The Candrians Down Under

This is my son...

He put the ice cream bowl hat on his head on his own volition. He thought he was so funny. The Gorbachev thing he has going on... he fought the stairs and the stairs won...this round.

Lorena had to take a picture of Michael so that he can get his VISA and not be an illegal immigrant in Sweden. He wasn't enjoying it too much until she taught him to say "Cheese" and then he thought it was pretty funny.

Before "Cheese" (more like a mug-shot)

After "Cheese"

Portugal

Rob made a comment today about how sad it is that Michael has traveled all over the world, but still has never been to California. Since I am pregnant, it almost made me cry. All this traveling and yet he's never been where I call home.

Anyway, our trip to Lagos, Portugal was heavenly. Rob's parents, sister Amy and her husband John met up with us there, so Smalls had all the attention a little attention-craving boy could ever dream of, and Rob and I had all the free time the parents-of-an-attention-craving-boy could ever dream of. It was a lot of fun to have a full house of good company on vacation. There were even some decent surf spots for Rob, so it was perfect!

Is there anything cuter than baby bum? He was so excited about the ocean that he escaped as I was trying to get on his swim trunks.

More baby bum. He's a bit on the skinny side and can't keep up his trunks. Half moon the whole time.

Michael and his grandpa, or as he calls him, his boo-pa. Every time Smalls woke up, he immediately exclaimed "Boo-pa!" and wanted to go on a hunt to find him....even if it was the middle of the night. They are true love.

Our villa. We had this place all to ourselves for the week for cheaper than if we all got rooms at a Motel 6. It's nice to be married to a man who must've been a travel agent in his past life.

Couldn't wipe this smile off his face as long as we were at the beach. Oh, all the trouble I've gone to entertaining Michael through the long cold winter, when he is happy as a lark just to play in the sand and water.

There were some hikes through some seriously cool rock formations, although this is a poor shot of it.

Gotta love the sand-in-mouth expression of Sir Smalls. Sorry to my mil Joy for posting an eyes closed picture, but you still look cute anyway and I couldn't help myself. He was asking for you this morning.

Best News EVER (to a pregnant woman)

My due date is OVER THREE WEEKS SOONER than I thought it was all this time. I thought the pregnancy was 18wks 2 days, but I just found out at the sonogram yesterday that it is 21wks 4 days. Seriously, how awesome is that?! I couldn't stop laughing with giddiness of the news, to the point that I think the sonogram lady thought I was a little unfit to be bringing life into this world. Maybe even Rob is wondering. But I think any pregnant woman would back me on my over-the-top reaction.

If I could sell something like "subtract 3 weeks from your pregnancy" on Ebay, I'll bet it would go for enough money to start up a Taco Bell and Titos Tacos and Beto's in Stockholm in order to put an end to the cravings I've endured without them during this pregnancy. During the last week, I recall at least 4 nights with very realistic dreams about me and Mexican food. One was a nightmare where I was chewing out a worker at Taco Bell because I had been waiting around for hours for an order of a tostada and nachos supreme, while they handed out food to everyone else, and then they told me they were all out. I woke up Rob with my yelling.

Okay, and now on to other news I am ecstatic about...it's a GIRL! We've been calling the baby Chilla for a long time (long story), but now that we know it is a she, her name is Ella. I know that news should come first, but the fact is I was expecting it to be a girl or a boy and either case would have left me on cloud nine. The first news was totally a surprise and I have since had to figure out alternate explanations to happenings with my body that led me to definitively think I was not pregnant in October when in fact I was. Anyway...I guess I ought to leave it at that although I would love to chat more because it really was quite surprising. The new due date is July 16th. Rob will tell you July 22nd because that is what the ultrasound lady said, but the ultrasound lady contradicted herself and made a mistake. I'm sure we will be making a bet about who is right very soon and I will be winning all sorts of back and foot massage time out of it, thank you very much ultrasound lady.

Slides

To say that Michael loves slides would be an understatement. He talks about them all the time. Well not about them, he just says "slide" a lot. Look at the pure joy on his face. By-the-way, every other kid going down this slide was at least 2 or 3 years older then Michael. He doesn't care, in fact, he is pushing kids out of the way to go down it. He has no fear, and it is fun to watch. Not sure how that will play out in a few years when he is even crazier and still has no fear, but oh well.

Spring Training

In honor of Spring Training starting up, Michael and I wore our Giants World Champions shirts. Lucky little kid, he is a Giants fan for one whole season and he gets a championship. I had to wait 31, and my Dad had to wait 52 (I am counting since 1958, when the Giants moved to The City.) Last year, even living in Sweden, I was able to make it to 4 Giants games (including 1 playoff game against the Phillies). We will see if I am able to make it out to any games this year.

The Artist

Check out the serious look on his face.

Fish

Here is Michael's new favorite video. (And mine.) No surprise that he started making the sign for fish this day. Doesn't have the hugest spoken vocabulary, but he is picking up signs left and right...I have to keep learning more.

