Miss Lily is now 4!

That's right, my baby girl is now 4! Where has the time gone? It's really quite scary. I look at her and see her rapidly leaving her babyhood behind, never to be regained. It is bitter sweet.

Her actual birthday was very low key as I knew that her dance revue the following day was going to be huge! She attended her swimming class in the morning. As usual she loved it and chattered away happily to her teacher Debbie every chance she had. Her swimming ability has really improved greatly this term; she is very confident with putting her face in the water and can kick and paddle for a metre or so without the teacher holding her. It's so lovely to see the enjoyment and pride she has in doing well.

The remainder of the day was spent opening presents and playing. We gave her a swimming Baby Bjorn dolly (I've always wanted one of these Mumma!! she said), a dress for her bigger dolly, some Moon Dough (a pizza kit), Beatrix Potter collection and a gorgeous wooden picnic set, complete with strawberries and picnic basket. Oh and a set of snap cards to play. And a Christmas Fairy outfit. Quite a lot now that I've written it all down. Oh well. It's not like she receives toys throughout the year. We had spaghetti with meatballs for dinner as that was what she decided she wanted to eat most of all for her birthday dinner. The day ended with cupcakes.

The following day was her dance revue at the WEC. It was tiring and a long day but she loved it all and wants to do it again. The day began with a dress rehearsal. I dropped her off and wandered up to the Mall where I found a cute pair of sandals which were 40% off (yay!). The rehearsal ran late so by the time I collected her there wasn't a huge amount of time between that and the Matinee performance. Just enough time to eat a sandwich and get changed.

I was furious when Leigh purchased tickets 4 rows from the front. I had asked him to buy tickets up the back because I was worried Oliver would become restless and that we'd need to have an easy access to an exit. As it was, it was great that we had tickets so close because otherwise it would have been very difficult to make out who was who in their costume. Of course Lily's hair is BRIGHT red and could be seen a kilometre away but all of their hair was completely covered with a little cap and floppy elephant ears so it was impossible to tell from a distance. Anyway, they were all adorable and their performance passed by all too quickly. Lily was stuck behind another girl for some moments which was a tad frustrating but eventually she made her way to the line and she looked like she was having fun.

I had had no intention of watching the evening performance but when Lily mentioned on the way there that she would be looking for me I couldn't stand the thought of her searching for me and my not being there. Yes, I am a sucker. But she's so little and it's her first year....Anyway, I ended up being seated in the very front row and the very happy look on her face when she saw me and waved was worth the effort and money. By the end of the evening she was tired and so was I with all of the running around and excitement!

I had wondered in the lead up to the concert if it was all just a bit of a wank and a waste of money her being involved in the concert, but really it was a lovely experience and everyone involved did such a great job in looking after the kids etc that I'm more than happy for her to be involved again next year if she wants to be.

Then on the Sunday, Mum  etc came over for an early dinner and Lily happily opened more lovely presents- a pink scooter, a cooking chef set, a blueberry plant, gorgeous tutu complete with head circle and wand, a pair of earrings, a bag and a Little Mermaid nightie and slippers. Spoilt girl. I'm sorry to say that she had to be prompted several times to say thank you so I need to work on that. I know she was  tired and probably quite overwhelmed but she's always had such pretty manners and I don't want to lose it now that she's becoming older.

All in all it was a busy but enjoyable few days and now that it's all over I just cannot believe she is 4....

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl, I love you with all of my heart!!

Random notes

 Oliver :
* likes to wear a nappy and a pair of shoes around the house. He will carry or point to his shoes to request they be put on
* enjoys pushing around Lily's small dolly pram (also likes dragging it behind him or even carrying it)
* loves going for a walk in his pram
* can say Mum, Dad, Lily, bird, bakka (banana), bye bye, what, this, shoo (shoe), dog, that, biccie, milk (mulk), ear, eye,
* knows where his ears, eyes, mouth, nose, teeth, hair, tummy, leg, arm, fingers and toes are
* loves eating banana, yoghurt, scrambled egg. Doesn't have a huge appetite, loves having breastmilk still, especially snacking. Strokes my tummy while he does.
* Mimics face pulling and thinks it's very funny.
* Likes dogs and tried to pat any he sees.
* Adores his Daddy and Mummy and hates being separated from either. Makes Leigh take him outside to look for birds or potter around the courtyard. Will potter for ages. Likes sweeping. ADORES vaccuuming with Leigh. Probably favourite thing. Won't sleep for me during the day (catnaps) but will sleep  in pram for 1-2 hours with Leigh. Grrrr.
* loves the park and walking up the slippery dip. Likes being pushed on the swing and climbing.

