Small thoughts...

I used to think that it was kind of dreadful to let the TV "babysit" your kids. The past week I thank my lucky star that Lovisa appreciate TV! It's a good thing one can change ones mind...

It's a bit weird to move into a furnished apartment. It feels like living in somebody else's home and I can't seem to decide wether to like or hate the drapes in our livingroom...

People are always complaining about the Swedish health care system. Well, I think it's pretty awesome, I got an appointment and a family doctor in less than a day, in Canada it took me months to find a doctor for me and the kids! I miss the friendly Canadian people though. If you say "hi" to a stranger here they probably thing your drunk or mentally retarded. But at least Lovisa got a free icecream today after a nice lunch at Mulu café in Axelsberg. That doesn't happen every day even in Canada!

I managed to finish the first book I read since Andréa was born. It's a bit of a milestone because it's hard to prioritize reading when you get around 4 hours of total sleep during one night, but it was just light enough reading for me not to loose the thread and continue... Sushi for beginners is not a Nobel prize winner but very entertaining.

And now I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep... Muahahahahahaha!!!

Eventful advent!

To get the kids to understand that we now are living according to Swedish time wasn't so easy. Today they finally fell asleep before 8 pm. Both of them. It's been a lot going on this weekend. Andréa decided to learn how to sit on herself yesterday and we're all excited about that! Imaging, Lovisa was crawling and standing up if she held on to something at 7 months (not that I complain, on the contrary, I'm very happy Andréa is a bit more of a baby for a longer time, I know I'll run my butt of the minute she decides to crawl or walk!). It's strange how different siblings can be.

Look at me! Sitting all by myself!

After a visit to good old "systembolaget" (the place you buy your booze in Sweden) I was all happy, not only did I get a bottle of "glögg" (Swedish spiced wine that we drink around Christmas time) with taste of mocca and chocolate, I had to show my ID! Jesus, to think that there are people that somehow have a slight suspicion that I'm under 20 years old is hilarious! After all those sleepless nights! 

My dad and his wife was kind enough to bring my old Christmas box over, it's been standing in their storage since we moved to Montreal. So, after putting up some stars, drinking some "glögg", making a nice feta cheese salad and lighting the first candle (by putting a piece of paper on fire on the stove because we didn't have any matches) we got a bit of warm Christmas spirit. 

Happy first Advent!

By the way, do you think I should change the name of my blog now? And what on earth should I call it? It's not half as exotic with " En Värmlandstös i Hägersten", is it??

Jet lag hell...

We're in jet lag hell. It's terrible. The kids are totally confused and messed up. It doesn't make things easier that it's bloody dark the whole day. How are you suppose to convince them it's actually day when it's dark, grey and rainy? I DON'T KNOW!!! The first night we all slept quite good because we where so exhausted from the trip. But the second, third and now fourth night has been nightmares! The girls are suppose to share room now since we only have 2 bedrooms. So fare it's been impossible. Lovisa refuses to sleep alone and Andréa wakes up every hour, complaining or thinking it's playtime.

Andréa's been whining so much that yesterday I panicked and took the metro to Södermalm to bye a walking chair that I found for a barging on Blocket (Swedish sale site where people sell stuff they want to get rid of). I took "Rulle" (the walking chairs name) under my arm and went back home with the metro. I'm hoping she's going to be more independent in this because my arms, back and neck are aching from carrying her... Lovisa is a bit of a brat to, doing everything she's not suppose to. I bet she's looking for my attention since I'm carrying her whining little sister the whole time... Poor little mouse...

Enough with the whining now, it's been lovely to reunite with my family! I hope to see many more relatives and friends very soon!

Lovisa playing with a happy grandmother. Andréa's smiling (for once!) in her new Bumboo, a gift from her great grandmother.

Hi Sweden, Stockholm, Hägersten!

We're here, we're jet lagged and tired but alive. The flight was pretty rough. A long sleepless night, H having Lovisa in his lap and me with Andréa in my lap. It's quite the accomplishment having a flight supper with a very active 7 months baby in your knee, but it's feasible, I did it! Lovisa was cutest on the airport, insisting on pulling her own bag.

 Lovisa doing it herself!

Lovisa reading a book while waiting for our boarding passes...

Now we're trying to settle in here in Hägersten. Despite ugly curtains, whining jet-lagged kids and a very dark November I have a warm feeling growing inside me... This is going to be great!

Au revoir Montreal!

9 suitcases are packed and ready to go to Sweden. 2 babies are sleeping in their beds not knowing the big change ahead. Me, H and N is eating up the goodies from the fridge and freezer; red wine, chocolate fudge ice cream and key lime pie. And before that we had a "last" supper of "côtes levées" (spare ribs). So, you might say we're ready for the big move!

The last supper!

