There I was – feeling like these exact words – it’s the end of the world as you know it, was written particulary for me, as I was pushing that baby out – knowing that this was the beginning of a new world order. Even though it wasn’t the first time I had this exact same feeling, it still came creeping upon me. So here we are having new sleeping patterns, new routines – if you can call it routines when they change every second day. We also have a new type of crying in addition to the crying we already had – the toddler cry. Now we even have crying in stereo.

The biggest challenge with having two small children is that the toddler can be a little raccoon at those times you really don’t need it – when mommy is either changing diapers or nursing, or when the little brother is crying.
On the other hand we also have a toddler who wants to hold the little brother and cuddle with him. And not the least a toddler-girl, who demands – when we sing “The wheels on the bus”, to sing “Norah & Julian go I love you”, just like the course-line “the mommy and the daddy go I love you (…).” Then she officially melts every heart in the country.

Luckily, when everything is happening all at once, mrs. multitasking momma arises. Like today. Norah was cranky. Julian was crying – of course at the same time. To top it all, the tomato plant standing on the patio’s fence blew down on the parking spot beneath. Thank God no car was present. Obviously I had to act quick, before the owner of the parking spot returned. So what I did was to put Julian in his bed – turn on the mobile. Then put on Netflix – search for Dora and then put her on. Finally – and at last, run out to get my tomato plant. Yes, I managed!

It was the end of the world as I knew it, and day by day the new world gets a little more familiar than the day before.

It’s about time for a new blog post from the Torset-Pettersens!
A lot of things have happened since I last posted something. The biggest happening of all, and what this post is dedicated to, is our newest edition! Julian Maximillian.

My little bundle! I just want to hug him!

It’s already been a month since we went into the hospital, to check if I had to get induced – to kick start the delivery. Something which eventually happened a couple of hours after ‘checking in’. Then a couple of hours after I got induced I heard my OB say: this is a BIG boy, which upon I was thinking: OH NO! And then an umbilical cord was cut by a proud father, a mother was exhausted, and shortly after a little prince met his parents for the first time. Seriously, this feeling you get – after the tremendous pain of giving birth – and then holding your baby for the first time is priceless. Euphoric. I already find myself wanting to go back in time to taste that feeling one more time! Of course, and this is no shocker, I’m totally IN LOVE with the beautiful little creature. Love. Love. Love. Love.

As mentioned, he was a big boy when he was born; 9 pounds 2.4 oz (4150g) and 22 ¾ inches (52 cm). No wonder my doc expressed his size when he was on his way out. I won’t go into any details about the delivery, but BIG as in BIG baby is nothing you want to hear when you’re pushing the baby out. Julian Maximil

lian has definitively grown a lot the last month. And that’s no wonder, he eats, eats eats and eats. I had totally forgotten how much a baby eats, so even though he has a big sister, I’ve been caught off guard.. Nevertheless, I’m pretty excited about checking out his new measurements at our 1-month check up which is coming up next week…

Well, that’s all for now… Duty calls. Somebody is hungry!

The ‘difficulty’ with my name have made me make some changes.
Every time I go to the coffee shop, or somewhere where they need to know my name, I’m ending up with spelling it, and telling the cashier ‘my story’; I just moved here from Norway…. Guro is a very Norwegian name etc etc. So to make everyone’s life more easy, I’ve changed my name to Frances whenever I go to stores like described above, or when I meet people I won’t see again. The name was a easy pick, since Norah’s full name is Norah FRANCES. And of course, who wouldn’t use baby’s name – baby from Dirty Dancing? Nobody puts baby in the corner….. To call yourself baby in the coffee shop is just not suitable for a woman almost 30 (!) years old. So I decided to stick to Frances.

And maybe someday I’ll dance the fox trot and have the time of my life. At least that’s what I’m thinking every time I say answer Frances with stars in my eyes.

Potrait of a lady

Finally Halloween was here! And the anticipation was sky-high! Pumpkins, trick or treat, costumes, and last but not least; the decorations.

