Week 7 - known across most of the country as winter break - is upon us, and instead of travelling south to the Alps for some skiing, we travelled west - and north. 

We just returned home from an excursion around the lovely 'vestjylland' (west Jutland) to visit a few different family members. As per usual, it is great to get out, but it is even better to return home. The Danish saying rings more true now than ever, when we travel around with Little Dude -- "Ude godt men hjemme bedst".

Little Dude was on his very best behavior (as always, of course). He charmed his sick old great-grandmother (as well as his grandmother and his aunt) with his bubbly little laugh and insanely adorable smile. It really shouldn't surprise us anymore though, that he acts exactly the same when we are out as when we are home. He really is just my little miracle baby. 

It is nice though, to return home to your own bed, and to spend a saturday morning with LD lounging on the couch, a hot pot of coffee, and 'Mads og Monopolet' on the radio.

in the year 2011

We entered the year 2011 with a sweet, sweet secret: We were expecting a baby. Affectionately nicknamed 'Little Dude' by Sofie. 

The first few months of 2011 were hectic, exciting, and stressful. We were busy looking for a bigger apartment, figuring out financials, taking exams, getting ready to move, and of course worrying about Little Dude. Hoping for a healthy baby. Wondering if we would be good parents.

On February 14th we moved into the small apartment that would be our temporary home. On the same day we signed the paperwork for our 'big' apartment. We had our first ultrasound scan, that showed a healthy baby. We started telling everyone outside of our families.

Spring went by fast, with school and doctors visits, getting ready to move. 

In April we became Aunt and Uncle.

We found out that we were expecting a boy.

And of course we moved into our new apartment.

In june, we attended a beautiful wedding in Vejle. 

In July, my belly grew bigger and bigger... we tried to enjoy the summer, even though we weren't able to travel much. Boy completed a half-iron man.

In August - we were relieved to have gone full-term with Little Dude. My cousins threw me a baby shower. We were 'faddere' (-godparents -ish) for our beautiful niece. I turned 24 - impatiently awaiting the arrival of Little Dude. Boy started his internship.

On September 2, my water broke, and on September 4th we became parents! I was in labor gthe entire time Erin was getting married.... although Little Dude did not endup sharing his birthday with their anniversary. We were also lucky enough to have my mother visit us at the end of September. 

In October, we had our anniversary, boy had a birthday, and little dude had a babysitter for the first time.

In November, we celebrated Mortens Aften for the first time. We also celebrated a very Danish Thanksgiving, complete with a duck, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, and pumpkin pie. 

In December, my family came to visit. We had our first christmas as a new, young family. 

We entered 2012 full of hope for another exciting, beautiful year - although we do hope (secretly) that it will not be quite as eventful as 2011.

Happy New Year everyone

On Swimming and Olympics and stuff

This past weekend the European Short Course Championships (swimming, doh) were held in Poland. As an old swimmer I tend to follow championships like these closely - I like to look up the results, stories and pictures. When Danish swimmers are mentioned in International swimming news, it makes me happy.

I've never understood why Swimming isn't a bigger sport in Denmark. In the US and Australia, swimming has become quite popular - largely thanks to superstars such as Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps (what up Bmore!) In Denmark though, it has onyl started gaining more respect and media coverage again more recently. Super swimmer Lotte Friis gained some popularity after winning some medals and competing in the Danish version of 'Dancing with the starts" (vild med dans). But she still has to compete with the handball team, the soccer team, Caroline Wozniacki, and a plethora of other athletes for media and mainstream attention. More recently, Jeanette Ottesen has been winning and therefore recieving lots of attention. These are swimmers that swam back when I swam - they were the 'good girls' of my agegroup, the ones to beat (even though  I was way far off their times even back then....) - and it is SO cool to see them have success. And even more exciting - there are lots of young talents too.

Anyway, back to the Euro SC champs. Denmark won a record amount of medals and topped the medal charts, set some cool records (It's good to see that new swimmers are taking over now that the Mette JAcobsen and Louise Ørnstedt days are over....). I KNOW none of this translates to Olympic Success. But BOY am I excited for this upcoming Olympic year!

