Babies Born June 2006 #50

[Smoke Jaguar]

Great news, Rory! Sounds exactly like what you needed for your mojo
Just had old friends over and it was ace to have people around again (Bath, we're emerging from CHAOS!), especially people I'm really fond of and haven't seen for ages. It was great to have them see Oscar, too - weird that people who mean so much to me have seen Oscar twice since he was born...it means I'm too busy! Time to scale back on some things and to do some hard pruning.
I took Oscar today to a riding club rally and he was delighted, saying 'horse' all the time and pointing them out. He's been such a beautiful little scallywag lately - stripping down to nothing, playing with playdoh, playing with the dogs, in his sandpit, in the utensil drawers. He's missing MIL, too - keeps asking for her...Tasmania is just not a concept he gets right now!
Soon enough my exam for the semester will be over and it can be me and him again, just enjoying each other. Some days he'll have a feed every couple of hours, some he'll go almost all day without one, but overnight he'll snack two or three times, so he's not self-weaning any time soon Man, I just love him, he's awesome.
Mel - how does it feel to be back in Melb?! We've got the heater on (solid fuel heater for those who didn't know that's our only source of heating!), aromatherapy throughout the house (as in, air fresheners, linen spray, dishwashing liquid, surface cleaner, electric burner) and I've been baking and cooking a few things from my Edmonds Cookery Book (a famous NZ cook book) and my Tupperware Cook Some More, so I'm loving this cool weather! And I'm loving looking out my window to see rain falling. I just need to finish this assignment and life will be peachy again!
Hope all mummies are well and that Mothers Day was nice. DP took us to the beach for a walk, near Hastings, cos that's what I wanted - fish and chips by the jetty, yum!
Oscar has really turned a corner with childcare - he waves me goodbye, says the kids' names at home, goes to sleep for them sometimes (!!) and doesn't throw himself to the ground when I collect him. They love him there. They're having a staffing change soon, which means the one lady who is there on both of his days (she works 3 days a week) won't be there on either of the days he's there She's the only one who's name he'll say!
He's also coming along in his Spanish - he understands a lot more than he can say. He says nouns here and there and he'll respond to instructions given to him in Spanish. I was reading a couple of great papers about bilinguilism and I've decided to extend my Spanish speaking beyond the 'home contract' and speak in public places, and even with non-Spanish speaking friends as much as I can. I'm doing this mainly because I'm the only regular Spanish speaker in his life. My mum doesn't even get to see him weekly and we have childcare on the day that a Spanish speaking playgroup is run in Mitcham. So, hearing it at home only is not going to be enough. My Spanish has improved heaps the more I use it, too - it's like all the language I absorbed from my mum and family friends while growing up is coming out of the vault in my brain that it was stored in!
Ok, better get some other things done before the kid wakes - he's having an increasingly rare day sleep.

[MelS]

I'm back!

I can't believe how quiet it's been since I've been away. Where is everyone????

Julie - sounds like a perfect mothers day staying in your pj's all day, love it! Party sounds like lots of fun, hope your fridge has more room now. Will sounds like he is getting the hang of TT pretty well, I think second kids get a good idea of what they are supposed to do. We've had Marley on the toilet and she thinks its hilarious. No action yet though. But everytime one of us goes, she follows us and says "wee wees". Gotta love ebay! I used to do that when getting rid of Chelsea's things and it was no use keeping alot of stuff as it would take far too long for her to fit into it. Have fun shopping. The nanny was awesome, wish I could have one.

Rory - Congratulations on the new job, how exciting and well done to you. Sounds like a perfect fit for you and the family. When do you start? How is Ollie going, haven't seen any new pics for a while?

Maya - coming back was a shock! Got home last night and just about froze getting off the plane. Marley has been in tshirts for 11 days so I think she got a shock too! I do love the sunny weather of Brisbane. I had such a good run, only rained 2 days and not for that long. Most days were 25 and it was beautiful. Back to reality though. Bet you can't wait for exams to be over. It's so great when you really enjoy your kids, I had the best time spending quality, fun time with Marley. Oscar is such a character, I know where he get it from lol!! Your mothers day sounds fun, your pics on FB were great. Sounds like the Spanish is going well, it's amazing how they can pick up another language so quickly. He'll be watching and understanding Dora the Explorer soon lol!!!

