27 Weeks

Dear Elzora,
This is what your baby brother or sister looks like inside my belly this week.
I hope you are enjoying a nap filled with sweet baby girl dreams.
Love,
Mommy

Holiday Card Guilt

Dear Elzora,
Yet another customized holiday card arrived in the mail today. I LOVE them, and I feel like a big lame-o for not making one of you and sending it out. The truth is that mommy and daddy have had the same holiday cards for 3 seasons now and we haven't sent any of them out except for one to Auntie Liisa. But daddy said we are going to make a Christmas email with a picture of the 3 of us... I have my doubts. Sorry, Daddy!

Here is a picture of you, Pappa Andreas and Siri from last year. Poor Siri has been sick for 2 weeks with a fever. We sure hope she gets well soon. I think she is going to have a lot of presents to open from Santa!! We love you Siri!

I have a lot more to write about, but I'm am kind of thinking that a might do a big holiday post after the holidays. I will definitely take pics of the adorable customized holiday cards we receive this year. So far we have one from Molly & her moms, Becca Baby Superstar and Lil' Wilgot.

Yesterday was Grandma Mary Jo's birthday. When I called she was out for dinner at Ponderosa with your Auntie Jessie and cousin Kayla. I've never been a big Ponderosa fan, being a vegetarian and all, but man I miss American food and could surely do some damage to a plate of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese from the Ponderosa buffet. Maybe it's the pregnancy.

Love,
Mommy

All the World is a Kitchen

Dear Elzora,
This picture is from a month ago, but you are still very interested in whisking.
In fact, you were just whisking for about half an hour this morning. I didn't have the heart to tell you that you can't really whisk a raisin, but these are the sort of things you will figure out as you grow older.

I love you very, very much.

Love,
Mommy

Love for All

Dear Elzora,
I never thought I would see a commercial like this on TV!
Yeah, Björn Borg!!
Love,
Mommy

Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum!

Dear Elzora,
I just wanted to tell you that I love your baby giant toes!!
Love,
Mommy

PS It's Daddy's Birthday!!

Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?

Dear Elzora,
Our neighbor, Susanne, was recently interviewed by a reporter from the Borås Tidning.
In the article she talks about her move from Stockholm to Ulricehamn, her work, her family (Erica and Molly) and her wonderful neighbors (us!).
These are the people in your neighborhood, and they are terrific!

Love,
Mommy

Letter to You in Utero

Dear Elzora,
I was looking through a pregnancy memory book that I never filled out when I was pregnant with you and I found something very interesting. It was a letter that I wrote to you before you were born. Since I am probably never going to complete the book, or maybe I will use it for the new baby since he or she will not have her own blog, I thought that I would include it here for you to read one day.

May 15, 2007: The Night Before you California Ultrasound

Dear Sweet Baby,

Tomorrow I am having an ultrasound to try and figure out if you are a boy or a girl. Daddy and I are so excited! I am visiting Auntie Liisa and Uncle Jeremy in San Jose, California. Today Liisa and Jer found out that they are also going to have a baby. Our hearts are so filled with love and joy and excitement. It's a very special time for all of us.

Whether you turn out to be a boy or a girl, I know that I will love you more than I've ever loved anything in my entire life. I can't wait to be your mom! I love you so much.

Daddy will be on the phone during the ultrasound appointment. He is at home in Sweden. I will have the video camera, so that one day you will be able to watch the video of what you were like when you were only 7-12 inches long.

It's the best feeling knowing that you are cozy and safe inside my belly.
Sweet dreams, little one.

xoxo

Love,
Mommy

UPDATE:

You are a girl!
They gave me a DVD after the ultrasound, so I didn't have to use the video camera.
Liisa and Jer's little baby wasn't quite ready for the world, yet. But I am very, very, very happy to report that Liisa is currently pregnant and has just reached the 2nd trimester and we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of little baby boy Duggan in the spring/early summer... just after your little brother or sister is due to arrive.

Halloween and other Tricks & Treats

Dear Elzora,
I am a bad, bad mommy. I have not written in a while and so much has been happening!!
We celebrated Halloween, we lit candles on the graves of our loved ones for All Saints' Day, Barack Obama was elected president of the US (Thank, GOD!), Prop 8 Passed (gag me!), we celebrated Father's Day here in Sweden (you bought your dad a remote control Ferrari), Brooke Smith was fired from Grey's Anatomy and we celebrated farmor Bojan's birthday. So the last few weeks have been incredibly exciting and historical and dissappoining all at the same time.

