Anjuns first 3 weeks...

I just can't give Anjun too many kisses!!!!


(Above, kisses with mommy.)

As you can imagine (and those of you with children will understand this...) the first few weeks with a new baby have been crazy! We're slowly learning more and more about each other and finding new rhythms throughout the day. Anjun is doing great, gaining weight, eating good etc. Mom and dad are keeping busy, Sebastian had to go back to work a week after Anjun came, with the help of my parents and his parents the time went alright. Still miss him when he goes to work! Otherwise I cant believe how quick the holiday are approaching and I hope I can have things together for Christmas time.

I'll let the pictures speak for the rest of our time together.


(right, deep in thought. Anjun almost always has his hands up by his face.... and if he doesn't eventually he'll get one up there somehow.)



(left, Anjun and Jona meeting. One big happy family, I think Jona wasn't too sure about this new dude - when he saw his mom holding the new baby he got a little upset...)



(right, the fussy hat. We discovered shortly after this picture that this must be the fussy hat, had a long cranky time. Besides periodic cranky periods he's a very happy baby.)




(left, mom an baby discovering together. Anjun almost always stares at this one spot on a wall near his changing table. I'm looking too to try and see what all the excitement is about...turns out there's still nothing there.)



btw, American English pronounciation for his name: Ahn-june Soon-dah Wedding

Love to you all, we'll try and keep the updates and pics coming.

Stacy, Sebastian and Anjun

Allow me to introduce...

Anjun Sundar Wedding
(left: just a few minutes after birth)


Very very quick update here....

(right: proud papa and son)

We finnally got to meet our precious little man Sunday morning at 9:15am. I think I can speak for Sebastian and I both when I say that the labor and birth of our son was the hardest thing we've ever had to go through. We ended up at the hospital, my water broke and it took 24 hours for contractions to start... the baby needed help and so did I. In the end it was the best thing to do and now we have a very healthy and happy baby boy.




He's already gained weight. Man oh man are these first days hard. Words cannot describe. But thanks to amazing support from Sebastian and the grandparents here, we've done alright at adjusting. The midwife comes every day to check on us which is amazing. next week she'll start coming every other day for a couple weeks.


We love you all!!

More updates to come....

Love,
Stacy, Sebastian and Anjun

Our Weiss-Wedding...

A brief view....

First the excitement begins... we're all ready to go, just trying to figure out who goes in what car. Even though there's really no reason at all to take vehicles - the Rathaus is approximately 5~5 1/2 blocks from our home...(right)

Finally, arrived and all settled in the beautiful room where the Civil Ceremony took place. That's Anne, me, Sebas and Christian (his witness) in the middle...(below)

No need to translate this one Linn!! The Civil Officer said auf deutch something like 'you may kiss the bride' and we share our first kiss as husband and wife! (below left)



After the short and sweet ceremony it was outside where the rice was flying! I'm trying to avoid getting it in my eyes.. and everywhere else.. and Sebas was apparently hungry!!! (right)

Can you see the look on my face...? I have to get up into that thing!? The rickshaw was a HUGE surprise and a huge adventure... our chariot ride to the Weiss-Wedding Dinner down the main road of Hennef - lots of honks and waves along the way. Classic. (right)


Sebas chit chatting with some Wedding Uncles, safely arrived at the dinner destination. (left)


Little did we know what was coming next


Cutting the sheet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to do what now!? (above)


OOOOhhh...we cut ALL the way around this thing!? With these TINY sissors?????? Thanks for the explanation honey... our first team working task as husband and wife. (right)


Cut the sheet, ate cake, tea and coffee, cut the cake and then on to a toast... and a song. Then before we knew it, it was dinner time and our big day had flown by!

wow.

