Not so "normal"

I will start this post by warning my readers that this post is all about me and the baby, so those reading to follow our exciting adventures in Amsterdam you may want to skip this post.

This week I am 33 weeks and definitely starting to feel very pregnant. Pending the weather, I may or may not be able to get my wedding ring on and by the end of the day my feet and ankles look like they are about ready to burst. Heartburn is also kicking in on a daily basis and the best remedy that I have found so far is chugging ALOT of water, which of course then sends me to the bathroom. There are all sorts of tips on what, when, and how much to eat but none of them really seem to work. I think that if you are susceptible to heartburn, you are just going to get it.

I was productive earlier this week and put together the wardrobe that we bought for Optimus. It took me about 7 hours, and wasn't without a few hiccups. In the end, I think I think it turned out fine and am happy to have that project complete. Now we just need to find a crib and smaller dresser. I've also started to wash all of the little clothes that we received while we were still in the states. It's funny at that time, I couldn't imagine this little baby inside of me growing so big to fill out all of the outfits and now I'm hoping that they still fit when he comes out!

 Not sure how stuff so little can take up so much room. I added a patterned paper to the back of the wardrobe for a little pop of "happiness" when opening the door.

Newborn onsie in relation to my belly.

Today I had my 33 week check-up at the midwife. At 31 weeks the baby had not yet turned but that was early and I was hoping he would of got the memo by this week. Well, as luck would have he is still in breech position, and growing splendidly, so the midwife wants to schedule an appointment to try and manually turn the baby next week before he gets much bigger and runs out of room. This was my first appointment where everything was not "normal" as the Dutch would say. It made me quite emotional and for the first time my loosely laid birth plan was being put in jeopardy. I've tried to be as open as possible with this pregnancy as it being my first and I know you can't plan anything. It is easy to feel that way when everything is going smoothly. I know he still has time to turn on his own but for the first time I realized I may not be able to have the Dutch natural home birth that I was hoping for. I am not comfortable with trying to deliver a breech baby naturally, even though I know some people do it, so if he doesn't turn I will most likely be having a c-section in a hospital. Again, as long as we are both healthy that is the main thing that matters but today has still been so very difficult. So here I am, sitting in a position that is supposed to help turn the baby as I type this. Let's hope it works. I guess this is also a little look into my future-I am not going to only be living with one very strong willed man, but two!!

Getting to know the neighbors

Before I officially begin this post, let me begin by saying that you know you live in Amsterdam when... You go to take the trash out at 7:30AM and have just missed the pick-up, but since you see the truck down the street you jump in the car with your trash bag to catch them and throw it in their truck. Yes, that is how my morning started.  I usually have until 8:00AM, however, this morning they were very punctual.

Okay...back on track. Last Saturday we were invited to our neighbor's family home in Friesland for the day to explore the canals and lake on their boat. After a week of questionable weather forecasts, the clouds finally opened up on Saturday morning so that we could proceed as planned with some sun, relaxing on the patio, and a boat ride. Friesland is a province in the North of the Netherlands. They are known for their black and white pure bred cows (which you can smell everywhere), The Eleven City Skating Race that first took place in 1909 and has only been held fifteen times since then due to weather conditions, and the Frisian language which is the second official language of the Netherlands.

We arrived at the house a little before 1:00PM and after eating a light lunch started boarding the boat for our afternoon adventure. The boat was the perfect size for the 8 of us with comfy cushions for premium relaxation. It was nice to be a passenger and let the local do all of the work.

The 2 pregnant ladies get helped on the boat first.

The calm canal with all of the pretty houses before we got onto the lake.

Felipe popping open some champagne. Cheers to beautiful weather and being so fortunate to have found an apartment next to such lovely people.

Once out on the lake, the wind picks up and we throw on our rain jackets to keep dry from the crashing waves. 

As you can see, it was quite the lovely set-up. We didn't boat around completely aimlessly. Bernard had plans for us and took us to a little town called Sneek (pronounced Snake) to stretch our legs and for the obligatory restroom stop. Once in Sneek, we docked the boat and started walking towards the town center. Soon though, a trolley came by and after a brief exchange in Dutch, or Frisian, we all hopped on and it drove us to the town center.

