WANTED

You had your passport photo taken today, that was an ordeal, what a pain, little babies like you need a passport with a photo where they have to keep their head straight, first we could not make you keep your eyes open, once you woke up you closed it each time when we switched the lights on, then you would rolll your head to the sides or sideways.

 

Finally we got you, we stuck the photo on a template, once we had your nose centrally lined it turned out when your chin is positioned on the appointed horizontal line your eyes did not reach the top shaded strip where the eyes should be so..we had to stretch you a bit

here you are –

WANTED – by everyone who things you are so sweet and cute

WANTED for committing following crimes:                soiling the nappies, sometimes 3 x per hour,                                                                                       waking up your parents 4 times each night                                                                             eating 5 times per hour

being cute sweet and lovely all the time even when doing all the above

 

 

Bread and Roof over the head

My Darling,

things are going rather well at the moment. Your wonderful mum is giving you all the nutrition you need, both your parents love you very much (well that is a constant), you are growing and you are so very beutiful and well behaved.

If one day maybe things become a little tight at least daddy now knows how to make bread. Maybe you already got accustomed to the lovely nurturing smell of yeast and baking today. It will always remind me of my grandfather when he came back from the POW camp and told my granny, never mind us having lost everything material, at least i know how to make bread. And bread and cakes and sweets he made much to my and my fellow grandchildren’s delight!

Ingredients:

  • 500 grams of flour, sifted. Can contain up to two thirds of sifted wholegrain wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons of salt
  • 2 heaped teaspoons of dry yeast
  • 340 ml luke warm water (below 40 degrees celsius)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
to prepare:
  • Sift the flour into a plastic bowl and fold in the salt, do not add whole meal husks or any grains yet!
  • form a crater for the yest mixture in the middle of the flour and compact then run your finger around the rim to form a moat for the oil
  • dissolve the sugar in the luke warm water then add the dry yeast and whisk a few times until fully dissolved and let stand for one minute
  • pour the oil into the moat around the flour
  • carefully pour the yeast mixture into the crater
  • start mixing with a powerful mixer with kneading hooks starting from the crater and  working more and more flour into the mix before reaching the oil
  • keep kneading until all water and oil have been picked up and all is well mixed, then add your wholemeal husks and extra grains such as poppyseeds, oats, lintseeds, sesame seeds.
  • keep kneading until you have a smooth but sticky mixture, make sure to pick up loose flour and flakes of oil/flour mixture and incorporate, take care not to get the mixer stuck as this may destroy anything but the most industrial grade appliances. Usual mixing time about 3 minutes
  • When finished mixing, sift some flour over the batter and cover with towel and let rise for 45 minutes in a warm place. In the tropics it suffices to make sure there is no draft.
  • after about  45 minutes rising fire up the oven (our oven is digital, it only knows ON and OFF) and place a tin with approx. half a liter of water in the bottom. This will prevent the bread from become dry and hard
  • uncover batter which by know should have doubled in volume and will deflate upon touching with your well floured hands. Form two loaves on board covered with flour and keep covering hands and loaves with flour until finished shaping.
  • sift some flour on tin and place loaves on it, approx. 2 inches apart as they will rise again
  • leave tin with loaves on top of oven where it should now be nice and warm, let sit for another 10 minutes then cut a lengthwise slit into the loaves and brush the gash with oil.
  • Put tin with loaves into oven which by now should have reached its maximum  temperature
  • bake for approx. 30 minutes or until it looks done and the stick test comes back negative. Feel free to brush with water 2 or three times during baking and at the end of the baking process.
  • let cool on rack
  • enjoy

—-GERMAN—–

Link here

Zutaten für
Portionen

500 g Mehl
1 Würfel Hefe
340 ml Wasser, lauwarmes
1 TL Zucker
2 TL Salz
3 EL Olivenöl
n. B. Körner

 

Zubereitung

Mehl und Salz in einer Schüssel verrühren. Die Hefe im lauwarmen Wasser auflösen und den Zucker unterrühren. Eine Vertiefung in das Mehl drücken und das Olivenöl auf den Rand geben. Die Hefe-Zucker-Wasser-Masse in die Mulde gießen und alles mit dem Rührgerät kneten, bis ein gleichmäßiger Teig entstanden ist. Der Teig kann ruhig etwas klebrig sein. Zur Weiterverarbeitung von außen mit Mehl bestäuben. Den Teig ca. 45 Minuten gehen lassen.

