Harald!

He has a name!  Finally!  The more time passed it got more and more difficult.  "What if we pick something that doesn't fit and we regret it later?"  And we got used to calling him lillebror or lilla gubben and other nicknames.

One of my favourite names for a boy has been Leopold and I've also really liked Theodor.  Another name on my list was Julius, one of Peter's second names, but he doesn't like it, or at least not as a first name.  Peter was instead quite keen on Vilhelm.  He didn't mind Leopold or Theodor but we both didn't like that fact that both those names are very easily shortened to Leo and Theo.  Leo and Theo are VERY common names for children in Sweden at the moment (for the last decade) with Leo given to 666 boys last year (while only 16 for Leopold) making it the 11th most popular name, and Theo/Teo to 567 boys, landing it at place 19.  The longer (or real name in my view) Teodor/Theodor/Theodor is very popular with 371 boys last year (no 39 of 100).   In addition to not wanting a name on the top list we also prefer names that do not have a given nickname.  And, needless to say, we wanted the name to go well with Isolde (and our surname too of course), and I quite like to have a 'd' or even both 'l' and 'd' in the name.

So we went back to the drawing board, or to the list of names given to at least ten boys a year between 1998 and 2012, and went through A LOT of names.  The aforementioned names made it into our favourites list again, but one newcomer stood out more and more, and after a week or so of trying it out, we decided it was the one.  With a few moments of second thought :)  I made up my mind earlier than Peter but he soon came around too.

So I'm proud to introduce...

Harald!!!

Taken today.  He's getting chubby!  (And yes, he has a scratch on his chin, courtesy of Isolde...)

A bonus with the name Harald is that it's a family name (though only a couple of generations back) on Peter's side.  It's was Peter's great grandfather's (gammelmorfar) name and it's also Peter's dad's second name (or third to be exact).  Harald isn't too common - 34 boys last year, which is not enough to make it into top 100 - and there's no "standard" nickname even though we don't mind Harry.

We're still deciding on his other names.  It will definitely be Harald Leopold...something... maybe Vilhelm (which is a Coyet family name many generations back).  Luckily we still have another two months to register his name with the authorities (not like 3 days in Belgium or 7 days in Spain).

A collage of Harald's various looks and poses.  Click on the photo to enlarge.

Smell that Baby

I wish there was a way to bottle that newborn baby smell! Wouldn't it be great if you could keep it in a jar and have a quick sniff once in a while! So far the little guy still has that smell - especially his head - so I'm making the most of it and getting my daily dose. I want to stop time and stay in this moment forever. They grow up so quickly but I'm going to try not to think about that and instead live in the moment.

Baby Guesses So far

Here's the baby pool  list so far, will update as I receive more entries.

4 March: Mrs Clapper (boy; 3295 gr and 49 cm)

5 March: Anne (boy; 3700 gr and 49 cm)

7 March: Miss Marie (boy; 3900 gr and 49 cm); Karin (girl; 3325 and 48 cm)

8 March: Millan (girl; 3410 gr and 50 cm); mamma/mormor (girl)

10 March: Malin (boy; 3780 gr and 50 cm)

11 March / due date: my own guess, and only based on that Isolde arrived on her due date (girl; 3525 gr and 50 cm)

12 March: Annika (girl; 3250 gr and 49 cm)

Keep the guesses coming! Parameters to help you with your guess can be found in the original post!

 

Guess That Baby!

With the due date only five weeks away it's time to launch a little baby sweep!

Prizes* for the winner of course!

There are three categories (but two prize categories as there would be too many prizes to give out if I included gender):

• birth date
• weight and length
• gender

Some background information and hints:

• The estimated due date is 11 March (apparently only 4.6% of babies arrive on EDT)
• Isolde arrived on her due date but it was a long delivery so it started the day before
• According to the old wives' tale whereby it's possible to predict the gender with the expectant's hair and wedding ring, as performed below by my boss, I'm having a girl...

Apologies for the blurry photo

• This pregnancy has been very similar to when I was expecting Isolde in terms of morning sickness (a bit more this time) and size and shape of my tummy (though perhaps slightly rounder this time and I've gained a couple of more kilos) - if you believe any of that reveals the gender...
• I'm hoping for a boy but it feels very much like a girl since the pregnancies have been so similar and it's also difficult to imagine something you're not already familar with
• Isolde's birth weight and length was 3,365 gr and 48 cm
• Feel free to ask me anything else that may help your guessing!

