Grandma and Grandpas visit from the US
The other title of this blog would be “Official Message From the Embassy: Call your mother”…but this will be explained later. Last week, Leah officially became a dual citizen of the Netherlands and the US. We learned very valuable tips and tricks – the best advice for speedy service at the US Embassy is bring a crying infant!
2 loyal servants carry Her Highness
The first task to getting Leah’s passport was passport photos. We had to get a 3-week old baby to look into the camera, hold her head up and have her eyes open. It took me kneeling behind her holding up her head, my Mom kneeling at her side holding Leah up and my Dad and the photographer waving madly and calling her name. We had some redoes since you could not see my fingers holding up her neck, but after about 1200 shots we got a good picture.
Mom and Baby ready for a day out in Amsterdam
The 4 loyal servants take a lunch break
Next step – make appointment and visit the US Consulate in Amsterdam. Leah’s 4 loyal servants ran around madly to get the car packed and us off to make the 9 am appointment. Bill and Naomi went off to see the Van Gogh museum, and Rob and I went to the Consulate with Leah. We got to skip to the front of the rather lengthy line because of Leah, and were escorted up to our window. The teller was very charmed by Leah and happily said all our documents were in order while cooing over the baby. We had to wait for another official to affirm that I had lived in the US for more than 5 years. After 5 minutes of waiting with the crying baby, I politely asked at the window if the official was ready, as the baby was crying. He came out right away, also cooed over the baby, and barely glanced at my documents before pronouncing the cute little baby a citizen.
3 of the loyal servants enjoy the fresh air
The only problem…her picture was European standard size, not US…Rob and I had to walk to a nearby photo shop to get a US size photo. After the same rigamoral, we got the picture and went back to the Consulate to drop it off. At the gate, the guard told me “Call your mother, she is worried about you”…It turns out that my parents were so worried about missing us, they did not go to the museum at all. They asked at the consulate after us then waited at the garage…and the guard recognized the daughter of the distresses Mom and did his patriotic duty to pass along the message…
So this tale has its happy ending. Mom was reassured, Leah got her passport and everyone went home happy…Well besides a little grumbling from Dad over not seeing Van Gogh.
To see Leahs first week, click here:
Leah’s first week
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