This is at the Butterfly house in Stockholm with my friend Krista and her son Ben. The best part of it was that they have to keep it at a tropical climate for all the butterflies and so it was the first time in months that we could feel like we were outdoors and be comfortable in a t-shirt, and Michael could play in the dirt. Honestly, it was worth the price of admission just to let Michael play in the dirt since it's been so long since we've seen any, let along gone outside without gloves. That's okay. Life is good here.

Pickles Pickles Pickles

I can't stop thinking about pickles. It is almost 11:30 and I have not yet gone to bed because I can't stop this raging debate between my watering taste buds (evil) begging for a pickle, and my brain (good) telling me that it is going to make me feel so gross later. Honestly - I have literally been thinking about pickles for almost 2 hours.
If you haven't caught on yet, this is the delirium I am subject to only during pregnancy.* Back in November, when I was about 2.5 weeks along - well before any test could confirm the truth - I found myself sitting on the couch after having plowed through almost an entire jar of spanish olives, when I took a step back from myself and looked at the scene and went, Omigosh, I'm totally pregnant. I didn't explain that scenario on my first visit to the OB/GYN when she asked about when I first had my first positive pregnancy test and I told her I never took one. But the spanish olives incident was pretty much proof in the pudding (yum!) for me, and of course it's only gotten worse (better?) since then.
The cravings aren't so bad when it's for tacos or whatever else, because I just eat it. But pickles and I have had a rough history where I start and just can't stop until I've downed half a jar. It never ends well. I always end up feeling totally gross with that awful aftertaste for at least 24 hours.
Last month I even wrote myself a journal memo where I made myself write "Pickles are a mistake" ten times with a vow to remember that next time the craving hit. I think I ate 4 or 5 in a row that day and it wasn't good aftermath.
The cool thing about this pregnancy is that food tastes better than it has ever tasted ever. I am constantly proclaiming that this or that is the best thing I have ever eaten, and it really feels that way. The other day it was just a simple artichoke that I wanted to write poetry about. I was still thinking about how good it tasted days later and sincerely asked Rob if it wasn't the most amazingly perfect delicious artichoke he'd ever had, and he went "???????????".
Besides the fact that I spend way too much time thinking about food lately, I think this is one side effect of pregnancy that I can be grateful for. I am not a fan of almost anything else about pregnancy, so I'll take the gift of taste as one little gift amongst the headaches, tiredness, blahness, poor sleep, and nausea.
I have many other thoughts to share, but in the middle of writing this, I broke down and ate a pickle. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten. So I think I am able to go to sleep now. It's sad but true, food is honestly that controlling of me lately.
*The baby is due on August 8 - my Bday!

The Mormon Bachelor

So Rob's sister Andrea was selected to be on The Mormon Bachelor - check it out. Basically, a web version of The Bachelor, and mormon-y, so I'll consider hand-holding a steamy display of public affection.
I think Andrea is awesome in this and I am having so much fun following it all! I'm pretty confident she'll be selected for a date #2 and can't wait to peek in to more of the action....

2010 Favorites

I don't think the first two actually came out in 2010, it just happened to be the year I discovered them.

Favorite Movie - Son of Rambow - Best movie I'd never heard of till I saw it. One of my favs ever maybe. I'd never even heard of it and watched on a fluke on DVR. Wasn't at all what I thought I was getting based on the title.

Favorite Book - The Hunger Games - Once I got to the heart of the story, it was really obnoxious to put down until I was done.

Favorite Music - To The Sea, by Jack Johnson - Love it when I get an album and every single song makes me happy.

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I feel so out of the loop sometimes way out here in Sweden and have missed so many good books, movies and music during my years here. I need some new stuff and want your recommendations! Even if it hasn't come out recently, give me a good book, movie, music, whatever. But yes, I have heard of Avatar, even out here it was hyped to the ridiculous proportion that it actually hit my radar. Thanks!

Here is a great picture of Smalls, for your viewing pleasure. He was trying soooooooooooo hard to make it; you should have heard his grunts.

Winter Sport

I really can't wait for the summer, but in the meantime, I am making the most of the mounds of snow and having plenty of fun with it.

The best part is XC skiing. I can start from my front door and be in this beautiful hilly forest in under 10 minutes. I love it! It's the best full-body workout there is and so much fun too.

We do as the Swedes do and pull Smalls around to places in the sled. He thinks it is the best thing ever and likes to drag his hand along in the snow for added fun.

A little sled ride down the hill that is our "yard".

Christmas 2010

Here is a random compilations of videos we took on Christmas.

Funny story as follow up about Michael saying "Jesus" - I was so impressed with how well Michael could point out Jesus in any random picture. At church all over the walls he can see a new picture of him in any context and happily proclaim that it was Jesus. But, then we were at a pool the other day and in comes a man with long hair, a beard and moustache. You can already see where this is going. Michael points and excitedly proclaims "Jee-sah! Jee-sah!". The guy totally notices and smiles, so then Michael vigorously tries to wiggle free from us to go over to the man (as we hold him back, laughing), excited beyond belief to see him in the flesh.

It's been cold and snowy

While I haven't give up on commuting by bike, mother nature hasn't been making it easy.
Sweden is apparently in the middle of the coldest December in 100 years! Global warming - ha! My usual 20-25 minute ride without snow has been taking about 40-45 minutes with snow. Oh well.