Happy New Year! Posts about our two weeks in Sweden coming up, but in the meantime, the 2013 annual accounts! Illustrated by the photos we chose for the 2014 calendar.
Did you do something in 2013 that you have never done before?
Took a big life decision affecting not only myself but also my family when I decided (though of course consulting my husband), to take a job in another country.
Did any of your friends become parents this year?
Not that many, but we could welcome a few new little people. A good mix of boys and girls - Ellna, Émilie and Ruth, and Dexter and Benjamin.
What dates from the year 2013 will you always remember?
The top date is of course Tuesday 12 February 2013, when Harald was born. He surprised us big time as he wasn't due until a month later on 11 March. I also remember many dates around that time related to my new job in Brussels, as I had to rearrange interviews, etc. due to Harald arriving early :)
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| Harald 9 days old in February 2013 |
Have you been sick or injured yourself this year?
No, except for the occasional cold. I did have a terrible case of mastitis!
Which countries did you visit?
Not that many actually, as I was pregnant and not allowed to fly at the very beginning of the year, and then for the first few months of Harald's life we didn't go anywhere, except for a new job-related trip to
Belgium in May. In June we attempted to go to France, but only made it to
Denmark (Copenhagen airport) due to an air traffic control strike. But in July we spent almost a week in the north of
Norway with dear friends Maria and Daniel, and of course, at the end of August we moved to Belgium. I made a short work trip to
Sweden in December (where I also ended up spending an unscheduled stop in Copenhagen) and we also spent our Christmas holidays in Sweden.
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| We also spent some time at the summer house but not as often as we would have liked. |
Best buy?
The dishwasher in our flat in Brussels. Can't believe our landlords didn't have one (although I've heard that they have started to change their minds now that they have children)!
Best project?
No DIY projects this year, except for weeding stuff and packing for the move, if that counts, but we did hire people to renovate our bathrooms (or rather, completely rebuild) in our flat in Stockholm. We were able to enjoy them for three weeks or so before we moved to Belgium :) Hopefully our tenants are taking good care of the shining tiles!
Did something make you really happy?
Seeing my children together, and especially in the last couple of months, from Harald turned 9-10 months old, when they have really started to play together and interacting in a "real" way. Seeing how Harald follows Isolde around, both with his look and literally following her around the flat. She often announces or tells us that he's there, especially in the morning or after he wakes from a nap. "It is Harald!" (though she says it more like "that one is Harald" ;) So cute.
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| Together, into the future (the calendar cover) |
Have you been lacking something in 2013 that you want in 2014?
Sleep! And time. I was on parental leave February-August and in a way, had all the time in the world, but it felt like it went so quickly! Especially with a new baby, and with my thoughts occupied on the pending job. And now, since we moved to Brussels, it feels like time is just slipping away. I work, come home, feed the baby, eat dinner, hang out with the kids and/or do some chores, put the kids to bed, and the suddenly it is 10pm and where did "my time" (
egentid) go? But I guess that is life right there. I don't really suspect it to change much in 2014 (especially since I will now be working 40 hour-weeks instead of 37½...), but it should get a bit better as we get even more into the way and routine of living in Belgium (not that it have been de facto that much different than life in Sweden, but it's been mentally exhausting I guess). Maybe we can get our kids to go to bed a bit earlier (or Harald at least, Isolde seems to be a lost cause), so that I can go to bed earlier, after I had some egentid... Wish us luck haha!
What do you wish you could have done more?
Sleeping. I really need to discipline myself to go to bed earlier. But it's that
egentid that I also want
, and I don't feel tired in the evening but then in the morning I'm soo tired. Both kids usually sleep through the night (though Isolde often comes to our bed, and has had some periods of worried sleep, and Harald has had a few sickness periods with cold and cough), until at least 7 am, but until recently I would breastfeed Harald at least once sometime between 5 and 7 am. And the main problem, sorry to repeat myself, is that I don't go to bed early enough. Falling asleep around midnight and then sleeping until 7 am, minus an hour or two due to various sleep disturbances, is not enough for me. I can really feel (and see?) how I have aged during the past year, and I don't think it's reversable unfortunately, though I hope the darkness under my eyes is.
What do you wish you could have done less?
Felt impatient and angry with the kids and yelled at Isolde. I guess it's normal, and kids must learn and experience anger too, but I'm asking for a larger dose of patience with a child in the terrible twos (and soon threes) in 2014.
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| Little Miss Mischief in December 2013 |
Favourite programme on TV?
Orange is the New Black, Big Bang Theory and Modern Family and I also liked this year's julkalender (Christmas series) and Solsidan.
Best book you read this year?
I actually managed to read 10 books this year (or nine, as I read most of "How the States Got Their Shapes" in 2012), which is more than double than the year before. It's really thanks to having a short commute to work (15 mins each way). Of the list below I think I liked "The Bad News Bible" the most, but "Stenhjärtat" was also very good but depressing (about child abuse).
- "The Bad News Bible" by Anna Blundy
- "Chasing Harry Winston" by Lauren Weisberger
- "I minnenas tecken" by Reginald Hill
- "Karriär och köksbesvär" by Sophie Kinsella
- "Pajernas värld" by Karen Stolz
- "Guernseys litteratur- och potatisskalspajssällskap" by Mary Ann Shaffer
- "No-One Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday" by Tracy Bloom
- "The French House" by Nick Alexander
- "Stenhjärtat" by Katarina Wennstam
- "How the States Got Their Shapes" by Mark Stein
Greatest musical discovery?
