Springtime in Trondheim

We received just a little bit more snow in Trondheim.So what do you do when it snows in what should be springtime....
Get out the X Country skis,


and bar-b-que!
Preferable with a beer and a small crazy child rolling around in the snow!
Then you make yummy Swedish Pancakes for breakfast.
Sorry had to eat about half before I got a picture. Mmmm strawberries and whip cream.

She's 4!!!

It doesn't seem possible. There is no way I am the Mother of a four year old. I swear she was just a baby yesterday, where the heck did the time go!!?? Yet sad to say my baby turned four, I guess she's not so much a baby anymore but a little girl.

Avery had a great day. In the morning she got her gift from Jeff and I, a fur real friends kitten, and then a breakfast of blueberry pancakes. Jeff got off work early so we skyped with my parents and then with Grandma Lori. They each got to watch her open their presents, gotta love skype! The lucky kid received presents from the Grandparents and all the Aunts and Uncles. Since it is very expensive to mail anything to Norway it means so much that everyone took a little extra effort and extra expense to make sure Avery had a great day! Thank you family, you rock!!

Ave requested crabby patties (hamburgers) and hotdogs for dinner so Jeff braved the freezing temperatures and started up the grill. We had a really great day.


My loot!

Skyping with the Grandparents.

Hanging out while Daddy cooks dinner. What a ham.

The pink cake. She kept telling me for weeks she wanted a pink cake. Then the night before she decided she would rather have a purple cake. Luckily I found some purple sprinkles in the cupboard left over from Easter. I have not really found a party or cake shop in Trondheim. I'm sure one exists but I have no idea where. Thus she ended up with drink umbrellas and left over Easter sprinkles on her cake. The kid didn't seem to mind and it actually turned out kind of cute.

Averisms

Since I told Avery I was pregnant she's come up with some pretty funny sayings.

She wants to name the baby, "Avery heartling love I love you."

Every day when I get out of the shower she says, "hows the baby doing" and I say, "what do you think?" She feels my belly, looks into my belly button and says, "he's getting pretty big," then she gives my belly a hug and says, "I love you baby."

She knew we were having a baby brother before we actually knew. When asked if she wanted a brother or sister she'd say a baby brother. One day she told me that the baby was growing a peanut (male anatomy.) She also said to me one day that the baby doesn't have a vachina like her he has a peanut. We were pretty relieved it turned out to be a boy since that was all she talked about.

At one point, however, she told me I was having twins, a brother and a sister. That scared me a little bit at first until I discovered the idea came from Dora The Explorers show about Dora's Mom having twins.

Avery asked me if the baby liked coffee since I was drinking it this morning.

When I went to have my ultrasound Avery thought I would be coming home with the baby. That one took some explaining. She often asks if the baby is coming tomorrow.

She told me, " Mom our baby is going to be cuter than the baby we saw on the bus."

She told me last night while we listened to music that the baby was dancing.

She thinks the baby comes out of my belly button. That works for me. The other morning she drew a picture on her chalk board before I got up. She explained to me that it was my belly and the baby was coming out of my belly button and then my mouth. She drew a spiral coming out of a circle. She has been thinking a lot about the baby.

It's a boy!

We went for our first ultrasound yesterday and found out that we'll be welcoming a little boy into our lives this summer! We're very excited. Avery has been saying since we told her she was going to have a new sibling that she wanted a baby brother. She even told me a couple of weeks ago that the baby was growing a peanut. When I was back for Christmas I actually bought blue smart wool booties and last week I ordered a bunch of blue onsies from Old Navy. I am pretty sure I've known all along it was going to be a boy but it's still nice to have a confirmation. He must know I'm talking about him since he's kicking me right now.

The ultrasound was great. I was extremely nervous the night and morning prior to it which put me in a horrible mood and I am not sure why. Most likely it was a combo of now knowing what to expect from an ultrasound in a new country and fear of the unknown, i.e., is the baby ok, does he have all his parts and on and on. What a relief it was to see the little guy up on the screen. We had a midwife do our ultrasound and she spoke perfect English. My Doctor had sent her a note telling her that we were from the US and that we already had a four year old. She asked us many questions about the pregnancy and even questions about Avery. When it came time for the actual ultrasound it was done basically as I remember it being done in the US. The funniest part of it was when we were asked how long we stayed in the hospital after giving birth. When I told her one day she about dropped over with disbelief. Avery had a low birth weight and I guess over here we would have both been in the hospital for around three days or more to make sure she was gaining weight and eating properly. Gotta love US insurance companies that kick you out after one day. However, due to Avery's low birth weight I get another ultrasound at 32 weeks to make sure that this baby is growing at the right pace. Oh and there was no doubt that it is a boy, he was displaying his parts prominently!

I felt and have felt very taken care of this pregnancy which is such a relief. The midwives really want to know how you are doing mentally and physically and actually take the time to talk to you. My first midwife appointment lasted an entire hour. Also midwives in Norway are highly trained, even trained to do ultrasounds. At around week 34 they even have all pregnant women talk to a phycologist to make sure your mental health is doing ok. My midwife was funny she told me not to worry that I am crazy since all expectant Mother's have this appointment.

Now the hard part... picking out a name for a little boy.