When Luna enters her twentyfourth month on Planet Earth, she has exciting news to report, which is that her mom is expecting a baby. The pregnancy test, taken on Thursday, August 3, shows the positive result (top left). Esther-Mirjam's belly seems to be growing much more rapidly than it did during the pregnancy with Luna. Here it is shown at four months into the present pregnancy (bottom left). A letter from the Utrecht Medical Center confirms that Luna, as well as Lenneke, Aafke, Sanne, Lotte, and Ruben, may look forward to a healthy baby brother (top right). The ultrasound, taken 16 weeks into the pregnancy, also shows that "something" is sticking out, marked with a red oval (bottom right). Luna is in for quite a surprise around the due date, which is April 12, 2007. If the baby is just as quick as Luna, he may arrive as early as March 8, 2007. Let's hope he will not be as impatient as Luna was, eh?!

When Sinterklaas is expected to arrive in the town of Spijk, which is where Opa Tano and Oma Naatje live, the marching band plays in anticipation of his arrival (row above, left). Luna sits on Opa Tano's shoulders to get a better view (row above, middle). Since she got there just in time, there is no time to take off her bike helmet. She sees Sinterklaas and his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten, arrive by boat on the river Rhine (row above, right). Zwarte Piet greets Luna with a friendly smile (top left) and is joined by Sinterklaas (bottom left). Luna is especially excited about meeting Zwarte Piet, because he gives her lots of candy. She is especially fond of the "pepernoten." Luna is not too thrilled about posing with Zwarte Piet and Sinterklaas (top right). She much prefers to play in front of Sinterklaas (bottom right).

The neighbor-girl Victoria continues to stop by regularly. When Luna begs for Victoria's coat, the latter is more than willing to oblige (left and right). The two make quite a pretty pair, eh?

Luna has yet another encounter with Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Pieten, during a special celebration organized at the Radboud University Nijmegen (left and right). She gets to eat yet more "pepernoten" (yum!) and sing yet more Sinterklaas songs. If only Sinterklaas could stay in the Netherlands forever!

Monday, November 27 is a very sad day because it is the last time Luna gets to hang out with her friends at "De Imme." This is because she now lives too far from this day care center. Luna really enjoyed herself there. And her mom was very happy with the loving attention that the staff bestowed upon her little darling. On her last day, Luna gets to play outside with the other children in her group (row below).

Luna gets to wear a party hat for the occasion (middle right) and stand on the chair (far right) while the others sing songs for her. Luna appears a little blown away by all the attention.

Esther-Mirjam has prepared treats for the children and the staff. They are held together by specially decorated clothes pins (far left) and make for a very festive basket of goodies (middle left). (Unfortunately, the Dutch pun on pins does not translate into English.)

Luna hands a treat to every child in the group (middle right), but is happiest when she finally gets to enjoy her own (far right).

Esther-Mirjam is so very grateful to Manja (far left) and Simone (middle left) for having taken such loving care of Luna. The latter thanks them with appropriately named "Merci" chocolates.

In the end, Luna appears quite sad about having to leave "De Imme" (far right). Not even the presents she receives are able to bring a smile to her face (middle right).

After having played with Luna, Victoria leaves a note on her friend's behalf for Sinterklaas, asking him to leave a present in Luna's shoe (top left). Luna adds some food and water for Sinterklaas's horse (middle left) and sings a few songs asking Sinterklaas for an overnight delivery (bottom left). Lo and behold, Luna finds a book the next morning (top right) after she has unwrapped the present that is in front of the fireplace (middle right, bottom right). The book is about "The Bouncing Baby in Mama's Belly," in an effort to prepare Luna for the present she will receive in early 2007. When you ask her "What does mama have in her tummy," she answers "Mama baby in tummy." However, it is not clear she gets the full grasp of it.

Luna travels all the way to Leiden to visit the "House of Sinterklaas" (row above), upon Aafke's kind invitation. Her wait to shake Sinterklaas's hand is alleviated by lots of "pepernoten" (above middle). Luna and mama take a break by watching a movie (left) and enjoy making a drawing for Sinterklaas (right).