My trip was fantastic. Had a brilliant Mothers Day (apart from missing Chelsea), we spent it with my GF family and her DH's family in a beautiful kids park with chicken, champagne and prawns! The kids had a ball playing in the various playgrounds. Daredevil Marley was the only one game enough to go on the big slide. The nanny was fantastic, Marley thought she was wonderful and gave my GF and I a chance to go out and she showed me some wonderful places. We even did high tea, which I have been wanting to do for ages (it was so delicious!!!!). Went out for dinner twice and the other nights we cooked up a storm (both of us love cooking), and drank far too much wine lol!! It was so nice to be greeted at the airport by my beautiful girl who was shreaking when I came out the door, she ran up and just about bowled me over. Marley was going crazy when she saw DH and ran to him giggling her head off. She is now getting him to do everything, bath her and take her to bed. He did an amazing job of looking after Chelsea and the house, it was so clean when I got home and he said he enjoyed it so much that I should make the Brisbane trip and yearly thing! Gotta love him, he's amazing.

Back to work tomorrow and not looking forward to rising early in this chilly weather.

It's great to be back

[MelS]

Where is everyone?????

I've never seen it this quiet, maybe you are all hibernating from this freezing weather

[Jesswith6]

HAppy Birthday Pat

Well, I've been busy trying to get a 8 seater because I'm sick and tired of never taking the kids anywhere. Had their portrait taken today but wasn't very happy with it..

Hugs to all bubs and mums

[nickers]

yay Happy 2nd birthday patrick!!
did he have a good day?? i bet he got spoilt from all his brothers and sisters!

I think dh and i need to make a point of using pls and thank u more often then cause honestly if i sat there and refused to give Nixon something until he said it we'd never get anywhere!

just like at swimming atm. seems to have gone downhill, he likes going but then when we start doing things he carries on. he has become real clingly, apparently its a stage a lot go through but i would have to say its been going on for 6months now.
the last last week was diff and one pat they have to push themselves up to get out of the pool then walk across a mat and dive in to us.
nixon has never done it. he always ends up getting placed at the edge of the mat cause he drops on the mat and cries.
and getting out of the water nup. he just leans over the edge and watches the water going down the drain. she said to me that instead of helping him up i should keep him there.
ok so for how long??? we were there a good 5 mins ever other kid did the routine 3 times over and there is nixon still looking at the water going down the drain, refusing to pull himself out......

he has started saying a few more words which is cute. they are finally getting a bit clearer too.

house is coming along. well not really we've done all the ripping out and now getting trades in to work on it. we move in in about 5-6weeks.
she goes back to work tomorrow had 2 weeks off and then flies to Thailand for a work confrence for a week.

i better get to bed if i am got get up at 5.30am and go excercising....
good night

[Jesswith6]

Nic...I suppose he had a good day, it's so hard for them to understand when they are so young. He spent the morning playing with his new trucks with his brothers and sisters and then spent the whole afternoon up in Albury, as we had a professional photo done at the Portrait Place. I'm not really 100% happy with the photos, so I just decided to take my free photo and look elsewhere for another photo to be done. Lucky my next door neighbour is a photographer.

Mayaness- I noticed you left me a message on FB so I thought I would thank you for thinking about me. We are all ok, just extremely busy. Dh works every Friday and every second Thursday and well I'm always doing something around town.
It's coming up to Winery Walkabout Weekend here and the school is running a hot potato stall in the main street so I'll be working down there all Sunday, plus we have been organizing places for the MIL from hell to stay when she arrives on the 3rd June( can't you tell I'm thrilled about her coming!)

