Oh the honey

As I write the title of this post I can hear Winnie the Pooh saying it.  Honey is a very serious matter her in Moscow.  They love their honey.  We went to one of the many honey festivals that take place in this city.  It was a large group of women from the AWO that went.  I met some really nice women.  We get all the way to the festival, where all the way out is I am not sure, but apparently this is where all the old tsar's used to live.  

As we walk up we get our group picture taken by someone that seems to act like they are a professional trying to tell us the picture can't be taken because of the sunlight.  Well when you see the final picture where nobody was paying attention I am not sure what kind of professional this is.  Now I am sure each of you can already imagine this but it seemed a bit lost on me.  There are bees at the honey festival.  Yes bees.  I don't know why it didn't dawn on me that there would be bees there, but I was not the only one to have this revelation.  Maybe I did not expect bees because I have never been to a honey festival or because my idea of honey is the one you buy at Wal-Mart in the bear shaped jar with the yellow lid.  Then someone tells me that surely these bees are honey bees and not stinging bees.  Because there is a difference.  (please note sarcasm)  Okay so there apparently is a difference but I thought all bees were stinging bees. Anyway, I was not worried about me but more so worried about Owen.  Fortunately there were no bee stings reported.  

So you walk around booth after booth tasting honey trying to decide what to buy.  I am not a honey connoisseur.  I did not know there were so many different kinds and that they came from different flowers or grass or trees.  Now of course I couldn't ask about the honey origins because I don't speak Russian but you could tell by the pictures.  Besides honey, there was also beeswax candles and soap.  Another thing that didn't cross my mind till I was there.  Anyway, so you go around and taste all this honey and are on the verge of honey overload.  I tasted one that tasted like cough medicine.  Didn't buy that one.  Nope!  But it is apparently used for medicinal purposes.  Some of it was good some of it was the same thing I am used to.  I ended up buying some nice honey with a subtle raspberry flavor.  It is quite yummy, even though I haven't eaten it since.  So everybody be prepared for some honey are your Christmas gift.  :)

After the festival I went to lunch with some very nice women.  They are from Britain, Greece, and Colombia.  It was nice to be out with people from such different cultures.  In all honesty I never pictured being around so many different cultures when I was growing up in Arkansas.  Wow how I have branched out.  

I am learning something new here everyday.  I do not know that I will be going back to the honey festival but I will not say never since I have learned that is not ever the case.  

Media Overload

When we got here we had to do things a bit differently with our phones and plans.  I managed to leave my phone on the airplane, so I was phoneless.  David's iphone was not unlocked so he went and bought a cheap basic phone to be able to use for work.  After about a month we decided to get an iphone 4 and I would take his other phone.  The basic phone reminded me of what I used when I first had a phone.  It is amazing how quickly you forget how to use the thing.  Texting was about impossible for me with the auto spell and hitting the keys until it figured out what word you wanted to spell.  The phone did not have a camera built in.  And it used the old nintendo graphics for pictures.  And do you remember the old ringtones of samba.  So after some annoyance we decided to get his old iphone unlocked so I could use it here.  In order to do this we had to go to Gorbushka.  Gorbushka is an electronic warehouse.  It is bit like a flea market setup.  Booths everywhere with different people selling electronics, cooking stuff, phones, wires, etc.  It is massive.  I must say I am not a fan of this place.  David being a guy said he could spend all day there.  Ugh!  And of course I had to use the restroom.  That was an experience that I will not forget.  There was no toilet it was a hole in the ground.  Yes you read that correctly a hole in the ground.  Gross beyond means.  

We decided to take the Metro out there.  It is nearly the last stop on the Metro.  So of course for us to be on the Metro when it is above ground surprised us.  We sat where there were three seats so we could sit and the stroller would take up the other portion.  Well of course at one stop even though there were other seats there was this lady who pushed David out of his seat and pushed me over to be crammed with the stroller.  I mean seriously.  Coming back the ride was bit easier, although we did see this young couple that got me wondering.  He was wearing a very white crisp button down shirt with very white tennis shoes.  Either the shoes were brand new or he had to stop every five seconds to brush dirt off of them.  Not sure which.

Anyway, we wondered around for awhile trying to find someone that spoke English so we could unlock the phone.  We did finally find some very nice people and with the help of our Google translation app we had success.  And surprisingly the price was same as it would be in the US.  When we finally left I told David that I would not be going back.  I just went back last week.  My friend had some electronics she needed to get fixed and I was looking for a crock pot.  She had a very successful trip while I did not.  So this time I will not say that I will NOT be going back instead I will say that I have no desire to go back and I will try not too.  

