Nov 26, 2008
risky plastic toys
Back in May, I wrote here about our concerns about the use of toxic substances in children's products and toys (in the States; Norway and the EU have already enforced bans). In August, we celebrated a major victory in banning the sale of toys containing the toxic chemicals phthalates starting on February 10, 2009, but now it looks like stores can continue to sell down their inventories of these toxic toys as long as they were manufactured before the February deadline (read more here). For tips on how to buy safer plastic toys, click here.
Nov 23, 2008
breaking news-Lilly takes the bottle!
Lilly, for the first time, tonight, drank from her bottle! Actually drank! Though she did finish up with the one and only--nothing better than--Mama!
bouncing, dancing
Lilly bouncing, dancing--obviously inspired by her friend Sebastian, whose "Bouncy-bounce" video she watch just the other day. (Sorry but the video is a bit dark.)
Nov 16, 2008
Nov 14, 2008
foggy day
It's an incredibly foggy day outside, matching my foggy head. Lilly was awake much of last night, at least from 4 a.m. and onwards (I realize we're spoiled to complain about this). Her stomach seems a little upset, but at least she's getting it out... She's napping now, and it's Friday, which is the day I make pizza. I'm really getting in to cooking and baking these days, now that I have the time for it, and Lilly loves to watch.
This morning, I mustered what I had left of energy and went to the gym. I was gone for an hour and a half; that's the longest I've been gone from Lilly so far. I had a blast moving to the music on my ipod! Leighton's met me at the gym a few times this fall and watched Lilly while I work out a bit, but this was the first time he's stayed home with her while I was gone doing my thing.
Lilly had her 5 month check-up at the health station yesterday; she's 7,555 kilos (16.656 pounds) heavy and 65,5 cm (25.8 inches) long. I can't believe she'll turn 5 months tomorrow; it makes me so happy but also wistful seeing her play so contentedly and independently on the floor all by herself. As a dear friend wrote to me, That's one of the things sad & wonderful, how they grow up to be their own persons & they stop being all yours.
On another note, or back to the foggy note, we're spending two weeks in December on the Gran Canary island with my Danish friend Kristian and his wife Line and their two little girls. We'll be showing off Lilly's skills (from baby swimming lessons) in the pool, or the ocean (if it's not too rough). And I'll be soaking in the sunshine as much as possible. The days are getting really short here now. On the upside, we live up on a hill facing the little of sun that is to be received. On a clear day, we can even see some of the Oslo fjord from our kitchen and living room windows.
This morning, I mustered what I had left of energy and went to the gym. I was gone for an hour and a half; that's the longest I've been gone from Lilly so far. I had a blast moving to the music on my ipod! Leighton's met me at the gym a few times this fall and watched Lilly while I work out a bit, but this was the first time he's stayed home with her while I was gone doing my thing.
Lilly had her 5 month check-up at the health station yesterday; she's 7,555 kilos (16.656 pounds) heavy and 65,5 cm (25.8 inches) long. I can't believe she'll turn 5 months tomorrow; it makes me so happy but also wistful seeing her play so contentedly and independently on the floor all by herself. As a dear friend wrote to me, That's one of the things sad & wonderful, how they grow up to be their own persons & they stop being all yours.
On another note, or back to the foggy note, we're spending two weeks in December on the Gran Canary island with my Danish friend Kristian and his wife Line and their two little girls. We'll be showing off Lilly's skills (from baby swimming lessons) in the pool, or the ocean (if it's not too rough). And I'll be soaking in the sunshine as much as possible. The days are getting really short here now. On the upside, we live up on a hill facing the little of sun that is to be received. On a clear day, we can even see some of the Oslo fjord from our kitchen and living room windows.
Nov 8, 2008
more on books
I went to the library again this week to check out some more books; contemporary Norwegian fiction for me (I've moved on to Jan Kjærstad whose writing I find more constructed and clever than Per Petterson's and I don't really like that, but he has been awarded the Nordic Prize for Literature), and books on tegn til tale (we will use this as our Norwegian version of signing with your baby) for Lilly. It struck me that I haven't really been interested in reading books on child rearing or child development. When I was pregnant, all I wanted to read (aside from all the books I had to read for my courses) was books on birth and pregnancy. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I also read books on attachment parenting, raising a child bilingually, raising a child diaper-free, breast feeding, and vaccines (see our complete book lists in the right margin of this page). And I read about how motherhood makes us smarter, and about the price of motherhood; challenges that face working moms in the US in particular.
I think there are two main reasons for why I steer away from books on child rearing and child development. Firstly, here in Norway everyone seems to read Anna Wahlgren's Barneboka, and Gro Nylander. Whereas in the US, I observed a range of various approaches to child rearing, here in Norway I sense a general consensus on proper child rearing that while it allows for diversity and difference does so within the framework of commonality. This bothers me.
Secondly, I really enjoy reading fiction. But in the US I had to read so much fiction for work, which takes away from that indulgent feeling of reading a good novel for the sheer joy of it. Now that I'm not teaching or writing about literature, I can really enjoy reading for its own sake. Also, I prefer learning from the memoirs of Anne Lamott and Louise Erdrich recounting the first years of their babies, or the reflections of T. Singer, one of Dag Solstad's protagonists (in the novel by the same name), as he observes the growth and development of his step-daughter. These voices really moved me and taught me something profound about some of the many aspects of parenting.
