Coco's First Birthday

Last month, Coco turned one and we had the absolute best first birthday party for her. (I think the adults had more fun than the kids! ;)

On the invitation we asked that instead of gifts, everyone bring a bottle of champagne or a snack to share. Way more champagne than snacks came through the door and everyone toasted the birthday girl and parents. The babies crawled around, the bigger kids played and the adults had lots of time to mingle, chat and drink bubbly. After a little while, we brought out the cupcakes. Coco was so curious about her cupcake and candle. 

She tried a little frosting and wasn't too sure about it. 

Then she decided she didn't like it.

But she continued to play with it, just for fun.

By the time everyone had had a cupcake, it was late afternoon and most of our guests were ready to go home. We liked that the party was short and sweet and simple. Of course, not everyone followed the no-presents request, so we opened Coco's presents with our neighbors and a few friends who were still there.

She was super excited about the baby doll she got and didn't really understand the concept of opening presents, but that's okay. The first birthday party (and maybe even the second?) are really more for the parents. We had an amazing day celebrating our first year as parents, with all of our friends around us, remembering the incredible day of Coco's birth. It was absolutely perfect. How did you celebrate your baby's first birthday? A party? A trip together? Something else? 

Montessori Mondays: Routines

No sooner do you become a parent, than you're hearing right, left and center the importance of routines. If you are a Montessori teacher becoming a parent, you already know this, and you think to yourself, that's right, nothing is more important to children and babies than a reliable and consistent routine. But setting routines is way more difficult than I ever imagined it would be. Sigh! We did find a really amazing groove when Coco was about 4 weeks old and I read Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. I didn't read it until she was already 4 weeks, but I would recommend getting this book while you're still pregnant and reading it during those last weeks when all you want to do is sit with your feet up anyway. :) The baby whisperer covers everything from coming home from the hospital to bathing to feeding and sleeping, and makes it all easy as can be. Honestly. We enjoyed that period so much. But then, at around six months, Coco grew out of the newborn phase and the tips and tricks in the baby whisperer weren't working anymore. 

While daytime has always been fine, things progressively became more complicated in the evening. Coco started eating solid food, needing a dedicated dinner time, which conflicted with our dinner time. Then she started moving around, which meant that putting her to sleep for the night by herself in our bed was suddenly hazardous! The evening period between 5 and 7:30 became my most dreaded time of day and I'm still trying to figure it all out. I've read The No-Cry Sleep Solution, Dr. Sears' The Sleep Book and now I'm reading The Sleepeasy Solution. It's not all that easy. On the one hand, I'm questioning the choice to co-sleep. But then again, it wasn't really a choice as Coco wouldn't sleep at all unless we were touching! I'm sort of shocked and upset with myself that so much time has passed (she is already one year old!) and that we haven't managed to sort out a better nighttime routine. But, that is silly too, I guess, because you can only move forward when you and your baby are both ready. 

As of now, I'm determined to get our ducks in a row and develop a good nighttime routine - before Coco can walk and talk! I know she is old enough and ready. And finally, I am ready. I did a full year of very much baby-lead routines and parenting and now it's time to come up with something more sustainable. We all need good sleep, J needs to be rested for work, I need to wake up without a kink in my neck! And what if I go back to work at some point? And what about when we have the next baby in a couple of years? And what about when Coco starts Montessori pre-school? Having a good nighttime routine is necessary for all of these scenarios to function well. Plus, having a routine is kind of great, don't you think? What is your routine like during that dreaded evening period? How do you fit it all in peacefully and still have time for your spouse and yourself? 

Have an amazing fall weekend!

This weekend, I am looking forward to bright blue skies, warm sun-filled afternoons, long shadows from golden evening rays, fiery pink sunsets and extra cold nights that make for extra crisp mornings. Tonight my mom and I are going to have a fire in her chiminea in the backyard and make s'mores. Yum! Saturday, my uncle is taking us to an Apple Smash party. We will enjoy the fall weather and help make fresh-pressed cider out of the gorgeous, world-famous Washington apples. Sunday night, I'm thinking of making a sage-y beef stew. What are you doing this weekend? Is the weather beautiful where you are? 

