En route mauvaise troupe!

New horizons...

Well, we're basically packed and ready to go. One more sleep, as they say.

I've spent the last few weeks worrying (not constantly) about the flights and the jetlag in both directions but I'm over it now. No more worrying. Let's just get this one day of our lives out of the way and get stuck into some awesome family time, AT HOME!

The routine I hate.

I don't mind routines. We have lots of them throughout the day. I guess that figuring out systems with babies is key to getting through the day so routines naturally develop.

There is one routine though that I really dislike. Hate is a strong word but I am inclined to use it in this case.

Most of the time, Hugo falls asleep while breastfeeding. I then delicately place him in his cot where he usually rolls over and sleeps soundly.

I like that routine but sometimes it doesn't work and so the dreaded routine comes in. This is how it goes:

Hugo feeds for a while and then, for whatever reason, instead of falling asleep, he'll spring back up and start crawling all over me. I try to get him back to business but to no avail. Since it is naptime, I gently put him down in his cot, give him his teddy bear, crank the volume on his sleeping music, give him a kiss and leave the room.

He knows what is about to happen and from the moment I place him in bed, he starts looking panicked until I leave. Then, the real tears begin.

Within seconds, he is standing in the corner of his cot, crying out for me or whoever else will rescue him from the horrible fate of having to nap. If only he was aware of the irony...

At that point, I never know what to do and all the "bad mother" vs "good mother" rhetoric starts spinning around in my head.

Should I go in and pat him even though I know it won't put him to sleep? Should I just go do the dishes and wait until he falls asleep? He's bound to fall asleep eventually, right? Define 'eventually'...

Usually, when the crying gets more intense and he is still firmly standing in the corner, I go in and feed him. By that point, he is so exhausted from crying that he falls asleep within minutes.

I hate it because it feels like a cruel game to let him cry until he is exhausted enough to feed and fall asleep. I wish it didn't have to be so dramatic but I honestly don't know what else to do short of letting him literally cry himself to sleep.

When we come back from our Christmas expedition to France, I think it might be time to devise a plan. Until then, I'll just be glad he doesn't hold grudges.

9 months: as long out as in.

9 months is such an eternity. A friend of mine, who fell pregnant around the time of Hugo's birth is just about to have a baby. Any day now. It's strange and funny to think that we have both been counting the weeks, her with her bulging belly and me, with my growing baby.

We have both come a long way already but it keeps going. Soon, my friend will find it hard to believe she was ever pregnant as she cradles her newborn and Hugo will keep moving on, leaving his current exploits behind without a second thought.

Everyday, I watch Hugo in amazement as he teaches himself the next variation, from his worm-like hopping to crawling to standing to cruising and on and on. He isn't interested in marking any moment in time. He isn't interested in looking back. I sometimes wonder how he knows what to do next. As much as I can, I let him figure things out and he does, slowly and doggedly.

The only time he stops is when he is asleep. It's not always easy to get him there and most of the time, I still feed him to sleep. Once he is asleep, it is so beautiful and peaceful. His naps are quite long at the moment, a well-deserved rest before the next round in his busy little life. He still has two naps a day and they are as vital to him as food and water.

I am almost certain that while there is a genetic element to it, Hugo's calm, easy-going and happy disposition has a lot to do with our peaceful routine day after day. I feel that my job is to organise the universe to minimise interferences with Hugo's needs. Putting him first actually makes my life easier because he is a lot more predictable and meltdowns are few and far between.

My Mum and step-Dad visited us for about 10 days and of course, it went wonderfully. Obviously there is the amazing practical side of having six hands on deck rather than two during the day but more than that, I love the idea of people getting to really know Hugo. With strangers, he doesn't give much away. He doesn't cry but it takes him a little while to get comfortable, laugh, play etc... which is why it's so special when Chris and I aren't the only ones who see Hugo behind-the-scenes.

Last week-end, we celebrated my 31st birthday amongst friends. There was breakfast, cake, music, sushi by the beach. The only thing missing was a sleep-in but you can't have everything. The low-key celebrations brought back memories of last year's festivities. The people haven't changed much but I was the pregnant one then. This year, it seems that just as I regain my pre-pregnancy figure, it is time for some of my close friends to pop. Funny to imagine where we might be in another 9 months...