I think there are two main reasons for why I steer away from books on child rearing and child development. Firstly, here in Norway everyone seems to read Anna Wahlgren's Barneboka, and Gro Nylander. Whereas in the US, I observed a range of various approaches to child rearing, here in Norway I sense a general consensus on proper child rearing that while it allows for diversity and difference does so within the framework of commonality. This bothers me.
Secondly, I really enjoy reading fiction. But in the US I had to read so much fiction for work, which takes away from that indulgent feeling of reading a good novel for the sheer joy of it. Now that I'm not teaching or writing about literature, I can really enjoy reading for its own sake. Also, I prefer learning from the memoirs of Anne Lamott and Louise Erdrich recounting the first years of their babies, or the reflections of T. Singer, one of Dag Solstad's protagonists (in the novel by the same name), as he observes the growth and development of his step-daughter. These voices really moved me and taught me something profound about some of the many aspects of parenting.
Nov 7, 2008
mamma mia!
At one of Oslo's biggest movie theater they have this thing called "baby bio;" every Monday and Thursday afternoon, moms and dads are invited to bring their babies along to see a select film played with reduced volume and lights dimmed. I went with Lilly in October to see Mamma Mia! It was an amazing outing. It included all my favorite ingredients: music, dancing, a Greek island, a feisty Meryl Streep, and a very content little baby. I was definitely ready to do something for me and was so pleased with my little baby that she not only let me do it, but seemed to enjoy it too.
Now, as to the film itself, I was suspicious after first having seen the trailer back in the States, and then reading a review here in Norway by Morgenbladet's bad-boy art critic, Tommy Olsson, who ripped it apart (if you know Norwegian, you can read it here). But then dance professor and reviewer Sidsel Pape's response (which you can find here) got me interested: her point is that the film is all about women enjoying themselves, enjoying the sensation of dancing to ABBA. Now that's something I can definitely relate to. So I went, and I loved it. If I were a rich man, I'd go every week. Now I look forward to when I can go to baby bio again, with Lilly, and maybe Leighton too, to see a film in a movie theater with other moms and dads and their babies.
Now, as to the film itself, I was suspicious after first having seen the trailer back in the States, and then reading a review here in Norway by Morgenbladet's bad-boy art critic, Tommy Olsson, who ripped it apart (if you know Norwegian, you can read it here). But then dance professor and reviewer Sidsel Pape's response (which you can find here) got me interested: her point is that the film is all about women enjoying themselves, enjoying the sensation of dancing to ABBA. Now that's something I can definitely relate to. So I went, and I loved it. If I were a rich man, I'd go every week. Now I look forward to when I can go to baby bio again, with Lilly, and maybe Leighton too, to see a film in a movie theater with other moms and dads and their babies.
Nov 6, 2008
favorite toys
In the middle of our living room, where a big clunky table used to be, we now have play mats and toys for Lilly. Most of the days are spent either on the floor with her or nearby, half watching her, half cooking or cleaning or reading or doing something online. She's so independent now, she can play by herself for a good hour before she gets bored.
Her favorite toys these days are a purple pair of slippers with cow faces and bells. When she's on her back she'll reach for them with her hands and make music by kicking vigorously. When she's on her belly, she'll reach for the same slippers to chew on them or pound her fist on them or shake them, again to make sound. She loves making sounds these days, including with her voice, which can reach a remarkably high pitch.
This foldout "book" or what-do-you-want-to-call-it was her first favorite toy. She found some interest in it again today as you can see below in the photo and video sequence. (Our camera only lets us shoot video for 60 sec., that's why there are three little snippets. The first one is only half a minute long; I got the giggles and accidentally ended it when she really got down to business with the poor little cow.) She also loves the soft toy book, rattle and biting ring you'll see scattered around her on the floor.
Her favorite toys these days are a purple pair of slippers with cow faces and bells. When she's on her back she'll reach for them with her hands and make music by kicking vigorously. When she's on her belly, she'll reach for the same slippers to chew on them or pound her fist on them or shake them, again to make sound. She loves making sounds these days, including with her voice, which can reach a remarkably high pitch.
This foldout "book" or what-do-you-want-to-call-it was her first favorite toy. She found some interest in it again today as you can see below in the photo and video sequence. (Our camera only lets us shoot video for 60 sec., that's why there are three little snippets. The first one is only half a minute long; I got the giggles and accidentally ended it when she really got down to business with the poor little cow.) She also loves the soft toy book, rattle and biting ring you'll see scattered around her on the floor.
Nov 5, 2008
day of joy
I had told Leighton that if McCain wins, we're staying in Norway. Last night we went to bed anxious with anticipation. Early this morning, Leighton got up to check the news, and then we huddled together in front of the television to watch Barack Obama's speech. Leighton and I got all emotional and Lilly was transfixed. Here she is watching Obama and Biden.
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