Emma Rey - Wunderkind

April 11, 2009 - This was my original due date.
April 23, 2009 - Her arrival date.

They induced me, they broke my water, she still wouldn't budge. But then... 16 hours later, a C-Section scare, finding out there was meconium in the fluid, and a little nurse who jumped on top of me and tied a SHEET around me to SQUEEZE her out, the little girl popped out! Those 16 hours washed over me like water. It was an amazing feeling! A Parent was born.

Sidenote: Christian told me later that he thought she "looked like a female boxer who LOST the fight". Um, that's not the right thing to say to me - ever. Luckily, she's unsquished now and beyond a beauty.


This was Emma's first visit into the open world - Christian was so naturally overly cautious! It was adorable. She was a great baby, and even with the trials and trib's of her hip dysplasia she has excelled and gone on to WALK AT 11 MONTHS. We are beyond proud of her, and revel in her on a daily basis.

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Liebe Emma!! Mama und Papa lieben dich mehr und mehr jeden Tag. Wir wuenschen dir einen Schoenen Leben. Mmwaahh! XOXO

The "Street legal" Bierbike

I hope that the word "Bierbike" doesn't need too much translation for you. - whoever YOU are!

This is one of THE COOLEST things I've seen since living here: a bicycle built for 16! It's actually built for 14 Cyclists, 1 Driver, and 1 Bartender keeping everyone's drinks full with the keg that's attached to it!

Normally, you'll see it with a bunch of guys as it's a typical Bachelor Party starter, but I have seen it with all girls, and of course, a pleasant mix of both! I love the idea, and how neat would it be to drive through our historic areas (like the one you're seeing), and then ONTO THE STREET and into traffic! I have no idea how this thing is allowed on the street, considering their all drinking beer! Well, let me rephrase, the Driver is technically allowed not to drink, but come on, this is Germany...do we really believe that they're not going to drink?!? NEIN!


Sidenote: I was going to do this for Christian's last birthday, but the poor boy's birthday is in August when the whole damn Continent of Europe is on vacation, so I couldn't find 16 of us. Plus, you know, I have a kid and no one to babysit....meh, so there's that. Anyways, the next time you and 14 other people I know are in town, what do you say we hitch our keg pump to this ride??

If you'd like to read/see more about the Bierbike, you can click here.
Auf W.

Me Likey

Wow! I was so honored to find out my Garland project had been chosen to be featured on the fabulous Prudent Baby website. I seriously adore this blog. It's inspired many a project for me - and many a headache for my Mr. when I say, "Hmmm, what do you think about _________??".

Head on over here if you'd like to see the page!

Vielen Dank nochmals!

Frankfurt's own Eiffel Tower

Do you see the round, mirrored building with the antennae on it? That's where I went on today's adventure. I went to the Main Tower building today with Melanie & Felix - they're from my playgroup - very nice, but she's from southern Germany where they kinda talk funny withthewordsallsquishedtogether n' stuff, so it's always a challenge for my understanding and speaking of this wonderfully, complicated German language. Oh, and do you see this "demonstration" that's happening beneath the Euro sign?? It's because they want to abolish "Sales Quotas in Germany"!! So basically, employers shouldn't be able to require their Employees to have to "meet" a certain sales quota to stay employeed. Hahaha, OMG I was laughing as I took the picture and Melanie looked at me like I was an absolute lunatic until I explained to her that that's what people LIVED OFF OF at my old job at Longo!!! HiLARious.

How cute does my little girl look? I swear, it was the struggle against good and evil to force her to keep the hat on!! Yeah, mommy won! Tenacious E has got nothing on me! She's walking so well now, and walks better than the 4 month older boy we were there with. I know, I know, we shouldn't compare kids - but whatevers, I do - sue me! My little girl rocked that Observation Deck with her Sun Hat and tiny, silver shoes!

Here's Felix! He's a cutie, the boy has got 12 teeth and can eat a sandwich faster than I can! He's a sweet boy, and last week when we met we were approached by a camera crew at the playground asking permission to film the kids for a local new report. If I can get a link to it, I'll post it here to share with ya!


Well hello there! Greetings from the Main Tower! FYI - you see that haze in the air?? Nope, it's not smog, it's clean air over here....that's from the Volcano that erupted in Iceland! It's grounded the majority of flights across Europe - including our very own Frankfurt Airport - and it's left this haze over the city, and a strange smell...ewwww...meh, I guess anything's better than smog, though!


Alright, kids! Get your last playtime on - we're headed home!
p.s. Do you see a difference in how the kids are dressed??
Felix = Ready for a snowstorm, Emma = Sun n' Fun!!! Am I a bad mommy???


Wie immer, ich wuensche Euch ein schoenen Tag! Tschuess!

Germans ARE superior - in some things...

I don't know what amazes me more, how some people are so coordinated - or how I'm so clutzy. This afternoon I was running some errands with Emma in tow, and usually I trip over cracks in the concrete while walking so it's always good that I've got the stroller in front of me because it breaks my fall a bit.

When what do I spy with my little eye?? This insanely looking picturesque woman riding by me on a bicycle -- fast, I might say -- HOLDING AN UMBRELLA IN ONE HAND. Um, oh yeah...did I mention it was raining? As usual in Frankfurt, the grey clouds of doom were above us, and the pee pee of the Gods were coming down. I stopped in amazement that this woman was able to ride her bike so fast, while holding the umbrella, and looking FLAWLESS doing so. I guess she's had so much practice doing it as there's always bad weather here. Unlike us Los Angelenos that crash into every object within a 20 foot radius of our pathway when the rain comes twice a year!

Next time, I'll try to capture a picture of these Amazing Germans!

p.s. I am working on a new retrospective piece entitled:
Germans Airing their Dirty Laundry -- stay tuned!

Bedhead Retrospective

My little baby has ALWAYS sported bedhead after her naps or long slumbers...amazingly enough, it's a trait acquired from her father! He's bald, you say?? Yes, BUT he can get a little "switzig" in bed. Maybe if he didn't curl up around the down comforter in summer!!

What's "switzig"? Sweaty.And this is a trait that Emma has definitely acquired. Therefore making her mounds of baby hair susceptible to being a bit - oh, shall we say messy?? Here's my little baby after some of her bedtimes...ahh, good times!

Zoo Bound

Friday was a holiday here (and so is Monday!!) so Christian was home and it was a beautiful day; so we decided to go to the Zoo together. It was Emma's first time there, and since she absolutely loves animals, we knew that she would have a blast! The Zoo is only 5 tram stops away from us, so it's definitely going to be a hotspot in the coming months.

Here she is "roaarrring" at the lion! She practically spent the entire day with her pointer finger out, and her mouth wide open!

Flamingos!!
Do you know the book by Eric Carle, "Polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear?"
We read it often, and there are flamingos in it...fluting in my ear!

"Look Mama, grass!"

Haha, just kidding. My kid's not that dense. This big old bird walked right up to her (with his homie in the background), and decided to sit down and have a chat! I think Emma would like Grandpa to deep-fry this sucker next Thanksgiving...what do you say, Grandpa??

Howdy!

When she started to try to eat her way through the fence, we knew the day was quickly coming to a close. We had a great time at the Zoo. It's so nice to do these little trips together, I was so lucky to have this (almost) year with her together, I'll miss our times...but know there's more fun to come in the future.

fff