The Boat

Since day one that I moved to Moscow I had been waiting on my shipment to arrive.  Or the boat as I like to call it.  We were told it would take 6 to 8 weeks to get here.  And that was a pretty accurate time assessment.  When the boat finally arrived I had forgotten half the stuff that I packed.  You get used to living on the basics but it is not something that I recommend.  The boat arrives at Customs and takes about 2 weeks to clear.  So Monday morning here I am waiting on it to arrive at my house.  The movers show up and start bringing boxes in.  Well I was not aware that they were going to unpack everything too.  This is good and bad.  Good because you don't have to worry about where to put the empty boxes and paper and you get to see all your stuff laid out.  Bad because all your stuff is laid out with no home.  And in the middle of all of this Owen is napping so all of his stuff is in the living room.  I have to say it took more than a few days to get everything organized.  Actually, I am still trying to get everything organized.  

Where to start?  I tried very hard in Lafayette to go through and tell the movers what to take and what not to take.  Of course things got packed that I did not want.  For instance, yearbooks.  I mean really they aren't even all mine.  I have a couple that belong to my sister and then the same one that belongs to my brother.  My yearbooks are the ones from elementary and middle school.  I tried to throw them away but David would not let me.  Memories I might want to see later or show to Owen.  I seriously doubt that.  Of course my elementary school pictures are cute.  It is not until later that girl we don't recognize now made an appearance.  Also, something else that got packed that I did not care to see about was my boot that I got when I broke my foot sophomore year in college.  Maybe the Lord is telling me that I may need that thing again here in Russia with all the snow.  I sure hope not.  Dad never would let me get rid of it in case I needed it again.  I think I am just asking for my foot to break.

One thing that I have way to much of now is hangers.  When I told the movers to pack what was in the closet they took me literally.  Thankfully they did manage to leave the wedding dress.  But I got tons of hangers. I have a huge box full of them.  And I am not sure what to do with them.  And of course I have no closet space so I have even more hangers from clothes I am forced to fold now.  Ugh!  Oh and now Owen has no closet so I have baby hangers out the wazoo too!  I mean seriously.  If I never see or step on another hanger it would be too soon.

And now here comes the next step. Where oh where do I put everything?  It takes a bit of creativity to come up with some solutions.  Let's move this desk so we can get a dresser because we have no closet space.  At this time I am trying to move some stuff around so if we do have a guest they can put their stuff somewhere.  And of course there is no home for my shoes.  Shoes are everywhere.  And NO I am not getting rid of any of them.  So don't even suggest it.  Of course in the process of putting everything away I only hit my head about 50,000 times.  I had  headache for days.  And if you know me well you know it does not take much for me to hit my head.  I manage to do it in places that nobody else would ever hit their head.  I did have a friend in college that said I should wear a football helmet.  

I think the best thing about getting the shipment was all the toys for Owen.  He had toys everywhere.  Toys that were too old for him when left and toys that he has not seen in awhile.  It was like Christmas morning for him.  He did not know which way to go.  He crashed hard that night and for a few nights after.  Toy overload.  I was putting away one of his play mats and he got mad at me.  I had to tell him that he was too old for it and that he had plenty of others.  The good thing about Owen is that he protests for a second then is like Okay, Mom!  Of course, now I realize I should have saved some of the toys because now he is bored with them.  Figures.

All in all I was very happy to have my shipment.  We went to IKEA to buy some items and are still working on it.  Hopefully my last trip will be soon.  There are a lot of things that I didn't pack that I wish I would have. I would have packed just about my whole kitchen.  And many foods that I love in the US.   This first move international has been a huge learning experience.  Well next time I will be better prepared.  And of course if any of you ever move you can always ask!  :)

My Firsts

After I posted about Owen's firsts I realized I never got to all of my firsts (not that they are as interesting as Owen's.)  Being here is the first time that I have truly traveled out of the country.  It is definitely the first time that I have lived outside of the US.  The hardest thing is the language barrier.  You do start to get used to it after awhile.  You just need to learn one key phrase.  Я не понимаю русский язык  (I don't understand Russian.)  After saying this I will have one of the two responses.  Either I continue to get a lot more Russian spoken to me or they get all mad and wave their hand at me and exhale loudly.  You learn to except either response.  I do have to say that there are many things I took for granted living in the US and after living abroad I will proudly say and say loudly that I am proud to be an American.