You are fantastic!! You dance all the time and say a whole-lot of things that only you really understand. We have so much fun and you are so beautiful and just a little, precious, laughing, baby star!!

I hope you enjoyed halloween. Daddy carved 2 "pumpkins" just for you. They were the only ones we could find on Halloween in Ulricehamn.

Love,

Mommy

PS Here is a short interview with Brooke Smith on abrupt dismissal from Grey's Anatomy. This is just ridiculous. I hope she gets her own show!!

Ulricehamn Tidning Birthday Announcement

Montessori & Birhtday Revisited

Dear Elzora,

Sorry I haven't written anything in the last couple of weeks! Mommy and daddy have been busy trying to figure out where and when you are going to start preschool. We put you on the list for a school just 2 weeks after you were born, knowing that we needed a place for you when you turned 1 year old. After some surprisingly frustrating moments, I'm happy to inform you that in February you will be starting at the beautiful Montessori school just down the road from our home. Mommy and daddy just fell in love with the little school when we went to visit and we know that you will just love it there, too. The best part is that mommy will get to stay home with you until February... so the fun continues. I'm just thrilled to have this time with you, my little princess girl.

I didn't write anything about your actual birthday day, but it was just fantastic. I woke you up singing Happy Birthday, which you weren't too pleased about but we had a delicious scrambled egg breakfast to make up for it. Then we were off to the baby singing group. They sang Happy Birthday to you in Swedish and we had a super good time. After, that we went with Jessica and Baby Becca to Rhodos and you had some of your very own cheese pizza and so did Rebecca. After the pizza we went to the toy store and I bought you a little toy cell phone that you really loved and a metallic stuffed frog that is very very heave and really not meant for anyone under 5, but it was so adorable I had to get it. After we walked home, you got a book club order with some really cool books that you loved (one book had a toy horn that actually honked) and we went out to dinner at a restaurant on the lake. You barely made it through dinner without falling asleep. I think it was the combination of all the heavy food, new tastes and fun... but it was your first birthday and I wanted you to go crazy. Or maybe I wanted to go crazy. I'm not sure. But it was a great birthday day and you looked so cute in your little Juicy Couture outfit and pink Converse. You are the most beautiful little girl inside and out.

By the way, the ultrasound for Baby Yeah Yeah (your name for the new baby) was awesome. I could have watched the screen forever. He/She looks happy, healthy and cozy. The midwife says she is due to arrive on March 22nd, but they predict that I will go over the due date again, like I did with you. So maybe your new little brother or sister will arrive in April? It would be nice if Baby Yeah Yeah arrived on the 22nd, because it's Pascha's birthday. Mommy's birthday is March 30th, so that would be fun, too. We are all very excited.

More soon.

Love,

Mommy

PS You have a whole bunch of teeth coming in now!

Baby Vampire Girl

Dear Elzora,
I wanted to let you know that both of your fang teeth are coming in just in time for Halloween.
Spooky!!!
Love,
Mommy

1st Birthday Party! Party!

Dear Elzora,
On Saturday we had your very first birthday party extravaganza. I know that you won't remember it, but let me tell you that it was a party that many others will not forget, especially mommy.

The day started out a little rough, because you dropped a gigantic Buddha statue on your foot and I thought you had broken a bone or something. But luckily I was wrong and you just bruised the tip of your toe and your little nail bleed a little. Ouchie!

I can't believe the Buddha statue fell on your toe on your 1st birthday party day! We have always called you our Little Buddha Belly and we even bought you a gold necklace for your first Christmas with a Buddha charm. After you werer born, Auntie Liisa gave us some info about people born in the Year of the Pig: "People born in the Year of the Pig have a splendid quality about them.... Their energy grows and accumulates. This is often expressed in a rotund figure, even a little pot belly. In traditional Chinese culture, as in the figure of the Laughing Buddha..." So I'm considering it a kind of a cosmic crash. Auntie Liisa also gave you a Buddha birthday card. Maybe you will be a Buddhist?

Speaking of religion, during your party we also had your name giving ceremony. Most babies in Sweden are baptized when they are born. Making a commitment to a specific religion is a a huge decision and mommy and daddy weren't prepared to make that decision for you. Besides, it was perfect the way we did it and true to us. I wrote the ceremony down on paper and you can read it one day. And we also captured it all on video. You can see how nervouse mommy was and tease her about it.