For some reason, I look confused in many of the photos taken on this day...happy to see that Felipe is paying attention.

Sneek Town Hall built in 1550

Downtown Sneek

Stopping for coffee/tea. We've got some mixed emotions at this table.

Sneek Water gate - Saved by the locals revolting in the 19th century after the city made the decision to tear the gate down because it was considered an obstacle for steamships to pass through and no longer needed.  I'm happy that the locals won because it truly is a lovely piece of history and architecture. Another fun fact about this gate is that the gate used to close at 5:00PM everyday. In order to guarantee that everyone made it through on time, the clock was set 5 minutes slow in order to let everyone pass.

After our time in Sneek, we hopped back on the boat and ventured back to the house. Thankfully on the way back the wind was at our backs so it made for a little bit of a calmer ride. 

Skutsjesilen is a Frisian flat-bottomed boat that was used to carry manure, potatoes, and other goods back in the day. Today these boats are used for sailing matches and exploring the lake.

Thanks to our gracious hosts and amicable weather, it turned out to be such an enjoyable day. Bernard's love for his home country and knowledge of historical facts is infectious. Bernard and Wioletta sent us off with a parting book called "I love the Netherlands" to provide inspiration for our Dutch travels while we are here. It has beautiful photos and I must say, I still can't wait for next Spring's tulips!!

EYE Museum

On Wednesday I went to the EYE Museum. I haven't been to all of the museums in Amsterdam yet, but so far this is one of my favorites. The EYE Film Institute Netherlands was designed by Viennese architectural firm Delugan Meissl Associates. This museum has beautiful clean lines, is situated on the water with great views of the city, and the Fellini exhibit that was taking place was very well done. I'm not much of a cinema buff, I watch movies that look interesting to me and rarely could tell you who the director was, the line-up of actors, ect. I know, gasp!! So yes, I went into this thinking that I had heard of the movie La Dolce Vida but was not so familiar with this man Federico Fellini. I love being pleasantly suprised and learning about such a unique creative individual!

There is also a permanent exhibit on the history of cinema in the basement of the museum so I will definitely be going back. The cafe was great as well. It was a beautiful day so we grabbed a table outside in the sun to enjoy a nice tomato and goat cheese tart for lunch.

Entrance to the EYE Film Institute

Looking towards the cafe

In the cafe. I love the use of the natural wood against the stark white and glass. The light fixtures were pretty fun as well.

Standing in the cafe looking up toward the exhibit entrance

Optimus is growing and seems to be doing great! I am as tired as ever and would like to sleep about 15 hours a day. So yes, I've been taking it a little slower than usual but trying to not become too sloth like because I don't think that is good either. 

Last Thursday, I met Felipe at BabyPark after he got off of work to get everything we still needed for the baby. Needless to say, we did not get everything. That store is HUGE and we were quite overwhelmed from all of the options to choose from. We did leave with a decision made regarding the stroller and car seat so I feel pretty accomplished. Below is a photo of Otimus's new ride. By the time we added up all the additional accessories, the "limited edition" was only 2 euros more expensive so we decided to go for it.  

Now we really need to find a crib. It's proving a bit more difficult than anticipated. I see a second shopping trip in our future.

Felipe leaves today to fly back to Portland for the week. Hopefully this will be his last big trip before the baby comes. I will be busy here getting my closet in order because right now it is a mess. I just kind of threw everything in there when unpacking the boxes from the movers. Now it needs some good organization. After that, I can devote my full attention to the nursery. 

I see some sun trying to break through the clouds so I think now would be a good time to get out for a walk.

Time flies...

