Baby Makes Three

Aha! A dollhouse!

2009-04-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

When Liliana woke from her nap yesterday, a dollhouse had appeared in the living room. She was super duper excited. (Almost as much as I was!) The two of us have had a nasty stomach virus for the last week - hibernation. I've been plotting the dollhouse appearance for some time and found it just when we would appreciate it the most. A nice reward for making it through such a crummy week.

There was alot of sun coming into our apartment yesterday. Although it was only 5 C or so outside, we needed to put on our summer clothes. Liliana wanted to wear shorts like mama, but the only thing hiding in my stash for summer was shorts *underneath* a skirt. She settled.

When I went to wake her for school this morning I found her sleeping in bed with only her pajama top on. No pants, no underwear. The new beloved skirt/shorts was on the floor next to her bed. I guess I know what she was doing last night before she went to sleep?

Flirting with the military

2009-02-08T04:51:00.000-08:00

There's a story in this one..., originally uploaded by Seraphina.

From our old apartment in Chisty Prudy I always drove the same way to school past the Kremlin at approximately the same time. Numerous trucks of soldiers took a portion of my path at the same time. I've sat behind these trucks on a handful of occaisons and every time has been a bit of fun. The first time, I was rockin' out - singing and dancing in my seat to a favorite song before I realized that they had drawn the flap of the truck cover aside and were watching me and dancing along. Since they got such a kick out of it (and admittedly it made me feel about 18 - in a good way) I just kept singing the next day I got stuck behind them. On the day I took this photo, the guys were really having a good time showing me their guns and gas masks (in a ridiculous, we're trying to flirt and be macho all the same time kind of way). I'll miss these little encounters. They were surreal. It really made me see the youth and humanity in a group of people that once made me quite fearful during my first months here.

Girls Night Out & First Snow

2008-11-19T23:26:00.000-08:00

We got our first snow last night! I happened to have a dinner date with a girlfriend and got to walk to dinner while snowed. It was very peaceful. Here is Liliana all geared up to go check it out this morning.

Last week Liliana and I had a really fun dinner together that I think I'll remember forever. I had gotten home late, had been stuck in traffic, and so hadn't made it to get groceries as I had planned. With nothing in the house and Liliana and I both ready to eat, we geared up for dinner out. We walked to a local cafe, Volkhonskii, and got the perfect table, in the corner by the window. Liliana sat looking into the cafe in a regular chair and happily sat, waited for dinner, and ate. We had pasta, and although I cut up half of hers into little bites she could pick up with her spoon, she preferred to pick up the long strings from the other half of the plate. It was an Alfredo mess, but darling nonetheless. After dinner, when the cookies came, she wanted to sit in my lap. So, we cuddled and ate our cookies before heading back home. It was a very sweet time for me, just being out with my daughter doing a grown up activity together that was so enjoyable.

Correa's = Happiness

2008-09-15T05:46:00.001-07:00

We love Correa's. The food reminds me of being in San Francisco. (beet salad w/ pesto & goat cheese! shrimp, avocado, & orange salad! carrot cake! mojitos! American omelets!) Just reading the menu makes me swoon and once the food comes I'm waxing poetic.

I also love their massive toy bin. Well, Liliana loves it and that makes me love it.

Liliana loves to play and we love to eat. It's a winning combination that I could (and often do) repeat every week.

We went there for brunch with our friends Ophelia, Marat, & Emil a couple weeks back (when it was summer and not winter). The kids were really funny together.

We are living parallel lives with these guys. Marat went to the US on the same program as Andre. He worked in the US for years after school, just like Andre. He met an American, fell in love, and got married in April 2003, JLA. They moved back to Russia and have a child. Ophelia and I share a love for green food and (not necessarily green) clothes. I must have done something really good in a past life to deserve this kind of togetherness.

Pelmeni

2008-09-15T04:25:00.001-07:00

Pelmeni, originally uploaded by Seraphina.

