Merry Christmas everyone! We all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and Baby loved the musicians at church on Christmas Eve. The guitarists, pianist and violinist were excellent and we sat right beside them so Baby could watch them closely and when they finished their songs, Baby sometimes kept singing! Christmas Day was also lovely at St. Michiel Cathedral. We also enjoyed great food. Boxing Day we went to Modave Castle for a hike and lunch in the cellar. The next day was our anniversary and Baby was really well-behaved while being babysat. We went to see LOTR during the day. Tonight we went out for a Thai dinner and Baby was also very good while being babysat. (we celebrated our anniversary in two parts so we weren't away from Baby too long.) Baby likes to brush his hair after bathtime now. Before going out for dinner we got some wonderful news about a new baby due in May!!

Today was a hard day as we went to the crowded mall to do some last minute shopping and Baby fell while running and chipped off a piece of his front tooth. We all felt bad about that but it was nobody's fault. His boots are a bit clunky but he does seem to trip at other times too. Well, it kind of gives Baby a new, tough guy, image!

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!



- Lucy, Peanuts

I keep forgetting to tell all of you that Baby hums, in tune, Ba-ba black sheep, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Head and Shoulders when he is playing. (not just when he hears these songs but other times too.) He also says a few words in French (oui and au revoir) and in Italian he counts "a b chee" and says "si". I thought I had better write that down before I forget. I will try to find a musical class for babies so I can sign him up. That will be another fun thing to do with Baby! By the way, the landlord will come today to discuss some of the challenges which isn't that fun but afterwards, we are picking up the photos that the professional photographer took at the Carrefour. The best part is that Daddy will take the afternoon off work. We have been having a month of 4 day work weeks!!

What an amazing weekend in Germany with Baby visiting Gramma's homeland both times with her! We went to the Mosel town of Bernkastel where we stayed right in the old part of town in a beautiful hotel. The first night we had a three course meal and as usual, Baby was so good at the table. We walked around town and enjoyed the Christmas market and especially, hot mulled wine called Gluhwein. On Saturday we went to the Vinotek where we sampled excellent Mosel wines. As part of our weekend package, we received tickets to this wine cave and boy did we have fun! Again Baby ran around the cave and let us enjoy sampling with no fussing. After that we all needed a bit of a rest except I later found out that the Grandparents ran around Christmas shopping while we rested. Then we met up at a WeinStuben to try even more wines followed by a 5 course dinner. Very delicious food. At night we danced in the center of the old town by the beautiful, tall Christmas tree and beside the ice bar, a real bar made of ice. What a hoot! Today we took our time leaving, visited a Christmas market in Trier where we enjoyed sausages and beer and made our way home with the Baby sleeping the entire way from Trier to Brussels, almost 3 hours straight. What a Baby! He is now sitting at the table on a regular chair eating a crepe that Gramma just made. He is using a huge, wooden fork...too cute, gotta go watch!

Can you imagine a beautiful manger scene at the Grande Place with real, live sheep? That is what we discovered today when we took Baby downtown to enjoy the Christmas markets of Brussels. What a very beautiful place and we can't wait to go again in the evening when all the Christmas trees are aglow. Baby loved the sheep and enjoyed eating a waffle too. The sky was so blue and air so warm. We had some Ardenne sausage at the market and a glass of Gluhwein at a great resto at the Grande Place. Finished the day with a massage while my folks babysat. Can't beat a day like that, I'd reckon!

We just took it easy today and caught up on some chores. The professional photographer stopped by to show us the proofs she took of Baby. I may include her name in my book since I think she provides an excellent service. Apparently she is the only one in Brussels who will come to one's home to take photos. For new Moms, it sure takes the hassle out of trying to get their babies to a studio. Anyway, some of her pictures were cute. The Grandparents took off for Ieper. Mowgli is feeling better today- he threw up a few times yesterday. Luckily Mom helped me clean the carpets. Baby, by the way, enjoys the song "Head and Shoulders..." and sings along, pointing to the appropriate body parts and knows the words "nose" and "eye."

