We've been away for too long, loyal readers! Despite Hsin taking matters into her own hands a few months back and all of you righteously clamouring for updates, work has been pretty hard going since end of last year so the blog fell behind laundry and shut-eye in the long list of priorities, or rather, to-dos. However, as my hours don't seem like they will improve (and commuting to the UK at least once a week now the standard), it's become more important than ever for me to protect my time with the Pig and to try to preserve the sweetness of watching him grow up. Even in this short time away
a lot has changed since our Chicago visit. Pig is still his humble self, but he's now quite a refined user of utensils. In fact, we're amazed he hasn't stabbed himself with the fork yet, despite his usual haste to cram food into mouth. On the whole he also manages to convey sticky rice, yogurt, mashed potatoes and other adhesive carbs safely on the spoon from plate to palate. Having said that, no sporks needed for blueberry cake!
Trotting Pig now not only walks, runs, stamps in place like a loco, and plays soccer, he's also climbing anything he can get his hands on. We'll see how safe our balcony is this summer....
Pig is happiest when he has TWO balls in hand...
Finally, a picture from this year's Karneval celebrations. It was fairly lowkey this year for us but we did manage to take Pig for one of the small local parades (where we totally cleaned up - bags of candies and 5 stuffed animals. We figure there's a few more good years ahead until his cuteness expires). We can thank my cousin Jean for the Piglet costume - Pig preened quite a while in front of the mirror, that's how much he liked it. When Jean first told me she bought him this costume I have to admit I regretted not calling him Piglet from the start...wouldn't you have found it more socially acceptable, more adorable perhaps, if I had associated the nickname with the AA Milne classics? In any case, Pig he is and Pig he shall be...until we break ourselves of this bad habit!!
It was always meant in the nicest way (my favorite backhanded qualifier), but back when Pig was just a baby I used to say a dog was way more entertainment for money - but I've changed my mind since - I am LOVING the toddler phase. Yeah, you have to hold the line on crap food by getting good at sneaking chocolate and chips before his eyes, and storage solutions you thought were perfectly sensible are now fair game for havoc. A couple of random pictures this week, only to show how much fun we're having. 
Jochen started this silly game of giving Piggy his finger to gnaw - was cute back when Pig had one or two teeth, but anyone could see this was a game which could only end in tears... 
This other pic - well, somehow all through winter we could never get him to wear a hat, but he seems content with his babuschka....these crazy babies!
