New Additions

My family is growing!

I'm now an auntie again (for the 10th time!) and great aunt for the second, so I think I'm getting pretty good at this.

Little Charlie is big and snuggly, with lots of dark hair! I got plenty of cuddles and he was so nice to me and didn't cry once! Good lad!
Bro seemed like he was coping well with being a father of two. It can't be easy and I don't envy him! Though he has always had a good way with kids, they always love him, and I've no doubt he will settle in just fine.
Charlie was all but fresh from the hospital and it was lovely that I got to see the little bundle!

I met my Great nephew for the first time this week and he is an adorable little boy. He seemed to really like me too and flattered my ego with plenty of smiles and giggles. Another good lad!

All this baby business made me think of timings though.

There's that saying: "There's never a good time to have a baby!".

How does one know? I mean, what should one actually base this on?

Should you base it on your financial situation?
Can you actually afford another mouth to feed, nappies to be bought, an abundance of baby parahanelia to be purchased and invade your life and home?
Don't get me started on buggy prices!

Or perhaps you base it on your private life. Are you happy and content?
Having children, however lovely, does put a massive strain on your relationship. There are bound to be cracks and if there were some before then they may get even bigger.
On the other hand they may not - I have friends who say that their relationship changed for the better immediately after childbirth.
Then your home itself.. Have you got space? I never really consider this at first. I mean, how much space can a child take up right? The answer is: more space than you will ever have.

Then there's your career to consider.
Regardless of your profession and your arrangements at home - the woman is more likely to stay at home for the most part, if not for the whole part.
It is very hard to get back into the rat race and for someone like me, in the ever- searching-youth-elixir field then the clock is always against you.
There's only so much time I can take off in order not to fall off the bandwagon. Or choose to stay off.
However much I love acting and writing, my priorities have undoubtedly changed.

If it's your second then timings are crucial - especially as you have to factor in your firstborn. This is a whole different ballgame alltogether.
Do you go for the two year gap or the three year gap? Or do you wait even longer? Or, as for some of my friends, as little as a year?
You want to make sure that your first child isn't neglected when they baby arrives but also give space for number two to grow and feel special...

I guess, in the end, you just have to go with what feels best for you.
Perhaps there's never a good time. But then, maybe there's never a bad time either?

Photos!

I received some lovely, belated birthday gifts from my family, all very useful, nice and very generous, but I'm really excited about one of these:

I'm going to have some professional photos done!
Not for me mind you, but for Jackson. I've wanted to have these kind of photos done for absolutely ages so I'm tres excited!
My niece had some done of her daughter and they were beautiful.

Check out her website: http://annasphotography.blogg.se/

We had some studio photos done of Jackson when he was six months old so seems rather fitting that we take some outside ones now.

We're meant to meet this Sunday in a park in Norrköping so I'll update the blogg as and when I get the photos back.

I'm going to see my mini-nephew Levi today and I'm so excited! Can't wait to give him a snuggle! I've seen his photos on Facebook and he's super cute!

Also - completely unrelated - but I was asked to provide an I.D today when I wanted to buy cigarettes. Still have it, don't I?

;-)

Scotland

So we're finally back in Sweden and it feels great. What a relief!

We came home via Edinburgh, which must be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which we had been visiting for the notorious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Mum, Jackson and I were exploring the city and surroundings whilts Brooks was preparing for a month long stint at the Theatre Festival with "Rule of Three" and "Brooks and Boris".

We went on a coach trip to Glasgow, Loch Lomond and Sterling (and it's stunning castle!). It was a breath-taking tour and really did open up my eyes to the unspoiled beauty of Scotland.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Edinburgh festival - check it out: http://www.edfringe.com/

We had a great time, and it was a welcomed break after a week of teaching dance and drama at Summer school.
Summer school was a success, albeit a LOT of work! I was absolutely shattered at the end of it...
It was definitely worth it though and the kids did ever so well at their show. I was very proud!
Mum was over baby sitting and they had such a lovely time together. He was so happy to see her and they where out walking around the park every day.

Once in Sweden my dear family have been visiting us and Jackson has been spoiled rotten! It's been fantastic seeing them all and I realise how much I actually miss them.
Mum and dad have been helping out loads with Jackson so that I can have lie-ins and I'm so grateful. It's hard taking care of a child on your own so any help is welcomed!
I got to sleep in to eleven the other day! Eleven! (My family and old friends will say that I always used to sleep that long... Definintely pre-baby!!)

Check out the photos from Scotland!

Signing for babies?

Jackson signing "CAT"

Jackson and I have been going to baby Singing classes now for some time and I must admit, I was a bit sceptical in the beginning....

I mean seriously, why and what's the point right?

Well, I have been pleasantly surprised and I now swear by it!

