Family, Friends, and Flats!

Wow, has it been a long time.  Exciting things definitely have been going on over here!

After the last post, life slowed down until our trip to Tallahassee.  I have to admit that I was stressing about the plane rides alone with Jakob but it seems that the worst is behind us (knock on wood).  It really wasn't too bad and I KNOW that the extra seat he snagged for almost every flight meant a world of difference!  We had a great time visiting family, friends, and being involved in a good friend's wedding.  My parents were awesome and took off a long weekend to babysit while I had fun with the gals during wedding festivities.  The whole trip was a much needed relaxing vacation for me.  And I think that's a win-win when Jakob got to visit with family too! :)  Poor Paul had to be here for almost 3 weeks by himself but he went skiing some, hung out with friends, and got a lot of work done.  So it wasn't a total loss!

Jakob's huge feet are on the right next to his friend, Logan's, feet.  They are only 2 months apart...

LOOOOOOOVES swiffering/moping

We also signed Jakob up for a Kindermusik class and have gone twice.  The first class took him awhile to warm up but by the end of the class today he was laughing and having fun and petting all the babies.  :)  He was especially intrigued with the giant doll and throwing balls everywhere.  I'm sure he'll enjoy it more as we keep going.  It ends in May and we may just have to sign up again if the price is right!  Jakob also started walking the day before Paul's birthday!  He saved it just for daddy!  He will walk all the way across the room now and be so proud of himself. :)

Before our trip, Paul and I decided we should sign up with a flat-seeking company to help find an apartment.  We are getting tired of staying out of/sneeking into our room when Jakob is sleeping when we know it is possible to find something we can afford with an extra bedroom.  We were realistic though in our expectations and knew it would take some work and time but the guy at the company was very discouraging.  We signed up anyway and when I left I told Paul (jokingly but half hoping) to find us a flat- adding that it would be great if we could move in by May.  AND IT WORKED!  Well, telling Paul worked!  The company maybe called once with a terrible lead.  But a friend forwarded Paul an email with a family leaving their flat with an extra room, right below our price max, ready in April, and 2 stops from us closer to downtown!  Paul visited and made it clear how much we would love a room for our son and they helped us tremendously by giving us the application days before the other interested parties!  Paul applied complete with a picture of our family and we got the flat!!  We are SO incredibly excited!!  I have not seen the inside but from what Paul has told me I think it will be great.  We will have to give up a dryer and have a walk to the tram stop but it is quiet and more square meters!  The pediatrician will also just be a 7 min (if that!) walk away.  How awesome!

So now we have some shopping to do.  :)  Of course my favorite part!  We'll need wardrobes (which hopefully we'll get from a friend!), a new couch, a futon maybe for Jakob's room (LOVE being able to say that!), a bookshelf, some light fixtures, and other accessories.  I'll try to keep the expenses to a minimum though since we'll be doing some traveling this year.  The day after we get the keys to our new place we'll be off to Brussels and Amsterdam for a long weekend and then a few weeks later my best friend and her family are coming to visit and we'll probably head to Milan for a couple days!  Then a couple months later we'll be off to China.  Wow, time is flying.  Right now I just can't wait to see our new place.  :)

And of course I take way too many pictures so here is a slideshow from our trip to the states.  :)  At least I can finally post this!  Tonight Jakob decided he would get out of a bath by hiding the tub plug and then be sneaky and climb on the kitchen table while we were busy searching... He is more than a handful but at least he's cute.  :)