Springcykel
Spring means run in Swedish...
It's still cold, rainy and dreary here- trees not even budding yet, but all snow is gone. And doesn't hardly get dark at all.
Denali got a balance-bike, which is a bike w/out pedals for his 2,5 birthday. He loves it!
Lightning McQueen...
...helping out w/the potty training...
By the age of 2,5 Freya had trained herself to not wear diapers at all during the days anymore.
Denali is not as interested. We're in no great hurry; we believe in the child getting a say in when they're ready.
And it's so much easier in the summer, when we're home and he can run around free.
He really likes this seat though. And really, who in their right mind wouldn't?
Francoise
I remember Freya going through this too at about the same age, but much worse, she was crying so hard when I dropped her off that sometimes two teachers had to hold her and pry her out of my arms. I can't imagine a worse feeling. I feel like the world's worst mom when I leave them there and they don't want to be there.
denali hasn't be that upset, he just states that he doesn't wanna go and when I'm about to leave he always wants to show me something. Which I never have time to let him do.
So This Monday of April 23rd was a great day, if somewhat chaotic. Great because I got to see how their spend their days, and get to know their awesome little friends a little better. Chaotic because there was not much structure, maybe because a new 1-year old child was starting there that day and also the first day of a new staff.
This new staff person was wonderful. She's working there 3 days a week and a really great lady by the name of Francoise. She's a mother of ten (!) children between the age of 1 and 20 years of age and a refugee along with her family from Burundi, Africa. She speaks at least 5 languages, of which her Swedish is her newest language. She's speaks great English and I told her she can speak English to Freya and Denali.
Imagine the skills and knowledge of children that she has with ten kids of her own! She was very mild mannered and sweet with a constant smile on her lips, her complexion dark as the Swedish midwinter night.
As I've mentioned before Denali is really good at talking. He can explain complicated things, speaks 7 word sentencies and more, and is easy to understand as his pronunciation is really good. It's rare that I don't understand him, but yesterday he said a word I just didn't understand. When this happened with Freya at his age she got very self conscious and just got quiet and her feelings were hurt. But when it happens with Denali, Freya always understand him and interprets for me! (so great with older siblings!)
She told me "Mom, he's talking about Francoise, out teacher at school!"
We just recieved some beautiful gifts from South Africa where our frind Liz recently travelled, among other things t-shirts with baby animals. And Denali wanted to say that he wanted to wear that shirt today and show Francoise!
So I asked "Is she a good teacher?"
And he answered "Ja, och SÅ SÖÖÖT är hon också!!" (Yes, and she's soooo CUTE too!")
I love this little boy and how he sees the world. And am thankful that they get to share their days with a teacher who can share a different perspective on life. Just imagine to run away from your home land with ten children in tow! Burundi is one of the world's five poorest countries and with a long history of civil war the economy of the country is shattered – Burundi has the lowest per capita gross income in the world. But apart from that she just seems like a genuinly kind and caring person, which is the most important quality for a pre school teacher I think.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burundi
LOVE
Our family
The way Freya sees us.
Week 29 - May 11 2012
The whole family have been having light colds, with Cory coming down with it the worst, so the first part of the week I was struggling w/ a headache, tiredness and a stuffy nose (all sorta "normal" during pregnancy, but this was more cold-related I think). But Thursday morning I woke up to singing birds, blue skies and, instead of frost on the ground or pouring rain, it actually felt like spring! So wonderful! We've been waiting eagerly for weeks!
The kids walking to preschool on Wednesday - they LOVED wearing their umbrellas; unfortunately Denali's broke on his way home, which made him really sad...
This past week three of my friends have given birth to baby boys. They all have girls since before. Congratulations to all of you! - Stacey, Sofia and Anna!
Little boys are such a wonderful handful. But really, I feel like I don't know much about what a little boy or little girl are like; similarities and differencies. I just know my kids, who happen to have a gender, but I don't think that determines their personalities, energy-levels or -hopefully - their futures.
People are individuals not matter their age or gender or size.
Both Cory and I are getting really curious about this little one I'm growing inside. Girl or boy? Brown- or blue- eyed, calm or energetic? Freya is hoping for a sister, and Denali, well, he's looking forward to eating ice cream with the baby, he says.
But most of all, of course, our prayers and hopes that she or he is healthy and strong.
Yesterday I went to my nurse/midwife for another prenatal appointment.
I recieved some great news from her. My tea made of nettle-drinking, and triple dose of iron pills have payed off and I'm much less anemic. My blood pressure was almost normal too, so that made me really happy.
Our baby is really acttive in there, but when before I felt like she/he was moving all over, I feel more kicks up towards my ribs now. And yes, the baby has turned around and now has her/his head down.
