Da-da took Mowgli and Baby to the forest today but because there was snow on the ground, Baby just wanted to stand there. In fact, he didn't really want to stand in the snow period. Do you remember the sand last summer in Sardegna? Same thing. Well, he is used to the sand now but not the snow, I guess. Da-da wanted to give me some time to catch up on some things and will pick me up soon to take us all on an adventure, I dunno where. Baby Time will be on Monday this coming week as we are off to Egypt very early Tuesday morning. We gotta pack our summer clothes. When we booked the trip it was really warm and spring-like but now it is quite wintery. The snow is even staying on the ground.

We went to some friends for lunch today and Baby played with the ten month old baby well. We had a nice time. Da-da did not go to work today as it snowed and so a lot of people stayed home. In the evening, Baby said his own name very well and it was super cute to hear him. Sometimes, he calls himself "Funty"!

Today we finished our February session of Baby Time and are looking forward to starting March's session next week! The children are saying, "hello, see you" and other words here and there. They seem to know some colours/numbers/animals too. They love playing/singing "London bridge is falling down" and all want to be the ones that the Moms catch when the bridge falls down! We played "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" (sent from Grandma) and some really enjoyed it while others didn't want to wear the mask! Baby did it well but put the tail somewhere near the donkey's ankle! Good try, Baby! The mothers played too! Wait for pictures!

Today my good friend, E, and I co-hosted our first cotton diaper workshop. A pregnant woman came, a woman with a three month old and a woman thinking of having another child, wishing she had used cotton nappies with her first. A Danish woman came as support and showed us the cotton and woolen diapers she had used with her two children. Another friend came from the States to support us and brought home made cookies. It was meant to be a fun and informative workshop with no pressure, just a chance to see what we use and discuss the pros and cons. We used Baby's Caillou doll as our model so the women could practise putting on the different diapers. We hope to host another workshop in the fall. A special thanks to the wonderful Canadian cotton diaper company, Mother-Ease, who sent us an information package with free samples! Check out their website, the link is here on my blog.



By the way, if cotton nappies aren't your thing, there are biodegradable disposables that are not full of nasty chemicals. Check out www. moltex.de or www.ecobaby.ie for more information.

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.



- Victor Hugo



Hugo also claimed that La Grande Place in Brussels was the most beautiful square in all of Europe.





Yesterday we enjoyed playing in the park in the morning and visiting friends after naptime. We are now off for our

coffee morning with the BCT. Tonight we will have dinner at another new friend's home.

The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.



- Doug Larson



Well, we don't have snow here but...we are off to a craft shop right now! Bye!

French Library today! When leaving Baby yelled, "au revoir". It was really great because he was not prompted by someone saying it to him first. I just learned how to transfer all the photos from the camera to the computer so now I can include some recent photos of Mighty Mouse!



Baby modelling his wetsuit for Da-da at home!







Spring is here and so are the baby lambs at La Hulotte Farm!











A few of the Babies sit still for a photo during Baby Time while the rest run around with their feet off the ground!











And the Moms don't care as long as everyone is having a good time...and learning a bit of English!

Today we went to La Maison Ouverte. Now the last few times, Baby has wanted to play with the water but has not wanted to wear the plastic smock. So that means, he is not allowed to play...house rules. Today I was chatting with a woman from Slovakia and Baby came up to me holding the smock. I put it on him and he went over and played with the water and then he wanted to keep wearing the smock while playing with other toys. Very cute but eventually I had to take it off him in case another child wanted to play with the water as there are only three smocks. It just amazes me how Baby changes from one week to the next and becomes more comfortable with his environment. The best part was that Da-da met us at La Maison Ouverte and played for awhile. It was really fun. One of the women told Baby in French to go and get some little cars and that is just what he did. I will try never to under-estimate Babies again. They are incredible little people and deserve to be capitalized!

Today I put Baby in the jogger and went for a run to a playground so Baby could get out and play. This made a good break in my run for both of us and then I ran back home. Why so much running? Well...I gotta keep in running shape as my Dad and I will soon be running around Dingle Bay!

We had such a busy weekend that we did not get chores done so I worked on cleaning the cold room and Baby played beautifully beside me with his train. He is such a good little guy and can really entertain himself. And when it is story time (any time he brings me a book) he sits on my lap and turns the pages and points to animals. Like in the Thomas book, there are some goats way off in the distance behind the trains and he points to the goats!

