Counting Blessings

Helsinki in the winter is cold and snow-covered and the sidewalks are generally hazardous for the absent-minded and clumsy, especially when those absent-minded and clumsy people have weird new dimensions and can't see their feet and are rendered even more clumsy.

But! Helsinki has a suit-optional swimming pool, which means that I haven't had to purchase a maternity bathing suit but I can still enjoy swimming.  And even though the cold outside means that everyone is bundled up enough that strangers passing on the street can't tell I'm pregnant, my naked body is pretty obviously pregnant so going to the pool is my opportunity to get all kinds of advice and comments from sweet old women.

Christmas Cookies

We baked cookies!

We had some issues with these ones:

The Sun

This morning it was -20 (that's -4 in Fahrenheit, I believe). It's cold, even for Finns. But the reason it is this cold is that the blanket of clouds that normally protects Helsinki is gone, which means that we can see the sun! It's very startling to such brightness after weeks of grey. I also saw the moon this morning and it was beautiful.

Guess who's on maternity leave?

My last day of work was yesterday. Woo!

Rare Exports

We saw the Rare Exports movie last night. It was excellent! I think it's my new favorite Christmas movie:

'Watching' Basketball

It turns out that espnplayer doesn't actually show all the UNC games, and of course they don't show any that are broadcast by CBS. And cbssports.com's website doesn't seem to deal too well with non-U.S. based credit card addresses.

So...it's halftime during the UNC-Kentucky game and I've been watching it on CBS' gametracker. And I have to say that it is a really entertaining way to 'watch' a game. They have a written play-by-play and then a hilarious graphical representation. I've been seeing the game unfold as acted by a team of little light blue circles sitting atop triangles versus a team of little dark blue circles sitting atop triangles.

The fatal flaw, of course, is that each 'play' is really only each thing that counts toward statistics, so you really can't tell when they're playing, especially after a timeout.

Trip to US

Some photos from our wonderful trip to the US (hopefully there are more to come once I get the photos from Kimmo's camera too):

From the promenade in Brooklyn with somewhat fake-looking foggy Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan in the background:

Kimmo and Nikki in Dupont Circle:

Beautiful drive down Skyline Drive with Dad and Kathy:

NHL game with Mom in Atlanta:

Then hanging out in Indy, including activities like celebrating Marcus' birthday at The Journey:

Baking cupcakes with Sophie:

Samari's first haircut - mid-process (note the awesome pink car he chose!):

Samari's first haircut - after:

snow!

we got some snow yesterday. i think that means that the 8 months of winter have begun.

Pregnant Pange

For those of you wondering what I look like at 24 weeks pregnant:

fight!

Cats on the Balcony

Mr. Lau likes to get in this box. Unfortunately for him, we normally put a potted plant in there.

A better vantage point:

Easter candy across cultures

Meredith sent Peeps!

Kimmo and his mom tried them, but they weren't too impressed.

And why would they be tempted when they have the traditional Finnish dessert, mämmi?

It's made from water and rye. You scoop some into a bowl and then add cream and sugar until it tastes good. I don't know anyone who likes it, but people still buy it every year. Just like Peeps, I guess! Thank you Meredith for the special cross-Atlantic Easter treat!

Yyhteri Beach

Over Easter weekend we got to spend the night at Yyhteri Beach, where Kimmo's friend has a cabin.

The sea is still frozen!

The Melt

it's been mostly above freezing (even at night!) so some of the snow is melting. some of the sidewalks with poor drainage are quite wet, like this one behind the apartment.

Training the Dragon

we saw 'how to train your dragon' yesterday.  charming, charming, charming.  go see it!

Kissing!

It's a bit blurry because Kimmo took it with his phone.

Possum Fur Sweater

Apparently there is a growing market for sweaters made from possum fur in New Zealand.  This animal is non-native and a pest, the fur is quite warm, and even comfortable for people who are allergic to standard wool, because it's soft and doesn't pierce the skin.  Awesome!

Photos from Burkina

i finally put them up!

some favorites:

My stuff arrived!

So now the living room is a pile of boxes.