I told myself I was going to write one of these every week - a good idea in theory. Oh well. Turns out writing takes time and is kind of hard! Who knew! (My students knew - guess I owe them an apology.)
Our Little Bug is 11 weeks old. I was writing in her baby book (something I’m very delayed on, and something that’s really nice in theory but honestly only if you do it as it happens which feels impossible so then it’s like memories of memories instead of the actual thing which sort of defeats the purpose but I’m trying ok) about the day we found out I was pregnant. I was only four weeks along on Wednesday March 15, and was so excited and shocked I could hardly stand it. I went out and purchased €200 worth of pregnancy books and then to this absurdly fancy baby store called Donjse and purchased a newborn sized Easter bunny outfit (for my November baby…).
And then yesterday, I put her in the outfit and realized she’s outgrown it.
It’s so tight on her little tummy! I could barely button it under her diaper! (Obviously I did not take my baby out into Amsterdam weather like this, this was just inside…)
It’s crazy that she was just an idea for so long, something I knew was coming in theory but so far away from reality that I couldn’t really fathom it. And now I literally cannot remember what it was like to not have her here - 11 weeks doesn’t sound that long but it’s been a lifetime in reality.
So much of this time feels like theory vs. reality. Like in theory my goal of slowness in regards to postpartum body image is a great idea!
In reality these jeans I stuffed myself into led to an emotional freak out about how I hate all of my jeans and my clothes and everything. But god what a good cuddle that was with Little Bug!
This meeting point of how I imagine things and how they are has been interesting to muse on, because in my reflections on the last two weeks my struggle with pants is what loomed the largest in my brain. However, upon glancing at my camera roll, we had a fabulous, cozy and warm (metaphorically) two weeks. The reality was so good.
D’s college roommate was in Amsterdam so Little Bug got to meet him! We did some fun shopping and exploring of the city, and I made us all brownies.
^These are the greatest, easiest brownies in the world that are literally impossible to mess up. Highly recommend.
We had a (kind of lame) snow day! D stayed and worked from home for Bug’s first snow. I keep hoping we’re going to have the snow dump we had in February of 2021, but alas it seems like dustings are all we get for now.
Is there better snow day food than grilled cheese and tomato soup? I think no.
Gorgeous.
I continued my vibe of making brightly colored meals.
And did some tummy time with a very big girl.
She got some delicious treats too.
The Good Boy is getting more interested in her every day - well, maybe interested is a generous term. He sits closer to her at least.
^This is a horrifically blurry picture but he put his paw on her butt while she was eating!!!!!! D and I died.
I attempted a bow in Bug’s hair! Is that not the least practical and cutest thing you’ve ever seen??
A very funny thing about this Bug is that whenever she eats she clenches both fists at her belly at the start of the meal and slowly they unclench as she finishes up. It’s the cutest thing - she’s very serious about her meals.
I got a facial!! Something I really appreciate is when people understand that in postpartum life, all you really want is some quiet and to be rubbed. My facialist basically just gave me a face, head and neck massage for 90 minutes and I came out a new person.
Part of why I could get a facial is because Oma and Opa came back for the weekend!!! (An objectively insane thing to write as they live a 10 hour plane ride away).
It’s crazy, because when they left she was just starting to randomly smile (mostly due to gas) and now she’s smiling as a response! She’s so close to giggling I can taste it.
And she’s sitting up kind of! Oma and Opa were just blown away with how much bigger she is.
Little Bug has gotten into books in the last week. She is OBSESSED with Chugga Chugga Choo Choo , especially when D reads it.
It was a gorgeous wintery weekend filled with lots of happy moments.
^Drinkies for everyone.
We ended with our friend’s homemade cheeseburgers, which I can say are unequivocally the best cheeseburgers I have ever had in my life. Opa agreed.
And then I ordered some new jeans in a bigger size. An idea good in theory and reality.
Very cute! If you're not getting her Takkie onesies from HEMA you're not fully living the (my) Amsterdam dream, though.