During the ceremony we announced that Oskar Karlsson is your god father. Oskar's father is daddy's god father and it was very important to him to keep up this tradition. And mommy likes it, too. Oskar gave you a very beautiful angel necklace that was made in Finland. It's just perfect. It is something you will have forever.

You got sooo many cool presents! You are actually playing with the wooden train made of blocks that you got from Oskar's parents as I write this. You got lots of blocks and Legos which have been keeping you very very busy. Farmor and Farfar gave you lots of gifts including a hot pink CD player for your pink and black room. Linda, Morgan and Siri also gave you lots of wonderful gifts including a little doll named Faith that a little girl in South Africa designed. Linda also made you a book that people cool write in to commemorate your first birthday celelbration.
Daddy gave you a wooden ant that holds and egg that you can pull around. I think Auntie Liisa had the same one. Liisa and Jer sent you a Juicy Couture outfit from the US... and I'm totally jealous. You'll be wearing that on Thursday, your actual birthday day. And who knows, maybe you will even get more presents?

One of the most interesting presents you received at your party came form Suzanne, Erica and baby Molly. They gave you your first tennis racquet! Suzanne is a pro tennis player and she has vowed to teach you how to play. Mommy is very excited. I hope that it is something you enjoy.
On the day of your birthday party Suzanne and Erica came home form the hospital with baby Molly. So you also got a new little friend for your birthday. Welcome home, Molly!

You looked so cute at your party. You had a little pink ballerina outfit. You looked like a little baby princess. Unfortunately we didn't take very many pictures at the party, but we videotaped the entire event. I will check with Auntie Linda to get some pictures to send to everyone.

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Elzora's first birthday. We love all of you so much. A special thank you goes out to Wilgot and Rebecca for helping Elzora open all of her birthday presents. And an extra special thank you goes out to Farmor, Farfar, Linda, Morgan and Siri for helping us not only with the party but helping us so very much all the time. We love you.
And Liisa, you know!!

Love,

Mommy

PS Don't feel bad that you don't like cake or sweets. :) We'll try again on your next birhtday.

A Poem for Elzora

Dear Elzora,

You've changed the way I measure time.
Hours, minutes, seconds...
no longer exist. Only
first teeth, first words, first smiles.

And each new sunrise electrifies
the sky with colors
I see for the first time.

Autumn, Summer, Spring
don't bring snow, rain, or changing leaves
but a chance to see
your pumpkin cheeks rose-red
on a crisp winter morning.

And like you, I feel new, too.
A new soul. A new heart. A new being.

Thank you, Elzora, for the re-awakening
to the celebration
that is this life,
our life,
our family.

I love you.

Mommy

(I wrote this for your name giving celebration and first birthday party tomorrow night. I'm so excited. I'm leaving now for my ultrasound appointment.)

Walk Like an Egyptian!

Dear Elzora,

Yesterday was an amazing day. You woke up like any other morning, but there was one huge difference. Overnight you had acquired the ability to WALK!! And I don't mean, you can kind of take a step. I mean, you can walk. We met Jessica and Rebecca at the family center (BVC) for baby singing time and you walked right through the circle of mommies and babies. I still can't believe it. It's probably the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life. I am so proud of you.

You've also started to give us kisses. When daddy left for work the other day you gave him a kiss, then he gave me a kiss, then you gave me a kiss. I thought I would melt. I will take as many kisses as you can give me.

Dancing! Dancing! Dancing! You are a dance-aholic. We watched Aunt Linda and Uncle Morgan's wedding video last week and you rocked back and forth through the entire ceremony and reception. You dance with the TV, you dance when we sing, you dance when a cell phone goes off and you bang your head when we are driving in the car. Rosemary says she doesn't think you are going to be a rockstar but sees you as more of a blues girl. I don't know, I think you are a rocker. We'll just have to wait and see!! In the meantime let's dance!!!

I guess it's time for me to tell you that you are going to be a big sister next year. But I think we will talk more about that after we have had the ultrasound and hear the baby's heartbeat on October 3rd. I'm very excited and feeling pretty good. I'm in week 13, so my energy level is rising and my belly is feeling better. I'm just so happy for our family.

