Bathtime

Now that Bjorn can sit up better, Laura and I have started taking baths with him, of course the water is very shallow and not as warm as we would normally want it to be, but it is still a lot of fun and enjoyable. It sort of feels like sitting in the puddle of water than runs in to the ocean at the beach, we all know which puddle I am talking about, the one we always want to be in when we were little because the water was nice and warm there, and even as adults, we secretly admire the kids who play in it and can't wait to sit down and play it in again.



When we bathe with Bjorn we bring some of his bath toys and he just loves playing with his duckie, blue boat (I call it the Big Diesel tugboat) and his green plastic cup, which he always try to fill with water, then picks it up with both hands and tries to pour the water in to his mouth, which he has yet to do (which Mamma and Pappa thinks is a good thing, that he has failed to do this...), but it is still fun to watch him try, he will tilt his whole head back and eventually arch his back so he can get better leverage to his mouth, hehehe, but when he tries to pour, it eventually runs out and goes over his body. Just like his Pappa, he loves to play in the tub (remember Farmor and Farfar...), but he does not like getting his hair washed at all, I remember when I was little I would tell my mom (Farmor) that I was all done and when my mom came in she could tell I had not washed my hair...something I hated doing, because I would always proclaim that the shampoo would get in my eyes, even though it rarely, if ever, did, hehehehe.

Eating and sleeping (sort of...)

Bjorn has now been eating some solid foods for over 2 weeks, and started with vegetables this weekend, butternut squash, not a vegetable I had ever had in Sweden, but I like it a lot now :- ) , but Bjorn is not a big fan of it...yet. They say it may take about 15 tries before they decide if they like or dislike a certain food. I know one thing for sure, no matter how many times I try Brussel sprouts, I will never like them, but who knows, maybe he will : - ) . In a couple of days Laura is going to try carrots, I am sure he will like carrots as they are usually sweeter in taste than any of the other root vegetables. He does love his rice cereal (ung. Svensk mannagrynsgrot), and he has tasted some other foods, such as water melon, which he liked. We will probably not start with fruits for another week or so, and we have to try 1 fruit/time to make sure he does not have an allergic reaction to any.

I wonder what he will think of some traditional Swedish foods, such as Kalles Kaviar, O'Boy (a staple in any child's breakfast in Sweden, hehehe), Sill (probably not, hehehe) and kanel bullar, and most importantly, choklad bollar :- ) .


Whatever he will like, I know both Laura and I are happy that he does enjoy whatever we have been feeding him so far, and I hope he maintains a curiosity for different foods and will want to try a little of everything (including his wash cloth when bathing)

Bjorn ar ett halvt ar!

Bjorn is now half a year, ett halv ar (6 mos). You are now eating rice cereal in the morning and in the evening and so far you have really enjoyed it a lot :-) . It is interesting watching you eat and how you get so excited and want to try to feed yourself by grabbing the spoon and the plate, although Mamma and I are not letting you grab the plate yet, because we know you would make a big mess, hehehehe.

You are still only rolling from your tummy to your back, but you are pushing more and more with your arms and try to move with your legs, but they are not cooperating with your upper body yet, which makes you frustrated. This weekend you met your very first "big" dog, and I am not so sure you liked that, I think you still prefer your kitties at home, or "kissen" as your Pappa calls them : - ) .

Speaking of "kissen", they have both figured out to stay away from you now that you want to grab their fur or better yet, their tails, and Mamma and I both love how your face lights up and you kick with your legs when the kitties come around : - ) . I wonder if they will ever get used to you and let you near them as you get older and start walking : - ) .


Here's a picture from your "Birthday", on your birthday we went to the Mall and took some new pictures of you at Picture People, Mamma had this really cool idea of bringing the Swedish flag, and the photographer took some really great pictures, Pappas favorite of course is the one idea he came up with, where you are laying naked on the flag, hehehe, the picture which is now in Mamma and Pappas bedroom, you look so beautiful on the flag, I can't wait to show everyone the picture of you, and I am sure you will not be so happy about it when you get older, hehehe, we promise not to embarrass you in front of your friends by showing it to them : - ) . We also went to visit your friend Kiara, who had her very first haircut, she was so cute! She wanted to play with you and your toys and she even let you play with her toys, which you enjoyed a lot : - ) .

Happy 6 month Birthday my beautiful boy, Pappa alskar dig!!

Bjorn's first trip to New Sweden

This weekend, Laura, Bjorn and I drove up to see Matt & Jess in New Sweden, who live close to Stockholm, Maine :-). We started our trip Friday afternoon after Laura and I came home from work, Bjorn slept for about an hour or so and was from there on awake on and off until we arrived at 22:00. Overall he did great as it is a very long drive, especially for him sitting strapped in to his car seat. Laura sat in the backseat with him during most of the trip playing with him and reading to him, which did soothe him. Bjorn absolutely loved Jess, and he got a huge kick out of Matt, both of whom are going to make great parents very soon :- ) .


We did not have a great deal of luck with the weather, but we managed to spend a little time outside, and we had a very nice and relaxing weekend. It is so beautiful up there and people are so nice and friendly, and of course everyone we met adored Bjorn.