Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Bringing up baby: 2 April 2013


Today I had Tilly all to myself.

It started at 6.15am. Change in routine, he wanted yoghurt rather than milk as his first thing.

Why not.

Then, play dough.

Why not.

All this while I did some tidying up of the kitchen, neatening out the laundry (so I can take it outside to hang in the to-be-expected sunshine). Thanks to Husband's help, we caught the rubbish truck in time.

Palaver happened. I got to eat breakfast, and doze for 5 mins or so.

Then we all got dressed to take Husband to work, and Tilly to the doctor.

He likes the fishes in the aquarium at the clinic. He has an ear infection, and is teething - not that I notice any sort of these things, even though I floss his teeth most nights.

Highlights of today:
  • Being with Tilly as he watches Michael Jackson - on the mega screen at the electronics store - preparing for his last world tour. Tilly could so totally dance like on Smooth Criminal.
  • Accompanying Tilly on is walkabout around the playground, and back into Sylvia Park, and into the mechanical Buzzy Bee.
  • Not spending $40 on the cutest little backpack for a toddler.
  • Being with Tilly as he had his morning snack, sitting on the couches in the middle of the mall. We saw rainbows on the ceiling, where the light refracted through the glass. He was charmed. I found him charming.
  • Not spending $20 on the cutest lunch backpack from Smiggle.
  • Accompanying Tilly on his walkabout up the escalator, and down the lift.
  • Being with Tilly while he played at Thomas the Tank table. I also had another chance to relax, and almost caught up on my 6am wake-up stress.
  • I bought Animalia, by Graeme Base, for Tilly. He swapped me Polar Bear for it, and he carried the large paperback all by himself down the stairs, through the mall. At some point he decided I could help to carry him as he carried his new book.
  • We saw the National Bank horse again. Tilly greeted it, and then allowed we could leave to get to the car.
  • Tilly allowed me to nap for 5mins in the rocking chair, after he had awoken from his nap. He was so quiet, and looked after himself, sitting quietly with Polar Bear.
  • We went to the doctor again, as Tilly developed a persistent hacking cough. Normal, said the doctor.
  • We went to the playground. He swung.
  • He allowed us to go to the local sushi shop, so I could get some miso soup. I got him a snack-sized sushi.
  • He enjoyed his sushi. The birds enjoyed his spilled sushi.
  • He swung again.
  • Everybody else went home. Tilly decided to play on the other areas: lizard wall (he tried for a while by himself, and became frustrated, and decided I could help him - I'm so proud he tried), log bridge, blue slide, lizard wall, yellow slide, green net next to yellow slide.
  • He climbed the green net to reach the yellow slide almost all by himself. The only physical assistance I gave was to heave him onto the first rung.
  • He climbed the green net by himself twice.
  • He played by himself, while I sat at the top of the yellow slide platform steps. He made hand actions, and described a story to himself.

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Flashback: pregnancy, new mum


Flashback.

I remember what I hated about being pregnant. Unable to eat properly. Hunger. Thirst. Unable to find a satisfactory beverage. Peeing. Constipation. No sushi. No rare beef. No sashimi. No hummus. No cold-cut sandwiches. No fresh salad from cafe. No cold chicken drum to gnaw on. No Caesar salad. No runny poached eggs. Chorfing pills. Needles. Scans.

I remember what I hated about being a new mum. Sleep deprivation. Resentment with my sleeping husband. Feeling sorry for myself as I stood over the sink, leaking milk for an hour. Unable to eat properly, as my baby wants my attention just when I want to eat. Unable to meet my high expectations of going for a walk with my baby.

Counterpoint.

I remember what I liked about being pregnant. Eating delicious food, like chicken don. Eating adult servings of food, like a full-sized Burger Fuel Bio Fuel burger. Eating crisps for lunch supplement, and not feeling the guilt. I like the feeling of a baby in me, kicking against my hand.

I remember what I liked about being a new mum. Watching my baby asleep, the expressions chasing across an innocent face. Holding my newborn close. Mostly, I love the joy my child has given me as he grows and shows the wonders of his world to me.

Friday, 22 February 2013

Bringing up baby: 31 01 13 Stipple

31 Jan 2013 (c) Atilla 2013
Medium: paper, paint, crayon, brush

Thursday, 21 February 2013

Bringing up baby: Painting Orange

12 Nov 2012 (c) Atilla 2012
Medium: paint, paper, cars

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Bringing up baby: Fireworks Painting 2012

Fireworks painting 2012 (c) Atilla 2012
Medium: paper, paint, glitter, hands, brush (?)

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Bringing up baby: Painting Purple-Red

Nov 2012 (c) Atilla 2012
Medium: paper, paint, hands, tools.

Monday, 18 February 2013

Bringing up baby: 16 Feb 2013


This was a splendid day. Highlights:
  • Sleeping in until 7.30am, where Tilly woke early and preoccupied himself with self-inspired activities.
  • Enjoying breakfast with Tilly, where he ate both peaches from Ah Ma's garden (one of my bucket list is to have Tilly enjoy food from the garden - Ah Ma's garden counts).
  • Cleaning up after breakfast, I did the dishes and Tilly swept the floors. He used all three brooms/brushes and the floors were quite cleaned. He had some fun chasing me with the brooms. We did have an accident, for which I am responsible, when one long handle knocked the pepper mill onto the floor. He swept up the pepper dust very well.
  • We had great fun a the first nappy change. He bounced around on the bed, for a very long time. He flopped backwards onto the pillows many times. He stomped around in a circle.
  • We had yoghurt and muesli together.
  • We got to ambush Daddy when he came home from work.
  • Just before we got dressed for Chinese New Year lunch, we played Chased By Crocodile Stick. Tilly pursued Mummy and Daddy around the parental bedroom, aiming the crocodile stick at us. We perforced escaped into the closet, and onto the bed, and ran around the curtains.
  • Tilly watched Daddy shave.
  • We had a replete Family buffet banquet at Eight. Small portions, and plenty of them, and so well cooked !!!! Kiwi lamington yummy!
  • Nap for 3hrs.
  • Watching The Living Earth - Jungle.
  • Watching Tilly repeat his stomping-flopping routine for Daddy, after bath.
  • Flossing Tilly's teeth. I got 4 this time.
  • Reading to Tilly.
  • Tilly reading to himself for the duration of Brahm's Lullaby.
  • Turning off the light, and receiving a request to sing.
  • Tilly falling quietly asleep.