Bad readers!

What can I say? I have over 1000 readers/month (right now actually over 1600 readers/month) and so few of you guys comment! So pretty please, if you take the time to read about my life at least you can leave a little trace... Say hello. Or say what you want! What you think! And if you don't have the time for that I put a few boxes below each post where you just can click on the one that you think agree with the post you just read (funny, interesting, too private or go Karin). Easy, fast and NO EXCUSE not to do!

No excuse...

This is what I thought I would be doing on my maternity leave (before I got Lovisa that is... After she arrived I thought "how the hell am I ever going to find the time for this?!?):

I got one beautiful baby scrap book from Sweden for Lovisa (a gift from my mother) and one from Quebec for Andréa (a gift from H:s mother). I got the photos developed (finally!) and I bought the glue stick. Nothing much to do but to get started...

Stockholms stadsmission!

I bought 2 beautiful wooden toys and 5 books for less than 200 SEK (30 CAD) at Stockholms stadsmission. It's a non-profit organisation whose primary goal is to help people in exposed situations.

Good deal!

What do you think of the new look?

Changed the blog a bit... What do you think? Come on - leave a comment!

Tired...

Andréa is a little teaser... She gave us one whole night of sleep last week to get our hopes up and then she started to fuzz again. This night she woke up around 5 times and was totally awake between 5-6 am. We're exhausted! And the most annoying thing is that H and me take it out on each other. I guess it's because we cant' really be mad at the kids for not sleeping, making our night terrible so instead we're pissed off at each other. Not very smart...

She already forgot about her bad night... Wish I could do the same...

No "Metro" today....

Whatever your opinion about the Swedish monarchy is, fact remains: the interest in the new baby princess is big. I never seen that our little metro station ran out of the free newspaper "Metro", but today they where all gone by lunchtime...

Headline: all about the new baby...

Doing the groceries....

In spring jacket and sun glasses. That's the right way to go!

Back from a "stroller-run"!

Since our Phil and Ted's stroller is a "jogging stroller" and I need to exercise I thought I'd have a go! And it was actually fairly easy to run with it. Well, easy and easy, of course it was way harder and more challenging than running with myself... It took me 26 minutes to run 4 km which isn't very good but we do live on a hill. Running down the hill with the stroller was easy, but running up... Phew! Andréa was a bit chocked over that her mother actually was RUNNING with her in the stroller but eventually she relaxed:

And it's Friday folks! Have a great weekend!

Why does this always happen?

The matching pair is no where to be found. Otherwise I'm content, kids clothes sorted out, the outgrown put away, and some new spring clothes for Andréa (Lovisas old ones) taken out. Because spring is coming now, right!?

Happy birthday dad!

Today is a big day. My dad's turning 60 years old and Andréa's turning 10 months old. Dad, who took of to deep Africa about a week ago, and his friends are going to barbecue a goat and eat it. Andréa just celebrated by doing a major poop that ended up everywhere. I guess celebration looks different in different age groups?!. Anyway, big hurrah to two of my favorite people! Here's for you dad (just pretend your the president):

Today the rain is poring down and it's around 0 degrees which means it's unbelievably slippery outside. Me, Lovisa and Andréa took the metro to the daycare but almost killed ourselves walking the 200 meters from the metro to the daycare. So stay inside if you can! 

Here's my beautiful and wacky family yesterday evening:

Time to clean the clothes that got a bit dirty from the major poop!

A whole nights sleep...

Yes, it happened again. Last time it happened was in August last year so it was about bloody time she slept a whole night! Andréa slept 12 hours without waking up... Very unreal and very unexpected since she's teething and has a cold. H and me woke up somewhere around 6 am and looked at each other and then I asked "Do you think she's dead?". It's sick but that's the thing I fear when I get a whole nights sleep because it's so RARE... So please Andréa, could you make this more of a habit so I won't think your dead when you just sleep good?

And look what we got!

A counter top dish washer! Ugly as hell and bulky but my hands are so grateful! It cleans very well and with a bit of patience you can fill it up with more dishes than you think!

P.S I changed my blog address to karinloiske.blogspot.com D.S

The adventures of Andréa....

It's high time to think about childproofing our home... Or just put her in the crib permanent!

In the next clip you understand why the walking chairs are banned in Canada... And it's kind of funny when Lovisa and H comes out from the bathroom... Yes, Lovisa likes to follow us to the toilet to make sure we do everything right. After we're done she normally applaud and say "bravo!", very encouraging!

