We had a beautiful little girl two weeks ago and I'm just now getting around to updating my blog (of course). After 39 hours in labor and emergency surgery afterward to remove the stuck placenta it was quite an adventurous birth, but our babe is perfect...eating, pooing, farting, burping, and sleeping like a champ. Since I'm not planning on using real names for my family on this blog I'll have to come up with a good blog-name for her. Being a first-time mom is wonderful, even though I had a nasty case of the baby blues last week and spent a few days drenched with hormones, breast milk, and tears. I'm really thankful that after her dramatic arrival (she came out blue with the cord around her neck twice in addition to the postpartum surgery) she is very healthy and perfect and I've had zero problems breastfeeding.
That's all the news for now...time for yet another nap....zzzzzzz
Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Ready to pop
I really don't have much to write about these days other than the fact that I'm very, very, very pregnant. My due date is one week from today...so far this little babe seems pretty cozy in there as I haven't had any real signs of labor yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the full moon this weekend!
I've been lucky in the fact that although late pregnancy is no walk in the park, it really hasn't been too horrible for me...I'm not working or running around after other kids and the weather hasn't been overly hot, so there isn't a whole lot for me to complain about. On the other hand, the past month of waking up with only the tough decisions of whether to read a book, eat strawberries in the sunshine, go for a walk (or waddle at this point), take another nap, go swimming, or aimlessly shop for small baby items has not exactly made the time fly by.
I'm really excited to meet our little one though, and just feeling very happy that I've ended up on this random Swedish island with M and our growing family. And to make our life here even more idyllic, we and a few of our neighbors just pitched in together to buy a wood-fired cedar hot tub that M is installing next to the sauna on down by the sea right now:
I stole this photo off the internet but the one we bought is HUGE and fits ten people. Can you say party time?
I've been lucky in the fact that although late pregnancy is no walk in the park, it really hasn't been too horrible for me...I'm not working or running around after other kids and the weather hasn't been overly hot, so there isn't a whole lot for me to complain about. On the other hand, the past month of waking up with only the tough decisions of whether to read a book, eat strawberries in the sunshine, go for a walk (or waddle at this point), take another nap, go swimming, or aimlessly shop for small baby items has not exactly made the time fly by.
I'm really excited to meet our little one though, and just feeling very happy that I've ended up on this random Swedish island with M and our growing family. And to make our life here even more idyllic, we and a few of our neighbors just pitched in together to buy a wood-fired cedar hot tub that M is installing next to the sauna on down by the sea right now:
I stole this photo off the internet but the one we bought is HUGE and fits ten people. Can you say party time?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Crafty stuff
Well, I've once again been slacking on my blog, but for good reason since the summer has been wonderful, we've been spending lots of time out on the boat in the islands, I was working at a preschool until the end of June, and I've been waiting for a good opportunity to take some photos of all the baby stuff we've been making.
M told me he was working on a baby bed/cosleeper but wouldn't tell me exactly how he wanted to make it...then he surprised me with this ADORABLE bed which is even more adorable because of the fact that we met while I was working on his boat as an environmental consultant looking for dolphins and whales:
I have a feeling that if we have a second child there's no way I'll have this much calm downtime to make so many cute handmade baby crafts, so I'm just assuming these will be for ALL our future kiddos too. Everything is going smoothly with my pregnancy...a little less than 1.5 months left and I've officially crossed over from being "cute pregnant" to "kind of freaky pregnant." Let's just say the next person who jokingly asks me if I'm sure there's not twins in there is getting slapped....
M told me he was working on a baby bed/cosleeper but wouldn't tell me exactly how he wanted to make it...then he surprised me with this ADORABLE bed which is even more adorable because of the fact that we met while I was working on his boat as an environmental consultant looking for dolphins and whales:
Here's a quilt I crocheted...at first it was hard to figure out which colors to choose since we don't know if we're having a boy or a girl, but then it was fun to just go crazy with all the colors:
I was also inspired by M's nautical baby bed to crochet an undersea mobile for the kiddo...M made the hanger from an oak tree in the backyard:
Lobster
Fish
Whale
Clam
Octopus
Jellyfish
I have a feeling that if we have a second child there's no way I'll have this much calm downtime to make so many cute handmade baby crafts, so I'm just assuming these will be for ALL our future kiddos too. Everything is going smoothly with my pregnancy...a little less than 1.5 months left and I've officially crossed over from being "cute pregnant" to "kind of freaky pregnant." Let's just say the next person who jokingly asks me if I'm sure there's not twins in there is getting slapped....