Pat is really good with his manners, I think it is mainly because the older children are always using their manners though. He has a wide range of words now but it mostly is still gobbedly gook. Tantrums are his specialty though, he manages to throw one nearly every time we get in the car and it usually takes two people to convince him that sitting down is in his best interests! Mum tried the throwing "snow" (rose petals) on him and that worked until all the rose petals disappeared and now we have to find something else to distract him.

The new house is fantastic. We look out over the hills and on a clear day you can just see falls creek.
I can't wait till the snow finally comes and I can see it just sitting on the mountains. Bangers loves it here, he has a much bigger yard and he spends 90% of his time outdoors.
Well, I had better leave it here as BugaLugs has just wandered out of his bedroom.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Birthday season is upon us! Happy Birthday Pat!
I spent the weekend with my parents in the country, for my mum's birthday. In two weeks it's my dad's birthday, then a barrage of kids birthdays, not to mention the kids in my non-BB circle!! Oh, and a small matter of an exam that I really need to study for...
I'm in a strange headspace ATM - partly because I'm really missing Ireland and all the emotional connections I have there. I think it's a 6 months-post-visit syndrome. I hope. And I hope it passes, cos it will be a while before I'm in a position to get back! Plus, I really want to go to Honduras and visit my mum's family again before we do another Ireland trip. I want Oscar to be immersed in Spanish-speaking life!
Jess - Oscar is starting to be clearer in his enunciation, too. His jabbering is becoming clearer so that sometimes I don't even realise he's been copying what I'm saying and I forget to pay attention - he was 'jabbering' away before I realised he was saying 'cool kid'...I was calling him that a couple of minutes earlier cos he was wearing his sunglasses!
He's going to take a couple of days to adjust from the weekend. He was awake the whole trip back last night, calling for 'Ma' and 'Bau' (he calls my mum 'Ma' cos I do! And he pronounces the Spanish 'Abuelo' to 'Bau') and their dog, Herbie, interchangeably with Daddy and Coco (Odin had come with us and was in the car, getting diggers thrown at him!). Dropping him off at childcare was sad. He was walking us both to the door to leave and talking about Ma and Bau
Also, have any other Junie babies started role playing yet? I imagine those with siblings would do that sooner than eldest children? Oscar was role playing putting my parents to 'bed' yesterday and tucking them in. I don't know if I'm too busy at home to notice, or if he was just starting to do it over last weekend, but it was definite role playing and imaginative play. I hope I haven't been to 'busy' to notice him role playing at home.
Better get back to study. Not long till my exam and there is so much to cram!
hope everyone is well and you all had lovely weekends, ripping down walls, celebrating birthdays etc!

[MelS]

Jess - Happy Birthday to Pat for last week. Who needs a party when you have lots of brothers and sisters! I was going to have a party at a playcentre this year for Marley, but like you said, they are really too young to notice anyway. So we are going to make it for next year, when she can really understand that the day is for her. I've not had very good experiences with Portrait Place, but at least you got your freebie. You might have to hit the neighbour up for some photos. Your new place sounds beautiful and I think the snow will be there before you know it!

Nic - been following your reno on Facebook. Looks like you've done lots to it. It must be fun knocking down walls, very therapeutic! 5-6 weeks isn't long, can't wait to see the finished product. Wish I could offer some advice on swimming, just ride it out I think. I wouldn't be giving up, it might be too hard to go back. Exercising at 5.30am, you are such a good girl!!!!! I have trouble rising at 6am to go to work lol!!!!

Maya - when is your first exam? Its a birthday frenzy for you. Must be hard for young kids to understand why relatives don't live close by. Esp as yours did for a while. Its nice that he keeps talking about them, and tucking them in is just so cute. I am having post Brisbane blues ATM and its only been a week! I just really miss by GF and the sunshine. I try not to think about it too much otherwise I start day dreaming of ways I could move up there and live. Role playing is very much alive in this house and having a sibling really helps. The girls have tea parties together, Marley will take her doll to my bed and wrap it in a teatowel and walk out and say shhhhh. I didn't really notice it as much with Chelsea. Since being away, Chelsea has been so much nicer to Marley, letting her play and actively seeking her out to come and play.