Can't thank you all enough for the congratulations and well wishes on Facebook etc. I was able to really enjoy the festivities of the day and in the moment I could appreciate so much what was happening and going on... having Anne there... sharing loving moments with Sebastian... and meeting so much of his family... but then later, looking back I really missed having my family there. (I know Sebatians family is my family now... but you know what I mean) I've been so fortunate to have been able to share in so many of your weddings and celebrations... and our wedding here really was a very special, meaningful and will always be one of the most meorable days of my life - but I also can't help but look forward to having the USA party to share the celebration with you all as well.

So much has happened after the big day! The day after our wedding Sebastian got a call about a job for UPS and started work the next day! So I got to jump into the role of hausfrau (housewife) right away... then the next weekend was a Wedding family reunion (that is, Sebatians fathers family, the Weddings... wow, this Wedding/Marriage Wedding/Last name thing is getting kind of confusing...). Since then Sebastian has been busy with a new work schedule AND wrapping up his first school module. He will go to Amsterdam this Sunday for 3 whole days to meet with his class and offically finish school.

Oh, and by the way I'm due in 7 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In all the busyness of everything else that's been going on, who can forget we're about to get to meet our little Lemon?! We have everything prepared for the homebirth, but perhaps most importantly I think I'm ready. no really. And it's not just the fact that my elegant pregnancy walk has turned into a somewhat penguin waddle... or the swollen feet... or the fact that I feel HUGE and exhausted on an houly basis... yes, I'm ready to be able to easily put my shoes on without having to perform minor acrobatics to do so... and I'm more than ready to not have to use the restroom every 45 minutes...

but also... besides all that... I'm ready. To have a family with my husband and get to finally meet our baby. I'm starting to get really excited and I've told Lemon many times - she can come whenever she's ready.


Much love from the Wedding family!

We have a date!

Just a quick update today....

We have a date for our 'Civil Ceremony'!

We will be married as recognized by the German Government on 18.10.2010. (In Europe they put the day frist, then month, then year, so it's the 18th of October.) In other words...

IN ONE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so so overly pleased that Anne will be able to come. With the help of mom and dad she'll be flying here Thursday night, arriving Friday mid morning and we'll have the whole weekend through Tuesday together. We will have a simple small gathering afterwards for tea and then a small dinner. Maybe 20 peoples or so. We'll see what we can pull together in the next few days. The most important thing besides marrying the man of my dreams is to not be stressed. So I think we'll keep things pretty simple.

The next decision will be the date for our American Weiss-Wedding! In the brief moments we've talked about it so far we can't imagine it being sooner than a year with the baby and Sebastians school etc etc. Maybe next fall. I love this time of year.

We'll keep you all informed!

And of course post pictures after the Ceremony Monday.

Love!

Stacy Sebastian and Lemon

Drum roll please...................................

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok Ok, so NOW the blog IS a wedding blog!!!

Sebastian and I have known for quite some time that we would get married, but we've finally made it official. We're engaged!


Last week Sebastian and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner to celebrate our decision to get married. Yes, that's right... our realization came upon a conversation rather than a fancy getting-down-on-one-knee proposal. Maybe not every womans childhood fantasy, but I believe I've mentioned before... Sebastian and I just aren't traditional go-by-the-book kinda people! Not going to outright lie and say I don't ever so slightly miss the fact that I didn't get some formal pop-the-question proposal filled with candle light, roses and me jumping up and down excitedly yelling YES! But we still made it quite special with an engagement dinner (okok, with candle light and roses!)... picnic the next day... announcing to our parents/siblings etc etc.

(PIC: top Sebas and I, 34 weeks. Next, a third wheel crashed our picnic! and last engagement dinner complete with candles, roses and yes... Indian food. How appropriate!?)

We will be able to design our own rings with Lea, Sebastians sister - she's a Gold and Silversmith... well....if we can ever decide on what we want exactly...that is. Oh, and Anne will come to see us soon - as we discovered what paperwork it will take to get married (which btw: the German government LOVES paperwork, forms, sworn statements, stamped certificates and whatnot... don't get me started....)
we realized we need to get the ball rolling. I've always known Anne would be my witness, and it truly means the world to me that she'll be able to spare a few days from a busy school semester, work etc to come here and stand up with me.