His/her heartbeat sounded fine, if a little fast (sometimes the monitor can stress them out a little) and my belly is big - on the top curve for size at week 28 + 3. (Ha! There you have it every nosy person who tells me my belly is soooo small...I'm tall and that's why my belly might seem smaller. I think it's huge!)
I left feeling very happy. At work, I do my best, and have accepted that I can't get everything done.
It's all about priorities.
We're having interviews in two weeks w/3 people who have applied to be my sub while I'm gone. I feel very fortunate to have a job to return to 15 months from now. I realize that this person may do a better job than me, but I still have the right to return to my job. We have such great parenting/work rights here in Sweden. (All due to hard work from the labor movement in the 1900's and progressive politicians who listened to the striking working class - nothing comes for free!)
Next time I'm going back for a check up is in 3 weeks and then Freya will come with me, because her pediatric 5 year old check up is the same morning. It'll be fun to share the heart beats with her!
I'm feeling more confidant and less nervous now - though building a baby is always a time of humility as so many things can go wrong. It's truly a miracle every time a baby is born! 
This is me and my baby-belly in the ugly coat room at work.
Almost two thirds baked in there!
May 4th - Denali 2,5 years old
Once a calm and happy baby - now a wild and energetic, beautiful, miscievous, caring and kindhearted little boy. Denali Zinn James, two and a half years old already!
It can't be easy to be 2. So strongwilled even if it's totally against his own best interest.
It's not always easy to be the parent of a 2 year old either. We try our best to be encouraging but still there has to be some limitations. "Danger lurks everywhere" as my grandpa Anders used to say.
Almost always it's a true delight to spend time w/this little charmer of a boy. I just wish I had a little more energy and patience than I do right now...
More than anything he loves horses! Other animals too - he's is considerate and kind and always has a hug for us. And sometimes he whacks us in the head too- his dad and sister take more of that than me...
Freya is his guiding star- he adores and admires her.
He tells me every single day how much he loves me and I am so grateful to be his mama!
Denali is great w/words and telling stories-he talks a lot and really well and it's a joy to hear his thoughts. I'm excited to see this wild child become a big brother soon!
Fin födelsedag - fine 36th birthday weekend
On Sunday the 29th, my mama baked me this cake that we all devoured for breakfast!
yum!
My mom and dad gave me all these great gifts- a back pack I really wanted (perfect for my lunch, and papers and stuff I need for work), home sown pot holders, a glossy Mama magazine, Jane Eyre (a classic I have yet to read), a huge chocolate bar, and a great herbal supplement for anemic people like myself.
I also got an ice cream maker from my siblings and my sister's boy friend, so we can make healthy, yummy ice cream w/out additives all summer long!
It was a sunny and beautiful spring day and we went to Andersön - an island that is a nature preserve in lake Storsjön along with my mom and dad. This is one day before the ice breakes up from the lake.
Freya and morfar Lennart.
Mom and dad.
Me and the love of my life... So nice to be outside and just relax, which is hard to do for at least 7-8 months a year here. The shape I'm in right now doesn't allow long walks, hikes, skiing or much else than just being. So this day was wonderful!
Cory gave me two of these lovely chairs to relax my growing self in all summer! Wonderful gift!
The sun was warm and the sand so fun to play in for hour after hour...
These feet have been trapped in shoes and socks for a long long winter...Freedom!
Nature is always the very best place to play. Freya and Denali was busy for hours making cakes and baking them in the tree-root-oven.
Me and my mama!
The morning of my actual birthday (which the whole family had off - April 30th is the day we celebrate spring with big bonfires and it's also the king's birthday.) I got this amazing breakfast!
This man is too good to be true - he made me this chocolate cheese cake!
And last but not least - I also got a great parenting book from my dear friend Therése in England, two packages with goodies from Africa from our dear friend Liz in Wisconsin, pretty gardening gloves, a beautiful geranium for my sad looking windows and a cup cake bowl from my aunt and family in Rossbol, several cards in the mail and many many kind greetings.
I think 36 is gonna be great!
A special birthday, with two hearts beating inside, was memorable and just very lovely. Thankyou everyone. I'm humbled and grateful to be around and to have so many great people blessing my days!
Stockholm April 18 - 22, 2012
I have everything I need.... (birthday thoughts)
My birthday is in 10 days. A special birthday. Not because I'm turning 36, but because it's most likely my second and last birthday I have two hearts beating within my body!
I want to celebrate this, it's worth celebrating.
My body is working hard, doing good work, buidling a new person.
I try to be nice to myself. It's hard. I'm more used to pushing myself. To always try harder, be better, improvement is key to living I think. I'm far from perfect. But I'm ok.
I also want to celebrate my mother and father. Thankyou for giving me life and nurturing me through all these years!
