Monday, January 31, 2005
Mum and Granny spent a while sorting out clothes which will fit me one day. Most of them were passed on by Rick and Michelle from Josh and Samuel. Granny spent most of the afternoon ironing the clothes so that I will look really smart when I eventually get to wear them.
Poor Mum needed to go to the chiropractor for her neck again today. She just can't resist looking down at me when she is breast feeding and it makes her neck sore. Dad went to volleyball tonight, I've never seen him look so happy!
Sunday, January 30, 2005
This afternoon Dad watched Marat Safin beat Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open final, followed by Pakistan beating Australia in the One Day cricket match. At one point when I wouldn’t settle to sleep, he wheeled my bassinet into the lounge so that he could rock me with his foot while he watched the tennis! Who said that Dads can’t multitask! Travis called round this evening to say hello.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Later on, Yien arrived after the Home Open at 90 Pangbourne Street. Mum and Dad spent a while trying to think of ways that she and Mike wouldn't have to sell that house so that they could be our neighbours again one day! They all ate fresh hot bread from the breadmaker, Dad had made a sweet load with apricots, raisins and walnuts which was very scrummy!
We all had an afternoon nap, after which I was very unsettled until Mum, Dad and I went out for the evening. Mum and Dad even stopped on the way to by a dummy because they thought that I might make a spectacle of myself! We went to Lamonts in East Perth and as soon as Dad was carrying the capsule towards the restaurant I decided to behave. We were there to celebrate Rick's birthday, it was a surprise for him because he didn't know we (Mum, Dad and I, Cathy and Craig, Amy and Glen, Ann and Mark and Denis) were all invited, he thought it was just him and Michelle! I breastfed in the restaurant and then slept quietly in the capsule by Dad's chair. Mum and Dad had a very nice evening out with plenty of compliments about the well behaved Max! I decided to keep wearing my little All Black outfit, mainly for the benefit of Glen, a very patriotic New Zealander. He certainly liked it and wished he could have had a similar outfit for his boys to wear.
Friday, January 28, 2005
After my lunchtime feed, Mum, Granny and I drove to visit a friend of Granny's at Forrestfield. This was the furthest I had ever travelled in the big black car. I didn't enjoy the trip that much and thought I should voice my opinion on the subject! On the way home, Granny sat in the back with me and stroked my head which made me sleepy and I didn't feel like crying then. Unfortunately I don't think she'll be free to travel with me on every trip.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
I had some unsettled periods during the night, luckily I was up and feeding with Mum when her Auntie Alison rang from France at 4.30am to wish my Dad a happy birthday(otherwise that could have been another one of my unsettled times!) Dad was back at work today and had a busy day despite it being his birthday. This morning, Mum and Granny rolled blue paint onto my feet and did prints onto a card for Dad's birthday and into my Baby book. That was OK but there was no way I was going to let them do the same to my hands so I kept my fists firmly clenched! Luckily it was bath time after that and my little toes returned to their original pink cuteness.
This morning Theresa came to visit and then after lunch, Mum, Granny and I went to the St John of God mothers group. I fed for most of the time while Mum and Granny were listening to all the talk about baby behaviour and their ever changing routines. When we got home, Mum put me to bed and went out to buy groceries and a carton of beer for Dad's birthday from the International Beer Shop called 'Around the World in 20 Beers'.
Mum cooked roast lamb for dinner and Dad selected a Kiwi beer (Steinlager) from the carton to accompany it. Dad opened my card and thought my foot prints were cute, especially the first footprint where I clenched my toes and Granny dragged them across the card so it looks like my foot has horns!
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
This evening, we went to see the Australia Day Skyworks. Mum and Dad have braved the city crowds before to get right up close to the action, but this time we viewed the sky show from a high point in North Perth where there is a reasonable outlook over Perth. It was quite windy, but I stayed snug and asleep in my pram, despite being moved into the capsule for the trip there and home again.
