Daddy's little boy!

~Daddy & Xavier 9 days old~

My clever little boy is now saying "Dad".

Duane was outside pushing Xavier and Grace on the swing. He always takes them out about 4pm, it gives me time to get dinner ready and have a quick tidy up without the risk of sucking up the kids in the vacuum!!

Xavier was having a great time, giggling and chatting to himself, when all of a sudden he started saying "Dad, Dad, Dad" What perfect timing, just as Daddy was pushing him. He kinda says it in a whingy voice, but its getting there!

Daddy and Xavier share a very special bond. Xavier was birthed into his Daddy's loving hands, it was such an overwhelming and beautiful experience for Duane. He was a little scared about the experience, considering it was a waterbirth and Xavier was under water for time it took his head and then his body to come out!

Anyway, Duane really enjoys having a little boy. As soon as he walks in the door from work he is looking around for his "Little buddy" or his "Little man" Xavier always has a big grin for him and I don't doubt know he will greet him with a big "Dad"

Duane has dreams of teaching him all about golf and going out and having a "hit". No doubt there will be lots of friendly competition!

Duane's favourite toys when he was a little boy were his matchbox cars. He would spend hours playing with them and had a little metal case that he would cart them all around in. His Mum said that becuase he was a shocking sleeper he used to sit up until midnight playing with his cars! At Christmas he gave Xavier the cars that he used to play with and they take pride of place in Xavier's little case now. Xavier was very lucky, Poppy made him his own special little case, just like Daddy used to have!

I love seeing the two of them playing together. Xavier looks a lot like his Daddy when he was younger too. Daddy has always had a knack of settling Xavier down and has spent many nights pacing around the house with an unsettled baby.

Daddy must seem so high up to Xav. His little head cranes back trying to find the top of his Daddy. He loves being carried around in Daddy's big strong arms...he must feel so safe!

~Daddy & Xavier 5 months~

Practice what you preach Mummy!

We have been having terrible trouble getting Grace to keep the straps on in her car seat lately. The little worm always manages to get her arms out, even when we do the straps up so tight she can barely breathe. We have tried making it into a game, where if she takes her straps off the car can't go. Yes we have had plenty of pull overs, or driving along and pretending that the car is about to stop. I make the car jerk and splutter telling her that its breaking down and to hurry and put the straps back on. This works sometimes, but it's a little hard to pull over on the highway and then I get scared that she is not restrained properly and what if we had an accident?

Well today we were driving in the car, heading to Robina town centre to do a bit of shopping. I buckled up the kids, making sure that Grace was in nice and tight. I opened the top gate, drove the car out then closed the gate again, jumped in the car and put my seat belt on. Then I did what I always do and only just realised!

I put my right arm over the top of the belt that goes across your body. I HAVE DONE THIS FOR AGES AND IT ONLY JUST CLICKED! Duh....I wonder if my daughter was copying her silly mother who is doing her own version of "getting her arms out".

I just hate the feeling of the seat belt rubbing on my neck and going over my boobs. It's so damn uncomfortable! I know this is something that I shouldn't do. I'll even admit I have been told off by the "boys in blue" on 2 different occasions. Mummy should have learnt her lesson by now.

So now I promise to keep my arms in. Everytime that I have been in the car since I have automatically put the belt under my right arm and had to take it out again. Maybe I need one of those neck thingies to stop the belt rubbing on my neck? Or maybe I just need to accept it and start setting a better example for my daughter!!

Hello, Goodbye

Grace went to "school" again today, so 2 days in a row for my little Miss!

She was actually excited to go. She happily gave me the directions, "round corner, see Daddy's work, horsey, baby horsey, Look Gracie school" We drove in, she eagerly hopped out of the car and we walked in. I popped Xavier on the ground while I sorted out the morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea into the proper places. Grace was busy showing Xavier all around the room. Showing him the cars, the dolly's and all the kiddy art work on the wall. Once I had signed her in I took her out to see Norma.....SHE WAS STILL FINE....No tears!!

Grace gave Xavier & I a cuddle then happily went up to the other end of the deck, ready to wave goodbye to us in the car! I couldn't believe it. I know that she had a great day yesterday, but we still had the heartbreaking cry's and sobs when we got there and as I was leaving.

She cheerfullly waved us goodbye then ran off to join in all the fun.

