Moved

We're in, barely. We have so much stuff! Where did it all come from?! Even the walk-in closets are not walkable at the moment. The only functioning room is the balcony but I forgot to take a picture and now it's dark.






















And Isolde has had her first injury. Not move related and not serious, and self-inflicted by her sharp nails. She scratched herself inside the ear so that I had to put some tissue there for a while. She didn't seem to mind though. She didn't even seem to notice when her ear was full of blood earlier. Easy-going that one.




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Mobile

"What did you say, mummy, I'm supposed to stay ON the blanket?"



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Paket!

Package galore! From my secret book friend (still trying to figure who she is but I'm guessing Bea?!) on Sunday and from Västmanländskan today - won her blog draw!

My book friend sent short stories (indeed something appropriate for a new mother) by Jonas Karlsson, delicious raspberry chocolate and matches-with-message (for the fireplace in our new flat!), and her son passed on one of his favourite (and well-read) books to Isolde!





Västmanländskan's secret package contained a book (of course, the sender being an avid reader!), a film, lingonberry chocs, lip gloss and fish taco spices. All of the above is untried/read/seen so lots of new things to try in different ways. Better not lose anything in the move! :)




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Precious Cargo

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It Has Begun...

The packing that is. Thursday is the big day!

We've sold our bedroom wardrobe so my clothes are temporarily homeless (btw, we're selling a double bed and another wardrobe if anyone is interested).











But now a break to bake a pineapple cake - trying to use up some of the cans and jars we've had for a while.

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Under Reconstruction

Even though I liked my previous template a lot, especially the flower, it was getting a bit old. Time for a change. Not sure about this one though. Need to shrink the image above to start with. Work in progress...

Show & Tell: Balconies and Grills

I missed two Show & Tell themes in April: Your garden/balcony and On the grill. Before I tackle Désirée's May themes (which I'm also late with...) I thought I'd tell you about our new balcony and why the grill had to move out.

One of the best things about our current flat - our home for the last 4½ years - is the balcony. It's 8 sqm which is pretty big for balconies.

This photo is a winter one (only have access to the photos from the real estate ad right now) so the balcony looks a bit miserable but I think it shows its size. We have rearranged the furniture from time to time but we've always had a "table corner" and one " cosy corner".

The summer look. I really likes the little buxbom trees we had for a couple of years until last year when they didn't survive the winter (well, we had them during the summer but they never recovered so we had to throw them out) and we have always had some pots with different kinds of plants as well.

Another winter look. And this is where the grill comes in. It can't be seen here because it's hidden in the little space of the balcony just around the corner. You can't fit much there but a Weber grill (the smallest but one) fits.

We've had so many nice moments on the balcony. Afternoon teas, dinners (many prepared on the grill), tanning, sipping a home-made iced latte, New Year toasts, etc., etc. In the summer the sun comes around the building after lunch and then stays until 6 or 6:30 pm before it disappears behind the building in from (the one we're moving into). On warm summer evenings it doesn't matter that there's no evening sun and if it's been a cool evening we have turned on the infra heater.

But now it's goodbye to this balcony and hello to another one. First we thought the new balcony was much smaller but when we saw the flat again two weeks ago (when it became officially ours) we realised that while it's smaller, it's not that much smaller. The grill had to go though (it now lives at the summer house where it's replacing a standard charcoal grill) as the new balcony is more built-in and doesn't provide that much airy space around the grill that we think is required. Gas grills don't let out smoke the way like charcoal ones do but still food smell (how much depends on how clean the grid is). So we figure we'll spare the neighbours of that.

Since it's built-in, the new balcony will provide a bit more shelter. Our old one, and maybe extra so because we lived on the corner of the building, was quite windy. So I'm looking forward to much warmer evenings here than in the old one. And if it gets too hot during the day there's a awning for some shade.


Note that this is the former owner's stuff - we haven't done it up as we haven't moved yet.


Another thing I really like with the new balcony is that it's located by the living room and not the bedroom and that the doors are much wider. It's like the living room extends to the outdoors.

One of my favourite dishes on the grill is tuna with "my" Japanese sauce. But it tasted pretty good tonight too - fried in a regular pan on the cooker! Otherwise we have put many a hamburger on it and also turned out very delicious beef and pork fillets, one in a chocolate and chili coating.

Apologies for the formatting - can't get the spacing to work right now. Argh!

Little Swimmer

Yay, Blogger is back in action! Looks like my last post that looked lost is back, however the comments may be gone (?). I have a few Show & Tell posts on the way (have been slagging lately), but in the meantime, here are some photos and a video from Isolde's first swimming "lesson".

She likes when we bathe her at home and the pool was no different, well, even better of course. At this rate she'll be an Olympic swimmer next year some time! :) Almost all the other babies were crying at some point (and the changing room afterwards was a cacophony...) except Isolde who was just enjoying herself (and watching the screamers with big eyes when we were showering). All three of us are really looking forward to next week (well, Peter can't come along then unfortunately as it's our moving day!).

