Monte Carlo, this time last year

Bear and I are currently trying to decide where to go on holiday next. Since we have already done one long haul trip (Colorado) this year, we will now opt for a European destination. It had me dreaming myself away to this time last year, when we went to Monaco. I was then three months pregnant with Sean, and we had a wonderful time. Thought to post a few pics from then. The bump is quite hidden under baggy tops/shirts.

In the meantime I now going to try to decide if to go to Sardinia or Greece where we would stay in a hotel, or rent a villa in Portugal with our own pool (like last summer). The latter most definitely appeals to me because of the privacy.

Live from the park

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Crackberry up n running(a test post)

With a little help from my brother, and a couple of hours this morning (shows how technical I am, NOT!) of swearing, huffing and puffing, I have now finally set up my new phone so it enables me to use the Blogger email function, and am here sending my first post using email on my Blackberry. YAY!

The sun is shining over London so we r heading out for a Sunday roast in a nearby gastro pub. Might have some nice chilled rose wine with that to slake my thirst ;-)
*end

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powerwalking, a gentle giant & Peonies

Regents Park is exceptionally beautiful and serene at 6.30am in the morning

Early start to the day today! Both Bear and I woke up at 5am and couldn't go back to sleep. We decided to wake up Sean and bring him to bed with us for some cosy time. By 6am we had already cuddled with our baby boy, drank a cup of tea and watched the news.. So by 6.30am we went out for a walk in the park. As you can see it was already really bright outside with the sun breaking through.

Yesterday we had a letter from the pediatrician. He wrote his measurements and explained that his weight is 91th(!) centile and his height the 99.6th(!) centile. Bear and I are these days referring to him as our little ♥ Gentle Giant♥!

The letter ended " Sean is fundamentally thriving and well and is certainly very well grown for his age. No specific action is required and I have not arranged to see him again", which is a relief to hear of course, to any parent :-)

I'm now going to put a beautiful bunch of pink Peonies (that Bear had delivered to me today as a surprise)in a vase. Thank you my love!

Seans new highchair

Sean had fun trying out his highchair this morning. We opted for the Danish "Leander"chair which has much rounder edges, rather than their competitor; the "Tripp Trapp" by Norweigan Stokke.

Proud Mum

Mummy think chubby Sean is edible :-)

My Sean has developed many new skills and each day is a day full of surprises for both of us.

He's much more controlling the movement of his limbs and body with deliberate actions, and he has started to use his hands and fingers more, progressing from just sucking his fingers to grabbing and holding (i.e his own bottle). And he has also started to amuse himself by sucking his toes.

His back and leg muscles are definitely getting stronger as he is turning over from his back to his tummy.

But you see, what I don't understand is that there are so many mums out there that are SO competitive! Comparing their baby to other babies of the same age and openly comparing their mothering skills to others. They are telling anyone that will listen that their five month old baby has been sleeping through the night since he was 1week old and is already starting to crawl.


I just wouldn't dream of making things up about Sean and him hitting milestones. Having been given a unique little human being with a very individual temperament, I have developed my own style of parenting. One that suits us all. One that I am VERY proud of, one that Bear is VERY proud of.

And for the record, my Sean is not sleeping through the whole night, in fact, quite regularly he wakes up a couple of times a night. He still hasn't mastered the rolling over from tummy to back yet, nor has he shown any signs of starting to crawl. But he is my baby boy, and I am so proud of him! ♥

Baby laughter

Here I'm giving you our first recorded video (from last week) of when Baby Bear is really laughing. To me, there is nothing that will uplift my spirit more than hearing a (my) baby's laughter :-) Unfortunately I forgot that you cannot rotate videos as you do with photos, so you'll have to tilt your head to watch it. Enjoy!

Holiday pictures

'sunbathing' in style

Baby Bear relaxing in the car seat his grandmother bought him

Arriving in my home town's train station (from Copenhagen airport, where we took a direct train across the bridge that connects Denmark & Sweden)


Motherly love

With grandma and uncle Henrik

Having dinner in one of the town centre's many restaurants

A jolly Baby Bear

Father & Son quality time in the garden

A favourite hobby of mine; kissing and cuddling with my son

Baby Bear and his grandad

On the beach

Sun & sand

Four generations


Toasting Mum on her birthday

Last week we came back from holiday in Sweden. This time we stayed for 6 days and were truly blessed with the weather which was 22-25 degrees every day! It was wonderfully relaxing just lounging in the garden, hammock swing or deck chairs, and Sean slept with my Mum for three whole nights to allow us to get some good uninterrupted sleep, which was very much appreciated by Bear and I.