(PIC: yes, I made a list. oof. What we need to get married -paperwork wise- thankfully we now crossed almost everything off the list)

So yes, as you may have deduced by now we are going to go ahead and sign the papers if you will to make our marriage official to the governmental authorities soon..

Parties and celebrations to follow.

So what does this mean? It means that we WILL have a USA wedding/celebration/party but at this exact moment in time I have no clue when that will be. Next year sometime...

At this moment the most important thing is for me to not be stressed. We're getting closer and closer to meeting Lemon. But I want her to come when it is her time, and not to come due to stress or other factors.

One step at a time....
one form at a time...
one appointment at a time and with all this combined with our shared love for each other...

One new life. One happy family. Together. Forever!

Das leben ist schön = Life is good!!

Finally a Flat Foto!

Hard to believe but we're finally pretty much done with the flat!!!!!

It feels so SO good to say this. Funny to think that when I first came here we said 'Oh, yeah, 2-3 weeks.... 2-3 weeks or so, and we'll be done'. And now - 3 MONTHS later - we're actually done. I'm only including pics of the main room because the office/Lemon's room will be re-arranged and decorated in the next weeks to accommodate baby more. Right now it's just a computer desk and dresser... but soon it will be prepared for baby. So pics of the office later, for now....



Left pic: before, bare walls... bare floor...yeah. That's it!

Right pic: after, oven, fridge, counter with sink... paint for a splash of color.. much better!

Next.... Lemons room...

Speaking of preparing for baby!! We met with the Midwife today and got a list of what is needed for a home birth - it will be an adventure in the next weeks to purchase some extra things and get everything in order around here so that whenever Lemon decides to come we can easily shift into a comfortable yet prepared atmosphere. Overall health is good and baby is doing really well. .
Moving more and more, growing more and more... got an ultrasound too, everything is normal and healthy

Otherwise we've had fun with little projects - flat might be done but we're still kind of decorating and arranging. We also got a nice visit from an Aunt and Uncle of Sebastian...nice to meet some of his family. Of course we had to go see Jona again, our new nephew. We went to Duren last Monday kind of spontaneously and enjoyed a camp-style type bbq with Philipp, Petra and Jona.



Pic: a very confused Jona looking between daddy (Philipp) and daddy lookalike (twin bro Sebas)

Oh and my German class is quite interesting. In a good way. There's 9 women, all from different countries! Which means.... the teacher speaks German ALL THE TIME. I kind of thought it would be like this. Funny to not understand something in class...figure out how to ask for clarification in German... and hope you understand the answer. Lots of pantomiming and what not. But it's given me the basics and stronger foundation of the language to make me more confident to try and speak a little bit more. And it's only been two weeks! I hope by the end I'm even more comfortable. And it's basic enough that it's not stressful at all. Don't need any stress these days!!

Think that's enough for now...

10 weeks left!!!?

10 weeks!? Could that be right!??! Could be... I have a countdown going on a chalkboard we put up in the flat - and that's what it says. 10 weeks. On one hand that seems like plenty of time, on the other it feels like it will sneak right by us and we'll be parents before you know it! But I talk to Lemon frequently these days, and she knows to take her time.

These past couple weeks have been pretty uneventful. Which I must say is nice. I have a new found laziness with pregnancy. There are moments where I want to do things, little things... projects... cleaning... organizing.... but otherwise I'm not up for too much. Maybe nesting is settling in - maybe I'm really feeling the extra weight (this is the most I've ever weighed!!) - maybe it's the weather. I hope all you over in the states are enjoying your summer. I got about 2 or 3 weeks of summer here, and it's already started to turn... rainy.... colder... if the leaves start changing I can handle it... but right now it's a weird in between state that's not summer (hot and sunny) and not fall (beautiful foliage and cool nights).

