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Bon día from Barcelona! ♡

I’ve been hunting forward to sitting down down and writing an update listed here for ages and someway stored acquiring pulled in other directions. (Appears to be the circumstance with most of the things on my to-do record right now although chasing a very lovable and really speedy 13-thirty day period-outdated all over all day!) But this morning, I’m sitting down up coming to our sunniest window with an iced pink latte in my hand, a snuggly pup in my lap, and Barclay’s out for an adventure with Teo and the pups…so I assumed it was time for a chat!

I really don’t know about you all, but this spring feels like the initially time I have been equipped to get outside the house and consider a deep breath and absolutely love this stunning period in a long time. Two yrs ago, of study course, we were trapped within our little flat all year prolonged during Spain’s strict lockdown. 1 12 months ago, we have been snooze-deprived zombies navigating life with a newborn throughout the pandemic. And just one particular month ago, we discovered ourselves quarantined but again after our total family members (and practically all of our regional friends) caught the new subvariant, which hung on for very some time.

But today, Barclay, Teo and I are all symptom-absolutely free and at last again to emotion better. And for the very first time in more than two decades, Spain officially just lifted its mask mandate this earlier week…which feels downright surreal. Individuals have been exceptionally diligent in this article about masking up through the pandemic, so this is literally the initially time we have been capable to go spots and actually see people’s faces in what feels like an eternity. It been so refreshing. And even though we all obviously nevertheless have a long way to go before we’re entirely out of the woods with the pandemic, this spring feels like the recharge every person in Barcelona has been waiting for. So as they say in Spanish, hay que aprovechar…time to choose gain and soak it up!

Our approach for our small familia this time is to do exactly that. We’re actually taking off for Paris tomorrow (our very first time there jointly as a family members because we have lived in Europe!), then I’ll be heading out on a solo vacation to see some dear close friends in Bucharest upcoming week (my initially time in Romania), adopted by a lengthy family excursion again to the States in May perhaps (we’re shifting matters up and which include a prevent at my sister’s in Chicago, which I’m super excited about), then we have a summertime complete of internet hosting and adventures around Europe forward. Our vacation-loving hearts could not be more thankful and satisfied to be having back out about once again. And although we have learned above the final year that traveling with a baby is unquestionably a extremely distinct ballgame, we’re pumped to bring our small dude alongside for the trip much too. So thrilled to have a calendar total of issues to search ahead to once more.

Wherever in the entire world this may well locate each and every of you today, I hope that you are nicely and that you’re equipped to soak up a bit of spring sunshine this 7 days. And without the need of even further ado, here’s the most current from our minimal home listed here in Barcelona.

Enjoy our little household sooo a great deal

We Have A 1-Yr-Old!

And just like that…our child turned one particular. ♡

Truly as of two months ago, Teo’s now officially a 13-month-aged. And though I know that new mother and father are well known for gushing that just about every new stage is “just the best,” I have gotta say, thirteen months has been a delight so significantly.

Effectively first off, I’m thrilled to report that we’re all now sleeping once again (omg) at any time considering that Teo did a 180 this past January and went from many wakes just about every evening to suddenly sleeping for the most glorious twelve-hour stretches. Barclay and I really feel like we’re now capable to form full sentences once again. And now that he’s sleeping properly, Teo has turned into the cutest little early morning dude who lights up with a large 8-toothed grin to begin each day.

He’s on the go nonstop now, pausing only for treats and tale periods and the occasional snuggles, which has established to be pretty the work out making an attempt to continue to keep up with him. He’s nonetheless certainly obsessed with investing time exterior, shrieks with delight anytime the dogs occur around, can pretty much normally be calmed with a track, loves waving “hola” to anyone in Barcelona from his stroller, just cannot get adequate of the Paco books, and proceeds to hold out in the 95th percentiles of the Spanish expansion charts (our massive boy!). I’m also delighted to report that he enjoys mealtimes just as a lot as his mama. And if he had a foodstuff blog, it would at this time be devoted to sardines, meatballs, berries, bone broth, pasta pasta pasta, and chia pudding on repeat (which I’ve made the decision is the glitter of the little one foods entire world, individuals pesky seeds conclusion up everywhere you go).

That mentioned, as a mate said a short while ago, each new phase of parenting is unquestionably “different difficult.” Attempting to navigate this new planet of toddler parenting, levels, milestones, nourishment, tooth (lol, I absolutely underestimated what an accomplishment sprouting each individual of all those teeny tiny teeth would be!) for the initial time has surely felt like such a mastering curve. Some of the excess layers that occur with expat parenting have also admittedly been much more demanding than we predicted (hello, navigating cross-cultural distinctions, ironing out authorized stuff in each nations, finding out the ins and outs of a wholly various instructional technique, trying to continue to be linked with family members abroad, and so on). I sense like I regularly come across myself passing by parents on the road becoming like — “Wait, do you have any clue what you are undertaking? Because I am entire-on wingin’ it around listed here. 😅”

But of program, the saving grace of this period has been owning incredible buddies come along with and remind us that no just one is aware of specifically how to do this full parenting issue. And that the pleasure and adventure of it all is getting to determine it out collectively. Experience incredibly relieved and thankful for that recently, and blessed to be surrounded by good friends who adore us and our minimal man so well. Cheers to parenting becoming a staff activity.

