September - October

How quickly does this year seem to be going by!

Had a bit of a teary moment at daycare today.  GJ told me to leave and then started to play catch with one of his kindy teachers.  Kind of upsetting to see others doing the 'mummy' job of a day.  But once I got to work, I was too busy to even tear up anymore!  GJ is loving daycare, the kids and his teachers.  I found out tonight that he has started to 'copy' the other boys at school and stand up at the toilet (something he isn't allowed to do with his potty at home).  Miss Alex told me tonight that he was standing up there this afternoon, holding on to his wee wee but there was nothing coming out.  Turned out he was holding on far too tight and he was stopping it from coming out.  Had me in tears of laughter in the car on the drive home.  Just goes to show how quickly he is growing.

I bought the Toy Story movie for him on the weekend, and since Saturday, he has watched it about 5 times.  Ash gave him a Buzz Lightyear toy that had been left at the swimming pool and GJ was too timid to play with it, given it makes noises etc, so I thought what better way for him to get used to it than watch the movie.  Well, it has certainly worked.  He loves the movie and has started to exclaim about Buzz when he appears on the screen.  Perhaps Toy Story (or Rio) will replace his all-time favourite movie, Mamma Mia!

The soccer run is happening on Sunday this weekend.  I've organised for him to have a trial at soccer with a group of kids around his age.  They all take turns kicking the ball and learning what to do.  Hmmm, is this what all mum's end up like?  Ferrying their kids around to sporting events on a weekend.  Didn't realise it would start happening at such a young age!

Christmas is still coming closer and closer.  Very much looking forward to seeing Donna, Brock and Abby when they come back down for a visit.  Lots to catch up on!  Santa is still deciding on what GJ will be getting for Christmas, he has organised far too much already and I told him we have no where to store it all after Christmas.

64 sleeps to go!!!!!!!!!!!

August - September

Thinking back to 2 years ago, Gregory was just 7 months old.  How time flies by when you don't expect it!  Back then, he could hardly crawl, he was eating 3 small meals a day, having 4 sleeps a day....  Fast forward 2 years, he is running all around the place, talking your ear off, eating anything and everything he can find or ask for and having just 2 sleeps a day.  They grow up so fast, it's frightening.  He's going through an independent stage at the moment and it involves a lot of tantrums when he doesn't get his way.  We have settled into a new routine, which involves GJ waking up between 5.30 - 6am every single day of the week! Trying to get him to stay in bed in the weekends just isn't working and mummy doesn't function well at that time of the morning.

Mummy is still enjoying work and has been placed in a seat on a permanent basis.  My partner and lawyer are great to work with and the other secretaries and I get along really well.  It's like I've been there forever and a day, but it seems to be only 6 weeks!  Have my 3 month review coming up this week, so hopefully everything will be ok.

 
Gregory did really well on his first sleep over without mummy.  He had a ball at Uncle Tony and Aunty Jodie's and mummy and Ash had a great time at the Defence Charity Ball.  A few too many wines perhaps, but nevertheless a fantastic night had by all!



That night was the start of something good, something that will hopefully continue on...  We shall see!  Gregory has met Ash a few times and slowly getting to know him.  It's a big step for the little guy but I'm sure he and Ash will get along fantastically.

On a uni note, I have 'deferred' for a few more months, at this stage.  I just didn't want to be spreading myself too thin in terms of work, Gregory and uni, as well as having a few minutes to myself of a night!  Uni will still be there when I am ready to return, but I only have the young years with Gregory once, and I don't want to miss out on them by being too stressed or not having enough time to spend with him.

Hard to believe that it is only 10 or so weeks till Christmas.  I best start paying off those Christmas layby's and actually look at what I've purchased for him and not buy anything else....  Those of you who know me know how hard that can be!  I love to spoil my little boy but think 'Santa' will have to start holding back.

Reality

I've been reminded several times tonight of the fact that my problems are, as quoted on the X Factor, pathetic to what others are or have been going through.  For Daniel Morcombe's parents, they will never again (and haven't for the past 8 years) hug their son, watch him grow up to be a young man nor watch him experience life as it changes.

I watched a recording tonight from the Sunday Night program on the soldiers in Afghanistan who have been killed or injured and think to myself, there are men and women are out there right now, away from their families, forever on the lookout for something that could go wrong.  Yet, they don't complain - it's their job.  This is probably what half of them joined the Forces for - to protect their country.  Those parents and family members of those who have been killed, like Daniel Morcombe's family, will never again hug nor watch them grow.  No one had the chance to say goodbye, to say one more I love you or to record that one last look of them before you watch them head off.

Life is full of ups and downs, things that don't go quite to plan and things that just go to absolute shit.  In the end though, I'm grateful for the life I have, as much as I do complain or whinge about it.  Gregory and I are both happy and healthy and have a roof over our heads, and really, that's more than what some people have in a lifetime.