* Emma won the last one as she predicted Isolde's birthday but I can't remember now if I ever sent her a prize?!  Emma, I promise to do send you the same as this year's winner(s)!

Origami

A bit tempted to get one but we don't really need another pushchair.  But it has a button and it's automatic and it self-charges and... Fitting name by the way! 

Height of Futility

This must be the most useless and unnecessary device ever!!  Who buys this sort of stuff??!! What's wrong with a little bit of reflective tape (since the sales argument is "both for decorate purposes and for safety reasons when out during dark hours"?!

Fight for Kisses

Great commercial!



Better video quality here.

This Time Last Year...

...Isolde started knocking on the door.

Promenading

If we didn't already have a Bugaboo (or weren't  happy with it, which we are) I'd consider getting a Phil & Ted Promenade.  It's similar to the Bugaboo in many ways, not as ugly as the iCandy for example, reminds me of Brio Go (but better-looking) and has some features that are lacking on Bugaboo - it's fully collapsible and have much more (storage) space under the bassinet/seat, to name just two.

Baby food

A while ago I joined Buzzador, a site for word of mouth marketing, and a few weeks ago I participated in my first campaign: I received a box of free baby food - Nestlé sweet potato and beef - to try on Isolde and also to distribute to other parents. Isolde actually liked it so much that she ended up finishing all jars herself, but I guess that's a good result if any!

Normally I'm not too keen on Nestlé's food, as I prefer to buy a Swedish brand and I also find Nestlé's food too watery once you've fed directly from the jar (like now on vacation) and want to feed the leftovers later. Instead we usually buy Semper and sometimes Hipp (German, so not Swedish, but organic). Semper also has several organic dishes, which I haven't seen among Nestlé's products (?). There's also a brand called Ella's kitchen (American I think, as I've seen it here in the US too; or British), which is organic and comes in really smart packaging, but it's a bit pricey so Semper "wins" usually.

Here in the US while on vacation we have bought the Semper equivalent, Gerber, and Isolde seems to like them almost as much even though they are a bit too much puréed for her (usual) liking and also has a lot more tomato then the Swedish (e.g. lasagna or spaghetti bolognese) kind. We've also tried a brand called (I think) Beecham Farms but they were so watery and not tasty at all according to Isolde.

Sweet News

Just heard that my blog (and now also IRL) friend Petra has given birth to a baby boy today! Sweet Pea is finally here! All children are little miracles but some are a little more longed for because they took a bit longer in the making.

Congratulations!!!


Via Anna's iPhone

Sack 'N Seat

Our newest baby related purchase is a Sack 'n seat, a foldable baby seat for use when there's no high chair around - which is often the case when visiting friends who don't have children or going to less baby friendly cafés or restaurants. We used it for the first time on Sunday (except for a trial session at home) and we can definitely recommend it. It folds into a small sachet that's easily stored in the nappy bag or underneath the pram. The bag it comes / is folded in, is part of the chair so it can't be lost. This chair is considered much safer than other portables fitted/hung onto the table and it also fits most types of chairs. The price is very reasonable, 199 SEK, and we got it on sale for 149 (Jollyroom.se).



Via Anna's iPhone

New Buddy!

Isolde's little friend Jack has arrived! Congratulations to happy parents Malin and Ronny and proud big sisters Filippa and Elvina!


-Via Isoldes padda

Ehum...

I've realised that I probably haven't touched my boobs as much pre-as post-baby. It feels like I'm constantly checking if the nursing pads are properly adjusted in my bra and I don't have any wet spots... I thought the leaking would have stopped by now - I've heard many said that they were fine after two months - but noooo... It's especially uncomfortable wearing a bra when you're sleeping. I will breastfeed for many more months and it is a special moment with your baby, but part of me can't wait until it's over!

I've also realised that I have never talked so much about poo before. And you tend to forget that other people may not be too interested in your baby's bowel movements...

Donkey

Now I have seen Bugaboo's double pram IRL - it has started appearing here and there in Stockholm - and I think I may have a second kid soon just so I can get one! ;)

Image borrowed off the Internet

Flicka

Another blog baby has been born! Anne and Martin in Oregon are now parents to a baby girl!

Congratulations!

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!

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! ;)

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

Contagious

Looking forward to when Isolde starts laughing like this!