Alexander - 7 months

You spent your first night away from us this month. Your Dad and I stayed at a B&B in the King Williams district and you stayed with Nana and Papa. We were pretty worried about leaving you, not for our sake but for theirs! Your sleeping had been pretty horrid lately and I was afraid they would be up every hour with you. Luckily, you slept quite well (at least according to Nana) and so did we! Nana sent us this picture while we were gone...looks like you were just fine without us!

Speaking of teething...you were hit HARD this month. With a total of 5 teeth in a span of 4 weeks it has been rough to say the least. Your sleeping has been hit or miss...some nights you sleep for 11+ hours, others only 1-2 hours at a time. You're a total drool factory. And (the worst symptom in my opinion) is the biting. I thought that we were going to have to switch to exclusively bottle feeding for a few days but after some stern words on my part I think you got the message. Thank goodness!!!

You got to spend some quality time with your Stautzenberger family this month too and this time they didn't have to share you! You loved looking at your Aunt Charlotte's Christmas tree and we even got to soak up some warm sunshine outside at her house. It was the first time you've seen grass!

Shortly after we got home from Texas we decided it was finally time to transition you to your own bed in your own room. We were waking you up every night when we went to bed, and you were waking us up and night with your (sweet) noises and rustling. Not to mention the fact that you were starting to crawl out of your cobed! So we made the switch, cold turkey, no easing into it, and braced for the worst. After almost two months of terrible sleeping and teething and dropping the swaddle and jet leg we figured what the heck. And to our surprise you slept like a CHAMP! You have been sleeping in your own room now for over a week and I think we are ALL much happier and well rested.

Last morning in your cobed

First morning waking up in your crib

I can't believe how much you are growing and changing. You've started crawling (although you're pretty slow still) and you're really starting get into things. If it's at your level we better plan on you pulling it down and putting it in your mouth. Also, right now you love to knock over block towers that we make. You've gotten really noisy too! You love to yell...oh dear! And you say "mamamamama" all day and even though I know you're not calling me it still melts my heart.

This month couldn't pass without a nod to your one true love...the flashlight. What can cure a meltdown in seconds? The flashlight! What can make you squeal with delight? The flashlight! We now keep a flashlight by your changing table and one in my baby bag...just in case. You don't need a pacifier, but I better not get caught without your flashlight. In a pinch, my iPhone light will work, but it's not as ideal for sticking in your mouth! You crazy kid!

Alexander - every day that passes with you is both a challenge and a delight. Seeing you grow and experience the world is one of my greatest joys. It is such a gift to be able to spend my days with you!

London Layover

We might have waited a little too long to book our flights back home to Texas for Christmas. As a result, we ended up with a 20 hour layover at London-Heathrow. So, on a whim, I messaged our cousins to see if they'd happen to be able to make it up from Dorchester to meet up with us. Miraculously they said yes! It was NOT a convenient trip for them (despite their gracious protests to the contrary) but somehow they made it work and I'm so glad they did!

We finally got to meet handsome baby Otis who was born just a few weeks after Xander.

And little Inzi isn't quite so little anymore and he has turned into such a fun little boy!  Xander took quite a liking to him and it was so sweet to see him be SUCH a good big brother!

We all hung out in the room and did a little photoshoot with the boys before heading downstairs for  a curry in the hotel restaurant.

Then Nina and I put the little boys to bed while the big boys walked to buy the essentials...wine, beer, prosecco, candy, and pastries! Then we stayed up way too late and indulged way too much!

The next morning we met up again for breakfast. Just long enough for some more baby cuddles and a group picture by the Christmas tree.

I love this family so much! We were so touched at the trouble they went through to see us and we can't wait to see them again! We've got plans to meet up in Scotland this year! :)

Blitz

January 2012 Blitz had his first debilitating disc episode as a result of IVDD. In the middle of a terrible ice storm we drove to the emergency vet in the middle of the night who told us that he would need to have surgery and quick...the longer we waited the longer the disc was putting pressure on his spinal cord, running the risk of irreversible damage. Spinal surgery is not cheap but with the help of our family and friends, Blitz was able to have the necessary surgery and came home 10 days after for almost 4 months of recovery.

Fast forward to this October...Blitz was as healthy and happy as an almost 11 year old dog could be. He had made a 100% recovery thanks to the surgery and seemed to have no lingering weakness or pain. Unfortunately, while we were in Texas, our dog-sitter woke up to find that Blitz was not able to walk and seemed to be in a great deal of pain.

