Life as I know it ... today

Life has a way of getting in the way of blogging, doesn't it.

I share a fair bit over on Instagram but find it hard to make it over here to this much loved but neglected space.

Life has been busy but not. Filled with the usual day to day busyness that comes with having a toddler but not all that exciting in scheme of things. Life has changed quite a lot from my time as a governess and my chasing waterfalls days. I don't make it out exploring that much at the moment either.Well, I make it to swimming lessons, mum catch ups, playgroups and to the shops to do the groceries, but really that isn't all that interesting to anyone who isn't a 2 year old, or in my mum's group. Actually, the shopping part isn't even all that interesting to the 2 year old (or me quite frankly, grocery shopping isn't that fun), unless we go to the "fish" shop ... our local Stockland's, that has a giant marlin out the front, which he only likes going to because of the big fish. Coles around the corner however, is an unacceptable shopping location. Probably because he doesn't get to see enough trucks and roadworks to get there.

Pause ...

And now the toddler is no longer painting the table with BBQ sauce and has his requested food and drink.

Ahhh, the glorious life of parenthood.

I do often wonder when those with young kids actually find the time to write those wonderful, insightful posts while not leaving their kids to fend for themselves (aka paint the house with sauce) or eating into their valuable sleeping time. Maybe they don't work at night so actually have that quiet time after their children go to bed. Maybe they just actually have their heads screwed on and don't approach life in a headless chook, winging it fashion, like I do.

Anyway...

I miss this little place of mine, so hopefully I'll be back soon.

Off to see what is frustrating the toddler of the house now.

18 months

Now that our little gremlin is 19 months old, here is a view into what he was like at 18 months.

When I asked Daddy what you were in to he replied "he's into everything, that's what he's in to." And to be honest, that about sums you up, our ragamuffin. If you feel comfortable, you'll give anything a go. You love watching older kids play and try to join in with them. If Daddy is doing it, you are of the opinion that you should too.

You have very set ideas about how things should go and really don't like it when we disagree with your way of thinking. Tantrums are a multiple times a day occurrence and mummy sometimes has to remind herself that is mainly because you find it hard to communicate. You are slowly gaining more words again. Tractor, train and plane are favourites. You yell out train or plane whenever you hear one and all trucks are called trains as well. I am pretty sure you say tiger, which is your favourite soft toy, along with little koala. You also occasionally say yes in answer to a question and sometimes I swear you say your own name "Niam" (Liam). You seem to have your own language going, chattering away in gibberish all the time. You also have very expressive facial expressions, they are hilarious and the experimenting with the noises your mouth can make, is another fun and funny one.You sign finished and say either that or done when you have had enough to eat.

You love music and know the actions to some some songs (I'm not sure how many as you surprised us with the complete actions to 'open, shut them' just tonight). You have your favourite songs but they haven't changed much recently. You love anything related to vehicles or wheels, you are obsessed, often carting various cars and trucks around everywhere. You love playing with daddy, pretending to to things with the toys like putting them to bed or making them drive. You also love playing going on a bear hunt. I think you might just be daddy's boy.

You will often find something to play with and just play for ages, like the blocks or your stuffed toys. You absolutely love books and will read them to yourself. You love climbing up on mummy's lap with a book for her to read to you then you read it as well. Outside and the chooks are still your favourites and you are often seen carrying a chicken around the yard. Tomatoes are no longer your favourite food, I'm not sure what is, but you love yogurt, ham, pasta, rice, corned beef, rice crackers, bananas, strawberries and pears. You have all your teeth for your age, and have done for quite a while (2 year old molars are next).

You have a massive personality, a temper to go with it and so often you just look like you are bubbling over with mischief and fun. We have good days and bad but mostly good (even with tantrums). You can be so very, very serious but then the complete opposite as well. You like to hang off mummy's legs when you are unsure or feeling shy but you also like join in and play. You love going to swimming and to bubs & tots. You like get everyone ready when we say "let's go in the car or "do you want to go to the ... shop, playgroup, swimming?" by getting our shoes and closing the doors. These days you play with everything at bubs and tots, not just the cars. You love jumping into the water at swimming and singing 'crocodile, crocodile'. You are quite the dare devil around water, with no fear.

You are most definitely a toddler now. We love watching you explore the world and trying to see it through your eyes.

Weight: 13.99kg - Length: 84cm - Clothes: size 2

Our truck, train, tractor, chicken, water and book lover.