(Pic - Sebas and I, timer shot, while biking through a nearby touristy town)

The flat is almost done. No really!! I feel I've said that before. But this week we should have a functioning kitchen! Then it will just be decorating etc. Then I'll post some picture on here. Promise. I think we might have to go to Ikea. Again. I can handle the home improvement store (most the time) but Ikea just takes it out of me. Last time we went we had the total typical experience... starting out joyful and playing... then taking an hour to decide on a cabinet door... laughing... crying... then just trying to get the hell out of there with only picking up two impulse buys I think. Not too bad. OK, yeah, it was kind of bad.

(Pic - me, in/putting together an IKEA cabinet)

I finally decided on a German class I can take that is very close by, will work with our schedules and isn't way too expensive!!!! I start this Wednesday!!!! I'm SO so excited about this. It might just be really basic.... and it might be full of Turkish women (no joke) but hopefully it will give me what I've been looking for... a stronger basis to grow off of combined with a bit of a weekly rhythm/schedule. I am so grateful to start this so soon... and it's only 5 weeks, everyday, Mon-Fri 9-12:30. Perfect!! I'll let you know how it goes...

Oh, and one last thing I finally did was a baby registry. I think it's linked to this blog somehow...What an adventure it was to do this. I found local, German retailers who are supplied with natural fabrics and natural materials. Picked out what we think we need, and I think that even though some of the websites aren't available in English it could still be somewhat easily navigated. With the help of good old yahoo babel fish or google translate, that is. Every now and then I copy a word (or whole paragraph!) into one of those language translators just to make sure I'm clicking on the right buttons. Most of the time the translations are spot on.

(Pic - Sebas fiddling with a tool on his make-shift work bench outside/our kitchen countertop)

Sebastian is busy between school work and building our kitchen. He's really loving the school program he's in - it's great to see him growing and developing areas of his life that he's really excited about. Other than that we work on things together, keep busy around the house and soon will start a birthing class together at the local Birth House our Midwife is from. I think it will be all in German. That will be interesting.....

For now that's all, much love from the Weiss-Wedding family!

S S & L

Travels, Wedding, Good News...

We have a midwife! I'm very excited about this, and we get to meet with her Friday. We've kind of been waiting and waiting for insurance to come through - which, frankly it's not. But we're letting that go for the moment (next week we try our kind of last resort... then we'll see!). I never thought of my wonderful beautiful baby to be as a 'pre-existing condition' but apparently insurance companies do.

Anyway - after hearing from a handful of offices and midwifes that we're way too late to find one, especially one that will do a home birth, we called one Birthing Center in Bonn and found one.... that speaks English! And we can still have a home birth. I am SO grateful!!!


Otherwise the past weeks have been quite busy - first with a trip to Leuven, Belgium to visit my friend Sarah I met last year on the farm (Vlierhof, while beginning my travels in Germany). We lived together there for 3 months or so and kept in close contact thereafter. It was so great, like we had just seen each other last week!
(PIC above, the four of us, Sebas, Me, Sarah and little Janis...below right Sebas playing with the laughing buddha baby of Sarah's!)

And she now has a beautiful baby boy - Janis (again, J pronounced like Y) who I got to meet and spend some time with. I also got a bit of advice about natural birthing, home birthing etc, it was great to hear about her experience. Catching up, exploring town, cooking, eating french fries...and getting to introduce Sebas and Sarah was very meaningful for me to...they had both heard about each other, but we all finally got to hang out together. so so nice.

Next, was a wedding! While we were in Leuven we got a call from David - Sebastians close friend who leaves for Namibia soon - asking Sebas to be his witness at his wedding! On Tuesday! So it was Leuven for Thurs - Sunday....Wedding Tuesday and driving them to the airport Wednesday....and with some small preparations and such Monday, time flew by! But it was really really great.