Monday, April 25, 2011
Spring has sprung!
...and it sure doesn't mess around when it decides to show up! The weather for the past few weeks has been absolutely gorgeous, sunny, and warm....the flowers are blooming, baby lambs are being born, and I'm actually getting a little bit of a tan from spending the past week outside during Easter vacation. It's amazing how much better and happier Sweden becomes when springtime finally shows up. In more good news, the daycare where I had an unpaid internship has hired me to work 20 hours per week, possibly up to 30, through summertime. It's a huge difference not feeling like an unemployed crabby pregnant burden on M and having so much to look forward to this summer. Here are a few photos from the past couple of weeks:
A brand-new lamb born on the farm on M's parent's island.
I've been getting crafty in anticipation of the baby Sweedie.
M's new boat, Vixen, is all spiffed up and ready to start his new company.
Every day the buds on the trees are bursting bigger and greener.
You know spring is here when the forest is carpeted with blåsippor.
More fuzzy buds.
View over the fields on the farm where we live.
Vitsippor everywhere!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Routines
I haven't been inspired to write much here lately, mainly due to the fact that I've gotten really busy with school and work, and everything seems to have settled into a predictable routine. Now that my Swedish is at a passable level and things don't seem so foreign to me it's not quite as exciting to write about as it was when everything Swedish was fresh and exciting and strange and funny.
It's also not my favorite time of year weatherwise...although I'm thankful we've had some bright sunny days and plenty of snow to cover up the gray and mud...it's still COLD, COLD, COLD. Sometimes I feel like I'll never be warm again and the need for hot sun on my skin feels worse than any pregnancy food craving. The days are getting longer though, and I just have to remind myself that it does actually warm up here eventually. Although when people say, "The cold just makes you appreciate the summer more," I want to snap back, "I DO appreciate the summer...I appreciate it so much I'd be happy to have it ALL THE TIME."
Anyway, I've started a barnskötarutbildning course at our local adult-ed center, which will give me a license to work in Swedish preschools. There always seems to be a need for more preschools here and since I've been around little kids all my life it seems like a good fit. The preschools here are kind of like a mix between daycare and school...the kids are 1-6 years old and there are lots of fun activities for them. I take one full day of classes per week along with 3 full days of working at the preschool with 1-3 year olds. They're hilarious and adorable and fun, although I seem to have forgotten the vast quantities of the boogers and poop that come along with young'uns. My coworkers at the preschool are wonderful and it's great for my Swedish to be speaking all day.
Since I was homeschooled I don't have the best point of reference to compare the Swedish preschool to the ones in the US, but I can say that the quality of food here is amazing. All the kids eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day, the meals are made from scratch in the kitchen (mmmm, fresh baked bread), and I have yet to see a single sugary item served to the kids. I also like the fact that Swedes seem to emphasize teaching kids at an early age to do everything themselves instead of our US mentality of "Wait, you're too little...let me help you." Even the tiniest of kids serve their own plates of food, help clean up after themselves, and participate fully in the elaborate process of putting on and taking off winter clothes.
In addition to the preschool I'm still teaching English to older school kids three times per week, plus taking Swedish as a Second Language B. This is the last step in the free Swedish classes that we immigrants are allotted, it's a distance class that's pretty intensive and mostly centered around reading and writing about ancient literature in Swedish.
I also need to upgrade to a Swedish driver's license by April which is nothing short of a gigantic and expensive pain in the ass. The Swedish system is a little strange when it comes to foreign driver's licenses....I'm allowed to use my US license for the first year that I live here, but once that year is up they don't seem to recognize the fact that I've been regularly driving a car for exactly half my life. I have to start from scratch and take all the tests and lessons from the beginning. Luckily I have driving theory books in English, but I also need an eye exam, slippery driving course, and a drinking and driving course before I can take and pass both practical and theoretical tests, all of which cost a pretty öre. Hopefully I've gotten started early enough in the game to take each step as it comes and not try to get everything done at the last minute, we'll see how it goes.
My little viking in the oven seems to be cooking up nicely as far as I can tell...my queasy days have subsided and the only symptom I've been having is a weird taste in my mouth all the time...super annoying. We have an ultrasound next month but we're not finding out if it's a boy or a girl. I think it'll be fun to keep it a surprise and hopefully a little extra motivation to get the little bugger out when the time comes in August.
M has been away at sea for the past six weeks but is returning home on Wednesday. He and his brother are starting their own boat company this summer which will also be an exciting new project in our lives.