Oh dear, I am happy and sad at the same time. Happy because I want her to feel comfortable and enjoy her time away, but sad because she is growing up. She has needed me for all of her life and now she doesn't need me for 6 hours a week. I also know that this is just the beginning of allowing others to care for my children, and trusting that they are treating them with the same kindness and love that I would show her. Ok...I think it's Mummy that has the seperation issues, not the kidlets!!

~~~~~~~

Grace has decided that everything deserves a friendly greeting. She is saying "Hello & Goodbye" to some very strange things. Like the other day I was changing Xavier's nappy and in it was a delightful little surprise. "Hello Xavier Poos", she says. When she goes to the toilet she always says goodbye to her bodily fluids before she presses the button. When she wakes and stumbles down the hall she says "Bye Gracie room, Hello Mummy room, Hello Xavier room", waving to each as she passes. It's very cute, but a little embarrassing when Mummy goes to a public toilet and Grace yells her greetings!

~Xavier 7 mths clapping hands~

Also an update on little Xavier and his hand clapping. He is so cute and does it now when we sing "When your happy and you know it"...so adorable!

School is fun for everyone!

Well things seems to be taking a turn for the best! Grace is really enjoying daycare now. She normally just goes on a Tuesday, but because she was sick a few weeks ago she could have a "make-up" day.

We still had the little grizzle when I dropped her off but I know that she is fine as soon as I walk out the door. Xavier & I gave her a cuddle then we said goodbye. She still looked a little sad but by the time I was back in the car she was at the deck with Norma happy and waving bye-bye to us!

She had a fantastic day. Apparently its the most talkative that she has ever been. There were no tears all day and she is starting to interact with the other kids. She had no toilet accidents and asked Norma to take her everytime she wanted to go. This is itself tells me that she feels confortable and is starting to settle in.

She ate all her lunch, which was a little bit of a mish mash. She had crackers and cream cheese, cold corn on the cob, grated cheese & rockmelon. I pretty much just opened the tuppaware container and threw in stuff straight out of the fridge! She had a great 2 hour sleep and woke in a fantastic mood. My little darling woke up and blasted straight into her rendition of "old Mcdonalds farm". Now I thought that was very cute, but apparently she woke all the other kids. Oops!

Norma said that she had been perfect. Even trying to do the cleaning up and take the rubbish out! She is really starting to come out of her shell there.

She was very excited when we went to pick her up as her beloved Daddy was with us. She excitedly showed us all the toys that she had played with and also the painting that she had done. She even gave the carers a kiss and cuddle when we left.

I feel so much more confident in her staying in care now. I am starting to enjoy the time just with Xavier without worrying about Grace. Dont get me wrong, I am so eager to see her after the day but I rarely get to enjoy Xavier by himself. Although I am sure that he misses her. He seems to look around for her all the time.

I love my Princess so, so much. The terrible 2's were just a brief moment and now we have moved onto the terrific 2's. I love it!

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck

Ohhh I saw a teeny tiny little baby today!

My friend Renee had a beautiful little princess on the 16th Feb and she is just adorable. She has a full head of "crazy & unruly" hair and has the most adorable little frown.

Everytime I see a newborn, I can't fathom that my own kids were ever that little. Grace was tiny, she got down to about 2.5kgs, but I still can't picture it. I sit and try to remember them as newborns and I can only get glimpses. Is it because those first few weeks are just a blur of feeding and settling? Or is it that their personalities are now so prominent that is all that my mind has the room for?

Anyway being around a newborn certainly "rattled my ovaries" again. I wonder if you ever really know if your family is complete? When do you start selling the newborn stuff and moving onto the next stage? I can't bear to do it so maybe there is more babies coming to me? I am so grateful for my 2 beautiful kids, if they are the only 2 children I am meant to have, I am happy.

It's just that I love being pregnant, giving birth and breastfeeding. I know that some people think that I am nuts, but it's my "thing" I feel a deep drop in my stomach if I dare think that I won't experience that again. Even if it is just a passing thought or comment about never having anymore kids, my eyes well up. But then does that feeling ever stop or will I want to keep having babies? "Maybe just one more", says the Addict!!

I also know that if I am blessed with another baby they will be born at home. I want to experience birth from start to finish in the comfort of my own home, surrounded by my husband & children.

