Week in the life of…

18 – 24th May

We celebrated 6 months this week! Half a year, 26 weeks, and according to google, half (1 year) =182.621099 days.
I love seeing more and more of his little personality show through. The times that he can see or hear dad and his legs and arms pump furiously up and down, when he’s not sure who is holding him and he drops the bottom lip and when we ask him what does his puppy dog say, and the smile that creeps onto his face when we tell Jack “Woof, woof, woof!”.

 
This week I went to my first movies session since having Jack. Megan and I attended a mums and bubs session of Pitch Perfect 2 at Hoyts Highpoint and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it could be! The lights were on more than normal, and they say that the volume is a little less but I didn’t notice a difference.  You really only here the noise of the bubs around you, unless of course one has a major meltdown. The session starts at 10, which for me, was almost perfect – it’s about the same time as Jack’s first nap, and being the good boy that he is, fell asleep on me, for most of the session.  I was amazed at the number of mums there and if you ever wanted to pram-watch and see what is new and on trend, it was definitely the place to be! There would’ve been at least 70 mums there, and prams lined the aisles, the entry and amazingly, they even fit along the seating!
Jack’s getting better at sitting, even though I feel like a mother bird, constantly fluttering around him, making sure he isn’t falling over and face planting. More new foods this week, and with the 6 month milestone, I introduced yoghurt as well.

I enjoy watching the interactions between Ben and Jack. This week they were sharing the mat and Jack rolled over and ‘hugged’ Ben. Ben does really well and I always tell him that he’s a good boy. Sometimes Ben lays at the wrong end of Jack and will get constantly kicked in the head, and he doesn’t bat an eyelid, just continues to sleep. It’s moments like these that I love Benny, and the dog that he is maturing in to. I still wonder if he preferred life before Jack, but I think that with Jack’s eating habits and the likelihood that he will start sharing food with Ben, that their relationship will blossom, and they will become best friends.

Dad was away. travelling to Perth on Friday night and returned late Sunday night. Benny was more than happy to share the bed in an attempt to keep me warm. However, crawling under the covers and laying against me was probably a little too much! James Skype’d on Sunday morning while we were out at Flemington market and watching Jack interact with dad on the phone, was priceless. He’d only just woken up, and was staring blankly at the screen, then you could slowly see him wake up. Once he realised, the blankets started kicking and Jack started gurgling and, of course, attempted to eat the phone.

11 – 17th May

New foods this week:  zucchini, mashed potato and apple and mango puree. Jack has been wolfing his meals down and as such I’ve started to add in a second feed during the day as well. The whole new foods and introducing solids still feels so overwhelming. I’m attempting to make little batches of fresh steamed veggies and obviously fresh fruit. I still have a few jars and food pouches in the kitchen cupboards for those days that I’m not that organised.
We celebrated Jack’s friend, Liam’s 1st birthday this week too! It is amazing to watch a gorgeous baby boy, grow and develop. That first time I saw you in hospital, you were a big boy, wrapped up and already trying to escape the confines of your blankets. The love and adoration, so evident on both your parents faces, hasn’t changed this whole year. You are one very loved little boy, spoilt by all that know you – your grandparents, your parents friends and of course, your mum and dad. I am thankful to be recognised by you and I love it when your smile lights up your whole face.
So Liam, Happy 1st birthday! You are one of the happiest boys that I know. Jack is lucky to live so close by, and I’m already picturing the years ahead when the boys will be able to play together and the many park dates that they will be dragging us to.

20 – 26th April
Jack has passed his 5th month milestone! I need time to slow down, I can almost here the clock ticking it’s way to November and the inevitable return to work.  Jack and I went grocery shopping with Uncle Jeffy, I’m not sure if the photo above does it justice, but Jeff in the Minnie Mouse mask  was both terrifying and hilarious at the same time. I think it was the pink bow on Minnie and Jeff’s biceps and tattoos.

Jack and I traveled to Creswick on Friday, for the centenary celebrations of ANZAC day. Friday was a beautiful day to head about one and a half hours away from home. I even got hubby’s new car, to make the drive up. The first hour of the drive was fine, I heard Jack complain a little after that, but he must have found his dummy, and he settled back to sleep. I stupidly followed the car’s GPS, even though I’ve been up there numerous times, so I missed my chance to drive through the forest with the sun shining between the trees.

