NYE 2007

Well it’s New Years Eve! And I am “partying” it up on the computer! The kids were all in bed by 6.30pm, Duane went off at 8pm and I am here by my lonesome! I actually don’t mind that I am not doing anything too exciting...its overrated!

We had a day today of just hanging out in our Pj’s and playing! The kids and I mucked around singing and carrying on! Grace can nearly sing all of “incy wincy” spider and “twinkle, twinkle” She is also really good at singing “ring a ring a rosie” Her versions area very funny though, especially Twinkle. It goes like this:

Twinkle, twinkle whittle star,
How I dummy what you are,
Up the dummy in the sky,
Twinkle, twinkle whittle star.

So yes she is still a little obsessed with talking about the dummy's! Also in her version of Incy Wincy, poor Incy gets washed out for the whole song!

Xavier also loves it when we sing, he giggles and watches our faces intently! When Xavier had his afternoon sleep I made paint for Grace. I just mixed up some cornflour, water and food dye! Worked out ok, but not too great! Grace and I had fun painting though! Once Daddy got home we all hopped on the bed for a play (I nodded off for a little bit!!) Xavier had a go in the jolly jumper, he loved it! I haven’t put him in it for ages, I will start again though! Grace & Duane had a bounce on the very wet trampoline! At about 5pm Grace, Xavier and I all had a lovely relaxing bath together! It was actually really nice. Xavier loves being in the water and splashing about. After Xavier and I got out, Duane hopped in with Grace! That was the highlight of my NYE...but I enjoyed every bit of it with my kids and hubby!

30th December 2007

We spent Boxing Day at Dreamworld. We were going to go to the water park but it has been too cold! I can’t believe that it is near the end of the year and we still haven’t had many hot days! We haven’t had the air con on yet. It has actually been raining for the last few days and also very windy.

Thursday night I went to the Truets for dinner. Mandy, Scott, Marcus, Deepak (his b/f) and Trudy were also there. It was great to catch up with everybody again!

We opened the time capsule that we put together on the NYE of 2000. It wasn’t that interesting but we had all written out where we wanted to be in 10 years time. I wanted to be a CEO if an airline and married to Duane with 2 Labradors (black & white) Well I got part of it....DO NOT want anything to do with airlines now though!! Duane wanted to have a water fronted house and be a golf pro. Oh well! Our house looks like it’s on water at the moment with all the rain...wonder if that counts!! He got his dream of being a golf pro....I guess he should have been specific for how long!!!

Grace has been so good lately! She hasn’t been pushing or hitting Xavier, which is a relief! She is going to bed fairly easy without her dummies. She does need one of us to sit with her for about 5 mins, but thats fine. She hardly has any tantrums anymore. I think that is mainly because she can talk so well and get her point across easily. He little sentences are so cute. She came up to me today and said “cute boys” Oops its started already! She has been learning for a while now who are boys and who are girls. She gets it right most of the time! She also is starting to understand big and little. When she is going to the toilet she tells me if its a big or little wee or poo! BTW she is fantastic with the toilet. She hasn’t had an accident for ages and always asks when she wants to go. I still put her on before we go anywhere and when we come home, and I also remind her when we are out.

Xavier is just gorgeous! He is such a happy little giggly baby! His only issue at the moment is the night waking. He is waking on average every 3 hours and wont go back to sleep unless he has a feed. He only has a quick feed and then back to sleep so I am not sure whether he is actually feeding or just needing the comfort to go back to sleep. I have tried just resettling him but it takes ages and rarely works. I am going to just go with it and keep feeding him. I am also going to think about introducing solids soon! I kinda feel weird about doing it though.....It’s like he wont need his mummy as much anymore!

He is all over the show with feeding. I am completely demand feeding him and don’t really have any idea when he feeds! I know that he rarely goes longer than 3 hours during the day. He has started biting me at the end of a feed if I am not paying attention. It hurts so much, like little razor blades! He is such a fiddler when he feeds. He pulls out the nipple and then pushes my boob back with his hands. He also slaps my boobs, I think to get a letdown quicker. Once he has settled in and getting it he relaxes back. He pats my chest which is so cute. He starts from the outside and with one big sweeping movement he pats across, in an arc! I love it because it means that he is having a decent feed and not fighting my boobs for more milk! He is still a really quick feeder, usually about 5 mins either side! I am actually amazed that he is getting anything, he is so quick! He is peeing fine though and otherwise seems fine so I am sure that he is! I’ll get him weighed on Thursday!

Christmas 2007

~Christmas 2007 morning~

We have had such a lovely Christmas day!

Xavier was up a fair bit last night, which made for a very tired Mummy! They both woke at about 5.30am, but Pop wasn’t coming until 7am, so we had to keep them in our bedroom! So we all hung out in the bedroom taking group photos! We had opened 1 present each the night before which was new Pj’s for everyone!

Pop turned up at 7am, then it was straight into the pressies! Both of the kidlets were very spoilt from Grandma and pop. Xavier got car case with cars, 3 x singlets & cutlery set. Grace got Hi-5 backpack, puzzle, musical instruments, rubber play mats & cutlery set.
From Nanny Xavier got a swim ring for the spa. Grace got a hi-5 dress and t-shirt & also tickets to the concert in January. Nanny will be up then so she is going to take her!

Xavier from Mummy & Daddy:
Car case, matchbox cars, “mmmm boobies & lock up your daughters” t-shirts, some bonds tops, singlet and board short!

Grace from mummy and Daddy:
Undies, Hi-5 socks, paintbrush and roller, 2 x felt boards & shorts.

The kids also bought a present to give to each other. Grace gave Xavier a soft tonka truck and he gave her a book “When I am feeling jealous”

After opening all the presents we read the letter that santa had left under the tree! It was thanking the kids for the water and apple and also to thank grace for the dummies. At the end it told them to go outside! So out we went and there was the “Bouncy” Grace was so excited!! Xavier was also (hahaha) so excited that he then had to go have a nap!!

Grace spent the rest of the morning playing on the trampoline! She absolutely loves it. We have put her slide in backwards so she can use the stairs to climb into it!

Whilst grace, pop and Daddy were outside playing I was inside getting ready from breakfast! Murray, Trudy & Marilyn were coming over! We had pancakes, home-made strawberry jam & fruit salad! It was a lovely Christmas breakfast! We gave the Dews their present, a hammock! I think that they will enjoy it! They gave Grace 2 books and a hi-5 DVD & Xavier a basketball bath toy and a cute collared all in one suit! They all left at about 10am then the kids were ready for a nap. Xavier went off fairly easily but grace took awhile. She is still struggling to get to sleep without her dummies.

