.

new site

2011-01-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

Sorry Blogger! It's time I move on. Time for a new set up. I've moved on to http://lifeacrossthebridge.tumblr.com/ Please follow me there.

shoes...

2011-01-13T14:17:00.000-08:00

brotherly love

2011-01-10T07:36:00.000-08:00

One of my prayers for my kids is that they will have big hearts. That they will be kind, encouraging, loving people. I want my kids to befriend the new student, sit with the kid who is all alone at the lunch table, ask the homeless person what their name is. I know I have to lead by example, but I want it to come easier for them than it ever did/does for me. I see glimpses of this in Soren and I love being able to capture it with my camera.

roll over, roll over

2011-01-06T09:50:00.001-08:00

Eva rolled over for the first time this week. I know, I know, what's the big deal, right? For me this is a big deal. I know I've written time and time again about Eva and her minor health issues. Well, these issues haven't allowed for her to have much time on the ground. Tummy time isn't a phrase that is said around here very much. I would hear of other babies younger than Eva already reaching this milestone and it made me wonder if Eva should be as well. I learned quickly when Soren was younger to not compare my children with other people's children. How can a parent not compare though? It's inevitable. I think it's what we do with that comparisons that is important. With her never being on the ground, I knew she would be a bit behind. So, when she rolled over this week I was so excited. She's not as behind as I had expected. Now the worrying sets in. She now sleeps on her stomach and every parent knows how unsettling this can be. If that's not unsettling enough when I told someone she had rolled over her response was, "She'll be a teenager before you know it!"

5 months

2011-01-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

A little late on this post, but Eva turned 5 months in December. She took her second trip to Cincinnati for Christmas and her first trip to the mountains for New Years. She started eating solids and is so far liking everything we have given her. She was healthy for a few weeks until she caught her cousins cold and now we are trying to get her back on the Pacific Time Zone sleep schedule. We are learning she loves to be involved in everything. She gets upset if she can't see what's going on or if she is left alone. I think she'll be an extrovert like her daddy!

I heart faces: best face of 2010

2011-01-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays

2010-12-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

WWW.ICANTFINDMYPHONE.COM

bob ross?

2010-12-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-30T08:06:00.000-08:00

4 months

2010-11-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-19T09:28:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-17T15:40:00.001-08:00

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

"that's silly"

2010-11-03T08:25:00.001-07:00

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

2010-11-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

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

3 months

2010-10-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-14T11:02:00.001-07:00

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.

2010-10-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-10-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-02T07:58:00.001-07:00

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

2010-09-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-08-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

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. :) )

1 month

2010-08-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is the 4th time I have sat down to write this post. I guess that is a picture of what life has been like lately. The moment I sit down to do anything other than caring for the family or house, I get sidetracked. As soon as one kid is done eating, the other is hungry. When one falls asleep, the other wakes up. When one diaper is changed another is filled. I only have time to write this now because Eva is sleeping, water is coming to a boil for dinner and Soren is watching a movie...Er, scratch that, movie is done and now Soren is asking for dinner.

Eva just turned a month old. Wow! Time flies by faster and faster. The first month has been a wonderful challenge. I'm trying to get Eva on somewhat of a predictable schedule, so I can better juggle her with Soren's schedule. Bed time with two cranky kids has not been fun. She has been such a great baby. I really can't complain. She loves to be held, maybe a little too much. But I know these days will quickly pass, so I am treasuring each moment we get to snuggle. She is awake more and more each day and I love the rare moments I get to see her smile. Those dimples just make me melt.

We have learned this last month how confused people are about Eva's name. Her name is Evalyn (Eh-vuh-linn) but we call her Eva (Eee-vuh). It made sense to us, so I guess we never foresaw any confusion.

Got to Wear Shades

2010-08-16T09:06:00.001-07:00

A Village...

2010-08-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

"It takes a village to raise a child." I could not be more thankful for the people in my life that make up my village. I want to focus in on four of those people, my parents and Sam's parents. Sam's parents, Dan & Judy, have been wonderful in taking Soren for many afternoons and overnighters. Soren forgets to say goodbye to us half the time, he gets so excited to spend time at "Dit-Da and Ga Ga's" house. My dad came out for a few days and it was special for me to watch him play play-dough, take Soren to the beach, airport and out for ice cream. He also helped with projects around the house. My mom was just here for 3 weeks helping with the arrival of Eva. She was wonderful and did everything from watching the kids so we could sleep, she cooked, she cleaned, held Eva, played with Soren, and spoiled him with great gifts.

Sam and I could not be more thankful for all you 4 have done. There is so much more you do for us than mentioned in this blog post. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I unfortunately didn't get a picture of my dad with Soren and Eva. :(

Bergstroms

Janet and Eva

My mom was such a trooper!

Evalyn Ingrid

2010-07-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

She's here! Staying true to the pregnancy, Evalyn kept us on our toes. I thought for sure I would deliver early, but she decided to keep things exciting. 3 days past my due date I had a doctors appointment to monitor Evalyn's heart rate and my contractions. It turned out with each contraction her heart rate would drop to a level the doctor was not comfortable with. The doctor sent us directly to the hospital to get the labor going. They broke my water and contractions began immediately, being 2-3 minutes apart. While the nurse went to get things going for the epidural, things really started to pick up and before we knew it, 3 pushes and an hour and a half of labor baby Evalyn was born. I remember seeing the anesthesiologist peek his head in, assess the situation and walk right back out. He knew he would not be needed.

