The things that did get done...and the things that didn't.

After a very busy weekend, Mum had a long list of things that needed to get done today.

...but they didn't.

And after this busy weekend, I was meant to be tired enough to sleep like a log all day.

...except that I didn't.

So there was not much housework and not much baby-sleeping.

There were lots of baby cuddles, though.

And that's all that really matters.

Ten Commandment Boogie...

Today was rather a momentous day....

In fact, it probably wouldn't be an exaggeration to say our whole family has been gearing up for this day for weeks now.

It's nothing to do with me, mind you, but it's hard not to be caught up in the drama and excitement of Noah's very first Midget's performance. That's Sunday School, for those of you new to the idea of Midgets.

And by 'first performance', I mean the first performance that he was going to participate in. Last term there was a pirate song, on the stage. But Noah got stage fright and chose to be as far from the stage as possible during that particular performance.

But he and the other little Midgets have been practicing this 'Ten Commandment Boogie' for weeks now. And he was desperate to take part this time.

He was also motivated by a certain promise of a certain Star Wars toy.

And so...the day dawned full of excitement. We managed to get to church early for the rehearsal. As soon as it was time for the Midgets to come on stage, Noah got stage fright. He stayed in his seat for the first half, but then Mum coaxed him onto stage.

Grandma and Grandad came to watch the real thing and...to all our surprise, he did it! Of course, there was hesitation. And there was a bit of getting-stuck-standing-behind-a-tall-boy and trying-to-get-back-to-standing-next-to-Claire.

But he did it! I'm proud of my big brother. Almost as proud as he is.

When I'm bigger...

When I'm bigger, I'll get to sit in Grandad's plane too.

But for now, I can just watch while Noah and Oliver get to sit in the cockpit and pretend to be pilots.

We went out to the aerodrome this morning to check out the planes. Grandad had already been flying, but he let the boys sit up the front, with their headphones on.

I watched from Mum's arms as they pushed the controls back and forth, over and over again. It was a great photo opportunity, but I don't think they'd want to be flying like that for real!

We had lunch at Grandma and Grandad's and then came home for a sleep. I was meant to have a long, long sleep to make up for a late night last night. But I must have missed that memo.

Then we went back to Grandma and Grandad's for dinner and got to see everyone again. Uncle Michael is visiting too, so there are lots of people to give me cuddles!

Mum brought along my cool little baby sleeping tent that Paige gave us. She forgot my wrap, though, so that put an end to any thoughts that I might sleep in it. But I loved lying in it and staring up at the spots on the top.

And a cool little baby sleeping tent, we discovered, provides excellent protection from errant balls, as they're kicked and tossed by little boys.

I want to play too!

I need to grow up.

Fast!

There's too much fun to be had, and I'm missing out.

Uncle David, Aunty Lisa and Ollie came over today for a play. Then Grandma joined us and we all had lunch.

The boys were having a great time, riding cars all through the house and chasing each other.

I could only look on from my little chair.

It's a bit boring when you all you can do is watch the action from afar.

But at least it kept me entertained!

Cousins

I met my cousin today.

That's right, I just have the one.

But not for long!

Noah tells me there's a 'baby in Aunty Lisa's tummy'.

He's rather excited about it.

But for now, the cousin count is at three; me, Oliver and Noah.

Oliver and his mum and dad are staying with Grandma and Grandad this weekend.

They met me for the first time this afternoon and remarked at how little I am. And I'm about twice the size of a newborn baby!

I think there'll be lots of cuddles over the next few days.

Cot? Yes please!

So.

I decided to give the cot another chance.

Just as well, because Mum isn't used to me being a difficult sleeper and she was getting a wee bit panicky at the thought that I wouldn't sleep in my cot.

Last night I went down at about 7. I woke up at 3 for a quick feed. And then I slept through until about 7.

Just like normal.

Phew!

As for daytime sleeps, I had two of those too. Two hours each.

I'm back, baby.

Cot? No thanks.

So.

My sleep last night?

Not so good.

Went down at 8.

Up at 10.

Resisted Dad's attempts to settle me for two hours.