GIF fun.

I always take several photos of the same thing so I've been wanting to make some GIFs for a little while. Here we go. I have a feeling I'll be making more of these.

8 months whirlwind!

8 months old! (still no teeth but a good handful of Daddy's hair)

Well, another month bites the dust. Despite my best intentions to write on this blog more often, and not only as each month flies by, I just haven't made or found the time for it. Instead, I must have been keeping a close eye on Hugo as he propels himself into every corner of our apartment.

I was joking recently that watching Hugo at the moment feels a little like watching an episode of Benny Hill. His little legs frantically pushing him this way and that, up, down and around in what seems like a constant fast forward motion. The days of sitting back and keeping a watchful but distant eye on him are well and truly over. I wouldn't say that I rush in to save him from every bump and tumble but it has definitely become a lot more hands on.

Before I launch into a description of what happened to our little man over the last few weeks, I wanted to make a point of also mentioning what is happening in our grown up world. This blog can after all serve as a record of both Hugo's development and ours.

Chris has been busy with work while still having Mondays off. I must admit that it has been wonderful for him to spend more time with us and while we will welcome the security of going back to a real full time, I will definitely miss having him around for that little bit of extra time each week. No word yet on when that might happen but we are guessing that it could switch back early next year.

In his small amount of spare time, Chris has been doing his surf lifesaving bronze medallion, learning how to rescue people caught in the surf, first aid techniques, signals, etc... This means that he will be donning the classic yellow and red uniform and patrolling the beach this summer. So in case you ever wonder what Chris does, just remember that he now 'saves lives' although we hope he never actually needs to. Strutting on the beach is one thing, resuscitation is another.

Meanwhile, I continue to carve out little bits of time to do some paid work, mostly social media and copywriting assignments. The stress of finding the time and energy to do the work is usually balanced out by the enjoyment it procures. Some days, I wish I just didn't need to worry about it while others, I wish I could do a lot more of it. In any case, I feel very lucky and happy I was able to set myself up to work in this way while enjoying Hugo's company as much as possible. At this stage, I still feel I would regret putting him in daycare too soon so for now, we are all satisfied with the arrangement.

I have been going to yoga twice a week for a few weeks now after many months of weekly sessions. I am so glad I am able to and enjoy every moment of it. I also love feeling my body shift back to how it used to be. It feels a little like having an old friend back and I love it. Going to yoga has also turned out to be a great source of friendships, easy laughter and precious relaxation. Taking the time to step away from Hugo for a couple of hours each week and do something for me seems essential at this stage. By the time I get home feeling all refreshed, I usually can't wait to open the door and see my two boys.

Our household has been very happy and relaxed lately which can be majorly attributed to how significantly Hugo's sleep has improved, and therefore ours. About a month ago, we attempted a little bit of 'sleep training'. Hugo was waking two or three times each night and out of convenience, we had fallen into the habit of feeding him every time. When that became too exhausting, we decided to try and change this habit so for a few nights, between the hours of 11pm and 5/6am, Chris would go and get Hugo back to sleep without a feed. To our delight, after only a couple of rough nights, Hugo started sleeping much longer stretches, sometimes even sleeping right through the night. Since we have so far been spared the usual disturbances caused by teething and colds, our nights have become much more restful.

It's difficult to know what impact eating solids might be having on him but he has certainly taken to it with gusto. We have been following the baby-led weaning approach (the baby feeds himself from foods placed in front of him rather than being spoon-fed) which seems to be working out really well. Just as we were starting to introduce solid foods, I came across someone's blog post on this technique and maybe it was just a right time, right place kind of thing but it inspired me to try it, and since it has just felt right.

At the moment, we feed him three meals a day and in just a matter of weeks, he has gone from something one might describe as food 'exploration' to a much more purposeful technique. In the course of a day, he might eat 15 different things, from cereal, yoghurt and fruit, to tofu or scrambled eggs, cheese, meat as well as rice cakes with cream cheese or almond butter, tuna, pasta, green vegetables and so on... It's wonderful and so funny to watch him work his way around such a variety of shapes, textures and tastes, learning how not to squash a banana when holding it to sucking all the juice out of an orange quarter or a slice of juicy beef.