Norah has had a blast with her bumble-bee costume, and I have loved wearing Sookie’s clothes. Yeah I’m a die hard True Blood fan, and of course being Sookie was my number one choice.

Norah got her costume in the middle of October, and has been running around in it making bee sounds, bzzzz (!) bzzzz (!), while making circles with her arms. She also wore her costume to music class the Monday before Halloween. The class had monsters, fire fighters, skeletons etc, and it was the cutest scenery ever. I think they loved watching each others, and also loved being in their costumes.

On the day of Halloween we went to Concert Park, in the middle of Playa Vista. First we participated in a parade around the park, and then Norah did trick or treat at “The Shops @ Playa Vista”. She was a superb candy collector for her parents… Yummy
After the trick or treat-happening, we  stopped by the park and hanged out with friends. The kiddies had a blast running around and exploring everything and each others costumes.

Norah the bee

Norah walking with mommy aka Sookie

Did the American Halloween meet our expectations? It certainly did! We’re already looking forward to next year’s. Three votes from the Torset-Pettersen’s! However, next year we’re gonna do it bigger. Even Trond is getting dressed. And for the record — I tried to convince him to be either Eric Northman or Bill, from True Blood, but he didn’t want to. I personally think he could do Eric, since he’s tall, blond and Scandinavian looking, kinda sexy Everyone who agrees post yes in the comment field!

So, how about it? It’s seriously about time for a new blog post! It’s really been way too long since the previous post, but here we go!

What have the new-ish residents of Playa Vista been up to lately?
The first day of October my parent came visiting ~ all the way from Norway! They stayed for 10 days, and we all had a blast! I think it was kinda hard traveling for twenty hours, and also “time traveling”.

Norah just loved having them here, and she made a connections with her “omma” (grandma) and “offa” (grandpa) from the minute they walked into the apartment! She was instantly showing them all of her toys, and acting like the cutest little angel ~ the little angel she is, well most of the time…..

While my folks were here, we showed them Santa Monica and Hollywood! This is mandatory! We went wining and dining a couple of nights, and of course, the cheesecake factory was one of the resturants on our menu! Great food! Awesome cheesecake. Great drinks! And so MUCH food! Oh my! So much food! I couldn’t even eat more than half of my dish!

Also! Some alone-fun for the parents was scheduled! Me and Trond got the chance to do Santa Monica by night! Kinda weird going out for food, and drinks without Norah, but also so much FUN! We were almost feeling like 19 og 21 years old, holding hands strolling down the promenade! Stopping at some neat places for wine and beer! And pizza of course! AWESOME!

But (..) all good thing come to an end. They had to leave. Again, that’s the hardest thing about living abroad and so far away from the beloved ones.. When they leave. And you know they eventually will. This particularly sad feeling started the morning of the day they left. Growing and growing, until boom (!) your back in the apartment, and it is quiet and all their stuff is gone.  Sad. But also great memories!

A fun thing about October is Halloween! And all the stuff that is going on with the pumpkins! I brought Norah to a Pumpkin Patch, with some of our friends. Both of us had a blast @Pumpkin Patch! I was really impressed by the “park”! There was pumpkins everywhere obviously! In all sizes and shapes. I didn’t buy any this time, but I’m definitively going back and get some. My problem? I don’t know have to carve it… So maybe it will be smarter to go a place where other people can do it.. In addition to the pumpkins there also was a petting zoo, pony rides, and two trains… Lots of fun for the little princess!
The patch is open throughout October, and we’re definitively going back!

The weather in October has been a little on and off.. Sunny and hot, and then rain – like Norwegian rain! And then back to the nice hot sun again.
The greatness of this is that we got to taste  October – both in the Norwegian and the Californian manner.

I like both the smell and sound of October…

Watching the penguines...

It’s almost my 29th birthday! OMG! Turning 30 next year! (Where has time gone by?!)

It’s still summer!

It’s  nice and warm outside!

We have had a great summer! We have become more familiar with the streets in our neighborhood, and the close by cities. We have checked out some of the beaches, and different restaurants. What can I say? Like it….

