Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from the Bergstrom family! 2010 brought us our blessed little Evalyn and Søren started preschool and joined his first soccer "team." We are excited for what 2011 will bring for us.

If you cut out (or photocopied as we did) the Santa beard that was on our Christmas card, we would love to see it. Email us a picture here. We want to see if we can get enough pictures to put together a collage.

Christmas Program

He looks so sweet and innocent in this picture, doesn't he? Would you ever think this sweet boy would be the squirmy one in the Christmas play? Yep, that was him last week for his preschool's mini performance. A few disclaimers before you watch the video. He is the youngest in his class. I was there, his dad was playing guitar for some of the program, and his grandparents were there as well. I think he was so excited, this was the only way he knew how to show it. You can tell when you see him running towards the camera, he is running to give all 4 of us hugs. He definitely has his moments of wildness, like at Dairy Queen last week when he unexpectedly saw his best buddy there, it was past his bed time and he was hopped up on sugar. Or tonight at the family Christmas get together. There was a circle of about 30 adults sitting down and 8 of his cousins competing for competition. How else does a 2.5 year old gain attention, but to sing "Away in a Manger" at the top of your lungs and do summersaults on the floor. I'm very thankful he's not like that ALL of the time. Anyway...here is the link to the video if you want to watch. http://gallery.me.com/linn33/100034

month 4 part deux

Eva had her 4 month check up today. She was given a clean bill of health. Yay! That's the first time ever. I know her health issues are so small in comparison to what other parents face with their children. I can't imagine if my kids had cancer. A new strength would have to form in me to get through something like that.

Here are her stats:

Weight: 14lbs 7.5 oz (75th%)

Height: 25" (75th%)

Head: 43cm (75th%)

We were given the go ahead to start solid foods with her. I'm so thankful for that. Sometimes I feel like all she wants to do is eat! Don't they start sleeping better too when they start solids? That would be nice. :)

simply genius

WWW.ICANTFINDMYPHONE.COM

bob ross?

Soren likes to color. It's not his favorite activity, but occasionally he'll get out his crayons, scribble a bit and be done. Yesterday he must have been feeling the inspiration to draw. I was in the other room and he kept saying mommy I drew you a monster. I was fully expecting to see scribble. I was completely shocked when I saw this

I know it's nothing genius, but I didn't know he could draw anything more than a circle. So i sat down with him and asked him to draw another picture. This is what HE came up with all on his own.

a balloon

and my personal favorite. He drew just a line.

I asked him what it was and he said...

"a crack in a house!"

Fettuccine with Peas, Asparagus, and Pancetta

I'm back to trying new recipes once a week. I have missed it. Last week I tried beef stew for the first time. Why have I never made that before? So simple in the crock pot and a great way to use up veggies!

Last nights new recipe was Fettuccine with Peas, Asparagus and Pancetta from Bon Appetit. I first had this recipe when Sam's mom made it a few months ago. We both agreed it needed to be a staple in our home. Well, it didn't turn out as good as Judy's. She is an amazing cook, so I don't think anything I copy will ever be as good as hers. I need to ask her if she did something different than the recipe called for. I used spaghetti instead of fettuccine (needed to use stuff from our pantry) and used bacon instead of pancetta. I've never been a pancetta fan. It was delicious nonetheless and Sam took the leftovers to work for lunch (that's gotta say something, right?).

i heart faces: scenic black and white

4 months

Here's what's gone on in Eva's little life the last month.

*She will always greet you with a smile

*Eva belly laughed for the first time. Which we got on video! We thought she was laughing at Soren and our neighbors dog running around. But we think she is just laughing at Sara. :)

*Her cold got much worse, kept her up at night and was put on anti-biotics. That took care of it for a few days and now she's right back where she was. (minus the not sleeping part)

*Can sit in her Bumbo seat without completely falling over

*Loves to watch what is going on and we think she will always need to be the center of attention

*Drools A LOT!

*Is probably about 14lbs

*Started sleeping in her room

project 365

Even though I have a passion for photography, I don't use my camera every single day. I came across project365 a while ago and attempted it, but found it more difficult than I expected to take just one picture a day. So, I gave up. Then I came across the iPhone ap for project365. I always have my phone with me and it's not so much work to take it out and take a photo. And there is no pressure to get the picture perfect, no manual mode on an iPhone, you get what you get. I have done a great job of taking a photo everyday since October 9th. It's a snap shot of the little things in each day that I want to remember. You can view my project if you are interested

http://www.crimsonstripe.com/photos/linn33

I need to do a better job of putting captions with each picture. I can't wait until a year from now to look back on all of the photos.