(PIC above: the Civil Ceremony with Sebas, David, Daniela, Anna-Lena and pic below after the ceremony gathering outside)


Obviously work on the flat took a small break - but now we're back and can focus on what we need to. Sebastian has some school things to work on here and there, baby things we can work on together....and piecing together the rest as it comes. Funny fact, Sebastian finishes his first school Module by going to Amsterdam for 3 days....November 1-3.... and my due date? November 6th! That will be a fun time. I'm sure it will all work out perfectly - after all, the first due date I was given was November 25th... and they were never really sure about either.

We just have to trust! We will meet Lemon whenever she (or he!) is ready.... let's all hope and pray we're ready for her!

In Deutschland over a month!

Thought I'd start by letting you know where we live. We're in Hennef, which is just outside Bonn, near Cologne. We're almost done renovating the flat on the third floor of Sebastian's parents home (you can see our windows are open on the top floor. Pic on the right shows our names on the buzzer).

Before I forget - a couple things I think need clarification...

#1: We are not finding out the sex of the baby. Not yet anyway. We both kind of go back and forth, but at the moment we're just going with it and probably won't find out. For some reason for quite some time we've both referred to the baby as "she" or "her" - no particular reason, just happened organically. We'll just see what happens and let you all know whenever we find out.


#2: Although at first glance the blog may appear to be some kind of wedding blog it's not. It's my last name (Weiss) and Sebastian's last name (Wedding). Sebastian and I are not married at the moment. Right now we're living in the present and focusing on our baby - who will be here before you know it!


I am very quickly approaching the 6 month mark....and therefore the third trimester! This blows my mind. Although my profile is certainly matching this time frame. The past couple weeks we've gotten A LOT done on the flat. Painting, installing a new door, floors....next we complete our kitchen. Pictures of that to come.

Some people have been asking about what it's like here...mostly you all seem to be curious about what I'm eating. I am no longer a vegetarian - although I never really was, I still ate fish when I could. But anyway. Most mornings (which are admittedly late mornings, I've been sleeping a lot) consist of yogurt with müsli and fruits or breads/cheeses etc...and Nutella. No cereal. And Müsli is NOT cereal. It's somewhat comparable, but not the same thing at all. Lunch totally depends on the day, sometimes leftovers...sometimes more cheeses, fruits, breads... sometimes salad....sometimes olives and ice cream. More on that later. Dinners are varied as well. Some are what I would imagine to be typical German foods (ummm... potatoes? meats...) but other times we cook Indian, Italian and what ever we feel really.

Still no weird food things or cravings, but ok ok, I have been eating Olives like they're going out of style. Not really creating recipe's around them, just snacking on them while I'm cooking something else. And when the weather is nice I really enjoy ice cream. But who doesn't!?


Ah yes! And we got to meet our new nephew on July 18th - Philipp (Sebastian's twin brother) and Petra welcomed Jona into the world (J pronounced like a Y, so phonetically "yo nah") a few weeks early. We visited them again Sunday and mother father and baby are very happy and healthy.

Can't believe soon Sebastian and I will have a little one to welcome to the world. I think Sebastian might write one of these updates soon, we'll see. Off to see a friend in Belgium this weekend, will update more after that.

Much love -

Stacy, Sebastian and Admiral Lemon

22 weeks....whoa

Could it be!??? 22 weeks!!! Oh my gosh, when I see this picture I think....who is this person!? Am I really THAT big? I see my reflection in a store window or walking by a car and do a double take. I'm getting big!

Wow...it's slowly setting in that I am now here for over two weeks. On one had that doesn't sound like a whole lot of time. But on the other hand it feels like so much more. I still have quite a list of things to accomplish...getting things in order for our flat, the baby, etc. But the more work I do on such lists the longer the list seems to become. Maybe this is just how it will be now, starting a family.. keeping busy with life and such. And planning. hhmmmm... again with this planning thing.

We got to go sailing this past weekend with David and Danielle, friends that are sadly moving to Namibia soon.

