school holidays

I can not believe how time flies and how much of it I used to have and now don't.

Argghhh

I wanted to write about the school holidays while they were still fresh in my mind and now nearly a month on I can barely remember what I wanted to say.

This set of hols sept were very wet and uni had very little time off, so I was on my own with both Kt and Rj for the most part.

I cut out holiday fun information pages from the herald and also the child newspaper available at the library.

Whenever I could I tried to schedule an activity for us.

Because of the rain, we missed out on doing a couple of outdoor things like active kids sports and going to the duck pond and the beach and the playground.

We did get to do Active kids gymnastics at suttons, which Kt really enjoyed!

She later drew a picture of one of the activities and I recognized it straight away!!

While we were there skydivers came down from directly above us ... and I was surprised to see that a cheeky magpie followed the skydivers down and tried to attack a bit of the parachute that is attached to the top and billows out the back in the breeze.

Other activities we attempted were the kids dig it day at the museum. An adventure made possible with the help of Aunty Izzy. She was able to keep an eye on Kt and get her to different activities for me while I was feeding RJ.

That was probably the most public breastfeeding I have attempted... luckily his feeds are fairly quick now ... 15-20 minutes or so (less if there are too many distractions).

It was on this day that I learnt the news that I would be an aunty in April of next year!!!!

I was supposed to take Kt swimming during the holidays to prepare for swimming lessons at school, but did not really get a chance as a result of the weather. Also not sure how I would have tackled it with RJ as well ... although that will not be so much of an issue as he gets bigger.

We went to the shops one day and watched a short romeo the radio dog show. Kt got to go up on stage and do an animal impersonation and in return they gave her a romeo the radio dog plush toy and a balloon.

She also had 3 birthday parties to go to during these holidays so that provided some good entertainment for her as well.

When we didn't have any outside activities planned I tried to keep her entertained as much as possible and spend time with her and give her attention while Rj was sleeping (which he does tend to do a lot of during the day ... especially if I don't have to wake him up to take him to school for drop offs or pick ups).

We did play a lot of computer games together ... and spent time doing smartkiddies which is a fantastic maths website.

We also made things and just played games and I chatted to her and tried to involve her while I did absolutely essential chores.

At the moment she just loves to pretend to be an abandoned puppy who I fall in love with and look after. So I just incorporate her character and mine into my usual daytime flow eg come on puppy lets go downstairs and I will hang some clothes on the line and you can check out our yard/meet our other dog etc.... now lets go upstairs and have some bones for lunch ....


When Rj was awake I tried to give her something she could do on her own ... play on the computer or continue with an artwork or read us or herself a story.

Late in the afternoon when I have my most intensive time with Rj ... which is a feed followed by a bath, I would usually let her watch a movie so that I could get on with what I needed to do without arguments, interruptions etc.

Sometimes if the timing is right Kt and Rj will share the big bath together and this usually works well too ... although sometimes Kt wants to hop out while I am still drying and dressing Rj and instead of just getting out and drying and dressing herself, she insists on staying in the bath and getting cold until I am able to come and help her.

I learnt a lot from the holidays about how to handle everyone and make dinner and keep things on track.

The absolute essentials only got done ... the house was and still kind of is a total mess, but at least there were few arguments and not much bad feeling.

More on arguments later ... I think I hear Rj ... or perhaps I hear my stomach

kt's new bedtime routine

Over the last year or so Kt's bedtime routine has become more elaborate.

We used to just read her two picture books and then be finished by about 8.30 or 9pm.

Then I introduced her to bigger chapter books and during the end of year school holidays started reading her two chapters instead.

Some of the books had fairly long chapters and would it would take 45 min to 1 hour to read the two chapters.

When uni read to her he would only read one chapter, but then allow her to read for a while to herself and then let her switch the light off when she was finished.

She did this happily for a while and then started to get scared and want one of us to switch the light off for her ... and then sometimes wanted us (usually me) to stay with her because she was scared of the dark or of being alone in the dark.

Once we got back to school days Kt still wanted to continue and while I was pregnant and not really able to play very much I figured that reading to her was an acceptable alternative.

I also used to stay in her room after stories were finished (sometimes after I had read stories or after uni had) and lie on the bed and let her put her feet on my belly and feel RJ kick.

Because I was pregnant and sleepy I often used to fall asleep before she did and my snoring would keep her awake and she would eventually send me off to my own room. LOL!!

Now that we have both kids though it is really difficult for me to read to her for such a long time and then stay in her room with her until she falls asleep.

I was bringing my laptop into her room and reading up on blogs until she fell asleep, but then I would continue long after she slept, instead of getting on with other chores or catching up on my sleep.

So the bedtime ritual was stretching to 1 and a half hours. Often as soon as I finished with Kt, Rj would wake up and need his feed ... and there would go another 1 hour leaving me working on cleaning up the kitchen and making school lunches at 10.30pm or later.

This was frustrating when all I wanted to do was go to sleep.

Uni and I discussed the situation and we came up with a plan for school nights.

We would be firm on 8pm teeth cleaning time. Then there would be time for some story reading from us and some time for kt to read herself stories before lights get turned off at 9pm.

So for example we might read for 30 minutes and let kt read to herself for the other 30 minutes.