 Lily:
* loves her swimming lessons. Is paddling and kicking very well. Opens her eyes under water. Adores dancing and her dance lessons.
* wants a swimming dolly and scooter for her birthday next week. Has requested having chicken and sweet corn soup for lunch and spaghetti with meat balls for dinner, both to be made by Mum. Wants a flower cake
* Can't get enough of playing Princess based games, role playing etc. Interested in fairies. Wants to know why people die.
 * Can count to 20, sometimes gets letters mixed up. Recognises letters L and B. Knows her colours and some shapes. Can ride her trike.
* enjoys preschool and helping me bake. Still loves her tappy tappy shoes. Starting to 'read' books. Knows a few of her favourites off by heart- Goldilocks, Bears in The Night,
* loves silly rhymes, making up dodgy  jokes. Wants a puppy dog and to be a fire fighter ballerina when she grows up. AT various times has wanted to marry her Daddy, Mummy and Ollie.
* Still loves sleeping with Mummy or Daddy. Sleeps very well during the night unless sick. Is affectionate and says she loves me every day. Loves to cuddle and be tickled.

Hmmmm....

I'm not quite sure what direction I want this blog to take. I've named it 'Lily & Oliver' but I don't know that I wish to devote all of the blog to entries about the two of them. I did commence it with that idea in mind, a chronicling of some of those little, fleeting moments which I won't be able to recall in a week, let alone in a year or ten. Something to look back on and read over in years to come.

101....

goals to meet within the next 1001 days! I've come across this idea while reading a couple of other blogs and feel inspired to do my own list. So here goes, 101 objecctives to reach in just over 3 years. Eeek, I'll be 39!

1. Begin piano lessons
2. Go to Taronga Zoo  (DONE)
3. Obtain Bronze Medallion
4. Learn to cook 3 Vietnamese dishes well.
5. Start wearing contact lenses again  (DONE)
6. Have a tarot reading done with Sharona (DONE)
7. Restart a dream journal
8. Go to the Ashram for a mediation weekend
9. Visit Buddhist temple in Wollongong (DONE)
10. Start riding a bike  (DONE)
11. Make one new friend
12. Email Geraldine
13. Go to the Australian Museum
14. Visit the art gallery
15. Have High Tea at the QVB
16. Take 3 surfing lessons
17. Collect and read/watch all of Micheal Palins travel books and DVDs
18. Go to the opera with Leigh
19. Spend a weekend in the Blue Mountains with Leigh and the kids
20. Read all of the novels awarded the Man Booker Prize
21. Spend an afternoon at the beach by myself
22. Do a campervan trip with Leigh and kids
23. Do a cert IV
24. Start teaching!!
25. Resume contact with Janelle
26. Knit a blanket
27. Write a poem
28. Write a chapter of a novel
29. Write a short story
30. Take up painting
31. Have a massage (DONE)
32. Bake a black forest cake from scratch
33. Go to Treetop walk
34. Go on a cruise
35. Go watch a movie alone
36. Have dinner at the Lagoon
37. Have a cocktail at the Horizon Bar
38. Buy a cocktail ring
39. Throw a party
40. Spend a day at a day spa
41. Buy myself a beautiful piece of jewellery
42. Do yoga regularly
43. Go  ice-skating
44. Go rollar skating
45. Go snorkelling
46. Attend a cooking class
47. Spend an afternoon in the sun drinking cocktails
48. See sculptures by the sea
49. Swim naked in the sea
50. Buy house
51. Buy a cloche hat
52. Buy a 1950's style dress
53. Do a completely random act of kindness
54. See the Dalai Lama
55. Take up jogging
56. Go to Noosa
57. Go to Vietnam
58. Go to Laos
59. Grow vegetables
60. Start a worm farm
61. Volunteer for literacy groups at a school
62. Go to Kiama markets
63. Go to Coledale markets
64. Go to Berry markets
65. Swim at Stanwell Park Beach
66. Stay at Jervis Bay
67. Stay in Sydney for a weekend with Leigh and kids
68.

something

gagagagagag

Hello Miss Three!

Well, I've been a bit slack in not posting for three days but in my defense, they have been a busy few days. Allow me to back track a little....

Thursday 26th November
 Our little sweetheart's third birthday! Leigh and I had decorated the house with balloons and pink and purple streamers the night before and Lily's face as she saw the decorations in the morning was worth the effort. 
She was very pleased with all of her gifts 

From Daddy, Mummy and Oliver-

*purple fairy dress

* metallic pink ballet flats

*springtime tales book

*wooden toy kitchen

*small bath dolly

Goodnight Miss Two.....

