As mentioned before, Liva & Laia now go to daycare and love it. So far they've normally been there from around 8:00 to about 15:00, but now that Albert is also working, their days are a lot longer and I feel horrible for leaving them in daycare for almost 9 hours! Albert drops them off shortly before 8 on his way to work, once a week my mom picks them up and drives them home, we do this on days where I finish early. On Fridays I normally only work a few hours, so I drop them off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. These two days they are picked up at 15:00 at the latest. But the remaining 3 days they have to wait for Albert to come after work, meaning they're not picked up until around 16:45. They are some of the last kids left when he comes, they are tired and crying, and can hardly get through the afternoon and evening. I hope I can soon stop teaching late and be home most afternoons, the days I teach late I only see Liva & Laia in the morning; they're asleep by the time I get home.
Now that I'm not with them 24 hours a day (as I was most days in Barcelona!) I have so much more patience with them. I suddenly understand what people mean when they talk about "quality-time" compared to "quantity-time". Quality-time is so much better, and so much easier when there's less quantity-time! I also suddenly understand those people who do this whole baby-thing two or three times! Too bad I'm already in my late-thirties, otherwise I'd have considered more kids in the future.... But it'd have to wait another 2-3 years until Liva and Laia can do many more things on their own, by then I'll be very close to 40 - I don't want to be a new mom at 40! Especially since we'd might get two again... I'll spend all my quality-time with Liva and Laia, I can't think of a better way to spend it! :)
1 YEAR & 11 MONTHS - 09 June 2012
It's been ages since I've written, though I've thought about it 100s of times!
Well, we're living in Denmark, all four of us! We've rented a lovely apartment just outside Elsinore in a huge house with only 5 apartments in total. We have a big private balcony and a lovely garden which we share with the other neighbors. The apartment itself has two floors, on the first floor there's an open kitchen and living room with exit to the balcony and a fireplace! :) There's a bathroom with a tub and a combined computer room / guest room. On the second floor is our large bedroom and a huge room for Liva and Laia which is kind of divided in 2 sections so they have their sleeping area and a play area. We all love the house. The beach is a 2-minute walk away, we can see the water from our apartment, and there's a forest just behind the house.
I work as an English teacher and it's great because I can choose my own hours. I haven't worked much these weeks, I've had time to be with Liva and Laia and help them adjust. Albert's working as salesperson in a small private company, he only just started one week ago and so far it's ok, nothing super exciting or anything...
Liva and Laia go to daycare and absolutely love it! Unfortunately the daycare is located at the other end of town, and though Liva and Laia love it there and the people who work there are really sweet, we're going to move them when there's space in the one just behind our house. The one they're in now is very focused on being outdoors, which is great because it's healthy. But they don't do things like painting, music, clay etc, which is something I would like for Liva and Laia to do, and which is something they do at most daycares here in Denmark. I feel horrible about moving them since they're so happy there, but I keep convincing myself that they'd be just as happy in the other one after a month or so. Also, their days there wouldn't be so long, at the moment Albert drops them off in the morning on his way to work, and picks them up on his way home, meaning they're there for about 9 hours. They are some on the last kids left when he comes to pick them up. Some days I teach at home and could theoretically go get them, but we have to take 2 busses to get home from there, the one to our house only leaves every hour, so if we miss it, we can't really get home. Twice I've taken a taxi, but we can't afford that! Liva and Laia are always tired and usually just cry on the bus, they want to go home. It's easier to have Albert get them with the car. If they were at the place behind our house I could walk there with the stroller and pick them up.
But all in all, things are good. We see my family loads and Liva and Laia are so happy to be with them all always. One of our neighbors has twin girls of almost 18 years and an 11-year old son, they're here every second weekend and they all have a great time together. Another neighbor has grandchildren Liva and Laia's age who also come visit sometimes, and I guess soon they'll start getting friends in the daycare as well. At the moment their best friends there are 4-year old twin girls. I guess twins just have some kind of connection...
Tatanka is here with us as well, and also enjoys it. He's already caught his first bird on the balcony, which he hid under our bed. Nice.... He can get into the garden, but did so one of the first nights here which Albert and I hadn't realized. We closed all doors and windows and went to bed. At 3 am I woke up because of a cat meowing outside. I recognized the meow and went out to look for him. It took us about 15 minutes to find him, he had been in a fight or something and was hurt. Poor thing survived a 7-storey fall in Barcelona, then gets into a fight with some animal after just a few days in Denmark. He still loves being outside, but he stays on the balcony now.
I hope to be a bit better at posting again from now on, so much is happening with Liva and Laia's development these days. They talk loads, especially Laia. She repeats almost everything we say, and is starting to use several words to create sentences. They play really well on their own and with other kids, they eat loads, they pretty much dress themselves now, they love helping with everything around the house and they want to do more and more things on their own. Unfortunately they are VERY attached to their pacifiers, and potty-training is just not happening, though we try. They also don't sleep enough, we put them to bed around 18:30/19:00 every night, they wake up anytime between 5:15 (yes, 5:15 am!! WAAAAYYYYYYY too early!!) and 6:00, they nap around 12:00 but only for about 1 hour, if we're lucky 1½ hours. This means they're constantly tired and so very often cranky. We're hoping it's just a phase, and they just have to adjust completely to this new life. Considering what they've been through in the last couple of months they're doing great! If we have to deal with them being tired and sometimes cranky we can't complain, they're absolutely wonderful and have adjusted amazingly to this new life!
Well, we're living in Denmark, all four of us! We've rented a lovely apartment just outside Elsinore in a huge house with only 5 apartments in total. We have a big private balcony and a lovely garden which we share with the other neighbors. The apartment itself has two floors, on the first floor there's an open kitchen and living room with exit to the balcony and a fireplace! :) There's a bathroom with a tub and a combined computer room / guest room. On the second floor is our large bedroom and a huge room for Liva and Laia which is kind of divided in 2 sections so they have their sleeping area and a play area. We all love the house. The beach is a 2-minute walk away, we can see the water from our apartment, and there's a forest just behind the house.
I work as an English teacher and it's great because I can choose my own hours. I haven't worked much these weeks, I've had time to be with Liva and Laia and help them adjust. Albert's working as salesperson in a small private company, he only just started one week ago and so far it's ok, nothing super exciting or anything...
