JJ's Version of a Christmas Tree

If it were up to JJ this is the Christmas tree that we would have up in our house. He is a total mac maniac. Too bad I can't buy him any mac toys for the holidays, becuase I think he already has everything. Baby, Merry Christmac!

Sam is 7 months!

Sam turned seven months on Monday and I haven't taken time to write about. I am sorry Sam. Things have been very hectic in the van Herksen household. But I think this week is going to be great and hopefully less eventful. Luka is off school and we can concentrate on celebrating the holidays in La Paz!

So back to Sam. Yes, our baby is 7 months already. We can't believe it! Just this week JJ and I have noticed what a big boy he is. Sam is already sitting on his own and I think he is days away from crawling for the first time. He gets into position then is sort of lost and doesn't know where to go from there...it is really funny to watch him try and grab toys and things that are in front of him. He finally loves to eat. He eats three meals a day plus milk and I think I am going to have to start increasing the portions because he always leaves his bowl empty.

As far as the milk...he has finally started to drink formula and give my boobs a break, but he still breast feeds about 3-4 times a day. For months I couldn't wait for him to get off, and now I feel so freaking guilty when he drinks a bottle. Why are moms so crazy??? I should be happy that I am getting a break after seven months...but what can you do.

He has (I don't even want to type it because I feel I will jinx it) started to sleep 6 hours straight at night. I hope it is not a phase and he starts to sleep better at night (so far it has been around 3 nights). I really need to sleep! And I noticed he is much happier when he does get a good night's sleep vs. waking up every 2 hours which was happening. Sleep Sammy sleep!

Sam, you definitely have your own personality now and you have started to express yourself. I can't get enough of your laugh, which comes out the most when your Big Brother Luka is around. He cracks you up!!!

Your favorite toys at the moment are you Fisher Price Shape Blocks...not so much for the blocks but because you like to take it in and out of the plastic box it comes in. You LOVE to empty containers...anything that is in front of you gets tipped over. And you also love LEGOS..again not that you can build anything at the moment, but you love to pick them up, throw them and take them in and out of the container they are stored in. I hope this means that you will be great at picking up your toys in the future.

Happy seven months Sammy! We love you.

PS You haven't had any first words yet but I swear I have heard you say Mama and Nononono.

Story about a "Rockstar Baby"

I was reading the New York Times Travel Newsletter that I get via email and I came across this great article about traveling with a baby in Southeast Asia. I could relate to the family on so many levels living with Luka in Mozambique and now in Bolivia with Luka and Baby Sam. Babies seriously break any cultural divides and everyone loves to talk about babies even if you have problems with the language you can always talk "baby."

I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did.

Click here to read it.

PS Living in La Paz Luka and Sam are total rockstars. Probably more Luka than Sam...Everyone always wants to talk to him or touch his hair. The hair gets a little annoying, but Luka is slowing starting to warm up to all the greetings and "hola bebe" he receives on the street. But he is very adamant about NOT being called a baby.

Happy Holidays from Bolivia

My Pummelvision

My Pummelvision from Melissa van Herksen on Vimeo.

I found this really cool website that takes your photos from Facebook, Flickr and I can't remember what other service and puts it together into this ultra cool video. It is like watching your life flash before your eyes.

I actually don't have many photos on facebook, I put them all on shutterfly and they don't work with shutterfly. But I thought it was really cool nonetheless and I thought I would pass it on.

Try it and send me the link to your video!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...Even in La Paz!

This past weekend Luka got very excited when he saw Santa Claus in the mall and I was even more surprised to see it was a black Santa. I mean I have counted a total of like 10 black people in La Paz (including Luka) so this was a treat! Actually there were two Santa Clauses at the mall. Luka was very confused. But I told him that Santa Claus couldn't be everywhere at one time so these were special Santa assistants. One of the Santas was playing along and quickly chimed in, "Yo soy assistente #15!." Luka seemed satisfied with this answer.

Then he was curious as to why one Santa was brown and the other one was white. He went on to explain to me that he thought the brown Santa spoke English (he was American) and the white Santa spoke Dutch (he was Sinterklaas). Well I didn't explain and just said, "oh really, hmmm." When he sat on Santa's lap and he started to speak Spanish he was thrown for a loop.

This picture is not the best quality..it was an instant print from the mall, but don't my boys look cute. Sam even smiled! He was very intrigued with Santa's beard and you should have seen me dancing and jumping around trying to get them both to look at the camera at the same time. Someone should have taken a photo of that!

