Lily's first overseas trip (Feb. 24 - March 11, 2009)

Lily at the gate in LAX

A late review (in English so the in-laws can also understand!) of our most recent trip to the home-continent!

Tuesday and Wednesday, February 24-25 - Traveling adventures

It was Lily's first flight ever (at 3 1/2 months old) so I was a bit worried... but I really shouldn't have. She behaved like a little angel and slept in her bassinet during most of the flight. We flew Air France and the service was great. We got bulkhead seats (which I had requested at the time of booking the tickets) so got a lot of room and a bassinet for Lily, attached to the wall right in front of us. She slept in it fine, so the traveling worked out really well. One incident though, when we arrived in Paris... We had gate-checked our stroller and it didn't show up on the baggage carousel at the airport. After checking with Air France, they first told us to wait a little longer, then figured the stroller probably hadn't been put on the plane. 5 minutes after we left the airport (without stroller) I got a call on my cell from the lady at customer service telling me that the stroller had arrived after all. We turned around to go pick it up, but when I got there and removed the stroller from the plastic bag it was in, I saw it was broken precisely at the spot where you click the seat onto the frame. No way we could still use it. We ended up filing a damages report, Air France told us to buy a new stroller (same one) and send in the damages report + explanatory letter + proof of purchase to the Air France damages department, so we would get reimbursed. Lets hope so! It's an expensive stroller and we lost a whole day of sightseeing, as we spent the entire next day shopping for the stroller (Bugaboo). Anyway, after we FINALLY (I think we spent 2 hours at the lost/damaged luggage dept. at the airport) got to our hotel, we crashed completely and took a 3-4 hour nap (Lily too). We woke up at night and decided, upon recommendation of the receptionist, to have dinner at Brasserie Julien. Great choice! Only a 5 minute walk from the hotel (Little Palace Hotel in Le Marais), beautiful décor, excellent food and friendly service. What more do you want? We filled our tummies with French delicacies and happily returned to the hotel, where... I could not sleep... at all (Lily by the way was peacefully asleep in her baby bed). Aaaarrghh, jetlag!

Thursday, February 26: Bugaboo shopping and seeing my parents!

One of the bartenders at our hotel heard us talk about the broken stroller and was so friendly to guide us to a shop nearby which sold lots of baby stuff and, hip hip hooray, had one more Bugaboo in stock!!! What a relief to have a stroller again so we didn't have to carry Lily anymore! That is something I have to say about our hotel... the people working there - all of them - were so nice to us!!! I don't know if it is the baby, or what, but everyone was extremely helpful and friendly! I'd definitely go back!

Back in our hotel room, I called a few baby stores in Paris to see which one sold the Bugaboo travel bag (since we didn't want the same thing to happen to us again) and Natalys in St-Germain-des-Pres said they had one more in the store. So we walked over there (a nice long walk) and got the bag.

Marcus and Lily at the Théâtre de Châtelet (getting ready for the Césars)

From there, we took a cab to La Flûte de Pan, the music store Marcus discovered last time we were in Paris, and which he absolutely adores. Apparently, they have lots of classical scores, so hubby was happy like a kid in the candy store. In the meantime, we got a call from Jérôme, the music coordinator for the Mesrine score, and we met up with him for coffee. A really nice guy, it was great to finally meet him. (Marcus had worked with him last August when recording and mixing the score in Paris). We talked about the upcoming César ceremony, got all the gossip, etc. It was fun. My parents called too that they had arrived at the hotel. Sooo cool, my parents came to Paris to see us and to babysit Lily the next day (during the Césars). It was so great to see them and they were so happy to see Lily again! They went out for dinner but the 3 of us were so tired by now, that we just stayed in and went straight to bed.

Friday, February 27: César night!

I slept (a bit) and woke up feeling miserable... I stayed in bed almost all day, so I would feel better for our big night out! (actually our first night out together without Lily!)

Getting ready in our hotel room for the big night out

Jérôme came to pick us up and drove us to rush hour Parisian traffic (it was Friday night around 6 PM) to the Théâtre de Châtelet. Honestly, without traffic it would have taken us maybe 10 minutes max, but now it took us almost an hour to get there. How exciting to attend this event, the "34ième Cérémonie des César du Cinema"! Marcus was nominated for best score (meilleure musique écrite pour un film) for Mesrine. We got to walk the red carpet, enjoy a cocktail reception with lots of champagne and hors d'oeuvres, and finally attend the ceremony from stellar seats!

