The Difference 5 Months Make

Having children will make you realize just how quickly time goes by. Trust me; scary stuff. On the left: Luca 7 months old inside my (HUGE) belly. On the right: My little love has already lived and breathed 3 whole months on the outside of my body. Somebody slow down time!

Milestone Baby Cards...

... is a godsend if you are anything like me and suffer from constant guilt over the baby-books that you never quite get around to updating. Like; I see the books - especially Nahla's as it has been sitting on the shelf longer - and mentally list all the things I MUST remember to write down in it. Like: What were her first words, really. When did she stop wearing diapers. How much did she weigh at her 1-year check-up. What did she look like when she started play-school. And so on and so guilty.

And then I came across these adorable clever little cards on Instagram: Milestone Cards. And to all you other guilt-tripped mamas out there: Here is the quick - and mega-cute - solution to your - and my - problem. Because even if you are far too sleep deprived/stressed out/time-starved to manage to sit down and write down all the milestones your little cherub passes in the babybook, sure we can all manage to stick a card next to the baby, wip out our iPhones and capture the Kodak moment right then and there. Easy Peasy. Now my only heartache is that I did not order there pre Baby Luca's arrival, because sure he has already whizzed past the "Today I am 1 week/1 month/First Smile milestones - and no card was there to capture the moment.

But that is all about to change. Watch out baby-book; there is another moment-catcher on the block!

Independent Eater

Sometimes - actually a lot of the time when you are a mother - you find you want to slow down time. Like this morning, when in the midst of the normal hectic let's-all-get-ready-for-our-days rush, I look over at my little love, and she is just sitting there quietly eating her cheerios. And she is so heartbreakingly amazing. And all I can think is: "Yikes, sure it was only yesterday I was feeding her myself, and look at her now!" That's not to say I am not loving her ability to do stuff herself now. Because that is off course as awesome as things come and have given me time to actually sit down and eat breakfast myself - and maybe, just maybe, catch some news before our day begins. But still; my little baby is growing up FAR TOO QUICKLY!

Disney Days

10 years ago I visited Disney World in Orlando Florida, and much as it was amazing and spectacular and fun, nothing can truly compare to seeing Disney's magical place through the eyes of your 2,5 year old, which I got to do on Monday, when Nahla and I, along with my family, went to visit Disneyland in Paris. Nahla, although much too young to go on most of the rides in the park, was electric with joy and excitement all day. She went on the spinning teacups till Mummy could take it no more. She rode on magical horses and visited Cinderella's castle. She ate way too much ice cream and lollipops and candy-floss and watched the parade from the best seat in the house, my aunt's shoulders. We spent money like it was going out of fashion and had so much fun that all I can say is: Is it too soon to go back in a month or so?! Sometimes the best part of having children, is being allowed to indulge in days like these, and see just how fun it can be!

Ready, Steady - Done.

I must admit the prospect of potty training always filled me with a little dread. I don't know why, really. Maybe it was the whole debacle of having to constantly check; "Do you need to go now? Now? NOW?", "Surely you need go now?", "Can you try to go now? For Mummy, please?" And so on and so forth. I mean; don't get me wrong; I had bought the stuff. Baby Björn potty? Check? A few other Ikea potties dotted around the house, just in case? Check. Toilet trainer seat? Check again. Book about little girls learning to do their business on the potty? Check, check and check. 


And we did use it. Nahla sat on the potty every now and again, as I think I read somewhere that getting them used to it - regardless of whether or not they get the actual drift of it - was oh so important. I just never got around to do the actual potty-training bit. You know the bit where you do the whole "No more diapers, you are a big girl now" speech, the trial and error bit, the starting-off-with-a-few-hours-sans-diaper bit. That whole chapter. 


Because as it turned out, Nahla, the little clever cookie, had other plans. One day a couple of weeks ago now she just arrived home from playschool and declared she was finished with diapers - just like that. Finito. And; I kid you not, the girl meant business. Because since, we have had NO accidents. None. Not even on our weekend away, where she managed for two flights, countless hours of sightseeing, hotel-room bathrooms, and not a drop where it wasn't meant to go. 