Well, we are busy in La Paz. Today the Christmas tree finally went up (i know a little late) but I have been trying to start up a new design business (more on that soon.) and also driving Luka to school, Dutch school and Christmas classes...oh I almost forgot about Sam. He is 7 months now and so adorable, but still quite a handful.

Yes, Luka is taking a christmas craft class and he LOVES it. He comes home saying, "Mami, hice Navidad hoy." They are supposed to bring all their projects home on Friday so I will take photos and post for everyone to enjoy.

Bye for now, but hopefully I will post more entries soon. I have many things to catch up on.

Cupcakes, Candy & Rock-n-Roll

I have about 500 photos to edit from this party, but I couldn't wait to post some photos of Luka and his outfit. For two weeks he harassed me for a wig. All the kids in KG3 couldn't stop talking about Stefan's Rock Star Birthday Party. Wait till you see the photos this event!!!

Well, Luka was super excited and ask me everyday for a "PELUGA" (in the cutest gringo accent). I told him the word was like his name PE+Luka...well he was all over that. Finally the day before the party I found a shop that sold crazy wigs. Luka picked it out himself. Doesn't he look hilarious. To me he looks like a cross between a Black Bon Jovi & Garth (from Wayne & Garth). Love it!!!

He seriously rocked at the party...dancing with the company that was hired to entertain and grabbing the microphone to burst out in song or with a Happy Birthday to Stefan. More details coming soon, but these photos had to go on the blog right away.

Holiday Photo Fun

I love photos and I love the holidays so when I got this link in an email from Photojojo (super fun photo site) I had to share it with everyone. Some of these ideas are hilarious. Maybe I can get together with my sister in February and take a photo like the one above.....

Click here for the link.

Morning Delights

Lately I am extremely sleep deprived, and unfortunately I am not a coffee drinker. But who needs a caffeine boost when you have these two little bursts of energy jumping into your bed every morning. Sam is usually in bed with us after his 6 am feeding...then around 6:30 am Luka runs into our room and his first question is usually, "Where is Sam?"

Follow-up Comment on Sinterklaas Posting

Here is a message from my sister-in-law:

Dear Melissa,

It's nice to see how much study you've made of Sinterklaas and especially of 'Zwarte Piet'. It might look strange and I understand that completely. But the thing is: we never look at it that way. For us 'Zwarte Piet' is just a funny assistant of Sinterklaas and nothing more...and yes we do say he's black because of the chimney.

After all, whether you celebrate Sinterklaas or Christmas with Santa (and fairytale elfves) it's both commercial and just a fun celebration:)

Love,

Marlotte

In the end I guess it is okay and all in the spirit of the holidays. Luka had a great time at the party, but the black paint still erks me!

Sinterklaas vs. Santa Claus

(Luka's Letter to Sinterklaas. He dictated and I typed)

We thought the hardest thing about growing up in a multicultural household (American, Cuban, Dutch, Mozambican & where ever we might be living at that moment) would be the languages. Well, we were wrong. Luka is three now and just beginning to take notice of the holidays, the seasons and all the questions that come with that...specifically Sinterklaas vs. Santa Claus.

I grew up loving Christmas and everything about it..plays about Jesus' birth at church, midnight mass, waiting every year for my grandmother to take out her "baby Jesus", putting up the Christmas tree and leaving it up (in my house) until February, waiting for Santa and leaving him cookies, waking up at 5 am to open presents...I could go on and on. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Now that I married a Dutchman we celebrate Sinterklaas on the night of the 5th of December. JJ is adamant about not mixing the two holidays, so our Christmas tree will go up on Dec. 6th so we won't confuse Luka.

Luka seems to know the different. Santa Claus is the jolly chubby guy with the reindeer and Sinterklaas is the dude with the long white beard in the red bishop's outfit that rides a horse. They look very similar and I have told Luka that they are cousins.

I have mixed feelings about celebrating Sinterklaas with our African son. I feel uncomfortable with a guy dressed up in silly clothes wearing black shoe polish on his face "assisting" Sinterklaas. To me that is a way of mocking black people. I did some "research" on the Internet and I used that term loosely because I used Wikipedia, but according to this website:

Sinterklaas is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful Moorish dresses, dating back two centuries. These helpers are called 'Zwarte Pieten' (Black Petes). During the Middle-ages Zwarte Piet was a name for the devil. Having triumphed over evil, it was said that on Saint Nicholas eve the devil was shackled and made his slave. Although the character of Black Pete later came to acquire racial connotations, his origins were in the devil figure. This racialization is reflected in the reworking of the characters' mythos. Their blackness was racial, with Pete being an imported African servant of Saint Nicholas since 1850 (though some people say Pete was a slave who, when Sinterklaas bought him his freedom, was so grateful that he stayed to assist him). Today however, the more politically correct explanation that Pete's face is "black from soot" (as Pete has to climb through chimneys to deliver his gifts) is used. Traditionally Saint Nicholas only had one helper, whose name varied wildly. "Piet(er)" the name in use now can be traced back to a book from 1891.