Sean also met up with his granddad, his uncle and his great grandmother. He thoroughly enjoyed his first visit to Sweden and it won't be his last! :-)

Beautiful Primrose Hill

Panoramic views over central London at 78 metre (256 feet)

I think these pictures captures just HOW tall Sean is for his age. Here we are in Primrose Hill, a beautiful park (and an actual hill) that is located on the north side of Regent's Park. We love to go there. Not only is it nearby but up on the hill there is an amazing view over central London.

The most picturesque way to get there is by walking along the canal from Camden or Little Venice, where you’ll pass house boats and buskers before popping out at the Primrose Hill exit, and thhe streets are lined with beautiful mansions and perfect gardens. It always leaves you feeling like you've stumbled across a quintessentially English film set! (quite fitting, as many English film stars have made this little area their home).

Now it's time for a messy feeding session- I've started to introduce Sean to purees, but today I'm trying something new. I'll be grating an apple with a Digestive bisquit crumbled in to it, which my friend Alina recommended to me yesterday :-)

Lenght & height update: 8.8 kg & 72cm

Baby Bear was measured and weighed yesterday, and at 5 months (+ 1 week), he is very tall, according to the pediatrician. I kind of figured that already, as he has grown nearly as tall as my friends baby who's 5 months older! :-)

Sean (5 months) at the photographer's studio

the love of my life

The happiest day of my life - here with a few hour old Sean

When I came back from the hotel visit on Friday, after being away from Baby Bear for the night, I was hit by a feeling I had never felt before and it really overwhelmed me. I don’t think I understood just how much I had missed him, and the joy and love I felt once having him in my arms again, was indescribable. A completely new feeling for me.

The best part of my day is waking up to Sean’s beaming face, staring at me with his wide blue eyes, grinning from ear to ear as if to say, "Good morning. I've been waiting for you to come and pick me up, Mum". That smile can make me do just about anything for him. In just four and a half months, he has developed into this amazing little person with quite a personality, although he radiates this glow of innocence.

It still amazes me that he is mine. I still stare at him in awe as he sleeps, still a little surprised that Bear and I could create something that is so perfect. Those super sized blue eyes, those round plump cheeks with dimples showing when he grins. (where did they come from anyway? Neither Bear nor I have dimples!) How can my heart fill to bursting point just for this little person? Perhaps for carrying him those gruelling nine months?

Throughout my pregnancy, I often wondered what my baby would look like. When he finally arrived, it was as if I recognised him; although I couldn't possibly have known for sure what he would look like of course, but he somehow fit the image I had subconsciously carried inside me all along. And I can't imagine him looking any other way.

I may not have had as much time to myself as I did before Sean was born. And lately, as you might have noticed, I haven’t blogged much. But that is not because I don’t have the time. You see, I have trained myself to eat spaghetti, straighten my hair, hang the washing and put on make-up, all with one hand only.


I have learned to multi-task like never before (much thanks to my mother and her valuable help). I do have time. I have just chosen to spend it differently lately (not hours on end in front of my laptop anymore), mainly with the love of my life Baby Bear, (and of course with papa Bear too) ♥

Easter at the Crazy Bear

On Thursday we left Baby Bear overnight for the first time. Some time ago, we had arranged to have a romantic baby free night in a boutique hotel called Crazy Bear in Beaconsfield. Suitable name for us, but purely a coincidence!

Bear's Mum looked after him for nearly a 24-hour period. We were quite relaxed about it (note: we only called once in the evening and once the next morning to see that all was ok!), as with four children of her own and six grandchildren, she has plenty of experience.

The Hotel had no exterior signage and blacked-out windows, so it was almost as if the Crazy Bear does not want to be found. And that’s all part of its decadent exclusivity. Our room was very sultry and decorated to a very high standard incl black leather floors, high beamed ceiling, a large copper bath at the foot of the cosy bed and bathed in sexy dim lighting.

There are two restaurant - English and Thai, and we chose the latter as we both really enjoy that style of food. We had a night cap at the uber trendy bar and then we decided to see where all the locals were hanging out (as this is the area we will may move to once we eventually leave London). All in all we had a fab time and will definitely come back. The only downside was the early 11am check out time!

Sean's new outfit -1930's chic

night out with the girls

Last week's Swedish girlie night out. Here drinking champs and eating a selection of mezze a local Moroccan bar/restaurant. Clockwise from L to R: Sussie Jenny, & Sophie