Daily Jamie

July 22nd

July 23rd

Two Years Old

This is my two-year-old. My toddler. My boy. After thirty-three months of referring to him as "the baby", it doesn't feel quite right anymore. And it's so hard to imagine that two years ago he was born with only a shadow of a personality and that that big baby from one year ago, who seemed to have all the chutzpa in the world at the time, would become this even funnier, smarter, more willful child. He has no fear; the world belongs to him and yet we are all still each others' because, while he doesn't need us as much as he used to, he still wants us. To save him, to help him, to hold him, to see the amazing thing that that he sees. We remind ourselves of this ephemeral gift all the time. We have to because there are so many distractions and so many moments when he is not as charming as he probably seems on the pages of this blog. He's a toddler, after all. And he hushes us sometimes. And screams sometimes. But most of the time he's running, swinging his arms along side him, and testing out new words and rolling toy cars and galloping toy horses across any surface he can find. And turning my face in his hands toward something exciting and running his fingers through my hair while I hold him. He was magical from day one, but he has become the most incredible boy and being with him is such a joy. And two years old is going to be spectacular. 

A Week Away

We're in beautiful, super-Swedish Dalarna this week, visiting places like a bear park and Sommarland!

We've been sticking around the Siljan, Sweden's sixth largest lake, and have been treated to some incredible views. As I write this from my perch just outside of a playroom that Jamie is currently trashing, I see almost a dozen shades of blue on the lake and in the surrounding hills and sky. Magnificent. 

And speaking of views, these guys are the best. I want to hear what they have to say more than anyone else in the world and they're not bad to look at either.

Daily Jamie

 

July 19th

July 20th

July 21st

Party Time!

Here come some pictures from Jamie's birthday celebration with our Swedish family and Erin, Svante, and Ossian yesterday!

Update

Hiya, dudes! We're at Molsta this weekend and have just had a wonderful day celebrating Jamie's birthday, which is coming up on Tuesday. The internet is running very slowly so I can't upload any pictures, but I'll be back with plenty tomorrow.

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

Meow

We slept late this morning and it could have lasted much longer if my alarm clock hadn't woken me in time to feast on hotel breakfast. Shortly thereafter we were off on a hunt for some fun for Jamie, namely Pelle Svanslös hus, a playhouse with singing and shows and a cozy cafe dedicated to a tail-less storybook cat who I hadn't heard of until today. Jamie loved listening to the songs they sing at his school that he hadn't heard in weeks and exploring the house, and was especially enthusiastic about putting his face in all the cat cut-outs. We left when he started to get sleeping and made the quick trip home, where we spent the afternoon outside, fixing up the yard and playing with toys. Not a bad day at all. 

Daily Jamie

Fair Uppsala

I've been bugging The Swede to go to Uppsala, a university town less than an hour north of us for, literally, years. I'd heard that it's old and beautiful and has an awesome indoor water park, all right up my alley, obvs. With a free night at a hotel and lots of vacation left to kill, we drove up this morning to check if the rumors were true. They were.

We spent a few fun hours at the water park wearing Jamie out then headed off on a walk to the town center. Jamie had fallen asleep in his stroller on the way, which allowed us to have a mini-date at a cozy restaurant in the alley behind Uppsala's stunning cathedral.

When Jambo woke up, we took a walk in and around the cathedral then walked back to our hotel, where we ate dinner and hung out the rest of the evening. There is more sight-seeing on the agenda tomorrow and I can't wait to get a look at more of this lovely town.

Daily Jamie

Sandy

We woke up late today after a rough, jet-lag-induced night with Jambo, and while we ate our brunch we looked out the window and saw that it was a beautiful, sunny day. I didn't go outside to check the temperature before texting Linda to see if she and the girls wanted to join us at the nearby beach. They were in, so we packed up the car and with all our gear and all our kids and made our way to the lake. And then, when we got there, we noted that it was really, really windy and too cool to swim. Jamie and Sukai and I didn't mind at first and waded in, but it didn't last long and we were soon all heading toward the sandbox instead. The wind only made the sandbox experience more fun. For those of us upwind, anyway. 

Daily Jamie

Some Of Our Favorites Popped In

We were at the cabin this weekend but got home with enough time today for an afternoon visit from Erin, Svante, and Ossian. AND THEY BROUGHT FUNFETTI CUPCAKES! (I'm obviously gaining some sort of reputation, as my grandma also baked Funfetti for me while we were in Cleveland!) The little guys ran around, strewing toys about, while we grownups tried to hold a conversation, catch up on our respective vacations so far, and drink a cup of coffee before it cooled. It was a short visit, but so very nice. 

Please look at this face! The cuteness kills me!

Daily Jamie

July 12th

July 13th

Daily Jamie

July 10th

July 11th

The Trip In iPhone Photos

At Pickle Bill's.

We're back in Sweden and super tired, but before I indulge in a super early bedtime, I thought I'd post some of the photos from our visit to Cleveland from my phone.

A little enthusiasm before the ride began.

Little boys and meerkats.

Dan and Ali and future baby boy.

Look alive, Papa!

The Swede and Brandon at my old roommate Rach's wedding.  

Tyler and Jamie getting pumped to swim at the hotel.

Carpet is so cozy.

Update from America: Taco Bell is not good after all. In fact, it sooks. 

His milkshake-drinking method is flawed.

Backyard beach.

"Stor bil!"

Two of Jambo's favorites: Grandma and the U-Haul.

'Merica!

Gotta put that Swede to work!