I met Nanna Leanne up in Creswick, and showing off her ‘girl guide’ skills, she quickly set about creating the fire. James and I, before we started working on the ice hockey and before we had our own house, would head to Creswick over winter weekends, to relax in the warmth of the fire. It would feel like a mini holiday and I loved the smell of the fires, and the autumn tones of the leaves as you drive through the main street.

The 3 of us attended the candlelight vigil at the field of crosses on Friday night. Jack was all rugged up in his fleecy mickey mouse suit, and was as ‘snug as a bug’ in his carrier that I wore. It was all going well until the rain fell, and it really set in! Poppy and Uncle Sam arrived later that night to attend the march the following day. I headed back home on Saturday after lunch. Unfortunately we didn’t have the lovely weather that we had on the way! It was pouring the whole way. So thankful for the car, a great ride in all that rain. Once again Jack did well for the first hour in the car. Just as I’d gotten on the bypass he lost it and started screaming. Thankfully Maccas was right around the corner, and while I got a coffee fix, I was able to give hugs to my little guy.

13 – 19th April

Jack has started watching Ben and squealing at him this week. He will lay on his play-mat, and Ben will flop down close by, and I sit there watching as Jack stretches his fingers out, reaching for Ben’s fur. If Jack can’t get close enough, he’ll roll onto his side in an attempt to move towards him. I wonder if he likes the fur in his hands, or if he thinks that Ben is like one of the pages in the books that I read to him.The range of ‘That’s not my puppy’ or Polar Bear or Bunny all have different textures that bubs are meant to reach for, and eventually associate what rough, or shiny, or soft feel like.

I’ve also attempted feeding Jack cereal this week. Attempted, meaning, that it was fun to get him used to the spoon, and sitting in the high chair, let alone the foreign taste of baby cereals! I think I read that much around when to start, what to start with, baby led weaning and all the rest, that I started going in circles. I’m looking forward to slowly introducing foods and watching his expressions – hopefully he’ll love his food just like mum does!

6th – 12th April

Every year I buy a diary, and as the days in the new year tick over, I sit down at night, and write about things that I think I need to remember. This year, I felt it was more important, to help document Jack’s first year, and list the challenges and achievements that have been met. It’s now mid April, and I cannot remember where I’ve put my diary. Instead I use my phone’s calendar to document all my important appointments – be it, coffee dates, shopping expeditions or doctors appointments. When I finally find the time to sit down and think back over the week about what I’ve accomplished, I stare at the screen, looking at the pictures that tell the story for the week. This unfortunately, is also accompanied by many green teas, chai’s or coffees, and the remaining stash of easter eggs!

Working backwards, Leanne and I went to the Chevron Market in Werribee on Sunday. While Leanne and I frequent the Flemington Market, it’s nice to have a few more options, with different stall holders at other local markets. I bought a few gorgeous and creative dribble bibs. One local mum created a dribble bib with a chewy corner, taggie bits and scrunch material – teething toy and bib all in one! The other bib i picked up had a sewn in dummy holder – her son frequently removed the dummy clips, so this was a much more reliable method to ensuring the dummy (or toy) remains attached. Her details are https://www.hand-made.com.au/HollyBearHandmade. Leanne also picked up some little wooden toy trains and a fire engine – a boy can never have enough toys on wheels! And I couldn’t go past a geometric print soft animal thing Very unique, but hard to describe too!

Friday, Megan, Liam, Jack and I ventured into the city to have a look around the Toddler and Baby Expo at the Royal Exhibition Buildings. There were some good sales in regards to sleeping bags – I picked up a Love to Dream Inventa sleeping bag and an ergopouch sleepsuit bag, as well as a few odds and ends like pram hooks and sippy cups. The boys had a quick play, well tummy time, out in the sunny gardens, before we headed back home on the train.

I was booked into an ultrasound on Tuesday, after the Easter weekend. I had found a lump that I hadn’t noticed before, and with my family’s history, I thought that I had better jump to it and get it checked. Even though everything was fine, as I lay on the bed in the same room, that nearly a year ago, showed the first pictures of Jack, growing in my tummy, it made me realise how precious life is. So for all those reading this, please make sure you check yourself monthly – I know that I will be.

March 30 – April 5

Easter weekend heralded the start of the footy season, Hubby’s first interstate trip for the ice hockey pre-season and the end of daylight savings. I dressed Jack in his Melbourne jumper in celebration of Melbourne’s  first round win, for Uncle Jeffy. We also managed to get out and enjoy a picnic at Werribee Park while the weather was nice.  I really should have been making the most of the gorgeous summer and autumn weather, so hopefully, the rain that is falling now, will disappear and give a few more beautiful days before winter truly hits.

