February 17th 2006...
Well I'm not sure where to start today....what's been happening of late?
I guess the biggest news in the world of Caleb has been his move into his "big-boy bed". Everyone told us to leave him in the cot until he started to climb out...but he will be 3 next month and still has never tried to (though I'm sure he could if he thought to give it a go!). So we began a couple weeks ago by removing the front side/gate to his cot so he could get in and out by himself. He thought this was pretty cool I can tell you. It took us only one or two nights to teach him to stay in bed when it is dark and call out if he needs Mommy or Daddy. Since then he never gets up overnight and gets into anything as I feared he may - thank god!
Afternoon naps were a little more challenging. He stays in his room alright but for the first half hour or more he just gets up and down to his bookcase to bring more books back to his bed to read. I always said he was a bookworm but we never know how much until the bed change. He never gets out for toys or anything else - only books. One morning I found him at 5.15am crouched under my computer desk in the study reading a book by the little red light on the multi-plug electrical powerboard!!! Now that's what I call a book lover!! hehehe
He does get up at the crack of dawn as soon as he can see the sun. However even then he only reads books or goes into his playroom to enjoy his toys. Despite us asking him to repeatedly, he never comes and wakes us or lets us know he is awake. Luckily his little noises or music tend to let us know :)
So earlier this week we finally made all the necessary purchases for his move into his real big-boy bed. We just used the top bunk from the spare room which already had a good roll-out guard on it and jazzed it up with some wiggles bedding and voila...the happiest little boy in town!! Simon is going to paint it this weekend and then I'll do some stenciling on it for him. He was so excited when we were setting it up that he just kept running around us squealing and saying "I excited, I excited!". It's lovely to be able to sit on his bed each day for story time now instead of on the floor beside his cot and he is just so thrilled that any visitor to the house must be dragged off for a tour by him *wink*
Caleb is quite the little musician of late. He has an electric keyboard, electronic guitar, harmonica, recorder, maraca's and his newest addition was a drum set! What was I thinking!! He had played a friends real one and loved it so much I couldn't resist the toy one when I saw it for $10. He can sit down at the 3 drums + cymbal or walk around with it on his neck like the little drummer boy. So cute!!
We've been enjoying some cooking of late too. We recently made apricot balls for Caleb to enjoy and he got a real kick out of helping me. In actual fact he did most of the work and enjoyed eating them too!
Other activities continue as normal. Swimming lessons, playgroup, library and Maze Mania 4 kids once each week. He has a new room leader at day-care called Miss Danelle and he is so taken with her it's lovely. She is so excited about her room and it's kids and motivated and dynamic that it's a pleasure to leave Caleb in her care!
Last weekend we went camping again which Caleb so loves. We had a big group of friends which included 8 kids from 2-7yrs so there was no shortage of entertainment and play opportunities. This was his first camp without his portacot too and he did just great on just his cot mattress in the tent :)
This weekend we are going on a day trip to Fraser Island with friends which I know he will love. We catch the boat over and back and have all meals supplied and spend the day lounging by the pool and enjoying the resort...lovely!! He's going with his new best mates too...Joel who is 2yrs old and Mitchell who is about 6yrs old and their two older sisters. He loves to lead Joel and be led by Mitchell so it's all good :)
Well that's about it for now I think? I've added pics of his big-boy bed (and him mid way through a jump of excitement on it...hehehe) and some cooking and drumming pics to his album so be sure to pop by and see them here on your way out!
Cheers P
January 2nd 2006...
Happy New Year everyone!
We had a magical Christmas and a fantastic party for New Year's ... both of which spent with family, friends and loved ones so what more could we ask for?
Christmas was spent in Brisbane visiting my sister. My older sister came from NSW to be with us too and it was great to have us three girls back together. All the kids and husbands got on as they always do and a great time was had by all.
We had an early Christmas with Poppy before we left and a late Christmas with Granny, Aunty Alicia an Uncle Andrew on our return.
Caleb was spoilt with gifts this year ... as always. His favourite's were a giant Tonka Digger and Tonka book from Santa, Electric guitar from Aunty Alicia and Uncle Andrew and a Wiggles stereo from Aunty Debbie and Aunty Alicia. He also got clothes, DVD's, racing cars, sporting goods, pool toys, pretend food for make believe play, and various toys and the like.
The Wiggles stereo not only plays tapes but also has a karaoke mic that you can record from too. We got him the Wiggles Live Hot Potato concert on tape to play in it and he just loves it!
His Aunty Alicia also gave him her old electric keyboard which is jam packed with special features and music making abilities. Between that and the guitar Caleb is his own little one man band *wink*
The highlight of his Christmas was definitely the regular trips to see the Christmas lights on people's houses. He just couldn't' get enough of them and still points out any that are left on peoples houses a we drive around town.
On Christmas morning he had his stocking from Santa to open at the motel before we headed round to my sisters place for the rest of the day and evening. He was great in the motel and I think he appreciated coming back to the air-con quite each arvo for a sleep after playing till he dropped with his cousins. After a nap he was recharged for more play with them all until bed time that night.
The first day we arrived there he bit his tongue through - both sides - while getting off the trampoline...Ouch! It went all black and blue for a few days but it seems healed now.
I'll post some pics soon of Xmas when I can get the time to upload them. We took the cutest one on Christmas morning of him sitting beside the present laden tree begging "please can I have presents now"! Hehehe
After Christmas it was back here to host a big New Year's bash. We had lot's of friends, family and loved ones here to celebrate with us and lot's of kids for Caleb to play with. He stayed up until 10pm and the poor little blighter was so tuckered out he could hardly sit up. He slept in until 8am the next day which was AMAZING!!!! Since we had only gotten to bed at about 3am ourself it was much appreciated also!
