Travelling Nordic

For most of July and some of August, Little Bear and Pappa have been in Sweden to enjoy the summer with family. Swedes love their summer houses, and as a Swinglish baby, Little Bear is no exception. 

The flight was easier than his previous trips abroad. We were lucky enough to only have one vomit episode the whole trip. Yes, don't feed your baby a full bottle when they're in the car. He might feel you're missing out and give the whole thing back to you...

After cleaning around 200 ml of baby vomit out of the taxi, Little Bear, his aunty and I took the plane.​ ​Of course, if it were possible I'd also suggest you avoid being in a plane, probably somewhere over Denmark, when you're baby might decide to do the biggest poo he's done in weeks. I carried him for the second time in 5 minutes to baby-changing room at the other end of the plane getting some sympathetic looks on the way. Then the stewardess asked me whether I 'wanted any help'... Odd I thought: why would anyone need help changing their baby? Then I realised the poo hadn't been limited to his nappy, or his own clothes...

Anyway, the first part of the holiday was in the family's east coast 'sommarstuga' (summer cottage) in Kolmåden about 2 hours south of Stockholm. Enjoying the forest, sun (him

​Maybe missing his mummy a little, he's loving hearing Swedish way more than he liked hearing English. Every relative who sounds like his mamma has become the target of much face and hair grabbing and happy screeches.

Supposedly he's already saying 'mamma', but only when he's really upset. I'm also hearing a clear 'pappa'!, or rather 'pappappappappa' when he's in a really good mood which is awesome. Often joined with a raspberry. It may also be 'babba', the little egoist, but I'll take what I can get.

​Little Bear also managed to sit-up in his high-chair for the first time, and join in dinner conversation. He made some important points about Boris Johnson by screeching and banging your fist on the table. We all agreed this would help the situation, so he treated us to a few of his songs.

We're now on the other side of Sweden in Skåne (Torekov) on the southwest coast. A little too close to Denmark for Little Bear's liking, but he's getting use to it ;) ​

​​Here we've started a few games that are leading to endless giggles. One where he's put in the centre of the living room, and roles all the way to the side (shit, not a good sign. He was easy to contain before). Another where I tickle him and pretend to eat him whilst he tries to role away giggling or attacking me back (usually through hair pulling and face slaps). 

​One (the most useful game) where I suspend him over toys for him to grab and lift up [I'm preparing to use this one in one of those fairground attractions where you have to grab the toy with the hook. Just need to switch Little Bear with the hook]. Then finally there's the swing, where he offers up his little hands and feet to be swung to more giggling. Loving it (although less certain how mum will react...).

Mamma's flying in later today. Pappa's looking forward to a full night's sleep after two weeks.

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