Here are a few things that caught my eye this week. 

We just received our beautiful free trial. 

Coco's favorite toy these days.

Simply dazzling. 

My weekend reading. 

I am so inspired by this story!

Darling non-toxic shoes from Germany.

Definitely worth watching if you haven't already.

Folio Rose has a new Facebook page. Please like us!

Enjoy your weekend and see you back here Monday! xo

Perfect Fall Weather

Technically it's a high desert climate, so it gets super hot in the summer, crazy cold in the winter and has textbook spring and fall days with extreme temperature drops at night. Here, each of the seasons is distinct and intense. This week we are having the most beautiful fall weather possible.

Coco's American Identity

Of course Coco is American. That is really important to us because we are American. But I now understand, in a very concrete way, that her American identity is much more than a passport she carries. Yesterday, the lawn guy came to mow the lawn, and Coco was absolutely amazed! 

(She had no idea what was going on! ;) Get the whole story after the jump. 

When she first heard it, she looked alarmed and scared. I casually said, "Oh, sounds like someone is mowing their lawn" and carried on with whatever we were doing. Then she crawled over to the back door, pulled up and stood there, squealing and pounding on the door and I realized. Oh my goodness. My child has never seen a lawnmower before.

When he went around to the front and she could still hear it, nothing would satisfy her but being taken out on the front steps to watch. He stopped, smiled at us like we were crazy people and asked nicely, "She likes the lawnmower, huh?" That was when I actually had to explain that she's never even seen a lawnmower. It's a good thing for these visits to the US. Otherwise, Coco would find the place entirely foreign when we move back in a few years. As she gets older and more curious, I really see how different her life is in Zurich than it would be here. What sort of things are quintessentially American to you? What other experiences that shape us do we take completely for granted?

Winter Skincare for Dry Skin

I have super dry skin, so in the winter, it's always necessary for me to have a more moisturizing skincare routine. My favorite wintertime cleanser is Lancôme's Huile Douceur. At first it seems so crazy to rub oil all over your face, but actually it is really lovely. First, you apply the oil to a dry face and massage in, then bring to the eye area and gently massage to remove eye makeup. (It's such a bonus to not need a separate eye-makeup remover. It really works, and with no raccoon eyes! ;) Then you wet your hands with warm water and mix into the oil already on your face. When you do this, the oil magically emulsifies and becomes a creamy cleanser. Finally, rinse with warm water or use a washcloth to remove for extra exfoliation. This cleanser leaves my skin feeling smooth and protected and it smells wonderful. 

For the past year and a half, I've been using Arbonne's RE9 skincare year-round. It's wonderful stuff, and really delivers, but this year I decided to trim the budget, so I'm making a switch. That means I am without an eye cream, night cream and day cream. I've been sampling a few different brands, but so far I haven't found a winner. I'd really like to find a drugstore or health food store brand that works well, but is still inexpensive. Do you have dry skin? What creams do you use in the winter? I'm curious, do you find that you spend too much on skincare, too?

(photo from Lancôme)

Montessori Monday: Reality vs Fantasy

For her birthday, Coco received this sweet book, by the author of our favorite, Goodnight Moon. My cousin, who is mommy to three little girls, gave it to us and said that they read it so many times and carried around in the diaper bag for so long, that it just fell apart one day! After reading it to Coco, I could see why. Big Red Barn follows a day in the life of a group of barn animals, from sun up to sun down, the things they do, where they go and how the act. At night, it shows how they sleep with the big moon in the sky. The book introduces loads of vocabulary for babies: big, small, animal names, colors. And for older children, there are infinite prompts for curiosity and discussion. For example, the line "...And under the hen was a quiet egg," is just the sort of thing to capture the intellect of a small child. Why is the egg quiet? What is inside the egg? And why is it under the hen? Big Red Barn is perfect because children, even little tiny babies, want and love books that portray the world in a realistic way. 

