New Years resolutions....

Where does time go? How can baby E already be 4.5 months old? How can it already be middle of January 2009? I who was going to do so many many things on my maternity leave....

Don't worry, have already given up the idea of getting anything done in the daytime a long time ago... baby E is WONDERFUL, simply the best, but she requires all my attention and then some. The rewards are instant though - she is as happy as can be, and loves nothing better than goofing around with her mum or dad (...or anyone really if I am being honest...)

Made som new years resolutions to myself:

1. Do something NEW every week... this can be very trivial and simple, just something I have never done before. Last week this was to take baby E to baby swimming. She LOVED it!! Never seen her smile so big for so long and to be so active :-)

2. Cook more at home in general, and specifically try a new recipe per week so I can build up a bigger cooking repertoar (last week this was a very average mexican soup that I don't think will be repeated...)

3. Blog more.... I have so many thoughts to blog about, just finding it difficult to get the time to do it....

4. And of course the token weight loss and exercise resolution. I didn't gain much excess from pregnancy but have piled on the kilos from breastfeeding - or rather all the chocolate, energy drinks and cakes it has craved off me.... also want to get fit for the SKIING trip in March, and toying with the idea of entering the London Triathlon in August... hmmmm.. not promising that one, but is out there!

So there. No turning back now as they are made official on this blog!

Pyjama party!

The H had cooked a nice meal for us last friday night, and we were going to eat it "properly" by the table with some nice wine, and have a little bit of "us" time when baby E was sleeping. I went upstairs to put on something appropriate.

On my way down the stairs I start to giggle when I realize what I was wearing.

Appearantly "something appropriate" for a nice meal these days is a well used and over sized pyjamas and warm socks...

Performance review time!

This time of year is usually a time for performance reviews out there in the "real world". Back here at the animal farm I wanted to give my new tiny boss an "upwards review" of how it's been working for her these three months now. I guess my probation time has just expired, and since I have not recieved a notice in writing I assume I still have the job as her mum!?? (which is a great thing as it is VERY likely that I am loosing my other job next week...)

Upwards review for the first three months:

Strengths:

1. Motivational Skills.

You are very good at motivating - you just smile and gurgle and it is worth all the hard work!

2. Creativity

You do bring out a lot of creativity in me that I didn't know I had. A lot of new dances and songs have been invented together for instance...

3. Fun.

You are very fun to work for. Most of the time!

Areas of improvement:

1. Clarity and direction:

It would be great if you could give some more clarity of what to expect ahead of time so I can prepare... rather than just jump into a growth spurt from one day to another for instance...

2. Consistency and timeliness:

Some more consistency and timeliness would be very helpful actually. There has been many an occasion where your sudden change of mood etc has led to cancelling important meetings around town as well as being late for our appointments....

3. Communication:

Yes, there are some nuances to the screaming but it isn't always easy to figure out exactly what it is you want... again som more clarity and communication would be great!

So baby E. Your turn now. How am I doing?

"NEW MUM, MAY LACTATE IN PUBLIC"

So, baby E is now 9.5 weeks and we are enjoying our time together. She is in a super cute phase where she smiles a lot and is much more interactive and independent every day making it possible for me to take showers etc which my surroundings have appreciated very much (especially considering the puke and poo that sometimes gets hurled my way....) I have even made it out of the house ON MY OWN for the first times!!! I have been to the hairdresser ON MY OWN, and to the gym twice ON MY OWN!! It felt absolutely wonderful and strange at the same time.

I was missing a sign on my forehead saying "NEW MUM, MAY LACTATE IN PUBLIC" or something to explain why I get sweat stains on my boobs in the gym, and why I am generally behaving weirdly... After first being visually pregnant for quite a few months, then always having had a new baby in tow - my strange behavior is always accounted for, and I just get understanding looks and interested comments... without the bump AND the baby I am just plain weird.....

Ah well...

Prada vs Haglof

Baby E and I are enjoying all sorts of coffee/lunch/playdates with other new babies and their mums locally. Lots of different groups. Yesterday I made an observation regarding the style of mums from different countries, in this case Italian vs Swedish. Met with a bunch of Italian mothers and babies in the morning. I immediately felt totally underdressed and "like the poor cousin from the country" in my jeans and red feeding top and windjacket. They were all "prada" with high heels, jewellery, designer bags etc and talked about their tummy corsets and maternity nurses. However later in the day I felt right at home meeting up with a group of Swedish mums. I hadn't met them before but needed no introduction as saw a group of very practially dressed healthy -(and good-) looking women. It was Prada vs Haglof if you know what I mean :-).

Equally nice ladies though - just lightyears apart in style....

The Milk Monster!

Third week with our wonderful baby E now and I am constantly exhausted, dazed, drained and very very happy. Seems like I could attach her to me like a little monkey baby though, as she would prefer to be feeding ALL the time...

How can something so small, eat so much I wonder???

Welcome to the Animal Farm!

It feels like we have created our own little farm.

I am the cow... muuuu. Feels like I do nothing else but breast feed...

Baby E, is a super cute little piglet (she makes cute piglet snuffly noises)

Mike is the proud peacock or rooster, parading around showing off his offspring to anyone who is remotely interested. We have had neighbours come in to see baby E, people we normally don't really talk with, and when I was resting with baby E on the sofa one day the postman comes in to say hello to her.... no joke! He is just the proudest father ever!