So as I finally head to bed, I take one last look at my child, plant a kiss on his head, whisper I love you and hope and pray that we are all lucky enough to be able to deal with all that life offers tomorrow and in the future.

July - August

A huge month in the lives of Gregory and mummy this month.  Gregory is just learning so many new things each day and week, and it kind of upsets me that I'm missing out on it but I know he is having a ball.  He has recently moved up to the kindy room full time in daycare so has huge days with the older kids and in particular, his 2 best friends.  A few discussions this week between daycare and mummy has resulted in a few changes, which we shall see if they actually stick.  I guess we were kind of spoiled in the toddler room, a few less kids and I actually got to see one if not both of his teachers each day to talk about how he went, what he did etc, but now I'm lucky to talk to his teachers once or twice a week!  All in all, GJ is loving it and didn't want to come on Friday when nana went to pick him up, he wanted to continue to play.

Work is going fantastically.  I'm loving every minute of it, particularly at the moment as I am working for a partner and a new lawyer.  From the minute I walk in, to the minute I walk out the door, it's all go go go.  I've missed it, sad to say I know.  Hopefully if all goes well I will be offered the chance to stay in that seat on a permanent basis.

The new uni semester starts tomorrow and I'm just attempting the one unit to see how I go.  Will be interesting to see how much study I get done on the train and in my lunch break, but I will still continue as I want to get this degree completed.


In 2 weeks, GJ will be going for his first sleep over at Aunty Jodie's and Uncle Tony's (only mummy's second night away from him) and mummy is going to a Defence Legacy Ball.  Dress, shoes, bag all bought and I'm very much looking forward to it.  I'm also very much looking forward to who I'm going with.


That's pretty much it for this month, it's just work, daycare, weekends for us now and we are finally starting to settle into our 'routine'.  GJ took a few weeks to get settled, understandably, but now, he has the best attitude, behaviour and temperament I have ever seen him have.  My little boy is growing up!!

June- July

What a month it has been....!!  Gregory has come in leaps and bounds and growing up so damn fast every day, it amazes me as to what he does or says next.  It really is a surprise with a child and each day is as amazing as the last.  He has taken to full time 5 days a week daycare like a duck to water.  It was probably the best decision I've made.  He has got into a routine more than what we had before work and is just one tired little boy come the end of the day or the week.  For those who don't know us that well, Gregory and I have had the same routine, give or take, for over a year now.  He is such a routine based child it scares me, but he seems to cope better with it, rather than not knowing.  He is now being transitioned from the toddler room to the kindy room at daycare and as such, will be with his two best friends, Hayden and Oscar.  He apparently waits for them outside of a day to play with them, I wish I could see him interacting with them.  Again, over the past few weeks, we have lost socks, pants, tops, jumpers.....  I'm beginning to wonder which child I am clothing!

Work for mummy has been a huge learning curve.  I was wondering in the first week whether I had made the right decision in taking such a long time to go back to work, but now I realise that I had time with my child at home, that some people do not get.  Of course, since each legal firm works in different ways in terms of processes etc, it is taking me a little bit of time to get used to it all again.  Last week I worked the full 5 days with a part of the Projects and Property team and had the best week.  The 3 people I worked for were understanding about my not knowing all the processes, but after the first day, I was just going along with the flow and loving every minute of it.  Not used to running around the office in a frenzy because one photocopier won't work, or that I was running late to get to the train to reach Gregory.  This week sees me back in Dispute Resolution for a day and Corporate for 3 days with hopefully one day at reception.

The past 3 weeks has also brought along some news/information that I had been trying to get for 2 years.  So hopefully in the next few weeks I will be able to share some news with you all that will make me so happy.

Saturday saw Gregory spending time with Aunty Jodie, Jermaine and Kaelan as nanna and I took some time off to do some shopping together.  I think mummy was more upset about letting her little boy go than he was.  He had a ball and came home so tired for his lunchtime sleep.  No rest for the wicked though, he had to have lunch so we could go to his 2 cousins' birthday party (Ben's family).

Knock on wood, Gregory hasn't gotten sick since I started work, however he has some sort of cold at the moment and I'm hoping him complaining of a sore ear is just the last 2 molars coming through.

That's pretty much it for this month.  Apart from daycare and work, we haven't had much of a chance to do much.  But I guess that's our life now and pretty soon it will be such a normal routine for the both of us, we won't know the different.

May - June

Gregory had a ball on his first 'mummy free' weekend.  Nana and Grandad were gracious in letting mummy go down the coast for the weekend and spend a fun drinking time with uni friends.  It was a much needed night away for all 3 of the girls, Cass, Sarah and mummy.  Another one planned for August.  Gregory enjoyed making a mess at home and had a great time.

