Christmas 2017

Last year Christmas was loud and boisterous. This year it was quiet and sleepy.

Last year a tiny boy (not that we knew he was a boy) was snuggled up inside me. This year a very active little boy was on the move and into mischief.

We have made the decision to do one year there one year here when it comes to family Christmases. We are too far apart to do both. I know though that I will always wish I was there but what I have here is nice too.

This was our little Possum's first Christmas and at nearly 9 months old, things are fun to look at and get into but the unknown is also a little scary, or should I say Santa was a bit scary.

 We went to the Community Health Christmas party in the park and to Daddy's work Christmas Party too. Our little man even gate crashed the spread at Mummy's work just before Christmas.

 

 We did the Santa photo thing and I thought is might be a screaming mess, like the first Santa experience, but it wasn't. The mechanised display was way more interesting than Santa himself, although he wasn't too bad, from a distance.

 There were decorations hung and more photos of our little elf. Hard to think that the tree I posed him with (mind you who poses a 8.5mth old on the move, hilarious) was the same one I took a photo with a pair of booties in front of, that wouldn't even fit him now. There was a Christmas tree erected on the coffee table, out of reach of little fingers, and last minute Christmas shopping.

Mr Sparky insisted on some photos mucking around with a Santa hat. We never got as far as photos with me, or a family photo, pretty usual around here. Might have to just do the tripod thing and take my own.

Christmas day saw paper torn (mostly by our little Possum and mostly after the present was open) and new toys played with. It left our bellies full of roast meat and salad along with generous amounts of nibbles and it shared naps all around for the afternoon.

And oh, look, I did find some Christmas day photos of the little possum and me, selfies of cause.

The day ended beautifully and lazily, with a gorgeous sky and not too much effort put into dinner.

And then it was done, Christmas 2017. We laid our still weary heads down to sleep and dream of actually getting to sleep through the night (fat chance).

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year.

6 Months!

How it has flown.

So fast in fact that we've nearly made it to 7 months.

I have to say, I've found things rather challenging over the last few months but I dare say our little Mr has too. He seems permanently frustrated with what he can't do, most of all with his lack of ability to move around the floor. It will come my boy, it will come.

Our not so little possum (sorry, but I think you are more of a wombat) has tipped the scales at 10.5kg and even though he measured 68.6cm I swear he is growing longer every day. He has almost grown out of 0 clothes, this up-sizing clothing business seems never ending. It is hard to wrap my mind around the fact that just over 6 months ago, he was on the inside.

 

So my little wombat ...

We've learned so much about you and yet we are still clueless. Sometimes we wish for the days when you will be able to tell us what is going on in that head of yours yet it is hard to see the days slipping past as you change all the time. You've spent a lot of the last couple of months frustrated or upset or crying or screaming about something or other but it hasn't been all bad.

You love the outdoors, water and food in no particular order. Ok so that is a lie, food is always top of the list. You love your Mummy and Daddy and really don't like it when Mummy is out of sight, or even a few steps away. Sorry Daddy, but I think Mummy is at the top of the list too, but then that probably circles back to food.  

You've still got just two teeth but I swear you have pretty much been teething for the two months since you got your first teeth. Everything goes in your mouth. You've given biting Mummy a go while having booby but that didn't last long. I feel you will know the word NO well as you grow up. You've been eating a meal of solids, most days, for the last two months. Your favourites are puree apple and puree sweet potato. You still wake one or more times most nights and want fed back to sleep. You love your 3 day sleeps, about 1-1.5hrs each.

You are becoming a well traveled babe. You've been camping a couple of times and flown south to visit family as well as visiting friends and family on the Tablelands. You've added another place to the list of where you've been, Townsville and Magnetic Island. You had many more new experiences while there like going on a boat, swimming at the beach and watching fish at the aquarium. You also got to see some family while there. It was amazing that you remembered your Granny, Aunt and Uncle when you saw them. You loved playing with them, helping Granny crochet and having cuddles. Since then anyone wearing glasses is familiar (even strangers) because you think they are Granny or Uncle S.