Den Teig noch einmal gut durchkneten und 8-10 Brötchen formen. Die Brötchen im Backofen bei 50 Grad ca. 10 Minuten gehen lassen. Eine feuerfeste Schüssel mit Wasser in den Backofen stellen, die Brötchen mit Wasser bestreichen und den Ofen auf 230 Grad heizen. Die Brötchen einschieben und backen, bis sie anfangen braun zu werden. Wer die Kruste gerne etwas weicher hat, kann die Brötchen während des Backens und vor dem Abkühlen erneut mit Wasser bestreichen.

Bei Vollkornbrötchen kann man z.B. 340 g Weizenmehl (Typ 1050) und 160 g Roggenmehl verwenden und die Brötchen nach der ersten Ruhezeit mit Körnern mischen und nach Belieben auch bestreuen.

 

knowing you

Knowing you is a beautiful thing baby girl. we love watching your little face with beautiful alert eyes darting around, we know your cries, when you are hungry you start gently nhe eh e eh  then keep repeating the sound eh eh twisting your little mouth downwards ready to cry but if i speak to you, call your name and say the same thing to you you stop to listen and it is almost like you understand that i already know and wait now to be fed. not long, if the food doesn’t come quick you get frustrated and start all over again but again I can gain some time by talking to you.

When the nappy has to be changed the cry is different.  You are so patient with us and accepted our bizarre methods of teamwork nappy changing letting us strip you from nappy above the bucket when i am holding you and marcus pulls the nappy down to drop in the bin, then i dangle you in the backet of water, he makes sure you are thouroughly clean, we dry you and often give a quick wash again this time in the bowl.For some reason before this ritual is completed you decide it’s the eating time and start your other gentle cries so i kiss your little mouth already searching for milk and you stop and let us dress you up so i can carry you to bed or chair and feed you

You can eat a lot, sometimes you keep me for an hour or two next to you, when i think you are ready and done you start all over again. I think you may just like the attention and closeness so you suck for short time making lots of little breaks in between but won’t let me go, holding strong onto me with your little mouth title shut around my nipple and ready to start sucking as soon as the danger of withdrawal appears. When you are getting hungry, as soon as you start waking up may breasts feels full and hard and once you start asking for food the milk starts flowing.  It is so powerful, the connection between you and me now, the body of the mother catering for her child’s needs.

it is beautiful to be able to make you feel good, to feed you, to make you feel secure to watch you, your own little person sweet and innocent.

This was a strange year for me my baby girl. last year around this time i was traveling last year I was ragazze imagine, paid to look good drink champagne and dance wearing pretty dresses and heels, I travelled to Dominican Republic Turkey and Tahiti  free, full of life, having new experiences and different excitements each day…today I am breastfeeding and changing nappies and I have never been more happy. I might have worked in marketing, wrote articles, promoted places, did trainings, videos, gave interviews designed  educational materials but honestly i never had more important or more fulfilling job than i have right now, being here for you

every moment I spend with you though i also think about one other person, this when i feel really complete. Sometimes it is difficult because I miss your dad more than ever and yet we have so little time together, so many more things to do.  But the experience we are sharing is incredible and i am so glad i am sharing it with him

 

Haumea is a Hawaian Godess of creation, first Hawaian woman. It is also a name of a new dwarf planet but today we have learned it also have a meaning in Maori even though not many people know it.  It is a star known as Aldebaran and symbolises mystery and power

You are certainly a star for us, one more bright light in our lives and you brought a lot of magic to it.

Futura

 

 

Artista: Lucio Dalla
Canzone: Futura

 