They both woke at noon then we all got ready to head over to Nicole’s for lunch. We had a lovely lunch with turkey, ham and yummy roast vegies! After the lunch we opened pressies. Grace got shorts and singlet from the Truets, Monkey game from the Cahills, bucket & spade from the Ryans. Emily also gave her a special present of a book that she doesn’t use anymore, which I thought was very sweet! Xavier got a ABC book from the Truets, a toy phone from the Cahills & soft books from the Ryans.

After pressies were opened we had dessert...yummy trifle and pavlova! Xavier went and had a nap on the spare bed! Grace has lots of fun playing with Emily! All in all it was a lovely relaxing day! We left about 5pm!

Xavier went to bed at 6pm, Grace was still bouncing away! She went to bed at 7pm but didn’t get to sleep until about 50 mins later. I hope that it gets easier for her to go to sleep. She still asks for her dummies, but seems fine when we explain what happened to them. It’s like she finds it really hard to relax enough to go to sleep without them.

Spitting the Dummy!

I cant believe that it is 2 days until Christmas! I am mostly organised, well the kidlets have their pressies anyway! We have got a trampoline for them as their main present, Which Grace is so excited about!

We went to the Christmas carols at Coomera last Sunday night. The highlight for Grace was that she got her first pony ride! She was so excited and absolutely loved it! She held on by herself and wasn’t scared at all! We all enjoyed the carols, but by about 7pm the kids were ready for bed so we headed off!

~Grace's first pony ride~

They were both worn out from swimming early at Whitewater world! Grace has learnt to walk to the top of the waterslide by herself and put herself on. Duane catches her at the bottom...she loves it! Xavier and I mainly sit in the shallow water, he loves kicking around and splashing! We all have so much fun there...it will be a great place to cool off in summer!

We had mothers group on Wednesday. Grace was in full swing pushing Cooper and Malia about. She is fine when I am constantly reminding her to be gentle, but as soon as I stop watching her she starts again. I have been trying to tell her that they don’t like that, and they just want cuddles. She starts cuddling for a bit...but the pushing starts again too. I am just finding it so hard to keep near her all the time, especially if Xavier needs attention too. She has also been giving him lots of little “love taps!” I think that I will have to introduce time out.

So we went to Harvey Norman yesterday to have photos with Santa. Grace was a little scared but we managed to get a few good ones with all of us and also one with just Xavier and Grace. We have been talking to her about giving her dummies to Santa and he will bring her a “bouncy”. So we talked about it all day yesterday telling her that Santa needed the dummies to give to the sick babies. She seemed to understand that we were going to see santa to give him the dummies, and she would be getting a bouncy! So today we collected all the dummies then wrapped them up in a zip lock bag! We decorated them with lots of pretty ribbon! We all got ready and then went to visit Santa. I thought that it would be a good idea to go before her morning sleep, a bit of a trial run to see how tonight would go! So we headed off with Grace in her seat clutching her dummies. She kept on chatting about giving them to santa for the sick babies. She was happy and giggling, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was just about to break her heart. She absolutely adores her dummies and loves them to go to sleep. She has about 5 and usually has one in her mouth and the rest in her hands. She loves rubbing the rubber end into her eyes and all over her face as she is falling asleep! I felt bad for taking this little comfort from her, but I also think that it is the right thing as she is starting to get a little obsessed with them.

Once we got there she carried them in, whilst I went ahead and worded up santa! I gave him the “Glow Pooh bear” that he was to give Grace in exchange for the dummies. I also mentioned about the trampoline....He seemed a little worried and asked if we were definitely getting one for her!! Duane bought her up to Santa and at first she was a little hesitant. I think that was mainly because she was a little scared of him! They had a little chat then she handed them over and he handed her back her toy! She opened it up and seemed very excited about it! I was quietly confidant that she was going to be ok! But I guess the real test will be bed time!

~Giving dummy's to Santa~

She asked for them a few times in the car, but then she fell asleep on the way home! Duane put her into bed, she went off fine but then woke about 1 hour later. She woke up asking for her dummies, I reminded her of what happened. She started crying and getting a little upset. She went and layed on our bed with her glow baby and we had a little chat about it all. I showed her the photos on the camera of her handing the dummies to Santa. She has a few little cries but then seemed to be fine.

We went looking at Christmas lights tonight, but unfortunately we were too early and no lights were on! Xavier fell asleep in the car at about 5.30 and Grace went off at about 6.30pm. We put her into bed when we got home and haven’t’ heard from her since (its 9.30pm) Let’s hope that she has a good night! She asked a few times about them, but then she would say “Sick, babies, Santa, dummies!”

15th December 2007

I have been so slack with writing...so I will endeavour to catch up now and stay on top of it!

Ok Xavier is starting to sleep better of a night now. We had a couple of nights where he was waking every 2 hours. I think that this is a combination of a few things. He sleeps on his tummy now and has also started to get up onto his knees. NOOOOOOO I am not ready for my little baby to be moving already! But it seems that he is a determined little fellow and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is soon crawling! He is so strong and spends most of his awake time on the floor in his tummy. He loves reaching out for things and trys his hardest to get to it. He reaches and stretches and wriggles his way over to it! We are going to have to be super careful with things on the ground, especially grace’s stuff. Xavier has already poked himself on the face with a pencil and gagged on a piece of paper that he chewed up! He is such a happy little boy. He mainly spends his awake time playing on his tummy and watching Grace. He has been sleeping on his tummy and is now having longer naps during the day. A typical day for Xavier is wake at about 5.30am, bed 7.30am sleep until 9am, sleep at 10.30am and then wake at about 12 noon. He then has another sleep sometime in the afternoon. He goes to sleep really easily most of the time, sometimes just needs a little pat on the bum!
His teeth look so close to cutting! I wonder if he will be like his big sister and get them at 5 months! I guess we will find out next week!!

Grace is just growing and learning too quickly for me to keep up! Her language skills are just booming and she is confidently venturing into little sentences. It’s so cute having a conversation with her! She answers properly and her manners are just gorgeous! She say’s “No thank-you” and “Yes please”.

