10 months old today

10 and under

Over the past week we’ve had lots of activities with CJ’s Mar cousins (4 under 10y/o) which has been lots of fun but also made me realise that having more than one kid is hard work! We know someone who has 10 kids and I really don’t know how she manages.

Jen and Samuel came to stay for a night giving their parents a much-needed Kid Free weekend. We did a trail walk around the Visitor’s Centre in Olympic Park which should have taken us only 30 mins according to the man at the desk but instead took us about 45 mins. It was a really hot day and we were sweating away trying to find all these clues. I tried my hardest not to answer them for the kids and let them discover things.

We then went to my favourite place, Rhodes shopping centre, for lunch and time mucking around in IKEA. Jen is great at looking after CJ – here she is giving him his first taste of sushi.

IKEA has lots of interesting things to amuse kids:

Quite a few months ago we got some second hand outdoor toys and it’s only now that CJ is old enough to enjoy them. He particularly likes climbing UP the slippery dip.

He’s getting more and more steady on his feet and is starting to take small steps with someone holding his hands.

Allan cooked up a feast for the kids – all their favourite dishes. For breaky he made pancakes which is a real treat for all of us. With others around to keep him entertained, CJ eats so well. He doesn’t seem to drop as much on the ground and he gobbles down whatever is put in front of him. It’s very satisfying as a parent to watch your kid eating well (there was a week where he was hardly consuming anything and we were getting a little worried as he wasn’t gaining weight. But he seems to be okay now).

Over the Australia Day weekend we spent some more time down in Vincentia. All the kids were together for one afternoon and then J&S went back home. CJ now got to interact with the younger cousins. He loves 3 y/o Mellie because she is closest to his eye level and likes to imitate his squeals and babbling.

It’s such a relief to have other kids around who can pick up CJ or warn him not to put things into his mouth rather than me having to constantly be aware of what he’s up to. I wonder what CJ will be like if he ever becomes an older brother. I seem to always regard him as the baby of the family – but perhaps one day he’s going to be the eldest sibling – and take on all that that position entails!

This time he loved going to the beach and spent more time crawling around the sand and exploring further than our towels. He also seemed to like the waves and being in the salty water. I’ll end with photos from Blenheim Beach, Jervis Bay.

Summer time

It’s been a busy month with lots of family gatherings storing up more memories. Our annual Mar photos were taken at KK rather than VV. Can you guess what the theme was this year?

We celebrated Christmas early with the Maos. I was so impressed that Jess and Catherine cooked the turkey and ham all by themselves!

Ne Ne and Ye Ye came to stay for two nights leading up to Christmas Day which was a real treat for CJ – and for them too. Here we are on Christmas Eve going for a stroll in the balmy summer evening.

We have started a tradition of opening our gifts on Christmas Eve as it’s just too rushed on Christmas Day. Allan and I gave CJ a wooden bus with some ’skittle animals’ and a ball in it that can be used for bowling. One animal went straight into his mouth and stayed there for quite some time.

We also have a tradition of going out to the city to look at the DJ’s lights and soak up some of the pre-Christmas atmosphere. The nativity outside St Mary’s Cathedral is always very big.

On Christmas Day we had an open house for lunch. About 15 people came and before lunch we made them sing for their “supper”!!

After lunch we got all knotted up in the backyard. There was lots of laughter and close bonding over silly games.

Next was our trip down the south coast to spend New Year’s with the Mars at VV. CJ just loved having his cousins around to play with and to watch. It was a really relaxing week walking on the beach, playing Wii, chatting, eating and mucking around.

As you may have noticed, CJ’s hair was getting extremely long. With his top-notch style we nicknamed him “Karen”. Allan was not impressed! So on our first day home, out came the clippers and then the scissors (because Caleb didn’t enjoy the noise) and off came the locks. He is looking more and more like a toddler now, especially since he is up and cruising around the furniture. I can imagine he will be walking in no time…

Now it’s 2010 and back to our routine at home. It has been a wonderfully refreshing summer break and we’ve created many memories to store up for years to come. Caleb is 9 months and he’s a cheeky, funny little boy who loves to squeal and crawl and bop up and down to High 5. He’s been so much fun to have around for this Christmas and to share him with all our family.

Date Night – at last!

For our anniversary we went out for our very first date night. It was a really beautiful, summery Sydney evening. We had a delicious meal despite not being able to find the restaurant I had initially reserved seats for…it was over at the STC wharf – way too far to walk. So we ended up getting what looked like the last table for two at Quayside and even though we were very close to two other diners we managed to enjoy ourselves and the food.

After dinner we had a leisurely stroll over to the Opera House to hear an inspiring, uplifting concert – “The Creation” by Hayden. The music and singing were superb – such a piece of praise to our Creator.

My parents were so kind not only to baby-sit Caleb but also provide us the tickets, chauffeur us to and fro, wash my car while I was out (!) and various other special treats to make the night that more relaxed.

