181/366 - 29. June 2012

New Holland

This is definitely one of Max´ favorite tractor brands. Omi and opi took him to an area where many of agricultural machineries are put up. They were lucky ones because precisely at this time all of them moved to leave. Sweet Max was fascinated and astonished! 

Too cute... wish I could have seen his facial expression and his voice telling "Biiiig... New Holland!"

Convalescence

Lina is back! Fortunately the fever is gone and little babygirl is feeling much better. Even though she was still a bit grumpy and whining today... I think because of the lack of sleep... she looked much better.

Love,

Mama

180/366 - 28. June 2012

Improvement in sight

Lina was doing a bit better today and so was Max. Little girl still is having temperature and painful jaws but nevertheless the last night was already better and this day as well.

Omi Sonja is so very much helpful and we all are very grateful to have her. She is caring for everyone, preparing lunch, shopping and helping in the household.

So today I had plenty of time to play with my sweet son to show him how important he is. This was working wonders. He had really good mood and wasn´t grumpy at all.

I put up a little paddling pool and a laundry tub with warm water for him. He was playing with so much delight... a pleasure to watch him. Of course I had no chance to keep the sick little girl away so I let her have a closer look... cute siblings!

I´m thankful for this great day with my wonderful children, that my lovely daughter is on the mend and my perfect boy had fun and was happy... their happiness is my happiness!

179/366 - 27. June 2012

Sick

Little Lina is still very sick. I´m sure she is getting new teeth. Always her fingers in her sweet mouth, rubbing her jaws. Her fever is pretty high and her mood pretty low. My poor girl is understandably very grumpy... just wants to cuddle with mama and nurse the whole day. Fortunately she is feeling better then!

Nevertheless... in the afternoon we went to great-grandmother. Max enjoyed this visit a lot because these days he is a bit grumpy too. I think it was and is not very funny for him that mama and Lina are sticking together every single minute. I feel really sorry for him... try to explain it to him but I´m sure he is not fine with words!? Just don´t want him to get angry with me or his sister! We love him incredibly!

Hope relief is coming soon... we all need it! 

All my love to you , my sweethearts!

178/366 - 26. June 2012

Princess at 10 months

Days ago I had an unpleasant discussion about my extended breastfeeding with Lina. This experience showed me that I will never ever give an answer to this question - "How long are you going to nurse?"- again. It´s my decision and I´m not going to share it with anybody. I´m not going to give anybody the choice again to criticize my way of feeding my children or anything concerning parenting.

It´s sad but most of the people think that when children look like they could be old enough to eat... then they should do it. But nursing means much, much more. People judge without knowledge and make people like me unhappy. Breastfeeding - how long ever - is right and natural!

I give my babies all my affection and the way I feed them is including this. So... I´m proud of the today´s picture showing my little - unfortunately sick - sweet doll breastfeeding in a totally new position... and she fell asleep at once! It´s heartwarming when I think about these wonderful moments when she snuggles to me... her warm/hot little body... when beautiful Lina is totally relaxed!

It´s just to much for me when I think about the fact that she is one in a few weeks. My little babygirl who makes progresses nearly every single day. 

New Accomplishments, Likes and Dislikes

• standing up and walking along the sofa 
• waving and clapping with her sweet hands
• repeating mama and papa... mostly
• saying "Hata!" from the Peekaboo game
• Lina likes mashed fruits and everything tasting sweet
• all in all she is not very keen on eating
• she can´t stand socks... is taking them off seconds after putting them on
• my Honey is a bad nightsleeper at present... hope this will improve soon!
• she is taking her nap at the grandparent´s house for a month now and is doing great

Lina is such a gorgeous doll. She is learning incredibly fast and is growing quickly into a big girl. 

Lina, I love you so very much!

Rascal

Max is at a very exhausting stage at present. He is doing exactely the opposite of everything being told and wanting lots of attention. Sometimes it´s really difficult to stay calm and tell him he is behaving wrong. Nevertheless he is cute as always and I tell him hundreds of times that I love him. 

Fortunately he is not angry about the fact that I spent lots of time with Lina today because she is very ill. Not angry... but demanding for me otherwise.

So I decided to go shopping with him in the evening to take him out. He liked it very much and got two little new cars.  Here he is calmly playing with them before evening care and bedtime with daddy.

My boy... no matter how you are behaving, no matter if I rant sometimes or giving you a time-out... 

I love you from the depths of my soul!