In my Montessori training course, we learned that the world is wonderfully exciting, interesting and satisfying to children just the way it is. We don't need to make it magical or interesting by adding fairies or wizards because it already is magical and interesting to them. Not only that, but until children gain a firm understanding of the world as it is (around age six), they aren't ready to integrate the dimension of fantasy into the mix. It's impossible for them to separate reality from fantasy and that leaves them confused and dissatisfied. As a Montessori guide, the favorite books in my classroom were always the ones deeply rooted in the reality of everyday life. Books like Little Mommy, A Day at the Seashore and Angus Lost would have the group of 26 children silent, mouths literally hanging open, listening to and adoring every. single. word. By contrast, the very cute and whimsical Olivia series never held their attention for long. Children want pigs to be pigs and children to be children because that is something they can relate back to their own lives and understand.

When reading good books to children, it's not necessary to try to facilitate discussion or learning; it happens naturally when books are written well. Simply read, read often, and the rest shall follow. The most frequently asked question I received as a Montessori teacher from parents was "What should we be doing at home?" My answer: Read together. How often do you read with your children? And what books are the favorites in your house?  

The (possible) Transition from Co-Sleeping to a Crib

Back in the spring, when I first saw this hilarious comic strip about co-sleeping, our sleeping arrangement was really working for us. At the time, I scoffed at this comic, dismissed it as anti-attachment-parenting, and carried on with our blissful sleeping arrangement. Then, ever so slowly, Coco became really good at rolling over, then scooting, then sitting, then crawling, then pulling up and then, suddenly, co-sleeping was a bit of a nightmare! That's when I remembered the comic strip, Googled it, and laughed out loud at how true it is. If I could describe parenting in one word it would be: Humbling. My how things change. ;) Coco is totally "The Stalker" and we know "H is for Hell" well.

So we have reached a strange point. As much as I love co-sleeping, or maybe the idea of co-sleeping, I'm just not sure that it's working anymore. It's hard to sleep when you're being kicked in the face and I really question if any of us are getting the rest we need on some nights. The domino effect when one of us wakes up affects us all, even if it's just to roll over and resettle. In the evenings, Coco goes to bed first and I often go in to check on her while she's sleeping alone in the bed. I see how peaceful she looks and how soundly she's sleeping (in snow angel position, of course) and I can't help but wonder if she might actually prefer sleeping in her own bed?

Just as these new and unexpected questions started bouncing around in my head, I read this post on A Cup of Jo all about the book The Sleepeasy Solution. It's a sleep training book and pretty much something I never thought I would even consider reading. Ever. Much to my surprise, after reading the reviews on Amazon, I decided to order the book, just to see what it says. Did you co-sleep in the beginning and then transition your baby to a crib or bed? What prompted the change? How have sleep/nights/life changed for your family? I would love to hear how it went for you! xo

International Travel with a Sick Baby

It seems to be our family tradition to come down with the stomach flu the day before we fly to the States. Monday morning Coco started throwing up at 6 am. In all honesty, better her than me, but it still put a serious crimp in our plans. By 5 that evening, I had been doing laundry non-stop and she was still at it! :( So we went to the Kinder-Permanence urgent care at Zurich HB. I was so impressed with the facilities, staff and doctor. Then at the Bahnhof Apotheke, we didn't have to wait in line, the doctor had faxed our prescription over so they were already working on it and they were so helpful and kind. All in all, a good experience if you must go at all. 

One of the things the doctor prescribed at Kinder-Permanence was what I came to call "The Magic Suppository." Don't ask me what's in it, but it's a little suppository that stops nausea and vomiting for 24 hours. She told me if Coco was still sick in the morning to go ahead and give it to her before we left for the airport. Sadly, it was necessary. But then, much to my surprise, everything went really well! Our flight to London was easy. She slept during the layover and the flight to Seattle could have been a lot worse. She was fussy, didn't want to sleep much and I spent most of the flight walking her around in the Ergo, but she didn't throw up once. 