....and in the morning you will be Miss Three!! My darling baby girl, how quickly you have arrived at the wonderful age of three. This time three years ago I was still in labour....but that is a story for another time.

Your year of being a terrific (and tantrum throwing) two year old has been a very big year for a little person. You weaned from having breastfeeds, at 2 years 3 months. You have moved house, from Bulli to Austinmer. You have had two operations on your beautiful, beautiful eyes. You have gained a brother, whom you adore and are very protective of and almost squeeze the life out of with your big, generous hugs.

You have learned to talk in long sentences, to run, climb and jump (you LOVE jumping) and to count to ten. You know your colours and can name and mimic all manner of animals. You cherish your dollies and Mummy Dolly in particular goes everywhere you go. You wrap her up and place her in her pram to rock back and forth until she falls asleep. Sometimes you hold her close and pat her back tenderly while shoosh shooshing her. You are a gorgeous lilttle Mummy and love your dolls dearly.

You have grown even more inquisitive over the past year and daily ask your Daddy and I 'why' a dozen times or more. You wonder where your brain is and why a truck is a truck. You are obsessed with wolves at the moment and can happily be told the tale of the Three Little Pigs again and again and agian ("Mummy/ Dadda, tell me a piggy story!"). You love dancing to the Mister Men cartoon music and become very upsaet if you are not wearing a 'twirly' dress to dance in when the introduction begins. You like Muse and Regina Spektor. You adore books and have stories read to you each night before bed.    

You are funny and cheeky and strong-willed. You are a sensitive soul and become very upset when you are in trouble. You are affectionate and wake me with a kiss, or a prod!, most mornings. Every night, at some stage, you wrap your young, slim arms around me for a hug whilst still asleep.

Every day, even on the not so good days, you make your Daddy and I laugh with your funny ways and unexpected sayings. Your laughter is infectious amd your smile could melt the hardest of hearts. You are a dear little soul and we feel so very blessed that you chose us to be your parents. Sleep well, my precious girl and in the morning we will welcome in your third birthday.Your Daddy and I love you lots and lots and lots and lots!

Reactions & Requests....

My normally very happy little boy was not able to greet me in his usual fashion with an inquisitive stare and gummy grin this morning. Instead he was a very sad little man who was burning up a fever. With his small body pressed up against mine throughout the night, I had been vaguely aware that he was warmer than usual but from around 6am his skin was downright hot and it was obvious that he was unwell. Seeing the thermometer reading of 39.3 C was a little disconcerting.

Thankfully, the local medical practice was able to give us an appointment within a half hour of my ringing them, so off we went to have Oliver looked over by a kindly, lovely old school GP. Basically, it's most likely a reaction to yesterdays immunisations. It's not usual for a fever to go so high, so we are to keep a close eye on our poor boy and if he has not improved by tomorrow morning, then it's back to the GP we go.

He is definitely out of sorts, with the high temperatures persisting throughout the day but he is as alert and drinking as heartlily as ever. Hopefully by this time tomorrow he will be back to his usual cheerful self.

Lily on the other hand seems to have regained her mojo after being 'off' for the last week or so and considering I wasn't able to lavish her with attention today, extremely well behaved and happy. She pottered about tending to her babies and bringing me (pretend) mangoes to eat and naughty teddies to discipline. One of her current favourite games is playing at being the 'delivery lady' and knocking on the back door to deliver her parcels. When at bedtime I asked her to come inside and get ready for bed she indignantly reminded me that the 'delivery lady doesn't come inside the house'!

Tomorrow is her last day of being a two year old and a small part of me is so sad that my baby girl is slipping further away into 'big girl' land....

Her requests for birthday gifts are as follows:

* a 'big girl' swishy dress (for her to dance and twirl about in)

* a kitchen

* dollies

* pink cakes for everyone

Needles

Both of my babies experienced the pin-prick pain of needles today. For Oliver, it was the double shock of 4 month immunisation needles, while for Lily it entailed the extraction of blood from one of her very small veins. Oliver was first up and he recovered quickly with the help of a breastfeed and fell asleep for a longish (for him) catnap while Lily and I had lunch at a nearby cafe. After strengthening Lily's courage with the purchase of a small Darrell Lea chocolate heart, we headed to the pathologist. Lily was very brave and was given a stamp on her right hand in addition to a sparkly Christmas sticker. A Wiggles bandaid covered the scene of the crime....

As hot as Hades

Today was fearsomely, hellishly hot. The heat throughout the day was relentless and it has continued long into this night. My smallest lies sleeping on my lap with fat beads of sweat cooling his downy head. My eldest (3 in just 4 days!!) sleeps the deep sleep of one who has paddled naked at the ocean's edge into the evening.

Thank the Gods we live moments from the ocean....