More from Grandma Sue...

Greetings, once again, from Orebro, Sweden. Going to see Scott's last home game while I'm here, a sell-out!! Reese and Mommy are staying home. Had our turkey feast last night. I contributed apple crisp and fresh appleasauce. Now turkey soup is bubbling on the stove.

It's amazing how a baby can change ones habits. Scott and Catie love to take Reese for walks. Scott never wanted to walk with me. Tuesday night we were out and about for 2 hours...even got lost and had to ask for directions. Saturday was absolutely beautiful. The sun was shining all day. We spent the better part of the afternoon in the city centre exploring new spaces, window shopping and firming up reservations for our new parents to have a date at a sushi restaurant later in the evening. I happily Reese sat, read my book and knitted.

Each day Reese is my ray of sunshine. She smiles readily at Grandma, tells me stories, and sticks out her tongue. I usually give her one bottle during the day and that, too, makes me feel so close to her. It will definitely be hard to say goodbye to her until March. Grandpa Lewis will fill my shoes very well, I'm sure.

Catie and I joined the other women from the team Monday night for an evening of wine and cooking. We made a delicious 3 course meal which included lots of laughter and bonding time. Everyone speaks English so language was not a problem. Unfortunately, the recipes were in Swedish.

Tomorrow we hit the mall for some serious shopping and Sunday, with Scott away, we hope to go for coffee and dessert at Java's, dowtown.

Time for my pregame meal. See you all state side soon. Looking forward to catching up on the news and preparing Lola and David's cottage for Christmas.

Love,
Grandma Sue
xoxoxo

Grandma Sue!

Grandma Sue reporting in from Orebro, Sweden. One week here and already Reese is into her Grandma big time!! We grandmas know these things! Reese is absolutely precious and into a very comfortable eat/wake time/sleep routine. Because her schedule is pretty predictable Mama Catie has resumed workout time at a local gym in downtown Orebro while Grandma grandbaby sits. We have been to IKEA, the mall, Saturday brunch, a stroll in city centre, and a hockey game. Daddy scored 2 goals in a 5-1 victory. Today is an away game so we "girls" are on our own. This afternoon we are going for a walk, do a bit of shopping (I so want a pair of boots from here), grab a coffee and plan our own dinner. I have been eating some delicious meals compliments of my children. Scott and Catie enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and entertaining guests. Already plans are being made for a Thanksgiving feast next Thursday and Bloomer may be here for the weekend. I have managed to stay healthy and the trip over was relaxing and stress-free. The sun has not been very visible this past week but temps are very comfortable with some rain showers. Only had snow one evening but gone by mid-morning the next day. It sure gets dark early though.

All my best to blog friends and family. Will check in again next week. Stay warm.

Love,
Grandma Sue

1 Month Old!

Sitting nice with her poster...
...going...
...going...
....gone!

Reese turned one month on November 5th. We decided to do a little photo shoot to mark the occasion. As you can see, she didn't last too long but we had fun with it!

A few random shots...

Things here are settling into a nice little routine. Reese has been doing great and giving us more and more sleep at night. Already slept through the night once, giving us almost 7 hours straight! She's still a good eater too, weighing in at 9lbs 11oz at her last check-up. It's hard to believe she's already 1 month old, so crazy how fast time flies. She has been staying awake for longer periods now and starting to test out her little voice. Can't wait until she really starts to babble and coo...what sweet sounds! She has also been practicing smiling a little too so we hope to catch one soon. She's getting a little tummy time each day and her neck is getting stronger and stronger.

The weather here has been much colder lately with snow already on the ground. Don't think it will stay but had a couple days of it. We've still managed to get out for some decent walks and think the fresh air is good for Reese. I must say though, I am a bit paranoid of this whole h1n1 so we are sure to keep her covered up when we're in crowded places. Reese's doctor recommended we both get the vaccinations in order to protect her since she won't be getting one. We planned on doing so next week but have heard they're already out of the shots so not sure when it will happen.

On a brighter note, we are anxiously awaiting Grandma Sue's arrival on Thursday. All of us are so excited she will be here for 3 weeks. Reese can't wait to meet her Grandma and Scott and I are thrilled to have an extra set of hands around to help. Fly safe Grandma Sue and see you soon!

Here are a few random pictures from the last week.

Happy Halloween!

We celebrated Halloween a bit early this year since Scott is on the road today and tomorrow. Wednesday we had a few friends over for a little party...our first with Reese! She dressed up as a cute little dalmation while we all enjoyed some great food and fun. The night before the party, Scott and I carved pumpkins and roasted the seeds. Reese wasn't exactly in the mood for carving as you'll see in the picture.

At her last check-up, she weighed 9lbs. 1oz. so we know she's eating enough! She is more and more alert each day which has been fun and trying at the same time. She's noticing her surroundings more and not liking sleep as much. We're hoping she gets back on track with her sleep soon. Scott is on the road today and tomorrow so it will be my first night solo. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed she gives me at least a little sleep!

Here are a few pictures from our party and some random ones from over the last week or so.

Reese...wide awake!

A few firsts...

We've managed a few firsts over the last week or so. I decided to venture out to the hockey rink on Friday so Reese could watch Daddy for the first time. We got there at the beginning of the 2nd period and she did great...until the end of the 3rd when she decided she needed food NOW. After a brief crying fit and a couple pics to mark the occasion, we quickly rushed home so she could eat. As you can see in the picture, she's not exactly a happy camper! On a brighter note, the team did great and pulled off a win against a big rival. We also gave Reese her first real bath which was a pleasant experience for all. She was perfectly happy just hanging in her tub despite the fact that we were expecting much worse. Daddy has also joined in on the fun of feeding, and she's taking it just as easily from him (although a bit slower) as she does from me. It's a nice break for me and so long as she can go back and forth, we will continue with a bottle a day. I just finished her birth announcements online yesterday and think they turned out really cute. We will keep the picture we decided on a surprise until they arrive!

As for today, I'm hoping to meet up with a friend for a little coffee and a play date. We will see how Reese is this afternoon but keeping our fingers crossed. Daddy is on the road today and although it will be a long day, it is much better than 3 long days. I was thrilled when Scott came home yesterday with the news that they would be flying to the game tonight instead of taking a bus. It means he's only gone today and home tonight rather than 3 full days on the road. Phew, what a relief that is!