Community

So it is yet another Friday night and I am waiting for Chris. He returns tonight after being gone almost 2 weeks. He is almost done with this project and we are so relieved, it has not been easy for anyone. One of the things that has helped get me through the past couple of months has been the amazing community of moms here in JBR. As we approach our third year in Dubai I can say it truly feels like home. I am attending a hen night and a baby shower this month and it is these rites of passage that really build friendships and the feeling of home. Tonight I participated in a very sad rite of passage. One of our neighbors lost their 11 month old baby to a tragic choking accident at home. It was a very everyday situation, one that could have happened to anyone and one that every parent fears. While this kind of grief is truly something I hope to never witness again it was a beautiful ceremony that really showed what an amazing community spirit lives here. It was moving to be allowed to grieve with the parents and a relief that we could be there for them in their darkest hour. A big group met on the beach for readings, poems and a candlelight ceremony. At the end we all released balloons and in what seemed like just a moment they were all gone. As I left I really wished Chris were at home (and I still do) but when I opened our door Alessandro greeted me with such glee. I took extra care in each bedtime step tonight, enjoying each moment and cuddle. He picks the bedtime books now, he tries to read them and he gives me a kiss each time I say kiss when reading the book "Mommy's best kisses". Well...what more can I say except goodnight and brush up on first aid if has been a while- a community class was put together this week so we could be proactive as a community to try to prevent future accidents and although it was a small thing it felt like it was something.

Another hug

Alessandro embracing Aisling at the playground this week! Now, I only get hugs once in a while but I have started getting kisses from Alessandro. After over a year and a half of the give-a-thon that is motherhood it is pretty nice to get a few kisses now and then!

Best friends

Cameron and Alessandro have a special bond and it is so exciting to watch their friendship grow as they do. One of Cameron's first words was Sandro (finally someone calling him by his nickname) and their faces just light up when they see each other. Tonight we visited and Alessandro had a tantrum when we left...it wasn't fun but was pretty short lived like all of his moods and although tantrums aren't cute seeing him form emotions and friendships is rewarding.

Big slide!

Alessandro can finally go down all slides without any help- playgrounds are a lot more enjoyable now!

Evenings at the beach

We go to the beach most evenings and it is just amazing. My favorite time of day no matter where I am in the world is just before sunset and the beach in front of our home is no exception. The evenings are getting hotter and hotter so we are trying to enjoy every last moment we have splashing in the waves and playing in the sand. Alessandro loves to collect shells, tear down sand art and sit in the gentle waves. The feeling of the tide pulling beneath you is a wonder I still remember from childhood and it is truly something to see him taking it all in. When my mom was here she built him a car out of sand, something I begged my parents to do each and every time we went to the beach...well he like it for about two seconds, it was just too stationary for him!

Busy at work!

This is Alessandro with his "girlfriend" Aisling. They met at a playground a couple of weeks ago and it was apparently love at first sight. Within moments of meeting they were hugging and running around together hand in hand. At one point I think I saw a kiss. What can I say- she is stunning...her mother Grace is from Kenya and her dad is from Ireland and both Aisling and her sister are just gorgeous!

Tuesdays

In the community that we live two women from Australia organized a group for parents, the JBR sandpit group and it functions purely on word of mouth (and facebook). It is truly amazing, everything is free and on a volunteer basis. Every Tuesday there is a meeting at the local Hilton playground. I used to go and have a drink and leave Alessandro in the stroller. Now it is all about him and the slides, the toy house, the other kids. It is so much fun and a highlight every week.

Looking sporty

Back in Dubai

Since returning from our European vacation we have been pretty busy in Dubai. The weather is getting hotter by the day and Alessandro seems to change a little (or a lot) each and every day. As I sit here and type this he is sitting at the table eating adult size spoonfuls of yogurt on his own and most of it is in his mouth. The pajamas might need to be washed and he certainly has a yogurt beard but at least he is practicing his skills! Now that he is done eating he has moved on to his new activity of searching the living room for anything I may have left behind that he shouldn't play with, this morning it is a wine glass. Rescued just in time. After he makes his rounds he begins serious organizing of his small cars and kid friendly cutlery. I thought he was over the tupperware cabinet thing but alas he has just taken it to a new level. He also loves puzzles which I am sure he gets from Chris- I can't remember being much of a puzzle junkie. In a few minutes we will venture outside to get some fresh not too hot yet morning air... We are getting a late start this morning because we had to run to the mall last night for some errands, one of which was buying Alessandro his own potty. Last night he was happy to sit on it but today all he did was look at it and say "no no no", baby steps I guess!

