A Work In Progress

That's the time I have left on maternity leave. I'm so lucky that I have the chance to have twelve month off to spend with my girl.  Some days it can be hard. Some days it's wonderful. Every day I count my blessings. So Gracie, what do I know about you? I know you are quite determined.  Watching you learn to roll and figure out how to put your dummy in your mouth has been wonderful.  You kept at it till you mastered it. I love that even when you got frustrated you kept trying. Well done my girl! When we are out, you like to observe things quietly from the safety of Mum and Dad's arms. You won't smile just because someone coos at you, which to me makes the times when you do smile even more special. I get frustrated when people try to force you to smile and then say you are 'grumpy' if you dont. You are not a performing seal!! My girl can smile when she wants to, a little stubbornness never hurt anyone!! You adore your daddy and everyone says you look just lik...

So we just gave our cat a shower. He came in covered in mud...covered! ! I have no idea what happened but he was soaked. Only solution was to wash him. Expecting a fight, we put him in the shower and prepared ourselves for scratches.   But he just sat there...purring. Thanks Penzance, you are a cool cat.

My learnings 1. A baby cold is harder on mum than baby. In other words, RELAX!!! 2. That complete strangers have no issues telling you that "your daughter has beautiful eyes and lovely long eye lashes...oh she didn't get them from you." Grace's leanings 1. Leaning to roll takes effort but it's worth it, especially when Mum gets so excited! 2. Mum has attached two dummies to bedtime bunny and if you figure out how to use them yourself you don't have to wait for the slow service you get from your Mum. 3. Despite learning 2. it is fun to yell for Mum to help. 4. Doctors are funny and stethoscopes are cool.

So today Grace rolled! Personally I think it's twice as impressive as she is sick at the moment and coughing up a storm. Well done Grace!!! Mum and Dad are super proud.

The first picture shows how I left Grace when I went to the loo. Second picture is her when I got back. What?????

Today Grace and I received a parcel from our Aunty Jan, lots of lovely clothes!! Jan and her husband Tony have been part of my life since I was born, and I love it when I get the chance to see them. They are wonderful caring people and while not related by blood we are connected strongly by heart. As yet, they have not yet seen Miss Grace in person but I really want that to change!! I need to organize a road trip. In the meanwhile I'll give them a call and bridge the distance.  Cool people are rare, gotta keep them close and appreciate the value they add to your life. Love you Jan and Tony!!!

Every now and then when I'm woken at 1/2am to a baby crying, my first thought is: I wonder who is going to see to that baby? This is then followed by the thought: Oh yeah, that's MY baby. Hey, I have a baby! During this thought process Grace is not so quietly waiting for me to click on to the fact that the milk is not preparing itself. Poor Gracie, blessed with a dim mother in the mornings.

"The Wiggles are freaking awesome, how come no one told me before!!" Says Grace "That's because mum was trying not to show you TV." I say "Ha ha ha, you're so funny mum. Tell me what other crazy parenting ideas you've had."

In the latest effort to get Grace to keep eating I've resorted to making aeroplane noises.  Well that's what I thought I was doing. Chad says I sound like a cat being run over. Grace agrees.

This weekend we have a return house guest, the lovely Miss Molly. Flynn was very happy to come home from swimming to find her here but he is now so exhausted from all the excitement he has collapsed on his bed asleep. Miss Molly is making herself at home... and taken liberties with the furniture.  Mind you at age 13, this lady can do as she pleases.

Yes she should be going to sleep but it's so lovely hearing her chat with her Dad about her day and how she half rolled, talked to some of her peeps at coffee group and got a new sleep sack. Okay so I'm projecting what she is saying but I'm pretty sure I'm right..Mums know these things..

Grace had her first meal in her new high chair.  She is a bit small for it but she'll grow. I also forgot the bib...rookie mistake, especially when pumpkin is on the menu.

Starts well.....ends in tears. Sigh.

I knew that when you have a child, that their stuff slowly invades all areas of your house, and I knew that I would struggle with that.  So a few weeks ago we rearranged the lounge so Grace has her own area for her toys. Now we have bought a high chair resulting in need to rearrange the kitchen and dining area. We've also been given a heap of toys and books that I need to find places for. As Gracie gets more mobile she will make mess and I'm really not sure how I'll balance my need for clean and tidy, with her needs for freedom to play. And I don't want her to feel she can't spread out and let her imagination run wild!! I guess I need to relax and just go with it. Course anyone who knows me will realise that is easier said than done! So here are some pictures of her new spaces. Of course it's all super tidy at this point!!

Yesterday Chad and I planned to sort through and clean our garage.  Knowing that a baby would make this hard we asked my Mum to come over to babysit Grace for the afternoon. My Mum was a Visiting Neurodevelopmental Therapist and as such is brilliant at helping babies learn new skills. She has been helping Gracie to learn how to roll and develop her motor skills. Its a process I affectionately call "Granny Bootcamp" as it is learning play but pushes her to try new things. Granny and Grace had a fun afternoon together and were obviously very busy as when Chad and I finished up at 5pm, we fed Grace and she crashed immediately.  Normally we can expect her to wake at 11/12pm and then again at 3/4am.  Well Miss Grace is STILL asleep and it's now 4:20am!! I'm very keen for Grace to participate in Granny Bootcamp every day if this is the impact it has!!!

While other babies are starting to giggle or roll over, we have decided to celebrate the minor achievements in our household until we get to those big ones. So it is with great pride that I announce that for the second night running, Grace has out peed her nappy, resulting in need for complete outfit change at 3am. Plus side was that her smiles when I changed her were priceless and well worth the drama of an early morning wardrobe malfunction.

There is a limit as to how much pee any one nappy can hold. This limit will be discovered by baby (and "gently" pointed out to you) at around midnight on a night when you are in a deep sleep.

When I get the urge to rearrange the lounge, not only does he help but he does it with enthusiasm. Love that man.

I have a new toy!! I thought I'd try making baby food for Grace and my Mum bought me a steamer/mixer as a gift. Its awesome!! I bought lots of veges and this morning cooked up a storm. Pumpkin, yams, kumera, baby carrots...yum! So after all this cooking, we tried out my hard work on Grace. Her face is my reward......God I love that kid.

Normally my baby will have woken twice by now and fed once.   I woke ten minutes ago and assumed it would happen soon so thought I'd get ahead of the game. Now I'm sitting here, bottle ready in anticipation of her waking but nothing so far. Now I'm bored and wide awake but know I shouldn't wake her. Chad on the other hand....tee hee....could I be that mean.....?

I was reading a parenting magazine the other day (yes that's what I read now...sigh) and came across this ad. I know that I don't look like the woman in the ad as I push Grace down the street and suspect it is because I'm not pointing my toes enough. I'm going to practice my gazelle-like leaping and hair flicking on my walk tomorrow.  I'm very disappointed in myself that I've been doing it wrong all this time.

Flicking through the My Sky list of shows that we have recorded. Came across a show called "Too Cute!" (Yes, with exclamation mark.) I didn't record it and after reading the description (60 minutes of calico kittens playing) assumed Chad would not have recorded it. I was wrong. Apparently Chad is tired of our steady diet of shows that have more than theie share of violence and wanted to mix up our viewing for the evening.

We headed to Taupo for a family get together over the weekend.  But that's not what this post is about.  This post is about vomit. First my vomit.  I aimed for the bag, I got it in the bag. Did not predict the bag would break...on the carpet. Then Chad's vomit.  He raised the bar and also passed out resulting in grazes to his face. The weekend was great and loved seeing all the family. Was not a fan of the vomit. I've included a nice picture of Taupo to compensate for all the mentions of vomit in this post.