91 Weeks & Easter

So, not only is today Easter, but it is Jeffrey's 42nd birthday!  Carmen had her first Easter egg hunt (see rather long but very cute video below), and then we went over to Grandma & Grandaddy's for breakfast, along with Auntie Georgia and Carmen's cousins Zach and Baz.  It was lovely family time, and Zach and Baz also treated Carmen to an Easter egg treasure hunt with clues, and she was so excited.  It was really fun to see her enjoying her hunts, and it has made it a very memorable Easter.  This afternoon we went to the Golfy to get a drink, and then on to the Commercial Hotel where they were holding a family event with live music.  The children's area was a total mosh pit, but it didn't seem to deter Carmen who fell off the slide and got several bumps and bruises but kept going back for more.  All in all, a really good day.

Also, a good week - I got to go to Sydney for two nights at the Westin Hotel (thank you Auntie Georgia!!).  I spent Thursday visiting the Contemporary Museum of Art as well as the Art Gallery of NSW.  It was such a needed break, and so great to see some art work up close again.  I also got to sleep soundly, and had my first bath in almost two years.  The little luxuries!  We also caught up with Sting for dinner and two of my close friends, so it was a really good little getaway.  Carmen went to Grandma's for the three days, and Jeffrey stayed home for his own little break.  I think his break wasn't quite as nice as mine, but a break all the same!

Easter egg hunt video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w06953hlhUk&list=UU21-zydO1IYNApoXHx_P8LQ&index=1

Easter morning

Zach & Baz's Easter egg treasure hunt

90 Weeks

This week has been quite calm and uneventful, except that Carmen has developed a slight rash, from head to toe, that flares up at night time.  I think it is an allergy to something, but I don't know what.  It seems to be getting better though.  This week-end we had amazing weather.  On Saturday we told Carmen that we were going to take her to the park (her favourite place in the whole world), but instead we took her to the Aboriginal Walk.  The whole way there she was saying, "Park, park" and clapping her hands.  Then we started on the walk, and she was running ahead, laughing and saying, "Park, park".  This went on for ten minutes or so, until she was looking around and ran straight into a wooden sign.  This knocked her off her feet, and she proceeded to cry mournfully, the whole time saying, "Park, park".  It was then that we realised that she had been running ahead the whole time looking for the park.  How bad did we feel??  I thought she knew she was at the park!  She was very difficult to console, and had to be carried all the way through the rest of the walk.  We won't try that again!  We then went and bought her a boogie board so that after her nap we could take her to Narrawallee Inlet for some swimming, to make it up to her.  She had a blast.  And then today was beautiful again, so we went to the beach with the whole family before Carmen's nap, and then to the Inlet again after her nap.  I wish the weather would stay like this forever, it is amazing!

On the Aboriginal Walk, very excited to find the park.

 After her mishap.

 At Narrawallee Inlet

Walking off with her daddy

 At this point, we thought Carmen was sitting playing in the sand behind us.  Little did we know she had left to apparently walk to the park.  That speck in the distance is her!

89 Weeks

On Monday I went back to the day care to talk with them.  They suggested that Carmen would be much better in with the older kids, so we are going to try again in May, when Carmen is 22 months.  I am going to take it much more slowly next time!  I did take Carmen with me for a little play for half an hour, and guess what, by Wednesday she had another cold!  I guess it just goes with the package of day care, but it is not a good side effect!  However, she did seems much happier playing with the older kids, and her friend Hannah goes there, which is good.

Carmen had somewhat recovered by the week-end, so we took her to the park on Saturday in the morning, and to Narrawallee Inlet in the afternoon.  The weather was amazing, and perfect for the Inlet.  Today the weather was really cold though, so we went to Grandma and Grandaddy's for lunch.  Carmen stayed there for the afternoon while Jeffrey and I cleaned out our garage.  It was a mess, and I have so much baby stuff to go through before our next little monster is here.  I have a list of things to buy, and things to get done.  The things to get done list is longer, but I don't know if that's a good thing!

At Mollymook Beach park

 At Narrawallee Inlet

 FaceTime with Grandma during morning tea

88 Weeks

Well, this week wasn't the greatest of weeks.  Carmen got over her cold well enough to start day care.  It turns out it wasn't the best decision I have ever made.  I dropped her off at about 9am, and she seemed happy and there were no tears.  Then I got a call from them at 9:45 saying that she had just had morning tea, and was very happy.  And then I went to pick her up at noon.  When I got there, she was sitting on the floor in a kind of daze, holding on to a toy, and doing these great heaving sob breaths.  She looked at me and at first didn't even register that I was there.  Then she came up to me, and her face crumpled, and she put her hands on either side of my face and held them there, looking at me.  So I picked her up, and she could not stop doing those breaths.  They told me that she had been 'unsettled' for most of the morning, that she had cried since I hung up the phone all the way through to 11 o'clock, and then on and off until I got there, and when she wasn't crying, she was just sitting being quiet, which was how I found her.  Oh, the guilt!!  They said it is fairly normal behaviour, but I have never seen Carmen so internally distressed as that day.  It would have been different if she was acting up or throwing a tantrum, but she was just in her own little bubble.  After a lot of thought and opinions from many people, I have decided to wait until she is older to try again, and I feel so much relief!  I just feel horrible that I put her through that at all :(  I couldn't stop thinking about it for days.  She just looked so lost and sad, it broke my heart.

And then after that drama, Jeff came down with Carmen's cold and had time off work, and then I came down with it!  So, not such a great week!

But, on a fun note, we are entering Carmen into the Bond's baby photo competition for people's choice, and I need you guys to choose a photo from the ones from this week below.  Thanks!

This is a close-up of the last photo

This one just makes me laugh, but obviously isn't a winner.  It's her new smile. You ask her to smile, and that's what you get.

87 Weeks and 20 Months

This week Carmen had two visits to her day care.  I stayed for these visits - they were just to help her settle in when she goes tomorrow.  She was supposed to have three visits, however, she caught a cold.  I guess that's what she gets from starting day care!  Friday and Saturday were pretty rotten days for her, but today she seemed on the mend.  I am still super scared about taking her to day care tomorrow.  I know that it is pretty irrational, and I know that she will be absolutely fine, I am just dreading the goodbye.  She is only staying there for three hours tomorrow, so not really a big deal (just big enough to give me nightmares!)  Anyway, I will let you all know how it goes.  

On Saturday Carmen turned 20 months old.  Which means there is only four months until her brother arrives.  That seems like a crazily short amount of time!!  I need at least double that to do what I want to get done.  What was I thinking?!  Today I took Carmen to the farm to visit her grandparents.  She loves it up there.  She gets to see all of the animals and eat her fill of tomatoes.  I think she is never bored there, which she is at home, although I am trying to start new activities for her.  Today she had her first painting session, and she also made a nature collage.  She is very obsessed with Bananas in Pajamas, Dora the Explorer and Elmo at the moment, so whatever it takes to get her thinking about something else!

20 months old today

After bath time

First painting session

At the farm

Saying "jump"