Some Funny Stories...

This week, Jack and I left the comfort of Spring and drove from the plains of Alsace up into the wintry hills of the Vosges to visit with a friend. Everything was going well until I started to make my way up her driveway, where there was so much snow that I almost lost control of the car. As the car skidded a little from left to right, I entered a zone where I was more focussed on keeping control of the car than what I was actually saying. Indeed, it was only once I'd calmed down and reentered the normal world that I realised Jack was in the backseat muttering to himself 'oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!' Then, when he realised I was listening to him, he said in a high-pitched and rather nervous voice, 'Maman, oh shit, a lot (of snow), car boom? oh shit' ... Needless to say, I calmed down after that, and was soon in the warmth of my friend's house, eating a delightful dinner with her family and catching up!

Last week, as I tucking Jack into bed and wishing him goodnight, he was busy giving Teddy an imaginary bath - turning on the taps, making the noise of the water, rubbing his hands with soap, cleaning Teddy's 'zizi, bum, neck, head..' and, well, you get the picture. He was 'towel' drying his hair as I closed the door....

A couple of days ago, Jack came into the bedroom as I was getting dressed and saw that I was putting on a new blue T-shirt. After looking at me for a moment, he said 'Celà, pas bonne' (That one's not any good) Then he walked over to the cupboard, opened the door, and pulled out a new T-shirt. 'Change.'

Don't you think these are signs that our wee boy's growing up... and that possibly he might just be in need of a little sister to keep in him company?

love n hugs,

Robynxxx

La Vie en Rose

We had another scan last night and..........the gyneo thinks that we're going to have a girl!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.

Of course, I'm most happy that 'she' looks healthy and that her evolution is normal...but, I have to admit it, I am overjoyed at the idea of having a girl to complement the Jack!

I've posted a picture of the scan... it's not the best as 'she' had her back to us, but we still saw her wriggle her feet and rub her head :-)

Now I'm approaching the start of the 5th month, we have 4 months left to prepare ourselves to the idea of having a little girl in the family!

I'm looking forward to it!

love n hugs to you all,

Robynxxxx

Thannenkirch

Last weekend, as well as sledging at the Donon, I went for a good walk in the woods around Thannenkirch (thann = pine tree / kirch = church) with a friend. We only walked for 2.5hours but the our main objective was to get to this charming shelter for lunch, not to reach the top of the Taennchel. Such a walk, we decided, would be done later.. when I was in a lighter condition. The walk we did was just grand, as it took us from the valley, with its whispers and smells of Spring, up into the cold shadows of Winter where we could find the tracks of deer and wild boar stamped in the snow.

Between seasons

As the snowdrops and the crocuses push their humble way out of the cold earth down here on the plains of Alsace, great amounts of crushing snow cover the upper hills of the Vosges. And so it was last Sunday that we left the sunshine of early spring and retreated back into the winter of the hills. And, it was fun. We dressed Jack up in his finest winter gear, rented a sledge, and got down to some serious skidding action. Jack was fair game for, after a few hesitant first attempts, he got going by himself... both sledging alone and bringing the sledge back up the hill to start again. Of course, the day wasn't all about Jack.. and Ben and I also had some sledge time and we made sure that once the day was done we retreated to somewhere cosy for warm food and good chat. Driving back down out of the snow and into the sunshine felt odd though.. as we really felt ourselves on the cusp of a new season and another new chapter in our lives.

things, big and small, that make me happy

Big things:

I've got to say that the size of my tummy makes me laugh becomes it seems so enormous given I'm only at a little over 4 months. However, that is not the whole truth.. as I'm also left wondering just what size I'm going to be in 5 months time! Heck, I was this size at maybe 6-7months last time. I guess what they say about your body having a memory is right... the upside is that everything is going so well. The tiredness of the first 3 months has worn off leaving me generally energised - that is when I'm going I'm on fire and when I stop I'm tired and ever-so-slightly grumpy! Ben's looking after me, though, and Jack is all about being independant so that helps. 'Jack fait' (Jack do) is his motto at the moment.. as he takes off his jacket, goes to the potty, and generally as he controls his own wee life.

