Holiday updates

It's been a while since I've posted but I'm sure you have noticed. The holiday season is always my busiest time and I don't really have any excuses... because really, my time is precious and everything can be justified. We spent Christmas at home (finally!) and didn't have to make a trip out to visit any family well until a day before New Year's Eve. We had planned to go to Prague for Christmas holidays but over the past couple of weeks I've begun to feel the weight and aches of this pregnancy and I knew that I wouldn't be too much fun. Thank goodness we changed our tickets for a summer travel which I am definitely looking forward to. Anyhow, Christmas! We received quite a bit of money from the family to put towards the purchase of a new shower cabinet. There were quite a few gifts that I appreciated receiving:

• Nivea mascara giftset (mascara and eyemakeup remover)
• Nivea body giftset (body lotion, shower cream, deodorant)
• DKNY Red Deicious giftset (EDP, body lotion, with travel/mini EDP)
• Boda Nova Joy Carafe
• Kitchen Essentials Wok
• Kitchen Essentials Kasserollle
• Hauru no Ugoku Shiro

We spent the night at home stuffing ourselves with turkey and other goodies, opened our gifts, called family, and let Magnus go crazy with his gifts, boxes, and various wrapping paper. (Photos here) Sadly I still haven't been able to celebrate a Christmas in Canada since 2002, but we are seriously considering taking a very short (less than 2 weeks) trip over there for Christmas 2008.

New Year's Eve was slightly stressful but it went well enough. Poor Magnus - we finally got him to sleep before 11 and then just before the clock rolled over the war zone explosion-like sounds from fireworks woke him up with a vicious cry. Since we don't exacly live in an area that hosts a fireworks show it's very common that you would go and buy your own and set them off in the front of your home... which is what we did and have done every year. It was a fairly quiet evening at home with Magnus feasting on what I thought would be sufficient for 2 people but obviously I made enough for 4-6!

With 2008 officially here we can't deny it any longer - we only have a few more weeks until our next little one is here. When I avoid the facts it's a joyous event, but when I think about it realistically I've been pregnant for almost 2 years! I'm a damn elephant! It'll be like having twins (as everyone reminds me) but I have a feeling that it will definitely be more work than having twins. Enough of that though...

Happy 2008. My only resolution for this year is to try to take care of myself more. I think I deserve it.

Ugh, I've been sick. Thanks alot, Ørjan.

Living in the tropics

It's the same thing year after year - I'm still asked if I find it cold here during the winter. They should really be asking me how I feel about summer since it's then that I feel it's cold. This will be my 5th Christmas in Norway (which I suppose totals 5 winters) so the idea of being surprised by the climate isn't so much of a surprise. I also have to consider who is asking me and what their understanding of geography since in my opinion, the world outside of Norway is almost non-existent for many Norwegians. (I'm still slightly sensitive to the idea that some still suspect I'm a bride Ørjan picked up during a trip to the Philippines...) I'm from CANADA - our winters are cold! The only differences are that we actually have sunlight in the region I lived in and never had to face this depressing darkness for a month and a half. When it's -5°C I consider it a normal winter day. At home in Canada some days could reach up to -30°C with the windchill. (The windchill is almost non-existent here due to the mountains surrounding our area.) It's also possible that we can receive more snow despite that it may come late in January.

It's funny when I hear people complaining about the weather because I don't really feel there's much to complain about unless of course it snows then rains, snows, and then rains some more. I hate the slush it causes and then the dangerous black ice afterwards. Oh well.

It's only -2°C this morning so hopefully this afternoon will be decent enough to go out for a walk with Magnus. And if you're curious as to know what I see when I look out my window while typing this, here you go:

An experiment in socializing

Our little Christmas party/cocktail party went off quite well. Food, drink, and good company. It gave us a chance to be adults and have a social life if only for one evening. Ørjan dropped off Magnus at his mum's for the night which meant we also had a night alone. We haven't had one of those since our wedding anniversary this year when my mum took him for the night and we checked ourselves into the same room we shared on our wedding night. Without revealing too many details about our late-night activities I will however say that it was fantastic. I have a very loving husband that respects and appreciates my body... even at this stage of my pregnancy. Anyhow...

Last night was better than we both had anticipated. Ørjan's mum (as well as Sverre and the great grandparents) returned Magnus home and watched him for the night while we went out. Ørjan was hesitant to make a committment to attend his workplace Christmas party for over two weeks for various reasons, but I reminded him that despite all the paranoia and worries that he carries about work it was still a party and his boss, little bosses, and co-workers were only there to have a good time. We also made the decision to seat ourselves at a more social table this year which maybe was a pleasant mistake. Ørjan isn't a drinker (not even very much of a social drinker when pressured) but he appeared to have no problem pushing his limits as he challenged Oleg. I can't lean on the common misconceptions and stereotypes that Russians or Ukrainians are big drinkers, but having a Ukrainian father has given me many fine and not so pleasant drinking memories and experiences. I could see that Ørjan was intent on having a good time, but I smelled trouble when I could see him encouraging Oleg to take several more drinks and shots with him. Long story short - someone woke up with a bad headache but at least he didn't have to sleep with a bucket next to the bed! I wasn't disappointed that he decided to have a few more drinks than he could handle, but I was however worried that his condition would be slightly more altered when we returned home.

