a relaxing stroll

This week I've been housebound with my 3 monkeys as our car has been in for repairs after the hubby had a bit of an incident with a carpark pole. Ahem, moving right along. I didn't realise how much I relied on my car until it was gone. As the saying goes, you don't know what you've got til it's gone - well I be missing my freedom bigtime!!??! Playgroup returned this week and rather than not go, I decided we could walk there. It's only 4km away. Today we had to get out. So I loaded my monkeys into the pram, the girls in their seats and Monkey Man on his skateboard, hats and sunglasses on and off we went. The walk there was actually ok. Apart from one reasonable hill where I was fairly puffing, we did ok. We did it in 40 minutes, and it would have been quicker but we had to stop frequently to adjust hats, put sunglasses back on, pick hats up off the pavement, look at rocks, examine how big trees were and to explain why some people have mail in their letter boxes when others don't and why some people have long grass in their front yard and others don't. For the record, I did my best to explain that everyone is different and thus treat their houses differently but I don't think it was understood as Monkey Man spent the best part of 1km telling me how some people are 'just disgusting mummy!' .... hmmm ok, we'll try that one again another time.

We made it to play group, cold water was consumed by the gallon as I composed myself and fun was had by the kids. We then had some lunch in the food court with a friend and her very well behaved 18 month old. Both mother and daughter looked on in amazement as my 3 'angels' carried on, yelling for more food, fighting amongst themselves as someone looked at the other the wrong way or something or other. . . . sigh. Fun times. Monkey Man ran off into the playground after I said it was time to go, just to ignore me and then screamed all the way back to the table whilst everyone looked on in disgust. I can bet you my friend was thinking something along the lines of 'thankgod my child is well behaved'. I know I would have. I had a fleeting thought of 'how I miss having a placid baby/toddler that just sits and eats'.

Given Monkey Man was throwing a mini tanty that wasn't far off a full blown melt down I made the call to strap him into the pram. I was worried he was going to try and escape on the way home and given we had to cross a major road, it wasn't worth taking the chance. I was also worried he would want to go to sleep on the way and I honestly wasn't sure that if I stopped to swap the seating arrangements I would actually be able to go on again. It was a long walk, and mostly downhill on the way there which of course meant it was mostly uphill on the way home. Gah! Who's bloody idea was this anyway? Oh that's right! *blush* A) I grossly underestimated how far 4km is. B) I grossly underestimated how hilly our area is. C) I didn't really think about the timing, ie playgroup finishes at lunchtime which means walking home during their normal sleeptime and more importantly, the hottest part of the day. Bugger. Little Miss was on my back in the carrier and it was windy so her hat kept coming off, and as a result the poor poppet is a little sunburnt. Man do I feel guilty about that. I copped the most sun but Missy Moo has little red knees, Little Miss is burnt on her face, arms and legs and Monkey Man talked at the top of his lungs ALL THE BLOODY WAY HOME. Meanwhile I was too busy huffing and puffing my ass up every bloody hill to actually talk back to him much, meaning he got cranky and frustrated that 'I was ignoring him'. It's a bloody hard slog pushing 35kg of toddler, 20kg of pram and carrying another 15kg toddler on my back.

this is pretty much how we looked setting out. coming home was a much more disheveled look!

I got everyone home and into bed, peeled my hot sweaty clothes off and collapsed in a red, puffy, sweaty heap on the lounge with the air con cranking. I considered a sleep myself but had visitors arriving and a car to collect. Oh yes, my car is back, repaired and good as new and tomorrow I will totally drive her wherever we need to go. Just cuz we can. Terry, we missed you baby girl xx

7/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013 "

 3 loud, cheeky monkeys in a very moment of quiet - checking on Nanny's birdies... I think they'll be sad when they leave here and we may end up having to buy some birdies of our own.
When 2 died Monkey Man said they flew away to find Nanny at her new house. Gotta love the innocence.
Who am I to argue with his logic?

 

6/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013 "

 

Take a tub of water, chuck in a few plastic toys and freeze.
Add three toddlers, three wooden spoons and an afternoon in the sun
and the result is much hilarity, hysterics and fun 

*love*

a normal noisy day

Yesterday was a day like most others at this zoo. We were at home, and despite forecasted rain I decided to be a rebel and do some washing anyway. I'm so hardcore like that. Once the washing was finished the monkeys and I headed outside to hang it out.

