Trip 4 to the US April 2011

I have a very well traveled kid.  This will be the fourth time we have flown to the US since moving in 2009.  I think she is a pretty good little traveler but that not to say that we don't have help.  Eight hours is a long flight for a 1year old, especially one who likes to be up and about all the time.  Fortunately for us, we have a little thing called the i-pad.  It is especially useful on long flights for keeping the little one entertained.

We had some trouble on the way there and missed our flight from Chicago to St. Louis but we found a play area in the airport for Milana so the wait wasn't so bad.  Like I said this is the 4th time we have been back since moving and we did all of the usual fun things when we go to visit the G-rents.  Lots of park time where Milana became master of the slide, shopping, relaxing, shopping, getting ice cream and almost everything that would be fun for a little girl.  Milana was more interested in Mick my parents dog this time and they had a big time playing together.  We also a had a family picture taken of the three of us while we were there.  It was time for an update since we last time we had a picture taken at 5 months old.

Returning to Germany we hit another snag and missed our flight to Germany or rather Mr. Obama decided to fly into Chicago the same time we were and shut down all in coming flights.  It was ok because we got a really nice free room in the hotel and a nice meal.  Milana was exta excited because we were staying in a hotel.  This  kid loves staying hotels for some reason, maybe it's the big beds.  So the next day we left for Frankfurt.  All in all it was a nice visit and we enjoyed our time there.  Now that is Milana is older we are going to start exploring some of Europe and have our own family vacations.

Retro post Christmas 2010

All I can say is Christmas is just more fun with kids.  Seeing Milana open presents and marvel at all of the Christmas festivities is the best present of all. We took two weeks off of work to spend Christmas here at home. We did all of the traditional German Christmas activities like the Christmas Market, baking cookies, decorating the tree, etc.  We had to buy plastic ornaments this year because Milana was just a little too curious and broke a few of the glass ones that were up.

Most people in Germany do not make a Christmas dinner themselves instead they make reservations at restaurants that are open on Christmas Day.  Now this is a tradition I can get used to.  Not slaving over a stove all day and someone cooks for me, sign me up!  Our friends Marco and Nikki were nice enough to invite us to join their family at a Greed restaurant.

Milana got pampered with lots of presents.  My favorite present she received was a Frosty the Snowman book from my parents where they recorded their voices and it was like they were here reading it to her.  It was very sweet.  Something she will always have. Milana also received her very own apron from cousin Susan so she could help me make cookies. It was a great two weeks and I am looking forward to more fun next year.

Retro post Over the ocean and though the air to Grandma's house we go...

It was around Milana's birthday last year that I discovered I had 3 extra weeks of vacation to use from the previous year.  I thought and thought about what I would do with these extra days since David didn't have the same amount of vacation.  I decided that I would fly back to see my parents for two weeks.  The next question was "Do I take Milana too?".  Could I handle a nine hour flight with a toddler by myself?  More importantly could I haul all of the necessary toddler items and a energetic toddler too?  After much debate I decided I would give it a try and whatever happens happens.

The flight over was no sweat.  Milana was extra good and as the plane took off from Frankfort she was asleep.  Getting though Detroit airport was difficult with a stroller, car seat, large bag, toddler, purse and travel bag but I managed to make it with only an hour to change planes.  Once in St. Louis, Grandma and Grandpa were waiting to pick us up.  We stopped on the way home to get something to eat and Milana had her first taste of barbecue and gobbled it up.  We made it back to the house and there were lots of new toys for Milana to play with plus Mick the pampered pooch.

We had a blast while we were there.  Lots of shopping, going to the playground and trying the equipment for the first time, and relaxing.  We took a trip to an apple orchard.  Milana had a great time picking apples and eating the ones Grandpa peeled for her.  She especially liked the hayride that we went on to get to and from the orchard.  She also had her first professional pictures done. Milana was a little timid of Mick the pampered pooch but they made up eventually.


 Soon our two weeks were over and it was time for our long flight back and believe me it was a long flight.  Milana ended up getting snotty and which meant she didn't sleep at all and I had to hold her almost the entire 9 hour flight.  Once back in Germany, Daddy was waiting to greet us.  I think he really missed us.  He must have really missed Milana because when we got home there was a pink princess ball pit waiting for a certain little girl.  All in all it was a great trip and I was really glad that we had the courage to travel that far by ourselves.

Retro post Milana's 1st Birthday

So I am writing about my daughter's 1st Birthday a major milestone almost one year later?!  I think I just need a sticky note on my computer that says remember to blog.  I tell myself that you are working mom not living in your native country so cut yourself some slack right?  WRONG!!!!  Those are just excuses and I want to have this to look back on when I am sixty and can't remember anything.  As I am typing this "little miss" comes over and gives me a hug and a kiss.  No wonder I get so distracted!

I am not sure if Milana knew it was her birthday but for her expressions it seems like she did. She really had a blast.  We started out with wearing Tinker Bell tiaras and opening her presents.  She caught on quick to the idea of opening presents.  I think all kids like the sound of ripping paper. After all the presents were opened Daddy and her sat together and assembled her musical table.  This was a gift she picked out herself at the toy store.  She also got a number 1 hat that she had to model for us.

