Top 5 Things I Like and Dislike About Living in Sweden

I figured since I have been writing only blog posts about baby girl for quite some time now, it might be nice to mix things up a bit ;) I feel like I don't write too often about how it is for me living in Sweden, so Joel came up with this idea since I've been living here for a little more than a year and a half now! I'm going to give you a warning about this post being long! At first I had the two separate, but then I couldn't decide which one to post first. Thus resulting into me meshing them into one :)

THINGS I LIKE ABOUT LIVING IN SWEDEN:
1) Joel's family. Any of you who have met my in-laws know they are the sweetest, and that I have married into the best and most wonderful family! Deep down I know we won't live in Sweden forever and plan on moving back to the states, especially since Joel was born in the states and it would be easier for him to live in the states than it is for me to live here. I have loved getting to know Joel's family, especially since I met them for the first time two weeks before we got married. I feel as though Joel and I were raised so similarly, even though we grew up on different continents and speak different languages. Crazy how the gospel has made it so our families believe in similar things and that we all get along so well. Joel and his brothers get along so well, and Joel's parents have been amazing at always being there for me when I have needed them, truly being my family here in Sweden since I don't have my family here. I love his family ridiculously much!!

2) Paid maternity leave. In Sweden if a woman works for 9 months she can qualify for 80% paid maternity leave.. a total of 480 days I think. There are a BUNCH of rules with these days and honestly I don't want to write them down because there is so much you learn along the way.. just trust me when I say this would probably be one of the biggest reasons we would stay living in Sweden. I can be a stay at home mom, pop out babies, and continue to be paid.

3) Swedish summers. Coming from Utah where I was so use to having great seasons, I don't think I truly took advantage of how nice I had it... until I came to Sweden. In Sweden (depending on where you live in Sweden of course) you might have a good month for fall, but then winter comes. It rains, is dark, and you might get snow (again, depending on where you live). When the spring comes the light starts to come back and every Swede at every bus stop has their face turned towards the sun soaking in the slightly warm rays of sunshine. I've actually been tempted to take pictures of people because everyone has their face turned towards the sun! Anyways... since the winters are extra long and dark, I feel as though you need to take advantage of summer more. Well, those good summer days ;) When it is nice outside, you HAVE to go out that very minute because the weather can change so fast. Always take a rain jacket to the beach ;) And when it is nice outside in the summer.. it is extra nice. Swedish summers are the best!

Summer. You can come back any day now! We kinda miss you.

While we were in the states this past summer, we were told we missed one of the best summers Sweden has had in over ten years. I think it broke Joel's heart to hear that! It was weird being in Utah for the summer for Joel since every day was warm and sunny... he had to go out every day haha! It was a little too hot for him ;)

4) Public transportation. Even though this has a love/hate relationship, I am really grateful that I can still get around and not have a car. The love part comes from the feeling of getting a little bit of exercise in every day ;) The hate part comes from wanting to go somewhere and it is really difficult (or out of the way) to get to. Or let's say the bus doesn't come for two hours and you just missed it! Worst. Feeling. Ever.
I also love that the cities are made for pedestrians! One of my favorite things to do is walk around downtown Gothenburg in the spring, summer, or fall (anytime that isn't winter and dark basically) and take in the atmosphere of the city. Everyone is busy doin' their own thing and running around but for some reason I love it.

One of my favorite parts of Gothenburg

5) Swedish food. I kind of love that it is expensive and not as convenient to eat out, so we eat fairly healthy I think... which results in me feeling great! Joel is the cook in our home, so he cooks a lot of the time! Plus he is super smart and makes a lot of food (sometimes for 12 people!) and we freeze it and have left overs for days. Another thing I love about Swedish food is the traditions.. for Christmas especially. If we were to move to Utah, Joel would definitely miss his Christmas food his mom is so good at making. Joel is very Swedish when it comes to traditions.

Christmas food. YUM.

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Now onto the things I dislike. Keep in mind that this is my opinion and my view point ;)

THINGS I DISLIKE ABOUT LIVING IN SWEDEN:
1) My family isn't here. Which is dumb. I guess I understand why they didn't move to Sweden with me haha. When Joel and I were dating we made a huuuuge pro's and con's list about living in Sweden vs. living in Utah. In the end it came down to living in Utah because of my family, or living in Sweden because of Joel's work connections, his own apartment, and his secure job. At the time it just felt so right to move here and try living in Sweden. Since then his job has changed and we have moved. Basically, the number one reason as to why I moved to Sweden in the first place no longer exists really... except for the fact that we live here because we are here. Aaaand the thought of moving over seems overwhelming! But we're going to take it as it comes and wait until we feel it is right :) Also since we're having a baby so soon it is killing me to know my family won't see her and meet her. Well, my parents are coming over for two weeks for a few weeks after my due date! I'm glad they'll get to meet her at least.
I also don't want to be "that older sister that lives in Sweden" that my little sisters don't know. I am the oldest and my youngest sister is 12, and I really don't want them to feel like they don't know me.

