A Fig in Sweden Portland

us in 1958

Figures our first-ever family portrait would be taken in an IKEA store!

The stylie furniture is from 1958 – a mock-up living room to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the very first IKEA store in the world, which is here in Älmhult. I found out they were doing these free portraits when I ran over to the store yesterday morning to pick up a baking dish. A photographer I work with was taking the photos and suggested I bring Lewis and Sophie over later that day for a family pic. We were crazy busy getting ready for the 10-person dinner party we were hosting. But I thought it would be such a cool thing to do for Sophie's photo album. So we made a quick dash over there in between the lasagna and veggie tray.

Speaking of IKEA, I just finished my first week back at work. I'm working two days a week for a total of 12 hours (running home at 12 and 3 for Sophie's feedings). Most people probably think I'm crazy to cut my 1-year maternity leave a little short. But I actually love what I do and love the people I work with. And I still get to spend lots of mommy time with my girl.

Lewis is enjoying his time as Mr. Mom, as well. When I got home on Monday, he told me if I wanted to work more days that he was all for it.

bye bye sun

The vacation began with Starbucks and ended with sunshine – 2 things I definitely miss in Sweden. In between, there was girls' night out for drinks and pommes frites, walking in Wash Park, Sophie's first trip to an aquarium and a zoo, PF Changs!, fresh crabs with South Carolina microbrews, and much more. Oh yeah, and I also donated 8 inches of hair for wigs for women with cancer. A glimpse of my new 'do is below. I needed to get rid of the ponytail look, and it was for a good cause. I go back to work two days a week starting on Monday, so I guess it's my new working mom hairdo.

We had a great time, and being at the beach in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, has been very relaxing. It's amazing how much sunshine affects mood. We're very depressed to get on the plane back to Sweden tomorrow knowing that we won't see the sun until April.

(I just noticed that she's flipping me off!)

our second home

We're back in the motherland – Denver – after about 20 hours of traveling! (Note to families with young children: Try to avoid flying Delta internationally. We got misinformation about the bassinet we requested and the paper ticket we needed for Sophie. And the flight attendants were not very helpful. I was much more impressed with SAS.)

At 5 a.m. this morning, jet-lagged off our butts, we went grocery shopping. And stopped at Starbucks, as you can see. The barista asked us if our travels had brought us home. A few other people asked us that along the way too. For us it's not a yes or no question... more of a "kind of."

It feels really good to be back, the sun is shining, and I think we'll take Sophie to the zoo today.

sophie's new bff

Tilly's not completely thrilled about it, but she tolerates it since it usually means dropped food and little messy fingers to lick.

And, speaking of mealtime, look what our little monkey can do now. She skipped the bottle and went right to the sippy cup.

swimming tastes good

This might explain how Sophie caught the cold she has now...

the bunny fence worked

It's a wee little carrot, but I still ran into the house beaming like a little kid to show Lewis. And then took a photo for the blog, of course. Gardening in Sweden has not been too successful for me. A few heads of lettuce, lots of mint (but, really, where doesn't mint grow?) and the beginning of a squash plant that the bunnies got to first.

glad grad. glad fam.

No more daily commute to Lund. No more Microsoft Word crashes while writing his thesis.

Lewis is now a master of environmental policy and management!!

While he walked in a procession through the campus behind a pair of trumpet players, I definitely got a little teary. I'm so proud of him for finding this program at Lund University, getting accepted and then really excelling at it (despite a certain little distraction at home). His thesis got rave reviews, and he was picked by his classmates to give the graduation speech.

Now it's just walks in the woods, some poopy diaper changes and a little vacation to focus on. We're so lucky to have this time off as a family.