We had a big party for Thor on the 30th and 31st of August. Part one was in Essen and part two was in Bonheiden. It was really nice to see all of our family and friends! And it was the only weekend all August that the weather was actually nice.

We’ve decided to get one big gift for Thor, which is a swingset and slide for in the garden. It’s coming next weekend. A great big thank you to everybody who contributed to it!

On the 13th of July, Thor was baptized at our local church.

Thor had some nasty experiences on the 12th and the 16th of June. I took him to the GP’s office, where he was (as usual) surrounded by sweet ladies dressed in white feeling broody and smiling at him… when suddenly one of them stabbed him with a needle! Twice!!!! Right in both thighs. Poor boy. But now he’s protected against a whole list of diseases.

Only days later, he had to go to the children’s clinic to get the BCG vaccine, another injection which is for tuberculosis. It is supposed to hurt a lot and turn into a sore and eventually leave a scar, but he didn’t seem to have any trouble whatsoever. Now I have to contact the clinic to let them know he hasn’t scarred. Funny though. He hasn’t got the best skin really. Gets nappy rash in disposable nappies but not in cloth ones, and he gets dry spots on his arms just like I have. But apparently he is completely immune against tuberculosis. Come to think of it, he hasn’t really been ill much, even though he’s in contact with Ilias who goes to nursery. Must be all that amazing breastmilk he’s eating!

Today we posted the birth announcements to Belgium, Netherlands, and Sweden, so keep an eye on those mailboxes!

Those of you who live in England and are too far away for us to drop them off by hand, hold on a little, we will post the English ones soon!

Thor is finally starting to smile when you entertain him and spends much more time looking at you when you talk. He’s ‘talking’ himself, cooing and gurgling. Very cute. We will try to catch his gorgeous smile on camera and post it. Watch this space!

Thor got his 6 week check-up today and so did I.

Both of us have been approved.

Thor is now about 60 cm long, so we’re already three sizes on in his clothes. I must rearrange his wardrobe soon!

Yes, we are terribly late, but for those who are still waiting: we are stuffing envelopes with birth announcement cards this week and hope to send them out soon!

Sometimes when men get sick they get very very sick, sometimes they just feel like they are. Thor is suffering from a little baby cold with some pain in his throat and sneezing. It’s nothing serious and you wouldn’t notice from looking at him but he is clearly most displeased with the pain. Unfortunately, unlike a baby, parents can’t catch up on sleep during the day.

The other children are getting back into the usual groove after the turbulent few weeks of visitors and travel.

Nappies can seem very easy these days. You put them on and the baby fills them with different sorts of smelly substances. It is not quite as easy if you decide to use an alternative to the multitude of disposable nappies. There are ones you fold, ones shaped for a babys bottom, ones with fleece liners to keep moisture out and many many more. At the end of the day you end up with either lots of rubbish in the bin or more washing…

We are primarily using nappies called Bamboozles that are made of bamboo and works better than most of the others we have tried. Thor is pretty sensitive and have been going thru 14 nappies on a normal day so it will lower the cost and at the same time be better for his skin. Compared to the different types of reusable nappies we have tried this is the best one so far. So far we have 10 inner liners and 2 outers + one compatible but it hasn’t been quite enough so we have been stretching them with a disposable nappy over night.

We had the second wave of support staff arrive today in the form of farfar and nonkel Jo. They are coming for two weeks/few days at Thor’s 3 week birthday. I have been at home for three weeks which have been busy but very rewarding. Both Thor and his mother have been getting steadily stronger the last week and apart from the sleep cycle most things have turned into a routine. Handing over to Jo and farfar is probably going to be very tiring and nonkel Jo is already tired as you can see from the picture…