Ada likes to tell stories

Most of them are a "I said and then you said and then I said, like that" format.
Others are "When I was a baby I said goo goo ga ga, like that" style.
Many are the "I am a fairy or princess or fox or mermaid..." full stop.
Now some stories are having their influence. We run away from wolves and play make believe in a cave. I am a friendly wolf.
The wolves are coming. Quickly, Quickly!

24 September 2014

'cleaning' the house in 5 steps

I am not as house proud as some. People coming over is generally when I whiz round and get some cleaning done. Lately though I have been on a spring cleaning buzz, trying to throw away some stuff so that there is less stuff to tidy! What I prefer to do is organise it somewhere and keep it.. But these two things are not always compatible. We have lived here two years and I am still improving the 'everything has a place' rule. In particular we have a new kitchen (yay!) with less storage so I am inspired to purge. Tis hard work but I don't want to grow up to be a hoarder. Wish me luck.

So, imagine a last minute visitor at your house and  things could look better... Here are my 5 steps to a 'clean' house. You can now benefit from my time saving tips gleaned from years of laziness (other priorities)! These will not be for everyone. If you are a neat freak, don't read any more... I think this list can be done in about 15-20 minutes?! Hopefully beds are made and table and bench is wiped. I am have been working on that this year. Gosh for shame, how old am I? Here you go, 5 steps to house reasdy!

1. Vacuum the floor in the main room and hallway if possible. This may involve putting toys away. Toy baskets are essential here or put them under a child's bed for another clean up later! I have a stick vacuum that I love, so this step is now super fast.

2. Clean the toilet. Ground breaking stuff right. Toddlers in the house means this just needs doing often. Don't skimp here!

3. If your hard floors need attention wipe around the corners of the room with a damp used tea towel or hand towel you then throw in the wash

4. Get your dishes in dishwasher! In extreme cases they can go in the oven or a cupboard! Revolutionary I know.

5. Put clothes in laundry baskets. Having a basket in each room is a bit of an intermediate step for me, I just don't seem to have a putting clothes away mojo. Ada is always pulling out more...

So there you have it! All done. Just enough tidy...

a little catch up

Oh hello blog, it's been a while...

Winter got us good over the last few weeks, life has been quieter than usual! This week has been SO much better. Hooray!

Seaweed+rice=sushi yums

Olive+water=happy

Ada+sugar=crazy happy

Farm+torrential rain=car party

Blue icing=dreamy coordinated lipstick

Paint+hands=good times

Olive+all the pearls

just another manic monday

Olive knows how to party!

happy mothers day

Gosh, I am one lucky lady. Ada showers us in I love you's and kisses and cuddles. When a character looks sad she says "he needs Mama". Incidentally if the character looks down and out "we need to help him". Olive is a smoocher too, she cuddles with two arms, head on your shoulder and sometimes then moves her head back to give you a kiss. I am so glad that I am Mama to these two girls. Cam generously made amazing tarts that Ada didn't even want to try so I feel so very spoiled today.

We tried to get a pic of the two girls and I. Seems it is impossible. I take a pretty funny selfie tho, as follows after this poem.

The Honest Toddler wrote this. I am a bit of a rock and I was moved to a tear, it captures so much about this intense, rewarding, frustrating, privilege that is motherhood.

I don't know if I love you.

I don't know what those words mean.

But I can tell you that you are my sun
that the day does not truly begin until you rise
and the warmth that is like a halo around you beams down on me
and holds my pajama-ed body next to yours.
You are my sun.

I don't know if I love you, but you are my moon.
When night comes
whether it is the darkening of the sky for the entire world 
or just for me as I become
once again
lost in emotions 3, no 4, times my size
struggling against the waves of my own tears
agitated rapids 
the undertow of the moment pulling me down
taking me prisoner
fighting for breath and rights
you, a beacon of light wax bright and steady
guiding me home.

I don't know if I love you, but you are my tree.
Rich with good things.
Plump fruit in the form of kisses
your palm glides across my head
through my hair.
You caress my cheeks with your branches.
When the world swirls too fast and loud
I know I can always find shelter at the base of your trunk
and shade under your fronds.
You purify the air around me.
You are my tree.

I don't know if I love you, but your voice is my song.
There is a place in the deepest part of me
that only your tune can unlock
that only your tune can stir.
When you laugh it's a cool breeze on a sweaty day.
I want another and another
and become a puppet entertainer
doing anything to hear that tinkling giggle.
When you're angry, it's a wintery blizzard.
I feel the chill in my bones and the ice on my face
but then even, I move closer to you for comfort from you.
When you're sad, it's a quiet low whistle 
and I pull myself into your lap
drawing long ribbons of whatever ails you out through your heart
throwing them down on the floor.