Then we, of course, watched the German soccer game against....Argentina I think. Wow, I know no one in the states really cares about the World Cup - at least no where near as much as they care about it here - but it's big here. Like Superbowl big. No, even bigger than that really. 'Cuz it's only every 4 years or so. Well, when your country makes it as far as Germany has, you tend to jump on the bandwagon, as I clearly have. SCHLAND!!!!!!!!!!! (that's what you yell for Germany because in German you call Germany Deutschland, and, well, like any good German word that's just too long, so they shortened it to just -"schlaaaaaand!!!!!")

(below - David and Daniela 'surfing' on a air mattress)

Sunday was a lovely brunch and walk on the Rhine with David & Danielle, Christian & Nina, their two little ones Mio & Tomte, and Sebas and I. Then we had a nice dinner with Lissy and Peter (Sebastians parents) Phillip and Petra (Sebas' twin bro and very pregnant girlfriend) Lea and Ronnie (Sebas' little sis and boyfriend). I was reminded once again that I need to enroll in a German crash course. Quickly. It's not like me to just sit back... attempting to follow a conversation that I understand 0.5% of...just laughing when everyone else laughs....not 'getting' the jokes...not making any jokes...it gets to be a bit too much at times. Like I don't get to be myself. I go inside and hide in a way. And whoever I'm with thinks that I'm always like this...quiet...passive...and those of you that know me know that's just not true. But I knew it would be like this for a time.

(right - clockwise from top right: Sebas, Me, Phillip, Petra, Lissy, Ronnie, Lea, Peter)

It's healthy to put yourself in these kinds of growing, learning, maybe even uncomfortable situations.

Otherwise I'm comfortable...healthy...happy......working on lots of little projects. One specifically, I'm creating an artful family tree (a Weiss one and a Schwarz one) with pictures and such, so Sebastian and I can start getting to know our extended families. Any other ideas?? For Sebastian and Lemon to get to know you all even if we don't meet just yet...? Please send advice. Input. We would be so grateful.

For now, love and light

Sebastian, Stacy and Lemon

(oh, and check it out...I've been labeling things in the flat so I learn more German words...the bottom pic shows that Sebas went a liiiiittle too far with the labeling - it says "Lemon inside")

Travels to Germany

Sunday: Golf is so boring!

OK, so I am in Philly hanging out in the US Airways Club Lounge (thanks to a family friend Frank Hazzard - thank you so so so much Frank!). The first leg of my journey complete (Chi-town to Philly) after a heart wrenching goodbye with my parents.... there was lots of walking in the Chicago airport. I had almost a full two hours to kill, so I found my gate - funny what security this brings...like whew, yup, it's there...now what - then decided I should walk. Walked from concourse E to G...up and down each concourse in it's entirety. then back... to E...then on to A...then back to E. Then thankfully they were boarding. Flawless flight. Got to the lounge in Philly and scoped it all out, found one nook with some couches. It's mostly little separate sections divided with stuffed chairs, end tables with identical lamps on each, very nice restrooms, a bar and snack area. Oh, and of course, tv's everywhere. So I claim my couch, drink a bunch of water, e-mail the fam and Sebas and put on the eye mask. Time to sleep. Shortly after this I kind of notice that someone is attempting to change the channels of the tv that's closest to our couch area, despite the sign that says "Please see Club Representative for assistance with the Equipment"...which he eventually does. How do I know it's a he...? Because of what he turns it to... a world cup game, Spain vs. some African team. I thought this would be annoying but with the sleep mask and the gentle hum of vuvuzelas, which sound surprisingly like the buzz of a bee hive, it wasn't too bad. But then after only an hour ...maybe hour and a half of rest... I had to get up. Our couch corner had become a hot spot, with one tv having the game and one having the big golf tournament. Really? There's like at least 25 tv's in this place, some much nicer and bigger than these...I just imagine all the people around me, picturing them through my sleep mask, 'why is this lady sleeping right where the game is showing?!' Well, random sports fans I'm imagining in my head, it wasn't on when I laid down! Now, the exciting game is over...and all that's left is.... golf! Which has to be, in my book, the absolutely most boring thing to watch on tv ever. ever. But I get a strange joy out of it, thinking of my father... who, if at home, is most certainly watching it. Happy Fathers Day dad, love you.