Evalyn Ingrid was born July 20 at 1:49 pm. She weighed 7lbs 10oz and was 19inches long. A lot of people ask about her name and have noticed we are calling her Eva. Sam's great grandma was named Eva and we wanted to incorporate part of my name. One of our Compassion kids is named Evelyn and when we picked her out years ago Sam said "If we ever have a daughter, we should name her Evelyn." So, for us, it's more than just a name that we liked and thought sounded nice.

I can't believe she is already 8 days old. It has been a good first week, with a little scare to the ER, but thankfully everything is ok. My mom has been in town for 2 weeks and it has been SO wonderful to have her help. Sam's parents have been equally as great taking care of Soren. It is great to transition this way into being a mom of two. I think I'm getting the hang of this!

Rollin'

2010-06-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

We were at the park waiting for Sam's softball game to start when Søren saw some other kids rolling down a hill. He, of course, had to try it himself. Monkey see, monkey do...

37 weeks

2010-06-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

I made it to 36 weeks and beyond! Thank goodness. The last weeks have been fairly uneventful, pregnancy wise, but nonetheless I am so ready to be done.

I am looking forward to...

*running around with Søren again

*being able to bend over and not have to think "ok, I'm down here, what else can I pick up?"

*drinking fluids and not having to go the bathroom 5 minutes later

*not needing help off the couch (yes, I got stuck the other day while I was by myself. That was interesting.)

I will miss the eating and baby kicking, but I can not wait to meet our little girl. We had an ultrasound today and found out she is as healthy as can be. She is an estimated 7lbs 4oz. We were told if she comes tonight that she would be just fine.

This picture is from our 20 week ultrasound.

I do it!

2010-06-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

"No, I do it!" Does that phrase sound familiar to anyone else who knows a two year old? From taking the lid off the drink to buckling himself in the carseat, he wants to do it all. I will say the positive about Søren wanting to do everything on his own is that I can't do as much these days. The simple act of picking him up to wash his hands has lead us to getting him a stool so he can do it himself. One thing he is very particular about doing himself is putting on his shoes. I must plan a few minutes in our getting out of the house routine just so he can put his shoes on. The pictures below are the only ones I have of him putting on his shoes. He doesn't wear his boots everyday, it's his "Fiderman" (Spiderman) shoes that he is CRAZY about. If you've run into Søren in the last month, then you know he likes to show you how they light up!

i heart faces: babies

2010-06-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

34 weeks

2010-06-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

Not the greatest photo, but so many have been asking how my pregnancy has been/is going. Here is a little re-cap.

I am currently 34 weeks and could not be more ready for this pregnancy to be over. Looking at the big picture and hearing other people's horror stories of pregnancy, mine has been a breeze. Compared to my pregnancy with Søren, it hasn't been such smooth sailing. Things were going fairly well until about 19 weeks when I started having Braxton Hicks contractions. A lot of them. When I was up to 30+ a day I finally decided to call my doctor. A Fetal fibronectin test was done which can determine pre-term labor. The test was negative, thankfully. I was told to go on the planned vacation with my family and to take it easy. Do doctors know there is no such thing as "taking it easy" with a 2 year old running around? The vacation was good for me and my contractions calmed down. Weeks later they started up again and I was back at the doctor having another FF test done. This one, again negative. Once I learned what triggered the Braxton Hicks and how to keep them at bay, the real contractions started. I found myself each night before bed counting how far apart each contraction was a preparing myself to head to the hospital. Each night they settled down. At a 33 week doctor appointment I filled her in and yet another FF test was done and again negative. Thankfully. That night I was up at 2am for 2+ hours pacing the bathroom trying to ease the contractions. I don't know anymore what specifically is triggering all this, but I have learned that even just doing 2 loads of laundry is enough to wipe me out for the day. This last week has been a great week and I am starting to wonder if this is the "calm before the storm." Our goal is to make it to at least 36 weeks. As anxious as I am to meet our little girl, I am trying to enjoy every precious moment I have of a full night of sleep, time with just Søren and being a family of 3.

as of late...

2010-06-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

It's been fairly quiet around here. The weather has been awful, except for a few days, so we've been staying indoor a lot trying to get ready for "baby sisters" arrival.

Getting out with friends while we can.

Building forts

Learning to do "headstands"

Gig Harbor parade and 34 weeks along...

Grandma and Grandpa were given a "playgwound."

i heart faces: feet

2010-06-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

Simply Marbleous

2010-05-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Sam asked me to make this Marbleous Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Carmel Glaze for his birthday. It was super simple and very delicious. There is one piece left, I wonder who is going to be brave enough to take it. I'll let the birthday boy have it.

Rhubarb, not Rebar...

2010-05-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Rhubarb? What? To eat? Isn't that the stuff they use in concrete? Oh, not Rebar, Rhubarb! Ok, so I had never heard of Rhubarb until I moved to Washington. Does Ohio not grow Rhubarb? I still don't know. I was always hesitant to try it, but once I did I was an instant fan. I attempted my own Strawberry Rhubarb type crisp (more so with biscuits) a while back and did not like it. Sam graciously ate it, but he never went back for more. I was determined to find a recipe I liked. Strawberries and Rhubarb came in our veggie/fruit box last week and I knew this was my perfect chance to try again. Here is the recipe I found, tried and absolutely loved! Rhubarb Crumble from the Food Network. I left out the hazelnuts and just added more oats. The recipe does not call for Strawberries, I just wanted to add it in for myself.

