Mums birthday, Fathers day & a Wedding Anniversary in St. Jeannet, France 2009

We spent the first week of June, 2009 in Provence in a lovely old town called St. Jeannet.
Grandma & grandpa came along which was great as mum & dad got to climb whilst Sofie enjoyed her grandparents company.
There was also a lot to celebrate including mums birthday, fathers day and mum & dads wedding anniversary.

Below are a few photos.

St. Jeannet














The house we rented for 1½ weeks, was over 200 years old with great views of the Mediterranean and 'The Baou' in the background.










Mum & dad climbing on The Baou






































View of St. Jeannet from our climb spot.














The fountain outside the church in St. Jeannet.



















The arch on the way down to 'The Panorama'













The Panorama




















A small chapel in town.













The Frogs House. This is where I stayed last year at 32 weeks pregnant on a yoga vacation.













Dinner at the Frogs House. Corrine is a great cook and all the food she makes is organic and vegetarian.












On a trip to Monaco we saw a Lamborghini. This is dads dream car so we definitely needed to take a photo.










Jean-Piérre Augier lives in the area (Saint-Blaise). He makes the most wonderful sculptures out of iron-cast tools. In this photo he displays the raw materials. Below are some examples of his work.
















Post office sign made by Jean-Piérre.







































































Walking to the top of The Baou with Sofie in her back pack. This was Sofie's second climb to the top. The first being in mums stomach last year.









The family on the summit (alt. 807 m).















Mum & Sofie on the summit.

















Sofie enjoying a carrot wearing the new hat that grandma made her.
















Sofie definitely receives ample attention and presents when she is with family! This funny toy always lands on its feet no matter how much Sofie hits it.











The old railroad bridge seen from our climb at the Grotto.















Two days later we found out how to get to the bridge and had a good walk.




















Mum on the approach to The Grotto.















........in The Grotto. It was nice and cool climbing here.



















Mum climbing in The Grotto ........




















....... and of course dad leading.




















Matisse Chapel in Vence.














No photos were permitted inside but the Chapel was painted by Henri Matisse. This is the painting above the entrance.









Grandma & grandpa took us out to eat at a restaurant in Vence. Below are a few photos of this charming old town.

The entrance to the old town.





















Two examples of the quaint houses in the town.






































A funny sculpture we saw in one of the parking areas.



































June 5th was Fathers day and Sofie and mum were up early to pick dad some flowers on the mountain.











Dads present from Sofie was a pair of noise reduction Sennheisser headphones. He definitely could have used these during the first 2 weeks of Sofie's life!!! :)









We also visited the local vineyard in St. Jeannet.














A very unique process in which wine matures in sunlight.


























The entrance to another wonderful town Saint Paul de Vence. This town revels in art. Galleries line the streets, and sculptures are embedded in the walls and even in the stones underfoot as seen here at the entrance.






A small street in St. Paul de Vence.



















Fountain in St. Paul de Vence.















A street light of the old fashioned kind.














These flowers were growing everywhere in the town which was really beautiful.













More amazing small alleys.






















A lot of artists live in this town. Check out the sculptures on the top of this mans roof top.













A funny small house.






































A view of the town as we left.















June 6 was mums birthday (& mum and dads wedding anniversary). Sofie helps her open presents.












On our last day dad, mum & Sofie did a long walk up to 'Castellet'















Sleeping on the flight home.

















My birthday presents from Australia had arrived whilst we were away.
















Previous posts.

9 months old!!!

Sofie turned 9 months old on 20/5, quite amazing that our baby daughter is growing so quickly.

In this photo she is playing with the farm she received as a Christmas present from her auntie Jette & family. This is a real hit!!










It's so warm in Copenhagen now that we often use Sofie's 'travel' stroller. In this photo Sofie is holding Bodil her piggy-bank after we had been to the bank and deposited Bodil's contents which were 477 crowns.

















Sofie looking up at mum from her stroller and having a laugh ...















Crawling now seems closer. Sofie is on all fours here and rocks back and forth.














Sofie is now very good at diving.
















Sofie is in a music and rhythm class for 4-7 month old babies, she is thus bigger and much more focused than the other babies. In this photo she has a good look at Maya.












Mum & dad are in the process of buying a new car so Sofie got her own Winnie-the-Pooh car. Vrooooom



Sofie is now eating 6 small meals a day. She often also feeds herself. In this video some of her fine co-ordination is practiced as she picks a sultana up off the table top and puts it into her mouth.

We are trying to prepare Sofie for going into care. thus I take her into a play center every Wednesday (1.30-2.30 pm) where she plays with other children without mum being right beside her. She does really well.


In this video she is trying to work out how to put the lid down on the toy she is holding....


.... in this video she gets some help from another older baby.

Previous posts.

Sofie's Christening

At 10:30 am, May 17, 2009 Sofie was christened at Nim Church.

Usually babies are christened before the age of 6 months but Sofie was actually 9 months old at her christening so we were concerned that we wouldn't find a dress for her. But luckily this didn't prove to be a problem and in this photo Sofie models her dress.














A close-up of the little princess.




















The christening (no tears from Sofie at all!).
Unfortunately these two photos are not in focus, no flashes were permitted during the service.


Left to right: auntie Jette, Priest: Kirsten Høg, dad holding Sofie, mum & cousin Daniel.






























...... and after the christening we were permitted to take group photos inside the church.

The proud parents with Sofie.





















....... with grandma and granddad.














Finally with two of Sofie's 'faddere'.













Sofie with her relieved (& proud) father outside the church. Sofie actually kept quiet and still throughout the whole 1 hour service.




















....... with Uncle Ole who is keeping her warm.














Traditionally babies sleep their first sleep after the christening in their dress. BUT Sofie wanted to check out all her presents first!!


















.......... and she was very impressed.




















The reception was held at Brædstrup kro.

The table decorations in pink and white.






















The Danish side of Sofie's family.















The entrée ..........















.......and the buffet.





















After her nap and a change of clothes Sofie was keen to open all her presents. Below are a just few photos of the many wonderful presents she received.


... checking out her new shoes and lego blocks.














.... a great drawing made by her cousin Oliver.














Cutlery from Australia & the blue dog was hand made by her cousin Daniel.













Sofie's very proud dad.






















........ she loves her blue dog that looks just like Ricky.














A sweet pink outfit .......






















........ lots of books.















A silver baby-rattle that once belonged to Sofie's grandma.
















Sofie & Julia.















...... and with her mum & dad outside the Kro.















We ate dessert at grandma & grandpa's house.

The decorations before the guests arrived.














Sofie with her auntie Jette and Julia (cousin once removed)





















Playing with uncle Ole.















Eating at the children's table, notice that her cousin Daniel is feeding her banana.













With Julia.

















Having a good dance on her cousin Daniels lap.


















Sofie was definitely in good hands here!






















After eating Sofie had a short nap and the other children played.














Then it was time to say goodbye.



Så længe jeg lever ............


.......... more music which Sofie really enjoyed.


Hopla with uncle Ole and Daniel.


Previous posts.

Our first 2 weeks back home in Copenhagen ...

Even though it was sad leaving Australia we all agree that it is nice being back in Copenhagen in our own beds ....... Sofie has a pretty bad cold but seems to love being back, although she does seem to miss seeing so many people all the time. Below are a few photos of our first 2 weeks home which were more or less spent at home recovering from jet lag and getting back into some of our routines.

Sofie playing on her rug ...... she has started practicing crawling but it still seems a long way off.















Sofie helping mum with dinner .... the teabag box was very tasty!
















..........a big smile.

















Bath time ........

















Sofie sitting very upright on our sofa






















....... and also standing with the help of an aquarium at the mall.





















We spent the weekend in Jutland visiting grandma/-pa and also celebrating uncle Ole's birthday.

On the way to the train station we had a break in the gardens outside the Glyptotek.















........ grandma & grandpa had some presents for Sofie which she enjoyed opening.















here she gets some cute romper suits.

















....and here she is wearing the pretty red sweater and opening her next package filled with bath-time ducks.




















Breakfast time, notice the cool high chair grandma has for Sofie. Its a bucket and can fold away.















Then it was time to check out granddad. Sofie is wearing the Australian green and gold colours.















The next day we celebrated uncle Ole's birthday.

Dannebrog

















Ole opening our presents which were bought at the Wynns Coonawarra winery in South Australia.





















Ole modeling the apron we bought him ...........






















............ and Ricky guarding the presents.






















It was also mothers day (my first) and I was really surprised when Sofie presented me with flowers.















Sofie and Ricky get along much better now.
















Sofie loves her cousin Oliver as can be seen in the next three photos.





















































YUMMMMMMM birthday cake


Some funny new sounds.


We were lucky to get a spot at the swimming school with our old instructor. Here Sofie does a torpedo dive.

Previous posts.

Australia 2009 - days 82 to 90 in Sydney and flying home to Copenhagen

Day 82.
We arrive in Narabeen beach, North Sydney via a visit to auntie Yvonne who has a pretty nasty influenza and set up camp in the rain!!

Day 83.
Hans goes to Sydney University to do a lecture whilst mum & Sofie dry out the tent and all its contents.

The campsite has a really good playground and Sofie gets to try the slippery dip with her dad.



















Day 84.
Auntie Gabrielle, Uncle Guy, Hugh & Alice arrive in Sydney and we all meet in town for lunch.

We take the ferry from Manly to Circular Quay which is a fantastic way to arrive in Sydney with views of the harbour.













Mum with a view of Sydney in the background.















Dad with Sydney harbour bridge in the background.















......... and the family in front of Sydney Opera House .......















...... and Sydney Harbour bridge.
















Before lunch we did a nice walk through the gardens around the harbour. In this photo one can see fruitbats hanging in a tree. The park has hundreds of these animals.











A view of Sydney seen from Circular Quay.














Day 85.
We set out for Bondi beach and Watsons bay.

On the beach walk from Bondi to Bronte beach one can see hundreds of surfers waiting for the perfect wave.
































Mum & Sofie with the famous Bondi beach in the background.













A family photo at The Gap, Watsons Bay. Left to right: Uncle Guy, Auntie Gabrielle, Hugh, mum, Alice & Sofie.












Mum & Sofie at The Gap, Watsons Bay.












Day 86.
Then it was time to say goodbye!

The day was spent doing walks in the area around the campsite and in this photo one can see the beach at Narabeen.













Auntie Gabrielle and Sofie at the rock pools, Narabeen.















Sofie wasn't really herself as she had caught a cold. BUT there was still enough energy to swing which has become one of her favourite activities.


















Day 87 & 88.
We all have colds now so spend the day close to the campsite.

Day 89.
We pack up camp and move to a hotel in Kings Cross closer to the city. We send our tent home to Denmark and dad drives to Canberra to drop off all the camping gear we are leaving in Australia.

Day 90.
We leave Sydney, Kingsford Smith airport for Copenhagen.

We play peek-a-boo with Sofie and her hair goes wild due to the static electricity in the plane blankets.














Meal time and Sofie gets a bib with 'Thai airways' written on it.



















Home in Denmark.
Its great sleeping in our own beds. Sofie sleeps almost constantly for the first 36 hours. However her cold is getting worse with a bad cough, fever and dry diapers so we are off to the doctors tomorrow.

Sofie in her high chair enjoying danish black bread.



















Previous posts.