For the most part you happily socialise with others, smiling at people in the shops, playing at 'move baby move' and having cuddles with anyone who will give them, just as long as mummy is in sight. I am pretty sure the Mums and babies at our little mothers group are considered familiar to you and that you like seeing them, or maybe you just like going out. You've know these people, who we met at community health, for so much of your young life and Mummy loves catching up with them and the safe place they are to share things. They have become our village.

 
You've pretty much mastered sitting and prefer to do that rather than lay on the floor. You are trying to move using your hands and knees and you spend a lot of time rocking. We can see the frustration and the uh-huh moments. Sometimes you've got it and sometimes you seem to have forgotten. You love hitting everything, maybe to see how it sounds or feels. You are also a big sticky beak, wanting to look at everything with that inquisitive stare you have. Exploring every little bit of your world is top of your to do list.

You chuck tantrums when things aren't going your way like when you go in the pram or when a toy (or Mum's camera strap) won't do what you want. You are fascinated by mouths and hair, Mummy's hair is so fun when it moves all over the place when she shakes it. The jolly jumper is one of your favourite places to play ... you bounce, bounce, bounce. You love music with a definite beat and sing along in the car. You also have started humming to put yourself to sleep. You also love your weekly swimming lessons, getting excited when you know where we are going. It is no surprise considering how much you love bath time, your favourite time of the day. You also love squealing and laughing at the baby in the mirror when you have a bath.

 

We love seeing your eyes sparkle, seeing you smile and listening to you giggle.
You have grown and changed so much over the last 6months and I know the next 6 will seeing you changing and learning so much more.

 

...

Smokin' Pyramid

The middle of last week, when I was driving home from in town (not that I can remember why I was in there), baby Possum had fallen asleep and the Pyramid was smokin' so I took a little detour.

I'm not sure how far it got in newsworthyness but the burning off of Walsh's Pyramid certainly made the news here.

There were even some people from other areas convinced it was a 'for real' volcanic eruption.

Haha, the jokes.

Anyway, I didn't see it that day but noticed it the next day.

Walsh's Pyramid definitely wasn't looking volcanic anymore but the smoke was still pretty impressive.

This is the time of year for controlled burning off around here, before it gets too hot and before the hot weather and pre wet season arrives when storms might do the job, resulting in big fires and lots of damage.

That is what this smoke display was from, a controlled burn of the national park. A clean up you could say. Actually, I haven't seen them burn off the Pyramid since I moved here so it has been a few years (unless I missed it).

It was nice to have the excuse of an only just fallen asleep baby to so a bit of driving around. He had missed his sleep after all and no one likes a sleep deprived baby.

At the moment we are in the middle of the cane season so there are trains and harvesting everywhere. Not that I have seen much because I haven't been gallivanting around the countryside this year.

The sugar cane is a varying ages, some newly harvested, some not long planted, some regrowing and some still waiting its turn.

It won't be long until the heat of summer is here so it is nice to get the chance to enjoy the cooler weather while we can. Mind you as said in a discussion this morning with Mr Sparky about enjoying seasons "there aren't really seasons here just summer and hot summer" 😁. Not quite true but close enough, we have been having some cooler nights and mornings after all.

Cruising down at the Wharf

Hi ... it's me.

That person who apparently blogs in this little space.

It seems that a little boy who came into our lives has reduced my wish to write posts, 

either that or it is my lack of getting out and about like I used to. Maybe it is really my sheer laziness and reliance on facebook and instagram browsing instead of doing more useful things or even more enjoyable things, like blogging.

A couple of weeks ago we headed into the city for a doctors appointment followed by meeting Mr Sparky for breakfast. Sometimes it seems like we never see him and like our Little Possum never gets to see his daddy. Anyway, after breakfast bub and I headed off on a walk first to visit a daycare Mum's shop and then down to the wharf because CRUISE SHIP and there is nothing like a walk along the water to relax.

