First stop!

My first stop was in Kristianstad where I got picked up at the train station by Josefina, Bella and Mikaela. Last time we saw each other was in Adelaide a few years ago before they moved to Dubai. Josefina and I and the kids used to spend lots of time together in Australia and it was great to see them again! Josefina and I went out for dinner just the two of us and had LOTS to catch up on since we both have lots of similarities in our lives at the moment.
Bella is as cute and happy as I remembered her, just a couple of years older. Bella was the first girl Jakob kissed on a tennis court in Adelaide when he was 1.

Mikaela, born only a few months after Isak!

On holidays by myself!

When planning the trip to Emma and Stephens wedding a couple of months ago I decided to take the opportunity to visit some friends in the south of Sweden at the same time. I don't go to Skåne very often so why not! and when travelling without children everything feels so extremly easy. I left Luleå Thursday morning and flew to Stockholm and then to Copenhagen. The photo above is from the south of Sweden.
This is a photo of the bridge between Sweden and Denmark. Felt a bit strange that flying to another country seemed to be the best way to get to the south of Sweden.

A couple of hours later I am on the train travelling on the bridge back to Sweden again.

Scarfs

Jakob trying on all my scarfs!

Mora Träsk!

The other day Jakob and I together with mormor, Helena, Moa and Lucas went to watch a band Mora Träsk perform. They sing songs for children and together with children. I didn't think Jakob would be so in to it but he loved it!!

Jakob and Moa leaving the show holding hands!

4 wheeler

Last time in Ale Jakob got over his fear of sitting on a 4 wheeler. Now he loves it and has been talking about going back. Not like Lucas who is terrified after watching Adam driving it last time. As soon as someone mentions Adam he talks about how scary it was. Jakob and I went to Ale on Sunday with mormor to celebrate Maggi's birthday and had a nice lunch, some cakes, had a look at the sheep and of course another ride on the 4 wheeler.

Knytte

Last week at Knytte we built big birds nests.

New haircut

I cut Isak's hair the other day. He looks good in his new hair style but I miss his curls a bit...

Mormor and the boys

Tonight mormor came over and had dinner with us and played with the kids. She also looked after Isak so I could take Jakob for a practice ride on the bike. He is getting better and better at starting and stopping but still a while away before we can ride to "dagis" I think.

The boys...

Cuddling

Playing

Brushing teeth

Having fun together.

I better take some pictures when they are not being this cute together but when that happens I am normally too busy trying to separate them...

One day fever

Earlier in the week Jakob woke up at midnight one night with a high temperature. The next day was the same, he was very hot and tired with a temperature between 39-40 degrees. We stayed home all day and he spent most of it on the couch either being very hot or feeling very cold. I was very surprised that he woke up the morning after with no temperature and feeling good! I felt like a bad mum when taking him to dagis (he asked me the whole morning from 6-9 if he could go) but he was exactly like normal all day and didn't even seem tired in the evening. Strange sickness. To be so sick one day and so well the next day.

Walking

Every day Isaks walks more and more and I think now it is nearly 50/50 walking/crawling.

Food...

Isak eats really well something that makes life as a parent much easier. He sleeps and eats well and that helps him being a happy baby I think.

Spiderman!

Jakob and Nelly

Jakob holding Carina's little girl.

Knytte

Every Sunday Jakob goes to "Knytte" which is a group activity where the children together with one parent go for a walk in the forest and look at different things and play games. We have learnt about ants and birds and different trees. I really enjoy it and Jakob quite likes it too. We had a great Sunday last weekend Jakob and I . After Knytte we spent a couple of hours with mormor, then we met up with Zara and Finn and had a "fika" together and went to the movies. I was a bit worrked that Jakob wouldn't sit still for 1 1/2 hour but he did it!! he got a bit restless and stood up for a while but he didn't complain and I think he thought it was quite fun.

First week off work!

My first week on parental leave has come to an end. It has been really great I have to say. After a busy few months at work it has been so nice to spend lots of time with Jakob and Isak. They have both had a good week which helps. Isak sleeps (touch wood) from 7pm until 7am and up to 3 hours during the day. I could have 10 kids if they were all like that because I like my sleeps! I have been a good house wife this week too and done lots of cooking (even trying something new!), quite a bit of cleaning, going through cupboards and drawers etc etc. I have also had lunch with some friends from work, been shopping with mum and by myself, visited dad's cousin who turned 79, had some friends visiting. And of course lots of time with Jakob and Isak.
Hope next week will be as good as this with lots of sleep, happy children and a motivated mum with lots of patience!

Valborgs!

Last weekend was one of Sweden's holiday where you light a big bonfire in the eveing and greet the spring! we got together with 3 other families and had a bbq and went down to the ice to watch the bonfire. Unfortunatley the big fire wasn't going to be lit until 9.30 pm so we enjoyed the small one instead.

After watching the fun from the pram for a while Isak wanted to get down and be a part of the party.

He doesn't only chose other mums before me, now he made a statement to actually leave the whole family! he didn't even look back!

After some fun outside the boys cuddled up on the couch with some lollies. Jakob was exhausted and crashed in the car on the way home.

Parental leave.

Only a few of my friends are on parental leave at the moment. Jenny, my work mate, has every Monday off to be home with her Edvin. They came over to play for a while earlier in the week. Isak got obesessed with Jenny and just wanted to sit on her lap the whole time. He actually left me, crawled over to her, gave her a hug, sat down and smiled at me. He did it several times!
Carina and her 6 moths old Nelly is on leave so we can hang out all the time! We have talked about how fun it would be to be on parental leave together and now it is happening!

Jakob and Linus

Earlier in the week Jakob had his friend from dagis over. They play so well together and it is fun to just watch them and listen to what they talk about (cars, cars, running, competing, poo, cars and cars).

Jakob and Linus waiting for the tractor to come with snowballs in their hands...

Friends

Last weekend we had Maria, Andreas, Alice and Melvin over for dinner. We haven't really seen each other since they got home from Thailand so it was great to get together again! Talking about Thailand made me want to go back there soon again though...

First bike!

Last week we bought Jakob his first bike. I have wanted to wait for as long as possible because my thoughts were that he would go crazy and just take off if he had one. Anyway, when his friends have been talking about getting there bikes out after winter and Jakob looks embarrassed and says that he is getting his out too- meaning his three wheeler, we thought that it was time to buy him a proper bike.

We bought one second hand that we gave him early one morning. Adam took him out for a first try and I took him out again in the afternoon. The next morning he did it by himself!! it felt really special to see him ride down the road on his first bike. I can't believe that I have a child that can ski and ride a bike!! that must mean that not only Jakob is getting older, I must be getting older too.

Now, a week later it is going pretty well. Adam or I always follow him around the block on our own bikes, it got too hard trying to run after him. He is getting better and better at starting by himself but he hasn't learnt to stop yet. A bit of a worry... he stops by putting his feet down but hasn't learnt to use the pedals to break. That will be a mission for this weekend.