Created to share experiences, helpful parenting hints, and a laugh if nothing else... hope you like!

A blog created to document the life of my sweet little family.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Sorry to go on about sticker charts... but...

... we have started one for trying new foods... particularly for dinner time... and H is actually willing to try new foods without any trouble... why did we not think of this months back?

Monday 27 February 2012

I LOVE a good sticker chart...

Can I just say that I love sticker charts!  
If we have issues with anything... ANYTHING... a sticker chart seems to do the trick!

Of late... (review past posts)... we had regressed a little in the toilet.  
H has been trained since before 2, but since October when our second daughter was born, we began to have a number of accidents... we wondered actually if they might be deliberate.

Anyway... we decided to do a sticker chart... we had recently done one for listening and it had worked a treat!  The chart was more for independence in the toilet than not having accidents... she had to get on to the toilet herself, wipe her own bottom (wee only), and wash her hands... all unassisted!  
AND ... it worked beautifully.  I think we have had one accident in the last 3 weeks or so... we have one sticker to go and then she can have her incentive, which was some Croc accessories.

They might not work for all kids, but they sure do work for us!

Too hot!

Well, we have just had 3 revolting days of heat!  To those of you who have lived in Melbourne your whole life, you probably love and look forward to days such as the ones we have just had... me on the other hand, having grown up in New Zealand, in a cooler, but more humid climate, doesn't cope well with day after day of heat, especially when teamed with humidity.  
Let me say, I am thankful those 3 days have passed, as I don't function well at all!  


Friday 24 February 2012

What's that?

After returning home from a shopping outing, I left an unopened packet of tampons (sorry guys) on the table.  
H returned from creche and sat at the table for her dinner.  She saw the packet, 'What's that?' she said.  Dad didn't know what to say, so decided to stay quiet as long as possible... H managed to open the packet and exclaimed 'Oh, they're little soaps!'.  Dad was happy that he didn't need to discuss what they were!

Love it!

Tuesday 21 February 2012

A chat about death...

Dad was reading H a book tonight called 'Old Elephant'... It is a story about an old elephant and a young mouse who are great friends.  The elephant tells the young mouse about 'the valley of the elephants', a place that elephants go when they get old... a place they don't come back from.

H experienced death when she was 6 months old.  We talk about her Nana often.  We have told her that her Nana got very sick and died and now she is up in the clouds.  

Whilst reading the story, to help H to understand better, he talked about how the 'valley of the elephants' is like 'going up to the clouds'... H replied with 'I don't want to die.  Do you want to die Dad, do Mum or Baby O want to die?  
Dad said, 'No one wants to die'.

Seems that we are having some deep conversations these days.


Monday 20 February 2012

Sleep...

My sweet little darling girl (who lately has been sleeping for about an hour, an hour and a half at a stretch), has so far slept for 2 and a half hours... hoping for a little longer... 

What a sweet cheeks!

Saturday 18 February 2012

Bicycle Race...

Dad took H for a big bike ride today... on the way back, listening to the ipod on random, Queens 'Bicycle Race' came on... 

Now H is just beginning to discover our music.  We often play it, but she much prefers her own music.  As you know lately she discovered Goldenhorse and if you've read recent posts, you will know what I have to endure each and every day!

Who knows whether 'Bicycle Race' appealed to her because she had just been on a big bike ride, or for some other reason, but she requested it again and again and again... 8 times over if I must be exact.  

So I'm guessing tomorrow we have another album to add to our repertoire of 'must listens' for the day.  
I love Goldenhorse, but I wont miss listening to their album 4 times a day!


Hello Queen...  Thank goodness I love you!

Flipping out! Does it happen to you?

So I don't know if its the age or what, but H can be really difficult to reason with at the moment.  It hasn't always been like this... she was much easier to reason with a few months back, but it has all changed lately.

She just seems to flip out when things don't go her way... not all the time, just sometimes.  I guess she is trying to assert her authority.

I wonder whether its an age thing... I am guessing it is, I am hoping it is!

Thursday 16 February 2012

Missing my girl... home from creche soon!

Missing my girl... looking forward to her getting home... nice to have some time to yourself, but I miss the questions, fences, cheekiness, dance moves and Goldenhorse!  Haven't heard it all day!

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Funny little habits!