I hope these video clips works, I have problems to look at the ones I put in a few days ago...

Today I'm home with two sick kids and I slowly feel the panic building up... What am I going to to all day? Any ideas?

Good little housewife...

The kids are now teething AND have a nasty cold. So the whining have increased and it's now quite impossible to get them ready to go outside without sweating, swearing and screaming... Lovisa has her pacifier constantly (so much for our "rule" - only to give her the pacifier before nap time or bed time,) if we try to take it away from her she screams hysterically and throws herself on the floor. This is why I'm a bit impressed that I managed to bake "semlor" today of all days since H is on a meeting and I'm alone with the rascals. That was exactly what I needed, a delicious "semla"! I even made the almond paste myself - good little housewife!

So good and so filling!

What a week!

Andréa had a very eventful week! She figured out how to clap her hands, she slides on her bum from the living room to the kitchen easily, she stands up in her crib and she got two tiny teeth! All this in less then a week! Oh, my! Here's Andréa on her round about this evening:

And here she is at the playgroup earlier this week:

And I'm proud to announce that I ran (yes, ran!) almost 4 km in less than 25 minutes today. Not my best performance but considering I had two children in less than 2 years, breastfed them both and didn't really work out since October last year it's an OK start! So now I figure I deserve some wine, sleeping kids and TV with H!

Urban Deli!

Yesterdays outing was a well needed break from reality. We ate at a cool and nice restaurant that had just the right volume of music so you still could have a conversation without screaming, very good food and wine and excellent service! Don't miss Urban Deli at Nytorget, in the heart of the trendy SoFo area. I ate smoked shrimps with aioli and for desert a delicious warm chocolate cake topped with moscovado icecream and caramelized nuts. Mmm...

Today I have two teething children, Lovisa's still working on her molars and Andréas first teeth popped out yesterday! So two whining, drooling children at once... Life little treats!

Sipping on a glass of wine...

...and preparing for a GIRLS NIGHT OUT! Wohoo!!!

So damned right!

One of those mornings...

The kids woke up way to early. We were out of milk so I couldn't have my coffee (it's NOT an option to drink it black!). Lovisa was whining. Andréa fell from Lovisas bed to the floor. And that was of course all my fault, turning my back on her to fetch her clothes for 5 seconds. Snow everywhere so we actually took the metro to leave Lovisa at the daycare. Lovisa refused to go inside, she wanted to stay in the bushes outside the daycare. Now I'm frying pancakes hoping Andréa will forgive me for being a useless mother. And I'm going to have my first cup of coffee and it's almost lunchtime, totally crazy!!!

Refusing...

She's standing up!!!

Well, with a bit of help from her crib, but anyway - way to go my big girl!

She was suppose to nap but instead she was practicing standing up like crazy when I walked in to check on her. A very happy and proud little girl!

Good morning Monday!

Another day with sparkling sun and white snow! We started the day with a fast breakfast and then off to daycare with Lovisa. First she cried a little bit when H took of for work, then she cried when I left her at daycare. It's the first time she's really sad when I leave her. I'm hoping it's her molars finally coming, she's drooling like a hungry dog and she's very sensitive. Poor little mouse...

I'm on my second cup of coffee, trying to convince Andréa that it's about bloody time she starts to crawl. She wants to walk right away and doesn't really get this with laying on her stomach. At her 9 month control last week the nurse thought that she is a bit late with the "moving around part". On the other hand she's been quite busy with gaining weight, almost 1 kg in less than a month! Good girl! Today I'm going to take her to the playgroup so at least she can see that other babies actually crawl, it's not anything that her mother just makes up...

 Mmmm whipped cream...

Her favorite pose, on her butt. Here she just got a hold of a piece of paper that she torn in to tiny pieces, good therapy?

Remembering Whitney

I was chocked to hear the tragic news that Whitney Houston passed away today. One of the greatest voices of all time is now silent. She was a big part of my childhood as her prime time was during my teenage years. Here's one of my favorite songs with and by Whitney and if you listen carefully you can hear her little daughter say "sing mummy" in the beginning of the song and "clap your hands" in the end. That little daughter is now a teenage girl that lost her way to young mother today. Rest in peace Whitney.

Toy museum and so much more!