Better days

Well things are better!!
I just had a rough day last week. I think that is was a combination of Grace’s behaviour and Xavier only having cat naps all day! Grace has started pushing and hitting Xavier. It seems to happen if we stop paying attention to her. I am trying to praise her lots when she is being good (which is alot of the time) but then she will just go up to him and give him a whack! She looks at me when she does it. I have been putting her away from us and then paying lots of attention to Xavier. She usually whinges for a bit. I then tell her what she has done and that we don’t do that, and then she apologises! It’s very cute when she says “sorry Xavier”, but I have to refrain from laughing! She says it is such a sickly sweet sarcastic voice!!

I love my little boy so much! He is learning so many new things and seems to be growing up so fast! He is has been reaching out and grabbing things for a while now! I love it when he grabs my face with 2 hands....love it! He constantly plays on his tummy now. Once I put him on the ground he flips over to his tummy and stays there! He can move around on his belly, mainly going around in circles

I Quit!

I QUIT!!

I hereby tender my resignation as Mummy! I am sick of the crap associated with this job! The conditions are appalling and I am over it! The hours are too long and there seems to be no flexibility in reducing them. The position is tedious, mundane and sometimes stressful, however the wage is crapola!

I am supervisor to 2, and they need to be sacked ASAP!! They don’t listen to any instructions, they constantly need to be reminded of things and are hopeless at using their own initiative.

Everything has to be repeated 50 times and even then they don’t seem to comprehend. Unless of course it is something that they want and then it seems they understand completely! Selective hearing is not a strength that we as a company should allow.

They are constantly presenting themselves in an unprofessional manner, one even has been turning up nude....this is so against company policy! I can accept it in the office, but they are starting to also do this on “sales calls”.

I am sure that the companies insurance will not cover their antics either. Surely it’s not too hard to just sit there and do the job??? No they instead want to be on the desk, swinging on the chair or eating the pencils....all the time yelling out to me! Maybe they think that I approve of their behaviour?? Nope and this will be reflected on their performance appraisals, which will be out on the 25th December.

My “business partner” has become more like a silent partner over the last few days. He says that he is “networking”....on the golf course.

Ok...it seems I can't quit so back to "pushing Grace on the bloody swing"

Grace's 2nd birthday

We had such a lovely day yesterday for Grace’s birthday. Duane had the day off work, so it was nice to spend the day together as a family. We had put Grace’s bike together the night before, not without a bit of swearing and muttering!

We had a lovely nights sleep, with Mr X only waking for a quick boobie call overnight! Grace woke unusually early at 5.30am (she has been sleeping in until about 6.30am) It was very cute because she woke up and layed in bed calling out to “daddy, daddy” Duane went and got her out of bed and bought her into our bed for a cuddle!!

It was lovely to have her in there in the morning as we haven’t; done it for a while! Duane has been playing golf and working early of a weekend! After Xavier woke we took Grace out to the lounge to open her presents. We had placed blankets over her bike. She thought it was a bit odd and started to take the blankets off. I thought that she would have shown a little more enthusiasm, but she kinda went a little coy and shy! Maybe she was still half-asleep!! She shyly played with the bike, but we couldn’t take it outside as it was raining!

We gave her the present from Nanny, a Hi 5 backpack and singlet! This was a hit, as is anything at the moment with her beloved hi 5 on it!! Daddy took her down to the shops to get the “birthday paper” He has been collecting one every special occasion for the kids! They came home for a play and then grandma came over and we went to the play centre! It was the first time that we had been to one and Grace had so much fun! She got to play in the ball pit, go through the tunnel, go on the jumping castle, down the slide, played with the car slippery dip and had a great time!! She even got to go on the carousel, which was a real hit! We ordered her the cutest little “babycino” which was basically a very weak hot chocolate filled up with lots of froth! I think that she enjoyed the “look” involved with drinking it more than the drink itself!

~Enjoying her first "baby-cino"~

We then came home for a group nap!! Mummy and grandma made some scones for afternoon tea, and one to use as a birthday cake! Poppy came around and we had scones with jam & cream and savoury scones out the back! We all sung happy birthday to Grace!!

Grace was so tired by the end of her big day! I didn’t really get a chance to sit down and let it all sink in! I am probably still in denial that my little girl is now 2. Before she went to bed we read over her birth story and looked at the photos of her birth. I have such fond memories of that time!

She is my firstborn, the first child that I have experienced all the beautiful moments with. I love her dearly and am excited about beginning the next chapter of her life! She really is growing into such a beautiful soul. She is so outgoing, passionate, loving and sweet. I can’t believe that 2 years ago she was just my helpless little newborn who relied on me for everything! It just amazes me that she is so independent now, there are so many things that she can do by herself! She even can take herself to the toilet now!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Grace!

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl!!

I can’t believe that it was 2 years go since you came into the world. Your birth was such an amazing experience and one of the highlights of my life! I was in awe that your Daddy and I had created this gorgeous little person!

Its now 2 years into your life and you have grown up so much! You are talking so well, and it seems today you have increased your language 2 fold! You are starting to put little sentences together, like “Mummy’s car”, “see you later” and lots of others! You have just started saying Crocodile, and the way you say it is just so adorable. You say “croc-or-rile”!

You can jump high and can go up and down steps easily. You love to climb and can climb on to the swings and swing yourself...but you much prefer us out there with you! You toilet trained very easily and have only had night nappies for the last 10 days! I am so proud of you as you take yourself of to the toilet!

You love playing with Daddy! It’s so lovely to see the 2 of you playing and running around outside! You love it when he crawls and pretends to chase you!

You love kicking a ball and can catch if it is thrown slowly and close.

You are a wonderful sleeper and love going to bed! I can’t say “nigh, nighs” without you wanting to go to your bed!! You sleep in a toddler bed, but we think that you might need a big bed soon! You have been hitting you head on the side of the bed and the other night you were kneeling beside the bed with only your head on it! You go to bed at about 6.30 of a night! You have a cup of milk, cuddles and kisses with Mummy and Daddy, and then Daddy takes you up to bed! You always like to say goodnight to the puppies on the way to bed!

26th November 2007

Well Grace has been in undies now for the last week. She has only had a few accidents at home, no accidents when we are out!! She is going so well and always asks to go to the toilet when she needs to. Today she even got up on the toilet by herself and did a wee. I am just praising her now and not using any “toy” rewards like I was. It all seems so easy and i guess i am waiting for it all to fall apart! I really hope this is it though and i am fairly confident that it is! Yey....no more Grace nappies....just stinky Xavier’s!!

Xavier is just being more and more adorable every day! I am absolutely mesmerized by him! He is just so happy all the time and giggles at everything. Nicole and I took the boys shopping today. It was great to get out toddler free! Xavier is so good in the pram he just looks around until he gets tired then just drops off to sleep! He is still waking of a night at about 2am. I have just been giving him a quick feed and he goes back to bed easily. I think that he might be waking as he is not getting enough milk during the day....which leads me to my next subject!

