Trying something new.

We're giving Olivia the chance to try things on her own. I would't qualify it as "baby led weaning" but more like just letting her explore a bit. Yesterday was mango and it was a great success, she just sucks on it and gets the flavour. She has proved to be more open to new flavours if she tries them this way first! Today was avocado and banana. It's messy but fun!
(We just have to be extra carefull that she does not choke!)

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Amor.

How did we manage before!?

Ok, here comes a rant.  Mainly because I am not in a patient mood.  Also because I am a bit tired and also because its all around!

How did people manage before the internet and blogs?  

Everything becomes so complicated.  I was catching up on some of my daily blog reads and came across an interesting discussion about labels.  EVERYTHING has a label these days: "Attachment Parenting", "Baby led weaning", "Cloth Diaper Exclusive", "Formula fed child", "Breast feeding exclusive", "Cry it Out Method", "Baby wearing", etc.  Quite honestly, it is a little exhausting.

Whatever happened to following your instinct?  I am all up for that.  And, what is so wrong about feeding cereal to babies?  I keep reading about people not wanting to give cereal to their babies.  Here in Norway, that is what they recommend you to start with!  Can someone please explain?  I am giving cereal to Olivia, both oatmeal and rice cereal.  She loves it, and she is gaining weight in the right curve, she sleeps well, hasn't had any stomach problems, enjoys fruits and vegetable and cod liver oil as well.  I don't see anything wrong with it.

There are some very strong opinions out there.  All I know is that every household is different, each child has a different set of needs, not to mention the parents.  What ever works for one baby might not work for the other and whatever works for a mom, might not work for the other either.  So, here is where "to disagree with respect" comes to play.

Baby blogs are a great way to stay connected and in tune of what's going on.   A great source of community and there is always some useful advice out there.  So that is what I take from all this.  But all these different tendencies on how to raise children are a bit too much for me.  I just wish everything could go back to simpler days.

My statment:

• I do not use cloth diapers, tried them, preferred the disposable ones.
• I breastfeed and suplement with formula.
• I don't "wear" my baby all the time and I use the stroller a lot.  She loves it!
• I believe in discipline and routine.
• I believe some babies must cry to sleep.  So I am very happy we gave Ferber a try.  After we did, we are all much happier.
• I do not care for extremes.  
• I prefer homemade food for my baby.  So I try not to buy pre-made foods.
• I wish I could buy everything organic but, come on, who can afford that?
• We do the best we can with what we have, always having the best interest of our children in mind.
• As soon as I relaxed about being a parent and started following my instinct, I started enjoying it a lot more.

Going to Oslo!

We're waiting for the taxi to take us to the airport. Just the two of us! YIKES!

I'm freaking out a bit, but it will be great.

A 1/2.

Olivia turned 6 months on Sunday and I didn't post it!  I am so sorry... but, I meant to.  I've just haven't been able.  But, wow, 6 months.  That is how busy she keeps me!  I don't have too much time to blog these days.  Me free time is used to be with Jonas and maybe clean the apartment a little bit.  Catch up with some sewing and knitting... rest...  Blogging is not first on the list I guess.  But, here I am, telling the world that by baby girl is half a year old and she is AMAZING!!! She just has me head over hills.  Has us, because Jonas can't stop smiling and is also completely in love.  She is the most amazing little person and I can't believe she's ours.  She is funny, determined, social, confident, smart!  We are very lucky. 

This is how our evenings are! Lots of fun!

Rafa, Olivia, Jonas and I.

I love our little family <3

 

One that fits.

I made a new hat, one that actually fits.  Olivia still has a cold but is much better now, so, that is what we've been up to:  recovering and lots of pampering and love. 
The weather has been amazing, we've taken some shorter strolls since Rafa still needs to pee and poo, but it is quite cold so we need to go well prepared with all the warm gear we own :)

Ps: Sorry for all the blurry photos but this little girl won't stay still!

Baby with a cold + some nice projects.

Baby's hat, from Lotta Jansdotter Simple Sewing for Baby. Still a tiny bit big!

My baby has a cold. She sounds like a little piglet when she breathes. It's both funny and heartbreaking. But, she is in good spirits!

It is really frightening when your child gets sick, as mild as it might be. Every "first" for a new mother is a bit frightening. What do you do? How do you help them feel better? Olivia is a bugger machine and she won't let me go near her nose to help her get clean, it is kind of a struggle and she cries and screams as if I was killing her! So, I try to do it when she's distracted, but oh no, she is not "just a pretty face", she knows what's gonna happen and screams and kicks again! So, she is a bugger-face little girl.

Anyways, Since the weather is getting colder here are a couple of nice DIY projects that we are enjoying at the moment.

Baby hat.

 This cool hat took me less than an hour to make.  I used white fleece and grey wool with a couple of ribbons I had laying around.  This is a perfect project for repurposing some old scarfs, sweaters, fleece jackets or anything cozy that you no longer use.  Check your closet before buying new fabric :)  I had some leftovers of the fabric I used and it was perfect.

