Helping with the Laundry

Luka loves climbing in the laundry hamper and curling up with the (clean) laundry. May he always enjoy helping with the laundry!

Not to be one upped, Annika was quick to climb in with him. Which got a little cozy!

I guess they spent many months together in even tighter quarters before moving up in the world into the drawers they shared as newborns!

O

For love of the Caribbean

Both Annika and Luka really like rice and beans; it must be the Boricua in them. 

But Annika especially loves, loves, LOOOOOVES black beans and rice- perhaps a culinary taste that acknowledges her Caribbean-American roots and the unthawing relations between Cuba in the US?

After all, aren't we all brought together by our mixed roots and heritage through sharing food across cultures?

Just can't get enough!

Don't forget the mango!

More please!

Astronaut food? MRE's? Yes!

Although we mostly make the kids meals and food from scratch, we have experimented with different degrees of unsuccessful attempts to also introduce some packaged foods. We figured when we are too behind on things, for occasions when we are on the go and to have some backups in emergencies that these ready made baby MRE rations could prove very useful. 

But who would want an MRE...

When you are used to caponata?

Well, as it turns out, if you give home the chance to eat it on his own, Luka would!

Looking more little boy-ish

Yum! And now we are ready to hit the zoo with rations at hand!

High chairs

The kids have been spending a lot of time learning to eat all sorts of fun new things in the high chairs as we build solid foods into their diets.

Here they are experimenting with the texture of Greek yoghurt:

And Annika, especially, loves to eat!

One of her favorites is the Giant Jam Sandwich book, although this one about the beard isn't bad either!

Trying on mom's hat...

Not so sure about that!

And they are at a stage where they are really aware of each other now, and  interacting, playing together and talking to each other. They will often turn and look at each other, grab each other and coo and babble at each other too.

If only I weren't such an old, technologically inept parent, I'd know how to post a video to show you and not just pictures, because it's really cute!

Want to join us for a snack? It's so fun!

Synergy Pals

Annika and Luka both love, love, love these musical plush toys that Doug, Helene, Hannah and Maddie have them on their birthday. They get so excited and dance, bounce, hug and nuzzle them so sweetly when they come out. 

Enjoying some porch time before dinner with Wise Owl.

Playing with the new train-walker

Grandma's choo choo train walker was a huge hit! Both kids have enjoyed pushing each other around, playing the various games with the blocks, and their practicing walking skills, which Annika, especially, is quite adept at.

Train maintenance and ABC's

Practicing her mad walking skills.

Not to be outdone by the other local train conductor.

And after a long hiatus...

It has been a while since our last posting. We've had a busy six months, and both kids (and U.S.) went through a really rough six weeks with everyone really sick. 

We kept holding off on posting to try and catch up, but have instead decided to start posting some of the current pictures and catch up later if we can.

Annika and Luka are both crawling, using some signs and words too. One of Luka's favorites is "bah boo," for a balloon left over from there birthday party that he just loves, and he has been working on "ah-ish" too (ice). 

Annika and Luka both say "hi" and "bye-bye" very sweetly and Annika especially gives André a big "hi papa!" When he gets home.

On to some pictures. Here we go!