All these extra sources of vitamins, proteins and iron must be going straight into his muscles because Hugo is a man on a mission to move. From the moment he wakes until the second he falls asleep, he is like an Energiser Bunny, crawling, swivelling, rolling, climbing and his latest and most impressive, standing which he now does obsessively and a little compulsively. This morning, I watched him as he found himself at a metaphorical crossroad. In one direction, he could chase a ball and in the other, he could lift himself up to stand at the coffee table. He looked both ways a couple of times and eventually, the urge to stand too strong to resist, he chose the latter.

The only problem with his new found ability and that he hasn't quite figured out how to get down so the poor thing will stand, holding on for dear life until his little legs are shaking under his weight. Usually, if we aren't there to help him, he topples backwards landing in a big thud followed by loud cries. The cries never last and since we have carpet, he doesn't really hurt himself. I'm sure it won't take him long to work it out though which will be a wonderful milestone for him. In the meantime, every time he wakes up from a nap or in the middle of the night, we can be certain we will open the door to find him standing in his cot, grinning from ear to ear and chatting to himself. I have tried but so far I have failed to find anything cuter than that!

Wow, this is quite a novel so it might be time for a few photos before calling it a day and getting stuck into some work. In no particular order...

First time sitting (almost) by himself. A few weeks later, he can stand!

10 (or so) things at 7 months.

Last week, my friend Rose posted this on her blog: 10 things at 10 months, and I really enjoyed reading it. I loved the way it marked a moment in time, filled with tiny details that will be forgotten as soon as the next baby 'stage' arrives, which will be soon, no doubt. She had borrowed this format from another blog she enjoys reading and apologised in advance for the plagiarism. I'll do the same. Rose, sorry for copying you but hey, what are friends for if you can't borrow a little from each other?

so here goes,

10 things that make my heart burst:

#1: your hair. You emerged the proud son of your ginger Daddy. I loved it then and I love it even more now. It keeps growing, showing hints of curls and in the sunlight, your beautiful soft mop of hair is as bright as a red ball of fire. It's stunning.

#2: your skin: it is perfect and as soft as velvet. When you are nursing, the little palms of your hands caress my arm and it feels like being touched by a cloud.

#3: your gummy smile: at 7 1/2 months, still no sign of teeth. We're not complaining and for now, we can keep enjoying your adorable gummy smile knowing that your face will change dramatically once little teeth start popping out.

#4: your easy-going temperament: you rarely cry, especially when we are out and about. Instead, you observe and listen intently, your face focused and your big dark eyes shining bright.

#5: you are an explorer: from the moment you started rolling, you haven't stopped moving. In just a few weeks, you have taught yourself to crawl, sit, spin and climb. Your unfaltering determination amazes me.

#6: the way you roll over as soon as we put you in your cot. You never sleep on your back anymore, preferring your side or your stomach. Sometimes, you just need a little pat on the back to tip you over the edge of slumber. It's adorable.

#7: hearing you chat to yourself when you wake up from a good nap, practicing all your little sounds while you roll around in bed a little longer.

#8: every single part of your body: I could just write this post about your big round eyes, your long eyelashes, your button nose, soft cheeks and delicate mouth, your chubby thighs, your pudgy little feet, your soft little butt cheeks, the beauty mark on your arm...

#9: watching you eat. You are becoming surprisingly agile with your fingers. That pincer grip isn't far off. I love watching you decide what you will eat, chewing loudly with your mouth open. It makes you look like a funny little man who wasn't taught his manners. We've got plenty of time for that so just keep enjoying yourself for now.

#10: your laugh. Nothing makes my heart burst quite like your laugh. It feels like an explosion of thousands of tiny crystals into the air. There is nothing I wouldn't do to hear that sound.