Liva and Laia go to daycare and absolutely love it! Unfortunately the daycare is located at the other end of town, and though Liva and Laia love it there and the people who work there are really sweet, we're going to move them when there's space in the one just behind our house. The one they're in now is very focused on being outdoors, which is great because it's healthy. But they don't do things like painting, music, clay etc, which is something I would like for Liva and Laia to do, and which is something they do at most daycares here in Denmark. I feel horrible about moving them since they're so happy there, but I keep convincing myself that they'd be just as happy in the other one after a month or so. Also, their days there wouldn't be so long, at the moment Albert drops them off in the morning on his way to work, and picks them up on his way home, meaning they're there for about 9 hours. They are some on the last kids left when he comes to pick them up. Some days I teach at home and could theoretically go get them, but we have to take 2 busses to get home from there, the one to our house only leaves every hour, so if we miss it, we can't really get home. Twice I've taken a taxi, but we can't afford that! Liva and Laia are always tired and usually just cry on the bus, they want to go home. It's easier to have Albert get them with the car. If they were at the place behind our house I could walk there with the stroller and pick them up.
But all in all, things are good. We see my family loads and Liva and Laia are so happy to be with them all always. One of our neighbors has twin girls of almost 18 years and an 11-year old son, they're here every second weekend and they all have a great time together. Another neighbor has grandchildren Liva and Laia's age who also come visit sometimes, and I guess soon they'll start getting friends in the daycare as well. At the moment their best friends there are 4-year old twin girls. I guess twins just have some kind of connection...
Tatanka is here with us as well, and also enjoys it. He's already caught his first bird on the balcony, which he hid under our bed. Nice.... He can get into the garden, but did so one of the first nights here which Albert and I hadn't realized. We closed all doors and windows and went to bed. At 3 am I woke up because of a cat meowing outside. I recognized the meow and went out to look for him. It took us about 15 minutes to find him, he had been in a fight or something and was hurt. Poor thing survived a 7-storey fall in Barcelona, then gets into a fight with some animal after just a few days in Denmark. He still loves being outside, but he stays on the balcony now.
I hope to be a bit better at posting again from now on, so much is happening with Liva and Laia's development these days. They talk loads, especially Laia. She repeats almost everything we say, and is starting to use several words to create sentences. They play really well on their own and with other kids, they eat loads, they pretty much dress themselves now, they love helping with everything around the house and they want to do more and more things on their own. Unfortunately they are VERY attached to their pacifiers, and potty-training is just not happening, though we try. They also don't sleep enough, we put them to bed around 18:30/19:00 every night, they wake up anytime between 5:15 (yes, 5:15 am!! WAAAAYYYYYYY too early!!) and 6:00, they nap around 12:00 but only for about 1 hour, if we're lucky 1½ hours. This means they're constantly tired and so very often cranky. We're hoping it's just a phase, and they just have to adjust completely to this new life. Considering what they've been through in the last couple of months they're doing great! If we have to deal with them being tired and sometimes cranky we can't complain, they're absolutely wonderful and have adjusted amazingly to this new life!
1 YEAR & almost 10 MONTHS - 23 April 2012
Albert's back in Barcelona, we miss him loads! The girls say goodnight to his picture every night and start crying. Yesterday we did facetime while he wsa at his brother's, we saw Papa, Iaia, Avi, uncle Eduard and all the cousins, the girls were thrilled but started crying when we finished. It's not easy for them. But we know they'll be happy here, and we're sure we're doing the right thing.
Today I went with Liva and Laia and my mom to two different daycare centers, Liva and Laia ran straight to the playground and started playing while I was being shown around. The second one we went to is just through the forrest from our new home, and is amazing! A huge institution located in the middle of the forrest with the biggest playground I have ever seen. It was clean and organized, they do loads of activities, all the food is home made and organic, it's perfect! I would love if Liva and Laia could go there! But though I'm guaranteed a place for them, it won't necessarily be in the institution of my choice. So we're crossing our fingers and hoping our lucky streak will continue a while still!
Today I went with Liva and Laia and my mom to two different daycare centers, Liva and Laia ran straight to the playground and started playing while I was being shown around. The second one we went to is just through the forrest from our new home, and is amazing! A huge institution located in the middle of the forrest with the biggest playground I have ever seen. It was clean and organized, they do loads of activities, all the food is home made and organic, it's perfect! I would love if Liva and Laia could go there! But though I'm guaranteed a place for them, it won't necessarily be in the institution of my choice. So we're crossing our fingers and hoping our lucky streak will continue a while still!
1 YEAR & almost 10 MONTHS - 20 April 2012
Everything is happening so quickly at the moment, I haven't had time to keep up...
Last week Tuesday I went to the language school in Sabadell, Barcelona to sign the contract for the 4 week intensive course. On the train there I received an e-mail reg. a job I had applied for in Denmark. They wanted me to come in for an interview Wednesday noon. That was of course not possible, the company was not flexible since they needed someone who could start the following Monday. I was very sad about missing this opportunity, it was a position I would have loved. It made me realize that if we wanted to live and work in Denmark, we should be in Denmark. I still had contact with the language school in Denmark which had offered me work, so I called them and asked how many hours they'd be able to offer me if I moved to Denmark. Their reply was: "As many as you want!". But I'd have to make a decision quickly, because they needed a teacher who could start the following Tuesday, one week later. They gave me 24 hours to think about it, after that they'd hire another teacher. Albert and I talked all night, calculated salary, talked about how we could do it until he found work in Denmark, called my parents to make sure we could live there at first and that they'd be able and willing to help with babysitting until we were settled and the girls can start in daycare. In the end we decided to take the chance - I'd move up to Denmark with Liva and Laia at least over the summer. If Albert had not found work in Denmark by September I'd move back down.
Wednesday morning I called the language school and accepted. A few hours later Albert received a call from a company in Denmark, they wanted him up for an interview.
Saturday early morning, five days after the e-mail on the train, we all flew to Denmark. I started work on Tuesday, Albert had his interview at the same time. We went to see an apartment near Elsinore that we would love to rent, but until we knew some thing more about Albert's situation we couldn't rent it.
Thursday noon Albert was offered the job! Friday morning we confirmed the apartment! It is now Friday evening, Albert's flying back down to Barcelona tomorrow to quit his job, pack the apartment and rent it out. I will stay here with Liva and Laia, sort out day-care and the apartment near Elsinore, and mid-May the movers will come and pick up our stuff in Barcelona, as soon as possible thereafter Albert will come up with Tatanka.
At the moment, things seem too good to be true! The apartment is lovely; water-view, guest-room, balcony, shared garden, fireplace, bathtub, five minutes from the beach and two minutes from the forrest. Liva and Laia are extremely happy here, they love my parent's garden and see their cousins loads. They talk about Iaia and Avi a lot, I think they understand that they won't be seeing them for a while. But since we'll have a guestroom in the new apartment, we hope they'll come visit often! :)
So, to sum up, loads has happened in a very short time, but it's all very positive, very exciting and we are all very, very happy!
