I miss you all

No more apologies.  I just have to be ok with the frequency of my posting.  Truth is, I miss it.  I miss you.  You are my audience, my encouragement to do this, my faithful followers.

In the social media realm, I've closed my facebook account, which should be even more reason for me to be here.  I mean c'mon, right?  Let me tell you why I'm able to type this blog.  Our kids are in bed before 9pm, and they are staying in bed / not crying.

They are finally going to sleep on their own.  Hallelujah!!! It's been a rough year, but things are looking up.  We worked with a sleep trainer* to help us get Daphné to stay in her big girl bed and fall asleep WITHOUT one of us in the room with her.  It's working!  And for Django, we can finally put him down, and he can fall asleep WITHOUT us rocking him or holding him or giving him a pacifier or bottle.  It's working too!

 (picture taken today - Django is 364 days old here)

So, here I am on the eve of our son's first (1st) birthday getting all sentimental and thankful :

Past year :

• I kept another human being alive for an entire year!
• I made it through another black hole of post-partum depression... still climbing out - more posts about these things shall come in due season.
• My parents visited for 3 weeks to meet Django and hang out.
• We moved to another apartment (total answer to a couple years of prayer).
• We took a 4-week vacation to Seattle and the San Juan Islands.
• We just got back from a refreshing week in Austria, where Tonio and I met in 2009 at the Calvary Chapel European conference.

Near future :

• Daphné starts school September 3rd.
• Tonio and I go to the Christian Surfers International Gathing on the west coast of France the end of September. 
• Our church retreat in October.
• We celebrate 8 years of marriage October 30th!
• ...
• ...
• Christmas =)
• Daphné's 4th birthday.
• ...
• etc...

Should I stop?
Yowsers.  So. Much. Good. Stuff. But. Tiring. Nonetheless.

Well, it's 23h42, which is how the French write 11:42pm.  I must turn in and sleep.  It's been SO MUCH FUN writing again.  Until we meet again.

Love Linz

*Sleep trainer link if you're interested - Natalie is wonderful!  I HIGHLY recommend this method. www.babysleeptrainer.com

I'm still here!

Goal : post more often =)

Reality : will happen some of the time =)

Thanks for following our family!  Here's a few pictures in the meantime. 

Road trip to Paris!

Our threenager!

My buddy!

Love Linz

6 months of life!

Our sweet little Django is 6 months-old.  Here's a photo from each month!

One month.

Two months.

Three months.

Four months.

Five months.

Six months.

Did you notice how his little brown bear got smaller?  Hehe!

We thank the Lord daily for our sweet buddy!

Papa, mama and Daphné are blessed by this guy.

Love Linz

Poetry

Perhaps you saw my post on Instagram or Facebook a few weeks ago...
Six of my poems were published!  In a real book!  With an ISBN and everything!

My friend, Amery, had a dream to one day publish a book of art, photography and poetry.  Well, she did it, and in my hand above, I'm holding her dream come true!  It's pretty cool to have been a part of this process.  She emailed me many years ago, asking if I had any poetry that might work with the theme of love gained or lost.  I sent her some, and she liked what she read!

I met Amery on a trip to China in 2007.  We went with an organization called Walking on Water.  We went to teach Chinese University students how to surf.  It was pretty incredible.  We also were able to share how God had transformed each of our lives and were able to share the gospel with a few of the students.  A rare and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Here's a picture of us girls below (there were also 5 guys on the trip, not pictured).

Amery is the first one in the line-up (then me, Kristen, Tammy and Renae).  We are all southern California surfer girls messing around with the locals' hats that they wear while gardening =).  They got a kick out of us tall white girls.

But... this trip is the not the reason for the blog post.  It's this beautiful book of poetry!  I invite you to consider buying this book.  It's not a money-maker for her.  All proceeds go back into the production costs, which she advanced herself.

Here's what Amery writes about the book:

"We Have Loved" is a collection of twenty-one poems and photos about love. The photos were taken in various locations, spanning 3 continents and into Oceania. Hand-drawn illustrations embellish the 46 pages. The paper is medium weight. "We Have Loved" is 8.5 inches tall by 5.5 inches wide. An acknowledgments page, poetry/photography index and biography page are included.