I've been meaning to photograph this place for awhile now and finally had my camera with me when I was stopped in traffic in front of it. It says "Pelmeni" which is a very common Russian food. They are the Russian version of ravioli, pasta filled with meat, most often. We generally have a box in our freezer for those emergency "the fridge is empty and everyone is starving" moments. I love this place because it gives me an idea of what storefronts used to look like ages ago. This one is in the center of town in a very expensive area and I wonder how long it will last.

Dancing Ritual + Underwear

2008-09-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

Liliana loves to dance to music right now. She also loves to make her babies dance. Nearly every morning after waking she'll get up, grab a baby or two or three, start the music, and everyone dances.

You'll notice she's wearing underwear on both her bum as well as her head. She loves hats as much as she loves her underwear and she thought this was the perfect combination.

Liliana is in underwear now all the time except while sleeping. She refuses diapers unless it's time to sleep. I'm amazed with her. She tells me when she needs to go and holds it long enough to get there. I also take or ask her at usual times (upon waking, after eating, before leaving the house, and before sleeping). People say that it's much easier to wait to potty train until they are older, but personally I'd much rather spend time reading to her while she is on the potty numerous times a day vs. change one more dirty diaper. Today she didn't even linger on the potty, so I'm imagining life will be even brighter when that is consistent. Yay L!

Our first visitor in Moscow

2008-08-16T04:53:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time. Apparently, people actually read my blog occasionally and I'm hearing about my lack of posting. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the quantity of topics at my disposal...but here it goes.

We've finally had a visitor! Steffen, a friend from Munich, came last week just after our one year anniversary of living in Moscow. We were so excited to have him stay with us and it was only dampened by the fact that his girlfriend wasn't able to come along due to a case of pneumonia (ick!).

Our new nanny, Nina, came over a good number of days which allowed Steffen and I to break out as tourists in a way I've not been able to do much before. We went to Red Square, St Basils, the GUM shopping center, walked around Prechistenka/Ostozhenka, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, old & new Arbat, the Gorky House Museum, Victory Park, Novedevichy Convent, dinner at Barashka, walked around Tverskaya, tour of the Metro, a photo exhibition, the Kremlin Armory, Izmayalovsky market, city view from above Sparrow Hills, and Tsaritsino! Whew! That's alot of sightseeing for one week. I don't think I've done so much in one week since Liliana was born. You can cram alot more in when you don't have a toddler (and their naps, eating needs) to contend with.

I managed to get a shot of Steffen just before he left in front of Moscow State University.

He took this lovely one of Liliana and Andre in front of the convent.

I took these pics with Steffen's camera just after we went to the photography exhibit. L was having a splashing time in her rain boots.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

2008-05-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

Liliana visits Tsaritsino, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

Today was a really, really great day.

I convinced Andre to get out of bed early with the promise of a thermos of coffee, croissants from the bakery, and a picnic breakfast at a park we've been wanting to check out. We made a family record at getting out of the house and beat all the Russians to Tsartisino - a beautiful, expansive park and former palace of Catherine the Great. The fountain was enormous and had a soundtrack, the flowers were in bloom, there were rolling hills, a lake, bridges, forested areas, and the palace was beautiful. It felt as if we were outside the city. Everything was green and we were breathing fresh air.

Liliana loves playing with mom, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

Liliana had her first bakery item all to herself. Raisin roll. Mmmmm. She got to push her stroller around for ages. They had a wonderful playground there for her age. And, for the cherry on top, there were horses. It was such a great combination of things it was almost to much.

We got home for L's nap, the nanny/housekeeper(!) came over and cleaned the house while I napped(!!) and then watched Liliana while I went shopping. When I got home, Andre had cooked dinner(!!!). I think I got Mother's day early this year.

Going to bed happy...

The Official Walking Video

2008-04-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

April 26th was the official date. This was taken today after two days of practice.