Surprise

2010-05-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

If you know me, then you know that I love surprises. The good kind of surprises. That's exactly what I got from Sam for our 4 year anniversary. (Yes, that was back in March. Yes, this is a much belated post). The morning after our anniversary Sam told me to leave the day open for a 2:00 massage appointment at a local Salon and dinner out. I couldn't be more excited! The massage was wonderful and I hurried home to get ready for a night on the town. When I entered the house the first thing I saw was our living room rearranged to be a dining room for two, candles lit everywhere, music playing and Sam dressed to the nines. Then I heard the faucet turn on in the kitchen. Hhhmm, someone else is here, I thought. It was our friend Greg who was preparing dinner for Sam and I. He had driven from Seattle to make Sam and I a 5 course dinner. It was fabulous! Bruschetta with a quail egg, salad with pomegranate glaze, butternut squash ravioli, chicken and molten lava cake for dessert. Words cannot describe how amazing this meal was. It was such a fun night and I'm so thankful to Sam and Greg for helping make our anniversary special.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you very much. I can never thank you enough for the way you raised the four of us.

Funny talk

2010-04-29T11:25:00.001-07:00

Søren has been saying some funny/cute things lately. Here are a few examples.

Mom: Søren do you want to pray for dinner

Søren: Dear God, thank you food, Amen.

Søren riding his bike in the house says: Bye Bye Momma

Mom: Where are you going?

Søren: Finn's house!

Dad was putting Søren's PJ's on him. The PJ's are a silly camping theme with pictures of animals camping and hunting.

Dad: Look Søren a moose is hunting with a bow. Do you like to hunt too?

Søren: YEAH!

Dad: What do you like to hunt?

Søren: EASTER EGGS!

Søren was singing "Jesus Loves Me." I joined in with him. When we got to the line "We are weak, but He is strong," I left out the word strong so Søren could fill in the blank. He instead said "hungry!"

i heart faces: smile

2010-04-27T18:47:00.001-07:00

This weeks i heart faces challenge is all about smiles.

Big Boy Room

2010-04-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

A Transportation Room for a boy whose favorite jammies are the "Car Jammies."

Rod

I love the wall stickers

night light and bean bag

Not the greatest picture of the pictures Søren painted

We have successfully transferred Søren to his new room. We thought we had accomplished this the end of February, but we had a bit of a set-back. Søren fell out of his bed twice and he decided he was going back to the crib. I couldn't find rails for the type of bed he had, so we gave him some more time in his crib while we prepped his new room a bit more. The mattress is now on the floor and he is loving his new found freedom. With this transition came a fear of going to sleep in the dark. We leave a light on for him and allow him to read books until he falls asleep. He has done a great job staying in bed. I have always appreciated that Søren has never been the type of kid to really get into things. Some have asked for pics of his new room, so here are some. Thank you to Target for making it easy and cheap to decorate. :)

Delivery

2010-04-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Tuesdays and Fridays are exciting days in the Bergstrom household. Why? We get our Smith Brothers Farms milk delivery on Tuesday and now our Terra Organics fruit and vegetable delivery on Fridays. Søren loves checking the milk box and helps carry in his favorite, chocolate milk. I wanted to begin the fruit and veggie delivery because I wanted to know where my produce was coming from and to challenge myself when it comes to eating. I want to be more healthy as well as learn how to cook with food I'm not as familiar with. For instance, our last box contained Rainbow Kale. I had always heard about kale, but never cooked it, let alone even tried to eat it. I found a recipe for spicy kale and tried it out. I can't say I'm a fan. It has a real bitter taste to it. But now I know. Each box comes with a newsletter that tells where each item came from along with different recipes and storage tips. I love it because not only do I know that I am getting good products for a good price, but it's now one less thing I have to worry about.

Preschool...

2010-04-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Preschool? Really? Is my little guy really old enough for preschool? Ok, so it's not really a preschool, but more of a pre-preschool. But still, isn't he supposed to stay home with his mommy forever? :) I put the application in the mail today. I'm partly excited and partly sad. I get so excited when Søren learns something new, but I know I can only teach him so much. I can't wait to hear about all he is learning in his new class which will start in the fall. I know he will do a great job and I have a feeling he'll be the type of kid that actually likes school. It makes me a bit sad because I know it means he's growing up. Can't I keep him this little forever?

Greek Easter Bread

2010-04-06T13:12:00.001-07:00

I made my first loaf of bread, from scratch, for Easter. This is definitely one of those foods that I have always been intimated to try for some reason. I chose the perfect recipe to face my fears. Greek Easter Bread just looked delicious and beautiful and it was given 5 stars in it's reviews. I now know why no really makes bread anymore, or at least very often. It is time consuming! From start to finish it took me 4 hours. It wasn't difficult at all, I just had to make sure I was around the house for all the steps of rising, kneading, rising, braiding, rising and baking. The result? Perfection. Soft on the inside, crusty on the outside. I don't think it could have turned out any better. It was a hit Easter Sunday and there is still enough left over for breakfast. If you have wanted to try to make your own bread, but are like me. Start with this recipe. You'll do great!

Easter '10

2010-04-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Mom isn't as exciting to get a picture with.

Lots of sweets for mom and dad, er, for Søren to eat.

He didn't keep the "monkey suit" on too long.

Lots of goodies in the Easter Baskets.

We had a fairly laid back attitude towards Easter this year. No rush to the mall to meet the Easter Bunny and no stressing over what would go in the Easter baskets. We did attempt to participate in our city's Easter festivities for the kids on Saturday, but our easy going spirit got us there when things seemed to be wrapping up. We were told the Easter Bunny was in the tent on the field. What we found was a tent filled with plastic bins and the Bunny's head on a chair. Maybe it was better Søren didn't see the Easter Bunny, especially after last year. The Easter Egg hunt consisted of an 8ft x 8ft space of eggs where Søren could only pick six. The eggs at least contained Søren's favorite candy, Smarties, or "farties" as he calls them.
Sam played in all three church services on Sunday morning and we had lunch at his parents with a handful of extended relatives. We sent Tyler and Jen out to hide some Easter Eggs, only to have it rain. We waited for a break in the weather and made a go of it. I think this will have been the easiest hunt for Søren ever. He had 6+ adults helping him.