Small things:

It's daft, but Sunday was a proud day for me .. as I successfully made my first loaf of homemade bread (the one from the day before was not successfully: it was a stone wearing a furry brown coat). And the feminist in me hid away, as I relished the feeling of serving butternut squash soup and homemade bread on a Sunday afternoon.

And so, I hope you are all well.. and that both the big and the small things in life are making you happy today :-)

hugs,

Robynxxx

I've done something silly...

Well, I haven't...

but Mr Jack is more than proud these days to announce 'je fais une bétise' (I've done something silly). There's a long list of silly things he can do in a day (spilling milk, making a 'mess,' crashing his cars, tearing paper) but last night he topped them all.. as he partied, with his toys, all night long. He normally sleeps from around 8pm to 8am (it's normally bliss). Last night, though, he woke up around 1am and kept the party going until around 3am. Luckily for me, Benoit was on duty! I slept through everything but now it's Jack's turn to sleep through everything for it's already 11am and the wee boy still isn't awake!!

His other cute expression at the moment is 'c'est mieux' (it's better)... going to the swimming pool is 'mieux' than staying at home, a tidy living room (surprisingly) is 'mieux' than a messy one, and eating yoghurt is, well, 'meiux' than anything else!

Tonight, I might just explain to him that it's 'mieux' to sleep at night, to let his old man rest, and to actually wake up before lunchtime the day after.

hoping you are all well!

love n hugs,

Robynxxx

Light, maman!

Well, the snow's descended on us.. but that's really just a great excuse to go for snowy afternoon walks and then to curl up inside with hot chocolates.

Meanwhile, Mr Jack is continuing his march towards baby boyhood. Now when he goes to the potty he shouts out 'laisse, maman' (leave me to do it, mum). Then when I point out that it's dark in the bathroom he shouts out again 'mettre, light' (put light on) before reiterating 'laisse, maman'. Yep, the wee boy's becoming more and more independant!

And that, my friends, is no bad thing as my tummy continues to grow and the baby inside, too. We're almost at the 4month mark.. and have a meeting with the doctor tomorrow to check that all's going well :-)

So, all is well and all with be well.. as the snow continues to settle on Alsace and as the swans, storks, and herons begin to drift back into our lands - readying for Spring and the warmer days ahead.

much love,
Robyn

Our little Puppy

Jack has been like a little puppy all week: rough, rough, rough (ruff, ruff, ruff). He caught a nasty cold last Tuesday night and so has needed lots of 'med'cine' and 'calin' (cuddle). He keeps telling us 'Teddy pleure' (Teddy is crying) and is all about being curled up on the couch with us, under a blanket - of course. The upside is that Ben took last Thursday off just to be with him and found time to paint that nasty yellow wall in the backround white. So, I guess our dark cloud has a silver lining and our yellow wall now has a white finish! Not only because of the wall but also because he was pampered all week, he is feeling better now.. and -ouf - we're all glad!

BIG news

I have some good news for you. All going well, Jack should have a little brother or a little sister by the beginning of August.

Yep, that's right! I'm three months pregnant and everything is going well so far!

We had an echography last week and saw its head, legs, arms, heart, stomach, back bone. You know? All the usual stuff that makes up a baby yet seems so miraculous when you see it on the screen for the first time. What's cool is that we'd had 2 previous echographies and so have really seen the foetus evolve from a little-pea like thing to a wrigglinng grub to the full 65mm 'baby.' It's incredible.

We have told Jack that there's a baby in my tummy and he seems cool with that...but he doesn't understand why he doesn't 'have a baby' in his tummy: Jack, baby? He'll say, lifting up his T-shirt and pointing at his tummy. Jack, baby!

At the moment, he's also creating lots of funny little sentences:
'Jack flush' - when he wants to flush the loo after using the potty.
'Jack drive?' - ever hopeful, when we get in the car
'Jack bum, bum, bum - he says with delight whenever he pulls down his trousers.

