Due date

39+5

Today is supposed to be our due date. Well, let’s wait and see what happens. I don’t think the baby will be born today though. I reckon I will go overtime quite a few days actually.

I have been keeping myself busy the past few days with cleaning and organizing at home. I managed to clean up on our terrace, plant some flowers and changing curtains etc. Today I will clean the windows. Me and Mike are also going to clean my car (BMW) inside and out because I am putting it up for sale.

The last visit to the midwife was on Wednesday. She did not say much, everything was ok. The baby still has not dropped down in the “correct” position yet though, but it should not be a problem she told me.

Yesterday my cousin Erika was here to keep me company. She was also here on Tuesday. Dad and Karin also came over for coffee and cake yesterday.

The days keep passing by…soon Baby will turn up! It is going to be amazing!

Got the flu

I have still got the flu. I have a terrible cough, sore throat and a running nose. Not that great...

Yesterday I super cleaned the whole kitchen out. It is now shiny clean and nice.

Today my cousin Erika will come and visit. Other than that I have not hot any plans. I might spend the day cat-cuddeling :)

Baby shower

Wednesday: Emmy came over for some coffee in the morning. Then I went food shopping in the afternoon. In the evening my back was as sore as ever so I had to put some Tiger balm and heat treatment on it (first time though) I reckon it was because I was pushing the trolley in the supermarket around. I baked some cupcakes in the evening.


Thursday: I went to visit the students. I brought the cupcakes with my which was appreciated. I got lots and lots of hugs and it was so nice! I also went to visit Mom in the afternoon. We played some cards and I had a bath. It was lovely for my sore back.

Friday: First I went to visit Ida for a while and then I went to Kalmar to have dinner with Mom. We had a mixed grill at a Greek restaurant “Athena”, it was really yummy. We went through town and I did some shopping for the baby shower.
Mike and his friend Bijan have been painting and decorating + put new flooring in one of the rental houses this weekend. Slowly but surely, inch by inch the house is getting into a nicer condition than it was before. In May, a new tenant will be moving in. Happy Days!


Yesterday: I had the baby shower. It was a really nice evening. It is not that common to have baby showers in Sweden, but I thought “why not?” The more reasons to have a party the better!









Today: I have got the flu. Again! So, today I will just stay at home with a good book and watch some films. Nice and relaxing.

Week 39

On Wednesday last week Mike and I went to take professional photographs of my baby belly. They came out fantastic. But we won’t get them quite yet. We are going back to take more photos when the baby is born.

On Thursday we went to the commune house to register Mike as the father so that we get joint custody. If you are not married you have to do this in Sweden. After that we went to put my summer tires on the BMW. I have decides to sell the car. I won’t have any use for it now. It should be nice to get rid of that loan on the car, especially now when I/we will get less money.
In the afternoon I went to visit Linn. I also accidentally dropped my Iphone and broke the glass cover on it…Shit!



On Friday I went to work and I did my last few hours together with Jessica. We looked through some tests and planning and I cleaned my shelf and letterbox out. In the afternoon I went to Kalmar to fix my phone. 1490kr it cost (150£)…crazy.
In the evening I went to get pizza for the boys, they were cutting down trees in the garden at the rental houses. They had a fire going and it was quite cozy actually.



On Saturday I rested most of the day but I also cleaned out some cupboards etc. Mike and Carl put in new flooring and painted in one of the houses. In the evening I went to visit Annie and Jesper in their new house in Blomkulla (8km from Nybro). It was beautiful. We ate “kroppkakor” (a special Swedish dish).

On Sunday I did not do much, it was a day of total relaxation.

Yesterday I went to Flygsfors. First I went to visit my grandparents and then I had lunch at Dad’s before I went to see Anita (my uncle’s wife) to show off my baby belly.

Today I am off to my friend Hanna’s beauty salon to get a facial massage. I never had one before so I am all excited. Wiiee! After that I will visit Linn.

The weather here is totally crazy at the moment. One day it is nice, warm and sunny, the next day it is snowing, raining and hails (like today). Its proper “April weather” as they say.

Week 38

37+2


I just came back from a visit to the midwife. Everything is ok, but the baby has yet not dropped into the “correct” position. He or she is head down and that is what matters really. The midwife was not at all worried. She said that some babies don´t drop down until the actual delivery day.

18 days left to D-day now!

Yesterday I went to Kalmar to see my friend Ida SH (She has the same due date as me). We had lunch at Zorba's restaurant and we had a good chat. Afterwards I went shopping in town. I was at "Babyproffsen" for the first time. It is a good thing I did not go there earlier because they have so much nice things. I would have spent ALL my money in there.

On Monday I went to visit Ida. We had some tea and cake. Later I also went to visit Emma in her new flat. (She use to live here in Örsjö in one of Mike's houses) Her dog "Lilleman" is so cute. Sometimes I really want to get a dog. But at the moment it is not a good idea, perhaps in the future? Then both Mike and I want to get a husky dog.

Maybe one day?

Parental leave + Happy Easter!

Week 37 (36+4)


Last week was my last week at work.
I am now off on Easter holiday and later on my holiday pay, in mid May I will start taking my parental leave benefits.

The system in Sweden is one of the best in the world. It gives you 480 days off with your child. If you divide it equal with your partner/husband then you also get an equality bonus back on your tax refund. The benefits you get are based on your salary. You won’t get a lot unless you have quite an “ok” wage. If you don’t have a job you are stuck with a minimum benefit. That is why many women wait to have children until they have a proper job. You can decide for yourself how you want to take these 480 days out in payment. You can make them last longer if you only take out Mon-Fri for example instead of Mon-Sun. But then you are stuck with less money. It is your own choice and I like it. I reckon Mike and I will split it equally if we can. That is the plan anyway.

After my parental leave days are over (I don’t know when that will be yet, It all depends on how our economy goes) I have to start looking for a job.
I only had a temporary post at the school, and if they don’t need me to come back I will have to sign in to the job centre and get benefits from there until I find something new.
I really, really hope that I can come back to that school though. I loved working there!

I have had the flu last week so I was off work on the Monday and Tuesday.
When I came to work on Wednesday morning all the students were hiding and jumped out screaming “surprise” when I got into the classroom. Then we had cakes, I got some presents and we had our little “goodbye moment”.
It was so sweet! I will miss them all incredible.

This is what I got. I guess I have to bake some cakes and come back for a visit now :)

I was working the last day on Thursday. Then we had Easter arts and craft day. My group was painting Easter eggs. It was a nice finish I think.

This week the students are off school and I have holiday too. On Friday I will go into work anyway to do the last things. I will pack my stuff and go through the last details with the new teacher etc.

It feels great to be off work now. I don’t think I could have managed another week. I feel a lot heavier now and the aches and pains have started to kick in. It’s not too bad though. I manage quite well actually. But I reckon it is important to relax a bit before delivery and the baby arrives.
A new chapter in my life now begins and I want to be prepared. I have not had many weeks of holiday in my life. I have always been working or studying. So a few weeks of relaxation (if I get that will say…) won’t do me any harm.

Mike and I have been to two Easter dinners. First we went to my Moms and the day after at Dads. Food!





Last Sunday I went to visit my cousin Erika and family in Lindås. I got to borrow so much baby clothes + stuff :) I definitely have enough now to last us 6 months or more!

Vendela and William