I am fairly sure that Xavier is going to be a messy eater when he starts solids! If his breastfeeding antics are anything to go by! He latches on, has a few sucks then starts going crazy on my boob! He does this funny thing where he bury’s his head in my boobs and kinda blows a raspberry! I think that it has something to do with my letdown....but is it really necessary Mr Xavier? I come out of the ordeal with milk everywhere and my nipple being exposed to everyone! He also is very distracted during feeds now. Its like there is too much fun happening and he wants to be a part of it! He either laughs at me when he is feeding or gawks around at everyone else. I think that this is part of the reason that he is waking for a night feed. He doesn’t seem to be getting enough during the day! I would try and resettle him but his little tummy rumbles, so i just give him a quick feed and he goes back to sleep!

Well my beautiful first born baby is turning 2 tomorrow. I can’t believe that this time last year I was starting my labour that would bring this beautiful soul into the world. At 7pm the contractions started, just as Duane has dished me up a generous serving of ice-cream, ice magic and walnuts!
We have had so much fun together over the last 2 years, and I am looking forward to the next phase of her life! I’ll write a bit more about how I am feeling tomorrow! We are going to have a lovely family day...maybe go to the beach if it is a nice day! We have bought her a bike...which I am sure she will be super excited about!

11th October 2007

Today was a shocker! It was one of those days that I would have liked to have just stayed in bed!! But I can’t as I have a tornado toddler and a sweet little newborn to attend to!

Xavier woke at 4am and came into my bed for his booby buffet and so I could keep sleeping. Grace woke at about 5am and also came in...but she doesn’t go back to sleep. I tried turning the tv on, but she wouldn’t sit still and was crawling all over me and Xavier. So we started the day very early! Grace was just grumbly right from the start. Xavier went back to sleep at about 6.30am so I set Grace up in the lounge with a dvd so that I could have a shower. I probably should have just stayed at home but I really wanted to go to playgroup as we won’t be able to go for a few week when we are in Tas. Grace was very whingy at playgroup and was so tired. She crashed when we got home and slept from 12-2.30. I got to have a lovely sleep with Xavier in our bed. I just fed him and he just nodded on and off. Nothing better than cuddling into a baby whilst feeding them!

I am having a bit of an emotional moment. I was just reading a home birth story and I have come to the realisation that I may never get one. I feel sad when I think that I’ll never get to be pregnant again and give birth. It is such an experience that I treasure with each of my children but it breaks my heart to think that I may not be doing it again. I look at Xavier and just want to bottle every moment and stop him from growing bigger. I absolutely love babies and the whole experience that they bring. I want to treasure every moment just in case i don’t have anymore....but at the back of my mind I hope that we do!!!

The precious moments of pregnancy & birth

The moment you find out your pregnant,
You are growing a new life,
A symbol of the love you share,
The first little flutter,
Then the definite kicks and rolls,
The gentle hiccups down the bottom on my left,
The “party in my womb” just as I am drifting off to sleep,
Your husband feeling the movement for the first time,
Seeing your belly move strangely right before your eyes,
Making out all the body parts,
Cupping that tiny bottom up near my ribs,
Feeling the curve of the spine down my side,
Feeling the heaviness in my pelvis...waiting for arrival,
The excitement and anticipation of waiting,
That first sign when you know your little bubba is on their way,
The giddiness of realising that you are in labour,
The first contractions & you think “this isn’t too bad!!”
The slow build up and then the full blown labour has begun,
The realisation that there is no backing out now,
The primal noises that escape your mouth,
The unbelievable urge “I need to poo”,
The low groans and my body taking over,
My body doing the work and pushing,
The feeling of the drop in my pelvis
The “Oh my god I can see hair”
The burning ring of fire,
The relief of the head coming out,
The full feeling of your baby’s head being between your legs,
The next amazing contraction and your baby slivering out,
The feeling of relief and meeting your beautiful bubba for the first time, A beautiful little squishy, purple bundle of love!

My little boy is 10 weeks

Where is the time going?????

My little boy is so grown up at 10 weeks old! He is so strong and seems to be like a 6 month old baby! He rolls easily from his tummy to back and tries to go from back to front but can’t yet! He is so ticklesh and is always smiling and giggling! He loves being tickled on his sides and also on his thighs! He breaks out in the cutest little giggle that is very similar to Grace’s laugh! He is still sleeping very well.

He goes to bed between 4.30pm and 5pm and then wakes between 1am and 2am and then back down till nearly 6am. He just has a quick feed of a night and then goes back to sleep easily! I actually really enjoy the night cuddles with him when I am feeding. He is such a contented little fellow! He’s not too keen on sleeping in the pram…he would much rather his bed! I have managed to get out a bit with the 2 and it hasn’t gone too bad! Grace loves being in the toddler seat…grabbing at everything!

Xavier loves being in the bouncer. He loves kicking and grabbing the toys and laughing at them. He likes being on his tummy but a lot of the time he just rolls onto his back!

Grace is doing really well…except we had a bot of a shocker on Monday! She seemed to be doing everything to annoy me. I know that she wasn’t but that’s just how it felt at the time. She is great most of the time and is fantastic if I have to do anything for Xavier. She is happy to just let me put him into bed and she plays by herself. She has 1 puzzle that she loves doing over and over again. She is actually really good at it and knows where all the pieces go! I am going to get her some for her birthday. She is picking up new words all the time and copies everything that we say. She saw me the other day expressing some milk from my nipple and now she tried to squeeze hers to get something out! She was even trying to suck on her own boob! So funny!

We are attempting to toilet train but not much luck yet! I am finding it hard to get the time to concentrate on it. I am always getting interrupted and having to rush to Xavier. She knows when she needs to go but she hasn’t actually done a full wee or poo on the toilet...just finishes them!!

Logan is here!

Today my best friend Nicole gave birth to her much wanted and longed for baby boy. Logan was born at 1.28pm weighing in at 7lb 7oz.

Trudy and I went to visit him last night and he is sooo cute! He has lots of really dark hair and is absolutely gorgeous! Nicole wasn’t so good. She was in a lot of pain from the caesarean and had been vomiting a lot. She was so excited to meet her little boy and they are both head over heals for him already! They are both going to be fantastic parents, Logan has chosen a very special family to join.

