A Day of Celebration!

Today is a day of celebration! Vera is six months olf today, cousin Folke is five months old and mormor Gunnel is also celebrating her birthday!
Vera celebrated with her first taste of meat and had lamb for dinner, which she loved! Strange as neither Mark nor I are that keen on lamb!
We spent the morning having coffee and lunch with the NCT mums and babies, which was lovely. As it was my last Wednesday coffee get together before returning to work, they had got me a card and a present. Too kind. I was really touched!

When we got home a lovely parcel had arrived from Sweden with a present for Vera from Anna, Cory, Freya and Denali! There was also a drawing from Freya to Vera! Inside the wrapping was a beautiful doll for Vera! Perfect as a six month present and also to remind her of her Swedish heritage. Thank you so much!

Today I fell asleep like this...

Time to child proof?!

She's not quite crawling, more "dragging" herself along the floor, but manages fair distances now, so need to be kept an eye on at all times. Today she attacked the TV bench and managed to pull put a few DVDs and fiddling with the Virgin box.

This morning, Mark, Vera and I have visited the nursery in Sanger, where Vera will start on Fri 6th January. We met the manager, Anita, again and discussed settling in, food, routines etc etc. Mark will bring her there in Dec for a few short sessions to start her getting used to the new environment. She will also be assigned a key worker who will be doing all collecting and leaving, nappy changing, feeding and of course, cuddles.

On our way home we went to the baby clinic in Sawston to have Vera weighed: 7.94 kgs! She's moved up from the 50th to 75th percentile - guess it's all the solids and increase in formula.

Banana!

 One of Vera's favourite fruits is banana. Here she is feeding herself with a Nibbler - basically a mesh that lets the banana through in a pureed format so there is no risk of choking

First time in the big bath...

... and tonight we didnt like the Good Night Milk so back to formula.

Sleeping through the night

Vera is now sleeping through the night most nights, which is great as I go back to work soon. In fact. this is my last week off. Part of me is trying to ignore that and I'm also trying to make the most of it!

Last night we started using Organic Good Night milk, which is similar to the Swedish välling - milk with added cereals. It is possible to buy välling online, but we thought we'd try this to see how we get on.
Vera had most of it, but it is probably very filling even though the volume is slightly less compared to her usual bottle. She slept to 7:45 so in any case, job done!

Vera and I have been out for a few errands as well after lunch. First the local post office to post a package to Sweden. I have to say that we do have the friendliest post office and amenities around here - expecially if you compare to the post office near work. The owner in the post office told me that a large packade would be very expensive (£38) to send to Sweden and suggested that I re-package in two jiffy bags instead. That way it was no longer classified as a small parcel that had to go parcelforce and under 2kg each the postage only came to £11!  We then popped to the local garage to fix a broken break light, I guess dragging a baby along makes for friendly service, but the guy changed it there & then and only charged me 85p for the light bulb! I am all for supporting local services and even more so inclined now! Easier said than done though, when you're working full time in another part of town, but where possible I definately will!

Watching a film with daddy

1st Advent

We had a lovely surprise this afternoon when Ana & Mark cycled over and joined us for some Adventsfika - mulled wine and ginger bread, although Mark and I ate most of it!
Apart from fika, we have put the decorations up, I've wrapped all the Christmas presents for Sweden and Ireland. I dont think I've ever been this prepared so early, but wanted to get it all done before I go back to work.

Crazy napping position of the day!

Baking

This is a weekend of Christmas preparation!  Mark is busy with a bit of DIY while I'm on a baking roll. So far today, gingerbread muffins with cranberries and a gingerbread dough for baking tomorrow (it needs to rest over night). I have also made the dough for the saffron buns, to be baked in a little while.

Tomorrow will be spent putting up the Christmas decorations, as it's the first of Advent, more baking, wraping Christmas presents and writing Christmas cards.

I'm also looking forward to tasting a bit of glögg, saffron buns, ginger bread and mince pies.


If I achieve all that is another matter!

Determination

Busy day!

We started off with singing this morning, together with Clare and Alice and Lu and Alex. Then we went for coffee at Clare's house, where Vera was very active dragging herself around Alice's baby gym.

We went home for a quick lunch before we headed to town. Very trying all in all. As I am very clumsy, I managed to bang my head and pinch my leg in the multi story car park before we had even headed out. We went straight to M&S, where we had a voucher, a present from Mark's colleagues. The escalator was too narrow for a pram, so we had to take the lift. Took ages before it came as it was only big enough for 1 pram, or one pensioner (!). Got off on the wrong floor by mistake (why do they have the kids dept on the top floor?!) so had to repeat the whole saga waiting for the lift. Raided the baby department  - see photo below, then had to queue AGAIN to pay and for the lift. At this stage I was worn out and middle aged so had to sit down to have a coffee and scone (seem to have eaten a trillion scones on my maternity leave). See previous post. In the lift down from the cafe - in another building, Vera charmed to elderly women with her smiles!
A pit stop in GAP for more socks that stay up and some mittens, then back home.
Vera tasted chicken for dinner. Not a success. It's the first time she's been reluctant to open her mouth. I gave her strawberry & apple puree instead.

