catching up #2

Last Sunday we managed to get out to Freo for a bit of family time together. Hub has pretty much been working every weekend for the last weeks and last Sunday was a good break. Here were some photos of JD enjoying a cup of Babycino and mucking around with his daddy.

catching up....

I have been pretty busy lately and thus explained why I haven't been blogging. Work is pretty busy, hub's work is even busier, and I have been trying to keep everything else moving smoothly. JD hasn't seen his dad for 5 nights in a row and daddy is normally off to work again in the morning while he is still asleep. JD misses his daddy and keeps saying to me in the evening "daddy home?"...ah...that breaks my heart!

Anyway, after a somewhat long and busy week, I have got a day off today. The morning was spent alone with JD, going for a walk and then Gymbaroo. But I got the afternoon off after dropping JD off at daycare for me to catch up on the housework and a few errands. I have enrolled JD for an extra half daycare on Friday for the next 5 weeks. I need a bit of time to myself, to chill out and to catch up on a few things around the house before I return to full time work in mid-Dec.

I need to slow down a bit...

Anyway, on JD's latest update...his new favourite are the wooden blocks! He loves to spend his time quietly building the blocks, stacking it higher and higher, counting to himself as he lay one block on top of another...before demolishing it all, ha ha! I enjoy watching JD play, and that takes my mind off things. It makes me remember that having JD as part of my life is better than anything else and I am happy to have him in my life! Well, yes, he can be naugthy at times, but he sure brightened up my day!

sunday never stops

Poof...finally after spending the entire day with JD, I can now retreat into my room and have a bit of time to rest. Honestly, while a 2 yo toddler can be a lot of fun, JD really keeps me on my feet! There is no stopping for him, always action action action, go go go! Hub has to go into office today to finish off some stuff for his forecasting or whatever...nevermind, we don't even want to talk about that.

So, with another perfect sunny day, what's the plan?

• Buzz ...alarm clock went off at 6am, JD was up by 6.30am, and the day starts now, hohoho! I dragged myself out of bed, changed him, got his breakfast ready, then jumped into shower and tried to plan my day.

7am - 1st load of laundry for the day, did my salute to the sun, then my floor exercise, watch the world news, put on the coffee and JD played happily by himself with his trains n cars, sweet!

8am - Hang the washing, JD running around in the yard, terrorising my pretty little plants, roaming around in his little Holden we got from the toy library, helping me with the washing and also waking up the whole neighbourhood! Shhish, JD!

9am - Morning walk, got the paper, fresh bread, chat to the neighbours, play with their dog.

10am - Whoopedoo, another Sunday ritual to Bunnings! Man, it was packed full of people today, probably because it was such a lurvely day! JD went wild in the garden section again, while I look around for more plants. Bump into a few familiar faces and even some politicians I see on TV all the time! How weird! Also got JD a hot dog while we were at Bunnings! It was all fun at Bunnings except for the very dodgy trolley I have! It is so big and the handle of the trolley sits above my waist (maybe because I am a shortie!), the wheels have a mind of its own (aren't they all!), but we had a ball!

11.30am - Time to go home, JD fell asleep in the car and continued to sleep till 3.30pm!

12-3.30pm - Did a bit of gardening myself, read the paper, watch a DVD, did more washing, more ironing, did some blogging, read some blogs, cool!

4-5pm - Hub still not home, so brought JD to Piney Lakes for a run and play. Lots of families, kids there, good times!

5.30-6pm - Water the plants, sat on the garden bench and watched JD play, pure bliss!

6-7pm - Hubby came home, time to prepare and eat dinner, yummy tummy!

7-8pm - A bit of family time, more playing around with JD, story time, nursery time and then it was JD's bed time, night night!

Finally, this little tiger is asleep, I am knackered! Thank goodness all the exercise I do each day have kept me fit! Boys, they never stop!

another perfect day

This has been such a beautiful day, a perfect spring day of 25 deg! Bring it on sunshine, time for singlet tops, skirts, sandals....yes am loving it!

We did so much today! I had my acupuncture in the morning and it was so relaxing that I fell asleep. In the afternoon I gave my car a long overdue wash and man, washing car takes time and energy. And then I gave the garden bench a second coat of paint and is looking good as new agian.

But the coolest thing of the day was JD's first haircut. Yes, this little man has never had a haircut from birth till now. The hair was getting a bit too long and getting into his eyes. And I think he is starting to look like a mad little boy, hee hee. So, off we went to my hairdresser, Andrew and he gave JD a bit of a cut. Ha ha, he was so good, just sat there on my lap, never move a muscle and it was all done in 5 mins! JD looks cute with the new haircut, hee hee and makes him look even naugthier than before. Little devil!

