Train Station

The train has arrived and Arthur, Nik and Dad are waiting outside to hop on quickly and get a good seat. The parents took the train to and from Thessaloniki and Kalampaka, a direct train ride lasting 3 hours. These photos were taken when they left two weeks ago, the two bottom photos were taken by Nik.

Rhonda, Mara, Riene and Nik in the train station's waiting room, it was pretty windy outside and 7:40 in the morning so still pretty cool.
Riene in a U.S.A. baby onesie a gift from Birgit and Brian.
Rhonda, Dad and Riene.
Nik running up and down the train tracks.

Pictures taken by Nik- pretty darn good

Swimming Pool

Dad and Rhonda helped me pump up the pool for Nik but then we realized something, he's a little to big for it now.
We are going to have to get a bigger pool, but hopefully one of these days we will go to the beach again. The weather has been real hot during the day and then a big thunder, lightning and hard rain in the afternoon, just like New Mexico but more humid.
I will save this pool for next year it will be a perfect size then for our baby girl.

40 DAY BLESSING

We had Katerina's 40 day blessing on Friday at 7 pm and it was hotter than hot. What is a 40 day blessing, so glad you asked. Well first off the priest asked if I was a Protestant, the Greek Orthodox Church has this big thing against Protestants and if I had been one he wouldn't have performed the ceremony. So once we got that settled he had me get down on my knees holding the baby and then he placed his sacrament (the beautiful piece of woven clothe that is placed over his robe) over my head. Now if you have ever knelt when it is about 90 degrees and then had something heavy and very stifling placed on your head you know how uncomfortable it can be. I was trying not to wiggle around but my legs were cramping and then my big toe started to cramp up. All while the priest read the bible in rapid Greek, that I am sure even Arthur and his mom had a hard time understanding he spoke so quickly, but still not fast enough for me, phew.. was it hot. Then he took the baby (she didn't make a single sound) as he carried her around the church making the cross sign. Then when we got to the front area where he does church services he had me kneel 3 times while making the cross sign and then I had to kiss the sacrament and the baby had to kiss the sacrament also. And now it is safe for the baby to travel the world and begin her new life.
The two Katerina's together.

We also had her first doctor's appointment and she has gained 3 lbs.

Parents Visit

A great but quickly gone 10 days, here are some quick shots, before I have to go home to feed the little one again.
Arthur took Nik and the parents to Volos, for a quick trip to the seafront.

eWe also went to Lake Plastiras for a coffee and lunch at a great little restaurant near a river and serving fresh trout.
Dad with the babe.
Rhonda with the babe.
Nik cleaning off a dirty diaper in the pretty cold mountain river.
Last day family photo shot, I sure am going to miss the extra hands, and the fun days of getting out of the house.
The girls

Great Big Brother

What a great big brother, here are some shots.





Sharing his train

Jealous Nay!

This is where the baby sleeps but Nik has decided he would like to sleep there too!
Milk for little baby, milk for big baby. He now wakes up at night wanting milk too, I'm going backwards not forwards. My parents are arriving this weekend so hopefully we will get a little break. He has also started the bad habit of spitting and has spit on her a couple of times but then he says "nice" and will give her a kiss.

Have Escaped

I have escaped the house for a couple of minutes, there is a 40 day rule in Greece were the baby stays at home, she has escaped with me and is now taking a nap in the corner. Here's a picture of me being wheeled into surgery, I was the second scheduled C-section of the day. By the way the surgeon did such a good job with my new scar that I think this will be the final baby for us, already you can tell it will be pretty invisible. They numbed my lower back and legs (a very weird sensation) but otherwise I was awake during the surgery and was able to hear her first cries.
Very first photo op, taken by Arthur while they sewed me up and I recovered the use of my legs about 2 hours. She came in weighing at 3290 gr or 7.25 lbs, not bad for being 2 weeks early and 50 cm or 19.68 inches tall.
Proud Papa
Proud Mama

Little Foot and all of her different faces.

Our New Bed

It's so big it fills up the room, but I'm lovin' it.
Arthur was nice enough to paint the walls a beautiful sunset purple our curtains and bed cover are the color of a light moss green.

Each side of the bed has two deep drawers built in for extra storage.