Long nights, long weeks...

This week was very long for me because it was the last week of classes before the finals start.  I faced getting a negative feedback on one of my papers, which made me really disappointed.  I am trying to focus on school to be able to complete my degree without needing an extension, or to re-take classes.  I just felt a bit overwhelmed, and the lack of sleep didn't help.

I have two more weeks of studying left before we go to Ecuador for winter break! I am so exciiteed. So let me just get over this study-crazyness and i´ll post happier notes :)

Nico did manage to cheer me up.  I mean, how could you look into that face and now go "awww" immediately.

He is going bald !

And then we had some fun times, which made everything better.  

Today I took a break from studying and we went to the Christmas opening in Asker (where Christian´s family lives).  We got to experience a koselig (nice, cute) Norwegian parade with children dressed as Santa.  They sang and danced and walked with torches and then they lit the Christmas tree in the city square. 

The countdown for the lightning of the tree was the best part. It gave us a Christmas-y feeling.  As I type now it is officially December, so the season can begin! 

        

This was second

This was first

Later, we went for dinner at my in-laws place.  We considered it late Thanksgiving given that my american friend Sean came with us.  Here is a picture of us before we got our bellies filled with delicious norsk kylling. 

The dinner

Cola de Navidad

Now, all I can do for the next two weeks is try to do m best in the finals and stop griving over that one bad grade.  Its not the end of the world! 

I made myself a cozy study area at home so I can be close to Nico if he needs me.  It includes a new desk lamp and norwegian Christmas cookies with coffee in my favorite cup! 

Given that its almost 2 in the morning, i´ll leave this as it is for now.  Hope everyone has an amazing December! Good night :)

Friday fun

Hey everyone! Today is Friday :) Best day of the week.

Last night Nico was babysat for the very first time. Me and Christian really wanted to watch the new Hunger Games movie, so we left the babe with his norwegian grandparents and went to the movies.  I am happy to announce that everything worked out perfectly! We got to watch our flick, and the grandpas got to spend time with their first grandchild.  Everyone was happy.

We also got to invite our friend Sean from university to dinner and to the movie.  I think he had a great time! Looking forward to his concert this Saturday.  Here are the details if anyone is interested in attending: Shakespeare-matine

This afternoon, our family had a little photo fun with my Mac.  Here are some of the coolest ones we got.

Double yawn 

Under the sea

Tweedledee and Tweedledum

Baby love :)

Daddy and his mini-me

Martians

Attack!

Good weekend to all!

3 months

Nico is turning 3 months tomorrow! He is growing up way too fast. I already miss the days when he was a tiny little newborn that weighed less than 4kg.  Now he is more alert and likes to play and talk to us.  He has become really good at holding his head up, even if he only tolerates it for a few minutes at the time.
His favorite things are: his baby gym that was a gift from my exchange family in Minneapolis, and his spanish book that was a gift from my sister.

Eli the rattle

Cuenta cosas por ahi, por alla...

Tomorrow is the actual date of Nico´s third month-versary... but I did his pictures today since we got up early and the light was beautiful in the morning.  He was smiling despite the bad night he had after getting his vaccinations yesterday. He is such a brave little one! Here are some of my favorites from the shoot:

I was also able to take one of him holding his head up! With the help of daddy´s entertainment :)

After we wrapped up with the photo shoot, Nico took a lovely nap and started feeling better.  His post-vaccine fever is down and he is a happy boy again.  I have to use his nap-times very efficiently since I have to get my readings done.

I am currently looking for research topics to be able to write my proposal.  I am very interested in working in the Galapagos islands again, so we might turn into an adventurous family next year. Right now I am going to bake our (barely) famous peanut butter cupcakes to take to my night lecture/dinner.  This is the recipe we use and they always turn out great!

From: http://slowrobot.com/i/39918

Finally, let me leave you today with a piece of baby art.  I started painting this when I was pregnant, but the smell of acrylic made me nauseous.  Thankfully, a really nice Minnesotan stepped up and helped me finish it.  This is how it ended up looking: 

That´s all for today.  Now back to those books before the babe wakes up!

The start

I am starting this blog so I have something to look back at when my baby is all grown up.  I want to remember all the experiences we go through, good and bad, and specially the funny ones!

This is us, a little family of 3 living in Oslo, Norway. Christian, Dani and baby Nico.
I am a full time masters student, and Christian is a stay-at-home dad for the time being. Nico was born on August 21, 2013.

Nico, age: 3 days

Me and Christian always wanted a family.  Ever since we met in Minneapolis! We fell in love by the very thought of having a little baby that was ours. Now we have our precious little Nico and we couldn't be happier! 

9 month pregnant

I will try to make a post every week to update family and friends and who ever wants to read us.  Since we live in Norway and half our family lives in Ecuador, not everyone has met Nico yet.  It is hard to update everyone about how the baby is growing up.  I would love to share our life as a family with all the people we love!

Please ask me if there is anything in particular that you want to hear about... like the birth of Nico, or his first camping trip, or first Halloween! From now on, I am going to make posts for every special occasion. 

Nico´s coming home outfit

Life as a parent has been amazing so far! The lack of sleep and pain are all forgotten once you see your little one look into your eyes.  Then all you can feel is immense love.  And that is what our family is all about.