First kiss

Life is good here in Michigan. All I do is sleep, eat, play and go skiing or snow shoeing with mum and dad. Yesterday we went to visit my friend Renata. She is so cute!! We were mostly looking at each other and smiling and making sounds. But when mom asked me if I didn't wanna kiss Renata I got surprised. I just needed to think about it for 1/100 of a second. Of course I wanted to!!!! Even if she is almost 4 months younger than me...
I leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth. I am sure she loved my wide-open-mouth kiss :) I just wonder if I remembered to brush my 8 teeth this morning? ;)

No, I am not kidding, I have 8 teeth!!! I had 2 when I got to US and 6 just broke through in 3 weeks. It's good to have those toofers. Now I can give mom's finger a bite when she gives me slices of fruits. Then she will maybe understand that I can shuffle in pieces by myself... I love chewing cheerios and apple slices...

Something strange is happening that I have to tell you about. Since December 12th someone is putting a gift in my shoe every night. The night on the 11th, Mom told me to put my shoe up in the window and when I woke up December 12th there was a snowman in my shoe!!! Don't know where it came from, but I heard a bird whisper that the icelandic "jolasveinar" is sneaking into the houses in the middle of the night.

There are 13 jolasveinar and they come one at a time, spread on 13 nights before christmas. Almost every one of them loves food/beverages. They help themselves to something in the middle of the night... And if there are kids in the house they leave a treat for each kid! But if you haven't been good you get a potatoe in your shoe. I wouldn't mind, I love potatoes!!!

Last night I tried to stay awake to get a peek at "Pottasleikir" (Pot licker) but I guess I fell asleep. Or maybe he was fast sneaking into my room and then ran down to the kitchen to see if there were any pots to lick. Bad that mom and dad are so good cleaning up after cooking ;) Not...
Tonight I am going to try to get a peek at Askasleikir (Bowl licker). He loves licking food from bowls so I might put a bowl in my room tonight. I just need to manage to stay awake!!!
Well, I better nap so I can stay awake tonight... Don't tell mom and dad, please....

A Walk in the Woods

Hello Everyone,

It's been a long time since I last checked in. Here is the brief update on what has happened in between...

-My daddy had his birthday on November 12, and we were traveling to USA... as a present I said my first word. MAMA. And since then I say it pretty often. ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma.... mamamamama... ma ma. Like that.
-Mommy had her birthday november 18.
-I met all my little cousins. Kaia is amazing, I can't stop watching her and crawling around after her. Quinlan is great too. We suck on each others fingers, it's great fun, and sometimes i try to sit on him. Taryn is the cutest little baby I've ever seen. So it was a busy first week, playing all day long with all my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandma and grandpa. Daddy doesn't have those pictures on his computer, so he'll have to put them in later.
-I had a night with grandma and grandpa all to myself. I told mom and dad they should go into town for a nice dinner, that way I could have some quality time with them grandma and grandpa.
-I love the jumper my morfar and Ann Katrin sent me. I jump and jump and laugh and laugh. Thanks guys!! Miss you.
-I went skiing and snowshoeing once each in the woods. There is a lot of snow here, and it is great fun to watch Allie jumping around in the snow and chasing squirrels.

More to come later, but that's all for now...

Lovely guests and a hot potatoe

Yesterday Eyrun and Hedinn came for dinner. I just love Eyrun and I think she loves me :) I couldn't stop laughing :) I had soo much fun! I am sorry Eyrun that I had to go to bed at my normal time, I would have loved to stay up and played more. No one can negotiate with mom and dad to let me stay up late. Not even me... But I think it's for my best.

When Eyrun and Hedinn had left I woke up feeling a bit strange, so I called for mom and dad and they just thought I wanted attention. I would never do that ;) Mom said I was HOT and they checked my temprature. 38,9 degrees Celsius, what ever that means... They took my pyjamas off and just let me lay in bed like that. Cold??? What do you think? Though my temp went down some, I still couldn't sleep more than 30-60 minutes at a time. And finally mom and dad gave me medication to get the fever down and 2 hours later I felt much better and could sleep without being cold/warm/cold/warm.

