Bubbles, Balls & Birds

One of my most favourite things to do is soak it up in a nice warm bubble bath (even in the middle of summer). I just love them; I’ve always had a soft spot for the ol’ bath. It’s the one thing I’m looking forward to most in the new house – my big bath!

Anyway, I think Lily has taken after me. She just loves her bath but even more she loves the bubbles. At first she wasn’t too fond of them; didn’t like the texture and hated the feeling on her face. Now it’s a thing of the past - she loves them. When she sees the bath full of bubbles she comes charging all the while chanting “baaools, baaooles”. The cheeky bugger tries with all her might to get them out of the bath, which includes trying to climb in with clothes on and all.

She loves to put them all over her hands and face. Byron meanwhile thinks the bubbles are all his and positively cracks it when they are taken from his side of the bath –(we’re working on it).

Lily seems to be attracted to all things ’B’. Not only does she love her “baaools” she loves balls (‘borss’), blocks (still undecipherable) and birds (‘bers’). And then there is Byron. She hasn’t quite mastered his name yet; it’s rather undecipherable and different every time. I can’t wait to see what spin she puts on it. I’m sure it will be adorable.

Lily is coming along nicely with her communication skills. For the most part I thoroughly understand my cheeky little miss. She isn’t as communicative as Byron was in terms of her verbal skills but never the less, she has her own style which is delightful in everyway – right down to the way she screws up her nose in disgust. Awwwhhhh she is beautiful.

Damn Rain!

Rain - it’s officially the excuse for why my house hasn’t yet started.

I drove down on Saturday with Byron (It’s a little thing we do together) and could have burst into tears at the sight of my now overgrown lot. I really did expect to go there and see some excavation work, even though knowing the rain we have had of late would have impeded on any progress.

Speaking of rain...I can’t believe we have been in a drought all this time; on water restrictions and it rains on and off right when they want to get started on my house. What are the odds? It's still raining and drizzling.

Anyway, after the sight of my lot I came home and despite trying to restrain myself, I rang the builder. I just vented my frustrations at 6 weeks of nothing and then come Christmas it would be another 4 weeks of nothing. He seemed accommodating just saying, “love…it’s the rain. I only got 2 slabs done last week. I’m behind with all my jobs”. Look I know it’s the rain. I’m not an idiot. I’m just frustrated with 8 months of nothing. When I asked him about what would be done by Christmas he said “you’ll have the slab by Christmas”.

*sigh*

I am feeling so irritated with life at the moment (don’t ask me why) and well, this is just another frustrating step.

The frustration continues...

Lily dropped my mobile phone on Saturday - yes I know she shouldn't have had it and that’s what Trevor told me a million times. She smashed the LCD part of the screen in the phone. All that appears is a black screen with a couple of lightening bolt cracks. No way of seeing any numbers or anything on the phone. It was pretty much unusable unless someone rang me.

I took the phone back to get repaired. It is covered under warranty if they determine it was a manufacturer’s fault (somehow I don't think that will be the case) and I have got a loan phone for now. Mind you, I have no numbers or anything in my new loan phone - I feel naked! I wonder how much I will be up for to fix my phone. More money no doubt - I guess it is just a question of how much.

*sigh* - There seems to have been a lot of these of late.

Rain Rain

I wouldn’t ordinarily think this way given we need the rain BUT...

Go away and come again another day!

How are they ever going to start my new house with all this rain?

It’s been a good 3 weeks since my little meeting with the builder and still (as of Sunday) there was nothing to show but a grassy patch of dirt and some roof trusses that I can’t be sure are even mine.

C’mon already! Can we get this thing started? I’m slowly losing patience.

While we're at it – where is spring, glorious spring? Come back I miss you.

The All Clear

I don’t think I mentioned as I was waiting for the results, but Lily had a further follow up ultrasound for her hydronephrosis a week ago. I was a little worried about my prospects of keeping a ‘want to be active’ baby lying still on the bed for 15 minutes while they performed the ultrasound.

Me and my wisdom decided a nice big bottle of milk would do the trick and that it did. She was a little champ until the bottle ran out. Thankfully, she sucked it dry at the closing stages of the ultrasound.

The sonographer had told me that he thought the right side appeared normal; however, he advised the left side still appear dilated but nothing significant.

I finally got the results from the paediatrician today. It’s all good news. The paediatrician confirmed the right side as normal and advised the left side was better then it was previously in that it wasn't as dilated. It is still dilated but nothing to cause to much concern. So, it means, we can definitely stay off the antibiotics, which is fantastic.

All we need to do now in relation to the hydronephrosis is take her back in 6 months for another review!

*sigh*

Miss Independent

I left it for as long as I could. I didn’t want to have to succumb to the mess that is a baby feeding themselves.

