Pictures

I've added some pictures in a new album: September & October

Also, we're down to "just" double digits until the due date! Time sure flies!! Keep meaning to take some bump pictures but keep forgetting.

Tomorrow Anki will swing by, will be fun to compare our bumps!

Autumn is definitely here now. Even had to scrape the windscreen on the car this morning...

Circus

A few weeks ago Bwin arranged a family day at the Circus. It was great fun. I was a bit worried that Elias would get scared but he did very well. The arrangement was great, free food, free popcorn and candy floss. Elias was quite fascinated with the acts, especially the ones that involved animals... I must say that I wasn't very impressed but I guess the kids were amused anyway.


1. Father and son sharing popcorn and drink. 2. The catlady..

1. Mesmerized boys. 2. Horses with feathers


Elias didn't quite last the whole circus. It was right when he normally sleeps and halfway through the second half (when the clowns came out) he had had enough and we went for a walk. It didn't take that long until he was sound asleep..

Checkup

On Wednesday we went to the clinic for a "bump checkup". Everything looked fine. My blood sugar levels were good, my iron levels were even higher than last time (apparently very unusual but good) and the size of the bump is spot on average.

We got a lot of information about the swine flu and the vaccine they will start giving out in October. Pregnant women are a "high risk group" so they will start with us. So now we have to read up and make a decision. Normally I wouldn't have taken the vaccine but I guess it's not just me to think about this time...

We also got a list of the hospitals in Stockholm and their "visiting hours". That is when we could go and have a look at the delivery ward and decide which hospital is our first choice. There is mainly two to choose from for us. One is closer but if it is during the daytime traffic might be a problem. Golly gosh (Elias favourite word at the moment), it makes me nervous to think that it might be even quicker than last time...

Have a nice day

I was getting ready for work this morning and Elias was sitting at the breakfast table waiting for servant daddy to give him his "puffar" (a kind of cereal). I had said my goodbyes and was on my way when I could see he was thinking really hard and tried to say something. Finally a really sweet "have a nice day" came out (in Swedish). Guess if my heart melted...

Friday!

(mysa = get cozy)

There is a day when you can exhale
Finally you go home and get away from the nagging boss
Since I moved here all I do is "mys" and "mys"
YES WE DO
It's time for Friday-mys, even if it's the last thing I do
Soon it's Friday-mys
I hope the parents stay away
The week is over
It is time for Friday MYYYYS

Recognize the velour suit dad?? ;-)

I just love this commercial, it sort of embed so much of what's typical Swedish and my childhood. When I was little we certainly did the Friday mys. Dad made a fire in the fireplace, we had toast and prawns (dad pre-peeled loads in advance), mum and dad had wine and we were allowed soft drinks and crisps (dill and chives flavoured, always dill and chives) and we watched Dallas or some other "great" tv-program. Nostalgia...

Italy (part 1)

On August 17 we arrived at Treviso airport in Italy. We had decided to go by public transport to the campsite, a decision that seemed good before we got there but that turned out to be a small nightmare. First we had to wait for quite some time at the airport for bus no 1. Then we had to change at a train station and it was super hot and no information. Finally the bus came though and funnily enough the Hills and Joyce got on the same bus at Marco Polo airport. Then we had to change yet again and finally walk for what felt like ages with all our stuff in the scorching heat. But we made it!

Tired and hot mother with sleeping child on one of the numerous buses we travelled on that day

At first we didn't have the tents next to each other but after a few days we could change tent and move next to the Hills. The campsite was quite crowded but I thought it was pretty ok still. There was 2 pool areas, a good playground, a few restaurants and a shop that was really well stocked. They had amazing nectarines and I don't think I have ever had that many nectarines in such a short time before. Elias loved them too!
The first few days it was extremely hot and we all sweated loads. Elias slept in just his nappy and usually we put him to bed a bit later than normal because it was too hot earlier in the night. It looked quite nice when he was having his evening drink outside in one of the sun beds looking at the sky (airplanes)

Relaxed plane spotter

On Friday we went to Venice for the day. As usual I hadn't really read up on the place we visited but it was still really nice. We had nice coffee, took a gondola ride (David and Elias stayed on shore) and crossed many a bridges (not that easy with a pushchair I can tell you). I am really glad to have seen Venice even though I don't really know what I have seen. It is quite surreal with all the water going right up to the front door of the houses. Elias really liked all the pigeons on Piazza San Marco and loved chasing them around. I just felt sick by how many they were.

Elias surrounded by the rats of the sky

Gondola jam

To be continued...

(Elias's) First Wee (in toilet)

Today is an historic day because Elias did his first wee in the toilet! He has been in full control of his bladder for some time but has never chosen to do it in the right place before.

We knew he needed one because he was naked ready for his evening wash and said "wee floor" in swedish, so Dave picked him and forced him onto the loo. Up to now he has been more reluctant to sit on the potty or toilet when he actually needs to go and tonight was no exception. But then he actually weed and he was quite proud of himself - after mum and dad's jubilation.

"Again" he said. We let him sit on it again but he was crestfallen when nothing happened. We told him he could try again in the morning.

Summer's over

Sorry about the drought here at the blog. I've been pretty computer shy during the summer...

Well, here's a short recap of the main events of our looong summer break.

After Luleå and the wasp killing, David had to go to work for a week so on Wednesday Elias and I took the train to my sister. We had a really nice time there comparing bumps, looking at horses, walking the dogs, picking black currants. Dave joined us Friday evening and during the weekend we made a trip to P-A's family's farm in Halland. It was great to finally see the place we have heard so much about. There we visited P-A's aunt and looked at kittens - Elias loved it and still talks loads about kittens.

On Monday we left my sister and did a mini tour of Skåne. We drove around and stopped at various tourist spots, beaches and cafés. Really nice. One stop was Ale stenar, which I thought was really interesting. Elias did a great job walking up the fairly steep and long hill all on his own. I was very impressed!

We came home just in time for the ultrasound. Elias came with us but got quite distressed during the exam and started crying and said "stupid baby". Great start! David had to go out with him so the nurse could do her job. Everything looked fine and the due date was calculated to be January 6.

Then we went sailing with my cousin Therese and her family. We had amazing weather but hardly any wind so there wasn't that much sailing going on really, but that didn't really matter.


The week before we went to Itlay my parents came for a visit. Dad and Dave did a very good job doing roof repairs.


And then on August 17 we left for Italy, but that will have to be covered in another blog entry...
(Pictures can be seen in the July&August album though)