The second item is a DIY stroller bag, or "voksipose".  This is sort of a sleeping bag that we use here to put in the stroller.  My mother in law made it for us and it is fantastic!  We love it, Olivia sleeps so well in it and it is so warm and cozy that you can be outdoors as much as you want with your baby all snuggled in it.  She used a thick cotton fabric outside and a soft fleece inside.  To stuff it, she altered an old duvet.  We have a lighter "summer-altered duvet" to put inside when it is not very cold. 

Hope you are all enjoying the autumn so far, I know we are, despite the nasty cold.

Diaper bag dilema.

 

Since Olivia was born, this has been my diaper bag.  It was my school bag as well, so I didn't think I needed to buy something new.  I really like it, it's practical, neutral, light, fits a lot inside and it is partially water resistant.  Note the word PARTIALLY.  There is no winning with this Bergen weather.  Anyways, Olivia has finally transferred to the "grown up" pram, which is great, she can sit and look out, has lots of space and it is way lighter to stroll than with the newborn bag.  The only problem is, that since she is still quite small, we have the seat almost all the way down, so she is in theory still lying down and that leaves almost no space to reach down the storage space below the seat (that is my only complaint about our stroller).  But, the point of this post was, since it's too unconfortable to put the backpack in the storage space now and it rains a lot in Bergen, we need a waterproof bag that I can hang around the handlebar.  Something neutral, good looking, not too bulky and good quality!  My friend has this one, and I have also been looking at this one in olive green, and they have all of the requirements (although quite expensive), but are there any other recommendations people out there in the world might have?  I would love to hear about other solutions :)

Happy days.

In love!

Still a few centimeters short!

Norwegian apples.  Perfect Salad.

Latest knitting project.  Socks for me :)

Bergen and the rain.

 Bergen in one of the rainiest cities in Europe, all year round! But there is a saying in Norway: "There's no bad weather, just bad clothes", I really love this "positive-I-can-do-it attitude Norwegians have, and it's true, if you are well clothed, you can endure almost any outdoors activity.  For instance, long walks with Rafa & Olivia.  So, good raincoat, rain pants, rain boots are an absolute necessity.  No question. 

Today, my beloved hunter boots said good bye to me, in the middle of a very rainy day out.  We went through a lot together, I wore them almost every single day last autumn, winter and spring!  In the end of my pregnancy, they were about the only shoes I could put on without help (slip in, no laces, nice!), no wonder I wore them out.  They lasted around 3 good years. Today, I went all around Bergen in a desperate attempt to find new ones, the exact same ones, Original Short.  SOLD OUT! EVERYWHERE! SHIT!  Besides, they are so very expensive here in Norway.  Double the price than in the UK.  Are they worth it? Yes they are, every cent! So I found these in a UK website! Tall ones! Good for me!!!!! Now I am ready to tackle the winter all waterproofed!

Solids and bowls.

I got 2 of the smalles one on top :)

I got a couple of melamine bowls from Rice for Olivia the other day.  I got them because they seemed sturdy, simple and had a lid!  We started feeding solids to her just a few weeks ago and thought it was about time for her to have her own plate, so while walking around Bergen, spotted these and got her two.  I love them and they are the perfect size for her meals.  Oh, I got her some spoons too!!!

The autumn.

 

The autumn is here.  I think this one is the most beautiful times of the year (when it's not raining), the colors are so amazing, the light is warm, it's chilly, you feel change coming.  Autumn is all about change.

I believe we've had some of the most beautiful days lately (if not the best days of the year so far) with warm temperatures, sunny skies and chilly nights.  We've been to long walks and enjoyed every minute.

I haven't been very present in the internet lately, Olivia is keeping me busy!  But all is good.  Our Ferberizing is still working.  Olivia sleeps 11 hours at night and wakes up a happy girl.  She is loving the solids, so far she is very into oatmeal porridge, avocado and banana.  Maybe apples.  She makes lots of funny faces when she tries some new taste or texture, it's hillarious.

Still no turning around in this household but we're getting there.  The interest is definitely present.  It's just that extra kick missing.  But, the time will come sooner rather than later.  On the other hand, sitting is a great success.  The tripod hold is improving nicely!

 

And now, September is gone, October is in and with that, Jonas and I celebrate our 5th year (first wedding) anniversary.  It was the 29th of September five years ago that Jonas and I were having our wedding appointment (2:20pm sharp!) here in Bergen. The ceremony took 10 minutes!  Only his parents and grandparents as witnesses and at night, a lovely dinner with friends.  That was the beginning of a new stage in our lives.  So, here I am, in Norway, together with the love of my life, and with our almost six month old baby! Who would've thought! Life is good.

He got me these beautiful flowers that I really wasn't expecting! <3<3<3

Anyways, this is a mellow post because I am in a mellow state of mind.  Finally resting after some intense days.  Sitting with Jonas next to me, having a well deserved beer, the house is quite, Rafa and Olivia are sleeping, the TV is on and it's just the two of us for a little while, which is very good.