This summer we even had visitors from Norway. Two “groups” came over to see us! In the beginning of July Trond’s parents together with auntie and uncle, who were roadtrippin’ from Seattle throughout different states, stopped by our little recidence. They stayed in the city of Angeles for three days, and we got to show them Hollywood and Santa Monica before they left. Then Trond’s youngest sister and beau, Rebekka and John Audun, came and stayed for almost three weeks. They didn’t stay with us for three whole weeks, but they definitively checked out California.  The golden triangle: L.A., Las Vegas & San Francisco, was on their menu. In addition to San Diego. We were together the whole time they stayed in L.A. obviously, but we also spent a weekend in San Diego together. In San Diego we visited the Wild Animal Park and Seaworld.

Dolphin @ Sea World

Both of the parks were great, but I have to say, Seaworld was really something else. The dolphins, amongst others, were amazing! Really too cute!

The nights in San Diego were spent on two different motel/hotels.. The first night was spent in Escondido, in the WORST motel ever! I hardly slept. I felt like I was in the movie “No country for old men”, and was laying in bed waiting for the guy with the oxygen tank (or whatever he was carrying around). I don’t think the room was properly cleaned up either. Filthy, old and disgusting! It didn’t help thatNorah didn’t sleep well either. She was feeling it too. Or she was feeling her mother’s feelings? Anyway, the last night in San Diego was spent downtown! San Diego is such a beautiful city! That night we went wining and dining at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse! Great food. Great service. Great company. Awesome waiters. Even dessert on the house for awesome Norwegians Yeah I know, we’re pretty amazing

It was really sad when the “real” Norwegians left us for Norway…

That’s really the worst part about living far far away from everybody, when they’re leaving. Luckily they left us with awesome memories we wouldn’t been without!
Another thing that’s sad about living far away from family and friends in Norway, is that when it’s born a new cousin, you’re not able to greet and hold the little one. August 12th, a new baby boy in the Pettersen-family was born. Trond’s sister gave birth to a little prince. A BIG congrats to parents Siri, Paul, and big brother Viktor! Thank heaven for Skype! I bet, in a few years we also can feel & smell the ones we’re talking to over the internet as well… I obviously belive in the technology, that’s the advantage, or disadvantage you might say, of living with a  n.e.r.d.

So I guess it’s time for a new blog! And here we go! A lot has happened since we picked Shelia up at the airport! And I’ll try to give a brief summary of the highlights

The dog has gone through some changes since she arrived. She has, pretty quickly, adjusted to the LA-life-style, she likes the heat and her strolls! The biggest change, except for the climate change, happened three weeks ago. Three weeks ago our lab’ got spayed! This is something that is required by law in California, if you live in a complex like we do. So now it’s settled: no puppies for Shelia. Kinda sad, but that was never our intentions anyway.

After the surgery, Sheila had to wear a collar for 2 weeks.

Since Shelia came over, she and Norah has developed a great friendship, a friendship they both enjoy. Maybe because Norah has a tendency to give Shelia whatever she’s eating? Nevertheless, the dog is certainly alert when Norah is eating a roll or a cookie! Shelia is “working” Norah by giving her THE eye (you know those irresistible eyes a dog can have, right?)  whenever food is in the picture., saying: “Feed me, don’t you wanna feed me? Can’t you see I’m starving?” Regardless of whenever she got her meal.  And Norah is giving in for Shelia’s strategy.  Norah actually wants to give everything she eats to Shelia. Throwing food from her high chair onto the floor, saying: “Dila Dila!” Or just not saying anyhing at all.
It is really cute watching them together. Norah can almost do whatever she wants to do to her. That’s entertainment. Belive me. If it gets too though on Shelia, she just go to her hiding spot. Kinda saying : “this is no big deal, but I really want some privacy now, ok?” The arrogance from that dog is to touch and feel, while she’s acting it out..