My fever was up very high early this morning (39,5 C) and when mom talked to the nurse (that talked to the doctor) at where I got my vaccination last week, they just told mom to keep me naked and cool and give me drugs. And if mom and dad were worried they should bring me to a doctor. But they said the fever didn't have anything to do with the vaccination.
I was still behaving a bit silly this morning, mom and dad thought, laughing and talking more than usually. I don't feel too bad, just very tired and energy little. And I still eat all I can get mom and dad to give me :)

Now I am going to bed after being druged again... Hopefully I wake up with less fever so I can get visit from Erla soon.

Hugs from a hot potatoe

Vaccination

Big boy was at the doctors today!! I am 9.220 grams and 70 cm!! Both the nurse and the doctor let me do all kind of things, sit, roll, reach, stand and walk (of course with support) and crawl. As most of you know I hadn't figured out how to crawl forward. I saw the opportunity to show off at the doctor. I thought: 4 people looking at me, ok I'll do it. The nurse started laughing when I took some crawl steps forward and she said to mom: oh he crawls already! Mom said as it was, that I hadn't crawled like that before. Hehehe. Nice to surprise mom and dad. After my show they shot me with an injection... But I was good, I just had to let mom and dad know that I don't really like beeing stinged...

Is anyone out there???

I am starting to think that almost no one is reading my blog... Almost no one is giving comments, except for 2 very active friends!!! My girlfriend Eyrún and my friend Oskar and his family :) But now I changed the settings so it´s easier to comment my blog. You don´t have to log in anymore to make a comment. Just wright your comment and then you have to verify some letters that the computer ask you for :) Good luck everyone!

By the way, today I made mom smile big time. I was watching Baby Einstein and this kid was klapping his hands. Why shouldn´t I try to do the same? I tried but it didn´t sound anything... But my mom´s response was worth the try :)

Yesterday we finnished the KSÍ II coaching course, so now I am allowed to coach kids up to 16 years :) or to be an assistant coach for grown ups. Not in the highest league here in Iceland though... But I don´t think I want to do that anyway... I am to busy learning to crawl and walk :)

Windy and rainy days

It´s not like I want to go out a lot, it´s sooooo windy here right now and even if I sit in the carriage, well covered, the rain somehow finds the way through the smallest hole (and hit my face). Poor daddy that has to be out all day long in this...

Yesterday, me and mom, despite the weather, went out for a while. We almost blew away... Good that I was well dressed!

Today we probably stay inside playing. I am getting pretty good at moving around these days :) Allie, you should watch out when I come to Brutus... Pinch paw!!!


Why crawl on your knees when you can crawl on your toes?


Waiting for mum to get ready for the wild weather outside

Hörður and Guðný visiting :)

Yesterday my friend Hörður, from the intensive care, came for a visit. We had so much fun!! He really liked my standy toy which I was glad to share. I am a bit jeallous though, he can move around forward on the floor... :) We had lunch together and played. They live outside Reykjavík in a town called Selfoss and we don´t get to see each other that much...

Today I have mostly been showing off for mom. I show her that even if I can´t crawl forward, I can crawl backwards. And I can get up on my toes and hands like I am going to do some push-ups. But I let the push-ups wait til I get 55 years ;) I don´t want to become as strong as grampy until I get older :)

Soon we are leaving for Michigan!!! Can´t wait to see everyone...(some again and some for the first time) But before we leave I am going to my second coaching course this weekend. I am going to learn how to coach 14-16 years old ;)


I found some really nice things up here


Me and Hörður were put up for a photo


Hörður playing in my standy toy

Pan cakes and special visit

Me and Sigrún playing and talking



I just found out what my favorite food is, swedish pan cakes :) We had some for breakfast and I get to eat it all by myself. It´s easy with pan cakes, a bit harder with Cheerios...