177/366 - 25. June 2012

Chaos Queen

Leave her a few minutes unobserved and she will show you how many things are hidden in baskets and shelves. Lina is already busy when mama and Max are preparing and having breakfast and the carpets are exclusively her areas for a while. Nobody wanting her things or taking her space. Then Lina is playing for a very long time on her own... and I love watching her while she is doing this the way she does!

Cocoa

Max really likes cocoa. Normally he gets tea or just water to his breakfast bread but for some time now he wants cocoa. And very important... he is demanding to drink out of glass.

Like he told me days ago: "No plastic... Max beautiful glass having!"

My children... you both are that funny in your own special way! 

You make me smile and laugh so much! 

Thank you!

176/366 - 24. June 2012

Barbecue

Today we invited great-grandmother and Veronica for lunch. Had a lovely afternoon together... the children playing outside the whole day... Max with his water bucket and watering can and Miss L. crawling around and sampling everything she could reach. Cute babies!

How we all love such relaxing sundays, best weather, best mood and the best children!

I love you

175/366 - 23. June 2012

Reptile zoo

Max was very excited because we promised to go to the zoo in the afternoon. He wanted to see "crocodiles living in water", "huge turtles", "nice spiders and snakes". It´s too funny that Max is designating every animal as "nice" or "lovely".

We had a wonderful time together,

Love from Mama

174/366 - 22. June 2012

A simple friday

In the afternoon omi came over to support us. First we went to the hairdresser´s with Max and afterwards we were strolling through the mall for a while. The children really enjoyed spending time and playing with her.

Sweet Max, 

you are not very keen on posing for mama. So mama tried to distract you by making a fool of herself. You were laughing so lustily... and this was so funny! I could squish you my cheeky boy!

Love, hugs and kisses

173/366 - 21. June 2012

Mischif by my little one

That my toddler is doing some crazy things sometimes... I´m used to. But this time Miss L. had an absolutely fabulous idea. She grabbed the tissue box and pulled out nearly every piece. 

Not enough to have quite lots of mess she even tried to eat them... of course she did! And when she was coughing I thought there was something going on!

Cheeky little monkey!

Hedgehog

Opi found this hudge hedgehog in his garden and came over to show it to Max. My boy was so fascinated... even tried to to stroke him... and liked him. He has such a good heart!

In the evening he built up a new dresser with his daddy. 

Great day with great, funny children!

172/366 - 20. June 2012

Further education

I had to attend a lecture about topics concerning midwifery. Due to the fact that my Missy is still nursing and eating food just for fun I had to take her with me and daddy too, to entertain her and taking care.

Martin went for a five hour walk with his daughter and brought her two times back to me to breastfeed her. Isn´t this the best man and papa in the whole wide world? Of course he is! Just have to tell him when he returnes from work today!

Lina was content the whole time, no whining... just sleeping and waiting for the next drink ;-)

Love you my little girl... you are beyond precious!

At home 

Max had the best time at home... omi and opi taking care and entertaining him. Omi took him to bed, opi made lunch and dinner and then they were playing in the garden... Max taking a bath in a tub and playing with water.

He had best mood when we returned back home and told us that he had great fun!

My perfect boy... *love you*

171/366 - 19. June 2012

Children´s Theatre

It was a spontaneously decision to visit a stage play for little ones from two years up. It had to do with water in some physical states combined with sounds, called "Haaa 2 Ohhh!". It was sort of interactive learning so the children could try everything out and observe exactly. 

Normally Max is restrained and keeping more likely behind than pressing ahead. But this time he was very keen on the play with water so he went out long before the lecturer said the kids could start.

I already recognized my boy had changed a bit... and this showed... indeed he had. Definitely grew more self-confident! Good for him!

Gelati 

In the afternoon we went for some ice-cream. Max was so pleased to get something sweet because we completely cut back the amount of sweets he is allowed to eat. He was asking for candy the whole day and every day for quite a long time now and was every time very disgruntled and upset when we refused.

So he enjoyed this ice-cream a lot! But like he is... didn´t forget to supply his little sister with some goody as well! Best big brother in the world!

Love you... don´t forget!

170/366 - 18. June 2012

Definitely summer

Daddy had to return to work today... very bad due to the real hot temperatures outside. We three were lucky to be able to stay at home on the terrace in the shadow... little Lina playing with stones and ants...

... and my darling Max playing with water. Giving it to all plants and flowers, watering the lawn and terrace, pouring it over him and mama... just trying to cool everything down. Thank you Honey!

All my love to you, my cuties!