So that's my life right now...work, study, eat, sleep, repeat. Not too exciting, but I have a feeling I should be thankful for these calm and semi-monotonous days while they last....
It's also not my favorite time of year weatherwise...although I'm thankful we've had some bright sunny days and plenty of snow to cover up the gray and mud...it's still COLD, COLD, COLD. Sometimes I feel like I'll never be warm again and the need for hot sun on my skin feels worse than any pregnancy food craving. The days are getting longer though, and I just have to remind myself that it does actually warm up here eventually. Although when people say, "The cold just makes you appreciate the summer more," I want to snap back, "I DO appreciate the summer...I appreciate it so much I'd be happy to have it ALL THE TIME."
Anyway, I've started a barnskötarutbildning course at our local adult-ed center, which will give me a license to work in Swedish preschools. There always seems to be a need for more preschools here and since I've been around little kids all my life it seems like a good fit. The preschools here are kind of like a mix between daycare and school...the kids are 1-6 years old and there are lots of fun activities for them. I take one full day of classes per week along with 3 full days of working at the preschool with 1-3 year olds. They're hilarious and adorable and fun, although I seem to have forgotten the vast quantities of the boogers and poop that come along with young'uns. My coworkers at the preschool are wonderful and it's great for my Swedish to be speaking all day.
Since I was homeschooled I don't have the best point of reference to compare the Swedish preschool to the ones in the US, but I can say that the quality of food here is amazing. All the kids eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day, the meals are made from scratch in the kitchen (mmmm, fresh baked bread), and I have yet to see a single sugary item served to the kids. I also like the fact that Swedes seem to emphasize teaching kids at an early age to do everything themselves instead of our US mentality of "Wait, you're too little...let me help you." Even the tiniest of kids serve their own plates of food, help clean up after themselves, and participate fully in the elaborate process of putting on and taking off winter clothes.
In addition to the preschool I'm still teaching English to older school kids three times per week, plus taking Swedish as a Second Language B. This is the last step in the free Swedish classes that we immigrants are allotted, it's a distance class that's pretty intensive and mostly centered around reading and writing about ancient literature in Swedish.
I also need to upgrade to a Swedish driver's license by April which is nothing short of a gigantic and expensive pain in the ass. The Swedish system is a little strange when it comes to foreign driver's licenses....I'm allowed to use my US license for the first year that I live here, but once that year is up they don't seem to recognize the fact that I've been regularly driving a car for exactly half my life. I have to start from scratch and take all the tests and lessons from the beginning. Luckily I have driving theory books in English, but I also need an eye exam, slippery driving course, and a drinking and driving course before I can take and pass both practical and theoretical tests, all of which cost a pretty öre. Hopefully I've gotten started early enough in the game to take each step as it comes and not try to get everything done at the last minute, we'll see how it goes.My little viking in the oven seems to be cooking up nicely as far as I can tell...my queasy days have subsided and the only symptom I've been having is a weird taste in my mouth all the time...super annoying. We have an ultrasound next month but we're not finding out if it's a boy or a girl. I think it'll be fun to keep it a surprise and hopefully a little extra motivation to get the little bugger out when the time comes in August.
M has been away at sea for the past six weeks but is returning home on Wednesday. He and his brother are starting their own boat company this summer which will also be an exciting new project in our lives.
So that's my life right now...work, study, eat, sleep, repeat. Not too exciting, but I have a feeling I should be thankful for these calm and semi-monotonous days while they last....
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Viking in the Oven
Well folks, it's official: I'm expecting, with child, knocked up, in a family way, eating for two, up the duff, and my eggo is preggo. Our little Ameriswede is due to make an appearance in mid-August, just in time for his or her birthday to be celebrated with loads of crazy Swedish crayfish parties!
Since this is my first pregnancy I've been a little obsessed with over-analyzing every little symptom that comes along, but luckily everything has been pretty laid-back compared to some of the horrific morning sickness that some of my poor friends have dealt with. I took a positive pregnancy test on the first evening we arrived in the US for my brother's wedding in early December....in a hotel room in Chicago, after sneaking one last taste of a sadly-missed Leinenkugel's beer. We managed to keep the big news undercover during most of our trip to the states with the excuse of me designated-driving after my brother's wedding rehearsal dinner and reception, and luckily I wasn't feeling anything different at that point aside from a little jet lag.
Things started to kick in when I was around 6 weeks along...I was putting on mascara and it smelled really strong. I thought, "Since when does mascara smell so weird and chemically?" Then suddenly the smell and taste of coffee, which I usually love, just didn't seem appetizing at all. Not like an instantaneous barfing reaction, just more of the sensation that coffee was suddenly a weird non-food that didn't interest me in the slightest.
