3rd Birthday Tour - Part 2 Sydney

 
Alex's birthday tour continued home to Sydney a week later (yes I am a good 2 months late with the post) with family and friends gathering for a little party at our place. It kind of worked as a house warming as well (we've been here a year now, you might be sensing a pattern).

Friends in the courtyard thanks to the sun making an appearance

Despite panicking through most of the rainy week leading up to it, even buying a tarp in case we had to cover the backyard, the sun shone brightly on the day and it was great to see our little place full of friends and their various small people.

playing with Fern & Elliot

I was worried there wouldn't be enough little friends for Alex as we don't have that many friends with kids his age so I invited a couple of people from daycare as well. It turns out we had about 12 kids and remarkably the day went off without a crisis. Ok there was one moment when a little girl had found grandpa's electric razor and was inches away from shaving my (female) workmate's head but thankfully the would-be hairdresser's dad arrived just in time to avert that crisis.

Like I said - I was pretty proud of the cake effor

In fact I don't think there were even any tears all day and Alex had a ball getting lots of presents (some of which are still in the cupboard unopened - don't tell Alex); eating his number 3 cake (particularly proud of that one) and some healthy-ish snacks and running around with his balloons and bubbles.

Bubble present was a hit

The AB Tour

Here's the first look at our new house and area with tour guide Alex Butler.

Walking the laneway with some Brit pop attitude...

Lounging in some inappropriate footwear...

Posing by the stairs (with a bit of the kitchen and
Alex's play area in the background...)

Crafting in his play area...

Road testing a local playground...

More local and new house adventures coming soon...

Alex's 2nd birthday party stays afloat - just

The pirate ship cake complete Agrrr!

The weekend before we left for New Zealand we had a little birthday party for Alex. Technically speaking it was his 2nd birthday on the 31st but we were flying that morning and didn't fancy squeezing in a birthday celebration to the 30 mins we had before checking at the Airport. So we decided to subtly shift his birthday to the weekend before "he's 2, he doesn't even know what a birthday is so he'll never know" - we said to ourselves. That is until he learns to read and discovers this blog post. Hmm...

So anyway, the all important cake baking started the day before and at about 1.50pm, a whole 10 mins before the guests were due to arrive the cake was done. Due to a um... (rare?)... moment of disorganisation I forgot to book the BBQ area that I'd sent everyone to and had to hastily change plans and have the gathering in our apartment.

Grandpa was a surprise visitor and we had lots of other friends, little and large come by and Alex was very spoilt with some lovely gifts including funky PJs, beautiful books (we love books at the moment), two fantastic toy cars, bubbles, an Elmo balloon (still love Elmo) and lots more.

Alex made sure to run to the door every time the buzzer went to greet his next visitor and was remarkably happy despite all the fuss, noise and people wanting to play with his toys (now is not the age for sharing). There was a tense moment with an altercation between two little people over the little tykes car which ended in tears and a few scratches. More on that here: http://bubbymakesthree.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/party-pooper.html

Harper, just before the incident with little Elliot

Alex loved the kitchen he got from mum and dad

But in the end the party sailed on happily with the Pirate Ship cake going down a treat with grown ups and little people alike. And most importantly Alex had fun!

Birthday song video and candle blowing didn't quite work out...

Bubbles bubbles bubbles updated

It seems like such a long time ago that we posted this little video of Alex - not even 3 months old - enthusing about these little soapy spheres of fun.

So here is an update, 15 months later... not much has changed

An offering to the kitchen gods

Not exactly a premium offering...

When we first moved into this flat in Sydney Alex's FAVOURITE place to 'hang' was the kitchen. More specifically he would pull himself up using the oven door handle and, quite literally hang off the oven.

Recognising that we would need to actually use the oven occasionally the next thing us responsible parents did was go out and buy a safety gate so little hands couldn't burn themselves on aforementioned oven door.

Needless to say this didn't go well, and it goes even less well if both mum and dad find themselves in the kitchen with Alex outside.

Recently he has tried a different tack. Whenever I'm in the kitchen for more than a few minutes he starts to bring me presents. I
like to think of them as offerings to the kitchen gods, in the hope that one day the magical gate will open and let him in to experience the wonder and general fabulousness that awaits within.

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Location:Sydney

Getting on

Alex is either starting to settle into a new routine or perhaps discovering a new found independence. Last week - for the first time he didn't cry when I dropped him off with the Nanny. Haydn often finds him playing with other kids and barely acknowledging him when he comes to collect him at Daycare at the end of the day and last Sunday Haydn and I actually went out for the night while baby Alex stayed at home with big Alex and mean uncle hOb. I prepared them for tears, for the throwing of food, reluctance to go to bed, general non-compliance... and what happened? Baby Alex watched us leave the house with not a tear, ate all his dinner and then went to bed happily with a giggle - an actual giggle. And apparently it was the same little man.

