Not so "Terrible 2's"

So, as the saying "The Terrible 2's" goes, the 3rd year of a toddler's life is supposed to be filled with tantrums and vulgar behaviour.  This is due to them testing their boundaries (and ours!) and further exploring their surroundings as a little independent individual in this world.  My daughter isn't a perfect, angelic little toddler all the time, but I have to be honest in that this saying doesn't really ring true with our little Lily.

Yes, she can be determined at times and demand that her needs are met, but for the vast majority of the time, we have been extremely blessed with a well behaved, thoughtful little girl.  She seems to happily grasp the concept of "one more time" and "this is the last time" and we are thankfully spared the typical toddler behaviour of screams and kicking legs.  Sometimes she does shed some tears when her needs or demands aren't met, but this is definitely on the more rare occassion.

Bless, she really is such a joy and so well behaved it sometimes pulls on the heartstrings.  She always says sorry after any wrong doing and doesn't like to see her mommy or daddy (or anyone for that matter) upset so she will often stop what she is doing should she see us pulling a sad face or "pretend crying".

We are still so very lucky that she loves her little brother who, naturally, has taken away some of her previously undivided attention.  All she wants to do is love, hug, kiss and hold him and she isn't jealous at all when my time is preoccupied with feeding, bathing or generally taking care of him.  Lily does seem to demand a little more attention from her grandparents though - she would prefer it if I was taking care of Zac so she can have their full focus!

We were out for breakfast with some friends recently who have a little boy the same age as Lily.  While their little guy ran crazily out of the restaurant to explore his surroundings (being followed by exhausted parents!), our little Lily sat quietly enjoying her "coffee" (baby chino) and chit-chatting with us.  Yes, she most certainly had her time when she wouldn't sit still and we were the parents running about, but for the last 3 months or so, she really does sit nicely and is an absolute joy to take out for coffees.  I'm making the most out of these moments as I know very soon, Zac will be mobile and our coffee/lunch dates will be less calm yet again!

So here's to hoping our little princess continues to be the well behaved little angel she is, giving us very little trouble and just being such an absolute joy!  I just smile with so much pride when I think about it.  She is one truly special child xxx

Another milestone

After precisely 18 weeks of sleeping right next to me in his moses basket, Zac moved into his own room and into his cot.  It was bittersweet for me - "bitter" in that my baby is growing and is now big enough to be in his own bed, that little bit further away from his mommy; "bitter" in the fact that, as plans stand at this moment (and who knows, they could change), this is the last baby this mommy will have sleeping next to her in the moses basket; "bitter" that although 18 weeks sounds like a decent length of time, it doesn't seem long enough for him to be away from me...

However, it is "sweet" in that I get hubby back in my bed with me at night.  I've missed him;  "sweet" in that Zac is now officially connected to the monitor and breathing pad so we have peace of mind that he is sleeping peacefully;  "sweet" in that things are getting back to "normal" and that we are slowly finding out little family routine.

It wasn't the best night in terms of sleep and rest.  Zac woke up unexpectantly at 10h30, just as I'd fallen into a deep sleep so I raced to his room so as not to disturb Lily.  He then woke up at 02h20, 04h40 and then was ready to start his day at 05h40.  So I'm a little on the tired side again today.  I have a feeling he is going through a growth spurt and perhaps he is needing that little extra nourishment apart from breastmilk to see him sleep through the night again...  Even though this may be the case, I'm still waiting another month to introduce solids so I will just have to grin and bear the sleep deprivation.  It could always be worse ;)

A little sleepy

Fingers crossed that last night was as a result of Zac's vaccinations and not a sudden new routine. He seemed so very restless and as a result we both didn't get much sleep last night. After a month of being spoiled by wonderful nights of sleep, I'm really feeling exhausted this afternoon!

I went to bed at a decent, albeit later night than usual for me, at 10pm. Zac then woke up at around 11:20pm and again at 1:45am. Although the later wake up call was as a result of him making a poo so the changing of the nappy and light being switched on definitely didn't help when it was time to go back to sleep!  So I only got back to sleep at 3:15am (insert huge yawn here)!  Just as it felt like I was drifting off into Slumber Land, he woke me up again at exactly 5am on my watch. Exhausting!  Thankfully he did doze on my chest until 6am so we snuck in a little more shut eye.

All I can say is thank goodness my Lily Pie is a sleeping angel and we don't have to worry about 2 children at night.  She goes down perfectly in her big bed and wakes up at around 7 every morning. Bliss!  So fingers crossed as I said earlier that his restlessness was as a result of his vaccinations and that tonight will be better! It is off to bed at 8:30pm tonight for me!!!

