Sean 1 year old today!!!!

I can't believe it. My angel is ONE YEAR old!. I'm not sure I can still call him a baby because it feels more like we have a little boy, a tiny toddler in the flat now. I actually get the feeling now that my son is a person in his own right. He has his own personality and very definite preferences, he's not just a baby waiting to be fed, have his nappy changed and be put to bed.

It's amazing what a baby does in his first year. When we brought Sean home, he was nearly 2 days old. He had no control over his limbs, he couldn't do anything except cry, poop, drink milk and sleep. Fast forward to today and the transformation is amazing!

These days, he does not even sit still to eat. he has learned how to climb up stairs and giggles when I follow behind him. I don't let him try to climb down yet, even though he wants to, because it's scary how absolutely fearless he is.

Some other new talents--he claps and waves back at us. He is eating lots of solids now and will pretty much eat anything, although he hasn't quite figured out how to proper chew yet--he ends up storing pieces in his mouth then spits them out.

He still cant stand unassisted now, although he stand when holding on to things, and walk along side our table or other furniture.His current favourite toy is a ball which he keeps throwing, crawling after, catching it and throwing it again (for ages), and on Cbeebies he loves watching Waybuloo over and over again.

Sean really makes me so incredibly genuinely happy and fulfilled, only in a way a parent can understand. He enables me to grow as a person, and forcing me to grow up and take hold of my responsibilities, with both hands, and a smile. He is my delight, joy and purpose. A real sunshine, who wakes me up most morning with a massive smile that says “I love you, Mum”.

And you see, what’s so incredible is just that, that they really do love you, their parent/s. No matter what. In all circumstances do they love us, look up to us, admire us whilst we are trying, sometimes failing, then trying again, to be good parents. But they allow us to make mistakes, and they forgive you and give you another chance. With that big hard wonderful hug that says, “it’s ok Mum, I know you’re doing your best. And that’s really just what I am trying to, being the best Mum I can be to Sean. I hope he one day can see and feel that.

Happy first birthday my wonderful baby boy, my flesh and blood, my treasure, my everything. Mummy loves you immeasurably

XXX

Living in Britain

10 things I dislike about living in Britain:

1. Everything is very expensive! - housing, food, petrol electricity and gas etc. Britain has probably one of the highest living costs in the Western world!

2. Carpets. They are everywhere, in peoples bathrooms, in offices, in pubs, etc. They are filthy, disgusting and very unhygienic.

3. Anti-social behaviour (hoodies, yobs and chavs).

4. Small houses - no wardrobes storage rooms and most with no basements. Also, even the detached houses are built very close together.

5. Congested roads, parking on pavement etc

6. Awful customer service.

7. Football hooligans

8. Litter - everywhere. No bins in central London

9. Separate hot and cold water taps. This drives me crazy.

10. Public rail network - very expensive and so unreliable. Prices keep rising but the standard is getting worse.

10 things I love about living in Britain:

1. Temperate climate - it rarely gets extremely hot (hence no air conditioning in houses) or very cold (I'm from Sweden, so this is especially appreciated).

2.. lots of surveillance,CCTV, especially in central London (Britain is supposedly one of the most watched nations in the world!) and it actually makes me feel quite safe, although I know the average British person really dislikes it

3. There is history everywhere you look - ancient buildings, cathedrals and castles!

4. NHS - it's nowhere near perfect but medical care is available to everyone and you never get a bill.

5. Afternoon tea with tea and scones – So typically British, I love it!

6. Love the monarchy, they are a real life soap opera! (they can have the 60 odd pence a year it cost me to have them)

7. London (everything from the cultural attractions such as museums, galleries, theatre, to the 6000 black cabs who must be the friendliest and most reliable in the world!)

8. Stunning scenery - the beautiful countryside (I’m a fan of Midsomer Murders which is being filmed in the beautiful counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey) , houses with thatched roofs, tall hedges alongside twisting country lanes, lakes/mountains, and narrow boats on canals.

9. Pubs ( preferably gastropubs, and public houses) - not just a place for a drink but a friendly place to meet and eat pub food; welcoming convivial atmosphere - cozy in the winter (many have an open fire) and pub gardens to sit outside in during the summer.

10. Its got an extreme diverse population with people of different values and beliefs to mine and I love it. I love that I get to have some sort of cultural exchange on a near-daily basis.

Wordless Wednesday

Bicycles

Baby Bear riding his new bike today

The bicycle is a gift from my very good friend Vivien, who is mum to Sean best mate, Oskar

And here's the bike I would want, to cycle in real style (designed by Chanel):

the skill of walking

This morning I'm trying to encourage Sean to walk. So far, he can stand by him self, but only if holding on to something, and he can also walks along side our coffee table.

But like my brother Erik said " he will be walking for the rest of his life, so what's the hurry?!" haha. So very true. It had me thinking, when he put it that way. Not sure why us parents want our children to learn to do everything so early??

Walking is actually on of our greatest achievements and it requires strong leg muscles as well as perspective, coordination and a good sense of balance (which Sean don't seem to have as much as babies his age, as he is far taller)

It is now less than one week until his first birthday, and it will be a fun-packed week next week, with his party, and my Mum's arrival :-)

Saturday eve at ours

My favourite thing to do is cuddling up o the sofa in my cosy gear with my newly bathed baby boy in his pajamas. He makes me feel so grateful and happy ♥

Inspiration: Champagne

After yesterday's girly night out, here is a fab and relevant pic of Christian Louboutin for Piper-Heidsieck

Definition of love

Imagine this...Bear walks upstairs to the bedroom with a beautiful cup in hand and says, "Darling, would you like a cup of tea?"


And it's not just any old cup of tea that he makes. He knows how to make the perfect cup of tea (and has picked out the prettiest cup, my favourite pink one with pink hearts on it, that always suits my mood). Tea just the way I like. English breakfast tea with just the right amount of milk.


And, on top of that, he emptied the dishwasher and took Sean when he woke up, changed his nappy and gave him his bottle of milk, and have played with him, all during the space of 1 1/2 hours, when I've been snoozing under the weight of my protective duvet!

Thanks, Bear - I love you!