The hard decision was made this month for mummy to return to work.  Lack of money and the need for me to have a bit of my old-self back were the major parts in this decision.  It will be a big change for Gregory, being in daycare for longer hours, but overall, I think it will benefit us both in the long term.  After countless interviews and 3 job offers, I made the decision to commence with McCullough Robertson as their float in the Infrastructure and Dispute Resolution group.  Very much looking forward to my new side of life and be able to spoil Gregory more than what I do now, and take him down for his god-mother's wedding next year.

GJ's first week of 5 days of daycare started off badly.  He fell sick and started with ear infections, colds, cough etc etc.  After seeing a specialist that broke mummy's bank and that mummy disliked, for reasons that won't be spoken about, it was decided not to go back to him in the future.  Thank goodness Gregory is now 500% better and started back at daycare again, this time to allow mummy time to get over her cold.  Once one person gets sick in this household, then everyone seems to catch it.

New words are coming out each and every day, and to hear just how much he is advancing at school, it makes me so proud.  Just the other night we were talking about colours and whilst he doesn't know what each colour is, he is able to repeat the words very well and thinks it's hilarious to be copying what mummy is saying.  The new 'thing' at the moment is to blow out a birthday candle and sing 'happy birthday' after a bath.  He shouts at 'ray' (hooray) at the end and then asks for cake.  Cake....  that can be anything from mashed potato to marshmallows to biscuits to dinner.

He's growing up so quickly it is frightening.  He is moving up rooms in daycare come August/September and will be with the big kids.  I'm glad to hear that his friend, Sophie, is in the middle of being transitioned, so hopefully it will make it easier for Gregory, though from what I've been told this week, he loves playing with the older kids and hangs around outside waiting for 2 particular boys to play with when they come outside.

Lastly for this month, it's been funny lately to see how much Gregory tries to copy me.  He'll come into the bedroom after my shower, climb onto the bed, go through the makeup case and drag out the blush brush, mascara etc and attempts to put it on his face. It's so cute, I will have to get  it on video and play it at his 18th party!

April - May

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate....  And we've still got chocolate to spare!!  Easter brought many chocolate delights for Gregory.  As soon as he woke up and saw his stash on the coffee table, he tore straight into them and then, after eating 2 or 3 small ones, decided he'd had enough.  His Aunty Jodie and Uncle Tony brought him sooo much that it fuelled mummy's desire for chocolate for a few days and there was still plenty left over!  I think the time is coming where we need to throw the rest of it out.

"Money" is GJ's new word for the week.  Mummy started to get him taking the rubbish out each night before he goes to bed, and once he's done that, he's given 20cents to put in his money - which he thinks is just fantastic!  He found money in my car yesterday on the way out and holding it in his pudgy little hand, exclaims 'money!!'.  I figure there is never a good a time as now to start giving him odd jobs and rewarding them.  At the end of the week, he's got about $2 - $3 dollars with all the work he is doing, I might have to loan some of his money soon if he isn't careful!

Daycare has brought along the word 'daddy'.  He doesn't know what it means, nor who it means.  It's funny (and also sad) to see him call every guy daddy.  He is also starting to get a bit possessive of me now.  I was at the mothers day morning tea at daycare the other week, which was brilliant, and had a little girl in his class want to sit on my lap, needless to say Gregory wasn't a huge fan of it but after awhile he realised she wasn't going to go away.  His school photos were scheduled for last week, but as we had to go in on a non-school day, he wasn't in the best of moods and didn't participate in the group shot.

Mother's day was a fantastic day this year.  Started with a beautiful present of mummy's latest favourite perfume with a trip to the local markets.  The afternoon was spent with GJ's Uncle Tony, Aunty Jodie and mummy's 2 nephews at Max Brenner in South Bank.  Needless to say after that, chocolate has been the last thing on our minds!  Gregory just loved his babycino and was happily dipping his fruit into the chocolate sauce.  A good day had by all and most certainly enjoyed by mummy!!

This week also saw mummy going back to volunteering at school at spending time with the 2V class.  Goes to show I am studying what I ultimately want to do and very much looking forward to starting my career as a teacher!

Gregory got a surprise today for being such a good boy the past few days.  His first 3 wheeled scooter!  He just loves it!  He understands what he needs to do, though he needs to figure out that he needs to put his leg to the side rather than stretching all the way to the back.  I think a few trips down the esplanade will see him being a pro at it, and I very much doubt the pram will be used for much longer!



Next weekend brings mummy's first half day/night/half day away from her little man.  I know he is in the best of hands with Nana and Grandad but I will still miss him terribly!