Determination

Do these groceries seem heavier than usual?

shopping in style

I know what you're thinking, no blog update for over two weeks and this is the best you can do? A photo of baby Alex, sitting in my shopping cart in our lounge room. Well - I'll tell you this.

No.

That's not the best I can do.

The best I can do is give you a video of Alex in my shopping cart, being dragged around the lounge room by his dad.

So there!

Baby steps

For once the heading for today's blog entry isn't some kind of witty double entendre, clever analogy or play on worlds. I'm literally talking about my baby's steps. And he's taking more of them every day. In fact the video here is not that impressive but I've managed to not have my camera around every time he actually takes his multiple baby steps across the lounge.

I didn't think I was all that keen to see Alex walking. I know that once he walks it's just a matter of time before he's running and that's a whole new world of trouble. He took soooo long to finally start crawling that I decided not to stress about this particular milestone. And I haven't to be honest, I still enjoy watching his little toosh wiggle from side to side as he wonders off to explore the uncharted depths of bathroom or chase animals in a park and I figure he'll walk when he's good and ready.

Judging by the last couple of days he's getting close to ready and I''m very excited. He's just so proud of himself when he makes it from the chair to the coffee table or from his mum to his dad, he even gives himself a little clap to recognise the effort.

Sunday's effort -  we've been making progress by moving the coffee table further away...

and aren't we proud of ourselves!

Working mama pros and cons

Investigating the printer - maybe he can
come to work with me?

 I've gone back to work, full time.


There... I've said it.


It actually happened three weeks ago but it's only now that I've been able to type about it and get a handle on my guilt, nerves, worries, tears, fears and all the other feelings that have been whirring around inside since April 18th. That's not to say that any of the aforementioned feelings have dissipated, far from it. So instead of going into detail I'm going to write sensible, emotion-free pros and con of returning to work list.

Here goes...





Pros

• I appreciate much more the precious time Alex and I have together and it really is quality time now. I think I was taking it for granted a bit before
• The look on Alex's face when I walk in the door after a day at work is amazing... I must get the camera out next time
• Nanna B is doing a wonderful job as temporary nanny and Alex loves her even more than ever
• I'm earning money for the first time in 13 months
• Having a beautiful bubba at home gives you some excellent perspective - nothing at work is that bad or that important.

Cons

• It breaks my heart to leave him in the morning
• I have gone from spending all day long with Alex to about 2.5 hours
• I hate commuting - especially the inevitable traffic which cuts into the precious time mentioned above
• It's hard to be excited, inspired or enthusiastic about any job when really what you want to do is be at home playing with your little man
• Childcare is a NIGHTMARE in this city, 12 month waiting lists with no guarantee of a place, crazy waiting list charges, expensive fees... I could go on...
• I can't help thinking that in 20 years time I'll be regretting not having spend more time with my son, I won't be regretting not having worked in that ad agency in Sydney

People tell me it gets easier.

A little agreement about significant moments

I've had a little word to Alex. I've informed him that he must restrain from reaching any significant developmental milestones during the week.

Discovering news skills, words, habits, noises, talents and abilities is to be restricted to weekends only, or, if this is not possible the in the mornings before 7.30am or the evenings after 6.30pm.

I see nothing unreasonable about this request.

Yours sincerely
Working mother trying to have it all.

Am I creating a future couch potato?

I started work on Monday - after 13 months of not working... more on that later. The day before I returned to work I went to the baby shop to spend the voucher grandpa had given Alex for Christmas. OK, you might call it a guild present but I came back with this very cute and kind of stylish toddler sized rocking chair. He wasn't 100% sure about it when it first appeared in the lounge room it didn't take long for him to become a fan. in fact, one morning after i'd left for work he crawled over to his chair, climbed in, made him self comfortable and started watching TV. Not exactly a habit I want him to get used too but the photo Haydn sent me was so cute and really made my morning at work. I think my new workmates were a bit sick of seeing it.

I think he looks like a little old man with his knee up here

In fact, even as I type I'm watching Alex get into and out of his chair and rock it while he does. I think that classifies as a hit, and as a bonus, it's a baby friendly thing that actually matches the rest of our furniture. And yes, there is a baby foot stool to go with it. Hilarious!

More assisted walkies

Progress on the walking/pushing front...

Nursery Fun

Ready for take off - there does seem to be a 'flying' theme

So Alex has only had his own room for a few weeks now.

Initially the room was so embarrassingly stark and boring it's no wonder he burst into tears when ever we put him in his cot for a daytime nap.

The only things to gaze at from his horizontal mattress-bound position were the mysterious marks on the roller blind and the selection of dents in the wall from when we moved the furniture in the previous tenants.