Uncle Sam and Aunt Abbey bought a musical playmat and a bunny suit for Jack for Easter. He loves laying on the mat, with his feet kicking the keyboard and it playing tunes. The fluffy suit had to be the cutest thing ever, and I spent a few minutes on Sunday taking some photos.  Why is it though, as soon as I have an idea, Jack becomes instantly inconsolable and won’t play along? Poor kid, he’s only four and a half months old and he’s already hating the camera!

We spent Easter Sunday down at Pt Lonsdale with some of the extended family.

23rd- 29th March

Looking at the photos, this is the week of funny faces. I finally gave Jack a bath in the ‘big boy’ bath, and he is loving it! His little arms and legs pump up and down furiously and if you talk to him in a sing-song voice he gets happier, and more and more water is splashed everywhere.

We’ve got new outfits this week, with his gradual progression out of the 000 clothing and into his vast 00 collection. With the cooler weather this week I’ve even dipped into winter pants and jumpers. I think the ease of dressing a summer baby is now hitting home when Mr Wriggles refuses to cooperate and help with putting on the second and third layer. I hate to think of how many socks I’ll end up losing once Jack realises how to bend and pull those off!

We had our 4 month checkup this week too, and our 4 month immunisations. Jack copped a bump on one of his legs from his needles. I hate looking at their little faces when the needles go in, but thankfully, Jack returned to his happy, bubbly self soon afterwards. Jack topped the scales at 6.74kg and 62.5cm in length. His weight has fallen back to the 25th percentile, and his height and head circumference have been boosted to the 25th percentile. The next appointment won’t occur until July when he’ll be 8 months old and eating solids. I’ll have to add a trip to Ikea soon to pick up a high chair for out future foray into eating!

With this boost in height, I’ve also had him sitting in his jumperoo activity centre. He’s learnt that leaning on the buttons makes all the music change, and he is able to spin the wheel and watch the balls go around.

This week we also borrowed Liam’s 50/50 swaddle – slowly transitioning Jack to sleeping with his arms out. On Tuesday we kept one of his arms out and on Saturday night, I undid the last arm. I now need to look into sleeping bags and figure out how many and what weighting I’ll need for the upcoming winter. Hoping that I may pick up some on sale at the Baby and Toddler Expo coming up in April.

16th – 22nd March

4 months already! This week has been about wondering which orientation Jack will be in his cot each morning and all those dribbles! I’m thinking that teething could be right around the corner with the way that he is attempting to stuff his fist in his mouth. We were at Flemington Market on Sunday and picked up a few cute dribble bandanna/bibs and, of course, numerous other gorgeous pieces.

We went and watched Uncle Sam play his cricket final on Saturday and Jack had his first, of what will be many, visits to the Ice House. Knowing April is just around the corner, with the AIHL season starting, makes me reminisce about being behind the camera, especially while pregnant. I don’t think that I’ll be as heavily involved this season compared to the last few, and will definitely miss the weekends travelling to Perth, Newcastle, Canberra and Sydney. But time will tell…

This weekend was also run for the kids, and with a few friends running, I decided to head out during the week and see if I remembered what running was about! It was still horrible, if I’m honest! I took Ben one night after Jack went to bed – most of the time he’s fantastic. As soon as he knows we’re off for a run, he grabs his lead in his mouth and that’s it, he’s on a mission until we get home. No pit stops, no sniffing, nothing. This run however, he didn’t do that. So we had to slow down and sniff a few corner fences, plants and some letterboxes. At least this meant I could catch my breath a few times. I love night running. I get hot way too quick when running during the day. I love the silence, except for the footsteps (and my out of control breathing). Poor Ben scared a guy walking with headphones in the other week. I have him running on the longest setting on his lead and he snuck up behind this guy, and gave him a good sniff on the way through.I suppose the last thing you’d expect out on a walk late at night, is a Labrador to come running beside you, and look up at you as if to say hi.

This week was also a big week for my little brother – he moved into his new place. Onwards and upwards and I hope that he enjoys the many memories that this fresh start will give him. The one really good thing is that he is only 5 or so minutes down the road. When I tell him that, he always says to me that “that will never get old.” It’s the first time that he’s had to move and this is now the first time that he is no longer living in Crawford Street. It felt sad, the last time that I drove away, and around the corner, that I won’t ever have an excuse to head back to that part of my world.