Happy Birthday Max!

My gorgeous little baby boy turned one today. Such a huge milestone!

The Big Man and I both worked today, but we still managed to have an awesome day with Max and squeezed in plenty of celebrating.

We started the day off super early (5am early) so that we could open his presents. Although Max did insist on having his morning bottle first. This kid has his priorities set in concrete!!


After the bottle was done and dusted the Big Man helped Max open his first present. It was a truck, one of Max's favourite things at the moment. He seemed to really enjoy pulling at the wrapping paper and finding out what was under it. His reaction when he realised it was a truck was way too cute.




After work/daycare the Big Man and I took Max to sizzler for his birthay ('coz we're all class in this family!) and he loved that too. I loaded his plate up with all sorts of yummy foods and tried to sneak in a few things he hadn't tried yet like broccoli and mushrooms. He decided that he liked the potato salad and cheese bread best.


After dinner I gave him a tiny bowl of ice-cream. Check out the video if you want to see my baby on a sugar high! He sure did love it :)



...

On Saturday we're having his first birthday party, so hopefully he will have another fun day with just as many smiles!

Feel Good Monday

This morning this sweet little guy,


this adorable fluff monster



and I are hanging out on the floor in Max's bedroom.

Max is happily playing with his favourite toys, Cooper is snoozing , I'm reading my favourite interiors blogs and we have our feel good songs playing.

A perfect start to the week.

I hope you're Monday is just as perfect!

This morning, for the first time Max pulled off his nappy and pooed all over his cot.

I only have two things to say.

1. Thank goodness for plastic backed mattress protectors.

and

2. OMG the smell. I think it has seared into my nose, I can still smell it.

Kisses From Kate

Last week I took Max over to my friend Nat's place for a play date with Baby Kate. Normally when I take Max around there he is tired and cranky from a busy week of catching up with my Hervey Bay friends and family and he just sits on the floor and cries when Kate comes near him. Not this time! I fed him lunch as soon as we got there and then he was super happy to play.

They did a lot of alongside playing, but they also interacted quite a bit. They even gave each other a couple of kisses. It was so sweet!


Kate is walking already and I was hoping that she might inspire Max to give it a go, but he just crawled around after her. He's a champion stander, but shows no interest in walking!

It was really nice to see them happily playing for the first time without bucket loads of tears :)

After a couple of hours we put them both down for a nap so that we could have a grown-up catch up and lots of snuggles with little Emily.

A perfect day, thanks Nat!

A Busy Week

This week I'm on annual leave from work and Max & I are up in Hervey Bay. I booked the time in so that I could spend time with my sister and her new baby girl. I'm also loving catching up with all my Hervey Bay friends and family.

I'm trying to fit as much as I can into the week that I am up here and we ended up having a huge day on Wednesday.

We started out the day at the local library. Jen had the great idea to take Max to the under 2's reading session. It was called the Rhyme and Rattle class and max absolutely loved it! We sang songs, shook maracas, danced, read a story and did lots of clapping. I loved it as much as Max!


After that I took Max home for a 25 minute power nap before we went out to 2nd Kitchen to have lunch with Cat. Max was on his almost-best behaviour and lunch was delicious. Plus I got to catch up with one of my favourite girlfriends. Good things all round!

Max was absolutely exhausted after lunch so I planned to take him home for a real nap. On the way back to the in-laws (where I am staying this week) I remembered that I promised to take Max into their shop so that the girls could see him. Whilst I was there my brother-in-law asked if I could take him grocery shopping (he doesn't have a licence at the moment). So I did, cos I'm nice like that :)

Next up Jen and I packed our kids (Max, Ava and Emily) and took them out to have a play date with another of my favourite friends and her two gorgeous boys. The three older kids got along beautifully and Max spent the whole time trying to join in with them. When Max wasn't following the kids around he was pressed up against the window 'talking' to Ange's dog. So cute!

Ange has a cake making business (Angel Cake), so we also planned out the cakes for Jen's baby shower. I can't wait to show you the photos, it's going to be gorgeous!!

Max fell asleep in the car almost as soon as we left Ange's and slept the 20 minutes it took as to get back to the in-laws. We tried to bath him, feed him and give him some cuddles before bed, but he wasn't having a bar of it. Poor little baby was exhausted!

Two days later I think he is still playing catch up on his sleep. He's needing three naps a day instead of two :)

Weeks like this where I get to catch up with some of my closest girlfriends, spend the days with my sister and see Max spoilt by family make me really want to move back to the Bay. It wont be happening though... It looks like we are going to be in Brisbane for at least the next five to ten years.

The Social Network

Yesterday my Sister and I decided to take our babies to the cinema and see The Social Network. I never (never, ever, ever) go to the movies so I was really looking forward to it.