4 months old

So our little "charmer" (as he has been called on numerous occasions) is 4 months old (17 weeks) and is growing beautifully!  We had both a clinic and pediatrician appointment this morning and both went well. Zac was weighed and has officially doubled his birth weight at 6.2kg and is now 63cm tall. The little teeny tiny baba I gave birth to 4 months ago is growing far too quickly!

He also had to have 2 injections today which is always awful. My smiley happy baby lies smiling on the bed blissfully unaware of what's about to happen to him and it breaks my heart. And not only did he have one painful jab in his small thigh, but two - one in each leg!  He also had to have drops which made his stomach cramp painfully last time so I'm praying it doesn't do the same again...

The paediatritian was very happy with him and says he is ready to roll over any time soon and is also very strong, lifting his head perfectly whilst on his tummy.  We decided to start him on solids next month at around 5 months old like his sister was. I'm excited about that and hope he takes well to veggies like Lily.

Loving this age so much and can't wait for the next few milestones with my precious mommy's boy!

Big Girl Bed

I am such a very proud mommy!  Our little Lily moved into her new room and "big girl bed" this weekend and she did so very well!  We started her off in the new bed on Saturday afternoon for her nap, we made a big deal of it all and really tried to make it exciting.

After leaving the room (and her telling us to leave the door open), we could hear movement on the monitor.  Up went DH to check on her and upon opening the door, he found the little munchkin in the middle of the room playing on the floor. So he lifted her up and put her back into her bed to nap. Again we heard movement and this time found her near the bedroom door ready to make an escape. Back into the bed she went and that was that! She slept perfectly and she has done so ever since (without getting out her bed I might add).  She sleeps through and calls for us in the morning, telling us how she slept in her big bed the "whole night!"

So another milestone accomplished in my baby's journey of life. Exciting and proud moment but also another sad, cruel reminder of her quickly they grow up. No more nights in her cot or "baby bed".  Now it is Zac's turn to make the big move from moses basket next to my bed to the cot in his nursery. Another bitter-sweet moment for this mommy.

Mr Smiley

Had I been told that Zac was going to be the contented little guy that he is now at almost 4 months old back when he was 6 weeks old, I would never have believed you.  He is like a completely different child who is truly so very chilled, relaxed and best of all, full of smiles.  Our little Zac truly is one happy little baby.

He giggles a lot when I pull clothing over his head as he is infectiously ticklish in the neck area.  I can't help but tickle his little chest every now and then just to hear those heartmelting little baby giggles!  I also subject him to little neck nuzzles and "raspberries" (blows) to get the same result and boy does he have THE softest cheecks and skin!  I could kiss his little face all day long!

He is growing really nicely now too and is moving into his 3-6 month clothing and fitting nicely in his size 3 nappies.  I'm looking forward to his weigh-in next week to see how much he is now weighing - I'm almost sure it must be well over 6kg by now!  His eyes are still quite dark, I'm not sure what colour they're going to be, but I have a sneaky suspicion, they'll be darker than Lily's... brown perhaps like mom?  His hair doesn't seem to be growing at all and he has far less of it than his sister did at this age.  Strange how two siblings can be so very different in certain areas.

Zac is still sleeping very well - this mommy cannot complain at all.  I'm truly blessed with a great, happy, chilled little baby boy who I love to the moon and back AND MORE!  I'm thoroughly enjoying watching him grow and change into a handsome little guy :)

Our Home

A letter to my 54 year old self...

I found this entry on another blog (http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/07/a-letter-to-my-51-year-old-self/) and I thought it so true, honest and beautifully written.  I thought it was something I'd like to remember and write down for myself in 20 years to come.  Also, I think it is beautiful for my children to read one day.  Such meaningful words.

Dear Me 20 Years From Now,

I wonder if you’ve become one of those women who briefly lingers around, a safe distance behind, young moms carting their babies and toddlers through the grocery store with that far-off look in your eyes. If you gently smile at the mom when she looks up and catches your glance, obviously frazzled by how challenging taking 2 kids grocery shopping is, as if to tell her it’s going to be okay. If you look at her and miss that time, want so badly to trade 5 minutes of the independence you have now that your kids are much older so that you can rest a toddler’s head on your shoulder, or buckle a baby in their car seat, mindful not to pinch any belly chub in the harness.

I have a feeling that you might be, and there are some things I want you to know, some things I’m willing you to remember.

I want you to remember that they were the hardest thing you’d ever done. They challenged you, and they kept you up at night. They pushed your buttons, and they were never, ever quiet… unless they were in trouble. I want you to remember that you loved them the hardest you’ve ever loved anything, from day one, and every day after that.

I want you to know that you were completely overwhelmed nearly all the time. The thought of taking them anywhere by yourself made you want to hide in bed all day. You were overwhelmed by the responsibility. You had NO clue what you were doing. You were overwhelmed by how much they trusted you and how much they needed you. You were overwhelmed by how much you needed and loved them.

