Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Rach Gets Pierced


As most of you know, my sweet little doe eyed, though slightly hairless, baby girl often gets mistaken for a boy. As we were standing in line to go through security on the last leg of our flight over to the States, a women looked down at little Rach sitting in her stroller, dressed in a pink jump suit, pink shoes and a clip in what hair she does have and said, "your little boy is about fall asleep." Despite that fact that that women lacked any common sense, that was the last straw. I woke up first thing the next morning, completely jet lagged, went to the mall and had Rachel's ears pierced. She only screamed until we got a sucker in her mouth and hasn't complained about them since. I think they look adorable! It's a good thing I like them so much because they're not really doing their job. She has been call a boy on three different occasions since she had them pierced. In order to avoid making this same mistake yourself, practice this in the mirror, "Your BABY is so cute." How hard is that?!

Home for the Holidays!


After spending the last 2 years in Switzerland for the holidays, it was so nice to finally be home for Christmas! Matt took the entire month of December off plus some (you can't beat European vacation time) and we headed to the States. We spent 2 and 1/2 weeks in Utah before we flew to my parent's house in California for Christmas. My sister and her husband drove out for Christmas as well. It was a full house, but we had a fabulous day filled with a lot of fun and a LOT of presents. We spent almost 5 hours unwrapping gifts! It will be interesting trying to get all the new toys back to Switzerland.
Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year.













Saturday, December 22, 2007

Time flies!

Today we were able to go to Berkeley and visit Rachel's old "cell mate" from the Alta Bates NICU. Abby and Rach are only 4 days apart and spent most of their stay at the NICU in the same room. After 5 weeks we got to know little Abby and her parents really well and continue to keep in touch with one another. It was so great to see them today! We were completely in awe of how much the kids have grown. Here are some pictures of the girls shortly after they left the hospital...

...and here they are today!



Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Mommy's little angels


I truly believe that motherhood is a blessing. My children have brought great joy to my life and I love watching them learn. I especially love watching them interact with each other. They make me laugh and smile daily. I think before most people have kids they have this lovely image of what being a parent is. They see visions of their children playing nicely with one another at their feet by the fireplace or big sit down family dinners with everyone smiling and talking...oh yeah, and actually eating their food. It's true, there are those memorable "Kodak" moments that makes all the other stuff you have to put up with very worth while. Those happy moments are the ones that are usually blogged, but today, I'm going to focus on that other "stuff." Those moments that push me closer every second to going into, what I like to call, MMM or Mommy Meltdown Mode. The stories are funny now, but let me tell you, at the time I wanted to rip all my hair out and run screaming from the house! :)

About a month ago when Matt was away in Austria on business, I had put the kids to bed after a fairly uneventful evening. The hardest adjustment of parenthood for me has been getting up in the middle of the night. I don't do well being woken from deep sleep at all hours of the night having to leave the wonderful warmth of my soft bed and fluffy down comforter. At around 3 am I awoke to Danny yelling for me from his room. We recently moved Rach into the same room with Danny, so I ran as fast as I could to get in there and quiet him before Rach woke up. I open the door and the rest goes as follows:

Me: What do you need bud?
Danny: Uhh, I need nothing.
Me: You mean you need something?
Danny: No mom, I need nothing!
Me: Ok... good night.
Danny: MOM! I NEED NOTHING!!! (crying) GET ME NOTHING!
Me: Danny I have no idea what that means!!
Danny: Mom, just get me nothing...please!
This goes on for probably another 7 minutes or so.
Me: Just go to sleep and we'll look for nothing in the morning.
Danny: Ok

The dilemma is temporarily resolved, then, as if on cue, Rach wakes up.


My sweet little innocent looking Rach also has her moments. The other day, I put a movie on the for the kids so I could take a quick shower. My shower is my little break during the day. It's pretty much the only few minutes of the day when I can relax and think.
I'm washing my hair when I hear the curtain slide open. I look down to see Rach, fully clothed sitting on the shower floor. I get her out and sit her on the rug so I can finish rinsing my hair. Of course she quickly climbs right back in. I give in, turn off the water and slide the curtain aside only to see an unraveled role of toilet paper along with little piles of laundry detergent all over the bathroom floor. How a kid can be so destructive in such a short period of time is beyond me.

Despite these moments and the many MANY others like them (i.e. Danny asking me repeatedly throughout the day to fix toys that aren't broken and Rach pooping in the bathtub) I can't imagine life without my little trouble makers. Life is good...really really good!



Danny is in a phase where he hates wearing clothes.
Both kids love wearing their backpacks and Rach always has to have something on her head, whether it be her brother's beanie (above), tights or a dish towel.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

It's official!


Last week, Matt signed a new contract with Hilti, and in January, will leave behind financial controlling and begin his new position as product manager for cordless power tools. For a while we thought we would be heading back to the states, however, this turned out to be too good an opportunity to pass up. We're so happy to be able to stay in Europe for another 2-3 years and are excited to see what new adventures await us!
Here are a few pictures taken in the village, or "williage" as the Swiss say, where we live.