As laid back as it was we had a great holiday. I find myself each year being more thankful for the people I spend the holiday's with than what we actually do.

City on Stilts

2010-04-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

With babies due in May and July, new jobs starting and a busy school schedule, the Johnson family summer family vacation was looking as if it were not going to happen. So, we made it happen. Where could we go that it would be warm in March, yet central to everyone flying from Seattle and NYC. Somehow we came up with Galveston, TX. It was a bit of a gamble because the city was pretty much wiped out from Hurricane Ike in 2008. We didn't know if we would come upon a dead city or one that was rebuilt. We found both. Except for being 30-40 minutes from anything, we had such a great time. The sun shone each day and the warmth was there. Our rented house was a stones throw from the beach and fit all 10 of us comfortably. OH! We discovered that they sell Graeter's Ice Cream at Krogers in TX. We of course bought some. :) I treasure each moment I have with my family, whether its watching Planet Earth or having good conversations. I am so thankful for the way my family interacts with Søren. I love that he learns new things from more people than just Sam and I.

i heart faces: angles

2010-03-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

This Weeks Theme: Angles

Smoothie Pack

2010-03-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

I was planning to blog about these great popsicle molds I got at IKEA. Just a simple post about a simple product. I'm not a huge stickler about all the stuff that is in the food Søren eats, but if I can have control I'll try my best to make it healthy. I whipped a smoothie of yogurt, berries and orange juice and froze them into popsicles. Great! Done. One less unhealthy thing I have to worry about. Then the popsicles came in handy for another purpose. Søren was playing in the gazebo the other morning and fell and gave himself at fat lip. How do I ice an injury when Søren won't come within 5 feet of an ice pack? That's when Sam suggested giving him a smoothie pop. It was perfect.

They're yummy and great for icing an injury, but....

they are messy!

The fat lip.

4 years!

2010-03-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

4 years ago today I married "the only good guy left in the Harbor," as someone once put it. We met at a camp one of the first weeks I was in Washington, we were friends for a year, dated for 10 months, and engaged for 10 months. Now we've been married 4 years, have a 2 year old and one on the way. It has been a true joy to be married to Sam.

i heart faces

2010-03-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm taking on a new challenge for myself. The site i heart faces challenges all kinds of photographers to a weekly contest. I'm not in it to win it. I'm not doing this for anyone but myself. I need to challenge myself when it comes to photography. This weeks theme is "bundled up."

Fahionista

2010-03-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

You asked for it. Here is a picture of the fabric I purchased from Etsy. I first saw it at the Sew Expo a few weeks ago. While looking for textiles for the new nursery, this fabric kept coming back to my mind. Nothing I found online could compare. So, I've decided to make everything. Yes, everything. That is why I purchased 14 yards. And in case I mess up. :)

Classic Combo

2010-03-13T16:24:00.000-08:00

When it comes to cupcakes I prefer something along the lines of a vanilla cupcake. But when I saw these cupcakes being made on Barefoot Contessa I knew I had to make them. 1. Because Sam will eat anything with peanut butter on it and 2. because Sam was watching the episode with me and was just about drooling.

They were pretty good. I haven't been converted to the chocolate cupcake side with this recipe, but I have found a new love for peanut butter!!!!

back to normal

2010-03-11T15:05:00.001-08:00

Søren has been in a great mood the last few weeks. Less tantrums and meltdowns and literally running around the house. I don't know if this is a result of being healthy after a 3 month run of respiratory infection, ear infection and sinus infection. Or maybe because I feel we have finally found a good routine for our daily lives. Either way, I have been loving this time with him. That being said, Søren has seemed to find a new attachment to dad. He wants dad to read to him, tuck him at night, chase him around the house and even goes directly to Sam to be comforted after he gets hurt. I have found this transition a little difficult for me, yet I am so thankful for the timing. With baby sister arriving this summer maybe it's good Søren is looking to spend more time with dad.

someone has a sweet tooth! (we don't let him eat the gum balls)

but he does like "loll lops"

Our Turn?

2010-03-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

My last post was about the beautiful weather we've been having. I knew the rain would come back, but I had no idea it was going to snow! I guess we couldn't avoid it forever this winter.

Gorgeous Day!

2010-03-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

We have been having gorgeous weather. We're talking 60 and sunny. It is so refreshing to be out and about again. I know the rain will show its face once more, but in the meantime, I'm loving it! We got our favorite lunch (Suzanne's) to go and walked down to Jerisich Park.

It's a...

2010-03-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

We found out yesterday what the sex of our baby is. We also found out that it is super healthy and right on track with development!

Our first calls and messages went out to my side of the family. Since we can't all be together to celebrate the news, I wanted them to be the first ones to know.

Right before the ultrasound. Wondering which gift to give the grandparents.

Big brother Søren with the ultrasound picture.

We were so excited to announce that it's a...

GIRL!!!

Cupcakes to celebrate.

Oh, all the bows, dresses and shoes. Just the start of a whole new world for us that we can not wait for!!!

ouch!

2010-02-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

lack of balance + wooden pallet =

Dr. Check Up

2010-02-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

Søren had his 2 year check up today. He did a great job! I am learning with Søren that preparation is key. If I tell what is about to happen, many tears and tantrums are well avoided. I failed however to prepare him for his two shots. I was scared that if I told him, he would kick and scream and the nurse wouldn't get a good poke. 2 shots later, he looked up at me with teared filled eyes that said "You didn't tell me this was going to happen." I'm sorry, buddy.