Swimming yeay

The Danish swimmers are really having a ball at the European Short Course Championships with 6 medals today. They are really looking promising for the upcoming Olympic year!

More Christmas

I read today that young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are the people most invested in  following tradition when it comes to the holidays. I found this interesting. I wonder why this is?

I know I have always loved christmas, and maybe even more so since I moved 'out' at age 18. This year, it has become even more important to me that we decorate and do 'Christmassy' things. I feel like we are trying to start some of our own christmas traditions. I think that for a lot of young people, we are trying to either recreate happy childhood moments, or maybe trying to erase bad ones by making our own.

Either way- we picked up our christmas tree today and plan on decorating it  later today or possibly over the weekend. Now we are going to put some æbleskiver in the oven and enjoy some quiet time before Little Dude wakes from his nap.

Mortens Aften

We never celebrated 'Mortens Aften' growing up, but for some reason we decided to do so this year. So for my first Mortens Aften ever we invited to friends over to dinner. 

I am lucky enough to have a boy who actually likes to cook and experiment in the kitchen some times, so him and his buddy C started in the kitchen at about 4 PM to clean and prepare the duck. Even though they were supposed to cooking, I am mildly obsessive and also like to cook, so I couldn't help myself from hanging around the kitchen 'helping' them out. Either way, Little Dude was still napping, which allowed me to spend some quality time hanging out with the boys. I took over the gravy making because that way I can get it exactly the way I like it! ;) 

We ended up with a full christmas dinner of duck stuffed with apples and prunes, delicious gravy, browned sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, red cabbage, and waldorf salad. We are definately doing this again next year!

I also had a glass of white wine and half of a christmas beer (blålys) - and ended up with a nice hangover sunday morning???!?

Denmark around the World

Vacation in Sønderborg - Tour de Danmark

Den dejligste lille sydhavsø

Wonderful Odense

Summertime in Odense

Streets of Odense

'Mosen' - where we found a swan mama with her 6 babies

Sankt Hans at Fruens Bøge

Crazy 'studenter' roaming the streets of Odense

OB ties with Panathainakos during Champions League qualifying rounds.

 My debut at Odense Stadion

Go' Morgen Danmark

This semester, I discovered the wonder that is morning television. More specifically - Go' Morgen Danmark on tv2. Seriously. There may be nothing better than spending your first few hours awake in the company of Lisbeth, Morten, Mikkel2, Ida,Katrine, and Peter. You can drink a cup of coffee (or two), and spend the commercial breaks getting dressed, cleaning up, brushing teeth, etc.

I expect this glorious tradition will continue quite a bit through my maternity leave.

All photos courtesy of
go.tv2.dk

MY all time favorite morning team is a combination of Lisbeth or Ida, Morten Resen, and cute Mikkel the weather god.

Did I mention I really, really, really want to be a Go' host? (hopes sucking up on blog will help...) And you know, I really don't have many summer plans, so if you need a substitute summer host - Hit me up. I may be willing to help out.

On those Studenter....

My pathetic attempt at stalking some of the young graduates - just to give you a little bit of an idea of what it looks like.

Now imagine: Loud music. Singing along. Honking. Horn machines (those things they use at soccer games), probably a vuvuzela or two. On each bus: 20 or so drunk 18-21 year olds.

We've had two of these stop on our street, where they stop to visit the parents of classmates. These parents have some sort of food and drink prepared. More loud music. Screaming and screeching and singing. This is what these kids are doing today, all over the country.

You'd think it would be annoying... but they're just so happy.

Now imagine one of these driving off, with all of them singing "We could have had it allllllll...." to the tune of Adele.

Sankt Hans

You all silly Americans claim summer begins on Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year.
We Danes know that Summer really starts on June 1st (although some people believe it happens when we change to summer time.... ).

