Life in SA

Hey everyone!

Well, it's been a while since we've given any update! Things have been busy with settling in and moving up to Durban and Manne starting varsity. We also don't have internet where we stay yet, so we can only get online when we're visiting my parents.

It's been lovely here in the heat. We've met a lot of great people. We're staying in a lovely flat in a beautiful conservancy. we're renting a place from a lovely couple that are becoming like extra grandparents to us. There's a beautiful pool and it's very peaceful there.

Manne has now been at varsity for 1 week. It's been an interesting experience for him. Africa definately doesn't run on the same efficiency as Sweden, so he's been having some fun adventures.

Elias is doing great as well...he's a real blessing. He sleeps between 8 and 11 hours a night, so at least we get to sleep as well!!! He's getting big and strong now...and is starting to laugh a little. We'll have to try and capture it on video sometime...it melts my heart!

Anyway, we think of you all in America and Sweden often...you're in our prayers!

Lots of love and hugs!!!

An update from South Africa

Well, we're starting to all settle in well in SA. It's been wonderful being with family and friends again. And being in the heat...it's lovely. Elias seems to be enjoying the heat as well...then he can just lie and kick around in his nappy. Except he did get a bit of heat rash...

But otherwise he's been having fun hanging out with his cousin, Cayla and he loves having a bath.

We are doing well otherwise. Manne is starting varsity soon, which means that soon we'll be moving up to Durban. It's going to be quite fun living in a big city again. For New Years we went to the traditional Chinese restaurant. It was really fun. It's good being back home...but we miss Rocky and Elisabeth, and the rest of the fam, back in Sweden!

Well, it's Christmas time!!! What a wonderful cosy time of year!!! And with Christmas comes all the wonderful Christmas food. My favourite is a specially fried red cabbage...mmmm...it's SOOO good. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without it. The only problem is that it makes our little gorgeous boy so gassed up...so I guess there won't be too much of that this year;-))))

At this moment I'm sitting and taking a break from packing. We leave on Saturday for Tidaholm where we'll be for Christmas and then we leave the 29 Dec for sunny SA. We're looking forward to that...all 3 of us, but will be sad to leave farmor and farfar(gran and granddad) behind in Sweden.

Otherwise all is well with us. Elias is growing well...he weighed in at 4.3 kg at his last check-up and was 55 cm long. He's a blessing...we're enjoying being parents. At the moment he still mostly eats and sleeps...but he has given us the odd smile and gurgle...very precious!

well, back to the boxes!!!

Hope you're all blessed abd well!

More photos

Coming home...

Here are a few photos from some of Elias's first days at home. We've been on walks, gone shopping, been to a Christmas market and done other lots of fun stuff. He's growing well, weighing in at a whopping 4 kg's at just 2 weeks old! Otherwise life is a general adventure...we're all 3 learning lots and just enjoying being!!!

Precious Elias

Our little treasure has arrived and we're settling in back home quite nicely! Elias is such a blessing to us and we're really enjoying being parents. He's eating well and sleeping well and we are learning...there sure is a lot to learn!!! But it's all part of the adventure!

Elias came a week over-due but we had a lot of fun with my mom while waiting...we tried all sorts of things to get him to come out...cycling, skipping, even bowling! It was a very special time!!!

Delivery went well...quite quickly which I'm grateful for! It was wonderful having my mom over here for that...meant more then words can say and my dad is very proud of his first grandson! Rocky and Elisabeth made it down for the week-end as well, so they too were here. Manne and I are SOOO blessed by our parents and the support they have given and continue to give us! It is much appreciated! And our stay at the hospital was lovely...the midwives and nurses were fantastic, very helpful.

We're so grateful to God for this precious gift He's given us and look forward to following Elias on his road through this life!!!

Sho, it's been a while since we've updated our blog, but soon there'll be a new arrival to our little family and hopefully then we'll be better at keeping everyone updated via the blog!

Life has been wonderful these last few weeks, it's been good to have a little time to relax after a hectic summer. And now my mom has arrived in Sweden as well to assist us with "Smallie". It's such a blessing to have her here!

We've also recently had the Jansson family visit us...which was wonderful! We had a fun time together!

So life is exciting and God is amazing! I'm so grateful to be His child and to have Him holding us in His hands every step of the way!