So H has a new favourite band... 'Goldenhorse' or as she calls them Goldensheep, a New Zealand band I loved before I left NZ 9 years ago,  (Check them out on Grooveshark http://grooveshark.com/!).  
At the moment she is really into dancing, and requests the entire Goldenhorse Album 'Riverhead' about 4 times a day!  
I have resorted to alternating different albums... 'Goldenhorse'... then 'Angus and Julia Stone'... 'Goldenhorse'... then 'Luluc'... 'Goldenhorse'... etc.

The other thing she has started over the last week is wearing dresses... everyday.  It began with 'the pink one', but because it needs to be washed every couple of days, she is having to choose others to wear.  This morning it took her about 10 - 15minutes to choose which one she was going to wear today!  I love the dresses in her cupboard, and she doesn't wear them often, so it is nice to see them on.

How funny are little girls! 

Monday 13 February 2012

Things keep going missing...

For the last few days, I've been thinking that I was losing my marbles!  

Since Thursday or Friday I have been missing my phone and H's hairbrush too.  I had been searching in what little time I have, but had been unsuccessful!  

The big girl is currently really into building walls/fences to keep out dinosaurs, tigers and monsters.  Her other favourite past time is putting things into other things!

I am constantly walking over toys that have been carefully placed in lines all over the house or emptying prams, bags, suitcases of the weirdest stuff!

Well... today I found the hairbrush, missing for a number of days (H preferred hairbrush)!  When I said 'Look what I found', she just smiled at me.

Later that night, I decided to empty out the bag she had filled... as I did this I told my partner of the hairbrush find.  As I continued to empty the bag, I came across... my flat phone!

Off to the mall... ughhhhhh!

The girls and I did a bit of shopping today.  Let me say that H has become quite the little shopper!  Me... I hate shopping!  

She didn't miss a thing... 
As soon as we walked through the doors, she saw a sign for a 'Thomas the Tank' ride through the mall... then she spotted a stall where they buy your gold (she had once been given a balloon there, and wanted to try her luck for another)... then she spotted the smoothie shop... then an ice cream shop... then a 'Wiggles' ride...  She was constantly saying 'Can I do this?' 'Can I have that?' 
When we were in the big stores, she gravitated toward anything with princesses or Dora, she wasn't interested in what I was doing, although she always knew where I was!

As we walked through the mall she kept going on and on about the Thomas ride, but I wasn't about to traipse around the mall looking for Thomas, so I let her sit in any of the stationary rides she wanted to (she doesn't like them when they go around).
 Just as we were leaving she spotted Thomas, who had already left his depot, so I promised her next time she could have a ride on Thomas.
Can I just say how fantastic she was... I didn't have one tantrum... not one!  Lots of asking for things, but no complaints when I said no!

What a sport!


Sunday 12 February 2012

My Birthday weekend!

What a chaotic weekend!  

Starting at 5am yesterday morning, when the little one woke for a feed.  
Dad was on bottle duty, but unfortunately (for the first time) the big girl woke.  
I was tired and she was not going to go back to sleep in her own bed (especially with Dad up feeding).  So we had her come in with us! 

Can I just say that I have always slept terribly with a third in the bed!
Yesterday was no exception.  I was sporting a hangover from my half glass of beer the night before.  

Let me tell you why I object to H coming into our bed...
She only wants to share pillows with me... she plays with my face, talks and wriggles around... it is very irritating when all you want to do is sleep!

Finally... after what felt like some time, she went back to sleep.  I however was uncomfortable and in and out of sleep, due to not being able to turn on my small slither of bed, while H and Dad spread themselves comfortably on the remainder of the bed.  
Finally not long after I had fallen asleep, we all woken at 7.50 am when my Mum and Sister Skipped me for my Birthday!  

Three Skype calls and three phone calls later, we were able to ready ourselves for our drive in to the city to meet a friend and her two boys at the Melbourne Zoo to see Justine Clarke performing live!

It was great.  The kids had fun, and thankfully the weather was the opposite of what they had forecast!

We pulled into the drive way at 5pm or so, for the witching hour... You all know... when the toddler (who no longer sleeps through the day) is hungry and tired... and the baby is constantly hungry as she readys herself for a big sleep.

Thankfully the night was lovely and relaxing, and we both got sufficient sleep for today!

Again, it was another really busy one.  
Dad and H were gone by 8.30am for swimming, followed by a local farmers market, while bub's and I went to a baby market with a friend.

Then I had the girls for the afternoon, while Dad went off to pick up my latest eBay purchase!  

A lovely weekend had by all... just not a lot of down time!  
There is still stuff that needs to be done... but it might have to wait for a new day!

