This is what he looks like now.
Yes it is a bit strange, but we'll get used to it.
Amah & Kongkong (not king kong; grandma & grandpa Australia) are here. So nice to be spoiled and pampered, pampered and spoiled! Oh, and kaemon enjoys it too :)
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Growth spuurt
Phew we just had the inaugral growth spurt marathon. 2.5 days of a seemingly non-stop relay race between the two boobs and an irritable baby. Suddenly, he fell into a deep sleep and when he woke up he had grown and changed. Before:
This is what he looks like now.
Yes it is a bit strange, but we'll get used to it.
Amah & Kongkong (not king kong; grandma & grandpa Australia) are here. So nice to be spoiled and pampered, pampered and spoiled! Oh, and kaemon enjoys it too :)
This is what he looks like now.
Yes it is a bit strange, but we'll get used to it.
Amah & Kongkong (not king kong; grandma & grandpa Australia) are here. So nice to be spoiled and pampered, pampered and spoiled! Oh, and kaemon enjoys it too :)
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Those strange looking Spanish people...
News article from ABS news in Australia: the main amusement was: "those people in the picture don't look like your typical Spaniard". link to story
Learning Spanish
Monday, 19 February 2007
Presenter: Madonna King
Researcher: Loli Padilla
enjoying tapas
Loli (right) and her friends and family enjoying tapas in the markets in Spain
When Australians think of Spain, flamenco and tapas seem to be the first things that come to mind, and while food and dancing are important elements of Spanish culture, there’s so much more to learn!
And that’s what we’ll be doing over the next four weeks, with help from our Spanish teacher, Loli Padilla.
Learning to speak Spanish will certainly help you if you’re planning to do any travel, as Spanish is one of the world’s most commonly spoken languages, along with English and Mandarin.
“Spanish is what’s known as a world language, like English,” explains Dr Roberto Espezeto, a Lecturer in Spanish and Hispanic Studies at the University of Queensland. “It’s got close to 500 millions speakers who have Spanish as their first language, and millions more have it as their second language.”
Spanish is also spoken all over the world. “It’s spoken in Spain, but also basically from the United States down to Argentina, and then in parts of Africa,” says Dr Espezeto. “There are important populations in the Philippines who speak Spanish because – as many people know – the Philippines was a Spanish colony for hundreds of years, and the name itself refers to one of the Spanish kings in the 16th Century.”
The lifestyle in Spain is very different to life in Australia. “The day is longer in the Spanish-speaking world… so maybe people would go to work at 9am, or maybe a little bit earlier, they’d have a proper lunch – a three course meal – and then they might have a kip, and go back to work at 4pm and then work until 8pm and have dinner at 10pm. It’s just a different pace of life, and they use the day much more than we do,” says Dr Espezeto.
There are also many interesting facts about the Spanish language. Spanish is the only language that uses questions and exclamation marks at the beginning and at the end of a sentence, for example, ¡Hola! ¿Cómo está usted?
The Spanish alphabet has the letter 'ñ' - the n with the little 'thing' on the top: España, niño, niña - it sounds a bit like 'nya'.
Something else to look out for is that the Spanish languages have two different genres: words finishing with –o are generally masculine and words finishing with –a are generally feminine. For instance: el hombre (the man), la casa (the house) - with some exceptions.
To learn more about Spanish, and practise some phrases, visit the lesson pages below.
Lesson 1 - Greetings
Learning Spanish
Monday, 19 February 2007
Presenter: Madonna King
Researcher: Loli Padilla
enjoying tapas
Loli (right) and her friends and family enjoying tapas in the markets in SpainWhen Australians think of Spain, flamenco and tapas seem to be the first things that come to mind, and while food and dancing are important elements of Spanish culture, there’s so much more to learn!
And that’s what we’ll be doing over the next four weeks, with help from our Spanish teacher, Loli Padilla.
Learning to speak Spanish will certainly help you if you’re planning to do any travel, as Spanish is one of the world’s most commonly spoken languages, along with English and Mandarin.
