Sunday, July 31, 2011

My newest obsessions.

Olivia is 3 and a half months, she's amazing, I love her to pieces, makes me the happiest woman, etc...  I love you cosita!

Now, I need to share this recipe ASAP! It is by far the best summer salad and I am completely obsessed and could eat it EVERY DAY!

"My Summer Salad!"

Ingredients: Ruccula, spinach or baby spinach, strawberries or peaches
or strawberries and peaches, avocado and parmesan cheese
(I can guess that adding a good Serrano can only make it better)

MIX!

French dressing: 1/2 tsp dry mustard, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 
1 tsp Maldon salt (or sea salt), 1 spoon 5% vinegar, 3 spoons soy oil.

My other new obsession is Pinterest, I can't stop pinning!  But then again, a girl needs some handy activities while breastfeeding, I mean, not that not love staring at Olivia, but after a while, I need another activity so my neck gets a bit of movement! So, there, that's what I do while I nurse.  I pin! And blog sometimes.  But pinning is easier than blogging when I only have one hand available :D
Have a happy Sunday and a great week!!! We are going to the summer cabin where there's no Pinterest of Blogger.  We'll catching crabs, eating delicious meals, picking up blueberries and spending our time  the rest of the family.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Just us two girls.



Jonas is working full time, Rafa is at the summer house and my mom went back to Costa Rica on Wednesday.  It's just the two of us for eight hours a day.  I had forgotten how it felt to be alone with a baby.  It is hard!!!! But beautiful.  
My mom's visit left us with a sweet taste in our mouths.  She was so caring, loving and respectful that we barely noticed that two months went by.  We miss her already, but she taught me so much about being a mother that I am also happy to try things on my own.  Time flies and in just a few months, we'll be in Costa Rica with our family for a while.  Enjoying the sun and showing Olivia the other part of her culture and the rest of her family.   I can't wait to introduce her to her grandfather Memo and to her uncle Memo (tihiii XD). 
Anyways, for now, we'll enjoy each others company, go for long walks and discover the world one day at the time.  It's not an easy task to entertain a three month old, and I know, it definitely doesn't get easier as they grow because the demand more energy the older they get, but, I will get used to the everyday life.
Today, out to town to look for a proper raincoat that I can walk on with the pram all autumn! Any suggestions???



Monday, July 25, 2011

Proud.


It's an honor to be able to live in a country that believes in compassion, in forgiveness and tolerance.  After a day such as Friday, when the horror hit us all in Norway, it is truly an example of peace to see how they are handling the worst of the worst.  
It has been difficult to write this post, what can I say? In the middle of the news on the T.V, on the newspaper, the rambling of people talking about the tragedy I just had to sit for a moment and digest what happened.  It's impossible, it can't be digested! I look for answers somewhere else because I can't quite understand all that I read or hear on the T.V.  Norwegian is still a difficult language when it comes to serious matters.  I understand most of it, but I don't want to miss one piece of information... so I have to ask and look for better explanations, only to find out there aren't any good enough. 
For the first time in 4 and half years since I moved to Norway, I don't feel safe...it is not a good day to be an immigrant when there are extremists like this man out there.  I feel scared for my child who is a product of multiculturalism.  We are part of this salad bowl!  I know I am not part of the target group this man is against at the moment... but maybe I am, or I will be.  Anyways, I can't help but feel solidarity and sadness.  But I have to follow the example of the massacre survivors and lift my forehead and fill myself with courage and say that I know I still am in one of the best places to live in the world.  The land where I want my daughter to grow up.

Picture by P. Modahl, taken in Bergen (den BlÄ Stein).

Norway has been my home for the past years.  My daughter is born Norwegian.  We are part of this land just as much as my neighbors.  I love this country of beautiful culture where I have become a better human being, a better woman, a wife and a mother.  This is a place where friends are true friends, and a hug is a real hug.  So today, I feel proud... scared but proud of being part of such a place where love is bigger that hate. 

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Home made improvisation.

She was almost happy with her new home made Ring Sling.  Perseverance is the word.

And speaking about perseverance, there is NO way she'll take a pacifier and believe me, we've tried every kind in the market, so I decided to follow my good friend George's advice and offer her a cozy blanket.  Great success!!!! Thank you George!!!!!!  It's perfect because she loves grabbing anything in front of her and putting it in her mouth, so, a blanket is just the right soother for her (I made her two, in case she looses one!!! My very clever mother suggested that).

 Made with an old t-shirt, some micro-fleece and leftovers of ribbon and fabric. I made 2 squares, 
sew them together with zig-zag stitch with some fun color thread.  Then made a sort of head and 
stuffed it, tied it with a ribbon. Also patched two hearts :)






A few things.

First of all:  Olivia is 12 weeks today!!!!! Yieeeyyyyy!!!! Felicidades mi amor!

Second of all, got these two books on the mail yesterday (thank you Claudia for the recommendation) and can't wait to start sewing!!!!!





Saturday, July 2, 2011

I wore high heels tonight.


Tonight I went on a date night with Jonas on a 5 course dinner with wine included.  He got it as a present for his PhD, so, we decided to go out while my mom was home babysitting Olivia.
Let me tell you, it was great to go out, to have a nice dinner and perfect wine to accompany each dish.  It was nice to see our friends after.... it was all nice.  To be with Jonas alone, to dress up, to feel pretty, to be out and about.  With the perfect babysitter.

It was aweful though, to come home to a hungry baby that I can't comfort with my breast.  Because the bottle is just not the same... so, next time... I will think twice.  Maybe she doesn't need me as much as I need her... maybe she is just happy just as well.  Maybe it's harder for me than for her.  

Oh well, just needed to vent while my husband tries to rock Olivia to sleep...
Anyways... good night.

Ps: Just to clarify, we usually complement breastfeeding with formula because we need to.  So I am all up for formula because we have a happy healthy baby that eats both.  And tonight was no different, I just couldn't nurse her to sleep like I usually do.  And as I finish this post, she is sound asleep in her bed after Jonas danced and singed for her.