Ummm, where has the last week gone!?! Last weekend we had visitors in town and had an amazing weekend. I had everyone intention to fill you in on our activities by Wednesday, however it is now a week later and I am finally sitting down. Enough excuses already, it's time for the update. Last Thursday, our friends that are living in Abu Dhabi came to visit for a long weekend. We had such a fun a time showing them all the different sorts of things "Dutch people love" and the weather was perfect. Rob, Sandy, and Brad got in on Thursday and since Felipe was still at work I played tour guide to pass the time. Everyone was a little hungry and thirsty for a beer so we walked over to Vondelpark and grabbed a table at 't Blauwe Theehuis (Blue Teahouse). The building kind of looks like a blue flying saucer in the middle of the park. I picked this place as it was the first place Felipe and I visited when we came here about 5 years ago and it's really great cafe in the middle of the park to enjoy the sun and some refreshments. We hung out for awhile until Felipe got off of work and then headed back to the apartment. For dinner that night, I had made reservations at de Struisvogel restaurant (The Ostrich). This restaurant came recommended from one of Rob's friends so we decided to try it out. The food was quite good and the atmosphere was very cozy. I think this cozy little restaurant, and the lamb stew, would be even better on a cold rainy day. After dinner, Sandy and I we pretty exhausted so we headed back to the flat and let the boys have their night out. There was talk of a whiskey bar and casino.

On Friday, we rented a 6 person electric boat and explored the canals. What a treat!! We started on a canal near Zuid Station, crossed the Amstel, and then followed the red signs to the center of the Canal district near Central Station and looped back. I have been wanting to do this since day one in Amsterdam and the experience didn't disappoint. Yes, I was the designated boat driver and it can be a little stressful maneuvering the narrow canals but in the end I only had 1 boat yell profanities at me so I will count the day a success. Since my Dutch is still very dodgy, I could also pretend that he was telling us how lovely he thought our picnic looked in a very stern voice...

You didn't think Felipe would let me drive the boat alone did you? :)

Rob, Sandy, and Brad enjoying the ride.

Saturday was our designated "Dutch tourist" day. We started in the morning by stopping by the ZuiderMRKT (farmer's market) down the street from our house for pastries and coffee. It was busy as usual and everything looked so delicious it was hard to choose just one. Next, we set off for Zaanse Schans. Zaanse Schans is a perfect place to take tourists because it covers windmills, clogs, cheese, and traditional Dutch architecture all in one stop. Despite its tourist appeal, you shouldn't be turned off because it is actually quite well done and a great place to spend the afternoon. 

First stop when entering this little village is a look at the first Albert Heijn grocery store. 

I just love all the vibrant colors of the hydrangea's in bloom right now.

Rob, Sandy, and Brad hanging out at the top of a working windmill. 

 Family photo

Some of the vibrantly painted clogs for sale.

I'm not the only one with growing feet.

Saturday night we were all pretty exhausted after the long bike ride and activity filled weekend so we kept it pretty relaxed and went to one of our favorite, so far, Indian restaurants in the city called Koh I Noor. As we previously experienced, it did not disappoint and was the perfect end to a fun weekend. 

When you smell smoke...and don't live next to a coffee shop

You have all been on my mind while I've been going and going these last few days. Last Friday was a not so typical Amsterdam summer day and the temperature was somewhere in the 90's. Officially feeling big and a little more than wobbly from this pregnancy, I decided I needed to scope out a place to splash around in the water. After a little bit of Google searching, I decided to try out this public swimming pool called BadBuiten. This swimming pool is not any ordinary swimming pool, it is a floating swimming pool on the Amstel River! Pretty cool and a great place to cool off. I need to add, if it gets swim-worthy warm again and I go back I will be sure to be there right when the pool opens. I got there about an hour after and the place was packed. Since I was by myself and not concerned with getting a chair in the sun, it was fine. I found the perfect little semi-shaded place at the edge of the pool and made myself at home. I didn't take any photos myself that day but below is an image I stole from AmsterdamNow and if you are interested in learning more about this place you can check out this article. http://www.dearchitect.nl/projecten/2010/43/amsterdam-badbuiten-iou-architecture/amsterdam-badbuiten-iou-architecture.html

Saturday was the Gay Pride Canal Parade. Funny thing is that after 9 years in San Francisco, I never did make it to the parade. But tell me that the parade is made up of 80 different boats on the canal and I am there. I rode my bike to my friends house a little early and Prinsengracht was already buzzing with tons of people. The atmosphere was jolly and the weather was perfect. Since we didn't get there super early to claim our seat at the canal edge, we walked up and down a portion of the route and peeked in when we found an open spot. It was a super fun parade with amazing costumes, coordinated dance numbers, and great music. Next year I would love to plan ahead and get a spot on the water. The spectators along the edge in their boats seemed to really be having a good time. Unfortunately, none of them took much notice of me and invited me on their boat to join. This may be one of the instances that the pregnancy card doesn't get you very far. Below are some photos to give you any idea. 

