American Mom in Finland

Have we really been here close to two weeks? It doesn't feel like it! We've been enjoying our mini vacation before real life starts here in Helsinki. After a few days of running around just trying to get the essentials - groceries, a baby bath tub, cat litter... - we finally were able to do some long term adjustment. We continue to experience temperatures that are far above average for the area. It's been in the upper 80s nearly every day. We spent a few days with the windows closed up for fear that the cats would escape (no screens!) before we tried it out. Turns out the cats aren't keen on jumping down three stories, and theres no ledge for them to creep out to. Thank goodness - we are all happier with the windows open! You know what's less fun than a hot baby? A hot AND jet lagged baby. I spent few nights with my half of the mattress on the floor so I could fall asleep with my hand on Soren. (That's right - my half. Expect a longer post some day...

Travel day! What a whirlwind. The last 24 hours of preparation felt like a week!  All of our possessions were crammed into 14 double walled cardboard boxes, each balanced to get as close to the weight limit as possible. The rest of our possessions are in a storage unit, or with friends and family to whom we are eternally grateful! We spent our last night in Brookfield in the Sheraton, which was packed with children for a dance competition. Thankfully, we were at the end of the hall and away from the chatty teenagers. Between the loud A/C and our white noise machine, baby Soren slept like a champion in his pack and play.  (Cannot praise the Guava Family’s Lotus Pack and Play enough, for both ease of use and brilliant backpack design. Perfection for the sleep deprived parents) The last morning we were still finishing packing until the last hour, and I cannot thank enough everyone who helped us out.  By 1:30, we were loading in to our airport shuttle v...

The house is almost all packed up and ready to go. We're saying our goodbyes and getting ready for our new adventure. We fly out on July 15, landing in Helsinki on the 16th. First real post will be from the other side of the pond!