Trudi here.
Hi.
Let me just tell you how excited Mel gets when someone puts a comment on a blog of hers. Well, she doesn't quite pee her pants but it possibly makes her day.
So bring on the comments :-)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Ivy can sleep on her tummy
Breaking news! This is the sort of thing only really dedicated Ivy-and-Hazel-o-philes will be interested in.
The girls often wake halfway into a nap and wiggle around. Ivy must have woken up, hurtled around the cot for a while, roleld onto her tummy, then expired again. Trudi took this photo with her video camera, which can take stills and has a "night vision" mode. How modern!
The girls often wake halfway into a nap and wiggle around. Ivy must have woken up, hurtled around the cot for a while, roleld onto her tummy, then expired again. Trudi took this photo with her video camera, which can take stills and has a "night vision" mode. How modern!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The girls love to read about gardening
Also they love to eat the magazine itself. This is the Diggers' Club seed catalogue and magazine (garden porn).
Fleur visited
With Leo. We drank tea, ate chocolate mint biscuits (in the next room so that Leo didn't see), and eventually the girls woke up and joined us. Poor snotty things. Today they are both a bit mizzy.
Leo had a good time with our toys - unfamiliar and therefore enticing. All three kids enjoyed my dolly-on-a-stick-in-a-paper-cup toy, a great relief to me. Hazel was terrified of it at first, but today she did not mind it. Ivy and Leo were pretty keen on it.
Here's a photo of Leo that Trudi took a couple of weeks ago, when he and Fleur last visited:
And here is a photo of the girls being Abba:
Leo had a good time with our toys - unfamiliar and therefore enticing. All three kids enjoyed my dolly-on-a-stick-in-a-paper-cup toy, a great relief to me. Hazel was terrified of it at first, but today she did not mind it. Ivy and Leo were pretty keen on it.
Here's a photo of Leo that Trudi took a couple of weeks ago, when he and Fleur last visited:
And here is a photo of the girls being Abba:
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Colds
We are a sea of snot. I found great horrible dried streaks of it on the shoulders of my shirt.
Ivy came down with it yesterday, and Hazel had it by today. Poor Ivy is having a hard day. She is clearly feeling awful. Spose Hazel will be similar tomorrow.
In a wonderful turn of events, I managed to breastfeed both girls at the same time! Cos they are sooky and sad due to colds, I have given them a few extra feeds on the boob today, and thought why not give the double thing a go! And it worked. We are all practised enough that it was no trouble. Also they are so strong that they can hold themselves up. I hope we can do it again... I will try tomorrow.
Ivy came down with it yesterday, and Hazel had it by today. Poor Ivy is having a hard day. She is clearly feeling awful. Spose Hazel will be similar tomorrow.
In a wonderful turn of events, I managed to breastfeed both girls at the same time! Cos they are sooky and sad due to colds, I have given them a few extra feeds on the boob today, and thought why not give the double thing a go! And it worked. We are all practised enough that it was no trouble. Also they are so strong that they can hold themselves up. I hope we can do it again... I will try tomorrow.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Things are going well
I was wondering when things started to change for us... and this picture helped me nail it down:
Taken on 24 April 2009, this is an eggplant that I had just bought. I didn't notice the eggplant's evocative form until I went to put it in the fridge. I then spent half an hour puzzling out how to attach grapes to it (pins), and what to make the pupils from (peppercorns). A sure sign that I had some spare brain space.
In other news, Ivy has nasty nappy rash. off to the doctor AGAIN. The doctor thinks I am a hair-trigger mummy who dashes off to get medical advice for every broken fingernail. SIGH
Taken on 24 April 2009, this is an eggplant that I had just bought. I didn't notice the eggplant's evocative form until I went to put it in the fridge. I then spent half an hour puzzling out how to attach grapes to it (pins), and what to make the pupils from (peppercorns). A sure sign that I had some spare brain space.
In other news, Ivy has nasty nappy rash. off to the doctor AGAIN. The doctor thinks I am a hair-trigger mummy who dashes off to get medical advice for every broken fingernail. SIGH
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Bundoora Park
Bundoora Park is billed as Melbourne's Most Diverse Park! It's maybe not THAT diverse, but it is fairly diverse. They have a children's farm, which we visited yesterday.