As I mentioned earlier, Shelia had to get spayed.. Here it is actually recommended, while in Norway it is recommended not to do so. I think you have to have a really good reason for doing so in Norway.  Furthermore, a spay-section is said to enhance the possibility for cancer in Norway, while in the States it is said to reduce the risk. So, what to belive? I guess we’ll have to trust the vets here in California! We don’t have a choice, do we? Who said that knowledge is static and not dynamic? You might argue, that the animal hospitals are more of a business here compared to Norway ~ for each surgery the hospital gets: money – money – money… On the other hand, USA is a bigger country, and probably have come further regarding research..

Well, that’s the biggest news Shelia-wise. A lot of other stuff has also happened. Fun stuff. Nice stuff. Weird stuff. The unormal happenings in the beginning has become our everyday life. The normal.

Playa Vista in "June gloom"-weather...

Me, Norah and Shelia has gotten our lives on track in Playa Vista. We have even met some of the local moms and their children. We’re participating a group which meet up once a week. We haven’t done too much of that yet, but the plan is to become more active. I have to say, putting Norah Frances in her stroller is really something else. Not “twenty” layers of clothing, including wool and raincoats ~ yeah, something else! Not having the apartment steaming from the dog and the stroller after taking the girls out for a stroll, is neither wrong! All we have to remember, for our strolls, is sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses. (What a hazel, huh?)..Yeah, something else!

One week ago we went to San Diego.  In San Diego we had a play-date with Trond’s Norwegian (!!) cousin and family: Hannah, Johan, Emma and Jorunn, in “San Diego Zoo“. What a great park! What a great company! We really enjoyed meeting some family, and someone who understands what’s it is like to move from Norway to the States. It is so fun to exchange experiences, experiences which are very alike after analyzing it: someone who interpret the American life as we do, sort of.

Well, that was just a digression. Anyway, we started out with a bus-ride throughout the park, this ride gave us the opportunity to see a lot, and pick out where we would like to go back, as well as funny comments from the bus-driver and information about the shows. After the bus-ride we went to see a tiger getting fed, but the day we went there, they changed the routine; so we could watch the tiger NOT getting fed. Of course. But we got some information about the tiger, and that made it worth participating anyhow. While at the park, we also got the chance to see an amazing bird show! It was so cool. That really left us speechless.

Elephant in San Diego zoo. Didn't take a picture of hippos in action

After browsing the park, looking at koalas walking around (these bears sleep 22 out of 24 hours, so we caught them at the right moment), hippos making love (oh yeah.. in front of everybody.. they have no shame these animals… hehe), elephants eating etc, our time at the zoo was over. The distance between San Diego is about 2 – 3 hour. And to get home to get Norah to sleep at a normal hour, yeah and to be sure to tune in to our favorite tv-show: TRUE BLOOD, we could not stay any longer.

As you could see, here we’re talking about time, not miles, when we’re  talking about distance.. (one of the first lessons Trond learnt we he arrived LA, and one of the first things he told me…). To give an example. When we drove, very early, from LA to San Diego, we spent approx. 2 hours on the distance, but when returning we spent approx. 3 hours… See? (The distance is the same as Stavanger – Bergen ++).

Trond and Norah at Santa Monica Pier.

This weekend we went to Santa Monica pier and Santa Monica beach! Just to browse and look at all the people and all the life! At the beach we even got to see some gymnastics work out. Pretty cool. Why work out inside when you can work out outside! Fresh air, people to watch you (..)..  I guess that’s how they do it here. Maybe I should get my brother and his football over, have him work out at the beach for everybody to watch! I’m not sure he is UP to it though…   Well,  I’ll just say: “that’s how they do it in California ~ get used to it”

Did I cause all this trouble?

