Cuddles on the couch

On Monday Jakob went to child care for a full day for the first time. It went really well even though we noticed that he was starting to get sick. The next morning he woke up with a temperature and has stayed home the rest of the week. I started getting sick at the same time but has not had a temperature so I have been going to work every day. Adam has been looking after Jakob with help from mormor and morfar. Tomorrow Adam has his next Swedish class so Jakob will be with mormor and morfar in the morning. He really likes being there so it's great to know that I don't have to take sick leave from work every time he is sick. Especially not now when I am new at work.
Jakob has coped so well with being sick and has been happy pretty much the whole time and not woken up at night at all. He has not had the same energy as normal and has relaxed a lot on the couch. Hopfully he will be nearly recovered before his birthday on Sunday!

Ale

Adam is still very sick so we decided to let him be on his own and relax for most of the day so that he can get better soon. Jakob woke up 6 this morning but we had a really nice time together, me on the couch and Jakob playing on me and around me. Just before lunch mormor and morfar picked us up and we went for a drive to see Maggi, Åke and Åsa in Ale at their sheep farm. First we had some hotdogs and sandwiches inside and Jakob entertained himself by crawling up and down different chairs and stools, and running up and down the hallway.

After that we went for a walk down to the big sheep shed to see all the sheep. Jakob was a bit scared and I had to hold him the whole time. After a while he wanted to go out again, but I think considering that it was the first time seeing that many sheep in one place, he did really well.

On the way back to the house we stopped to have a look at a few rams and Jakob felt much more comfortable with them, probably because there were only 3 of them and they were outside.

Jakob also got to see a BIG tractor and some dogs so he had a lot to tell daddy when we got home. Jakob went home with mormor and morfar for a while, and I went to the house to do some cleaning before going back to have dinner and pick Jakob up. I am starting to feel a bit sick, have no energy and a sore throath. Not good. I have a busy week at work and don't have time to be sick. Jakob has been coughing a bit but he has now other sings of being sick so far.

Sleep

Since we moved to Sweden Jakob's sleeping routines have changed a bit. He now normally sleeps a longer at night, and shorter, or not at all, during the day. In Australia he used to go to bed at 7 pm on the dot, but over here he normally goes to sleep anywhere between 7 and 8. Instead of waking up 5.30-6 like he did in A he now wakes up between 7 and 8 in the morning. In A he could sleep for 3 hours during the day, to make up for his early mornings, but now he can go a whole day without a sleep, even though we try to get him to sleep for an hour or so. It is now almost impossible to get him to sleep in his cot during the day. The easiest and quickest way is to take him for a drive, then it is only a matter of seconds before he is gone.
He still falls asleep very quickly and easily in the evening. We read him a book on the couch, then change his nappy and clothes, and then we put him in his bed, tuck him in and make sure he has got his wrap and his koala and then we leave the room and close the door. Sometimes he has a very short cry and says daddy sit there (he wants him to sit on a chair next to his bed) but most evenings he just talks to himself and to the koala for a few minutes before he falls asleep. He never sleeps in our bed, but the picture shows one night last week when he hadn't had a sleep at childcare and was extremly tired in the evening. When we started talking about bedtime, he ran in to our bedroom and jumped up on Adam's side and was asleep within seconds. We let him stay there for about half an hour before we changed him in his sleep and put him in his own bed. It would be cosy to have him sleeping with us, but last time we tried he slept really badly, and got up in the middle of the night and wanted to go to his own bed.

Jumping Jakob

Jakob just loves juming. He climbes up to anything he can see, chairs, stairs, couches etc and just takes off with no fear at all. So far we haven't had any big accidents but he has had a few falls along the way. Another thing Jakob has started doing is telling stories. Or trying to tell stories. The first one he told was actually about a fall he had one day when I was at work. In the evening when I came home, he took me to the radiator next to the couch and said in Swedish JoJo fall down. Aj aj. Daddy blow. The second story he ever told me was when Adam and Jakob picked me up from work one day and Jakob said to me in the car JoJo poo. Daddy change nappy. Adam told me that he had done a poo just before they left. He also repeats everything we say to him and is now really good at talking. He learns names quickly and knows all the childrens and carers at child cares names. He now weighs nearly 15kilos but I am not sure how tall he is. He fits perfectly in to size 98 but we buy size 104 when we buy new clothes.

The famous flu!

