BBQ with Pregnancy Class Mommies

enjoy all the baby bbq pics here



We hosted a barbeque for all the “graduates” of my pregnancy class. We hosted 4 sets of new parents with of course Leah’s new friends. It was a very fun evening, and the first of many to come with the group. Our living room was bursting with maxi-cozis, strollers and baby gear and of course babies. We had one in the playpen, 2 in strollers, one in Leah’s bouncer and at least one in a mommy’s arms at one time.




We had a bbq in the garden, but all the Mom’s and Dads took turns eating and doing Baby Holding duty. We eventually got about 2/3’s of them to lay down and rest…until one started crying. Then they all though it would be fun to chime in and get some nice milk and attention.




Even more impressive – I actually cooked (well, prepared at least) the chicken, shish-kebabs and appetizers, and they were edible!! I guess 4 years under Rob’s tutelage has taught me to make more than macaroni with ketchup and cheese.



Yes, I know, what pregnancy class?? Promise a later blog entry with more details. The readers digest version is I attended a pregnancy exercise and information class before and after Leah’s birth. All the ladies in the class had due-dates within the same 6 week time period.

Gent vacation

Gent sky line


Click here to see all of our Gent pictures

Leah’s vacation gear


Leah had her first international trip last weekend. We went to the Belgium town of Gent for the weekend. We definatly learned that you don’t travel light with a baby. The baggage ratio was:
2 adults: one smallish suitcase
1 baby: 1 diaper bag + 2 other bags + stroller + maxi-cozi + baby-bjorn + misc.
Our hotel was in a pedestrian only area, so I carried the baby + suitcase, and Rob pushed the stroller loaded with all of her gear – we made quite a parade down the Gent streets!

Our delicious B&B breakfast


We stayed at an incredible B&B. It was very small, with 2 rooms in the main part, and a private cottage in the back. The owners are also gourmet chefs. Our breakfast included a wide assortment of homemade pastries, home-made jellies, fresh fruit and cheese, and a yogurt/fruit sorbet. Each night, we had a fresh made dessert waiting for us – choclate cake one night, and strawberry tart the other night – yummmmm!!! And to complete the gastroninic delights, we had incredible sushi dinner. (the first I’ve had in over a year).

Baby Bjorn


We toured the city with Leah in the Baby Bjorn. We started the trip with a tour of the local castle (of course, what else??). Our previous trips involved entire days of running around from castle to museum. With Leah, we returned to the hotel every few hours for eating and napping, so it was more about the family trip than the sights. We did go on a canal-boat tour . With the sudden changes in the weather, it went from clear to rainy. We waited out the storm beneath a little bridge on the boat, then continued the tour. Leah was warm and dry beneath 2 coats + an umbrella, while Mom and Dad were a little damp.



Leah is already asking when we go to Paris to buy her a haute-couture baby wardrobe.

Dutch birth celebration traditions

Look what the stork brought


The Dutch have a different way to celebrate a baby’s birth than in the US. To start with, the new arrival is proudly announced to the neighborhood with a flag and optional stork. Most people hang the Dutch flag outside the door to announce the birth. Many these days also rent giant storks, and hang “hurra a baby” in the window. We rented a cute 3-D stork.

Rob, My boss from work, with a giant teddy bear from the department


After the baby’s birth, people come for Kraam Visite (after-birth visits). People make an appointment to come individually to visit the baby after the birth. We serve them tea and snacks. They bring a little gift and coo at the cute little creature (or howling as the case may be). I like the Dutch way, since people are sure to see the baby, they come in small groups and spread out to entertain Mom during her 3 months of pregnancy leave.

Biscuit and Muisjes


The last tradition I will describe here is the food…Kraam visites are served “biscuit met muisjes” – literally translated to biscuits with little mice. Everyone gets a round biscuit with blue or pink sprinkles (yes, the color/gender match same as in the US). If you like black licorice, you’d like the flavor muisjes.

Rob’s co-workers celebrate the birth


Next is the Dutch version of a baby-shower. They do not do baby showers before the baby’s birth. If I had a dollar for every time someone said “you do it BEFORE the birth???!!!” then Leah could have some of Suri’s wardrobe (the baby of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes ).

How the dutch treat new mommies

Family Portrait


The Dutch know how to treat new mothers. All of the American mommies will be jealous after reading the standard benefits here in the Netherlands. All women get 4 months paid leave (usually 4 weeks before and 3 months after birth). In comparison to the 4 months Mom gets off, Dad gets off a grand total of 2 days! In Denmark, the parents get an entire year of paid pregnancy leave, but I don’t think that will be coming here or to the US any time soon.

Ready for Lunch!



To make sure mother and baby are well cared for after the birth, all insurance companies cover about 10 days of “home care”. A trained “kraamzorg medewerker” (roughly translated as after-birth care person) comes to your home for 6-8 hours a day for about 10 days. She cares for the baby and gives the new parents a crash course in Diapering for Dummies. She also does light housework, and brings mom breakfast and lunch in bed. You could get used to treatment like that!

Ready for the first walk


During those 10 days of home-care, all the health-care professionals also come to your house. We had the midwife (verloskundige in Dutch) visit almost every other day to check up on Mom and baby. A woman came to check Leah’s hearing, and another to explain how medical care works for children in the Netherlands. Here, all children under 18 insured by the government and have special resources for care.

Midwife weighing newborn Leah (she is in the little white bag)


As a special treat for the new mom, she is usually given a “kraam maand” (after-birth gift basket) by her family. It contains 7 little presents, one for each day of the first week home. Nettie and Femke gave me a beautiful basket with gifts for Leah and me…
The Netherlands defiantly know how to treat new mommies!

Grandma and Grandpa's Holland Visit Part 2

Click here to see all the photos from the trip

Laurie, Leah and Naomi enjoying an ice cream


Yes, I know, my parents have been back in LA for almost a month...well, here is a bit more about their visit in April...

Pretty Leah Pic


It is a little known fact that you are contractually obligated to visit a windmill in Holland as a tourist. Being law-abiding tourists, my parents visited an entire outdoor park of windmills, the Zanseschanse.

Bill, Naomi and a windmill


Following further in the outdoor park theme, we also visited an archeological theme park and a second outdoor park of historical buildings. Leah had so much fun at these parks, we also saw costumed actors in one of the local castles (one guess who suggested that one).

Us and the Urk Islanders

Also good for a tourist to know - you are not allowed to board your departing plane from Amsterdam without admiring at least one tulip. To be thorough, we visited Holland's famous Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. We saw thousands of exotically colored tulips.



To celebrate a successful visit sadly coming to an end, the entire Kaptien and Flieder clans went to a pancake restaurant. In Holland, pancakes are eaten for dinner. They are similar to crepes, and topped with everything from vegetables to meat to fruit and honey. Our restaurant had over 30 varieties of pancakes to choose from. It was a delicious meal, filled with great stories of my parents trip...and plans of course for their next one.

The clan at pancake restaurant