The sailor is always a popular costume choice.

Sparkly mermaids

Bumblebees

Looking down towards the canal towards Westerkerk

If you want to check out more photos and some videos, check out the whole album here. 

On Monday the movers came with our container shipment. It was a whirlwind of action and I apologize beforehand that the guys were in and out so fast that I didn't take any photos of their setup. They are pretty clever here in Amsterdam. Instead of climbing the stairs +20 times to bring all of our boxes up, they set up an electric crate of sorts and load that. They then brought everything in through our little balcony doors off of the living room. Felipe came home around 2:00 PM and we unpacked boxes until midnight. Needless to say my feet were, and still are a little achy. When we moved into this place, I couldn't believe how much space we had. It's "huge" compared to our little 1-bedroom in San Francisco. However, I've concluded that while our San Francisco condo was small, it had amazing storage. I cannot say the same about this place. While this place has charm, character, and a great location, it lacks storage big time. So while we have unpacked all of the boxes, we are now trying to find a place to put everything and shaking our heads at some of the things we shipped over. Did we really need that?? So beware, everytime we have a visitor I may just pack you a bag of "goodies" to take home. :) 

Oh! I almost forgot. Last night when we were getting ready to crash for the night we thought we smelled fire. I sent Felipe up to the roof deck to make sure our place was not on fire first. On his way down, he looked out the window and noticed that the trash pile across the street was burning. It was quite close to a car so we, and numerous other neighbors that had walked outside to check out the action, we a little bit concerned. My next thought was, "where did we park the bikes?". Then we googled "Netherlands 911" and found that the number to call is 122 so we made a call to make sure the firetrucks were on their way. They assured us they were and about 2 minutes later they showed up and extinguished the fire. I still don't know what caused the fire, but it definitely caused some excitement in our night.

For the baby update, today I had my 31 week check up. He is still flipped head up but the midwife said there is still plenty of room for him to move around so no need to worry. He's still growing splendidly, while I am joining the growth train as well. I officially feel feel pregnant while we both fight for space in my torso. It's a good reminder to sit up straight. My feet are also feeling huge and I would be content in flip-flops at all times. I know that is not good so I try to wear "regular shoes" as much as possible. One pair of shoes that was shipped that I was excited to see were a pair of aqua Tom's with just a little sparkle that I received from my sister-in-law. I wore them to my appointment this morning and they were comfy. Thanks Camila!!! Below is a photo and as you will see, Optimus makes a guest appearance as well.

Okay, I better get back to tidying up. We are so excited that we have Rob and Sandy and their friend Brad coming in on Thursday for a long weekend. We will definitely be out and about exploring all things Dutch so look forward to a follow up post. 

Exploring IJburg

Yesterday I set out with my friend Sally and her son that was visiting from England to explore IJburg and find "the beach". IJburg consists of 6 artificial islands that have been raised from the IJ Lake and much of it is still under construction. This area is quite easy to get to as the 26 tram line runs direct from Central Station. What's great is that this tram also allows you to take your bike on board. What is not so great is only 2 bikes are allowed at a time so the three of us had to travel over in 2 groups. Since the tram runs every 5 minutes, it ended up not being so bad. Once we had all made it to IJburg it was pretty obvious which direction the water was so we rode our bikes over there and checked out the very narrow beach and the harbor with some yachts parked. There were some historical replicas that were pretty cool, however I hadn't gotten into picture mode yet so I didn't take any photos.

