March 2007

It's March and Spring is in the air. My cousin David, our closest relative (distance-wise) drove down from Belgium with his girlfriend, Tatiana. We had a great time toodling about Morges. Anna Claire, Mariah and I have been having lots of adventures while Daddy has been working hard. We go on long walks along the lake and do playdates and music class with friends.

The Happy Family!

My cousin, Dave and me. I always LOVE seeing him. Such an adventurous guy! (btw, check out that wind!)

Anna Claire digging up buried treasure along Lake Geneva's beach.

Mariah is just happy to chill out in the back of the stroller (for now).

Anna Claire hangin' out on the back porch with her friend Mason.

"Mom, if Mariah is going to play under here, I am too."

Check me out -- I'm a chubby one!

Please, please pretty please! How can one resist such a face?

Ooooh yeah!

I'm finally back out on my bike again and I'm loving it! Switzerland is an ideal place to bike with kids. The vineyards, pastures and cornfields around our home contain a gigantic web of paved roads -- with no traffic except the occasional tractor. We love it and the kids do too. They get to see cows, horses and chickens along the way -- not to mention CASTLES.

February 2007 - Life with Two Kids

In February, after both Grandmas left and I had no help, reality set in. The picture below represents our crazy lives right now -- Anna Claire getting into who-knows-what, Mariah spitting up and Rob and I just trying to keep a smiling face. You gotta love it!

We love our girls!

Here's little Mariah -- all in blue!

Me, the Mom, in front of Lake Geneva with my Phil & Ted's stroller. Mariah is actually lying down in the back. Love it! Love it! I shop with it, jog with it, do everything with it.

VALENTINES DAY!

Anna Claire got a big package from her Aunt Cathy (Anna's favorite babysitter from EDH). She sent her a new addition -- Baby Ca-Ca, to join Anna's other dog Ca-Ca.

ROB'S BIRTHDAY - FEBRUARY 20

So I made a delicious American cake mix (doctored up) chocolate cake for Rob's birthday. Anna Claire had been waiting for the big birthday celebration all day. She helped me with the balloons and the cake. After dinner, we got out the cake and were all set to go when I ran back to get the camera. As I ran back to the table, it slipped out of my hand and dropped onto our hardwood floor. Both Rob and I were examining the damage and completely forgot about Anna Claire. Suddenly we both looked up to see Anna Claire digging her fists into the chocolate cake. She just couldn't wait any longer! Needless to say, she was a mess! I did manage to fix the camera long enough to get some cute pics (albeit blurry because I messed up the lens)!

Mariah Madeleine at about 7 weeks. Isn't she a cutie?!

January 2007 - Grandma Judie's visit

Grandma Judie (Rob's mom) flew out to replace Grandma Tia in mid-January. By the time she arrived, I was feeling a little bit better so we ventured out on a few excursions. Of course, Grandma Judie did bring the Colorado cold with her and, while she was here, we had the worst cold-spell of the entire Swiss winter (which was otherwise extremely mild). But Grandma was a trooper and not only stayed up all night with Mariah, but went on lots of adventures with us!


Grandma Judie and Baby Mariah. You can't see it here, but we're hoping Mariah has Grandma's beautiful mouth.

Our trip to the balloon festival at Chateau D'Oex. Anna couldn't get enough of it!

Pretty gorgeous setting for a balloon festival in January! But we took a windy route getting there and poor Grandma Judie got car sick!

Anna's first (and only) snowstorm in Switzerland. Yeah, and we all thought that this was ski country -- apparently not this year.

Anna actually wasn't too thrilled with the snow once she realized how cold it was -- and, of course, she refused to wear her gloves.

Yet another fun trip with Grandma to the cheese factory in Gruyere.

Anna Claire had a great time with her info "phone", learning the art of cheesemaking.

Anna Claire and Daddy hanging out the the picturesque town of Gruyere.

Gruyere Castle. We didn't get to see the inside because the girls were in meltdown mode by this time.

Anna Claire loved cruising in her stroller with Grandma (although she usually won't do it for Mommy).

Classic Anna Claire. Every time we go to the grocery store, she wants a roll -- and she's been spoiled by the delicious ones here!

See Mommy, I've got my baby and baby's blanket (merci, Grandma) in her stroller too!

Story time with Grandma!

Anna Claire loved hanging out with Grandma Judie; Mariah's partial to Grandma too; Mommy was glad for the respite!

January 2007 - Grandma Tia Visit

Hi all. I know it's been awhile since I've updated. Shame. Shame. Shame. Anyhow, I'm slowly doing the updates. January was a crazy month juggling two children. Fortunately, I had four weeks of help! My mom, the lifesaver, arrived the day before Mariah arrived and took care of Anna Claire while I relaxed for five days while I was in the hospital. I thought I would come home and we would do some fun day trips. Unfortunately, we hit some bumps the first couple weeks. I found out I couldn't breastfeed and will never be able to. (Don't even get me started on the complete lack of assistance for and outright prejudice against moms who bottlefeed these days. That's for another day.) I had to stop breastfeeding cold turkey and became so enormously engorged that I looked ten times larger than Pamela Anderson! Meanwhile, Anna Claire got terribly sick and I got a terrible breast infection. My poor mom had to sit home with us while Anna lay sick on the couch, watching her ABC video over and over and over. What a labor of love!

Daddy bonding with Mariah

Mariah was not too happy to leave her five-star hospital home

Mariah -- finally ready to face the world

Grandma Tia and Anna Claire: two book-lovers

Mariah Madeleine's Birth

We are so excited to welcome little Mariah Madeleine to our family! She was born after a super fast labor (I was induced) at 11:08 a.m. on January 4. She weighed (at least) 7 pounds 7 ounces and was 19 inches long.


We named our little Swiss Miss Mariah after her fourth great grandmother who was a hardy pioneer. Mariah means "the Lord is my teacher." Madeleine is a Swiss-French name that refers to Mary Magdalene, the disciple of Christ.

Our little Mariah came so fast that the doctor barely made it to the delivery. They told us when she was born that she was less than six pounds, but when the pediatrician looked at her after a full day of not eating, she weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces -- so the original birth weight was a mistake!

I am enjoying my stay at a luxurious Swiss delivery clinic right now, where I munch on gourmet food for lunch, dinner and "teatime". They even treated Rob and me to a luxurious champagne dinner (sans champagne). Anna Claire has come to visit several times and loves her new baby sister. When she first saw her baby sister, she jumped up near her and said, "Hello, baby, hello!" She wants to hold her constantly.

A picture is worth a thousand words so here are a few:



Our little Swiss Miss


Baby Mariah -- the night before she was born


Our first picture with baby Mariah


Daddy-daughter bonding


Mariah's first family photo


The Big Sister caring for her Baby Sister


See, I'm really good at this Mommy!


On the clinic balcony - check out the view of
Lake Geneva!


Mommy and Baby enjoying the view!


Mariah meets Grandma Tia


Our gourmet champagne dinner -- sans champagne!


Look Mommy, I even have HAIR and
it's dark brown!


Uh oh, already a binky girl



HELLO WORLD, I'M HERE!