We wore the girls in our carriers, and wandered around admiring the goats, chickens, sheep, ducks, pigs, turkeys, cows, horses, guinea fowl, and a peacock.
Hazel was riveted by the picture of a pig above one of the pig encloses. The pigs themselves were vast sleeping beasts. One pig was facing away from us (pig's arse!) and was snoring with its head inside its food box.
We were followed by a troup of turkeys (not sure of the real collective noun). Normally the turkeys look like large geese, with hideous wattles on their faces. They have to put effort into holding all their feathers up so that they look like the pictures of turkeys I have seen.
Here is an inflated turkey:
The internet is full of inflated-turkey pictures, and this is the best I could do for a non-inflated turkey picture:
The reason I am labouring this point is that most of the turkeys looked like big geese, but one inflated itself and walked slowly towards us. it looked like it was doing something very serious. Its friend then wandered over to Trudi and looked interested in nipping Hazel's toes. When T moved a bit to protect the tiny toes, the turkey nipped the pram instead. Disaster averted!
We wore the girls in our carriers, and wandered around admiring the goats, chickens, sheep, ducks, pigs, turkeys, cows, horses, guinea fowl, and a peacock.
Hazel was riveted by the picture of a pig above one of the pig encloses. The pigs themselves were vast sleeping beasts. One pig was facing away from us (pig's arse!) and was snoring with its head inside its food box.
We were followed by a troup of turkeys (not sure of the real collective noun). Normally the turkeys look like large geese, with hideous wattles on their faces. They have to put effort into holding all their feathers up so that they look like the pictures of turkeys I have seen.
Here is an inflated turkey:
The internet is full of inflated-turkey pictures, and this is the best I could do for a non-inflated turkey picture:
The reason I am labouring this point is that most of the turkeys looked like big geese, but one inflated itself and walked slowly towards us. it looked like it was doing something very serious. Its friend then wandered over to Trudi and looked interested in nipping Hazel's toes. When T moved a bit to protect the tiny toes, the turkey nipped the pram instead. Disaster averted!
Educational video about how cats work
Trudi thinks this is pretty lame (she's not impressed by the Helsinki Complaints Choir either), but I think these dudes are great!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
We have a new pram
This one is an umbrella-style thing. It's a lot lighter than the jogging-style one we have, so I can lift it in and out of the car without hurting my back.
Here they are in the new pram, which came with foot-bags to keep the girls cosy:
They are also wearing woollen caps that Judy brought back from Norway. The caps are intended for newborns, but they are nice and stretchy and are still useful. Passers-by have suggested that they look like they are aviators, or perhaps on their way to set a new land speed record.
Here they are in the new pram, which came with foot-bags to keep the girls cosy:
They are also wearing woollen caps that Judy brought back from Norway. The caps are intended for newborns, but they are nice and stretchy and are still useful. Passers-by have suggested that they look like they are aviators, or perhaps on their way to set a new land speed record.
Now trying to ditch the top bedsheets!
I know, I know, there is no need to ditch EVERYTHING!
The thing is, the girls are used to sleeping in a sleeping bag, plus a sheet tucked firmly over the top. They are warm (due to the sleeping bag) and held down fairly firmly (due to the sheet).
All fine, until you consider that the damn portacots that we bought have an all-in-one mattress thingy that precludes any sheets whatsoever. Not sure what to do if someone chunders in bed. Anyway. So we ahve to get the girls comfortable with the feeling of sleeping without that secure tucked-in thing happening.
Just tried the cold-turkey approach then, and they were thrashing around howling. When I went in Hazel was on her tummy and Ivy was all contorted with her feet waving up in the air. I put their top sheets back on, but just up to their tummies, and they went to sleep.
I guess I'll do this gradually. The sheets will be shorter and shorter each time. I hope they don't get insecure about their bedclothes and expect it all to disappear.