“Spanish is what’s known as a world language, like English,” explains Dr Roberto Espezeto, a Lecturer in Spanish and Hispanic Studies at the University of Queensland. “It’s got close to 500 millions speakers who have Spanish as their first language, and millions more have it as their second language.”
Spanish is also spoken all over the world. “It’s spoken in Spain, but also basically from the United States down to Argentina, and then in parts of Africa,” says Dr Espezeto. “There are important populations in the Philippines who speak Spanish because – as many people know – the Philippines was a Spanish colony for hundreds of years, and the name itself refers to one of the Spanish kings in the 16th Century.”
The lifestyle in Spain is very different to life in Australia. “The day is longer in the Spanish-speaking world… so maybe people would go to work at 9am, or maybe a little bit earlier, they’d have a proper lunch – a three course meal – and then they might have a kip, and go back to work at 4pm and then work until 8pm and have dinner at 10pm. It’s just a different pace of life, and they use the day much more than we do,” says Dr Espezeto.
There are also many interesting facts about the Spanish language. Spanish is the only language that uses questions and exclamation marks at the beginning and at the end of a sentence, for example, ¡Hola! ¿Cómo está usted?
The Spanish alphabet has the letter 'ñ' - the n with the little 'thing' on the top: España, niño, niña - it sounds a bit like 'nya'.
Something else to look out for is that the Spanish languages have two different genres: words finishing with –o are generally masculine and words finishing with –a are generally feminine. For instance: el hombre (the man), la casa (the house) - with some exceptions.
To learn more about Spanish, and practise some phrases, visit the lesson pages below.
Lesson 1 - Greetings
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
baby kaemon continues to amaze....
3 days old update: Kaemon is drinking!!! and poooing and peeing while douwe changes him. he sleeps like an angel, is putting on weight and lifting his head...what progress!! don't know what else to report, he's just so cute even when he cries (yes we know that feeling won't last...)
Still in hospital, they're being over cautious with treating my raised temp during labour with antibiotics and kaemon has one more day of treatment. Otherwise we're both healthy and doing more than fine. I got my IV line out last night, good, but now I have no excuse not to change nappies. Douwe has discovered a new world: he's my expert advisor for breastfeeding and baby care - he's a natural father xoxo
Still in hospital, they're being over cautious with treating my raised temp during labour with antibiotics and kaemon has one more day of treatment. Otherwise we're both healthy and doing more than fine. I got my IV line out last night, good, but now I have no excuse not to change nappies. Douwe has discovered a new world: he's my expert advisor for breastfeeding and baby care - he's a natural father xoxo
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Kaemon is here!!
5 feb our son was born!
3230g, 49 cm, brown hair, bluish alert eyes, pink skin, perfect 10 apgar, drinks like a fish, first 24 hrs a sweet and easily-pleased superstar!
fotos to come, we're enjoying a hospital stay til at least the 8th (poo in amnio fluid and me temp increase during labour) but all's well so it feels like a hotel. could get really used to it...
3230g, 49 cm, brown hair, bluish alert eyes, pink skin, perfect 10 apgar, drinks like a fish, first 24 hrs a sweet and easily-pleased superstar!
fotos to come, we're enjoying a hospital stay til at least the 8th (poo in amnio fluid and me temp increase during labour) but all's well so it feels like a hotel. could get really used to it...
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Spring in February/Shame on us for enjoying global warming
Saturday was a delicious day; we sat outside in the sun drinking and reading at a cafe in the nearby 'countryside'. See douwe doing his impression of a Biologist with binos and bird book, if only there was sound, you could hear him doing the bird calls...
As I am "house-bound" I have been experimenting in the kitchen, flirting with Dutch cuisine (Boerenkoolstamppot en spekjes met rookworst/Kale, bacon and potato mash with smoked sausage) - the green peppercorn sauce was non-traditional, the dangers of experimenting with an exotic (it's all relative) dish - But see the happy eater!! The other is a decadent layered chocolate cheesecake...