He can also tell us little stories. For example, when I asked him recently how his day was at the Nanny's, he said of another baby: 'baby pleure' (baby cry), Lily calin (the Nanny cuddled him), Lily kiss, teddy kiss, baby dodo (baby sleep). Then he smiled, as if content that his story ahd a happy ending.

He also likes the word 'big' - to describe his big spoon, his big bike, and himself, BIG, when he stands up to the sink to wash his own hands.

So, while our baby-in-making isn't very 'big' for the moment, know that we are getting ready for the BIG changes having 2 kids in the house will bring. What's that I hear you saying? We have to get ready for BIG trouble! Ah well, bring it on!!!

lots of love,
Robynxxx

ps/okay, I know the echography isn't great quality - but you have to imagine the baby is lying on its back with its legs in the air. It's head is on the left hand side and its arms and legs are slightly white-ish and bent at angles pointing upwards. You can see part of the backbone at the bottom of the screen, where the black ends and the greyish part starts.

Alsatian Games

The whole region seems to be playing the same game at the moment.

The rules? When you meet someone you boast about the lowest local temperature that you've seen.

My lowest is -8*C but then I'm only a beginner as Ben's seen -13*C and heard talk of -15*C.

Jack can't tell us the temperature (he can only count to two at the moment) but, when we go walking, he repeats ever so quietly but ever so surely: froid, froid, froid (cold, cold, cold).

I hope wherever you are, that you are nice and warm!

hugs,

Robyn

ps/What's temperature where you are today?

Happy New Year!

Hello,

Our New Year has started with a snowy and cold return to Alsace: it's -5* outside and snowing hard. That's not to say we're not happy to be back, we are, but - brrrr - it could be a bit warmer!

We had a great 2 week holiday back home with my folks in New Deer. It felt really good to be 'home' and to wake up each day knowing I would spend the day with my family. You know what I mean? :-)

Jack also had a lovely time and really seemed to enjoyed being surrounded by English (Scottish!) voices. At any rate, the number of English words he can say has increased. He likes the most important words like plane, bus, tractor, cow, and without surprise the world's most important word, 'gateau,' became cake. As his 'grandma' had also bought him a life-size car, he learn key verbs like 'car drive' and 'car park'... and can now do a three point turn better than me!

Christmas was a right laugh, as he had his own stocking and later got a (noisy) stovetop that makes the appropriate or should that be inappropriate bubbling and sizzling noises.

To try and burn off everything we were eating, we took walks along beaches and in parks and we visited the Macduff Aquarium. A funny moment came when we went to Haddo House: Jack spotted the playpark wayoff in the distance and set off on his own, even though the path led uphill and way away from us. When Ben called to him in French to 'come here' he shouted back 'no, come here' and kept walking. You can tell from the photo that he got pretty far before he realised his game was up!

So, all in all, we had a lovely festive period and I do dearly hope that wherever you are reading this blog from (whether it be in the States or Iceland, China or Egypt, Scotland or South Africa, New Zealand or Brazil) I hope you are well and that the New Year 2009 brings you all the joy and happiness you deserve.

much love,

Robyn xxxx

Merry Christmas

Hello there,

I know it's a bit late but I did just want to say that I hope you are all having a lovely Christmas, spending time with your family and friends.

For our part, we're back home in New Deer: taking walks on the beach, relaxing by the fire, and enjoying each others' company.

Jack's having a grand time and, not least, because he can now encourage people to 'Have Fun!'

So, please do follow his advice and know that I'll be back in the New Year with more photos n stuff.

:-)

much love n Christmas cheer,

Robynxxx

Jack went to bed without his dummy on Monday. He's outgrown (literally) all the dummies we could find in the shops. We'd been telling him for days that Monday was the big day. When the moment came to go to bed he realised the end was nigh, and threw a complete tantrum... A bit at my whit's end, I promised him 'gateau' for breakfast if he went to sleep without the dummy. Immediately, he was all smiles and fell asleep.

After a full night's sleep, he woke up and had his cake.

Now it's Friday and we've had a full week without the dummy.

Sounds promising, huh?

