This should be titled "Reasons why I love living in Australia and reasons why Tom doesn't". One of my favourite things to do in this country, and something I missed dreadfully when I lived in England, is going to the beach. I can't explain why I love it so much. It is something that I have grown up doing and something that is important to me to share with my own children. I went through a stage in pre-adolescence when I hated sand and the beach was not my favourite thing for a year or so; luckily that passed. Then I was self-conscious as a teenager for a couple of years but I went to the beach anyway and spent far too long worrying what people were thinking of me. That period too has passed. Now when I go to the beach, and watch the waves rolling in, I feel a sense of happiness and peace within me that few other places or situations can provide. Somehow the ocean is restful and exhilarating at the same time. I don't mind playing on the sand with the kids, or watching the waves from a nice shady spot on the beach. But actually being in the sea, experiencing the rhythm of the incoming waves, watching the wave patterns and predicting when the next big set will come in so that you can be in the right place to just get over the wave before it crashes down, that has got to be one of my favourite things to do in life.
We just had a long weekend away with some friends up at Nelson Bay which is about two hours North of Sydney. Gorgeous area and heaps of beaches to choose from. We managed to coax Tom out once to the beach, but he sweltered in the sun, hated being on the sand, and didn't pack his swimmers so he couldn't get any relief from the heat by going in the surf. I shake my head in wonder at him. I find it hard to comprehend his dislike of the beach. I just don't get it. And I worry that his feelings about the beach will transfer to our kids and that I'll be outnumbered one day when it comes to family day trips and holiday destinations. At least on this trip, Beth and I thoroughly enjoyed being at the beach. On our last afternoon, we left the boys at home and went to One Mile Beach with our friend Pecky. Us girls sat in the sand at the shoreline so that the waves would lap around our legs and hands but not completely swamp us. The fading sun was still warm on our backs. It was perfect! I used to do this as a teenager with my best friend Sara at Avoca Beach. It was so nice to be doing it again 20 years later. I hope I still will be in 20 years time.
My only hope with Tom is to revive his love of scuba diving so that he can enjoy the ocean depths and, mainly, avoid the hazards of sand that he particularly hates. I went for a dive at Bare Island with my sister and brother-in-law last weekend. It was my first dive for probably 4 years - before we started trying to fall pregnant with Beth. Gearing up was fine, my wetsuit was a tad too tight, but once we were underwater it felt great to be back doing something that was a huge part of my early 20's. We saw a port jackson shark (v. cute, not dangerous), great fishlife, nice rock formations and sponges, and even a couple of nudibranchs (colourful little underwater slug-like things). The elation of the dive lasted long enough to get back to the car with our waterlogged gear weighing heavy on our backs. Tom arrived with the kids and we all went for a nice post-dive lunch, followed by putt-putt golf in the afternoon. A great day and hopefully Tom and I can get underwater together soon. He learnt to scuba dive in Australia after we'd met and I'd waxed lyrical about how fantastic it is. I know he loves it but it can be hassle at the same time. I'll have to ban both of us saying, "I'm getting too old for this". All being well, more posts about dive adventures to come....
Monday, October 20, 2008
Babbling Barnaby
So much has happened to dear Barney since my last post, I hope I can remember his changes.
Barnaby started walking (tottering) about a week before his birthday and I date his very first steps ie. two in a row, from 15th August at Playgroup. My mum witnessed the best of his walking the following weeks when he seemed to manage ten or more steps in a row under her gaze. Tom's main question was whether Barnaby was walking towards her or away from her! Two months on and Barnaby is quite speedy, very steady and even managing to negotiate slopes/ramps without falling over. He has also mastered climbing up and down stairs; starting from just before our trip to the uk in July and not needing any help to go up or down the stairs by his 1st birthday at the end of August.