As I am "house-bound" I have been experimenting in the kitchen, flirting with Dutch cuisine (Boerenkoolstamppot en spekjes met rookworst/Kale, bacon and potato mash with smoked sausage) - the green peppercorn sauce was non-traditional, the dangers of experimenting with an exotic (it's all relative) dish - But see the happy eater!! The other is a decadent layered chocolate cheesecake...
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Visit from the Whitesides
Eliza, Nick, Meg and Nan crossed the Atlantic (we're practically neighbours now!) for the weekend. We were as active as I could be.....shopping (Nick spoiling me for presents! Such a purrrrfect man ;), I had a bath in the hotel, eating out, watching DVDs, recruiting Eliza to make us a banana cake and us eating it!
The wonders of black and white photography....(with colour we would just scare the young folk)
The wonders of black and white photography....(with colour we would just scare the young folk)
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Introducing...........Dr Dorien de Groot
Friday 19 January, Dorien was awarded her Dr of philosophy-- Hoera! The graduation ceremony for Phds here has similarities to a wedding: aisle procession with attendants, answering questions, a little speech by a man in a dress, recession and afterwards tea, cake and presents.
with the new Mr & Dr de Groot
with the paranimphen (bridesmaids/groomsmen)
with the new Mr & Dr de Groot
with the paranimphen (bridesmaids/groomsmen)
The calm before the storm?
Maybe I'm getting a bit impatient waiting waiting waiting
The progress of the belly: growing, kicking and hiccupping.
These are Days of my life: like an paris hilton-type heiress, without the money and clothes and body. What's left? Tea dates, dinner soirees, shopping, napping, time for hobbies.
The progress of the belly: growing, kicking and hiccupping.
These are Days of my life: like an paris hilton-type heiress, without the money and clothes and body. What's left? Tea dates, dinner soirees, shopping, napping, time for hobbies.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Silly season closed
Christmas till new year, it all went by with little fuss, lots of food and good company. Happy and exhausted = content.
Good beers, fine whiskey, ok champagne, and Maalox forte (antacid drink) made it all special
Good beers, fine whiskey, ok champagne, and Maalox forte (antacid drink) made it all special
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
My antenatal class
I appear to be trying to push out my belly, yes I have belly envy. One of the smallest in the class. I'm a bit of a study nerd, not learning nothin' new at these classes, read it all in books at home
. And when douwe came along for the partner puffing/panting class, I had to restrain his under-the-breath remarks (mainly "that's ridiculous"), the teacher being a little hippy-ish. At least I didn't hear what a friend heard at these classes; that you must feel the pain to be able to bond with the baby...I might just get violent with comments like that.
Bad Parent
Last night I watched TV and there was angry shouting dialogue and the baby started kicking a lot. Immediately, I felt guilty and turned off the sound, watched the subtitles and started singing happy songs. oh, the responsibility.
Monday, December 18, 2006
The weekend!
What does a weekend mean to an unemployed housewife? So tiring. Morning:job hunting; Afternoon:shopping, coffee; Evening:pooped, too tired to cook, let fingers do the walking and book a table for 2. (Below: Look at my big lamb's shank; Ice skating in the centre of nijmegen! In the midst of a warm winter, totally unnatural ice and therefore a bit disturbing but still picturesque)
Stereotype quiz. Are you...
unemployed- yes
pregnant- yes
barefoot- nope!!!
I have new shoes and earmuffs! Took them out for a walk, got bogged down.
Stereotype quiz. Are you...
unemployed- yes
pregnant- yes
barefoot- nope!!!
I have new shoes and earmuffs! Took them out for a walk, got bogged down.
Our couches are here!
After >1 month of sitting on a gym ball and 2 lime green fatboys our new couches finally arrived (insert Joyous reaction here): our first guests had to help shift them, attach the feet but after the work they were allowed to sit.
Dessert that night...cute baby pineapples (baby anythings are cute) and mango brulee with vanilla ice cream.
