May - an update

This month has been pretty busy. I've had my last uni presentation (well at least the last one for the bachelor course). And I can't wait to finish the course in two months. This week I've applied for Masters, but unfortunately the cutoff mark is very high, and my marks are not... so I'm optimistic, but also realistic. If I don't get in this year, then I might do some work experience somewhere and then reapply next year. In 2012 another two other universities (apart from mine) are going to be offering Masters, making it three options in total.

We also finally made a decision about Tim's Kita. The one where he's going to now is quite far and especially with the current construction work on the metro it takes about 30 mins to get there. We also have to walk past all the prostitutes, which makes me feel fairly uncomfortable. In the meantime we got offers from two kindergartens directly near us, for an intake in August. One is another Russian/German and another just a pure German Kita. I went to visit both of them this week and although the German one is nicer in many ways (own playground, lots of space, cheaper) we decided to go with the Russian/German one, because if Tim has a chance at learning Russian I think it's very good. Unfortunately it means that he'll also be learning the Soviet/Russian mentality, but in some ways it's not a bad thing. And we can see his group room from our windows :)

Today the three of us ventured out to the former airport Tempelhof. It's now a park and we just went to have a look. There's a bbq area there, so we might come back next weekend and have a picnic.

The great conflictologist

Denis was here for a visit a few weeks back. It was really nice to see him and chat, and drink (breastfeeding is over - yey!!!), and chat and drink... Together we also paid a visit to the infamous Tacheles gallery. I was a bit scared of going there before, but with Denis at our side I knew that all conflicts would be peacefully dealt with. It's actually a pretty cool place. I think I'll be visiting it a lot more often now.

Back in the pool

Our next babyswimming course has started and we've already had three classes. As usual Timmy is very happy to be in the water, but unfortunately the teacher this time around is not that great. She is very friendly, but the classes are fairly disorganised and we're not doing much. Although yesterday Tim went on the slide a few times, which was lots of fun.

Mama Papa

Just over a week ago, on the 20th of May Timmy said "mama" and "papa". He'd be babbling quite a bit before already, but more like "mamamamamama", or "bababababa". But now he's saying these words separately and we are very happy to hear them. He has a slight preference for saying "Mama", which makes our Papa a little upset. But this morning while sitting on Jack's lap he did a very clear and good "Papa", so I think it makes up for it all.

Here are some photos of Timmy from the last couple of weeks...

Shady Biscuit

Imagine a biscuit with a a three day growth and a low slung beanie.

That's going to be my rap name if I ever start a rap group.

I know this makes no sense what so ever but I'm working on a major tendor at work, and not getting enough sleep and the German joke that someone at work told was just too amusing but translatable.

For those who wish to try:
"Was nennt man ein Keks unter einem Baum? Ein schattiges Plätzchen"

It's pretty much one of those "Why did the boy fall off the bicycle" jokes, but the punch line translates to shady biscuit.

Back to work I go.
Jack...

From "far North Queensland after 3 or 4 beers" with love

As already mentioned Tim and Michelle are here for a visit from Melbski. They arrived last Friday night and we nearly missed them at the airport due to their Qatarian efficiency of landing 25 minutes ahead of schedule. But then all was good anyway, especially once we could sip a beer on the metro (conviniently prepared by Jack).

On Saturday we managed a very nice walk up to the Reichstag. Security is tight, so we had to prebook our visit a couple of weeks in advance and being a very efficient German systen we didn't know if we'd be able to go up until two days prior to our requested date. Speaking of efficiency, Jack and I were very inefficient with our time management and instead of having a leisurly stroll to the Reichstag, we miscalculated and pretty much had to run. But we made it in time and after a brisk frisk by security got admitted. They now have audioguides that tell you what buildings you're looking at from the glass dome, which is a really good idea for tourists... saves us talking too much.

Last night we ventured out to have some fried chicken at Zur Kleinen Markthalle. Timmy slept well in the pram while we were having our first round of beers and chicken and then woke up just in time to have most of our bread. On the way home the guys got (once again) exposed to the true freedom of drinking beer on the streets, which they report to be very liberating :) T'was a good night...

1 !!!

On Sunday it was Timmy's very first birthday. He is no longer 'zero' years old, but there's an actual number :)

He got heaps of pressies and even though he was mosly oblivious to the hustle and bustle around him, there were a few moments when he was "holding court" as Michelle put it.

In the afternoon we had a few friends come over who brought along some of Timmy's friends (ie. other babies). I made a monster cake - I am not entirely sure why I decided to go with the green food colouring, but hey! I think it's a good symbiosis between "House M.D." (because Jack said that's it's hospital green) and "Monsters Inc." As Michelle predicted Timmy managed to get his hands into the side of the cake when we were singing 'happy birthday' and was rather pleased with himself.

All in all it was a wonderful day and wonderful party and just amazing to think that it's already been a year that the three of us are together.

Thank you also so much to everyone who SMS-ed, emailed, Skype-ed, sent pressies and cards, came to the party and flew across the world to visit - T and M, that's you! ;P