Sunday, November 4, 2007

Happy Birthday Danny Part II


On the morning of Danny's birthday, Matt and I filled his room with over 100 balloons. He was pretty excited when he woke up! We opened presents and had a big pancake breakfast. Later that evening, we had a few friends over. Matt made some great homemade minestrone alla Genovese and of course there were chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkles at the birthday boy's request. Our main goal was to make sure that Danny had a fantastic day. I guess we succeeded because the next morning Danny woke up and with a very sad face said, "I want my birthday back." I had to sing happy birthday several times throughout the day to try and temper the post birthday blues. Now, however, he has moved on to counting down the days until Christmas. Not because he wants more presents, but because he is SO excited to fly to the U.S. and see all of our family that he misses so much! Only 24 days to go! Whoo Hoo!!!

The shirt is of course a present from me:)
Pipa and Kasper gave Danny a new sled!



Siena and Danny's super cheesy smile
Danny flashing his cheesy grin for his little friend Ellie. I'll have to post the pictures she took that night. I think she's a two year old photography prodigy:) The girl seriously has skills!

Friday, November 2, 2007

Happy Birthday Danny!

Today we celebrated Danny's 3rd birthday! All day I've been reflecting back on the day Danny was born. I can remember all the details so clearly, it's hard to believe 3 years have already passed. It's even more amazing to look at these pictures from Danny's first few days and see how much he's changed and grown.
Matt and I woke early on Tuesday Nov. 2, 2004. I was so excited that this was my last morning waking up pregnant. I was huge and really uncomfortable those last few weeks. At this point we still hadn't agreed on a name for our little boy. The previous day I challenged Matt to a game of fussball. Winner got to name the baby. Matt won and promised to have a decision made by early the next morning. I was a little nervous seeing as one of the names on his list was Indiana. Normally I think Matt has excellent taste, but...Indiana?
The morning of the scheduled c-section we took a walk and Matt told me he decided on Daniel. Relief, though not my first choice. I wanted Wesley.
Matt's dad and my mom had flown in for the big day. At around 10am we headed for Arrowhead Hospital in Glendale, AZ. The nurses prepped me, I walked into the delivery room, and about 15 minutes later Danny was out. (For those of you who are thinking to yourself right now, "Ha, no labor? She had it easy." Let me just tell you Rachel more than made up for that:)
They held him up and I saw my Danny for the first time. I remember how smashed his poor little face was. I don't think he was able to open his right eye for at least 2 hours, but he was PERFECT! Even though he was born at 39 weeks, he was only 5lbs. 14oz. I was expecting a larger baby seeing how I gained 40 pounds!!!. All the nurses called him "little peanut." Matt and I were so excited! I still remember the look on Matt's face when he held Danny for the first time.
We had several visitors in the first few hours after he was born, including my dad who had flown in that evening.
Contrary to what you normally hear about forgetting about all the pain, I still remember it quite well. I also remember the spinal headaches and the crazy emotions I felt in those first couple of weeks. Luckily the good more than out weighed the bad and I would relive every difficult moment again if it would give me the same result. A healthy, happy, sweet and kind little boy who has brought such immense joy to my life.
Happy birthday my Danny J! I love you and feel so blessed to be your mommy.


Monday, October 29, 2007

Happy Halloween!


Saturday we celebrated Halloween! Since Halloween is not really celebrated here in Switzerland, we dressed the kids up in some make-shift costumes and headed to the church Halloween carnival in Zurich. We're amazed at the number of American LDS families living in this area.
The kids played games and went trick-or-treating around the church building. This was Danny's very first Halloween experience. That's somewhat sad I know. At first he was a bit unsure. We walked into the cultural hall, he looked all around and said, "I want to go home mom." It didn't take long before he was totally into it.


Danny with Obi-Wan (aka Cooper)


Rach and Kennedy


Showing off that fluffy tail


Happy 30th Birthday Mattie-Boy!

Yesterday Matt turned the big 3-0! We began celebrating on Friday night with a few friends that Matt works with. To keep the "old man's" reflexes in check, we played "Lightening Reaction", a game sent to us by Matt's sister. Basically, if you're too slow you receive an electric shock. It's pretty crazy and absolutely hilarious!






Yesterday our wonderful friends, Josh and Janelle, watched our kids so Matt and I could head down to Milan, Italy for the AC Milan v. Roma soccer match. It was a great game. Prior to the game we had an excellent lunch. After the game we stopped for gelato and headed home. You can't beat spending the day in Italy for your 30th birthday!




Instead of writing another poem, I've decided that in honor of your 30th birthday I am going to list 30 things that I love about you Matthew. These are just 30 of many!


I love...