Xavier also became an instant best friend today. No iffs or butts, the boys are going to be best friends for ever! Well in Mummy & Aunty Cole's dreamland they are anyway!

They'll probably grow up and have plenty of fights and squabbles but we hope that they do remain friends.

Nicole and I have been friends for about 11 years now. We went to the same high school together but never really got to know each other there. She was one of the popular girls and I just had my close group of "not so popular" friends. Konnie was one of them, who funnily enough is now my cousin. I'll get to that story another time!

So I got to know Nicole a little bit in year 10. We stayed over at Sarah's house together a few times. It wasn't until year 11 that I really got to know her better.

What a fun year that was! The year of 1994.

I can't remember the details but we started hanging around with 2 of the Canadian exchange students. Ben & Heather. There was also Mandy & Marcus. We had so much fun together, we were the "Sexy Six".

We spent the whole year getting up to innocent mischief. Pooling all our money together to buy cheap casks of wine, camping out at Mandy's house drinking, cruising around Devonport in my little corrola & spending all our spare time at the beach.

We all became such great friends, all sharing the same sense of humour.

When the 2 Canadians headed back home we all promised that we would meet up again. Nicole and Mandy had planned to go to Canada after year 12. I really wanted to go to Uni so I thought that I would wait until after I had finished my degree.

Nicole & stayed close during year 12, but we both had boyfriends to keep us busy. I was in my first true relationship & I was lovestruck.

However it all came crashing down towards the end of the year. I remember being in the school library crying over goodness knows what and Nicole came in and saw me. She said "Well why dont you come to Canada with me?" And it was then that I decided to defer Uni and just go.

We spent the rest of the year frantically trying to save our money. We were both working ridiculous hours for crappy money, she was at Woolworths and I was at Chickenfeed. We tried to work out ways to make money, I vaguely remember a lamington drive being mentioned!! We had 2 garage sales, selling anything that we thought would help us get the cash together! I think we made a couple hundred dollars between us.

We finally got to leave on our big adventure on the 10th March 1996. Just 3 days after I turned 18 and a week since Nicole had.

Our travelling stories need a whole Blog to themselves! We have had so much fun together. I'll try and write them up another time!

So back to Nicole and I. We have shared so much together. Our lives actually run quite parallel. Our Mum's were even in the same hospital at the same time when we were born. Her birthday is the 3rd March and mines the 7th March. We both met our future husbands within months of each other, and as it turned out they were both budding golfers who get on fantastically!

It was bound to happen then we would have children around the same age. Our boys are 8 weeks apart.

~Our baby bumps, me on the left @ 37 weeks & Nicole on the right @ 25 weeks~

I am so blessed to have Nicole in my life. It's not just her that I have as a friend she also shares her 3 wonderful sisters with me. I always wanted a sister, but as hard as Mum tried all she could manage was 4 stinky brothers!!

One of Nicole's sisters has also turned into one of my bestest friends. I also hold the privelege of introducing her to her now husband, Murray. That's a whole other story too.

Actually now that I think about it, I don't want our boys to grow up as best friends. I want them to grow up as family that are also friends. That's kinda how I look at Nicole's family now. I have adopted them as my own family, whether they like it or not!!

Anyway....little off track!

Welcome to the world baby Logan. We all love you very much.

Loving Two

I found this poem the other day and it really sums up how I am feeling! I know that it will all work out in the end but I can’t help but feel that I wont be able to love another child as I love Grace! I already love my little unborn boy but it still doesn’t seem as much as I love Grace. It will be fine I know.

Loving Two

I walk along holding your hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship.
Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited.
And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me.‿ And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t,‿ knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him—as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you — as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you—only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.I love you—-both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. —Author Unknown

8th April 2007

Well it’s Easter Sunday and poor Gracie didn’t even get to eat any chocolate today! We are being mean parents and have decided not to give her any for a while yet! I really wanted to get some yoghurt frogs for her but couldn’t find them anywhere! Duane and I each got a small present. I got a box of tiny humpty dumpty’s and Duane got a Guerlein egg with 2 choc bars!

We had breakfast here this morning with Duane’s parents. Yummy omelets! Then just spent the rest of the day laying around playing with Gracie…in between trips to the spa!

Gracie has also gone down to 1 sleep each day! She was having 2 up until about a week ago but then she was finding it hard to go to sleep at her normal time! Some night she wasn’t going to bed until about 8.30….and that is just way toooooo late for us considering I go to bed just after that! So we have been on project “keep Gracie awake until at least 10.30’! She has only been sleeping for about 1 ½ hours but by about 6pm she is exhausted and goes to bed without a fuss. However she has been waking at about 5.30….I am hoping that she will start to stretch this out!! It’s not too bad I guess…she lets me sleep longer and just plays and dozes in our bed!

Also for a while now she has been having conversations on her play mobile! It’s so cute to watch. She says hello and then talks in her a little jibber…goes silent for a bit as if she is listening to what the other person is saying. She then jibbers again and sometimes acts like she is laughing at what they are saying. It is so cute...I really should try and video it! I guess she must copy us on the phone…she is such a little mimicker!! Also yesterday she came out with lipstick all around her mouth! She had got into the top drawer in the bathroom and had found my (probably only!!) lipstick! She even let me take a photo of her with a trampy look on her face!!

Blobby #2 is kicking a lot lately. Also I am feeling lots of tightness and also lots of rolling! I couldn’t find the heartbeat the other day but it seems he had moved to the other side! Duane also said that I am starting to snore a lot…especially when I am lying on my back! I know that I shouldn’t do this but somehow I end up on my back overnight and then wake up really sore the next day!

5th April 2007

Well tomorrow starts the 4 day long weekend for Easter! It will be nice to spend the time with my little family of Gracie, Duane & I! We are going to go for a picnic tomorrow and then maybe a BBQ at Lisa’s house! Saturday Duane will be playing golf in the afternoon whilst Gracie and I go Easter egg shopping! We are not going to get any chocolate for Gracie….maybe just some yoghurt frogs! That doesn’t mean that we miss out though…Duane wants Guirlein and I want Lindt….Yummo!

Gracie seems to have a reaction every time she eats a lot of citrus fruit. She has a urine scold and it burns her bum! She had it awhile ago after a big feed of Pineapple and then again the other day after an orange. The other night she was up for about 2 hours crying and not wanting to put her bum down. She was trying to sleep on her head…kinda in the dog yoga pose!! I thought that maybe she had done a poo so I checked her nappy and there was nothing It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized that she had a really bad scald! Poor little poppet! It seems to be getting better now with lots of Nappy off time and cream.

