It's been about a month now since I returned to work. It has been more of a full on start back to the work force than expected. I have had to hit the ground running on a large, complex new warehouse project. I started work on a Monday, then on the Friday Jack came down with a nasty viral illness that lasted 9 days - the sickest he has been for a couple of years. Grace's overnight cough worsened into a bad cold during this period also. So this made things extra challenging in trying to get my work from home done with 2 sick kids. Things have settled down a bit once Jack returned to childcare.

Grace still isn't sleeping well at night so I have been extra tired over the past month. I also am expressing breast milk for her late on Sunday nights which makes for a tiring start to the week. On the positive side, both kids have coped well with my return to work. Grace has been fine left at home with Grandma Q, and Jack is enjoying spending extra time with Grandma Q also.

Grace enjoyed a family visit to the Melbourne Zoo. She particularly enjoyed the butterfly enclosure, while Jack's favourite animal for the visit was the Giraffe. We made it along to Jack's childcare Christmas party where Jack enjoyed seeing the animals, going on a couple of rides and getting a dragon painted on his face. Jack participated well in his Childcare end of year concert (although we made the rooky mistake of arriving just before start time and found ourselves barely able to see sitting up the back). He also proudly showed me around the art show (including display of a mobile he made for Grace and a train picture). We have made it out to another local fair and a visit to Santa (Grace just looked at Santa from the safety of my arms and Jack was too overwhelmed to speak to him). Jack enjoyed putting up the Christmas tree with his dad.

Summary of Grace at 9 months:

. Fully crawling. Still occasionally gets down and commando crawls. She often likes to hold a toy in her hand while she travels. Crawls across the mat to me at swimming

. With her mobility, she is enjoying exploring the house. She gets rather cranky when pulled back away from dangerous areas like computer cords and front blinds.

. Sitting fully which makes it easier for her to play with all her toys

. Pulls herself up to a standing position. She enjoys peering over the top of her playpen to watch TV or to watch us moving about the room - giving us great big grins. She is starting to move her feet around her playpen while standing so at the starting stage of cruising. She also pulls herself up between my legs when I am sitting on the upstairs couch and tries to pull herself up onto me when she wants me to pick her up

. Doesn't like getting her nappy changed one little bit. Constantly tries to sit up, roll onto her tummy or crawl away, so I am now having to do nappy changes on the upstairs nappy change or on the ground downstairs

. As above, waking multiple times a night

. Drinking all her expressed milk out of her bottle

Summary of Jack at 4 years 5 months

. On his best behaviour currently, so that Santa will bring him lots of presents. Asking questions about how Santa sees him all the time to know if he is being good or bad

. Interacting a lot more with Grace since she has become mobile. He likes doing things like rolling balls to her and having Grace roll them back to him, but doesn't understand why Grace doesn't always do what he wants her to do. Enjoys stopping Grace if she is heading off to places she shouldn't and telling her 'no Grace, not for Grace'.

. Has just finished what is likely to be his final Gymbaroo. Feels like the end of an era for us as parents since he has been doing it since he was 3 months old - a sign our little boy is growing up fast. We feel it has been a worthwhile program for him to participate in, and overall he has enjoyed the various activities and it has challenged him to try new things and develop his physical, fine motor, problem solving and social skills

- When he concentrates and goes slowly, he is becoming very good at colouring in. He does however get frustrated with himself if he unintentionally goes outside the lines

Posted by Al at 3:46 PM

It has been a busy few weeks. Aside for the food shopping, we are now ready for Christmas. We seemed to have managed the juggling act ok this year – finishing off all the preparations without it being too annoying or stressful.

Jack has been very up and down the last few weeks – one day he will be a complete angel, the next (like tonight) he is constantly melting down and crying.

Grace is moving along. She is pulling herself up into a standing position all the time, and crawling around happily. She has taken to waving back at you now, and breaks out in a chuckling laugh any time you dance with her. A common sight is her twinkling eyes and button nose peering over the top of the portacot.

Posted by Doug at 7:37 PM