The boy has turned into a total computer nut in the last month. He used to always ask to watch DVD's but now it's Wiggles games on the computer he wants. They are free on the Wiggles website and develop various skills and computer techniques in the user. I mean Caleb is not even 3 and in the last month he has mastered click to select, click and dragging items, scrolling with the mouse scroller and even with the scroll bar on the page edge. He can navigate through the website menu's and has even learnt how to close down any pop-ups that appear!! Crikey!! This generation will be so computer confident!
As we head into 2006 we are grateful for all we have been blessed with in 2005. Our family is happy, healthy and together...and that's all that matters!
Cheers P
December 13th 2005...
'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....la la la la' :)
Wow is it Christmas next week already?? I finally got my cards out this week...very late for this little elf who normally has them posted in late November! I also have all my present shopping finalized and our accommodation and spending all paid for our holiday in Brisbane over Christmas.
We leave on the 23rd to be able to celebrate my sister's 35th birthday on Christmas Eve. Then we return home on the 27th to prepare for the New Years pool party we are hosting at our house.
Caleb is really getting into Christmas this year. We got him the most AMAZING advent calendar which he enjoys opening each morning. Due to his dairy allergy he couldn't have the usual advent calendars that hold a chocolate behind each day's door for the kids to open. Instead his Granny found him one that I hope he will use for his own children one day. It's wooden and stands about 1m high and is about 15cm deep. Each day he opens a little door that contains a hand carved and painted Christmas decoration for him to hang on the tree. It's the highlight of his morning and I hope it goes on to become a family heirloom for many decades to come.
Of course we also have our own regular tree up, covered in lights and decorations and we can't go anywhere without him pointing out all the Santa's, Christmas tree's and Christmas decorations that he sees in stores, on houses, even on power poles!
We have been taking him driving around looking at the Xmas light displays on people's houses 3 or 4 times a week and he is so captivated by it all. It's a truly special family time for us all. :)
Playgroup, kindergym and swimming lessons have all broken up for the year now so we have less to do during the day of late. We've been doing heaps and heaps of swimming in our pool and his skills in that regard have almost doubled in the last month or so for sure. On the weekend we also took him to the local aquatic centre to enjoy the kiddie pools, slides and fountains etc ... he thought that was GREAT!!
He's so much more confident in the water and loves diving down to the bottom with Daddy or Mummy or just bobbing around in his floaties.
Lately he has been trying his hand at the computer and I amazed at what he can do! He goes to the Wiggles website which has lots of free toddler games and at first I was just putting him on a page that had instruments that played music when he moused over them. Now however he plays all the games on their that need him to mouse, click and even hold and drag and he does things on it I can't even do!! It's bloody amazing to think how computer skilled this generation will be.
He's really into 'helping' right now too. Helping to feed the pets, helping to prepare food, carry things, fold washing ... he even races out to get his weet-bix, milk and wheatgerm out for me each morning for breakfast. Thankfully he can't reach the bowls or spoons or can you imagine the mess!? When I mow the lawns he laps along beside me pushing his little plastic mower and when I vacuum the floors he does it along with me using a feather duster bent like a vacuum.
He hasn't missed a beat with his toilet training. He takes himself whenever he needs to go, without any help except bum wiping after a number 2. He has a step and potty on the main toilet but he can just as easily stand to pee or climb up and sit on the other toilet as well. He doesn't have any accidents at all any more ... except lately he thinks time out is a good time to wet himself *tut-tut*
On the weekend we took him to a friends birthday party and he had a ball playing with her son - his best buddy Jordyn. It was a fancy dress in the theme of "D" so Caleb went as Dracula. Check out the pics on the link below cause it's a hoot! By the time we got him home and into bed it was 9pm (his usual bedtime is 7-7.30pm) but he was still up at 5.30 the next day as usual...no luck for a sleep in for us. He continues to nap for 2-3hrs after lunch but I tend to wake him after about 2hrs so he'll still sleep at night.
We have Carol's by Candlelight in the park to take him to this weekend. He and Jordyn had a ball there last year so I can only imagine how much they will love it this year!
We still go the library each week for our usual stash of 24 books for the week. He's really into picking his own books now too which makes a nice change. I love that he is so into books and I'm sure that's because we've never missed a day of reading them since he was born.
My WHO magazine challenge has finished now and I've lost 26.6kg all up so far. My local paper did a front page story on me last week and the WHO mag I feature in will be out Dec 30th so check it out if you dare *wink*
I hope each and every one of you have a safe and Merry Christmas and New Year. I'll be back with more of our news in 2006!
Check out the pics of Caleb's advent calendar, our decorated house and plenty of family snaps here.
Cheers P
November 20th 2005...
Another month has flown by and I’m amazed to find that Christmas is almost upon us for another year!!! Where has the time gone??
We are so excited about Caleb’s Christmas this year as he is at a fantastic age to enjoy it. He already points out Christmas lights, Christmas tree’s and Santa pictures at the shops so imagine how much he’ll love it next month when decorations go up and the yearly Christmas light parades of people’s decorated houses begin.