Part of the reason, I think, is because in Denmark, the difference between December 21st and June 21st is about 10 hours. Of daylight, I mean. This particular time of year, the end of June, is one of my favorites. The days are ridiculously long, and if we're lucky, the weather is warm and sunny - but hardly ever humid.

It awakens memories of childhood summers - it's strawberry season, potato season, and pea season. Studenterne - (the 'high school' graduates) are driving around on their crazy buses and wearing their cute hats everywhere.

And on June 23rd, it's Sankt Hans, or midsummer, or....

We ventured out to see one of the big witch burning fires. Even though we were late (it was past 10:30 before we made it there), there were still lots of people, live music, and a massive fire. There were booths selling beer (Odense Albani, of course), lots of studenter-hats, and families with picnic baskets (and sleeping children in strollers).

FRom now on, and until DEcember 21st, the days will get shorter. But right now... can you smell it? It's summer...

oops - overskuddet er i bund.

Desuden er jeg total modsat af at være overskudsagtig for tiden, for det er varmt of jeg er træt og tyk, ynk. Men nu skal der laves mad, for det er vigtigt at spise, især når man er gravid. Det siger de kloge. Og jeg har lovet manden at der ville være mad til ham når han engang kommer hjem fra at lege jernmand og være overskudsagtig. Og så var der noget med en eksamensopgave - men den skriver nok sig selv. Har ellers desperat prøvet at få little dude til at tænke et par geniale tanke for mig, men det er lidt ligesom, at det ikke rigtig virker.

Suk.

Vacation ideas

Florida - November 2005
My munchkin by the water

For one of the first times I can remember, I am now facing a summer without a vacation destination. I probably won't be leaving the country (unless it's to go shopping in Flensborg), and won't even be camping or staying at a beach house.

• We have better/other things to spend our money on
• It's not practical - I can't fly - and we can't know what my health/condition will be like in July and August.

The most exciting plans include a bit of travelling around Denmark to visit family members. Not that that can't be fun too!

We're thinking Sonderborg for 'ringridning' - it's been about 10 years since I last went, and boy has never experienced it. We're thinking Copenhagen to visit boys family and the adorable little nieces, and possibly something touristy in CPH? And of course, a trip to my grandparents beachhouse to visit, as well as getting our home ready for a third inhabitant.

If anyone has exciting, pregnant-friendly (and cheap/budget-friendly) ideas for things to do in Odense, Sonderborg, or Copenhagen, all ideas are welcome!

The most marketable sportswoman?

Probably not who you think it is...

... it's our very own Danish tennis darling, little miss sunshine, Caroline Wozniacki.

from carolinewozniacki.dk

Yes, in a study (completed by SportsPro) of the most marketable sportspeople in the world, Caroline placed #9, the top ranking female.

Usain Bolt was #1 and you cans see the entire list here.

I have to add that I think it is significant to note that since this is not an Olympic year, some of the rankings will probably look very very different next year. I foresee Michael Phelps (only #8 this year) (wtf?) skyrocketing even higher, and probably some of the basketball players as well. If Caroline wins a grand slam this year, she might move up as well.

(Personally I'm missing Ryan Lochte on the list (although he will certainly make an appearance next year!))

Sports marketing - another interesting area of communication.

Seriously? Seriously?

What's up with this Eurovision BS? Sorry, it's just not as good as when we were young(er). Most of the songs in the top were just - not very good. The actual good songs didn't make it very far (with the exception of Denmark, of course).


The Danish song:

Made it to 5th place, barely -

And the winners from Aserbaijan:

I just don't understand

Son't even get me started on all these random countries outside of Europe participating?  Why even call it Eurovision? - Let's just open it to rest of the world while we're at it.

May 1st celebrations in Odense

M ayday - also known as International Workers Day - (or Arbejdernes Kampdag) is not something I've ever really participated in or celebrated.

In Denmark though - it can be pretty big. Especially if you are on the side of the political scale known as red/socialist/left wing. And there are alot more of those people in Denmark than in, say, the United States.

Last year I joined my boyfriend at Ansgar park for some of the celebrations, but because of rain and bad weather we only made it in time to make some rounds at a few of the tents.