2) and 3) Swedish winters. I say this because the winters are horrible and count for two reasons. :) When we move back to Utah, I promise to never complain about winters again!! Seriously. The winters here on the west coast of Sweden are not fun. The perfect way to describe it would be gray and slushy. I like to say that if there is one thing Swedes have, it is hope. HOPE for a good summer. HOPE for a good winter. Always hoping ;) That is why Swedes (in my opinion) are awesome at taking advantage of those good days. I've only been in Sweden for two winters, and I have heard there have been better winters... I sure hope so!! Because gosh dang it, it rained 90% of the time, if not more. It isn't too cold, but with the humidity (which I am not use to coming from Utah!) it just nibbles at your bones somehow. It did happen to snow and that lasted for.. what? A week or two in January? That was kind of nice, I felt slightly at home. And then it rained. And rained. And rained. And it was dark. I'm pretty sure everyone was thinking, "Why are we living here again??" Joel made a good point where he said he would rather it snow, because it lights everything up better. With the rain it is gray and not fun. I know up in northern Sweden and closer to Stockholm they have a lot more snow. I told Joel that we are not moving there though! If we do move somewhere it would be Utah.

4) Swedish vs English. I know this is probably a pretty obvious one. A couple of my faults as a human being: I am SUPER hard on myself, and I compare myself to others. I am way hard on myself on the inside. I'm always thinking, "My Swedish is horrible. I need to study more. I didn't study enough. The baby is coming and I need to know more Swedish. That person learned this much Swedish in this amount of time, and I am nowhere near that good!" I could go on and on... but I think you get the point! Moving to a new country has not been easy, especially learning the language. It sure doesn't help that I am hard on myself, because then I feel as though it is even harder to learn and keep positive. I try to have the mindset that learning a language is a constant learning process, and that I don't have to be perfect at it. Our plan with the baby is to have Joel only speak Swedish with her, and I'll speak English. Which could be hard since English is our language, ya know? But we'll see and take it as it comes!


5) I'm American. Very American :) Living in Sweden with Swedes has been tough since I am so American. I feel as though I truly can't be myself. I think that is why Joel and I work so well together... he is so American-like himself.
Going back to the states last summer made me realize how much more comfortable I am there. Of course it is where I grew up! To see the differences in how I felt was so black and white. Joel and I made friends at every store and took us forever to go shopping. Here in Sweden you just don't talk to people, and that is just how I've experienced it. The other day I was at a store and someone working there saw me walk in with my huge stomach and basically yelled, "I love your stomach!!" in Swedish of course but it completely took me by surprise since no one has ever talked to me in a store. I was in complete shock by someone talking to me that I barely remembered to say thanks!
I guess it just comes down to cultural differences. I'm an American trying to fit in another culture and it isn't always easy! If there is a plus side, I feel like I am always challenged and growing in that sense. :)


And there ya have it!! Things I do and don't like about living in Sweden.

Bumpdate: Week 40

You are more than welcome to come any time now little one!! We are dying to meet you!

How far along?  40 weeks (I never ever thought this day would come by the way...) :) Please pray that this will be the last week I get to update my blog!

Size of the baby?  A watermelon / 50 cm / 20 inches / 3500 grams. Maybe. I don't really know how big she is, this is just a guesstimate! 

Weight gain/loss? I think I've gained around 12 kilos or 25 lbs. Not sure on that one either... I try to avoid weighing myself. ;)

Sleep? Great! Well, on and off but more on I think. A couple nights ago I slept horribly because of heartburn, and I told my mom about it. Even though I was taking medicine it was still bad! She then told me I could sleep with more pillows under my head, and that would help. I tried it out last night and let's just say last night I slept AMAZINGLY well!! To think I could have been sleeping like that this whole time...

Stretch marks? Yes. I have some on my hips and I just found one on my stomach the other day. I sure hope it stays like that! I'm not too worried though.

Best moment of the week? Nothing too much happened this week. I have been playing the waiting game... But I did receive a package of baby clothes from a friend in Belgium, and that was super nice!!! It is always fun to get mail :)

Movement? Yep. Not as much, but when she does move she kicks out her feet and it HURTS. When she does my stomach looks like I have some kind of lump growing on the side haha.

