Shadow Boxer

Lia's new pastime is chasing shadows. It's actually pretty funny. At first I didn't understand why she was staring at the wall and then hitting against it. But when she made her 'owl sounds', I knew that something exciting was going on, and then I saw that she was trying to grab her own shadow. She also likes to chase the shadows that her mobile birds cast on the wall above her changing table. Which makes it absolutely impossible to change a diaper. But looks sooo cute.

Here comes another video:Lia fooling around

Tiny Tot Tara Turned 1 Today

Lia's friend Tara is celebrating her very first birthday!!!

We can't wait to share a yummie birthday bagel with you.
Or two (for each of us).

Little Dwarf Standing Tall

What's better than standing on curled toes whenever possible? I can think of many things. Not so my daughter, who is obsessed with pulling herself up and fighting gravity. Mainly by holding onto my shirt and pulling at my hair, thereby eliciting happy grunts.

Yes, she's walking all over me. And whenever I try to walk (away), she's loudly complaining and crawling after me. As Lia is determined to improve her balance by means of a helping hand, independent play is out of the question. Or maybe I'm just the clingy one. Thus the two of us stick together like a pair of monkeys, practicing indoor climbing, or just rolling around on the floor.

Stroller Strides

Major changes never happen at once. For a couple of days Lia has been wobbling in and out of a (hinged) sitting position. She's still heavily leaning forward, sometimes sucking on her big toe, which is a nice reward for working so hard. Also, Lia is pulling herself up onto her feet now. And when she tried to do so in her stroller, it was time to convert it into a four wheeled throne. Lia helped her Dad to set it up by reading the instructions and telling him where to tighten the bolts.

The two of them are a great team, and it would have only been fair to share the stroller with Daddy, but Princess Peanut filled it out quite nicely. Looking at her with her cute little belly sticking out like that, it becomes obvious how fast she is growing. Her language skills have improved as well. "Oh boy" are the first words she has spoken in a pretty clear and nicely drawn way. She has repeatedly used those two words, though not on purpose, but in a very convincing manner. I'm sure they reflect her true feelings. Some things just have to be said.

Another round of giggles
(video)

Gymbo Time

Once a week we go to the Gymboree, a little gym where big things happen. The class is a lot of fun, but Lia would never openly admit that. Most of the time she's watching everybody else with a very serious face, playing it cool. And then, every seven minutes or so, she drops the mask and lets out a happy scream. Appearances are deceptive. When things get interesting and there's lots and lots to see, Lia is in a meditative state, taking it all in. Yoga really seems to be her thing. But even a little yogi lady can be lured. With a tunnel and a proud Mommy waiting on the other side.

Sweet Home Alabama

This famous line holds some basic truth, as Lia's story actually begins in Alabama (strictly speaking). She's an "all American girl" whose roots reach way down south. Sixteen months after our first stay in Alabama we drove south again for a visit that wasn't less exciting.

We spent an adventurous weekend with our friends Gerardo and Gaby and their two beautiful daughters Nicole and Valerie, a weekend whose highlight was an unforgettable boat trip on Lake Tuscaloosa.

Lia was tense and excited at the beginning of our trip, but curiosity prevailed over fear. And when sunny skies were unexpectedly overcast by dark clouds that quickly turned into a big storm, Lia simply braved the elements by falling asleep. While everyone else got wet to the bones, our baby was savely wrapped in a life jacket, a blanket, and a big towel and held tight by her Daddy. Not even her nose was showing. The unabatedly heavy downpour was a bit scary, but Gerardo did a great job navigating the boat in this rough weather and getting us savely to the shore. Driving down all the way to Alabama to spend time with the Archundia family is always worth every mile.

All American Girl

Only two days after the Fourth of July our American daughter turned seven months old. A bit too young to celebrate her own independence, but cheeky and confident! And so the (almost) concurrence of these two commemorative events was celebrated with bubbles that Lia was trying hard to eat up. After all, those two teeth are there for a reason. Yes, two! But Lia was not only showing her teeth, but also her colors: red, white, and blue. And at dinner, some orange was added. We like it colorful.

Lia bursting bubbles

(video)

Charleston Revisited

Hot, humid and lovely as ever: Charleston is a city we have fallen for, and last weekend reinforced our enthusiasm. Charleston has a lot of historic flair, but we love the city especially for the sea breeze and summer scents. The same seems to count for Lia, who was calmly enjoying our walks in her stroller without trying out new yoga positions. She was quitely watching the backyards and front porches, the joggers and dogs, until sleep could no longer be resisted.

Of course we have our favorite spots in Charleston. Lana's is one of them, a nice little restaurant hidden uptown and mainly visited by locals. Our early evening walk always takes us there.

After dinner we walk back to town and down King's Street, past all the elegant shops. Sadly, most stores are already closed at that time. But never mind. Charleston is much too charming to stay indoors anyway. Summer in the city is what we like!

Especially in the evening, when a cool breeze sets in and carries with it the aromatic scent of Southern food. Which in our case means Mediterranean. Yummy. At Lana's we are regulars by now. The waitress is always happy to see us. But that's probably because of Lia, who is "oh so cute and well-behaved!" Well, she hasn't heard Lia belch yet.

Lia and Thiemo having fun

(video)

P.S. Lia's first tooth has pushed through! (The right one of her two bottom front teeth.)

Beach Baby

No, no, Lia just did not trust the sea. Her first time at the beach came as a bit of a shock. Too scary and too noisy were the waves, and the lukewarm puddle of water couldn't be trusted as well, as it was too close to that overwhelming ocean. When water has only been presented to you in a little bathtub, the Atlantic can definitely make you shake with fear. And when Lia's tiny arms started to shake, we picked our spot in the distance and watched the ocean monster from afar: