A Sweet Start to July

While injustice and violence runs rampant this week in America, we are celebrating the end of a week filled with love and joy here in the Netherlands. Sweet Maeve gives us daily smiles, we discovered a new speelplaats (play area) on Sunday, enjoyed outdoor drinks in the sun, met with an old Bowdoin classmate, Emily, and her family at the NEMO science museum on Tuesday and got to introduce Jude and Maeve to my cousin and his wife who were visiting from Chicago. Then today, my friend Rachel arrived for a two week visit from Denver and the lot of us met at Brouwerij 't Ij for beer this afternoon. Something BIG and exciting also happened today, but I'll have to save that for the next post :) 

The start of a smile

Sleeping in the Speelplaats

Drinks in Oudedorp

Nemo

Little girl clothes are the sweetest :)

Having fun at the playground

Bedtime

Our "Natural Born Citizen"

We have fielded many questions (or rather the same question, many times) regarding Maeve's citizenship being born abroad.

So to set the record straight:

Stolen from the internet: "Currency-collector. Interestingly, only 30 out of 196 countries grant citizenship upon birth. Jus Soli is Latin for 'right of the soil'. The countries from North America, entire South America except for Columbia, Lesotho, Pakistan, Tanzania and Tuvalu are the 30 countries that grant Unrestricted Jus Soli."

So Maeve will have to settle for being a plain old American. This was achieved by completing endless paperwork and visiting the consulate in Amsterdam. The most tedious form required us to list all of the trips we had ever taken out of the US with dates. That was not fun to complete! The visit to the consulate was smooth. I had seen that it could take around 3 weeks to get an appointment so as soon as we brought Maeve home from the hospital, I was on it making the appointment. We followed the consulate instructions and did not bring our cell phones or cameras so we have no documentation of what took place. We turned in our paperwork, paid the fees and brought Maeve to the counter where we had to raise our hands and swear that she has the right to US citizenship. Within a week, her passport was mailed to our home along with a very snazzy looking "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" certificate that we are under strict orders not to lose. So we have proof that she is a "natural born citizen" and could run for Presidency one day. Although she'll have to have lived in the US for at least 14 years by the time she is 35. We are pretty confident that will happen... 

Who would deny this face?!

Aunt Sue and Uncle Nick visit the Durneys

One of our only regrets about having a baby abroad was that the majority of our friends and family would not get the chance to meet Maeve. I loved those early days in Brooklyn when we were inundated with loved ones coming to dote on Jude and on us. We knew this experience would be different and were feeling a bit sad about it. So we were thrilled when my aunt Sue and uncle Nick shared that they would like to come to Amsterdam after an Oberlin alumni cruise where Nick was a special lecturer. When they emailed me to let us know their tentative plans, I replied, "you know my parents will be here then?!" (Sue is my mom's older sister). We hosted everyone for dinner one night and went to Haarlem the next day, while Pete took Jude to Montessori class. It was great fun to have everyone together!

This was my third trip to Haarlem, Harlem's namesake just 25 minutes West of Amsterdam. In the previous visits, I had failed to be a proper tourist and missed the big sites. This time we made it in the Grote Kerk and the Frans Hal Museum. Amazing organ in the Grote Kerk, which was being played for a touring school group. Beautiful!

Already bored of European churches it would seem.

A true Dutch "summer" day :)

Last but not Least, Pops Joins us in Amsterdam

Just before Maeve turned one month old, Pops joined us in Amsterdam. He is the only working grand and couldn't swing as long a trip as Nana. We packed a lot of fun in and Nana and Pops had some fun of their own in Barcelona for a long weekend. Pete and I were alone with the 2 kiddos for the very first time and survived the long weekend! It was empowering to realize that "we can do this," although it was certainly nice having help for so long!

All together on Nana and Pops last day

Meeting the munchkin

While Jude was at day care and Pete was at work, we took a day trip to Delft. We explored both the old and new churches and enjoyed an outdoor lunch while Maeve snoozed in her bassinet. It felt like just yesterday that I was nursing Jude and changing his blow outs in the same churches. I imagine I will have many moments like these in the coming years. 

One month old in the 14th Century "New" Church

Nana and Pops made the harrowing trip to the top of the church tower!

One month old shots. Jude wanted to get in on the action and I didn't have the heart to deny him. Later, I told him I would get some "individual shots" so after we took Maeve's pictures, Jude did his poses on the blanket.  I imagine we'll be doing this every month this coming year!

10 and 1/2 pounds of Maeve Love :)

The remainder of their visit was filled with baby snuggles, cookie baking, Montessori class and trips to the park and goat farm. Jude and Maeve are so blessed to have the love of four wonderful grandparents. 

One batch made special without chocolate as Jude doesn't like chocolate (!?)

She was asleep like this... 

Too cool for school

Whenever we change Maeve, Jude runs and gets his stepping stool so he can be involved.

Adorable outfit from Aunt Cory

Juice squeezin'

Shoulder ridin'

Goat feedin'

Zip linin'

Nana and Pops will be back for Christmas along with Oma and Opa. We will miss them until then!