The most beautiful memory of your pregnancy

Now I had a blast of a baby shower with Otis, but my dear girlfriends have outdone themselves again. In the truly most beautiful eighteenth-century hall of the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, I was surprised by my loved ones with a super deluxe baby shower high tea. For the first half hour, I just stared at the room to take in all the details, so beautiful! I have been tasting the new high tea in the Peacock Alley every season for two years now, but this baby shower variant was very special: from baby feet sandwiches to baby face cakes and ‘beschuit met muisjes 2.0’: I have never managed to eat all the snacks, but this time not a crumb was left on the platter... And as if that wasn't enough, I was also spoiled with a Bugaboo Stroller in our own Lemej leopard print as the cherry on top. But the most important thing was, of course, the company of friends and family who were present to celebrate the arrival of baby boy number two. In short: a royal baby shower that even a real princess could take notes from.

Otis is still struggling with saying goodbye to Sinterklaas (every morning I get asked ten times: ‘Sinterklaasjournaal?!’ Try explaining to a two-year-old that he has to wait another year...), but the Christmas tree is already proudly displayed in our living room. I can completely lose myself in all the Christmas hits (right now ‘This Christmas’ by Donny Hathaway is on repeat) and in gathering beautiful gifts for the whole family to go under the tree. And every year we add to our crazy Christmas bauble collection with a new specimen, curious to see what you think of it.

I am really bummed that Le Bump didn't exist when I was pregnant with Otis, but luckily I get a second chance this time: to immortalize my belly in a beautiful figurine. At first, I thought I had to be completely covered in plaster, but fortunately, everything is done in a super high-tech way: with a 3D camera, your body is photographed so they can immortalize your belly in a figurine in the smallest detail. You can even see a little foot or which side the baby was lying on. The more high-tech your belly is captured, the more artisanal the figurine is finished by hand. I can't wait for the final result.

Now that the last few weeks are starting, I am taking stock compared to the previous pregnancy. And I must honestly say: three cheers for a winter baby versus a summer baby. I thought I would find it harder to find nice clothes (in the summer it was a flowy dress and done) and that you could enjoy going outside more with the summer weather, but secretly I find this winter quite nice: you can cocoon undisturbed, my body retains much less water, and I feel more energetic than during that summer pregnancy. Also nice: those pepernoten and Christmas wreaths are definitely nicer cravings than a popsicle... Although: ask me that again when I'm struggling postpartum in the gym...