This is where the Malee twist of the story begins. I noticed that my bicycle seat had come detached from my bike. When I looked under the seat, I noticed I was missing a washer and part of the underside of the seat was cracked. The best solution seamed like a new seat. I thought I had spotted a "fietsenwinkel" on the way in so I asked the Postman that was walking by where the nearest one was. He gave us excellent directions and so we decided to also inquire about the beach since the little strip of sand we saw didn't quite live up to our expectations. He was super friendly and told us that the place we were most likely looking for was about 5 minutes away and called Blijburg or "happy place". This sounded excellent so feeling "happy", we set off to first get my bike repaired. We found the shop rather quickly and the worker helped me pick out a basic seat similar to what I already had and installed it onto the bike for me. Wow!!! What a difference that new seat made. I think I can safely say that it was the best 13 Euros that I have spent in the city so far. So guests....you can thank me ahead of time for all of my bicycle mishaps because your bike is now in tip top shape for when you visit. With bicycle up and running again, we finally set out to Blijburg. We almost passed it as this is the entrance.

Blijburg is this little bohemian artists beach with a little restaurant/bar called Blijburg ann zee. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting after all the modern and new architecture that we had spotted in Ijburg but definitely had a nice cozy vibe. I can imagine this place being super fun and lively on a weekend or nice evening when it is filled with people and they have a live band or festival going. By this time we were all hungry so we sat down and ordered a bite to eat. Sally's son and I had the Blijburger and it wasn't bad. It hit the spot. Sally had the mackerel salad sandwich and that looked quite tasty as well. The menu had a nice offering a bar snacks, bitterballen of course, and some nice vegetarian options. Maybe next time we will be more adventurous and try a few different options off of the menu.

Not sure how this works but would of loved to see some wishes on this wall.

     

Loved all of the colorful murals. 

This is the patio where we ate lunch. I have a feeling it looks a lot better filled with people. There was definitely some interesting reclaimed and reuse furniture ideas going on.

 After lunch we set out on our bikes to find Steigereiland. This is a neighborhood just south of IJburg where people have built their own modern single family homes. The architecture is varied and it was fun to ride around and look at all the different homes. This yellow one is most striking and situated towards the front of the neighborhood. It's a positive sign that you've come to the right place.

It is super quiet and I think mostly families live here. You would most likely need a car which is why, however cool this area is to look at, I don't think I'd be ready to move in just yet. Maybe when Optimus is a bit older...Below are a few more pics from our neighborhood tour. I think this is a place I'll need to take Felipe back to as he would surely enjoy.

Interesting use of materials. Made me think of a project that my office was working on when I left the US.

As you can see, no 2 are the same. 

Look closely and check out the stairs. These kids have the coolest shoes as well!!

The streets are still a little quiet for my taste.

Thatch roof goes modern. I'm hoping there is one massive skylight in the roof, otherwise this house could be quite dark inside.

That's my quick tour of Steigereiland. I think this should be on the list of places to check out if you have any interest in design or architecture. 

The ride home ended up being a little longer than anticipated. While the tram takes you through a tunnel that is a straight shot from Central Station, when you are on your bike you need to do a BIG loop. Thank goodness it was on the cooler side yesterday with no rain so the hour or so long bike ride home was not so bad. It followed a really nice bike trail and was cool to see some new areas of Amsterdam. We rode past the zoo so I now know where that was and even spotted a giraffe and a zebra. Our ride home also took us past the Brouwerij 't IJ. It is a small brewery next to the De Gooyer windmill. It offers guided tours and tastings, and has a pub with a large outdoor terrace. I think it would be fun to take guests, you could also check windmill of your list, and I will look forward to going there even more after the arrival of Optimus.

This weekend Felipe has flown back to the states for a quick weekend trip leaving me 'alleen'. Alleen means alone and it was one of my new Dutch vocabulary words last night. :) Friday I'm headed to a lecture at the Van Gogh Museum to learn about growing and using herbs. I'm anticipating the edible kind and not the psychedelic kind but you never now in Amsterdam. This weekend is also Gay Pride weekend so the city is sure to be buzzing!!