They were busy running around the yard playing with sticks and leaves despite being repeatedly told not to, checking the birds aka yelling 'helllloooooo', shrieking at the tops of their lungs, climbing in and out of the paddling pool, pushing said paddling pool around the yard, banging the side gate and yelling at passing cars and neighbours, running through the white sheets and towels which were blowing in the wind - again despite being told over and over to stay away from the washing... It was all very normal, loud and normal.

Next thing Monkey Man yells at me, loudly and rather desperately 'I need a poo mummy!!!'. He silenced the neighbourhood with that announcement. Now this kid hangs on so when he's gotta go, he's gotta go and if you hang around, well you're just gonna be cleaning up a mess. So off to the loo we head just as he starts whimpering/crying. I told him not to panic, we'll be there in a sec. I left the girls in the backyard and Monkey Man and I quickly stepped inside. Our downstairs toilet is mere feet from the back door so I could not only hear but also see the girls playing - no need to call DOCs, I was supervising them. It was still all very normal to this point.

Monkey Man got settled on the loo and was doing his thing when he noticed there was a slight um, accident on his pants. Well the tears started, along with the distress to 'get them off, I need clean ones' etc etc etc. As I'm trying to reassure him and get the soiled undies off without getting mess everywhere, my two delightful girls started up - such fab timing they have?? Turns out I was right and didn't need to worry about whether I could see or hear them from the loo, no such problem! Both started banging on the back door, hard. Little Miss decided to scream this loud annoying and non stop  'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' while Missy Moo yelled over and over and over 'I did a poo, I did a poo, Muuuummmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyy I did a poo'... Oh yes, if our neighbours hadn't heard us before now, there was no way their peaceful breakfast wasn't interrupted by this performance. I suspect they may be used to our noise or I hope they are?

I had 3 toddlers yelling at me, poo all over the place and I hadn't even managed to have breakfast yet or get a full load of washing out on the line. Like I said, just a normal day really. I mean there have been other poo incidents and I'm sure there will be more. It was a morning I'd rather not repeat but undoubtedly will do, I mean I am a realist. Life with my three toddlers generally means I am dealing with poo before 9am, and throughout the day, thankfully I'm not squeamish but I know parents who are. It's all glam this parenthood gig isn't it? Do you reckon Miranda wipes her own kids ass??

Stories of me: First Day

I read a really good blog today by Fi about her First Day at school and try as I might, I cannot remember mine. It's forever ago! I can however remember my last day at high school, which of course was the first day of the rest of my life - as all teenagers think.

I graduated in 1997, 18 years old with big hair, engaged (yes really) and full of promise.

you can see the engagement ring (and big hair) here!
argh I can hear that song line 'regrets, I've had a few' right now!

I did ok in my exams although I've no doubt I would have done better had I not been involved with a boy like I was. Mum was right, he was no good for me and I was wasting my last years at school. . . Annoyingly so, Mums are always right and now that I am one, I actually accept that fact.  I wanted to be a lawyer but my results meant that wasn't an option, not right now anyway.

I was growing out a perm from a few years back and the wave fringe was in style so I had rather large unruly hair. Argh looking back I really needed to do something about that hair.

 bad bad hair right there!

 I was a member of the hockey team - note even bigger hair was sported at the time this photo was taken!!

I was also on the volleyball team, the debate team, school council, I edited and compiled the year book for 3 or 4 years (?) and I was a peer support leader - hello, major nerd alert! I was well respected I think? There were disagreements along the way but I got along well with most teachers and students and had a close knit group of friends. I along with two others gave the farewell speech on behalf of our year at our final assembly. Um, major achievement at high school right there! 

 My little peer support student had a crush on me which was just adorable.

I loved school and enjoyed study. I got distracted by a boy which is something I will forever regret and I will do my best to ensure the same thing doesn't happen to my kids - I know, I know, I can't control everything. I had some dear friends and yet in the years after school those friendships disappeared. Funnily enough thanks to social media I am back in touch with alot of those people and who knows if we may end up friends again. In real life, if you know what I mean.

