Gettin' girly

Erik better hurry home before we're all wearing tiaras and lipstick. 

In reality, the pigtails and barrettes (on a 4 month old) are necessary fixes to tame some unruly manes.  Elsa's increasingly thick hair and swirly cowlick are starting to intimidate me to the point that I might need to seek a professional for the first time.  A pair of scissors, a DVD, and my amateur cutting skills (not much advanced beyond a bowl cut), might not be sufficient anymore. Then there's Clara, whose vision will soon be obscured by her bangs, and thus delay her motor developement and exploration of her environment and doom her forever. The pressure!  How do you cut an infant's hair? I was convinced not to cut Elsa's hair till she was one - something I regret every time I see her baby pictures and shudder at the 7-month-old mullet that reached her mid- back.

Well, the three of us ladies have been holding down the fort here in Wiesbaden while Erik is back in the US this week.  This is the longest I've gone solo since becoming a parent, and I'm pretty ready to have Erik back to handle some of the endless whys. (Why were you born in Minnesota? Why is this house old? Why is Grandpa your Daddy? Why is the light green? Why is it raining? Why are you putting me to bed at 5pm? Okay kidding, that last one didn't really  happen. But I was tempted. Bed time has been getting progressively earlier as the week wears on). 

Why are we both wearing polka dots? Why is it a coincidence but it's cute so you're taking a picture? Why don't I smile normally for the camera anymore?



So what have we been doing to keep ourselves occupied and sane this week? Exploring our neighborhood, taking lots of walks, painting pictures, "hiking" in the woods near our house, starting new play groups (one with the Lutherans, one with the Catholics.  We are a Reformation-neutral household), going out to dinner at the Afghani-Waffle restaurant (which was an awesome, albeit random combination.  If Afghan-Belgian fusion is common, it's the first time I've ever seen it.), playing putzfrau (sadly, our putzfrau from Wolfenbüttel thought I was joking when I asked her to live with us forever), grocery shopping, and checking out new playgrounds.  Playgrounds are like pick-up joints for stay-at-home-moms like me ("Hey, she looks nice! Maybe she wants to be my friend! Elsa go say hi to her kid!").  Of course, there has been plenty of time just hanging out and playing, especially on this rainy Thursday.

 Erik, watch out. Your glasses aren't safe anymore.

We look forward to Erik's return tomorrow morning, and will be busy all morning baking the welcome- home treat.  But, it's good to know we can pull this off. 



We did it!