First Week at The Lady Bug (Nyckelpigan)

Dear Elzora,

Just a quick not to let you know that this week we are spending one hour a day at your new preschool, Nyckelpigan. In Swedish this process is referred to as "inskolning" and this means that for 2 weeks you will only go one hour a day to the school. The idea is that I sit in the corner and observe you while you play and then eventually I will leave during that one hour. Right now you want me to play with you for some of the time and this is just fine, too.

The first day was a little strange for you with a new place and so many other small children, but you love to play and you have already made some new friends. You have a very special friend, Tuva. She is 2 years old and she can already say your name and today when we left she was helping you get ready and was telling you that you could go home and see your pappa. She is the sweetest little thing. So kind. You even said her name yesterday!! And when we left today you didn't want to get your outside clothes on. You just wanted to sit by the door. Then of course you fell asleep as soon as we began our short walk back home through the freshly fallen snow.

Mommy has to say a special thank you to Ethel for making this process so positive for us. I love going to the school everyday. And also to Erica and Molly for sitting with you last Friday when mamma and pappa had a meeting with Ethel about you and the school.

The plan is that you will attend Nyckelpigan Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. until around 12. Then you will come home and be with mommy. I miss you already.

You are as cute as a little lady bug.

Love,

Mommy

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Mac!!

Dear Elzora,
Today is your Grandpa Mac's birthday. I know he reads your blog and I am pretty sure that he will love this picture. I hope we can go to Michigan and visit when the new baby comes.
Today is Saturday but pappa has to go in to work for a few hours. We are just taking it easy. You are sleeping and I am going to take a little rest myself.
You are so cute.
Love,
Mommy
PS Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Happy Birthday, Farfar!!

Dear Elzora,
Today is farfar's 60th birthday. I know that if you could talk that you would say "Grattis, farfar!! Jag älskar dig med min hela hjärt!"
When daddy comes home we will go to Timmele and celebrate!
Love,
Mommy

Cousin Kayla Superstar!

Dear Elzora,
Here is your cousin Kayla's basketball picture from this year. Isn't she beautiful? Grandpa Mac says she is the team superstar!! I wish that we could go and see her in action. We are all looking forward to our next trip to Michigan. Go Kayla!! Go Bucks!!

Love,
Mommy

New Book!!

Dear Elzora,
Just one more thing. On Tuesday this week Anneli and Wilgot came over and brought you this book. I LOVE IT! WE had a super good time and I think we will go to baby swim with them on Tuesday.

Oh, I started Vatten Gymnastik för Gravida last night. It was so much fun and the new baby just loved it. After I got out of the water he-she was moving around like a crazy sea monkey!! Sorry that I didn't go to the class when you were in my belly, but I didn't even know about it.

Love,
Mommy

PS Thank you Anneli and Wilgot and Ulrik for the book and the tea!!

Max and Anton

Dear Elzora,
Last Friday (I can't believe it's been a week already) two of your favorite people in the world stayed the night at our house... Max & Anton!! It was so much fun. Anton brought his PS3 and we got to see the new game that Santa brought him for Christmas, Little Big Planet. It's so cool.
And we played Guitar Hero World Tour and Anton sang Hotel California on the mic and it was amazing. He is definitely going to be a star. We also watched a movie that Anton made for school... singer, guitar player, director, screenwriter, skateboarder!! Anton is a talented guy. And Max, at age 7, is right behind him. Mommy loves having them over because not only are they super fun and really nice boys, but they are both speaking English. We love Max and Anton and we hope they come over again very soon.

Last weekend we also celebrated the birthdays of Uncle Morgan and Elvy. It was a lot of family fun.

Also, you have started repeating words. Yesterday you said Google, Thank You and Teamwork!

Today we are going to Lysekil (I think) with our family and Mimi and Jerry's family.
I should be packing and not blogging.

Love you.

Love,
Mommy

UPDATE: We were in Bokenäs!

Holiday Highlights 2008

Dear Elzora,
Here are some of the pictures from 2008's Christmas holiday season. What a celebration! I'm sorry that we didn't get a tree this year, but we spent most of the time with farmor and farfar & Linda, Morgan and Siri and they had trees. You found the beauty of the Christmas tree both fascinating and alluring. You did a pretty good job keeping your tiny hands off of the ornaments, but I could tell that you were often tempted to just reach out and pluck one from the shiny green branches. I am very proud of you and I can't tell you how much joy it brought to all of us to hear you say "Oooooooh!" or "Wooooow!" everytime you entered a room that had a decorated tree. I promise, next year we will have our very own Christmas tree.

Above is the e-card your pappa made to send out via email. He was pretty good about sending it out to all of his friends, but I had about 15 minutes on December 23rd to email my cards out, and I didn't do a very good job. Poor, mamma!







Our First holiday engagement was Jul Frukost (Christmas Breakfast) at Bryggan down by the lake with Molly and her moms, Harry and his family and Susanne's cousins from Skåne. What a feast!! Unfortunately for Bryggan, but fortunately for us, there were very few people who came to enjoy the wonderful breakfast buffet. We basically had the place to ourselves and everyone had a fabulous time. We have to do it again next year if they decide to host the breakfast again.

