Grace's Birthday Afternoon Tea
Posted by Doug at 10:07 PM
Today while driving the kids to Grace’s Gymbaroo, Al went past their
childcare centre. From the back of the car Jack said aloud “Hello Turtle
room, I love you, and I will see you tomorrow.”
Posted by Doug at 9:00 PM
Grace is now one year old.
Her birthday was quite memorable. We did a family trip to the Aquarium,
which went well. Soon after arriving home we were hit by a once in 100
years Super Thunderstorm. We had to close up all the binds and drapes
and retreat the back of the house as hail stones almost as big as golf
balls smashed into the windows. Miraculously (and very much to my
surprise) we came through with minimal damage. Friends and Neighbors
were not so lucky.
We then had a small birthday party to finish off the day. Much of this
was done for Jack’s benefit, as Grace won’t remember. However, she did
seem to have a good day.
The following weekend Grandma C, Grandma Q, Pa, and Aunty Lis came over
for afternoon tea to celebrate. Poor old Grace woke up from her sleep
to find the house full of guests, and she was a bit put out. The day
ended ok though.
Posted by Doug at 9:29 PM
Life is pretty good at the moment, and is moving forward at an
acceptable pace.
We had thought financially that we would go backwards in the first year
of Grace’s life, and then it would be fairly stagnate for the second
year. This seemed even more likely with the onset of the Global
Financial Crisis. Instead in the end our preparations were more
effective than expected, we were too busy to spend money anyway, and we
got paid various government and work bonuses that were not budgeted. We
now find ourselves in a position to move some of our projects forward by
a year or so.
Over the last couple years we have seen a surprising number of friends
and colleagues hit serious hurdles in their relationships, and it has
moved us both to not be so lazy or complacent in our own. While we have
always got along well, the extra effort not to take each other for
granted and to improve our communication has been beneficial.
While Jack still remains harder work than his younger sister, he has
been relatively good for the last three or four months. It can still be
a juggling act day by day, but generally he seems pretty happy, and we
enjoy our interactions.
Grace is Grace. She has a cheeky and tough little personality. She is
far more resilient than Jack, but has over the last couple months shown
a softer and slightly more timid side. She is however very quick and
ready to voice her demands – in great volume.
Last of all, through effort and focus, we seem to have been able to cut
right back on the bad parenting moments. We are probably getting it
right 95% of the time – but still need to work on that last 5%. A mate
of mine described it well – at the moment it is like standing on a
bright and sunny day in a mine field. It all looks and feels nice, but
you can’t really relax.
Al still needs to work a bit on noticing when she is starting to feel
stressed and overwhelmed, and to ask for help earlier. We hope that
will be easier now that she is about to stop expressing late into three
nights a week.
So all told we are travelling better than we have for some time, and
been able to just take some time to enjoy life and appreciate our little
family of four.
Posted by Doug at 3:34 PM
I am finally getting around to doing an entry for
Grace's first birthday a couple weeks back. Wow - our little girl is 1
already. It seems Grace's baby year has gone twice as fast as Jack's
did. While the first 3 months were difficult with Grace, followed by a
couple months of difficult behaviour from Jack, things have become
easier over time. In the past couple months especially Jack and Grace
are both at delightful ages and stages for the most part. While we all
still have our ups and downs, we seem to be managing far better than we
could have anticipated a year ago which is a great relief. For the most
part, Grace has been a great little baby. It is wonderful to see her
personality developing along with her skills. She lights up our life
with her cheeky grin and mostly cheerful nature. Jack continues to
delight in his baby sister, and loves trying to hug her, make her laugh,
and starting to have play interactions with her (such as rolling balls
to each other). While life is a busy juggling act with work, and two
kids at home and their activities, we are mostly enjoying life at the
moment, and appreciating the time we have with our little family of 4.
Grace reaching her one year milestone is one of
mixed emotions for me. While I love watching Grace grow and develop, I
also feel a tinge of sadness that the baby phase is behind us (with no
more babies planned). While there is some things I won't miss (the
crying, getting babies to sleep, some of the guesswork when trying to
figure out what is wrong, nappy explosions), the baby time is a very
special time in your life. Between all the special milestones of first
smiles, words, rolling, crawling, standing, seeing them grow into their
own personality, as well as just the beautiful moments of meeting your
baby for the first time, watching them peacefully sleep in your arms or
in their bed, and their interest and excitement in everyday things, it
is a unique and special time in your life as a parent. So while I look
forward to continue to watch Grace grow and develop, I am a little sad
that a chapter of our lives is ending.
