He has arrived!!!

Well, the waiting is over and our beautiful baby boy is here. Sean Alexander was born on Thursday 27 November 2008 at 10.34pm without having to be induced and with normal delivery and no complications. He weighed 3.21kg (7.1 lbs) and was 51 cm long.

Just got home from the hospital now and as you would expect, I am totally exhausted but I feel like the happiest woman in the world right now! Will get settled now with my boys and as soon as I feel stronger I will post here again. Here are a first few pictures of our miracle.

And here we go... finally!

Just a little note from me, Catharina's brother - baby Sean is finally on his way. Catharina left for the hospital this morning at 5.30am, and fingers crossed that everything will run smoothly.

Will keep you posted.

Erik

Induction

It's now been confirmed that I'm going in to the Lindo Wing tomorrow to be induced. Well that's if nothing happens tonight of course. I'm very very scared, nervous but excited at the same time.
It can take up to 12 hours to just get the labour starting so I'm guessing that by Friday night or at least on Saturday I will be holding baby Bear in my arms. I'm not sure how I will be able to sleep tonight but Bear and I are both going to bed early to try and get lots of rest in preperation for the big day. Good night, all. Wish me good luck! PUSS PUSS

30% off at Gap from now until Sunday 30 Nov

Dream outfit from BabyGap for my Sean

Ok, so yet again there is 30% off in Gap, but ONLY by clicking and printing this voucher, filling in a few of your details and using it in stores from now until Sunday. If I'm feeling up for it I will definitely go there tomorrow as I've seen this fabulous drivers cap in BabyGap, that I've been looking for, for quite some time now. Hurry up! :-)

The end is near...

I was examined yesterday and it appears my cervix is 1 cm long, i.e. I am not qualified to be induced by doing the sweep which I originally wanted. That means that I'm left with only one option, when they use Prostaglandin vaginal gel. It is an artificial hormone; similar to the hormone your body produces to cause labour to start, and it softens the cervix and causes muscles of the womb to contract. Labour usually starts 6 to 12 hours after insertion of the gel but sometimes more than one dose may be necessary.

My consultant told me that I need an end in sight as it's draining me both mentally and physically and that we should book me in to the hospital for the induction if nothing has happened naturally before Thursday or Friday depending on when there is available space. He will call me today to confirm which of the two days. Ideally I do not want to be induced but on the other hand I just want it all to be over and meet my son, so to know now that by Sunday the latest, I will be a mother, is such a relief.

I'm attaching pictures below from yesterday afternoon when mum and I went to town for some shopping.

Strolling along Shaftesbury Avenue, Picadilly; 41 weeks +2 days

Marylebone Underground Station

False alarm... *big sigh*

The contractions that I felt this morning, new ones, which I haven't felt before, didn't take off the way I wanted them to. I still have these period-like pains, and maybe it's a sign that something is happening, even though it's a slow start.. Well I'm desperate to cling on to anything not to lose my hope.

I managed to go to sleep eventually with my electric heating pad placed on my back, and have slept until now. Guessing because I was so tense. It's a huge disappointment and I'm not sure how to deal with it all. I really had such big hopes but now I just feel depressed...We will carry on the reflexology today and then I've got my doctor's appointment at 5.30pm. Will be interesting to see what he says.. Bye for now and sorry for the false alarm...

Could this be it?

I woke up up at 4am with some period like pains and from these tightenings that I've had before, only this time they are some what painful. Full of excitement and anticipation I'm wondering if this could be it...
Mum did some more reflexology on me last night, we walked up and down the stairs and I also slid down the stairs whilst sitting and felt the bumpy ride in my pelvis on each step, in the hope that it would start something. She then stood at the bottom of the stairs and picked me up each time. The things you do when you're desperate, eh? :-)

I'm now sitting in the kitchen in complete darkness, with only the light from my laptop. Mum and Bear are sleeping and I have no intention of waking them up.
I just really wish thatI don't have to go to my weekly appointment this evening to see Mr. Wright, my consultant at Harley Street, but that I will see him later when he will deliver my baby instead! Not sure if I can sleep through this but don't know how to make the time pass now.