We had to get up kind of early to go to the breakfast and you weren't really that happpy about it.
But, you pulled it together and made the perfect little gingerbread girl.

It was also Lucia Day in Sweden, but I didn't get the Lucia outfit together in time, so that is something for next year... if you are into it. I am perfectly happy having you be a gingerbread girl again.



After the Lucia breakfast, we went home and rested a while and then around 5pm we went to Jessica, Christian and Becca's house for a Christmas dinner and party. We had the Christmas porridge and played the Christmas game and mommy ate a bunch of the homemade candies that Anneli brought over for Jessica. They were so gooooooooood!!

I am not sure exactly why, but we didn't get very many pictures. I think we got a lot of video footage. But I did manage to get a picture of you playing with Wilgot, Becca and Jessica. For some reason you kept putting this plastic bowl on your head. I don't know why.




On December 23rd we went over to farmor and farfar's house to prepare some of the Christmas food. We decided to go for a walk in the woods and who did we find warming himself by a fire and taking a break? Santa!! And he had a gift for you and for Siri. You both got little ceramic Santa bowls filled with raisins! You were quite happy. I am sorry to report that you actually broke your bowl a few days later trying to eat raisins and do something else at the same time. I am sorry. At least you have a picture of your sweet little santa bowl. And actually Siri had some candy in her bowl, but Santa knows that you are not old enough to have candy, yet. That Santa is a pretty smart guy!







On Christmas Eve Santa visited us once again at Linda, Morgan and Siri's hourse. So many presents and lots of good food. It was a fantastic night that culminated in a dance around the Christmas tree at about 11pm. You were exhausted and at one point just laid down and kissed the floor. We kept you up too late. Next year, we will have to ask Santa to come a little earlier in the evening.





On Christmas day we went to the Karlsson Christmas party. You spent most of your time in the play area with Ella. Notice that you are wearing your tennis shoes. You were running around like crazy and you kept falling down and tripping on your slippers, so I just put your shoes on in the house to try to cut down on tears and bruises.





And finally, here is a picture from NYE at Molly's. I am so sorry we didn't take more pics, but mommy was not feeling well and you and I had to leave the party early. Read Molly's blog for all of the fabulous details. It was a fun party complete with fireworks, champagne and cigars.

We also went to Linda an Morgan's for a glögg on December 20th. I will try to get a picture or two from Auntie Linda.

It was a wonderful Christmas season, Elzora.
I look forward to sharing the holidays with you and your new little brother or sister next year.

You are the best present in the world.

Love,
Mommy

PS I am super happy that we don't have to watch Elmo's Christmas Countdown for a whole year!
PSS Thank you to farmor, farfar, Linda, Morgan, Siri, Liisa and Jeremy, Becca, Wilgot and Ella for all of the wonderful and precious Christmas gifts.

New Camera!!

Dear Elzora,
We just got a new camera and your Papa Andreas took this awesome picture of you. I love this picture because in it you can really see all of the gorgeous colors in your eyes. You are stunning!!

I have a lot to blog about, but I'm not doing very well at making it to the computer. I definitely want to post some holiday photos and post a picture of your new fish, Mr. Noodle and Dorothy. You love them!!

We went to the BVC today and met our nurse and friend, Kerstin. She measured and weighed you and checked in with mommy on how you are developing. You are 80cm long and you weigh 10.9 kilos. Mommy informed Kerstin that you can now say Mamma, Pappa, Ja, Nej, No, Tack Tack, Natt Natt, Hej då and cheese. We also got to see Pernilla and we sang some songs at the open preschool. Maybe we will go again on Friday with your cousin Siri?

More soon.

Love,
Mommy

Retro Mommy

Dear Elzora,
Pappa Andreas and I decided that we wanted to get you a little doll for Christmas. While we were out shopping we kept finding plastic dolls with plastic hair that just didn't look very sweet or very cuddly or very fun. Pappa didn't want anything that required batteries and he wanted to find a doll with "real" hair. I just wanted to find something super cute like my own little Elzora doll.

Just when we were kind of giving up on the idea of getting you a doll at all, mommy noticed a box up on the highest shelf in the the doll department. Pappa was able to reach the package and to my surprise... it was a Cabbage Patch Kid! I was shocked. I thought that they had stopped making these dolls years ago. I just couldn't believe it and I told daddy how much I LOVED my two CPKs when I was a little girl and how Grandma Mary Jo could only find one of these dolls the first year they were out in the US and my sister Jessie and I had to share one doll that Christmas. But we didn't care, we were just so happy to have one. Pascha also got one for a present that year from her parents. Her name was Olive Jean. For some reason I can't remember the names of my CPKs but I do remember that they were both girls and that one of them came from Spain and we bought it at the Sears catalog store in Grayling, Michigan.

I don't think pappa reallly had a choice when it came down to the decision of whether or not to buy the doll. I mean, I think I was walking on air for the rest of the day just remembering how happy I had been back in the day when I got to adopt my very own CPK. It felt so good to buy that same doll for my own daughter.

Thankfully, when you opened the box on Christmas Eve that contained your very own little baby girl, Charlotte Carmen, you were also filled with excitement and joy and you gave your new little adopted dolly a great big mommy Elzora hug.

It was a wonderful Chrismtas for all of us.

Love,

Mommy

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