Last week Tuesday I went to the language school in Sabadell, Barcelona to sign the contract for the 4 week intensive course. On the train there I received an e-mail reg. a job I had applied for in Denmark. They wanted me to come in for an interview Wednesday noon. That was of course not possible, the company was not flexible since they needed someone who could start the following Monday. I was very sad about missing this opportunity, it was a position I would have loved. It made me realize that if we wanted to live and work in Denmark, we should be in Denmark. I still had contact with the language school in Denmark which had offered me work, so I called them and asked how many hours they'd be able to offer me if I moved to Denmark. Their reply was: "As many as you want!". But I'd have to make a decision quickly, because they needed a teacher who could start the following Tuesday, one week later. They gave me 24 hours to think about it, after that they'd hire another teacher. Albert and I talked all night, calculated salary, talked about how we could do it until he found work in Denmark, called my parents to make sure we could live there at first and that they'd be able and willing to help with babysitting until we were settled and the girls can start in daycare. In the end we decided to take the chance - I'd move up to Denmark with Liva and Laia at least over the summer. If Albert had not found work in Denmark by September I'd move back down.
Wednesday morning I called the language school and accepted. A few hours later Albert received a call from a company in Denmark, they wanted him up for an interview.
Saturday early morning, five days after the e-mail on the train, we all flew to Denmark. I started work on Tuesday, Albert had his interview at the same time. We went to see an apartment near Elsinore that we would love to rent, but until we knew some thing more about Albert's situation we couldn't rent it.
Thursday noon Albert was offered the job! Friday morning we confirmed the apartment! It is now Friday evening, Albert's flying back down to Barcelona tomorrow to quit his job, pack the apartment and rent it out. I will stay here with Liva and Laia, sort out day-care and the apartment near Elsinore, and mid-May the movers will come and pick up our stuff in Barcelona, as soon as possible thereafter Albert will come up with Tatanka.
At the moment, things seem too good to be true! The apartment is lovely; water-view, guest-room, balcony, shared garden, fireplace, bathtub, five minutes from the beach and two minutes from the forrest. Liva and Laia are extremely happy here, they love my parent's garden and see their cousins loads. They talk about Iaia and Avi a lot, I think they understand that they won't be seeing them for a while. But since we'll have a guestroom in the new apartment, we hope they'll come visit often! :)
So, to sum up, loads has happened in a very short time, but it's all very positive, very exciting and we are all very, very happy!
1 YEAR & 9 MONTHS - 4 April 2012
As wonderful as my morning was yesterday, as dreadful was the afternoon! I came home around 12:30, in time to prepare lunch for Liva and Laia and put them down for their nap. They were already cranky and impossible when I came home, it just got worse and worse. After 45 minutes they had had lunch and were ready for their nap. Emily helped me tidy up a bit, after she left I cleaned the kitchen and had lunch myself. Then Liva and Laia woke up, after an only 45-minute nap. They were just as cranky and impossible as before I had put them down! It was raining and grey outside, and I was worried about work (or lack thereof!) and in no mood to deal with two cranky toddlers!
This morning they woke up in a brilliant mood, but since I spent most of the morning communicating with the language school in Denmark, which has offered me 3 courses all starting in April, looking at apartments and trying to find more teaching work in Denmark, Liva and Laia were very much left to themselves and were bored. The combination of me being totally worried about finances, deeply confused about what to do and how to do it workwise, trying to prepare my class this afternoon and dealing was 2 bored toddlers was NOT a good one! Good thing I was working this afternoon and had to get out of the house!
AND - good thing my intensive course here in Barcelona was confirmed this afternoon! :) Now we can stick to the original plan of me working here until mid-May, then going up to Denmark and seeing what I can find. This gives us more time to prepare it all, my mum's coming down in May so if we really do move up for some months, she could take some things up when she flies home. I'm just happy the course down here is actually happening! Hopefully the next few days I will have more patience with my sweet, deprived children.
We've started potty-training a bit, Liva has peed on the toilet twice and pooped once, Laia has peed once! It's a start! :)
This morning they woke up in a brilliant mood, but since I spent most of the morning communicating with the language school in Denmark, which has offered me 3 courses all starting in April, looking at apartments and trying to find more teaching work in Denmark, Liva and Laia were very much left to themselves and were bored. The combination of me being totally worried about finances, deeply confused about what to do and how to do it workwise, trying to prepare my class this afternoon and dealing was 2 bored toddlers was NOT a good one! Good thing I was working this afternoon and had to get out of the house!
AND - good thing my intensive course here in Barcelona was confirmed this afternoon! :) Now we can stick to the original plan of me working here until mid-May, then going up to Denmark and seeing what I can find. This gives us more time to prepare it all, my mum's coming down in May so if we really do move up for some months, she could take some things up when she flies home. I'm just happy the course down here is actually happening! Hopefully the next few days I will have more patience with my sweet, deprived children.
We've started potty-training a bit, Liva has peed on the toilet twice and pooped once, Laia has peed once! It's a start! :)
1 YEAR & 9 MONTHS - 3 April 2012
I have just had an amazing morning! We needed some government documents for Liva, Laia and Albert which I had said I'd take care of today. Since it's raining there's nobody out, so it took me less than 5 minutes to get these documents, from an extremely friendly civil servant! I knew Emily wouldn't be able to take Liva and Laia out in this weather, and knew that they'd be all over me all the time if I went home. So I decided to go into town. I went to develop some photos, then had a coffee at the Corte Inglés where there's a wonderful view over Plaça Catalunya. I bought a book, then came home when it was time for Liva and Laia's lunch. The girls had had a lovely morning with Emily at home, now they're sleeping peacefully.
I still don't know anything about any of the jobs; the possible intensive course here in Barcelona apparently still hasn't been confirmed by the client, the school in Denmark have told me to contact them at the beginning of May if I plan on staying here until mid-May. Something has to happen, I need work so I can earn some money... Fingers crossed!!
 |
| View over Plaça Catalunya from the Corte Inglés café |
1 YEAR & 9 MONTHS - 2 April 2012
We've started eating together as a family whenever possible, tonight I decided to cook while Emily was here so we could all have dinner together. It meant quite a late dinner for Liva and Laia, and a very early dinner for Albert and me. But it was so worth it! Liva and Laia were in a brilliant mood, Laia ate more than I did! After dinner we played a bit, then gor the girls ready for bed. They were exhausted after a morning at the playground with Luca, an afternoon at the playground with Emily and full bellies after a lovely family dinner!
1 YEAR & 9 MONTHS - 29 March 2012
Liva and Laia are 21 months old today! So much happens so quickly now! They both desperately try to talk, but we still struggle with understanding most of what they try to tell us. They clearly understand each other, though, as well as everything we say to them in both Danish and Catalan, and a lot of what Emily says in English. That, to me, is very impressive!