After I was fed and Mum was putting me to bed around midnight, Mum saw the end of the Australia Open quarter final match, Lleyton Hewitt beat David Nalbandian in an epic 5 set match, that's about exciting as TV gets during my night feeds!
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
There was so much dust and mess made from the drilling that all I could hear all afternoon was Granny with the vacuum cleaner, but at least I knew she was getting my bedroom nice and clean again for me. The installers only left just as Dad got home from work at 6pm so he wheeled me back into my own bedroom.
The nice people from the Family Assistance Office deposited the maternity payment of $3042 into Mum and Dad's bank account today. That was quick work processing our application form!
Monday, January 24, 2005
Today my Dad left early on his bicycle, Mum said he went to work. I missed having him around today and helping out with me, especially because he’s so good at changing my nappies. This morning Mum and Granny took me in my pram to the Child Health Clinic and weighed me on the scales there. I got a bit excited and peed all over the scales and change mat before Mum finally worked out how to operate the scales. I now weigh 4620 grams, so I have put on in 430 grams in 12 days, Mum thought that sounded OK?
Sunday, January 23, 2005
My day started with an unscheduled bath because I showered myself with wee when my Mum was changing my nappy this morning. After breakfast, Mum and Dad went to City Beach for a swim, I slept soundly while Granny looked after me. It was 40 degrees today and so we stayed indoors and tried to keep cool until the family BBQ this afternoon when Nanna, Poppa, Auntie Kate, Uncle Alan, cousin Claudia and even Molly the dog all came.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Friday, January 21, 2005
Today I am 3 weeks old! This afternoon, Sheila came to visit with 7 month old twins Georgia and Mackenzie. They were little bundles of energy and showed me how to move in my bouncer and roll around on the playmat on the floor. After they left, Mum went to the chiropractor again to get her neck straightened out. I’ve got a lot more weight to put on so she had better get healthy and be able to hold me properly!
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
We had early visitors this morning, Karen (from Busselton) and her Mum Marj. It was a good excuse for my Mum to get up early for once! I was breastfeeding most of the time they were here and then showed my face briefly before I went off to bed. Later this morning after I had settled off to sleep, Mum and Granny walked up to the shops and post office but I decided to wake earlier than usual and keep my Dad entertained. He took the opportunity to give me a bath and then stuck that dummy thing (that provides no milk when I suck) in my mouth, until Mum and her breasts got home.
It was a very smoky day today because of bush fires in the hills surrounding Perth, luckily the haze blew away this afternoon when the breeze started. Mum, Dad and Granny did some garden before dinner, but I soon had Mum running inside when I decided it was my dinner time.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Despite the heat I had a very good night, when I woke Mum during the night she opened the front door and a massive breeze came in and almost immediately cooled the house after the hot day we had. That was a relief! After breakfast, Mum and Dad opened presents which Granny had brought from the family and other friends in New Zealand. Uncle Al (the one in New Zealand) and my cousins Lauren and Jack sent me a little All Black outfit, hope Dad will let me wear it! Uncle William and Auntie Rose sent me a little cow beanie toy and a blue towel with my name and a tractor embroidered on it.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Today it was 38 degrees, my hottest day so far! It was quite warm in my bedroom but Dad put on my ceiling fan for the first time so that I could watch the blades spinning around and around as I tried to get to sleep…
I like to be wrapped up when I’m sleeping to make me feel secure, but apart from the wrap I wore just a nappy today. Mum went to buy groceries this afternoon and I woke a little early, Dad tried (reasonably successfully) to pacify me with a dummy until she returned. It took me a little while to realise that there was no milk flowing, but Mum was soon home and I got latched on to the real thing.
When they got home, I was soon awake and able to meet Granny, she seemed to think I was rather good looking! Uncle Alan called earlier from NZ too, how cool to have two Uncle Al’s! He was mainly calling to get Mum’s help on how to remove some dodgy ‘Hot Tartz’ software from his computer, but was also polite enough to ask about me!