Heaven in Moscow

2008-04-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

I think I've found my favorite time of year in Moscow. The weather has been amazing the last few days, bright and sunny and beautiful. I'm noticing things that I've never seen here before. Beds of flowers around the city - bulbs sprouting, patches of pansies.

Liliana has been sick though, so we've mostly been inside. BUT, the treat we had this afternoon was worth the wait. I took Liliana to a nearby botanical garden that my friend, Angelique, has been telling me about. The whole of me was singing it was so wonderful. I am a nut for tulips and this place was crawling with the first ones of spring. It felt as beautiful as seeing the tulip fields in Washington. Finding such amazing beauty not only in the city but so close by was much more than I had expected. To give some perspective, this was us outside four weeks ago! To top it off, there are a few cafes around the perimeter where we can (and will) stop to enjoy some tea or food outside. I expect you'll find me here most days from now until it gets to cold in...oh who wants to think about that... :)

Just us girls in Moscow

2008-04-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

Andre's been away for the last four days. It's the first time ever that it's just been Liliana and I for so long. It was surprisingly great to be just the girls for a bit and fend for ourselves. Of course it wouldn't be Moscow without a bit of adventure...

I've been driving for a few weeks now. Despite the inherent danger on the roads, I need the independence. This weekend I got pulled over by the police. I think I turned off the road in a spot where I shouldn't have...but since the only words of English I heard from the officer were "tunnel" and "money", I'll never be sure. After many, many attempts at understanding one another I finally gave in and offered up money. His reply was "mozhna money" (can money) and waved me to follow him to his car. I got out of mine, into his, showed him all I had (at least as he thought), put it in the center console as he specified, got my papers back and off I went. Happy as I am that I got off only $40 lighter, I am a bit disappointed that he didn't just exasperatingly let me go. I only started driving after an expat friend of mine told me that she'd been pulled over three times and let go every time once the officer learned she didn't speak Russian. She IS quite pretty (and pregnant), but I really thought I'd be safe too! Bummer. :)

Aside from this we kept ourselves very busy - much of the time with friends! I suppose this is how a place starts to feel like home...when all of a sudden you have more friends than time to see them.

I was also on a quest to get her eating better ("You want more raisins?!") and made her numerous new food combinations. Above she is enjoying a kefir/blueberry/banana smoothie. Good to the last drop!

The wagon becomes more than a toy bin

2008-03-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

She's walking...with help from her Radio Flyer Walker Wagon!

Things are looking UP

2008-03-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

Life in Moscow has gotten a WHOLE lot better these days.

For one, the weather is improving. It's a bit above freezing now, which makes a huge difference. We can take Liliana out without her snowsuit...a huge time savings! I can hang out at the park without my fingers and toes going numb...well...at least for half and hour or so. Also, the days are getting longer. I am no longer waking with Liliana in complete darkness...yay. We've even had some sun! When the sun comes out we feel like we might cry it is so glorious.

Those improvements are some that most everyone here benefits from (except those who don't know how dark or light it is at 6 am!).

BUT...

We're on the expat playgroup circuit! I know of FOUR groups a week. That's a lot of chatting and playing. I've met more than a handful of women who even live in our neighborhood. It's so comforting to know that there are friendly faces around you. Now when we are out I can envision the moms that live down the various streets. It makes life here feel much more neighborhoody.

We found a babysitter/house cleaner. She comes for two half days during the week and on Saturday night. After one week of her visits my house is clean, I've been on a date with Andre, and I've started to catch up on some projects. I might even get to do some yoga next week...my bod sure needs it.

And to add a very large cherry on top of all this fabulousness...

Liliana is sleeping through the night! After 9 mo. of pregnancy waking for the bathroom and 13 months of all night open-bar nursing, I was really, really in need of a good nights sleep. After two weeks...she and I are both sleeping. Her, 12 hours! And a 2-3 hour nap! I think this might be as good as it gets.

Ma...ma...

2008-01-07T03:19:00.000-08:00

It's happened. The moment I've so patiently been waiting for.