Well, I've finally got my act into gear and attempted the make the room a bit more fun and little-person-appropriate. I'm not a designer or decorator by anyone's estimation - if you want to see true style look at my friend Nicole's blog. But I had fun and it definitely looks better than it did before. And I genuinely think Alex doesn't complain quite as much when he is put to bed in the afternoon and can even be heard quietly playing, nattering to his toys when he wakes up - well, sometimes.

Cot, birdy mobile & quilt hand made
by Nanna B

Mr Owl watching over Alex

In case you don't know who lives here

More birdies

I'd love to know what you think? 

On the move... sort of

Tick Tock Tick Tock

The clocks went back in NSW this morning. Normally the end of daylight savings is a little win, a bonus hour's sleep. The only negative is trying to remember how to change the clock on the front of oven after 6 months.

This morning, at 4.45am to be precise, Haydn and I attempted to find the button, the switch, the manual anything at all which could enable us to reprogram the timer in our 1 year old son. After a bit of internet research we discovered it's not that simple.

So we said goodbye to our extra hour's sleep and decided instead to enjoy the extra hour with our little man.

A present for mum on his birthday

Alex turned 1 today - can you believe it? I can't, in fact I think I'll continue to deny it and call him 'my baby' for at least another 7 years.

So far we have spent most of his birthday on Skype. In fact, I think that is what Skype is specifically designed for, grandparents, great grandparents, aunties to wish happy birthday to their respective grandkiddies, nephews etc.

And generous soul that he is, Alex has given his mum a present on his big day. He's been asleep for almost 2 hours this morning - and those that know him will know that this is an incredibly rare event. In fact I've done all my morning jobs and admin and don't actually know what to do with myself now, hence the blog update.

Chatting with Aunty Sian & opening presents

And can I just mention that in the video above, Alex is chatting to his great grandma and other family in Florida. Great grandma has very recently acquired her own skype account. If anyone tells me that technology is all bad I say... 'bah'.

The big day approaches

Well, actually there are a few big days approaching, and one is happening today. This morning Haydn (aka Dadda - Alex is pretty good at telling the difference these days) started his new job.

It's great news really, a good company, interesting job and it only took him a couple of weeks to find it which is good for the bank balance.

But it's also the official end to our lovely, luxurious, long holiday together and back to reality. I realize most new families don't get the opportunity to spend such a solid block of splendid, sunshiny time together, without the pesky interruptions of a job and all that real life stuff. Most babies don't get the pleasure of undivided attention from both mum and dad (and various nannas, cousins, aunts and uncles) for close to 5 months. And we SOOOO appreciated it.

I know it's a cliche but all good things must come to an end eventually and more adventures lay ahead. The fact is we won't have as much time with our gorgeous bundle of joy over the coming months, so the time we have together will have to be that bit more special.

A new home... again

Considering we've uprooted the little man once again, introducing him to a new place, a new home, new furniture, a new bed (in his very own room for the first time) he's handled it all pretty well. I actually think he enjoys change, new people, new places more than the same old routine but I know that goes against everything you read about in baby books so I should probably put that uneducated opinion away.

We've had a few bumps along the way - some actual bumps (did I mention the new furniture?) and a brief spell when we first moved into our place where the little man got a touch of the lurgie (not sure how to spell that). It manifested itself with a bit of a fever, a grumpy temperament and a bit of a rash but cleared up after a few days and now he's back to his old self. He's brief illness also made Alex more cuddly than his normal self, usually he'll have a bit of a snuggle then see something shiny in the corner then crawl off to investigate. A bit like the dog from the movie Up whenever he sees a squirrel.

In the picture above Alex spent hours clinging koala-like to his Dad's back - a game than normally gets boring after a few minutes ... Squirrel!

excuses excuses

note chaos of toys in the background

Well... the thing is... I've been a bit busy: moving countries (again), doing lots of admin, trying to get the internet for our new place... and there was all the unpacking and job hunting and illness. OK, so just insert any of the reasons above for why we've somewhat dropped of the blog radar during the past couple of weeks. Very sorry - bad blogger!

Anyway, lots to catch up on which I will do over the next week or so, but the recipe includes a dollop of Alex having his own room for the first time, a few drops of virus and fever, a cup of 'tough love' all on a bed of new routine which today resulted in the little man sleeping for 3 1/2 hours during the day! A world record by any standards - I realise this is probably standard for a lot of 11month olds but it's definitely a personal best for our little man.

So in all the aforementioned busy period I've hardly taken a photo of the little man - how things have changed. So in a fit of sudden guilt I took a few photos of Alex playing in our new lounge room 10 mins ago.

See you soon, won't be so long next time, don't be a stranger, you've changed etc. etc.

The balcony has been a bit too tempting already