Bump, moving, tea and valling

Well today Orla had a little bump on the head...in our little bathroom...there is a ledge just off the floor, big enough for her to rest her hands on to get herself up! We were just about to leave this little room when she sort of toppled...no marks or bumps so it can't have been too bad but it scared me and I think my sound effects scared her more than anything else! She is also rather wiggly on the change table so tonight this came off the cot and we'll change her on the floor to avoid bumps and falls while changing. She is also sort of crawling, backwards mainly and she likes to stand up!

This morning I found her upside down too, head where her feet should be! Not sure how she manages but she does! She has slept well for 2 nights now, not waking up at all during the evening which is great news! We've had 4 or so weeks when she has woken up crying and wanting cuddles to get back to sleep. This happened quickly but she wouldn't always let us put her down again! It's been strange and hard work as she has always been such a happy sleeper. The reason/s for all this would most likely be her new tooth! This appeared for the first time around 7.5 months and it is showing now, very cute too! And she dreams...this seems to wake her up every so often as well! They (the books etc) tells us that they (the babies) around this age often do this.

Food wise she is eating well...had her first weetabix on the weekend at Debs & Chris' along with cracker bread which is another hit. She has also been having the Swedish drink called valling in the evening. She loves it and we even have a Swedish bottle for it so it can get through! It is like porridge in a drink more or less.

We went to St Albans this weekend to stay with Debs, Chris, Emily and Ben. Debs knows Sean from uni. We also got to see Taz (another uni friend), Lisa and TJ. Unfortunately Lynn and family couldn't make it. Debs and Chris have built an extension on their house which has turned out great. We also got to see Corinne and David before we drove back, they are also in St Albans. This was lovely too as it has been ages, they'd not met Orla before and we had not met David! The journey up and down went well and we got back safely.

This week is half term time. Orla and I have had a pretty quiet start to the week. Lynn is looking after Orla tomorrow so I will do 100 things that I need to catch up on then. This weekend I am going shopping in Brighton on Saturday with Nicky and Sharon while Sean is dad for the day and on Sunday Ruth, Chris and Millie are coming down to see us - all very nice! Next week we have lots on before we see a few Gardiners and Martins next Sat (it is also Brian's birthday during the week) before we fly to Sweden on Sunday morning, Orla and me that is. Sean will be home alone, get lots of work, sleep and xboxing done while we spend some time with the Frantzich lot, all this before I go back to work in April. Still don't know what the deal is exactly but hope to soon as I really need to book Orla in for childcare...wish me luck as there don't seem to be enough spaces to go around!!!

Weather is milder and we've had some lovely days. I don't mind the cloudy days, as long as it's not wet! Scaffolding is still on the house...Bathroom still needs finishing...and we have a million things to do before our move to Oz!!!

Right, I think that's it for now. Am making lasagne for dinner, should be ready by the time Sean comes through the door just after 8pm. (Not! Orla woke up...I should never have written the above! She is back in bed so I can start cooking now!).

Take care, miss you all and yes we will upload pics soon...!!!

In the meantime we have started a Twitpic page at: http://twitpic.com/photos/moosecat76 - pics from our mobiles that we send straight to here as we take them...quicker than our album but pics are somewhat swoshy! Enjoy!

8885 grams

Hello again!

We went to weigh Orla yesterday and she was 8885 grams or 19.8 in the other language. She is climbing the chart one line above "the average" (the 75th for those of you in the know!). We didn't measure her length but she is fitting nicely in to her size 74 clothing.

Her cold has got worse really, she sounds very husky today, nose is still runny and snorty and she is coughing a bit rather than just sneezing. She slept well all night last night though which was a relief.

My cold is better I think! The weather is ok, still quite cold. Think we might just go for a walk today to get some air, otherwise stay indoors to get better! Sean is in London today at a uni for a workshop.

Talk again soon!
Stina et al

Snuffly and tired...

Feeling snuffly, coughing, head achy etc today...not sure where it has come from...Little miss has a runny nose too and teething so she is not 100% either. Sean is fine, just had some work to do over the weekend.

Have downloaded pics from the camera and phones so will upload them this week I hope!

Am also very sad to hear about the loss of life in Australia due to the fires.

Kram for now

Orla 8 months today!

Looks like I have not written a word since before xmas!!! Gotta get better at this!

Haven't managed to upload any new pics either...it's on our list of things to do so hopefully you will see Orla as she is now very soon! Maybe us too but we are not as cute to look at!

Had a lovely xmas at Pernilla and Thomas' house in Saltis including Orla's christening on xmas day at Skogso Kapell. Also had a few days at mum and dad's and a good new year's eve at Sofia and Andreas' in Gothenburg.

After we got back we all got the winter vomit bug...Orla first then Sean and I followed. Sean got it while in Wales for work so he was sick up there while I was sick and on my own with Orla here...thankfully farmor Lynn came to help the next day which was a relief as I was pretty worn out. Since then we've been fine, a bit snuffly maybe and Orla has her first tooth on the go, otherwise we are good!

Not much to report from January really...Sean has been back to Wales for some more work, in Pembrokeshire where we went on holidays. Nice place to go! He was 37 as well on the 27th of January. Got a painting of fishermen in Pevensy Bay by Nigel Greaves. Sean knows him and his family from when they lived in the bay. Will be a nice reminder of this place when we get to Oz. His gallery is also down the road from us.

This month we are off to St Albans to catch up with Debs and Chris and all the uni lot, maybe even Corinne and her fiance if we can fit it in. I hope to go shopping in Brighton, see Ruth and family and a few Gardiners before Orla and I fly to Sweden on 1 March. We are staying the whole month to spend some time with my lot. Sean will survive but Orla must promise not to start walking or similar when he is not there! Have a lot of family birthdays in March, Pelle and Sofia are moving in to their new house, Sofia W will be at home and I start working in April so wanted to make the most of my time off. Mum (and dad?) will come back here for a bit in April too, including Easter which will be nice.

I am hoping to work 3 days a week from home until the end of July...whether this can be sorted out with work is another question. Have been to see them at London Bridge, now I am waiting to hear what they can offer me!

We've had snow...it's been all over the news! The UK really can't function when it snows...!!!

Work is still going on the outside of our big old house...will be lovely when it's all done. Also getting a leak from upstairs fixed and our freezer has died...will hopefully get back to life next week.

And Orla is a star! More hair, one tooth, around 9 kgs I think, will weigh her on Tuesday. Likes to stand, not really crawling but moving about a lot, just not getting far...loves her bath and swimming, chats away, likes to eat and more! Hope to show her off soon!

Will go to bed now I think...and hope to write more very soon!

Take care, love and miss you all!
Kram from us