Full Circle

I was planning on doing one of those summary post where my bloggy year is laid out. But I realised I just don't have the time inbetween breast feeding and rocking and trying to have a shower and all.

But looking back I've realised that although three have become four we have also come full circle. The weather has ben cold and snowy and soo freezing that the baby and I have been stuck in the house, and not out walking and taking pictures as I had planned. Minus 10 degrees celsius on average is not good for little lungs. So the picture is from January, but it might as well have been from today.

Christmas has been beautiful. My sister and her family are visiting from Vancouver, and I just can't get enough of them. Little Man has been playing and playing with his cousins and it is so great to litterally see the familiarity between them.

Blogging, although it has been missed, has been far from my mind. My camera is full of family photos, and my Mac has practically gained dust.

And as Little Brother is slowly waking up beside me, I'm going to go back to family. To great winter light. To slow cooked and lazy meals. To a few glasses of sauvignon blanc. To holiday bliss.

I might just say Happy New Year now. I might not get the chance later.

Moose Breakfast

Why is it that baby always wakes up when Mamma makes herself breakfast?

Moose 'kakemann' (cakeman), vanilla yoghurt and blueberries scoffed between boobs. Firstmentioned made with the bigger boy yesterday.

Update

Here is one happy boy.

Mango is found. The cheeky monkey hid in the laundry basket and is now back from his holiday. Little Man tested the labels for cuddleness and agreed that this was the right Mango.

Backup-Mango2 is back in the closet.

Lost!

Mango the Monkey went missing Monday morning, and is nowhere to be found. Untill now Little Man has bought the concept that Mango is on holiday, and is giving all his other stuffed animals a chance.

Mango 2 (bought as a backup when we realised how important he is) has already been tried, tested and discarded.

There is no fooling the fingers of a cuddly three-year-old.

Arrived

Little Brother arrived Monday 29th of November. He was 3550 grams and 50 centimetres long. Everyone is well.

A Little Christmas

Today is the first Sunday in Advent, and we lit candles and put up some Christmas decorations. Since I got my own house I've really enjoyed decorating little by little through December.

This Morning

Waiting

There is a lot of waiting going on lately. Mostly wating for a baby, but also for Christmas. I find myself very in tune with the shops Christmas-preparations this year. Not when it comes to buying presents, but the comfort of slowly getting into the mood.

Now it has to be said that in Stavanger Christmas doesn't appear to early unless you go looking for it. And that's why I like it.

So while I'm waiting I'm off to buy little trinkets for Little Mans Advent calender. A gift a day. Nothing huge. For December.

... and maybe some more Chrismas decorations.

Sunday Morning

It's Fathers day here in Norway, and we celebrated with a Dad Sleep In and a colourful breakfast spread.

Asparagus for breakfast was a bit too much flavour for Big Man in the morning, but for me it was delicious. Probably because I'd already been up for a couple of hours and was starving.

Best Evening Meal

Whole grain bread with loads of pumpkin seeds topped with avocado, tomatoes, lemon juice, olive oil and loads of salt and pepper.

In Norway most families eat at around four to five in the arvo. I always get a bit peckish at night, and it's all about finding those healthy, but also satisfying, evening meals.

For me a bit of avocado goes a long way, and I find a bit of acidity from lemon or tomatoes (or in this case both) really does the trick.

Corner View: Autumn

Crisp mornings, low sun and reds. My kinda Autumn. For more corner views check out Theresa.

Childs Play

Geoparken is an urban park made from old oil installations. Little Man loves it. 

Sometimes I get very jealous of his ability to find joy in everything. But it does rub off on me, and it really inspires me to look at life from the bright side.

Soon, MissBuckle. You will be able to jump on that trampoline. Soon.

Sunday Boats

Friday Night

You know you're preggers when the highlight of your day is a chicken burger with loads of avocado. But then again it was really good.

The day was allright and started off with a coffee, and the someone decided to crash into me. Except for the extreme shakes, a worry that Little Brother would come and a dinged up car, I'm unharmed.

Thanks to really thoughtful strangers that stopped and helped (I have decided that I will stop too if in same situation) I didn't break down into a Pregnant Crying Mess.

Now, doesn't that burger sound good right about now?

Different Angles

My house. Frog view.

I can't help but think about what Little Brother is seeing inside my tummy, and the shock and the brightness and cold he'll feel when he comes out.

Little Man totally understood that it is up to the baby to decide when he wants to come, but I have to admit that I'm getting a bit impatient to meet this little alien that keeps beating me up on the inside.

Then again.

I have the best babysitter in town at the mo, and as soon as he enters the outside world our lives will be turned upside down.

Talk about different angles.

Lobster Lunch

 

It being lobster season and everything my Dad presented me with this red beaut on Sunday. And man, oh, man was it a beautiful lunch with my lobster loving girlfriend.

Oh, the luxuries of being home with kids.

Self Gifting

I love this little figurine that I ordered online. And that it turned up on my birthday was even more fun. We've had a great weekend filled with friends and family. The sun is shining, and I'm off to lunch with a friend. Couldn't really get any better.

So now all we have to do is wait for Little Brother to decide to enter the outside world. Can't wait to meet him.

Cake!

 

Dinosaur cake.

It's birthday weekend in the Buckle house. First out is Little Man whose real birthday is tomorrow, but he has already cheated in kindie on Friday, and with his mates today.

Tomorrow he gets to share the family celebration with Mamma. My b-day is on monday.

This is the perfect, moist chocolate cake, but if you are waiting for a recipie, this I don't feel like it is mine to post. Got it of a girlfriend who bakes beautifully, with detailed instructions. Baking is definitely my culinary achilles heel.

Tomorrows chilli on the other hand. You might just luck out.

That Time

I've been longing to change to winter time for the last two weeks. The mornings are dark and tough, but I suddenly realised that brighter mornings mean darker afternoons.

The light goes around six thirty pm now. That means it will be dark by five thirty this time next week.

So I've broken out the Christmas candles early. They are pretty discreet, and I admit I wouldn't have put them out unless they surfaced in all this remodelling-tidying.

But it is the time to light candles, and I'm embracing the concept. Again.

Sunday Session

Sunday drive to Hå gamle prestegård, an old vicarige on the southern coast.

Living Together

... means 

being woken up at 06.30 in the morning with a "Hello, Mamma. I'm awake"

and have it followed up my a cuddle

having to watch sports at least 20 minutes a day

never holding the remote control

but always having someone to bag out the X-factor contestants with

making pancakes on a Saturday morning

being able to collapse on the sofa and demand service (like foot rubs and ice cream)

... and actually get it

having discussions about lamps and tiles when clearly I'm right

never having to take out the bins

always making dinner, and doing the dishes

but sharing home made chicken nuggets with two enthousiastic boys

falling asleep on the sofa, snoring

and someone not waking me up cause I'm still company

giving no excuses and acting as pregnant as I feel

... and actually get away with it.

Snow

I had to cheat with a photo from last year but we woke up to snow this morning. Little Man is in heaven.

Still Here

Both me, my belly and the remnants of summer.