Marcus at the entrance (watch the crowds outside :-))

Ilse at the vestiaire

Marcus inside the theater, when everyone was getting to their seats.

The ceremony was broadcast live over Canal+, so our parents got to see it too (including us when they announced the nominees!!!). The César for best score ended up going to Michael Galasso, the composer for Séraphine, a small movie that won lots of awards that night. We saw Sean Penn from close-by (he was nominated for best foreign film for "Into the Wild"), Dustin Hoffman (he got a lifetime achievement award), Tilda Swinton, Diane Kruger, Emma Thompson,... Definitely a night to remember! Around midnight, the ceremony was done, and everyone headed to Fouquet's where we were invited by the Académie to have dinner. We sat at a table next to the composer who had won the César, a very nice and modest guy. Food was great, my appetite not so much, it was weird to have a 4-course menu around 2-3 AM. After dinner, we had one more stop to go to, the Mesrine afterparty at a club, I don't remember the name. I was soooo tired by then. The smoke at the club didn't improve my feeling of well-being either. I was so relieved to be in bed by 5 AM... What a night! My mom said Lily had been great, she'd drank her bottles well, had sat on my dad's lap, watched TV (or at least stared at the moving images) and then fallen asleep! That's our girl!

Saturday, February 28: Lily meets her godmother!

* From here on, it's storytelling in the present tense... Just seems to write easier!

Another busy day. Even though I feel pretty awful (caught a huge cold by now, sniffing and sneezing like crazy), this is a great day because Virginie is visiting! Lily meets her godmother for the first time! They hit it off immediately, Lily loves sitting on Virginie's lap and Virginie loves pushing the stroller (and enjoying the admiring looks of passersby... of course, it's a brandnew stroller!!!)

Virginie and Lily in one of the typical Parisian bistros

Manu, Virginie and Lily on our walk along the Seine

We venture off to St-Germain-des-Pres again (one of my favorite neighborhoods), have drinks, eat pancakes, and chat chat chat! It's a wonderful afternoon and so much fun. Virginie and Manu, thanks so much for coming to see us! We love you and miss you and hope to see you guys again soon!

Sunday, March 1: To Stuttgart!

It feels like we just got here, but we already have to move on! Our plane to Stuttgart leaves around noon, so we enjoy a last yummy breakfast at the hotel and then head to the airport. The flight goes smoothly and fast (only 1 hour) and then we see Oma Eva again, and Uncle Tobi, and Cousin Mia, woohoo! 3-year-old Mia is so sweet to Lily. She holds her hands and gives her kisses!

Mia holding Lily's hand

Mia giving Lily a little kiss

We are over the moon to see everyone back again!

Monday, March 2: To Frankfurt!

Marcus needs to renew his visa at the US Consulate in Frankfurt, so we take the train to Frankfurt. We meet up with Marcus' dad, Opa Gerhard, another first for Lily. So much traveling and so many new faces, but Lily is doing great. She's a real world traveler!

Funny moves with Opa Gerhard and Marieluise

Tuesday, March 3: Bad Soden

Today, we take it easy... After a wonderful night of sleep (finally I am getting over the jetlag), we get ready for a day of shopping at Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Bad Soden (where Gerhard lives). Fun fun fun! Lily ends up with most of the goodies: a new sleepsack, a bunch of wooden toys and cute clothes!

At night, we have dinner at a local restaurant with the family and meet up with Janni, one of Marcus' childhood friends who just moved out to Bad Soden (that worked out well for us!)

Janni, Lily and Marcus (I used red-eye reduction on the pics, am not sure if I should have...)

Lily and I at the restaurant

Wednesday, March 4: Frankfurt - Stuttgart

Brrr, it's cold in Germany! We don't want Lily to get sick so we dress her nicely and warmly. Mommy (me) on the other hand does not feel too well. My ears are hurting... but we have more exciting things planned so I kind of ignore the pain... (I did go to the pharmacy and got some painkillers esp. for sinuses)

Lily, looking cute in her winter coat!!!

Marcus' dad drops us off in the center of Frankfurt and we meet up with old-time friends (of Marcus) Laurenz, his wife Miriam, and Jörg. It's Wednesday, a work day for everyone, so we have a "business lunch" at a place (can't remember the name!) near the Opera. After lunch we say our goodbyes (but not for long! Laurenz & Miriam visit us in LA at the end of March!)