Will update ( or have my brother do it) here later if anything changes. Keep your fingers crossed that this is it, this is the beginning of when I will meet my son! xoxo

Gorgeous baby clothes from H&M

On my wish list for Sean

Sunday Breakfast

Bear popped out this morning to our local favourite German bakery and got some fresh baps and coffeee. As usual he bought the Sunday Papers incl News of the World which has a front page story today of the famous chef Gordon Ramsay playing away from home!! Can't wait to read it now. Have a nice Sunday.

Thank You

As I've said before, being overdue is hard. Emotionally it really does take its toll and I would just like to say a huge Thank You for all your comforting emails, texts and your kind comments here on the blog. They really mean a lot to me during times like these.

Mum feeling Sean kicking

Ice Skating

One week overdue today.... and while every day I don't have my baby seem like an eternity, he really will be here soon, cause I can't be pregnant forever, right?!

I am of course more than ready, but apparently Sean isn't quite done enjoying the comfy digs I've provided him.

Thought to mention that on Wednesday was the opening of Somerset House's ice rink, and it stays open until 25 January.

Somerset House is my favourite ice rink in London - and it's always that little bit more fun after a glass of spicy mulled wine! Mum has been to IKEA with my brother today where she bought just that (my favourite one is with cognac).

Swedish mulled wine

Christmas lights up London

Sparkly lights at St.Christopher's Place

Good Morning, Friday! Another night with on and off contractions, but no baby... Now I'm nearly a week overdue and I'm not sure I can bare any more comments such as "Oh you're still pregnant? When will you have that baby?" ..


Last night my mum did some reflexology on me which we will do again today, and we then made ham and cheese crepes with the leftover pancakes from the other day. Today me and mum are tidying the flat and she will then go for an 80 minute deep tissue massage at the Elizabeth Arden Spa in Mayfair. I'm not envious oh no...


I know it wasn't long since I posted pics of Selfridges window decorations, but yesterday when I was out and about with mum, I noticed they have already changed! Here are some of the newly decorated ones:

Santa doing the laundry

Santa taking the tube

Santa gets a beard trim

Out and about in London

Today's outfit includes my new ear muffs from Burberry which I've only just now started to wear because of the chilly weather :-)

Mum test driving Sean's pram

After many ifs and buts, I came to the conclusion that I chose the wrong colour of the nappy bagfrom Longchamp and that I should exchange it to a black one instead. Mum and I thought it would be a good idea to walk all the way to the shop on New Bond Street and back, to get some exercise and to kick start contractions and labour.

We stopped over at a cosy pub near James Street, W1, for lunch. Not sure though, if the long walk has contributed to anything more than me now being completely knackered... *sigh*.

mum indulged in a glass of wine with her lunch

bangers and mash

gammon steak and fries

Domestic goddess

Making pancakes

with happy cheery mum right beside me

"I wonder if this is my last meal before Sean is coming"

Yesterday evening I decided to be a domestic goddess to try and cheer up myself and the people around me. First, instead of throwing out those brown bananas, I made a banana cake, and then I made some yummy pancakes (all with a little help from mum of course).

banana cake

4 days overdue

I am certainly no expert in this field but know that being relaxed is best option if you want babies to come out - they seem to know if coast is clear! But it’s easier said than done..

Being overdue depresses you. At times I feel very low and antisocial and can't be bothered to speak to or see anyone, but trying to remain upbeat for the sake of my unborn baby boy.
I've been having tightenings/contractions on and off now for a few days, and I’m waddling like a penguin due a pain in my right groin. I’ve got a constant need to pee and my cervix is getting a good headbutting from Sean, and at the moment it feels as though his head is right in between my legs!

I am ready to be finished, prepared for labour, and especially now with mum who has arrived to help with the transition, yet I’m still pregnant. ...it feels a little bit like a failure, after all, I am not doing my job....No baby to show for my forty weeks of effort. It just feels like I will never go into labour. Any advice or comforting words are gratefully received. Puss

Inducing talks and washing advice

Went to see my consultant yesterday evening. We discussed being overdue and how I'm really starting to feel impatient about when my baby is finally going to arrive.

I'm faced with a choice between waiting and continuing to let nature take its course or making plans to have my labour induced. We decided to make another appointment to see him on Monday and if Sean hasn't come by then, we will discuss it further.