She is being incredibly cute though. She loves feeding her dolly her water cup. And then tonight she dragged over the pink tri pillow (the one I always breast fed her on), she layed it on her lap and then fed her dolly the milk from her cup! She still seems fascinated by my boobs when she sees them but hasn’t tried to feed again!

We went to 2 different playgroups this week. The first one was in Nerang on Tuesday and the second was at Mermaid Waters. I don’t’ think that we will be going to the Nerang one again….a few to many ferals! It’s a shame because it is fairly small and organized quite well but I didn’t really like how a few of the mothers treated there kids. The spoke quite nastily to them and I really don’t want Gracie around that. The other one was good but very big. I think we might try the other one at the PCYC in Nerang and then if that’s no good I’ll go with Jenni (a mothers group Mum) on Thursday to the one in Mudgeeraba. Gracie really enjoys playing with all the other kids. She usually runs off and joins in with whatever they are doing. She especially loves playing with the older kids!

I had a few tummy pains the other night. I think that they might have been stretching pains because they were on both sides of my stomach. Some days I feel really big and heavy and then others I don’t feel big at all!

29th March 2007

We had our midwife visit with Tracey at the birth centre today. Gracie and Duane came along too. Gracie had so much fun running around the room, and wanting to jump in the bath!

Everything is going well with Blobby#2. There dates are about 24 weeks….but I am thinking it’s more like 26 weeks! I guess we will see at the end who is right!! Tracey asked if I was interested in getting the birth photographed by a professional photographer for free. The lady wants to use birth centre photos for a seminar that she is attending! I am definitely interested. I think that it would be so special to have those moments on camera!! I hope that we can! We talked about Gracie birth and what I liked about that and what I would like to have changed. I told her that I will probably beg for an epidural but I don’t really want it! Just to talk me out of it! Also that I don’t want the baby bathed and I want Gracie to come in after we have had a feed! My blood pressure was good (100/60) and all my urine tests were fine. I am starting to get a lot more kicks now but still mainly on the outsides. Lots of rolling movements too which makes me feel a little sick sometimes! Duane is feeling the baby a lot more now too!

I weigh about 70kgs now but I am starting to fell quite heavy. I think that I definitely look preggars now but a few people have told me not really! My belly is a similar shape compared to Gracie. I tend to carry from the sides not all out in front.

Grace's last feed

Well we got home at about 1am this morning but Duane still managed to go to work at 6am.

Gracie woke at about 6am so I bought her in bed with me to get a little extra sleep! I was wearing a singlet top that always slides and exposes my boobs! Well Gracie must have had a flashback to a week ago and latched on!

I couldn’t believe it!

I didn’t want to say no to her so I just let her go! She fed for about 10mins and seemed to be enjoying it! It didn’t hurt which I was quite surprised about!

When she tried to feed of the other side, but after having a break it hurt me a lot! I guess it was dry sucking! She hasn’t asked again so I really think that now she has fully weaned! I am a bit sad but I am also grateful that we got to feed for so long!

Our last feed was very enjoyable for us both! I spent the whole time gazing at her and thinking how much my little newborn baby had grown up! When she had finished she pulled off and gave me her cheesiest smile! I thought then that this was our last! I have decided to do a collage of all our feeding photos and have it made into a black and white canvas! It will be something that she can keep! I am sure that at times it will be embarrassing to her but when she gets older she might appreciate how beautiful this time was for us together!

If this is our last time, I want to remember a few things.

I am so proud that we both stuck it out for this long!
The early days were tough.
We battled through 3 days of not attaching and syringe feeding.
Hundreds of different nurses banging your head and my boobs together like a pair of symbols,
The horrendous crack on my right nipple when my milk came in,
Your delicate little mouth trying desperately to attach to my engorged boobs, but just slipping everywhere,
The constant recurring bouts of thrush, the shocking pain,
Poor Mummy crying every time you were due for a feed, curling my toes as you attached and praying that you stayed there,
But then things got better,
You started getting stronger and less sleepy,
Feeds got shorter and weren’t painful,
It was now quite easy,
I really enjoyed our special feeding times,
Seeing in your eyes just how much you loved it,
That cute little half cry, half giggle just before feed time,
The little dribble of milk coming out of your smiling mouth,
I will always have the fondest memories of feeding you, my beautiful Grace.

We made it to 16 months! Hip Hip Hooray for us!!

~Feeding Grace @ 2 weeks old~

15th March 2007

Well I seem to have lost a week worth of entries! Bugger!

We had our spa put in on Monday!! It is so nice to jump in and relax! Gracie absolutely loves it too!! She loves splashing about and jumping up and down! The first day we had it she wanted to be in it all day! I think that we have a water baby on our hands!! We will have to get her some floaties though because it is so hard to hold on to her now…she wants to be off by herself! Duane and I have been going in it every night! The massage is really nice…but it’s also nice to just relax in! It’s so cold when you get out of a night though!! We have been keeping the temp at 34 degrees Celsius…as being pregnant I can’t have it too hot! The midwife said not to go above body temp! I love that we will be able to use it all year round though! We are even thinking about putting a tv outside so that we can watch Dvd’s and listen to music! Very nice!

We are off to Tasmania today! It’s the first trip Duane & I have taken there together since our wedding! It’s also going to be the first trip Duane & Gracie have taken together and also the first time that Duane will see our house down there! We are staying with Deb for 3 nights then heading up to Launceston for Angies high tea then through to Devonport for a week! We want to go to Salamanca markets and also take Gracie to Dr Harry’s hobby farm! She loves animals so I think that she would really enjoy this!
I am actually looking forward to coming down this time! I get a little bored and homesick when it’s just me and Grace, but I think that I will be fine having Duane with us! It will be a nice break away too!! I hope that Duane starts to feel better though. He is still feeling weak and doesn’t have much energy! Maybe the break and clean Tassie air will be good for him! I just hope that it’s not too cold!!

I am still feeling good! I am definitely feeling a lot more movements now! Almost every day I get to feel our baby boy wriggling about inside me! It never ceases to amaze me!! Duane even got to feel the other day which was nice! Actually when Duane had his hand on my tummy it was the most movement that I had felt! I still feel a little nauseous at time but nothing too bad!

9th March 2007

Another wet and overcast day today!

Gracie hates being cooped up inside but the backyard is so wet and muddy at the moment! I bought her a play stove the other day with all the cute little utensils and play food! She absolutely loves it! This morning I played with her and we did “pretend cooking” and then pretended to eat it! I am not sure if she understands what I am doing but she always copies! She loves me playing with her and I really need to make more of an effort to do it!