We decided to go to the 10am session, that way there hopefully wouldn't be too many people there and they wouldn't mind too much if we had our babies.

I planned ahead. I kept Max awake through his usual 9am nap, I packed two bottles, I packed a blanket, 5 dummies and heaps of quiet toys. I figured I was pretty well sorted.

Nope.

While Jen's gorgeous baby Emily slept and fed through the movie. Mine smashed his bottle in record time and then proceeded to yell 'DADA' and other cute things at the movie screen.

Needless to say Max and I spent most of the movie out here...

I did get to see the start, a few bits in the middle and the last 5 minutes and it looks like a great movie. I will definitely have to get it out when it's released on dvd.

In the meantime I think I will find a babysitter next time I decide to go to the movies!!

Puppy Love

***

About lunch time today I got home (to the in-laws) and saw two people and two dogs sitting in the front yard. I didn't think too much of it, but as I got out of the car they came down the driveway with the dogs and asked if they were mine.

It turns out that they were just out for a walk when they spotted the two dogs sitting in someone's front yard. On the way back they noticed that the dogs were still out and running around in someone else's yard. They knocked on all the doors in the street and couldn't find anyone that knew who owned the dogs.

They were ready to give up and head home so I took up the challenge. They were so sweet and I couldn't leave them roaming the street.

I put them in the car (much to Max's delight) and took them down to the nearest vet so that she could scan them for a microchip (they had no tags or collars on). Neither had a microchip so she took my details in case anyone asked about them and suggested that I call all the vets in town to see if anyone had reported them missing.

I took them back home and put them in the pool area with a big bowl of water. The escaped within seconds and came up on to the back deck to see me.

I had no luck locating their owners though so I ended up calling the pound and asking them to come out and get them. The guy that came out was super nice, I was really upset to be sending them to the pound, but he said that well cared for dogs like these nearly always get picked up within 24 hours.

Honestly they were the sweetest puppies ever. They didn't jump, nip or bark. It's probably a good thing that they were taken from me I completely fell in love with them in less than 4 hours.

Emergency Room

***

My poor little baby has a rash. A nasty, spotty, on his face kind of rash. Yuck.


He's never really had a rash before so I kind of over-reacted when it first came up. It was a Sunday and there were no doctors open, so I took him to the emergency room at the hospital. The checked him out and said that there is absolutely nothing wrong with him. He might be teething or have a cold or something like that. But nothing seriously wrong. Phew. The doctor was really nice about it though, he gave me a few tips on when to worry about a rash and got me to feel some glands behinds Max's ears because they were a bit swollen. A nice change from Dr Horrible!

{This gorgeous little girl and her Mumma made the hour and half wait fun, more on her soon I promise!}

Anyway, today his rash was worse and he has a temperature as well. We saw a nurse today (whilst the above baby was having a check up) and she also said that nothing is wrong with him. The common thing everyone we see says is that because he is so upbeat and smiley that obviously there is nothing wrong with him...

I don't think that is a good indication though. While I was absent from the blog Max got a bad case of tonsillitis and had a temp of 39.9 degrees Celsius. I waited 2 days before taking him to the doctor because he was so happy and normal that I figured nothing was seriously wrong. I felt so bad when I found out how sick he was.



I guess I will just wait and see again though. If he still has the rash and a temperature tomorrow I might take him to the doctor for a third opinion.

6 Weeks

No, not 6 weeks pregnant (just in case anyone else's mind always jumps straight to pregnancy, mine always does!!). It's been 6 weeks since I last blogged.

It wasn't intentional and it wasn't necessarily because of my last post either. (Thank you all for your sweet words though, each of you made me feel better and brought a smile to my face.) I have been having a hard time of it though. I didn't think putting Max into care would feel any different than leaving him at home with the Big Man each day... I was definitely wrong about that.

It's not that they don't take good care of him, it's just that I miss him like crazy. Max is at such a beautiful age, he wants me close by all the time.

He sits on the floor with his arms up in the air saying 'Mumma' when he wants to be picked up. He laughs and smiles when I do pick him up. He sobs when I don't. He loves to sit outside in the grass and help me garden. He loves it when I read to him. The smiles he gives me when I go into his room first thing in the morning are the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. My baby loves me and wants me.

He's only going to be a baby once and I really feel like I need to make the most of it. So I have cut back my work from four days down to 2 per week and I've done the same with his daycare. Tuesdays and Wednesdays we spend apart and every other day we get to spend together. Happy Mumma and happy baby!!

How Dare She

I just had the most horrible experience I have ever had with a doctor today. It was horrific.

I am still sick (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) and thought that seeing as it has been five days I should probably go and make sure that everything was ok.

Whilst the doctor was asking questions it came up that I have a baby. Here's what unfolded...