This is also the first time that I have not worked.  I have worked as long as I can remember.  I remember going to mom's store and working and helping dad out at his office during the summers.  I thought it would be an easy transition but boy was I wrong.  I truly admire the stay at home mom.  I am still not sure how they do it all.  I am glad to not be working and not having to stress about the money being raised or doing a good job.  I know that Owen loves me no matter what and that the two of us will learn everything together.  I guess this is a good way for us both to learn patience.

It is the first time for me not to have a car since I was 16.  And I LOVE it!  I love not being car sick when David is driving.  I love not having to deal with his road rage.  I love not having to drive and worry about getting in wreck.  I love not having to fill my car up with $4 gas all the time.  It is absolutely great.  And my waistline loves me not having a car as well.  I love pushing Owen in his stroller and going for walks.  There are tough spots to get around with the stroller here but after a week or two you figure it out and make do.

I would say these are my major firsts.  There are many small things that I have done for the first time but I can't seem to think of them in enough importance to write about them.  I do enjoy being here.  It is a great experience so far.

Who's on first?

There have been many first for Owen and I since we have been here in Moscow.  I think a foreign country is good for us.  I am not sure where to start.  Since Owen is the focal point of everything these days I think I will start with him.  I am proud of everyone of his firsts (well almost all of them).  

• Owen got his first tooth.  We had been waiting for this tooth for about 3 months.  We have all been on tooth watch 2011.  You could see these two little white nubs for his teeth for the longest time. David and I were on the metro coming back from the mall.  Owen was a bit fussy so he put his finger over his gums to rub them and looked at me in surprise to find something sharp.  From that point on I have to say it hurts to have those little teeth make contact with you.  They are sharp little suckers.

• Living in Louisiana we had a brick floor so Owen didn't spend much time on his tummy.  He did his allotted tummy time each day and hated it.  But it was not till we got here that he spent the most time on the floor.  We only had his play mat for entertainment.  Within no time we was rolling over from his back to his belly.  He had mastered the reverse of belly to back a long time ago.  And I have to say for a baby that strongly disliked tummy time I cannot keep him off of it.  He would roll over and after awhile get tired and frustrated and scream at me to roll him back.  So I would and then flop he would go right back over.  And now he is army crawling all over the place.  

• We had been trying for awhile to get Owen to say dada.  I am no fool and knew that he would say dada first.  Within a day of being here out comes the words.  Now I am confident that did not know that the word referred to David because he would say it quite randomly.  And just recently he has started saying mama.  He doesn't say this as often as dada but he does say it.  And I am sure he does not realize it is me either.  But it is still sweet words to my ears.  

• Two things Owen and I do are noseys and piggies.  I love to give him noseys for kisses.  I love his kisses too.  But I will say when you ask for a kiss he opens his mouth wide and they are a bit slobbery.  Every time I give him noseys he gets all smiles and giggles.  It is so very sweet.  As a kid I loved it when dad would do "This little piggy…"  So O and I have done piggies since he stopped sponge baths.  He gets all giggles and smiles.  Anytime he is fussy I can ask him if mama is going to get his piggies and he smiles immediately and scrunches up ready for the wee wee wee.  So one day I asked Owen where the nose was.  Before I knew it he grabbed onto mine.  So I asked next where his piggies were.  He bent over and grabbed them.  I was so proud.  All this time I was playing games and loving on him it didn't dawn on me that he would remember the parts of the body and point them out to me.  So we are now working on ears and eyes.  And now he showed me my mouth.  So only 50,000 more things to learn.  :)  YAY!!!

• Here is the time that I am not necessarily proud of my bundle of joy but do find this quite funny and am sure most moms have been there.  Owen pooed in the tub.  He takes his bath in the big bath tub now and has no problems with it.  I was worried he might find it scary but of course not he has his mom's no fear attitude.  He is laying on his back blowing raspberries and playing with his stacking cups.  He just figured out that if he puts a cup over his mouth while blowing raspberries it sounds different than without the cup.  So I yelled at David to come in and see how smart is boy is.  I am so preoccupied with this new talent that I don't even notice the mishap at the other end of the tub.  David says "did he just poo in the tub?"  I said no.  Then I look down and say "OH MY GOSH HE POOED IN THE TUB.  GET HIM OUT!!!"  And this is not a small poo either.David gets him out and takes him to the other room.  So here I am trying to figure out how to get the poo out of the tub.  Yes I am sure most of you have the answer to this already but here I am in panic mode and not thinking clearly.  So I take out the toys and set them to the side.  I use a stacking cup to fish out the offensive item and then can't figure out what to do with it.  Toilet DUH!  But no I did not think of this.  I try to wrap it in toilet paper and throw it away then I look at the toilet and realize I am a dummy and finally throw it away.  This is where I am thankful to be staying a hotel and I don't have to clean the tub.  