He told me that if I was having my baby in France, I would have been given a different due date, one week later, and that I should try and relax about it all (sure, very easy indeed!!!) ;-)

And here's a funny washing advice I stumbled across. BYE 4 NOW xoxo

Love letters

Came across this site (which also have been featured on ITV's "This Morning") that I'll just have to share with you. They've got an exclusive collection of beautiful hand made cushions in the shape of letters of the alphabet which are made in England. They will use the fabric of your choice and they are filled with a fine non allergenic filling. I'm thinking four letters... S-E-A-N :-)

40 weeks + 2 days and counting..

Hi!... I woke up feeling tired and cranky after a night without contractions (they've stopped coming now-grr!) but several toilet visits. I can even sense a little disappointment in Bear now, cause I can feel even he is now ready and prepared to meet his son, but as he is delaying his arrival to this world, Bear's had to re-arrange his plans which were to stay home and enjoy two weeks "daddydays" starting from today. (In Sweden all partners can enjoy a paid ten-day parental leave after their child's birth, but am not sure how it works over here? )

Instead he left for work, but with no meetings or clients to see, and is keeping his phone right by his side. I went back to bed and have surprisingly slept until now, and am feeling refreshed and ready for some chores including ordering food from Tesco online etc.

I've got my weekly doctor's appointment this evening and Bear is coming with me as usual. Will see what he's saying about being overdue, and how long he thinks we should wait to induce me. I just really wish they don't have to induce me. It's scares me to start labour unnaturally, but the longer my pregnancy continues, the larger my baby is likely to be - which may complicate a vaginal delivery, and that scares me even more!!

Oh, I've just wrapped this year's first Christmas presents! Early, I know, but with all this time on my hands.... :-) Hope you'll have a wonderful week. I will of course update here as soon as anything happens, and hopefully this will be our most wonderful week ever!!! Puss puss

This year's first X-mas pressies

Marc Jacobs accessory

Is it a cuff? Is it a watch? Yup, it's both actually. At first glance, though, you'd never know the Jackie Watch from Marc Jacobs was a watch at all. Concealed in the buckle of the patent leather cuff is a tiny little digital watch. Cool. I feel like it might be a little hard to read the time, but it's pretty neat and it can be yours for a £100.

last minute preparations for Baby Bear

Baby support and baby bath

So Sunday is here, but Sean is not... I had of course hoped like most mums-to-be, that I wouldn't go overdue, but perhaps now that my mum is here I will relax more which perhaps will help starting labour.

I'm having contractions serveral times a day now, the whole stomach is feeling very tense and I'm having a lot of pressure on my bowels.

I'm keeping myself busy with house hold duties, mainly organising stuff for Sean and trying to pass the time reading up on labour or making last minute purchases for Sean. The latest ones includes a baby bath and a bath support which will hold his head and body comfortably and supporting him whilst allowing him to splash his little arms and legs freely. I've also bought a didital ear thermometer which measures temperature in 1 second.

Ear thermometer

Due date today but no baby yet...

Mum

Sorry I didnt post yesterday. I have been feeling poorly and was in bed all day. Slightly better now and trying to gain as much strengh as I can in preperation for the birth.

Looking forward to my mum coming today. She is flying from Sweden and will be here this evening. Now that she will be here, all that's missing is Sean. Hurry up my baby boy!

Starbucks and an Independent Financial Advice Award for Bear

I went for a treat at my local Starbucks today (which I then had with a whole bunch of Swedish Ginger Snaps that I bought in Ikea yesterday- yum..) To make my experience there a little different today I decided to order really fast. I asked for a "double –tall –wet – skinny –caramel- latte" in that really fast way that only Starbucks employees can understand . What happened?
They completely understood me and shouted the double-tall-wet –skinny- caramel -latte to the back and I got my coffee in a really speedy-starbucksy-coffee-shop kind of way. Im telling you, its like a new, albeit unusable, language. Haha!

Other than that, Bear just called and told me that his company has won the "Gold Standard Award for Independent Financial Advice" which he has to pick up at the House of Commons on 25 November! From what I understand, the standard of entries was very high and I'm really proud of his achievement. Well done my love!