Daddy is working so hard and getting used to his new job at H&M. I think he will be very, very happy with this company. Mommy will not be going back to her job. I'll be home with you full time until November 1 and then you will be going to daycare for 15 hours a week if they have a spot for you. You are going to love love love it. I know. And mommy will go to SFI to try to actually learn Swedish, so that I can get a really super duper cool job after the new baby comes.
It's all exciting.

So you do actually walk like an Egyptian. Well, you walk like a baby mummy and I figure that's close enough.

It's soon your birthday! Party! Party!

Love,
Mommy

Missing Michigan

Dear Elzora,
I can not believe that we've already been back from Michigan for a week and that it's been almost one month since my last blog entry! In my defense, we have both been massively jet lagged since we returned from Michigan last Sunday. I mean, it's fun sleeping in, but it's no fun staying up until 1am watching Sesame Street videos. But as of yesterday, I feel like we are getting back on track.

So, Michigan... What a fabulous trip we had!!On the first day mommy and daddy went canoeing on the Au Sable with Susan and Russ. The weather was perfect and it was so great to just relax, get a little exercise and catch up with an old friend on her birthday. You stayed at home with Grandma Mary Jo and the girls. You had fun playing in the little mushroom pool, but you definitely missed mommy and daddy and wouldn't let us out of your site for the rest of the trip.

We had a wonderful time staying at Grandma's house. She and the girls just loved you and daddy, and they bought you so many cool presents. I already mentioned the mushroom pool, but you also got tons of clothes, a gigantic bag of plastic balls, books, Barbies, a doll house and lots more. You are definitely a very loved little girl.

Without a doubt the best part of the vacation for you, Elzora, was spending time with your good friend Ruby Stirling!! And mommy and daddy definitely enjoyed spending time with Ruby's parents. We did lots of eating, shopping and hanging out. We celebrated Ruby's first birthday with her and the two of you had a great time splashing around in the tub and playing with Ruby's toys. We also made a trip up to Bel Air to Brian's parents' amazing lake house. Daddy learned about beer-can chicken, which he made for Linda, Morgan and Siri last night here in Ulricehamn. We also got to see ultrasound pics of the newest Stirling who is scheduled to be born on November 11th. Very, very exciting!! Congrats to Pascha, Brian, Zoey and Ruby!!

We also spent some time with Grandpa Mac and his wife Marilyn. And they loaded you up with gifts and clothes, too. And Grandpa Mac made you your very own swing that you just loved. They also hosted a BBQ for us and it was so much fun. Marilyn made all kinds of food. It was quite the spread. And best of all some of mommy's oldest and dearest friends showed up. It was so great to see Ronnie and his family, Markey and Nikki, Brent Church and his new BMW and Karen and her girls. We couldn't have asked for a nicer get together. And you had watermelon for the first time and just loved it. You weren't in a very good mood at the BBQ, but I know why because the day after the event your 7th tooth broke through on the bottom. Ouch!!

Daddy's one request during our trip was that we visit the town of Gaylord. He saw it on the map before we left Sweden. At first I was a little puzzled as to why daddy would

be so excited about going to a town called Gaylord. But he explained that he had to go because of Gaylord Focker. We actually had a very nice time walking around the city of Gaylord with it's faux Alpine motif. A man at a store called Trash told us that there weren't any gay people in Gaylord and invited us to be friends with him on myspace. 

I really thought you were going to take your first step while we were in Michigan, but it didn't happen. You were so, so close. I know that you will be bipedal by the end of this week. I just know it. BTW, you will be 11 months old tomorrow. It's hard to believe that we are only 1 month away from your 1st birthday. I can't wait to see what happens when you get to try ice cream and cake for the first time. I told daddy that I wanted to take you out for sushi on your first birthday, but he's not that into it. I mean, come on, you already eat pickled herring!

Thank you so much to Grandma Mary Jo, Jessie, Miranda, Kayla, Pascha, Brian, Zoey, Ruby, Grandpa Mac & Marilyn, Danielle & Tessa, Karen and the girls and Susan & Russ for making our first to Michigan as a family one kick ass adventure (don't say "ass" Elzora!)

Love, Mommy

10 MONTHS!

Dear Elzora,

Weight: 9125 grams (20 lbs)
Length: 72.5 centimeters (28.5 inches)
Head Circumference: 48 cm

On Saturday you turned 10 months old and now things are really starting to happen!!