With Miriam and Jörg in front of the Opera in Frankfurt

Marcus, Lily and I stroll through one of the biggest shopping streets in Frankfurt ("Zeil") but there are just too many people, it's too busy and so we decide to head straight to the train station and get back to Stuttgart.

Thursday, March 5: Lily and Zelli - 85 years difference!!!

Remember I said it was cold in Germany? Today we wake up and discover that the world is covered in snow! Beautiful! Lily sees snow for the first time in her little life!

Lily sees snow for the first time!

In the afternoon, we visit with Zelli. She has been a friend of Marcus' family FOREVER! This lady is incredible, 85 years and FULL of energy and optimism, full of LIFE, it's amazing.

When we get to her place, she is busy packing for her upcoming trip to the southern part of Chile (her plane is actually leaving the next day). Still, she takes the time to see us, the coffee and pastries are waiting for us, not to mention, a bottle of champagne! I stay away from the alcohol (my ears!!!), but Zelli insists a cup of Glühwein will make me feel better :-) and promptly starts brewing one! She's excited to see Lily. Unbelievable that there is 85 years of age difference between these two wonderful people!

Lily and Zelli

When we get back to Oma Eva's, she has made a typical German dish (one of Marcus' favorites): Maultaschen. Oma Eva has invited friends over (Peter, Silke, Heike and Folko) and we enjoy a "gemütliches Abendessen" (my German IS getting better by being here!)

Friday, March 6: In bed with an ear infection

A hell of a day, I wake up with a fever, more than 39 degrees Celsius. I feel miserable, my ears are hurting like crazy. Oma Eva takes me to the doctor who diagnoses an ear infection, prescribes antibiotics and bedrest. I feel so exhausted, it's almost impossible to breastfeed Lily. Tonight (around 7 PM) she gets a bottle of formula for the first time ever, and guess what??? She goes to bed after her bottle AND SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING 7 AM!!! 12 hours on 1 bottle of formula (4 oz). From now on, we decide her last bottle at night will be a formula-bottle. We're not going back. It's just too nice to get that full night of sleep!

Oh, and today is my dad's 60th birthday! I call him on his cell to congratulate him (he's on ski holiday in Switzerland with my mom, my brother and his family) and my parents have a nice surprise for me. They are driving home the next day and decide to make a little detour over Stuttgart so they can see me again! Hip hip hooray!

Saturday, March 7: Reunion with old friends

I stay in bed. Too bad, but I just don't feel well enough to participate in the social activities that are lined up for the day!

Marcus has a bunch of friends coming over that afternoon. Matze flew in from Hamburg, Janni drove down from Bad Soden and Chris came all the way from Munich, just too see us! (Well, they don't see me, but who cares, it's Lily they want to meet!)

The hockey gang, from left to right: Matze, Marcus, Janni and Chris

Christian, Lucia, and their kids Justus & Karl also drop by. And around 5 PM, my parents arrive! A full house! Oma Eva loves it!

Sunday, March 8: Seeing Oma and Opa from Belgium again

It's so nice that my parents are here! And they are so happy to see Lily again!

Oma, Opa and Lily

Cute close-up

Lily is cracking up with Oma

My mom, dad and Marcus take Lily out for a long walk through the fields of Ruit. It is a sunny day (the snow has melted by now) so they get a good portion of Vitamin D! In the meantime, I continue to rest... I do feel a bit better today... but not good enough to fly, so we postpone our return flight to LA to Wednesday.

Monday, March 9: Hanging out

Lily's 4 months today! We celebrate by... doing nothing and just hanging out. It feels good to relax!

Hanging out on Oma Eva's couch

Marcus and Lily do go out to buy Oma Eva a nice bouquet of lilies (as a Thank You because she is taking such good care of me while I am ill).

Admiring the lilies

Tuesday, March 10: More rest

I am not the only one who likes to take a nap...

Lady long legs

Another visit to the doctor (Hals-Nasen-Ohren). The infection is not gone yet, so I get new (and another type of) antibiotics. I also get a strong nose spray that will have to take me through take-off and landing tomorrow...

Wednesday, March 11: Back to LA

I wake up and my ears do not feel like they're about to explode. What a relief! I'm a bit scared to fly, but everything goes fine! Once we get back in LA, I miss everyone terribly and this feeling of sadness lasts for days... This trip flew by, and even though I got sick, I enjoyed it tremendously. We saw so many friends and family, and then still not everyone! We missed out on seeing Wouter, Charlotte, Amelie and Robbe :-( Hopefully, we will see each other (again) soon!!! Can't wait until our next overseas trip!!!