Obviously, I still leave a diaper on her at night, but for the last week, whenever we take it off in the morning; bone dry. 


I kinda feel a little like I imagine it would feel if you had studied for days for an exam, only to find out it had been cancelled. My little do-it-her-own-way girl once again came through. Like before I had her, and everyone bestowed upon me tales of the sleepless nights I would have to suffer. And then in the end I had none. And tales about how hard it would be weaning her onto solids - and again, seamless, easy, peasy. 


My little love is now officially, at 2 and almost-5-months, a fully fledged panty-wearing, no-more-diapers toddler! And this mummy is feeling both pride at how good her little cookie is - and at the same time feeling like my baby is less of a baby every day that goes by. A bittersweet victory!

My Little Artist...

... is busy making lovely drawings. Note the painted nails! And how her hair is getting so long! My little baby, how is she already 2 and 4 months?!

We Are Getting Summer Ready...

... one little grooming routine at a time! Nahla, who is developing a little nail-varnish obsession, got stuck in when Mummy was done doing hers. And who cares if half her little foot turned out pale pink too, sure you got to start early if you want to be a true fashionista!

Egghunts...

... who knew they could be so much fun?! Nahla, who went on her very first egg-hunt this year, at a very fun and family friendly farm in Killarney, thought this was just the most amazing thing ever, and put her little heart into collecting as many eggs as possible in her little (oh-so-cute!) bucket. And as for Mummy and Daddy, who stood at the edge of the field watching our little egg-collector, I think it is safe to say we both teared up a little! The cuteness of it all!

Talking Tot

Nahla, to those who haven't met her, talks A LOT. To those that know me personally, this is not really all that shocking - as I am not exactly lost for words either - putting it mildly. But still, my little clever cookie talks so much, and in two languages, that when we meet new people, they tend to be a little shocked that she has only just turned two.

Like when we went for a tour of her new pre-school recently and she turned around and told the lady that the boys and girls had painted on the walls, and that she liked to paint too. In english. And then turned to me and said, in norwegian, that she did not want to go home just now, and that we could make dinner later, because she wanted to stay and paint with the boys and girls.

Or the other day, when I told her off for trying to knock down my in-the-process-of-being-put-together new Ikea shelves, as she was about to take a hammer to them (don't ask!), and where she quickly turned around and told her daddy that Mummy had given out to her unfairly, because she had already put the hammer down when I raised my voice. Phew! It makes me wonder about what on earth it will be like debating with her in a year's time??

Or, like these classic examples:

Daddy: "Nahla, eat some of your lovely Christmas trees now with you chicken."
Nahla: "Daddy, are those broccoli? They are not Christmas trees. Silly daddy! (and laughs at me)

Or:

Mummy: "Nahla, look at that cute wow-wow, isn't he very big?"
Nahla: "Yep, Mummy, that dog is very very big."


Or at night, when we secretly listen to her babbling away to herself in her cot through the Angelcare monitor and are in stitches laughing at stuff she comes out with.

I always knew that I wanted to be a mum someday, but I sure did not comprehend how much fun it would be - or that we would laugh till we hurt almost every day - which we do. Motherhood ROCKS!

I Wonder...

... is she trying to crack the code so she can get into my internet banking?!

iPads...

... are my favorite new toy!

Art Factory

Nahla has discovered painting. Which, you know, in some ways are great. I love the fact that she dabbles in all things creative and artistic, bless her little socks. And as her mother I totally think it is the cutest thing ever when she sits in her high chair, bent over her latest creation, little tongue eagerly sticking out of her mouth.

