Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Godt Nytt År


In two days' time, our countdown will go to double-digits... amazing, isn't it?!

I wish for you both, Tommy and Hanne, a new year filled with many blessings, new beginnings and lots of love. I wish for all of your family and friends, acceptance and heart-warming wishes that they envelop you both as you expand your family in the spring. And I wish for Sanna, a healthy, wonderful start to a beautiful life with her parents in 2009!

!!Love & hugs!!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Thursday, December 25, 2008

GOD JUL!



We wish you all a merry merry Christmas!! or God Jul as we say it :) Thanks a lot for the wonderful presents, for both us and the kids! Look at this, its magic!!!! We went to the Cathedral yesterday for the Christmas service. There we did light to candles. One for Julie, our true Angel on Earth that is making our dream come true - and a light for little Sanna, the Miracle created by Team Minnesota. Big pink hugs from our side of the ocean. Have a peaceful holiday and enjoy the good life.

From Hanne & Tommy

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I hope you're asleep... Santa's on your doorstep!




Merry Christmas!

We opened the boys' packages from Norway a little early because Alek left on Monday to spend time with his father. The boys' initial reaction to socks was "eh, socks" but since putting them on, they love them! We may have to peel them off of Henry's feet this morning to wash them as he's worn them two days straight - and even wore them to bed last night. Giggle. They all wish to send you their thanks and blessings for a fabulous holiday with your family & friends!!

We will save the other gifts for tomorrow morning to open when we open all else from underneath the tree.

I hope that you have safe travels, Hanne & Tommy, as you venture out to spend time with your families. What a special holiday this will be for all of you!

God bless.




Monday, December 22, 2008

Belly Comparison



Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

24 weeks

I hear this is a good milestone... surely it must be, as any week we pass from now until 40 weeks will be! Twenty-four is also my favorite number, and with Christmas thrown in this week - it will be a splendid one!

So, what have baby and I been up to lately?

We started out taking the boys sledding...



while they were on the hill, however, I took it easy in the warm car, watching them from a distance, sipping my cocoa - don't want to take any chances ya know - it had nothing to do with the cold weather, honest.



and then baked Christmas cookies (you can see that baby girl got her hands in the flour too!) Notice Vikings game on in background... JP was gracious enough to be my photographer as I tried not to stand in the way of his game!



and finally, finished off singing Christmas songs again at the Joy, Joy, Joy concert.





...it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The boys...

wanted to know when you're coming back to visit again. I told them that Tommy mentioned he would have played video games with them this past Sunday and they thought that was cool!

The discussion progressed to "When are they coming then?" and when I said April, they thought that was too far away. When Henry told Oliver they lived quite a distance, they guessed it was 1200 miles. I don't have any idea, but they thuoght that was pretty accurate.

Henry also thought that April was a cool name "if it was a girl. Oh wait, it is a girl. But that's not for you to decide, right?"

~ Wednesday morning ramblings from the boys!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Just sayin'.....

aren't you glad you're not coming to Minnesota this month?



and I am thankful for my new maternity coat (all wool) which kept me warm on the way into work today!!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Dancing mangos


Baby is now the size of a mango, or rather is the weight of a mango, at least almost a pound... according to Babycenter.com. I guess with these universal baby to fruit comparisons, at least we all know what size and weight the baby is at any given stage.

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.


So... Hanne & Tommy, what music and loud noises would you like me to sway and dance to in Minnesota? Giggle. I can tell that baby definitely enjoys Sunday morning worship music. She becomes a bit more active (if that's possible) for the hour when we sing in church. Any other special requests?

Happy 23 weeks!!

Lazy Sunday

Oh, the weather outside is frightful... so we're all inside, under the protective roof and comfy blankets!

Chloe must sense the presence of baby girl. She is very snuggly and protective. JP thought it was cute how she snuggled up with me this morning.



She doesn't play favorites, however, and is now snuggled up with Henry!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Today's Haiku

I find myself wandering around and making up haiku's during the day now. I love poetry and used to make up poems all the time when I was younger. I just might have to go dig out those notebooks stashed away somewhere in the basement.

My head has been into textbooks far too long and I'm thankful for a few moments of lucidity to create again. I woke with one this morning.

sleep eludes me now
baby belly grows bigger
how many more months?

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Haiku...


I won!!!

Serious 2nd prize $25 Sponsored by Robert Terenzio, esq. (http://www.reproductive-alternatives.com/)
Winner: Julie Foreman
Hope, dream, miracle
Pregnant pause no longer ours
Two lines equal three


More details and winners as posted on Facebook.

I learned earlier this week that I had won, but she asked us to keep it quiet until she posted the results. How cool is that?!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

22 Weeks 2 Days

Well, it took a while to view baby's tummy... it can take anywhere between 20-30 minutes to fill. They insisted that they wait the time to see this as part of what they visually check. Weren't sure what to do if it didn't happen (hadn't had it happen before)... so I asked if this meant baby girl would be a picky eater? :) Everything checked out eventually and your little girl is growing just fine and healthy!

Oh, wait... and could it get any better? I convinced the u/s technician to let me video tape part of the ultrasound!! Yes, indeedy!! So while Miss Kleiven was being stubborn and we were waiting for her tummy to fill, the tech let me tape her just wiggling around... so what you hear is her comments, not to be taken as any type of medical advice (oiy, they're strict!)... just a little disclaimer so that everyone knows this is for pure enjoyment only!

All is well... and baby girl has now taken on the nickname, Thumper!

Packages for Norway

I heard that the box of goodies from Minnesota has arrived in Norway... I am thankful for our postal service today! Yippeee!! Henry and I had a fun time putting things together to send off to Trondheim.



Monday, December 8, 2008

22 Weeks

Oh, I cannot even begin to list how many things I've misplaced, forgotten or lost in the last few weeks. I'm sure JP could, however, as he's found it quite amusing lately. Well, not so much as annoying, maybe. This weekend he took a 90 minute trip out of his way to get my camera that I left behind at a friend's on Saturday. Yea, although he's used to my pregnancy-induced forgetfulness, I'm sure he'd much rather I kept better track of things lately!

Our 22 week update suggests that we take a "babymoon" before baby comes... of course we all know that really pertains to Hanne & Tommy! So you two, you have 18 weeks left to lavish, enjoy what is now "normal" and quiet, spoil one another, visit others during the holiday season, and just plain relax! Don't delay, these weeks will go by quickly.

Babymoons, as some refer to these mid-pregnancy getaways, are so popular that nearly two out of three BabyCenter readers who took our poll said they intend to take one. The top dream destination: anywhere you can kick back and relax.
The kind of trip you decide to take — and whether you go away for a week or a weekend, to the beach or a favorite city — will depend on how much time and money you have. If you don't have the resources for a trip far away, you might want to make a reservation at a nearby hotel or bed and breakfast. Request the honeymoon suite and treat yourselves to a nice dinner out. Order room service and have breakfast in bed. Just being together, out of your regular routine, will make it special.


As it were, we also have a trip planned in early January to get away from the Minnesota winter. My next vacation will be a six or eight week sabbatical beginning in April!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Good Morning Norway!

What a beautiful, new little nephew you have to love on & spoil! I can only imagine how holding him in your arms makes you long for Spring 2009 to come a little sooner. Congratulations again to your sister and her family on this blessing.

From Minnesota to Norway,
Welcome to the world, Little One!