Twooth

And the second tooth is through!

So far, I'm happy that they're coming in a similar pattern to The Toddlers, but I had forgotten how sharp they are at first.

The Sound of Silence

Oh hey, sorry about the silence here - I'll keep it fairly brief.

The main thing keeping from the computer is that The Toddler got sick. It was a bit of a sniffle, then a cough, then watery eyes and then it kept going and going and going and then she was vomiting phlegm on my bedroom floor and it was taking everything I had not to just pack up and move away. The only thing going for her was that it happened during a coughing fit, as opposed to a gross 'proper' vomit, so my sympathy spew vibe didn't take over.

The most annoying part of The Toddler being sick is that she gets really annoying. It's like everything is a hassle, she isn't so much hot and cold as she is cold and cold, and she is in extra need of cuddles but partners that with an increased desire to lick things and put her hands on your face / in your mouth / all over your food / in your glass. It got to a point where my dad asked me who was the adult, after I complained that I couldn't always resist my urge to mock her back in her own voice when she once again whinged something at me, and my answer was that there was none - that there was a baby looking after two other babies and who on earth let it get to this. But then, after she asked to go to the doctor and we got given a script for antibiotics 'just in case', and then daycare mentioned that she had coughed all day and it would be worth giving them to her, she is finally on the mend. Yesterday was the first day in many many days that was a joy, and today proved it wasn't a fluke. I'm reminded of the last rough patch I had, just before a language explosion, and I know I need to focus on celebrating the good times and making positive interactions - I cringed when I heard The Toddler tell a crying Bubby 'Enough!', it's hard to see your flaws presented back at you for what they really are.

This was combined with The Bubby teething. Except that she didn't actually have any teeth until today - three weeks later. She had all the signs - drool, red cheeks, more drool, grabbing at her mouth, bumpy jaws - for three weeks. I am hoping she teeths similar to The Toddler, two at a time. If there a little upset or a lot upset, you can't do anything differently, but teething in twos means less instances. She is also going through a bit of a clingy phase - she cries if I leave her, then calms a little, then starts again if she sees me and realises I am not with her. As of today, she also has the cough and watery eyes of The Toddler, and The Husband is coming down with it too. With the exception of a 230 feed last night, she is also down to four feeds a day and sleeping 12 hours at night - she is still such an angel, such a delight.

It's something we're both going to need to work through as next week I have to leave her down on the floor at daycare so she starts getting used to it before she starts next year.

I have also had my ups and downs - as above, I've got to start getting my head back in to being a working mum. I had a bit of a ramble at my boss about what I liked and didn't like about work and we had a good chat and I'm a lot more excited about returning. I'm also excited about returning as a size 12 (yay!) but also settling in to the fact that this is it - there won't be any more babies to break up the next 30 years or so of my working life. So I need to work out what I want to do, and do it.

That's not so brief. I hope to be back in the swing of it now!

Whinge and whine

Oh.

You guys.

Seriously.

The Toddler has a whine when she is tired.

"Wheh wheh wheeeeeeeh. Wheh wheh wheeeeeeeeh."

Nothing puts an end to it.

This is followed closely by her second favourite whining noise "Mummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy". Even when I'm there. In front of her or holding her or having her on my lap. "Mummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy".

Today, I just couldn't handle any more. She woke up from her nap and it began and it didn't end. While I changed her nappy, while I redressed her, while I gave her a hug, while I told her (not harshly) that that was enough of that noise and to come out and join me when she is ready to stop whining.

When she came out, she agreed to some nurofen.

And tonight in the bath I found half of her bottom right molar popping through.

That probably explains some of that.

Two more teeth

Teeth numbers 13 and 14 have poked through - her top two eye teeth.

She's been red cheeked and poopy, wanting her dummy more, and insistent on chewing the car keys when we are out and about. I should have clued on to it earlier, but it wasn't until someone in my online mothers group mentioned her baby's eye teeth are through that I thought to check.

I think there's only the two bottom eye teeth, then it should be a few months before her massive molars come through.

Bonus teeth!

Sometimes I feel I should really be paying more attention...

Just after publishing yesterday's the post, the husband was tickling the baby before I took her in to get changed for a first birthday party. I stopped to watch for a minute and then saw something in her mouth.

Her top two molars have also broken through, sometime in the last week (I think?).

What a good baby! No panadol needed!!!

Dear Baby - Thirteen months

Dear baby,

Hullo!

As I'm typing this, you're meant to be napping. You crawled in to your room, pointed to your dummy that was on your bed, said something along the lines of 'duh doh do dah', and waited for me to give it to you. Then you crawled out of your room, crawled back in, and got your teddy blanket that was next to your cot. You're making a little noise here and there (playing noises, not crying out), so I'm guessing you're tired. I did have to go in once already when you called out - you had thrown your teddy and dummy over the edge of the cot. At least this time you still had your socks and your pants on (as you know how nappies work, I dread the day I walk in to find that on the floor.....).

I've been back at work for three days a week for two weeks now - you're absolutely fine. In fact, when I come home and Pa has been looking after you, it takes you a few minutes to warm back up to me - you'd rather snuggle in to his chest and just watch me. You're usually okay once I come back out with my hair up and in my track pants. You also spent your first day with your Aunty and cousin - all reports are that you had a great day. You were in a fine mood when we got home, and we pushed dinner back half an hour or so so that you could play at home a bit before before you were off to bath and bed.