Just like Beth, Barnaby's first recognisable interest in living things (other than humans) has been the birds in our backyard. We have a great view of them from our kitchen and he can become transfixed watching them during breakfast or free play. A bird was the first thing I noticed Barney point to and make an "ooh" sound about. But he's moved on and likes to point at most things and "ooh" about it now. He also likes to share his experiences and chuckles away happily when another person, but especially Beth, validates what he is doing or meaning by his grunts and babbling. Just this week he has started to offer things to me - food, spades, toys, scraps of stuff that he finds on the floor. Barney will toddle over to me, hand outstretched, place the item in my hand, coo happily, then take it back and toddle off again. It's lovely.
Our bubba is quite adventurous and he's got the bumps, cuts and bruises to show for it. He likes to climb up, down, over, under things, squeeze into tight spots that he can't get out of (then he cries for me to rescue him), he loves to rumble and loves being upside down. His worst accident that was self-inflicted happened last weekend when we were at Mum and Dad's. Barnaby was on the outside brick steps and over-balanced. He only went down one stair but he had an egg on his forehead and a graze down his face as a result. Bless. About an hour later he rolled off a couch inside the house. At least he had a soft landing on the carpet but my poor Mum was beside herself.
Barney's dimples and smile are a real winner when we're out and about. I am sure he gets even more attention than gorgeous Beth did at the same age (and that's saying something). Supermarkets, when he's in the trolley with me, attract the most people saying hello to him. And Barney rewards all well-wishers with a huge grin, a bit of dribble, and a little "gah". Perhaps he's saying hello, but at best it comes out as "aho".
The only words we really know Barney is saying is "Maman" which can mean me or food (usually food) and just recently, Dada, which has pleased Tom no end. He sort of says "Uh-oh" when he drops something but often he only manages the "oh" part of it. But his pre-verbal sounds are really starting to take off and I am expecting over the next few months that his language skills will start to take-off. Today he was trying out a lot of "gggg" and "zzzz" sounds. 6 weeks ago he was great with "ffff". "Mmmm" has been around a while and "Dadada" comes up a lot now. So once he puts a few of these together, we may have more of an idea what is going on in his gorgeous little head.
Health wise, Barnaby is really well. We're getting over the winter ezcema that was quite bad a few months ago. His burn is healing really well. He doesn't have to wear a splint at night anymore. And in a few more months we may be able to stop using pressure suits to treat his burn scars and just use localised patches over the remaining scarred areas. He now has five teeth. And he's quite small, with a little head, compared to other boys his age. This, and his pre-verbal-talk, makes it easier for me to pretend that he's still my little baby and I intend to enjoy these final months before I have to adjust to Barnaby being a toddler. I'm sure I'll love every stage of his life, but Barney as a baby has been truly wonderful and I will be sad to leave this stage behind.
Barnaby started walking (tottering) about a week before his birthday and I date his very first steps ie. two in a row, from 15th August at Playgroup. My mum witnessed the best of his walking the following weeks when he seemed to manage ten or more steps in a row under her gaze. Tom's main question was whether Barnaby was walking towards her or away from her! Two months on and Barnaby is quite speedy, very steady and even managing to negotiate slopes/ramps without falling over. He has also mastered climbing up and down stairs; starting from just before our trip to the uk in July and not needing any help to go up or down the stairs by his 1st birthday at the end of August.
Just like Beth, Barnaby's first recognisable interest in living things (other than humans) has been the birds in our backyard. We have a great view of them from our kitchen and he can become transfixed watching them during breakfast or free play. A bird was the first thing I noticed Barney point to and make an "ooh" sound about. But he's moved on and likes to point at most things and "ooh" about it now. He also likes to share his experiences and chuckles away happily when another person, but especially Beth, validates what he is doing or meaning by his grunts and babbling. Just this week he has started to offer things to me - food, spades, toys, scraps of stuff that he finds on the floor. Barney will toddle over to me, hand outstretched, place the item in my hand, coo happily, then take it back and toddle off again. It's lovely.
Our bubba is quite adventurous and he's got the bumps, cuts and bruises to show for it. He likes to climb up, down, over, under things, squeeze into tight spots that he can't get out of (then he cries for me to rescue him), he loves to rumble and loves being upside down. His worst accident that was self-inflicted happened last weekend when we were at Mum and Dad's. Barnaby was on the outside brick steps and over-balanced. He only went down one stair but he had an egg on his forehead and a graze down his face as a result. Bless. About an hour later he rolled off a couch inside the house. At least he had a soft landing on the carpet but my poor Mum was beside herself.