She was a little tired after the present opening so then it was time for a nap.  After nap time it was time for the traditional birthday cupcake.  This was her first very own cupcake to eat, destroy and smear everywhere and she didn't disappoint. When she was finished we headed directly for the bath to get cleaned up.  The rest of the day she had a blast playing with her musical table.  At the end of the day she was one tired and happy little girl and to her I think she had the best 1st birthday ever.

How time flies when you are having fun.

Time flies when you are having fun, very busy, or somewhat forgetful to post on a blog that you started when your daughter was born. Whatever the case may be I haven't posted anything about Milana or our life in Germany for almost a year! I promised myself I would keep this up so I have a lot of catching up to do.

The last time I posted was my and Milana's first Mother's Day, so I guess I will start with the major events that happened from there on out.

Here in Germany, Father's Day is a holiday that occurs in June on a Thursday and you get a day off work for it. Traditionally Father's Day here in Germany is meant a sort of a "break" from the kids where the fathers go to local bars or sports areas and drink and have a day for themselves without the kids. It should be called "Pretend Bachelors Day". Kids still get their dads gifts and spend sometime with them but the dads go out a party by themselves too. We choose to celebrate David's Father's Day on the German holiday but with a more traditional approach of "Daddy-Daughter" Day.

Milana and I got David a new watch for Father's Day and they spent the day together playing, getting ice cream and taking pictures. They had a great day together and watching them together made me realize how similar they are. They even dressed alike too.

Seeing my husband with our daughter gives me that "warm fuzzy feeling". I love watching them interact together and how excited they both get when they seem to understand each other. It makes me very happy to see how much he loves her and would do anything for her.

Milestones, Mother's Day, and Ma-ma

My first Mother's Day was more than I could have asked for.  All of it was made possible by my wonderful husband and sweet little girl.  My first gift came the day before Mother's Day when Milana crawled up to me, tapped me on the arm, looked me in the eye and said "ma-ma".  I am not usually one of those mushy women who cry at everything but I have to say I was blubbering for a while.  On Mother's Day, Milana got me another bead for my bracelet that was started before she was born.  David got me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings to celebrate my first Mother's Day and made me a fabulous dinner.  Well enough about me, onto the reason I get to celebrate Mother's Day for many years to come.

The last time I blogged about Milana's milestones she was just learning to crawl.  Today she is ten months old and has learned so much in the last two months.  She is at full crawl now and is following me around where ever I go.  She can pull herself up to a stand on various pieces of furniture.  She likes to hold on to said furniture and do squats.  She is going to have the strongest legs in the neighborhood.  She is feeding herself with her hands and has acquired a taste for more adult food.  Some of her favorites are pasta, green beans, mandarin oranges, grilled cheese, cheese, pancakes, french toast, polenta, carrots, mommies broccoli soup and the ever popular German soft pretzel.  Tonight we are going to try mommies chicken and noodles.  Her new found interest in adult food makes it interesting to try and find food for her to eat.



Milana has been a very lucky little girl in that she has not been sick until 10 months old.  She has a mild case of bronchitis. It doesn't seem to slow her down at all.  Milana is now in daycare since mommy has gone back to work.  She enjoys going each day and is happy to see us when we pick her up.  I think she is learning a lot from the older kids on how to use her legs and feet.  Her daycare mother only speaks German which is good motivation for mommy to keep learning more German.  I know there are many arguments about if women should work or stay home and take care of the little ones.  For me and my family, it is important that I go back to work not only for the extra money but more importantly because we are living in a different country.  Working and interacting in the German culture will help me raise her while living here.  Many things are the same but many things are different as well.  The more knowledge that I gain will help her in the long run.  I miss her throughout the day but I know I get to see her at the end.  So to all the moms out there, I say, do what is best for you and your family and don't let others influence your decision one way or the other.

Milana's 2nd Us Tour

Milana's second trip to the US wasn't as hectic as the first but there was plenty to do none the less. Our first stop was Mobile, AL to visit Grandpa and Grandma Presken. We did lots of shopping, went to Bellingrath Gardens, and Milana cut her second tooth. Milana also got to experience her first time eating in a restaurant.

She was fussy at the first restaurant but the more times we went the better she got. She was really fascinated with the servers bringing the food. A big shout out to Grandpa P. for keeping her entertained at the restaurants.

Our next stop was St. Louis, MO to visit Grandpa and Grandma Benscoter. We stayed at home for a couple days to rest. Milana and Mick the dog tried to make friends but one or the other was a little timid. Ok Milana didn't like his stinky hot breath. We had a nice easter dinner on Sunday and took some pictures of Milana in her new Easter dress. 

We had two days of rest and then it was on the road in car to West Virginia for Milana to meet her Great Grandpa. We stayed in a couple of hotels which Milana loved because she got her own big bed to sleep on. The trip to West Virginia took most of the week. We spent two days with grandparents and took some nice pictures. On Sunday it was back to Germany.