Vinkelform Rules at Konstrundan!

This is editorial space blatantly devoted to commercial promotion and nepotism. It seems that all other bloggers do it, so why shouldn't I? And just like them, I have also received the good I will rave about for free.

As a complement to her other art (painting and ceramics), Grandma designs a line of jewelry which is just FABULOUS! Yes, also for one-year-olds, but we usually don't get to play with it for very long. Grandpa is the silversmith. So far. Judging by their popularity among art lovers, I have a feeling he will increasingly focus on making prototypes and finetune the final pieces.

Usually, the Vinkelform jewelry only sells through Dunkers Kulturhus (Dunker's Cultural Center) in Helsingborg. But right now and for the next couple of days, there's an exhibit in Grandma's studio at Övre Långvinkelsgatan, featuring the full line. Unless sold out, of course, as each design only exists in a limited edition.

To get a feel for what type of jewelry I'm talking about, have a look at me wearing one of mom's favourit necklaces. Or go to http://www.vinkelform.se/

Pro pics

After coming home from Thailand, we went to the photographer. I guess mom and dad figured they'd take advantage of the fact that they were tanned and rested and all.
Now, I have to say I didn't really like having my picture professionally taken. Only when they bribed me with blowing bubbles (impossible to resist) did I accept standing there half-dressed and smile.
But the family pictures were fun to take. And look, they let me wear my shirt!

This is what the 15 minutes of Parent-Teacher Conference is all about

Today, for the very first time in life, I was the subject of discussion in a Parent-Teacher Conference, or kvartsamtal, as it's called in Swedish. Teacher Theresa and Teacher Nems had made a two-column list: one stated things I'm good at already, and the other things that will be focused at in my curriculum for the next couple of months. The focus list was substantially longer than the skills list. (And a bit on the ambitious side: talk in sentences of three to four words, for example. I'm not even big at talking in one-word sentences at this point. But sure, go ahead! I'm eager to learn.)

When mom left, she was given a cd with pics from my first month at school. So here I am, in action at school. Here by the fence in the toddlers' class room.

I have two favorit activities as school: snack time and circle time, when we sing children's songs and tell nursery rhymes. The good thing is that both activities take place every day!

Wow! Some kids are lucky and get bottles during the day! I haven't been that successful in my negotiations. But so long as I can join in the cuddle, I'm fine. The teachers say I'm big at gently touching the faces of the other kids, and that the other kids seem ok with me doing so.This is circle time, on a day with many kids. Most days, however, only Robyn, Nayoki and I are there. Especially now that Hirioki and a few other kids have passed the age of two and a half and moved up to NurseryI.Every morning, we have individual activity time for 20 minutes. The focus of my individual activity time in the next couple of weeks will be further development of fine motor skills. They say. We'll see if I chose to cooperate.And then we have the arts activities, for example painting dark night skies or bright suns. (But however much I love creating art at school, I really prefer consuming it at home. There is just no stopping me from munching on the crayons when no one's watching.)Then there are the occational activities, that are a lot of fun as well. Here Robyn and I are having a picnic in Salcedo Park during a school outing.
Sometimes our outings take place indoors, in the class room. Like when we had our pajama party!There are upsides and downsides to living in Manila. One of the good things is that the sand in our sandbox at school (and at home, for that matter) is of a spectacular white quality, imported straight from Boracay's White Beach, I'm sure. One of the downsides is that the sandbox is located indoors. (Actually, dad would claim that the high quality of the sand should be added to the downside list as well, as it's super difficult to rinse off my scalp.)

Rosie went to school with me for a while, before she left the country. The teachers say they miss her a lot, but I'm quite sure nobody misses her like me! I'd like to say "Rosie, come back!", but as I know that's not going to happen, I'll instead say "Rosie, it'll be so good to see you in June!"

Thanks Grandpa!

When I tried to sign the bill for the vacation, it was already taken care of. Thanks a lot!