In our town, as in many, there is a yearly tradition of decorating houses, lawns and gardens with all sorts of magical Christmas light displays that people then drive around at night in December to see. The last two years we have taken him out one night to have a look at the best of them. This year however we intend to go out several times a week right through the month. I mean why wouldn’t you? It’s staying light until late so he’s up anyway…and why not let him soak up the magic of Christmas every few days rather than just once. He’ll absolutely love it and, as a family, we can’t think of a better way to enjoy the festive season. It only costs a little petrol yet the joy and Christmas spirit it brings far outweighs the costs.
Last year I waited until right before Christmas to put up our tree as he was at the age to pull it to bits. This year however it will go up on Friday (Dec 2nd) while he is at day-care and I can’t wait to see his face when he gets home to see it. We’ll also take him for Santa photos and any other community Christmas event like carols by candlelight etc so he can really enjoy the season to the max.
We are going away to my sister’s place in Brisbane this year for 4 nights over Christmas and my whole family will converge there. Simon’s family won’t be there though so we’ll most likely have an early Christmas with them before we leave.
Ok…what else besides Christmas has been happening?
Well Caleb continues to enjoy swimming lessons each week. He can’t get enough of our own pool either and loves cruising around the edge by himself or paddling in inflatable toys and arm floaties. He kicks and paddles his arms really well and loves riding on Daddy’s back as they duck under the water and back up again over and over again like a big dolphin :)
Kinder gym and Playgroup are almost over again until the New Year but we have a couple weeks of both left to go before they have their break-ups. Otherwise we fill our days with walks, bike rides, trips to the beach and Maze Mania or to the library for our giant weekly stash of 24 books. It sounds like a lot but we usually finish them before the week is out and would get more at a time if we could borrow more. Caleb just loves books and reading!
He sings lots of songs now…including the whole alphabet song and he counts to 10 with glee. His toilet training is complete now and it’s great!! He’ll take himself off to the potty whenever he needs to go which is FABULOUS after what seems like decades of nappy changes. He still wears a nappy to sleep but as it is often dry after his day nap we can usually re-use it for the night so only use one a day – huge money savings! He’ll ‘hold it’ if we are out when he needs to go and he can sit or stand to pee now :) We haven’t had any accidents for weeks now. What a clever little boy he is!!
He’s still mad for his tractors and dinosaurs but is also enjoying toy cars and make believe much more now. I drink endless cups of ‘pretend tea’ each day and he’s always careful to tell me “Careful Mommy – blow it first, that’s hot!” Hehehe
I’m about half way through my Christmas shopping and since we are going away this year I don’t have to worry about hosting the usual feast so that’s a lot less to buy this year. We will be hosting our usual New Years Eve pool party though.
I’m continuing on my weight loss mission and have lost 23kg so far this year! Woo-Hoo!! Still a while to go yet but I’m over half way so that’s the best part. I’ve been working out 2hrs a day for 6 days a week lately so I’m feeling fitter and healthier then I have in a decade or more!
We still take Caleb for lots of bike rides and just yesterday Simon and I wandered along the Esplanade bike path while he rode his bike ahead of us. He loves it and it’s great extra exercise for us too.
The Wiggles, Thomas the tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh are still TV flavours of the month for the lad. I’ve just got a great doona and pillowcase set on lay-by, covered in Wiggles and the Big Red Car ready for his move into a big bed in the new year. He is still happy in his cot and has never tried to climb out but we figure he has to move to a single bed some time so it may as well be after the excitement of Christmas has died down. Since he’s taken to waking at 5am every day for the past couple months we figure the big bed can’t make for any earlier mornings for us all *wink*
Ok well that’s all the latest for now I guess. I’ll be sure to update again before Christmas!
Cheers P
October 6th 2005...
Ooops…seems a month has slipped by without an update :)
By far the biggest news this month is toilet training…we did it at last!!!!
He has been using his potty for a few months now but every time he was in training pants he’d only realise he had to wee after the pants were already wet. A couple of weeks ago we tried a star chart for every time he attempted the potty and this seemed to improve his visits but still not his awareness of pre-pee sensations *hehehe* However the other day something seemed to just click and he’s never looked back. He now wears trainers most of the day and yesterday we had our very first outing in them. Caleb wore them to Playgroup and Grocery shopping and didn’t have a single accident! Yey!!! We visited the toilet before leaving playgroup and he did a pee then so I was very proud :) We started jumping up and down and clapping every time he did a wee in the toilet and now he demands that every time…. not that I mind *beams with pride* I’m so thrilled that he has finally mastered it :)
Our weekend camping trip went great last month and Caleb had a ball. It was his first sleep in a tent but he loved it. Day naps were a bit of a non-event while we were away but he soon settled back into his routine when we got home. He loves campfires and just stomping around in the great outdoors during the day. Even the chilly solar showers he had in the afternoon seemed to go down all right :)
Otherwise he is chugging along pretty much the same as last month. Still loving his sandpit and tractors, he’s really improving his pretend play abilities too. His favourite toy by far right now is his bike. It’s a regular little boys bike with training wheels and he rides it around and around the kitchen table and lounge room every chance he gets. He’s just beginning to get the leg strength to peddle it on the grass so soon it will be changed to an outdoor bike only.
I am currently working out with a personal trainer for 5-6hrs a week and sometimes he gets to join me for workouts in his pram. He loves the beach and walks on the Esplanade so much.
Swimming lessons have begun again for another term now. We’ve also enrolled him in Kinder Gym. He loves it!!!! They get to do all the regular gymnastics things but geared for 2-4 year olds. Lots of jumping on matts, climbing ladders, trampolines, balance beams … you name it they do it. I told him last night it was gym this morning and he hasn’t stopped asking me about it since. He’s only been once but already he is hooked. I’m glad it’s an active pastime for him and one that will help his gross motor skills too!
Still no luck on the baby #2 front at this time. I’ve lost almost 18kg at this point so I’m hoping on some good news on the baby front soon.
Otherwise …not much else to report. Simon’s flat out in his painting business and I’m loving my time as a stay at home mom *bliss*
Cheers P
August 30th 2005...
Wow....didn't realise it had been more than a month since I last updated.
I guess I should begin by telling you all about our holiday. We recently spent 7 nights on Fraser Island and it was total *bliss*
For those of you who don't know....I practically grew up there as a child and spent every school holiday there until I left home at 17. However I had not been back since my last trip with Mum for Xmas 1994 (her last Xmas). It was a little sad at times remembering all the good times I'd shared there with her but it didn't change the fact that it is by far my favourite holiday destination and I was so thrilled to be able to share it with Caleb and Simon as a family.
We went with my Dad and my sister and her husband and son. Unlike the camping trips of our younger years this trip was spent in a house we rented at Indian Heads. Now I'm a camping girl at heart but I can't tell you how nice it was to have the luxury of a toilet, shower and fridge freezer on Fraser. No digging holes to go to the toilet, bathing in freezing cold creeks or worrying about the ice in the esky's :)
We had 3 4wd's between the 7 of us so went most places in a convoy. Each day we explored different area's and Dad pretty much led us on a nostalgia tour of all the old places we knew as kids. Orchid Beach, Waddy Point, Happy Valley, Champagne Pools, Eurong Resort, The Maheno shipwreck, Lake Wabby and Lake Garrawonga, Cathedral Beach Resort, The Cape Lighthouse and many many more. Just driving along the beach brought back so many memories.
Of course Caleb was quite surprised that we could drive Daddy's truck on the beach!!! He loved climbing sand dunes and just generally living in one big sandpit for 7 days! He had lots of fun with his older cousin Jarred and really bonded with him throughout the trip. It was also a good chance for him to get to know his Aunty Vicki and Uncle Malcolm better as they live interstate from us. Since we got home they are all he talks about :)
During the trip Caleb got to see dingoes, goanna's, fish, pelicans, seagulls and all types of creepy crawlies. Mummy even came across her first snake in the wild!!! The funny thing was my Dad always lectured us as kids not to leave our shoes etc out of the tents overnight as Dingoes would take them. One morning I went out alone early for a 1hr walk along the beach and left my shoes next to Simons truck before hitting the soft sand. When I came back one was gone and I knew straight away Dad was responsible. He eventually fessed up and told me where to find it but when I went to get it I found myself face to face with a huge red and black snake!!! Thanks Dad! *wink*
I think that other than the sand dune climbing, the highlight of Caleb's stay was the barge ride over and back. Driving our truck onto a boat was another foreign concept for him but once we were on it he loved it. It was so exciting to see him run around the deck of the barge just as I had as a child :)
Now Simon is hooked on Fraser too and in particular 4wheel driving so we are planning a return trip early next year. You can see all our holiday photo's here.
In the meantime we are also camping locally next weekend again. We are going to the same dam (about 1hr away) that we went to a month or so ago. We are taking a bunch of family and friends with us again so I know he will have a blast. Man I love camping!! We had held off so long after having Caleb to get back into it but now that we have started again we can't stop. Such fun and cheep family fun. Although I hate the work/shopping/packing involved before and after it but once you are there....camp is set up....and you've cracked your first drink it's all worth it.
Let's see what else is Caleb up to when he's not holidaying all around the countryside? He loves outside play, pushing his tractors, bike and mowers around or playing in his sandpit. I am constantly serenaded with him singing his ABC song all the way through now and I'm amazed how easily he learnt it. I guess that's normal for his age?? Not sure really?
We've been enjoying cooking together, library trips and plays at the park. Caleb is really into being 'Mummy's little helper' of late and if you can find a job for him to do you can circumvent many a potential tantrum. He has also really discovered pretend play and loves his little kitchen set (plastic plates, cups, cutlery, jugs and pretend food etc). He makes us many a mean cup of tea and ensures we blow it first as it's "ooh hot". :) We are having so much fun with him at this age :) He truly is the light of our lives!
Cheers P
July 12th 2005...
Well it's official......I'm now old!!!!
LOL Yes I turned 30 on June 29th and I'm feeling none to happy about it. Hehehe....na it's no big deal really now that it's behind me but it still trips me out to think that I am now past my 20's and into the dreaded 30's!
Caleb (and me too of course) had a fantastic time at the party. Unfortunately his godmother didn't make it but all the other family and friends arrived and I think a good time was had by all.
My two older sisters and I hit the clubs the night before the party which was heaps of fun and something we've never done before. They are 35 and 36 so they had little time for my whinging about being 30 which was a good thing :)
Caleb has been singing Happy Birthday to me (and every other name he can think of ever since) which is cute. He's always singing lately and at night Simon and I will often turn the TV down and the monitor up and listen to him singing away happily to himself in bed... such a cutie!!
He really loves the Wiggles at the moment and can't wait for his once a day dose after breakfast. If he had his way it would be on all day long but we feel very strongly about not raising him to be a TV couch potato...not that there is much chance of that with Wiggles mind you as he dances and bops along with every song they sing. He also loves dressing up in his Captain Feathersword hat and holding his Feathersword high in the air he races around the house getting the dog to chase him :)
He has learnt his last name now and even calls us Mummy C..... and Daddy C...... which we thought was pretty cute. Obviously he thinks our real names are Mummy and Daddy....hehehe
Poor old Daddy has been the brunt of plenty of rejection this last month. Caleb loves his Daddy to bits but lately only Mummy will do. Even the smallest things like brushing his teeth, opening a door or passing him something are met with screams of "No Daddy...Mummy do it". Ah well I suppose Mummy's are best *wink*.
A couple of weekends ago now we took him for his first rollerskating. I used to go to this rink every week as a kid and teenager so it was quite surreal to make my first return visit with my own child. He had a blast and we had the place to ourselves so we could go nuts. He tried some skating with us and also loved being pushed around in the bucket seat (a baby bath fixed to a skateboard). When he wasn't skating he was running around the rink after us or climbing all the skateboarders bowls and ramps. Mummy and Daddy managed not to fall over at all and Mummy even remembered how to skate backwards still. It's been many many years so I was quite surprised I did so well.
After the success of his last movie trip we are thinking of taking him to see Madagascar this weekend. He loves animals and I think the big screen cartoon feature will really appeal to him :) Will let you know how he goes.
This last weekend Caleb joined us on his first ever camping trip. We used to camp all the time before Caleb come along but had been reluctant to get back into it since his birth....but we needn't have worried as he had a blast! He always begs to go outside so an entire weekend in the great outdoors was right up his alley. He even had a nice sandpit right next to our camp from where they had been doing some concreting in the area. He loved the campfire and slept fine in his portacot in the tent at night. He was, as you would expect, a total grub most of the weekend despite his outdoor solar shower on the second night. We all had so much fun that we and the family and friends who joined us can't wait to do it again. His Granny and Aunty and Uncle joined us the first night then they went home and were replaced by our best friend and some other friends the second night so it was like two separate holidays for us with the different company. Very successful!
Caleb is counting crazy at the moment and now counts to eleven....although tends to skip 4 and 5 a lot of the time. He also counts to 3 then does the 'Wake up Jeff' line from the Wiggles and takes great joy in waking anyone who dares sleep around him.....hehehe.
He was really getting into his colours this weekend and now takes a crayon and matches it to a colour.....eg takes a blue crayon and held it next to Granny's blue shirt and said "Same!". He does it all the time and not only with crayons but with any colours at his disposal. He's a clever little cookie that boy of mine!
One more thing I should make mention of before finishing....my darling hubby arrived home with a dozen roses for me yesterday.....Just because! He does it all the time and I wanted to take this opportunity to tell the world what a lucky girl I am with such a loving man at her side....Ahhh shucks!
Anyway.....the boy is at daycare today so I'd best go catch up with some house work while I can. Talk more soon.
Cheers P
June 21st 2005...
Flat out today preparing for my 30th birthday party this weekend and all the guests and out of town family that are arriving so I'd best make this a short update :)
First and foremost....my little boy lost another of his baby qualities this week....no more dummy!! He's only ever had it in his bed for the last 12 months or so.... Simon and I cannot stand seeing big toddler's and even older getting around the shops with a dummy in their mouth...Ugh! But even that had to go sometime so we bit the bullet over the weekend and jumped in with both feet. I cut the end of the dummy and took it out to show Caleb how it was 'broken'. He looked at it....thought about it then decided he would chuck it in the bin. Simple. Come bed time he whinged and chatted for about 30min's longer than normal but no tantrums or tears over it...then he settled himself to sleep and slept the whole night through. Likewise his day naps took some extra time for him to settle but by the end of the weekend he was over it! Yey!!!! It was much much easier then I had expected it to be and I think had we of known how actually easy it would be we would have done it a long time ago. Still it's done now and he's that much closer to a 'big boy'. When he thinks about it he tells me how it was broken and went in the bin and seems to accept that as the finish....Hallelujah!
Another first just this weekend was his first trip to the cinema. We went to see Winnie Pooh's Heffalump movie. We didn't really know what to expect from him and were prepared to leave early if need be. We took in some Mother Earth popcorn and a water bottle snuck in my bag for him. I did ring first to ask if I could bring the popcorn due to his dairy allergy and inability to eat their popcorn and they reluctantly agreed.....as if I'd care what they thought anyway!!! Caleb sat on the seat between us and did not move an inch until the last 10 minutes of the movie when he moved onto my lap. It went for 1hr and 20min's and we were so proud of how well he went :) He was mesmerised by the big screen and his beloved Pooh and pals in giant proportions. He made a few loud comments but no-one cared and there was only 2 other families in watching it anyway. It was a truly special family moment for us. Simon and I really get a lot out of little things like that and just enjoying the parenting experience we thought we'd never have.
Otherwise not much else has been happening for Caleb. He has moved up to a booster seat on a normal dining room chair instead of his old high chair just pushed up to our table. He sure likes this :)
He has been eating like an absolute trooper lately....devouring everything in site which is nice after another spell of fussy eating just recently. Now he eats pretty much whatever is put in front of him and is always begging for apples, banana's and mandarins especially - his new favourite fruit.
I know he is going to have a blast this weekend with all his Aunty's, Uncles and Cousins here for the party....as well as his Godmother and other friends. There will be 3 of his cousins here as well as another 10 kids at the party so it should be a fun time for all involved.
I'll post some pics afterward for you all to see.
I'm having a bit of a crisis about turning 30 next week....Eeek!! I think I'll have an early mid-life crisis over it all :)
Cheers P
June 7th 2005...