Yep, except that he's got an outbreak of what looks like stress-related eczema.

Equally, though, the eczema could be the result of him eating something that's not good for him...

you know, like too much cake?

:-) Either way, the boy's fine and will be fine.. and we're rid of that darn dummy.

Mamas and Papas

Just a quick message to say all is well here, as autumn lays her colourful patchwork blanket over these hills and as the mornings bring a silver breath of frosty air.

----------------------------

Mr Jack is doing just grand - though he's a little confused about the definition of "maman" and "papa."

Last week, he turned to Ben when he saw Victoria on the French equivalent of The Wheel of Fortune:

Papa, c'est une maman!* He said, while tapping Ben on the knee: Papa, it's a maman. **

*I'm afraid that my son will be dearly disappointed later in life if he thinks all 'maman' are built like Victoria

**Later versions of the story may suggest he said: Papa, that's a Maman!

Also, every time he sees a photo of a man on a mountain bike, he's sure 'c'est un papa!'

------------------------------

At the same time, he's also learned two other lessons about life:

1/ That when you climb over the bars of your baby bed, it hurts when you hit the floor.
and

2/ When you push our bike down a hill (even a small hill), you are likely to fall at the bottom

Where have the last two years gone....?

... and where will the next few years take us?

Some Photos from our Trip

Being daft with me at Max's Patch in North Carolina.

Walking in the sea in Florida.

On the swing at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

Fish-watching at the Georgia Aquarium.

Lining up with the lights in Savannah, Georgia.

Playing with his friend Jack in Florida

Preparations for Leah and Joel's wedding in North Carolina.

Play it again, Jack

If only we could 'play it' again, we would. Our 18day journey through North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida was absolutely perfect because, aside from Ben being ill for a couple of days, everything really worked out for the best.

We did loads of things including:

Playing Wii with Shawn and Cara in the wee hours of the morning

Celebrating Leah and Joel's beautiful and heartfelt wedding on the shores of Lake Junaluska

Dancing to pop music on a wooden porch under a dark night sky

Walking a pretty pug dog in the open-ended woods with Mimi in the Smoky Mountains

Driving with Jada, talking about birth and death and the bits inbetween in Sylva

Singing to children's music with Molly and Oscar in Asheville

Boating with Chris and Howie on Lake Norman, as Jack both drove and controlled the music

Visiting the White Water Centre in NC with Chris, so everyone - in their own way - could follow the mountain bike trails

Paddling with Lis over turtles and by cormorants drying their black open wings

Swimming in Rainbow Springs, which are crystal clear, with Jack and Jack

Wading through endless shallow waters in the gulf of Mexico, finding crabs and scallops and that days doing nothing else but being together are worthwhile

Staring at shuttles at the Kennedy Space Centre, even though it was closed

Admiring (what else can you do?) at surfacing and diving manatee as pelicans flew overhead

Talking politics and travel and alligators in swimming pools with Joan and Bob

Visiting with Jen, alligators, spiders and oh so many wading birds on Merritt Island

Chasing Jack around and up trees in Savannah, Georgia

Gasping at river and sea otters, beluga whales, and whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium

Sleeping, and that's a precious word, as we flew over the Atlantic on our way home

Yep, we have to thank our friends, our dear friends, for making our return to the States just so memorable, so breathtaking, and just so worthwhile.

Cheers!

Robyn (Ben and Jack)

splashing around

Hello again,

Since I last logged on, I've been boating with Chris and Howie on Lake Norman, North Carolina and been paddling with Lis at Rainbow Springs, Florida.

As we boated with Chris and Howie, Jack turned the steering wheel (and us), all while dancing to the music. As he danced, we relaxed in a boat that was dancing over the evening waves as the clouds turned a lighter shade of pale.

As we paddled today, Lis and I watched as cormorants dried their outstretched wings and turtles swam under our canoe and then surfaced just ahead - their wee heads turned peacefully towards us. And as we paddled, we thought of our boys - Jack and Jack - who had swum with us earlier that day through the crystal clear and cold cold water.

