Madeleine

The fourth Muscateer has arrived to our family!

Madeleine Anna Rachel was born on the third of Jumada al-Thani of the Islamic year 1433, or according to the Gregorian calendar, on April 25, 2012.

The family photo shoot

Recently, we had a family photo shoot done by one of our friends here in Muscat, to mark the special time we are going through at the moment (the pictures should tell you why, in case you're wondering). We believe our friend Karienke did a wonderful job and we'd like to share some of the results with you!

Check out Karienke's website to see more of her photography work.

Matilda highlights

Here are some highlights of Matilda’s life from September until December 2011. Our little girl is now over 2.5 years old and talking, singing, negotiating, playing football, building sand castles and the like. She’s going to ‘school’ every morning now, which you could compare to a pre-pre-nursery (peuterzaal), and enjoying very much. These were the months during which Matilda...

...was being potty trained by a team of patient supporters, including her father, mother, nanny Nida, and her grandparents LC. She is now the proud wearer of bright-coloured underwear with cats and dogs and rabbits...

...spent time with friend Luca...achterop de scooter...

 ...spent a night in the Omani desert – never a dull moment

...celebrated the newly arrived furniture shipped from the Ikea store in Dubai...

...started to teach the newly obtained skill of being potty trained to her peers, now being a patient supporter herself

...was impressed by the arrival of St. Nicholas, not only at home – with grandparents B. – but also at PDO club during the traditional annual arrival of St. Nicholas and the corresponding distribution of pepernoten and chocoladeletter goodies

...participated with vigour in the Christmas celebrations at De Karavaan, her school

...had to say goodbye to one of her best friends, Niels, who moved back to Holland

...enjoyed Christmas in company of friends and family

...was being incredibly helpful in the household with doing the dishes.

...and dressed up like Tom and Jerry – we had never seen her that ecstatic before!

Hopefully the year 2012 will be again full of little and big steps in Matilda’s life!