Another Day In The Sun..

Ahhh, there is nothing like Stockholm in the summer, and summer has really hit us good and hard. Kenny had training today, so Nicholas and myself met up with the other wives and kids and hit the outdoors pool at Huvudsta. They have both a kiddie pool and a full-sized pool there, it's lovely and surrounded by big lawns and trees.

Kiddie pool at huvudsta

It was amazing!! The kiddie-pool was so nice and warm, and even has a really shallow end where Nicholas could crawl on his hands and knees, he loved it, and so did the other little ones it seemed cause the pool was full of laughing and splashing little kids. Lovely place and lovely company.

After enjoying the whole morning there we met Kenny around 3, and our day of bathing continued as we walked over to Kungsholmen to another park with a baby pool. On the way there we passed one of our favourite places here in Solna, the 4h farm. A city farm that has sheep, goats, ponies, hens and bunnies.

The sheep pen. Look, the playground is right beside it!

Nicholas loves looking at the animals so we had to stop for a while.



I really love this little farm in the middle of the city. I want Nicholas to be around farm animals even though he is growing up a city boy.



I think it's good for the kids to see where our food comes from, and to learn to respect and love all types of animals, not just cats and dogs!

when we got ready to leave he started wailing like a banshee. And I had to force him back in his stroller.





He just wants to stay with the animals all day long, and lovely as the sheep are, I can only stay there for so long!

We also stopped for a coffee for me, and smoothie for Nicholas at my old favourite coffee shop in Kungsholmen.

Nicholas sucked up the whole smoothie in about 5 min..

 

This pool was not as busy, but just as warm and Nicholas is soon going to sprout fins as many hours as he spent in the water today.

We took turns going in with him, but after a while I we were so sick of being in that pool that we inflated the good ol' backup...



Summer is such a great time of year, and I'm so happy to be making memories with Kenny and Nicholas even if they at this time are more for us than for him...



I try to capture as much as possible on my camera so he can see pictures from his time here in Sweden when he gets older. Time goes so fast, sometimes I wish I could just freeze it for a little while to really have time to enjoy these moments. Let them sink in, and keep them somewhere stored in my brain forever. 'Cause when I look back at pictures now, from last summer when Nicholas was just a little bitty thing, it's hard to recall how it was to hold him, and snuggle his little body close. I can't really fathom that a person can grow so much in a short year! It feels like we soon will be dealing with a cranky teenager who never wants to spend any time with us at all!

We stayed in the park until 6.30 when we walked towards home, and Nicholas passed out in his stroller. Now he is playing on the floor, Ken is on the balcony barbecuing some food that smells delish, and this day will end just as good as it started!

Blog to you soon!

xoxo

Maria

A day at Skytteholm

Today it is sizzling hot here in Stockholm, and we felt the urge to get out of our apartment, and in to the sun. We brought all our former beach-gear and off we went to the paddling-pool and park closest to our house.

[caption id="attachment_247" align="aligncenter" width="428" caption="Skytteholms parken's paddling pool"][/caption]

It was packed with kids in several degrees of undress. Felt like the whole of Solna had made a mass exodus to the same pool, but it was all good. The park around it is huge, so there is plenty of lawn space and tree-shade for all of us! Other than that the park boast of not one, but two coffe shops, plenty of play areas and a brand new, Sweden's ONLY, parkour-court.

Nicholas LOVED it,



and so did all the other kids climbing in and over the obstacles. And best of all, because the ground underneath is rubbery and soft one doesn't have to worry about the children falling!

We set up camp and filled Nicholas pool with water, and he was splashing happily along



when his pool got invaded by little munchkins.



Of all the places in this park, a group of mommas decided to make camp literally ONE metre away from us.. Suffice to say that their little kids were all over Charlie like white on rice. Not cool... And they were all to small to be of any play interest for Nicholas who just seemed to find them bothersome. Most of the women I have seen or met at the Open Daycare we attend, and they are all sweet girls, so I chatted along, and kept Charlie close. Wouldn't want him to take a bite off one of their kids! Next time I guess we will just move a bit if someone gets that close, ends up being more hassle making sure their kids don't bother Charlie than laying down and enjoying the sun.

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Stockholm is a great city to live in with kids, they are extremely kid friendly here,  and there is an abundance of green parks, outdoors paddling pools that are free to use, and outdoors pools. I love the fact that we have so many options for a day out in the sun. Since most people live in apartments in the city the parks are always swarming with people all summer long. They really do feel more like festival-camps than normal parks.

[caption id="attachment_254" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Rålambsparken this time last year"][/caption]

I have seen everything from tables and chairs and hammocks



to big armchairs and party tents complete with generator, electric lights and a fridge!! They treat the parks the same way you would treat your backyard, and bring half their life outside in the summer to stay in the park all day long. You've gotta love that!!

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Has the weather been good where you live? Is there any parks around you? And do people bring their furniture with them there are well? 