Yep, these are good indeed!

love hugs n watery stuff!
Robyn

Travelling Days are Here

I'm sorry I've sacked off writing anything recently but I have a good excuse: Ben, Jack and I are in the States, travelling through North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Right now, we're in Asheville, North Carolina.

If you're reading this blog from any of the northern or western states that know I really am sorry that I either haven't told you I'm here or that I haven't taken the time to come visit. This touring holiday really is about catching up with old WCU friends as the trip started with Leah and Joel's wedding. Trust me, though, I wish we had the energy and the gas to come and see y'all!!

Today we went out for a hike to Max's Patch - if you've the time, google images of 'Max Patch NC' and you'll see that this fantastic crown of land sticks, like a bald man's head, up over the sea of blue that is the blue ridge mountains! It was a really cool walk, especially as our heads are full of happy memories of all the people and places we've visited during this last week in NC and SC in Inman, Lake Junaluska, in Sylva, in Cullowhee and now here in Asheville.

It's lovely to be back to one of our 'homes,' for this was where our hearts resided for so many years.

hug,
Robyn

Now he knows what he wants...

Jack broke a little part of my heart this morning as he constructed one of his first complete sentences. It even had a subject, verb and object. The only problem was that I was the object and I was going in the opposite direction to him.

You see, he said: je veux maman (I want Mum).

And that, as I was getting in my car to go to work.

Ouch!

Otherwise, he can now say 'chickchicken' and 'baby' and the last time he went to the potty he peed consecutively no less that 7, yes, 7 times.

Here he is puting teddy to 'dodo', bed...with his make-believe dummy, comforter over his eyes, and a night-night song.

:-)
I hope you are sung night-night songs as sweetly!
hugs,
Robyn

Finding his voice

Jack's words are becoming little sentences.. and, goodness, aren't we all in trouble!

I want..

He can now say 'Je veux,' that is 'I want.'

He doesn't know yet what he wants but he wants it.

He'll point towards, for example, a pen that's on the table and say, 'Je veux.'

More...

During dinner, I'll ask him if he wants 'more.'

He know thinks that 'more' is an object.

'More,' he'll say pointing at his milk, 'more.'

Mine..

When he takes something that belongs to me, I'll say 'mine.'

He thinks this is a cool word and so whenever he wants to keep something he'll say 'mine.'

He'll even go as far as to say, 'C'est mine:' it's mine.

There is...

This morning I woke up to Jack shouting from his bed, 'il y a caca,' and I knew 'there was caca' in his nappy.. and sure enough there was!

Caca

Normally he screams this before rushing off to use the potty!

He's now been allowed to walk about in his pants quite a few times. He's as proud as punch about being such a big boy, until a wet patch appears.

Franglais

I guess you can already tell but the language Jack is speaking for the moment is a mix of French and English - Frenglish - if you like! When I say he's speaking, he's not really.. these are just the well timed utterences he's making. But, it's such fun to see the words 'appear' and to hear his voice and, yes, his opinions!

I hope your voices are all good and well,

much love,

Robyn x

Ten Days in Provence

I think here the pictures speak louder than the words.. and so I'll let them do their stuff. Enough to say that we spent 10 glorious days in Les Omergues, where Ben and I celebrated our marriage 4 years ago now.

Let Jack tell you about his life!

Jack is beginning to speak. He only has about 10 words for the moment and those words are fragile, but they are there and can help you have an insight into his daily life!
-

'Chaud' was the weather on holiday, every day (almost) which allowed us to spend most of our time outside. In Provence, that's a good thing as you hike along dusty paths and swim in water-lined gorges. Sometimes, though, the Mistral wind blows and causes Jack to blow on his hand in empathy of all things gusty.

-

'Gateau' is what he likes to eat...biscuits, bread and cakes are all greeted with a smile and an outreached hand.

-

'Kettle' is what 'Maman' puts on before she gets the 'gateau' out.. of course, the 'kettle' is 'chaud.'

-

'Papa' is cool. Of course.

-

When Papa is not there, Jack wants to know 'Où est Papa?' (where is Papa?).

