Family Pictures Sept 2016

The thought of getting our new family of 4 photo ready shortly after Benjamin's birth was downright overwhelming.  So I was holding off family photos until he reached that cute, chubby, smiley, baby stage. Oh boy is he there! We were lucky to have our friend Theresia spend a sunny afternoon in our home documenting our crazy :) Benjamin was so good and I realized how photogenic Xander can be EVEN when his toddleritis is in rare form!

This is the fourth time Theresia has taken pictures of our family. Our home is filled with her beautiful photography documenting all the major stages of our lives from pregnancy, to newborns, birthdays, and now to a family of 4. We are sad to say that she will soon be moving on to new things are we will miss her here in Norway! We wish her love, adventure, and success! I hope somewhere down the road we will meet up again in this big world. If we're lucky maybe she'll have her camera with her too :)

Takk for oss my friend! xxx

Benjamin - 6 months

6 months already!!! 6 months seems like such a milestone! Our little B has been here for half a year now and it's crazy to think in the same amount of time he'll be walking and talking!

He's still growing fast! So fast in fact, that I had to put him in his Christmas onsie from Nana before he outgrows it. He's 50%tile for weight but 95%tile for height! Apparently we make long, lean boys.

This month I hosted a playdate at our house. B was a charmer and enjoyed watching the other babies.

The Jump-a-roo has been a baby favorite around these parts. After Xander outgrew it we lent it out to some friends. It's now been through 3 other babies and has returned to use just in time for B. I would say it's been worth the money! Benjamin is finally big enough to use it now and he loves it. It's a beast of a baby item but it's so fun to watch him jump and play in it!

Arthur and I have been trying to meet for lunch once a week. Sometimes we eat lunch at home while Benjamin naps, but since he's been fighting naps lately we've been going out for lunch. I guess there are advantages to not sleeping...

Benjamin and I started baby swimming this month. He has already started diving under the water and holding his breath! His teacher says he is a natural swimmer. Of course he is, he was BORN in the water :) It's second nature to him. Thankfully after each class he CONKS out for several hours and I get some much needed B-free time!

Reach and grab! His new favorite skill...much to Xander, and the dogs', disappointment. Benjamin's favorite toys are Xander's cars and he loves to grab Bailey's long hair. So far he has been very good with him even though Benjamin can be a little rough. The kid has an iron grip!

I cherish this time with Benjamin now as I see him growing so fast. But I'm also ready to put this month behind us. His sleep has been dreadful and I've been pushed to the brink of exhaustion. He is a very demanding baby (as babies should be) but meeting his needs can leave me totally drained at the end of the day. I know these sleep issues are just for a season, and I'm hopeful that, as we start to introduce solid foods, he will sleep longer. I also have a feeling that some teeth are on the way but I can't see anything yet. But just when I feel like I've had enough and I need a break, I come around the corner to catch a moment like this....Xander "reading" to his little brother, and Benjamin totally mesmerized. Seeing these two grow together is without a doubt the best part of my day!

So happy 6 months to our little B!!!

Ut på tur

For the last few weekends we've been partaking in a quintessentially Norwegian pastime known as "ut på tur". Literally it means going "out for a walk" and it's basically the national hobby. Especially on Sundays, known as Søndagstur, families or groups of friends will head out to the forests and mountains no matter the weather, to enjoy time together and some fresh air. Our family "turs" are borne out of complete necessity to get our mischievous toddler out of the house!

Here are some of our favorite spots...

Rogaland Arboret: A beautiful park about 25 minutes from home. The place is full of trails and different scenery around every corner. From lily ponds to mountain streams to pine forests! One of our favorite new discoveries!

Sandvedparken: City park and playground in Sandnes (about 15 minutes from our house.) There is a river running the length of the park that Xander enjoys. There is also one of the best public playgrounds in all of the Stavanger area here.

Tananger Barnahage: School playground across the street from our house. This is our "go-to" spot when we need to get the toddler out of the house ASAP! We can even see the playground from the top floor of our house!

Our house in the background

Hafrsfjord bru: Gorgeous neighborhood beach under the bridge that connects Tananger to Stavanger. The day we went was VERY windy (as your can see by Xander's hair in the picture below.)