This is mainly for the grandma's who want to know their grandson's stats.
Height: 33" (25%)
Weight: 28lbs (50%)
BMI: 180 (75-85%)

So, he is short and stalky and is still holding on to his baby weight. If you've ever picked up Søren, you know he is one solid kid!

Everything else checked out great. The doctor recommended putting him in a pre-school for the fall. Maybe all the doctors suggest that at the 2 year visit, but I can't believe I need to start thinking about pre-school! I know he's ready socially, and he knows 1-10, colors, shapes and a handful of letters. But does this mean I have to actually get him potty trained? I mean, really potty trained?!

Colors

2010-02-23T13:46:00.000-08:00

Boy or Girl?

2010-02-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

We have our first ultrasound Monday, March 1st. (yes, the date changed). We will find out if we are having a boy or a girl. I can't wait! I added a poll to the right. Feel free to add your vote!

Søren Monet?

2010-02-22T11:25:00.001-08:00

We tested out finger paints for the first time yesterday. It was a hit! I had purchased three large canvases for Søren to paint on for his new room . (yes, new room. I'll post about that soon.) He did such a great job listening to instructions and staying clean. I think green is his new favorite color.

Choo-Choo!

2010-02-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful time celebrating Søren's 2nd birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Johnson flew in from Cincinnati to join in the festivities. It was anything choo-choo for this party. He got lots of great gifts like a Thomas the train bubble machine, cooking items, remote control car, digger, a real left-handed golf club, and a crown made by Aunt Susan. I think his favorite gift was the Cars pajamas which he is currently wearing as he naps.

Grandpa reminding Søren how old he is.

Birthday Swedish Pancakes

Anything else in there from Auntie Jessie and Uncle Jerremy.

Trying out the new golf club.

Grandma and the new jammies.

Happy Birthday Søren!

2010-02-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

Two years ago Sam and I had a decision to make. To induce or not to induce? I was 4 days past my due date and my doctor wouldn't let me go past 10 days. She gave me the option of waiting the full 10 days in hopes of going into labor naturally, or scheduling induction for a day that she was working. I was so ready to meet our little guy and so ready to be done being pregnant, but when I was faced with the choice of when to give birth, the decision was harder than I thought. We decided that I should be induced. At 11am on February 13th, 2008 I was checked in to the hospital and ready to deliver. I will spare you all the details, but 10 hours later, with an epidural, 3 hours of pushing and a vacuum, Søren Samuel Bergstrom was born. He weighed in at 8lbs 6oz and was 19.5 in. long.

It has been an amazing two years with Søren a part of our lives. He has a heart of gold and is eager to please. He loves to make us laugh and knows how to push our buttons. He is so smart and it scares me sometimes how quickly he learns things. He is left handed and I am adjusting to that world (putting the fork and crayon on the correct side, having to find lefty golf clubs, etc...) He is on the move from the moment he wakes up to the moment he is in bed for the night. (He will never be that child that you find asleep in his food or on the staircase.) He is going to be such a great big brother. I can't wait to see all that he is going to want to teach his little brother or sister.

Children's Museum

2010-02-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

My parents are in town so we decided to check out the Tacoma Children's Museum with my friend Heidi and her boy Finn. For some reason I pictured a museum like one you would find in downtown Chicago. I was pleasantly surprised by the quaintness and humility of the this little museum.

Chef Soren

2010-02-11T14:59:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard, Søren is turning 2 on Saturday! We had a little cooking birthday party for him and his close friends this last week. Søren loves to pretend to cook. He'll make you anything you ask for and he'll always want you to take a bite. Eggs seem to be his specialty. :) It was fun (and wild) having his friends over here for dinner, cake and cookie decorating.

My sad attempt to make a cake that looks like an apron

Here are the kids with the aprons on that I made all of them.

The balloons were a HUGE hit! Sørens face lit up when they entered the room.

Heidi and Brooke helping the boys decorate cookies.

Showing off his new cooking utensils. (Now, he doesn't have to use mine. )

Accidental Change

2010-02-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

I didn't mean to change the look of the blog. Now that I did on accident, I can't find my old template. Change to come again soon...

Super Runner

2010-02-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

My sister sent me this jacket in the mail a few weeks back. I'm sure this has been stowed away in my parents closet for some time. Here is a picture of Susan wearing it 1981 and Søren wearing it 29 years later.

Roasted Butternut Squash "Ravioli"

2010-02-03T14:34:00.001-08:00

Forgive me if I have posted about this recipe before. Last week I ventured to cook something new again, sort of. I had tried the Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage, Hazelnut and Brown Butter Sauce recipe before, but wasn't completely happy with it. I knew it could be better, so I tried again. I changed one thing this time. For time sake, I used pasta shells instead of wonton wrappers. So I guess they weren't technically ravioli anymore, but they were delicious! It is sure to please anyone that has a taste for fall flavors.

23 Months!

2010-01-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

I thought Søren has been waking up on the wrong side of the crib every morning this last week. I thought for sure, "here we go, we've entered the 'terrible two's'." And maybe we are, but this morning I discovered he is getting his two year molars. No wonder he has been so cranky and irritable. Why do teeth have to turn kids into complete monsters?!

He is not a complete monster though. :) Here is a video from last night at dinner. For those wondering, he's eating Skyline!