Maybe it will put me back to sleep...

Monday: Aisle seats...ugh

So the flight from Philly to Dublin is about 6.5 hours...I've been told by my physician that I need to get up every couple hours and walk. WALK for 15 minutes. On a plane. hhmmmm..... didn't really think about this, besides making sure to get an aisle seat so I can easily get up without crawling over or waking up two people next to me. Flight took off on time, reassuring because I have just over two hours in Dublin. But seeing as how I have to go through customs, wait for baggage, and re-check in and go through security...those 2 hours and 15 minutes feel like maybe I'm cutting it close. All it will take is one thing to hold me up and....ugh. Can't even think about it. I tell myself there's nothing I can do but to just go with it. Worrying is so wasteful of energy. So I settle in, to my aisle seat, get a nice vegetarian meal... and start reading a bit... when I would normally start to try and sleep. I soon realize that sleeping is just not going to happen. My mind it too heavy...the child two rows back is screaming too loud (seriously, for almost the entire time....)....and is it just me or does everyone who walks down the bloody aisle have to kick my foot, nudge my elbow, even once somehow catching onto my blanket and taking if off of me!? oh, and I was only a few rows back from the toilets - man oh man do people disregard the fasten seat belt sign!!!! I approached the two hour mark. Ok, time to walk a bit I guess. Do you know how impossible it is to walk, like really walk on a plane for 15 minutes. I ended up just doing stretches, squats, lunges even, in the back of the plane to get my circulation going. Seemed to work just fine. The time passed relatively quickly, I did rest for maybe an hour, but it wasn't really sleep. Then before I knew it the sun was up and we were making our final decent. We would land 10 minutes early even! ah, what a relief, I should have plenty of time. Or so I thought. After a smooth landing and about 30 seconds of taxiing on the runway the plane stops. The pilot gets on and lets us all know that there's a plane at our gate, it will leave soon and then we can unload. ok ok, so there goes the 10 minutes I just gained by landing early...oh wait, make that 20 minutes..... 30...... 40.... yes, that's right. we sat there for OVER 50 MINUTES. OMG, I was like a ticking time bomb, leg bouncing nervously, letting out a gruntled, heavy sigh every now and then...if I had a watch I would have overdramatically glanced at it numerous times. Heart rate's up. Finally we get to the gate and the fasten seat belt sign is turned off....

on your mark. get set. ?

Monday...ur, uh, Montag Nacht: Willkommen

ok, ok, so Dublin was interesting. Best described: hurry up, wait. hurry up, wait. hurry up. After dashing out of the plane, jogging down the terminal it was time to wait in line at customs. Of course, I got in the slowest line. No, really I did. The official asked me the normal questions... first, Hello how are you. Then How long will you be in Dublin. After a quick glance at my imaginary wrist watch I replied...um, about 45 minutes. That answer seemed to satisfy all his other inquiries, I got a quick stamp and was on my way....to ....baggage claim, baggage claim, which way is...ok yes, found baggage claim and ...waited. Got both my bags - yay! - loaded them up on a cart and followed the signs to flight connections. Which took me directly to security. Oh, no, wait, don't I have to check in my bags somewhere? oh yes, go back to the other side of the terminal. AAAHHHH!!! okokok... found the ryanair check in counter. Thankfully they were busy and didn't even think twice about my bags being over weight by a kilo or so. whew! Then of course I think I could have maybe brought this or that or other things too but - oh well - back to security. wait in line, wait in line. Then to the gate. I notice once I approach the gate that everyone is already in line...then I look at my ticket, glancing quickly to see what zone I'm in or seat or row so I know when to board. Um, ryanair doesn't do seat assignments. Interesting. You just get in line, scan your ticket, and go find a seat. Weird. But ok. This flight seemed longer than it actually was. Running on no sleep, pure endorphins and adrenaline I'm struggling to read and remember what I'm reading. I can't recline my seat (does this really save the airline money somehow?) so I close my eyes for a moment, thinking maybe I could rest. Then it hits me, like a ton of bricks. I will see Sebastian. In a matter of minutes I will be reunited with him. NO WAY I'm sleeping now. Finally we land. And then I'm reminded that, while I have to go through customs again (this was my main stress, because I don't have a return ticket and intend to stay longer than my passport alone will allow) it's the customs that you go through while traveling within the EU... my flight was only coming from Ireland after all. Freakin sweet! Two questions. Two questions they asked me and I was done, out the door, bags already waiting for me, and exiting the baggage claim area. Only to see what I had been waiting for this whole time. Sebastian. Waiting for me. I saw his face light up and heard him say 'oh, my, God'. That was all I needed.