Golly has it been a month since I last updated already? Where is the year going to I'd like to know?!
Last month was our local show month...you know the big carnival's that come once a year. This is the same show that I went to every year as a child and we were so happy to be able to take our own child there last year. This year however, he was so much more able to enjoy it being a little older.
We spent about 5 hours there and he had an absolute blast! He got to ride miniature ponies, ride the Ferris wheel with Mummy, ride several merry-go-rounds, pat the baby animals in the petting zoo, see Daddy and Aunty Alicia and Uncle Andrew go on several big scary rides (Mummy didn't go on any because she pukes at the mere thought of anything faster than the Ferris wheel *wink*). He checked out the prize winning birds and animals...got a great Bob the builder and Hot Wheels show bag...had a go on a mega-huge jumping castle with tunnels, slides and ramps and of course rode the giant slippery dip with Daddy :) All up an exhausting yet totally exhilarating day for all involved!
Since then we've also had the Under 8's day in the park which is an annual day for little one's put on by local daycare centre's, kindy's and pre-schools etc. We had a ball getting around in raincoats, gumboots and umbrella's thanks to the drizzly weather. He got to try obstacle courses....coloured rice play....various styles of painting....music making....block building and his very first face painting. I didn't think he would sit still for it but he didn't move an inch until his transformation from little boy to spider-man was complete *wink* See pics here.
This weekend just gone he finally got to have a good ride of his little bike. The only concrete at our house is either too small or sloped down to the road so we took his bike to Poppy's house and he got to have his first real ride. He picked it up in no time and was soon zooming all around the place...although his steering still leaves a bit to be desired - just ask the poor hedge he kept riding full force into...hehehe
Last Friday Caleb's best friend Jordyn (my friends son who is 10 days older than him) welcomed his new baby brother Colby into the world. At 5lb 11oz he's a teeny wee thing but mother and baby both healthy and happy. Holding him made me realise just how much I hope to have another child myself sometime soon.
As some of you know I have ditched the expensive and emotionally draining fertility treatments for the last 6 months....focusing instead of loosing weight to increase my fertility instead before going back for more treatments when and if I even need them. For me, with PCOS, every kilo lost can bring me closer to conceiving naturally so it all counts. Since November last year I have lost 14.2kg so things are definitely moving but I think I will wait to reach my goal weight before considering further IVF treatments etc. Even if I cannot conceive again at least I will be so much healthier for the child I already have :)
I am very lucky to have a happy healthy young son and lately he has become so affectionate it just makes my heart burst. He still says that he loves us both all the time but now he's added a couple of new sayings to his repertoire. He's savvy enough notice if I wear something new or get dressed up to go out and he'll look at me and say "Mummy's gorgeous" or "Mummy's beautiful".....aww shucks!!!!! Daddy obviously taught it to him at some point but now he's just run with it. It almost brings a tear to my eye and I am eternally grateful that I have been blessed enough to be given the chance to be a Mummy. :)
It is my 30th birthday on the 29th of this month and all my family and friends will be here to celebrate with me which will be so special.
Caleb has settled in so well to his new daycare and hardly even cries about going at all now....its a lovely change that's for sure! I knew in my heart that something wasn't right at the last centre and I no longer feel that way about the new one. He's happy, safe and cared for in every way I could want.
He's going through a funny phase with Daddy at the moment were nothing he does is good enough....only Mummy will do. It's hard for Simon but we know it's just a short lived phase. He loves his Daddy to bits after all.
He is so independent at the moment too. He has to open doors for us or all hell breaks loose. He always wants to get into and out of his car seat himself and likes to be Mummy's little helper in every way he can.
Another hilarious fascination with him lately is balls!!!! And I don't meant he bouncy rubber type. He points to his crotch and says 'Caleb's balls' and points to Daddy and says 'Daddy's balls'....hehehe it's so funny. He even points to me and says 'Mummy no balls' (God I hope not!!!). I'm sure it might not be so funny the first time he says it in the supermarket queue or bank or something but not to worry. Out of the mouth of babe's huh?
Caleb is really good with manners at the moment. He always says please and thank you....greets and says goodbye to shop people....covers his mouth when he coughs and says excuse me when her burps or farts....(well he always says 'piggy' first then excuse me...hehehe). He's funny in the shops because when the cashier serves us he says "thank you lady" or "thank you man"....so cute!
Well I've got to go and update his photo album now with photo's from the show etc so have a look at it before you leave ..... here.
Cheers P
May 11th 2005...
I hope all the Mom's out there enjoyed their Mother's Day this year??
My lovely hubby and son made me BBQ bacon and eggs for breakfast in bed with flowers on the side. I was also given some gorgeous home made cards and artwork from my darling boy Caleb! After getting showered and organised we all headed out to the cemetery to wish Nanny (my mom) a Happy Mother's Day. Caleb was so cute and kissing his little fingertips before pressing them on the gravestone for Nanny :(
Then we met Simon's Mum, sister and brother for mother's day lunch. It was a lovely way to spend the day as a family :)
Since our last entry Caleb has now begun at his new daycare centre. The first trial day there were a few tears when I left, as usual, but otherwise good. Yesterday was his first official day and it went so much better than I could have hoped for! There were no tears at all when I left (very rare) and amazingly he didn't want to leave when I came to collect him...that has never happened!!! I was so relieved that the change over went so well :) The staff are all lovely, the centre is clean and modern and of course having his Aunty Alicia there every day is quite a treat too. I suspect having that familiar face may make the whole environment so much more comfortable for him? When I met his room leader she even told me that he was ...in her words..."very advanced"!! I must ask her in what area's she feels he is advanced in but either way it was lovely to hear *beams with pride*
He is now making wonderful progress on his potty-training. He uses it every night before a bath to do mostly wee's but sometimes poo's too. He loves to gather applause for his efforts and to empty the potty into the big toilet himself. In the last week we have also begun using training pants at home (fabric one's not the hideously expensive pull up nappies) and that is working a treat. It enables him to pull them down when he needs to go and also makes him aware when accidents happen. We are not putting any pressure on him and instead just letting him proceed as he is ready. As it is, he is telling us when he wants to use it a lot of the time. Also the musical potty he has rewards him with a tune when he does something which thrills him too. We still use nappies when not at home but I look forward to the day these can go too. Something tells me it won't be far off!
