Just a little update from me. My camera has been sent to a Canon service place in the south of Sweden so in the next few days I am hoping to find out what is wrong with it and if it is worth repairing. I am obsessed with my camera and I really miss it.
Anyway, what has happened in the last few weeks? Jason, Karen and Hugo left yesterday so we have done lots of things together with them over Christmas. They have tried skating, downhill skiing, snow shoveling, watched ice hockey and basket ball, Swedish food, cakes and lollies, Leos playground, snow mobile and also had dinner at some of our friends places. Jakob loves his cousin Hugo and has been amazing with him. He hugged and kissed him and called him My little buddy.
My belly is growing and I am no 37 weeks pregnant, not long to go. I have one more day to work this week and 4 more days next week before I go on leave. Hopefully I get at least a few days after that before the baby arrives. I am starting to get prepared though in case he wants to come early. Adam and I went through my birth plan today, we will put together the cot in the next few days and I will also pack a bag soon. I am reading a lot about giving birth again and I am starting to look forward to going through it soon, even though I am hoping it will be a bit easier this time.
Jakob is doing very well. He has loved having someone to play with and him and Jason have built towers and bridges with the duplo he got for Crhistmas every day. He is also in to playing games with whoever is interested. I have to say I get bored very quickly even though I like playing with him. He has been a bit difficult when together with friends but I think there are a few reasons for that. He has had so much attention from adults lately that it is hard for him to share with children again. The other thing is that he hasn't been to child care for a while and that's where he learns and practices playing with other kids. Adam has been home with him the last few days when I have been at work and they have had a great time together so I am sure he will be back to normal again soon.
Over Christmas we finally started potty training. We have been putting it off for a long time, not really sure why, maybe being worried he is not ready, and also a bit of just us being lazy. Anyway, he got some jocks from grandma and poppa that he really liked so it was easy to get him to swap the nappy for jocks. After a few accidents the first couple of days it has been going extremly well. He wees and poos in the potty and toilet and have had no accidents (apart from when being tickled by Jason) in the last week. Today Adam was out with him all day and he came and told him when he needed to go to the toilet. He has also had dry nappies every morning for nearly a week now so tonight he is sleeping without nappy for the first time. Not sure if that's the right thing to do but I think it is worth trying.
Yesterday mum and dad went to Umeå to start dad's cancer treatment. He will be having radiation and chemo every Mon-Fri for the next 6 weeks. During that time they will be living in the hospital hotel in Umeå but they will be back on the weekends. I spoke to him tonight and so far it is going well and he is feeling quite good.
That's it for now... hopefully there will be an update with some photos soon!
Australian Christmas is celebrated on Chirstmas day, the day after Swedish Christmas. We started in the morning with opening more presents!
The Christmas party of the year was held in Ale at my aunite Maggi's place on the country side, just 30 min drive outside Luleå. As always Åke had prepared some fun games for all of us.
Later in the afternoon everyone was waiting for Santa to come with some Christmas presents...
Hugo got a present from Santa
This is my growing belly at 38 weeks pregnant. So far so good. I don't sleep that great anymore and get tired if I walk a lot or stand for a long time, but that's only very minor things so nothing to complain about. I am actually feeling better than when pregnant with Jakob but I think that has to do with the weather. It is so much easier being pregnant in winter than in summer. Having to put on extra clothes doesn't really bother me and I can still wear my winter jacket even though it is getting very tight.
This is the lamb that Jakob picked from the toy shop to give to his little brother when he comes out. Isn't it cute??
Jakob is still doing extremly well without nappies. Both during the day and at night.
Yesterday Adam's brother Jason, his wife Karen and their 6 months old son Hugo arrived from Australia. They have had 2 nights in Stockholm before coming up to Luleå so the jetlag wasn't so bad.
Saturday morning we went over to see Alice and to play in the snow. Jakob loved riding the bob again and he had great time.
After and hour of playing we walked (the kids ran) back to Alice's house for some lunch and fika. 
...wasn't so normal last Friday. The singing is having a break over Christmas and so is the pregnancy yoga. Stayed at home all morning and did some cleaning and stuff around the house, was nice to not have to go anywhere. Later in the afternoon Jakob and I took a trip to see mormor and morfar. Jakob had a bath, played with mormor and of course some ice cream.
Tonight we had Jakob's Christmas party at child care (dagis). The kids did a great Lucia performance but Jakob didn't participate much, he wanted to be with us. He hasn't had a sleep today and was very tired.
One of the highlights was when the kids coulds see Santa through the windows. He was walking around knocking on different doors trying to find all the children.
After skating we had a quick lunch at home before we went to visit our friends Maria, Mattias and their son Felix. After having some really yummy sandwiches and cakes we tried a new game that Felix got from his grandparents. This is the first time we play a game with Jakob, it was great fun!
Even though it was fun to play with the kids we had enough after a while, playing games for kids age 3-5 is fun for about 20 minutes. Jakob saw a necklase that Felix had and wanted the same so Maria very kindly started making him a necklase and a bracelet.
Yesterday we took Jakob skating. I haven't seen him since the first time he tried so I was so excited to see how he has improved. He is doing so well and can move by himself quite a long distance without falling. He dosen't really skate, it is more like walking with the skates on, but it is getting better and his balance is very good. When he falls he can get up by himself and he doesn't get scared at all.
After some skating it is nice to sit down for a snack with a friend...
On Saturday Jakob and I went to the traditional Christmas party in Ale, 25 min drive from Luleå where my auntie Maggi and some more family live. It started with some Christmas porridge and sandwiches.
And then Jakob and Moa got ready for the Lucia train.
Last year they were all over the place when this Lucia train was happening but this year was much better. They stayed close to each other and did not run away at all.
As always Lucas was asleep most of the time but at the end of the party he was awake for a bit, here looked after by grandma.
Yesterday we went to Hägnan to visit the yearly Christmas market. We started with visiting Santa and Jakob was very excited. Jakob and his friend Finn couldn't take their eyes of Santa. When he asked the boys what they want for Christmas Finn answered: lots of small cars. Jakob answered just: presents, and pointed at the pile of presents on the table.
Next on the agenda was a sled trip behind a horse together with Zara, Finn, Maria and Alice. Jakob said as we were going around the track: I think this is really cool!
The kids also had LOTS of fun playing in the snow. They made very pretty snow angles in the snow and also pushed each other over laughing. Very funny :-)
This week Jakob finally got his new bed! He has been sleeping on a matress on the floor until now so we were a bit nervous about how it was going to go for him to sleep in a proper bed. Adam spent an afternoon putting it together and has bruises all over his fingers! He did a great job.
Last Monday dad celebrated his 70th birthday for the second time. The party with the kids was a few days before his birthday but on his actual birthday they had party for other friends and realatives. The day after mum and dad had to catch the bus to Umeå at 5.45 in the morning so the party started early in the day and finished early. Lots of people came to celebrate and I think everyone had a great time, but I have only put out a few photos on the blog. This first photo is of mum and dad.
Anneli, who is my best friend Karin's mum, is like a part of the family, and she had very kindly made 3 pies for the party to help out!!