This afternoon is a playdate at our house. It is most of the same women I have known since we were pregnant plus a few new friends. These days it is a loud and messy affair but every moment of it is priceless. I don't have any photos because I never have a moment to spare but I will try next week!

Tired and going home

After almost a week of non-stop activity Alessandro was very tired. This photo was taken on the train from Belgium to Maastricht. We took a train from Paris to Belgium, then one to the Netherlands, then by car to Germany, then by plane to Dubai and one final taxi home! It was truly planes, trains and automobiles and we were both ready for our own beds!

Publish Post

Egg Hunt!

Naturally once I stopped recording him he threw all of the eggs out of his bag. He didn't want to eat them he just wanted to put them in the bag, take them out and then put them back in!

I knew it was going to rain but didn't expect hail the size of ping pong balls! We had to find cover under an umbrella with a few other families and I cursed myself for the 100th time for not remembering the rain cover for the stroller or the various other weather related accessories that came with it! When the sun came back out we were just in time for his egg hunt.

See how sunny it was?

Alessandro enjoying his Easter lunch at the castle cafeteria before his big egg hunt. He dined on spaghetti and salmon while Chris and downed some wine and bread. We should have been outside egg hunting in the sun instead of eating though because it was one of those days where every few minutes counted. Our egg hunt delay led to us missing our bus which led to having to wait for an expensive taxi which led to a later train...the typical joys of traveling that all add up and make you feel more satisfied at the end of the day because you worked so hard!

On our way to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte from Melun train station. Finding the right bus there was a bit of a challenge but we found a cheap ride there along with a few backpackers. Once we arrived we had a civilized Easter lunch in the cafeteria. The French don't lower their standards even in this situation, there were full hot meals and carafes of wine. When we stepped outside we were excited to see the sun had come out so we waited for the egg hunt to begin!

Defeated by Paris!

Saturday in Montmartre

On Saturday we set out with our friends Georges and Angela to explore the 18th arrondissement of Paris. We were out for over 6 hours with Alessandro, caught in 2 or 3 rains, took the metro a couple of times and managed to get up the butte to the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur. Despite the rain the views were breathtaking. Alessandro got his first tour of a church and didn't seem to like having to be quiet and being held by his parents. His favorite part of the day by far was enjoying the street performers. He got a taste of a traditional mime and enjoyed beautiful harp music but his all time favorite was probably the breakdancers. He likes to get his groove on- what can I say?

This part of Paris is just beautiful. The roads are made of cobblestone and the sights are just simply charming. It is of no surprise that many famous artists liked to work there since they do always pick the coolest places! After a couple of hours we all hit our breaking point of being cold, wet and hungry so we found space in a small bistro and enjoyed a long lunch of simple and delicious food and washed it down with yummy red wine. Alessandro had a crepe with whipped cream and then was very cooperative and took a nap in his stroller after Chris walked him around the block a couple of times. After lunch Georges and Angela left to visit old friends and we took a nice long walk to find the most direct metro line to Notre Dame since it was on our way home. I am not sure if we found the most direct route but we ended up in a very African part of town and it was nice to see African ladies in vibrant batik prints with babies wrapped on their backs. I was shocked to see one of them push her way through the exit of the metro with her baby barely clinging on as she scored a free ride on the metro. It was just like a west African lorry park Paris style. By the time we made it to the Notre Dame area it was raining again, Alessandro needed a diaper change and he was hungry. We had to take a quick look and then try to find a taxi home which took a bit of effort. When traveling with a toddler you have to know when to fold em'- you can't see everything! All and all it was a fantastic day. After getting Alessandro settled for the night we went out with Georges and Angela for a meal in the Latin Quarter. Then we walked along the Seine to a bar on the roof of one of the many beautiful buildings. The top of the bar was all glass and you could see into the eaves of the buildings next to it. We could see directly into the Louis Vuitton building and the studios where the magic probably happens. It is as close to LV as I will ever get! People watching was top notch at this bar. The drinks cost more than a lot of meals (therefore we only had one) and I was shocked to see that for a city known for it's style that some of the latest styles are very ugly. Apparently all the kids are wearing huge dark rimmed glasses that really don't look good on anyone. I must be getting old!