So whichever way you look at it, in my eyes, it doesn't send a good message. "'Black Pete" is either the devil or a slave or both. Please can some of my Dutch family members shed light on this????

We will celebrate Sinterklaas today and I will grind my teeth as "Black Pete" runs out and throws candy at the children and later they will all play games. I would actually feel much better about the whole thing if a real black person dressed up as "Black Pete," but the black make-up kills me.

But on a happy note, Luka got really excited this morning when he saw that Sinterklaas, Black Pete and his horse had come to get the cookies and carrots Luka had left in his shoe...and he got a present! Today at the party Sinterklaas will have another present for Luka. This morning he got a toy story yoyo. Let's see if he gets the Buzz Lightyear at the party?!?!!?

We will keep you posted....

Luka Gets "Props" in His School Newsletter

Today I received the ACS Connections (the school newsletter) and there it was...Luka's name in lights. Well not so much lights..more like in a bold arial font in an email. But for me it was just as good as lights! Here is the excerpt about his class.

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO…

Stefan Skaliks for giving his classmates kind compliments. Tadeo Gerke for greeting his classmates in such a cheerful, friendly manner every morning. Luka Reznicek for following directions so independently. Simon Schuab for bringing his pet rabbit to school and explaining how he cared for his pet to us. Luka Dario Van Herksen for doing such a good job of cutting his owl. Esteban Meyer for feeding the horses so many carrots. Agustin Barragan for rock’n’rollin like a pro in music class. Laura Reznicek for her artistic drawings and cutting. Valentine Mendizabal and Catalina Quiroga for being such expert horse women and smiling like champions. Alberto Blomqvist for doing such a great job of showing his parents and siblings around his classroom at the ES Open House. Dash Reznicek for brightening my day by saying, “Good Morning Mrs. Kirby!” in circle time.

From Mrs. Kirby

Congrats Luka and I can't wait to see that owl you cut!

Happy Adoption Day

Dear Luka:

Three years ago we became a family when you arrived into our lives. It has been three years full of suprises and adventures at every turn. Lukie...three years...wow, time has flown by. I still remember bringing our little tiny baby home. We were scared, excited and most of all we were so overcome with happiness to finally have a son. Luka, like I told you before Sam was born and I remind you everytime you ask...Yes, Sam grew in my belly but you grew in my heart. And for the past three years that love has been growing and growing and just when I think that we can't love you anymore, we do. That is what is amazing about being a parent. We never stop worrying and we NEVER NEVER stop loving you.

I think now that you are three and a half you are starting to understand a little what it means to be adopted. Today you told me that you knew that Sam doesn't have an "Adoption Day"...this special day as you put it is for "Mami, Papa and Luka." That is right Lukie...this is our day. The day the three of us miraculously became one. They say that childbirth is a miracle and it truly is, but I also think that the day a child is adopted is miraculous. It is miracle...the feeling you have when they give you that baby and in one instant you feel it..."This is your child and you really are a family." You don't have to share DNA to feel it.

My friends here in Bolivia have asked me...was it different when you had Sam. My answer was yes...I gave birth to Sam and I carried him for nine months. The day you each of you came into our lives for the first time were completely different. But let me tell you that the thoughts that went through my head as they laid Sam on my chest when he was born were the same feelings I was having as they put you in my arms at the orphanage for the first time..."Is he healthy? Will he be okay? Does he love me? Will I be a good mother? I have to protect him."

I love you Luka and thank you for being such a wonderful son and brother. Happy Adoption Day and may we always celebrate this special day together and never forget the gift of being a family.

Love

Mami and Papa

So much to be thankful for...

This was our first Thanksgiving in La Paz and a first for Sam. We have so many things in our life to be thankful for that I felt we really need to take time and be "thankful." We had a nice quiet dinner at home with five other guests. I was the only American, but they all seemed to enjoy the dinner and the spirit of the holiday.

