9 months

The past 2 weeks we've had my parents over to visit. It was really nice to be pampered a bit and to be able to relax and have some time of my own. It was the first time my parents met Theodor in the flesh so they were eager to watch him, play with him, feed him, dress him, change him and take him for walks. I could step back and enjoy the show. At the beginning of their stay Theodor was "crawling" backwards. Today he crawls by the book and even pulls himself up on his own 2 feet. What a progress! What a fantastic time this is, when every day feels like he is growing at the speed of light. At the same time I want to pull the emergency brake and make the time freeze so that I can feel this happy forever.

At long last...

It's been a while since I've written here last. Not because I was lacking material, simply because there was no time. For the first time since Theodor has been born, I've had a couple of weeks where I was really tired. I was finally following the piece of advice about sleeping when the baby is sleeping. I've never said no to taking a nap in the afternoon, but these past few weeks I've napped 3-4 times a day. Barely having the energy to do anything else.
A lot has changed with the little one. He's been eating baby food for the past 2 months and last Monday was the last time he drank breast milk. The biggest change, though, took place when we finally got his furniture last Friday. His bed and closet. Beginning of the week that followed I started what I thought would be the "training to sleep on his own". I was proved wrong by my little boy who, from the very beginning, acted as though he's never slept anywhere else in his life. I think the training is something we the parents needed more than he did. I cannot explain the feeling of going to sleep in a big, empty and cold bed - despite my husband being there next to me. It felt like both Stefan and I were on a Theodor detox cure...
But I do confess that I still take him into our bed for a nap here and there...

A baby's view on sleep

Have just found this on the internet. Thank God Theodor is not part of this. YET!
Sleep is for the weak or the babies's conspiracy

A very good day

Today I feel very good about myself. I feel genuinely happy and fulfilled, like I haven't in a long time. And for that I owe thanks to my little son, my bundle of joy. We've had a very nice time together. He is very sociable - we talk, I help him play with his toys, he gets excited and screams with delight. The latest thing that he really likes is when I kiss soundly his belly or his feet. He can't seem to get enough of that. It makes me laugh every time and it fills my heart with joy and overwhelming love. Another thing we enjoy doing together is to dance. We do that up in his room, while listening to the radio station "Lugna Favoriter", which plays new but mostly old, slow music. We dance slowly cheek to cheek and I turn around in order for him to get a panorama view of his room.We usually do this before he is going to take a nap. It apparently gives him the intimacy he needs to calm down, relax and sleep. So, after two songs on the radio, we go to the bed, where Fredriksson, the teddy bear, is already waiting impatiently. In goes the pacifier, I lay him on the side, he hugs the bear close to him and falls asleep. Today he even assisted me in the kitchen while I baked some ciabatta bread and made some fresh cannelloni for dinner. He was in his high chair observing what I was doing and also playing with his beloved octopus, Captain Calamari. So, when Stefan came home today at 8 pm, fresh bread was cooling down on the counter, dinner was ready, the house was neat and clean and Theodor had just fallen asleep - which allowed us to have a relaxed and quiet dinner. Now I can hear my husband talking to our little son and Theodor replying with screams of joy and I can't help smiling. He woke up just about when we had finished dinner. I feel like the perfect housewife and that oddly enough makes me deeply happy. I wish every day was like today for the rest of my life!  

One month later

Stefan has been at home on vacation for the past month. It's been really nice to spend so much time the three of us like a family. These past few days though, I've started to get nervous at the thought of being alone again, just Theodor and me. Having the whole responsibility the whole day. But being nervous wasn't apparently enough. This afternoon, Theodor's mood changed like the coming of a sudden summer storm. He's been cranky for the past 5 hours now, testing our patience to the limit. I hope a good night's sleep (if he ever falls asleep again!!!!) is going to take care of this phase. Instead of just being nervous about tomorrow, I'm mortified. It feels like if he's going to be like this tomorrow, I'm going to shoot myself. So please, keep any weapons out of my reach! Thank you!

Another cool thing...

... is the swing that Theodor inherited from his cousins. It is made for babies who like to hop on their feet. Our son is a bit too young for that but he enjoys a lot to swing. These 2 films are made the first time he tried it. But I guess you can tell it by the size of his eyes ;-)

The first time swinging
Swinging is cool

Amazing progress

Lately, Theodor has started to want to sit up and even stand up. He is crazy about this new way of exploring his body and surroundings. Me, I just feel a little overrun. I mean, he is only a little baby, just turned 4 months but he is not even 3 months old otherwise (if he'd been born according to plan). Of course, it goes without question that both Stefan and I are very proud parents. I just hope that we are not doing anything to jeopardize his development. I will ask our midwife next week, just to make sure.

standing up!!