She also loves dancing so today whenever we heard music I got her to dance with me! She is so cute when she does it! I adore her to bits! When Duane got home from work we went to Rosser park to feed the ducks! She loves watching the animals and does the cutest little quack noise! But I don’t think that she realizes that the real life ducks are ducks! I think that she thinks that ducks are bright yellow, just like her one in the bath!!

29 years + 1 day old

Well I am officially only 1 year from 30!!

It was my 29th B’day yesterday! I can’t believe that it was 2 years ago that we conceived Gracie!! In 1 way it feels like she has always been with us, but in others it seem like it was only yesterday!!

I had a lovely day. Duane & Gracie woke me up at 5.40am (soooo early) singing happy birthday! Then Gracie came into bed with me for her morning milk! The weather wasn’t that nice but we still ventured out and went to playgroup! Gracie had a ball running around everywhere…and trying to climb the stairs to the stage! She is so quick…I don’t know how I am going to cope with the 2!!

After playgroup we went to Pacific fair for lunch and a bit of a shop! Beck, Cooper, Leanne &Chelsea all joined us! I also have to mention that Gracie seems to have a little cold! Well nothing really that bad just a runny nose. I dropped into the chemist on the way to playgoup to get some demazin. Because the weather was horrible outside I left Gracie in the car and just ran in quickly. Well by the time I came back she was fast asleep! She looked so angelic, I felt so bad waking her up for playgroup! But she was happy enough!

Last night Duane & I went out for dinner with Murray & Trudy. We went to Anand Sagar (Indian) which was probably not the best for Duane considering her hasn’t been feeling that great! He only managed a bit of rice and naan bread! Mine was yummy though…fish and prawn curry! Yummo! Even though it did give me heartburn and bad breath!

The Dews gave me a lovely black skirt and top…perfect for my ever expanding waist! Grandma looked after Gracie and she didn’t hear from her all night! My little girl is such a sound sleeper! She went to bed last night at 6pm and I didn’t hear from her until 5am where I just popped a blanket on her and she slept for another hour! I am just so proud of the way she puts herself to sleep! She loves her bed and loves her dummies!

Anyway….HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

5th March 2007

I just love my little girl so much!

She really is such a sweet and gorgeous person! She is happy and easy going most of the time! She just loves following me around the house doing our jobs!

I really think that this age is the easiest so far! Yes we have tantrums but they are only short lived thus far! She mainly gets upset if I take her away from something that she is enjoying.
Mostly that is climbing in a totally dangerous place!

She just adores her Daddy and can’t get enough of him when he comes home from work. Sometime she just stands and the window waiting and yelling “Daaaaaaad” hoping that he will be home soon!

She very rarely says Mum, but she is getting quite a little collection of works happening. She can say Dad, Mum, bub, Daisy (very clearly) sometime Lily, Duck, quack. A few times she has said pretty and lately she has been trying to say shoes! There are lots of other words that she has for tings but I am yet to work out what they are for. She comprehends a lot though…way more than we give her credit for! She also copies everything that we do! Duane was playing with an empty coke bottle and hitting Lily on the head. After he put it down Grace picked it up and gave Lily a huge whack to the face,. Poor lily gave a half whimper/half bark…it must have really hurt her.

We went to the information session for Steiner playgroup this morning. I like their philosophies but I really don’t think that we will be able to afford private schooling for our kids! I am fine with that because we have Gilston Primary just around the corner which I think will be great! I might go to the Steiner playgroup…haven’t’ decided yet! After that we went to McDonalds so the kids could have a play in the playground! Gracie loved it and had so much fun going through the tunnels!

Duane and his Dad were busy yesterday laying the foundations for the concrete! We are getting our spa delivered in the next week and I can’t wait! It will be so nice to go out there after dinner and have a nice relaxing spa! Might even be able to have a nuddie dip!

2nd March 2007

Can you believe that it is already March 2007!!! I can’t believe that I will be 29 in a few days…and then it won’t be too long and I will be the big 30!! It’s also hard to comprehend that when I do turn 30 I will be a mother to a 2 y/o and also have a 8 mth old baby! I still can’t quite believe that I have bought another person into this world and am about to experience it all again! Amazing!!

Duane is starting to feel better! Turns out that it was a viral infection but because he couldn’t eat or drink anything it got quite bad. He is now trying to eat and drinking lots of gastrolyte!. Hopefully he will be better soon! I have an ulterior motive though!! I want the concrete finished so that we can get our spa delivered before we go to Tas! I can’t wait to be able to jump in and have a nice (cool) massage! I am sure that Gracie will enjoy it too!

Gracie is being very demanding to Duane as soon as he walks in the door from work. She stands at his feet and does a few little grunts and puts her hands up! She just wants him to hold her all the time! She rarely does this to me though! She just loves her Daddy so much! Even when she has been hurt she always wants him not me if he is here!

The funniest thing happened last night! I had just gone to bed and was reading. I always check on Gracie before I go to bed and open her door. After I had gotten into bed I hear a funny little noise. Then it started getting louder and louder! It was Gracie having the hugest laugh in her sleep! It was so loud that it woke Duane up and we both just listened to her! It was one of her full on belly laughs…so I guess she was having a funny dream!! So cute!

27th February 2007

Well Gracie has officially weaned herself off the night feed! She hasn’t had it for 4 nights now and doesn’t seem to miss it! She has a cup of milk before she goes to bed and her excitement about milk has passed over to that! She is still enjoying her morning slurp though! It’s so cute when she has finished she looks up at me with the cheekiest grin. I always ask her if it was yummy and she nods her head in agreement!! I wonder how long that feed will last now??? Also I wonder if I will be lopsided?? Ever since she cut down to only 2 feeds she has had lefty for breakfast and righty for tea! She is still only having lefty for breaky…but it all seems fine though!

Grace is really starting to gain her own independence now! We went to get the fruit and veg yesterday and she was very insistent about picking out EVERYTHING! I only got to hold the bag and scrutinize her choices from afar! She just loves helping with everything that we do! Sometimes it is a good help but most of the time it just means more work for me!!

I really don’t mind though…I love her exploring and working out things for herself! One form of her exploring that is becoming quite embarrassing is that with her mouth!! She loves the feel of all different things in her mouth…very unusual things!! For example we were at pathology today waiting for Duane to have his blood test. Gracie was touching a wall that was very textured…all bumpy! Now it would have been fine just feeling it with her hands but no she wanted to feel it with her tongue! She started licking the wall! Every time I pulled her away and tried to distract her she went straight back to it and started licking again! It must have looked strange to everyone lese waiting!!