Dessert that night...cute baby pineapples (baby anythings are cute) and mango brulee with vanilla ice cream.
D-Day/Going away dinner #2/sIlly seasoN #5
unemployed :( But strangely I'm happy :) Going away dinner #2 with workmates was festive and I did get a little sentimental...
Goodbye my robot friend I'll miss you too.
Goodbye my robot friend I'll miss you too.
Monday, December 11, 2006
SillY SeaSon #4
I have indulged this week, because....just because.
Chinese Roast pork- carefully nurtured to crackling perfection in the top shelf of my oven, Isaan Thai Banquet (10 seconds of pleasure and a few minutes of pain- it's worth it)
Breakfast: Warm Chelsea buns with glazed goodness, smoked salmon & asparagus quiche, salmon & guacamole thingies, goats cheese & balsamic onion tartlets, troupical fruit platter with the queenly mangosteen (I love you) & Bugles (chips I love but never [normally] buy)
Yummy-licious creme brulee, Duck spring rolls: different but delectable
Chinese Roast pork- carefully nurtured to crackling perfection in the top shelf of my oven, Isaan Thai Banquet (10 seconds of pleasure and a few minutes of pain- it's worth it)
Breakfast: Warm Chelsea buns with glazed goodness, smoked salmon & asparagus quiche, salmon & guacamole thingies, goats cheese & balsamic onion tartlets, troupical fruit platter with the queenly mangosteen (I love you) & Bugles (chips I love but never [normally] buy)
Yummy-licious creme brulee, Duck spring rolls: different but delectable
Thanks all for the calls, sms's and emails- if you didn't, leave a message in the comments!!! It was a quiet day (a PJ day), but still warm and fuzzy ;)
There was no wild party, that's why Ingrid (birthday 5 days prior) and I are in pyjamas blowing out candles.
You can take the girl out of emu park/yeppoon but....Let's just say table manners flew out the window when we were having fun.
No hangover, but talking till the wee hours will have the same effect
There was no wild party, that's why Ingrid (birthday 5 days prior) and I are in pyjamas blowing out candles.
You can take the girl out of emu park/yeppoon but....Let's just say table manners flew out the window when we were having fun.
No hangover, but talking till the wee hours will have the same effect
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The month of birthdays
It's terrible, The Month of Birthdays. It all happens so quickly I'm always prone to forget one. So I'm going to cheat and do them all at once! (I'm sure I've still misseed some)
My pa
Tyrita
Ingrid (BTW ingrid, this photo is captioned as: Touring Inala!!)
Dennis(the one with his eyes open)
Laura
Koongkoong & Amah
Me, my Twin, and Alvin all on the same day!
Dave and Nick
Samir (with a gratuitous appearance by my husband- both looking quite fine)
Wedding Anniversary Mustafa and Anke
Aunty Sally
Aunty Daisy
DanMan
My pa
Tyrita
Ingrid (BTW ingrid, this photo is captioned as: Touring Inala!!)
Dennis(the one with his eyes open)
Laura
Koongkoong & Amah
Me, my Twin, and Alvin all on the same day!
Dave and Nick
Samir (with a gratuitous appearance by my husband- both looking quite fine)
Wedding Anniversary Mustafa and Anke
Aunty Sally
Aunty Daisy
DanMan
Silly SEason #3 Leaving Work Dinner (#1)
One More week to go!!! We had a totally enjoyable dinner @ Appels&Peren with my immediate group members past and present. Beginning from me clockwise is Virginie, Bas, Leo (Boss), Luisa, Miguel, Nardy (hidden) and Douwe (who is the only one trying to following my instructions to "look SPARKLING!!".
the details in this restaurant were so disarmingly charming (I got a bonus choc muffin for the entree when I explained I was saving my precious little stomach space for the dessert) and the food was Sa-tis-fy-ing and prepared with lurve. At least that what I felt from the food. I mean, look at the dessert platter: for the one who cannot choose, you can have it all.
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