Yeey! Shelia, our chocolate brown Labrador has arrived! Last Friday was a happy day. We finally got to see her again after weeks and weeks apart! Well, we have to say, not everything was in the happy category! Definitively not the-pick-the-dog-up-at-the-airport-part, but the part where she saw Trond, and the part where she saw me and Norah was truly a happy part

Trond took some time off from work to go pick Shelia up at the airport. He called a taxi, and was really excited to finally be together with our Labrador (and so was I)..  So it was a bit disappointing that it took approx. four hours to get her home! I was expecting it to take some time, but I was surly not expecting it to take almost  four hours! And Trond was not stuck in traffic – if he was it wouldn’t be that of a big deal, since we live pretty close to LAX, but it was bureaucracy and bad attitudes. Not from us, to make that clear

When Trond came home and told me about his experiences I was so glad it wasn’t me and Norah who had to go pick Shelia up, as the original plan was. First of all the taxi driver had some difficulty finding the place where you can pick up animals. Secondly, Trond had to walk a big distance between customs and Lufthansa (the company flying our dog over), and he had to walk this distance back and forward. Very nice. Especially since it was next to the freeway. Well, when he finally reached the customs he didn’t meet the most service-minded people in the world. (Uhm, having a bad day at work or something, or maybe everyday is a bad day?)… Of course they had to argue! The first thing they pointed out was that we were missing a stamp on Shelia’s paper – even though the people representing Lufthansa said that they had everything confirmed orally. After a couple of phone calls and discussion everything with Shelia was ok, BUT now  Trond  was the one to be question marked. They didn’t belive it was his picture in the passport, and he had to show another identification.. I guess he thought he was pretty safe showing his driver’s license, but then they question marked that identification as well. They even asked if he had lost some weight.. I said to Trond afterwards; maybe it was an attempt to flatter you – to make everything ok   Another thing that happened during this mess was that when Trond showed his passport a couple of dollars fell out… Not unnoticed by the customs, and he was accused for bribing… Somehow he came home with Shelia, so he must have done something right!

I guess you understand why I’m glad it wasn’t me who picked up Shelia.. Especially since I would have to bring Norah along..

What a day! Luckily all of this is HISTORY! Even though I was glad it wasn’t me who had to go through all that trouble, it was not particularly fun to be home knowing Trond went through all that!

Norah Frances liked this futurama styled chair... She was like; "Please buy this for me, mum and dad".

Time does certainly go by! Now me and Norah have been her over a week, Shelia arrives tomorrow and Trond has become a member of the Yahoo! team.

We have to say; so far so good! We are adapting the LA-way of living, which basically means
to buy, and soon drive, a big car (not a Volvo, not a Ford, but a Honda CRV is on its way to our residence), only wear a t-shirt and a shorts, eating cereal and look at palm trees. This is not bad for three Norwegians and their dog. We like it!

Last Sunday we went to the beach. The three of us L – to the – O – to the – V – to the ED it! And I have to say Norah Frances in particular. In the future, I think, we will have a problem getting her home from the beach. It was the sand, the shells, the ocean – the everything. She is becoming a beach girl!

Today we got our new sofa, from the sofa company. It is great to have one more piece of furniture! The company we bought it from also sold Stressless from Ekornes. No, we did not buy one, but it reminded us of Norway! How cool is that btw? In the picture you can see Norah sitting in a chair from the store! I find this picture as the cutest ever (proud mum, ah?

(to be continued….)

Stuck in L.A. traffic. Spent 2 hrs traveling 50 km.

Today, Guro and Norah arrived safe and sound in Los Angeles. Luckily, the immigration process went smoothly and did not take very long. I was actually able to greet them just over an hour after their flight had landed! Norah is now a US citizen and Guro is an immigrant to the US. Funny.

Since the last blog post I have been busy visiting family in Portland, OR and searching for apartments in L.A. We’ve ended up going for a 2 BR apt. in an apt. complex in Playa Vista, a newly developed area not too far south of Santa Monica. There should be practically no commute for me

I’ve also shopped for some furniture — which will arrive tomorrow, just in time for our move-in on Thursday. Next on the agenda – before my first day at Yahoo! on Monday 3rd of May – is to buy a car. Don’t know what we will settle for, but I guess it will be some kind of crossover like e.g. Ford Edge. Gotta live a little.