Liliana has been spending lots of time with her Baba and Deda (Andre's parents) this past week while they are visiting. Although she is having lots of fun, she also clearly misses her mom too.

While I was in the shower, Andre thought she said "Ma-ma" repeatedly, as if asking for me. I was excited...but she babbles alot...and thought this was easily just another babble.

BUT THEN, yesterday, I entered the room where she was, sat down near her on the couch, and she started reaching her arms toward me and said "Ma...ma"!!! And then she said it again!

It was so incredibly cute and endearing and I will admit it brought a tear to my eye.

Ahhh...

Liliana is CRAWLING

2007-12-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

We thought she might never do it. You know, those babies that go from sitting to standing to walking and skip crawling altogether? Well, she surprised us and started crawling. I think it's only because she wants Mishka. She crawled the first time in pursuit of him. In fact, she doesn't crawl very much. She still likes to sit wherever we've put her and look at things in her direct vicinity. BUT, if Mishka is around, that gets her moving.

Check her out!

Puh-lease! I can do this myself...

2007-11-23T11:30:00.000-08:00

Liliana takes it to the next level...no more spoon feeding...

Liliana takes things into her own hands

2007-11-21T11:22:00.001-08:00

My baby is not really a baby. She knows what she wants and she wants it now. At lunch today she would not eat the amazing butternut squash, pumpkin, carrot, potato puree I stayed up late making. She wouldn't eat the cauliflower either. She was grunting and eh eh uhing and reaching and pleading for OUR FOOD.

I threw caution to the wind.

She insisted on our food and she got it. Russian katlietke (ground beef with onions in little patties) and mashed potatoes (with milk, butter, salt, garlic). That went so well I went ahead and gave her cheese and crackers to appease her while I prepared dinner.

She was so ridiculously pleased. So now, what do I feed her tomorrow? Looks like I won't be cooking seperate meals anymore...

Snow!

2007-11-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

It snowed most of the day yesterday. We looked outside at night and saw that it had turned into a winter wonderland.

So today, Liliana and I trekked out in the snow for the first time! We ventured out for our now weekly mom and baby play group. I bundled up, strapped on the Ergo carrier, bundled her up, popped her in and out we went! It was great to be out in the snow. We caught it while everything was still white and beautiful. I think the snow really brightens up Moscow. It suits it very well. The pond is nearly frozen, but the ducks still hang on to the last bit of water.

(As a quick aside...Liliana's first snow was actually last month on our way back from Yekaterinburg. We landed in Moscow while it was snowing and got to get off the plane via one of those now very nostalgic seeming stairways. It was so amazing to land in Moscow, with everything white, and exit the plane into the snow!)

Ok, so bear with me. We had another first today...or two. Liliana had her first pasta. If it looks brown, that's because it is. Whole wheat. Even in Moscow!

Playing with it was awfully fun, picking it up and dropping it onto the floor. (Mishka was happy to lend me a hand in cleanup.) And then, the amazing happened! She put it in her MOUTH!!! Not once, but a few times! This is serious progress.

Toothy Baby

2007-11-13T10:36:00.001-08:00

So...she's officially got teeth...as in...many! Six are showing here, plus she is getting one on either side of the top ones. When she just had two on the bottom, I couldn't imagine what she'd look like with top teeth. I was kind of hoping they would be slow to come. But now that they are in, I think they are darling. Cute, toothy baby.

She started eating fish the other day. I steam it for her and break off little pieces. She is SO cute chewing. She gets better each day. Yesterday she was opening and closing her jaw, mimicking me, with an open mouth and huge grin. Then, after a bit, she opens really wide, and wider, and wider if the food hasn't come yet. "More fish, please!" She's darling.

I'm having a great time making food for her. I know I have lots of "free" time on my hands, not working and all, and having Andre around most of the early part of the day. So please don't feel bad, all my mama friends.

