from bubba to big girl

I had to laugh last night when you Skyped with Nene and Pardy - Nene started off by saying her usual "Is that my bubba?"  However on this occasion it was met with a terse "I'm not bubba, me big girl!"  And you are certainly looking forward to your 2nd birthday, as it includes "Lion cake!  Candles!  2 candles!"  You even sing happy birthday to yourself on most days.

Your use of words and sentences is pretty amazing for someone so small.  Up to 8 word sentences on a regular basis.  And your connection between words is astounding too.  When talking about the diamonds in my necklace you'll start saying "Diamonds in sky too!  Stars! And moon as well!"

It's hard to believe you've been in our lives for almost 2 years.  Everyone thinks newborns are so cute and great but you just keep getting cuter and greater and more fantastic with every day.  I love your birthday month because it really is the start of the warmer seasons, longer days and most brilliant light, it reminds me of getting ready to first meet you 2 years ago, and what a wonderful summer it was when I was home with you all day.  Although things constantly change, and I'm glad I'm back at work and you're loving playing with your friends at Vieve's, it was also nice when you were just a tiny bundle that would sleep on my lap during the day.

mobile bubba

You were more than a bit grumpy as I left for work this morning, and I felt especially bad since you had a dry horrible cough since waking up.  I got this text from your Dadda at work after asking how you were after I left:

"Fine, chatted on her phone all the way there (to Vieve's).  Hi Mama, in pam, netis, glubs, bye mama, hi nonna, yeah yeah yeah, not yet, ooooh, bye!"

Translation:  You are talking into the remote for your portable DVD player which you mistakenly believe is a mobile phone, this is a favourite hobby of yours, apparently you spend a lot of time phoning me whilst at Daycare as well.  "Hi Mumma, in pram, have necklace and gloves on, bye mama."

Here is a photo of you with your much loved gloves (although I think you love ice cream more!)

bits and bobs of a tiring week

Life is ticking along, another few days of illness in your world has been overcome with the most upsetting aspect (for you) being the cancellation of a zoo trip.  Not cancellation so much as a postponement.  Each night at bedtime for the past 7 days you have chosen the same book and flipped straight to the page of zoo animals.  So it will be a relief to finally get you there hopefully next week.

Tomorrow we are off on a weekend in the Hunter Valley with our dear friends Mel and Rodge.  Your Dadda for one is looking forward to some quality wine tasting and cheese sampling.

In other news your mumma is now in her thirties and your Uncle Jus and Aunty Sam have just relocated to beautiful Coffs Harbour.  And I've just realised all our latest pics are on the other computer so I'll have to get some up here soon.

Maisy & Matilda

Two of your favourite cousins are Maisy and Matilda.  Unfortunately they live in the UK.  But we shared a very special day with them on April 29 when we all celebrated the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in Hyde Park, London.  You particularly loved when Maisy and Matilda commenced a game of "stacks on" and cheerfully joined in jumping all over your cousins.

my adorable little bear

A month back home, and much to my relief back in the swing of sleep.  Specifically sleeping independently.  All night long.  Hurray!  As much as I L.O.V.E.D travelling with you and showing you the world, the thrice nightly waking was extremely trying.  Back in the comfort and familiarity of your cot, room, and routine, you are back to dragging us by the hand to your sleeping bag if we lose track of time.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Sleep is the elixir of a sane life.

Another 'news item' of the week is trying to lose the dummy.  Thinking the best approach of this would be to cut it at Vieve's first I gave instructions to leave it in your backpack this week instead of issuing it at sleep time.  The result? Yes, fine - you can go to sleep without any trouble sans dummy.  The offshoot - Vieve has caught you sneakily rummaging through your backpack and having a few dire sucks on the dum before replacing it carefully, much like a smoke trying to quit!  This has provided many laughs for Vieve, myself, and everyone I've told this week.

You are a funny little monkey and I love you dearly.  Sweet dreams lovely.  xxx

A new breakfast!

Your favourite food at the moment hands-down is rice.  Specifically - rice - hot!  You ask for this every lunch and dinner.  We had a moment this week that you asked for it for breakfast.  We were unfortunately out of rice, but then I spied something on the breakfast bench - rice bubbles.  I asked if you would like these instead (having never had it before) and at the sound of your second favourite word (bubble) you were absolutely delighted!  Rice bubbles it was!  And you marvelled over this new cereal.  Will definitely be keeping some in the cupboard from now on.

the u.s. of a

Your first overseas trip outside of the womb has started well.  No dramas on the 13+ hours flight from Sydney to San Fran.  We stayed in Fishermans Wharf area of San Francisco for 4 days and did all the touristy things - ferry to Sausaulito, tour of Alcatraz, tram rides, Chinatown, Union Square, Ghirardelli, and mummy even managed a night out with her good friend Kelly at the BEST mexican restaurant ever - Mamacita's!  We have one night in San Fran on the way back from London to Sydney and I've already booked us in again for a family meal (coincidentally on the 8th anniversary of your daddy and me meeting for the first time).