Dinner was delicious. In my previous post you could read that I was very nervous about the food, but everything turned out delicious. I left the turkey making to Vicky and I made the rest of the dishes. I think the winners were the sweet potato dish and the pumpkin pie. Here you can see the turkey chef...she did a great job!

Look what a thankful family!

Here is the table all set and ready. As you can see I didn't go for the traditional colors of thanksgiving, but it is fun to be different.

Right as I was serving the food we lost power! Yes on freaking Thanksgiving! But thank goodness that I was done cooking and we had a lovely meal by candlelight and after two hours the lights came back on.

Click here to see the rest of the photos from Thanksgiving.

Luka's First Field Trip

Today was a big day...It was our first school field trip. I say "our" because it was Luka's first class trip, but it was my first as a mom. It was very exciting and I had a blast. His class had a unit on farm animals and his teacher coordinated a trip to the local stables - Sargentos.

Luka was particularly in love with his classmate Catalina that day...I couldn't tear them apart.

Here he is trying to call the horse over to him...like he would a puppy!

I think his favorite part of the day (besides hanging out with Catalina) was feeding the horses carrots and sugar cubes!

Click here to see all of the photos.

Oh, my...Is Thanksgiving tomorrow?

I think between midnight feedings and sleep deprivation Thanksgiving sort of sneaked up on me this year. I sort of panicked today when I picked Luka up at school and he showed me the colorful Thanksgiving turkey he had made. It is really TOMORROW!

I have less than 24 hours till the big day and I am NOT prepared at all. Last year I had typed lists and a schedule for the day in 30 minutes increments. I was also having 15 people over. This year it is 8 people, but I am so lost.

I just found my turkey today...frozen. I mean SUPER frozen. It is now defrosting. I hope I can cook it tomorrow. My plan is to make the following:

- Turkey (Vicky's Recipe)

- Stuffing (Pork & Herb Apple Stuffing)

- Sweet Potatoes (Classic Recipe I found online)

- Mashed Potatoes (Classic Recipe)

- Cranberry Sauce (don't know if I can find this here...let's see...it is the one recipe I have made for years that i love and keep using weeks after Thanksgiving on everything from muffins to bagels)

- Green Salad

- Pumpkin Pie (I really hope I find ready pie crust)

I know my dinner won't look as delicious as this photo I found on the internet but I am going to try.

Wish me luck and most of all the people trying my food. At least I think the turkey will turn out ok...that is what Vicky (our maid/cook) is making. I could have her make everything else...but then what kind of Thanksgiving would that be.

I am off to the grocery store...

Holy Hail

I don't know if it is because I live at 3,200 km (10,500 ft.) and we are very close to the clouds (or at least it seems that way). Can you believe I live in the "low" part of the city!

But every time it has rained so far and there is a little chill in the air, it hails!!! I mean big time. Look at these photos from a 5 minute hail storm.

Luka was a little scared, but it actually worked out great because he was studying weather last week and he was able to learn about hail. We went outside and touched it and he asked,"How did ice fall from the sky, Mommy?" My answer was because the clouds are cold. Is that horrible or what? I really need to brush up on my science and give better answers to my three year old son. I think it is the sleep deprivation.

First Time at the Market Uptown

I have been here for almost three months now and FINALLY I got a chance to see the real La Paz...I went to Uyustus (market uptown) to buy things for my friend's birthday party. I mean you can find anything! Most of you know that I love to shop and even more if the shopping is cheap. I also had the opportunity to snack like a local. Maria Renee (my friend) and I pulled up a chair on the side of the street with a local food vendor. We had pasteles (a huge piece of fried dough that looks like an elephant ear, but with cheese inside....delish!) and a warm glass of api. Api is typical warm drink...to me it tasted like Christmas in a cup (lots of cinnamon and clove). Wasn't horrible, but I prefer the fried dough!

I hope I get to take my camera next time so that I can take some real photographs, but safety is an issue...let's see.

Please don't pay attention to my silly face. Maria Renee was paranoid about whipping out the iPhone for a photo and i didn't really have time to pose, but I just wanted you to see these lovely outside "cafes."

Around Town with My Boys

Most of the time I never come out in any of the photos I post on the blog...usually because I am the one taking the photos. But once in a while I convince my husband to put his iPhone to good use and take random silly photos of me so at least there is proof that I existed. Here are two photos of me and my boys...Luka and I are posing with La Paz's version of Dumbo at the local Mega Center (aka only real mall around).

And then here I am with Sam at the Tennis Club. He really loves this swing. I think this is his favorite perk of being a member at "the club."