The contributors include three poets, one photographer and one illustrator. Each word grouping, font type, illustration position, photo selection, printed space and blank space was thoughtfully planned. As you ponder our pages, we hope you feel among friends in your pursuit of love. Vulnerability and resilience are prevailing themes.

This book idea came to me ten years ago. I contacted about 20 friends, asking if they had an interest in publishing. Five of us caught the vision. I wanted this project to be like a quilt. Old articles pieced together to make something meaningful and beautiful. This final product is a dream come true. 

--Amery

A gift for someone?  A fun coffee table book to browse?  Reading material for the loo?  Bragging rights that you know me, a famous published poet?  (<---Hehe!)

It only ships within the United States, so if you live in the US of A, you're in luck!!!
I do hope one, or two, or many of you buy this book.  I know you'll enjoy it.  Also, it will really encourage and bless Amery! 

Buy it here on Etsy!

Thanks for reading the blog.
Love Linz

Selfies

We all take them.  We all love them.  So, I counted (approximately) how many I've taken since September 2017.  Drum roll please... over 100!  Not surprising, is it?  I thought it would be a lot more actually.  I think some teenagers take that many in a day.  Ha!

So as not to bore you, I will just share the ones that auditioned well =).  Each one represents a special moment in time.  Enjoy!

My first solo outing after Django's birth.  We (including me, Daphné and Django) went to the park.  A huge victory for me!

Driving to our really good friends' wedding, Elodie and Xavier.

Django's first trip to the mountains for our annual church retreat.

Two balloons representing the two precious lives of my brother and sister-in-law's daughters, Eisley and Ava.  

Special for a couple reasons.  My parents came to visit for 3 weeks!!!  We were remembering Eisley and Ava.  Jesus is probably pushing them on the swings up in heaven right now.  

Daphné and Django are so blessed to have such wonderful grandparents! (selfie by Pierre)

Celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary, a 2 night-3 day getaway.

Piggy back ride.  This moment is special because sweet Daphodil had been going through an "I don't love you mama" period.  So, to laugh with her on my back was medicine to my soul.  [She loves me again, just in case you were wondering ;)].

My beautiful cousin, Lisa, came to visit me, and we, of course, had to go to Monte Carlo, Monaco.

A walk through Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

I took this reflective selfie at the beach, my first solo journey to the sea with our two littles.  I patted myself on the back.  Another victory.  Small or big, I celebrate them all.

It's always a sweet treat to be one-on-one with my Daphné now since little bro joined the troop.

Our only family photo, except for the one we have the day after I gave birth - ha! (selfie by Tonio)

Our Tata Cricri at the women's Christmas tea at church.

I don't know if all of you know of my intense and passionate love for roller coasters... well, to be on a mini roller coaster with Daphné was a blast!

This couple from church invited us to their Christmas choir performance in a cute town up in the hills of Nice.  It was a great way to get into the Christmas mood, not that I ever need much help with that... hehe! (selfie by Tonio)

The bowling alley.  Nuff said.

Now, this picture radiates (literally) with pure joy!!!  I'm so thankful Daphné has such an amazing Papi and Mamie.  (selfie by Pierre)

Daphné and I enjoy taking filtered selfies together.  This is just one of many.  She's a beautiful butterfly princess.

Date with my man to see The Nutcracker by the Russian National Ballet and Orchestra.  

Silly faces.  More memories with Daphné's Papi and Mamie. (selfie by Pierre)

My adorable baby ram, the cutest one in the pasture.

Sunny Saturday outing with the family to the sea and Christmas village.

Life on the French Riviera.

Inside a gigantic Christmas ornament.

On the big Ferris Wheel.

New Year's 2018 with our friends, Thomas and Maëva from Grenoble, taken at 2am.  They also have 2 little people, and we hadn't seen them in over a year and a half.  Good to catch up. (selfie by Thomas)

Super fun finger puppets from Uncle Tanner and Auntie Sarah!

Howdy partner!  I also have some cute pictures of Daphné in this same hat.  I just can't take it.  He's absolutely scrumptious in every way.

Love Linz

Baby (must-have) List

Hi guys,

I was thinking of putting together a list of baby things for a friend who is pregnant, and I thought I'd share it with you.  These are just a few items that have really been great to have for Daphné and Django.  Petrignani family favorites.

Nursing pillow

The super flexible ones filled with tiny styrofoam balls are wonderful.  I used mine to sleep with when I was pregnant to hug and put between my knees.  Then, it's great for nursing/bottle feeding and also propping up baby or letting big sister hold baby brother ;).

