Tag Archives: tropics

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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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Outdoor playtime

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Sunday, 23 February 2014: Two Hundred and Thirty Days Old.

Ayla had her first proper outdoor playtime today and she spent it cruising around eating sticks and leaves, chasing the cat and playing in puddles.

Ayla has of course been outside countless times but this afternoon was the first opportunity she’s had to crawl about where ever she wanted doing what ever took her fancy.

Usually when I’ve taken Ayla outside I’ve sat her on a particular patch of grass and kept a close vigil on her whereabouts or I’ve relegated Ayla to her walker knowing she’d could go past the driveway edges.

Needless to say Ayla loved her newfound freedom and was covered head to toe in dirt, cobwebs, dogs hairs and goodness knows what else in no time.

There’s not doubt I’m coming to terms with the fact that it’s near impossible to keep an immaculately clean and well presented baby all of the time, and to tell you the truth I actually enjoyed seeing Baby Ayla have so much fun getting dirty.

Letting Ayla explore the outdoors also meant that I was free to get stuck into the gardening, so long as I kept one watchful eye on Ayla of course!

And, because I we’re to lucky enough to live in the tropics, I knew that no matter how sweaty and dirty we got a quick wash down with was waiting for us at the end!

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Alessia

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Sunday, 24 November 2013: Two Hundred and Thirty Seven Days Old.

Ayla experienced her first cyclone tonight; “TC Alessia”.

Ayla was a little ball of energy all afternoon so we figured she must have bren excited, but in hindsight Ayla was probably just picking up on our vibes.

In true Territory fashion the three of us headed to a friends place to kick start a cyclone party, which involved a lot of speculation about what was going to happen when it hit.

As the wind and rain picked up we took Ayla outside to experience Alessia face to face, but it wasn’t much more than an average storm.

In fact, was a bit if a fizzer really – Alessia crossed the coast as a weak Category 1, maybe even a tropical low – with virtually no impact to people or property.

But, it was still a cyclone nonetheless!!

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Monsoon

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Tuesday, 19 November 2013: Two Hundred and Thirty Two Days Old.

We awoke this morning to the very first monsoon of Ayla’s life.

As a Territory baby Ayla will only know three seasons instead of four – the wet, the dry and the build up – and I think there’s something pretty special about that.

Luckily for Ayla, she loves the rain. As soon as she woke up this morning I took her outside wearing nothing but her nappy, to smell, and see and feel the morning downpour.

Ayla was in awe. Her tiny half naked body clung to me in a big hug while her head rested gently on my should and I sung to her softly as we rocked to the cacophony of rain, frogs and thunder.

Ayla drunk it all in; from the rain pouring off the roof, to the puddles forming in the mud and she smiled, wide eyes, the whole time.

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36 hours

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Friday, 18 October 2013: Two Hundred and One Days Old.

It’s been over 36 hours without a nappy now and all is going well.

Ayla had the best nights sleep in ages last night; instead of waking every two to four hours, she slept eight hours and then another four.

I felt like a new woman this morning and I’m sure Ayla did too. Her rash was looking MUCH better and her morning smiles were proof.

But as the day wore on and got hotter, so too did the nappy rash.

We had a lunch date to attend so instead of nappies I dressed Ayla in tiny cotton underpants that I changed after every wee.

Ayla was the epitome of bravery and dignity the whole time. She didn’t complain or bat an eyelid when I stripped her down in the dress store, or when she wet herself at sushi… She was happy and smiling and glad to be alive.

I think Ayla’s been enjoying all the naked time, and I know she’s loved the fun new positions and activities we’ve been doing to minimise the damage caused by impending accidents.

I feel like I’m making it up to her, slowly, and it’s good to know she’s on the mend, but its such an awful uncomfortable thing that I wish I could snap my fingers and take it all away.

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Miss my Ayla

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Friday, 20 September 2013: One Hundred and Seventy Two Days Old.

Hubby and I have had a few massive days at home with the renovations, and now I miss my Ayla!

She’s been right here with us of course, but because we’ve been so busy I haven’t had as much time to hang out with her as I usually do.

Amidst all the work, we did get to have a bit of fun this afternoon when we put Ayla and her friend Baby Coops in the wheelbarrow for a swim!

It was very cute – and a welcome break from concreting – but tonight I still felt like I wanted to cuddle Ayla for eternity and make up for lost time!

I’ve been so conscious that these early days of Ayla will pass by in a blink of an eye and I’ve not wanted to miss a single thing.

To make my guilt over the last couple of days worse, Ayla’s developed a little bit of a cough (I think it’s from all the dust in the air) so now I don’t want to let the poor cherub out of my sight!

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Tropical Baby

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Monday 9 September 2013: Twenty Three Weeks Old

Ayla certainly is a tropical baby!

Because we’ve been renovating we’ve had to rely on only a fan to keep Ayla cool at night, but yesterday we had new airconditioners installed throughout the house.

But this means we now face the dilemma of “what is optimum temperature” for Ayla to sleep in.

After last nights efforts where her room was 25 degrees and Ayla woke every three hours with a cold face, tonight we’re going to try 27.

It feels weird to set a cooling device to 27 degrees, but when the standard temperature is 31 I guess it’s not that crazy.

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Nappy rash

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Tuesday, 3 September 2013: One Hundred and Fifty Six Days Old

Poor Baby Ayla has had nappy rash the last couple of days and it seems to be getting worse.

Ayla doesn’t seem too upset by the actual rash, but she has been a little irritable when her nappy’s on.

So to ease the discomfort and try to get the rash under control Ayla’s spent most of the last few days naked.

Ayla loves naked time! She wriggles around on her play mat, kicking at toys, rolling and twisting for what seems like hours.

I feel terrible when naked time is over though (which is usually when I think I’ve pushed my luck in dodging Number Twos) and I have to wrap her sore little bottom back up in a plasticky nappy.

We’re doing our best to fix the rash but I guess it’ one of those things that comes with living in the tropics. I really hope she gets well soon though, the “Build Up” season is nearly here!

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Aussie baby

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Saturday, 27 July 2013: One Hundred and Sixteen Days Old.

I forgot to make note of Ayla’s first mozzie bites!

As an Aussie baby born into an outdoorsy family I knew it wouldn’t be long before the mosquitos got wind of her delicious baby blood and silky soft skin, but already that time has come.

Ayla got her first mozzie bite last week – right on the side of her head at the hairline – but now she has one on her eyelid and another on her forearm!

I’ve done everything I can to keep the little flying vamps away; usually opting for neck-to-ankle clothes or enclosing her pram with a cotton wrap if I think they might be lurking, but the system has failed me!

Then again, I suppose for an Aussie kid mozzies are part of life, just like sand in your togs, or sunscreen in your eyes.

And for that reason, as I sit here with my sausage sizzle lunch in the Bunnings car park, I’ve decided Ayla’s bites are a milestone not a massacre.