Yesterday we had visit, Sigrún Erna, mom´s friend was here. I was a sleep when she came and if I would have known she was here I wouldn´t have slept 2,5 hour. Luckily she was still waiting for me when I finally woke up :)

Lately I have started acting a bit different when I meet people I haven´t seen in a while or people that I haven´t met. I used to smile to everyone before. Now I mostly save the smiles for familiar people :) Sigrún was just so beautiful so I couldn´t do anything else than smile. She is so funny!!!

Pictures

Just finnished my bath


Smile...

Fussy times

Yesterday me and mom went to visit aunt Erla at her work. It was fun to see her, but I was a bit sad... I hope I get to see her again soon and have fun with her!

Today I have been hard on mom (or mom has been hard on me ;))... Her breast didn´t give me milk as fast as I wanted so I striked most of the day... We have been playing all day long (except for my naps), but I have just been whining almost all the time. The only time I could really get distracted was when I watched Baby Einstein. I love the other babies on the show. And the music!!

I was diaper free almost the whole day and I peed on the floor once and once in my standy toy :) Today was the first time mom let me sit on my own, on the potty. Three times I peed there! Mom didn´t let me poop in the potty though... I think she didn´t want to clean it so when I had to go she brought me to the toilet...

In the end of the day, when mom finally gave me my tooth brush, I got something to scratch my upper gums with. It´s itching soooo much. Mom should have thought about it earlier and I would have let her have an easier day ;)

After watching Baby Einstein me end mom had a bath. I love to splash (but don´t tell mom and dad that it was grammy that showed me how to do it...) And now I can swim in the bath tub!!! I swallowed some water, but it was fun anyway... At least I am a better swimmer than dad. Even if that doesn´t say anything ;)

A couple of days ago mom started singing this very old eurovision song for me and as soon as I hear it I start to dance and jump. I love it! "Huppa hule hule hule, huppa hule hule hule, huppa hule hule huppappa..." Thanks Israel for a wonderful song!


Ready, set, goooooo!!


Brushing my two teeth


Finally they trust me to pee on the potty all by myself


Very focused watching Baby Einstein

The youngest youth coach in Iceland

My car is so loud so I need ear muffs, just kidding, mom was vaccum cleaning


Book worm


Last weekend dad was going to a coaching course to get a UEFA B licens. Mom had to come to translate because dad isn´t very good in icelandic... So I decided to take the course to. What should I do on my own at home for a whole weekend? It was hard to listen to all the theoretical lessons, but much easier with the practical. And they didn´t mind me taking my naps and eating whenever I wanted. I am thinking of doing step II too in a couple of weekends. It´s more fun being home playing but a man gotta do what a man gotta do...

Nothing much is happening, I am just relaxing and enjoying beeing home. Can´t wait to get to grammy and grampy. I remember that they have rugs that cover the whole floor. I am pretty tired of trying to crawl and the knees just slip backwards. Mom finds me in a corner or against a wall yelling, because I can´t get further back. They are laughing at me, they don´t understand how frustrating it is to not be able to get forward!!!

Blueberry boy

Today I got to try mashed blueberries and banana :) It´s goooooood... Nothing much is happening here, mom and dad are sick and they are taking it very easy these days. We are mostly eating and sleeping, all of us :)

After a bit more than a month we are going to Michigan to see grammy and grampy. They also say that I get to see uncle Kevin, aunt Amy, Kaia, Quin, aunt Corrine, uncle Sean and Taryn. Hopefully Kelly and Sean are coming too!! If not, I get to see them in April, when they are getting married :)
And I get to see Merc and Allie, jippie! I am going to learn to crawl forward so I can chase them!!! Maybe play pinch paw with Allie ;)


Trying out the new chair I got for the gift card from Sjúkraþjálfun Íslands


Watch out, here I come!