The thing is, the girls are used to sleeping in a sleeping bag, plus a sheet tucked firmly over the top. They are warm (due to the sleeping bag) and held down fairly firmly (due to the sheet).
All fine, until you consider that the damn portacots that we bought have an all-in-one mattress thingy that precludes any sheets whatsoever. Not sure what to do if someone chunders in bed. Anyway. So we ahve to get the girls comfortable with the feeling of sleeping without that secure tucked-in thing happening.
Just tried the cold-turkey approach then, and they were thrashing around howling. When I went in Hazel was on her tummy and Ivy was all contorted with her feet waving up in the air. I put their top sheets back on, but just up to their tummies, and they went to sleep.
I guess I'll do this gradually. The sheets will be shorter and shorter each time. I hope they don't get insecure about their bedclothes and expect it all to disappear.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Dummy update
We are pretty much done with dummies. I don't offer them any more, and things seem fine.
Both girls have fairly crappy day naps at the moment, but that was happening before the dummy-ditching. They both have small colds which does not help, but is also not the cause I suspect. Not sure why they can't seem to sleep more than 40 minutes in the day. By 5pm they are both pink-eyed and exhausted, and they sleep for around twelve hours at night.
Both girls have fairly crappy day naps at the moment, but that was happening before the dummy-ditching. They both have small colds which does not help, but is also not the cause I suspect. Not sure why they can't seem to sleep more than 40 minutes in the day. By 5pm they are both pink-eyed and exhausted, and they sleep for around twelve hours at night.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The saga of the dummies
Have been holding back on the dummies a bit today. But they both got frantically over-tired in a split second, just before their arvo nap, so to calm Ivy down I gave her a dummy. SIGH I wonder if it is possible to slowly wean off dummies, or if you have to go cold turkey.
Hazel is squealing and wriggling around her cot while she is SUPPOSED to be sleeping. She did that this morning too. She will be very tired and cranky by this evening.
After the 3pm feed we are off to visit Jen and Bell, who we have never met. Our MCH nurse Ann gave me their hone number, because they are also a same-sex couple with a baby (just the one). Not really sure if we will have anything to talk about. I suppose Ann thought we would have a lot in common. Well I will know by this afternoon if we do.
Off I go to heat bottles.
Hazel is squealing and wriggling around her cot while she is SUPPOSED to be sleeping. She did that this morning too. She will be very tired and cranky by this evening.
After the 3pm feed we are off to visit Jen and Bell, who we have never met. Our MCH nurse Ann gave me their hone number, because they are also a same-sex couple with a baby (just the one). Not really sure if we will have anything to talk about. I suppose Ann thought we would have a lot in common. Well I will know by this afternoon if we do.
Off I go to heat bottles.
Sushi kids
At the swimming class on Saturday, I heard a mum trying to bribe her crying son to continue with his lesson. Her choice of food with which to bribe him? Sushi. He was about three.
Last week at the Rainbow Playgroup, Two other mums held the girls while I went over the road to get my lunch. Luxury. I got myself some hand rolls.
Ivy get all excited when I whipped out my little treat. I offered her a sniff of my avocado roll and she attacked it. Five minutes later the roll was half gone and she was green and ricey. I offered the stump to Hazel, who was similarly overjoyed. I now had two sticky ricey green babies, nothing to clean them up with (I am a rookie mum), and a worn-out piece of sushi.
I dabbed the girls down with a dry paper napkin (it had no effect on the gummy rice that they had worked into their suits), then I packed us up and went home.
This week I went prepared. Before we went in to playgroup we all went to the sushi shop. I was wearing Hazel on front in my NEW ergo baby carrier, and carrying Ivy on my hip. We got some hand rolls, and the nice fellow cut them in half for us.
In the playgroup room I set the girls up in the corners of the couch (it has an easy-wipe-down vinyl surface, plus they were sitting on square nappies). They got stuck in to their half-rolls, and got all green and ricey again. Hazel got nori up her nose, and a great time was had by all.
We are having a sad nap at the moment. Both girls are waking up crying. Is it because they are very tired? Or did the rice not agree with their tummies? We will never know.