Yesterday we visited the Toy Museum, which also is the Transport Museum. Old trains, busses, toys and a crazy Lovisa running around. The café was not that great but on the other hand we didn't go there for coffee. On the whole it was a very fun afternoon!

 Oh the joy of riding on a fake horse!

 Playing with trains...

 This bus is as old as my grandmother, their both from 1928. And they both look very good for their age I must say!

Lovisa had a hard time to keep still for more than a second...

Now time to fry some pancakes so we have the energy to go outside and enjoy the wonderful winter weather... A sparkling sun and only a few minus degrees...

On the way to daycare...

These little friends greet us when we go to daycare:

It's always nice to see them.

Swedish bureaucracy...

God, I hate bureaucracy! Since Lovisa only attend daycare part time, we're just suppose to pay for part time. But after receiving the first payment for February they want me to pay full time. After 5 phone calls I still haven't found the right person and according to the guy at the "district administration office" I have to pay the whole amount this month and next month I'll get the money back with the next payment. And for you who wonder I did fill out all the right forms and the part time agreement before Lovisa started.  Poor those parents who both works and have to deal with this... OK, time for the next phone call! Wohoo!!!

Wall art!

It's not that nice though, when you discover that your little artist's been drawing on the wall...

"A monster" by Lovisa Bouma (on the living room wall)

Toilet art!

It's kind of nice when you go to the toilet in the morning and find little stickers all over it...

By Lovisa Bouma

Soon...

Even if it's freaking cold and in the middle of winter I have a feeling that spring is right around the corner...

And to all our relief (or OK, to my relief mostly) Andréa is eating food again. And boy, does she eat!

Have a good week everybody!

Preparing...

After a very fun and social weekend I'm pooped! In an attempt to be a good housewife and mother I prepared tomorrow mornings breakfast (because I know I'll feel more dead than alive tomorrow morning) which included preparing the coffee machine. In a state off confusion I turned the coffee machine on so tomorrow mornings coffee is now freshly brewed, smelling wonderful. The only thing is that it's 9:20 pm and I just want to be in a horizontal mode in my bed. So much for preparing...

A good day!

I had a coffee with Andréa after leaving Lovisa at the daycare. I bought a standing board for our Brio stroller and a gift for a soon coming birthday. I watched a show on TV. Andréa crawled backwards from the living room to the kitchen.  I had lunch. I picked up a happy Lovisa at the daycare while Andréa was sleeping in the stroller outside. Now the children are playing happy to be together. What a great day!

 Andréa enjoyed her corn stick (taste absolutely nothing) while I had my coffee

She got herself from the play mat to the toys...

And from the toys to the kitchen...

Taking the girls home after daycare, Lovisa on the new standingboard

And it's only 16 pm!

PS Feeling just a bit greasy I think I could get used to taking my shower in the evening...DS

Newly showered and ecologic...

I'm testing something new. To take my daily shower in the evening after the kids are in bed. Since Lovisa started daycare the mornings will be earlier and it's a lot to get 2 rascals fed, dressed and ready for winter in about an hour. So forget taking my shower, I'm grateful if I have the time to brush my teeth! And get dressed of course... It's freaking cold to go out naked right now... I don't like to admit it but I'm one of those... You know which ones I'm talking about... The new generation that never really wakes up unless they get a morning shower. I know! It's silly! A very snobbish problem! But I can't help feeling greasy and half asleep the whole day if I don't take my shower! But enough is enough. And I have to admit, it is pretty cozy to take a evening shower to. No screaming kids opening the door or playing hide and seek behind the shower curtain. I can actually take those extra minutes and just stand there in the hot water and relax... And after I even have the time to moisturize my poor, dry skin with Cocoa Body Butter from Body Shop:


So now I'm sitting here, smelling nice and drinking ecologic tea from ICA:s "I love eco" serie:


I like that regular stores like ICA have a big selection of ecological products that aren't to expensive. During the 2 years I lived in Montreal the selections of items just exploded and now you can find most of your every day groceries. Great!

Now I really have to get my butt in to bed. Lovisa's new teacher at the daycare looked at me during lunch and said: "You had a lot of sleepless nights, didn't you?". I didn't think it was that obvious... Goodnight!

Her photo is on the floor and on the wall...

And tomorrow she's going to spend the whole day at daycare without me and Andréa! My big, big girl...

This is Lovisas place on the floor, where they have morning meetings and story time