Chicco Next 2 Me bed

I don't have much to say, except that this bed has been so perfect for our family.  Since it's right next to the bed, it makes night feedings much easier.  Also, the side can zip up to use as a normal bed not attached to the parents' bed.

Bouncy chair

These are absolutely necessary I've found.  Super light and easy to move around the house, it allows mama and papa to do dishes, fold laundry, work on the computer, go to the bathroom even... with baby always present.  Ours has a detachable arc with dangling toys and music too [removed in this photo]. 

Baby Carrier 

We have the Boba brand, but there are SO many brands out there now.  These are great for short trips into town, getting things done in the house if baby is fussy or even getting baby to fall asleep.  In this photo, I'm holding our daughter.  I used to "rock her to sleep" with it [before we sleep trained her].

Swaddle blankets 

These are so versatile! I would highly recommend getting the biggest available size (at least 47"x47" or 120cmx120cm).  Great for use as a burp cloth, blanket, changing table cover, nursing cover, stroller cover, scarf for mama (I have used it a few times for this), cape for big sister to play with =) and even swaddling... hehe! 

Cloth diapers 

We use them as burp cloths.  They are inexpensive and highly absorbent.

Avent Soothie pacifier

I realize everyone has a different philosophy about pacifiers.  For us, they've been wonderful.  Babies have such a strong sucking reflex, so if they aren't hungry and still need to suck, these are perfect!  I also liked the BooginHead brand strap.  With our daughter, we took away her pacifier cold turkey at 20 months when we finally sleep trained her.  It was a smooth transition.  This specific brand, along with many others I'm sure, is designed so baby can't choke on it and also designed so it doesn't ruin their teeth.

Nose Frida snot sucker 

I know, I know, this sounds so weird, but I'm sure I'm not the only mom out there who thinks these things are amazing!  It is super easy to clean and to use.  I use it daily with our little guy right now, so he doesn't get sick from his pre-school-going, bacteria-infested big sister.  First I squirt saline solution in one nostril with baby's head on its side, then I suck out the gunk from both nostrils.  Perhaps it's not for everyone, but it works for us!  I'm a HUGE fan! [side note: I have never gotten anything in my mouth.  The filter system works extremely well.]

Sound Machine

We have this brand ('LectroFan), but I know there are so many out there.  We even have two, one for each kid!  We've found that it really helps them sleep better.  It creates a constant "fan noise" to drown out other noises that might wake or disturb their sleep.  Obviously, you can use an actual fan too, but in the winter, the sound machine is nice so as not to have air blowing in the room.

 

Getting Your Baby to Sleep the 
Baby Sleep Trainer Way

There are hundreds of sleep training books available, but I would recommend ONLY this one.  In 2015, we hired Natalie to work with us personally with our daughter via video chat.  Her method works.  I know many other methods work, too, but I'm biased since I've actually met Natalie through video.  She's wonderful, and this book explains everything.  I needed a coach, so hiring her was absolutely indispensable.  However, if you can glean what you need through books, look no further, this book is just perfect.  A link to her site if you are interested.

Bumbo chair

As soon as your baby can hold up their head on their own, this chair is super fun!  It is like the bouncy chair in that you can have your baby in every room with you.  I think they like it too.  They can sit up, without yet knowing how to sit up.  Our almost-three-year-old still plays with it by putting her dolls and stuffed animals in it.  Soon, it will go to baby brother ;). 

Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair

We love this high chair!  It's adaptable for all stages.  Here is our daughter's first birthday party, and you can see she has a tray.  There is also a seat barrier to keep her buns on chair.  We have moved the levels down and removed the tray and seat barrier, so she can now use it as a seat at the table.  It's perfect.  She loves it! 

I hope this is helpful for someone =)  Thanks for reading!

Here is the list:

Nursing pillow
Chicco Next 2 Me bed
Bouncy chair
Baby carrier
Swaddle blankets
Cloth diapers
Avent Soothie Pacifier
Nose Frida snot sucker
Sound machine
Baby Sleep Trainer Way book
Bumbo chair
Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair

Love Linz
ps - Glass bottles are a new discovery that we like, too!  They are so much easier to clean, and apparently better for the baby.  Less plastic contamination.