I'm so bad at remembering song titles or names of artists, so though I'm sure I have heard some new and good music, I can't name it. Instead I will answer that I love how Isolde is constantly singing (apparently I was too when I was little) and I'm amazed how many different melodies she knows!
What was your greatest success at work in 2013?
Well, it must be that I finally got the chance to work for the European Commission and work in Brussels, something I have wanted to do for a long time.
Greatest success in your personal life?
Getting that job offer is also very much part of my private life, especially since it involved moving my whole family. But besides that, I guess rearing two wonderful little individuals. I guess they are both with their personalities but I also think they are who they are because of Peter and me.
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| Harald in December 2013, almost 10 months old |
Biggest mistake?
Can't think of anything, at least not anything serious.
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| Isolde wasn't really planned when she announced she was on her way in 2010, but what a blessing! |
Were you happier or more sad this year compared to previous years?
I'm also a quite happy person and this year was no different. Maybe even happier because Harald came into our lives and I got this new job I always wanted. But also sometimes sad because at times juggling a job and the kids can be tough (but only up given for short moments, most moments at those of joy) and taking life-changing decisions are not, and should not be, easy.
Something you wished for and got? A healthy little boy and the job I always wanted. And the little but oh so important things, moments of love and joy with my little family.
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| Sibling love in the spring and summer of 2013 |
What did you spend most money on?
Children's clothing and otherwise stuff related to the move to Belgium. We didn't do much travelling this year, only to Norway, though relatively speaking it was an expensive trip as Norway is soo expensive! Oh, and of course our bathroom renovation.
Something you did NOT wish for and got?
Harald has been sick much more than Isolde was her first year of life. Nothing serious but colds that are coming and going, probably because of viruses at Isolde's (pre)school. It makes him suffer for days with a really clogged up nose, cough and something fever, but also makes the rest of the family suffer from sleep deprivation. I guess it is pretty normal but I still wish we could avoid all germs! I also had a terrible case of mastitis that I could have lived without.
Best film in 2013?
I can't remembering going to the cinema a single time in 2013, but at least we watched quite a few films at home. My favourites as I think back are "Argo", "Silver Linings Playbook".
Seen films in 2013 and rated by me:
5+
Cloud Atlas
Argo
The Lady
Life of Pi
4+
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Skyfall
Silver Linings Playbook
Hugo
Oblivion
Now You See Me
3+
Sahara
Catch and Release
The Hobbit
The Heat
2+
Poseidon
This is the End
Despicable Me 2
What did you do on your birthday 2013?
I can't remember actually, I think we were just home as it was a Monday but went out for dinner the weekend before.
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| About to be a big sister, two years old, in January last year |
How would you describe your style in 2013?
As I was on maternity leave and/or at least breastfeeding most of the year, I would say nursing tops were my no 1 wear. Casual style, jeans or chinos with a nursing top, until August, and after that more work appropriate clothes, however, there is no strict dress code in my new workplace.
Is there anything that could have made your year even better?
In an ideal world I would have stayed home with Harald to the end of the year at least (at least 10 months, as with Isolde) before I started working, but you can't have everything. I'm very grateful that he can be home with Peter instead of being in daycare. My colleagues here in Brussels do not have that choice. Some babies start already at four months old while some can stay home a bit longer to perhaps seven months, but the maximum is 10 months (4 months at regular pay levels, but then 6 months flatrate amount, which not everyone can live on).
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| Harald "the Seal" in his new home in Brussels in September (sadly after he learned how to crawl he stopped doing the seal) |
What made you feel good?
Being with my family - the children are so much joy all the time (okay, there are moments you almost wish you didn't have them, but then five minutes later they are sweet or funny, and you forgot all about the bad times). And also feeling that I took a step forwards in my career (hopefully). And of course spending time with friends and doing things that I like such as blogging and reading blogs.
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| Sweetness most of the time |
Who did you miss?
Our family and friends who we don't see that often since the move to Belgium :(
Best new people you met?
Well, in addition to the obvious reply, our latest family addition Harald, our new friends P & O here in Brussels. We had met P a couple of times before, and I knew her through our blogs, but we hadn't met O and the children before.
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| Our happy boy in October 2013 |
Most proud of?
Landing a new job in terms of my own accomplishments, but otherwise of Isolde who is doing so great in her new country and her new preschool. She just loves her school and talks about as soon as she opens her blue eyes in the morning. And also of how she learnt to go to the toilet and other perhaps small but still big things, like put her own jacket on.
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| Spring 2013 |
Greatest wish right now?
That we make our life here in Brussels work, especially after the summer when we're both meant to work. Making sure we have work-life balance and the kids are alright, also once we are two people working, one child at school and one child in the crèche.
What will you do differently next year?
Several things: stop procrastinating and waiting until last minute to do stuff, go to bed earlier, stop biting my nails, do some sort of exercise once a week, tell my husband I love him more often, have more sex (with said husband of course), get all our photos organised finally...
Plans for 2014?
Stay in Brussels beyond the summer, provided my contract gets extended and Peter finds a job. Maybe rent a house after our current rental contract expires. Make new friends in Brussels. Have fun!