And just one more for the road,

#11: even though it's against all the stupid rules about everything, I love it when you fall asleep while nursing. It's one of the most peaceful and precious experiences I have ever had to hold you and nurture you until your body surrenders completely. It won't last much longer and that makes me a little sad.

10 (or less) things that test my patience:

#1: self-settling isn't your thing and sometimes it's really REALLY hard to get you to sleep. If you don't fall asleep when I feed you, then I basically have nothing left up my sleeve...

#2: since you've started rolling and crawling, changing your nappy has turned into a competitive sport.

#3: quite often, you get distracted while nursing and with jaws firmly clenched down, you throw your head back to see where the noise came from. This 180 degrees trick makes me look like a centrefold... in National Geographic.

#4: your little nails grow quickly and you scratch a lot. It hurts, especially when you do it inside my mouth or up my nose...

#5: you pull my hair. Actually, you grab my hair with both hands and use your grip to pull yourself up, just like a rock-climber would.

#6: sometimes it's scary to see where you adventurous spirit leads you but don't let that worry you. You keep doing what you do and I'll keep you away from too much danger... or stick you in a playpen!

That will do. I don't feel like wracking my brain for things I don't enjoy and am lucky at the moment to be rested enough to be able to focus on the positives.

:)

7 months: Hugo is on the move.

I can barely remember what happened this month and that's probably because half of it was spent in a jet-lagged daze, following our flight home. The second half seems to have been spent keeping an eye on Hugo as he starts to explore every corner of the living room. He doesn't seem to have realised that he could go past the abstract boundaries of that room and we're not telling him. So for now, his explorations remain confined to an area where table and chair legs abound and suffice.

I think that the month also went quickly because so much is happening in Hugo's expanding world. He is eating (a bit) and moving, moving, moving. It's a wonderful and slightly frightening thing to watch. Here comes the baby-proofing, the dead bugs and dirty leaves in the mouth and extracting him from under furniture. On the bright side, he is able to entertain himself for longer periods (minutes, not hours) by chewing on something or other, climbing over obstacles or licking the table legs. Sometimes, I can even write an email while he is awake... The times they are a'changing.

In no particular order, here are a few things that happened.

 

We flew home from TX, with a quick sunrise stopover in Brisbane.

Hugo graduated to facing forward in the car, liberating some much needed leg room for the front passenger. We've been waiting for this for a long time!

Hugo has begun a culinary journey that will last a lifetime. With a combination of purees and 'family foods', he has already tried quite a variety of things, from asparagus to fish, cheese and ham, toast with avocado, chicken, banana, yoghurt and more... It's a mess but it's a fun and fascinating mess.

As mentioned earlier, Hugo has been exploring and experimenting with his own mobility. These photos  only show a few of his moves but I'll just say that his speed and technique leave us quite impressed with how quickly he is working things out. At the moment, he is perfecting a sort of crawl type motion best described as 'the caterpillar'. It's surprisingly effective!

In typical Australian fashion, the weather seems to have skipped a whole season and gone straight from what was an impossibly mild winter to what might suggest a sticky hot summer. In Newcastle, that means heading to the beach and the park to roll around, eat handfuls of sand, scratch dirt and pull grass out. As long as we can find some shade, this should be a fun summer. 

We've also started a post-postnatal yoga Mother's group. A few of us struck up a friendship going to yoga with our babies but as they get older, we find ourselves doing less and less yoga and ultimately, deserting the group, opting for baby-free yoga sessions while our husbandslook after the babies. Unfortunately, that meant we were missing out on the coffee afterwards. So anyway, now we have a regular catch-up to look forward to each week. 

On a general note, both Chris and I are loving this stage with Hugo. He continues to delight us with his sunny and cheerful demeanour. His pattern has changed and he is now awake for blocks of three hours and taking longer naps. The days are long but have a much nicer pace to them. At least, I don't feel like I am constantly getting him ready for the next nap, which I really struggled with. We've been working a little more actively on his night-time routine, trying to find a pattern which allows us to get some rest. It's going quite well so I would say that spirits are up in our house at the moment which is just how we like it. This photo makes my heart burst a little. 

And finally, he is becoming aware of the existence of other people in the world... oh wait... Maybe not.