Once we got through Seattle and on our Spokane flight, I was so relieved that I had made it through the whole trip without a change of clothes for myself. Isn't that just how it goes when you're a mom? You pack two extra outfits for your baby and none for yourself. ;) I was slightly euphoric boarding the plane and stopped to take that photo of the sunset. Isn't it gorgeous? The wind smelled like salt from Puget Sound and I was so happy to be in my beloved Pacific Northwest! 

Well. For the record, let me just say that the magic suppository lasted 21 hours, not 24. :(

Just after we landed in Spokane, Coco threw up all over me. Actually, at first, she just threw up on my jeans. Then the flight attendants quickly handed me a wad of paper towels and Coco threw up on my shirt. Then, she threw up again and it was happening so fast! In a moment of total and utter lack of brilliance, I thought I would stop the vomit with the paper towels. So I held them up to her mouth gently thinking that maybe the paper towels would just absorb all of the puke? Of course not! It sprayed everywhere. Vomit all over my face, in my eyes, in my hair. With everyone taking their things out of the overhead bins and watching on in horror! It was my worst nightmare. I honestly thought I would cry. And for some strange reason, the absolute nicest guy in the world was sitting next to me all the way from London to Spokane and he stuck with me, people! How ridiculously lucky is that?! The flight attendants gave me wet paper towels and he actually held puke-covered-Coco while I cleaned the throw up off of my face. He talked me through it, carried my bag and helped me at baggage claim. Oh my God. Sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am. 

So here we are. Coco slept a fitful sleep for short stretches last night and at 3 am got hungry and had a little bowl of banana and rice cereal. She's been napping most of the morning and I think she is finally in the clear. J just sent me a string of alarming texts from Permanence. He's got it, too, and said it's the worst pain he's ever experienced. Poor J! I think by this time tomorrow, if I haven't gotten it yet, I probably won't. But major apologies to everyone who was on any of our flights yesterday. Oops. Maybe trip insurance is a good idea once you have a baby. I'm curious, do you buy flight insurance? Have you ever used it to cancel and re-book? Was it a hassle or did they come through as promised? I would love to know! ;) xo

The best baby hat of all time.

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones you don't ask for. This is certainly true in the case of Coco's adorable Earhart hat from Jojoco Hatmakers in Chicago. It was a baby shower gift from J's best friend from high-school and his wife. And wow. Those two clearly knew what they were doing when it came to buying baby gifts. In the beginning, it was way too big for Coco, but as soon as it fit, it became our go-to hat. I honestly cannot believe how much we've used it. She wears it for walks with daddy in the Baby Bjorn on crisp days, or for playing inside on a chilly day, and it layers really well under a wool hat. I love that hat so much. The way it fits on her downy little head just makes my heart swell with happiness. And now that it's getting too small, it kind of breaks my heart. But I am so overly sentimental as a mom. Every time she hits another milestone or I have to put away a set of too-small clothes, I reflect and marvel on how fast it's all going. And then I remind myself that it's more goodness that lies ahead. With that in mind, we are going to go to Sun People Dry Goods while we're in Spokane next month to get Coco a couple more Jojoco Earhart hats in the next size up. We could never go wrong having the natural color cotton one again, and maybe a second in polar fleece. That will keep her warm and toasty all winter long. Do you (or did you) have a hard time watching your baby grow up so quickly? 

Montessori Monday: Natural Materials

One of the things that makes Montessori classrooms so beautiful is the use of natural materials. Plastic or pretend things are generally avoided. Instead, the aim is for everything to be real and purposeful. Montessori felt very strongly that children should not be "given the world in facsimile," but rather that they should be given a manageable piece of the world that they can work and interact with independently. Instead of a play kitchen, children can delve into the mesmerizing activity of washing a table, and they do so with a basin, soap, pitcher and scrub brush, wearing an apron as they make bubbles. (Experiences like this are presented in an orderly and controlled fashion so that children can replicate the task on their own without frustration or a huge mess. ;) Throughout all of the activities offered, the materials that are used are natural and real wherever possible. Metal, glass, fabric, woven grasses and wood are lovely to touch, hold and see.