I want you to remember how it felt to lay side by side next to your 4-year-old before he drifted off to sleep. How you talked face to face, nose to nose, about his day. How you told him you were excited to see how much he would grow by the morning, and how in the morning you’d lay in bed next to him and stretch his arms and legs out, exclaiming, “LOOK HOW MUCH YOU GREW LAST NIGHT!” How that put the biggest smile on his face.

I want you to remember what it felt like to hold your 18 month old on your lap, wrapping your arms around her and laying them on her bulging tummy. How the back of her head and the handful of baby curls at the nape of her neck felt and smelled when you rested your head atop hers.

I want you to know that you were acutely aware of how fast they were growing. Even though many days would pass in the blink of an eye, there would always be a moment when your world would snap to a halt, and you would look at them while they were doing something mundane and normal, and you would be painfully conscious that they were no longer the size they were last week, and that they would never be the size they are at that moment again.

I want you to know that you went to bed every night with one simple wish for the next day. To just do better.

Even though you were tired and challenged, exasperated and overwhelmed, you knew then that you would miss these days…most of them, at least. It was a truth that was hard to live with, and most of the time you ignored it because there was nothing you could do about the passing of time. If you spent your days mourning the ones that had gone by, you’d miss out on the days you were living in.

You knew you were on a light rail, moving at speeds you couldn’t comprehend. You had no control over the ride that brought you to where you are today, but believe me when I say you searched so very hard to find the emergency brake.

Please know, please remember that you tried to savor that time. Be at peace, knowing you spent late afternoons curled up with them on the couch, that sometimes you just sat and watched them move and run, that occasionally you took inventory of all the things they’d learned in the last week, and that you appreciated your time with them the best you knew how. Know that despite your very best efforts, there was no way to freeze time.

I promise you, you tried.
Love,
you

All is quiet...

It isn't often that I get some time off just for myself, but every now and then I get a rare moment when all is quiet and both babies are sleeping at the same time! So right now, I'm taking this precious time to do a little update and relish in this rarity of "Mel Time".

Slowly we are settling into more of a routine. Lily's sleep is still great with her going down at 7:30pm or thereabouts and waking up around 7am. We did have a little rough patch but I'm 100% sure it is down to teething as she is sprouting teeth left, right and center.  My poor little angel got her first 2 teeth at 12 months and then nothing until 17 months when she got a few more and then nothing again until 25 months. So the eye teeth are trying to push through as well as a few bottom and top teeth. It must be painful hence the few rough nights, but thanks to my best friends Aterax and Voltaran suppositories, all of us slept through the anguish of it all.

As mentioned in my previous posting a few days ago, Zac's sleep patterns are also settling down and we are enjoying only one feed at night. I am feeling a whole lot more human these last few days!

Lily is such a little sweetheart and a truly good munchkin.  Her manners are impecable, full of "please" and "thank you's" and even "I'm sorry's" bless her.  She continues to amaze us with her flawless memory, her rapid grasp of new things and her unbelievable curiosity. She brings such bright smiles and so much joy to our lives, as does her brother with his infectious open mouthed smiles and cute little coo's and aah's.  We are so very blessed with our two little munchkins and couldn't be happier!

My munchkins:

3 months old

On one hand, I can't believe that my little baby is 3 months old today, but on the other hand, due to the troubles we experienced in the early days (undiagnosed reflux and the horrendous RSV Virus), it doesn't seem like time has gone all that quickly. But now our little Zac isn't so little any more and boy is he a smiley, happy baby! A completely different child to the one who was plagued by painful reflux and subjected to tests and hospitalisations for the first 6 weeks of life.

Zac is growing so quickly. We went for his 12 week vaccination today (poor baby) and he has had quite the growth spurt. He has gained 1kg in 4 weeks and is now 60cm in length! He is in both size 2 and 3 nappies (finishing off our last pack of size 2's) and is fitting snugly in his size 1-3 months clothing. It is so sad when you have to start packing clothing away because it no longer fits - a constant reminder to enjoy and savour all the precious moments as they grow up so incredibly quickly!

Thanks to Losec for his reflux, we no longer have a moany baby, but instead we are greeted with smiles, chuckles and baby coo's. He really is a content and happy little man. His sleeping is improving too with him waking once during the night on most nights now with only a few rough nights in between. Hopefully this sleep routine stays put and only gets better from here. He is still in his Moses basket next to my bed. We are looking to move him into the nursery at the end of the month...

And my word does he have long eyelashes! As everyone comments, he has beautiful big eyes and a slight hint of a flirter's dimple as well. Turning into such a handsome little guy!

So all-in-all, things are going well and as time goes on, we are getting to know and love our little boy more and more. I often find myself staring at him in awe at his pure perfection - I am so truly blessed and love him more than I can describe!