He can now count to 10....not always perfect mind you but generally right. He sings a bit of his ABC's song and can often pick between basic colours like blue, red, yellow, orange etc.
He's so funny lately with his I love you's. He screws his little face up in the most exaggerated smile and says in a sing-song voice "love you Mummy" or "love you Daddy" whenever we say we love him. It's so so sweet and what I have dreamed for years of hearing :) We both love it and have to tell him we love him several times a day just to get it back....hehehehe Not that we haven't always said that but it's so nice to have it returned now!
He's really into singing songs now and can sing along with 'Baa baa black sheep', 'Bob the builder', 'Tractor Tom', 'Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree', 'This old man', his favourite 'Twinkle Star' and many more. He will request which one he wants us to sing then take delight in joining in with us.
Speaking of twinkle stars.....which is what he calls all stars....he has now been told that his Nanny (my mom) is up in a star watching over him. So when he see's a star he points and says "Nanny's Star" now....cute but sad. The other day we were playing in the park and he saw a 5 star supermarket across the road and pointed out "Nanny's Star"......hehehe I told him that while I may be wrong I don't think Nanny hangs out at supermarkets but she's still watching from somewhere so you never know....hehehe.
He is still totally absorbed in his bug catchers and at present we have a snail in one and a lizard in the other :) But they change each day so you never know what he'll find.
Well he has been napping now for almost 2.5hrs so I'd better go and wake him up or he won't want to sleep tonight. He still sleeps from 7pm until 7am most mornings so that's not something we want to mess with *wink*
Cheers P
April 26th 2005...
Well time again for the monthly update in Caleb's life *wink*
Hmm ... let's see.... where to begin?
I think at the circus!! Earlier this month we noticed a circus had arrived in town. We stopped off to show Caleb the elephants grazing outside (remember he LOVES elephants) and were so impressed at the animals involved and the reasonable prices that we decided to take him to it. It lasted 2.5hrs and while we were doubtful he would make it that long he sat enthralled by every minute of it. It had elephants, lions, monkeys and horses.....clowns, trapeze artists and much more. It was a great family day out and one Caleb still talks about all the time (although he calls it the circle...as he learnt that shape not long before visiting the circus...hehehe)
As you all know he is totally captivated by tractors, bulldozers, excavators etc. This week has been heaven for him as the council are doing storm water works in our neighborhood and he can watch the 'tractors' at work from the windows. Also of an evening they park two giant excavators and one "rolly" steam roller thing in the park directly behind our house so he is most pleased to go out and sit in the big buckets and climb on the wheels etc each afternoon. It's like Disneyland for him :) Last week one of them took down the power lines out the front so he got to add police road blocks and Ergon Energy cranes to the mix....his lucky day!!
We had to go out and buy him some new winter joggers last week and I was amazed to see he is now in a size 8 hoofer!! Golly! We found some great flashing sneakers with bulldozers on the side for this year...as you can imagine he was very pleased with this find.
Caleb continues to improve on the potty and uses it most nights now before a bath. He does number 1's and 2's on it now and loves all the attention he receives for a successful potty trip...even if it's only a try with no outcome...we can't all go on demand after all *wink*. I have spoken to his daycare today about it also and they intend to reinforce the potty training there also which will help.
Speaking of daycare....I have made the difficult decision to change Caleb's daycare. It was a hard decision to make but one that I think will be for the best. I have never been happy with how they have handled his dairy allergy since he started there....one too many slip-ups for my liking. Then last week I saw the director talk to a little boy in such a harsh manner that I had to ask if he was her son as I thought surely she wouldn't talk to just any child this way. Turns out it wasn't her child and that put the nail in the coffin at that centre for me. Caleb's Aunty Alicia is the director of another local day-care and so I have decided to move him to her centre. I know he'll be very well looked after there and the difference is I will *know* it and not just have to accept it at face value. I know the transition will be difficult but I am hoping it will all be worth it?? After week's of really unsettled drop-offs (after yet another change in his room staff) he finally was happy to see me off with a wave and a "see ya mommy" today! I almost fell over from shock. Just my luck as now he'll have to settle into a new one all over again but hopefully a familiar face of his Aunty will help. As director she doesn't work in his room though and she feels ok about having him there....I don't want to make anything awkward for her having a family member at her centre?? I will visit the new centre with him later this week and I hope to use a free trial day next Tuesday before making a final decision. Will let you know how it all goes??
Speaking of his Aunty Alicia....Caleb had his first overnight stay with her and Uncle Andrew on Friday night and all went well....Phew! I knew they would be fine but I wasn't so sure how Caleb would tolerate the change from staying at Granny's house. It was a huge relief that all went well and I think it was enjoyed by all.