At home, you can follow this model in your child's toys. Coco has wonderful wooden blocks in a handwoven basket, the most beautiful cloth ball, and an indispensable silver rattle. Not everything is natural material, of course, but the difference in the weight, texture and feel of natural objects versus plastic makes them much more enjoyable and intriguing. What are your child's toys made of? Do you make a point of presenting your child with natural materials?

The sweetest baby clothes: Tea Collection

I'm so behind in making Coco's 1st birthday wish list! But right at the top is a selection of adorable baby clothes from Tea Collection. Coco already has a romper from their spring line and it's luxuriously soft and easy for her to maneuver in. Over the next few months, as she starts to walk, I'd love to dress her in (clockwise from top left) the Nordic Layer Dress - with vermillion leggings! It's cute and girly, but won't get in her way crawling around or climbing stairs. The cute-as-can-be Night Owl Pajamas. Wouldn't they just be the sweetest on her chubby little thighs? The soft and feminine Winter Blooms Romper. It's ideal for cuddles and books by the fire. That is, if she ever takes a break from pulling up on the bookshelf and tossing all the books on the floor! And, last but certainly not least, the Swedish Lark 2-piece Set. Those gypsy pants are kind of amazing. I like to imagine her walking in them, toddling to and fro with her darling diapered baby bum. That makes me smile.

Comfort and mobility and soft, high-quality fabric are the most important things for me in baby clothes. What do you look for in clothes for your baby? Is there anything better than dressing a baby girl?! (I'm thinking the answer to that last one is no. ;) xo

New Reading Glasses

I've been thinking I need reading glasses for a couple of years now. My vision is fine, it's just sometimes when I read or use the computer for a long time, I begin to squint or see double a bit. It turns out to be a completely normal problem. Phew! So earlier this week, I went to have an eye test and see about getting a pair of glasses. My vision is at 120% (whatever that means!) and for reading, I need a very light prescription. Oh. My. It is so awesome! I should have gotten reading glasses long ago. Everything is extra clear and sharp and easy to read. No squinting or straining! I can't wait to try knitting with them on. Really, why didn't I go sooner? :)

As for the frames, I really wanted something a bit classic yet original. I love that they're light enough that they're not burdensome and big enough that they're not always crowding my field of vision. Getting glasses was super easy and my supplementary insurance will cover 200 francs of it. Rad. Do you wear glasses? I'm curious, did you have a hard time settling on frames? To me it seemed like a big decision. ;)

Montessori Monday: What is Montessori?

Last week, I wrote about housekeeping and Montessori-at-home and had the idea to share with you lovely readers each week on the blog how I'm incorporating Montessori principles into our life with Coco. But it's not just me who is Montessori trained in our family. J is also a Montessori trained teacher, for children ages 6-12! And my mom is trained for both 3-6 and 6-12. I attended Montessori nursery school from 2-6 years, old as did my brother and sisters. We are definitely a Montessori family, and we all think it's pretty rad. 

Naturally, the best place to start in sharing Montessori with you is to lay out what Montessori is. So, without further ado, let's jump in. 

The short answer is that Montessori is a developmentally-based educational system. Meaning that unlike most pedagogical models, the Montessori method was developed based on how children actually are, rather than imposing a model on children based on an ideal of how they should be. That sets Montessori apart from the rest. Montessori is not affiliated with Waldorf, Emilio Reggio or any other form of alternative education. It stands quite alone. Maria Montessori was Italian, born in 1870, and the first woman to become a doctor in Italy. She was extremely intuitive and applied her talent for scientific observation to children when the only job the powers-that-were would give to a woman was working with the children of the adults in the asylums in Rome. The result was a significant and impacting body of work that has lasted until this day. Did you know that Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin credit their experience in Montessori nursery school for their success? They do!