I used to spend so much time down here because of work, and because I wanted to. Now that we've moved south side it takes a bit more effort and organisation, both of which I seem to lack at the moment.

It was a gorgeous day to be close to the water and it was sunny. We'd been having a far amount of cloudy weather at the time. The sun is back now and giving us firm hints of the Summer to come.

There were plenty of other people around, probably more because of the cruise ship than anything.

There was even some wedding photography happening. A pretty awesome backdrop really.

I really should start making more of an effort to get out and about a bit more. Mind you it isn't like I don't with Possum's swimming lessons and Mums group, but it isn't quite the same.

Hopefully I get some catch ups from the last few months for you to enjoy. Don't hold your breath waiting though. Those hanging out on instagram probably have more of an idea of what I've been up to recently. But its okay .. "I'll be back." (Bet you read that in an Arnie voice 😜 ... you did now)

3 months on

How many times can you say that you can't believe that much time has passed before it sinks in?



Our cheeky little possum has been a part of our family for 3 months now, clicking over to 3 months old on the 6th of July.


It seems like such a milestone but we started the day as normal, and the rest of the day went per "normal" to be honest. First was the pre sunrise feeding and hanging with Dad before he went to work. We then headed off on our morning walk.

It was a gorgeous and relaxing start to the day, we love getting outdoors.

Liam is always set up with his toys which he plays with more and more. He usually checks out the sky and anything else he can see before dozing off.

I, of cause, am always set up with my camera, which Liam likes to use as a foot rest.

 

It is good to get out and about, checking out the area we now live.

I can't really believe he is that old already, that he has been in our lives that long already.
I feel like our baby is growing at a rate of knots and that if I blink he won't be a baby any more.
We have so much love for this tiny human in our lives and so much amazement watching him grown and learn.

 I feel like things are certainly easier and the newborn days are definitely gone. I miss those first weeks already but I certainly enjoy getting sleep now. I know we will have many more challenging times of teething, sickness, tantrums and who knows what else ahead but this certainly seems like we've made it through the hard slog, for now anyway. I guess it is getting sleep that gives me that opinion but he really is a mostly chilled little man or maybe I am just very good at forgetting the screaming and unsettled times. I'm just going to enjoy this rhythm we seem to have fallen in to. Mind you the other day I had one of those 'I wish I was at work' moments. I'm really not sure what to do with myself.

Our little cockatoo has certainly found his voice, being just as noisy as the birds that his hairstyle mimics. He is just on the edge of giggling, I know one day it will just start. He startles easily these days, any strange or loud sound sees his bottom lip drop and body tense up. Raspberries and making noises and bubbles in all that dribble is the way to communicate these days. We certainly know who is boss in our house at the moment. In saying that though, he still goes with the flow.

These days Liam gets a little excited when Daddy gets home and is usually happy to see him, with smiles to share. He also gets excited when we say bath and when he gets completely undressed. Bath time is always fun and there is a lot more splashing these days and just enjoying the feel and noise of the water. He also loves our morning walks, well I assume he does. He is very relaxed during them and has a little nap. 

These days the hanging toys are a lot of fun and are whacked, grabbed and pulled into his mouth. His hands and fists are another endless source of entertainment and comfort. He is often seen sucking on various fingers and his thumb or trying to shove the whole fist in his mouth. He is certainly gaining more control over his hands, grabbing things that are near him and most recently trying to bring them to his mouth. Tummy time is also more interesting, his little head sitting up high, looking around and doing occasional rolls over when he feels like it. He still loves that knitted clown he was given and these days loves the little, brightly coloured koala that is usually hanging in his pram. Feet are also apparently a fascinating thing and when he realised they were covered up in his suit the other night he spent ages staring at them, I swear trying to work out where they had gone.

I can see him changing, growing and learning all the time. He is such a copy cat and such a personality.

Not only has Liam been on his first flight he has now been on his first camping trip. I feel this kid will certainly have seen a lot when he has finished his first year. I can't wait to experience more with him and share his amazement at this whole shiny, new world  ... and to blow more raspberries on all that chubbiness.