Halloween party

We went to the Halloween party at my favorite playgroup today. One of the mother's took great pictures with a proper camera.

Let it gooooooo!

Otso vaccination

It's not a pleasant experience for the parent, but I think it's the right thing to do.

Stairs are hard

Otso's 12th Month

Summary

Otso is mostly cheerful and nice to have around. 

Events
21.9 Preikestolen hike, vaari and leena left
24.9 playdate at Freddy's house to maybe get chicken pox
28.9 Ullandhaug organic farm "food trail" day
30.9 First day at barnehage!
2.10 pulled up to standing in the crib
5.10 bike ride with family
8.10 first morning unaccompanied at barnehage. No tears!
19.10 birthday party

20.10 helsestasjon appointment; vaccinations

Development
Otso is still enjoying being walked around held by both hands, and will get quite angry if he wants to walk around and you need to do something else with your hands. He doesn't properly crawl and he doesn't stand by himself for more than a second or two. He does like to stand to play with toys on the sofa or window sill.
2.10 pulled up to standing in the crib
13.10 walking a short distance with only one hand supported by an adult
On 30.9 we went to barnehage for his first day. The idea is that the first day is just a few hours and a parent is there the whole time, participating along with him. The first hour was spent outside on the playground, where he walked around mainly with a couple of girls from Lumi's class (Marthe and Selme). Then he took a nap in the stroller. I went inside for the samling (circle time, with singing and such). Then the class started their lunch of havregröt (puuro/oatmeal). I woke him up for that and he ate a few bites, then played on the floor with a couple of the bigger kids who very sweetly brought him lots of toy cars.

Toys/Games
He loves to be tickled.
He loves to give and take an object back and forth with someone.
He loves toy cars.
10.10 they did a finger painting activity at barnehage but said he was mostly confused.

He loves to throw balls and kick balls.

Eating
The way he signals "I have finished eating" is to throw his food on the floor. He will even accept new food very carefully in his hand and then throw it on the floor to show you that he never intended to eat it.

Favorites: cheerios/murus, yogurt, most things from prepacked pouches, bread
30.9 ate the gröt at barnehage

4.10 we tried to give him a sip of regular cow milk. he seems to like it but not love it.

19.10 we tried to give him infant formula but he did not like it.

Sleeping
He wakes up a lot at night wanting to nurse now. I think we need to try night weaning again.
23.9 moved crib to office. Äiti goes to sleep in there now with him.

The week leading up to the birthday was a rough one, with multiple nights of screaming for many hours. He didn't have a fever and we couldn't figure out what was wrong. Maybe a tooth coming.

Health
We are attempting to contract chicken pox before äiti goes back to work by having a playdate with Freddie.
26.9 got a fat lip at Hundvåg playgroup when he got accidentally pushed down and did a face plant.
1.10 poop in the tub again. i think he is constipated.
3.10 Now the poop flood gates have opened and he isn't quite at official diarrhea level yet but it's still intense. He got such a rash that we have switched to disposable diapers for a few days.
5.10 After this weekend of poo, he was restless in bed and then finally puked on äiti at 22:00
6.10 Puked in the morning again, and now has runny nose and cough and a light fever. I took him to the health station and they laughed off my worries ("babies do that!") and chastised me for not taking a temperature measurement so they have a number. I guess I will go to the doctor if it's still bad tomorrow.
19.10 stayed home from barnehage because he was sick.

Stats
Clothes: size 86 (18 months).

Teeth: 5
Weight: 10.02 kg
Length: 78 cm (almost 85th percentile in Norway)

Random

The birthday party on 19.10 was a lot of fun. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Guests: Sonja & Silja, Mira & Dave & Helena & Lilja, Joëlle & Christophe & Clémence, Hattie & Hester, Courtney & Xaden, Sanna & Anders & Irene, Chiara & Fabio & Aurora
Otso mainly played in the middle of the living room floor, while the older kids ran around. We had a sheet cake baked by äiti and a no-flour chocolate cake baked by Joëlle from upstairs. We made him a separate cupcake with icing and a single candle. When most of the guests had arrived, we put him in the high chair and lit the candle and placed it in front of him. Before anyone started singing, he reached for the candle and put the flame out, burning his hand. He sobbed and reached to be picked up. So he sat in äiti's arms while everyone sang, and only later tasted some bits of cake.

Presents from us: car garage, tool bench

Short sleeves

It's not that warm these days but when the sun shines through our living room window, it feels like summer.

Walking around

Otso loves (more than doing anything else) walking around with the helpful hand of a bigger person.

Lumi: 3 Years and 8 Months

Summary
The big thing this month is that she seems to have adjusted to barnehage. There are still days when she says she would rather stay home but mostly she is happy there. She doesn't speak much Norwegian, but she also doesn't seem to have much trouble understanding it. The language comprehension has gone a long way toward her happiness. 

Events
6.9 Suomi Koulu
14.9 playdate at Irene's
18.9 Leena and Vaari arrive
21.9 Preikestolen hike, Leena and Vaari left

24.9 playdate at Freddy's house to maybe get chicken pox

28.9 Ullandhaug organic farm "food trail" day

Language

I guess she is learning Norwegian because she yells "nei!" at Otso.

3.9 she said "Hus stengt" (house closed) and closed the door.

8.9 we had a talk with her barnehage teacher about helping her get adjusted, and asked that she teach her some key words and key phrases in norwegian. Let's see if that helps.

Later in the month the teachers said she understands when they speak to her. I don't think she understands everything, but she seems to have the normal class phrases down, like "wash your hands" and so on. 

Learning
It has been a language-intensive month, but one thing we noticed is that now she is an expert on the swings on the playground. Before barnehage, she couldn't even keep herself in motion. Now she can make herself go fast, and stand up, and move around while the swing is in motion, and even jump off the swing from a standing position while the swing is in motion. It is impressive to watch.

Social
Her tantrums are really bad these days. She bit Äiti on the arm on 6.9, drawing blood. But then weirdly the next few days she seems to have reached a turning point with äiti and has at least taken a break from testing constantly. 

We have been having a lot of trouble with the barnehage adjustment, and the tantrums seem to be a part of that. The drop off is often hard with tears and her asking to stay with me for the day. Then when we come in the afternoon and she is playing on the playground with her friends, she doesn't want to leave. Things that have helped: getting dressed before breakfast (so she doesn't put up a fight about it), keeping the drop off short and using a consistent routine (take off coat and outside shoes, put on inside shoes, last hug, butterfly kisses, and we go), and having a little snack ready for her to eat on the way home.

Toward the end of the month, the drop off at barnehage is easier most days. 

Toys, Games, what have you
She still loves books and watching Dora and various movies.
At school she plays with Play Doh and dolls and she draws a lot.
We made a bean activity box with a lot of dry beans and containers for pouring. 

I checked out a fairy tale book from the library. It has a few simple classic stories (Hansel and Gretel, The Ugly Duckling, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Thumbelina). She loves Thumbelina and has requested it every night before bed for a week.

Food
we are still doing a yogurt snack right before bed. 
15.9 first Jell-O. approved!

Health
It feels like she always has a bit of a runny nose now, but I suppose that is the effect of group childcare.
Despite the bigger bed she sometimes rolls out of it at night.

Stats
size: 98 or 3T
height: 96.5 cm
weight: 13.5 kg

Random
on seeing my Dansko clogs she said "I like your Crocs!"

On the way home from barnehage

Yesterday they held hands like this almost the whole way home. It was a slower trip but I loved it.