You have a fun new game for bathtime - a strange order of events which you largely put together yourself. I swish and splash my hand towards you like a shark and tickle your belly, which makes you shriek with laughter, stand up in the bath, give me a kiss on the cheek and then sit down, waiting for it to start again. Sometimes you roll on to your belly so I can't tickle it, and you watch and wait until you decide you're ready and sit up, looking expectantly at my hand. I can even see you suck your little belly in before you get tickled - so cute.

You still aren't a big fan of getting your teeth brushed. You'll stand at the edge of the bath and open your mouth for me to brush your lower teeth two or three times, then you grab it and sit down and chew on it, chucking it in the bath water every so often. Which is gross. But at least you're brushing your teeth.

Speaking of teeth, another one cracked through sometime during the week! You've had red cheeks and drool on and off for a few months, and I'd check it every so often. On Tuesday, I felt the tips of your bottom right middle molar come through, but on Wednesday it felt smooth again. This morning, I could definitely see something (in the small period of time you let me look at your teeth). No panadol needed at any stage!

The husband looked after you yesterday after having had only three hours sleep (luckily the Olympics are almost over) and you decided to wake up before 7am - a very odd occurence. In fact, you woke up after 8:30 this morning! He said that despite the migraine he had in the morning, you were lots of fun (he napped with you for an hour and a half after lunch). You're at a super cute age. You've started to squeal when we play, which is super adorable.

You're getting closer to talking - I think I heard you say 'birds' the other day as we looked at the cockatiels, but you haven't said it since. You have also started saying 'Zilla' now (our dog), but you say it without the 'i', and it ends with your voice going up. Most of your noises start with 'd', but you point at what you want. Like the hairbrush this morning, on my dresser. You 'brushed' my hair too, which was actually quite nice.

You're getting more particular about things that you do and don't like. Unfortunately, you don't like getting your pyjama buttons done up - unfortunate for you, because it has to be done. You like to reach for the picture hanging near your change table, which you think is a game. It's not.

You like to turn the lightswitches on and off - daddy taught you this one. After your bath we look in the mirror, then you get to turn the heat light off and the normal light on (so that I remember to come back and tidy it up once you're asleep). You love this game so much that you grab at the doorframe as we leave so that you can do it some more - lucky we're clued in to this, or else we'd get a bit of a shock.

Pa taught you 'round and round the garden' - we'd played it a few times with your hand, but he taught you that you get to do the circles before being tickled. Once we get to 'one step....' you stop and you wait, ready to laugh. You still love rough games - being dragged around, thrown up in the air, tipped backwards. You especially like it when Grace is nearby so that you see her upside down face - this is seemingly extra funny.

You're very close to walking, but cautious like your mummy. You walk while holding one of our fingers, but we're not really supporting you in any way. A few times I've let go of your hands to see if you'll stand, but often you realise you're standing and then slowly squat yourself down to the ground (although sometimes you get shocked and cry and I feel terrible). I can't imagine it will be too long before you realise you can stand yourself up without holding on to anything, and it will all follow from there.

You love your birthday bike - quite often toward the end of the day you'll take our hand and walk us over to your bike. Very subtle. You're happy to be pushed in laps around the loungeroom and kitchen, but you're equally as happy to be pushed back and forth, or just sit in it watching.

It's lovely to see you growing in to such a happy young girl. Your hair is getting longer, and although it's mullety, it's growing out in the back. Soon we'll be able to tie it and it will just kill me to see you looking so adorable but also so much like a girl, not a baby. You're easy going, you're social, you're happy to play alone or with us. You laugh a lot, you communicate as best you can, and you cuddle your toys up under your chin with a smile. You're cheeky, you known when you're doing wrong, and you love to imitate and chide us with a waggly finger when we say 'naughty, naughty, naughty!'.

We love you very much, thank you for all that you bring.

Blip blip, split lip

The baby got totally spoilt. As well as the scooter trike that we bought her, she got four other trikes. FOUR.

I had her sitting on the pink and purple one that my parents bought her, pushing her in laps around the kitche and family room, one hand on the handlebars, one hand on her back.

We stopped and she sat happily on the trike, so happy she started to bounce up and down with her massive grin. I reached for my phone to take a picture for my parents, and that's when she knocked the handlebar which shifted the centre of the bike so she landed flat on her face on the hardwood floor.

And the tears. Oh my.

And then? The blood. Oh.... my.

The husband took turns giving her cuddles and kisses and googling to find out if this was something we needed to take her to hospital for. She wasn't letting us look in her mouth, or put ice on her already swollen top lip.

She stopped crying after a few minutes, and started chewing on a crust of bread, so she was fine.

Me? Not so much.

Tonight, in the bath, I got a quick look, and it's like she has a blood blister or a mark inside her lip, and a little scratch on the outside. Her tooth doesn't look crooked like the husband first fears, but her gum is a bit red. I will definitely be keeping an eye on that.

And I think I'll only be putting her on the trike that we bought her, that we can harness her in to.

Teething again?

Gawd I hope so.

The last few days, the baby has been a bit whingy and clingy. And then tired, but not taking longer naps. And drooly. And still snotty. And not eating as much, but throwing lots on the floor.

Lots of fun.

Her cheeks had that darker red look yesterday, but it's hard to get in there and have a look.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease be teeth and pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase come quickly!

Tooth

Sometime in the last week, the baby's eighth tooth has finally broken through.

There has been a white dot in the corner for months and months and months, so I'm not sure what took it so long.

Scarily, molars will be next. And apparently they are the pits.

Breaking down!

I looked in her mouth this morning to see if the top tooth had broken through - no luck.

BUT.

Another tooth has broken through on the bottom! That explains why she kept grabbing at her mouth below where the top tooth is coming through.