Wow

Just reviewing these posts here.

Everyone involved looks so much younger only a year ago. Not just Finlay, but also Dean, Finlay's parents, Grandma, his German grandparents. Everything was new and fresh. Behind all of these photos, time is casting an ever-longer shadow.

It's a good shadow. Finlay now wanders throughout the apartment at will, navigating sleeping cats and doorstops with ease. Miles ahead of a month ago. But it is a shadow. Today I lay on a slide with Finlay staring up into the dappled leaves of a chestnut tree, just watching the backdrop clouds slide by and the movement of the green shades against the sun. That was about 12:20 pm at the Zollpackhof Biergarten near the central train station. That moment made my month.

Last weekend

Last weekend we made it to Galerie Lafayettes in Berlin to have lunch and explore the childrens' section, which features a large and creative play area. Finlay loved the slide and the small enclosures. So much so that when we tried to leave, there were tears. Thanks to the very kind sales assistant who gave him a balloon, which made him forget for a few minutes about his objective of holding a temper tantrum in the store.

This is Finlay enjoying a crepe in the food court/delicatessen area down below. Afterwards, he was presented with an oyster, which he did not like at all.

We've just had a visit from Andrew, as well as Easter. More photos to follow, whenever Finlay and camera return to home base.

Finlay and Dean

As mentioned, Dean was here in Berlin a couple of weeks ago to see Finlay (and maybe his parents).

Here's another picture of the two of them, this time on a Berlin streetcar on the way to brunch one morning.

Note to Dean - you love buying him clothes. Let's aim for ones he can wear when he's 18 or so, and we'll put them away until then. Hint - I wear a size medium for rugby shirts...

Self-Portrait

This is the first photo that Finlay took of himself, using an ipad that was held up by Dean. Finlay was watching his own face on the display and happened to grab the button triggering the shot. We have no idea why he was wearing a silly plastic cup on his head, and we also don't know why we still don't have a flatscreen tv.

Zombie Baby

"The Finlay" is walking. He's managed about 40 meters so far before tumbling (straight into Haägen Dazs at Hackescher Markt, of course) but he's getting bolder and more enthused about the idea of looking down on the cats as time goes on. Here are two pictures of Finlay climbing stairs and walking down a table in the "garden" nearby from a week ago. Yes, he can walk by himself now. Usually in the direction of something breakable, biting (dogs are called "wawas" now, after the German "wau wau" for "woof woof"), or filthy.

On Sunday Finlay reenacted the Warsaw Uprising in a Warsaw boulangerie by flinging his breakfast (Brioche) on the floor and demanding to march up and down the narrow steps of the bakery to the upper floor. Bernhard took refuge with the adults on the top floor... With the amount of coffee that was spilled, crumbs that were scattered and eclairs stuffed into small mouths, it's a wonder that we don't owe some Berlin drycleaner exorbitant fees this week.

The Zoo

This is the family at the Tierpark (east Berlin zoo) a week ago (April 3) - photo taken by Dean, who joined us from Canada. Thanks Dean! More to follow here...

We're immensely grateful to Annette and Dieter for spending the day with us there and for helping us with the logistics!

Finlay and Christine in Warsaw

After a long day of visiting the Ghetto, the Warsaw Uprising museum and numerous other sights, Finlay and Christine relax in a Columbian-themed coffeeshop/bar on the Novy Swiat (?) Thanks Bernhard!

Bleg - Yes to Chrup

Does anyone know what this Polish ad says? That's Finlay's father holding a Chrup (?) in Warsaw on Saturday, which tasted pretty much just like it looks on the poster. We said "Yes to Chrup!"

Travelling Finlay

Here is Finlay on a train on Friday en route to Warsaw. We had a delightful trip. More photos to follow on the weekend featuring: A Visit from Dean, Finlay and Bernhard and Finlay and Family.