Ok I have to stop thinking. To keep myself sane I keep telling myself that we will have another. I know that Duane is happy to stop at 2, but I also know that he would be happy to have another too. He did also give me a glimmer of hope the other day. I was sorting out some of the baby toys and told him that I was going to get rid of some. He said "but we are going to have another aren't we?" So I might be holding him to his word in about umm 2 years!!

I did see a psychic the day before my 20week scan with Xavier. She predicted that I would have 3 children. Girl, boy then another girl. She has been right with the first too, so surely she can get 3 out of 3?? She also said that I was coming into some money. Maybe I just need to fulfill the 3rd baby part to get the money! haha

If your happy & you know it......

CLAP YOUR HANDS!!!

Xavier is being a very clever little fellow! He has learnt how to clap hands and is now doing it all the time. His hands still miss each other sometimes, but he looks so cute with his uncoordinated clapping!!

He started doing it yesterday. We were having the usual 'nappy changing' battle, he was whinging and wriggling to escape. He then started clapping and I don't think that he has stopped ever since!

I woke this morning to a little cutie beside me praticing his clapping and laughing at himself. He is so adorable they way he concentrates and slaps his hands together. He is so amazed that he can do it and concentrates on his hands so intently!

Well it seems I am back to my old sleep walking tricks! Duane said that at about 2am I went in and got Xavier out of his bed and bought him in with us. Poor little boy was still asleep and I then popped him on the bed and shoved him on the boob then went straight back off to sleep. Duane said that Xavier hadn't even made a noise and wasn't really sure what I was doing! I honestly can't remember doing it and I just assumed that Duane had bought him into me last night. Strange!

On the up!

We are all better now. Thank goodness

We had a quick trip to the Dr's again on Tuesday. My head was feeling like it was about to explode, and poor little Xavier wasn't his usual happy self. Turns out I had a sinus infection and my little boy had an ear infection. So we are all on A/b's. It's tough getting them into Xavier, he hates them, not like his greedy sister who begs for more!

They must be working because Xavier is back to his cheeky self and I feel like I can function again. Gee Sinus isn't nice. I've never had the pleasure of it before, so wasn't really sure what had hit me. My face and head was always achy and my head felt like it was about to blow off.

Grace is 100% now too. She's still a little hesitant to wee sometimes, so we have had a few accidents. She's slowly getting back to normal though, Mummy just has to keep reminding her.

Last Wednesday night I heard Xavier huffing and puffing at about 2am. I left him for a bit them went in to see what he was up too. He often gets himself into funny positions and his little legs are at all angles sticking out of the cot. Well this time I was greeted by a smiling boy STANDING at the end of his cot. Well naughty Mummy hadn't dropped the cot yet, so he was standing well over the top of the cot. If he had shown anymore enthusiasm he would have toppled out! Needless to say I slept with 2 boys that night.

~Hanging out in Xaviers cot~

The next day Duane dropped the cot down to the lowest level. Xavier looks so little and far away now.....it's such a long way down. Its also so much harder for me to pat him and reassure him if he wakes. He seems a little disorientated in there now, probably just getting used to viewing his bedroom from a different angle!

Well after learning how to pull himself up the little terror is getting up on everything. He mostly just gets up to his knees, unless of course there is something that he really wants. Usually he is after Grace's textas, food or anything else that is small and a potential choking hazard! Grace keeps him under control though!! She is such a bossy big sister, "No Xavier, Uh,uh,uh, no touching Xavier, Be careful Xavier".

I have been trying to teach her that Xavier is just a baby and just wants to play. If he is touching something of hers I encourage her to get something for him to play with and take hers away. It seems to be working, but of course Xavier is constantly into her stuff!

My little Grace is talking so well. Her vocab has just increased all over again. She is stringing whole sentences together and I love having little conversations with her. The other day I just had a shower and was drying myself off. She said to me "Mummy has little belly", well I know that I don't but I was still basking in the flattery from my little princess. Then she shot me down with "Mummy has a big head". Thanks Grace. She also tells me I have big boobies and that Grace has "whittle boobies" Yeah well these boobies have been feeding you kids for the last 2 years, so no complaining missy!!

She has also started talking about herself in the first person. She bounces between talking about herself as Grace or I. She says things like "I have drink" or "It's my drawing". She also has a few funny words that she muddles up. Butterfly is "flutterfly", soap is "soup" and my all time favourite is kisses which she pronounces as "misses" I started correcting her at the start, but it sounds so cute when she asks for "misses" Or when she says she is going to give Xavier "misses" Oh gosh my little girl is growing up!