Tooth-Hurty!!

Dear Elzora,

On Monday you had your very first dental appointment and you totally impressed me by being a really good girl and saying "ahh" when the dentist asked you to open your mouth (just like we practiced at home).

I am not sure if the woman that examined you was the dentist or the dental assistant, but she gave us a lot of good information. You have 8 teeth on top and 8 on the bottom, which is kind of a lot for your age but absolutely fine. You are too young to worry about flossing (sorry) and we should wait with candy as long as possible which has not been a problem so far. She also told us that you shouldn't have any sugary drinks at all. You mainly drink water, but you do have a little OJ on occasion. You actually ask for juice quite a bit, but I think that you think milk is called juice. Mommy will be better about just sticking to water when you are thirsty.

The dentist also informed us that it is very important to let the teeth rest completely for 2.5 hours between meals and snacks. Good to know! She was very happy to learn that you don't use a pacifier or suck your thumb. Good work, Elzora!

Hopefully we will have no reason to visit your dentist again until you are 3 years old.
And if we stay in Sweden, you and your sister have free dental care until you are 18.

Keep on brushin'!

Love,
Mommy

Pool Time!

Dear Elzora,
I love your booty!!!
Love,
Mommy

Trevlig Midsummer!

C is for Cookie (K is for Kak-yah)

Dear Elzora,
Yesterday Starla received a box from the US, but of course your Liisa included a special gift for you. You love your new Cookie Monster doll. You gave him a big hug the minute we took him out of the box. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a very serious relationship between you and "Kak-yah" as you've taken to calling him (in Elzora speak "Kak-yah" is a cross between the english word cookie and the Swedish word kaka).

Love,
Mommy

PS Thank you Liisa, Jer and Captain Awesome for the wonderful gifts for Elzo, Starla, Andreas and Jenna!

McKenna Goes to Fairy Camp

Dear Elzora,
On Monday McKenna started her 2 week adventure at Fairy Camp.
Maybe one day you can go to a camp like this in the US.
Have fun McKenna!! We hope you have a fairy good time at camp!

Love,
Mommy

Grattis, Molly!!

Dear Elzora,
This past Saturday we attended the name giving ceremony of our dear little Molly girl. It was a fantastic day! Mommy didn't want it to end. Molly and her mommies are very special to us and we are so fortunate to have them in our lives.

Aunt Miranda took this picture the other day when Molly and Erica were visiting during daddy and Susanne's condo board meeting. So fun!! I just love this picture.

Congrats, Molly! You are growing into an amazing little girl and we are all so proud of you. Thank you Erica and Susanne for including us in Molly's name giving celebration and for introducing us to your terrific family.

Love,
Mommy

Goodies from Michigan & Miranda

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Dear Elzora,
Miranda is here!!! And she brought with her a whole bag of goodies. Here are some pictures of you enjoying all of the wonderful presents. What a lucky girl you are. You are especially enjoying the grocery basket full of fake produce and other food items. You still LOVE playing fika-time and you are continually offering mommy pieces of pie. I hope I don't get fat! (But please don't use the word fat. It is not a nice word. Or stupid. I don't like that word either.)

Mommy is really enjoying having her sister here. When does a grown woman have the opportunity to spend an entire summer living with her little sister? I feel so lucky.
Maybe with Miranda here we can do even more fun things together. Unfortunately the weather has been totally confusing, so we have spent a lot of time in the house, but we have been doing lots of painting and playing.

You were supposed to go to preschool today, but you were awake a lot in the night. It's weird because you weren't crying or sick or anything. You were actually singing and talking and in a very happy mood. I sure hope we get some sleep tonight because daddy has to go to Stockholm tomorrow and I think you would enjoy spending a few hours at preschool with the kids tomorrow.

I love you and Miranda and your sister and daddy very much.

Love,
Mommy

PS Mommy must say a special thank you to Grandma Mary Jo and Aunt Jessie for all of the awesome gifts. Thank you!! xoxo

The Many Bunny Faces of Elzora

Dear Elzora,
Today you must be feeling hoppy because you out your bunny ears. Thank you for letting me take these pictures (you didn't make it easy for me).