Dr Horrible: How old is your baby?

Me: (obviously proud of the fact that I am a Mumma) He's 9 months old

Dr Horrible: Well, where is he?

Me: At daycare. Actually today is his first day!

Dr Horrible: At daycare!?

Me: Yep

Dr Horrible: Does he go there all day.

Me: Some days he will be.

Dr Horrible: In a daycare centre, all day?!

Me: Uh-huh, some days.

Dr Horrible: Don't you know that they rarely ever hold babies in daycare centres?

Me: Ummm

Dr Horrible: Babies need to be held. He is not going to feel loved. You baby needs to feel loved.

Me: (holding back the tears) Well, you see I have a job. I need to work. To pay bills and stuff.

Dr Horrible: And your baby needs to feel loved. He needs to be at home. With you.

I managed to hold back the tears until I got to reception, but then I started bawling to the girls and the front desk. They were really nice and sympathetic, but didn't seem overly surprised. I guess I'm not the first person that has felt judged by her.

I was (and still am) really upset when I got out to the car. I called the Big Man and ended up crying so hard that I threw up in the car.

I just feel so angry and so guilty. Angry that she felt the need to judge me, but guilty because part of me thinks that maybe she is right. I should be at home with Max giving him all the love and attention that he deserves.

Brain Dump

I really don't have it in me to construct a sentences and paragraphs today, so a bullet point brain dump is what you're getting. Sorry.

• The Big Man started a new job on Monday, so I've taken the week off work to look after Max and arrange some childcare for him. The Big Man has been working from home since Max was 10 weeks old and I went back to work. It's a big deal for me, putting him into childcare... But Max and I spent an hour together at the centre on Tuesday and it does seem really awesome. I'm sure he will love it.

• Ever since Max was born I was adamant that Max would go to family daycare when the time came. It wasn't until I actually had to go and find somewhere for him to go that I changed my mind and decided on a childcare centre. It might seem like tough love, but I kind of like the idea that he will have to become a bit more independent and stand up for himself a bit more in a group environment. Mean Mummy?

• The Big Man has been working really long hours for his new job. He's at work again this morning (Saturday) and has already done 60 hours this week. He's going to need to let his boss know that it can't stay like that, we have a baby and a life outside work. He needs balance. His role is a management position, but I still think that they are asking too much of him. A happy and balanced life will allow him to be so much more focused when he is at work anyway...

• This week has been really rough for me. I started out with a cold on Monday morning, but was all better by Tuesday. Then Wednesday night I started to feel really nauseous and off colour. I have spent the last two days (Thursday and Friday) with an upset stomach, vomiting, constant nausea, and no appetite. Nasty. I thought I was feeling better this morning, but as I got up and started playing with Max it hit me again. Max is napping now and I am in bed with my laptop and bucket :(

• Last night I was feeling my worst, but still cooked the Big Man dinner, did his laundry, cleaned the house, vacuumed the floors and moped the bathrooms because I know how hard he has been working and didn't want him to come home to mess and no dinner. Does anyone else get the cleaning bug real bad whenever they get sick? I think it is maybe my subconscious telling me that my surroundings could be making me sick and I need to scrub all the germs away...

• I am so grateful to my truly awesome friend Emma who took Max for two and a half hours yesterday so that I could have a sleep. I owe her big time!

• The cost of childcare is absolutely staggering. At this point I am struggling to work out how we can get ahead whilst paying those kind of fees... Hopefully I get a promotion and start earning some decent money in the very near future.

• I am really missing my sister, my bff Erin and my Hervey Bay girlfriends at the moment. I would love to be closer to them all and be able to catch up with them on a weekly basis.

• I haven't been taking photos lately. In fact I can't remember when the last time I picked up the camera was. You will just have to trust me when I say that Max is still incredibly gorgeous :)

• I have still been reading all of my favourite blogs, but I haven't been commenting much lately. I still love you all and will get around to commenting soon xx
  

Ok, brain dump over for now. I am going to try and get some sleep before Max wakes up again.

An Afternoon in the Park

This afternoon Dez and I decided to take our beautiful baby boys down to the park for some fresh air.


Ethan is still a bit young to fully appreciate the outdoors, but Max absolutely loved it. He watched the big kids riding around on their bikes, played with the grass, crawled around and generally had a really good time.


It was a welcome change from the usual afternoon play date Dez and I have. Max is normally a bit moody in the afternoons and gets grumpy easily. The change of scenery did wonders and he was too busy exploring to be grumbly.


Something we will definitely have to do more often!

Happy Birthday Dad!

***

Last weekend my family got together to celebrate my Dad's birthday. We had a gorgeous time.

Lots of family bonding...


Eating of food...


And of course birthday cake...


Thanks for letting us celebrate your birthday with you Dad!! xxoo