Could I BE anymore excited?

Uh...NO!
I can barely think straight, I'm so bloody excited for our trip to Little Man's homeland in t-minus 5 more sleeps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There seriously aren't enough exclamation marks to express my sheer glee.

In fact, I'm so damn excited, I'm down to 71.3........woot, woot! Actually fit into some old clothes today.

Some pending highlights:
1. The reunion between our son and his nanny. I am starting to tear up just thinking about it.
2. The reunion between hubby, me and our bestest couple friends in the world.
3. A cup of "chai" over at Mon's new home in the mountains.
4. Meeting our dear Russian friends again and of course, all of our expat friends.
5. A night of camping at Camp Full Monte. Hubby said he wants to take Joe camping. I was shocked. Though we'll likely be "suited up" ;-).
6. The stony beaches with clean waters.
7. The friends, the friends, THE FRIENDS!
8. My reunion with rakia.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

72.2

Yup...down a kilo. This despite being shoved into the throes of temptation on two, count them TWO, separate occasions in the past 72 hours. One, big ole' BBQ with friends including backyard games. Two, dinner for dear friends here last night.

And yet I resisted...alcohol AND dessert. I even threw out the rest of the cake after they left and didn't do the "1 scoop for you, 1 scoop for me" as I dolled out ice cream. I have 8 days to go before I board that plane and damn it, I want to reach my goal. Still not sharing what that is though as I don't want to jinx it.

Just eating like I'm on Induction, which I guess means that I am. Exercise pants are getting a little looser and despite a 2-day hiatus, I was butt and ab-blasting again after our company left last night.

On that note, it was the first time I was actually able to have a proper conversation with a friend that I've known for over 10 years. She speaks very little English you see. And yet, my husband and I are the Godparents for their 2nd born. We have a history of working with her husband and they actually flew from Sweden for our wedding 8 years ago. My Swedish is far less than steller but it was enough for me to understand what she was saying and take a long-ass time to respond :-)

So yay me this week!

My Random Summer

T-minus 12 sleeps till Montenegro. I can't tell you how excited I am to be reunited with what I consider to be our little man's homeland. And the wonderful friends and the hopefully amazing weather.

Hubby and I celebrated 8 years together on the 3rd. We did nothing except to say that we're celebrating in Monty and uhmmm...other "stuff" ;-).

I've been a shopping fiend. This country is so freakin' expensive, except for now. Now, the sales are mind-blowing. 10 bucks for a summer dress? I'm in! Plus, we have hordes of gifts to buy for dear friends back home. Though I have been watching the spending carefully and not going overboard...need to have some money for our trip!

Our pending vacay is reminding me that summer is coming to a close here. All the kiddies go back to school the day before we leave and business starts booming again. Not necessarily the most ideal time to "get away from it all" but it is very much a necessity for hubby. The weather has been shit for the last 2 weeks but those first few weeks were amazing..well for Uppsala anyway. And I was so worried about having the little man home all this time but now I'm sad thinking about having to send him back to school. So sad, that I can't even think about it most of the time.

I got re-committed in the last short week and have been pretty strict about the carb intake and exercise. I actually saw the scale go down past 73 for the first time this morning. I won't say what I'm aiming for as I board the plane in 12 more sleeps as I don't want to jinx it ;-)

I really, really missed not seeing our family this summer, especially my parents. To think this will be the longest stretch they've gone without seeing their grandson in the flesh, 1 year come Christmas.

We've made some good friends here. Alleluia!

Hubby turns the big 5-0 on the 30th and we'll be in Montenegro. I know where he really wants to be is back home in Canada but he seriously needs the rest now so we've decided to postpone the celebration until we're, God willing, back in Canada for Christmas. Then we'll have a proper party, complete with embarassing photos, friends he hasn't seen in ages, etc.

I'm giddy with excitement, anticipation and a little bit of fear. Hooray for all three.

