Time flies

For some reason at this time of year, time seems to speed up, days become more crammed with tasks and energy wanes...holiday season is almost upon us!

Our days have been no less hectic - it seems you are thrust out into the world of social activities when you decide to have children these days...playgroup, swimming lessons, extra curricular activities, kindergarten, play dates, shopping, parks, indoor play centres...

Jude is turning 3 (we had a fantastic time celebrating his birthday in Brisbane a few weeks ago) in two weeks and the testosterone levels are surging - we have been going through a more complex and sophisticated phase of challenge at the same time that his emotional development isn't quite keeping up. The result? Me tired, Jude tantrums! That being said, he is such a lovely, affectionate, responsible, keenly empathetic, acutely aware, grown up and slightly OCD little man. He remains faithful to cars and trains but uses his sponge absorbing ability to increasingly enjoy role play. I've recently learned how intently he observes my behaviour - answers his toy phone 'Hello Nicola speaking' as one example. There is no longer one rule for mummy and one rule for Jude - we are bound by the same or I have many explanations owing. And everything needs to happen now or at the very least 'soon mummy, soon, soon!' I love the fact that as soon as he wakes in the morning he is ready to go go go (just like me) and that he doesn't really stop during his day. If his legs are not running his lips usually are. ;-)

His ability to take and accept (at times) instruction means his swimming and kindergarten experiences in particular are more enhanced. When I think about the school years approaching I worry about him...he is such a perfectionist, a worrier (yes like me) and gets so frustrated. He puts a great deal of pressure and expectation on himself so one of the best things James and I can offer to him is some perspective. And a listening ear.

Ivy has an affectionate, social, rebellious and passionate nature. She knows her mind and what she wants, she easily reads others and is aware of how to get a reaction out of them if the desire takes her...all I can say is that Jude cops it quite a bit! One minute they are kissing and hugging, the next they are screaming at each other....there are few passive interchanges.

Ivy is helpful, thoughtful and her love of life throws caution to the wind. Her favourite activities are role play, art and outside messy play. She takes time to warm up in the mornings (like James) but once she's had her cuddles, she's heading to her dressing table, adorning herself with jewels and searching out her first opportunity to get messy...a great balance of femininity and tom boy.

As Christmas approaches, we are getting excited about the arrival of Mum and Grumpy Pete...and not long after, Pip! I'm now at week 27 and thanks to yoga, still very active with few aches and pains. Jude asks about the baby often 'is it coming out yet mummy? No? Why what's it got to do?' - I explain that he/she has to get bigger but will be here 'soon.' I try to take a midday nap whenever possible to make up for interrupted sleep at night and to maintain patience levels through testing times with the children...that's another thing about having offspring - they expose your strengths and weaknesses!

It seems fitting that after just celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary, James and I are considering a new joint business venture. We are weighing up the disadvantages of change and financial risk and uncertainty with a healthier work life balance and potential financial security and advancement. There is a possibility that working and living together could result in driving each other crazy but I think once we've ironed out the creases and planned our roles based on strengths, we will grow and continue to make a great team. Watch this space!

Anyway I sign off by congratulating my brother and his girlfriend Michelle and welcoming their new son to the world. Exciting times now and ahead.

Love to you all,

Nic xx

Welcoming Spring!

Hi.

We are very happy to be welcoming Spring and some warmer, sunnier weather here in Melbourne. It's been a stormy, wet and overcast Winter but we've made the most of our hats, coats and scarves and braved the elements in various parks and beaches.

Jude is really enjoying his 5 hours of kindy a week now. He's excited to go but has a big smile, 360 degree turn and a kiss ready for me when I return. The carers there LOVE him and there is a chorus of "Goodbye Jude" from the other 20 children and adults as he leaves. Very cute.

He remains pedantic, neat (he gets upset if even the smallest amount of food drops on his clothes or seat!), organised, structured, bossy, chatty (he has no problem saying any word irrespective of how long or complex it is), affectionate, empathetic, fiercely independent (when it suits) and inquisitive. He loves role play and is often having conversations with himself or Ivy with a particular scenario in mind. He really enjoys music (listening to and trying to play) and dancing. And he is gaining confidence in the water with every swimming lesson. Eating vegetables usually involves some bribery but on the whole he is pretty good with his food and if he gets a treat he makes it last a long time in case it's his last for a while. I'm such a mean mum!

Ivy is messy, disorganised (she can be precise in selecting something or putting something on but then usually throws it in any direction shortly after!), cheeky, independent and social. She loves running around with Jude but equally ignores his bossy instructions and does her own thing much to his annoyance. She has started to show a particular penchant for painting and knows how to throw a tantrum when I limit what she can decorate. She enjoys most food so is easy to cater for - cheese is her favourite. She started walking properly a few weeks ago and is practically running now. I rarely see her without a pair of sunglasses on, a scarf around her neck or a different pair of shoes on her feet - accessories are her thing!

