Mr. Chatterbox

Here is someone with lots to tell - I think children must long for this moment, when they finally can start to communicate so others can understand them. To be able to tell stories and sing along to music.

The development of speech is very noticeable from week to week. Very social and bubbly. He tells us about his experiences. He is happy too, so he tells me; almost daily he says that he is happy: "Noah lycklig". The language is still a mix of Swedish and English, where the English is coming through much better, especially when talking about dagis. And daycare is a favorite one to talk about; what they been up to, the names of all the new friends and the new things they've learnt.

Today we came home and Noah sang a new song for me; "Noah loves friends, Noah laughs with friends". He likes to dance and wiggle along to the new songs - proudly showing off the latest moves also learnt at dagis. It's such a energy booster to see him being so happy at daycare and that he has adjusted to this new lifestyle so well. In fact, he likes it so much that when we are at home and we have to discipline him, he just looks at us and then says: "Noah åka tåg till dagis". Oh little Noah, the grass is never greener on the other side... ;-)

The experience of Christmas is still a strong memory. Yesterday someone was hammering in a hook in the wall next door and Noah looked at me with big eyes and said "tomten". I replied that Santa wasn't here but when he does come he always asks "Are there any nice/good children in the house?". Noah remembered the answer to this one, probably since we practiced it every day throughout December. So then I asked him if Noah was a good child - he replied promptly with a yes and a smile. "So what does the children get from Santa then?" Noah looked at me and said "Train track". Indeed Santa did bring, amongst a lot of other things, a train track.

2nd week at work...

...and I'm tired. Nothing unusual though since I'm normally ready for bed when Noah goes down at 7.30 pm. Work is good though - I'm enjoying the 7am starts (my choice as it allows for an earlier pick up at dagis) as I'm alone in the office and can quietly eat breakfast, read emails and slowly get into things. Once into the job properly, and not to mention the new family routines I believe things will be great. Noah is already getting the hang of the "dad drop off" and the "mum pick up" thing and knows what's going on - you better not be late cos then he starts asking the staff where we are. Didn't know that little kids had such a built in body clock when it comes to such stuff but I guess they just can sense it. Thinking about it - the pick up is an important part of the day so of course you would know when it's time...

Last weekend we had a great family weekend and enjoyed the lovely spring sun, lazed in bed watching kids movies and Noah helped out in the kitchen making bread and other things. Unfortunately we're experiencing problems with the uploading and it's quite impossible to upload pictures to a "normal" size, hence the massive pics in the last posts. Also, not being able to upload seems to affect the spirit of writing..but soon it should be back to normal, we hope..

The Week in Spain

A week goes quick...Noah had such a good time. I truly don't know what he loved most..maybe the flight..maybe the beach, picking stones and seashells..maybe tourist train that went up on the hill..maybe going by car through tunnels..maybe the food..maybe hanging around mormor and morfar and getting spoilt..?

Anyway, if you would ask him what we did on the Tuesday, Noah will answer: "Noah åka flygplanet!" meaning that he went on the aircraft. Back here in Göteborg, he is now telling most people he bumps into, in the shop or on the tram, about his trip to Spain. Similar drill every time, something like this; "Noah Spanja mormor och morfar. Noah åka flygplanet. Noah åka tåget berget. Noah stranden. Plocka stones. Noah campjinget. Noah åka tunnelet."

Peñíscola

-Sunny and no need for a jacket.
-Noah is happy - picking seashells and stones on the beach.
-Master Calpén tried churros, like a Spanish doughnut and loved it - of course.
-Eating lots of fresh seafood, drinking local good wine, prepping dinner outside whilst enjoying the fresh sea air.
-Been to some local festivities, markets and seen some beautiful countryside views.

Hasta la vista!

This morning on the way to dagis, I asked Noah if he knew what we are going to do tomorrow. He answered me back: "Åka flygplan". And he is absolutely correct.

Noah and I are going to Spain tomorrow! We are flying down to catch up with mormor and morfar for a week before I commence work at the university, grandparents' treat. Unfortunately for us but fortunately for Shawn is he very busy at work, so he will stay put in Göteborg whilst Noah and I head down for some vitamin D and tapas :-).

"Money, money, money..."

Again, it's been a while since the last post - time just flies and we both wonder how it's going to be when we are older... Anyway, big news this time:

1: Shawn has a job!

A few weeks back he attended a recruitment day for the biggest health club chain in Sweden and he successfully got a job with them and have been working with them as a personal trainer and class instructor for two weeks now.

2: I got a job!

I attended an interview two weeks ago and was offered the job two days later. I'm very relieved and happy about it as it had been over 70 applications and 5 where called for an interview. The job is at the University of Gothenburg and I begin the week after Easter.

It's funny how things turn out...The apartment we are renting is located on a island called Hisingen. This is also where one of the English-speaking preschool is based. The health club where Shawn got a job is also on Hisingen and only 10 minutes walk from home. And guess what? The faculty where I'm going to work, yeah you got it by now, is also on Hisingen, only 5 minutes by bus from home! How convenient, we could not asked for a better solution!

Nemo and Dory

Penicillin is strong and Noah's ear is already better. That much better that we decided to pay Universeum a visit. Not sure if I mentioned it before but it's a science centre where you can discover the space, the rain forest and the ocean. It's a fantastic place, especially on days when it's rough weather outside. Like this weekend - snow, snow and more snow. In fact, it came that much snow that our first attempt to visit Universeum on Saturday failed, as the trams didn't run and we had to walk back home after hopefully waiting for a tram for 30 minutes.

Sunday was much better and we caught the tram, enjoying the views of the city with fresh snow - there is nothing like it, especially a day like Sunday when the sun is shining.

We have already been to Universeum once this year and at that first visit, we realised that having season tickets was the only way to go. So now we can pop in at anytime, just for a few hours to have a play and look at the animals.

Noah remembered where everything was and when we got to the ocean part of the centre, he pointed and said "sharks". But it wasn't the sharks that got the attention this time, he ran straight to the tanks where he knew he could find Nemo and Dory.