Here's today's catch! As you can see I'm into stripes!

Shopping is really tiring!

I'm in town stocking up on clothes for Vera & extra stuff for childminder and nursery. It is mental, so busy, queues everywhere. Vera has the right idea I think!

Taster of Work

Today I've been at work all day. I actually enjoyed it! It was great getting my teeth into a few new different challenges. It was stressful going home though, in the dark with all that traffic.
I know this will be tough when Vera starts childcare - trying to be on time to pick her up and not letting her stay too late there. It was lovely coming home though, to a big smile from Vera!
Here are a few photos from tonight's bath time.

Mammas älskling

Multitasking!

On today's menu: banana & mango. And a conference call.

Hairdresser and a friendly Cat

 I had a hair appointment at 10 this morning at my hair dresser Tess. I go to her house in Sawston and Vera came along too. Vera was a delight! I had brought her bouncer and she happily sat and bounced, chatted and smiled when I had my highlights done. Then she had some food and a snooze! Tess's cat, Lincoln, a very friendly Siamese cat came and said hello. Vera was stroking him, by accident more than anything!
Here are a few photos from Tess' cottage and also when Vera had a snooze after lunch.

If I could bottle that feeling

It's dark, rainy and cold outside and has been drizzling all day. Vera and I have been indoors all day and playing. More fish on the home menu today, home made mango puree for lunch and a home made root veg concoction for dinner, all eaten with gusto. I'm trying to write down timings of food and sleep etc so that I can pass to the child minder when Vera starts her settling in period in December.

Those who know me know that I love lists and I have lists for everythings- all the oughts and musts, of varying degrees of importance. Today and lately I have been trying to ignore them as much as possible and enjoy here and now.

This afternoon Vera had a long sleep on me on the sofa and it was so lovely. Those are the moments that matter and I wish I could have bottled that feeling.

Fish!

Vera had her first taste of fish today. It was a Swedish jar of baby food so also contained the herb dill. Lots of new tastes for Vera. She was a bit perplexed at first but happily finished off what was on offer. We also try to give her a bit of water with her lunch and dinner to keep her regular ;-)

Chilled afternoon

After Birthday fika and breakfast we went into town for some Christmas shopping. Trying to get as much done as possible before I go back to work and also nice to have one less thing to stress about.

Here's someone who loves being out and about

We've had a lovely afternoon in the Cambridge Blue with friends celebrating Mark's birthday. Ana, Mark, Junko, Chris, Kenneth, Dipak, Alexandra, Richard, Marlene and Oliver all joined us.

Mark got some gorgeous gifts & cards!



Vera was great, being passed around. There was a lot of chatting and I guess she got enough at one stage, as in the photo below!

Celebrating Mark

Today we are celebrating Mark's birthday. He turns "a three and a three" (33) and celebrating his first birthday as a dad. Vera and I woke Mark up with cake, candle, presents and me singing "Happy Birthday", although my singing left a few things to be desired this morning! Vera was helping Mark with his presents, but was more interested in chewing the wrapping and envelopes.

This afternoon we're off to the pub for drinks with friends to celebrate further.

Here she is today

Vera has been in her new walker today (photos to come), yelling in the gym (film below) and for a walk in Wandlebury Park with QingQing, Ken and baby Philip as well as Clare, Al and baby Alice.
It was clear and crisp and we watched the sun go down. Another beautiful autumn day.

you forget so quickly...

... how fast they grow. I can't believe this was only a couple a months ago

End of the week

We've had a busy last couple of days. Vera's got her second tooth and We've been out an about. Yesterday, the library, and Therese's hairdresser Tess - for a social visit and to book an appointment for next week.
Today we've been to The Fox Inn in Bury St Edmunds, a lovely town in Suffolk, for lunch with my old colleagues Phil, his wife Ruth, Kat and her baby Keira. We had some great food and a long catch up. Vera was brilliant and was happy being passed around!


Phil with Vera

 Kat & Keira (10 weeks)

 Ruth and Keira

 Ruth and Vera

On the way back we popped into the office to say hello, but if was fairly deserted.Vera got lots of cuddles though from Johanna (3rd photo above) and proceeded to chew up Ana's project plan. Which would have been good as that's what I'll be working on when I return to work.