Monthly Archives: June 2014

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Zoo!

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Saturday, 28 June 2014: One Year and Eighty Nine Days Old.

We took Ayla to the zoo today!

Ayla saw gorillas, and lemurs, and pigmy hippos, baboons, gibbons, tigers, elephants and a peacock before she fell asleep.

I think Ayla’s highlight was the butterfly house where there were hundred of fragile, fluttering butterflies everywhere to be seen.

One even landed on Daddy’s hand and Ayla got to touch it ever so gently before it flew off to join its friends.

The butterfly house was also toasty warm, just like home, but outside in the open air it was only 12 degrees.

All of us were rugged up and pink-cheeked, my fingers even turned white and icy so it’s not surprising that Ayla fell asleep while she was tucked up and warm inside her pram.

While Ayla was sleeping we saw giraffes (my favourite), zebras, a snow leopard and a brown bear, and I wish I could have shared them with her.

But, I’m sure there will be plenty more zoos to come and today was just a lovely chance to catch up with our friends and kick start our holiday.

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The big kid

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Friday, 27 June 2014: One Year and Eight Eight Days Old.

Our friends from Tassie arrived in Melbourne today, to join us on our holiday!

They have the beautiful, chubby cheeked, smiley Baby Evie in tow with them and for the first time ever Ayla gets to be the big kid!

Ayla has plenty of little friends back home but even though they’re a few months younger than her all of them are bigger, rougher and tougher than tiny Baby Ayla.

But Evie is only 5 months old and in all her cuteness she’s fragile and precious and Ayla seems to know.

And for Hubby and I it was wonderful to meet the little darling offspring of our friends, and we stoked to be sharing our first family holiday together!

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Flight No.11

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Thursday, 26 June 2014: One Year and Eighty Seven Days Old.

I was anxious about how Ayla would be on the plane today, even though it was her 11th flight in just 14 months of life!!

My concern was unprecedented of course, Ayla was content and happy to sit with Hubby and I, eat snacks, have a couple of little snoozes and push buttons on the built-in screens.

I thought that because Ayla’s walking now she might have wanted to explore the plane and make as many new friends as possible, but it turns out all her previous flying experience has taught her well.

Ayla did have a little bit of ear pain on landing for the first time, and she went awfully quiet when we stepped outside into the cold Melbourne winter air but all in all we made it safe and sound.

My great aunt was waiting for us at our hotel and took us out for tea with my uncle. It was their first time meeting Ayla and it was lovely to catch up and great to start the trip with a couple of friendly faces!

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Amazeballs

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Monday, 23 June 2014: One Year and Twelve Weeks Old.

Ayla was paying more attention at The Wiggles yesterday than I realised!

On the way to day care this morning I decided to sing “hot potato”… and Ayla knew the actions!!

For only ever having heard the song once before, amidst a stack of other songs, I was shocked and stunningly impressed Ayla remembered!

When I sang the words “hot potato, hot potato” Ayla made little fists and banged them together, albeit in a clapping motion rather than a stacking one.

When I sang “cold spaghetti, cold spaghetti” Ayla waved her hands sideways in the air with little spirit fingers, so very close to the up and down waving action from the song.

And then when I sang “mashed banana, mashed banana” Ayla nailed it, opening her fingers wide, smashing her palms together and twisting them left and right with a cheeky grin on her face.

THEN! Just when I thought Ayla couldn’t get any more amazing, I caught her playing “round and round the garden” with herself!

Ayla was tickling her left palm with the fingers on her right, before touching her forearm, then her upper arm, then sticking her fingers under her arm in an attempt to tickle herself!

I squealed with delight and amazement! Then Ayla did it again… This time with her version of words!!

Gosh Ayla is amazing. So overwhelming, undeniably amazeballs.

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2.38 seconds

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Saturday, 21 June 2014: One Year and Eighty Two Days Old.

Ayla learned to “cheers” tonight, and it took about 2.38 seconds.

It’s AMAZING how quickly Ayla learns.

It’s CRAZY how much Ayla understands.

I NEVER realised that such a tiny, innocent, vulnerable, beautiful little creature could look at something once, for the first time, and piece together it’s history, it’s purpose, it’s connotations and it’s value within seconds.