Hope you're all enjoying (have enjoyed) your summer wherever you may be in the world. I'll look forward to getting back to blogging once life has returned to "normal". xo

A Letter to my Son on his 4th Birthday

A Letter to my Son on his 4th Birthday

Where is the you I knew? You're drifting. Away from me. Slowly. But you're shining even brighter so that I can see you so clearly. No longer an extension of me with baby rolls and loving gazes but your own little person who can say out loud, "Mommy, I love you." Always at the most unexpected times and oh-so sincerely. You just kind of look up and that loving gaze transforms into an eloquent phrase.

When did pooping become not-such-a-big-deal? Not so long ago we had to cart that special seat around everywhere we went Just.In.Case. Now I can sit here and type as you bellow, "Mommy, I pooped. Come and see how BIG it is (and wipe my butt of course)!"

It used to be that I was your everything. But our worlds are separating and it feels like a chainsaw through my heart. I miss sitting on a stool in the bathroom for 30 minutes reading the same books over and over again waiting for that tinkle to hit porcelain. I guess you don't need me to carry you around on my hip. And you sure don't fit into the baby carrier, or the stroller anymore. And that stepstool is history. What I wouldn't give to change another diaper or take a photo to capture your first spoon of cereal. But the stained bibs are tucked away and when you need to go, you do it all by yourself.

Now you're...

* instructing me NOT to speak Swedish (cuz it's your special language), while you babble away...leaving the natives in awe of your mad skills and your father and me shaking our heads.

* questioning, everything. "What do panthers do?" "What do sloths do?" What do sperm whales do?" "What do INSERT ANIMAL NAMEs do?"

* teaching your preschool friends Swen-glish. Everyday when you leave the park, instead of shouting "Hej do", they all call out, "BYE, DO Joe."

* pushing my hands away and finding your own path

* showing us we're not doing such a bad job, by comforting a hurt friend, using your Ps & Qs, sharing your toys (ok, we're still working a bit on that one) and just being the most pleasant little four year old there ever was.

* observing the world around you, rather loudly. "Mommy, that man has big muscles. I'm gonna show that man my muscles." "Mommy, that lady is crying. Does she have a boo-boo? Should we kiss it better?" "Mommy, that boy is crazy." "Mommy, I just farted (proclaimed loudly in the middle of the grocery store)".

* remembering after a year and a half the love you have for your nanny of two and a half years.

* wondering about your grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousin(s) and your big brother  and "maybe he can come to my house tomorrow and play with my dinosaurs." And everytime you wonder, I have to hold back a tear, knowing they are all so far away...for now.

* sensing when I'm having a bad moment, "Mommy, you're not angry, are you?"

* having a bath all by yourself. Up until a few months ago, you and Dad were taking a bath together every night until you exclaimed, and much to your father's dismay, "I can have a bath by.my.self. Not with Daddy."

But when you're sleeping, Ahhhh, when you're sleeping. I can still see who you used to be. My baby. No big words like "Ankylosaurus", no long legs running, no questions like, "What do sea lions eat?" or laughing at a joke you're understanding in a movie. Just silence and that face. I now understand why your Daddy used to watch your older brother as he slept. Until he got caught and was told it was "creepy Dad!"

For some reason, this birthday is a bigger milestone than the 3 before it. You are a real, rough & tumble, beautiful little boy. I know it won't be too long from now that you'll be embarassed to wrap your arms around my neck and pucker up for a kiss. Instead of "Mommy, I want to whisper you.", you'll have secrets you don't want to share. And then a few girlfriends come and go...But that's a long time from now and for now, I'm still your favourite toy. And I'm gonna cherish it for as long as it lasts.