At 9pm the light goes off and we say goodnight and have a final chat for a few minutes.

If Kt is scared we can stay with her for 5 minutes. If she tries to argue or negotiate (both of which she is really good at) then we do not get involved and we repeat that tonight is a school night and she has to go to bed on time. I have to go and have a shower or clean the kitchen or make lunches or whatever and I will come back and check on her after that.

Or if I am ironing in the lounge room I can say that she can come and find me if she needs me ... but that she will be able to see the light and hear the TV and know she is not alone.

The first night I tried this I took her by surprise. There was a bit of a fuss kicked up at each stage ... particularly when I would not stay in her room ... but I switched on the TV and did my ironing and she fell asleep.

the next night the only hiccup was again when I went to leave... but I told her that I had to have a shower and that I would check on her when I got out. If she was awake I would come in and give her a kiss and if she was asleep I would come in and give her a much quieter gentle kiss.

She curled herself up in a ball and cried a bit ... although It was more complaint crying than hurt or scared crying.

When I came out of the shower to check on her I was shocked and very pleased to find her fast asleep!!

The third night there was no fuss or argument or attempts at negotiation at all ... and when I came to turn off the light at 9pm she was tucked up in bed finished her stories and waiting for me!!!

Unfortunately tonight was not a school night so we allowed her to read stories to herself for as long as she wanted and there was a bit of attempted negotiation and I had to stay with her for 5 minutes ... but I left before she fell asleep and she didn't protest so I believe that all in all things were successful.

I will admit I am looking forward again to the next school night when I can be completely firm and not negotiate at all.

It feels good to not constantly cave in ... OK you can have another one, this one is the last one, OK one more but that has to be the last one etc etc.

Uni was right in that although she is clever and a great negotiator, she does seem to feel more secure when there are firm guidelines and rules.

And it is easier for me to stick with a plan if it is firmly established and well thought out in advance

experiencing the sunrise

This morning RJ woke up at 5am for a feed.

It was dark when we started the feed, but partway through the sun rose.

RJ stopped feeding and looked intently at the side of my face. He seemed a bit puzzled and I sat him up to have a burp.

He then looked at the bright patches of sunlight from the sun rise that appeared on my pajama sleeve.

I realized that this must have been what he had noticed while he was feeding ... perhaps the light changed the colour of my hair or lit up my face.

He is a very observent little boy.

We also had a feed at 10.30 last night and he was so cute. He was full and was just lying peacefully cuddled up with me looking up at my face. I gently stroked his chin and cheek and he smiled and closed his eyes.

I stroked his face a couple of times and each time he would smile and close his eyes.

In the end I took him to bed before he fell fully asleep ...

I needed to change his nappy and did not want to let him fall asleep and then have to disturb him.

I'm going to be an aunty!!!

Ok this is a very quick post.

I have been finding it really hard to write anything.

There is so much I want to say but do not know where to start.

I think the words will start flowing if I tell myself I only need to write a little bit at a time.

In a few months time I will be an aunty and my kids will have their first cousin!!!

I am so excited that the age gap between my baby and his cousin will be less than a year ... and at the same time feel sad that kt didn't have the chance to experience this when she was little.

She will be a great big cousin ... with two little ones (and perhaps more later)following her around ... and I know she will be wonderful with them.

I hope having them in her life will make her feel needed, loved and valued.

At the moment she is sad and a lot has changed so that is understandable.

I hope things improve for her and I will have to try and remember to give her lots of hugs and kisses ... and to breathe deeply and try to keep calm when she is being unreasonable or disagreeable.

another breast infection

hmmm this time after a 13hour period with no feeds.

I think I am going to have to start waking the little guy at 10.30 or 11pm so his night time fast is more like 8 hours rather than 12 to 13.

Had fever and a really sore really red breast this time.

Spent most of my day yesterday at the doctor, then at medicare.

Had a fairly full weekend ... uni at work so kt and rj and cooking and all their care and entertainment fell to me.

Was totally exhausted by sun pm ... and really looking forward to a quiet monday at home ... not at the doctors.

Anyway stayed home today and am making the most of my time!

Even did some weeding, photography, washing etc.

Uni bought himself a karcher high pressure cleaning system and has made all the paths and concrete around our yard clean and sparkling. He used the water from our tanks!!!!

Spring is just about here and the garden is blooming ... it hasn't had much attention at all from me but things like the blue salvia which I thought were brown and dead have all started to regrow!!!

Looks like I should not pluck a dead plant out until spring because it might only be hibernating.

Whenever uni pays attention to the yard (mowing) or in this case high pressure cleaning it makes me want to get out there and complement his work with some of my own.

I didn't get all the weeds but I have made a dent in them.

I also took some photos of the garden ... my lemon plant has flowered again and smells divine!

And so does kt's bean plants ... one of which has a bean pod!!!!

The kids each grew a bean plant in class and we also grew some additional ones at home.

Borlotti beans (this is the kind that smells so nice, has such pretty flowers, is climbing rapidly ... and has a pod) and also chickpeas ... these have a small pretty white flower and lovely delicate dark green leaves.

They are all flourishing in a pot full of tomato growing soil in our circular garden.