It’s like a couple of days ago when Ayla brought two different shoes to me and I asked her to go back and pick out the matching partner instead of odd sorts.

I didn’t even think Ayla would listen, let alone understand, but she toddled off back into her bedroom and emerged with the left pink sparkly sandal that matched the right I had in my hand.

So I suppose it isn’t surprising that when I clinked my glass to Ayla’s water bottle and said “cheers” Ayla repeated the action with words and all, straight away.

People say children are sponges but to me, “sponge”is an understatement and I don’t ever think I’ll be able to comprehend how amazing Ayla is.

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FORGOT

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Tuesday, 17 June 2014: One Year and Seventy Eight Days Old.

Oh my goodness I FORGOT Ayla today!

Although I’d been caught up late at work I still had to ring our designer to confirm a few things.

So, I made the call on my mobile on the way home and completely forgot to turn off toward Ayla’s day care.

It wasn’t until after the call had wrapped up and I was only a minute or so from home that I realised!

I think part of the reason I forgot was because in the back of my mind I knew Hubby was home earlier than usual, even though we’d discussed Ayla’s pick up just an hour earlier.

Anyway, I raced through the back streets and pulled up at day care, feeling guilty and a little but ashamed.

I felt guilty because I know most parents probably forget their kid at some point but I didn’t think it would happen to me so soon!

And I was ashamed because I let work take over my brain to the point I forgot to pick up my darling Baby Ayla.

It could have been worse I guess, I arrived before 5pm and Ayla was really none the wiser… If anything she was happier than usual to see me!

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Winter woolies

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Monday, 16 June 2014: One Year and Eleven Weeks Old.

Ayla went off to day care wearing her winter woolies today.

It was the coldest morning we’re likely to get all year – 17.4 degrees at 7.30am – and there was no better reason to rug up.

What made the chilly occasion even more special was the fact that only yesterday Hubby and I splurged on a few warm clothes, jumpers, a cardigan, a vest and some jeans for Baby Ayla.

The clothes were intended for our family trip to Melbourne next week, but Ayla got to don her little pink jumper ten days early…. Much to Mumma’s delight!

I don’t think there’s many things cuter than a rugged up baby, and seeing Ayla toddling around in her jumper and skinny jeans this morning melted my heart.

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Go Pies

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Sunday, 15 June 2014: One Year and Seventy Six Days Old.

Ayla learned to cheer on her team today. Well, our team.

Hubby was watching the AFL intently this afternoon, and I was glancing at it while folding washing.

Ayla was also watching the TV, when she wasn’t toddling around the house she was sitting on the couch watching the Collingwood Magpies take on some other team.

After a particularly awesome goal Hubby and I cheered and fist-pumped the air…. And Ayla copied!

After that, whenever we said “go Pies” Ayla would lift both her arms above her head, make two little fists and say “yess”.

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Social Saturday

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Saturday, 14 June 2014; One Year and Seventy Four Days Old

Ayla and I had a very social Saturday today and it was great!

We kick started the morning with a walk to the park when we met a friend who I haven’t seen since my baby shower!

My friend had her 23 month old twin boys with her and the kids all played happily in the sand and on the playground while we girls had a long overdue catch up.

After nipping home to give Ayla a nap, we were on the road again within 1.5hrs this time to one of my friends surprise birthday lunch at a seaside boating club.

It was my first experience of taking Ayla out since she officially became a toddler, and NOW I understand!

Thankfully Ayla was calm and happy to stay closeby during my meal, but the second half of the afternoon was spent following her around the club and catching her moments before she toddled out the door!

Ayla and I went back home and picked Hubby up (he’d been working all day) then went to visit a friend who hasn’t been well.

By the time we got there Ayla eyes were looking tired, but the excitement if visiting another new place was enough to keep her on her feet and toddling around.

Lastly we went to dinner at another friends place where Ayla ate a whole mandarin and played chasey with their 10kg tom-cat!

It was a busy, full on day but Ayla loved it. Despite all the overwhelming people, places and things to do Ayla was friendly and relaxed the whole day.