Starting now…

I was thinking I could go back and catch the blog up on all the stuff that’s happened since I last blogged, but I think I’ll just pick up from now.

Today, Matthew had kinder. He goes Mondays in the morning and Thursdays in the afternoon. Mondays aren’t too bad because he doesn’t wake up too early and is fresh for the day. When we arrived this morning, the teacher had all the kids outside before it got too hot and was organising some water play. The kids are very lucky at our kinder. Last year they received a grant for a water tank to collect water for use in the toilets, to make up for the fact they are using fresh water for play.

I am really loving his kinder. We did start the year in 4yo kinder, but changed over to 3yo after a full week of kinder and swimming… that first full week ended with the most feral Friday! He was exhausted and I knew it was only going to get worse when they started staying for four hours at a time. A chat with his teacher told us he is doing well emotionally and socially and had the routine down pat, but it was the aftermath that was concerning me… the leftovers, if you will. His teacher did wonder how he was coping physically.

So, with a little bit of confusion, but overall success, Matthew is well settled. We have a working bee next weekend and then a teddy bears picnic a few days after that. We’re getting to know the other families and building our community.

Gabriel… my sweet, sweet angel… I don’t know where to start. Some things I’m noticing lately are that he is getting really good at getting up on hands and feet – who needs knees? When he does get on hands and knees he is reaching for everything, including the TV cabinet, sofa, dresser drawers, etc. I am wondering how long it will be before he starts walking the furniture.

On Saturday he had a nibble of his first vegetable – some steamed broccoli. We were at a friends house and he was doing the whole eye off mama’s plate and grab at it, so I thought I’d let him have a little suck and boy did he love it! I tried to take it out of his mouth and he nearly gummed my finger off. He had the green bits off an average sized floret. Other than that, he’s sucked on an apple and had a lick of a plum. I’m not at all excited about starting solids, am more stressed and not looking forward to the work involved. Just need to keep reminding myself that up until 12 months it’s all about tastes and experimenting with flavours and textures, NOT nutrition. We’ll see how we go in the weeks to come.

Pictures another day, but thought I’d post an update.

Found the camera!

The past few days, I’ve not been able to find our camera to take photos of the boys. So, just now I’m sitting here thinking about where it could be and although the house is massive, there aren’t too many “hiding” spots.

In the end, where did I find it? On the end of my sofa! Kinda wedged up between my laptop bag and Matty’s calendar (which should be on the wall by now), so in view, just not obvious.

Expect some photos in the next few days now!

Don’t forget me!

Just a few photos of Gabriel sitting in the highchair as we eat dinner. He sits on our laps easily, so we thought we’d try him in the highchair and he was so excited to be a part of it all. We’d had him sitting in the bouncer up on top of the table while he ate and he kept doing ‘crunches’ to see what was going on. To make it even more fun, we gave him a plastic spoon which he keeps in his mouth and chews on – it must feel so nice on his gums!

Today we have parent/teacher interviews at Matthew’s kinder. He comes along as well… While I’m talking with the teacher, the assistant will be showing the children where the toilets are, where to hang their bags and where to get a drink, etc. I have to bring in some t-shirts for printing of the kinder’s logo which I am way excited about. I don’t think Matty could care less! I think the hardest part will be tearing him away after 45 minutes – please please don’t let there be tears!

Oh, and I am absolutely crapping myself now as I put my hand up for the committee late last year as Executive Assistant which means sending invoices and receipts for the kinder fees each term. It’s good because I can bring Gabriel into the kinder office with me while I work on their computer, but what was I thinking?! I’m feeling really responsible for it all now and it’s a bit daunting.

Better get dressed and ready to go!

He did it!

Just blogging this right now on the spot, so I don’t forget the day and time.

Gabriel did it – he rolled over from back to front about 5 minutes ago (9:20 Melbourne time).

Ok, you can carry on.

It’s Your Turn

So, I’m almost finished reading Babyhood, and I thought I’d share a page and a half with all the stay at home parents out there who may be reading.

P.134-135

And it is here that you learn the three words that become the chief verbal staple of any household with a baby: It’s Your Turn.

This phrase is the theme song of any marriage once it goes from Two to Three.

“I just changed him twenty minutes ago… It’s your turn.”

“I’ve been watching him all day. It’s your turn!”

“I simply cannot stand up; it’s your turn!”

This all-purpose phrase also works as a marital greeting. The “Hi-sweetie-how-was-your-day” of yesteryear is now replaced with the more simple, direct, and mildly irritated “It’s your turn.”

Before you have a child, you and your spouse are many things to each other: friends, lovers, competitors, partners… Upon producing a child, you relate to eachother primarily as sentries.

The two of you are guards who rotate shifts monitoring and protecting your new charge.

When Baby enters your world, there’s no time for intimate conversation between Husband and Wife. In fact, the extent of conversation often consists solely of the reporting of Baby’s “eating-sleeping-pooping” status – just before the changing of the guard.

“Hi.”

“He ate, he napped, he needs to be changed.”

“I just walked in. Can I take a shower?”

“You should’ve showered before we had a kid. It’s your turn.”

Then, like buck privates relieving one another at Guantanamo, you’re on duty and your wife gets a four-hour pass.

I do so look forward to my four-hour pass of an evening…