Bear, (pic from his company brochure), who I'm madly in love with and am so proud of

Beautiful morning music I'm playing for Sean today

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole on Youtube with 12.5 million (!) hits

Good morning! I woke up at 4.57am today from contractions, but they didn't last very long unfortunately. I made tea for me and Bear and brought it to the bed. We then watched the news, still in bed, and then cuddled under the duvet keeping the cold away, chit chatting, both saying how much we value this time on our own together, then dozed until 8.30am.

No news to report...

The flags outside Ikea in Wembley

Sorry to disappoint, but no Sean yet! :-( Bear and I have been out all day today and only came back just now. As it's his day "working from home", I managed to persuade him to go to Ikea, and then we visited his close friend Gary and his lovely family, who live not far from there. I'm absolutely knackered now and can barely keep my eyes open. Will now put my feet up high, have a well deserved nap and get back once I've regained some energy.

baby bottom butter on the face

£2.49 baby 'bottom butter'

Supermarket staff have been mystified when a cream for baby's bottom began selling like hot cakes. Then they discovered the reason - mums were putting it on their own faces. At £2.49 a pot, Waitrose's own-label Baby Bottom Butter is only a fraction of the cost of designer products.

The buying frenzy began after it was given glowing recommendations on parenting websites incl Mumsnet.com; "I can't even remember what made me put it on my face one day but OMG - it is fab. "I have been using it constantly for 2 weeks now and my skin now has the smoothest texture, which I don't think it's had since prepubescence. "And it makes my foundation look super dewy and youthful too. It is SO much better than all the expensive face creams I have tried - including Creme de la Mer."

The butter is free from artificial chemicals and contains olive oil, camomile - for nappy rash - and lavender.

So have I succumbed to the media hype? Not yet but I definitely will purchase a tub myself as soon as I'm feeling strong enough to walk to my nearest Waitrose on Marylebone High St. Will let you know the outcome! XOXO

Waiting impatiently

39 weeks + 3 days and waiting impatiently..

What a difference a 24 hours makes! After yesterday's hideous weather in London, it can only get better today. Thankfully it's dry and quite mild at the mo, about 13 degrees.

I've been to my weekly doctor's appointment and all is good. Sean has still his head deep down and is not positioned back to back either which is good news.

Blood pressure and weight was all good and he keeps saying how well I'm doing. He also pointed out that this appointment could be our last, or if not, that next weeks appointment should be! Scary to think that, but I want nothing more than for Sean to come now. I don't think I've ever felt this ready before, although my mum keeps saying that he is waiting for her to arrive on Saturday! She is coming to stay with us for 6 weeks which makes me feel so privileged.

Gorgeous new fluffy gift to Sean from Susanna and Alfie

Sweden's alcohol policy

The state-run monopoly Systembolaget is the only place in Sweden where you can buy alcohol. And the policy towards alcohol largely reflects Swedish society's attitude towards alcohol – hypocritical. Because Sweden has one of the strictest drink-driving limits in the world, however, it is fine to drive while talking on a mobile phone (which I'm sure must be as dangerous as being drunk) – but hey, talking is not a sin!

But it's really the strict hours and high tax that annoys me the most when I think of Systembolaget. For example; you are running late to dinner with your friends and you wish you could just run in to an off licence or a supermarket for a Merlot and… bam, you remember that it closes around 3pm on Saturdays, so unless part of the Sat rituals includes making a stop at the Systembolaget, you are basically out of luck. i.e. - you simply cannot be spontaneous about buying booze.

On the other hand, I can see some advantages of trying to reduce alcohol consumption and prolonging the drinking age to keep the youngsters healthy and all the rest. And the Swedish policy on alcohol has been very restrictive for years, and it's just something people have accepted it seems.

But for me, as a Swede living abroad and coming back to visit I can't help but thinking something is wrong when I see so many people switching to cheap and nasty stuff instead, imported cheap Polish beer and binge drinking on the Denmark or Finland ferry. And now with Christmas coming up, what happens if you haven't planned it properly and run out before Santa Claus have even turned up? Guessing that will help some family gatherings from ending in complete disaster during the festive season though...