I don't know if I love you
because I've heard others use those words
and since they can't possibly have what we do
they must not be enough.

But in the off chance that I do
since I'm not sure 
it's seems right that I should say it
so, mama
I love you. 

Happy Mother's Day 

I don't know if I love you.

I don't know what those words mean.

But I can tell you that you are my sun
that the day does not truly begin until you rise
and the warmth that is like a halo around you beams down on me
and holds my pajama-ed body next to yours.
You are my sun.

I don't know if I love you, but you are my moon.
When night comes
whether it is the darkening of the sky for the entire world 
or just for me as I become
once again
lost in emotions 3, no 4, times my size
struggling against the waves of my own tears
agitated rapids 
the undertow of the moment pulling me down
taking me prisoner
fighting for breath and rights
you, a beacon of light wax bright and steady
guiding me home.

I don't know if I love you, but you are my tree.
Rich with good things.
Plump fruit in the form of kisses
your palm glides across my head
through my hair.
You caress my cheeks with your branches.
When the world swirls too fast and loud
I know I can always find shelter at the base of your trunk
and shade under your fronds.
You purify the air around me.
You are my tree.

I don't know if I love you, but your voice is my song.
There is a place in the deepest part of me
that only your tune can unlock
that only your tune can stir.
When you laugh it's a cool breeze on a sweaty day.
I want another and another
and become a puppet entertainer
doing anything to hear that tinkling giggle.
When you're angry, it's a wintery blizzard.
I feel the chill in my bones and the ice on my face
but then even, I move closer to you for comfort from you.
When you're sad, it's a quiet low whistle 
and I pull myself into your lap
drawing long ribbons of whatever ails you out through your heart
throwing them down on the floor.

I don't know if I love you
because I've heard others use those words
and since they can't possibly have what we do
they must not be enough.

But in the off chance that I do
since I'm not sure 
it's seems right that I should say it
so, mama
I love you. 

Happy Mother's Day
- See more at: http://www.thehonesttoddler.com/2014/05/i-dont-know-if-i-love-you.html#sthash.SOKj4cqB.dpuf

I don't know if I love you.

I don't know what those words mean.

But I can tell you that you are my sun
that the day does not truly begin until you rise
and the warmth that is like a halo around you beams down on me
and holds my pajama-ed body next to yours.
You are my sun.

I don't know if I love you, but you are my moon.
When night comes
whether it is the darkening of the sky for the entire world 
or just for me as I become
once again
lost in emotions 3, no 4, times my size
struggling against the waves of my own tears
agitated rapids 
the undertow of the moment pulling me down
taking me prisoner
fighting for breath and rights
you, a beacon of light wax bright and steady
guiding me home.

I don't know if I love you, but you are my tree.
Rich with good things.
Plump fruit in the form of kisses
your palm glides across my head
through my hair.
You caress my cheeks with your branches.
When the world swirls too fast and loud
I know I can always find shelter at the base of your trunk
and shade under your fronds.
You purify the air around me.
You are my tree.

I don't know if I love you, but your voice is my song.
There is a place in the deepest part of me
that only your tune can unlock
that only your tune can stir.
When you laugh it's a cool breeze on a sweaty day.
I want another and another
and become a puppet entertainer
doing anything to hear that tinkling giggle.
When you're angry, it's a wintery blizzard.
I feel the chill in my bones and the ice on my face
but then even, I move closer to you for comfort from you.
When you're sad, it's a quiet low whistle 
and I pull myself into your lap
drawing long ribbons of whatever ails you out through your heart
throwing them down on the floor.

I don't know if I love you
because I've heard others use those words
and since they can't possibly have what we do
they must not be enough.

But in the off chance that I do
since I'm not sure 
it's seems right that I should say it
so, mama
I love you. 

Happy Mother's Day
- See more at: http://www.thehonesttoddler.com/2014/05/i-dont-know-if-i-love-you.html#sthash.SOKj4cqB.dpuf

tiny wisdoms

I blather on about a few things that take up lots of my brain power in parenting, food and sleep, aka human survival. Here are some pearls of wisdom that have been passed on to me that I need you to know. 

Have your child say goodbye to the park, toy store, tv, whatever it may be and it's easier to go. We all need closure.

Always break a cracker (or cookie) in two and put half in each hand. So simple. Two busy hands, one happy mouth.

This one is a biggie, and it is so hard to do sometimes, we do things faster and cleaner and there are times that is necessary for us to keep our sanity. But if they can do something for themselves = let them do it! (Thanks three day nanny for sparking this conversation...)

good things

The girls are both asleep, I made dinner for tonight yesterday and it's sunny out. 3 good things. 