Barney's dimples and smile are a real winner when we're out and about. I am sure he gets even more attention than gorgeous Beth did at the same age (and that's saying something). Supermarkets, when he's in the trolley with me, attract the most people saying hello to him. And Barney rewards all well-wishers with a huge grin, a bit of dribble, and a little "gah". Perhaps he's saying hello, but at best it comes out as "aho".
The only words we really know Barney is saying is "Maman" which can mean me or food (usually food) and just recently, Dada, which has pleased Tom no end. He sort of says "Uh-oh" when he drops something but often he only manages the "oh" part of it. But his pre-verbal sounds are really starting to take off and I am expecting over the next few months that his language skills will start to take-off. Today he was trying out a lot of "gggg" and "zzzz" sounds. 6 weeks ago he was great with "ffff". "Mmmm" has been around a while and "Dadada" comes up a lot now. So once he puts a few of these together, we may have more of an idea what is going on in his gorgeous little head.
Health wise, Barnaby is really well. We're getting over the winter ezcema that was quite bad a few months ago. His burn is healing really well. He doesn't have to wear a splint at night anymore. And in a few more months we may be able to stop using pressure suits to treat his burn scars and just use localised patches over the remaining scarred areas. He now has five teeth. And he's quite small, with a little head, compared to other boys his age. This, and his pre-verbal-talk, makes it easier for me to pretend that he's still my little baby and I intend to enjoy these final months before I have to adjust to Barnaby being a toddler. I'm sure I'll love every stage of his life, but Barney as a baby has been truly wonderful and I will be sad to leave this stage behind.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The age of innocence
Beth amazes and amuses me with her ever-increasing language skills. I want to share a few cute sayings she has. She has a tendency to mimic what I say but with a twist which produces interesting dialogue.
"I'm warning you Mummy!". Used by Beth when she wants me to do something or she's getting frustrated. This is based on me counting Beth out for time-out and telling her, "Beth, this is your last warning". "Barnaby, that's naughty. Go to your bedroom for five minutes!". As above.
"Hello Barney darling", "Hello sweetie", "Aw, what's the matter?", "I don't know what's wrong", "Well done Mummy", "Good job Barnaby!" etc. etc. All mimicked from me but just melt my heart when I hear it in her sweet voice.
"Thank you for a lovely day", "I have had a lovely time", "I had such a lovely time at swimming Mummy". Do you feel like you're reading an Enid Blyton novel?
And here are some peculiarities that at some stage probably started with me, Tom or daycare but which now it seems Beth has made her own:
"What on earth are we doing here?". Stated when she was building a tower with blocks today.
I'm also trying to teach Beth the alphabet. We have a book she loves where each letter has two pictures for it - one folds out to reveal the other picture. She was going very well with the early letters... Mummy: "A is for ...." Beth: "Apple", Mummy: "And A is for ...", Beth: (whilst folding the picture out), "Angel" etc. etc. But the pictures probably get more ambiguous and the letters harder toward the end. So by V we had, Mummy: "V is for ..." Beth: "Mmm, what's that?", Mummy: "It's a volcano, V is for volcano", Beth: "I don't like that", Mummy affirms she doesn't either, then Mummy: "and V is for ...", Beth: "Flowers!", Mummy: "No darling V is for vase". But there were flowers in the vase. Mummy: "Y is for ...", Beth: "Fried egg!", Beth still loves her fried egg, Mummy: "well the yellow bit is called yolk, Y is for yolk", Beth: "Fried egg!" she says pointing at the picture. Well, she's got a point. So we move on, Mummy: "And Y is for ...", Beth: "orange!", I guess the yellow paint does look a bit orange. I'm giggling by this point and just trying to finish up. Bless her. Queen of the spelling bee, perhaps not?