Blog to you soon!

xoxo

Maria

Good Summer Salad... and baby steps

Yaaay! Today was a small step for human kind, but a big leap for the Stamatopoulos-family as Nicholas took his first stumbling steps! I counted 3 and 4 steps, and not just once, but MANY times! A New Era is dawning as Nicholas is leaving baby-hood well behind and stepping,pun intended, into toddler-hood. I must admit I was one proud mamma!! He might not be the fastest of the kids when it comes to walking, but I really haven't minded at all. I have loved all the different stages of transportation he has gone through. From rolling (yeah, really!!)

[caption id="attachment_241" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The rolling days (plenty of rolls as well)"][/caption]

to the "army-crawl"- which he favoured for a long time,

[caption id="attachment_242" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Army-Crawl in Montreal"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_239" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Army-Crawl back home in Sweden"][/caption]

crawling on hands and knees,

[caption id="attachment_240" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Crawling on his birthday"][/caption]

and now to soon being able to walk. Each and every thing has been amazing on its own, and now that he is taking his first steps I find myself a bit teary eyed and nostalgic for "the good 'ol days" when he was little, and defence less, and completely reliant on me... Well I shake it off and welcome change, and welcome the fact that I have a healthy thriving 12kg(!) boy, who is not scared of exploring life on his own as long as I am there beside him, well more like behind him, to lend an ensuring smile when he encounters something new. He is really the happiest little boy I could ever wish for, and he is growing up so darn fast! I am so thankful that I have the chance to be there with him and for him and experience everything through him! Being a mamma is even better than I though it would be!

Today it is exceptionally warm here in Stockholm, and quite humid too, thus the only thing I can stomach eating is yummy salads. And I must admit, I'm usually not a big fan! Here is the recipe for one tasty, garlicy chicken salad which I had for lunch today

Maria's Summer Chicken and Garlic Salad

 

 

 

Lettuce and Arugula

Cherry Tomatoes

Avocado

mozzarella or Feta Cheese

Red Onion (if you like it)

paprika (if you like it)

Chicken in slices, either Grilled chicken or chicken filet

Some cooked and cold pasta (optional)

 

Dressing:

Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil

A little bit of Balsamic Vinegar (Optional)

1-2 Cloves of Minced Garlic

a pinch of Salt

a pinch of Pepper

Oregano to taste

 

Make the dressing first my mixing all the ingredients in a glass and stirring it so that it mixes.

Then make your salad in a bowl/plate, slice the chicken and mix with the salad,

and drizzle it all with the dressing. 

Enjoy!

 

P.s You can really put whatever you fancy in the salad, the actual trick is the dressing and the chicken which gives it all such a good taste!

 

Maria's Tips for Flying with a Baby

I thought I'd do a little post of my tips for travelling with a baby/toddler as this is something a lot of my friends tend to ask me about. A fair few of the other wives in AIK have kids and they have all travelled quite a bit alone with their little ones too. We have had many a chats about this topic, and I think sharing my experiences might help some of you out there who haven't yet gone on a long trip with your little one because you don't know what to expect when flying with a baby.

Maria's Travelling Tips

• First and foremost plan ahead! If you are flying far,or your flight is long, try to book flights that will coincide with your baby's nap-time. It might be a bit more difficult to get your little one to sleep on the plane, but when they do it's well worth it, as you get some free time to sit and relax! I usually put Nicholas in the baby bjorn and go back to the toilet area, sometimes even into the washroom itself and rock him to sleep. He doesn't fall asleep easily if there is any distraction, but in the back there is a nice humming sound from the engine, and in the washroom there is nothing to look at. It usually takes about 5-10 min for him to fall asleep this way, but again, it is worth the effort!!


• If you are flying between the continents most airlines have 2 or more cots you can book for your baby. Call the airline well ahead of time, as these usually get booked pretty fast. And ask about weight/age limits for using the cot. These cots are pure genius as they give you, and if you are travelling with someone else,both hands free to eat, drink coffee or read a book.

[caption id="attachment_209" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Nicholas sleeping in his cot on our way from germany to canada"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_210" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The cot is quite hard, so I was glad I had nicholas pillow with me as well as his blankie"][/caption]



[caption id="attachment_212" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Daddy watching a movie whilst Nicholas is sleeping"][/caption]

• If you have many hours to kill between connecting flights, and are going to a warm place where you can get away with using an umbrella-stroller, ask at the check in if you can bring and collect the stroller at the gate. That way your stroller will be waiting for you right outside the airplane, and your little one will have a place to sit/sleep in between flights.

• Bring a baby bjorn, majtaj, carrying shawl or any similar item that can give you your hands free whilst your baby is sitting/sleeping comfortably on your body. Believe me your arms can and will go quite numb when you are holding your sleeping baby for two hours straight in a tiny airplane seat with no possibility for you to move around and stretch. Also the carrier is great in between flights if you haven't brought an umbrella stroller you can bring to the gate.

[caption id="attachment_224" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Kenny before a game with Nicholas in the baby bjorn"][/caption]

• At check in ask if the flight is full, and if not, if they can block the seat next to you. This is great if you are travelling with a child old enough to sit on his/her own for short periods of time, and also for the child to lay down and sleep off your body so you can enjoy your meal. It is quite frankly impossible to eat on a plane with a baby on your lap. The table wont fold down completely, and the baby can reach all the food on it!