Christmas Letter

2009-12-23T13:42:00.000-08:00

2009 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas from the Bergstrom household! Wow, I can not believe another year has gone by...flown by! It has been a wonderful year filled with challenges and joys just like any other. Here is what has gone on in our lives in 2009

In March Sam stepped down from his job at Forever Granite. It was a step of faith, but we are so thankful we listened to the Lord and our hearts. Sam re-entered teaching for the rest of the school year and made a final decision that he would be done teaching for good. The summer and fall provided great jobs for Sam, one being an internship with our church on the worship team. Sam is in his element with this job. He loves playing guitar and has begun teaching guitar lessons as well. Sam is also now co-owner of PC Gauge Calibration West; a company he and a friend started which will take over PC Gauge Calibrations customers west of the Mississippi. It's an exciting, yet very busy time for Sam, but he is loving every minute of it.

If you have been following the blog you already know all about Søren. He is full of life these days and never slows down. He is really into cars, trucks and trains. He loves to help me cook and clean. Books are a must throughout the day and especially before bed. I am getting a glimpse of what it must be like to have a teenage boy because all Søren wants to do is to EAT! He is definitely a comedian and loves to laugh and dance. He shows his independence more and more each day and will be quick to remind me that he can do it! Søren isn't very affectionate, but that random "hugk", kiss or "wuv woo" just melts our hearts.

I am doing well, just trying to keep up with the boys. They definitely keep me on my toes. This last year I have fallen in love with photography all over again. I am working on making it a business and trying to take my time to do it right. I have focused on photographing families and children, but would love to dip my toes into the wedding industry. I have been involved in mom's group, 2 bible studies and a couples home group this fall and have loved what I have been learning about the Lord.

This Christmas season has been especially meaningful to me this year for some reason. I usually don't like Christmas songs and I tend to be a scrooge about the pagan aspect of Christmas. But this year the Lord has really been speaking to me through Christmas songs. Maybe that sounds silly, but i don't know how often I ever really stopped and listened to the lyrics. People around the world are singing the story of Jesus, even those that don't like to say Merry Christmas. :)

We hope you have a blessed holiday.

We are so thankful for all of you.

Merry Christmas!

22 months!

2009-12-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

Two more posts and I won't be posting every month about Søren's life. Promise. That being said, I hope to make a blog scrapbook at some point. This has been a great reference and time of reflection for me.

Søren has had another explosion of language these last two weeks. He pretty much has a word for everything now, but I still feel like an interpreter most days. My new favorite word has to be "pinecone." It sounds something like "pi-koh-nuh-ha". He still says "la-bla-la-bla-la" for blueberry.

*He is really into lights. Its perfect with all of the homes decorated right now.

*He is starting to pretend play. He'll feed me cookies out of a book, cook with bowls and spatulas (he is currently making me a football sandwich.)

*He'll have little conversations as he's playing with his cars, trucks and trains.

*He kicks everything (except for people, thankfully.) 5 minutes ago I had to tell him to stop kicking the Christmas Tree. Maybe he'll be a soccer player like his mommy. :)

*He loves riding the "doo-der" (scooter) with grandpa.

*He is beginning to really show his independence. He'll tell me which clothes he wants to wear and what type of food he wants to eat.

*He has learned his shapes. Triangle, Square, Circle, Rectangle, Hexagon, Oval, Star and Heart. He'll point them all out to you. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I have my iPhone to thank for this one. I have an ap that teaches his shapes and gives him stickers.

*He's told me he's had to pee and then actually peed in the toilet. But, I think we're still a long way off from being completely potty-trained.

*He'll ask for a baby wipe and walk around a clean anything he thinks is dirty.

I think that's all for now.

Here is a video of Søren watching the Ellen show and singing along with the Opera Singer.

Holidays

2009-12-06T16:32:00.000-08:00

We spent our Thanksgiving in Chicago at my brother's house. It was so great to have the whole family together, well we at least all overlapped long enough to get a Christmas card picture taken.

When we have not been in Chicago for Thanksgiving, tradition has been that we head up to the mountains to cut down our own christmas tree. The last two years we have gone to a U-cut tree farm. Not quite the same (especially price wise...mountain trees are much much cheaper).

Here are some pictures.

It snowed!

The infamous "Sam throwing Soren" in the air picture

Unlce Ethan taught Soren how to catch the ball

Intense piano playing

Yummy turkey!

Sarah's homemade rolls were SO good!

Grandpa reading to Soren

Sarah and Soren

At the Shedd Aquarium

Grandma and Soren

Just flippin' some eggs in the tent at the Aquarium

Photography Workshop

2009-11-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

I spent this last weekend at a photography workshop for women hosted by Me Ra Koh and her husband Brian. The range of skill varied a bit within the group, but even the stuff I already knew was a good refresher. I learned a lot about the business side, editing, lighting, using your flash and metering. I have been shooting in manual for a while and never knew about metering. Taking pictures is going to be much easier now with this knowledge!

The other women in the group were wonderful. They were so open, honest and vulnerable which helped me tremendously. Me Ra has an amazing gift of making women feel empowered. It was so great to be able to get one-on-one help from someone whose skill level is at the top.

We had family models come in for us one afternoon. This was one of my favorite images.

21 months

2009-11-13T08:54:00.001-08:00

Søren is 21 months today. He has been nothing but a comedian lately. I think most kids do something funny unintentionally, people laugh, kid sees reaction and does it again and again.

Søren seems to know what is funny beforehand. I don't know how to explain it. He does this eye thing too. It's almost like a pause at the right time or the punch line to the joke.

His vocabulary is getting too large to keep track of. He is really, really into books lately. I think I read the same 6 stories to him at least 5 times a day. I can recite "Trumpety Humpety" if you want me to. :)

He is my helper around the house. He loves to sweep with his little broom, throw clothes in the washer, carry the laundry from the dryer and we are working on picking up toys at the end of the day.

Søren does not sit still, ever! He is constantly on the move and I have a good feeling he is going to be one of those kids that asks "why" about everything.