Finally, the time of the eternal "why" has now arrived. Today Beth has questioned everything. I get the usual, "Mummy, what are you doing?" at least 20 times a day. But she's adding more to her repertoire, "Mummy, why is Daddy at work?", "Why is it Saturday?", "Why are we going to grandma's?", "What is Maddison (our 2yo neighbour) doing?", "What's this?" and "Where are you going?". "What is that man doing?", she asks as we're driving to Galston. I haven't even seen the guy and tell her that. "But what is he doing?" she demands. !! At least she thinks I'm omniscient.
"I'm warning you Mummy!". Used by Beth when she wants me to do something or she's getting frustrated. This is based on me counting Beth out for time-out and telling her, "Beth, this is your last warning". "Barnaby, that's naughty. Go to your bedroom for five minutes!". As above.
"Hello Barney darling", "Hello sweetie", "Aw, what's the matter?", "I don't know what's wrong", "Well done Mummy", "Good job Barnaby!" etc. etc. All mimicked from me but just melt my heart when I hear it in her sweet voice.
"Thank you for a lovely day", "I have had a lovely time", "I had such a lovely time at swimming Mummy". Do you feel like you're reading an Enid Blyton novel?
And here are some peculiarities that at some stage probably started with me, Tom or daycare but which now it seems Beth has made her own:
"What on earth are we doing here?". Stated when she was building a tower with blocks today.
"I want to build a harbour bridge and make them dance". Stated today when she was decorating toilet rolls with stickers and coloured paper.
I'm also trying to teach Beth the alphabet. We have a book she loves where each letter has two pictures for it - one folds out to reveal the other picture. She was going very well with the early letters... Mummy: "A is for ...." Beth: "Apple", Mummy: "And A is for ...", Beth: (whilst folding the picture out), "Angel" etc. etc. But the pictures probably get more ambiguous and the letters harder toward the end. So by V we had, Mummy: "V is for ..." Beth: "Mmm, what's that?", Mummy: "It's a volcano, V is for volcano", Beth: "I don't like that", Mummy affirms she doesn't either, then Mummy: "and V is for ...", Beth: "Flowers!", Mummy: "No darling V is for vase". But there were flowers in the vase. Mummy: "Y is for ...", Beth: "Fried egg!", Beth still loves her fried egg, Mummy: "well the yellow bit is called yolk, Y is for yolk", Beth: "Fried egg!" she says pointing at the picture. Well, she's got a point. So we move on, Mummy: "And Y is for ...", Beth: "orange!", I guess the yellow paint does look a bit orange. I'm giggling by this point and just trying to finish up. Bless her. Queen of the spelling bee, perhaps not?
Finally, the time of the eternal "why" has now arrived. Today Beth has questioned everything. I get the usual, "Mummy, what are you doing?" at least 20 times a day. But she's adding more to her repertoire, "Mummy, why is Daddy at work?", "Why is it Saturday?", "Why are we going to grandma's?", "What is Maddison (our 2yo neighbour) doing?", "What's this?" and "Where are you going?". "What is that man doing?", she asks as we're driving to Galston. I haven't even seen the guy and tell her that. "But what is he doing?" she demands. !! At least she thinks I'm omniscient.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Our Trip
I can't resist posting a few of the best photos of our wonderful trip to Blighty last month. The top three highlights for me (apart from seeing family of course) would be:
1) The Coast of Devon with John, Barbara, Amy and Phoebe -
2) Lovebox Music Festival -
3) Being in London sans kids -
More photos of the kids to come....
1) The Coast of Devon with John, Barbara, Amy and Phoebe -
2) Lovebox Music Festival -
3) Being in London sans kids -
More photos of the kids to come....