If Papa is upstairs, outside, in the loo... Papa 'est là bas' (Papa is over there).

When Papa comes in the door he's 'PapapapapA.'

-

'Doudou' is two people: it's his teddy and his comforter. They go everywhere with him. (Doudou the comforter has a secret twin brother, just in case).

-

'Meuh..Moo' are what he says when he thinks he sees a cow.

'Meow' is his way of talking to cats.

'Urf urf' is the noise he makes for dogs... and he likes to present dogs with presents such as his succette/dummy or 'his' stones.

-

'Caa' is his word for car... and he loves cars but not as much as.....

'Boom. Boom' which are the motorbikes which simultaneously delight and terrfify him.

-

'Caca' is the poo that he does in his potty, when he has the chance.. which is quite often. Hurrah for the potty!

-

'Cuddle' is what his 'Papa' and 'Maman' like to give him!

-

'Qu'est que ce que ça?' is his eternal question and is always accompanied by a chubby little pointing finger.'What is that?' evokes responses that are as precise or as random as my mood. He always seems content.. which is a good thing as his lessons in 'franglais' (French and English/ Frenglish) are set to continue for a long time to come.

-

'ByeBye' and 'Au revoir' are always accompanied by frenetic hand waving and often by little kisses which are blown in smudges.

Where are you today?

Can I ask you a favour?

ClustrMaps is going to 'clean' my map at the end of this week, and so all the points which indicate where you are reading this blog from are going to ... disappear.

And, I'd love to know before they disappear where you are all from.

So, can I ask you (just this once!) to add a comment to today's blog saying where you are reading from?

I think it would be pretty cool to see the list of destinations because, looking at the map as its stands today, there are people from all over the world (b)logging on :-)

Hugs,
Robyn

Mounte Saint Odile

Yesterday, I went back to Mount Saint Odile with my friend Yvette to continue a walk we'd started last year. This time, instead of only walking for a couple of hours, we walked for four and a half hours and so really had the chance to follow the Pagan wall as it circled around the old monastery. The wall really is a grand old thing - built by the Celts, it stretches over 10km and is made of immense rectangular stones. As we walked through the rowan, birch, and pine forest, listening to the wind rustling through the leaves, and the sad whistle of a lone buzzard, we talked about the mystery of this wall - how it could have been built, why it was built, and who were the people that thought it so necessary to build such a big wall even though they didn't (apparently) build houses or even any type of shelter alongside.

Coming home, I did some research on the Celts and found out that Alsace was once part of the Hallstatt culture of Celts. One site notes: In the central Hallstatt regions toward the end of the period, very rich graves of high-status individuals under large tumuli are found near the remains of fortified hilltop settlements. And, indeed, our walk included a visit to a tumuli grave sites.

When you look at a picture of the site today, with Mount St Odile crowning the hillstop, it doesn't take much imagination to realise why the Celts chose this location. More difficult, though is imagining how they must have lived under those rowan, birch and pine trees where the wind rustles and a lone buzzard sadly whistles.

Chaud and Tell

The weather's pretty hot here in Alsace at the moment. How do I know? Well, not only is the thermometer dancing around the 30*C but also Jack is fascinated by the word 'Chaud' (French for hot). He'll look suspiciously at any food that he suspects is the slightest bit 'chaud'; he'll question if his bathwater is 'chaud?'; and, when we're out walking, he'll look at me and say 'chaud,' as if its my fault that the skies have decided to heat up.

Our apartment, at the same time, has become a cleaner place. Not only because most of the work is done, but also because Jack is a bit of a clean freak. He loves hoovering (he even has his own toy hoover), he wipes the table and the floor; and, when he goes to the potty, he takes off his nappy and then goes running (butt naked) through to his room to put the offensive item in the rubbish.. all while muttering to himself: bin, bin, bin!

Ben's pretty proud of him, as you can imagine. Not only for all the changes that are happening but also because today Jack tried to say a very important word: car!!!

Yep, it's official, our baby's becoming a boy :-)

Hoping you're well,

Robyn x