Futura

Chissà chissà domani
su che cosa metteremo le mani
se si potrà contare ancora le onde del mare
e alzare la testa
non esser così seria, rimani
i russi, i russi gli americani
no lacrime non fermarti fino a domani
sarà stato forse un tuono
non mi meraviglio
è una notte di fuoco
dove sono le tue mani
nascerà e non avrà paura nostro figlio
e chissà come sarà lui domani
su quali strade camminerà
cosa avrà nelle sue mani.. le sue mani
si muoverà e potrà volare
nuoterà su una stella
come sei bella
e se è una femmina si chiamerà futura.
Il suo nome detto questa notte
mette già paura
sarà diversa bella come una stella
sarai tu in miniatura
ma non fermarti voglio ancora baciarti
chiudi i tuoi occhi non voltarti indietro
qui tutto il mondo sembra fatto di vetro
e sta cadendo a pezzi come un vecchio presepio.
Di più, muoviti più fretta di più, benedetta
più su, nel silenzio tra le nuvole, più su
che si arriva alla luna,si la luna
ma non è bella come te questa luna
è una sottana americana
Allora su mettendoci di fianco,più su
guida tu che sono stanco, più su
in mezzo ai razzi e a un batticuore, più su
son sicuro che c’e’ il sole
ma che sole è un cappello di ghiaccio
questo sole è una catena di ferro
senza amore, amore, amore, amore.
Lento lento adesso batte più lento
ciao, come stai
il tuo cuore lo sento
i tuoi occhi così belli non li ho visti mai
ma adesso non voltarti
voglio ancora guardarti
non girare la testa
dove sono le tue mani
aspettiamo che ritorni la luce
di sentire una voce
aspettiamo senza avere paura, domani.

 

 

This is the text of a song title, and Lucio Dalla Futura. I dedicate it to your little girl. Listen to this song.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ1tYVAZ8kQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Happiness

 

 

Happiness, happiness, and have a girlfriend, happiness, and have a friend who loves my friend, happiness, and have two friends and a little girl. Happiness and having known and met. The happiness and knowing that one day we’ll see. Happiness is you my dear, sweet, and distant friends. I love you from my deepest heart.

 

Kia Orana

Dear Haumea,

So here you are and out of nowhere our lives are turned upside down which on all, every single one, account is for the better. The stress and pain your dear mum went through, the tender love she has for you and her husband, the outstanding support from the midwifes, doctors, families (from far away), colleagues (so many extra aunties now!) friends and even strangers was truly an eye opener. Not only to the fact that this tiny speck in the huge pacific ocean is a family place or that the place where daddy goes to work is a family business but also that Your parents and you are meant to be a happy family bonded by love and passion rather than obligation and expectations.. Here is to a long and happy life, growing up in one of the most child friendly places on earth. May you bring a life time of joy and happiness to your mum, grandparents and all around you. May you be as special and beautiful as your mum.

Lots of love from your daddy.

like being in heaven…

My baby girl, finally we hold you in our arms. You are so so beautiful. we asked maybe it is just us, parents so in love with their baby would obviously think so but I think it’s true, you are gorgeous, sweet and innocent…

There is that love completely new inside me and I can hardly contain it. I feel like in heaven.

I started writing for you telling you what has happened and how i feel but this may take a while, at the moment I am exhausted and my wounds still did not heal so it is painful to sit for long but there is so many people waiting to see you and hold you in their arms, our families are so happy and supportive and wonderful that this flow of love is just overwhelming. Your polish grandma got just one photo and she kept going and looking at it over and over again and showing it to everyone.  How many times can you make people look at the same photo?

So i will put just a few photos now for your wonderful carrying and loving ohana. it turned out your ohana is so big and includes also many new friends here on the island. You are a blessed child baby girl and I hope we can give you the best we can and we can make you always happy. Truly and deeply happy with happiness that comes from having happy parents who are in love with each other, who, even if sometimes may seem strict or demanding of you will always have you in their heart and your best interest in their mind, happy because you know so many people love you care for you, happy because you understand the world and appreciate things, happy because we taught you how to love. not only how to receive love or even repay love but how to love unconditionally weather someone loves you back or not.  this is what you already taught me. the very first lesson your mama received from her little coreczka, you opened the whole new world for me, thank you baby, you don’t even know how much you have already done with just your presence.

I am sorry if I gave you some pain at birth, I am sorry i couldn’t push harder, but now you are so happy and content, you quickly managed to show us when you cry because you are hungry and when because your nappy needs changing, you eat a lot and then fall asleep by my side, cuddled into my breasts you just drunk from and filling them with love

here you are baby girl

Words to the strong and courageous

Dear Haumea,

it looks like we will come face to face in a matter of hours or at most days. All this time your Mum has been so incredibly strong, funny, loving and light footed that it nearly is a miracle to me how anyone can walk around with some 25 pounds of Haumea (including supplies and baggage) and be such a bouncy and strong person who with such tremendous ease shrugged off everything that would threaten to spoil the experience up to the last minute. So it is my conviction that bringing you into this world will be an equally pleasurable experience. According to my mum and in contrast to a large number of pessimistics that is indeed possible. So here’s hoping for the best and preparing for the greatest.