You understand the words lamp, Mamma and Pappa. If I ask "Can you say Mamma?" you always reply "Pappa." You only say Mamma when you want more of something. If we ask you "Where is the lamp?" You point up. Sometimes mommy and daddy are cruel because we ask you where the lamp is when we are outside. Sorry, Elzora!

You can crawl and pull yourself up to standing, and you can stand up without holding on to anything, but your aren't quite ready to take your first step. I understand, it's scary.

You are exploring lots of new foods, but you don't really care for baby food. You like the stuff you can eat on your own like strawberries, hard egg yolks and pieces of broccoli, carrot and cucumber. I still give you formula in the afternoon, because I want to make sure you are getting all your nutrients and you don't drink very much water. You haven't had anything with sugar added, and I think we will keep it that way as long as we can. You have plenty of time for your Saturday candy in the future.

For the last 4 nights we've been putting you in your bed when you are still awake, usually around 9pm. On the first night you cried for 35 minutes. On the 2nd night you cried for 40 minutes. And on the third night you cried for one hour. But last night you fell asleep in 5 minutes. This is probably the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. We go up about every 15 minutes and check on you, but we don't lift you out of the bed. You have your music box and your lovely pink flower light. It's hard, but I know it's the best thing. I'm sorry that I made the mistake of putting you to sleep before putting you in your bed for the first 10 months of your life. Bad, mommy!
But once you are asleep you sleep all night, almost 12 whole hours. Thank you, my sweet girl!

Mommy is busy this week preparing for our big trip to Michigan!! So exciting. We are leaving on Sunday morning. I'm so thrilled that you are finally going to meet your Grandma Mary Jo, Granpa Mac, your Aunties, your cousin and Pascha and her family.

We are getting our new car today at 4 pm. Daddy can't wait. For him, today is like Christmas.

The Olympics are happening in Beijing. Sweden won it's first medal yesterday in the women's cycling event. Emma Johansson took the silver. Congratulations, Emma!

I love my little 10 month old Monk-Monk!!

Love,

Mommy

We Heart LSMonkey and Auntie Sarah!

Dear Elzora,
Not only did Sarah make the lovely dress that you are wearing in this picture, she was selected as Spraygraphic's Pic(k) of the Day!
Congratulations, Sarah.
Rock out with your art out!
Love,
Mommy

B-Cool with B-Fuel!!

Dear Elzora,
As I said in my last post, the three have us have been at home together for the last 2 weeks. It has been so nice to just relax and enjoy our little family. We didn't really do much, because we are saving up for our trip to Michigan on August 17th.

Today daddy went back to work. He has two weeks left at his current job and then he starts at H&M after our trip to the US. Mommy has been carefully studying the new H&M catalog so that I'm ready to shop when we get our H&M Club card!

We actually spent much of the last 2 weeks at the Volvo dealership here in Ulricehamn trying to make a decision on which new car to purchase. We need a bigger car and we want something environmentally friendly since daddy may be driving to Borås a few days every week starting in September.

We decided on black Volvo v70 b-fuel ride. We're so in love with it, and we aren't even getting it until August 12th. I am really happy that we went for the biogas vehicle. We were considering an ethanol vehicle, but after doing my own research, I feel that biogas is the better choice for our family. When we took the car for a test drive your daddy said "I just feel so good in my heart!"
I knew at that moment this was the car for our family.

Here is some information on b-fuel (biogas) and ethanol use here in Sweden.

Svensk Biogas
The Swedish Biogas Success Story
FordonsGas
Sustainable Ethanol Deal for Sweden and Brazil

Love,

Mommy

Hairlarious

Dear Elzora,
I promised myself that I would not become one of those mothers who puts the little pony tail on top of her baby's head when the poor child has like 10 hairs. Well, yesterday I broke that promise.

Tomorrow papa goes back to work. He's been home for 2 weeks on vacation. It has been extremely warm and the 3 of us have just been taking it easy and enjoying the lovely Swedish summer weather.

Your super powers are starting to reveal themselves. Did I tell you I was electrocuted while I was pregnant? I'll write more about it tomorrow when daddy goes back to work.

I love you, Elzora.

Love,
Mommy

Get Up, Stand Up!

Dear Elzora,
Just a short update to let you know that on the afternoon of July 19th, 2008 you stood up on your own for the very first time. You were in the caravan in Varberg and you were leaning over on papa and you stood up to clap your hands. I almost can't believe that it really happened. Everyday with you is more and more exciting and interesting. You are the coolest, chica!
Love,
Mommy