Oh another thing she did this morning as we were waiting! I was standing up (everyone else seated) ready to pounce on Grace if she went somewhere she wasn’t allowed! I called out to her and she came running at me full pelt and grabbed my legs in a big hug! That would have been nice also but she then decided to pull down on my skirt…nearly revealing everything to the “audience”! Nothing was revealed…but I must remember to be aware for this next time I am in a skirt (all the time!!)

Now back to the mouth thing! I also caught her the other day lying on the floor trying to get the door stop in her mouth! She often goes up to the dog’s wide mouth trying to get them to lick the inside of her mouth, and then she laughs her head off!

The dreaded heartburn started with a vengeance yesterday! It’s still not too bad but it has made me remember how bad it can be! You feel the burning flame coming up your throat, sometime into your mouth and the worst is when acids come up all the way! Yuck! Off to the shops for quick-eze for me I think!

Baby has been kicking a lot more now. I am still mainly feeling them on the left side…I think I even felt a bit of rolling the other day! I can feel a little it at the front but it is a lot duller! I am feeling fine, more energy now. I can’t believe that I am just over half way now! I really want to enjoy this pregnancy…It could potentially be my last which is sad! Nicole is still having trouble with M/s…maybe she is having twins???

I taught myself to knit a few weeks ago! I really enjoy it and have knitted Grace 2 woolen soakers to wear over her nappies at night! They actually didn’t turn out too bad for a first attempt…and they work which is a bonus!

Duane is still not feeling well. He went back to the Dr yesterday and had blood tests done today! I hope that the can work out what is wrong with him because he has no energy and has already lost 8 kgs! I am thinking that he is just slower to get over the tummy bug…I hope that’s what it is anyway!

23rd February 2007

Well it has been weird weather here lately. It has rained everyday which is nice and refreshing but as the day progresses it gets muggy again! The backyard is so wet and sodden! All the weeds seem to be growing at such a fast rate…too fast for us to keep up!

Duane mowed the lawn yesterday…it was getting to be about a foot long! Gracie and I swept up the lawn clippings from the concrete. She had the little broom and I had the big one! She loves getting involved in what we are doing and trying to help. This morning I swept the front yard and she remembered and grabbed her broom and started picking the piles and trying to put them into the bin. It was so cute!

For the last few months Gracie has been an absolute angel going to bed. At about 8.30 in the morning I ask her if she is tired and wants to go to sleep and if she does she heads up to the bedroom and waits for me to put her in the cot. Gee it makes life easier! She also does this for her sleep at about 1.30pm! I usually peek in on her and she is just happily laying there playing with her dummies (she has about 6 in the cot with her!!) She very rarely wakes up crying…usually I don’t even hear her through he monitor! I just check on her from about 1 hour onwards!

For her nighttime routine she has a bath (if we are organized!!) then has a nuddy run out in the lounge! After we have a struggle getting her pj’s on (she loves being a nudie!!) she starts getting all excited because it is milk time! She looks for her pillow and then does this cute little half laugh half cry thing! She then runs up to me all excited! I feed her (in between her laughing at me and pulling on and off!) then Daddy takes her to bed after a kiss and cuddle! She goes into bed and we usually don’t hear a peep out of her for the next 11-12hrs! Absolute bliss! And now everything with Gracie sleep is perfect we are going to turn our world upside down again and start again with the new bub!

I always have a peek on her just before I go to bed…I love seeing what sort of position she has chosen to sleep in!

I am now about 21 weeks pregnant and starting to definitely feel preggars! My tummy is quite definite and I am starting to fell a lot more movement. By this time with Gracie I was feeling movement all the time but it seems that this time the placenta is at the front (anterior) and cushioning the babies kicks! I seem to be able to feel them from the side or faintly from the front. My back is also starting to hurt and every now and then I have trouble with my sciatica on the left side. Apart from all that I feel great…I have to keep up with Gracie!

I am still feeding Gracie! We had a lovely moment the other night when I was feeding her bubs was kicking! I don’t think that it would have been strong enough for Gracie is realize but it was nice for me!

Well it’s still the 23rd but later in the evening! Gracie had her usual bedtime routine however something different happened! She came up to get her milk had 1 suck and came off laughing! This happened quite a few times! I kept on offering it to her and she would take a sip and then come off and laugh at me! I know that there was milk because every time that she came off I was leaking. She started doing this last night so I guess that she is weaning of this night feed! I’ll see how she goes tomorrow night and keep you updated!

17th February 2007

Duane has been sick for the last week. Constant Diarrhea and dehydrated! That has made life interesting looking after him and Gracie!

Gracie is being incredibly cute at the moment. She is learning so many new and exciting things! She loves to copy and tries her hardest to do the same things as us!

She follows me out to the clothesline and hands me up the washing to hang out. Only problem is she must think that I am super fast because she hands them up to me at lightening speed! After all the clothes are up she hunts around for all the old broken pegs, insisting that they should be put into the washing basket! She collects as many as she can…sometimes a few rocks are thrown in as well!

She adores being outside. She loves going in and out of her cubby house…and gets super excited if any of the dogs pay her a visit! She giggles and squeals with delight…even if they are just checking out her home through the window.

She also has a sand pit but only likes to enjoy it from the outside. She hates putting her feet or god forbid sit in sand. She barely likes getting her hands in it! We mainly just build sandcastles for her to destroy with her shovel or spade! She takes great pleasure in bashing down our masterpieces! With all the fun and exciting things that she has to do outside her all time favourite is the dog water bowl! She loves nothing more than to conquer the barriers that we have erected to keep her away from it. First she goes around the sandpit cover, crawls under the chairs and over to the enticing water! She loves just playing in the water and splashing it about everywhere. Sometimes we are lucky and she forgets its there…but as soon as she hears one of the dogs taking a big sip…..her eye’s light up and she is on a mission to get to it!

Gracie also loves giving herself dizzy whizzes! She goes round and round holding her arms out like a plane. She keeps going until she is obviously struggling to stay upright then she usually veers off or falls over. However she still has some control when she falls over…usually she goes into a headstand…kinda like “dog-pose” in yoga! It’s actually been one of her favourite things to do for a while now. Sometime she gets into her pose and waves at you with both hands…balancing on her head! She loves being upside down! Crazy kid!!