This past week has been all about goodbyes and it's ironic how you realize how much you appreciate your family and friends when you're about to leave them. It's been a lot of hugs, kisses, gifts and a few tears. 

 Lovisa got a goodbye gift from her old daycare, her favorite Panda (damned - another thing to bring to Sweden)!

Almond cookies from Lovisas old daycare, we'll never find a daycare like this ever again!

Now I have to finish packing the hand luggage containing of a lot of diapers, baby clothes and baby food. It was a bit different a few years back when my hand luggage used to be make up, a good book and an i pod. Times do change!

Au revoir Montreal!

Packastrophy....

Our home is a war zone. Things everywhere. We're saying goodbye to our lovely family and a bunch of good friends. It feels sad. And yesterday I received an e-mail from Lovisas old daycare saying that they really miss her and want to have her for a day to say goodbye. How sweet is that? So on Thursday she's going to the daycare to spend some time with her old friends and say goodbye. And it's pretty nice to get a chance to pack without Lovisa unpacking or taking the boxes all the time...

 Our bedroom, not so cozy anymore...

Lovisa playing hide and seek...

I try to think of it as "au revoir" more than goodbye. Then it feels a bit better. I explained to Lovisa that we're leaving, moving to Sweden and taking the airplane there. She said "wow"! And then "look a squirrel!" (it actually was a squirrel on our terrace but that's not very unusual because the whole city of Montreal is overflowing of squirrels!). So, she doesn't seem to bother about moving. It's going to be OK. Maybe a bit hard and exhausting but OK.

Soon to be Swedish girls!

Montreal we're going to miss you!

One week before the move...

So many goodbyes, so much things to prepare and leave behind. I wish I could be a little bit more like the kids that take every day as it comes and live right here, right now. Because I know all my worrying and anxiety over the move doesn't make anything better. And there are people who doesn't have a home at all, who lives in the street or in a shelter. Then it's justified to be a bit concerned! We have two homes! So what the hell am I complaining about! Sweden here we come!

To tell Lovisa that we're moving to Sweden, another continent, is not much use. She looks at me with her big, blue, beautiful eyes and doesn't understand a thing. Wouldn't that be lovely! To just tag a long, be fed, cuddled and carried. Then I wouldn't mind moving at all! Andréa's just happy when she has me in sight. If a leave the room she screams or whines until I return. Except for the evening when I had a girls night out. Then she was apparently in a state of chock and didn't say a thing all night. Before bedtime she had a bottle of formula (yes, formula!) and she slept all night! I really should go out more often!

A little help!

Is always good!

Mmm... Swedish brownie cake...

Monday entertainment

Is:

Taking the whole family to Dr L to get the flu vaccine.
Making oven baked salmon for lunch and spaghetti bolognese for supper.
Taking the stroller for a stroll, ending up in the park to let Lovisa loose.
Taking care of a messy house.
Watching "Pingu" way to many times.
Folding some laundry.
Panic about our coming move.

Goodnight!

WE'RE MOVING TO SWEDEN!!!

Finally everything is clear. In two weeks from now the whole family is moving to Sweden. More specifically back to beautiful Stockholm. It feels amazing, fun, great and just a little bit nerve wrecking. It's a lot of emotions since we of course are going to miss our Canadian family, friends and our new house that we're leaving behind.



On top of this H surprised me with a date night last night. Around 6 pm the doorbell rang and there was my sister-in-law with her sleepover kit ready to baby sit. It was then I realized that's why H had bugged me about taking a shower all day. I thought I wasn't in that terrible state, just a bit of baby vomit and cereal on my shoulder. Anyway, after a nice shower, change of clothes and more make up than I've had for a loooooong time of we went! Downtown Montreal a Friday night, cozy club with a talented Swedish artist, Loney dear, and for a little, little while I forgot about baby vomit, diapers, rashes and sleepless nights...

When is it going to turn around?

We're on the fourth week of having really shitty nights. Andréa wakes up between 3-10 times EVERY night. She fuzzes, moves, farts, whines and screams. I feel more dead than alive. I know, I know, IT'S JUST A PHASE AND THIS TO SHALL PASS! But for god sake, when you're in the middle of it it's not much of a consolation.
I've been in contact with our Swedish nurse and she came with some ideas to try to turn this nasty habit around. To make her little tummy digest the food better we're going to change her feeding schedule a bit, apparently fruits make you fart a lot so no more fruits for Andréa in the evening! I also got the advise to put her in another room than our bedroom. And that might help a bit. Because as it is now, I'm lying there listening, waiting for her to wake up and when she do I think to myself "Bloody hell, this is the ... time she wakes up - GIVE ME A FREAKIN' BREAK!!!"
I read somewhere that to go a long time without sleep slowly drives you insane. Damn right it does!