In 5 months there has been a lot of experimenting with menus of course, and a lot of success and failure along the way (I think it’s like this for every parent), except when it comes to breakfast. Breakfast is always a success. We’re convinced we’ve been able to get our girls to grow so quickly (they’ve each added 6cm and more than 30% weight gain!) because their most important meal of the day, breakfast, is one they always completely and happily finish and, amazingly, one that’s even great for them.

I’m talking about Malt-O-Meal, which is what my wife grew up eating. I was a C-O-W kid, never had Malt-O-Meal at all, but my wife was from a M-O-M family, and she insisted from Day 1 that we try it. Home Run!! Malt-O-Meal with butter, brown sugar, and blueberries (the girls’ nickname for it, “mush!”, which they evolved from their Russian “kash”) is THE signature meal in our home. In the beginning, to help get the weight-gain ball rolling, we’d make it with whole milk, and even added a little heavy cream. Once their cheeks starting getting chubby, we went back to the regular recipe. But from the start, and even now, these tiny girls are putting away a whole adult serving of M-O-M each and every morning.

And so here we are, 5 months in to our parenting journey (AND the first morning of pre-primary school for our oldest girl!) looking once again at empty bowls, smiling, healthy faces, and full, happy tummies…theirs and our! Thanks Malt-O-Meal!!

The drive across town was long, then to the hospital for the exams. Two by two we appeared before a group of six lady doctors, and sat as they asked us questions and tested our reflexes and tone. Bobbi and i were asked to remove our shirts for further looks, and the lead doc examined all my tattoos with a bemused look on her face and then asked if they were real. I told her they were, at which point she shrugged and shook her head, so i told her that my mother had the same reaction. Anyway, the 6-doctor, 10-minute exam completed, we waited for the exam paperwork to be complete. And then more waiting, with the other couples (2 Spanish, 2 german, and a few more American couples). Then we went in for the narcological exam…any history of mental illness in the family, or substance abuse, when did we have our first drink of alcohol, etc. Sandi and Sean were asked what they thought of the weather (its hot by moscow standards) and if it was affecting them. Then a bit more waiting, and 3 hours after we walked in we walked out with our paperwork–sandi got her receipt–and now Alexander is driving like the wind back to the hotel as I blog in the back seat. But…blood suger low, so blogging stop for now.

Since last I blogged….we asked to be dropped back at Arbat Street, and we walked due west, dead into the hot hot sun, looking for food. 1st place didnt feel right to me, 2nd place was beyond the far end of Arbat and invisible, so hot, tired and cranky we settled on, yes that’s right, Hard Rock Cafe. Oh well—the beverages were cold, the food was plentiful, the waitress had lots of pieces of flair and no pants. Then it was into the souvenir shoppe for some trinkets, and on to the local version of Whole Foods—Bobbi says it’s more schmancy, a la Fox & Obel (except no valet parking, but they DO have 20oz cans of pre-mixed gin and tonics, which are Sandi’s new love besides her boys). After the 3km stroll back to the hotel it’s slow-down time whilst we watch weightlifting and prep for sleepytime.