Henry snoozing + Fiona smiling

Pup-Date

It’s been wayyy too long since I have shared a appropriate pup-day in this article. ♡

At 13.5 and 12.5 several years outdated, Henry and Fiona are now the beloved senior customers of the house. Henry has been blind for 5 years and also recently went deaf, still he continues to fearlessly navigate his way close to the home and scale the espresso table anytime he suspects there may be some delicious food obtainable for the thieving. Fiona proceeds to be her sweet and timid self as normally, and prefers to spend her days out on our terrace sunning her stomach in the Spanish sunshine as much as probable. Both canine now now have their siestas frequently interrupted by sure a very little human who usually always normally wants to engage in, but they have been mercifully tolerant hence considerably with all of the pats and pokes and “hugs.” They also think that they struck gold acquiring a substantial chair magically present up the home, and nonetheless can’t believe that their luck with all of the absolutely free meals now raining down 3 occasions a day. (A definite earn-gain, we in no way have to clean up!)

That reported, this is our initially time as grownups caring for canine in their golden a long time, which has us emotion heaps of deep feels lately. Equally Henry and Fiona now have prolonged (and escalating) lists of health care issues that involve a quite intense volume of care. And viewing them continue on to and slow down and whiten all-around their noses and no for a longer time be equipped to do so several of the things they after loved has been bittersweet. It’s starting to be clear that we might not have a lot time remaining alongside one another, which feels unachievable for our hearts to visualize. But what we do know is that these two pups will permanently be a section of our little family. We are however so exceptionally grateful that they braved the very long flight around to Barcelona to make this place come to feel like “home,” we’re grateful that Teo has had the possibility to tumble in like with them, and suitable now, we’re just grateful every single ongoing working day of the furry snuggles that lifestyle will go on to grant us.

Making a 150-meter bridge stone by stone

A New Bridge

As component of my determination to share far more on a regular basis about the place a part of the profits from Gimme Some Oven are being donated, I wished to allow you know about a new challenge we are supporting with The Clean Venture correct now.

The Wash Challenge workforce in Mali was lately approached by the local community of Tentoukoro (found close to the Benkadi group gardens) urgently in will need of a bridge. When the 4-thirty day period wet year commences there every June, the two rivers bordering Tentoukoro increase to the position that they are amazingly hazardous or difficult to cross. This efficiently turns the community into an island for a third of the 12 months, reducing off entry to essential companies these as well being clinics, schools, and marketplaces, as nicely as neighboring communities. Recently, one of the leaders in the local community lost her youthful daughter simply because the significant water in the river prevented them from reaching the clinic in time to treat her, which has been a deep supply of grief for the community.

Leaders from Tentoukoro shared with our workforce that they would be prepared to deliver all of the labor (which is an massive motivation for a venture of this scale) to establish a 150-meter bridge that could supply harmless passage all through the wet time. They just required engineering direction and assist with the value of supplies, which is believed to be all-around $13,000.

Working with the cash leftover from your generous donations to the Benkadi Gardens undertaking, together with a portion of this quarter’s revenue from Gimme Some Oven, I’m grateful today to report that we were being in a position to present the economical support to help make this bridge take place. ♡♡♡

As you can see in the photo previously mentioned, construction is previously properly underway on the bridge and the task is on keep track of to be correctly completed just before the wet period begins this year. And it has been awesome observing the community organize and work pretty much day and evening to develop it stone by stone. They are particularly inspired and energized to see this aspiration of theirs turn out to be a actuality. And as you can visualize, the ripples of impact of this new bridge will be much-achieving.

I’ll be back soon to share some a lot more updates and images, so keep tuned if you would like to stick to alongside. And as generally, thank you so considerably for your support of this internet site which is helping to make this project doable.

Teo and his “drac” (dragon!) on Sant Jordi Working day

Feliç Sant Jordi!

At last, Teo and I just want to would like you a pretty delighted Sant Jordi Day from listed here in Barcelona! This magical holiday filled with dragons and princesses and romance and sword fights continues to be just one of our complete favorites below in Catalonia, and fairly a great deal the total town of Barcelona was out and about this past weekend to celebrate. We all gifted every other new books, Teo handed out roses to our neighbors, and we even narrowly designed it dwelling in time to dodge a crazy hailstorm…which produced for really a unforgettable getaway! Always so enjoyable getting to take section in the area traditions right here.

Wishing just about every of you a pretty 7 days in advance, and keep tuned for some of my favorite Tex-Mex recipes comin’ in warm this 7 days!