 

Your dad

 

before

it’s the last week my little one.  I haven’t written anything for quite a while. i have problems writing. So much was hapening and then, just one thing made it impossible for me to write anything.  writers’ block? Perhaps?

i meant to write about your family a bit.  you have now gorgeous little garments, your family, mainly grandma and aunty I think, spoiled you so much, you lucky girl.  Now you better be a girl because as a boy you will not look just as handsome in little pink French pantaloons and dresses:) the girls got carried away once they heard the second confirmation that you are a girl. /all sort of girly frills and soft pink clothes arrived recently from Berlin.

Marcus still has a fair amount of work and when he doesn’t we spend every single moment together. Every moment is a joy and fulfillment. We talked about some creative project and I enjoyed it and found his input really great. I am learning from him about local politics, the way society functions, benefit from his deep knowledge of Cook Islands last 10 years history. It’s a pitty that this country, so small and with every possibility to govern itself in an, honest, transparent, effective way, possibly capable of initiating something really grand like new emerging system ,an alternative to overprised democracy, does not take full advantage of this almost perfect conditions.  Maybe one day… Me and Marcus can only see things but we do not have enough cultural background to know the best solutions even if some changes required seem so obvious  the change has to be born here not introduced from elsewhere.  Maybe you or someone like you, local but with a view from outside would be this change…

I hope you will be a curious little girl.  Never stop asking questions and trying to find out.  Easy to say for the parents of today who can always tell their children google knows all the answers. When I was growing up and adults could not answer all my questions, the only way to find out was to make a journey to the library and spend hours searching the books.

We talked a lot also about our childhood and upbringing. Looks like your dad was far more lucky in so many ways.  What prompted this conversation was his concern about his Nana. She is 93 now and caught pneumonia which is serious especially in this age. It’s so difficult for a woman to see her man upset and worried. He said it would be difficult to talk to her on the phone so I suggested he writes a letter to her, the older people are used to receiving letters.  I thought she should know how much she means to Marcus and how much he would like me and you little one to meet his grandma.  nana is lucky to reach such a beautiful age but she has still some things in there she should wait for. I understand Marcus is really close to her heart and so to know him a man, a man fulfilled and in love, with his wife on his side and their daughter in his arms, to know the biggest change in his life, the strongest feelings in his heart… perhaps would add to her will to fight on, will be motivation to wait. to join in his happiness…

I once tried to find this motivation for my grandmother. She was dying an aweful death.. I knew she was still worried though that she was leaving me alone, in her world the girls married in their early twenties, she looked differently at those things.  So I thought I would give her a reason, a reason to survive, to wait.  I got engaged with my then boyfriend thinking she would want to see me in a white dress walking the aisle, that her dream, now that I was giving it to her she would not leave me..

The problem was my Little one, that I did not think about one issue.  That was not real.  It was not the real happiness she would be sharing with me, it was like connecting someone to the life supporting machine instead of giving them an excitment of real life.  I did not think of my own happiness then, did not question if that decision was right or wring.  Frank was a nice sweet guy but not the love of my life.  If only I was in ;love then like I am now, if only I knew Marcus, this would have been the real thing worth waiting for…

So Marcus got it right and we can only hope that maybe his Nana will find a strength in her to share in his happiness and love, in any case though she now knows, she knows both how much she meant in his life and how much of her he will carry in him and that he now finally met someone he wants to spend his life with, not to save her, not to please her, but because he is now sure for the first time in his life he loves someone.  And soon there will be someone else to love and care for, someone who will bring him joy and pride, hopefully little one.  Your dad deserves to be proud of you and just always do your best and he always will.

So hurry up now, there is many people out there excited about your arrival, impatient to see you, waiting to have you in their arms.  There is so many people we want you to know Baby girl.

And really you are getting to big in there, even though everyone is surprised or even shocked you are due in this week, not believing you just sit there in  what they consider to be a little bump or even “the smallest cutest bump they’ve ever seen” for mam it is extra 12.5 kg and I have no idea you stick out so much, last night i burned my tummy leaning to reach for the pot in the back and bumping into the hot pot in front.  I seriously did not realise or did not get used to yet having so much in front of me.  Dad kissed it better but you know, since i did not get used to it by now then no chance i will so …we are ready, ready and excited.  Are you?