Water is good


Blueberries are too


Found a nice hat at Bernt´s place

Crawling backwards

Today I started crawling backwards longer distances and I can move forward in my walking chair :) Before, the chair just made me walk backwards ;) But I don´t understand why mom and dad had to buy me a too high walking chair... I really have to be on my toes... Hopefully I get a lot to eat so I can grow fast!

Today Malin, Håkan and Sten left so now it´s peaceful here :) They were very fun to play with but it´s nice that it´s quiet again.

I am getting to try new foods. Today I ate swedish Polar bread :) Yummy!!!

Nowadays I don´t poop in my diapers, except for in emergencies, for example when mom and dad are too tired to pick me up in the night. Even if I sign them that I want to poop. They should know it´s better to let me go to the bathroom than have to whipe after pooping in my diaper. And I think they do now :) One week I had the habit to wake up around 2 am every night just to poop. Mom and dad didn´t like it very much...


Broccoli face again :)


First time in my summer stroller


Me and morfar Lars


Me and mormor Eva

More pictures

I think Apple should pay me for advertising


Need to get some extra fluid for the flight


I have a trick when my teeth are itching, just use the pacifier to chew on at the same time you suck it


I like broccoli ;)

Home sweet home

I am home in Iceland!!!
It´s nice to be away but home is always best... Mom and dad thought I was strange when I behaved like a maniac when we got home, laughing and kicking when we got in to the apartment. What do they think? That I can´t behave like them... It was so nice to be home, the smell of our apartment made me freak out and laugh...

Since we got home I have been to the doctor twice. No worries, they were all planned visits. One to see the doctor at the hospital. He didn´t do much though. I was 8230 grams and 67,5 cm long and he thinks I am to heavy!!! What is he then? He is at least 90 kg ;) I am just under average in length and on average in weight so I don´t know what he meant.

But then we went to see the nurse at the health care center some days later and she said the only thing it means is that I can have a harder time to turn and crawl. But when she felt how strong I am she said not to worry. But she told mom and dad to keep me more on the floor and to help me learn to turn to the left (I like turning to the right) The day after we saw her I started turning to my left :) Good boy! She also gave me a vaccination and it hurt a bit. Not much though, I just had to scream ones to let her know it´s not ok to hurt me. The moment after I was laughing like nothing happened. She recommended mom and dad to try giving me fish and lamb. Bring it on mom and dad. I love food!!! Can´t get enough of it! It´s strange, I don´t know how I can love food so much? None in my family likes food ;)

Now we have visit from Sweden, mom´s cousin from Sweden and her family. I love playing with Sten, their son, 3,5 years. They have been gone for a couple of days travelling around Snæfellsnes :) I hope I get to see them today!! They are going home tomorrow :(


With Bryndís, Indy and Opale at our short stop in Iceland in July


On our way out for a walk in Hällefors


Like my dad but cute anyway


Me and Britt, my great grandpa´s sister in law


Concentrating "Tungan rätt i munnen" watching Baby Einstein

I can sit like a big boy!

Right now I am in Umeå, Sweden, visiting my friend Oskar and mom's friends Katrin and Mats. It's so nice to finally meet Oskar. Just wish we would live closer to each other. Life in Sweden is very nice, we have been visiting mom's friends and family. Everyone is so nice :) And we are eating a lot :) I am eating (or they let me eat...I'd eat anything if they'd let me) rice cereal, oat cereal, banana, carrots, green beans, broccoli (not my favorite but OK), watermelon, cantaloupe, potatoes, chicken (first time yesterday), pears and apples. I guess I forgot something but I am just letting everyone know what they can offer me when I come visit :)

I have two teeth. They came at the same time and are the same size. Small... I have started to chew a bit, but when there are chunks in the food I still have problems and choke a bit. Nothing serious though... I have to practice to get a hang of it...
I love to eat and I don't know from whom I have that!?! :) None in my family likes to eat ;)

In two days we are going home to Iceland and I think mom said that I have two doctor's appointment. I guess there is a vaccination coming up...