They also pretty much dress themselves! I tell them to take off their pants and socks, then help them with the tops. Laia puts on all her clothes herself except her body and her socks - this week she even learned to pull her pants up all the way, she couldn't get them over her diaper before. Liva needs help with her top as well, but can put on her own pants. Laia can more or less put on her own shoes, Liva still can't.
They love helping around the house, they love going out without the stroller, they love playing, Liva loves being around other kids, especially if they're older. They love food, we give them new things to try almost every day, it's great seeing how they enjoy it!
They still fight a lot, and I don't understand that. I thought twins were supposed to be each other's best friends, Liva and Laia definitely aren't yet! But at the same time it's clear they love each other. They spontaniously give their sister hugs and kisses, if one cries the other one feels really sorry for her, and when we're out they keep a close eye on their sister.
Today we saw Luca for the first time in over a week, they were thrilled about that. We had a nice morning together - Albert was there as well, there's a major strike in the country today and he couldn't get to work. I was telling Susan about my new, crap working situation when the phone rang. A language school in Sabadell, about 30 minutes outside Barcelona, need a language teacher for 4 weeks, Monday-Friday 9:00-13:00. That would be absolutely perfect for me, I have an interview there tomorrow, I really hope I have more luck with this job than with the previous interviews I've had....!
Then, this afternoon a language school in Denmark called. They promised they could have given me fulltime teaching had I been in Denmark, but since I'm not they might be able to give me some skype classes. Now we're thinking about me going up to Denmark for a couple of months to see what this school could really give me. If I have no work here anyway, it doesn't really matter whether I'm here or there, I'd have to go where the work is. If I get the job in Sabadell, it'd only be 4 weeks, I could fly up mid-May until end of June and see how it all works out. Of course Albert hates the idea of being away from his three girls, and I hate the idea of being away from him and taking Liva and Laia away from their dad, but as long as it's only temporary, and it's because we're trying to improve our situation, it'll be okay. We'll manage somehow! Just the fact that I'm being offered work is a good thing!
They also pretty much dress themselves! I tell them to take off their pants and socks, then help them with the tops. Laia puts on all her clothes herself except her body and her socks - this week she even learned to pull her pants up all the way, she couldn't get them over her diaper before. Liva needs help with her top as well, but can put on her own pants. Laia can more or less put on her own shoes, Liva still can't.
They love helping around the house, they love going out without the stroller, they love playing, Liva loves being around other kids, especially if they're older. They love food, we give them new things to try almost every day, it's great seeing how they enjoy it!
They still fight a lot, and I don't understand that. I thought twins were supposed to be each other's best friends, Liva and Laia definitely aren't yet! But at the same time it's clear they love each other. They spontaniously give their sister hugs and kisses, if one cries the other one feels really sorry for her, and when we're out they keep a close eye on their sister.
Today we saw Luca for the first time in over a week, they were thrilled about that. We had a nice morning together - Albert was there as well, there's a major strike in the country today and he couldn't get to work. I was telling Susan about my new, crap working situation when the phone rang. A language school in Sabadell, about 30 minutes outside Barcelona, need a language teacher for 4 weeks, Monday-Friday 9:00-13:00. That would be absolutely perfect for me, I have an interview there tomorrow, I really hope I have more luck with this job than with the previous interviews I've had....!
Then, this afternoon a language school in Denmark called. They promised they could have given me fulltime teaching had I been in Denmark, but since I'm not they might be able to give me some skype classes. Now we're thinking about me going up to Denmark for a couple of months to see what this school could really give me. If I have no work here anyway, it doesn't really matter whether I'm here or there, I'd have to go where the work is. If I get the job in Sabadell, it'd only be 4 weeks, I could fly up mid-May until end of June and see how it all works out. Of course Albert hates the idea of being away from his three girls, and I hate the idea of being away from him and taking Liva and Laia away from their dad, but as long as it's only temporary, and it's because we're trying to improve our situation, it'll be okay. We'll manage somehow! Just the fact that I'm being offered work is a good thing!
1 YEAR & almost 9 MONTHS - 27 March 2012
This has been two strange days! Sunday evening I sent off my translation and, to my great surprise, I was sent the next project Monday morning already. Along with a mail explaining that this will be the last project from that company for the next couple of months, since they have no need for Danish translators at the moment... Darn! They're my biggest income, besides them I only have my few hours of teaching every week, we can't live off that.
Monday morning I took the girls to a friend's house, she has a little girl a couple of months younger than Liva and Laia, and a dog. It was nice doing something different, we took the metro there, Liva and Laia loved the whole morning, from we left until we got back home. Oh, and they slept until 7:30 Monday morning!
Monday afternoon Emily came, while she was out with Liva and Laia I got an e-mail from the translation company I interviewed with last week - I supposedly only scored 40% on the test they had me do, so then will not proceed with my application. WTF?? It was correcting a business letter which had been translated from English to Danish, and I cheated! My parents were here, my mom's a former Danish teacher, my dad's a Sales and Export Manager in an international company, they both helped me - my mom with the general Danish, my dad with the business language. How the F**K could I only get 40% on that test??? Well, nothing I can do about that! I spent last night and most of the morning today sending out applications, both here and in Denmark, hopefully something will come up somewhere soon!
This afternoon I met up with two twin moms at the Ciutadella Park playground, that was nice! One of the moms was my German friend who I hadn't seen for months, since before Christmas I think! Though it was very short, it was nice seeing her again! The other mom I met because her and her husband bought some stuff from us while she was still pregnant. Their twins are now 2 months old. It was sweet seeing little baby twins, but I am so happy I now have toddlers and not babies anymore!! I love that Liva and Laia just ran around and played on their own while I sat and chatted with the other moms.
We left the playground quite late, I figured Albert would be on his way home from work and would be in the area, so I calle dhim to see where he was. As luck would have it he was just a few minutes away. He came to meet us and we all walked home together. After putting the girls to bed I skyped with one of my best friends who lives in Sweden, talking to her always makes me happy!
Monday morning I took the girls to a friend's house, she has a little girl a couple of months younger than Liva and Laia, and a dog. It was nice doing something different, we took the metro there, Liva and Laia loved the whole morning, from we left until we got back home. Oh, and they slept until 7:30 Monday morning!