Last night Adam woke up with 39 degrees temerature. He has the flu that has been going around the last few weeks and it seems to be really nasty. 3 guys at work have been away sick the whole week, and lots of kids and carers at childcare have also been sick. So far Jakob and I are ok but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened to us as well. The other thing was that Adam and I had planned to go out for nice dinner tonight and Jakob was going to stay at mormor and morfars place over night for the first time. Anyway, we will have to plan it in for another day. Jakob and I ended up having a great day. We took it easy at home in the morning and then we went outside to shovel some snow. It was hard work, but Jakob helped (sort of, he mainly shoveled the snow back on to the driveway...) and we were pretty happy with ourselves when it was all finished. I took Jakob for a bob ride around the block and he loved it as you can see. He kept saying mummy run, mummy run. I ignored him...

After some lunch inside we left poor Adam and went to pick up mormor and morar. Jakob fell asleep in the car, as planned, and we went around and did some shopping. Either mormor or morfar stayed in the car since Jakob was asleep. I got so much done! I bought Jakob a birthday present, I bought some lamps and some other bits and pieces that I have needed for some time. After that I got dropped off in town. Caught up with Stina for a "fika" and did some more shopping for the house. Went home to drop everything off adn put up some of the lamps, and to see how Adam was feeling and then I went to my parents place to have dinner and pick up Jakob. I brought some dinner home for Adam but he only had a few bites and then went to bed around 8.

Today was a big day for Jakob. He did a wee in the potty for the first time!!! We don't even have one at home, but mormor and morfar has got one, and Jakob said he wanted to try it. He sat there for a while (isn't he cute? look at his hands!) and when he got up mormor noticed that he had actually done a wee. Not sure he realised what happened but he did it and it is a step in the right direction. I wasn't there to see it but mormor took this photo for us.

Busy Friday!

Yesterday was a really busy day for me. Work was very full on and things didn't really go my way. Went to the stables during my lunch break to look after Scott, the horse that I have started to ride once a week. Nice to get a break from work like that in the middle of the day especially during the busy days. Went straight to Kvantum after work. Kvantum is a grocery store here in Luleå and it is the best one. I am not the only one who likes it and going there on a Friday afternoon is not a smart thing, unless you like being in extremly crowded places and unless you like long queues. I got home just before our dinner guests arrived. My cousin Andreas and Karin came over for dinner as a thanks for Andreas helping us out with a few things, but especially for him organising a laptop for us. Jakob was happy to have some guests and it didn't take him long to take Andreas hand and ask him to come and play. They also got to read him a couple of books before bedtime.

Sunday!

Our guests left around lunch time after a great weekend together. We have to do it again! Not long after, Adam came home. He stayed over at Niklas' place last night so that he could have a nice morning away from a house full of kids and girls. Jakob had an afternoon nap and after that him and I went to mormor and morfar's place. I left Jakob there for an hour and took a walk with my friend Carina. Nice after a another weekend with no excercise and lots of cakes. Had dinner with my parents and stayed for a while before it was time to head home to go to bed. Jakob got really upset and did not want to leave. Luckily his tantrums don't last very long and he spent the whole car ride home saying bye bye mommo and moffa.

Sleep over party!

Since the dads were having a party at Niklas' house, Sigrid, Camilla and I decided to have a mums and boys party at our place. This was the first time we had guests that stayed over night and the two bedrooms upstairs finally got a use. In the evening the boys played and had fun, we had a really nice dinner cooked by Sigrid, and we also had some cosy time reading on the couch.

Before the kids went to bed they had a sandwich and milk together in the kitchen. Jakob really looks up to Elvin who is a couple of years older than him, and copies evertyhing he does. It is so fun to watch.

After the evening snack the boys were allowed to play for a short time, and sure they did! Camilla, Sigrid and I had some chocolate cake in the kitchen when we thought the kids were a bit too quite. I had a look in Jakob's room and found the three of them busy filling up Jakobs cot with everything they could find in the room! his tent, the floor rug and ALL his toys. They looked so embarassed when I walked in but I nearlly wet my pants because it looked so funny.

After the kids went to bed the rest of us spent about 3 hours in the sauna and the relax room. We had a great time and it felt a bit special that everyone was staying for the night.

Everyone slept well and woke up just after 7 in the morning, apart from Jakob who slept until nearly 8. We had some quite time on the couch watching tv before breakfast.

In this picture I had just said to the boys that they should sit on the couch instead. Elvin and Love didn't even hear me and Jakob just looked at me and said in Swedish No, Jakob stand there! and took a step closer to the tv.