Montessori pedagogy is unique in that it places a huge focus on internal motivation. Children in Montessori classrooms work separately or in small groups on what interests them. They can spend as much time as they need on a given task. Within a framework of rules, they have a massive amount of freedom to make their own choices. They learn by doing. 

Each week, on Monday, I plan to share with you a piece of our life at home that is done in a Montessori way. If there is something you are curious about, please send me an email and ask! I would love to hear. 

(Top photo from here)

Sick Baby & Montessori Monday

This very sweet little girl has a fever and needs 100% of my love and attention right now. Even though I hate blogger mobile posts, I'm doing one now. :(
Montessori Monday is postponed. But I'll have something great for you tomorrow. Wish me luck that we get some sleep tonight.

Have a sweet weekend.

This week was a busy and stressful week in our house. Coco has been teething mercilessly and it's made for difficult nights for everyone. Poor baby! She's getting closer to walking every day and her favorite thing lately is climbing the stairs. I still can't believe she is almost one year old. What a precious, sweet time it has been. And (much to my surprise) it just keeps getting better all the time. :) What are you doing this weekend? I'm hoping to do some knitting and we want to take advantage of the perfect fall weather with a few walks. 

A few things that caught my eye this week below. 

Our Friday night dinner (with quinoa instead of white rice!).

The sweetest board book.

Hot pink will keep winter cheerful!

I'm obsessed with this emerald hue right now.

Number 2 describes our house lately.

It's all about the drugstore mascara.

Interesting debate on girls and women.

I have to get Coco this darling playtime bib.

With winter coming up, this is a particularly gorgeous book.

And, just in case you missed it, my guest post on momfilter!

See you all back here Monday! xo

(Photo via Flickr)

Bento Boxes for Baby Food

I saw these adorable bento boxes the other day in my favorite neighborhood shop, Einzigart. They are so cute, I could honestly scream! But I left without buying one because I couldn't think of any reason I needed one. Then it occurred to me later that it would be the perfect thing for Coco's food on our flight to the States in three weeks! The top is a little bowl and there are two compartments below. Ideal for baby cereal and finger foods. So today we went back and Coco picked the geisha in purple when given the choice between the two girl designs. I also got a little drawstring carry bag for it that will also fit a few spoons, bib, a jar or two of baby food and some face wipes. Isn't that just perfect? I loved them so much I got a few more as gifts for people back home. Do you use a bento box? Would you? 

(Photo from Bento & Co.)

Today is the day! #iPhone5

I am absolutely so excited to hear about the new iPhone 5 today. Yes, I am aware that I am a total Apple nerd. When the iPad came out, J and I were having lunch together in his classroom that day and we totally watched the iPad video on my iPhone while we ate. Embarrassing, I know! 

I just hope that the new iPhone will be available in Switzerland soon. Yesterday I was able to call Swisscom and get my iPhone 4 unlocked. Can you believe the timing?! So perfect. Coco and I are homeward bound at the beginning of October. :) Does anyone know a good prepaid service for iPhones in the US? Are you on pins and needles to hear about the new phone? Or am I just way too nerdy to admit freely on the internet? 

A Thought for Today

Today I'm thinking of all the victims and their families and wishing them peace and strength. 

(photo from Upworthy)

On Housekeeping and Montessori-at-Home

I always daydream of having a housekeeper who comes once a week to do the deep cleaning in our house. In my mind, this means that our home always feels organized and tidy and it's a huge stress relief for me to have that component of our lives taken care of. So the other day, when I ran into a friend on our lane, we got to talking about cleaning and housekeeping and I shared my daydreamy thoughts with him. 

His response really surprised me. And seriously got me thinking. All of my deep thoughts on cleaning and what it means to be a good mom after the jump!