169/366 - 17. June 2012

Rest day

The first day back home was a relaxed one. Fortunately it was sunday and so we could spend one more day together. Omi and opi were very happy to have their darlings back and played a lot with them.

So I could do the laundry... no housework was left because omi was so kind to prepare everything for our arrival. I was really grateful!

The children enjoyed to have their familiar surroundings again and were fine the whole day. Max didn´t even want to go for a visit in the afternoon - to great-grandmother. He was glad to return in the evening!

Of course Max was working in the garden with opi again. It´s so wonderful to see that he missed this kind of play so much and was so happy to have everything back - even though he loved our hoildays a lot.

Hugs and kisses from mama

168/366 - 16. June 2012

On the way back home

Fortunately the way back home included another adventure on the ferry! Both babies were so very good going so long home by car. We all... of course except daddy... fell asleep soon and were sleeping till we arrived at home.

The worst thing was we had a car breakdown still in Croatia and had to spend over an hour in a teeny tiny service station. Max was happily fascinated by this dirty stuff... just to observe, Lina patient as always and mama annoyed. But... the remaining way back home was trouble-free and went quick. 

Thank you daddy for being the best and savest car driver!

All my love to you my sweethearts and thank you for this incredibly wonderful time together!

167/366 - 15. June 2012

Last day

It was hard to say goodbye to this wonderful water and seaside. But we can definitely promise to come back to Croatia to get to know the country even better.

First I was a bit nervous how the time here will turn out. Two years ago we have been to Italy with friends and this trip was incredibly exhausting. Although we had only one child then it was no recovery at all. 

We spent the week in an appartement, had to go shopping, doing laundry and washing up... the linen were dirty soon, so were the towels and the whole rooms. In addition we had too little space and were eight adults and four children... and we had no air condition and 35°C.

So... lucidly.... I was biased what kind of holiday this would be!? Fortunately it was great, beautiful, funny and relaxing! The friends we spent the time with are very lovely people too and so it was easy to have lots of fun and a good time together!

We spent the last evening at the shore... wonderful warmth, slight breeze and the most beautiful sunset. 

Of course, many pictures of our adorable children had to be taken!

Isn´t this girl of mine a sweet doll?

 

We became wise from experience... Max is the easiest to photograph when he is sitting on daddy´s shoulders. No running away and refusing to hold still!

My two babies! 

I´m so happy and proud to be your mama... 

there are no suitable words to express these feelings I have for you! 

You two are the greatest blessing in my life! 

I love you from the depths of my heart!

166/366 - 14. June 2012

Boat trip

Took a fast taxi boat today to get to a wonderful bay of Mali Losinj. The children were totally flashed and fascinated by the speed and the jumping up and down on the waves. 

My little boy was a bit afraid at the beginning... even cried a few seconds. But daddy took him firmly into his arms and Max was calm at once.

Lina was looking around out of the sling but she was definitely annoyed by the strong wind. Nevertheless the crossing was great fun!

Missy was so sweet playing with stones on the beach. She is such a cutie... is able to be busy for really a long time when she is fascinated by something new.

Max was enjoying the water, eating a cookie and sitting for nearly half an hour calmly on a tree trunk. For me it´s incredible how patient he is and balanced. I´m sure there are not many toddlers being able just to sit and look out to the sea for such along time!?

 I love you so much... this trip was awesome!

165/366 - 13. June 2012

Indoor again

In the afternoon there was a slight cool breeze outside and to be able to let the children play with water unlimited we decided to go to the indoor pool once more. This was great. Max was so very busy pouring water from the boat into the bin, into the can, into the pool and back. Missy fell asleep soon because of the ripple of the water and the constant noise inside. 

This picture was taken on the way back to our room. The area around the hotel was so beautiful and carefully designed... wonderful to look at!

Beach pics

After having dinner we went down to the sea. Unfortunately the wind was disturbing and fresh. Nevertheless... take a look at these cute pics!

To decide which pictures to take is one of the most difficult decisions.There are tons of beautiful portraits of Max and Lina, pics showing the four of us, photos of my little ones playing, discovering and just enjoying our holiday!

I´m happy about every moment spending together with all of you, my family! 

My heart belongs to you... forever!

164/366 - 12. June 2012

Capital

Another visit in the little town... strolling along the harbor, looking at boats and ships, little fishes, hermit crabs and many more. 

Then we went for coffee and cake and bought some souvenir. The children loved running around and discovering new things. 

 Lovely day... like always!