Saturday afternoon

In the afternoon Adam left to help Niklas to prepare and to cook the food for their big boys night. Mormor and morfar came over to help putting up some curtains in some of our rooms.

This is the living room with new curtains from Ikea.

A visit to the Riding Club

Yestderday (Saturday) after my nice sleep in Jakob and I had a nice morning at home, before I took him to the riding club. He loved it!! he walked around cleaning the stables, watering the floors, patting dogs and horses and did not want to leave at all.

Another cousin!

In only a couple of months Jakob will get another cousin. Helena is pregnant and due in March so Moa will get a brother or sister. The two kids are very excited and Jakob loves touching and hugging Helena's belly. He even jumped on it once, which wasn't very good, but he quickly realised that nobody liked his game.

Adam and the kids

Last weekend we went away for 2 nights with Maria, Andreas and Alice. We had a great time riding the snow mobile, skiing, a visit to Ikea and lots of nice food and drinks. Unfortunatley I forgot to bring my camera but Maria took some photos that I will post on the blog as soon as I get them.

It is nearly midnight Friday night and I am still awake! Adam is asleep because he has the morning shift tomorrow and I get to sleep in. I get up at 6 during the week when I work and it is SO nice to get to sleep in on the weekend sometimes. Today I finished work quite early and we took a walk over to my brothers place where we had dinner. After having had about -20 degrees for the last couple of days it is now only about -8 and it actually felt almost too warm as we were walking. It is nice to be able to walk to some friends. That means that we can both drink wine without having to think about who is driving. We didn't get home until 9 so Jakob went straight to bed. He was exhausted.

Bye bye Christmas

Last week Jakob and Moa went to mormor and morfar to help taking down the Christmas tree. They were lucky to get a couple of presents each. Another tractor to add to the collection, a really nice t-shirt from my favourite store PoP and som little books. Adam, Anders, Helena and I joined a bit later and we all had dinner together.

Relaxing with morfar.

The two cousins cuddling on the couch.

Play in the snow!

Yesterday was a public holiday so we tried to make the most of the day. In the morning we walked over to Marias and Andreas place and Alice and Jakob had a play in the little slope not far from their house. They really loved it, ans so did the dads. They were swetting in the -10 and had to take their jackets off after running up and down the slope.

We are thinking about buying a bigger bob so that Adam can fit properly on it :-)

After a long play we went in to our friends house and had some sandwiches and hot chocolate together. Jakob tried some of Alices haribands and he looked so beautiful!

More visitors!

Yesterday afternoon Sigrid, Niklas, Elvin and Sampan, Camilla, Love came to visit us. I went to highschool with Sigrid and Niklas and after that the 3 of us travelled together to Greece, and then over to Israel to work on a kibbutz. The kibbutz was actually very close to Gaza, not a place where I would like to be right now. Sigrid and I kept on travelling together in Europe and Africa but have since then lived in different parts of the world for many years, until now! Their son Elvin is nearly 4 years old and he will get a brother or sister in only a few months.

The three boys played hard but really well together and had to relax on the couch. Sampan in the picture has also been a friend of mine for many years.

This is what Jakobs room looked like at the end of the day. You can actually still see Love in the picture playing with the toys until the end. This is what it should look like when the kids have had a good time.

Back to work

Today was my last day off before I go back to work. I start with just a four day week because Tuesday is a public holiday in Sweden.
I have only had about two weeks off but it feels like 2 months. We have done so much during this break. We have had a lot of time together as a family, a lot of time to do our own things and a lot of time together with friends and family. We have had lots of time to relax and lots of time for party. The only thing I haven't done any of is exercising and on top of that I have eaten lots of great but unhealthy food which isn't a good combination I guess. Never mind, things will go back to normal now and my day to day routine will not involve as much chocolate and cakes as I wish.
It feels like Jakob has grown a lot the last few weeks and he is saying more and more words every day. He is learning Swedish faster than Adam but I hope that will change once Adam starts studying the language.
He also wants to put his clothes on himself now and even though that is good I guess, it means that we have to be very patient and have lots of time. If you try to help him he just looks at you with his big eyes, points at himself and says JoJo! If you are lucky he gives up after a while and says Mummy help or Daddy help, and then we have to be very quick before he changes his mind. Good fun though and great to see his improvements.

Sunday!