Mum took over at midnight with a feed.

Dad got the bright idea that I could be cold, so my heater was turned on.

Slept for five hours.

Up at 5 for a feed.

Slept until 8.

Was I unsettled because I was cold? Or because I don't like my cot?

I'm not telling.

Little fish, big pond

I have a new bed!

Mum has been intending to move me out of my bassinet for a while now, since I'm really far too big for it.

I mean, no one wants a bonsai baby, all squished up with no room to move.

Yet, I'm so cosy and comfy in my bassinet and no one was keen to upset my sleeping habits.

But I turned 5 months old today, so we took the plunge.

It's amazing how much space I have in my room now that the bassinet is gone.

It's also amazing how much space there is in my cot!

I'm definitely a little fish in a big pond now.

And yet, I managed to sleep for a good hour and a half this morning. Not quite as long as my usual sleep. But Mum's hoping I'll show off some super sleeping skills tonight.

Turning Japanese

If only I could eat big people food.

Then I might have been able to join Noah today, scoffing down rice and egg rolls.

We went to a Japanese themed 18th birthday party for Mum's cousin's daughter, Mandy.

I was introduced to more of my extended family, and enjoyed some nice cuddles.

When we got home in the afternoon, Mum remarked to Dad on a particular phenomenon that occurs when I get held by a number of people.

Apparently, my little head picks up the scent of the people holding me.

So this afternoon, Mum kept getting a whiff of aftershave and of a couple different kinds of perfume!

Family movie night

We had our first family movie night!

Noah was itching to watch the Cars DVD for the thousandth time, but Mum noticed that another kids movie was showing on TV and convinced him to watch that instead.

So all four of us piled onto the couch for Ice Age 2.

I was the first to drop off.

Then Noah got too sleepy, so he had to go to bed.

Dad needed to get an early night, so off he went.

And that's how family movie night was over within about half an hour of beginning!

But we all agreed that it was nice to all squish up on the couch together, even just for a little while.

Of visits and spews

No sleeps for me today!

I was out socialising.

Well, truth be told, I did have a few catnaps.

But I did very well, considering we were out from kindy drop-off until kindy pick-up.

Mum's friend has loaned me a nifty little boomerang shaped pillow. It's a bit like the kind that grown-ups have. But this one is just for babies. It's pretty cool and it means I can play on the floor, propped up so I don't spew.

Speaking of spew, there was lots of it tonight.

I did a big spew on Dad, just as he was telling Mum that he probably didn't need to get changed before going out.

Then I did another big spew that hit Mum, landed on the floor but completely missed me!

I even spewed a bit on Ben. But he didn't seem to mind too much.

I choose my targets well.

Playgroup

Playgroup day again today.

I'm getting more and more interactive and interested in the world around me.

Pretty soon I'll be scooting around the mats, playing with the toys.

For now, though, I'm happy to keep playing in the activity centre/spinning seat thingy.

Lots of toys. Things to chew. Good times.

I also got reacquainted with an old friend of mine.

Nash and I were born a few days apart. But we haven't seen each other in months.

He's bigger than me. But he's cute.

I also got to meet another baby, who's just a bit bigger than me.

I think we'll all get on well.

Radio star

Mum didn't get to record her radio shifts yesterday.

That meant she and I had to do it today.

This time, however, I didn't get to be on the radio.

That's because there were some lovely office ladies there, who were only too happy to look after a little visitor.

Mum was fast as lightning in the studio.

But she needn't have been.

When she came back downstairs, she found me fast asleep and snuggled into Donna's shoulder.

Snug as a bug

We've abandoned my wrap. For good.

Woe!

Admittedly, it was getting too small. Or rather, I was getting too big.

I was having to sleep bow-legged and that can't be good for me.

I was also managing to escape from time to time. Escape from the inescapable wrap. Impressive.

So now I'm full-time in my ergo cocoon. Here's what I look like in it.

http://www.ergopouch.com.au/swaddle.html

Only, I'm cuter than this baby.

But see the baby's hands? How he kind of has them on his tummy? Not my hands. I pull them up into my mouth. That means that, until I fall asleep, I get busy working on a big wet patch on the front of my swaddle.