This year the weather was perfect for it, but we never made it further than a walk around the nearby parks and through part of town. We did get to suck in a little bit of the atmosphere though:

Royal Christening

I'm sitting here today with my book, my tea, my knitting project, and watching all the hoopla surrounding the big event of the day: The royal christening of the newborn royal twins.

I'm a little bit of a royalist. I love following the royal family. I think perhaps some of it stems from spending so many years abroad; it just makes following all things Danish so much more special and fun. In 2004, I got to take the day off school (a mental health day..) and all the Danes in the area got together for a wedding-viewing party. We dressed up, had delicious brunch, and watched the wedding on a big projector screen. My favorite part of watching royal events on TV is watching the arrivals on the red carpet and looking at all the fancy dresses and outfits (Kind of like at the Oscars).

Plus, you know, Babies!! Awwww, so cute.

People seem to have alot of varying opinions on the Royal Family and royalty in general. Alot of the arguments are valid enough - like that they use tax money that could be used elsewhere in society or the "why are they so special, their just people like you and me" argument.

To take my academic glasses on for a minute though, I have to pinpoint that it is incredibly difficult to actually figure out the value that they create for Denmark. They function as ambassadors, and personally I think they do a good job and I am proud to have them represent this country. They sell a whole lot of magazines, generate tourism, etc.

And just to get my name guesses/bets/suggestions in writing: I'm thinking Viktor for a boy, and Caroline (Mathilde?) for the girl.

Movie Review "Superclasico"

On friday night we finally made our way to the movie theater to see the Danish movie "Superclasico." I am a member of Biografklub Danmark (a 'club' where you pay a small membership fee and then get half price tickets for a selection of movies), and boy had a voucher for a free movie that he recieved for taking a survey at the mall a few weeks ago (a market study survey that included him tasting and evaluating samples of Somersby Alcoholic Apple cider... ).

At the end of the day, we spent 40 dkk for a night out at the movies. Considering the amount of money, it was totally worth it... if I had spent more money I may not have been as happy when I left the theater.

courtesy of  www.kino.dk/Film/S/SU/SuperClasico.aspx

The movie plot was somewhat predictable, and it was set up to be somewhat humoristic/sarcastic/dark humor, but it was at the same time very sad. Christian (Anders Bertelsen) has been left by his wife, Anna (Paprika Steen). He is now along with his 15 year old son and a wine shop that is going out of business. Anna has run off to Buenos Aires and is having a very open affair with a famous Soccer player. She wants a divorce, he is still in love with her, so he packs up his kid and travels to Buenos Aires to win back his wife....

..... hilarity, awkwardness, sex, soccer, and too much wine drinking ensues....

The entire movie was narrated (Mikael Bertelsen), which was odd but I personally thought it worked well to decribe some details of the movie, and at the same time worked well with the tone of the movie (very dry, Danish humor). The film was shot almost (or entirely?) entirely in Argentina, with some really beautiful shots of Buenos Aires. There were some amusing side characters and several small stories and details that really completed the movie. At the same time, here were also some details and characters that were just downright wierd.

Still, in my opinion,  many of the characters were not very well developed over the movie, and the movie seemed to be confused as to whether it was comedy, a drama, a romantic dramedy... or something entirely different.

I would recommend that you see this movie, because it entertained me for 2 hours.... but I would also recommend that you wait until it's out on DVD (or until it premiers on television).

Spring finally sprang in our little kingdom this past weekend, as temperatures soared into the high 60's - and may or may not have hit 70 F!

This means that I took my first outing in little ballerina flats.

My old, ancient, leopard print ballerina flats, but still.... flats and leggings, this means spring has officially arrived.

Notice also that I am sporting my new spring/fall/between seasons coat. Courtesy of H&M mama collection, but since it has a waist belt I'm thinking I can sport it even when non-preggo. Either way, it should work all spring/summer and well into fall. Totally worth the dkk 175-


P.S. I can't see my feet