Had lunch with a GF today at an organic cafe/supermarket in one of the shopping centres. It was so good. They sell this organic popcorn with manuka honey...YUM. It was supposed to be for the kids but I end up buying a bag for myself. I had plans to have it after dinner with my coffee but end up eating it as soon as I got home.

Almost school pick up time and Marley is still asleep. Better start making some noise.

Hi to everyone.

[Roryrory]

Happy birthday Pat - I can't believe it is brithday time already! what a little cutie with his manners. It seems like only yesterday it was Nixon's birthday!! Nickers, how is he going with Tyron?

Gotta be quick cause I am working tomorrow (2nd last day - yay!) and I want to go to the gym again (I was good and went this mornign - I am feeling really motivated at the moment)

Flynnie and Ollie are both well, DH has ALMOST handed in his masters and as I have 2 weeks off we were going to take a trip to South Australia but instead decided to do a week of being tourists in Melbourne. We will go to Werribe Zoo, Hays Paddock playground, take the ferry to Scienceworks and Williamstown, and stuff like that. And I have a reservation for DH and I next Thursday night at Vue de Monde. It is going to cost a bomb but we are saving $$ by not going away....

Mel that is so nice that Chelsea is playing well with Marley - I long for the day when my boys can do that (though I know it is a while off LOL!)

Julie how are your boys playing together ATM? And Bath, are the boys getting on?

Ali, hope Tori is being a nice big sister

really must go - ciao bellas

[*Ali*]

Hi All,
It seems like an age since I have had a chance to get in here, but it is great to see that everyone is doing well.
I really cant believe that June is about to role around again and our bbies are turning 2, where did that last 2 years go? We are just having a family party for Tori, like others have said, Tori is still a bit young to understand, although she has learnt about birthday cake and talks about them all the time. My friend and I are going to try and make a Dorothy cake for her.

Maya- It is so cute when you wath your babies start to use their imagination and get into imaginative games. Tori's latest thing is to pretend she is different animals at the zoo, I often catch her slithering along the floor like a snake (I often have to join in too)

Rory- DH and I decided to do the Tourist at home thing a few years back and had a ball. Enjoy your time hanging out as a family.

Mel- The organic popcorn sounds lovely, I will have to mention it to MIL she runs an organic cafe in Bali. It is nice that your girls are getting along better since your holidays, I guess the saying you dont know what you've got till its gone, is true, Chelsea must have really missed Marley.

Nic- Not long now till you are in your house. Tori did the same thing when she was doing swimming lessons, she didnt like to do what everyone else did while they were doing it, so we stopped going to lessons and just started taking her own our own and she was much happier.

I wonder if Amanda has had her US yet?

Things here are pretty good, although Liam is cutting his 2 bottom teeth and he is only just 5 months- although Tori cut her first at 5 months too. Tori has recently got into singing- she loves singing theme songs from tv, and she loves the if you are happy and you know it too.
I am in the process of getting ready to go back to work, I have put my placement request in with the Ed Dept and I am just waiting for a suitable position to come up now.

[nickers]

oh yeah Amanda's ultrasound was around now, maybe tomorrow?? come in and let us know soon!
who's birthday is next i think it would be Cody wouldn't it?!

Rory- Nixon is going great with Tyron. he interacts with him really well, he gets upset when Tyron plays with something of his but he is learning. Tyron is not quiet crawling ye but he gets everywhere he wants to by rolling and sliding! so he has his hand on everything and its now u start to realise of all Nixon's unsafe toys.....
Nixon had a check up today and his stats were
13.2kg
93cm tall and HC 47cm
he is tall and lean. Speech just this week has picked up a little, saying a few more words and i am understanding a bit more of it.

ali- Tyron is a tooth monster. He got his bottom 2 at 4months. Top 2 at 6months and at 7months he cut 2 more top ones! hope they are not giving Liam too much greif. How many days are u planning to work?