Hunka Chunka Chewy

2009-11-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the first time I really let Søren help me in the kitchen. It's taken me this long because I've been too paranoid he'll fall of the counter or grab a knife. I prepared things as best I could, meaning that I moved all sharp objects out of the way and got all ingredients out first, so I wouldn't be running around the kitchen. I told myself I wouldn't worry about the mess or care if he ate some chocolate chips. I put on my apron, and he too wanted to wear one. (I only have a little girly apron, I think I'll have to make him a masculine one.) We had so much fun! I'll have to do this with him more often, for sure. We made the "Hunka Chunka Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies" from the cookbook Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids.

Mustache

2009-11-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

Søren wanted to show you his new shirt.
Don't you just love it?!
Oh and notice the new shiner on his head?
That's a common occurrence in this house.
He has a matching one on the other side of his head too.

Little Skeleton

2009-10-31T21:03:00.001-07:00

We had a great Halloween. The skeleton was the way to go for us this year. Nothing too heavy he would be sweating in and nothing he had to try and keep on his head! I wanted to post a picture from last year. I just love seeing how much kids change in a year.

Voila!

2009-10-28T18:07:00.001-07:00

I honestly have not forgotten about my quest to make a new meal each Wednesday night. I just have not had the desire to do so. Sam has been working most Wednesday nights, so I find it pointless to make a new meal for just Soren and I. We all have those nights where we want something semi-healthy, but either don't have the ingredients, energy and/or the time. I have discovered Birds Eyes "Voila!". All you do is take it out of your freezer, put it in your skillet, cover and in 10 minutes it's done! I am not one to promote frozen meals (except pizza, of course), but this is really yummy and it's filled with vegetables and we all hit up the freezer section at the store at some point. I don't know about you, but I'd rather eat frozen vegetables than none at all. Bertoli makes meals similar to this as well and they are just as yummy! Oh, and for you parents and caregivers...Søren eats it! Except the carrots, he's not into those. :)

Busy October

2009-10-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

October has been one busy month so far filled with a new job for Sam at church, starting to get a photography business up off the ground, family visitors, caramel apple making, lots of time outside before it gets too cold, 3 bible studies a week, 2 pumpkin patches, 1 halloween party and a partridge in a pear tree. Whoo! And there is still one week left. Here are some pictures. Hopefully I'll get the rest posted to SamandLinnea.com soon enough.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

2009-10-19T12:36:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Sarah! Hope you have a fabulous day. We love you!

Visitors

2009-10-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

We've had some visitors these last 2 weeks. My mom came out for 5 days followed by my brother for the weekend. I love that even though they live thousands of miles away, Søren can still know my side of the family.

Bergstrom update

2009-10-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Seems like the only person I write about in our household is Søren. I thought I'd give an update on the rest of us as well.

Here's a little update on our 20 month old! I can't believe he is almost 2!

New words:

door

yeh-yo (yellow)

doggie

book

eyes

nose

mouth

ears

hair

We got him a new bike and his excitement has been over the top. He hasn't learned how to pedal yet, actually he refuses to pedal, he would rather have mom or dad push him around the house.

He is really into his soccer ball and kick ball. He likes to throw them in any open container and yell "Gooaalll." We have found this to work with food he won't eat. The food is the ball and his mouth is the goal. Works like a charm. :)

Sam was just hired on at our church as the Worship Intern. He developed and lead his first Sunday service last week. He did an amazing job. I am so proud of him. Myself and others are so excited about what he has to offer and what he will bring to the life at Believer's Fellowship.

Whats going on with me? I have been so busy lately and I couldn't really even tell you what has occupied my time besides the obvious of chasing Søren around. I am getting more and more into photography. I am taking a workshop in November and can not wait for all I know I will learn. I am so thankful to my friends who have allowed me into their homes and into a bit of daily life of their family to take their pictures.

Marrowstone

2009-09-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

He loves to be outside.

View from the deck. You can see Mt. Adams.

Part of Ft. Flagler.

Sunday after church Sam, Søren and I headed up to one of our favorite places, Marrowstone Island. It was a perfect 24 hour get away. We spent our time at Sam's grandmas house. Grandma Betty passed away last November, so we spent some time remembering her. Sam made her famous swedish pancake recipe and we ate lunch at her favorite spot, The Chimacum Cafe.

I saw Fort Flagler for the first time. I was never really that excited to see it, but I have now fallen in love with it. The scenery is unbelievable, the barracks are gorgeous and you can just feel the history. I was amazed by it and can't wait to go back.

I feel as though it was the perfect way to let go of summer. The weather was amazing, sun shining and just warm enough to be comfortable. As soon as we left the clouds rolled in and the cold set in.

For lots more pictures check out www.samandlinnea.com

Lily Bug

2009-09-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Maya asked my friend Allison and I if we would make an outfit for her daughters 1 year birthday party. We were happy to take on the challenge. In the midst of making the outfit I joked with Allison that I was pretending to be on Project Runway. I wouldn't have wanted to be partnered with anyone else. We wouldn't have been one of those teams that always fights and throws each other under the bus.

The birthday party was a bug theme. Lily was a lady bug and her cousin Spencer, only a few weeks younger, was a bumblebee. Here are a few pics from the event.

Happy Grandparents Day!

2009-09-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

This was the day that I had enough of Soren's long hair. :)

This entry is a day late in posting, but in case you didn't know, yesterday was Grandparents Day. I have to admit that Søren has the best grandparents in the world. They shower him with love, whether it be from 10 miles away or 2,000 miles away. Thank you for how amazing you 4 are with Søren. Sam and I could not be more grateful for all you do for him.