Jakob slept from 7 pm last night until 8 am this morning. Nice. Had a really relaxing day at home. Adam took Jakob out to to play in the snow for a bit but I didn't leave the house until about 3.30 when we went to see some friends that I still hadn't seen since we moved to Sweden. We met up at Maria and Mattias and Felix place in Gammelstad but Anna, Erika, Camilla, Magnus and Stella were also there. Maria and Anna are twins and all of us girls used to hang out at the riding club together since we were about 10 so we have a loooong history together and have had so much fun with the horses over the years. The boy you can see in the photo is Maria's boy Felix who is nearly 3. Camillas's daughter Stella is 10 months but I didn't get a photo of her.

Jakob fell asleep in the car on the way to their place and didn't wake up when we carried him inside so we let him sleep on Felix's bed for about 20 min before we woke him up. He was very surprised to wake up in a new place, with lots of people around him, and LOTS of new toys to play with. After taking a few miuntes to wake up on my lap, he started getting excited and loved playing with all the toys. Felix was amazingly generous and shared his toys really well with Jakob. Jakob did not want to leave and kept saying Play Play Play!

Dinner guests

Last night we had Jocke and Susanna over for dinner. I have known Jocke for nearly 20 years now, and Susanna since they got together 13 years ago. She now lives in Stockholm and I haven't seen her for a long time, so it was really nice to spend some time with the two of them before she goes back.

Jakob loves having people over and makes sure that he doesn't miss anything.

Friday night!

In the afternoon we first had a visit from Åsa and Micke who came for a coffee and also brought a really nice plant as a house warming present. Before they left, Andreas, Maria and Alice also came to visit to see all Jakob's new toys. The first 10 minutes Jakob wasn't very happy to share his toys with Alice but after Adam had a good chat to him and explained that they had to take turns and play together he became a different child and they played so well together for the rest of the night. They all stayed for dinner (fancy meatballs and pasta) and played a bit more after, before Alice had to go home and Jakob had to go to bed.

Jakob is shovling snow

When we got back from the city today it was already starting to get dark but Jakob and I stayed outside for a while shovling snow. There wasn't really any snow to shovel, and it was about -15 degrees outside, but Jakob had a good time, and I actually enjoyed watching him. He was so determined in what he was doing.

Having a bath at mormor and morfars

Today we have had another really great day. We are trying to really make the most of this time off because we now that our lives will be starting to get very busy again soon.
Adam spent the morning at the gym working out, swimming, getting light treatment (you sit in a very light room for 30min, I have never tried it). I left Jakob at mormor and morfars for a few hours when Maria and I went shopping and had lunch together. It was great to spend some time together without the kids for a change.


Jakob also had a good morning. He got to watch his favourite dvd Pingu, he had a bath and played with mormor and morfar.

At 1 Adam picked him up and we all got together for a coffee in the city, while Jakob was having his afternoon nap in the pram.

Jakob and his koalas

Jakob really really loves his koalas. He talks about them all the time. Tells us where the koalas have to sit, talks about hugging them and kissing them, and also tries to feed them.

Jakob makes sure that the koalas and elks are involved in whatever he is doing and that they have a good spot in front of the TV or on the sofa. He is such a caring little person.

Happy New Years!

New Years Eve we spent at home together with our two good friends Carina and Andreas. The evening started off with a girls sauna, and Jakob who wanted to join (he was so cute sitting in the sauna like a big boy) while the boys played pool. After that the boys had a sauna while the girls were getting ready and after putting the angel (Jakob) to bed around 8 the cooking started. Adam cooked a really nice chicken entree and Carina and Andreas made the main meal (see picture). It was raindeer fillet and it was amazing!! We all loved it.

The dessert was eaten very quickly just before midnight, and after we put on some clothes to be able to stand the cold (-15) and ran outside to watch some fireworks from a distance, and to celebrate the start of the new year with some champagne (house warming present from my parents).

After midnight we spent a couple of hours playing games. The night was a really perfect night and we are now hoping for a great 2009 in Sweden!

Out shopping

The day after the arrival of the container, Adam had to go to a meeting in Kalix, so we went shopping with mormor. It is not easy to do shopping with Jakob. He only sits in the stroller for about 5 minutes at a time and then he wants to push it, run or just go just go in the complete opposite direction from us. We had a good time though and got ourseleves some clothes, had a lunch break and after that Jakob fell asleep.

Our house!

On Monday morning the container from Australia finally arrived! Mormor and morfar looked after Jakob for a whole day for the first time so that Adam and I could unpack and put everything away. It is amazing how efficient you are whent you don't have a child in the house.

This is our living room from an angle where you can see the fire place.

This is our livingroom as you walk in to it. The TV is on the left.

Our bedroom