But, you see, it ain't all cute, Especially after I discovered paint on her brand new Odd Molly dress. Paint on the rug. Paint on Igglepiggle. Paint in her hair. (Note: This would not be such a disaster had it not been for the fact that Nahla HATES washing her hair. I mean; HATE. It sounds like she is being murdered slowly whenever I try to as-carefully-as-possible rinse out the ultra-mega-mild shampoo. No more tears my backside!) I can go on: Paint on our vintage and oh-so-beautiful old dining table. Paint on the side of the washing machine (a mystery, I know!)

And so yeah; as a mother I clearly think my little artist is the most talented thing to ever have come out of preschool. Goes without saying. On the other hand, my slightly obsessive compulsive side, who NEEDS to have a home that looks like it is about to grace the pages of Elle Decoration, is a tad more apprehensive. As one would understand. It was the smear of bright red (why, oh why did I let her paint with such an unforgiving colour?!) paint on my new Filippa K boots that did tipped me over the edge, I think. From now on, any painting done in this household will happen prison-style under extreme supervision...

23 Months Ago...

.... you arrived. And taught me what life really is all about.

Imagine...

... one day you will be 3, and you will ask so many questions. Everything we say will result in more "why's" and you will no doubt exhaust both mummy and daddy - and Google - in your quest for knowledge...

... then you will be 6 and a school-girl. And I will have to watch you walk to school, not knowing if you will make friends. Or if you will like it. Or love it even. Or what your teacher is like. Or nothing. And we will no doubt feel like sure it was only yesterday you were born, and yet here you are in school!

... then you will be 10 and think that everything we say or do is a tad embarrasing. You might have started to pick fights with me over clothes. I pray we will like the same things! I hope you will like some sports and be active. Gymnastics like me, or maybe ballet...

... when you are 15 I will probably worry about you all the time. Will you go out much? Will you drink? I wonder what your friends will be like... We might clash a lot. I hope you will see that everyhing we do or say is because we love you more than life...

... when you are 19 you might bring some guy home and tell us this is Dave. Or Scott. Or Skyler. Depending on what boy-names were in fashion when he was born. I worry he will be a rocker... Or worse, a smoker. I will have to say hi and smile and in my head I will be screaming: "Get out of my house Dave/Scott/Skyler, you are not good enough for my Nahla!"

... when you are 24 I hope we will still be best friends. I hope I will be the rock in your life that every mother should be. If I am half the mum my mum is, you will be blessed. I hope you have an education. I hope you love what you do. I hope you are as happy and healthy and amazing as you are this very minute. I hope I still every day remind myself how lucky I am to have you...

But for now you are almost 2. And you are amazing. My world. The love of our lives. And much as I am so looking forward to all the times we are going to share, I also hope time goes by very slowly.

Life does not consist of minutes or seconds, but of the moments you remeber! And I am LOVING every moment!

Nahla's Second Birthday...

... is now only just over a month away (which still just shocks me! How did time fly by so quickly?!), and this mama is busy planning decor, food, sweets, party favors and other yummy stuff!

Girls' Day Out

I fell in love with this sweet mother-and-daughter fashion spread in the latest issue of Kamille Mor & Barn that I picked up in the basement in work the other day (yet another benefit of working for a big magazine house, there are like magazines everywhere you turn! My magazine shopping expenses has dropped dramatically since I started this job!).

Anyway, back to fashion spread. I think it just look like such a sweet day out, and cannot wait to share so many of these days with my very own little princess! Note to self: It will more than likely be another couple of years, as Nahla is currently going through a "I-hate-shops-and-must-torture-Mummy-with-proper-terrible-two's-meltdowns-whenever-she-goes-near-a-shop" phase. Which I am hoping will pass. Soon. But after that, oh all the mama and baby shopping we will indulge in for sure!

Dolls...

... are still not all that interesting. Not even La-La Loopsy. Her pink and green "dinadours" on the other hand rock! Funny girl.

We Explore...

... and explore all day through. Having a toddler is like seeing everything for the very first time again, everything is a novelty and everything is amazing. And I love love love being part of her world! Lucky lucky me!