And then he was ... ONE

 "When I was one, I had just begun." A.A. Milne

How true this is and yet how much life and growing has been packed into 12 months.

How did this happen? How is it that our squishy newborn is now a chubby, mischievous one year old? (also how is it that he is now thirteen months old an I am only just getting around to writing this?)

 

One year old and what a character he has become. We always thought he would be a busy, mischief maker and he certainly is that, and so much more. Our little (not so little) outdoor loving, tomato munching, chicken loving, chubby, chatterbox got to celebrate his birthday on two days (not that he really cared less). 

 

He received gifts and a cake made by his uncle on his birthday and then all the good stuff (mummy and granny's food making) came out on Saturday for a relaxed morning tea with his mates, mothers group, and the people who have been our village over the last twelve months. 

He loved playing, wouldn't sit still for a photo and didn't like the cake. A pretty successful 1st birthday, if I do say so myself. 

Our little munchkin has certainly grown and changed over the last few months and I can see the final vestiges of babyhood slipping away and a little boy emerging, and a little boy he certainly is. Some things haven't changed like his love for chasing the chooks around, although these days he is fast enough to lay a hand on them quite regularly. The poor dears tolerate it quite well and haven't lost feathers too him, yet.

...

So my little possum ...

We've certainly learned and grown together over the last twelve months. You may have "just begun" but you certainly entered this world with a bang and embraced it, exploring everything around you. There have been sleepless nights and sleepy cuddles, worries and joyful giggles. You have fit so much into your first year from camping trips to a beach holiday, from flying to driving, from farm to city and the middle of nowhere.

You are definitely more vocal in your likes and dislikes theses days and they are wide a varied too. It is now a guessing game for mummy and daddy as to what it is you want or are complaining about. You surprise us all the time with new things you can do. 

Here are some of the infinite (sometimes quirky) things we know (and love) about you:

You love so many things like cars and trucks and all things wheels. You'll always eat the cherry tomatoes on your plate, a food that has definitely superseded cheese, and it is hit and miss whether you will eat sandwiches and toast. You will pretty much eat anything we give you, especially if it involves pasta. You like your cows milk "bot bot" when mummy goes to work at night and only have boobie morning, noon and night now. Unpegging washing from the clothes horse and just play with pegs in general keeps you entertained for ages. You also love collecting random things from cupboards and draws to play with, particularly from the kitchen. You still love power points, remotes, keys and anything else we don't want you to play with and disagree strongly when we have other ideas about you playing with them.You have a variety of music you like to listen to from 'The Duck Song' to 'Lay It All On Me', 'Cats In The Cradle', 'Take Me Home, County Roads' and 'Shut Up And Dance'. Your happy place is outside and so understandably you absolutely love going camping. You've been quite a few times in your young life, the latest being to Emu Creek just before your birthday. 

You have picked up on daddy's game of "duck. duck, goose" and love bopping people on the head, loudly proclaiming "duck, duck, duck". You can do a good monkey impersonation like daddy too. You also like to put your finger in your mouth then pull it out and say "ahhh". No idea how that one started. You also know the pattern to eating then hand washing, sticking your hands out to be washed when we go for the washer and you request to get out of the bath and know that the plug has to come out and the we need your towel. Actually that is something you don't seem to like so much these days but maybe you are just too busy to waste time in a bath. You still love swimming lessons and going under the water but the dots haven't connected yet when it comes to kicking. You like waving "bye, bye" or "later", not just to people you know but to complete strangers in the shops.

You like building towers with the mega blocks and can do it yourself with the single ones. You also love putting toys in things, throwing balls, putting balls in the ball run and playing with kitchen things. You are often content to play alone but you prefer it if someone sits down on the floor with you.

You are able to stand up while not holding on and have started to occasionally try taking a step or two. You have twelve, yes 12!!!, teeth. You try using forks and spoons but they usually get abandoned for fingers. You can say a fair few words like Mum, Dad, Granny, Grandad, Great Grandad, cow, star, dog, fish, see you "later", bye bye, truck, car, this and duck. You mostly sleep through the night and if you wake up it is only once in the middle of the night, looking for your dummy.

You can be so serious and give the best stare when seeing new people or ones you aren't sure of but you can also be so open and happy to cuddle and play. You are often unsure of the unfamiliar but sometimes surprise us by just going for it. 

You are our ratbag, our possum, our mischief maker.

We can't imagine life without you.