I guess Italian guys like to spray paint their names. There were so many Alessandro's to choose from and I only had a second to try to get him to stand still but I am sure he will love this photo when he is older!

The French!

I feel that I must take a moment to ruminate on French culture. This was my third trip to France and I always feel that there is a gap between my imagination of being in France and the reality of actually being in France. I have only ever been to France in the spring and it is always a lot colder than my fantasy of spring in France. I always picture myself like Jean Seberg in Breathless, she was playing an American after all. A down jacket, umbrella and a poncho would have been more suitable for this trip than little black pants and flats. I packed sensibly for Alessandro but spent a lot time shivering! I always seem to forget that in France it really helps if you can speak French which I can not. I also feel like a poser peppering my language with a few French expressions (they always feel sarcastic or cliched to me) and on this trip I kept mixing in Spanish by accident. With the exception of one or two people most people were very gracious and kind and helpful when they could be. They probably walked away thinking I was just another simple minded American but oh well!

Bonnie lives really close to the Eiffel tower so after our visit we walked over there and walked around the area. Alessandro was wiped out after all of his playing, cuddling and metro riding. He slept through most of the sights. Once he woke up he was happy to run around and take in the French atmosphere!

Bonnie and Luca

When I was pregnant I became great friends with my neighbor and yoga pal Bonnie. Her son Luca was born a month and a half before Alessandro and we spent many evenings walking with our babies around JBR. Shortly after the boy's first Christmas Bonnie, her husband and Luca moved back to Paris and we were lucky enough to visit them while we were there. Alessandro and Luca seemed to pick up right where they left off and we now know that Alessandro is affectionate with others. This cuddle was a bit of a mix between a headlock and a hug. Shortly after there was a lose of balance and a few tears were shed.

First meal in Paris

This is his new camera face...

Train to Paris

These are three of his favorite things: Trains, cars and books. He doesn't get much more content than this. We had a few hiccups on our way to Paris. Ahhhhh...the French. Nothing quite like French culture to make you feel like a bumbling ugly American who just does everything wrong. After a couple of delays we got to Paris just in time for some rush hour traffic. The beauty of the city melted most of the traveling blues. We settled into our hotel room and inquired about babysitting at night. We have used hotel babysitting many times. It seems that it gets more and more expensive with each country we travel to. We always think it can't cost more than the last place. Well...it can. Paris takes the cake so far and I hope for the sake of our future we never see anything more expensive than Paris babysitters. Think of a price you think it might be, an expensive price you are still comfortable with. Now double it and then add on a really expensive taxi trip for the babysitter and you have the figure. We decided to do minimal activities without Alessandro but in Paris there are places you can't take a toddler. Living in Dubai has spoiled us rotten. There is always room for his stroller. There is always a highchair and there are always changing tables. I forgot how tiny most places are in Europe and how little patience people can have for people that take up too much room. We were very grateful that Alessandro was always an angelic patron at restaurants and he did charm everyone, even the obvious skeptics.

Ok I lied. I did learn one more thing on the boat cruise. This is a cement factory and behind it is the highest point in the country.

Boat Cruise

I made the mistake of taking a toddler on a boat cruise alone. I spent 1 hour chasing him around a boat that was filled to the max with Belgian school children on a field trip. There were two spots where he could have fallen off of the boat and several dangerous sets of stairs. Because of this I can't tell you anything about the boat cruise or the history of Maastricht. I can tell you that the information was given in four languages and that Belgian teachers don't care if their students listen to the information. I can also tell you Alessandro had a blast which is really all that matters!

Our hotel room.

Maastricht

Upon arriving in Germany Alessandro and I traveled by car to Maastricht. Alessandro slept the whole way and I chatted up front with our driver, Bettina. Bettina owns a limo service with her husband and they almost exclusively drive Booz consultants around the area. When they are not driving their beautiful fleet of Mercedes they travel by motorhome all around Europe. She told me that the hotel Chris stays in is really special but I was completely unprepared for how special it was. The Kruisherenhotel is a renovated cloister that merges modern minimalism with a historic exterior. Every hotel room is different but none of them feel like hotel rooms. Each room comes with a book of poetry and all of the poems are about the concept of home or house. The Netherlands were one of my favorite destinations in Europe when I was living in England and it wasn't just because of the coffee shops! I was happy to realize that I still love it for all the same reasons and despite all the places I have been since then and all the changes in my life I still felt somewhat the same there. I still get mistaken for being Dutch and I still think the culture is logical and straightforward yet inviting. The Dutch seem at ease with everything and we felt very comfortable there.

