th) we finally got around to taking a couple of pregnancy pictures. Here I am at 21 weeks (5 months). We are halfway through the pregnancy!

Christina so lovingly pointed out that it appears I have a sparkly nipple in the first picture. Sorry if that is disturbing for some of you.


And finally, here is a photo of Oma, Opa, Cooper and Papa. Everyone looks happy!
I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas as well. We are gearing up to have some friends over for New Year's Eve. We wish everyone joy, love, peace and prosperity for 2010. As they say in Germany, "Guten Rutsch!", or a good slide into the New Year!

Pre-Christmas Photos

Hi there! In case you have been feeling a little sad that there haven't been any new pictures of Cooper on the blog, I thought I would brighten your day. First up are some pre-Christmas photos that I took whilst procrastinating on getting the house clean.

This is Cooper with a Santa hat we snagged from Oma's house. He just loved to put it on at any given moment in the day.

Kayla can only sit back and watch. She knows that kid ain't got it on right.

And then my mother in law says that men can't multi-task. But she just doesn't know what Cooper is capable of. Here he is fully accessorized getting a little holiday shopping done.

Bursting

They came, they ate, they slept, and they ate some more.

All of my preparations really paid off. Christmas was enjoyable and more relaxing than I ever thought it would be. We have eaten and eaten and then we ate and then we had a little snack and then we decided to eat and then guess what we did next. I'll update with the actual Christmas events and pictures later, but all I can say is that my stomach is so tight I might go into premature labor just because the baby has no more room in there for all the food in my growing stomach.

It's hard to imagine that I will ever be hungry again.

Christmas Food

On to a more lighter (emotionally, not calorically) side. Is calorically even a word? It is now! This post is mainly about my second favorite topic: FOOD!!


I have sort of made it my Christmas and Advent goal to try to do things ahead of time and not scramble at the last minute. Peter's family is coming to us again for Christmas and I am very excited. It does mean a little extra work and I want to make things special, so I tend to sweat a little when the action is taking place and usually the days leading up to it.


My work aheadedness (apparently, I am all about making up my own words today) began with my desire to have American Christmas Cookies available at all times this season and create little baggies for our friends around here so that they can enjoy the goodness of yummy cookie-ism. (I'm sorry, I just can't seem to stop with the new words.) I came up with the ingenius plan to make several batches of different cookie doughs one day and separate it all into parts to freeze or store in the fridge. In one day I made the following doughs: oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cookies. I also made some chocolate covered peanut butter balls, which my mom used to make when we were little and I thought that would be all nostalgic and fun and add a little something extra to those cookie baggies. Now, it was a lot of work for one afternoon, but the results were basically slice and bake cookies anytime I wanted them. And last night at 9:00 pm when I had to make cookies for Cooper's class today, I sure was glad that I only had to slice, bake, and frost. This whole plan worked perfectly and I will do this every year from henceforth! Highly recommend it.


I did my best to complete all Christmas shopping as early as possible and after buying the last gift in Munich on Monday, I am all done. AND . . . all gifts are wrapped!


And you know that crazy trip to the grocery store where you are praying you don't forget anything because it is the last day they will be open before Christmas? OK, I know they are open like all the time in the States, so just humor me here. I am always that person scrambling at the store and then getting home and realizing I have forgotten like 27 items that I needed. Well, that ain't me this year. I have already grocery shopped and I have checked all my recipes twice to make sure I didn't forget anything. I will make two items this evening that can be prepared ahead to take away a little of the stress of the big day.


Ya'll, I am just so proud of my procrastinating self that I don't know what to do. Yay me! Of course there is the matter of cleaning the house, which I am sorry to say hasn't really fallen into my work ahead plan. But, it will get done!


So, here is the menu for the Claus family Christmas gathering (remember, we do all the celebratin' and church goin' and eatin' and present openin' on Christmas Eve around these parts). Don't know why I have to get all country at the moment. Back to the menu:


Christmas Eve Lunch:
- Sausage and Leek Soup (this is a make ahead, freeze, and heat up the day of deal)
- Fresh Baguettes from the Bakery
- Assortment of Christmas cookies and coffee (remember those cookies already made?)


Christmas Eve Dinner:
- Honey and Thyme Brined Turkey Breast
- Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese (this is thrown into the crock pot and is ready in 4 hours - super easy!)
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Carrots
- Green Beans
- Rolls


Christmas Eve Desserts:
- Homemade Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream or Whipped Cream
- Pumpkin Cheesecake (a classic Christmas recipe for Peter and I and it is in the oven right now!)


Christmas Day Breakfast:
- Homemade Quiche
- Cinnamon Roll-Ups (from the Masters cookbook - also a make ahead item)
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Coffee and Juice

I am looking forward to all the celebrations and hopefully not being terribly stressed this year. I am sure my time will be filled with work nonetheless, but I will keep in mind how much more crazy it could be if I didn't work ahead.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!