March - April 2011

You know, it's really hard to believe that 2 years ago, Gregory was simply a 6 week old baby who would only sleep in mummy and daddy's bed or on the chest of one of us. Time really does fly by past.

Easter is upon us in a week's time and I'm quite thankful I won't have to have a fight with him over how much chocolate he eats.  He's not a sweet tooth child.  In fact, I gave him a piece of chocolate this afternoon and he threw it back in my face.  That and I've also spoken with the Easter Bunny and asked him to limit the amount of chocolate Gregory receives.  I think a few Easter favours like a DVD or books will appear at the end of his bed on Sunday.  Time will tell.....

The past few weeks has seen Gregory excel in his speech.  Only the other day I asked him where his blankie was, to have him reply with "I don't know where it is".  I was shocked to say the least and he refuses to say it again!  Yesterday brought the word 'apple'.  I'm sure he is saying a lot more than I realise, especially at daycare.  He's been saying 'it's booken' for quite a while when something he is playing with doesn't work to his satisfaction or do what it is meant to do, and then the temper starts.

The time out spot seems to work well.  Though I've only used it two or three times it gives him time to regroup and realise that mummy will not always put up with his crap.  As much as he can get on my nerves, I still look at him asleep each night and think 'wow'.  The life of a child is certainly one of God's many miracles.

Daycare is certainly a huge part of his life at the moment and he loves it.  I turn up every day to see what he's done, what's his accomplished, and it's clear to me that I made the right decision in where to send him (now I only want to find the missing clothes, shoes and nappies!).  His daycare teachers care nearly as much as I do (nothing comes close to a mothers' love!) and one of them even does babysitting on the side, which would turn out great since the kids already know them.

Mummy is on a semester break from uni, and it couldn't have come at a better time.  I think I am more tired now than when I was studying and can't seem to catch a good sleep regardless of how long I sleep for. I've also started training with a group of mum's 3 days a week (plus the occasional Saturday).  It's been great to get out there in the fresh air and work on my fitness (god knows it needs working on). 

All in all, life is pretty good at the moment.  Best head off before Gregory decides to shove all the playdoh in his mouth and chew it......

December/January/February/March

Well, grand plans always go astray.  This has now seemed to have turned into a quarterly blog.  Oh well, all is going well regardless.

Gregory has been going extremely well at daycare.  He loves the interaction with other kids and has lots of little friends that come up to him as soon as we walk in.  I believe it has helped him develop and has given him skills that he may not have been able to get from me and being at home.  I'm very glad to see he has good manners and behaves well, so I must be doing something right!

Christmas went off with a blast.  He still wasn't sure what the fuss was all about and didn't have any inclination to open presents so he still had presents to open on Boxing Day.  In the end though, mummy finished opening them all up.  It was a busy day with visits from his nanny and his sister as well as his grandma and grandad.  And his daily lunchtime nap.....  what was that??  There was no such thing that day, too much going on with his cousins, Aunty Jodie, Uncle Tony, Nana and Grandad at lunchtime.  All in all, he had a second great Christmas.

February began with mummy madly trying to create a birthday cake for GJ's 2nd birthday.  If anyone remembers from last year, it took me several goes before I was happy and that was just the cake, let alone having to make the icing.  Just before his birthday we took a trip down to Canberra to see his Aunty Shae and Uncle Nick (his godmother).  We had a fantastic time and mummy took him to many different places including Questacon, the National Zoo and Aquarium and the Adventure Playground.  He was a perfect angel on the plane both down and back but nothing could have prepared me for a rude old lady on the trip down who was not happy to find a toddler sitting behind her.  Regardless, a trip away was perfect for both of us and he had a ball.

Once we arrived back mummy began preparations for his birthday.  The big 2.  A fantastic morning tea was enjoyed by family and friends and GJ received many generous gifts.  I still can't believe my little boy is 2.  The months just seem to keep flying by and he is growing up right before my eyes.

February also ended with mummy finishing her first year of university, and to top it off, receiving nothing under a distinction.  Whilst a break is in order, I am very much looking forward to commencing studies again in 3 months and will be making the most of my break for now.

So many new words are being formed each day by Gregory.  His latest includes 'bis'.  There are so many 'bises' around (buses) and he loves pointing them out and shouting.  He has his words for: truck, plane, helicopter and Harley.  And one more recently that seems to be more prevalent than ever before.  No.  "Are you ready for bed Gregory?" "NO".  "Would you like a bath GJ?" "NO".  The cutest words are when he says: yes and more.  He gets this little grin on his face and it makes my heart just melt.

All in all, the past few months have been a learning curve for both of us but as always, we are happy and healthy.  You always think you know what it is to love someone.  But to love a child as much as I love Gregory, no words can describe it.  I guess that's what being a parent is all about.

 Water fun at Questacon