Right after we get to Iceland, we are expecting a visit from mom's cousin Malin, her husband Håkan and their son Sten 3,5 year. Sten loves my mom :) He is so cute and so funny. It's going to be great to have them staying with us for a week!

And I have to tell everyone that I can sit like a big boy now, not hanging forward leaning on my arms. I am so proud!!! And I guess mom and dad are a bit proud too ;)

Now I am off to spend my two last days with Oskar :)


Having fun in Umeå


Me and Oskar watching Baby Einstein


More pictures of the handsomes


Nice teeth


Oskar playing on the bed

I am 7 months!!!!

After being in Iceland for 3 days and then Sweden for 3 weeks we went to France. We were supposed to be there for three weeks but the plans changed because of the terrible thing that happened to moms sister. Before we went for a week to France I went for my first funeral and it was beautiful. When they were playing the last song before we left the church I decided to sing along. Dad said that I hit the right notes :) I wanted to sing beautifully for Fia...

The week in France was nice, a bit cold in the nights and I got a bit constipated. Oh it hurt when I made poops. Nowadays I just poop in the toilet and I often pee there too. But mom and dad are still a bit too slow to let me be without a diaper all the time, they wouldn't get to me in time to take me to the toilet ;)
In France we stayed with Erla and Gary and for a couple of days they had Charles and Nickie there. They are so nice, I hope I get to see them again!!! We were mostly at the beach and I got to swim (or more sit) in the big ocean. It was COLD... But totally worth it.
The flights were hard because they didn't let me bring my car seat and I get so warm being on mom's or dad's lap. But we made it...

Right now we are staying in Landvetter (outside Gothenburg) with Henric, Ellen and Gaston (kitty). Yesterday we went to Borås to visit mom's friends and to see Erla's parents. We just stopped for a while though, I was too tired...

I am getting my first tooth, down on the front right side. It's itching and I have an excuse too whine a bit :) I am still waiting to try out more solid foods but I guess mom and dad are waiting to get back to Hällefors to have a mixer and make purees. Now I eat rice cereal, bananas, carrots, potatoes and avocado. Bananas and carrots are my favorites. I also started to get a rice cereal drink in the evenings, mmm it's good.

And I forgot about telling everyone that I can sit. Just before we went to France I decided to show mom and dad that I can sit myself. I sat watching my Baby Einstein DVD and sat on the bed for 10-15 minutes. Who's the big boy? But I have to say that I sit leaning forward helping a bit with my arms ;) (Pictures come later when we get back to Hällefors after the weekend)

Today I started to lift my butt up to start to crawl. Dad thought I was funny when I kicked like a maniac with my legs and moved over their bed. Wait daddy, I am going to be a much faster crawler than you were (dad was famous for being the fastest crawling baby...)

Tonight dad, Ellen and Henric went to Ullevi to watch Sweden-USA. Me and mom are home taking care of Ellen's and Henric's house. Go Sweden, and USA ;)
Now I am off to bed so I can wake up once in the night and scream for mom and dad.
Hope to see everyone soon.
Love

Only the good die young.

Something terrible happened last night. Aunt Ann-Sofie, moms sister, died in a fire. Mom has always talked so much good about her and how strong she was, raising a child on her own. I never even got to meet her. We were supposed to see her in august... I know I would have loved her very much, just like mom did. This is a very dark day for everyone... But I think it´s worst for Alvin her son, that got rescued from the fire. She was his everything, like he was her everything... Ann-Sofie will always be in our hearts. We love you, now and forever...

Second vaccination and eating solid food

I have my own rocking chair...

Two days ago I got to start eating like mom and dad, I got to try some rice cereal :) First I had a hard time figuring out how to use the spoon. Even if I have gotten my AD-drops with a spoon since I was little, this was different. It tasted good, but moms milk is still my favorite. I got to try again yesterday but it wasn't as good... I think mom didn't mix it with breastmilk this time so it wasn't as sweet ;)


A little taste from moms finger...


I like it...


Bring it on...