Home Sweet Home

For weeks now my mom has been asking me to post photos of our place. I have been a little hesitant because I don't have all the rooms exactly how I want them. So what I have decided to do is post one room at a time. So here is our Living/Dining Room. We are still missing curtains..those should be in this week. But this is the best room in the house...

It is difficult to set up house again. We had all our furniture that fit perfect into our house in Maputo and now this house is completely different and although it is not bigger it does have more rooms...I can't get everything to fit just right.

Well, now that I have to make posts about each room it will give me an incentive to fix up the rooms one by one.

I think the next post will be Luka's room....

Here are two more photos of the living/dining room:

Sam & JJ Cheering Luka During Tennis

Luka's First Tennis Lesson

We are very proud of our little tennis pro. I don't think JJ is the only one that will take advantage of being a member of the Tennis Club

Luka & Sam's Play Date Party

Finally Mommy let us have our friends over to play and show them our new house. I invited some friends from school and other cool kids I have met since I arrived in La Paz. Sammy even had some babies his own age at the party. I didn't know he had already made friends at such a young age....

We had a great time. We put a bunch of toys on the terrace and we were all able to enjoy the sun and beautiful weather. Since Sammy was turning 6 months the following day we sang Happy Birthday to him. I thought it was a little silly, but my mom insisted. Here are some photos from the day:

To see all the photos my mommy took please click here.

Love

Luka

Beautiful Day with My Beautiful Baby

This morning the weather is crisp and perfect in La Paz with just the right amount of chill in the air. I just couldn't resist taking Sam out on our terrace for some photos. Here he is sporting his new denim jacket enjoying our beautiful view! I will save the rest of the photos for later.

I am off to school to pick-up Luka!

Luka Steals My iPhone Again

The little thief strikes again. Luka loves to steal my phone and snap away. This time he taught the nanny how to use the camera so she could take pictures of him. You can also get a sneak peek into his room and his "art wall" that he is very proud of. Every week something new goes up on his wall.

Not sure what is happening here...

Celebrity Style in La Paz

This morning we went to the annual Christmas/Artisan Fair in town put on by ABIA (American British International Association). I was in heaven and drooling seeing all the booths with gorgeous things to buy. I think I started to sweat a little bit. I have not been shopping at all since I arrived in La Paz, so I was ready for some good retail therapy. There were so many beautiful things and not so beautiful too, but let's concentrate on the good stuff.

My first buy were some alpaca hats and shawls. The material is amazing and everything is handmade. I won't post photos because my family in Holland might have some alpaca goodies coming their way for Christmas! (My friends and family won't get any use out of this WARM material...sorry!)

Then of course I was crazy about all the bags & purses I saw. There were leather, plastic, recycled, alpaca, cotton, embroidered...every kind you can think of...but then I spotted these bright colored tote bags. I love a beautiful leather bag just as much as the next girl, but I am obsessed with tote bags and if they are plastic even better. These from Tote Le Monde were so bright and fun I couldn't resist. I bought a couple of tote bags for presents (let's see who are the lucky girls to get them) and a very fun bright purse for me....oh, and a tote for me as well. I thought they were Bolivian, but then I got in the car and I saw the tag said New York. I thought I had paid too much, but when I got home and googled the company. I was so excited to find out that the same tote that cost me $20 USD in La Paz was $58 USD in the states. I was over the moon...here usually it works the other way around...anything from the states is double the price.

But then my tote bag became ultra cool when I found out that Jennifer Garner had the same exact one....and she probably paid $58 USD! (picture popped up when I googled the company) Come on she is like the coolest mom ever!

Who knew this "celebrity" goodie had its roots in Bolivia. Check out this link. So I guess they really are Bolivian because they are also made here.

Okay, enough about this silly tote bag...I really do need a life don't I?!?!?!

iPhone Surprise

I don't know how many of you have iPhones? And then how many of your kids are obsessed with your iPhones but my son can't get enough of my little toy. He is constantly stealing it from me and I think he has figured out how to unlock it...hello, he is three! Well, Luka obsession with my iPhone is not only about playing with the screen....he LOVES to take photographs. This morning I found 55 new photos of Sam. He had decided to have his own little photo session with Sam. Here are some of the highlights.

Here Luka is trying to take a photo of both of them at the same time...

Sam's surprised look, "Hey I didn't know my big brother knew how to use the camera!"

Sam, "This is cool...I like Luka taking my picture."

"Okay, I am getting bored now...what is this?"

"Oh, delicious...oh, oh he took my photo with my foot in my mouth, didn't he?"