Yoda

Isolde's Yoda look is back! Last time we saw it she was only a few days or a week old. She's been doing this all day:











Not sure if she has a tooth on the way (don't think so, would be a bit early) or if it means she's ready to try to eat food (lately she's been studying us when we put something into our mouths and chew) or if it's part of her language development (she's been "talking" a lot today).

4 Months!

Our little girl is four months already! Where did the time go?!

Photo taken today

Isolde's new thing as of a few weeks ago is that she tests her voice. That is, she screams, or shrieks. For real! Not because she's crying or upset but because she's happy (well, most of the time). It's very difficult to get this on video though, since every time I or Peter start filming she stops and just looks at the camera/phone. None of these videos are very good - either in quality or because Isolde doesn't want to "cooperate" - but I'd thought I'd post them anyway. It's much louder in reality than it sounds (I need head muffs) and she can go on for a long time (not just on tape).

Fredagsmys*

A bit later...


* Though I cringe at the word...

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Words of Wisdom

Watching Oprah (as you do when you're on maternity leave) who heard a quote I wanted to pass on.

Forgiveness is giving up

the hope that the past

could have been any different

A variation of this is: Forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past

For My Secret Book Friend

Lately I haven't read as much as I used to do (I blame it on lots of good TV series and my blog addiction) but I still love reading and want to pick it up again.

Here are three posts listing what I have read over the last few years:
2008
2009
2010
And all my book related posts

I like "spinned" books with subtle or sly humour, for example I really envoyed Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann. I also like non-fiction such as Bill Bryson's books and The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester. I also read chick lit but I prefer books with "more", so-to-speak. I'm not keen on fantasy or science fiction but I like e.g. Jasper Fforde's books about Thursday Next. I like crime novels but I'm tired of historic or classic novels and romance.

I welcome books both in Swedish and English!

In terms of "extras", please don't send any scented candles or similar as certain smells give me a migraine.

Hope this helps but don't worry too much about my preferences! I'm just excited about participating in Pocket & Prassel for the first time and see what someone chooses just for me!

Pottering

Today's excursion (luckily an indoor one as it was a whopping 4 degrees accompanied by snow and rain): the Beatrix Potter exhibition at Millesgården together with lovely Tora and little Ester. The exhibition was a bit disappointing. It was very small; the shop was more exciting. If our children had been older though we'd have appreciated it more, since it was really more of a Beatrix Potter playroom.

Isolde slept through most of it (as usual) but woke up for a feed while mum watched a film about the author (which made the overall rating of the exhibition higher).





Peter Rabbit aka Pelle Kanin didn't come home with us but a pack of baby grip friendly crayons and some licorice fudge did.





After the museum we had a delicious soup with locally produced ingredients including spicy sausage at Millesgården's café. Pretty good despite miserable May weather!

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Bin Laughing

Best Twitter right now: GhostOsama. Some highlights:

- Was just granted my 72 virgins, YES! Did I mention that I have 72 virgins? 70 virgins left. I need a cigarette and a nap.

- I retired as the world champion of hide and seek.

- LMAO @NapoleonBonaparte you are short little dude, but I like your style

- @KimJongil you are my go to guy in real life now

- My life secrets I love @SarahPalin she got huge boobs and likes guns

First Party

Isolde came along to Sabina's birthday drinks earlier tonight. I took the opportunity to go out for dinner with another friend first while Peter ate at home and went ahead to the bar with Isolde. After about an hour or so after I arrived she and I went home while Peter stayed with the birthday crowd.

Isolde was properly equipped for the event. At first she was wondering what we were doing to her but she quickly got used to her new headgear.










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Royal Moment

Serious and nervous moment if their faces are anything to go by.

Isolde soon lost interest however and wanted to be fed instead.





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Shorty

Yesterday Isolde weighed in at 5,960 gr - so not over 6 kg just yet - and was 58.5 cm tall. Or short rather. While she's on track weight wise she's slightly below "her" length. But nothing to worry about. She's not even 4 months after all. It's just her mum who likes seeing perfect diagrams and graphs ;)

Here she is pondering life on our recent trip to France.

Final Countdown

Marianne started counting down weeks or even months before the big occasion; I make do with the one-day countdown*! So...tomorrow we will get the keys to our new home!



* Time has just flown by since buying and selling, the Christening, our Nice-trip, Easter...that I haven't had time to think about it. Luckily we're not moving in right away so there's time to plan that and think about interior decorating.

Only in America...

Those of you living in the States have probably already heard about the J. Crew ad where a boy has painted toe nails - in neon pink - and the debate about gender this has caused. It's unbelievable what it has turned into. You'd think it was a joke or April Fools. Crazy. I'm speechless. As always, there's the Daily Show to set people (as in Fox* watching Americans) straight.

