Laowai

While we were having a snack I told Bea that today is the day that Mommy and Daddy got married eight years ago. I said it was a good day. She ran and got the wedding pictures that sit next to our bed. Then she told me she wished she could marry me.

Today was a summery feeling day.

I’m feeling as big as a mountain right about now. I had a doctor appointment this morning – everything looks good. I’m down to the once a week doctor visits which makes everything seem so imminent. I’m trying to soak in the special feeling of being pregnant for these last few weeks. I like nothing better than to sit in the evening and bare my huge belly and wait for her to start kicking. I’m also trying to soak in the precious moments with Bea while she is still an only child. We talk about the baby sister often but we’ve been doing that for so long I don’t think she can really imagine what is going to happen. I guess I can’t quite imagine it either. I hope that she will adjust without too much trouble. The thought of having to grab just one of my babies when they both need soothing breaks my heart. And of course I can’t stop thinking please don’t come out until your Grandma arrives baby – please, please, please.

 

 

Here’s a bigger version.

I think I need some landscape photography lessons. The panoramas are interesting but they just don’t come close to capturing what I see with my eyes. 

Last night we went for a walk around dusk and I had to pinch myself. I really live here surrounded by all these hills and mountains and pastoral scenes. The area where we walked was really close by but for some reason we had not been over there. We walked up through a vineyard and had gorgeous views of some old farms. And then we walked along the hill and found a much better view of the mountains to our south. Our town sits kind of where there is a bend in Lake Zurich and once we got around that bend the sky opened up and the mountains felt even closer. As we walked home the sun went down and it started to cool off. Bea rode on Brian’s shoulders (her favorite spot) and got good and sleepy. It was just a magical walk and I wanted to wrap my arms around Brian and thank him a million times for bringing us here. 

Pack your walking shoes Mom – I plan on recovering quickly so we can go on magical gentle walks with your new grand-daughter.

This is how we spent our Easter last year. This year are we missing you all. We hope you have a lovely holiday filled with many uplifting signs of spring.

And now – some chocolate – because just looking at these chocolates makes me happy. Here are the chocolate bunny photos that I’ve been collecting from around Zurich.

Today, after a big brunch, we had a really fun Easter egg hunt. I might have had the most fun – I just loved scattering the eggs and treats around our side yard and watching Bea discover them. She was very serious about it. I had hidden eggs and a few little baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and the stuffed bunny I made. When she came upon one of the baskets she just stopped in her tracks and then turned to go find more eggs. This was an egg hunt after all. We had to tell her to go collect all her chocolate bunnies. The stuffed bunny was not much of a hit at all – but I know that she will probably come back to it later. I think we had enough eggs and treats for 3 or 4 kids. I went a little crazy when I bought the chocolate bunnies – they are so cool looking and cheap. I guess the treats are for Daddy as well as Bea. Our only disappointment: no peeps. Sniff, sniff.

 

 

The Easter Bunny is looking forward to putting together some charming little Easter baskets tonight. 

Here’s the Coloring Page that I made last year – if anybody is in the mood for some coloring while you eat chocolate your bunnies and jelly beans.

Brian and I got to go out to diner last night while our friend Julie watched Bea. It was very nice to have some time to ourselves. We talked a lot about the baby name but still no resolution – darn. We went to a Mexican restaurant and were pleasantly surprised with the yummy food. No unlimited chips and salsa (you pay 5 CHF for second little bowl), but that’s probably not a bad thing. Who really needs the limitless chips that we are used to in the US.

So they had the coolest match boxes I’ve ever seen. Take a look:

 

We woke up to snow this morning. So we got right to our Easter cookie decorating and ignored the white stuff outside. Doing things like this is one of my favorite parts of being a mom. Stay tuned for Easter Egg decorating with Daddy tomorrow morning. Yes Brian – you will be coloring eggs – and it will be loads of fun.