Honestly though, I don’t know why I left it that long. She has the knack. She is a natural. No mess. No throwing of food (which is something I should have suspected Lily wouldn’t take part in – she loves her food to much to waste it). She can feed herself no dramas. She has great control over her spoon and never misses that mouth of hers. Apart from the odd ‘drip’ off the spoon she is clean.

I love that little bit of freedom I get now that she can feed herself. I especially notice it at breakfast – I can now eat my breakfast at the same time. It’s like I have gained another 15 minutes in the morning.

There are the occasional down sides to her feeding herself. Firstly, she is slow – very slow which isn’t the best when you are in a hurry. Secondly, she has delighted in this new found independence, so much so that she will only let me feed her when she has a spoon in her hand. There is no turning back now…

Little Miss Independent has just discovered walking – she is walking everywhere. On Sunday, she discovered how to stand up on her own which is a step in the road out of babyville into toddlerville. It was the last reaming hurdle to her walking – standing up unaided. Over the last 2 days since she has discovered her new found talent, she is walking more and crawling less.

I am trying not to be sad about her new found independence – it’s a good thing right!?

My baby girl is growing before my eyes.

Solemn Mood

At the outset, don’t get me wrong. I have 2 beautiful children and for that I am blessed. I have my health, my family and my friends and for that I am indebted.

I just need to whinge, vent, moan, complain – whatever...

You know those periods in your life when everything just seems to go wrong and your life just doesn’t seem blissful? Well, I am going through one of those times at the moment.

I feel like life is a grind; a chore – what ever you call it. What ever it is, I'm living it.

I was just sitting in my lounge room with 4 baskets of washing strewn across the place, clutter everywhere, trying to find something decent to watch on a Saturday night (and we have pay tv) – all whilst Trevor had fallen asleep upstairs (he worked this morning). As I sat there flicking between stations I couldn’t help but feel this overwhelming sense of sorrow. I simply do not feel happy.

Let me paint a little picture...

There are issues with Trevor that I don’t particularly want to pen right at this moment. Lets just say there are trust issues (and no he wasn’t unfaithful – just wanted to clear that up! he he he) which makes life hard. There are some resentment issues on my part too which stem from financial concerns. We don’t’ go out by ourselves – heck we haven’t even gone out for our anniversary yet, which was 6 weeks ago (you might remember Lily had gastro as did I). He gets caught up in his thing and me mine (EB and MSN).

*sigh*

I took Byron to soccer this morning. It was a disaster for the second week in a row. He was participating fine for about 10 minutes. Then they started a game where you had to go under the rope but not touch it. Byron touched it first. He got ‘out’. As soon as he was told he was ‘out’; that he touched the rope, he burst into tears and came running off the field. Despite plenty of coaxing he refused to go back on. So, for the remaining 50 minutes he pretty much hid behind a wall. Last week, the same thing happened. He couldn’t get the ball in the goal and cracked it. Cried and ran off and that was it. I was so embarrassed. I just don’t understand this behaviour. I don’t know what to do about it and I feel helpless. What if it gets worse? What if he can’t participate in sporting activities ever! I feel like it’s my fault; that I’m not around enough. I thought he was such a confident boy – guess I was wrong. Gawd! I don’t even know my own child.

I have decided to persevere with the soccer because I hope that when he gets used to the people he might enjoy it more. I don’t really think soccer is the issue in any event – he is developing a trait in general where he just gives up if he doesn’t get what he wants. He needs to know that not all can be won and that you don’t get your own way all the time. Trevor will take him next week and I hope he has more luck.

*sigh*

Everything is breaking. The cars are breaking left right and centre. There are endless bills (far out and unexpected things – the air-conditioning is making gurgling sounds and will need a service; there were unexpected mortgage fees that needed to be paid).

*sigh*

I’m the worst house-wife and you would think the same if you saw my place – although my besty kindly pointed out to me last night that I WASN’T a house wife so therefore I couldn’t be crap – According to her, I am a full time working mother with 2 kids...when the heck am I meant to do house work? Bless her for trying to make me feel better. It worked for about 10 minutes until I went into the bathroom and saw the state of it!

*sigh*

I am really tired – not physically but mentally. I need a holiday or a getaway from the rut I feel I’m in. Trouble is, work is incredibly busy at the moment; too busy for a holiday. There is no money for a holiday and do I really want a holiday with the kids????

*sigh*

So there you have it! Some of the reasons behind my solemn mood. Who knows...maybe I will feel better tomorrow?

I doubt it...

Hands in the air…

Lily has just decided she would like to walk more; take a few more steps.

She is letting go of things now and walking from one place to another, whereas, before she had to be coaxed to walk.

I love how she walks – hands in the air, as a steady support. It looks like she is praying to the almighty or something. It is adorable. I love her unsteadiness and the way she concentrates just so, making sure she doesn’t fall over. The way she gets all excited when we (including Byron) applaud her efforts, is simply gorgeous *sigh*.

It won’t be long before she is walking more then she is crawling. I envisage this might happen by the time she is 15 months – I wonder if I’ll be right!?