Haircut!

With family photos booked in for this Saturday morning, I took the baby in for her first haircut.

It's not that she really needed one, more that her fringe would hang in her eyes and while she likes having a hairclip put in, she also really likes pulling it out. And then she really likes bringing it to you and putting her head down so you will put it back in. And then repeating. A lot.

I wasn't sure how she would go, so I was a little stressed.

She sat in the chair like a grownup with her plastic cover on.

And then she pulled it off.

And wriggled.

And kept grabbing for comb.

And scrunched up her face and blew air at the hairdresser through her nose (I'm guessing it tickled).

It got better when I sat and held her.

And it got even better when the other hairdresser came over to distract her.

But it doesn't look great.

I don't know if it's because I'm not used to it and it's kind of wonky and because she won't let me put her hair up, but it's a change.

At least she's not always looking through the mop of her fringe.

Second baby

Well, it's time you knew that we have a second 'the baby' on the way.

For ease, we might refer to the pending baby as 'the bubby'.

The bubby is due at the end of April.

For what it's worth, we haven't 'offically' told the baby about what will be happening. I've read up on sibling rivalry, I've bookmarked a few books I want to order to read to her over the coming months, and we'll be getting her her own baby doll so she can copy me during those first, few, long months.

The husband was looking after the baby today while I was napping.

The baby went to my handbag, pulled out the ultrasound pics, walked over to the recycling bin, opened the lid, and placed the pics in the bin.

Something tells me this is going to take a little bit of juggling.

(I've been keeping a daily record of the pregnancy, which I hoped to do with the baby but never got around to. I will update them here, a few at a time, so things might get a little confusing while I backfill).

An actual tantrum

Over the weekend, I thought the baby had her first tantrum.

It was late Sunday afternoon and we were playing with colouring pencils (after she'd had a go at a friends house and seemingly enjoyed it). We were also putting them in and out of the cup when she decided she wanted to start putting them in her mouth, and didn't want to be told not to. So she threw them at me. And when I put them away and told her not to throw, and wouldnt' get them for her when she pointed at them, she turned and curled up in a ball on the floor and cried.

And I patted her back and told her not to be silly and waited it out.

Then she calmed a little and wanted my water bottle. But she didn't want a drink and she didn't want to hold it and she didn't want to play with, so who knows what she actually wanted. Maybe she did, because when whatever it was wasn't happening, the tears started again.

I figured she was tired, so put her to bed. And after five minutes of noise and five minutes of silence, she was up in in her cot chatting away, ready to be up and out again.

Cue yesterday afternoon.

After spending the day with her Pa, she was in a good mood when I came home. Family tea was going to be at our house and one of my sisters in law called, so I answered. And the baby wanted to be picked up ('bup'), so I picked her up, But when I tried to put her down, she gave a big yell. So I kept holding her. And then she bit my shoulder.

I put her down, facing away from me. And. It. Began.

Tears. Teaaaaaaaaaaaaars. Sob. Teaaaaaaaaaaaaaars.

I'm glad dad was there with me.

She just stood and forced out crying and tears for a few minutes. We waited for her to calm. And when she started to calm down, she walked towards dad, had a drink and sat on his lap for a minute.

It was really interesting.

I knew I had to leave her to work it out, and I couldn't try to calm or hug her, otherwise she'd learn to cry until she got hugged.

My poor little baby is turning in to a real toddler....

Duck duck duck

The baby is still working on her talking, but is getting better at identifying certain things. She knows banana (nahnah), duck (guck) and dog (gog).

We know she can make a 'd' noise, as she does an adorable 'daddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'.

Last night while giving her a bath, the husband had her pointing at the ducks.

"Duck, bubby".

"Guck!".

"No, Duck. D-d-d-d-duck"

"G-g-g-g-guck!".

I heard you!

At family tea with the husbands family tonight, the baby had moved in to a bit of a tired silly stage. Constantly wanting to be picked up "Bup! Bup! Bup!" but then squirming and snaking her way back down to the ground as soon as you had a hold of her.

She had started to get whingy while I had a hold of her, so I said "Go get your dummy out of your bag, and I'll give it to you".

And then she slid off my lap.

Went to the nappy bag.

Pulled the dummy out of the front pocket.

And carried it back to me.

So. She understands. I need to make sure we remember this, and start use it more - it's so easy to think she is just a baby that doesn't understand and can't do a whole lot.

Dancing

They baby has been a little groover for quite some time now - any music (including podcast intro music) will have her bopping away - bending her knees, jiggling her butt, swaying her shoulders side to side, waving her arms at you.

Now, when you ask her to dance, she holds your hands and throws herself backwards so she can hang loosely as you sway her side to side.

Which is also adorable, but has caused a few close calls as she plays 'trust exercise' and hopes you catch her before she hits the floor.

Dear baby - fifteen months

Dear baby,

The fact that I'm not getting a chance to sit down and write this until a few days after the fact probably says more than I can about the pace things are moving at around here.

The walking has really taken off. So has running. Quick little spirts of speed, usually down the hallway or towards the ensuite, that also usually end with a tumble on to the carpet. You're pretty robust, and it only bothers you when you're tired, so you're a lot tougher than I was as a baby (it seems). It's so cute to lay on the bed and see the top of your fruzzy little hair bounding along behind the headboard.

