neglected

The blog, not the kiddies. 

Inspiration a little lacking, perhaps due to lack of sleep?! Will surely be revived on our first trip away this weekend!

Pigtails. 

Toy eating love. 

3 months baby!

I've talked before about how changeable these little babies are but in the last 13 weeks things haven't stayed the same for more than 2-3 days at a time. Mostly every day is different to the one before, you feel like you are solving an ever evolving puzzle. Olive has been no different. I have tried to relax into all the unknowns about what is happening and why, calling these past 3 months the 4th trimester. I am still letting go of expectations of how things should be. Around one month of age Olive cried so much when she was awake I just left her to sleep as long as she wished and she was having big sleeps during the day and smaller and smaller sleeps at night. Then I got a little tired of being awake with her for a couple of hours at night and so thought I would try something different. So now, in the interest of getting some sleep at night, I do try to feed Olive at least 3hrly during the day. Things have improved steadily since having some routine. Olive is the happiest baby when she isn't writhing with gas troubles. Sometimes she refuses to eat but she hasn't refused to sleep since we have been more committed to getting her to bed on time. Go us! Go Olive!

I've been talking with a friend whose wee one sounds so much like what Olive was like. At 3 weeks I really wasn't sure if she was just a grumpy sensitive soul. Hearing how tough it can be in those very early days reminds me of how far we have come. Go Olive! On Sunday Ada was with her grandparents and we carted Olive off to Ambury Farm day then over to a friends place for BBQ. She was happy all day and we went with the flow. Go us! On the go with one baby is a much more simple affair once you have tried it with two. Cameron kept wondering if we could be so chill with Ada in tow, I'm unconvinced!!

So dear Olive, happy 3 months to you! I love you, your Dad loves you and your sister does too. You get more delightful every week! You love to eat your hands, push up to standing and look at the TV. We thank God for you and finally I can see his good timing.

Two months.
One month. 

FAQ

Here is a schedule of questions to ready yourself for in adult life.

1. "So are you seeing anyone?"

I recently looked at many photos of us pre babies. We look so relaxed!

2. Then it is only a matter of time until people start asking "so when are you two getting engaged?"

3. Then once you are engaged you get many many questions about wedding planning. Often these questions are OK with the bride who is consumed with the topic.

4. Once married, you get asked when the first child is on the way...

Do I look pregnant?

5. As soon as that one pops out the questions turn to more children! "How many are you planning on having?" along with, "when are you having the next one?"

How about now?

6. With our girls we get a lot of "do they look alike?" The next big question is "do you think she will have Ada's curls?" These are kind of a big deal.

7. No one is asking if she is sleeping through the night. Thank goodness. We are a ways off. But that came up really quite soon with Ada.

8. Often people ask who I think each of the girls look like. Not us apparently!

nighttime is the righttime, for sleeping

I keep going to write a post about sleeping... Such a vital topic to me and any other mama with a wee baby, but so dull at the same time. She sleeps well she doesn't sleep well. Yada yada yada.

All the same... One wake up last night; Hallelujah!! Two and three nights ago, 4 wake ups!! I hardly knew that was possible with Ada. Olive was not feeding during the day and having to make up for it at night. Why is it that more sleep initially means more tired? Happens every time. I feel like a train has hit me today. 

Weeks ago I wrote this (at least we have improved from here, I think)... 

As I write this it is 3.09am. I'm wide awake and Olive seems to be too. Ah the joys of motherhood. Olive had her longest sleep that she has had in a few nights before waking at 2am tonight. However when we could have been enjoying that long sleep Ada woke up in the middle of it. Lately we have been asleep about 10pm with Olive waking at 11pm. Le sigh.

With Ada we had a full routine with a nightly bath and a set bedtime. The dream feed worked well and she slept from 7pm till 2 or 3am and even through till morning a few times by the time she was 12 weeks old. When I dream feed Olive she wakes up two hours later for more. But the enticement of a much longer sleep makes me keep trying it. 

...

Yada yada yada. 

...

Ah sleep, you mysterious beauty. 

out about: rocket park mt albert

This place is so awesome!

Ada couldn't get enough of the slides.

Next time we will have to try the wobble plank things!

ridiculous moments in being a mom

Every time I see my lock screen on my phone I gush inside.

I love you miss Olive. 

daughter date

This little wild thing felt rather sick on this particular Wednesday. We ended up killing some time at the local cafe before our doctors appointment. Amazing what sugar can do for a child's disposition!! We had a lovely time and shared bites of our cookies. 

"Ada's one." 

"Mummies one."

"Mmm yummy." 

By the time we got to the doctors Ada seemed right as rain. In fact she pretty much was,the doctor said she will possibly come down with something in the next 12-24 hours. Hoo ha, did she ever! Seems like that virus is still knocking us about. So glad to see the sun today! Goodbye for reals winter. 

(I quite like taking Ada about the town in what she wears to Playcentre too, cute mismatchy babies rule.)

to all the parents of young children

Steve Wiens writes a passionate article about the reality that we don't have to enjoy every minute of being a parent. You can read it on the Huff post blog here. It is a nice reminder that to be a good parent is not to be a perfect parent.

I eat chocolate in those moments too Steve.