Baby B at 8 months

8 months and you still seem so little to me! Though you sit on your own and do the occasional roll, not much chance of you crawling or climbing away just yet! You started solids- carrots, potatoes, peas, chicken- this month. Ummmm No Thanks! You seem to just be interested in the sweet fruits and cereal. What faces you make when we try to feed you and tightening up those lips!! You like to grab for anything in sight and are waving with your fingers. You don't use a paci or a lovey to sleep with, but still such a happy little thing!

Baby B at 7 months

March 2nd-

My little sweet bug, you are half a year old! Your tongue stays outside your mouth at all times and you are starting to make a lot more noise- Mama.... Papa..... We are loving your open mouth, super wet kisses!! Going to sleep is easy breezy, and now with a little work you only get up once during the night. Woohoo!!  You started fruits and though you're not a big fan, a bit of a bottle. And still the happiest little baby you ever did see!

Baby B at 6 months

February 2nd-

Good thing you're so cute, cause the only thing I seem to remember about this month is you NEVER slept during the night. Smiled all the time during the day, enjoyed cuddling at home with Mommy during the day, lots of coffee outings and shopping trips to stay warm- but absolutely NO sleep!! Still such a cutie though!!

Baby B at 5 months

Guapa! My sunshine smiley girl! You have spent this whole month with a smile on your face. Even tonight when you had your shots, you were super smiley (until you felt the after effect!) You just took your first trip to the US and spent 5 weeks with everyone loving all over you. Your first Christmas and I remember you being so quiet all day long- just sleeping and smiling. On our last night there we chanted and chanted and you finally rolled over- with Babaw watching you! You weigh 7.07 kilos (15.6lbs) and are 64cm (25in) tall, all chubby legs and cheeks! And those cheeks loved to be kissed. My precious baby girl! 

Baby B at 4 months

Hello Baby Girl, 

You just grow and grow- bigger and more beautiful each day. You love to chew your hand, drool all over the place and squeal. (Still no paci!) Your biggest smiles come when your sister lays all over you. The most precious is when we're all in our hustle and bustle, look down and you're just starring up with your big dark eyes smiling like crazy. You are so alert, sit with your neck and head so strong and are on your way to rolling over. Don't ask about sleeping- clearly your travels have taken a wild toll on your nights!!! You took your first plane ride to Denmark to visit Mommy's work and a week later boarded a plane to meet your family and friends in Tennessee. They were in love at first sight! (You just have that effect on people). Though I wish time would stand still, i just love seeing you grow and discover new things.

Baby B at 3 months

Little B, you know how to wear a smile! You are the happiest baby I've seen. You have smiled for 1 month straight. And even at 3 months, you sleep all day long- especially well on your tummy. You hold your neck and head so well, you sleep 6-9 hrs straight at night. You eat great and it shows! You love to have your tummy rubbed, you love your sister's super wet kisses and licks on the head. You are great at Yoga class and seem to be so relaxed as soon as we enter the door- though relaxation pose is your fav and always puts you in a deep sleep! Your legs are still as chunky as ever and your cheeks just as fun to squeeze. Our little Begoxu- how we love you!

Carolina is 2 years old!

Our little C grew up over night! Literally the night B was born, it seemed like she aged a ton. The past 6 months have flown by- she is little Miss Independant. Everything is "sola". As always, she loves to sing (with the sweetest little voice) and loves to dance (the living room table is her "stage"). She talks up a storm- sometimes in sentences, sometimes just with every word she knows thrown together. She is speaking spanish and english both, depending on the words (more spanish than english). In spanish she is "dos", english "three" :-). She can count to 10 in both languages, but skips "six"?? She knows her spanish days of the week. Everything is "aqui" or "que susto" and "cookie" seems to top it all. This girl can eat! And eats anything you put in front of her, except pieces of fruit. She aaaaadores Begoña- kisses her, lays on her and says "i hold you". She is attached to chupe (her paci) and lamb lamb. In the past few months C has moved houses, gained a sister and started a new school- and has been such a trooper!! Precious and a joy to be around and well.....all this surpasses the recent tantrums that have started (the "mios", "no's" and screams). Who would ever know from this sweet face?!!

Baby B at 2 months

Oh little Miss Smiley! You are such a sweetie pie. You literally sleep the whole day until Papi comes home, (You're missing lots of good shopping and coffee dates!) then you pretty much hang out in our arms until bedtime. Crazy enough you're sleeping 6-8hrs in a row at night too. Must be your inactivity that packed on over 2lbs this month! You weigh 12.15lbs and are 22.6 inches tall. You have just started to smile and coo and well... I could just stare at you all day long. We started Mommy and Baby yoga this month. You chill for the first part and then like to curl up with me at the end for "relaxation". This pretty much knocks you out. You took your first trip to Bilbao this month and did super on the car ride. Off now for many more adventures!