Doug's sister Bree came the day after Grace's
birthday to take away some of our baby items for her first baby (due in
a few months) so that was extra reminder for me that the baby part of
our life is over. While they are only items, the baby cradle and other
items still hold special memories so I couldn't help but feel a bit sad
to see them disappearing out of our home. But it is good to know that
they will be put to good use by another family member, and create new
special memories with their babies.
The last month has been dominated by first
birthdays. We have enjoyed celebrations for most of the mother's group
first birthdays (with only one baby still to turn 1). Grace shared a
combined party with 2 of the other babies (meant to be at playgroup but
since it was closed for storm damage assessment, at one of the mother's
houses). It is special to not only watch your own baby develop but to
see other babies at the same age develop. We have also enjoyed the
family trip to the aquarium on the day of Grace's birthday and a small
family party the following weekend.
Summary of Grace at 1:
. At her one year health nurse checkup, she is
recorded as 95% on the height chart, 55% on the weight chart, and 70% on
the head chart. So for now she is tall for her age.
. Currently teething with 2 top teeth close to
coming through (so still just has 2 bottom teeth)
. Today just reached up to the kitchen table and
took down her Sippy cup. When I took it off her, she stood up again and
took the wipes off the table. So we will have to immediately start
putting things higher or away from the table edge.
. Enjoys walking up and down the length of the
house with her walker. Occasionally stands for a second or two without
holding anything if she is distracted, but not yet confidently standing
alone or walking.
. Enjoying stacking her box collection up and
down, and putting objects in and out of containers and shaking them
. Has now tried cow's milk and not shown any
allergic reaction to it. So she is now having cow's milk in real
porridge (not baby cereal any more). She hasn't been very interested to
drink it out of a Sippy cup at childcare. All the same, I announced to
the carers last week that I won't be bringing along expressed milk any
longer. I feel a bit of guilt of not doing it when she was drinking it
all down and the carers found it helped with her settling. However, I am
finding it really tiring to express 3 nights a week (meaning I am up
close to midnight), plus extra expressing during the day when I haven’t
got enough. I wanted to get her through to 12 months so I am glad to
have achieved that. I intend to continue breastfeeding morning and night
for a while longer (given it is supposed to help her immune system).
- Has been snuffly over the past couple weeks and
not sleeping well. She also came down with a temperature Thursday night
after childcare which went back to normal Saturday morning. So she seems
to still be picking up bugs from childcare, although the latest
temperature may possibly relate to teething (Jack would always get a
temperature for about 24 hours each time he was teething).
. Still having 2 days sleeps at home. Most of the
time at childcare she is now just having the one sleep in the middle of
the day (in line with the other older toddlers in the room). On her
childcare days she generally falls asleep on the breastfeed just before
7 or soon after. On other days she generally goes to sleep about
8-8:30ish.
. She mostly doesn't cry on childcare drop offs
(although often cries when we pick her up, although she is usually quite
overtired by then). She seems to be especially enjoying playing outside
at childcare (crawling around on the grass and in the sandpit). She
still prefers to have the carers close by a lot of the time. They also
constantly comment on how much she loves her food.
. Is enjoying playing in the new sandpit at home.
Has also had a first couple of drawing attempts (although have to try to
stop the crayons going in her mouth constantly)
Summary of Jack at 4 years, 8 months:
. Is starting to remember words he is learning on
the 'reading eggs' program, so have got him starting to help read the
'small words' (such as and, the, it, is, in, said) when we read books at
night. While he is not fully taking in everything he is learning on the
program, it is great to see his interest and enthusiasm for the program
(partly to see what 'critters' he earns, but he now also says he wants
to do it to 'learn more words').
. Continues to be a mostly happy little boy, with
far fewer tantrums. He is getting better at expressing his emotions, or
at times just going to another room and quietly sulking, rather than
throwing full on crying tantrums. He is also developing more patience
when we have visitors in playing by himself at times or occupying
himself on the computer or watching TV, rather than trying to demand
constant attention
. Has happily gone off with his Dad to Benalla
this weekend, and enjoyed some one-on-one time with Grandma C as well as
playing with his cousins. He is now at a stage we could consider leaving
him there overnight by himself.
- Is really enjoying being at the Turtle room this
year. I think being in the older room with no older kids around in the
playground is helping with that, and helping build up his confidence
before he starts school next year.
Posted by Al at 3:35 PM
While waiting for Jack at Ready Steady Go today I had a young boy
between 2 and 3 years old come up to me several times to say hello.
After the mother pulled him away for the fourth time she apologised, and
as way of explanation to why the child was so keen to interact she
remarked that the boy never saw his father as he was always at work.
Posted by Doug at 1:43 PM
Me out Duck hunting with Dad / Pop C
Posted by Doug at 10:38 AM
