September 24th: Another Update

Life is good. We are still waiting for the cooler weather that should be here anytime. I'm getting tired of the summer activities - I'm ready to get outside again!

Svea is starting to transform into a baby instead of a newborn. She started smiling earlier this week. I usually get two or three smiles a day, and Soren has even been the target of a couple. She is most apt to smile while in her bath, which she LOVES. She is pretty needy during the day and fusses unless she is being held in my arms or in her carrier. She is wonderful at night. She goes to bed around 10:30 and sleeps for 6.5 to 7.5 hours, eats, then sleeps again for 3 or 4 hours. I don't know how I would have handled another Soren sleeper(who slept two or three hours at a time at night for more than a year).

Soren is doing great. He has few jealousy problems with his sister and loves to give her kisses and play with her feeties. I still have to watch him to keep him from overloving her, but he has learned to be gentle with her. He is talking up a storm and learns new things every day. The funniest thing he has been doing lately is talking about dot coms. Apparently in Soren's world there is a money dot com you can go to when you need money, a sippy cup dot com where you can pick out a new sippy cup, and a cooler dot com where daddy gets his cooler to carry his lunch. He has me cracking up at least once a day with some funny comment on life. Although I get tired of the constant jabbering, he is a pleasure to be around and has a happy attitude most of the time.

We've been laying low and staying at home while the baby is still tiny. I am really trying to avoid the flu this winter since Svea can't be vaccinated for it this year and is in a high risk group. I don't remember being germaphobic at all when Soren was tiny, but it is different to have a tiny during flu season! We did go to lunch at Peter Piper Pizza last week (Soren's first time choosing our lunch venue). Soren and I both look forward to Friday lunches with Erik when we get out for awhile.

Enjoy the pictures...

Ashley

PS - There aren't less pictures of Soren because I love him less. He is going through a run away from the camera phase. So, I either catch his back or him making a crazy face, and I end up deleting almost every photo I take of him. Svea can't run away and has to pose for me and I have a little more luck with photos I take of her.

September 12th Update

We survived a week of colds. I didn't get much else done, but the kids and I are all healthy again.

Last week we waited in the insane lines at the State Vital Records department to have the spelling of Svea's name fixed. She is now officially Svea Kathryn Nilssen. It is nice to have that loose end tied up.

I've been a little braver lately and I have taken the kids out together to run errands a few times. I have been thankful for Soren's "leash". I never thought I would have to use one of those things, but it is so nice to know that he is not going to get lost or run over in the parking lot. He hates it, but since he only has to wear it when he is being naughty it works even when it is not on.

I went back to volleyball on Monday morning. It was so much fun! It was pretty pathetic to feel my body complaining about the exercise, but I am glad to be back to normal life again. Yea! Erik came and played with me on Thursday night. The kids sat quietly the whole time we played - Svea slept in her carseat and Soren watched his DVDs in the equipment closet. It was so funny - the door kept popping open and Soren kept pulling it closed because he wanted to be shut in the closet.

I've been pretty busy with my house and my calling this week. I was sweeping under the sectional and decided that I'd like to move things around. It took two days to get everything situated and cleaned up. I love changing my furniture around - it makes the house feel fresh and new. Our ward's primary program is coming up, and since that is under my jurisdiction I have been busy getting things together for that. I'll be glad to get that over with!

Erik's mom, Linda is in town. She flew in this morning. It was fun to have someone to gush over the baby. Soren had a blast with her today too, it should be a good visit. I'm sure I'll have more to say soon. For now I am pooped, so enjoy the pics and the movies.

Ashley

Soren falling asleep after a busy day with Papa - not even a full glass of chocolate milk would perk him up:

Practicing on his tricycle - he'll get it eventually:


Eating a pastry from Ranch Market: