The rush of the first few weeks is over. I've figured out public transport, where the grocery stores and drug stores are, and the locations of close to a dozen playgrounds. I've figured out the twister game required to get the double stroller into our elevator. And I've (kinda) made a few friends.
(Note: I don't have everything figured out. I tried to order a cold coffee last week at the coffeeshop I was working at, and got one with alcohol in it. I think I had translated kirsch to its literal meaning of cherry, rather than the liquor. I wouldn't mind this, if I wasn't actually trying to get things done. But it will probably make my cover letters more entertaining to read!)
Things are improving over here. Phoebe is definitly calming down.* We've managed to generally restrain paci use to just the house, she's smiled and played with another little girl at the playground, and last night she let us shut her door when we left. Granted, she was still up at o'dark thirty, in bed with us and kicking me in the head, but I do know it's getting better. Also, we finally got in touch with the right person to order blackout curtains for her room. That should make a difference with the early wakings. Inshallah.
And we got her pink sheets, which created much happiness. If something that little can make her that happy, hey, I'll take it.
So, here's a few shots of smiling Phoebe:
I'm glad to have them. She's so much fun when she's not miserable! Lately, "Pop! Goes the Weasel" has been a huge hit, getting oceans of giggles every time she jumps for "pop." Also "John the Rabbit" from Music Together has been a hit. I was so happy to find the MT classes here -- we did some in the States, and had the CD, so at least some of the songs were familiar to her. The first time we went, her eyes went as wide as saucers to hear something that SHE KNEW. I think it was the beginning of things turning around, actually.
She starts "kiga" on Monday. It's a local preschool, all in German. I expect that the first week or two are going to be hard, but overall being around kids/having that kind of structure is going to be SO good for her. She's already heard a good deal of German, so I hope she picks it up quickly...
And Miss Matilda is doing well. Um, too well for my taste, actually...
Yeah. The baby gates should get here next Wednesday in the HHE...the cats are not thrilled with this situation either.
In general, she's still a sweet, happy baby. Well, not so happy in the middle of the night when she's in hysterics because her (*^@$) teeth won't come all the way in, but so much of the time she's just delightful. We go to a baby group with the Vienna Baby Club every week, and she has fun eye-gouging the other babies (I've decided eye-gouging for babies is kind of like butt-sniffing for dogs. It identifies individuals and establishes hierarchy. Or something.) It's fun, and I'm glad I have that time to spend one-on-one with her and enjoy her giggling. Phoebe, with her worries right now, takes a lot of attention, and I want to make sure Matilda gets her full measure, too.
All in all, they're beautiful, wonderful girls and I love them both to pieces. Although not so much before 7am.
*Although still a work in progress. The hysterics last night were about Miss M's bath seat. Birdie had climbed into it this morning and gotten thoroughly stuck, requiring two of us to get her out. Tonight, she was TOTALLY hysterical at the idea of going into the bathroom while it was there, even though we promised it was for Miss M. She even got in bed, under the covers, closed her eyes, and started singing her bedtime songs to herself. We eventually finished bathing Miss M, and while she was being pajamaed, Birdie took the bath seat out of the tub on her own, put it in the hall, and got into the bathtub with her diaper still on. Oy vay.
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