life, week 38 - the most life changing week of 2015

In-between contractions, on our way to the maternity ward, Sølve pulls out his phone and says "let's take an elevator selfie". So we did, and I'm glad we did because 1) this is the last belly shot (week 39) and 2) just one hour after this photo was taken, Sverre was born.    

The first thing I noticed when entering the room where I gave birth was the view. 

A one day old miracle, my son Sverre Johan. Yes, it is quite all right to use big words about the wonder of a newborn human being.

Barselhotellet (hospital) breakfast for the win!

All the love

After two nights we slowly started to get ready to go home (impatiently waiting for Sølve to finish his errands that he for some reason was rather secretive about).

Who doesn't love coming home to a beautiful bouquet on their door step?

And then this in the mail box - from the lovely knitting queen Ingvild. Tusen takk igjen!



Pappa and son doing things they are very good at; sleeping and reading the paper - on the new sofa. I mentioned yesterday that it would be nice to have a more comfortable spot for nursing in the living room. Maybe we should just get that IKEA sofa instead of saving up for something more fancy. (Yet it is sad to see the 60s sofa go. I love the shape of it, but it is not very comfortable.) It was a nice surprise to see that he already fixed it. So this was the secretive errand. Also: so good to be home!

The most challenging part so far of being a new mother again: the sleepless nights.

Soaking in every second of this.

She lined up all the rabbits, gave them three marbles each and tucked them in. As you do.

A moment of idyll in-between all the "be careful" orders. I'm trying my best not to say it every time she touches him. Trying my best not to be overprotective and rather include her as much as possible.

Sleeping in after keeping his mamma awake all night. Lucky guy!

I'm not normally a napper, so I'm working hard on the whole "sleep while the baby sleeps" thing. Some days it is not hard work at all.



She is really into beading these days and she loves when her pappa helps making dinosaurs and stuff.

First little stroll in the neighbourhood; to the grocery store to get the softest toilet paper. Those of you who have given birth, know the importance of this... (Sorry! Was that too much information?)

And then all three of them went out to jump on the trampoline. 

Sunday lunch with guests who were eager to meet little mr Sverre.

Yes, he is definitely a keeper. Also: Wow! Clean windows are the best!

One of many. Lucky me!

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Week 38: September 14-20

life, week 37

Lindex has lots of beautiful baby clothing. Cute and gender neutral patterns and colors. Couldn't resist this one.

Soaking in these gorgeous early autumn evenings.



Lots of tulips, daffodils and crocus, plus a few scilla, anemones and alliums are going to make our garden lush and lovely come spring.

I love seeing them work together like this.

Tuesday 7 pm // thankful for this gorgeous start to autumn

What a difference a year makes! (Thanks for the capture and print, K!)

I love the color of these gladiolus my friend T gifted me.

picking up pappa Sølve at the office // mamma Astrid shows off her car drawing skills - only on demand from toddler Sara

after bath time flower time

A touch of autumn by our front door. 

Another beautiful bouquet from another sweet friend.

Baby boy made us believe today (Thursday) is his birthday. Apparently it was false alarm. We took the hint and put the final touches on his nursery and I packed the hospital bag.

The purple carrots made the stew a light shade of purple. I prefer the color of the uncooked purple carrot.

Good morning sunshine! (No sign of labour this Friday morning. Puh!)

Plum tree TLC time 

Friday taco before...

...and after.

I love this photo that Sølve took of our big biking baby. 

Coffee in bed, they are both still sleeping and all is well. (Yes, that is the hospital bag. Very fitting next to that red poster, me thinks.)

So thankful for a husband who loves gardening - and for Sara who loves to help. Getting ready for spring with a tulip bed in the making. Also, summer in September rocks!

Late week 38 baby planet - wondering if baby boy is ready to meet us soon (Sara was born late week 38).

post cinema (Karsten og Petra på safari) Sunday dinner

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Week 37: September 7-13

things I like lately - new mother version

Oh the bliss of having a sleeping newborn on my chest! 