European Vacation!

The upside of having Chris in Europe is having the option of flying there to meet him instead of him flying home to see us. Since traveling with a small backpack by train around continental Europe on my spring break almost exactly 12 years ago I have only been to Spain a couple of years ago when I was pregnant so I was excited. This time I got to enjoy the food and wine which was very nice but wow the Euro has changed things! I know I am a little late to notice this but I don't know how college students do it now. We left Dubai early in the morning to fly to Dusseldorf because it is the closest airport to Maastricht, Netherlands where Chris is working. Alessandro was an angel on the plane (thanks to his carseat) and he even made a friend. There was a little german boy on the plan that followed us every time we went to the bathroom. They both shared a deep love for toy cars. Here is Alessandro in the Dubai airport, I just can't believe how much he has filled out the courtesy stroller! Pardon his blanket in many of the vacation shots, he needs it to sleep and there were quite a few naps on the go. His blanket is also a lifesaver in a pinch when we are in transit since let's face it we all get a little tired, hungry and annoyed when traveling!

Dubai World Cup

So every year (since 1996) there is a world cup in Dubai that ends the horse racing season with a bang. In true Dubai fashion it is glamorous, big and showy. This year the event coincided with earth hour which made me feel slightly guilty since just a few lights were on at the time! The first year we were in Dubai I was in the midst of morning sickness and Chris attended as part of a bachelor party. Last year the thought of leaving Alessandro for 9 hours was not possible so this year I made it! I had to go as a third wheel with our friends Ana and Steve though since Chris was in Amsterdam for work so it wasn't perfect. Despite his absence we had fun dancing, drinking and people watching. The outfits were everything from classy to gaudy and all shades in between. The event ended with a concert by Elton John and there really aren't words to describe him live. Sure he is getting up there and he doesn't have the same bang that he used to but his energy is still infectious and I definitely felt as though I was in the prescence of greatness.

Friday night alone

A couple of weeks ago Alessandro and I were on our own for the weekend. Friday night we set out to meet some friends on the beach and on the way home we got caught up in a break dancing competition right across from our building so we just had to stop. Alessandro cried when we left. This was the best shot of him getting down I could get.

Naturally once the camera was going he pretty much froze...typical.

New Year Resolution- a little late!

My blog just kept getting ignored for too long so I am determined to get it going again! Since Alessandro turned one (7 months ago) our family has been busier and busier. With his increasing independence has come more activities for him, for me and for all of us as a family. Chris and I have had more nights out alone and with friends. I also began doing yoga again after a long hiatus. In all of this activity writing has gone on the backburner and I hope to get it going again.

Some new updates in our family-

1) Chris is currently working in the Netherlands and is enjoying a much needed respite from Saudi Arabia. He gets to walk places, eat real food in real restaurants and go to Amsterdam on the weekends. On the downside: he is still working crazy hours and he is away from us for 10 days at a time. It has not been easy for anyone but we are making the most out of the travel opportunities. Alessandro and I just got back from visiting him in Maastricht and taking a trip to Paris for Easter.

2) Alessandro and I attend a music class once a week- it is all about trains this term and he thourghly enjoyed seeing the class come to life on our European train rides!

3) Alessandro also takes a swim class once a week and I can't be in the pool with him anymore- he prefers to be alone with the teacher. Mommy is almost not needed these days.

4) There is a lot of talking going on in our house. If you skype us you will probably only hear wow or cow but I promise he has lots of other words. Uh-oh is a favorite. Car and ball play a big role and his newest words are tickle and baby. There are lots of others but he tends to have a favorite a week that is in heavy rotation. Chris and I have noticed that his language is starting to come together a lot like a puzzle from different directions and it is so exciting to witness.

5) Climbing is a new pasttime for him so he is truly earning his nickname "monkey". We have had some scary falls but luckily he is always ok after a short cuddle.

6) We have lots of friends in the neighborhood for him to play with which is very nice. We are never short of something to do around here and are just dreading the summer weather which is fast approaching. In the past couple of months we have made friends with a few other couples that all have a Peace Corps or Thunderbird history or both- our kids are all the same age and we all live in the neighborhood so not much planning is needed for a nice get together.

I hear some intense activity coming from Alessandro's room so it is time to begin the day- it is almost 9am so I can't complain but what I wouldn't give for a day to do nothing- toddlers don't really sit around and have lazy days!