Fa La La La La La La La La

The holidays are here! We had our first Thanksgiving dinner Friday night. A friend wanted to practice all of the cooking and timing of everything, but needed someone to eat all the food. We of course were willing volunteers. It was SO good. The stuffing was my favorite part. Each year I get more and more excited about the holidays. This is what I love...

*I love and am thankful for my families and there never seems to be any of the infamous drama that so many talk about.

*The red cups at Starbucks with either a pumpkin Spice Latte or Peppermint White mocha inside.

*Amy Grant's 1983 and Michael W. Smith's 1989 Christmas albums will be playing loudly throughout our house this year. He and a 60 piece orchestra are coming to WA this Christmas. I would LOVE to go, I know Sam won't go. So, who wants to come with me? (I actually can't go, but it would be great!)

*Going up in the snow covered mountains, hiking around to look for a Christmas tree (we won't get a 15 ft tree this year), sitting around the fire (I won't melt my boots this year), while eating Hockey Pucks.

*Kids singing Christmas songs (can't wait for Soren's Christmas play this year)

*Driving up to a house and seeing smoke billowing out of their chimney knowing there is a warm fire inside.

*The snow and the quiet that seems to fall with it.

*Experiencing it all through the eyes of a child.

forts

With the rainy weather and it getting darker earlier, we've been making a lot of forts.

"that's silly"

I just love this boy.

He says the funniest things for a 2 and a half year old.

*referring to Yankee Doodle "macaroni in his hat, that's silly"

*he told me i needed a "time out"

*referring to his nipples "when I touch these it makes me tickle"

*while pretend talking on the phone "..what's your stinkin' problem"

*sitting between his grandmas he realized "I have two ga-ga's!"

*when explaining something to him "ok, that makes sense"

*asking him to tell me the story of creation, his response, "God bless America and the whole world."

looking at a snail

love the hipstomatic ap for iPhone

a bug and a super hero

No tricks and not many treats this year, but it was a good Halloween nonetheless.

3 months

Not much to report on for Eva's monthly update. She's a little heavier and is awake more often for longer periods of time. She was sleeping through the night for a few weeks and is now up again for a 4am feeding. She is getting better about laying down by herself when she is awake and doesn't mind as much being held while the person holding her is sitting down. Basically for the last 3 months she wants you to stand and hold her, facing out, or else she isn't happy. I bought her a play gym Monday and she loves it! Sam asked why we didn't get her one earlier. I am wondering the same thing. She's been to San Diego and last weekend took her first, of many I'm sure, trips to Cincinnati.

good start

I know this is a silly post. But I just love days that start with a really yummy breakfast. Why do I not make time for this every morning? It puts me in such a good mood and sets the tone for the rest of the day. This mornings breakfast; scrambled eggs with red peppers and goat cheese, grapefruit and coffee.

Instead of bible study last week, us girls decided to take all the kids to Spooner Farms to pick out pumpkins. What is it about going to a pumpkin patch that is so fun? Spooner Farms is actually a raspberry farm that transforms to a pumpkin patch this time of year, complete with corn maze, pumpkin sling-shot, farm animals, fresh carmel corn and amazing pumpkin spice caramels!

I love these girls and could never say enough good things about each one of them. We've been getting together once a week for the last 3 and a half years. We have definitely laughed a lot and cried a lot. I love this picture because I don't think any of us are actually holding our own children. :)

The next Beckham?

Søren joined a mommy/daddy and me soccer "team" for the month of October. It is a 2-3 year old class for 30 minutes once a week. I first thought 30 minutes would not be long enough, but boy was I wrong. I thought he would love soccer and be quick to do whatever coach instructed him to do. Again, I was wrong. The soccer field is the outfield of a baseball field, so the first day Søren took off to run the bases. There is a playground close as well. He would rather go down the slide, then dribble to the flag and back again and again. He does love wearing his shinguards and soccer socks. He loves dribbling in to kick a goal. The highlight is definitely getting a sticker from coach at the end. Even though he might be more interested in other sports at this point (i.e. golf and baseball), it is a proud moment for me to watch my boy play soccer.

you've been given today

When the same thing happens at the same time I tend to write it off as just a coincidence. I'm not one who sees a meaning or fate around every corner, but I don't ignore these "happenings" either. This morning I had one of those moments I couldn't let go of. I had to stop and ask myself, OK Lord what are you trying to tell me here. Todays daily reading from Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load was about living in the moment, not wishing life away. The author writes about how God provided bread for that day for the Hebrews who were wandering around in the dessert. If it wasn't eaten that day, it would spoil by the next. We are taught how to pray by asking to "give us this day our daily bread."