BUT, I must relish in my amazing ability at putting three homemade meals on the table for her each day. For hot porridge I grind brown rice, millet, or buckwheat and cook it on the stove. I add hard boiled egg yolk or avocado, sometimes even ground flax seeds. I have a bunch of ice cubes of various purees in the freezer - pumpkin, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, brussels sprouts, pears. We do whole milk yogurt with fruit puree mixed in. I blend up freshly cooked peas. I chop up kiwis, pears, melons for finger foods. I give her cod liver oil and probiotics. It's all so fun...in a "I can't believe I am actually pulling this off" kind of way. This stuff tastes so yummy, that I often have to work really hard not to do the "one bite for you, one bite for me" thing. So, yay!

Independence

2007-11-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

Last week brought a huge change for me. I got out of the house, minus Liliana and Andre, THREE times. I got my hair done, went to a Russian class with the International Women's Club, and went to the university to take a placement test for their Russian program (I've since decided that 4 days times 4 hours a day is WAY to grueling!). WOW. Liliana and I also attended our first mom and baby play group! Only two babies there, one a month old and the other 6 months, but more are sure to come soon. Then, as if that weren't enough activity to last this "housewife" a whole month (because, really, that is what I am now, right?) Andre and I left Liliana with a babysitter and went to the Bolshoi Ballet and for a DRINK. Holy cow. What a great week!

Meat Market

2007-11-05T10:42:00.001-08:00

Meat Market, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

When we first got here, we were shopping in all the wrong places. I realllllly got the impression that fresh meat was not available. All the meat I was seeing was sort of sitting around, drying out, completely unappetizing.

I went out one day with Liliana on a big excursion in search of meat. I went to an indoor market where I was told I could find butchers with very fresh meat.

It certainly looked fresh. BUT, not really the sanitary conditions I'm used to. If this photo doesn't make you squeamish, the next will.

This is not for show., originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

I am VERY happy to report that we have since found very fresh meat in exceedingly clean and sanitary spaces. We sometimes (ok, often) shop one such place called "Globus Gourmet". There are no markets as fancy as this one in the US (at least that I've ever seen). The shopping carts have leather wrapped handles. They play very hip music. Everything is very, very yummy and most things are very, very, very overpriced. BUT, they do have great meat. Some of this meat is even from local, Russian farmers. That meat is reasonable, and it's my favorite meat to buy and eat.

The Car is King

2007-11-02T11:51:00.001-07:00

Cars everywhere they can fit, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

This is a pretty good example of the parking free-for-all I've been attempting to describe. It captures full sidewalk blockage, parking over the curb, double (and triple) parking. When shopping for our car, the advice we received numerous times was "the bigger the better". This is to allow ease of sidewalk parking...hop the curb, drive down the sidewalk, instant parking almost anywhere. I've heard rumor that Moscow is considering putting an end to sidewalk parking, which would certainly make the streets a friendlier place to pedestrians and strollers, but I can't even imagine the parking crisis the city would have as a result.

This car didn't phase construction workers, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

Since there isn't much in the way of enforced parking rules, things like this are apparently apt to happen. This trench was dug up all through the common yard surrounding our building. There were two cars and a metal garage (see garage examples further) right where the trench needed to go. No problem. They dug, right under them. They also somehow got the street all put back together. This involved putting the garage on two steel tubes to roll it back and forth. I have no idea how they moved the cars.

Don't park here, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

This is a clever solution to the parking problem. Apparently this building doesn't want people to park in front of it (or on it's sidewalk). Seems to work, but it's a bit of an eyesore, no?

Parking Moscow Style, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

Where else do people park their cars? The classic place is inside one of many styles of temporary sheds. This one is the tiniest we've seen, sized just for a car with no room to spare. The following are more typical. My dad is convinced that this is where Russian men go to decompress and drink their beer/vodka/alcohol of choice. I have to admit that I DID see a group hanging out in a garage, complete with folding chairs and cooler of beer.

Garages, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

Peek a Boo

2007-10-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Liliana is a peek a boo pro. Watch and see...