Monday afternoon Emily came, while she was out with Liva and Laia I got an e-mail from the translation company I interviewed with last week - I supposedly only scored 40% on the test they had me do, so then will not proceed with my application. WTF?? It was correcting a business letter which had been translated from English to Danish, and I cheated! My parents were here, my mom's a former Danish teacher, my dad's a Sales and Export Manager in an international company, they both helped me - my mom with the general Danish, my dad with the business language. How the F**K could I only get 40% on that test??? Well, nothing I can do about that! I spent last night and most of the morning today sending out applications, both here and in Denmark, hopefully something will come up somewhere soon!
This afternoon I met up with two twin moms at the Ciutadella Park playground, that was nice! One of the moms was my German friend who I hadn't seen for months, since before Christmas I think! Though it was very short, it was nice seeing her again! The other mom I met because her and her husband bought some stuff from us while she was still pregnant. Their twins are now 2 months old. It was sweet seeing little baby twins, but I am so happy I now have toddlers and not babies anymore!! I love that Liva and Laia just ran around and played on their own while I sat and chatted with the other moms.
We left the playground quite late, I figured Albert would be on his way home from work and would be in the area, so I calle dhim to see where he was. As luck would have it he was just a few minutes away. He came to meet us and we all walked home together. After putting the girls to bed I skyped with one of my best friends who lives in Sweden, talking to her always makes me happy!
1 YEAR & almost 9 MONTHS - 25 March 2012
This has been an absolutely wonderful weekend! Friday morning I took Liva and Laia to their favorite playground at Park de la Ciutadella. On the way there we pass my mother-in-law's builing, and Liva and Laia start calling for her. I spontaniously called her on Friday, she happened to be out but very close to her house, so we met up and she came along to the playground. The girls loved that both their grandma and their mom was at the playground with them. Albert came home shortly after they woke up from their nap, and we all went to Poble Nou, one of my favorite parts of Barcelona. We walked around a bit, had tapas and went home.
Saturday morning we all went back to Park de la Ciutadella, we didn't go to the playground, instead we walked around and looked at all the animals. There were geese, goslings, ducks, turtles, parrots as well as all the dogs. The weather was brilliant, and we all enjoyed it loads!
When we came home we all had lunch together. The girls love it when we all eat together, but it's unfortunately something which doesn't happen very often. Liva and Laia have dinner too early, Albert normally isn't even home yet. I don't actually know why we never have lunch together at the weekends - probably because Albert and I often don't really have lunch at the weekend. It might be an idea to change that, and all eat together at least one of the days. Liva and Laia have breakfast with their dad every morning, and a fruitsnack with me a few hours later.
Sunday morning Albert took the girls out while I worked on a translation, I took them out in the afternoon while Albert cleaned the house a bit.
Last night we put the clocks back an hour, summertime started. I love this time of year, I love the long evenings! But - now that we have kids it's a bit different, Liva and Laia didn't sleep until 20:30 tonight, normally they're out by 19:15ish. It'll be interesting to see what time they wake up tomorrow morning!
Saturday morning we all went back to Park de la Ciutadella, we didn't go to the playground, instead we walked around and looked at all the animals. There were geese, goslings, ducks, turtles, parrots as well as all the dogs. The weather was brilliant, and we all enjoyed it loads!
When we came home we all had lunch together. The girls love it when we all eat together, but it's unfortunately something which doesn't happen very often. Liva and Laia have dinner too early, Albert normally isn't even home yet. I don't actually know why we never have lunch together at the weekends - probably because Albert and I often don't really have lunch at the weekend. It might be an idea to change that, and all eat together at least one of the days. Liva and Laia have breakfast with their dad every morning, and a fruitsnack with me a few hours later.
Sunday morning Albert took the girls out while I worked on a translation, I took them out in the afternoon while Albert cleaned the house a bit.
Last night we put the clocks back an hour, summertime started. I love this time of year, I love the long evenings! But - now that we have kids it's a bit different, Liva and Laia didn't sleep until 20:30 tonight, normally they're out by 19:15ish. It'll be interesting to see what time they wake up tomorrow morning!
1 YEAR & almost 9 MONTHS - 21 March 2012
Last week I decided to make a small change in the daily routine: I have always showered after Albert left for work, the last few weeks it was dreadfull, Liva and Laia would either be fighting in the bathroom, be running around breaking things or hurting themselves, or quietly be doing things they knew they shouldn't be doing. My showers were stressful, and when I got out I always got mad about something they had done. So we decided I should shower while Albert has breakfast with the girls. My parents have just been here for four wonderful days, and the showering hasn't been a problem. Only this morning did we try the new (to be) routine for the fist time, it was great! It meant that after Albert left I had time to sit and read books with Liva and Laia, I had time to tidy up the apartment a bit, there was nothing stressful about my shower, there was no reason to be angry at Liva and Laia. It has been one of the best mornings for a long time!
Emily came, and though it was very grey outside I suggested they risk going to the playground anyway. Poor girls all got stuck outside in a torrential-like downpour! They quickly came home again, we changed the girls, sat in the livingroom for a bit, then I went to the computer to prepare my classes for tomorrow. The few times I've tried to get some work done while Liva and Laia have been at home with a babysitter it's been impossible. Today they've been playing in the livingroom with Emily all morning, only once or twice have they come into the computerroom to say hi. It's so nice that they are getting older and things are getting easier and easier. It's just such a shame we'd lose Emily if I had to work fulltime!
Emily came, and though it was very grey outside I suggested they risk going to the playground anyway. Poor girls all got stuck outside in a torrential-like downpour! They quickly came home again, we changed the girls, sat in the livingroom for a bit, then I went to the computer to prepare my classes for tomorrow. The few times I've tried to get some work done while Liva and Laia have been at home with a babysitter it's been impossible. Today they've been playing in the livingroom with Emily all morning, only once or twice have they come into the computerroom to say hi. It's so nice that they are getting older and things are getting easier and easier. It's just such a shame we'd lose Emily if I had to work fulltime!
1 YEAR & almost 9 MONTHS - 20 March 2012
I am soooo confused! On Friday I heard from the translation company again. They are considering me for the position of Quality Manager, and asked me to do yet another test - I had already done 4 (!!) for the project coordinator posotion. I did the test yesterday, and am now waiting to hear back from them. BUT - this morning Emily told us that she has been offered a job at the airport. She could still continue a couple of hours a week with us, but can't work here fulltime if I get a fulltime position. Since the job at the airport pays more than we ever could, I don't blame her. And, this weekend I calculated how much we would have to pay a babsitter to come her for 30 hours a week, it turned out that I'd be left with practically nothing after paying my part of the mortgage, babysitter, phone, etc. Albert also doesn't earn millions, and can't pay much more than his share either. So though it looks like I have a shot at this job, I'm not even sure I'd be able to accept it if it were offered to me. Unless of course this position pays a bit more, or they'd be willing to pay me a bit more... Hmm, we'll see what happens, I still haven't been offered the job.