Boy with Manners

2009-09-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Isn't he just the cutest?! Now that one of Søren's teeth broke through he is back to his normal self, and then some. He has been talking so much lately. Saying things like: "more peease", "boo-boo", "whyee?", "dirty", "'scuse me", "tank ooo", "bye-bye", "love you", "yeah, yeah, yeah", "bus", "hey", "shooes". I mean, seriously, where did this burst of language come from?

He makes me laugh so hard and I know people rarely see this side of him. My father-in-law, Dan, picked him up from the nursery on Sunday and the nursery worker, Karen, asked him, "Doesn't he ever smile? He's so serious. " Dan replied, "Of course he does. Want to know what else he can do?" Karen of course wanted to know.

Dan: "Soren, can you laugh?"
Soren: "Ha Ha Ha."
Dan: "Soren, can you burp"
Soren: makes a belching sound.
Dan; "Soren, can you say excuse me?"
Soren: puts his hand over his mouth and says "'scuse me."
Karen: "Oh, honestly. Only you could have taught him that"
Dan: "You have to teach him what to do wrong in order to teach him manners."

Soup for the Toothless

2009-09-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

I opted out of making dinner last night because I had a wisdom tooth pulled yesterday. So, eating a normal meal was out of the question for me. Soup sounded perfect, so today for lunch I tried to make one of my favorites. Broccoli-Cheese Soup. I was a little skeptical of the recipe I found, but I picked it because I had all the ingredients on hand. This soup was SO good and super creamy. Salt and pepper were not even used and it still had lots of flavor. Here is the recipe.

2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup(s) onion(s), minced
16 oz frozen chopped broccoli
29 oz canned chicken broth
4 oz Kraft Velveeta Light Reduced-Fat Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product, cut into cubes, or similar product
1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup(s) water
1/4 cup(s) cornstarch

Instructions
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook 3 minutes, until soft. Add broccoli and broth and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer 3 minutes, until broccoli is tender.

Reduce heat to low, add cheese and stir until cheese melts; stir in milk and garlic powder.

Whisk together water and cornstarch. Add mixture to pan and simmer 2 minutes, until thick. Serve hot. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.

Design Star

2009-08-31T10:27:00.001-07:00

All Design Star and Color Splash fans raise your hand! My friend Allison and I spent Saturday afternoon at Ecohaus in Seattle listening to David Bromstad share his work history (anyone know he started out at Disney?) and give design advice. He also painted a picture for a lucky raffle winner to take home. Allison and I were very impressed by David's demeanor, personality, skill and humor. We, of course, had to get a picture with him after.

Color Wonder

2009-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Do you ever come across a new product that works so well you just want to tell everyone about it? I do. My newest purchase that I am excited about has to be Crayola's Mess-Free Color Wonder. It comes packaged together with colorless ink markers and a special coloring book. The markers only color on the special paper! Genius!

I was at my wits end after two discoveries. 1. Søren had used a ball point pen to draw on our couch and 2. He used permanent marker to color on our exercise ball and guest room sheets and pillows. I had seen the commercials for these markers and knew this was my only solution to Søren's fixations with pens and markers. He loves the markers and loves to color in the coloring book. He walks around everywhere with the markers in hand. Some may argue that I am not solving any problem, but I at least have peace of mind knowing he can color and it is only going to mark where it's supposed to.

Top Chef Returns

2009-08-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

Tonight begins season 6 of Top Chef. If you know me or have followed this blog, you know I love this show! Last season, on the night the show aired, I cooked a meal I had never made before or had always been too intimidated to try. I started the adventures in cooking again. Tonight's dish; Chicken Scallopine with Safron Cream Sauce by Giada DeLaurentis. It was SO good. I could not get enough of it, I was tempted to take Sam's last half. I wish I would have made more. Søren even ate it! Safron is one spendy spice, but if you are willing to spend the money on it, you won't regret it. It makes this dish. This is definitely a keeper and one you should try. (Invite me over when you make it.)

18 Months!

2009-08-13T15:57:00.001-07:00

He's turned the corner and he's on his way towards turning 2!

New this last month:

Potty training continues...He is getting the idea, but by the time we get him undressed and on the toilet he's already gone. We're not rushing it though. He'll get it.

Has learned how to open the pantry. He loves the "bar bar's"...Fruit Leather and Sweet n' Salties

"No" is becoming a more constant word in this vocabulary.. actually it's "Mo."

LOVES his clothes and especially his shoes. Tears have been shed over shoes being taken off.

Knows how to pick the berries from Grandma's garden.

Is fearless in the water.

He is my little helper. He helps carry the milk in from the milk box and loves to take the clothes from the dryer to the bed.

I fall more in love with this little guy each day. I never thought someone who couldn't talk could make me laugh so hard.

Escaping the Heat...

2009-08-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

I am beside myself with excitement right now! A few weeks ago I entered the above photo of my husbands cousins into a contest. There were two requirements for the photo. 1. It had to be on vacation and 2. It needed to have the technique "depth of field" involved. I couldn't wait to get to our vacation spot, Lake Mayfield, to take on this photography challenge. I was so excited with how this photo turned out, exactly how I wanted it to with no editing done! The photo made it to the top 5 along with 4 other AMAZING photos. You have a chance to win a camera by voting. Go to the following blog http://www.merakohblog.com/ and vote for your chance to win. All you have to do is post a comment and vote for your favorite finalist. Leave a few words about why they were your favorite, and you are entered into the Sony Cyber-shot Camera drawing! Did I mention how excited I am?!

Before and After

2009-08-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

I bought this bench from a favorite antique store back in February. I finally finished making the pillow for it this morning. There is no closet in Søren's room, so this little storage bench is just perfect. The best part is is that Søren hasn't figured out how to open it, so what's in there stays in there. :)