Rapid Change

2007-10-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

In the blink of an eye, Moscow went from scathing heat to cool, overcast, and rainy. The leaves have turned and are covering the ground. We now huddle indoors. I'm very glad that we have such a cozy apartment to *live* in. We'll be spending much time in here for the next months (6?). It's fun to bundle up and go for some cool outdoor air. Then, it's fun to come back to a cozy home. Never having lived where there are four distinct seasons, I'm excited for the snow!

We'll be visiting Andre's parents this week in Yekaterinburg. It's already in the 40s there (and nearing 0 at night!). It'd be lovely to live nearer to them, but only if they lived closer to us...it's just tooooooo cold there.

I had an amazing breakthrough with my Russian. Andre's mom called and I was able to have an entire conversation with her. Yes, in Russian! I understood what she said and I was able to say all that I wanted to. I hung up the phone in disbelief. I jumped for joy. I don't know how it happened, but I must be absorbing some Russian by osmosis.

Liliana has undergone many rapid changes as well. In the course of this week she has consolidated her 2 daily naps into one (this is very early to be doing this), she ate her first non-pureed food (banana chunks), and she has started scooting around. When on her tummy, which she hates, she scoots backwards. Today she found herself under her crib and under the table...stuck. She much prefers sitting, and so she gets around by scooting on her tush. Very inventive.

She loves, loves board books these days. Can't get enough of them. She very carefully tries to open the various pages. She also loves music...listening, singing, dancing to, and of course making it with her xylophone and maracas.

We have a new name for her - Princessa Peacockovna (replacing the ever reliable Barracudachka, for her feisty eating style). Her hair stands completely straight up in the back, no matter how long it grows. So now she is our little Russian peacock.

Some maraca action, guest-starring Arlo with commentary by Allison:

Sleepless Nights

2007-10-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

Mosquitoes. Not the 4 teeth Liliana is cutting. Not the cold she has. Not the jet lag. Mosquitoes.

They bite us. They buzz in our ears. Not during the day. At night (apparently they are nocturnal).

We are becoming so crazed by this that we've started to wake during the night to hunt them (being impossible to sleep while scratching and hiding under the covers from the buzzing). We turn on the lights. I take watch. Andre attacks (he is really amazing at this).

We keep the windows closed at all times and yet after 4 nights they are still attacking us. Where do they all come from? Why can't we kill them all?

Russians use these little contraptions that plug into an outlet and emit some kind of mosquito poison. But, not wanting to fumigate us too, I'm looking for other options. I might be making a homemade mosquito trap today with sugar and yeast.

I'm covered in bites. Andre is covered in bites. Even Liliana now has bites on her face, leg, and hands. Having them attack her is the absolute last straw. Kill!

Our Night Out at the Movies

2007-08-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

Andre's mom and dad are here visiting! We are all very excited that they have finally met Liliana, their first grandchild. They are spending lots of quality time with her - which means Andre and I have a little freedom to unpack, cook, breathe, etc.

This also means that we got a night out for dessert and a movie. This definitely goes down as the most interesting movie night EVER.

The evening started with a stop at Coffee Mania, a very Western feeling cafe that we've been relying on heavily since our arrival here. We went to a new location this time, but it was just as appealing to our eyes and mouthes.

The cappuccinos are so good here that I, very much a NON coffee drinker, crave them. MMMMMM.

Here's where the night gets interesting.

The movie theater that was playing the Bourne Ultimatum in English was on one of the very large streets in Moscow, across from a casino. This particular part of the strip looked much like Vegas, but with a very distinct Stalin skyscraper in the background. Quite a contrast.

At the theater I was stunned, again, by the way in which people park their cars here. There are NO parking rules in Moscow and this results in people parking wherever they damn well please. Street, sidewalk, a combination of the two, double rows of cars parking numerous cars in, I thought I'd seen it all. But at the theater, people even parked their cars up on the walkway just in front of the theater doors. I've been trying to capture the parking craziness on film, but so far nothing really does it justice. Here are the cars above the theater steps.