Food cravings/aversions? No aversions luckily! I did have a craving to make something sweet last night, but nothing specific. So I made Nutella brownies :)

Labor signs? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zippo. And that is SO frustrating. A week ago I was feeling some contractions and felt like things were moving along as they should. But this week... I honestly just feel great. I'm not even tired!! I try to take naps and I can't sleep. I have heard though that right before labor the woman can get a spurt of energy and feel good. I'm hoping this is a sign that labor is close!! Even if it's not the sign I want... I'm sure contractions will come ;)

Swollen? Not really, but just slightly. My ring BARELY doesn't fit. If I wanted to wear it I probably could, but it might be a lil hard to take off.

What I miss? Being skinny. Wearing normal clothes. Being able to put on clothes without my stomach hurting. Also doing every day normal things like bending over without having a big ball like thing in the way all the time! Need I go on? ;)

What I am looking forward to? Meeting her! I am dying to know what she looks like... I can't stop thinking about things like... who has the dominant gene? Everyone I talk to thinks she'll have dark hair, but I think Joel's light Swedish side will be more dominant! But we'll see! Hopefully we'll see soon...

Nursery? Yep! All set up and just playing the waiting game.

Emotions? Great! I have a couple of breakdowns once in a while but I think that is normal. Or at least I hope so!

In Denial

I pretty sure I'm going to be pregnant forever. Will there ever be a baby coming out, or do people just say that? Sure I took the pregnancy test. It was positive. I have had multiple ultrasounds and saw our little babe moving around. My midwife has shown me how fast her little heart is beating every week. I FEEL her kicking my ribs, hitting my bladder, AND making my stomach jiggle so it looks like an alien is going to burst out at any minute... yet it doesn't seem real yet. I can't believe Joel and I will have OUR OWN baby to take care of and love. Just ours! I get so overwhelmed thinking about all the changes that are going to happen.

I already love this little baby girl so much, but I can't comprehend how it will be once she is really here. I am dying to know that feeling when she is put on my chest for the first time and to have my love for her explode. I can't wait for that moment when Joel holds her for the first time and his face just melts of pure love.

I've been asked a lot if I am nervous. Yes. I'm nervous for a few things.

1) When the labor will actually start? Will it be tonight? Next Friday?? My due date is the 24th. Will she be early? Late? Who knows??

2) The pain. All you women that have had babies know and have experienced it. I've been trying to think of past instances where I've been in the most pain and I can't think of anything. I guess I'm nervous because I haven't felt that pain before. The job I am giving Joel is to help me with my breathing, and to keep on reminding me of the prize we will get in the end ;)

3) How long will I be in labor? Will it be long or short? Every woman and every birth is so different!

4) The after party healing process. I'm nervous about taking care of a new lil one, working the whole breastfeeding thing out (which I am super determined to succeed in), all while needing to take care of myself and heal too.

I know everything will work out as it should. She'll come when she comes and it will be fine! I'm just thinking a lot... surprisingly I'm not nervous about giving birth in a foreign country ;) I have my husband supporting me and we know how to get to the hospital. Pretty important, right? Joel and I have visited the hospital and I felt good about the nurses and midwives there, so it hasn't been a worry of mine.
Anyways, those are some of my thoughts about the upcoming labor :)

10 Ways to Tick Off a Pregnant Woman

I came across a blog post called 10 Ways to Tick Off a Pregnant Woman. I thought it was hilarious, over exaggerated of course but I think you get the point ;) I thought I would repost it and see if anyone else can find some humor in it as well!

10. Tell her your birth story. Even if she starts to walk away, just follow her with every gory detail about your birth. The more painful and horrible, the better. And be sure to keep asking her if she’s scared. If she says “no” just ask her if she’s sure or tell her that she should be. Maybe she needs to hear about your episiotomy again.

9. Suggest a name. It’s doubtful that she and her partner have put a lot of thought into choosing a name so it’s important that you weigh in on this decision with a couple of names you thought of on the way into work. If you come up with a funny one be sure to greet her stomach with it, for example scream, “How’s it going in there, Clown-Charlie Brown?!” Be sure to lean on the surname when you say it.

8. Comment on her size. If she’s looking big be sure to ask if she’s sure there isn’t two in there or if she’s sure she’s due in two months and not at noon. If she looks small be sure to ask her where she’s hiding it or suggest maybe she just swallowed a grape. This one might also make her worry that something’s wrong so it’s a nice double whammy.