And I want to thank my wonderful husband, amazing children and all other good hearted family and friends.
I am lucky in so many ways.
I lack nothing.
If friends and family in the US would like to celebrate my birthday I would love it if you breathe deeply and take good care of yourselves. You mean the world to me and I miss you!
If you want to draw a little picture and send me, or write me a short note or card, I'd love it too.
And if someone wants to send me some pregnancy tea that would be an extra bonus.
But keep breathing is all I wish for.
Om ni svenskar vill fira mig får ni gärna göra samma sak; alltså andas djupt och le, ta hand om er och era nära och kära. Rita en liten teckning eller skicka ett kort om ni vill.
Om någon vill göra ännu mer eller köpa något för pengar så önskar jag mig:
- nån liten fin krukväxt till mina vintertrötta fönster.
- hjälp med att sätta om blommorna och kanske till och med putsa fönstren innan sommaren
- en skön Baden Baden stol att sitta och lapa sol i när våren kommer (finns på ICA Maxi såg jag:)
- en mjuk microfleece morgonrock
- en spabehandling
- en Kånken
- en sovsäck
- en barnfri natt med min man
- ett "Bola-halsband"
http://www.babytime.se/se/grp/bola-gravidsmycken.php
- Baby Bay säng (ok, nu drömmer jag lite här, men kolla vad smart! :
http://www.bonti.se/shopping/products.php?p_ID=902
Men som sagt. Andas, le och sköt om er. Det är allt jag faktiskt behöver!
Tack för att ni finns!
First purchase for our Hoppan - April 21st
We have most everything for our new family member and she/he will wear 90% hand me downs for sure.
But hats like this are so nice the very first few days after birth and it's hard to find this great model. Plus I love the color. Nice to have something new of his/her very own too...
Travelling through the seasons - April 18, 2012
Pilgrimstad April 18th 2012
When I arrived in Stockholm 6 hours later it looked like this. A whole different season!
95 days to go....
But you never know.
That's what so humbling and exciting. Being just another mammal, letting go of control and trying to be the best mama possibly for this growing little baby inside.
Baby is kicking lot late at night and around 4-5 am she/he always wakes me up.
The movements are a favorite part of being pregnant!! It's a truly magical feeling!
But I do wish that we had the chance to take it easier in our culture while we're pregnant.
Many have it worse than me, but my job is pretty stressful, my boss doesn't understand (even though she's woman and mom of three kids herself) and my bloood pressure is really, really low (my midwife said "I don't understand how you can even stand up!") which combined with severe anemia and pelvic pain makes it challenging to keep up with all the expectations. I have a lot of bad headaches, hard time walking and is very dizzy and tired all the time.
Full time work, two little kids and the rest that comes with it. Good thing I have an amazing husband and kind people around me who understand...
My midwife is also really great. I love her! I've had different midwives for all three pregnancies at different care centers. This one is by far the best even if I liked the one I had with Freya too.
Here in Sweden you see the same midwife (a nurse with an additional 2or 3 years of univeristy education specific to pregnancy and child birth) your whole pregnancy, paid for by our taxes, so totally free.
Then you go have birth in the hospital and you don't know who will deliver the baby. But a doctor is only involved if there's complications, otherwise it's only nurses and midwives.
I really like the system here. It feels safe and good and all women get the same good care, no matter how rich or poor we happen to be. If there's a complication I can quickly get into surgery etc...
I suspect a hospital birth here is quite different from what is routine in the USA. There's as little intervention as possible and the woman choose her own birthing position; crouching, walking and moving around is encouraged.
I have only used some laughing gas as pain relief. And with Denali I got to take a nice hot bath. That was lovely.
You can get acupuncture, which I asked for, but my labors were too fast, so they didn't have time to give it to me. Epidurals are quite common but I'd never opt for that. They scare me and I heard of one woman who was paralyzed from it.
The pain of labor is intense but very constructive, I know why it's happening and can deal with it and almost at times enjoy it... It's like nothing else, hard work with a great reward at the end.
During pregnancy and labor with Freya I never saw a doctor. With Denali I had one check up w/ a doctor when I had a stubborn infection after working too much and she gave me sick leave for 2 weeks.
This time around I went to see the doctor last week after my last check up. My midwife wanted me to be able to work fewer hours a week, but the social security authorities in Sweden are very tough on letting pregnant women go on sick leave, even for part time. It's ok. It will all pass, and the main thing is that the baby seems fine. She/he is growing well and moving a lot and the heart beat is strong.
Spring weekend - April 14th - 15th
Att få vara den som älskar mest
http://www.underbaraclaras.com/claras-bebisliv/att-fa-vara-den-som-alskar-mest/