Sunday, January 16, 2005
This morning it was time for another of my unscheduled baths. I have a habit of weeing just at the moment that Mum or Dad has my nappy off and before the clean one is in place. Once this happens and because it can go in any and every direction, it is often a good opportunity for them to bath me! I love the bath and kick and splash a lot, and of course afterwards I smell even more like a sweet little baby!
This afternoon, Jim, my Mum’s boss from Corrs came to visit with his little boy Harry. I guess I’ll be that active in a year’s time, he certainly didn’t stay still for
long and seemed quite amused by Mum and Dad’s large lion (Leroy) and gorilla (Digger) toys which have pride of place in two of the lounge room armchairs!
Saturday, January 15, 2005
I was so well behaved last night, I didn’t have my usual settling problems between 10pm – 2am and Mum and Dad were very happy with me this morning. After only 2 weeks of breast feeding, Mum’s back and neck is quite sore so she went to the chiropractor this morning. She fed me just before she went and left me at home with Dad who helped me settle back to sleep. Mum didn’t want to take me to the chiropractor because he had already suggested that he’d like to get his hands on me!
Friday, January 14, 2005
This morning was my first social engagement, Mum, Dad and I met Michelle and Kieran for coffee at Catalinas at Cottesloe. We were hoping to arrive before Kieran (he’s notorious for being late) but we were about 15 minutes late in the end, not too bad for my first coffee rendezvous. Mum and Dad made it more than coffee, Dad had the Big Breakfast and Mum had Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce and of course coffee, things she had stayed away from eating while she was pregnant with me. I politely dozed off in the capsule so that I might get invited out again.
This afternoon Jenny, Thomas and Alex from no. 75 Pangbourne Street visited and dropped off a little outfit and bath shapes for me. I have so many toys to play with and cute outfits to wear, I’m not sure there are enough days to appreciate them all! Afterwards, Mum went out for an hour while I was asleep, the first time that she has left my side, so to speak. I stayed asleep while she collected the photos taken of me during my first week, posted off my Birth Certificate application form and lodged my details at the Medicare office in Subiaco.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Dad’s Auntie Jean visited this morning and brought me some more cute outfits and a fleecy blanket and cushion which will be great for playtime on the floor. The child health nurse, Diana came today, she and Mum and Dad talked about me and my progress, then she weighed me and declared that Mum and I are doing well with breast feeding as I now weigh 4.19kg.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
After my afternoon feed, Mum and Dad strapped me into my pram and walked me along Pangbourne Street to the Dewsons supermarket. They stocked up on groceries and loaded up the bottom of my pram to carry them home, this looks like a journey that I will be making frequently! The fluorescent lights, noise and bustle in the supermarket was quite exciting for me, although I fell asleep on the way home. Once we got home, Mum made the mistake of picking me up out of my pram and then trying to re-settle me in my bassinet, next time I think she’ll leave me to sleep in my pram!
Monday, January 10, 2005
My Nanna and Poppa (Dad’s Mum, Barbara and Peter) visited this afternoon. They haven’t seen me since the day after I was born because they have been staying in Mandurah since then. They came when I was sleeping but I could feel Nanna’s beady eyes looking me over while I was asleep. She was itching for me to wake and even though she poked me when no one was looking, I did my best not to wake up.
Joanne and Theresa were my next visitors and I was still asleep, but could hear their English accents and wondered why some people talk funny?
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Friday, January 07, 2005
Dad didn’t call in this morning, but Mum told me that it’s a special day because we will be going home today, away from this cocooned environment where I have spent a week. This morning I had visits from Auntie Kate and Mrs Cranley and Kieran. I was given my discharge check by the midwife and they said I had done well to put on the weight I lost and a little more, so I now weigh 3.98kg which is more than my birth weight. Dr Kumar the paediatrician also checked me out and said that I am a healthy little boy!
Dad came after work and we had our last hospital visitor, Russell from Busselton. Dad, Mum and I all left the room, Dad carried all the bags while Mum carried me. We went down to ground level then walked to a big black car which looked a bit like a hearse. Dad strapped me into a little capsule in the back seat, he didn’t seem very experienced at this procedure, because it took him about 10 minutes. I don’t know the way to the house because my seat faces backwards and I couldn’t see out the tinted windows.