We are so proud of our little man because that's what you are July 30, 2010...four years after the epidural and the c-section, the outline of the man you will become. And we love you, for everything you are today and everything you will be tomorrow. Happy Birthday My Dearest Son. Sometimes I wish I could freeze this year of your life and play it on repeat forever but I wouldn't miss you growing up for the world, xoxo

A Day in the Life of a Stay-at-home-Mom...for the summer

Presented in quotes from the little guy:

"Mommy, it's morning time."
"Mommy, it's time to wake up."
"Mommy, WAKE UP!"
"Mommy, can we go downstairs and play?"
"Mommy, are you getting dressed?"
"I don't want cereals/toasties."
"Can I have juice?"
"I don't want cereals/toasties."
"Can I have juice now?"
"Mommy, can we play upstairs?"
"Mommy, what do ants do?"
"Mommy, I love you."
"Daddy is working."
"That lady has a baby in her belly."
"You be the kid, I'll be the Mommy."
"You be the Mama T-Rex, I'll be the baby T-Rex."
"What do tarantulas do?"
"But i don't want lunch."
"Let's go on the slide."
"Again."
"I want to look at the fishies."
"But I don't want to eat lunch."
"Can I have ice cream instead?"
"What do hippos do?"
"Mommy, you're my very best friend."
"Where are the kids?"
"Is Fernando here yet?"
"I don't want to share."
"It stinks in here (any public restroom)."
"Mama, you don't speak Swedish. YOU speak English."
"We can go home and show daddy the shark and whale book."
"Look at me."
"Not the computer!"
"When is Big Brother coming to my house?"
"This is my house."
"I'm gonna be four soon."
"Bye Nana/Nanny."
"Can we read books outside?"
"That man has big muscles."
"That baby likes my Sharks & Whales book."
"I showed that man my muscles."
"I don't want supper."
"I want chicken."
"Can you sit here with me?"
"Can you play with me upstairs?"
"You be the Mama Whale, I'll be the Baby Whale."
"I don't want to have a bath."
"I don't want to get out of the bath."
"I want water."
"Where are INSERT NAME OF GRANDPARENT?"
"Mommy, you're crazy."
"I don't want these (pointing to his nipples)."
"Mommy, I have to make a poo."
"Mommy, come see my poo!"
"I am going on an airplane to Canada/Montenegro."
"Can you sleep with me?"
"Just one more book, ok?"
"Mommy, TALK to me."

Phewfffffffff.......

But I'm lovin' almost every minute of it.

Oh and it's Weigh-in Wednesday isn't it? Same, same..low 73s but have started getting back to basics so hoping to shed a few in the next 4 weeks. Still exercising :-).

Been super busy but plan to get back to blogging on a regular basis come September. Love to you all, Jenn

Weigh-in Wednesday (on Saturday?): Week 5 of 10

Hi team. Sorry I've been MIA but this summer schedule is hectic to say the least. If you call hectic spending nearly everyday from 11ish till 4ish at the local pool drowining in chlorine and then house-wifing it for the remainder of the time while simultaneously trying to cram some actual work, work in. But it's been a blessing spending so much time with the little man. Speaking of time, I can't believe it's only 5 weeks until I get my toes back on Montenegrin soil!

Also sorry about throwing my WAJ commitment out the window but i seriously don't have the time (or haven't made the time). But I've been doing well. I am still hovering in low 73 territory with perhaps 1 day of cheating a week. I do need to break that number and will persevere with renewed energy this week. I am not feeling bad about this stalemate only because I have been regularly "doing my exercises" every night. Except for last night when I opted out and opted in to an ice cream bar instead...ha!

I smell like chlorine. I reek of it actually. I cannot imagine what it's doing to my skin and hair though I am trying to exfoliate and expensive shampoo myself from top to bottom to avoid any long term damage. Look at the chemical concoction I'll marinate myself in to keep the little man smiling. Am I a great Mom or what? ha!

Well that's all for now. I'm sure I'll be back to regular blogging once summer's officially over. In the meantime, I'm enjoying my time "off".

Hope you're all doing great and the sun is shining wherever you are. xo

Dear Poolers

As you may have read, little man and I have been spending these hot summer days (in Uppsala? gasp!) at the local watering hole. Almost.every.single.day for over 2 weeks (or more). It's really made the days and weeks fly by, especially since we found Joe's daycare buddy and his Mom to chum around with.