I think we enjoyed ourselves much more than last year for several reasons: A better band (it's slightly personal when it comes to last year's entertainment), a better table, and we didn't bring our worries and guilt with us this year. I've been pushing Ørjan to try to be somewhat more social (since we rarely get out due to Magnus) and I think he succeeded at it. Last year we sat at the end of the hall (which was very conveniently directly across from the food) but it was very cold and drafty. This year we sat directly across from the bar which gave us a more social view of the julebordet but unfortunately meant we were the last ones to choose our food. Speaking of the food - it was ok. Typical Christmas food (a cold table, warm table: pinnekjøtt, julepølser, ribbe, medisterkaker, and dessert which he had no room for!) eaten the same way as last year.

Now Ørjan's still sleeping off his big night and Magnus is napping. It's been a great weekend. Friday and Saturday were our very needed nights off, and today appears to be a lazy Sunday. Perfect.

Still holding on to something strong

I will be 30 weeks pregnant next Monday. It's strange to think that I can be so far along but if I'm realistic it makes perfect sense. We have a due date for February 20th, 2008 (which happens to be the date they gave us for Magnus just a year ago!) which, well, sort of means we got busy the same date as in 2006. Some people ask us if we planned this (This was not a planned pregnancy!) but now I see that it's not the end of the world. Infact, it's great for Magnus because I see that he really needs a playmate. He's always been an active baby and now that he's walking and crawling around the house (still only 9 months!) he's constantly disrupting us from what we were trying to do. Whether it be making dinner, cleaning the house, trying to organize, or even sit down and eat dinner, Magnus is all over the place looking for attention or playtime. Unfortunately for him despite having a cat that appears affectionate towards Magnus, our cat is more interested in sleeping than playing with an overly-active infant. Since I'm home during the day you can guess what my mornings and afternoons are filled with.

So, at almost 30 weeks I can't make too many complaints. This pregnancy has been considerably easier than when I carried Magnus. I have a few different aches and pains, I seem to be gaining a bit more weight (EVERYWHERE), but I'm less scared and anxious since I did this same thing only last year. A worry that I do have this time around is my pregnancy anemia. Since this second pregnancy was so close to the first my reserve for everything needed was next to null. Honestly some days I feel so tired from the vitamin-supplement cocktails that I have to take. I have to take more vitamins, eat more food, and try to get more rest... Not quite sure that one actually happens though. I haven't had a day-time nap in a very long time due to Magnus' energy reserve. All my tests always come back in normal ranges so I'm not too worried about this next child being like Magnus (SGA - small for gestational age: he was only 2kg) but since I now have a history of it, and with this pregnancy being close to my first, it could be very likely. You'd think that it would be reasurring to have so many appointments and ultrasounds, but sometimes the constant monitoring just worries me more.

Anyhow, time to go. Lucky for me Magnus has been sleeping so well this morning! Unlucky for me is the fact that I have to go spend the next 8 hours doing for prep for our party tomorrow.

Oh, time.

I have this anxious feeling that December is going to be over before I even manage to have all my Christmas cards sent out. With so many appointments and holiday-related events I become exhausted by just browsing my calendar.

• 07.12.07 - We're hosting a cocktail/Christmas party
• 08.12.07 - Ørjan's julebord (work party)
• 13.12.07 - Pregnancy group (10.00 - 12.00)
• 14.12.07 - Final family meeting at the health stastion (12.15)
• 17.12.07 - Ultrasound at Mo hospital (14.30)
• 18.12.07 - Appointment with midwife (10.00)

Cooking, cleaning, shopping, and a missed vacation to Prague can easily summarzie this year's Christmas. Yes, we'll be missing out on the vacation planned for December but it was easily moved until the summer for a very small fee. I thought I would be ok to travel but now I realize that I'm slightly too big and having a few more complications that I had anticipated. I probably wouldn't bee too fun and the chances of actually enjoying the vacation (without ruining it for husband) would be very slim to none. Anyow...

Friday we had to go into Mo for several reasons that couldn't be avoided at all. Kitty (our cat) had to be taken to the vet again due to another swollen paw. Apparently the dosage and suggested duration of penicillin they gave us last time wasn't enough and his infection returned. We tried our best to drain and clean this paw but obviously he needed another checkup, a shot, and more medicine which all meant yet another vet bill - fantastic. We also had to buy a new kennel cab but it was worth the extra money. Saturday was a run to every food shop in town searching for ingredients needed for some of the food I'll start to prepare for our party. Can you believe that we paid $12.00 for 2 litres of cranberry juice? Welcome to my Norway. In any case almost everything on my list was purchased and I still have time to find some substitutions. Today is Tuesday and I feel like the week is almost over. I still have af ew more rooms to clean over in detail, prep and freeze some food, and do several loads of laundry. Maybe when January comes I'll find some time to catch my breath... Only January means that the countdown is on until I go into labour.

In no time at all baby #2 will be here. It's quite possible that we'll welcome our second child before Magnus turns 1. Two babies in 1 year? If you thought my December was busy, well... consider how busy my year has been! Still, I wouldn't trade it for anything.