The move went smoothly thanks to the White family helpers and I think I had all the boxes unpacked after a week.
James returned to work on 16 Jan with mixed emotions. Welcoming new challenges, seeing old faces and stimulating the brain a bit more but sad to be away from Jude and I. He currently works from home on Mondays and Tuesdays and then gets on a 5am flight to Sydney on Wednesdays, back 8.30pm on Fridays. Our new rental abode offers James a little office area to work (relatively!) peacefully from and plenty of space for Jude to roam about. Not to mention his very own room at last!
As you can see from the pics, he is especially enjoying the garden and the outside deck area (the last image is of him at Noosaville river) despite the heat and humidity. He is going from strength to strength and in the last few weeks has started to walk. It's simultaneously weird and wonderful to see your child walk for the first time...another step (pardon the pun) towards independence.
He has a gentle but determined temperament. When his surroundings go quiet, he comes into his own and babbles non stop - "puh puh" and "rah rah" utterances, assertive "mum, mum, mum" and soft "dad" sounds. He also oddly makes a growling sound whenever he sees Peter (Grumpy) on Skype. When his environment is more lively or chaotic, he tends to take a step back and quietly observe. He is an absolute nutcase when it comes to swimming - going ten to the dozen, already doing a toddler doggy paddle and not phased by being under water. He is really getting into books and pushes them towards me to read while he babbles along at the same time.
Our daily routine includes a trip to Kalinga Park and Abbie and Nathan's swimming pool. He largely ignores the other children at the park and focuses on the dogs and pigeons moving about - making an "ooh" sound when he sees them.
He is quite a serious little character for the most part but laughs heartily during games of peekaboo and can't help chuckling if he sees James or I laughing.
Today he did his first painting...one for James to put on his Sydney desk. Not convinced he shares my love for art but that won't stop me persevering! :-)
James is getting his morning bike rides in most days and is thoroughly enjoying maintaining his fitness. I too am getting plenty of exercise by running after Jude and preparing peanut for the big wide world (in just 6 weeks!) I can already tell that Jude and Peanut will be like chalk and cheese - just from comparing their movements in the womb and the pregnancies generally. I can't wait to see Jude's reaction at another human being encroaching in on his territory...probably some initial fascination, followed by nonchalance and on tired or sick days, some annoyance! Being so close in age I hope they will be the best of friends eventually.
I think that's it from me for now. Keep in touch - I love hearing everyone's news.
Love Nic x