Hopefully next weekend isn't quite so busy!

Friday 10 February 2012

Stress out!

Just drove home from a friends house with bub's screaming (the entire way).  
There was too much noise so I turned the CD we were listening to off, and then the big girl started carrying on.  

It was a very stressful drive home, especially listening to my little one being so upset.  
Thankfully as we pulled into our drive way, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.  
She is currently in her capsule on the lounge room floor resting her eyes!

Looking forward to bedtime... theirs, not mine!

Memories...

So we think our girl has an amazing memory...  she often blows us away with things she remembers from months gone.

Today is a prime example.  

She asked me to put Sia Furler http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sia_Furler on... her favourite music that isn't kids music!  
I thought I had put it on, but when I came back iTunes was on random and Andrea Bocelli's 'Time to say goodbye' was on.  
Now H knows this from You Tube, but she knows a different version, which is the 'Time to say goodnight' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BDVvB7Xx1w sung to Elmo by Andrea.

Anyway, H started reeling off all that happens in the video clip.  I spoke very soon after ward to my partner about when was the last time he had played it to her... to which he said months back.  
We assume its been 4 - 6 months since she last saw the video clip. 

I think that is pretty amazing!

Thursday 9 February 2012

Immunisations = Irritable baby!

I thought I probably wouldn't have an entry today as the big girl is at school... otherwise known as long day care/creche.  
I had no plans today except for washing, which is currently flapping in the light breeze of a gorgeous Melbourne day.

I rang our local Doctors surgery to make an appointment for Baby O's 4 month immunisations.  Surprisingly they had an appointment only half an hour later, so we readied ourselves and headed out to the docs.  

Baby O was not happy at all when the nurse pricked her with the sharp needles and screamed the house down!   Not for too long though!

We came home and I put bubs down to sleep... she had been up a while and I thought this probably would have wiped her out, and besides it had been about 2 1/2 hours since her last nap.

She slept reasonably well, but woke unhappy and has been pretty irritable since!  I bathed her, and she cracked it, but that was reasonably easily soothed with 'the boob'. 
I have ended up putting her back to bed in the hope that sleep is what she needs!  Otherwise I am outta ideas!

Could be a long night!

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Baking with two 2 year olds!

So today we spent the day with our friend G.  
After a slow start we decided to do some baking, deciding on banana and choc chip muffins (you know me... I like my muffins! http://mummakesmuffins.blogspot.com.au/ ).  I organised myself as much as I could before inviting H and G up to help.

I like to encourage them to do as much as they can, so I would fill cups with ingredients and they would tip them in, etc.  
I happened to turn my head to remove egg shells or something and when I turned back one of the girls had tipped a half a small tin of baking powder in (just trying to help me out)... whoops... I scooped out as much as I could, leaving a little in, as the recipe required.  

Thankfully they turned out well... although perhaps I should have left a little more in, as they didn't rise quite as much as I would have liked!

Was a little chaotic, but good fun!

Tuesday 7 February 2012

A bit of alone time...

We were hopping into the car to come home after playing at a friends house this morning.
There was a major meltdown that began as we were leaving!  About her seat belt being to tight (which it isn't), as we headed down the street it became progressively worse... 
So I said, I think maybe you should have a sleep today!   As you well know, we recently cut out our day sleep, so she was adamant she wasn't going to do that.

So I gave her another option.  She could nap OR play on her bed with any of her toys, books etc for a half hour, so I could have a break.  She took the second option and is currently playing very happily on her bed using her fantastic imagination (Oh and we are up to 45mins... she is happy, so I will leave her a little longer).  

Couldn't have asked for a better outcome! 

Monday 6 February 2012

I need your advice! Your recipes too!

So I was talking to the girl's Pop Pop a few weeks back about veges, and how I have taken to hiding them (sometimes) in the bid to get more goodness in to H... note, she eats some veges, so I don't hide all!

He offered his juicer.  I thought... Perfect, I can hide them in juice, she loves juice!

Yesterday I made a fruit juice with peaches, pears, mandarin, apple, and blueberries... she drank a little, but not all of it.

This morning I decided to do a vege and fruit one with... beetroot, ginger, orange, apple, carrot, and I thought I may as well try zucchini, as we growing and harvesting them at the moment, I meant also to put mint into it, but forgot!

I called her to come drink her pink juice, which I had watered down, as the ginger left a bit of an aftertaste... one I like, but not so sure kids would like.  She again drank a little, then lost interest!

