Little Chef Goes Shopping

Getting supplies* for Saturday's Christening.
* Not (only or particularly) potatoes and onions though... Via Anna's iPhone

Little Traveller

Like Tristan, Isolde is now equipped to explore the world - she will start with Nice, France, in a couple of weeks' time.

First official photo session

"What's happening, what are you doing to me?" When your mummy wakes you up a few minutes before your photo is to be taken, this is the result.

I had to renew my passport due to my recent name change. I'm very happy with the result as far as passport photos are concerned!

Another One

Västmanländskan's baby and T's little brother is here! Finally, if you ask Västmanländskan. An addition to the blog baby gang!

Congratulations!

Waffles

Belated "waffle day" with friends at the country house earlier today...
...while Isolde was getting some beauty sleep and fresh air.
Via Anna's iPhone

Show & Tell: Happiness & Now

Ewa's final theme for the month of March is now. I missed last week's, which was happiness, so I'm putting these together by showing you photos of some of the visitors Isolde has had since she was born. Happiness for me right now is being with my little family. It's just amazing to think that Peter and I have a child, that Isolde exists, that she is she, and that we have a child together, that we have created her...

My family and relatives - my parents, grandfather, aunt, cousins and their children, Isolde's second cousins

Peter's family - his parents, his sister and her husband, i.e. Isolde's aunt and uncle, and Peter's grandmothers

Some of ur friends and my work colleagues

Tristan

Isolde's beloved Tristan has set out on the journey* of a lifetime. We have just received word that he has made it to his first destination. You'll be able to follow Tristan's adventure here.

* Hopefully with a happier ending than that of his namesake

Earth Hour

I've seen this several times now and every time I have to look away at the end because I think she's going to cut off her fingers!

Tiny Shoes

The shoeaholic's daughter has begun building her own collection*. Add a number of slippers and booties.



* These were all gifts though so the mum can't be blamed.

Via Anna's iPhone

Me Time

On my way to the hairdresser sans bébé for some well-needed beauty treatment. Haven't been since October as I never went at Christmas as planned.


Via Anna's iPhone

Ice Ice Baby

First and probably last walk on the ice this season.



Via Anna's iPhone

Flat for Sale

I will really miss this place - it's been a great home for the past 4½ years! At least I think this is our flat... haven't seen it this clutter-free and clean! ;)

The building

Entrance hallway and bathroom

Kitchen

Living room

Bedroom

Balcony (including a summer picture)

Layout

Little Chef

Cooking dinner with her mum.



Via Anna's iPhone

City Stress

Dagens nyheter's På stan recently had an article about so-called micro stress. That's stress about small things, daily life stuff, which is supposedly more predominant among city dwellers. The articles includes a self test - how will I score?

You micro stress when:
1. The computer freezes - Guilty!
2. You must remove your mittens to use your iPhone - Nah, love it so much I don't mind haha!
3. People try to board the tube train before letting you get off - Oh yes!
4. You're waiting for one of the separating sticks (to separate your shopping from the customer's in front of you) to be free in the supermarket - Not really but I do get annoyed when people are slow!
5. People don't keep to the right in the tube (escalators) - Very!
6. Out-of-towners and idiots who stop at the top or bottom of the escalators - Yes! And this could actually be dangerous!
7. Sluggers who check their receipt for too long at the ATM - Don't encounter that too often, so no.
8. You fail to get the attention of the bartender after the umpteen time - Yes! I think I'm too polite and not pushy enough
9. People don't have their ticket ready when they board the bus and keep looking for it while the bus is running - Well, as long as the bus actually leaves and the driver doesn't wait for the person I'm fine
10. When the staff at the burger place says "it's ready in 3 minutes" but those minutes double - Doesn't actually bother me much
11. You need to swipe your credit card several times in the shop - I reflect on it but don't stress about it
12. You get stuck behind a row of prams and fail to overtake - Oh yes! Or just people in general taking up the whole width of the pavement.
13. When a caller introduces themselves for too long - No, but I do like when people get to the point, even friends don't need to bother with "how are you?", etc. Hahaha!
14. People who don't answer their ringing mobiles on the tube/bus - Yes, or when people haven't removed the buttons' beeps or click noises (e.g. when sending text messages)

Score: 8.5 (counted 4, 9 and 11 as 0.5)

Result (5-9 yes): Hi freelancer, student or part-time working enjoyer of life! You are a master of long lunches and "after work" and hurry slowly between the day's few commitments. Lot of talk, little action constitutes your chilled lifestyle where Friday wine lunch is a permanent feature. Trade the Chablin for an energy drink once a week to achieve the ultimate balance in city life.