• If you are flying with a small infant you can sometime bring your rear-facing car-seat on board the aircraft. This is something each airline has different policies on, and you just ask at check in if they will allow it. In order for you to do this you must have the middle and window seats reserved for you. As the car-seat has to be placed next to the window. I have done this several times when I have been flying alone, and it has been great every time. Nicholas has been sitting on his own, and I have enjoyed being able to both eat and sleep while he has been safe and snug in his seat.

• Make sure to pack extra diapers, wet wipes and an extra set of clothing for the baby in your diaper bag. Spills easily happen, and it's not fun for you or the child to be travelling with wet and dirty clothes. I always bring an extra shirt for myself as well, something I started with when I was breast-feeding Nicholas and he would spit up quite a lot.


• For active toddlers the trip can be quite long, and sitting still becomes a challenge. I always bring plenty of toys that I know Nicholas likes on the plane, with some books as well. If he gets exceptionally bored I make sure to have some cartoons on my I-phone/pod/pad for him to watch. My friends swear to portable DVD players, game boys and all other electronics that will keep them sitting still for the duration of the flight. Buying a new small toy (and keeping it for emergency meltdown is also a popular thing to do)As for walking back and forth in the isle, my only suggestion is DO NOT make it an option, or you will be walking back and forth the whole flight. Not fun for you, the flight attendants or all the people who are trying to get some rest.


• Bring plenty of healthy snacks, and bottled water for your kids. The cups they serve drink in on the airplanes might not be the most suitable for your child, so I prefer bringing a sippy-cup or a drinking bottle. No spills means less stress for you, and most kids like having a cool bottle to drink from


• Let your kid run around as much as possible in the airport to burn energy, this way they will be less likely to go nuts sitting down on the airplane.


• Equalising your ears is not an easy concept to explain to a baby, so as the plane takes off it can be a very good idea to let your child drink from the bottle or breast-feed, the sucking helps "pop" the ears, and hopefully it will help your baby from hurting and crying the whole flight. For older kids yawning or sucking on a lollipop can help. Also make sure that the nose is completely free from snot, as the sinuses have to be clear for you to equalise properly.


• Pack your hand luggage in a back pack, so you have your hands free. This is especially important if you will be travelling on your own as it is hard carrying multiple hand bags at the same time as your baby. I always bring one back pack and one diaper bag. I put everything I will need during the flight in the diaperbag under my seat. And everything I might need (extra clothes for me, extra toys) in the backpack. I personally avoid bringing a laptop because there is nowhere to put your child whilst you are putting the laptop back in your bag after security...

[caption id="attachment_221" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Packing light?? nope not me!"][/caption]

• Nicholas would never fall asleep when things were going on around him, and there fore I bought him a sleeping mask when he was little that he used when he was travelling, he would fall asleep instantly if I put it on when he was tired enough

• Most important of all is STAY HAPPY!! Even if your toddler has a minor, or not so minor, melt-down, stay smiling. Don't let your smile leave your face, and the child will tune into your positive energy and hopefully calm down. Travelling can be stressful for both kids and grown-ups, but if you keep smiling you will feel better!


• oh, and last but not least VIP service at the airport is great if you have the cash ;) they wait for you with a cardboard sign with your name on right outside the plane, and you get plenty of dirty looks when you sneak down the side stairs :) Not to mention that they take your luggage right off the plane, and bring you to lovely lounges...ahhhh...

P.S The VIP service was a one-time thing ;)

These are my tips, from what I myself and my friends have experienced when travelling with children. I hope you find them useful!

xoxo

Maria

Happy Birthday to you Charlie!

No, not our dog Charlie! But Kenny Pavey and Danielle's Charlie! He turned 3 today, and we were invited to his birthday party at a play land in Bromma at 4 pm.

I was so sure I knew where this play land was, so off we went; Kenny, Nicholas and myself. Too bad I knew the general area in which it was located, but had no clue as to where it really was!! We ended up driving up and down the same streets just about a million times in the worst rush hour traffic before I decided we needed to go the exact same route as we usually drive home from Bromma Blocks to find it, and lo and behold we found it at last!

The party was great, and Nicholas enjoyed it so much!! Last time we took him to one of these places he was a bit overwhelmed and just sat there watching the other kids. Not so today! He was crawling around, over and on top of everything he could reach, and has definitely not inherited my fright of heights!





[caption id="attachment_203" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="All the grown ups relaxing whilst the kids were running wild!!"][/caption]

He played until he was so warm that he had to toss his shirt! So did most of the other kids as well. It might have something to do with the weather here being amazing and just as warm as in Greece!!

Warm enough for me to wear this!

[caption id="attachment_204" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Maxi Dress from Marked at Gran Canaria // Bag from Random Store in Nea Skioni // Shoes from Marked Gran Canaria"][/caption]

Kenny was super today, he spent the whole two hours we were there playing with Nicholas so I could catch up with the girls! Perfect!! Although I have an inkling he might have done it because he enjoyed the bouncing castle and ball pits as much as the kids.. In fact I must say that all the men did a great job today, so we girls could just sit back and relax! Thanks guys!!

blog to you soon!

xoxo

Maria