Dad, I and the pool

We're almost like one entity, dad, I and the pool. Early mornings to late afternoons (ok, with a nap in between), every single vacation. Although the pool changes with the vacation. At Koh Lanta, it featured a great view of a pirate ship, which is something we've never had before. I liked the infinity design as well, even if I wasn't allowed to climb over the infinity line (which marked the 2.5 meter drop down to the kiddie pool). As opposed to the pool, dad and I remain the same, vacation after vacation. In terms of look too. We have this whole Indiana Jones wearing a swimshirt thing going, and it's a concept we don't intend to change.Another thing we don't intend to change (and probably couldn't even if we wanted to) is our love for water slides. It's just too much fun!
But even if the pool is great, the dad sweet and the weather hot, I can still get cold and cranky. Let me remind you, I'm not even a year and a half yet, so please cut me a break and let me whimp if I want to!

Strolling in the sunset

The sunset in Thailand was not bad at all. On some days (the more well-planned ones), it took place just after dinner. That made for spectacular walks back to the resort along the beach.Well, walk and walk... If I don't get the sweep-me-along treatment, I usually go for the ride-on-the-shoulder transportation. It's not as fun, but it's pleasant.And the good thing is that my means of transportation usually seems ok with having me riding along.

Swept along the beach

My walking paths may sometimes be perceived as less than straight. And that, in turn, can be perceived as a constraint when it's getting closer to dinner time and everybody's hungry.But there are solutions to most things. In my case, the sweep-me-along-walk will usually do the trick.It's a win-win situation. We get to wherever we're going and at a pretty good pace. And I have fun. Actually, it's a win-win-win situation, because my sweepers get a great workout as well.

Signe and I

Signe is my big cousin. She's three years old and sometimes she can be a bit intimidating. But she's fun too and I love it when she plays with me and holds my hand.And lets me sit on her lap, even if it's just for a photo op.And when she shows me how to drink mango shakes super fast.And when we go swimming together. This vacation, we've both learned how to float unsupported with inflatable arm cushions, but the floatie baby boat is still a fun toy. And good when the head is getting heavy close to nap time. By the way, this is my floating face. Mom pulls a similar face when she's concentrating. She warns me that it can give really dry lips, especially if the concentration time exceeds three days (which aparently happens at times, and is usually work related).

Let's have a closer look at my family members and their respective ages.

Grandpa is 60 and a newly certified open water diver. Him and Gustav took their licences during the vacation, accompanied by a big sea turtle. Yes, they do have picture proof. Someone filmed the whole thing.Grandma, on the other hand is not 60. Not even close. When mom (who, like dad, may be a bit worked up about getting so deep into her 30's) told Grandma it'd be good for her 56-year-old body to walk the 212 steps up to their cottage an extra time, Grandma snapped back: "be quiet, you preggo hulk".

Staying on the topic of age, my aunts and uncles are all in their 20's. Lisa and Jens, late 20's. (Signe and Bo are, like me, in their early 0's, I guess, using the same denary way of counting.)

Petra probably still counts as mid 20's. (Here pictured with the preggo hulk and me.)

And Gustav is still early 20's, but like Petra, about to move up to the next level.

As for us in our early zero's, we're super cute both in real life and on picture. Objectively speaking.

Beach 2008 tested and approved

I have pretty high standards for my beach experiences. Hey, I live in the tropics, I was freaking born in the tropics, what do you expect? Anyway, after thorough investigation over the past two weeks, I've decided to add the Koh Lanta place we stayed at to my list of babyboyaulin approved beach experiences. Cool beach, good pool, nice view of the horizon from the baby crib and a room which was nice and big enough to make the indoor play during the hottest hours attractive...Another definite plus, in fact bigger than the pool, the beach and the rooms, was the company:
Grandpa, whose mature age was the reason we were there,
Grandma, whose less mature age makes her a good walking-after-on-the-beach-companion,
Petra and Gustav, who both seem to have taken a course in how to entertain one-year-olds,
Lisa and Jens, who who have provided me with two great cousins and
Signe and Bo, who are those two cousins.
And my beloved parents, of course. (By the way, if you think mom looks big, it's because she is. And she's growing by the day.)As a bonus, my God parents Pelle and Cilla had decided to vacation at the exact same spot at the exact same time (the most striking coincidence so far in my life)