Daily Jamie

The Time I Decided We Need A Pet Pig

Before we left the beach house, Kristen and Brandon tipped us off about an area called Natural Bridge in Virginia, which included wildlife safari that we would be passing on our drive toward Nashville.  We reached it at just past nine this morning (after having left D.C. at six to beat rush hour traffic) and were some of the very first visitors of the day.  In addition to the drive-through safari, they had a killer petting zoo with some super friendly critters and some less-friendly enclosed cats and monkeys and boars and whatnot.

We love zoos anyway, but any time we can get up close and personal with the wildlife is a major plus.  I was totally smitten with the piglets and even Jamie was more enthusiastic than the last time we were at a petting zoo earlier this summer.  Though he didn't really appreciate the goat that nibbled his big toe and I could have done without that elk snot smear on the side of the rental car.  

Daily Jamie

July 24th

July 25th

July 26th

July 27th

July 28th

July 29th

What A Week

Wow, dudes, what can I say?  It's been the most incredible vacation week.  New York: awesome.  The beach: perfect.  Washington, D.C.: couldn't have been better.  We had such a good time in Bethany Beach with my friend Kristen, her husband Brandon and their son Tyler.  We had days at the beach, watching the babies eat sand and splash in the water, fought the waves ourselves, shopped at the outlet mall, ate ourselves silly and stayed up late reminiscing and sharing stories from our lives since college.  Then, this afternoon, we drove to D.C. and met up with Becca and her boyfriend Jonathan who took us out for an delicious Mexican dinner and then showed us around the city.  It was so good to see Becca and get to finally meet Jonathan, even if it was only for a bit.  Jamie loved all the new folks and experiences, and guess what?  We still have a week of vacation left!  Here are a few pictures from our trip so far.

Daily Jamie - One Year Old

The Only Living Boy In New York

We all woke up early this morning.  All three of us had fallen asleep before seven last night but had slept badly because we were so excited for the day ahead.  Like the Christmas Eves of my childhood, I kept checking the time, willing it to move faster toward morning.  So we were awake at 5:16, which, of course, was 11:16 in Sweden, the time when Jamie was born one year ago today.  We sang him the birthday song and played until the breakfast buffet opened downstairs.  Then we walked all over Manhattan for hours and hours and hours in the steaming heat, feeling guilty all the while that the poor birthday boy was spending his day strapped into a stroller.  And then, when we had nowhere else to walk because we had reached the end of the island, this fountain in Battery Park appeared through the bushes.  A dream come true for a hot baby on his birthday.  A baby who tried to make friends with everybody there, who wasn't afraid to go right up to those streams of water shooting up out of the ground, an adventurer who loves discovering new things only slightly more than being held by his mommy.  A baby who has all too quickly become a big boy.  Happy Birthday, Jamie, and thank you for making this past year the most meaningful of my life.

Daily Jamie

Kings Of The Concrete Jungle

Dudes!  We're in New York City!  It's very, very late as far as we're concerned (though WAY too early to be calling it a night in the city that never sleeps) and we're pooped.  I did, however, want to share with you our first celeb sighting.  Don't worry, Jamie wasn't afraid of them, he was just ticked that Telly wasn't there.

Daily Jamie

The First Of Many

Today was Jamie's first birthday party!  He turns one on Monday, but since we'll be in the States we celebrated today with some of our very favorites.  We originally had a rather long guest list, but as I mentioned the other day, lots of folks are out and about traveling.  Obviously we're sad that some couldn't join us, but it turned out perfectly.  There were enough chairs and food for everyone, the weather cleared up so that we could be outside the entire time (though I hope all of our guests popped in for at least a second to appreciate my amazing decorations) and it was just as cozy and fun as I had dreamed.  Oh, and to put my ego aside for just a moment, I'm pretty sure the birthday boy enjoyed himself too.  Thanks to everyone who came to share in Jamie's big day, for your company and for the wonderful presents!

Oh, wait.  Not everyone thought the party was great.  Julia slept through almost the entire thing.

Daily Jamie

In The Kitchen

Jamie and I spent most of our day in the kitchen, he slapping around his new plastic food, me prepping party treats. I think we're both going to bed tonight feeling satisfied about the day's work.

Daily Jamie

The Cry Baby

Gurra and Gunilla are leaving for vacation in Mallorca tomorrow so they won't be here for Jamie's birthday party.  This is actually the case for many of the folks we wanted to join us, but such is July in Sweden.  Luckily for us, though, they made time to pop over this afternoon and brought presents including a puzzle, a rolling bear, some play plastic food and, oh my goodness, the most incredible handmade airplane!  Gurra started working on it in February and it shows because this thing is amazing down to the last detail.  Jamie's legs are a bit short now, but by next summer he'll be able to pedal it all over the place.  It has a real upholstered seat and dash with instruments, a steering shaft, authentic markings as though it was in the Ohio Air National Guard in Toledo, plus the name of the plane, Jamie "Cry Baby" A., painted on the side.  Dudes, I was speechless.  Actually, I wasn't.  I went on and on about how awesome it is, but none of my words were enough.  We were so touched by all the work that went into it and so excited for when Jamie is old enough to understand how truly cool it is.  You know, so that he can understand why all the kids in the 'hood want to hang out at his house. 

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

Party Prep

Jamie's birthday party is on Saturday and I'm getting started early. I vowed, after our last dinner party, to plan things better so that I wouldn't be rushed on the day of the event. This after I narrowly avoided a divorce when I went into full-on witch mode getting things done at the last minute. Suffice it to say, The Swede is a saint. A very tolerant saint. Anyway, I'm right on track this time, decorating the house five days ahead if time. That oughtta do it, right?

Daily Jamie

New Wheels

So, we're going to America on Sunday.  No biggie.  Or, wait a second, biggest deal ever!  We're going to New York City then Bethany Beach, Delaware then Washington D.C. and finally Nashville for Selah's wedding and we're going to be seeing some pretty awesome people along the way.  Obviously we've got a dream vacation set up and it's finally just around the corner.  As part of our planning, we brought out a travel-friendly sulky stroller that Sarianne gave us a while back.  We were pretty certain that, idiots that we are, it would be impossible to unfold, but it was smooth as butter.  Plus Jamie loved it and it handled like a dream.  So, NYC, clear the way 'cause we're gonna be rollin' through real soon.

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

P & J

The Swede had a date with Thomas and some of their dudes in the city tonight so I dropped him off at Thomas and Petra's this afternoon.  Petra didn't have anything planned for her afternoon, so we met up at a nearby shopping center and then headed to Ikea to fika and let Jamie play in the kids' area. Little Jason slept almost the entire time, while Jamie went buck wild, highlighting what a difference a year makes.  We moms had everything in common, though, bursting with love for and pride over our baby boys. 

Daily Jamie

Puppy Love

Jamie has only ever seen a couple of dogs in his young life and then always from afar. What luck, then, that his first face-to-face with the species wasn't big and scary at all. Oh wait. Seriously, have you ever? She was a sweetheart, actually, and her owner, who must get a thousand questions every time she leaves her house, couldn't have been more friendly answering the several hundred I put forth. I was kind, though, and sat on my two most important questions, namely "Why?" and "Just...why?"

Daily Jamie