One other thing of note is that all the cars were black and some flavor of BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Range Rover, etc. Why they were all congregating at the movies, I have no idea.

So, to get in you have to go through metal detectors.

I managed to capture a fine example of the Russian female species and her "sponsor" at the ticket counter. We are having a blast checking out (and laughing at) all the crazy outfits here. Another greatest hit was a woman who worked at the cargo building at the airport who was dressed in a silky evening dress and gold 3" heels. There doesn't seem to be much sense of occasion here.

The ticket lady offered us tickets in the 3rd row. Andre asked for something else and we got the second to the last row. Yes, yes, assigned seats at the movies. We thought we had made a mistake arriving only 10 minutes before the movie until we walked in and saw the theater at least half empty. The entire middle row was completely empty and so we ignored our assigned seats and sat smack in the center.

The theater itself was very comfy, smallish, but great seats. The best part for me was the international contingent in our particular theater given the English language film. Music to my ears....ahhhhhh. We joked that it would be really good to have a sign-up sheet at the door so we could make some English speaking friends.

The rest of the theater was sort of a mix between a cafe, nightclub, and theater all rolled into one. Club music was playing (particularly loudly in the bathroom), there were lots and lots of places to sit on couches with tables, all alongside your typical concession stands stocked with atypical alcohol. There was even an area for drinks and hookahs.

By the time the movie was over it was midnight, which is REALLY late for me these days. I didn't want to get back on two metros and walk home, so we went in search of a cab. Andre put his arm out to hail a cab and some random guy in some random car stopped to pick us up. In Russia this is called a "gypsy cab". Pretty much any car is a potential cab. Andre motioned for me to get in and I looked at him like he was crazy. He told the guy where we needed to go and negotiated a price. Seeming ok, we got in. Getting into some random car in Moscow would have been exciting enough, but given the movie we had just seen my adrenaline was already pumping. As the driver started to make his way over the river, away from our apartment, I started to get even more nervous. I had that "let me out, let me out" feeling. Fortunately, or unfortunately, turns out the guy had NO idea where we needed to go, decided it was to far when we explained how to get there, and pulled to the side of the road and let us out ACROSS the river from where we had started! Luckily for us, there was a metro nearby, so we took the less adventurous form of transit and walked our butts home.

What a night.

Bon Voyage to Us

2007-08-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

My fabulous mama friend, Molly, hosted a wonderful Bon Voyage party for us just before we left San Francisco. She is amazingly on top of her photos and blog so check out her pics of the party long before I'll ever get to posting ours. :)

Our Introduction to Moscow Apartments

2007-08-15T23:38:00.001-07:00

**Update: I've posted all the pics with descriptions here.

**I've been attempting to finish this post for a few weeks now (egads, we've been here a few weeks now) and so am posting it completely unfinished. We are now in our long term apartment, which makes me uber, uber happy, regardless of the gagillions of dollars we will give to the landlord by the time we leave, and so I feel it necessary to move on from this post...at least for now.

We started off our stay in Moscow in a temporary apartment that Andre arranged prior to our arriving here. I was a little surprised when we arrived, because the doorway to the building looked a bit more like entering a bunker.

Upon entering, it didn't get much better. It smelled of dust, mold, cat urine, cigarette smoke, and God only knows what else.

Three flights of stairs up and we arrive at a another steel door, this one covered in faux leather.

I quickly learned that all of these things are completely normal and common here.

The entrances to most apartment buildings aren't maintained (Sadly, I suppose I could say this about the outsides, as well). It appears that people don't consider the building entrances to be part of their space and don't care for them. This is where a Home Owner's Association would come in handy.

Hello, Moscow

2007-08-08T03:31:00.000-07:00

So, we're here. In fact, by now we've been here a week. Every day I think of numerous things to write about, but so far there's been no time to actually write. I hope that as we get used to things, the little things will take less time, there will be less big things to do, and I can focus on more important ones.