Jackson signs all day long - he absolutely loves it! He signs when he's tired, hungry, thirsty, needs a nappy change and he signs things like airplane, cat (his favourite - at the moment all animals are cats... Must work on that one!), car and biscuit.

I was a bit surprised when he started using the signs at home.. I guess I wasn't sure that he knew what he was doing, if he was just using random gestures - but I can tell know that this is his way of communicating his needs to me.
It's truly amazing and as he's so good at it, I feel encouraged to do it more too.

This particular signing class is based on Makaton and BSL and so it's easy and straightforward. Sadly, I won't be able to use it for Swedish as it's designed for the British language (although some signs are based on ASL!).
I'm really keen to get something similar started in Sweden actually... Does anyone know if there are classes??

Anyway, I've been reading lots of articles on the subject and here are some interesting factors:

1. Signing with you baby does not mean that your child won't learn how to speak or slower. On the contrary - it has proven to improve language and comprehension skills.
2. Researchers found that eight-year-olds who had learned a simple form of baby sign language using invented signs did better on IQ tests than comparable children who had not learned baby sign language.

I get very excited and passionate about something when I can see that it works so I can't stress this enough - try it! It really does work!

One thing to keep in mind though:

1. BE CONSISTENT.

It'll only work if you keep doing it, again and again and again...


A little bit more info if you are interested:


http://www.singandsign.co.uk/index.php
http://www.makaton.org/about/about.htm

Busy be me

Wowser! It's been a busy few weeks!

For my birthday my friends and I went to the All Star Lanes in Holborn which was fantastic!! I love the American fifties feel to the place and the food and drinks were great. My team won the bowling challenge which was a bonus too. I didn't manage a strike but a few spares so all good there!
(Also - as it was my birthday I got a free drink and a birthday card from All star - nice touch!)

I spent my actual birthday in a lovely Spa Hotel with B and the wee man - AMAZING!! We had room service, went swimming in teh pool and went shopping in St Albans. My boyfriend is the best!

Maria and Marlene were over from Sweden and we had a great weekened! It was so much fun - we went to Camden Town for some shopping and people watching. Always a great day out!

My newphew Alex and Josefin have been visiting too. We had a great time - they were super helpfull and very generous so we were all sad to see them too. (Especially the wee man who clearly has a soft spot for Josefin - it must be all teh hugs and cuddles she gives him!!)
It was a fun filled week and although Jackson was recovering from his op - he managed very well.
I went with them to London Bridge and teh London Dungeons. I've been many times and i still LOVE IT!

Jackson had his operation and although it was the most stressful, weirdest and emotional so far (bar giving birth!!)- it all went well. I'm so, so proud of my little boy. So brave! I'm so blessed to have him.

Back to "normal" now (whatever that may be!) and at the moment we're plugging the Summer school... Fingers super crossed!!

Also - job interview tomorrow so think happy thoughts for me!

I was trying to find some artistic inspiration last night but somehow the TV kept pulling me away. I need to try and be more resilient, I have to get this done and I keep putting it off! Argh! It's as if I need and want stress in my life to function.
Mind you, working under a deadline does make me feel like it's a "proper job" rather than just writing as a hobby.

B had a stand up gig in town so he came home late which should have given me tons of time to finish the piece. I must put away some time today and whizz through it.

Glee was very good though - not only beacuse I love Idina Menzel so much but I do have a soft spot for Lady GaGa.

I have been thinking of other endeavours to embark upon aswell... I went to a car boot sale this weekend and it made me think that I could make stuff and sell it. But what? And it must be said that I have zero patience so it needs to be something quick and easy... Hard nut that one...

Any suggestions?

Carboot sale Bargain!

Someone wise said once that Life is like a rollercoaster.

Well... Actually I think it was Ronan from Westlife, but I do think it sort of hits home all the same.

B, Jackson and I went to a Carboot sale this morning - finally! I have been wanting to go forever and so this morning we went. It didn't disappoint - there were tons of people everywhere selling anything from prams and strollers to furniture. We did bag some bargains but most importantly it made me think of things I coudl make and sell myself. I have a few ideas, so will have to try and focus them a bit more...

We went for a lovely pub lunch and then B had to leave for rehearsals.

Jackson and I decided to go for a walk around the park. It was absolutely rammed with people - as is expected from a Bank Holiday - and so we sat down to have a bottle. (Jackson that is - not me!).
I suddenly felt really sad, sitting there on my own with my baby. I miss my family and friends in Sweden terribly, but more so on these days when I'm on my own.
We went on the swings and slides and there was a very enthusiastic Dad there playing with his daughter. It was so lovely to see and sadly isn't something you see much of in England.

Righto - now I must get back to my play writing - I have a deadline!