And spending nearly all day, everyday at the same location, I obviously have some observations/notes/criticisms I'd like to share with y'all (or at least document for the hell of it).

1. There is one microwave for the hundreds or maybe thousands (was never good at crowd estimations) of bathers. This is likely to discourage folks from bringing their own food and instead, spending the small fortune on poolside cuisine. Fk that. Little man's gourmet lunch today consisted of canned ravioli. I may be cruel enough to serve it, but definitely not cruel enough to serve it cold. So off I go to queue in the microwave line. And who is ahead of me but the lady I refer to as "the big boobed blonde with more moles than I have freckles and no ass in a leopard print bikini, a something-month old baby and a flat stomach." I hate her. And now I hate her more. Laid out on the counter are 4, count them, FOUR, scrumptious looking quiches on individual plates lined up for the microwave.

Did I mention there is 1 microwave and a queue? And each of these tasty lunch treats takes 6 minutes to COOK in the only microwave at the facility. Note for you big-boobed flat bummed moley leopard lady: The only microwave for hundreds is for warming food, NOT for cooking it. Are you mental? Is your brain blonde too?

I stood there watching quiche #2 at 4:30 as I began to give off a little heat myself. Just stick quiches 3 & 4 on my head. Your food will cook. Trust me. There she was, not a care in the world chatting away with her friend while the line-up kept growing. I swore to myself that if she dared stick another one of those pastries in that micro, I was going to step in and save the day. Fortunately, when the timer went off, she had the good sense to turn to me, grunt something inaudible in Swedish (which I took for go-ahead lady with the baby belly, stick in your canned goods).

2. Watch your kids for crying out loud. I have a mild panic attack at least 3x/day watching toddlers in harm's way while parents fail to parent. I've actually had to save one myself. Your fun poolside gabfests are gonna be cut short real quick when someone sees your child floating upside down in the water. And I did not write that last sentence lightly. This is not a joke. It only takes a minute for your world to change dramatically. Being a former lifeguard, I've witnessed it.

On a related note, if your 3ish year old boy is screaming, crying and throwing a tantrum at the thought of going down a waterslide on an innertube with you, chances are it's not such a good idea to drag him up to the top. Especially if you can't swim. And it's also an even worse idea to actually go down said waterslide. With me and my kid behind you. Because when me and my kid arrive at the spot where you have to pull yourself on a rope along to the next small drop and see both of you have fallen off your innertube and you're losing your grip on your kid, who is partially drowning...I can't do much about it. Though I was in control of my kid and my innertube at the time (as much as you can be with gushing water) so I tried to help you. But in those few seconds, it was between my kid and yours. Mine will win. By the Grace of God, some man appeared along the side of the slide to save your kid and you...you stupid, stupid woman.

3. I've gotten a few sideways glances when my little man climbs up the hill to make a pee in the woods. How about saving your glances for the kids who warm the pool. I really do not want to think about the amount of urine I consume on a daily basis. Oh no. I just did.

Yesterday, we went to a wonderful place called SommarParken (Summer Park) near Dalarna (cottage country in Sweden and a 2.5 hour drive from Uppsala). It was soooooo much fun. Here's a not-so-flattering, (actually more flattering than me in that dress you all seemed to like) shot of me standing by the slide with little man at the bottom. I'm keepin' it real folks.

WAJ:
Yesterday was a total and complete write-off. It started with some pastry and ended with some candy. And in the middle there were hamburgers (no buns) but the fries made up for the bunlessness. No exercise either, unless you count the countless treks up and down hills at the waterpark with innertubes. Which is exercise, believe you me.
But today, GAME ON again. Brekky: Eggs Lunch: Sliced Ham, pickles, Cheese Supper: chicken, salad and a few carrots. Exercise: You know my drill by now. Maybe that's what there is some awkward definition in the abdominal area in the photo, which goes well with my uneven tan..ha!