That day in the lane, my friend said that cleaning your house is important and that no one else should do it but you. "When you're taking care of your own home," he said, "you know the status of everything. You know that plant needs a bit of water in two days, you know that dust tends to gather in a that corner; you're in contact with your home." He went on to say, "When you clean your own home and run your own household, it keeps your two feet on the ground; it keeps you engaged in tasks, and it keeps you well." 

Wow. 

I had certainly never thought of it that way. And as I walked away and thought about it a bit more, I was so happy to have an alternative perspective because I think he's right. (I'm going to add in right here that this friend is not married and he takes care of his own home. ;) 

If I didn't have the house to take care of, I might actually have too much idle time to focus on Coco. Now I know that sounds counter intuitive, but as a Montessori trained teacher, I know that children need to be engaged in tasks themselves. It's how children, even babies, gain the capacity to concentrate and problem solve. It's how they learn. That means that if I'm constantly with Coco, reading to her, playing with her and entertaining her sun up to sun down, she never gets the opportunity to expand her skill set and make discoveries independently. Right now, as I write this blog post, Coco is playing with two baby-food-jar-lids that she has been busy and occupied with for the past 20 minutes. She just discovered that she can make the lids spin on the hardwood floor when she drops them, but that they won't spin when dropped on the rug. She likes to watch them wobble and wobble until they stop flat. Then she lets out a little chirp when it's all finished. That is a discovery she made it all by herself. That probably wouldn't have happened if I had been playing with the lids with her. As an adult, I would have felt compelled to "do something" with the lids whereas Coco stumbled upon that organically through independent play. A discovery like that isn't satisfying when someone else does it for you or shows you. It's like solving a riddle. When you figure out a riddle and have that "Aha!" moment, it feels good. If someone tells you the answer before you figure it out, it's just a big let down. 

So, I don't think I'll be daydreaming of having a cleaner or housekeeper anymore. I am going to view my housekeeping as positive and necessary, both for Coco and for me. It's good modeling for Coco to see me engaged in tasks that are part of everyday life and it's good for me to be connected to our home. If I were working, it would be different. But I am a stay-at-home mom, so there is no reason for me not to take on that piece of our lives with purpose. I'm going to get my little sweetie involved as soon as possible. Did you know that children love sweeping and scrubbing as early as 18 months?! Children are so capable when we give them the tools and opportunity to be involved. Would you like to hear more about my integration of Montessori philosophy into our life at home? Would you like to know how you can engage your child in meaningful Montessori activities at home? If so, I'd be happy to make that a more prominent part of the blog. :) xo  

Zurich: Family bike ride to Frau Gerolds Garten

J had today off, which was so lovely because the weekends are never long enough! Spontaneously, after breakfast, we decided to go for a family bike ride. Züri Rollt is an awesome bike sharing program throughout the city of Zurich where you can get a bike and helmet and baby seat (and baby helmet) for free! So amazing. Especially in a city where nothing is free - or even remotely affordable. ;)

When we first got Coco in the baby seat, I wasn't sure if she'd like it very much. But then she started checking it out and soon after, she relaxed and settled right in.

We rode through the middle of the city and Coco was having a great time chirping, squealing and babbling as we zoomed along. We stopped at Paradeplatz to take a few pictures and then we continued on to west Zurich for lunch at Frau Gerolds Garten. I've been wanting to check this place out all summer and today was the perfect day for it!

Frau Gerolds Garten is a super cool summer restaurant with a sustainable, eco-friendly mission. Much of the food is grown on-site in amazing raised beds right next to your table! And the kitchen, bathrooms and entire restaurant structure are made of recycled shipping containers. It's completely rad. 

Just next store is the Freitag flagship store, which is also made out of shipping containers. Freitag made some sleek, industrial benches for Frau Gerolds that really add to the cool feel of the place. I'd love to have one as a little seat outside our kitchen window. Don't you think they're cool? 