- our baby son, Sverre Johan, was born on Tuesday - two weeks before his due date
- Sverre is a beautiful, healthy baby
- so thankful that my body deals so well with (natural) birth
- so thankful that the nursing is already going so well (it took me a while to get the hang of it with Sara)
- seeing Sara as a loving and caring big sister - although she seems to struggle with some mixed emotions too, as expected
- seeing Sølve as a proud father of two
- feeling so much more in control of the newborn situation now compared to when Sara was fresh into this world
- folkene på Fødeloftet og barselhotellet i Stavanger - en mye bedre start på mammalivet enn KK i Bergen (sorry, Bergen!)
- the celebratory glass of champagne
- brie on Rugsprø, salami sandwiches and snacking on ibérico ham (foods that pregnant women in Norway are recommended to stay off)
- being ok with the fact that I will still be wearing my pregnancy jeans for a while (note to self: reorganise the wardrobe from pregnancy clothes to nursing friendly clothes)
- this nursing top from Lindex (perfect for layering) - I didn't use these kind of tops when nursing Sara, but now I'm already hooked - need to stock up!
- this night shirt - perfect for nursing
- flowers galore in our living room - thanks to generous family, friends and colleagues
- the decision to get a new sofa - a comfortable spot for nursing in the living room - right away instead of saving up for something more fancy (like this or this)
- looking forward to slooowly starting to exercise again - starting today with the first little walk with the pram

- - -

Things I don't like lately

- sleepless nights - so hard to adjust!
- finding a way to guide Sara to be careful when being with Sverre without constantly giving her strict orders - any advice?

- - -

PS: Check the motherhood label for more baby/toddler/motherhood related posts including a series of guest posts (published in late 2011 after Sara was born) from my mother friends who give advice to new mothers: Jeanette on motherhood, Norunn on motherhood, Margrete on motherhood, Barbara on motherhood, Caroline Kaspara on motherhood,    

introducing: Sverre Johan

Two days old and ready to leave the hospital and go home.

Four hours old and treating his mamma very well.

Big sister Sara mets baby brother Sverre for the first time.

First family photo as a family of four.

Just like his big sister, our baby boy Sverre Johan, decided to make his entrance into this world two weeks before his due date, Tuesday morning September 15. He was in quite a hurry too; born less than an hour after we arrived at the hospital. We are happy and excited (plus a tiny bit terrified) to start adjusting to a new life as a family of four. 

what's for dinner, week 38

Rhubarb from the garden. There still is a batch in the freezer - maybe I should made a crumble during the weekend? // Agfra Precise 100, Canon EOS 500N

Getting slowly back to it. Slowly being the keyword. It has been 14 weeks since the last time I planned the weekday dinners (if I remember correctly, we actually followed the plan that week). Time to give it a try again. As always, the menu is mostly based on what's in our fridge, freezer and cabinets.

Monday: pasta salad with salami (I use this one; small dices, panfried), tomato, red onion, green bell pepper, pesto and mozzarella

Tuesday: steketorsk (crumb-coated cod filets) and roasted potato, carrot and beets topped with feta and sliced almond

Wednesday: omelette with leftover greens from Tuesday + garlic bread

Thursday: pasta with grilled salmon (from the freezer)

Friday: tacos

- - -

PS: my pantry essentials // thoughts on dinner planning and grocery shopping // lots more what's for dinner posts + the 2010 dinner project 

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What are you planning to have for dinner this week?

things I like lately

from the archives, Bergen apartment // Kodak Portra 160, Canon EOS 500N

- another week of gorgeous early autumn weather - warm enough for a t-shirt during day and fresh, crisp autumn air during night
- keeping up the summer time mood with this song
- #MisheardLyrics (I wish they would tell what the lyrics actually are though because I'm really good at mishearing lyrics...)
- homemade cauliflower soup with homemade croutons, bacon and freshly grated parmesan
- Vitviu - well done, Sigrid!
- a gentle reminder to myself: low light
- also (from my blog archives): a new photo project: darker mornings - maybe I should do something like this again
- Elin ba om å få brukte gaver da sønnen fylte fire år
- lunch date with my girlfriends two days in a row - yay maternity leave!
- said girlfriends brought gorgeous housewarming flowers (it's embarrassing to say we haven't been able to meet since we moved to Stavanger a year ago)
- this looks good
- pyjamas from Berg & Berg
- 10 hverdagsgleder
- tåkehester
- digging out a gift card that I got for Christmas and stocking up on a few new flannel shirts for the upcoming (autumn/winter) breastfeeding period, including this pyjamas
- these two photos together and this

- - -

Things I don't like lately

- baby boy made us believe he was making his entrance into this world yesterday - it was false alarm
- the uncertainty of when baby boy actually will come - I'm not yet impatient, I just like to be in control

- - -

Question asked in the comment section:

A while ago ALittaM asked on this post: Does Sara eat all the greens? My Lucia will send back every dish of pasta with anything green in it...

Sara is the same. Any green that is green is passed over to me. She is still rather picky when it comes to greens, but she does eat things like carrots, corn, cucumber and potato.