Now you are asleep and in a few hours farmor will come to take us to Timmele. Mommy needs her hair done!

Tomorrow Miranda is coming!!!!!! We are so excited.

Love you bunny bun bun.

Love,
Mommy

PS If you look at these pictures close up you will see that you have a very dirty face and snot running out of your nose, but you worked it.

Welcome Morris!

Dear Elzora,
Yesterday Liisa and Jeremy welcomed their baby boy into the world.
Little Morris Heikki Duggan was born San Jose, California weighing 8lbs 2oz and measured 19.5 inches in length.

Liisa and Morris are both doing well. Mommy is so, so happy for her friends.
I hope that you a Starla and Morris will be lifelong buddies.

Congrats Liisa and Jeremy!!!

Love,
Mommy

Oh, Baby Baby It's A Wild World!!

Dear Elzora,
Two days ago the moose came back. We missed it but luckily Erica snapped these pictures of our king of the forest in the woods 15 meters behind our house. Erica called us to let us know he had arrived and you and I ran outside to try and get a glimpse, but we couldn't see anything. We also tried looking from the upstairs balcony, but we missed him.

And then yesterday Grandpa Mac sent us a picture of the bear that visited his backyard recently in St.Helen, Michigan. We need a trail cam!

I can't wait to see the Moose, again!! You can read more about the king's visit on Molly's blog.

Love Love,
Mommy

You've Got a Fever of 103! (Hot Blooded)

Dear Elzora,
After partying to the wee hours on Saturday, you came home to mommy on Sunday with a high temperature, runny nose, sore throat and a cough. So no preschool this week! Instead of of going to The Ladybug you have been staying indoors, watching a lot of Pippi Långstrump and playing with your toys. Papa said you started asking for Pippi at 5:30 this morning. The two of you were lying in bed watching Pippi Youtube videos on the iPhone until finally papa had to get up to go to work.

Starla has an appointment with the doctor today at 1:15, so we are actually going to walk to town. I called Kerstin, our nurse, and asked her if it was okay and she said that it was fine since we are the last appointment today. We don't want any other little kids to get sick!! But it will be good to get some fresh air and the sun is shining.

I love you and I hope that you are feeling better soon.

Love,
Mommy

Hard Rock, Hallelujah!!

Dear Elzora,
I took this picture the other morning when you woke up and you were angry. I think it is perfect! And you do actually listen to Slayer with your daddy. Actually both you and Starla went to see Slayer when you were still in mommy's belly.
I love you.

Love,
Mommy

New Fabulous Furniture & Party Party

Dear Elzora,
Today mommy and daddy purchased new outside furniture for our backyard, and it is so nice! I just love the pavilion. It has mosquito netting so we can spend more time outdoors enjoying the beautiful, Swedish summer evenings.

Farmor and farfar came over to help us and then we had fika together. I baked banana muffins and they were really yummy (breastfeeding makes mommy super-duper hungry).

We still have a wind wall to put up and we are purchasing a Weber Fireplace possibly this afternoon. We are going to have such a fun summer just maxin' and relaxin' with our friends and family. Your Aunt Miranda might be arriving from the US before the end of the week. I can't believe it!!

After we finished with the furniture, you and papa went to Timmele for a party. Mommy and Starla stayed home and ate Chinese take-out with our favorite neighbors and watched the Swedish version of Survivor (Robinson). You and papa are now eating breakfast at farmor's and soon you will come home. I miss you!! I heard you were quite the little party girl and fell asleep at 9pm and then woke up for some more party party at 11:30pm!!

I look forward to giving you a great, big hug when you get home. And daddy, too.

Love,
Mommy

First Husbil Holiday

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Dear Elzora,
On May 1st, farfar and farmor departed from Timmele on their first voyage in the new husbil (RV,Motorhome). Luckily we were there to witness the joyous event.

Last weekend Siri joined her mormor and morfar and soon you too will travel with them to a beautiful, Swedish, seaside destination.

Congratulations Bengt & Bojan!!

Love,
Mommy

UPDATE: You spent your first weekend away from home on a RV trip with farmor and farfar last weekend (June 26 - June 28, 2009).