Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Steps - so many Le Papa lost count!

Stellinha has been practicing taking independent steps since early November. Her mom's eyes filled with tears the first time she witnessed Stella taking a wobbly step forward, hanging onto nothing but her courage and passion to move!

Over the last month, the steps have multiplied, and have regularly reached three, ending with a kind of dive into proud and loving parental arms... And lots of hugs, laughter and group shrieks of delight!

TODAY, however, at the local baby café (you read right... a café for babies, with Babycinnos and mushy food, diapers and loads of toys - and toddlers! More on this local wonder another day...), Stella decided to wander out on her own. And so she did. Her papa and tia Maria José were watching, and the steps were so many the amazed papa lost count!!

Here are a few walking photos to celebrate this day, taken an hour ago in our kitchen. The little walker is now soundly sleeping and we are all over-joyed!






Monday, December 8, 2008

Celebrating Second Advent (Swedish style)

Family Gruvesäter are long-time friends of ours. JD and K met Britt and Ola in Brussels in 1996, even before their engagement in Malaysia, move from Skövde, and arrivals of Sofie, Martin and Erik.

These wonderful five are always inviting us for all kinds of special family activities. Yesterday it was pepparkakor-baking!




While some of the goods were in the oven, the team enjoyed a well-deserved break for a walk in the family backyard...


Once back, it was time for tasting the results... Stella had to sneak-up on one of Santa's helpers to get her first sample.



A little negotiation...


... resulted in a tasty ending!!


Tack så mycket to the Gruvesäters!!!