I want to do it myself

And I forgot to tell about my vaccination last week. My 5 months vaccination... Because they have a different system here in US I had to get three shots!!!! In Iceland I would have gotten one shot with all three vaccination in, but here they had to sting me 3 times. They also wanted to give me 2 more vaccinations, that they don't give in Iceland, but mom and dad said NO THANK YOU... Thanks mom and dad!!!!

The first shot hurt a bit, nothing bad though. The second made me scream for a couple of seconds, but the third hurt :( I started crying and screaming for about 5 seconds just to let mom, dad and the nurse know that it wasn't ok to hurt me three times in a row. Afterwards I felt a bit strange, I had to stay at the place for 20 min, probably just to be close if I would get a reaction. Or maybe they thought I was so cute so they wanted me around for some more time ;)

The night after the vaccination I woke up around 11 pm and my both thighs hurt a lot. I was scared and wanted mom and dad to hold me and hug me. I got a bit fever and mom and dad gave me some baby "aspirin" that my doctor in Iceland recommended. After a hard hour I finally could relax but I had to wake up a couple of more times that night just to check if mom and dad was still there and of course to get a snack at mom's milk bar... The day after the vaccination I was so tired and my temperature was high. I didn't wanna play anything, just relax. I didn't even have the energy to feed both sides at a time...

I think the vaccination threw me off a bit, I have had a hard time sleeping since then. I like it better being held in the middle of the night and of course I don't want to nap, I rather stay up and play. Instead of going down easilly I scream so they'd pick me up (got used to being held when I was feverish after the vaccination) Last three days they just let me scream if I didn't want to go down for the night or for the naps. And yesterday I realized that I can't scream just to make them let me stay up. I am not back to my sleeping schedule but we are getting there. Thanks mom and dad (and grammy and grampy). I know you didn't mean anything bad by not picking me up when I didn't want to sleep... I feel so much better rested and much happier :)

In a week we are going back home to Iceland :) It has been great to be here in Michigan, but it's always nice to come home, even if it's just for a couple of days... We get home tuesday morning next week and leave for Sweden/France friday morning :) Drop off some bags and pack new ones...

Turning on to tummy

Last weekend I went to my first wedding, Travis and Allison got married :) After a 4 hour drive we just made it to the church and of course I had to eat when the cermony was. But I got to hug the newly married after the cermony!!! During the reception I got to see a lot of new people and especially a lot of dads friends. They are really cool! After partying for 2 hours I needed to sleep. I put my headset on (it was sometimes loud) and slept for 1,5 hour in my carriage. Sorry Mr and Mrs Travis Jonker for sleeping at your party ;) When I woke up I really needed to eat. Mom and dad didn´t let me eat any of the food on the menu, but decided to let me go ´back the hotel for the night. But I heard I bird whisper in my ear that dad went back to the beach to go on partying :) Go daddy!!!

When we got back to Burt Lake (grammy and grampy) aunt Kelly was there!!! She is the cutest I know. Her fiance Sean was there too, so I got to play with both, but mostly I played with Kelly. I got to try out a swing grammy has out in the yard. Grampy didn´t want to go down the slide with me though. I have to wait until I get older... What´s that supposed to mean?? I am getting real big!!!


Me and aunt Kelly


Allie looking out for me while I´m playing in the swing


Wihiiiiii...


Cute or not, here I am...


Today I turned over to my tummy for the first time. Everyone was so impressed so I did it again later, but just for mom ;) And to show off for dad I turned over to my tummy (with some help from him) and then rolled a hole circle on to my back again :) Who´s the big boy???


Just after I turned to my tummy for the first time


Kelly and Sean are here for a week so I get to spend some time with them :) And I get to see them on thanksgiving too! And a their wedding in april :) Mexico here I come!!!

Now I am just waiting for july 4th!!! The american national day. Americans are supposed to celabrate this day a lot! That´s fine with me :) Some relatives are coming over to the lake so I get to meet everyone.


Grammy and Grampy Vorenkamp