What I will miss...

This week I read about Nora Ephron losing her six year battle with cancer. Nora wrote some of the best known romantic comedy screenplays.

When realising she was close to death, Nora wrote a book. In it she listed all the things she would miss and not miss when she died. The article about Nora showed her list. If you get a chance, have a read it's pretty funny and showed Nora really hated Email!

So I thought I would make a list about what I would miss and not miss when I die. Sounds a bit morbid but I thought it also was a good way to appreciate the small things that we take for granted everyday.

First what I wouldn't miss:
Monday mornings
Vacuuming
Washing my hair
Putting fuel in my car
Telemarketers
Sickness
Worrying about money

What I will miss:
James
BJ
My family
Sun on my face
Swimming
Flowers
Beach cricket
Buying presents for loved ones
Friday night footy
Meeting new people
Watching movies
Road trips
Reading the Sunday paper

What will you miss or not miss?

How true...

I saw this and laughed out loud. It's so true!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

It's that time of the year again in Australia when each of the big retailers have their massive toy sales. In the past I've grabbed some bargains for my niece and God-Children. But this year I could shop for James (and the other kids too but mostly for James)!!!

I did my research, made sure all my bases were covered and we hit the shops! A couple of the retailers start a bit later but we still got most of what I wanted at discounted prices.

Here is my little helper amongst all the toys!

Sharing is caring...

I thought I would share this apology letter I was reading this morning.

As somebody who used to look at other people's children with jealousy and think "I could do that better", I'm sorry.

Hope you have a laugh no matter where you are on your parenting journey.

Play space...

We don't have a very big house. It's perfect for two people but add a baby into the mix and you always are looking for more room for all the stuff that comes along with babies. It's funny because I grew up in a house of a similar size to the one we have now but even growing up with a family of five it never seemed this small.

I can't really complain too much because at least it ours (in about twenty years) and there isn't too much to clean!

So when James came along I wanted a little area that he could have (apart from his room and that visiting kids could use) to have some of his toys and to play in without getting in the road of the normal flow of the house.

The lounge room had the perfect space and would mean BJ and I could keep an eye on him while we were in the kitchen or watching TV. So last week I moved some furniture and put down some rubber matting to create James' own space!

Number One Fan...

Did you know that I'm awesome? I didn't either but apparently James thinks so.

For the past couple of weeks he has been getting upset (mostly grumpy but sometimes full on crying) when I leave the room. Even if his Dad or Grandparents are there, he will watch me leave and then start whining. BJ usually distracts him with a game and then he's fine. But when James and I are home by ourselves it can be hard to leave him in his play area while I'm running around trying to make the place look like someone lives here.

I'm sure it's just a phase and he'll probably grow out of it. I know there will be a time (a few years from now) when he won't even want a hug from his Mum so I'll take as many cuddles as I can get now!

Where's the beef...

I think James is going to be a vegetarian.

We have been struggling with James' sleep for a couple of months. He was doing really well after we started solids. Going down for naps during the day and sleeping through the night. Just look out for his tired signs, put him in his cot and he would be out like a light. It was a miracle! Then six weeks ago he started to need more and more help to get to sleep. Then the naps went out the window and now sleeping through the night is a thing of the past. The Party Animal was back! 3am is the time for partying, even if you don't RSVP you still get the wake up call.

So last weekend I'd had enough. We had to do something, something was wrong and I needed to fix it. I'm not ready for any type of sleep training yet but he could sleep before so what was different. I decided to look as his diet. A lot of babies in my mothers group had started protein so I thought James might be ready for a bit of meat in his diet. The ladies had reported the same sleeping problems had occurred with their little ones and once they added a bit of meat to their diet, hey presto back to sleeping through the night.

I began researching different recipes and came across one for chicken and one for beef that were pretty easy and used things I already had at home. He already loves all types of veggies so most of the recipe is just cooking the meat and veggies then mashing it all up.

So the big cook off started. The recipes made a large batch that would be four or five meals so I could freeze them. I felt very excited to be offering new flavours to my little guy and was looking forward to seeing him gulping them down. On Tuesday for lunch I gave James his chicken, rice and veggies. He hated it. It tasted good to me but when James gave it a go he spat it all out. So I tried again on Wednesday, the same thing. Luckily the dog liked it so Hounddog got some snacks.

I tried the beef today still no good. It tastes great to me and I know he loves the veggies that I've used because these are the back up meals he has.

So I think he's going to be a vegetarian. Oh well, we'll try the meat again next week and in the mean time I'll continue to party on, Wayne! Party on, Garth!