Oct 31-Nov 3: OZ meets MJ

The Guajardos came to visit from Copenhagen! It was so much fun to see Nanda and JJ and it was adorable to watch Owen and Mathilde play together. At only 10 months old, the two babies seem to have already developed so much of their personalities and it was so much more evident when seeing the two of them together than what I have noticed watching Owen over the last few months. Mathilde is 2 weeks older than Owen but her vocal skills are light-years ahead! She knows how to point, shake her head “no”, and trumpets like an elephant on cue. Owen, on the other hand, is obsessed with walking around, anything with wheels, and stomping on everything in sight. But, despite their differences, you could tell that the two of them enjoyed hanging out.

They had fun reading books together and playing on the floor:




We ate pizza at Ragazzi de Peppone and hung around Bordeaux:



And, on Monday, before their flight home, we went wine tasting at some nearby chateaux with my mom who flew in that morning:



As for the adults, we had a rally good time too. It was great to see our friends! And I enjoyed talking discussing parenting and parenthood. We are struggling with many of the same issues, most notably getting our kiddos to eat…


… and sleep!

It was very helpful to share ideas and to hear the advice that Nanda was getting from the midwives/doctors and her international friends in Denmark. It’s interesting to learn about the cultural differences in parenthood. For example, in France, we have seen 5 and 6 year old children with pacifiers whereas in the US, even giving a pacifier to a baby is controversial. In Denmark, Nanda was telling us, the midwives were telling her to feed MJ butter and olive oil to help with constipation and increase caloric intake. I read a quote on the internet after the Guajardos left that I think is important for us high-maintenance, well-educated, first-time parents to remember: We are not raising a child. We are raising our child. As Nanda and I discussed, it is important to remember that advice is just that – a suggestion of one way to proceed. But, advice isn’t the law. And Owen and MJ are clearly happy, healthy, and loved kiddos who are doing great – despite our anxiety. (Now, if only I could recall this in my anxious states!)

But enough about the kids, as fun as it was to watch and play with them, it was great to put the kids to bed and have some “adult” time to catch up, eat some tasty duck a la JJ, and drink some tasty wine. We were sad to say good-bye and are looking forward to seeing our friends again soon!