And this is JD after the cut, hee hee!

red eyes

I really should be working ...I have a submission due end of this week...and I really need to be at work...but JD is not feeling 100% and I am staying home with him. He has picked up an ear infection and conjunctivitis! His right eye was looking a bit puffy and red when he came home last night and doc said his right ear looks pretty red! But I have to say this little man is quite a tough kid. He never complains, never whinges, never show any signs of discomfort, but play , eat, sleep like usual. But he is staying home today coz conjunctivitis is contagious. I hope he will be fine tomorrow coz I am freakin' out a
little bit with my work.

But he has to be my 1st priority and in a way it is quite nice to spend some time with him at home. We manage to go for a walk, did a bit of groceries, he drove his little car around in the yard, I gave my garden bench a new coat of paint and he helped to water the plants in the arvo! It was all good.

Allright better go and try to do a bit of work before I get "fried cuttlefish" for not meeting the deadline!

Toight's Update - Looks like I might need to be stay home with JD tomorrow coz his left eye was looking red n puffy b4 he went to bed....damn! I hope those antibiotics drops work miracle tonight! Maybe I will let him wear an eye patch to daycare, that might work!?

a new beginning

Saturday!

This is a gardening day for me. I have been dying to get my hands into the garden beds, putting in new seedlings, plants, flowers..but the weather has just been crap week after week. Finally, the rain stops, the sun came out and I am off to one of my favourite place, Bunnings! I love the nursery and love buying plants, seedlings, pots...and I enjoy sitting in the patio during the warmer days having my breakie, tea, lunch or dinner and admiring all the pretty flowers. Furthermore, JD loves to do the watering, so it is extra fun for him when we have lots of plants in the yard.

Today, we planted some pansies and petunias in the garden bed! It was really nice, almost therapeautic to be quietly digging around in the garden, planting seedlings, watering and hoping those ugly snails won't come near it!

Though hard work considered by some, I managed to sneak out for a 1.5hr facial, and a full back and shoulder massage! That was a relaxing change and nice to be pampered for a while.

Tonight hub cooked dinner, grilled honey mustard chicken breast! And I made a sweet potato and carrot mash! It was delish!


Sunday!

Slept in till 730am, skipped the morning walk coz the rain returns! But hub cooked breakie this morning! I must have strike Lotto coz hub seldom cooked! Ha ha, I might as well enjoy while he is in the mood of cooking! I think hub is trying to earn back a few brownie points after few recent incidents . Oh, and I had sausages, bacon, egg and hash brown! That was good.

And where to after breakie? I dragged hub and JD with me to a pottery place to get some ceramic and terracotta pots. JD went wild at the pottety place, coz he got all excited with the water fountain displays, and some even had smoke (fake one lah) coming out! I walked away happily with 2 ceramic and 1 terracotta pots!

Then I dragged them back to Bunnings! Nah nah I am not that mean, I dropped them off at a playground while I went hunting for more plants. I got a few more pretty seedlings, some daisies, some strawberries which I hope will bear some fruits. JD helped me with the potting mix, watering some plants, planting some new seedlings...he had a ball! And that was the best thing, seeing kid enjoying the outdoor, wanting to part of everything you do. I enjoy having JD around me and we can talk about things we do, seeing his face brightened up as he experienced with a new thing. That was priceless!

The last few weeks have been a difficult one, with different issues to dissolve...trying to act and think objectively and not emotionally. That's not always my strong point...but after weeks of comtemplation, deep thoughts on the bus way home, talking to myself, talking to hub between our busy schedule...I am starting to accept there will be things in life that is going to stress me out, that's going to test me and more importantly my relationship with people closest to me. Sometimes, it requires great courage, great belief, working out what is most important. While what is most important to me may not be the most important thing, the greater interest of all is greater!

With that, I hope for a new and fresher start for the week!

friday on the go

JD and I had a busy day! First up, this little man had a big sleep in till 8.30am, which was nice for me! I was able to catch up with a few things around the house, watched the morning news while having poached eggs on toast. Having a cooked breakfast is a rare thing, but felt wonderfully well when I was able to do so.

Then we were off to Gymbaroo and this is the 1st day of the term. Thinking back, I can't believe JD has been going to Gymbaroo since he was 3 months old! He could hardly lie on his tummy, lift his head when he started at 3 months old. Then, he started to sit up, and then started to crawl around the equipment when he was 7 months old. Then we progressed into the walking class...and now that he is 2, the teacher is keen to move him into the 2.5-3 yo class. I marvelled at his growth, at how independent he has become. He used to sit on my lap, let me bounced him around, clap his hands, rolled him onto his tummy and etc etc. Today, he told me "No, I sit down". And he moved aside, and sat on the mat by my side. For that whole time, he watched his teacher attentively, followed every single action she does, clapping his hands, rolling his arms, tickling his own feet, jumping, bouncing, wiggling, hopping...and I sit back and enjoyed the moment.

After Gymbaroo, we came home for a quick lunch and then we were off again...this time to my chiro treatment. JD has become very used to seeing me on the chiro bench, seeing how I get my spine adjusted and etc. I am glad the Dr.R's office is such a child friendly place, coz at times JD can make a fair bit of noise while waiting for me.