I wanted to share my own little miss james dean. So tired after this mornings shenanigans, wee poppet. 

Cloth nappy booty. 

waking up singing

Oh hello!

This little lady has been under the weather. Home bound for 10 days under the weather. Horrible high temps overnight (and all day mind you) under the weather. 

She is feeling better. Feeling like herself. She woke up singing this morning. That feels like sweet relief to this mama. 

chatterbox

Ada chirps away all day long. She has a pretty posi take on things and does a lot of nodding with imploring eyes when she is asking for something or even just telling me what is happening, I love this. Life with Ada at the moment is a combination of running commentary ("my drinking a drink bottle"), mimicry ("oooh, it lovely") and  a game of Whose Line is it Anyway? (see below) thrown in. We have taught her the all important kiwi up swing at the end of sentences, we hear a lot of, "yeah?" Or "no?" Or sometimes together like this, "No. - (wait for it) - yeah, yeah!" 'Yeah but nah but' can't be too far off. I love the my instead of I. I correct her maybe once a day and it is slowly disappearing, but no rush, the English language is a fickle changeable master, she will get it soon enough.
Quotable of late:

While playing house, "No Mama, go away!" With a stop sign hand to prove her point.

The other day with gumboots on her hands, "My is a hedgehog. With long arms. My go roar." We don't cover hedgehogs too often.

When wearing my shoes. "My is a dinosaur." I guess the clompy walking is dinosaurish?

Anytime the feeling is right: "my so happy!" I love this. A lot.

We get a lot of "no photo's" at the moment. I need to be sneakier for sure.

When a character looks sad: "he wants Mama." Awwwww, so sweet! 

"My do it myself!"

happy 2014

Hello from the future! 2014? What?!

Babies wield guns and toddlers mix fashion genres here. 

Happy New Year! 

Xoxox

when Ada was away

It's quiet.

The house stays tidy. 

Olive has all her toys at her disposal, for as long as she wishes. 

When Ada gets back the noise, mess, giggles, books and negotiations return. The wee songs and little stories return. 

At the reunion Mama gets tears, Olive gets a million kisses , Daddy gets giggles. 

merry christmas

2013 is almost through! Summer has cranked up here in New Zealand and the year is winding down. 

A change of plans means we can go to church Christmas morning. A treat for us! Bring on the carols. We will open presents afterwards at our home with family. Ada will flip, she saw some in our roo, "ooh presents" she says in a revered tone! 

My family has gone from three to four this year and I am loving my days with my two lovely girls and one handsome man. I am so thrilled to be heading into 3 weeks off with the four of us spending time in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.  

Thank you so much for reading, once or twice or every post, it means a lot to have a wee audience for my wee thoughts. 

My best wishes to you and yours this Christmas! 

swingsational

We are in Te Awamutu and the grandies have a swing set up on a bar over the washing line. Ada is in attention heaven, well almost, she has a very painful ear infection so is mostly rather sad about that, but the swing helps any how!

Olive has been loving the swing too, here she is for the first time on the swing!

language

On the eve of a second birthday I want to note a bit about how Ada talks. 

Yesterday Ada told me I was a good girl, twice. I moved a playmat so her bike could go through... Hmm, I need to get back to just saying thank you or descriptive praise. 

 

She says 'morning world' looking out the window in the morning like I do, Cam wondered where she got it from.

 

When we get home or back to the car she says 'here's Ada's one, yay!'  

For a girl who has never seen him before Ada runs around yelling 'superman', a lot. This one I s from daycare. She also talks about her shoulders really often?!

Sometimes, when she has all her faculties and needs something, Ada will tell me to 'lie Olive down now, there'. 

I was out of the room and she called out 'Mummy Loren'! Cam has only reminded her that he is called Daddy and not Cam once. 

Our favorite is of course when she says 'I love you'. No 'v' sound yet so it's 'ilayu' one word. 

I love you miss. 

5 minutes peace

An evening walk. A view like this is so restorative don't you think? I felt quite lucky strolling about on the mountain yesterday. How do you steal five minutes peace?

firsts

Special and memorable moments last month:

Ada and Olive sharing a bath. 

Which led to... Ada and Olive sharing a laugh. 

A family walk up the mountain with two babies; one on mums front, the other on dads back. 

Roll. 

Family holiday with two babies. 

Changing Olive on a rugby field while Ada plays at the kindy in Katikati, on the way to family holiday. 

Feeding Olive while leaning on a tree at a desolate and windy truck stop, on the way to family holiday. 

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!

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!

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.)