The last day of school was fun, it was exciting and it was full of what ifs. Promise. At that point, on that day, you could be anything you wanted to be. Absolutely anything. The first day of the rest of your life, right there in front of you.... I can actually feel that excitement right now. The First Day is exciting, its nerve wracking, its full of questions and promise. First days should always be documented and remembered. always. I can't wait for my 3 monkeys to have their first days at school, bless em.

Thanks to Fi from My Mummy Daze for the prompt, it was fun!

Little Miss is 18 months old today

My Little Miss, my baby, my last baby (sob) is 18 months old today and for some reason today I feel like she is no longer a baby - officially. In reality she's not been a baby for about 6 months now but today it seems alot more final.

Maybe I feel this way because she's my last baby? Maybe it's because she no longer eats anything baby like and tucks into adult food with gusto? She still has one bottle a day, before bed and I associate that with her baby days so she's still a baby right? Maybe I don't force the issue of dropping that bottle because a part of me wants to keep her as a baby for a bit longer? It could be the fact that she's fitting into her sisters size 3 clothing? Whatever the reason for my feelings, they're real and I'm a little sad.  

Little Miss is due for her needles but they will be late. All her other needles have been on time but this week she's got a bit of cold beginning and her four eye teeth are also cutting so nights are a tad disrupted - and I'm not adding needles to that mix.  Sleep is precious and I'm a big believer in not messing with it, ever.

I should really take all 3 kids for a check up (weight, height etc) so I'll get that done at the same appointment - thinking about it, this will be the first needle appointment in nearly 3 years where I've only had to get one jabbed at a time. Woohoo! Normally I am the crazy lady with at least two kids due for needles at once. We didn't plan that too well did we? I'm usually the one pushing the jumbo pram loaded with screaming kids out the door at the Drs office while everyone looks on in pity. And no bastard ever holds the door open either??

Little Miss is tall for her age, she's also got the toddler pot belly and roly poly thighs happening. Her vocabulary grows daily and she's getting better at holding her own against two dominant older siblings. She hits back occasionally which funnily enough surprises them each time. She's very attached to me, meaning I can't really leave the room without her crying but it doesn't last long and once I'm out of sight she gets over it. Thankfully we're not suffering full blown separation anxiety however I am well and truly over hearing 'muuuummmyyyy' by the end of the day. Doubly over it as she also calls her dummy 'mummy' so often its hard to decipher if its me she's calling for or that freaking dummy. She is especially fond of upending her plate or cup all over the place which does not so fabulous things to my mood. Her hair is a medium brown, same as mine and gets curlier and thicker every day. She sleeps through most nights with only the odd cry out for her 'mummy' that's fallen under the cot ie not me. She desperately wants to be included by her siblings who tend to ignore her a little, but that's improving slowly. Seeing them play together totally warms my heart.

I showed them some photos of themselves/each other this evening, pics from when they were born and in hospital and their first days at home. They loved looking at the babies and saying 'thats me!'... and I can admit it made me a tiny bit clucky for the first time in over a year. I said out loud, without even really thinking, 'awwww seeing these pictures makes me want another baby'. All 3 monkeys said very clearly and concisely 'NO MUMMY!!!'.

She's my last baby, the last time we did overnight feeds, the last time we bought a brand new baby home from hospital, the last time we 'trained' a baby to sleep, the last time we managed a baby and two toddlers..... she's my last, and in a year or so she'll be out of nappies. There will be no more formula, no more bottles, no more nappies, no more bouncy chairs or swings or bumbos, no more capsules or rear facing car seats.... yes, my Little Miss is growing up, as are Missy Moo and Monkey man... and while I'm a little sad, I'm hella excited too! Seeing all the photos on facebook this week and last of 'first days at school' made me so excited for teeny school uniforms and shoes, dance costumes and giant backpacks! Bring it on I say.


This little miss will always be my baby though xoxo  

5/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013 "

the photos I've chosen this week capture rare snippets of these cherubs being nice to each other.... trust me, these moments are rare rare oh so very bloody rare - the norm is fighting like alley cats! hahaha