Mum is going to have to buy me another one, to make sure we wash this one regularly.

It gets a bit stinky.

Family

It's my Nana's birthday party today.

By my Nana, I really mean Mum's nana. But I don't have any other Nanas. So I call her Nana. Well, I don't call her anything just yet. Because I don't talk. But I will. When I'm bigger. You get what I'm saying.

Anyhoo.

We went to Grandma and Grandad's place for the party. I got to meet a few new relatives; Mum's Uncle Tom and Uncle David. That's the new Uncle David, said Noah. Not to be confused with his and my Uncle David; the old Uncle David.

Everyone was quite sympathetic about my cough. Poor little baby, they said. It's quite nice to be the centre of attention.

I didn't get to blow out any candles, though.

Apparently, that's the domain of the toddler in the room. If there happens to be no toddler in the room, the birthday girl/boy gets to blow out their own candles.

Experiment: over

There's to be no more experimenting with my reflux medication.

At least not for awhile.

After all the excitement of last night, I still woke up with a cough...although it wasn't as bad as it had been.

Still, Mum decided it would be a good idea to take me to the doctor.

"Well Lucy," said my doctor. "I've rarely seen a healthier or happier baby than you are".

Mum was pleased she was being bulk-billed for that diagnosis!

But she was very happy that my chest was clear and that all my symptoms pointed to a return of the reflux and not some nasty virus or infection.

That means we'll be keeping up the full dose of my reflux medication for at least another couple of months and I should be as right as rain again in a few more days.

When we got home, I had my first really good sleep in my new wrap. I was in such a happy mood afterwards that I got to sit on Dad's lap and play some Star Wars Lego on the Wii.

Too much excitement

What an exciting day!

It began with a drive to Brisbane to visit friends and new babies...and it ended with a three hour adventure at the Emergency Department at our local hospital.

Let me elaborate.

I started to cough a bit yesterday.

Mum thought it was the reflux coming back because she was experimenting with reducing my medication.

But the cough got worse until I was hacking like a pack-a-day smoker.

And then the wheeze started, and that's when mum called the 13 Health hotline. Predictably, they told Mum to take me to the hospital. Mum didn't think I was all that bad, so she decided she would take me to the Base hospital instead of forking over the big bucks to go private.

We arrived at hospital and waited...and we waited...and we waited...

Finally, we got to see the triage nurse. She took some obs and declared me to be possibly the cutest baby she'd ever seen. Her colleague at the front desk concurred.

Healthwise, they didn't seem too concerned but told us to wait for the doctor anyway.

So wait we did. For three hours. At 11:30, Mum was told there were three people ahead of us. At midnight, there were four. And that's when we gave up and went home.

There'll be a sequel tomorrow, because that's when I'm going back to my own doctor.

Experimenting

Gee Mum, what were you thinking when you decided to wean me from my wrap and my medication in the same week?

And just a few days after taking me away for the weekend?

Do you not want to get any sleep at night?

I might throw you a bone tonight, though, because we'll all need to be well-rested for our adventure tomorrow.

We're off to Brisbane; me, Mum and Noah. We'll be visiting some friends first and then Mum's cousin and her three kids. I'll get to meet baby Jemimah, who's even younger than me!

Oh, and we're getting me a new stroller from a shop in Brisbane that has them on special.

Good night, then. I'll see you in the morning; bright, chirpy...and early!

Give me back my wrap!

Oh, I know it's too small for me and I should have been out of it weeks ago.

But I like sleeping with my arms pinned to my sides.

I like that it keeps me all snug and cosy all night long; even if I have to sleep bow-legged because it's too short for me.

But alright, I'll give this zip-up sleeping bag another try.

Just let me keep sleeping in my bassinet for a few more weeks.

Baby steps, Mum. We'll do it in baby steps.

Friends

I have a new friend.

For the sake of anonymity, I shall call him M.

Our mums are friends.

And that means he'll be tagging along with us when we have girls' mornings.

Except, of course, that he's not a girl.

Never mind.

I'm sure we'll be great friends!