The best thing about the start of our Moon Child's second year on Planet Earth is the news that Opa Ben's condition is improving quickly. He is now in a rehabilitation center, where he was told that 40% of the people who have a cerebral hemorrhage like his make it there, while the other 60% do not survive. Opa Ben is expected to have to stay at the center for six months. During this period it will become clearer what damage the bleeding has done. Fortunately, Opa Ben's mental powers do not seem affected. Luna is so happy to be able to visit and reconnect with her grandfather. She sits on his lap while the two get wheeled around (top left) and she begs to be allowed in his bed (top right). Opa Ben finally gives in (bottom left) and even lets Luna play with the remote control for his bed (bottom right). How lucky little Luna is to have Opa Ben for a grandfather!

When Luna is given raisins, she decides the box is much more delicious that its contents (bottom middle). She also pretends that the container is a telephone (bottom left and right). As a matter of fact, whenever someone says "Hello Daan" to Luna, our little lady will pick up whatever is nearby and pretend to be talking on the phone with her aunt.

Esther-Mirjam's favorite part of motherhood is going into her daughter's bedroom and being greeted with a super-sized smile every time. After some much-needed cuddling, Luna usually waits patiently for her mom to get breakfast for the two of them ready, still in her pyjamas and hugging her teddy bears (left and right).

Despite suffering from a pretty bad cold (left), Luna visits Uncle John and Aunt Zohreh in Amsterdam when they have a farewell party in their beautiful Prinsengracht apartment (right). Luna is a real trooper, letting herself be carried around and entertained by a variety of guests.

Luna gets an early start on the holiday season with a celebration at the day care center, where the children and staff do a little dance (top left) under the watchful eye of our Moon Child, who has found a hole through which she can observe the spectacle (middle left). The children have put lots of effort into the cards they give to each other (bottom left). Dutch Christmas songs, including "O, denneboom" (top middle) are sung by everybody (top right). That is, while the others are singing, Luna tries to sneak away with an egg from the brunch that has been prepared by and for the parents and children (middle right). Opa Tano comes along for the festivities and notices that Luna's cold is still affecting our poor baby (bottom right).

Last year, Luna was our Christmas present, because she got to go home on December 25. This year, the honor goes to Opa Ben, who gets to take a break from his rehabilitation regime during the holidays. Luna is happy to be able to sit on his lap again (top left). And when Opa Ben needs to take a nap, Luna goes for a walk through Doesburg and poses in front of the church (left). On Christmas day, Luna enjoys a delicious Dutch breakfast with her grandparents (top middle and top right). However, most of our young lady's breakfast appears to end up on the ground (right). Whoops!

Luna is fortunate to live in the Netherlands, for it means that she gets to celebrate no fewer than two Christmas days (top left). On the second one, she wakes up Opa Tano and Oma Naatje, though it looks like she is still quite a sleepy monkey herself (left). Luna gets to enjoy a new means of transportation, namely a back carrier, when Opa Tano takes her for a walk (top middle), though it is not so clear she enjoys it all that much (right). What she needs is a good nap, which is not so comfortable in a back carrier (top right).

Miss Moon is now big enough to eat some foods in their original shapes and sizes. She especially likes to eat, eat, eat, eapples and beaneaneas (row below).

When Esther-Mirjam gets ready to take a picture of Luna, her Moon Child decides it is high time to show her gorgeous set of curls (left) before giving her mom a puzzled look (right).

Little Luna is not so little anymore, which is why it is high time to block her access to the stairs. Luna does not mind the baby gate so much, because it gives her another thing to hang on to while standing up straight. Every now and then Luna will briefly let go, but she usually scares herself by doing so.

A full head of girly hair calls out for cute pig tails. Or perhaps they are properly called piglet tails in Luna's case! Our tiny toddler does not like people to pull her hair, though, so does not get spotted with hair ties all that often.

Luna celebrates New Year's Eve at Opa Ben and Oma Alie's, where her shoes are so tiny compared with the others (top middle). One thing Luna does very well is play by herself, including peekaboo with a plastic container (top left, top right, left). She is very good at cheering up Opa Ben by giving him a hug (right). Luna tries her Elvis imitation out on her grandparents (bottom middle). She also has many philosophical moments during which she stares into nothingness and seems to have deep thoughts (bottom left, bottom right).

When Luna visits her mom's boyfriend, Hans (left), and his children, Esther-Mirjam gets a few parenting tips, such as not to pick up Luna every time she cries. This is a very hard one for a mom! Luna loves meeting Hans's children, and especially Ruben makes her laugh (right), even though that is not the impression this image conveys. Here Luna had just finished giving Ruben a very big hug.

Opa Tano (top left) and Oma Naatje (top right) take Luna to "Music for Toddlers" on Tuesday mornings. Luna is a very musical young lady who rocks back and forth whenever she hears music. She gets to play with bells (left) and balls (right and below). Luna is usually very good at exchanging toys with other toddlers, but sometimes cries for help (below middle).

Hip, Hip, Hurray! Thirteen months old!

It looks like the days of Luna wearing a hat to celebrate her Month Day are numbered (bottom left and bottom right). This loss is balanced by the fact that Luna is acquiring new skills, such as listening patiently while someone reads a book to her (bottom middle). Luna goes to the eye doctor with Opa Ben on her Month Day and gets to enjoy his company in her home during the remainder of the day. Yippee! Life for the family members of our Moon Child is much better than a few months ago....