Indeed, Luna loves to watch movies. She is accompanied by her doggy and doll (far left), while she watches her favorite movie, Dumbo (middle left). Of course, she only gets to watch movies during a short time each day!

When she spends a night with Oma Alie and Opa Ben, Luna makes friends with another neighbor girl, Tessa. The two read books together (middle right) and play with the doll house (far right). Luna is a lucky girl with so many friends!

The Sinterklaas celebrations come to an end during a "Secret Santa" party with papa, mama, Lenneke, Aafke, Sanne, Lotte, and Ruben (top left, top right). Each person has drawn a name and prepared a poem along with an appropriate wrapping for the present. Luna gets a little help from her mom, of course! She later learns that Aafke has drawn her name and gets yet more help from her mom in reading the wonderful poem that Aafke wrote for her (bottom left). When Luna opens the present, she finds a lovely xylophone. She knows how to play it, because she gets to practice every Thursday morning during her "music for toddlers" lessons. Not to worry, these lessons are for fun, and not meant to prepare Luna for a career in music! If she wants to pursue one, she can decide to do so once she is ready for it.

Hip, Hip, Hurray!

Luna's second birthday celebrations start the Sunday before her actual birthday to give working people a chance to come by for a visit. Mama has decorated the house of Opa Tano and Oma Naatje appropriately, with flags (far left) and balloons (middle left).

Luna is a little befuddled when it comes to her birthday cake (middle right). She is not quite sure what to do with the two candles. Upon receiving some instructions, she does blow, but not quite hard enough to blow out the candles (far right).

Luna welcomes Ome Arno, Tante Daniëlle, Ome Geert, Victoria's mom Linda, Lenneke, papa, and Victoria to her early birthday celebrations (far left). (Victoria's dad Hans, Opa Tano, and Oma Naatje arrive too late for the picture.) In return, Luna receives lots of wonderful presents (middle left). What a lucky little lady Luna is!

Hip, Hip, Hurray!

Luna's second birthday celebrations continue on her actual birthday, when she takes treats to her (new) day care center, Heyendael (right). Oma Naatje has kindly made little bags and mama has taken care of the rest.

Day care center Heyendael is where Luna used to go before she moved to Apeldoorn. Fortunately, there is still a spot in her old group, the Regenboog. The children sing "Happy Birthday," while accompanying themselves with musical instruments (far left). Luna is more interested in the (fake) birthday cake that is sitting in front of her (middle left). Such temptation!

Luna gets to wear a special hat (middle right) and sit at the head of the table (far right), along with Marjolein, Mint, Nienke, Filippo, Casper, Debbie, Heike, and Ellen. Lucky girl!

Of course, mama comes along for the celebrations, and Heike is kind enough to capture this (far left). Luna is happy to be back with her old Heyendael/Regenboog friends and fits right in again (middle left).

On their way back to Spijk, mama and Luna pick up a delicious birthday cake from Looijenga in Nijmegen (middle right). After the practice on Sunday, Luna has now mastered the art of blowing out candles (far right).

Luna claps along with "Hip, Hip, Hip" (far left) and raises her arms with "Hurray" (middle left). What a change from a year ago, or even a month ago. The remaining challenge is to make her answer "two" when someone asks her how old she is. She does not quite understand why the answer suddenly changed!

Oma Alie and Opa Ben have a very big present for their granddaughter (middle right). After having removed the large amount of wrapping paper, Luna finds a lovely doll house (far right). She is bound to spend countless hours playing with it!

Luna is very lucky that Aafke has made a long trip to congratulate her on her birthday (far left). The box contains a baby doll so Luna can start getting used to having a baby in the house. Opa Tano and Oma Naatje give a wheelbarrow to their granddaughter so Luna can help them with their farm work (middle left). Actually, it is just for her to play with!

Visitors to Luna's birthday include Opa Tano, Tante Astrid, Oma Alie, Oma Naatje, Opa Ben, Ome Albert, and Aafke (far right). Unfortunately, Tante Daphne is sick! They leave Luna with yet more wonderful presents, including a baby bed made by Ome Albert (middle right).