Caleb is really loving his bug catcher that he got for his birthday. Each day we find something new for it like butterflies, moths, geckos, flies, spiders, dragonfly....you name it we've had it. We only keep them one day so they don't die and also we have him release it back the next morning so he knows the importance of returning them to their home. He never complains about it and enjoys seeing them take off.
Well....I think that's about all for now. See you all next month!
Cheers P
March 28th 2005...
Finally I have found some time to update here about Caleb's birthday and subsequent Easter celebrations this year.
Firstly I guess I should start with Caleb's birthday party which was the day before his birthday. As you know we had it at Maze Mania 4 kids and it was awesome!! All I had to bring was the cake and the birthday boy and they took care of the rest. They have a little fenced off party area with his own 'throne' saying 'Caleb is 2' on the head of the throne. All the kids played like nutjobs on the maze while parents and family watched on then it was time to heard them in to the table area for food, presents and cake.
Caleb was totally spoiled for gifts!!! He got outfits, pj's, books galore, colouring in books and crayons, bug catchers and butterfly nets, playdough and so much more....he was a VERY lucky boy!!! He played his heart out until it was time to head home for a lunchtime nap and it was so much more relaxed then hosting our party here had been. Next year we are going to go the McDonald's party for the same fuss free fun!!
Then of course the next day was his birthday and Daddy took the day off work so we could enjoy it all together. He had our presents to open and Tigger and Land Before Time DVD's from his Aunty's also. We got him a pre-maths book for his Leapfrog leappad learning system and a few little toys like frisbee's and cement trucks etc. Then after breaky we were off on a morning of fun. First stop was to feed the ducks and turtles at a local park and do some bush walking trails. Then we moved on to a park at the beach and had a picnic lunch and played frisbee. Daddy caught a big sand crab for Caleb to watch in his bug catcher before releasing it back to the rock pools afterward. Then we headed off to another park and played on the swings and showed Daddy where Caleb had his "big fall" a few weeks ago. By that stage the birthday boy was pooped so it was home for a nap. Then that afternoon we all went for a relaxed walk along the Esplanade before tea. It was a lovely day and I think he totally enjoyed his birthday celebrations.
Just a few nights later he came down with his first vomiting and diarrhoea bug but coped with it ok. It was terrible to see him vomiting and not knowing what was happening but thankfully it only lasted about 12hrs then the diarrhoea kicked in the next day. He's all back to normal again now though :)
On Good Friday we went down the beach and watched his Granny do the tandem skydive that we bought for her birthday a few months earlier. That was the day Caleb was sick but I think he still enjoyed watching it. Since then he has been saying "Granny jump plane" over and over ....hehehe He still loves his planes and jumps up to wave at them when they pass over our house.
On Easter Saturday he was visited by his Godmother Julie and was very spoiled with yet more presents. More books....an awesome battery powered train set which he adores and a great talking car that does numbers, colour's, shapes and stories :) Like I said...he's a lucky boy! Julie comes back to stay another night today too so he'll love that as he doesn't get to see her much.
For Easter Sunday he and I headed off the markets in the morning while Daddy had a well deserved sleep in. The night before we blew out the centre of 6 chicken eggs and soaked them in food colouring overnight. The colour didn't take though so I had to do a rough paint job that morning to make them bright and cheery for him. Then Daddy hid them around the house and Caleb took an Easter basket around to find and collect them. He did surprisingly well on the egg spotting and was squealing with glee when he found one. Funnily enough later that day he proceeded to put each egg back where he had found it!! Clever little punkin'! I did buy him some soy chocolate egg's to try but as usual he had a lick then turned up his nose as he doesn't like sweets and chocolate yet.
Speaking of which he didn't eat his birthday cake either but everyone else enjoyed it and you couldn't taste that it was any different to a normal cake. The dinosaur turned out good in the end and I was happy with the final product even if it wasn't quite what I had imagined :) (see pic's).
We have continued our tradition of writing him a birthday letter from Mummy and Daddy each year and saving them up to his 21st birthday. We just write about his year...what we love doing with him, what he has learnt to do as he grows and how much we love sharing our life with him. I think they will make a lovely gift one day...we hope.
Each day we have caught different things for his bugcatcher from the yard or the park behind our house. So far he has had moths, butterflies, gecko's and dragonflies. He keeps each one overnight then sets it free the next morning. He loves it and sits down with the bug chart to try to find the picture of each animal he catches!
Today we drove to another beach about 30min's away to meet Poppy and his wife for lunch. We wandered around the beach and boardwalks for an hour or so then settled down for a lovely lunch before heading home for Caleb's nap. As all my other nieces and nephew's live out of town my Dad loves having Caleb around and watching him develop and grow.
We were thinking about his vocab last night and could easily come up with almost 100 words that he knows now. He is beginning to learn shapes and knows how to recognize, name and draw a circle so far. He also is counting to 6 and will listen to books, read them himself or point out objects in them until the cows come home :)
I have finally been able to confirm his position in the same Kindy I went to as a child myself. He won't go until 2007 but already I almost missed out on a position. Thankfully a friend recommended I call or I would have missed out all together!
Then when he is 5 he will go to prep-year at the school across from our house and then follow on there to grade 1 when he is 6 in 2009. Talk about planning ahead!! hehehe
Anyway....I think that makes us all caught up for now :) I will upload some pic's into his photo album of his birthday cake, party and Easter etc. Check them out here.
Cheers P