Thanks to mum babysitting and James being my taxi, I managed to complete my image consultancy studies and have started practicing. Work is slowly coming in (which I do at lunchtimes or evenings when the children are sleeping) and I hopefully have a corporate image presentation to deliver to 100 women at National Australia Bank in Melbourne soon which will hopefully bring in more clients. I am working hard to maintain momentum this year as I will have to put things on hold for a few months after Pip arrives next year. The pregnancy is going well so far and most of the time I am too busy to remember I am pregnant!

James is working hard too. A number of positions are vacant in his department at the moment so he is busily trying to fill those whilst maintaining the status quo. Hopefully once these are filled things will calm down a bit.

Weekends are spent planting vegetables in the garden, going to the park or train rides. Ivy loves playing in the mud and water and Jude never fails to fill me in on her antics - she's not going to get away with much while he's supervising!

We're now getting geared up for a week's break in Brisbane to chill out and catch up with friends and family - our first holiday of the year. Jude is very excited to be seeing Nanny, Poppy, Aunties, Uncles and cousins again and we are looking forward to seeing all of the children playing together while we enjoy a wine!

I hope you're all well - keep all of your news coming.

Love Nic x

Settled in

Hi.

Well, we have been in Melbourne for almost 3 months now and feeling very settled. The kids are enrolled in just about every preschool program in the local area - playhouse, playgroup, Playdays, private swimming lessons, etc. and we've become very familiar with the 6 parks within 4kms.

Celebrating James' bday last weekend was a positive reprieve from 3 weeks of everyone suffering a virus over Easter and Anzac Day long weekends...which turned into a sinus infection for me. :-( Probably the worst time to get serious about Jude's toilet training! Our almost non existent patience levels have seen many sights in the last few weeks...The highlights? Me walking into the bathroom to see Jude holding up his own stool in the bath, him hiding under his bed covers with no pants doing a number 2 on the sheets...and another time on his windowsill. Now we have him going to the toilet but sitting to do his business still fully clothed from the waist down. Progress! In the end the methods that are working for us are consistency, regularity (pardon the pun) and humour...it seems it is hard to hold things in when he is laughing!

After his second eye specialist appointment he is now wearing his Lego glasses full time - diagnosed with long sightedness, a 'turn' which alternates between eyes and a slight stigmatism. He is dealing with wearing them very well and only shows distress when other little children try and touch them or pull them off his face.

He is very strong willed so if you want him to do something you either have to fake indifference or make him think it was his idea...and if these tactics fail, I count to 3 and watch him run like the wind. He continues to follow extreme approaches e.g. he is either very sociable and in children's faces with a joker like smile, enthusiastic wave and jovial "hewwo!" or he is very antisocial exclaiming, "No little boy, No little girl" at children who dare to enter the same park as him. Similarly, he is either all over Ivy bringing her things and lovingly rubbing her head or shoving her and saying, "No Ivy. Stop! Don't touch my cars/trains!" He has a lot of energy and loves helping James mow, me fix things with tools, cook (he grabs his stool from his bedroom whenever I am in the kitchen so as not to miss any action), grocery shop (he gets his own little trolley) and clean.

He has an immense capacity for empathy and shows great concern if he sees anyone sad or hurt. He loves music and coyly sings along or nods his head to kids songs and tv shows...I fear it won't be long before James starts exposing him to Mister Mister and John Farnham ballads.

 

Ivy's personality is really becoming evident now. Unlike Jude, she holds no sense of danger. She climbs up and slides down furniture and loves to be spun around. She has a love of life and strangers regularly comment on her smile. She is cheeky and also very strong willed and has a short temper if she doesn't get what she wants...but her tantrums are fleeting and she is not as stubborn as Jude...yet.

 

 

 

She is known as my koala and loves sitting on my hip, pointing and babbling or just climbing into my lap and peacefully sucking on her fingers (two in the mouth, one tickling a nostril). She is not the best sleeper - frequent night wakings and a single short nap in the day but most of that is probably (hopefully!) down to teething and active development stages. And like her mum, she's a bit of a tomboy...it's not often I can get her into girly outfits - tights are pulled off, bows are yanked.

 

 

 

 

Irrespective, she remains James' "beautiful little angel" and Jude is his "gorgeous boy." They are our little 'mates' and enrich our every day.

 

Life has been busy with me taking on some communications project work in the evenings (I will start advertising the image consultancy side after my 3 day practical training in August). It requires discipline but I am enjoying the diversity in my days.

 

Work is demanding for James and there has been much change in the company recently resulting in him taking on more responsibility again. Challenging in the short term but he welcomes the experience and new opportunities.

 

As for living in Melbourne, it can be hard to live away from family and friends' support but on the upside, it makes us close and really appreciate each other.

 

 

Hope you all enjoyed the latest videos I put together. Keep in touch.

Nic x

Over 2 and nearly 1!