It was a short ride of only 5 minutes before we arrived at home, Mum and Dad said this where we will all be living now. The air is warmer than in the hospital room and blows softly on my skin, the birds were singing and Dad captured the moment on video as Mum walked with me in my capsule up the path to the front door, under the shade of the big Poinciana tree. After the exertion of the three minute drive home, I soon went to bed in my own bassinet in my yellow bedroom, I wonder why Mum and Dad didn’t paint it blue like all the other boys things?
Mum jumped on the scales and was pleased to have lost 10 of the 20kg she gained while I was in her tummy (I was almost 4 of those 10kg!)
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Today Cathy visited with Samantha and Jake. They brought me a present which is my noisiest toy so far, a little rabbit which says “Peekaboo I see you” when you uncover its ears which cover its eyes. Sam and Jake both wanted to hold and be photographed with me, I was trying to tell them that I’m not a toy but they were very gentle with me. Jake ate all the rest of a bag of snakes and jubes that my Mum had, but that’s OK because she has plenty of chocolates!
After work, Trish visited and brought me three beautiful little outfits. She told Mum where to get these cute little outfits so she might take me there when I need some more.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Today Dad visited us briefly on his way to work around 7am to bring Mum a thermos of coffee and to say hello to me. This afternoon, he finished work early to take the Beetle to Kidsafe to have a baby car seat for me installed. He came to see us after that and arrived at the same time as Auntie Rose, Anne-Marie and Eliza. Auntie Rose brought a container of yummy chocolate coated Macadamias which were a hit with subsequent visitors! Later on, we were visited by Auntie Kate and I had my photo taken with her, Pat and Sandra from Pangbourne Street visited too.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Monday, January 03, 2005
Today is a public holiday so Dad was here with us at the hospital all day again. This afternoon, Genelle and Jude visited and Janine came at the same time. They both brought flowers and Genelle and Jude brought me my first balloon. Rick, Michelle, Josh and Samuel also visited, they brought flowers as well as chocolates for my Mum to help her through the long night feeds!
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Today was the first day for visitors and we had quite a stream, Marta came before lunch with Naiomi and Jack, bringing presents as well as a bunch of home grown sunflowers. Apparently because I was overdue, I missed seeing the really giant sunflower which they had grown before Christmas. After lunch, Mike and Jill, Gaenor and Mary and Margaret all ended up visiting at the same time so we had quite a roomful. I was sleeping through most of it although there were brief gasps of excitement around the room when I opened my eyes for a little peek.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
New Years Day and I am one day old! Dad spent most of the day at the hospital today. He and Mum keep looking at me with glazed eyes, smiling and saying how gorgeous I am. They can’t believe that I have finally arrived. Dad had sent out lots of text and email messages about my arrival and asked for no visitors until tomorrow so today we three just got used to each other’s company. At home, Dad tied 2 blue balloons to the letterbox to let the neighbours know of my arrival. Sandra from no. 78 came to check to make sure that 2 blue balloons didn't mean twin boys!
We had our first delivery of flowers this morning, a beautiful bunch from Russell, Karen and Amber in Busselton. Then Nanna and Poppa came to visit with more flowers, before they went to Mandurah for a few days.
Mum had to stay in bed until this morning when the midwife helped her get up and she could have a shower. She looked a bit sore and groggy but pleased to be up and out of the bed. I am sleeping in a perspex crib, which is nice so that I can see out into the room and my Mum and Dad can look across at me and see whether my eyes are open and what I am doing.
Dad goes home each night because home is only about 5 minutes drive. This evening, Mum decided to keep me in her room to see how we got on together. I was very well behaved, because after all she is new to being a Mum. There’s a little night light in the room so she could keep an eye on me and my movements in the dim light, and hear me snuffling and sucking when I was getting ready for a feed.
