Hosting Baby Group... finally

the gang getting settled...

I had signed up with a Baby Group/Play group back in Warsaw after becoming a stay-at-homer, but never made it to any events due to locations, weather or just dealing with the plain old stress of being a new dad. Here, however, things are a little more manageable and it's a much smaller expat community (though not everyone is an expat in the group)..., and Iza's much older and better suited to these kinds of gatherings.

Iza and I were supposed to host a month or so ago but Iza got sick so I canceled. Today, though, the masses braved the long commute across town (most come from the far side of BPN), dealt with our serious security, fought over limited parking spaces and heaved their little tots up 3 flights of stairs... just to see Iza and I.

There must have been some novelty in coming to a dad's baby group event, as no one remembered seeing such a crowded gathering before!

A new comer, Carmella, from Mexico. She told me that one of the purple and green plants I had growing makes a very nice, subtle tea though she didn't know the name of it. Should I try it?!

Hunter, Ami (AH-mee) and her baby Zoe
(see the resemblance!)

Viona 'n Thomas
She's the ringleader of the whole shebang


Viona even brought her parents along. They're also from the Netherlands and have visited her twice in the last 7 months, each time for 2 months... gotta love being retired!
(Note, that big rod on the wall will soon be holding Jill's beautiful Mongolian yurt piece that's finally being sewn to a nice fabric backing... the flat is almost fully decorated!)


Hunter "The Terrible" Trumpeter
He clocked Iza really hard on the head with a heavy plastic toy.
OUCH!
Amazingly, it was the only time Iza cried or complained during the entire event. Fantastic!
She really composed herself well the whole time with all the kids playing with "her" things and sitting in "her" chair. She finally had a meltdown ten minutes after the last kid left... and then begged for "more babies" the rest of the day ;-)


Iza loves Viona's dad. She tends to hang with him at every baby group. Something about needing that father figure around, I guess ;-)


Dua preggies swapping pain and joy tales


Baby Avae, being unusually shy


the group getting into full swing, I think we reached at least 30 mums and tots in our flat.
A new record!


Danielle is a super mom, with 3 kids all under 5.
Ugh.
She's also the leader of the 'songs and dances' part of Baby Group...


Here's some of them doing Ring around the rosies.
They also did the Hokie-Pokie, Row, row, row your boat, I'm a little tea cup and some others. It was amusing as everyone from different countries had different versions/words/gestures to go with these popular tunes. Iza only seemed to know the Rosies and Row, row songs, as Jill and I play/sing those with her, but she enjoyed the rest. I'll let you know when she actually takes part in the singing... but she did sing a few tunes later in the day just to me and mom!


Thanks and sampai jumpa! (SAHM-pie JOOM-pah)
See you later!