1. your laugh
2. that you always treat me like a queen
3. your long eyelashes
4. watching you with our children
5. your relationship with your family
6. your desire to learn
7. your obsessive compulsive need to clean and organize
8. your ability to cook GREAT food!
9. when you speak Italian
10. your willingness to serve
11. your ability to get along with anyone and everyone
12. the way you always make a great first impression
13. the way you always hold my hand in the car
14. the crazy songs you make up
15. the way you lift me up when I'm feeling down
16. when you wear your hat backwards
17. the way your hair always sticks up in the back
18. when you kiss my hand while looking into my eyes
19. your ambition
20. that you've completed most of the goals you wrote down when you were 10 years old and are well on the way to completing the rest
21. your positive outlook on life
22. the way you continually encourage and motivate me
23. the way your eyes light up every time Rachel says "Da-Dee"
24. the patient way you explain things to Danny
25. when you play with my hair
26. your desire to continually improve yourself
27. the way your face looks when you are really focused on something
28. your green thumb
29. that others strive to be better in your presence
30. your integrity

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Parenthood Prep


Preparation for parenthood is not just a matter of reading books and decorating the nursery. Here are 12 simple tests for expectant parents to take to prepare themselves for the real-life experience of being a mother or father.


1. Physical Test. Women: Obtain a large beanbag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. After nine months remove 10 of the beans. Men: to prepare for paternity, go to the local drugstore, tip the contents of your wallet on the counter, and tell the pharmacist to help himself. Then go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office. Go home. Pick up the paper. Read it for the last time.


2. Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels, and how they have allowed their children to run riot. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behavior. Enjoy it -- it'll be the last time in your life that you will have all the answers.


3. To discover how the nights will feel, walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 lbs. At 10pm put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, till 1am. Put the alarm on for 3am. As you can't get back to sleep get up at 2am and make a drink. Go to bed at 2:45am. Get up again at 3am when the alarm goes off. Sing songs in the dark until 4am. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up. Make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful!!.


4. Can you stand the mess children make? To find out, smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains. Hide a fish finger behind the stereo and leave it there all summer. Stick your fingers in the flower beds then rub them on the clean walls. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look? Toy Test: Obtain a 55-liter box of Lego's. (If Lego's are not available, you may substitute roofing tacks or broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream. (This could wake a child at night.)


5. Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems: first buy an octopus and a string bag. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that none of the arms hang out. Time allowed for this: all morning.


6. Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a pot of paint turn it into an alligator. Now take a toilet tube. Using only scotch tape and a piece of foil, turn it into a Christmas cracker. Last, take a milk container, a ping pong ball, and an empty packet of Coco Pops and make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower. Congratulations. You have just qualified for a place on the play group committee.


7. Forget the BMW and buy a Taurus. And don't think you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that. Buy a chocolate ice cream bar and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there. Get a quarter. Stick it in the cassette player. Take a family-size packet of chocolate cookies. Mash them down the back seats. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car. There. Perfect.


8. Get ready to go out. Wait outside the toilet for half an hour. Go out the front door. Come in again. Go out. Come back in. Go out again. Walk down the front path. Walk back up it. Walk down it again. Walk very slowly down the road for 5 minutes. Stop to inspect minutely every cigarette end, piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead insect along the way. Retrace your steps. Scream that you've had as much as you can stand, until the neighbors come out and stare at you. Give up and go back into the house. You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.


9. Always repeat everything you say at least five times.


10. Go to your local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing you can find to a pre-school child -- a fully grown goat is excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goats eat or destroy. Until you can easily accomplish this do not even contemplate having children.


11. Hollow out a melon. Make a small hole in the side. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side. Now get a bowl of soggy oatmeal and attempt to spoon it into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane. Continue until half the oatmeal is gone. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it falls on the floor. You are now ready to feed a 12-month-old baby.


12. Learn the names of every character from Thomas the Train, Backyardigans and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When you find yourself singing the theme songs from these shows at work, you finally qualify as a parent.....

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Ode to "Big Friend"



My dear dear friend Alyssa,
You've left the land of the cow.
Now once again you're a woman,
And no longer a Frau.

You've left behind small portions,
Small refrigerators and miniature cars,
For SUVs, stainless steel Kenmores
And king sized candy bars.

You've left behind the mean sitting cashiers.
Every trip to the store makes me nervous.
I guess you're the type who prefers,
Common courtesy and customer service.

I never could clear my groceries away fast enough.
Before people in line and the cashier would nag.
Does it make sense that you have to bag your own groceries?
Plus pay 30 cents for the bag?!

But no more bagging groceries for you.
No more paying the shopping cart fee.
I guess there's more than one reason,
They call America the Land of the Free!

I bet one day you'll miss it here.
Though you may not as of now.
Before you know it you'll be craving schnitzel,
And the potent smell of cow.

You'll definitely miss Swiss people.
How could you not miss them.
And let's not forget the loud church bells,
That wake you at 6 a.m.

You'll miss visiting your friends,
After at least an hour drive.
And it won't be long until your wishing,
That all your stores closed by five.

Okay, I'm being slightly dramatic.
Doing a bit of exaggerating, that's clear.
All that I am trying to say,
Is that it's worse without you here.

If I listed all the good times,
That would be one very long list.
So from all of who are still stuck here to you,
"Big Friend" you will be truly missed!





This is Danny and Lys's cutie daughter Mia the day we had to say good bye. We miss you Barlow Family!!