Two Weeks in Finland

I have already blocked the 24-hour trip coming back out of my mind. We had a good time and I already miss it. How do I convince Eelhard to move there?

Rauno was amazed that so many people actually spoke Finnish and that it is not just a little secret language that only mom and Mummo speak.

Well, the kids got to experience a sauna for the first time. Ruusa didn't really like it, and Rauno had reservations at first. He wasn't that excited until he got to pour water on me. And at first he showed some frustration about not knowing what a sauna is in Spanish.

We got to go to the Halmari island. Rauno used an outhouse for the first time. Ruusa slept in the main cabin and Rauno played in Henri's sandbox.

We made a visit to Muumilaakso, a museum devoted to Tove Jansson's Muumi stories.

The kids warmed up to Ukko after about half a week. And Ruusa began calling him "Kukko" -- "rooster." They got to meet Maija and Isoisoisa and more extended family, and they got to play with Mummo everyday. Iita-Tati was a big hit too for the first week, as well as Emmi. (Tino, tall with long hair and a beard, was a bit scary though.)

I was really impressed with the family-friendliness of Finland. Every bank, restaurant, even the airport, has a kiddie area. (You don't really notice these things until you have wiggly toddlers to deal with.) And I don't mean there is some toy machine you put money into at these places. There are wholesome little play areas. Every public toilet seems to be equipped with a baby potty. Even the flea market toilet had its own little potty. And buses and trains have a place for strollers. Every apartment building has an outdoor play area, usually with a swing set, sandbox and slide. You do not have to drive 8 minutes to find a park. Here at home, I have never seen a bank with a kid's play area, and I know only a handful of restaurants (other than fast food joints and Chuck E Cheese) that provide more than crayons and activity sheets to entertain kids. I have never seen a baby potty in a public restroom in America. And I don't get paid here to stay at home to care for my toddlers, and I didn't get paid to study.

Enough bragging about the family friendliness... i was not impressed with the new massive construction -- Ideapark -- with its 200 stores and restaurants. It really wasn't far from an American mall. Little shops really suffer as a result of these shopping meccas. However, the "mall" too, had an impressive outdoor play area.

After this wonderful trip... We're back in Gainesville... I'm back to work. The kids wake up at 4 AM ready for the day and fall asleep for the entire afternoon. Eelhard is happy to have us back. And I have FINALLY gone by bike to work for the first time. Sure feels good to get a little exercise, save money on gas, not give my money to the greedy oil companies all over the world, and most importantly, not contribute as much to polluting. (Luckily, I don't care if I sweat.) I'll get off the soapbox now. And tomorrow I'll bike to work again.

Testing out photo booth on the Mac

Pippi Longstocking

I have a new hero... Pippi Longstocking. As a kid I don't remember much about her, although I know we were read her books and it "all came back" when reading my old Peppi book to Rauno. She sleeps with her feet on her pillow, has a monkey, and bakes cookies on the floor. She's stronger than the strongest man in the world, and she's a real smart ass. She assertive, talks back to adults, and is NOTHING like I was as a child... I was very good at following rules (and I think my kids are pretty good at that too... most of the time). Ruusa demands that we watch the Peppi movie two or three times a day (only for a short while), and that's what prompted this post.

We're going to Finland!

So, for the last two weeks of May, I will be in Finland with the kids and my mom. I have pondered whether this trip is a good idea for months, probably half a year or more now. The tickets are my graduation present from when I finished school in August of 2006. The kids will get to see Ukko and meet YGH, Maija and a million other people they have not met before. Rauno is excited and Ruusa has no idea that she is facing 14 hours of sitting on a plane... Why the heck isn't there a direct flight from Orlando to Helsinki anyway? I just checked the weather there and it is cold; it does not get past 13 degrees C in the day now and by the evening it is freezing. I suppose I didn't realize that we'll have to bring coats and stuff. :)

Poor Eelhard will be in Florida taking classes and working. The good news is that the course load will be much more doable in the fall and spring because he is studying through the summer. We will really miss him though.

Governor Crist Observes Cesarean Awareness Month

I will come off as the crazy cesarean lady for the rest of my life, but that's OK. Earlier this month I sent a proclamation to the Governor's Office in Tallahassee in hopes that Charlie Crist would sign the thing and send it back. I wasn't expecting anything. Today, they sent it back! What this means is that now we will try to get the press to bite and make a story out of it.

"Cesarean rate is 36.64 % in Florida! Let's quit slicing bellies open and let women birth the normal way!"

However, it's been re-worded a little and watered down. Instead of "proclaiming" or "declaring" April 2008 as Cesarean Awareness Month, he "hereby extend[s ] greetings and best wishes to those observing April 2008 as Cesarean Awareness Month." It seems that he's signed and sealed the thing, so that if he does nothing, it doesn't come off as bad PR. He's also not pissing off any pro-cut physicians by simply sending us greetings.

On top of my editorial being published in the Gainesville Sun last Friday and our Chapter getting a picture and summary in the ICAN newsletter, this receipt of Florida CAM acknowledgment has left me with a sense of accomplishment. Maybe someone will read about it and think twice next time they hear about someone getting their abdomen cracked open... or when it happens to them.

Peppi Pitkatossu

Ruu absolutely LOVES Peppi Pitkatossu. She hums the song from the video and even
agrees to wear braids for a few hours.

Saturday Yard Sale Finds

The kids and I went to a few yard sales this morning and we found some wonderful stuff. First, Ruusa got a doll and a wooden crib for it. Rauno got a "kontrolli auto" or remote controlled car. And the children got a finished wooden dining table with chairs. All for 30 bucks. Never know what you'll find. Eelhard got to sleep in, since he was up until 4 AM studying.