By the time we made it home for Swedish Christmastime, I was feeling pretty blech and had developed a new skill of being able to nap on demand, anytime, anywhere. I was also amazed at how offensive certain smells and foods had become, like pissed off that certain things could smell so revolting. We went out to M's parents for Christmas dinner and I was a very quiet, green girl at the dinner table while a huge array of strange and strong-smelling foods were passed under my nose. Most typical Swedish Christmas foods consist of salty cured meats, mini sausages and meatballs, salmon, pickled herring, deviled eggs, meat pâtés, and other delicacies.
My best friends that day were plain potatoes, fizzy water, and bread. I managed to sit through the dinner and hopefully be polite while all the time thinking that I'd pay someone a million dollars to hold a fan blowing minty fresh air on my face and feed me a plain fruit salad. M's intuitive mother had a clue that something strange was going on and pretty much read the pregnancy signs all over my queasy face (she told me this after I broke the news to her a few weeks later). Luckily I never got sick enough to the point of actual vomiting, and now that I'm into my second trimester I've been feeling close to normal for the most part. Unfortunately I have a feeling that Swedish Christmas food might forever be on my list of "yuck" memories.
Early pregnancy is a weird time...you feel like crap most of the time, the happy-sweet-motherly feelings are far from kicking in, and you can't tell anyone what's going on because it's too early. Now that the cat is out of the bag I'm starting to get more and more excited and things seem to be cooking up as they should be.
I feel unbelievably lucky to be giving birth in Sweden after watching movies like this one and learning more about the backwards way that hospitals treat pregnant women in the US.
Here in Sweden, all prenatal visits and births are overseen by midwives instead of doctors, and the general attitude seems to be, "What can we do for you?" They've been very hands-off with me so far and have treated me like the normal, healthy person I am instead of something that needs to be diagnosed and treated. We'll have an ultrasound in a few weeks and I'm excited to catch a glimpse of our little squirt soon. Needless to say this blog is about to get much more baby-fied, starting now!
Since this is my first pregnancy I've been a little obsessed with over-analyzing every little symptom that comes along, but luckily everything has been pretty laid-back compared to some of the horrific morning sickness that some of my poor friends have dealt with. I took a positive pregnancy test on the first evening we arrived in the US for my brother's wedding in early December....in a hotel room in Chicago, after sneaking one last taste of a sadly-missed Leinenkugel's beer. We managed to keep the big news undercover during most of our trip to the states with the excuse of me designated-driving after my brother's wedding rehearsal dinner and reception, and luckily I wasn't feeling anything different at that point aside from a little jet lag.
Things started to kick in when I was around 6 weeks along...I was putting on mascara and it smelled really strong. I thought, "Since when does mascara smell so weird and chemically?" Then suddenly the smell and taste of coffee, which I usually love, just didn't seem appetizing at all. Not like an instantaneous barfing reaction, just more of the sensation that coffee was suddenly a weird non-food that didn't interest me in the slightest.
By the time we made it home for Swedish Christmastime, I was feeling pretty blech and had developed a new skill of being able to nap on demand, anytime, anywhere. I was also amazed at how offensive certain smells and foods had become, like pissed off that certain things could smell so revolting. We went out to M's parents for Christmas dinner and I was a very quiet, green girl at the dinner table while a huge array of strange and strong-smelling foods were passed under my nose. Most typical Swedish Christmas foods consist of salty cured meats, mini sausages and meatballs, salmon, pickled herring, deviled eggs, meat pâtés, and other delicacies.
 |
| Yum for some, yuck for me. (Wikipedia photo) |
Early pregnancy is a weird time...you feel like crap most of the time, the happy-sweet-motherly feelings are far from kicking in, and you can't tell anyone what's going on because it's too early. Now that the cat is out of the bag I'm starting to get more and more excited and things seem to be cooking up as they should be.
I feel unbelievably lucky to be giving birth in Sweden after watching movies like this one and learning more about the backwards way that hospitals treat pregnant women in the US.
Here in Sweden, all prenatal visits and births are overseen by midwives instead of doctors, and the general attitude seems to be, "What can we do for you?" They've been very hands-off with me so far and have treated me like the normal, healthy person I am instead of something that needs to be diagnosed and treated. We'll have an ultrasound in a few weeks and I'm excited to catch a glimpse of our little squirt soon. Needless to say this blog is about to get much more baby-fied, starting now!
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