oh, and a hug. A big big hug.

The drive to Hennef went great, under two hours I'm pretty sure. had a nice dinner with Sebastian's parents - Peter and Lissy. And the past week has been really wonderful...settling in... relaxing... exploring Hennef, Bonn etc. And of course, making a plan. But most certainly and most importantly, reconnecting with Sebastian. In the last days he can even feel some movements of the baby! wow. In a way it's all new, different, but in a really weird way it's all natural... familiar..... normal.

Next time a picture...I promise. We're all doing well and healthy.

Love,

Sebastian, Stacy and Lemon

20 weeks...officially!

What a day what a day....


I've certainly had my hands full today. I've been making lists. Again. Not a behavior I like, but functional. Today was actually compiling all the things on random lists into one last list...with the first step being eliminating what can wait til after the move to do and therefore leaving only what I absolutely have to do today.

The main thing was of course packing. I fly with US Airways from Chicago to Philly...then Philly to Dublin. But then I fly RyanAir Dublin to Frankfurt. I had no idea how much this would hinder and stress my packing....you see, US Airways is pretty typical as far as what is allowed, what the fees are for baggage, weight, etc. BUT RyanAir is not. They have fees for everything, including my favorite: a fee of 20 Euros for every kilogram I go over on weight. Couple that with a maximum allowance for checked bags of 15 kilos (approximately 33 pounds) that is pretty dangerous. I've weighed myself a lot today...alone....with a bag....alone again...with a different bag...with the same bag packed a little bit more...along again......I'd really like to not weigh myself or anything for that matter anytime soon.

(Anne and I at a comedy show with the fam)

As expected emotions are high. I've never done anything like this before...I've traveled, packed etc etc. But not like this. I think the main problem I've had with myself is that while I say what's going on, what I'm doing, what will happen etc - I haven't let myself fully comprehend it or even fathom it. It's just words. Some story in my mind. But it's also reality. And as this sets in I get so overwhelmed I just cry uncontrollably.

(mmmm....camping breakfast beans)

When I look back on these past few days they've been full of really hard good bye's, but thankfully also quite a few pleasant surprises as well. Gifts, well wishes, hugs, a really good Doctor's visit, and some pleasant news from a friend at my parents church. He got me into the US Airways Club Lounge thing for my (ugh) 9 hour layover in Philly. Hopefully I can rest there...seeing as how I have to get up and walk for 15 minutes every hour and a half to two hours on the flight...not a lot of time for sleep. I've also been camping with friends, went to a comedy show with Mom Dad and Anne, and lots of other stuff with friends and family to keep me busy.


I can't thank all of you enough. For your thoughts, prayers, words, love. I fear when I leave my mother, father and sister may need some extra support - please keep them in mind as well. Maybe a call, a positive thought....It's so greatly appreciated.

Oh, I've sent out my new address to family - if you'd like it please e-mail me or FB message me, I'll be happy to send it your way. Just don't want to put things like that on a public website.

Tomorrow Chicago.....

Then.....

Germany, Sebastian, new life....and who knows what else!