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

Women Be Shopping

Linda called after she had gotten off work for the day at 1:00 and we decided to meet up, get her girls, and head to the mall.  It's been several weeks since we've seen each other and I couldn't believe Sukai.  She was literally running laps around Linda's apartment giving everyone hugs and kisses.  So cute!  Jamie was charmed, for sure, and motivated, I think, to dare a bit more with the standing on his own and just knock out those first steps one of these days.  It was fun shopping with Alicia, too, because she's even more enthusiastic about it than we are.  Plus she helped me pressure her mom into a meal stop at Burger King so, yeah, a woman after my own heart.

Daily Jamie

A Long Time Coming

Two and a half years ago, at the first birthday party of Petra and Thomas's son Dylan, was the most recent time we'd seen Thomas's big brother Christer's family.  Imagine!  They were the very first friends of The Swede's I ever met, having been invited to spend New Year's Eve 2008 with them when I visited Sweden for the first time.  When I moved here I figured we'd hang out all the time and then, well, I guess life just happened and fast forward three years and we finally had them over for dinner.  They were as fun as ever, Johanna as sweet and endearing as I remember, and their daughters, Hannah and Frida, were much bigger and some of the best-behaved kids I've met.  Since they won't be around for Jamie's birthday they brought him a present, an AWESOME tent!  I was totally pumped about it (I made The Swede get in there with me the second they left) and I feel fairly certain that Jamie will be too once he's well-rested.

Daily Jamie

Bloom-sängen, More Like

Jamie and I went for a walk today and were astounded by the number of different flowers in bloom in our neighborhood.  We started photographing just our very favorites and came up with this small sampling.

Daily Jamie

July 8th

July 9th

Foiled By Swedish Summer

I was getting Jamie pumped up all morning.  "We're going to meet Erin and Ossian and guess where we're going after that?  Playland!!!"  Playland, in this case, was Café Glada Barn, the magical place where moms and kids are equally happy.  A guilt-free environment of luxurious coffee enjoyment-slash-toys!toys!toys!  A place where Jamie could climb stairs because there are only three, where they have a cozy infant seat for the littlest babies to relax while their moms eat, and the only place I've ever been where they're smart enough to put a highchair in the bathroom so you don't have to plop your kid onto the toilet floor while you're taking a tinkle.  Sure, it's a forty minute train ride and a half-hour walk away, but it's worth it!  Except guess what?  It's closed for the summer.  Big sign on the door.  Probably should have known better; should have checked the website.  Jamie was wildly disappointed, to be sure, but made due with the mediocre playroom at Åhléns department store for long enough, at least, to subdue my guilt over the fika that followed.

Daily Jamie

We Got The Blues

We were sitting around this afternoon while Jamie napped, watching a Justin Beiber documentary, nobigdeal, when it occurred to me that I had a box of mac'n'cheese that I had picked up at The English Shop last week. Hoopla! I sprang into the kitchen and whipped it up, creating, then and there, pretty much the best afternoon snack to ever pass The Swede's lips. On behalf of America, my darling, you are welcome.

Daily Jamie

Toddlers, Toys And Teeth

Jamie and I popped over to Kista today to check out the party store, a necessary trip what with one of us turning a year old this month and all. He has so much energy and such a need to play these days that we spent most of our time there in the play area with the big kids. He can totally hold his own in there, a reassuring fact since he'll be starting preschool soon. Also, the bigger kids love him and his teeny little teeth. I'm pretty sure I said "yes, that's right, three teeth!" a dozen times. He totally has three and a half, though. Geez, kids, time to get your glasses prescription checked.

Priorities

I wish I could blog right now, I really do, but the thing is an episode of Cops called Tased and Confused just came on so...well...gotta go.

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

Dalafoal

I'm thinking of becoming a vet so I can help deliver baby Dalahästar.

Daily Jamie

New Baby Jason

Petra and Thomas's new baby is here!  Jason was born yesterday morning, right on his due date (which I think is pretty considerate) and is the tiniest, sweetest little thing since our own tiny, sweet little thing.  Jamie, that is, who, incidentally, looks like a giant next to Jason.  Petra was in great shape and we were impressed that they were up for visitors so soon.  There was so much love going on in that home; it was wonderful to see.

Daily Jamie

The Contest

We're having an Instagram war over here.  It started as just The Swede and I competing against each other, alternating choosing a theme and then deciding between us whose photo was better.  It was typically pretty clear who the winner was with each round and then, one day, we had a tie.  Sarianne was called in as the guest judge and realized how awesome the concept was.  After our competition was over (The Swede won, pssht) we opened it up to the entire family.  I actually have no idea who is winning at this point, but I'm pretty sure we're all having a blast.  Here are a few of my entries for your viewing pleasure.  And in case you totally can't get enough of my Insti skillz and want to follow me, my username is dailydamara.  Clever, right?

Theme: clothing (winner)

Theme: love

Theme: the cabin (winner)

Theme: lake

Theme: bird