This sounds like me! Not just during maternity leave but I'm pretty good at staying calm and not letting things get to me. The things that do bother me are just common sense and things people should really stop doing! ;)

Apothecary

All pharmacies should look like this one in Östermalm in Stockholm! Such a beautiful environment both for employees and (sick) shoppers (I'm not ill though, just admiring old genuine design through the window).



Via Anna's iPhone

Not the Mama!

Peter feels like Dinosaur Dad sometimes. But I tell him that Isolde actually wants to be with him; me, I'm just food to her! ;)

Yearbook

I've promised to show Anne the baby yearbook I bought to record Isolde's first year and her accomplishments. I like this one because it's more gender neutral than most (though I bought it when she had already arrived). Most yearbooks are sooo pink or oh so blue and just "too cute" for my taste. This one was cute in moderation, Swedish lagom :)




I also write more freely in a little notebook, like I kept a diary during the pregnancy.



And this blog will also serve as record of course. I'm planning to make a book of it through www.blurb.com or a similar site.

Show & Tell: Craving for Tuna

Show & Tell times two today as I missed last week - apologies! This month's hostess is Ewa and she has chosen the following themes for March:

4 March: Dinner guests - what do you serve (including recipe)?
11 March: Longing/Yearning
18 March: Happiness
25 March: NOW

Today's post combines the first two topics. I'm a bit short of time though so it's a brief but simple post.

One of my favourite food is tuna (fresh tuna) but unfortunately you're not supposed to eat tuna when you're pregnant or - as I recently found out - when you're breastfeeding. Well, you can eat it once or twice in 12 months. So I stayed away from it during the pregnancy but on Valentine's Day last month I finally enjoyed one of my favourite dishes - tuna with "my" Japanese sauce! The sauce is to die for! The recipe can be found here - I prefer it cold but it's almost equally good warm. The Maizena cornstarch or flour is only needed if you boil it first but you can just as well just mix the ingredients cold.

Finally, if you like tuna and happen to be in Cape Cod, New England, head over to the restaurant The Impudent Oyster! They serve the best tuna I've ever tasted!

Borrowed image that shows sort of what my favourite meal looks like though my sauce is much darker than the one on the picture.

Obsessing

At the moment I obsess a lot about Isolde's head getting flat. As infants are supposed to sleep on their back their heads can get flat if they don't get enough tummy time or lie on their back too much. There's no evidence yet that her head is flattening but I'm still obsessing! Probably best to carry her instead of letting her lie on the play blanket! Is she sleeping too much (which will make her head flat)?! Is the pillow* soft enough?! Did I start using the pillow too late?!

* The general advice is to use a pillow until the baby can turn from back to tummy.


Via Anna's iPhone

Inviting

Finished my little Christening related project finally!



Via Anna's iPhone

Couch Potato

Two months old today!



Via Anna's iPhone

Equals

Happy International Women's Day!

Shrove Tuesday

Trying a semla with chocolate cream and vanilla custard this year. Yum!



Via Anna's iPhone

Laugh(s)ing

Moment to remember: I'm trying to put Isolde to sleep by singing (Trollmors vaggvisa) to her but she just giggles (wonder if it's my inability to hold a tune or...) and talks to me. "Me sleep? Noooo!" :)

Updated with photos (not from last night though)! I think these are hilarious!

"Come closer or I'll kick-box you!"

"Nah, just kidding!"

"Hihi, I'm so cute!"

Vintage

Isolde is posing in her grandmother's knitted onesie, fashion à la mid 1950s.









Via Anna's iPhone

Contagious

Looking forward to when Isolde starts laughing like this!

Hanging In

Peter is out with a friend who's home from Jerusalem for a few days so Isolde and I are having a girls' night. Luckily Peter and Thomas were home for dinner before they headed out. Days when Peter is away from early morning to late evening are just soooo long. Fortunately that doesn't happen too often.



Via Anna's iPhone

Thank You!

Two new blog gifts have arrived!

Thank you Emma for the adorable socks :)

And a cuddly blanket and booties from Olgakatt and Marianne. Thank you!

Via Anna's iPhone