New Year's Eve

This year we enjoyed the last evening of 2010 in the intimacy of our small family. We dressed nicely and  had a good home made 3 course dinner. We welcomed the New Year watching tv in bed with Theodor sleeping soundly between us, despite the fireworks cracking outside.

Now, our little sweetheart is riding his first Radetzky March in his father's arms and, as usual, I am close to tears.

A new friend

Mihai, the teddy bear

4 months today

In Solna Centrum having "fika" with a dear, dear friend

This evening, at 9:31, it's going to be 4 months since Theodor was born. He was 42 cm long and weighed 1618 g then. A tiny, tiny, red person, covered in tubes. Today he is 58,5 cm long and he weighs 5250 g. Everything has developed very well so far and soon he'll start tasting more than just his mother's milk. My little boy has grown a lot - he is now able to fall asleep on his own (BIG improvement!!), he can tell us what he likes and dislikes and the first signs of talking and laughter are starting to show. These four months have flown by, sometimes everything still feels so fresh. I still have the moments where I look at him and wonder where he came from - wasn't he in my belly last time I checked? We have been very lucky, both Theodor and I seem to have done really well for ourselves. But sometimes I wonder if I am ever going to forget the pains I've suffered all the month of August and if I'm ever going to put behind me the chock caused by his sudden birth...

Theodor bathing with Daddy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXdPi84LMVs

Theodor "chatting"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HOXcxu5frw

Theodor smiling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3fsRD5lwv8

The wonder weeks

After going through 2 "magical" leaps with Theodor, I ordered this book online to help me with the numerous next ones. I started reading it yesterday and already can recommend it to any parent. It is a golden asset, especially when it comes to the different ways you can help your child to go through this difficult time. This book has a good chance of becoming the family bible.

First Christmas

Yesterday afternoon Theodor slept outside on the porch in his pram for 3 hours!!! While he was busy doing that, Stefan and I decorated our living-room for Christmas. He made big eyes when he saw all the changes. But all the new stuff hanging around seems to interest him a lot.

Theodor's room

Our little sweetheart is getting older, so now that Stefan is at home during a whole month we have decided to get started and redecorate his room. The theme is jungle and animals - and here is the first wall:

Poor Stefan had to put up the wall paper on his own, because the baby sitters couldn't help us anymore. But I think he's done a wonderful job, as always!

Now the rest of the room is finished. We are just waiting for the furniture to be delivered...

Scones

And this is the result of using the Kitchen Aid for the first time. Very delicious scones :-)

Kitchen Aid

This year I've spent my 33rd birthday in the hospital. Such were the events, that both Stefan and me forgot that it was my birthday. That is why today I was allowed to open my birthday-Christmas present combination. And this is what came out of the box. The funny thing is that, 15 minutes before Stefan and I talked about this machine during dinner. And I had sad that I expect to get one when I turn 40  :-) The thing that I am most excited about is starting to bake our own bread. Thank you, my wonderful husband for reading my most inner wishes! I LOVE YOU!

The baby chair

This is what we bought yesterday. Theodor loves it. He can "sit" at the table with us while playing with the toys he got from his godmother&family. And we can finally eat our meals at the same time and in peace. What a wonderful invention!

Rock-a-bye-baby

That is how I have been feeling the whole week - this also explains my absence here on the blog. Theodor has been very demanding, crying a lot, not wanting to sleep and basically wanting to be rocked all the time. And we are not talking about the basic rocking, no. It has to be in an upright position, so he can look over the shoulder and one has to pace around the house. The moment one stops and rocks him without moving from the spot, the crying begins. I do understand that he is going through his next developmental milestone and that he needs to feel safe, reassured and intimate with his parents. But it doesn't get through my head, how all this pacing that is killing my back and making my arms and shoulders burn like they are on fire - how is all this supposed to give him all that? Needless to say, that with my hot Romanian temper he's been driving me bananas. Rescue came after the longest week in my life, in that Stefan started his winter vacation which is going to last a month. Already today I feel an improvement in my lifestyle: I was able to read 4 pages in my book and that in the middle of the day, not after 11 pm.