This past weekend we went north for a wedding where daddy was in the bridal party. The weather was delightful but you didn't sleep well and he was caught up in wedding stuff all day and things got a bit rough for poor, old, me. The apartment was small, so we would try and get out, but then you only want to go up and down the stairs, or bang on other peoples doors, or walk through the gardens. You would have naps that lasted for 2 hours or so and then you'd be up and at them. And we didn't bring the stroller and you didn't want to be held or carried. And then I spent the whole ceremony trying to stop you eating cow poop or rushing the bridal party at the front, and then the ceremony chasing a tired a hot you through a crowd of people before we called it a night before people were even seated. You were okay on the plane, but gone are the days where you will sit and just nap on my lap.

You've taken an increased liking to your books - there is a 'shapes' one that you are particularly obsessed with, though mainly to pull the flaps completely out of the book. But you'll also wander the house with a book, holding it out for me to start reading it to you only to have you flip the pages ahead faster than I can read and then go find something else to do.

You're showing much more interest in our food than yours. You don't eat much of your weetbix anymore, so I'm going to have to do something else. Which is a bit tricky because it was one of the ways we could be sure to get dairy in to you. I've taken to having vegemite toast for morning tea and you're a big fan of that - this morning you were pointing to the bread and toaster so I got you a piece of your own - I kind of love that you're a vegemite monster like me.

You're getting more vocal - you're always making noises. You call out 'doo' for your dummy, but we're doing better at keeping it from you this month. When I tell you I'm going to run your bath, you often repeat 'ba' and smile. You know 'duck' and you even pointed one out in the book we were reading last night. You love to say 'yay!' and clap your hands which is super adorable. You're getting more accurate with your 'yes' and 'no', and you've amped up the 'mum mum mum' when you want me which is cute. You also say 'bup' for when you want to be picked up - this is my 'fault' because you used to say it, so I would repeat it, and now here we are!

You're still big on the outside - quite often when we've been out, I'll put you down in the carport so you can walk in yourself (with help on the stairs), though you often head to the carport door to head out the front. You do like to climb up and down the steps holding my hand, and I think you're getting better and better at this. Though, we took you to the beach while we were up north and you were really not impressed. As soon as your feet touched the sand (it wasn't hot) you turned around and tried to climb up my legs, calling out 'mum mum mum!!'. Perhaps we need to go to the beach more? That can't be a bad thing!

We're probably going to have to take you in for a haircut soon - your wispy hair is getting longer and down to your eyes in the front, with adorable little curls in the back. Because you hate having your hair dried properly after a bath you always wake up with a crazy hairstyle in the morning, but you're getting better at leaving in the hairclips that I put in to help you see.

You're still cheeky - you still love the toilet brush, the dog food, the dog water, your baby wipes. You're getting more and more interested in pulling out the utensils from the second drawer down - heaven help us when you can reach the top drawer. The husband noted the other week how when I tell you off you just smile, but if he does then you listen. Even when you're being naughty, you're very cute, so I need to work better at this otherwise who knows where we'll be.

You're also very sweet - I've had a few stressful moments of late that ended with me in tears. The first time it happened you watched me, then you gave me a half smile and imitated my sniffing until I stopped. The next time it was about to happen, you stopped and watched me with that half smile, like you knew what was going to happen and you wanted to help, and all was okay.

Some of your naps have been getting longer too - there have been more and more that have lasted an hour or two - a great chance for me to unwind or have a nap myself. I guess this is part of you growing older! After a few speedbumps while we were away (you were in a travel cot in our room, this didn't work for anyone) and then switching over with daylight savings, you returned to your 7.30-7.30 sleep (this works for all of us).

Speaking of, you'll be up soon, so I better finish what tidying up I can do. But I'll wait until you're up before I hang out the washing - who am I to take away some outside fun from you?

Kisses, baby - *muah!*

Up and at 'em

This afternoon I was sitting outside with my dad, watching the baby run around and generally try to get herself in trouble.

She came back over to us holding something in her hands and then stacked, just underneath the table. We waited and watched, there was no reaction from her. She just got up and went back on her way.

Dad told me how he and mum had been talking about how different I was as a baby, compared to the baby. Apparently, I was a lot softer. Dad pointed out that her stack would have resulted in a meltdown from baby-me.

When the baby was learning to walk, she would stop and drop as soon as you let go of her. And I would always tell the nurses that she was cautious like her mummy (I'm still a giant wuss).

But I wonder how much of our temperaments is nature and how much is nurture?

Because I felt like I would lose either way (either I was a wuss baby or she isn't enough of a wuss baby) I joked that it had to do with how we'd each been raised.

The husband and I have always waited to see how she reacted before rushing to pick her up or soothe her. And when she has a fall that warrants in a bit of a shock, we'll make sure she's okay, but not go over the top in trying to soothe her. We're both pretty realistic in that she's going to hurt herself every which way at least once, so it's better for her to get up and get over it.

But it makes you wonder if things could have gone differently?

(That said, I'm very happy with her rough-and-tumble-ness!)