Monday, August 4, 2008
Coming up for air
It's been a huge few months. For details.... see Tom's blog. In short, end April - we are burgled. Barnaby and I arrive home whilst burglary is still in progress but thankfully we are unaware and blissfully feed away in Barnaby's room whilst burglars make a quick escape with all my jewellery (sigh) but nothing else. B-boy also gets a rotten double ear infection from a nasty cold that same week- bless. I joke that I'm waiting for the third bad thing to happen to friends a few days later. Unfortunately, in this case the third event is worse than any of us could imagine. Our darling Barnaby scalds himself with boiling water all down his chest at daycare the following Monday (5th May). May is a blur of distress, bandages, hospital visits and limbo to see how Barnaby is healing. The lowest point was finding out Barney needed skin grafts on some of the burns in order for them to heal properly. The high points were watching him smile (mostly) throughout his ordeal and the wonderment of how well kids recover from serious injuries. B-boy went from being unable to crawl, due to the burns hurting and being in a splint, to crawling and cruising a few weeks later. Now, three months on his burn scar is healing well and we're in a good routine for his care which is fairly intensive. His next hospital appointment is tomorrow so more on that as it comes. We just had over three weeks in England visiting Tom's family in July which was brilliant. It was just the break we all needed and wonderful time to spend together with all the family. We're now over the jet lag and getting back to some normality in our lives, albeit with quite a few changes for all of us. So, hopefully I'll get around to putting some photos up of our trip (otherwise checkout the flickr link). And the plan is to get back to posting a few times a week about the kids and their doings.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Beth and her "breast pads"
Beth's curiosity knows no bounds and she wants to know what everything is all the time. "Mummy whaz that?" would be one of her most common questions. At some time in the past she must have found out that I wear breast pads to help with leakage when breastfeeding. Naturally, she wanted to have some of her own to look at but I don't remember her ever wanting to wear them. Anyway, she found some muffin cake paper liners in the pantry and started playing with them. Then she came up to me holding one and said "here Mummy, here's a breast pad for you". "Thanks Beth", I said. "You're welcome" was her response. Since then these muffin liners have been "breast pads" to Beth and come in handy for putting stickers on, drawing on, or just lining up all over the kitchen floor.
After Easter up at Avoca we had our usual mess of unpacking in the hallway upstairs and so Beth was rummaging through it and being quietly industrious while Tom and I were running her bath. She came into the bathroom holding her green gumboot in her hand. "What's in there Beth", asked Tom. "I've got breastpads in my gumboot Daddy" she said. "Now that's a sentence that's probably never been said before" was Tom's response. I think he's right on that one.
After Easter up at Avoca we had our usual mess of unpacking in the hallway upstairs and so Beth was rummaging through it and being quietly industrious while Tom and I were running her bath. She came into the bathroom holding her green gumboot in her hand. "What's in there Beth", asked Tom. "I've got breastpads in my gumboot Daddy" she said. "Now that's a sentence that's probably never been said before" was Tom's response. I think he's right on that one.
Things that wrench your heart
Barnaby started at Daycare on Monday 31st March. He's going one day a week and is in the same room as Beth which I'm really glad about. But it was a really tough decision to make about him starting when we got the call a couple of weeks ago. If he was just a couple of months older it would have been an easier decision, especially once he started crawling. But... he's just a little 7 month old baby (our baby!) who can only just sit up on his own and gets around by rolling everywhere. I shed quite a few tears on Sunday night despite having a week or so to emotionally process this transition. I guess it means to me that I'll never have Barnaby with me 24/7 again. We're both moving on from that - but are either of us ready for it?
Well, Barney had a great first day and the staff are enamoured with him. He gives them a huge smile whenever we walk in the door to drop off Beth. It's good that he's been seeing this place twice a week ever since he was born because of her. I don't think it even registered to him to feel sad that I had left him there with Beth - he was just interested in watching everything going on around him. So he's fine, Beth's fine, Tom's fine and I am too (mostly). But it does tug at the heart strings a bit (at times a lot). How must it be when kids start kindy five days a week?
Well, Barney had a great first day and the staff are enamoured with him. He gives them a huge smile whenever we walk in the door to drop off Beth. It's good that he's been seeing this place twice a week ever since he was born because of her. I don't think it even registered to him to feel sad that I had left him there with Beth - he was just interested in watching everything going on around him. So he's fine, Beth's fine, Tom's fine and I am too (mostly). But it does tug at the heart strings a bit (at times a lot). How must it be when kids start kindy five days a week?
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