We are now in Portland, ME, staying with your Aunty Diddy (Elizabeth), your cousins Nick, Maddy and Emma, and their various furry friends who you adore, Lola, Stella, and Daisy (the household dogs) and the two "cats!" (as you exclaim every time we walk past them).  Pictures to follow once the camera leads are recovered from the mounds of stuff in our overflowing suitcases.

Mucho amore, xx

loving these pics

You spent a great day having a bus adventure with your dadda yesterday around Bondi.  Love these pics of you.  

slack mumma

Ok so it's been awhile between drinks on this blogspot.  I apologise.  Life has been ticking along, you are up to 5 1/2 teeth now, 2-3 word sentences and pretty fast running in your new tiny trainers.

In the past few weeks you've got to hang out with your English cousin Alice, your long-lost friend Harrison (who has returned from a 18 month absence in Melbourne) and your various Grandparents, two of whom (Nene and Pardy) have flown out of Sydney today for a 2 month overseas adventure.

We ourselves depart for our own overseas adventure in a months time, hitting San Fran, Boston, and London.  It will be great to show you the world however I am dreading 50 hours on planes over a 4-week period.  Hopefully you will be in good health, after suffering a cough, incessant running nose, and earache over the past month.  The joys of daycare!

hot town, summer in the city

Sydney is on its way to a new heat record - 6 days straight of temperatures of 30C. Your room has not dipped below 27 degrees overnight for over a week.  But we're doing our best to keep cool, you love being clothes-free most of the day and we have made good use of the pool, the beach, cool baths, playgrounds with water fountains, and even good old bucket showers (particularly hilarious when you're pouring a bucket over me!)  Vieve let you paddle at daycare on Wednesday and told Dadda that once they had you out of your swim nappy and back into your clothes you promptly plonked yourself back into the paddling pool.

new words

You have developed an extra scrunched-up-nose-cheeky look the last few days that is super cute.  This week has been all about conversations.  You are trying to tell us many wonderful things and your ability to repeat words after hearing them once is astounding.  Words of the week are boat, ball, nigh-nigh, bath, and your favourite is still cake.

Your favourite past-time at the moment is puzzles, and you love the animals in them and try to do the sounds.  All in all it's a fantastic time, despite some horrible teething moments.

2011

We have almost finished celebrating this holiday season.  Christmas Day this year was spent at Grandpa and Nonna's place in Bondi, with your Great Grandparents Clarke and Great Uncle and Aunty Di and Lew.  Then a few days down at Bawley Point where the beach was at our doorstop and there were colourful birds galore.  We farewelled 2010 - your first full calendar year - in a low-key celebration at home with your Uncle Justin and Aunty Samantha, watching the Sydney Harbour fireworks from our building rooftop.  It's back to work from Tuesday, but Nene and Pardy arrive tomorrow to stay in Sydney for most of January so I'm sure there is much more celebrating in store for you.

As is custom at this time of year, reflections and resolutions have been on my mind.

Reflection - It was great taking a year off to be home with you, and while decent sleep pretty much walked out the door for most of 2010, your presence in our lives opened the window to unrelenting, unconditional pure love.  What I feel for you, you will one day experience again when feeling it towards your own children.  So this past year has also taught me a lot about myself as both a parent and a child - and provided an insight into my mother that one can only see when becoming a mother herself.

Resolutions - I heard someone saying that the most successful resolutions are those that focus on positive changes rather than negatives, therefore I refuse to resolve to give up chocolate, eat less junk food and drink less.  Instead, I would like to improve my health and weight (as I can no longer rely on breastfeeding to rid me of all those calories) by eating more veggies, having more alcohol-free nights per week, taking you to the park more, and also practicing mindfulness - being in the present.  I find too often I can't wait to get through the day, the week, the month, yet in the meantime I so so cherish you being so young and it is all going too quickly.  So I want to appreciate the here and now rather than looking constantly forward at what's around the corner.

So here's to another fantastic year with you in our lives.  Happy 2011 Maya. x