7. Jump in with “Just you wait until the baby comes” anytime she looks like she’s enjoying herself or if she’s a little too happy about the baby. Clearly she doesn’t realize how difficult it is to have a baby so it’s up to you to make sure she doesn’t get too excited. Babies are awful.

6. Tell her what she should and shouldn’t be doing. It really is amazing that she made it as far as she has considering how reckless she’s being with her diet and daily routine. Normally you wouldn’t care but seeing as there’s a baby involved, you better get in there and smack that coffee out of her hand; or better yet, just give her dirty looks and shake your head. That will teach her. You don’t want your tax dollars going towards that kid’s tail removal someday.

5. Ask her if her pregnancy was an accident. The less you know the woman the better because it will make her realize that you don’t approve of her reproductive schedule (of course you would never come out and say that because that would just be rude). An even subtler comment would be, “You know how that happens, right?” Everybody in the room will think it’s funny but she knows, and you know, that you’ve just pointed out that she’s had sex. If she becomes offended, just tell her it was a joke and to lighten up then roll your eyes and say “hormones”.

4. Ask her if she knows what she’s having. If she tells you the sex ask her if she’s disappointed that she isn’t having the opposite (on the off chance that she says “yes”, be sure to tell her child that their mother didn’t want them at an age appropriate time). If she says that they aren’t finding out the sex, act surprised and say “Don’t you want to know?!”. Say it in a way that implies that she isn’t interested in her baby.

3. Ask her if she conceived naturally especially if you don’t know the woman very well. Be sure to ask her in front of other strangers if possible. It’s a great question because if she used fertility treatments she has to reveal a very person, private part of her life and if she didn’t she also has to reveal a very person, private part of her life. If she says that it’s none of your business, you can just hold up your hands in defense and say, “Whoa, easy, I was just asking a question. Someone is touchy today.” She can’t win. It’s a delicious catch 22.

2. Toward the end of her pregnancy, be surprised every time you see her. Say things like “Are you STILL pregnant.” and “Haven’t you had that baby yet?” and extra helpful “I guess it just doesn’t want to come out” – which is nice because it points out the delivery she is *clearly* putting off and it’s a little gross too.

1. Touch her belly. The less you know her, the better. Just walk up to her and start molesting her stomach. Make an “MMmmmm” noise while you do it. If that doesn’t get her going, put your face right up to her belly button and talk into it like a microphone. Ask the baby how they’re doing and listen for an answer. If that still doesn’t upset her, comment how her baby doesn’t move much because it didn’t respond to your voice and how she may want to talk to her doctor about that.

Bumpdate: Week 37

This week... I don't feel like answering those questions again. I want to mix it up a little bit and just talk about how my pregnancy has been going. :)

Since my last post I feel as though I've had some women concerned about me, which I think is kind of cute! My midwife has told me my baby might come early if not by my due date (because the baby's head has been fixed for a few weeks and my body is "preparing" for labor), they are concerned that I will get my hopes up and be devastated if our little girl doesn't come early.

Honestly, since my midwife told me that I got excited! I started packing our bags and washing everything to get ready just in case. Mentally I am ready for her to be late so I don't get my hopes up. BUT. If she comes early we are prepared :) I still feel like I am going to be pregnant forever though haha. I mean, the baby HAS to come out sometime right??

I think the weirdest thing will be bringing her home from the hospital. I mean, you should have seen us freaking out when we brought home just the stroller! Picturing us with a baby in the car seat made us so excited and antsy. Getting the stroller made everything seem extra real for some reason!

A couple weeks ago Joel and I were at IKEA to buy some more stuff for the apartment. Of course we walk in with the idea of ONLY buying one or two things.. and of course walk out with a lot more than that ;) IKEA you won again!
While we were there we bought little ice cream cones for 5 SEK... that isn't even a dollar. They were little but oh so good. I keep on telling Joel I want one of those ice creams again, but it is a little hard to get to IKEA without a car ;) We had some ice cream the other day and I was hoping it would quench my thirst for that IKEA ice cream, buuuut it didn't unfortunately. I STILL can't stop thinking about it haha! I find it quite ridiculous that I only want that certain kind of ice cream! Dang pregnancy cravings.

Other than that... nothing new with the pregnancy! She's still moving and hiccuping like normal ;) Well, I guess the baby has "dropped" and I feel her pushing down all the time! Which is exciting... yet extremely uncomfortable haha. But I don't think the whole labor process is supposed to be comfortable, right?

Now for a belly pic! I honestly don't feel too big... but then I try to stand up. And I feel huge. Especially looking in a mirror. Oh dear ;)