The pictures here are of our first visit to Red Square. We are renting a short term apartment a couple blocks away. On this day, the square was closed for filming of a movie, which made for quite a dramatic view. Standing there, I instantly had tears well in my eyes. It was an incredible mix of emotion - the joy of finally seeing a place we'd tried to visit so many times, the overwhelming sadness of knowing that this is now home, being there with Liliana, the history of it all. I almost cry now just remembering the feeling.

Liliana's First Shoulder Ride

2007-07-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

I don't know who enjoyed this more, Andre or Liliana. I can hardly believe she is old enough to be riding on dad's shoulders! I just keep getting surprised by the things she is ready for. Like I just realized that now that she can sit mostly on her own, we could take her to a sandbox or the beach! I've got to figure out how to get her to a beach before we leave!

Avocado Cream

2007-07-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

This Saturday was the big day! Liliana had a taste of her very first solid food. She's been showing all the signs that it was time. She started reaching for and putting my glass of water to her mouth. She drinks from it! She lunges toward my food and opens her mouth wide. Someone's pediatrician said that you know it is time when you feel really guilty eating in front of them. I was definitely feeling the guilt!

Liliana's first food was an avocado and breast milk concoction. I'll call it Avocado Cream.

She did great! The food would go in, she'd swish it around, it'd come out. She'd express her uncertainty, but then would smile and lean in for more. I don't know how much she actually swallowed that first day. Sunday went better, she closed her mouth around the spoon a bit and even licked her lips. I KNOW some went down the hatch because we had our first avocado green spit up a while later. :) She finished the whole bowl. I was very proud.

Getting ready for Moscow

2007-07-13T15:44:00.001-07:00

It's official. We're moving to Moscow. In fact, at this point we are counting down the days very rapidly...2 and a half weeks left!

One good thing about summer in San Francisco is that you get to try out your new winter stroller bag, meant for Russia. I think she liked it! Totally cozy. Now we just need to pair it with a nice down snowsuit and she might survive.

Lucky for us, it's 70 today so we got to put the footmuff away! I'm so glad, because bare baby feet are so darn cute.

Gimme That Cat

2007-07-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

Liliana has become enthralled by Mishka. She watches him intently. She tries to grab him. He stays FAR away...but sometimes he forgets and has to jump!

A Two Way Dialog

2007-07-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

This video really speaks for itself.

Love her soooo much!

2007-05-13T21:09:00.001-07:00

Love her soooo much!, originally uploaded by qdmphoto.

Ohhh, what a day! Fell happy, tired, excited all at the same time. I think the first Mother's day was a nice one for Seraphina. We spent the day chilling at Stinson beach with Scott and Fred at their beach house. I think both of my girls had a nice time. Check out more pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/atemasov/sets/72157600212565378/

Lots to say at the end of the day...

2007-05-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Liliana was SUPER happy tonight. She "talked" and squealed for a good hour and a half. As we put her to bed it continued...ridiculously cute.

Liliana's First Doll

2007-05-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

We bought Liliana this doll on Sunday and she *loved* it immediately. We thought it was fun because all the doll's parts are made of different fabrics - providing all kinds of tactile stimulation. Apparently we were right; she particularly enjoys nibbling on all of them...taggy bits for hair, terry arms, sweater legs, braids. She was so cute I took about a hundred pictures. I just couldn't help myself.

Time waits for no one

2007-05-02T20:54:00.001-07:00

Liliana is three months old and we are finally getting on the blog bandwagon.

In my usual crazed, neurotic, over-planning ways I have managed to hem and haw and twitter for three whole months on the best way to "preserve" all these amazing baby memories (ok, maybe really only one and a half - as it took at least that long to get over the boob crisis and initial shock and awe).

So here we are. With a blog.

I've also got all the scrapbooking supplies on hand to make a book just for little L.