[Bathsheba]

Hi girls, typing one handed, Niall asleep in my arms... he will only nap in my arms during the day now... whenever I try to put him down in his cot he springs up like a jack-in-the-box. I can't believe this could be the end of day naps. He is sleeping very well of a night though. Last night he stayed in his cot until past 7am. I don't mind co-sleeping with him if he needs to but I certainly wake up more refreshed (and able to face a napless day) if he stays in his own bed.

Briefly: I thought my thyroid illness was better after a normal blood test so I eased off taking the medication... but the symptoms have returned (racing heart, irritibility) so am back on them. I was certain I was better so this is a bit of a downer. Loving the cold weather though (it helps with some of the symptoms). Going back to having acupuncture each weekend... the symptoms improved significantly after my last 3 week round of that.

Verity gave me a black eye last week! She didn't mean to... infact she was horrified that the book she threw hit me. She spent her week's pocket money on arnica cream for my eye and has been very agreeable and co-operative ever since!

Niall is starting to use sentences. He uses "me, my, mine" a lot now. Today I was thrilled when unprovoked he started saying "Au revoir (said: Orv Wah! = Good-bye in French) to everyone at the local plaza today and a little old lady wearing a beret said "Oh! You don't hear many children his age speaking French here in Australia!" with an aproving smile. I was one proud mumma!

Happy birthdays Nixon and Pat and Ronan and.... (who's next?)

[AmandaJ]

Hi all, sorry I haven't been on, but we moved again to a cheaper house and only got the internet on on Thursday late.

I had my scan yesterday and it's a boy. I'm happy he's healthy and right size for dates, so I'm destined to be the mum with all boys.

Cody's birthday is on Monday and we are just having a party with my brother and SIL on Sunday and I'll be making a cake as usual.

I think that Caitlyn's birthday is tomorrow on the 1st.

Better go and get these boys some breakfast.

hugs xoxo

[MelS]

Amanda - congratulations honey!!! Have been following the other thread with eager eyes all afternoon yesterday. Those girls were hanging out for you to reply. You must be destined to be a mum of boys and think of the savings. Glad this one is growing healthy and strong. What cake are you doing?

Rory - how did your last day go? I applaud you getting up early to go to the gym, well done girl. Vue de Monde I've heard is divine!!!! You lucky girl. Hope you enjoy it. Your holiday in Vic sounds perfect. They always say we don't see enough of our own backyard and sadly I have to admit that it's true in my case.

Ali - will find out what brand it is when I go to the shop on Monday. It's so addictive! Would love to see your Dorothy cake, I get good inspiration from others, Amanda does some ripper ones. Wow, Liam is an early cutter and Tori. Is he coping ok with it? Marley loves songs and music. I'm going to get MIL to take her to mini maestros next term. Good luck with your placement - time has gone so quickly already.

Nic - how's the wall smashing going? Nixon is doing well in his stats, nice and healthy. Tyron is an early cutter too.

Bath - good to see you back! Sorry to hear your illness has hit back, must get very frustrating for you getting it under control. Hope the meds help ease things for you. Hope the acupuncture continues to have positive improvements too. Verity must have been freaked out after the book throwing! Did you have to get around with the big, dark sunglasses? Thoughtful of her to buy the cream - is it special cream? How gorgeous that Niall said au revoir. Any wonder you are proud. He must pick up so much from hearing you and Wade.

Went out for dinner last night for our regular Dames Dinner. Went to an African style restaurant in Albert Park, delicious and cheap! Will definately head there again. Quiet day today, Chelsea has a friend from school coming to play soon. My niece's 5th birthday tomorrow and we are going bowling, Chelsea can't wait. Marley has a bit of a cold ATM, not too bad but she has moments of "whinginess". Marley has started to put together a few words, some make sense, some don't. Her and Chelsea are still doing well playing together, hope it keeps up. The make overs are continuing, Marley came out with hair clips all over her and lipstick - she looked a real treat!

