keeping busy at home

1. Market reseach

2. Baking

3. Dinner

4. Internet shopping

5. Blogging

6. If all else fails, cleaning

socialising

Ada is a social bunny. We go somewhere new with toys and people and she is away. Lucky me! In a large room of strangers she plays for a while then eventually looks around to find where I am, gives me a smile and sometimes a wee hug and is off again. Being a toddler is all about exploring! We have been busy looking into options for a regular spot Ada and I can go so that her sociableness is catered to when baby two comes. I want a place I know she is safe and watched out for while I am sitting feeding for example. We checked out play groups and centres and music sessions all about the place, looking for a good fit for her and I.

We have decided to go with our local Playcentre. It is walking distance from our house and has a lovely group of mama's there already plus I have joined alongside 4 really fantastic ladies. Ada loves it and for the most part is very happy without me when we are there! So far her favorite play stations are the sandpit, water area and the make believe area. Those and washing her hands. Child friendly bathrooms are not to be underrated.

It is a great way to spend a couple of mornings a week. I will be an expert play dough maker soon. Ada goes non stop while we are there and has a huge nap when we get home. Last week she demonstrated the sign for sleep that I hadn't seen from her before (and hadn't been trying to teach her for some time) and said leep leep in a more and more distressed way as I hurriedly tried to get her home to bed. Her communication is more and more useful but she is also more and more concerned if I don't do what she says and quick. Getting her down to sleep is one command I will obey.

We are at the Singing Cowboy in Grey Lynn

18 months

One and a half. I have a fully fledged toddler. Like clockwork my happy independent baby says no one billion times a day, has tantrums and has stopped calling my Mama and prefers to ask for Mummy in a high pitched, urgent fashion, all day. Admittedly she has been under the weather but as usual that seems to coincide with change, or rather me noticing her changing. Rereading what I wrote 2 months ago those amazing feats have been replaced by new things! It seems strange and yet obvious that 2 months is a really long time when you are one and a half.

Yesterday Ada said her first sentence. Cam was taking her to her room for a new nappy and Ada plaintively said, “bye, Mummy”. She was going to miss me for those few moments. Sweet girl, it is going to be OK!

She knows something is up, change is afoot. My giant belly has long got in the way of sitting on my knee but now means I am asking her to walk, run, stomp or chase me places. Before I could ask her where is baby and she would point to my tummy but she seems to be ignoring that question now. She does give adorable raspberries on my stomach and we say “hi sister” and Ada waves. Her world is about to be drastically different!

I saw a friend at the library today, she was there with her 2 and a half year old and two week old baby, she was so positive! Babies are easy! They are transportable! They just sleep and eat! I loved it, her eyes were sparkling! That may not be me when I have a baby the same age in possibly 7 weeks time but it is soooo nice to see and imagine!

I think I am finally out of the denial stage. We are settling on a name and I have a place for baby to sleep! We are moving things about a bit to make room, but we are underway and it can be sorted fairly quickly if need be. Dun dun dun, not long now!