1 YEAR & 8½ MONTHS - 15 March 2012
Life seems a bit unfair at the moment... I love my girls, and I am grateful that I've had the oportunity to stay at home with them for the first 1½ years of their life, while still being able to earn money. However, I'm ready to get back out into the working world again! On Monday I had an interview in a huge translation company for the position of translation project coordinator. The position sounds very interesting, and during the interview they told me they also needed a quality manager, would I be interested? I told them yes. The problem with both positions is that they're fulltime - 40 hrs/week with a schedule of 10:00-19:00 Monday through Friday - and pay an average Barcelona salary (read: pretty crap!). I would be working way more hours earning the same or less than what I earn now, and I would hardly see my girls. All Monday and Tuesday I was thinking about what to do should they offer me the position. I would hate to see Liva and Laia so little, almost half of my salary would go to pay Emily for working here fulltime, and I would no longer have the freedom of working from Denmark whenever I missed family and friends there. But I would have a fixed, secure income, a contract with all its benefits, and a position in a worldwide, wellknown translation company, with posibilities of working in other countries, promotions, etc. After a lot of thinking, worrying and debating with myself and my conscience, I finally decided that I would accept the job. Either of the positions! I started calculating how much money we would have to pay Emily, tried to make a schedule between her and my mother-in-law, contacted private daycare centers, etc. BUT - they told me at the interview on Monday that if I hadn't heard from them by Friday, it would mean I haven't gotten the job. It's now Thursday noon, and I still haven't heard from them.... Typical! After 48 hours of my head being a complete mess while trying to decide what I should do, I probably won't even get the job. And I had been so excited when I finally decided Wednesday evening that OF COURSE I would accept the job. Bummer!!
I guess I'll just have to keep applying for work, and enjoy the time with Liva and Laia now, since you never know what the future will bring!
I guess I'll just have to keep applying for work, and enjoy the time with Liva and Laia now, since you never know what the future will bring!
1 YEAR & 8 MONTHS - 7 March 2012
Liva and Laia have been in such a great mood for the past 2-3 weeks, it's so incredibly wonderful! It started in Denmark, we of course thought it had something to do with them being there, and having loads of people around all the time. But we've been back i Barcelona for 4 days now, and they're back to their regular schedule, and back to spending most of the time with just me. And they are still in a wonderful mood! They play and laugh and giggle, they give me hugs and cuddles all the time, they hug each other all the time, they hug and cuddle Albert any chance they get, and they even give Emily and my friend Susan big cuddles.
Today we walked to a playground which is about 4-5 blocks from here, there we met up with Luca and Susan and played for a while. We all walked 2 blocks to Starbuck's where the kids ran around most of the time. Then I walked home with Liva and Laia, again 4-5 blocks. They walked all the way, had fun looking at windows, smiling at all the people we passed, holding each other's hand and looking at all the cars, busses, birds etc. on our way. I had been worried about the walk home because they were already getting tired and hadn't stopped moving for 2 hours. There were no problems what so ever! I absolutely enjoy being with them these days, I hardly ever get angry or annoyed with them lately because there's just no reason to, and they make me laugh loads of times during the day. We are truly lucky to have such wonderful daughters!
Today we walked to a playground which is about 4-5 blocks from here, there we met up with Luca and Susan and played for a while. We all walked 2 blocks to Starbuck's where the kids ran around most of the time. Then I walked home with Liva and Laia, again 4-5 blocks. They walked all the way, had fun looking at windows, smiling at all the people we passed, holding each other's hand and looking at all the cars, busses, birds etc. on our way. I had been worried about the walk home because they were already getting tired and hadn't stopped moving for 2 hours. There were no problems what so ever! I absolutely enjoy being with them these days, I hardly ever get angry or annoyed with them lately because there's just no reason to, and they make me laugh loads of times during the day. We are truly lucky to have such wonderful daughters!
1 YEAR & 8 MONTHS - 6 March 2012
I haven't been able to open my blog since last time I wrote, all I get is "error on the page". Now I've downloaded firefox and have opened it there....
Well, what has happened since last time? We finished off a great stay in Denmark and had a lovely flight home. I flew alone with Liva and Laia and was a bit worried since they are now much more active and get bored more easily. I also knew they wouldn't sleep since we weren't flying during nap-time. It went really well, Liva and Laia were so good! We had 3 seats, I sat in the middle. The girls looked at books, played with the few toys I had brought, had snacks and just genereally behaved themselves really well and seemed to have a good time. I was very, very proud of them!
They turned 20 months on Feb 29th, and so much has happened in the past month! They can both take off jackets, socks, pants and hats, and they can both put on hats and their jacket half-way (get one arm through, they need help getting the other arm through), Laia can also put on pants and get her top over her head. She can also put on her boots, but not yet her shoes. It's so much easier when they can do more and more things on their own.
They say more and more words, and love trying to repeat the words we say. They talk loads between themselves, and often try to talk to us using their language. They get SO frustrated when we don't understand what they're trying to tell us, but between the words they know and using signs, they can make themselves understood most of the time. They can spend more time playing on their own and are starting to get really good at playing with each other. They have a great sense of humor and know how to make us laugh by making funny faces, walking strangely or doing other weird/funny things.
They are very loving girls, love giving and getting hugs and kisses. When we pick them up they give us a cuddle or put their head on our shoulder. In the past couplle of weeks they've started hugging each other loads. Though they still often fight, they are starting to enjoy each other's company, and it shows that they are starting to really love each other. Sometimes one will do something cute/funny/silly and the other will laugh and give her a big hug. If one cries, the other comes straight away to pat her head and give her a pacifier. Sometimes they walk around the house hand in hand singing, for no apparent reason other than wanting to hold the sister's hand and enjoying it. They sing and dance loads, often holding hands and walking around in a circle. Their favorite song is the Barney themesong, and Barney is still their favorite show.
They are lovely girls through and through, the older they get the more we see it!
Well, what has happened since last time? We finished off a great stay in Denmark and had a lovely flight home. I flew alone with Liva and Laia and was a bit worried since they are now much more active and get bored more easily. I also knew they wouldn't sleep since we weren't flying during nap-time. It went really well, Liva and Laia were so good! We had 3 seats, I sat in the middle. The girls looked at books, played with the few toys I had brought, had snacks and just genereally behaved themselves really well and seemed to have a good time. I was very, very proud of them!
They turned 20 months on Feb 29th, and so much has happened in the past month! They can both take off jackets, socks, pants and hats, and they can both put on hats and their jacket half-way (get one arm through, they need help getting the other arm through), Laia can also put on pants and get her top over her head. She can also put on her boots, but not yet her shoes. It's so much easier when they can do more and more things on their own.
