90 years since the foundation of the independent Czechoslovak state

Exactly 90 years have passed since the founding of Czechoslovakia on October 28th 1918, a date that is still celebrated as a national holiday in the Czech Republic. It was the creation of the Czechoslovak state independent from the Austria-Hungary which Czechs and Slovaks were part since 1526.

Czechoslovakia’s “First Republic” survived for just 20 years, brought to an abrupt end with the Munich Agreement of September 1938. On the night of 29 to 30 September 1938, four men - Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini and Daladier, deliberated the fate of Czechoslovakia without it. The resultant agreements let Hitler annex the Czechoslovak border regions - the Sudetenland. The Czechoslovak government finally accepted in the hope that peace in Europe could be saved. But six months later the German occupation of what remained of the Czech Lands started. In fact, Hitler never abandoned its plans of destruction. On March the 14th 1939, its decision to occupy the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia is taken. The next day, at dawn, Nazi troops enter Prague.

During the 40 years of communist rule, the pre-war republic and its founding father, President Tomáš Masaryk, were virtually a taboo subject. The First Republic was portrayed as a period of capitalist exploitation and weakness, culminating in Czechoslovakia’s failure to stand up to Hitler in 1938. But with the fall of communism the pendulum swang the other way and the republic came to be seen as a golden age of democracy and prosperity.

So today, we are commemorating the founding of a state that no longer exists…

Source: Radio Praha

Friday 24th Oct
Lucia was sick for the first time last Wednesday. Nothing serious; just some low fever. But you know, if was the first time, and as they say; there’s always a first time for everything. Well there you go!

At first I noticed that she was sleeping longer than the usual, and then those red chicks. I called the pediatrician and she suggested some analgesics. Luckily I had Paracetamol at home for babies (though I don’t remember when I bought that). Anyway, babies don’t take pills like we do, they take drops, syrup (depending on the age) or suppositories. I had these last. Ummm… Lucia didn’t seem very comfy with it, neither did I, but it worked perfectly. After the second those, fever was gone complete.

Today, she’s back to normal. Energy restored 100%, ready to crawl all around the apartment and scatter her toys all over the place. And she’s back to signing. It feels so good to see her like this.


Monday 27th Oct
Fever is still out of sight, but now we both have flu; runny nose; coughs...
Outside is grey and rainy. Great Monday ahead! :(

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Here she comes...

Life in

hasn’t changed much lately. But Lucia is getting faster every day. Her crawling skills are better and of course she’s trying new stuff. She likes climbing, on anything she finds. Today she tried climbing over Aramis, poor cat. She loves standing up, so she doesn’t miss an occasion to hold tight and stand on her feet. Still she doesn’t have enough strength on her legs to last long. But I think she knows is just a matter of practice and determination.

Here we are, both on the bed. Lucia climbing on my back while I try to write these lines. Not easy.

Time to sleep my little angel. Sweet dreams to you.

Big P is back

Well is not the first time (first time I think I was 13); I already had it twice since I stopped breastfeeding. Still, it feels… it feels something. Puff.

I feel like having hot chocolate (I already prepared it) and enjoying it in front of a weepy mov; Sleepless in Seattle, Love story or Terminator - hey, the good guy dies in the end!.

Maybe this is exactly what we ARE supposed to do when P is for a visit.
Maybe I should just forget all about it, and don’t cancel the climbing tonight.
Maybe I’m using big P as an excuse not to go climbing.

Last time I went climbing, I was 5 months pregnant with Lucia. I remember it was getting hard to attach the harness around the pronouncing belly… cute… :)

Question… should I stay home cooing or should I go and do the monkey? I promised the boys I will come tonight. But P just knocked on my door an hour ago, so unexpectedly! Although is good to know that for the moment, there will be no siblings for Lucia. Big dilemma, amongst the terrible crisis bursting, the world hunger, the neverending wars, the child abuse… I feel terrible, why do I worry about such a stupid thing when the world out there is suffering. There you go, my weepy mov: the world in 2008…

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Lucia’s style

Is everywhere, look at this girl… (same haircut) I even think she has a very similar dress... :)



Angelical voice, modest girl outfit, sweet guitar chords… but Theorical girl will surprise you. Lucia likes this particular song. Her voice reminds me a bit of Dolores Mary O'Riordan from the Cranberries.

Lucia started crawling last week. She moves slowly, but she goes everywhere. She likes following Aramis, that cat, but for the time being he’s faster. The other day she was playing with his tail and he said nothing. Of course she wanted to put it in her mouth, like she does with everything she gets hold-of, but daddy was there to stop her. Really, these little ones need constant surveillance. Even when she’s sleeping I like checking on her from time to time. I always walk on my tip toes making sure i wont wake her up; as she has like a 6th sense, and somehow feels whenever we entered the room.

This is why I was also thinking of moving her to her room. But, believe me or not, just after we made this decision, she stopped sleeping the whole night through. Like if she knew. I guess the teeth have more to do with this, but anyway, the result is the same; she stays we us. These past two nights were hard; she wakes up crying and is not easy to calm her. It must hurt badly those tiny miny teeth. Poor baby.

I also decide to start cooking. First try, potato and zucchini puree. The magic touch is essential, tea spoon of olive oil and bit of kiri type cheese. She likes it!! 10 pts for mummy (thanks to Babycook!)

Breakfast chez Paul

Yesterday it woke up sunny and not so cold as the days before. A perfect day to go for breakfast. Diaper change for Lucia, shower for mum and dad and we were ready. We usually go to Savoy (a really nice cafe) but it is good to change. Some weeks ago we saw that Paul was opening in Flora. David wanted to check if they were open already.

PAUL was founded in France in 1889. Today it has a network of 330 bakeries and pastry-makers throughout the country. IT offers a selection of country-style and fancy bread, viennoiserie (i.e. croissants), pastries, cakes and desserts, snacks and sandwiches.

Verdict:
Quiche: 10/10 :)
Viennoiserie: 7/10 should be crunchier.
Bread: 8/10 (we were expecting more variety)
Coffee: Good.
Decoration: French tea house style. Very nice.

We were quite happy with the overall. Reasonable price (cheaper than Savoy). It was a nice Sunday morning.

7 Months

7 months ago i was lying completed knocked-out in a hospital bed. Not feeling my best, but something wonderful had arrived in our lives, you, Lucia, my angel.

You were born on March the 3rd, it was raining hard outside and you came almost in a blink of an eye. At noon I arrived at the maternity and around 3pm you breathed for the first time. Well, I am not sure about this timing as I was deep asleep; you cant imagine how I regret that I wasn’t there for you, on these very first seconds of your life. But here we are 7 months later, you have grown up so fast and healthy. I have become a mummy, a good one I hope and daddy is not bad either.

We love you baby. Happy month-anniversary.