Then it was home for a nap, and I did the same myself. I really needed it.

After nap, we were off to another appointment with JD's speech pathologist. Well, you see, I was a bit concerned with JD not stringing 2 words together when he was about 20 months old. To rule out any concerns, I decided to get a second opinion from a speech pathologist. The first time she met him, JD was in a crabby mood. He didn't want to be there at all, and was crying and fussing the whole time. For a 45 mins session, it was over in 5 mins! That was fair, coz she didn't want him to have a bad memory of the place. Second time there, JD was a bit better coz he spotted a cat! So, she knew he likes the cat, Smokey, and brought him into the practice. JD said nothing during that session, except giving smokey a nice long stroke. Third time we were there, JD started to string words together, though not spontaneously. Her conclusion was JD is a perfectly normal kid, with little or no speech delay...but just have more interest in other stuff like playing with cars, playing with blocks, running, jumping etc etc. Today our fourth visit, JD started off shy, but he remember the cat. So, he went looking for the cat and she brought him in from the garden. JD loves cat, and he just wanted to stroke the cat, gave him cuddles and going up to Smokey and said "Hello". As she talked to him, he started to warm up and in a split second, he went from a shy kid in the doctor's room to the sociable happy little boy I see all the time. He started to do role play, cutting up pieces of strawberries, pear, pizza, making cup of tea and giving it to her. He was talking as if he is at home, and we even hear him stringing 3 words together. At the end of the session, she said JD dind't need to go back and see her again as he will just grow and grow in his lamguage from here onwards.

But what is so different that has taken place in the last few months? The speech pathologist gave me a few ideas in improving his vocabs and language. As mums, we are very prone to asking "What is that?" "Who is that?" "Can you say?" "Where is that"...and quite often very questions driven and expecting the child to give an answer. But if we rephrase the question to "Oh, what is big red and juicy?" "Ah, is it an apple?" "Oh yes it is." So, in that conversation alone, the child has learned about "big, red, juicy, apple". I had to constantly remind myself to rephrase my questions and making sure I am helping to develop his language, vocabs, verbs, nouns, expressions in our daily conversations.

When we read our stories at night, we try to go into lots of elaborations! Like "Oh, that's a farmer" "And look at him" "He is wearing a hat" "And he is farming".... So, did that work? I think it did. Recently, JD started to repeat a lot of the words, sentences he has been hearing. And last week while playing at the park, JD was saying "Look at me" "I swing". So, 4 months on, he has progressed a fair bit. And while he may not have a real difficulty to start with, I am glad to have learned a few things about speech and language development.

After that, we were off to the weekly groceries expedition. But honestly, we were both starving coz we had been on the go all day. And while this may not be entirely healthy, JD and I ended up going to Mccca's for a quick bite. Nevermind, we will work it off later on, hee hee!

Going groceries shopping with a 2yo is a bit of a trial and error sometimes. Some days he will be angel, some days he will be wanting to jump off from the shopping trolley. Today, he is an angel, hallelujah! And at this age, he can tell me what he wants, strawberries, melons, apple, orange, yohurts, cheese and we stayed away from the bikies and snacks aisle.

After that, it was home bound again and time to get the dinner ready. Hub went shopping after work coz I told him there was a gas leak on the freeway and it was bumper to bumper traffic. That gave me a bit more time to make a quick beef curry and finally, 3 of us sat down for dinner together for the first time in 2 weeks. That was really nice!

And while you thought your day wasn't going to get any busier, we had a sudden burst of energy to finish most of the skirting boards in the house.

I was knackered by 11pm.....off to bed mate!

BTW, my Fridays are not usually that jam packed with activities. It is normally quite relax and easy going.

simple things

While on the bus coming home tonight, I also realised there are other simple things that have made me smile:

- Watching JD play with his car makes me smile
- Listening to him talk makes me laugh
- Tickling him makes us both giggle
- Having a nice cup of coffee in the morning warms my soul
- Having lunch with a good friend heals my wound
- Cooking a good meal fills thy house with love
- Seeing JD eats his meal makes me smile
- Watching him sleep melts my heart
- Having hub around - a tonne of support!

reflections....

The last few weeks and months have been hard. I keep finding myself caught up in moments of frustration, dissapointment, mixed feeling of all sorts. I keep pushing on, keeping myself busy, , kept trying to look after myself, trying not to let myself sink into a pot of self-pity...but some days are just harder than others. I feel lost, of maybe losing my identity, losing my space, losing my freedom. Of always giving so much, but not receiving much back...and I thought giving is joy? Feeling gloomy is almost an understatement, there have just been too much going on this year and I am nearly the end of my ability, of my spirit to keep giving and to keep going on....I want to rest, I want to forget about other things in life...I only want to focus on those closest to me for the moment. I am tired. I want to stop for a while. I can't do it all.

I want a simple life...with simple things...with pure essential joy to last me a lifetime! That I ask for more than anything....