the shoe drama

Oh man! Ada will not leave her shoes on. It isn't really the end of the world to walk about in socks but the weather is getting colder so I am trying to make this happen... However, I am finding that I sometimes feel its the end of the world! Exasperation = toddler+8.5 months pregnant. Picking her up rather than having her learn to walk beside me holding hands is the cost to her shoeless ways at the moment. Both because carrying her hurts my pelvis pretty quick now that I am 2 weeks away from newborn fun, I also angst over the missed opportunity of Ada doing it herself! The smaller cost is the time I spend putting them on again and again, dis I mention being exasperated? The practical cost? Washing socks? I tried to purchase some tricky to remove boots in Newmarket but the shoe store confirmed her ankle size and foot length is currently incompatible with boots. Baby cankles. It's ok she doesn't know.

Here we are at the zoo where buckles and locks are still the fave, last week and back in autumn, with no shoes on.

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!

16 months

Oops not too many posts lately, too much resting by me while Ada has her 90 minute or less nap each day.  Here is an easy one to get me back into the swing of things.

Ada loves:

·       sitting in the piles of autumn leaves.

·       doing the same thing as Mama, on the swing, 'Mama', at the computer, 'Mama', sitting at a wee table, 'Mama'. Indicated by a wave of her hand where I should be and a nod of the head.

·       saying more and nodding her head yes at the same time. How to say no? I haven’t discovered that yet.

·       the slide, no hands guys! Also of course the swing.

·       showing new people all her toys one at a time. Such genuine toddler behaviour already!

·       waving at her shadow.

·       RnB, there is a dude who drives by our house with the music set to 'obliterate kidneys'. When he comes by and Ada turns to me and grins while bopping in her seat.

·       looking at the traffic outside our place. Major advantage to living on a bigger road. 

·       books. For a few weeks moving about was better than reading but Scarface Claw and The Newt in the Suit have been read 100 times each so we are back in love with books.