Baby enjoyed putting Christmas balls on the tree after dinner tonight and then, he had fun taking them off again! He also really likes his creche which we have placed under the tree. To keep Baby and dog away from the tree, we put it on our backporch. With the big, glass windows, we are able to see the tree all day and night and it provides a privacy screen as well. Baby has a new molar coming in as well as his two eye teeth up top so he struggles with that while being a real sweetheart most of the time. He is sleeping now and trying to catch up since yesterday was another busy day with a trip to the Grottoes of Wonck where we visited a Christmas market inside the caves and although crowded and smokey, it was an interesting experience. (once was enough) We had a great dinner at one of our favourite breweries, Hoegaarden, and the waitors were extra wonderful to Baby and gave him lots of treats. Baby loved the dancing Santa and danced along too. By the end, we were the only ones in the whole place and were able to make requests for favourite songs so the four adults danced too, sometimes holding Baby! Lots of fun and...of course, great beer! Cheerio!

We visited Bastogne today and it was very interesting and although one might think that it was not the best trip for a baby, perhaps, our baby seemed to enjoy himself very much. He slept well on the way to and from Bastogne so driving was very easy. The last time I was in Bastogne I was with my family in 1979. All those years ago we went to the museum but got there just when it was closing so my Dad ran around it while we waited in the car. Almost 25 years later, I am very happy to have had the opportunity to go with my Dad to this museum and see it properly together. We got there 3 hours before closing this time and took our time walking around. There was a new 30 minute movie with excellent footage of the war and Baby cooperated by nursing through it and watching some of it quietly. He is so good and behaves like a big boy not a little baby. After we enjoyed the Christmas market in town and tried some excellent mushrooms, Ardenne sausage and sauerkraut. Despite our enjoyment of the day, we did not forget the soldiers. It was Christmas time during the Battle of the Bulge.

Baby is saying a new word everyday. The other day

he said "chocolate" and yesterday, much to my

surprise, he asked me, "where are you going?" My Dad

was with me and heard it clear as could be. It is

really fun watching him grow. We took him to Carrefour yesterday for a photo session having cut out a coupon for one free photo. Of course, they are going to offer us the whole package and it may be hard not to buy it. Baby was adorable as the photographer skillfully set up different backgrounds and props! Eventually I will add a photo or two to this blogger.

On Friday we took Baby to Paris for the first time to meet his grandparents! What a city and what a time we had! Baby was very good in the backpack and looked at all the sights with great interest. By the time we got to the Arc De Triomphe though, he had fallen asleep! We had better go back! It was so fun meeting my folks there and kicking off the holiday season in Paris! It was really festive there with lights everywhere and little Christmas trees hanging in the middle of the streets. I highly recommend our hotel which was just around the corner from the Ritz, called Hotel Duminy Vendome- very lovely.

Mowgli had fun too! C set up the dvd player in the car so we could watch Lord of the Rings on the way home. Great trip!

Yesterday we enjoyed going to the Calypso 2000 pool where baby splish splashed away and threw his toys around. I was waiting to receive the baby wetsuit that I had ordered from England but it did not arrive in time. I figured the best way to get it to arrive was to go to the pool and sure enough, it arrived this morning! I'll have to take pictures of baby in it so you can see how cute he is and how much warmer he will be! Leaving early for Paris tomorrow so gotta hit the hay. Today we went out for Chinese lunch with Da-da! Baby loved his noodles too.

Today we enjoyed our BCT coffee morning very much and baby liked playing with all the toys and wanted to share the crayons with some other Moms. He really loves sharing. Next week we will host for the first time! Looking forward to it.

we went to Colruyt today and had very helpful service. Baby enjoyed walking his dog especially when we bumped into Daddy on the sidewalk coming home from work.

Today we checked out the wonderful animal park called Planckendael between Brussels and Antwerp. This stroller-friendly park was fantastic and baby enjoyed looking at all the animals that he had mostly only ever seen in books: zebras, a rhino, big birds and even koalas. The petting zoo was lots of fun with very friendly sheep and goats. I will try to add some pictures of baby patting the animals when I figure out how to! Baby is not scared of animals coming up to him probably because he has a big dog!

See a picture of Mowgli's cousin.Click here.