After reading that chapter I decided to open a new book my mom just gave me titled Cold Tangerines. What was her first chapter about? Living in the moment. Ha! She writes

I don't want to wait anymore. I choose to believe that there is nothing more sacred or profound than this day. I choose to believe that there may be a thousand big moments embedded in this day, waiting to be discovered like tiny shards of gold. The big moments are the daily, tiny moments of courage and forgiveness and hope that we grab on to and extend to one another. That's the drama of life, swirling all around us, and generally I don't even see it, because I'm too busy waiting to become whatever it is I think I am about to become. The big moments are in every hour, every conversation, every meal, every meeting.

It's so easy to get caught up in where I want to be in life, what I want for my kids and my husband. I'm not asking for my daily bread, I'm too busy thinking about how and what will be provided in the future, when all I need is my daily nourishment because it will spoil by tomorrow and because today is all I have been given.

I chose this picture because when my sister came to visit she kept saying that Soren is just living in the moment. His world is all about right now. That is so true!! I think this picture (thank you dad) captures Soren truly living in the moment without a care in the world!

2 months

Eva turned 2 months old this last week. I love this girl so much. I hope this doesn't sound wrong, but I don't remember having this much of a connection with Soren at this point. Maybe it's because she's a girl. Maybe it's because I am appreciating these days and not wishing them away (i.e. I can't wait for her to crawl, I can't wait for her to talk, etc..) Or maybe it's because she's given us a couple of scares with her health. (more on that in a bit). I'm sure it's a combination of all those things.

There isn't a whole lot to report on that she does during the day. She pretty much still eats, sleeps and poops. She is really smily and when she is awake she is starting to really babble and coo. She loves to talk back and forth and it's cute to watch her and Søren have "conversations."

She continues to keep us on our toes. Will she do this till she's 18?! I told my mom the other day that I feel like we are two puzzle pieces that go together. I just know her favorite position to be held and can get her to sleep in a heartbeat. Not anymore. She decided to change things up and wants to be held in other ways. Not only that, she has gone on a nursing strike. I hope this doesn't last long. Pumping and washing bottles is getting old.

More on her health...First there was the trip to the ER when she was 4 days old. And now, we had a couple of times that we found her gasping for air and turning purple. Thankfully we were around her all of these times, Thank you Lord for that! (I really don't know what would have happened if she would have been in another room by herself). After an extensive doctors visit we came to the conclusion that it was probably acid reflux. She was promptly put on medication. Let me tell you, Eva is a different girl on this medicine. She is not as fussy, spits up way less, doesn't sound like an old sick man snoring when she is laying down and she has not had any more episodes of choking or stopping breathing. I'm trying to not live in fear (running to check on her every 3 minutes), but rather trust the Lord's protection over her like I do for the rest of my family.

Here are her stats for those interested...grandma! ;)

Head: 40cm (75-85%)

Height: 22 3/4 in (75%)

Weight: 10lbs 15oz (50%)

One of those days

Today is just one of those days.

*Soren woke up as soon as I sat down to eat my breakfast

*Eva decided to go on a nursing strike

*Soren watched TV for about 2 hours while I figured a way to get Eva to sleep, only to have her soon wake up and cry for 45 minutes straight.

*My 1 hour Costco order that I so perfectly timed to pick up in sync with my Target run, was really going to take 2 hours, so now I have to make another trip out that way.

*Soren ran off with the cart with Eva in it at Target.

*Soren must find joy in repetition.

-I can recite for you the starting conversation to song #3 on Psalty.

-I heard the question "go see toys please?" about 30 times and once my patience wore thin and told him to stop saying that, it became "i want to say that" over and over again.

*My left-over chili wouldn't seem to heat up and I don't dare try a third time with the risk of waking Eva who is finally asleep in the carseat.

*Soren is currently supposed to be napping..yeah, that's not happening, he's melting down over a dirt bike.

*After buying shinguards (nice job Sam on finding some at Goodwill for $2!) and soccer socks and getting Soren all excited for his first big soccer practice, it will most likely be cancelled and I will have to deal with that meltdown.