The canine neurosurgeon in Texas told us that the likelihood of him having another episode was high but somehow I thought that we could avoid it. We were so careful with him. Arthur built ramps outside so he wouldn't have to go up and down the stairs. He wasn't allowed on the couches or beds and he was certainly never allowed to jump off anything. But in the end, I think it was inevitable. IVDD is a disease, not just an injury, and it was only a matter of time.

After several extremely expensive vet visits and long-distance calls we were told we had two choices...put him down or try surgery. I strongly believe that when you get a pet you are promising to give them the best care for their entire life...not just when they're cute puppies and not just when it's convenient. So we realized we had no choice but to move forward with surgery.

The only canine neurosurgeon even remotely close to us was in Kristiansand, almost 4 hours from Tananger. Time was again of the essence and both our surgeon and dog-sitter were willing to drive half-way to pass off Blitz. We are incredibly thankful to both of them for being willing to meet in the middle of nowhere Norway in the middle of the night for Blitz.

After the surgeon got Blitz, he took him to their clinic until the morning when he would be prepped
for surgery. The 7 hour time difference made it difficult to get updates on his progress at any normal time. Thankfully, the surgeon was sensitive to this and made a point to call us late in the day (Norway time) so it was only noonish in Texas. We were on pins and needles waiting to hear the results of his surgery. Finally we got the call...surgery went as expected. Now we had to wait to see if the paralysis was permanent or would start to resolve.

Blitz stayed with the surgeon in Kristiansand until we returned from Texas. His progress was super slow and when we finally picked him up he was stillnin pretty rough shape. He couldn't walk. Couldn't potty on his own. Couldn't even scratch an itch with his back legs. But he didn't seem to be in pain and seemed happy.

As the weeks have gone by he continues to gain strength and movement little by little. He can now walk on his own (!!!!) and can go potty outside! These are both huge accomplishments! He has quite a distinctive, wobbly, walk but I know he's glad to be able to move around! Just yesterday I saw him wag his tale for the first time in 4 months.

If you've met Blitz you know how much spunk he's got. That hasn't gone anywhere. Nor has his bossyness or impatience. He is just as demanding as ever, if not more! He is an aging dog and the sad fact is that a time will come when we will have to let him go. I'm glad that the time isn't here yet. He's got enough sass to last him many more years I'm sure. And he won't let a little wobble slow him down :)

Alexander - 6 months

• One of the few large items we actually brought with us to Norway was our Christmas tree. Although next year I might brave the fear of allergens and buy a real tree, it was so fun to put it up with you! You love looking at the lights and the ornaments!

• You are now able to sit up in a high chair. It makes meal times so much easier because we don't have to pass you back and forth! It's also made eating out MUCH simpler!

• We all went downtown to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas. Stavanger looks so festive with lights and garland every where! We bought some hot chocolate and peperkake and strolled around. Then we met up with some friends, the Rices, to listen to some Christmas carols and countdown to the Christmas tree lighting.

• You had another round of shots this month. Words can NOT express how much I hate taking you to get your shots! It breaks my heart to hear you cry, but as a world traveling baby I don't want to risk you getting sick. 

• We've started giving you real food this month. Or should I say, you've started giving yourself real food. We put the food on your tray and let you feed yourself. The times I've given you preloaded spoons of porridge or yogurt you grab it and put it in your mouth yourself. Independent boy! I love it! So far you've had broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, apples, bananas, rutabaga, butternut squash, avocado, and porridge. It is so fun watching you explore different food and textures for the first time.

• You are CRAZY about cups. We can't drink in front of you any more because you want a sip too. You haven't gotten the hang of sippy cups yet but as an SLP I'm OK with that. At first you would choke on the water and it mostly ended up down your bib. But now you're actually pretty good at drinking it. 

• We've really seen you grow a LOT this month. You're now able to sit up...although we have to keep a close eye on you because you easily topple over and haven't quite gotten the hang of catching yourself yet. You love to play on the floor on your blanket with your toys and have gotten good at rolling onto your belly and back onto your back.

• There have been some really fussy periods this month. First we thought you might be sick, or that the shots were making you feed bad. Your sleep schedule was terrible and you never wanted to be put down. Your dad does an amazing job of giving me a break in the evenings by holding you in the carrier while he cooks dinner. It's one of the few places you would be happy for a while. We figured out finally the cause of your fussiness...TWO teeth popped through the night before we left for Texas!