Tonight I read something interesting:

“A child does not suffer from separation anxiety when Mom is with Dad. The marriage relationship is the starting point of security for children.” (Ezzo, ‘Let the Children Come…Along the Toddler Way’,p18).

Having a healthy, stable, strong marriage is essential for the emotional health of our son. We provide a haven of security for CJ through our loving marriage. It is good to read this and be reminded of my priority first as a wife and then as a mother because sometimes in the demands of parenting spending quality time with just the two of us can easily slip. Another quote, “When you become a mother, you do not stop being a daughter, a sister, a friend, and most importantly, a wife. Those relationships were important to you before the baby. Be sure to maintain them afterwards.” Good point!

3 years on & 8 months old

Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary dear Allan Here’s an old pic when CJ was only 3 months. What a blessing to have a little boy to share our lives with. Tonight we’ll go out to celebrate – sans child!

Even though we have taken hundreds of photos recently, not one of them in the past month contains either just Allan and me or the three of us. So, this post, as usual, will just have more pics of CJ’s 8 month capers.

With more mobility, comes knocks and bruises and bumps. This bruiser wasn’t actually detected until we looked at the photo and saw it! But, as the pic shows, Caleb doesn’t seem to be too concerned.

Here he is getting up and about. Lots more to see and discover around the house:

Ye Ye and Ne Ne returned from 4 months away. At first CJ was very shy and nervous but after a few hours he warmed up and was happy to be held and doted on.

We went for a Big Day Out to the city with our mother’s group to see the DJ lights. Catching the train and walking around the big shops and busy streets and then enjoying a picnic in Hyde Park was very exciting for us all.

There were lots of people crowding around the windows so CJ ended up sucking his toes instead:

After lunch CJ slept for over 2 hours, not waking until we were well and truly off the train and walking home.

Another exciting thing has been going in the pool. The first time was with Dai Ba Ba and then yesterday I took him in at Yi Yee Ma’s place. While he wasn’t exactly giggling or jumping for joy, he did seem a little curious as he watched his cousins splash and squeal about. Bath afterwards was fun too!

Sandy Feet

Growing up

This week marked a few changes which really highlights how much our son is getting bigger. We moved the cot position down because CJ is now able to stand up and stay standing for a very long time! I have wanted Allan to move the cot for some time now, and after one particularly sleepless night (where I kept fearing I’d hear a loud thud only to find CJ had fallen head first out of the cot and broken his neck), Allan finally did the job. So, now Caleb is down low and he hasn’t yet figured out how to pull himself up holding the side bars. But he still manages to stay awake for a long time during nap-time discovering every little centimetre of his bed.

This got me thinking about when he first moved from his bassinet into the cot.

He went from this on the first day home (now being used by another newborn baby):

To this:

And at last, to this:

We have also started to bathe CJ in the big bath. Still in his baby bath, but gradually getting him used to being in the bathroom as opposed to the side of the kitchen sink. Again, it got me thinking about how far he’s come in these past 7 months.

From this (on first night home):

To this where he is happily sitting up:

To this, where he is trying to stand up:

I have a few more comparison photos – I really love to look back and see how far we’ve all come. It’s such a reminder of God’s care and provision for us. So, here is my little trip down memory lane for tonight.

CPC Mum’s Group first met at Rhodes in CJ’s Week 9. We meet up pretty regularly, the most recent being on Tuesday, again at Rhodes.

CJ’s different modes of car transport:

And how much he has come in his physical body movements:

From lying in a bouncer,

to lying still on the play gym,

to sitting on a merry-go-round (with me holding onto his overall straps!),

to almost standing up!

These are just a few of many remarkable advances that this little boy has gone through since he was born. I have enjoyed this little trip  down memory lane. Wonder what he’ll be like in 7 more months!

Blowing Raspberries

This video of CJ discovering his lips makes me laugh every time I watch it!

What a beautiful day

On Monday we went down to Kangaroo Valley stopping at Kiama. I love getting out of Sydney. Only a few short hours drive and it feels like a completely different world – slower pace, fresher air, smiley-er people, greener pastures, more relaxed conversations. Caleb was really good in the car, sleeping most of the time or just looking out the window and listening to us chat away about life, family, memories and dreams. The more relaxed we are, the more he relaxes.

As usual, Allan took his equipment and we got some good shots. The first photo looks like me and then the next like Allan with only a slight facial expression change. CJ is a good mix of us, I think!

7 months already

I thank our Lord Jesus for Caleb because He has taught me to treasure the small things like smiles and giggling.

God has enabled Caleb to continue growing and developing physically. He can now “crawl” and manages to get himself into the squashiest of places!

God has given Caleb a sense of adventure and desire to explore and discover what’s beyond his bedroom door.

God has also healed my body from 40+ weeks of bearing this baby, to the point where my back is no longer bothering me.

There have been many, many moments of gratitude as I look back and see how much CJ has changed and developed and brought an immensely satisfying joy. As we continue on this journey of parenthood, I keep praying that we can model godliness and a living faith in Jesus to CJ and that one day he will love and serve Him.