Begoña is 1 month!

Begoña Anne! You are 1 month old. I never knew I could love you so much. Your big sister, Carolina, adores you- and so do we. You have pretty much slept the whole month of August- but in this heat, who can blame you. You have grown soooo much. You are 9lbs 11oz and 21in long. You love sleeping on your belly during the day and in the swaddle at night. You cry like a little puppy dog, but luckily just a little at night. You curl your little feet and bottom up and will lay on my chest all day long. I never want this to change! Such a joy you are in our lives! 

Fiestas de Bilbao

Quick weekend trip to Bilbao to celebrate the summer fiestas!

Look who came to visit!

Begoña, you are so loved! All these special people came to see you!

Welcome to the world Begoña Anne

Begoña Anne de Abiega Richards came into this world on August 2, 2014. Weighing 3.55kilos (7.8lbs) and measuring 51cm (21cm), she is an absolute doll baby! Bego (spanish nickname) or Begs (in english) was born in Madrid at Clinica San Jose at 2pm. We're now settled at home with lots of help from Abuela, Tio Alberto, Tia Maria and Tio Asier, Grammie and Delia. Big Sister Carolina is in Love and so are we!!! Here we go as a family of 4!!

Heading to the Sierra!

The Riches have moved! We're still in the Madrid area, but we've headed 20 minutes further north to the foot of the Sierra de Madrid to San Agustin de Guadalix. Double the space- half the cost! We just couldn't pass that up. So after 2 weeks of hard labor, we have finally settled into our new home. I was more than sad to leave our last home. It was in the most perfect location- a perfect terrace overlooking the city- and the absolute best neighbors. We will for sure miss the location and the wonderful people, but can't complain about the space and tranquility we have now. (bedrooms, nursery and upstairs terrace still under construction =)

our living room/dining room area connected to the terrace

My fav! The kitchen, newly remodeled and complete with a washer/DRYER! That's right folks- we found a dryer in Spain!!

Rick finally gets his own music room

relaxing out back- overlooking the mountains and back gate to the pool and greenway



July 4th on the 5th

Friends of the 4th! The closer it got to July 4th, the more I realized I would be terribly home sick. It's the first year in many we haven't been on the lake in Tennessee. And well- for the Richards, July 4th is like a 2nd Christmas. So in the midst of us changing houses and preparing for baby, the only logical thing to do was throw a July 4th bash (on the 5th). I love this crew! These are my mom and baby friends I've known since Carolina was born and a few of my neighbors who have become super dear to me. So here you have our crew- coming from Germany, Indonesia, Holland, UK, Peru, Spain and the US. God bless the USA (and everywhere else!)

 

Our Group Shot

Miss America

Birte and I, 4 weeks apart

Pinterest inspired Red, White and Blue drink

The de Abiega Richards- July 2014

enjoying her first ice cream of her own

My super duper friend Fia- decked out in RW&B

Momma's and Babies

 

Gonzalo is here!

June 23, 2014- Ricardo and I are now Tio and Tia to baby Gonzalo. His sister Maria gave birth on Monday to a beautiful baby boy! Carolina is getting some good practice in.

French Riveria and F1

And so begins her infatuation with airplanes- or so she likes to say "babayon" (avion in spanish). We took Little C-Lo's last flight in the "cheap" seats and headed to Nice and Monte Carlo for a long 4-day weekend. The past few years Ricardo's (January) birthday presents have been trips, concerts or excursions. Last year we went to the Madrid Open (tennis match). This year I thought he'd quite enjoy the F1 races in Monaco! He did. and it was a wonderful last getaway for the Riches family of 3.

C admiring the view

Nice, France

Rick's view from the races

Gorgeous Fountains in Nice

C and I enjoying the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival

Chevre Chaud- Grilled Goat Cheese Salad- Heeeaaaven!

Walk on the promenade with Tio Alberto

Riches party of 3- last family vaca before baby B arrives!

1 last trip......

Back and forth, back and forth..... And now time to rest and get ready for baby. I took my last work trip a few weeks back to wrap things up before my leave. Did i mention i despise paying taxes on the danish system, but ohhhh ohhh how i adore the benefits! The Danes really have the work/life balance figured out. Beauty of socialist gov't! ;-) I'll start my leave end of this week and should return around August of 2015. Until then, just enjoying a few of my favorite danish things......

Dinner out with the Engbers at MASH- no picture with them or the restaurant :-( but take a look at the beauties that Margareta grew in her garden.

I spent 3 days in a quite intensive Project Management course, followed by a 3hr exam. After I decided to stock up on some of my favorite Danish Designers to celebrate- Rosendahl glasses and oil & vinegar set, Menu hot plate holder, a nice leather box, cork note boards and matching onesies from Noa Noa for the girls :-)

And spending some quality time with Shereen