And...it's only 1:20pm

School Days

Trying to get a picture, he was so excited, he wouldn't stand still.

Finally, a picture at school. He's saying "cheeeeze."

Soren started his first day of school this week. It's not much, but it's about all my heart can handle. He goes for 3 hours one day a week. I didn't think it would be difficult to drop him off this morning. He, on the other hand, had no problem with me dropping him off. I am proud of him for being so confident to enter a new environment, yet a little sad that he was okay being without me. On the way home from picking him up, I could have sworn he grew up just a little bit in the 3 hours he was at school. He talked more clearly, stuttered less (yes, he stutters, it's a sign of a genius people. :) ) and had more phrases in his vocabulary. This time will be so good for him. He saw a school on TV and said "school! I love school." The time will also be good for me. Oh the possibilities of having 3 hours with just Eva. I'm thinking I could go to a coffee shop again and actually sit down.

Since I haven't posted much about Soren lately, I thought I'd share some of what he's up to.

*Has an imaginary friend, Joe.

*Loves giving Eva hugs and kisses.

*Is into bikes...everything is a dirt bike.

*We got him signed up for soccer. Now we just need to find him a golf coach.

He has been cracking us up lately. I've said since he was little that he'll be a comedian. Here are some of his funny (to us anyway) phrases.

In reference to me singing in a silly way "Mamma, you crack me up."

Soren: Where's Finn?

Me: Finn's at his house.

Soren: I want to play with Finn in two days.

Me: Ok, we'll call his mom and ask.

Soren: We can play in the mud with trucks and get our shoes dirty. That would be fun.

Walks in the room with a balloon and says "Let's party! It's your birthday!"

In reference to me hitting the gas a bit too hard when the light turned green. "Whoa! Don't go too fast."

After walking into Eva's room while I was changing her diaper. "It stinks in here."

pumpkin spice & everything nice

Eva loves hoodies too. :)

I hate to say it and I love to say it... I think fall has arrived. I love the beginning of fall, but I have a really hard time letting go of summer. Summers out in the NW (especially this last one) will never compare to a great midwest summer. Call me crazy, but I love the heat and humidity Cincinnati has to offer. It's in my bones. The fireflies at dusk, being in shorts and a tank at night, cold drinks that actually refresh..I could go on and on. Just when the heat becomes too much to bear you notice a chill in the air and the leaves start to change. Oh the trees! I miss the beautiful mix of greens, yellows, reds, oranges and browns all along the rolling hills of Ohio.

So the fact that we had a horrible summer, think high 50's and cloudy with scattered days of 90's and sunny, makes it even harder to accept that fall is here, which means another gray winter is right around the corner. But I don't want to end on a sour note. There are things I love about fall no matter where you live. Hooded sweatshirts, pumpkin spice lattes, spiced breads, crock pot meals, warm soups, candles, taking off your jeans that are soaked around the ankles and slipping into your favorite sweats, UGGs, fires in the fireplace..again, I could go on and on.

So I reluctantly and joyfully accept the transition of seasons. And I will hope and try to find my joy, not in what color the sky is for the day, but in the silly stories my 2 1/2 year old will tell, the smiles and coo's my 7 week old will give, the love, encouragement and support my husband will be and the laughter and tears I will share with my friends.

Hotsling

My sister took this picture with her iPhone and I thought I'd share that this sling is my new best friend. I know there has been some controversy around them lately, but I have found this Hotsling to be great. Eva loves to be held and she loves movement, so it's perfect for doing that and still having two hands to help Soren or get things done around the house. I have used the Bjorn a few times as well, but more so for being out in public. I highly recommend finding one you are comfortable with if you are a mom of two (or more.)

29!

I turned the big 2-9 yesterday. I had a great day. It all started a few days earlier with the gift of an afternoon getting my hair done along with some shopping. I don't know what's more of a gift, the shopping and hair or the time to myself. Either way, I'll take both. :) When I walked in the door from my time away Soren came running up yelling "I made you a cake!" Sam made dinner and a cake and the next morning chocolate chip pancakes. Yep, one of my favorites. The rest of the day was filled with lunch with a friend, a wedding, and a night out with the girls. A friend of mine asked me if I was going to make a bucket list, you know, 30 things to do before turning 30. I had thought about it, but I don't know if any of them would really be that interesting. Maybe I'll think more about it and see what I come up with. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes, flowers and gifts, from a cupcake kit to Graeter's Ice Cream (you all must know I like food, especially sweets. :) )