I forgot to mention that yesterday we went on a family run. The weather is so nice here. Today we went to a farm so Baby could see real sheep, cows, chickens, bunnies and horses. It was nice. We packed a picnic lunch.

Valentine's Day and Da-da brought home a portable DVD player so we can watch Franklin in the backseat on long trips!! We decided to go to Ghent for a fondue but just as we were arriving, Baby fell fast asleep. So Da-da kept driving and we ended up in some tiny town in Holland where we enjoyed a market and bought all kinds of our old favourites from Albert Heijn supermarket. Went home and cooked up an Indonesian feast. Baby gave two Valentine cards to us that he had made himself. Baby received an easel so he can do his artwork any old time. Doggie got some peace and quiet. Da-da received a red candle and some very very dark chocolate.

Today we went to a place called Imagine in the morning to play with other children and parents, sing some songs and do a craft. We did another Valentine heart! Baby had fun and we ran into some friends we had met at a previous coffee morning. There really are lots of things to do here if you look for them. In the evening, we went to Ikea to get some tables for Baby Time and had dinner. It is such a great place to eat because there is a play area in the middle of the tables and we found a table right beside the play area. So Baby could run around and enjoy playing with others while we ate. Sometimes he would come over for a bite or two. He stayed in his highchair for about two minutes! And we ran into the same friends whom we had run into that morning at Imagine!

Baby Time was lots of fun today with the Valentine's Day theme. The Moms lost all track of time and stayed an extra half hour but we were all having so much fun, it doesn't matter. I think it is a good sign. We enjoyed Nonna's heart shaped suckers which we shared with the kids and I also bought heart shaped candies with English words on them. We decorated hearts as a craft and put stickers on them. The children did a wonderful job and Baby gave his heart to Da-da for Valentine's Day!

Today Baby and I checked out a new pool. Espadon is a pool we have never been to before and it was recently renovated and it was fabulous. Very beautiful and Baby wore his little wetsuit and did not shiver. They did a wonderful job to make this pool baby-friendly and fun with a jungle theme. After naptime, we went to the dentist who gave a good report about Baby's teeth and then we played at the playground near the dentist office until Da-da picked us up. Mowgli came too and by the way, we have a new car! I think we have had seven cars now. Yesterday, by the way, we enjoyed playing at the coffee morning and some friends we met there are coming over soon. I'll include some new photos soon.

Baby said a three syllable name, Emily, just now and it was very clear and very good. We couldn't believe it. We enjoyed going to La Maison Ouverte again today but Baby does not want to wear the little blue, plastic coat anymore and so is not allowed to play in the water. Rules are rules. Had a good massage tonight afterwards but not as great as the one on Saturday night when Da-da dropped my sister-in-law and me off at a spa in a neighbouring town where we enjoyed therapeutic waters and a longer massage. So nice.

I’m looking forward to looking back on all this.



- Sandra Knell

We started our February session of Baby Time today. When I say "we", I mean Baby and me! Baby is back to his old self and what a great little fun guy! He has fun goofing around with the other little people during snack/play time. One Mom brought two new friends and their little ones to view the class and at the end, they signed up! So now I have 6 Moms and 7 kids. Including my little guy, I've actually got 8 kids. I would say that that is the maximum and if I get anymore signing up, I would rather divide them into two classes on two separate days. We shall see. I will send pictures soon! I served icecream during snack time and boy were the kids quiet. Then afterwards, they started running around and it was hard to take a group picture! But I got some fun shots anyway!

La Maison Ouverte is an open house where children accompanied with adults can have fun!







Baby enjoyed playing in this new environment and was exposed to French.

We had a really fun time visiting La Maison Ouverte today from 3-5 pm en francais. The two women working there talked to us in French and that was fun. I also met some other French people to converse with and Baby played with their children. There were lots of fun things to do at this open house including playing with water, new toys and chalk board, a little house and other neat stuff. I will include photos soon and we will definitely go again. I really have to make an effort for Baby to be exposed to French around here. It's not easy but it is one of my goals otherwise what's the point? Folks booked their trip so we are looking forward to more adventures with them soon! It sure helps with the homesickness when friends and family visit or meet us halfway!

A family run followed by a sauna. That's what I call a fun way to spend the afternoon.