They say more and more words, and love trying to repeat the words we say. They talk loads between themselves, and often try to talk to us using their language. They get SO frustrated when we don't understand what they're trying to tell us, but between the words they know and using signs, they can make themselves understood most of the time. They can spend more time playing on their own and are starting to get really good at playing with each other. They have a great sense of humor and know how to make us laugh by making funny faces, walking strangely or doing other weird/funny things.
They are very loving girls, love giving and getting hugs and kisses. When we pick them up they give us a cuddle or put their head on our shoulder. In the past couplle of weeks they've started hugging each other loads. Though they still often fight, they are starting to enjoy each other's company, and it shows that they are starting to really love each other. Sometimes one will do something cute/funny/silly and the other will laugh and give her a big hug. If one cries, the other comes straight away to pat her head and give her a pacifier. Sometimes they walk around the house hand in hand singing, for no apparent reason other than wanting to hold the sister's hand and enjoying it. They sing and dance loads, often holding hands and walking around in a circle. Their favorite song is the Barney themesong, and Barney is still their favorite show.
They are lovely girls through and through, the older they get the more we see it!
1 YEAR & almost 8 MONTHS - 26 Feb. 2012
The reason I haven't written in ages is that we're in Denmark, and it's GREAT!! The weather is nice, it has hardly rained and though it's cold we're all dressed warmly and enjoy it. We've even had some days with beautiful blue sky and sunshine. We see my family loads, Liva and Laia are having such a good time, laughing and playing all the time. The frist week we were here Albert was here as well, now it's just me and the girls. We don't do much, I had a translation to work on last week, I hope to get another one this week. We just hang out with my mom who only works part-time so has loads of time to be with us, my dad when he gets home from work, my brother and his family when they have time, and this weekend my aunt, cousin and cousin's boyfriend came for a visit, that was really nice! I still don't know when I'll fly back to Barcelona with the girls; I had hoped to have some jobinterviews while I was here, but nobody has called.... I would love to just stay here, but I make my money in Barcelona (besides the translations which I can do anywhere), and of course we miss Albert loads - he can't just come up and be with us for weeks and weeks.... So I'll probably fly back to Barcelona next weekend, though I would love to stay - unless I should be so lucky that someone calls for a job interview.
 |
| In front of my parent's house |
 |
| Out for a walk and feeding the ducks |
 |
| Out for a walk |
 |
| Playing in the garden with cousin Freja |
 |
| Coloring with cousin Freja |
1 YEAR & 7½ MONTHS - 15 Feb. 2012
A few weeks ago I read an article in a baby magazine, which really got to me. It was about how kids learn by watching their parents. There were different examples of amazing kids who could do loads of things at just 1-2 years old. The story that really stuck with me was about the son of two architects. They worked at home, so this little boy spent most of his life watching his parents draw. He started copying them, and at 18 months or so he could draw straight lines, at 2 years he could trace the outline of any shape he was given. I was amazed by this, and shocked at how much kids learn by watching and copying their parents. Then I started thinking about Liva and Laia. I also work from home, they see me working loads during the day. But what do they see? Their mom sitting in front of the computer.... Is that really setting a good example? I also teach, which means I dress professionally and leave the house. When Liva and Laia were about 1 year old, Laia used to put their toy mobile in her little handbag, wave goodbye and "leave" - just like I do to go to work.
The first few weeks after reading the article, I was worried. Besides pretending to leave the house with their mobile, what were Liva and Laia learning from me working from home? Will they want to sit in front of a computer all the time when they are older? How can we teach them that a computer is not a place to spend hours and hours when they're older, when they see their mom doing exactly that every day?
But then I looked at it from a different angle. They don't see me in front of the computer for hours and hours, since I can't work with them around. I work when they're asleep or out with the babysitter. What they do see, is their mom getting dressed, their mom doing things around the house, their mom talking to other people on the street, their mom being gentle with Tatanka, and their mom playing with them every day and giving them a lot of love.
Laia can almost dress herself, both girls love helping with anything around the house, they answer when people on the street say hello or goodbye, they are extremely gentle with Tatanka, dogs we meet on the street - very often the owners comment on how good they are with the dog, that other little kids are not that gentle - with small babies and with each other, they play really well with each other, and they are very loving girls who give hugs and kisses to all the people they know and love. So no, I'm not a bad example to my children. I am proud of the little people they are, and how they treat each other and other people. I try to always set a good example in every situation of every day. Of course that doesn't always work, there are people I just don't like or who simply annoy me, Liva and Laia notice this as well, and refuse to say hi or bye to these people. Our neighbour is a sick old man - and I mean mentally sick! - who I can't stand! Liva and Laia cry every time they see him. There's an old woman who always comments on how unbelievably alike Liva and Laia are, yet always asks whether it's a boy and a girl. I am sick of her, Liva and Laia look the other way when she talks to them.
So yes, children do learn from their parents, both the good and the bad. Liva and Laia might not be able to draw a straight line or trace shapes, but they can do so many other things and, most importantly, they know how to interact with other people which I personally believe is a very important ability!
The first few weeks after reading the article, I was worried. Besides pretending to leave the house with their mobile, what were Liva and Laia learning from me working from home? Will they want to sit in front of a computer all the time when they are older? How can we teach them that a computer is not a place to spend hours and hours when they're older, when they see their mom doing exactly that every day?
But then I looked at it from a different angle. They don't see me in front of the computer for hours and hours, since I can't work with them around. I work when they're asleep or out with the babysitter. What they do see, is their mom getting dressed, their mom doing things around the house, their mom talking to other people on the street, their mom being gentle with Tatanka, and their mom playing with them every day and giving them a lot of love.
Laia can almost dress herself, both girls love helping with anything around the house, they answer when people on the street say hello or goodbye, they are extremely gentle with Tatanka, dogs we meet on the street - very often the owners comment on how good they are with the dog, that other little kids are not that gentle - with small babies and with each other, they play really well with each other, and they are very loving girls who give hugs and kisses to all the people they know and love. So no, I'm not a bad example to my children. I am proud of the little people they are, and how they treat each other and other people. I try to always set a good example in every situation of every day. Of course that doesn't always work, there are people I just don't like or who simply annoy me, Liva and Laia notice this as well, and refuse to say hi or bye to these people. Our neighbour is a sick old man - and I mean mentally sick! - who I can't stand! Liva and Laia cry every time they see him. There's an old woman who always comments on how unbelievably alike Liva and Laia are, yet always asks whether it's a boy and a girl. I am sick of her, Liva and Laia look the other way when she talks to them.