The Daily Show - Toemageddon 2011 - This Little Piggy Went to Hell
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

* Though this time also ABC, NBC and CNN seem to have jumped on the loony bandwagon.

Pregnant Memories

My friend Malin's family photo shoot reminded me that I haven't shown you the results of my "modelling" when I was pregnant with Isolde. I thought it was a fun thing to do at the time and I'm sure I will be happy to have these photos in the future, but when I look at them now I feel a bit silly... But at least they don't look like THESE! Anyway, here are my favourites. I was in week 36+1 when they were taken.




The photos were taken by Lina & Linda.

Soft Easter Monday

After meeting Jenny for brunch (while Isolde was home with dad), Isolde and I had a look at the Japanese cherry trees in Kungsträdgården and now we're chilling in Tessinparken while Peter plays basketball.







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Flicka

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

Congratulations!

Happy Easter!

Peter, Isolde and I went out to the summer house to chill yesterday. It's just us here as his parents are spending Easter in Nice but Peter's sister and her husband are coming out tonight. Tomorrow we'll change our Easter location to my parents.




So far we haven't done any typical Easter stuff except for eating sweets and drinking must but I expect (I hope) lots of eggs and herring at my parents. Peter and I usually don't give each other any Easter presents and I don't decorate for Easter either (except for some tulips and tussilago) but I suspect this will change as Isolde gets older. Then she will want to do little Easter crafts in the shape of chickens and dress up as an Easter witch, but most importantly, get her egg with candy and/or some other treat (we want to wait as long as possible with giving her sweets so it will be a toy or similar the first couple of years I suspect).




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Small Friends

My friend Maria and I went to visit another friend, Malin, today. Malin has a 1 1/2 year-old daughter, Elvina, and is expecting a little boy in September; 22 months apart. Today Malin got to practice juggling two little ones and experience what sibling jealousy might look like :)




What's great with Elvina getting a little brother is that she's passing on all her girly stuff to Isolde (in addition to all the other stuff we've received or borrowed). Today we got two big bags of clothing (lucky us that Elvina is a shopoholic, or is it her mother..?) and I also borrowed a baby food processor that steams and purees in one go. In the picture are also hand-me-downs from Maria's friend Marie. At this rate Isolde is going to need one of the walk-in closets in our new flat all to herself!



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Bookchange

I'm going to participate in a book exchange for the first time (thanks Västmanländskan for the inspiration). Very exciting! Especially since I have been a "bad" reader lately but want to change that. I'm looking forward to finding out who will be my recipient, choosing the book and buying the "extras" to include with the package, and of course, to receiving something myself too!

I'd love this bookshelf but unfortunately it's an art installation and not a piece of furniture (at least not yet...) (from Tolisinredning.blogspot.com)

Royal Wedding à la T-Mobile

Pleasing to the Eye

We did buy a few things in Nice; a dress and a onesie for Isolde, a birthday present for a friend and an Easter gift to my parents (can't reveal what here of course). We also bought some olive oil that both has delicious taste and comes in a beautiful can.



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Last Day

Time to go home tomorrow. As always, mixed feelings, but in the end, home sweet home, or "borta bra men hemma bäst" (away is good but home is best), as we say in Sweden.

Today we took it very easy. Ventured out around noon, walked down to the port, past the war monument.












Before strolling a last time on the Promenade and through the old town we had moules (of course) at one of the restaurants in the harbour. Isolde was a bit cranky though but luckily we were seated outside where baby cries get muffled in all the other noise.




On our way home we stocked up on olive oil and tried the local specialty socca, a chickpea pancake.

And, today was Peter's birthday but in the midst of all the Christening preparations and other stuff over the last couple of weeks I forgot to buy him a gift! Despite us talking about his birthday several times! Maybe "pregnancy/nursing brain" does exist?! Lucky me he took it well!

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Maeght

Another two days have passed in Nice (and elsewhere of course :) Yesterday we took another car-free day. The plan was to go shopping, which we did but we didn't find anything. Nice doesn't really have any fun shops in my opinion, unless you can afford the Louis Vuitton streak or want to stock up on Provencian fabric (which I don't find that pretty) or herbs. But I don't mind just strolling the streets, looking at architecture or people. In the evening I took a bath with Isolde for the first time (we don't have a tub at home but in our new flat we will!), which we both enjoyed. After that the whole family chilled on the sofa where Isolde has occupied one corner.

Today we made a short journey to another pretty mountain village, St-Paul-de-Vence, where we also visited the modern art museum Fondation Maeght. It's considered one of the world's finest art museums but since I'm not too fond of modern art and it's a small museum, I thought it wasn't worth 14 euros. On the other hand it's a cool building and it's amazing that two art dealers collected so much to open a museum (or gallery). And it's famous artists of course; Chagall, Miró, Giacometti et al. It's a cool building as well. So it's nice to have seen it. To tick it on the check list.

For Isolde it was her first visit to an art museum. She found the milk bottle display of course (her parents did not stage the photo at all, no...).

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