The food was very yummy. We had sausages and then we shared a summer salad with avocado, hearts of palm and sundried tomatoes on greens. But perhaps the best thing of all was the water. In Zurich, you never get water at a restaurant unless you order bottled water. But at Frau Gerolds Garten, there was fresh water with lemon, orange and mint out on the bar and you could drink as much as you wanted!

After lunch, we hopped back on our bikes and rode home just in time for Coco to have a nice long nap. I'm so excited to have a bike of my own with a baby seat. Family bike rides are my new favorite thing. Do you have a baby bike seat? Is it front- or back-mounted? I'd love to hear why you love it (or hate it! :) xo

Guest post on momfilter.

If you don't already read momfilter, an amazing blog for moms, today would be a good day to check it out. I am very happy to have written a guest post for them about Swiss health care and delivering a baby in Switzerland. You can see the full post here. 

Coming up later today I have a post all about seeing Zurich by bike - with a baby! Make sure to check back for that one and all the cute pictures. Speaking of cute pictures, yes, that is Coco eating a french fry. My mom introduced them to her while she was here and now she's crazy for them. (Sigh.) Luckily she is content with homemade fries for now. ;) Happy Monday!

Have a gorgeous weekend!

This weekend I'm in the mood to cook, so we are eating lots of excellent food and enjoying one last summer weekend. It's a three-day weekend for Joel because of a local holiday involving bows and arrows and children. Last year a girl won! We plan to relax, swim and kiss summer goodbye with love. What are you doing? Is the weather forecast good where you are? 

Here is a little sampling of what caught my eyes (and ears) this week. 

Tonight's dinner, which J calls an Italian cheeseburger! ;) Don't skip the cream. 

Sorry fall, summer's back! 

A beautiful song to make you think.

I've really been wondering about this. Poor baby!

Omgosh. I'm addicted!

Fantastic episode that will have you laughing out loud.

It's been three years since I set foot in this place. Too long!

I just signed up for two free online classes! #thanksbing

Sometimes we find what we're meant to do a little bit later than most. 

Not helping my Mexican food obsession!

When we buy a house. (J said no, by the way. ;)

See you back here Monday! xo

What new moms really need.

Aside from a devising a showering routine that is lightning fast, and adopting a hairstyle that doesn't require styling, I have discovered two essentials that I need (and love!) since becoming a mother. Don't laugh at the second one.

A DLSR camera. It is so important to invest in a decent camera - and learn how to use it - ahead of time. For the first six months of Coco's life, we were taking pictures with our point and shoot, but way more often with our iPhones. Don't do that! iPhone photos are not quality photos when it comes to printing and archiving. Then I got a Canon Rebel and 50mm lens. I'll admit that when I first bought it, I was telling everyone I had a new camera with a 50 milliliter lens and that I had also gotten a telescopic lens. It is not a measuring cup and no good for stargazing! What I did have were 50mm and telephoto lenses. ;) All the same, I learned how to use it and now we have gorgeous, photo album worthy photos of practically every waking moment of Coco's life. So worth it!

Trashy TV. This is invaluable at the beginning when your baby only wants to sleep in your arms. The first three weeks, J and I would settle onto the couch in the evenings with Coco in my arms on the Boppy Pillow and watch episode after episode of WEEDS! Sweet family viewing, right? But, really. I actually get kind of teary eyed when I hear the Weeds theme song now. It reminds me of those tender early days as a family. It was the perfect thing while we were exhausted and housebound. Watching trashy TV, drinking nursing tea and eating tons of cookies was just so satisfying. Now that Coco is older, once she is in bed at night, all I want to do after a long day of caring for her, meals, cleaning, laundry and diapers is kick back with a glass of red wine (or sometimes water! ;) and r-e-l-a-x. Last night I finally finished Desperate Housewives. What a disappointment! But trashy and fabulous, nonetheless!

What are the unexpected essentials and guilty pleasures of your life as a mom? And what are your favorite trashy TV shows? I'm looking for a new series! ;)

(Canon photo from here. Desperate Housewives logo from here.)