So yes, children do learn from their parents, both the good and the bad. Liva and Laia might not be able to draw a straight line or trace shapes, but they can do so many other things and, most importantly, they know how to interact with other people which I personally believe is a very important ability!
1 YEAR & 7½ MONTHS - 13 Feb. 2012
WE'RE GOING TO DENMARK!! All four of us!! On Friday!! YIPPEEE!!
Our elevator is being fixed - they were supposed to start today but there's nobody working on it yet - which means we'll be without elevator for at least 3 weeks. They've been talking about it for months, I have said all along it would be a great reason to go to Denmark. Living on the top floor with two little girls and no elevator is no fun! Though Liva and Laia love climbing up and down stairs and are quite good at it, they do need a bit of help. With this cold we're having, I have to bring thick blankets for the stroller, besides their usual bag and the bag of toys. The stroller is downstairs, but getting all the rest + 2 girls eight floors down just won't be any fun! I'm glad we had the elevator today still when we went out this morning.
So, we all leave on Friday, Albert stays in Denmark for 1 week, I stay for about 2½ weeks with Liva and Laia - we still don't have a return ticket, I'll get that when I feel ready to come back to Barcelona, and when Albert tells me the elevator is working again. I am soooo looking forward to going, we haven't been since the summer!
Our elevator is being fixed - they were supposed to start today but there's nobody working on it yet - which means we'll be without elevator for at least 3 weeks. They've been talking about it for months, I have said all along it would be a great reason to go to Denmark. Living on the top floor with two little girls and no elevator is no fun! Though Liva and Laia love climbing up and down stairs and are quite good at it, they do need a bit of help. With this cold we're having, I have to bring thick blankets for the stroller, besides their usual bag and the bag of toys. The stroller is downstairs, but getting all the rest + 2 girls eight floors down just won't be any fun! I'm glad we had the elevator today still when we went out this morning.
So, we all leave on Friday, Albert stays in Denmark for 1 week, I stay for about 2½ weeks with Liva and Laia - we still don't have a return ticket, I'll get that when I feel ready to come back to Barcelona, and when Albert tells me the elevator is working again. I am soooo looking forward to going, we haven't been since the summer!
1 YEAR & 7 MONTHS - 11 Feb. 2012
Things are still normal, which is great after 2 weeks of abnormality! We're all sleeping through the night until about 6:30-7:00, Emily comes and takes the girls out while I get some work done at home, my mother-in-law came on Thursday and will be coming every Thursday from now on to be with the girls while I go teach, and today Saturday we went to my brother-in-law's in the afternoon and had my mother-in-law come over in the evening while Albert and I went out for a short while.
The only thing that's not normal is the weather in Barcelona - it's freezing!! And I'm not exaggerating, it's seriously around zero degrees and has been for days. We're not used to these temperatures here, and don't have clothes for such coldness, especially not for Liva and Laia. But it's still sunny, and there's a playground close to our house where there's no wind and loads of sun, we've gone there a few times this week.
It's just great that we're all healthy again, and back on schedule!
The only thing that's not normal is the weather in Barcelona - it's freezing!! And I'm not exaggerating, it's seriously around zero degrees and has been for days. We're not used to these temperatures here, and don't have clothes for such coldness, especially not for Liva and Laia. But it's still sunny, and there's a playground close to our house where there's no wind and loads of sun, we've gone there a few times this week.
It's just great that we're all healthy again, and back on schedule!
 |
| Sunny, warm playground near our house |
1 YEAR & 7 MONTHS - 7 Feb. 2012
Things are back to normal and it's lovely! Liva and Laia have been in such a good mood these days - though Liva has started throwing some horrible tantrums when she doesn't get her way. I've never seen anything like it, she screams and throws herself on the floor. Luckily she only does it at home (for now....), she's a little angel when we're out!
We were back on shedule yesterday, went to a playground and met up with Susan and Luca, the girls were thrilled to see him again! As luck would have it, a little Catalan girl who we've met at different playgrounds over the months was there as well, all the kids had loads of fun together. In the afternoon Emily came, she was all active and ready for an afternoon with Liva and Laia, and took them to another of their favorite playgrounds. A lovely days with loads of giggles and laughter! This morning Liva and Laia woke up at 6 already, an hour earlier than they've been waking up this past week - luckily it was my turn to sleep and Albert's turn to get up, I got to stay in bed until 7:15! Once again, Liva and Laia were in a brilliant mood. Emily took them to a playground while I went for a check-up at the doctor's. I'm all fine again, but she recommended I don't go swimming just yet. That will have to wait until Sunday then, since I can't any other days during the week.
Liva and Laia wouldn't nap for some reason today, it took me an hour to get them down. Once asleep, they slept for almost 2 hours, giving us a nice, short afternoon. I decided not to go out with them though I had planned on going to the mall this afternoon. But by the time they had had their snack it was too late to go anywhere beside the playground behind the building, I just wasn't in the mood for that today.
I am already looking forward to tomorrow, Emily is back in the morning and I have to finish a translation while she's out with the girls. Hopefully I'll be meeting up with another twin mom in the afternoon, but though our girls are pretty much the same age, they are on completely different schedules and it's difficult to find a time that suits us both. It would be nice to see her again, though, I haven't seen her since before Christmas!
We were back on shedule yesterday, went to a playground and met up with Susan and Luca, the girls were thrilled to see him again! As luck would have it, a little Catalan girl who we've met at different playgrounds over the months was there as well, all the kids had loads of fun together. In the afternoon Emily came, she was all active and ready for an afternoon with Liva and Laia, and took them to another of their favorite playgrounds. A lovely days with loads of giggles and laughter! This morning Liva and Laia woke up at 6 already, an hour earlier than they've been waking up this past week - luckily it was my turn to sleep and Albert's turn to get up, I got to stay in bed until 7:15! Once again, Liva and Laia were in a brilliant mood. Emily took them to a playground while I went for a check-up at the doctor's. I'm all fine again, but she recommended I don't go swimming just yet. That will have to wait until Sunday then, since I can't any other days during the week.
Liva and Laia wouldn't nap for some reason today, it took me an hour to get them down. Once asleep, they slept for almost 2 hours, giving us a nice, short afternoon. I decided not to go out with them though I had planned on going to the mall this afternoon. But by the time they had had their snack it was too late to go anywhere beside the playground behind the building, I just wasn't in the mood for that today.
I am already looking forward to tomorrow, Emily is back in the morning and I have to finish a translation while she's out with the girls. Hopefully I'll be meeting up with another twin mom in the afternoon, but though our girls are pretty much the same age, they are on completely different schedules and it's difficult to find a time that suits us both. It would be nice to see her again, though, I haven't seen her since before Christmas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)