Hi,

I just checked the date of my last blog entry and it was 4 months ago - whoops! Still, I have posted videos in between now and then (and pictures for those of you on Facebook) so I don't feel quite so slack!

October and November were 8 weeks of one virus after another with the kids - all of which of course were generously passed onto me - needless to say not much sleep was had! But I looked upon that as the storm before the (hopeful) calm when dad arrived in December. And what a lovely month December was. We took Dad to parks, on a ferry and train ride through the city, the zoo, to child friendly cafes (at 6.30am!) the local shopping haunts, the beach, Noosa for Christmas, Southbank water park, Mount Cootha and even a children's disco. He also went out with James and I on New Years eve to Portside for Japanese cuisine and the 9pm river fireworks - James had a blast introducing him to pickled ginger and sake. But overall most of Dad's time was spent being soaked by Jude in the paddling pool at home. For those of you that weren't aware my Dad's mum passed away on our Xmas eve. Whilst I was very sad that dad and I weren't in the UK at the time, I was glad that dad had the kids as a distraction and the backdrop of Noosa to reflect on the positive memories.

 

We were all incredibly sad to say goodbye to him and Jude went into a quiet place for the rest of the day. No doubt trying to work out why Grampy was no longer there and adjusting to the change. The next day he was up and back to normal...verbal diarrhoea, ants in his pants and my permanent shadow. :-) His favourite question is repeated throughout the day, "What's that noise?" which is preparing me for the day when everything is "Why? Why? Why?"

I think he is either destined to be an Olympic swimmer or a plumber because he is OBSESSED with water. If he's not in the paddling pool he is in the bath, if not there he is washing up in the sink, or carrying a bucket of water somewhere, or in a swimming pool, or in the sea and if he's at the park you will find him running the water tap and splashing in puddles rather than on the swings or slide. And he talks a lot about "water going down the pipe and down the drain" - we love our strange little boy.

 

Ivy is another interesting character. She is either very quiet or very loud with little in between. When she gets babbling there is nothing stopping her. She isn't crawling yet but is getting closer each day and has done a couple of face plants into the floorboards or tiles as a result. :-( She does manage to travel along the floor slowly in her own swivelling way and can be seen tilting her head
(almost touching the ground) around the corner of a door to see what is happening in the next room. She doesn't like to be missing out on anything. She LOVES music, singing and dancing and hates being put into any restraint like the car seat or pram. If she could be in my arms 24/7 she would be extremely content. She has very strong legs and slams them on the ground when she's not happy and heel taps the floor when she is happy. If you throw a ball to her she will throw it back to you over and over. Definitely picked up James' sporty genes. She is cheeky and knows no fear. I love watching Jude and Ivy interact with each other. Jude has some loving and protective moments and some agitated times when she is nonchalantly encroaching in on his space.

Jude is so pedantic and precise in the way he goes about most things whereas Ivy is a whack it and see personality. He is cautious and nervous, she is fearless. But they both share a big sense of humour and there are lots of loud giggles and infectious laughter.

I get mixed reactions when I'm out and about by myself with the double stroller filled with the dynamic duo and daily paraphernalia - some doting smiles and some "geez you have your hands full" comments. Either way I smile and remain grateful for my two gifts.

 

I have been powering through my Image Consultancy course and finished my last assignment last night...just got to wait to be marked now. Wahoo! In the background I have also been creating my logo, setting up my business number and name, Say Something Back (which will cover my communications consulting work too), designing and publishing my website www.saysomethingback.com.au, posting on social media (daily looks, advice and fashion forecasting), designing business cards and writing my business blog. I'm realistic and know it will take some time to get my name out there and make some money but as most of you know, I am a driven and focused person and will give it a good shot.

In my spare time (!) I have been packing up the house for our move to Melbourne. We move out Friday 31st and are imposing on the in laws until we find a rental in Victoria. We're sad to be leaving a nice house, friends and family but we are embracing the change and looking forward to discovering new things together. James will continue to travel to Sydney or Melbourne every week until we all move.

Nanny Barbs has been popping in and out to help distract Jude while I get things boxed up. She makes me laugh - she naturally has a much more laid back parenting style to me - one time I came home to find a big poo from Ivy on the sofa which had fallen out of the nappy while Barbs changed her (she did wonder why she smelt but had no poo!) and another time I found a dirty nappy wedged into the top of the side gate which Barbs no doubt was planning on transferring to the outside bin but forgot. She has been helping Jude's hand eye coordination by suspending a ball with string on the back deck which he loves to hit with a tennis racket. "Good shot!" he says. Some of my favourite moments include watching him and James hit the ball to each other and their tandem mowing efforts.

Ivy has the 'd' and 'g' sounds down pat so most of her babbling sounds like "Dad' which of course James is thrilled about. The only time she makes a 'm' sound is when she's sobbing and needs comfort from mum - I guess I have to take what I can get!

Life is busy and sometimes draining - but mostly lots of fun. And as you can see I never have a camera too far away so I can capture the memories.

Til next time...

Love Nic x