Hope everyone has a good weekend. Off to put the coffee pot on.

[nickers]

congratulations Amanda! I am glad to hear your little bub is healthy and the pregnancy is going well. I know how much you were hoping for a girl, i hope you'r feeling ok at the moment. You really are sucha great mum of your boys i have seen how calm and relaxed you are and i have no doubt this little son & brother will right into your gogeous clan! Sp i guess it was definatley just one in there and not twins?!?!?

[Bathsheba]

Good morning girls Happy birthday Cody! Great to hear your scan went well Amanda and that you have a healthy little bubba growing in there! I once lived in a pub owned by a (Catholic) husband and wife who had 9 children... 8 boys and a girl. The girl was the 5th. It makes you wonder what really determines these things hey? I guess it's a combination of things. The boys were all so different though... most of them lived and worked at the pub. They were as well behaved as you could expect! It was really fascinating to see so many different facets of "maleness" in the family. You could see similarities but it was like looking at a cut gem: so many different facets reflecting a rainbow of colours united by the gem. It was quite inspiring. Made me wonder what it would be like to have so many children all highlighting a different aspect of you and your DH. I think this is emphasised when you have so many of a particular gender. I hope your pregnancy continues to progress well and that you are feeling well Oh and my DH was the 4th son in a family of five children... his younger sister was a girl.... but strangely his mum always said "I love my daughter... but give me boys to raise anyday!" I tend to agree at this point in time too! Oh and like Mel said: Think of the money you will save!!! Oh how true! Girls are much more demanding on the financial resources I have to say!

Goodness me! Niall is into absolutely everything ATM!!!

[Roryrory]

Congratulations Amanda, another boy You know, I was thinking just the other day about how I would feel about my third (not pg yet, girls, don't worry!) being a boy and I think part of me would actually prefer a boy to a girl, even though a girl would be nice. I mean, you know what the "tone" of your family is going to be then, don't you? All boys means bikes and dirt and wrestling, whereas if you throw I girl into the mix, you potentially have some moodly little b!itch teenage girl to deal with in a few years And I couldn't imagine not wanting another Flynnie or Ollie

Are you a little disappointed? I think part of me would be, even though what I posted above is so true for me at the moment. Please don't feel offended by my question, but if you are it is ok to say, though, because you know we will understand and not judge you for it

[Smoke Jaguar]

Amanda - glad everything is on track for you; how exciting to have another boy! Actually, I think it would be equally exciting to have a girl. You would think I wouldn't have been hassled about this yet, but I have - I've had people ask me what I'd prefer to have next (can you believe it? I'd like a kid, I'd freak out if a puppy came out!). And I really couldn't care less either way - boys are a bit of a 'known' for me, as most of our friends have boys, and girls would be an exciting 'less-known', IFYWIM, so I'd be equally as happy to have either one slither out of me, as long as I have a great birth! Bath, one of the reasons I want to have more than 3 kids is to have that kaleidoscope of personalities and to see which bits of us they will all have! At this stage, it's a real stretch to be talking beyond Oscar, cos the second is not on the horizon yet!
Anyway, Oscar has well and truly ditched his day sleep - he had his last day sleep at Metung, and before that it was at childcare three weeks ago. DP thinks he's weaning, too, because he's attachment quality has really slipped and he's hurting my nipples. I think he's wrong because if I take Oscar off Babu, he gets really upset and calls out for it...not exactly a sign of weaning, I dont' think! For some reason, I think his jaw is tensing up and it's drawing his tongue back a bit. Anyway, I didn't see an LC about it last time it happened (about a month ago), but if tonight is another horror night, then I'll be making an appointment for asap. It's upsetting us both, and DP upsets me further by saying 'he's trying to wean' or 'maybe you could wean him'... he knows neither Oscar or I want that, so can he please be a bit more constructive? Even just stroke my arm when I'm upset about it, instead of telling me I'm being moody???
MIL is back and Oscar is chuffed about that. My parents are coming down this weekend, in time to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday.
Better get back to study...