Last week at the Rainbow Playgroup, Two other mums held the girls while I went over the road to get my lunch. Luxury. I got myself some hand rolls.
Ivy get all excited when I whipped out my little treat. I offered her a sniff of my avocado roll and she attacked it. Five minutes later the roll was half gone and she was green and ricey. I offered the stump to Hazel, who was similarly overjoyed. I now had two sticky ricey green babies, nothing to clean them up with (I am a rookie mum), and a worn-out piece of sushi.
I dabbed the girls down with a dry paper napkin (it had no effect on the gummy rice that they had worked into their suits), then I packed us up and went home.
This week I went prepared. Before we went in to playgroup we all went to the sushi shop. I was wearing Hazel on front in my NEW ergo baby carrier, and carrying Ivy on my hip. We got some hand rolls, and the nice fellow cut them in half for us.
In the playgroup room I set the girls up in the corners of the couch (it has an easy-wipe-down vinyl surface, plus they were sitting on square nappies). They got stuck in to their half-rolls, and got all green and ricey again. Hazel got nori up her nose, and a great time was had by all.
We are having a sad nap at the moment. Both girls are waking up crying. Is it because they are very tired? Or did the rice not agree with their tummies? We will never know.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Scones and jam and cream are fine!
Another lovely visit to Jacqui & Flick's - this time, arvo tea. It was scones and jam (presented in little dishes) and cream (in a small vat). Just how I like it.
We left at 4.45pm, which is very late for us. The girls have their dinner at about 5.45pm,. and are usually in bed by 6.15.
In fact, they are in bed now. Ivy is vigourosly blowing raspberries and yowling, while Hazel is providing a bass drone of grumbles. Just went in to give them the Sleep Message. This means that I sort out any tangled sheets and misplaced babies (they tend to wiggle up to the top of the cot), pat and shhh until they are both calm, say "Goodnight girls, see you in the morning", then leave to write a blog post.
I have come up with the idea that it's time to stop using dummies. We have not yet decided to actually ditch the dummies, but i'm wondering why I am even considering such a thing. Ivy is totally addicted to hers. Actually, that's why I'm thinking of ditching dummies. During her day naps, when she stirs after 40 minutes, she has lost her dummy, so she calls for Mummy to fix it. She is now good at spitting the dummy right out of the cot. SIGH. So the options are (1) keep on being the mid-nap dummy-poster, (2) ditch dummies, or (3) start pinning them on to their sleep sacks.
Stay tuned.
We left at 4.45pm, which is very late for us. The girls have their dinner at about 5.45pm,. and are usually in bed by 6.15.
In fact, they are in bed now. Ivy is vigourosly blowing raspberries and yowling, while Hazel is providing a bass drone of grumbles. Just went in to give them the Sleep Message. This means that I sort out any tangled sheets and misplaced babies (they tend to wiggle up to the top of the cot), pat and shhh until they are both calm, say "Goodnight girls, see you in the morning", then leave to write a blog post.
I have come up with the idea that it's time to stop using dummies. We have not yet decided to actually ditch the dummies, but i'm wondering why I am even considering such a thing. Ivy is totally addicted to hers. Actually, that's why I'm thinking of ditching dummies. During her day naps, when she stirs after 40 minutes, she has lost her dummy, so she calls for Mummy to fix it. She is now good at spitting the dummy right out of the cot. SIGH. So the options are (1) keep on being the mid-nap dummy-poster, (2) ditch dummies, or (3) start pinning them on to their sleep sacks.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
We no napping today!
Well they did actually. They slept for two hours this morning, so I really can't complain.
Right now, though, they are both squeaking and wiggling round their beds, shouting, and spitting dummies straight out onto the floor. Nice trick, girls.
Also Hazel is blowing enthusiastic raspberries. It's very hard to stay serious. "Nap time, girls, back to sleep." BLARRRRRT. Snicker.
Right now, though, they are both squeaking and wiggling round their beds, shouting, and spitting dummies straight out onto the floor. Nice trick, girls.
Also Hazel is blowing enthusiastic raspberries. It's very hard to stay serious. "Nap time, girls, back to sleep." BLARRRRRT. Snicker.
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