I am calling for tasty juice recipes!  Fruit, veges, or fruit and veges... I don't mind!

While I am at it, here is a lovely juice I wanted to share with you...

Pineapple, apple, celery and ginger...bit of mint in here would got down well too me thinks... delish!

Sunday 5 February 2012

A bit of Spring cleaning...

I know its not Spring, but the house really needed a bit of Spring Cleaning and today was the day for it.

H was fantastic and pottered for a good couple of hours while her Dad and I scrubbed, vacuumed, dusted, wiped... and more!

I have been wanting to get behind and under the fridge and oven for ages, but wanted a bit of help with the moving of both items.  Dad was super helpful with my request, and now all the crap that was behind and under the fridge and oven is in the vacuum!

Dad took to the ceiling corners with a duster, getting rid of spiders... it seems to be the time of the year for them... I have noticed a lot more around lately... anyone else?

I pulled beds out, and vacuumed behind them, plus got to work cleaning skirting boards.  I'm not much of a duster... I hate dusting if I am being completely honest... today I used the brush function on the vacuum... easy peasy... was good for windowsills, and especially for dust on bookshelves!
We still have a way to go, but at least a few jobs that were really annoying me are out of the way!

I must be boring... a blog about cleaning my house...  fancy that!




Saturday 4 February 2012

Baking beautiful banana and blueberry muffins...

So H and her Dad have gone down to the peninsula for the day, which means me and Baby O have the day to ourselves!

While she slept, I tried my hand at some paint stripping.  I have two beautiful art deco side tables, which have been painted since before we acquired them.  Well today is the day for the wood grain to take centre stage once more.  Have almost finished one unit... will be sure to post a pic of what they looked like... after stripping... and when lightly sanded with steel wool.

Each weekend H and I bake muffins... I have started yet another blog about making muffins... http://mummakesmuffins.blogspot.com.au/ .  As you know, yesterday me and my girls went blueberry picking... so I thought I may as well use blueberries in our muffins.  I decided on banana and blueberry muffins, and I just had one for afternoon tea, and they were delish!  
 Recipe on link posted!

It felt a little strange not making them with my big girl, as she wasn't here to help, thankfully my little girl was here(4mths), so she played assistant instead!  Thanks Baby O.


Friday 3 February 2012

Berry picking...

Today me and my two girls went to a blueberry farm to see where blueberries come from and to do a bit of picking. 
Blueberries are by far my big girls favourite fruit! 
Initially she was picking too, I was forever telling her to find the big juicy ones and she kept giving me scrawny little ones. 
Anyway after a while she got bored and instead followed behind saying 'I'll just eat a few more, just a few more okay Mum!'. 
I reckon she must have eaten a couple of small supermarket punnets full! Blue poo tomorrow!

I feel like a new woman!

Yesterday was our big girls first day back at childcare, or as we call it... school!
Me and baby O hung out together all day... was nice.  We had coffee in Mt Evelyn, had a maternal health visit, and I had my eyebrows, which looked like an unmaintained overgrown garden beautifully manicured!  I feel like a new woman!

Oh how I missed my girl though! 

Thursday 2 February 2012

So we are having a bit of an issue with H wetting her pants.  She has been trained completely since around 2yrs, for goodness sake she is even trained through the night... anyway... recently, on occasion she will wet her pants, with no warning beforehand.  
For a while I thought maybe she is just too busy, but today I asked her, 'Do you do it because you didn't have time to go to the toilet, or did you do it because you think it is funny'... her reply 'because it is funny!'.
I came back with 'It's not funny and that if she was going to do it again, I would have to put her back in nappies!'.

She was horrified.  So hopefully it will suddenly stop!

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Spring cleaning in summer!

The little one was sleeping beautifully yesterday afternoon, so I put 'Toy Story' on for the big girl and decided to do a bit of sorting.  
Now, I am a collector... of what you say?  Well... anything that takes my fancy really!  And I decided today that we have too much stuff!  I wont be getting rid of it all, but when time allows, I intend to do a bit of a cull!

When H had had enough of Toy Story she joined me in her room, shutting herself, or asking me to shut her in her tipi.  She played happily in there for over an hour with her toys (or as she calls them, her children), reading to them, putting them to sleep in a little play bed.  
She was fantastic, allowing  me that time to potter and clean, oh and she had a blast!

Fingers crossed I have a few more days like this!