• I am sure other moms have looked at the book to see what their child should be doing at a certain month and then realized their child is not doing it and starts to think how can I get them on track.  Well when Owen turned 8 months in the book it said he should be able to sit from tummy position.  Within a day he started doing this and I didn't prompt him at all.  It was just like clockwork.  I should be doing this mom so I think I will start doing it.  Now the funny thing with this is that Owen was scooting or army crawling all over the place and when he would get tired he would rest his head on his arms.  Now he will crawl for a couple of paces and then decide to sit up and rest a spill.  I can't get him to go more than 2 paces at a time.  He must also get his mom's laziness attitude.  I think we will have to try to nip that one in the bud.  

• Owen had his first playmate.  We did go to a playgroup with other kids but they were all around 2 1/2 years old.  But after that Owen and I went to meet Anders and his mom Lori.  Anders is 9 1/2 months old.  He is part Canadian and part Swedish and looks all Swedish.  Anders is pretty cute.  He has lots of curly blonde hair and has big feet and hands.  Neither baby really knew what to do with each other.  They both just kind of drafted to the moms.  Anders came to me and Owen went to Lori.  After awhile they would play or try to take each others toys or snacks.  Or more like Anders would take Owen's.  Owen hasn't quite figured out the assertive thing yet but he also doesn't care that the item is taken from him.  He is like whatever here is another toy I can go to.  All in all it was a good day.  They have played together again since then and I see many more in the future.  The only downside is that they will be moving from Moscow soon.  Not sure where to. 

• Owen is crawling.  I am not sure why I was so impatient for him to start crawling.  He is everywhere and into everything.  He constantly tries to make his way to the outlet.  I tell him no and he stops then thinks oh its been a second she is paying attention and he starts going again.  So I get a stricter tone and say no again.  This goes on for a bit and then he turns and gives me this smirk.  Like I know this is funny and I know you will laugh and not find this serious.  I have to cover my mouth to try to hide the laughter.  It is the funniest thing when he smirks at me.  What a busy busy boy.  I am exhausted.   

That sums up most of the firsts.  I am sure there are other things that are slipping my mind at the moment.  Owen is learning fast.  We are currently working on clapping.  Sometimes you get two fists, one hand open and a fist, and occasionally both hands open but then they get stuck to each other when they clap.  Mostly you get the arms flapping in excitement like a bird.  Funny thing I noticed tonight was how Owen seems to understand everything crystal clear when there is something he wants.  Owen LOVES yogurt.  David pointed out to him that I was eating some and he turns to me like a hawk.    I said okay but you have to sit up.  He sat up right away.  Then he reaches his hand up to grab the spoon and I said hands down.  And they both went down.  Then for the second bite it was the same thing with the hands.  So now I know that when he doesn't do something he is just being stubborn like his parents.  Little stinker!

Cooking 101

I do not think that I am meant to be a cook.  Tonight I decided to make spaghetti.  Easy.  That is why I chose it and I don't have to try to figure out what I am buying at the grocery store.  The reason why I say I don't think I am meant to be a cook is because I always think of things last minute.  Oh yeah I have onions maybe I should dice some and put them in with the meat.  Of course I forget until I have already started browning the meat and all I can think of is I can't have crunchy onions in there.  I keep picturing my brother David's face and reaction when he eats crunchy onions.  So I saute separately and add and of course this is more mess and more time.  Did I mention how tiny my kitchen is.  And then when the food is done and ready to be served I realized I forgot to make my vegetable.  Too late now.  And did I mention that I have Owen in his exer-saucer and is a bit fussy.  I am not sure how moms cook with their kids.  He is too young to be left alone and too active to not be in something.  So I am at a loss.  If there are suggestions out there please share.

So all in all I either need to stay out of the kitchen or go to cooking school/classes.  Maybe then I can figure out how to chop onions, how and when to remember to make what I need to, not forget steps until it is too late and you can tell when eating that a step was an afterthought.  Yes I am sure after reading this post you are all thinking that I am not eating what she is cooking and that you feel terribly bad for David.  Poor Owen when he gets older.  Maybe I will have something figured out by then.  

In the meantime I think I will stick with baking.  Oh yeah I don't have a mixer.  I can't tell what ingredients I am buying and they have every variation of flour known to man but not one that says ALL PURPOSE.  Eeeekkkk!!!! I think there will be lots of trial and error here and a few cereal nights.