• You and Bailey have become quite the BFFs. You love to pet him and although you've obviously not learned how to be gentle Bailey is so good and lets you yank out his lovely fur. I think he loves the attention so much he doesn't even mind. I have to keep a close eye on you two though because Bailey likes to give you open mouth kisses...ugh!

• Big news this month...we've FINALLY ditched the swaddle! Your sleep had gotten so terrible that we decided it couldn't get any worse. Within the first night of no swaddle you went from waking every 1-2 hours to waking up only 2 times! It almost seemed to good to be true! Obviously you were ready...and it's made bedtime so much easier. Plus you look so stinking cute sleeping now!
  

• We celebrated your 6 month "half-birthday" in Texas again. You partied with Nana and Papa while we had a night away! It was our first night away from you and I'm not sorry to say that I slept like a rock! I knew you were in good hands so I really didn't worry that much. Even after 10 hours of sleep I still felt exhausted the next day. I guess it takes more than one night to catch up on 6 months of sleep deprivation!

Alexander, it has been the hardest most transformative 6 months of my life. I would never have imagined that I could wake up in the middle of the night and still be happy because I was cuddling you. You are starting to grow and develop at a rate that is alarming...I see that your babyness will be gone before we know it! But I love the little person that you're growing into...vocal and opinionated, strong willed and silly. You're the coolest little guy I know and happy half-birthday my sweet baby boy!

Julebord

We were excited to attend Arthur's work Christmas party this year. Around Christmas time many work places host a "juleboard", which directly translates to "Christmas table." Although Norwegian food has left us quite disappointed in its lack of flavor, variety, and creativity we were promised that the Christmas fare had more to offer.

Our friends Darcy and Jason graciously offered to watch Xander for the night (even though Darcy is pregnant with twins! Talk about super woman!) And although it was hard to leave him for the first time, we knew he was in great hands!

The juleboard was held downtown in a very odd combination of bowling alley/pub. Bowling alleys are not as common in Norway as in the US and with a birds eye view over the Stavanger harbour it was the swankiest bowling alley I've ever been in!

Our meal consisted of ribbe (roasted and broiled pork belly), pinochet, (salty cured lamb) kalrot (rutabaga) purée, and julepolse (Christmas sausage). And of course boiled potatoes...always potatoes! The meal finished with a generous helping of riskreme (sweet rice pudding) and strawberry jam. It was explained to me during our meal by Arthur's coworkers that the traditional julebord food reminded them of holidays and family in, I think, much the same way that we associate those things with our Thanksgiving meal.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the food. I did enjoy the pinochet and julepolse. I would have preferred a dessert of the chocolate cake variety but anything topped with Norwegian strawberries in any form gets a thumbs up from me!

After the meal we split into teams and enjoyed a few friendly rounds of bowling. We hit up another bar before heading home...just to pretend we could still hang! Overall I really enjoyed our first julebord. Good company, surprisingly good food, and a much needed night out for us!

Baby Swimming

While I was still pregnant, the other moms that I met through our birthing class (now called the A-team as all our babes have "a" names) were talking about enrolling in a baby swimming class. Being quite the waterbug myself (I think I spent half my life from aged 8-18 in a swimming pool) I was very interested.

The classes started when Alexander was only 9 weeks old and he loved it immediately. The pool was heated at to 36-38°C and felt amazing. Each week the class began with a song, then learning a new skill, and/or practicing a previously learned skill. Throughout all our classes Alexander learned to float on his back and on his tummy ( with his head supported.) He learned to kick as we moved forward and to hold himself onto the edge. He particularly enjoyed chasing the toys around the pool, splashing, and looking at all the other babies.

The skill I was most nervous about was the underwater diving. We started by pouring a cup of water on the back of his head and saying "get ready to dive". This helps activate a babies reflex to close their eyes and mouth and hold their breath and gives them a verbal cue of what's about to happen. Eventually he got to the point where he made the association with just a little splashing on the back of his head and he was ready to dive. As usual, my little boy impressed me with being ready to do something before I was actually ready.

Baby swimming was such a fun experience for both Alexander and myself that we enrolled in the baby swimming 2 class that starts next January. I can't wait to see what my little swimmer learns next!