Pass the salt!

We have now bought Mia a little table and chair for her to sit at instead of putting her in the highchair.  She doesn't sit at a highchair at nursery so we thought we would try a table and chair at home as well and see how we get on.  So far she seems to really like it and she hasn't thrown as much food or as many spoons over the side onto the floor.  So at least for me, it is a lot less mess to clean up after mealtimes.  She does get up and wander around the kitchen sometimes though in between courses, but that's fine as she only wanders over to the fridge or cupboard to point at the food that she wants!!  Usually yoghurts, grapes or cookies.

At nursery they are learning more about animals and noises and sing songs every day.  The current favourite is 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' but they do like to sing 'The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round' as well.  

Mia has started to say the word "shoe" and see can say her name as well. She understands far more words though - here's a little list of them:

Elephant; Giraffe; Monkey; Puppy; Shoes; Coat; wipe your nose/mouth/hands; nappy change; brush your teeth; sit down; drink your water/milk; give to mummy/daddy; can mummy/daddy have a kiss; spoon in (makes her eat); more; eat; breakfast; dinner; pushchair; dog; bird; cat; iggle piggle & upsy daisy; mouse; 

When asked what noise does a sheep make - she answers Baa!  And does various signs for different words.

Maracas Heaven

Tooth number 11 has made an appearance

Mia now has her third molar coming through. It must have been causing her a bit of pain last night as she just wouldn't settle and again it was like someone had left the tap on in her mouth! Her top AND vest underneath were soaking and she just point blank refuses to let us change her nappy.  

Mia has had her last day at the nursery that we didn't like, they said they were sorry to see her go because she has been wonderful to look after. There was a little boy at that nursery who just wouldn't leave Mia alone, everywhere she went he followed her apparently.  They cuddled a few times but the carers told me that most of the time Mia just tried to swipe him away!!?  Would loved to have seen all that going on.  

A couple of times this past week, we've gone in to check on Mia whilst she is sleeping and she has managed to get one of her arms out of her pyjamas and then gone back to sleep!  Very odd.  I think she likes undressing but sometimes not so keen on dressing again.  But she loves to put on her coat and shoes.  She really helps me to dress her - well... when she is in the mood for it!

It's mother's day this sunday, so will wait and see what Mia has planned for me!

Five days at one nursery

The good news is that we have been offered that vital fifth day at the day care centre that we prefer so from the start of 12th May, Mia will be going to one nursery for five days a week.  What a relief.  We are pretty happy about that because now she can just get used to the carers and children at one place and stay settled.  

The other place is really beginning to get on our nerves now.  Mia comes home smelling of the place - it's awful.  They still can't get her to eat her lunch and she always seems to come home tired because she has not had much of a sleep there.  They don't fill in the report sheets in Mia's book either, so I never know exactly when she has slept and what she has ate.  I do ask them when I pick her up, but I would like it written down so I can remember as they don't always verbally tell me the times she has slept or ate.  So sometimes she is not hungry for her tea at 5pm, which is frustrating or she is really really tired and we have to put her to bed early, which invariably means, she wakes up early and is really hungry, thereby messing the next day up again!  Anyway, that experience will soon be over. 

Mia has got some lovely new clothes sent to her by her Great Auntie Jan - they are gorgeous.  A lovely pink and brown tracksuit, so here's a little picture of her in it.  

Catching up

Sorry, I've just not had the time to update this for a little while. 

Mia is now quite settled into her nursery routine.  She settled quicker into nursery #2 (the one I originally liked) so we have decided to concentrate on getting her into this place full time.  We have been offered another two days there, so she is now going to go to this one on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  I told the other nursery we would no longer be requiring Mia to attend on a Wednesday anymore, just need the Tuesday, for now.  So fingers crossed a free Tuesday will come up at nursery #2 and she will be able to go there full time.  

We both agreed that this nursery is the nicest, there is more room, feels bright and airy, they do many more stimulating and developmental activities with the children as well.  Also the outdoor area is just for the children under 2, unlike the other place where the older kids who were running around kept knocking the younger kids over.  It's not fair on all of them as the older kids were getting told off and all they wanted to do was play and run around.

The carers seem to have 'got' Mia a lot quicker as well.  Mia won't sit in a highchair at nursery so they let her sit on a small chair at a small table with the older kids to have her lunch!  They think she is quite advanced for her age.  Of course she is!  She was actually eating at this place a lot sooner, she is still not really eating her lunch at the other nursery, so not sure what they are doing with her there.  Also at the other place they don't have any tables and chairs for her age, so she has to go in a highchair.

Mia doesn't really cry that much when I drop her off now and they tell me that she really enjoys herself when she is there.  The carers seem to really like her.  

So I have just been job hunting whilst she has been at nursery.  I've seen a few things that have interested me, so keep your fingers crossed.  At least I have managed to update my CV now and finally have a hair cut.  I've had it all chopped off and my hair is very short now.  Loving it.

We also finally have tenants in our place in London.  They moved in on 16th April and from all accounts it all went quite smoothly.  About time too. 

Oh and Mia now has 10 teeth!  Another molar appeared last week and has grown quite big really quickly.

Oh so quiet

My mum and brother have now left Sydney and have arrived back home in the UK.  When we got back from dropping them off at the airport it felt so quiet at home.  Even getting up the next day, it was really quiet.  Little Mia wasn't able to jump on Uncle Dan's bed in the morning.

Here is a selection of photos of when they were over there.  Click on link below.

Family visit to Sydney

Damien came with me this morning to drop Mia off at nursery no.2.  She started to get a bit upset as soon as we went into the place.  She is getting better though.  When I went to pick her up last week from nursery no.1, they said she had eaten some food and even seemed to enjoy it.  She wasn't as upset and kept pointing to go and play outside.  So hopefully she will soon settle down.

Here's a little video of Mia messing around in the bath and putting on silly smiles for Granny who was filming her.

First day at Nursery #2

Took Mia to nursery #2 today and she burst into tears as soon as I tried to leave.  It was heartbreaking but by the time I had dropped the pushchair off upstairs near the office and had come back down, she wasn't really crying.  One of the carers had taken her off to change her nappy and was singing to Mia to distract her. 

I rang the nursery at just after noon to see how she was getting on and apparently she had only eaten 4 spoonfuls of lunch, had only a 10 minute sleep in the morning (she normally has at least an hour) and wasn't really drinking her milk.  They didn't seem worried though, telling me that it is all normal etc.  I picked up her at 2.30pm and they said she had done really well and had not really cried but obviously was upset most of the day on and off, in between playing with new toys and the other kids.  

When I got there, she was having her nappy changed again and it took a couple of seconds before she realised it was her mummy coming to collect her and then when she did, her bottom lip went and she got a little bit upset.  Poor thing seemed quite relieved I had come for her.  

Mia was perfectly happy on the way home though, playing peek-a-boo with me from the pushchair as we walked home and seemed her normal self when we got home.  Not the clingy Mia we had had last week.  She went straight off to sleep tonight wearing her new pyjamas.

Photos of Mia aged 12 months

Pictures of Mia aged 12 months

Please click on link above to see photos.  I have added link to the list on the right hand side column with the rest of the pictures.

Second day at Nursery #1

I dropped Mia off at 9am again.  I had a chat with the director and she just said it is quite common for toddlers to refuse to eat in a new environment, as it's so different to what they are used to.  

Mia was fine all the way to the nursery, we were singing on the way there. Even when we got inside, she was fine.  She went off to play with some of the toys and point at the other children quite happily whilst I signed her in and got her nappies, cup and hat out ready for the carers.

There was a new carer today who I'd not seen before, she seemed nice enough and paid special attention to Mia because it was her second day.  I left a note with the carers with a list of things about Mia to help them, to help her, to settle her in.  Just things such as nap times, what she understands, notes telling them she can feed herself etc etc.  Just in case they forget this time.  These are all the things that should probably have been discussed at the orientation day but they didn't ask me anything like that.

Anyway, when it came for me to say bye to Mia, she started crying and trying to grab me so that I would pick her up.  The other carer held her and tried to distract her with some toys as I left.  It was tough.  I obviously wanted to go back in and comfort her but once you have said goodbye it is best to go, as it gets confusing for them later on when they don't know if you are going or staying. 

I've just rang them to see how Mia is getting on and apparently, she has only taken a few sips of her milk, didn't really eat her fruit this morning - in fact she spat it out and has not really eaten her lunch again.  They said not to worry but I said that I'll come down at 2pm again to collect her.  I don't think she should be having long days there at first, not until she is feeling more settled I suppose.

Mia's first day at Nursery #1

Well, it was a tough day for us all today.  I dropped Mia off at the nursery at 9am and she seemed fine at first.  I got a bit emotional as I was leaving but Mia didn't cry.  She was stood in the middle of the room, with the other kids stood looking at her.  

I got myself a coffee and came home and tried to relax.  The nursery called me at about 11:30 am to say that Mia was doing really well, had had an hour sleep in the morning and had not really cried much.  But she had refused her milk, refused her plate of fruit and was now refusing to eat her lunch.  I gave them a few tips on what to do but they called me back about 20 minutes later to say that I should come down as they were worried because she had not eaten anything and not really had much to drink either.  

I got there and Mia had her dummy in and was being held by one of the carers outside, waiting for me and looking at the trees.  We went inside and I put her in the highchair and started to feed her.  She was fine, I fed her a couple of spoonfuls then gave her the spoon and she fed herself the rest, in fact she had two meals, the pureed stuff and the proper food.  Then I couldn't find her water cup and realised the carers had left it in the bag.  So not sure what they had been giving her her water in.  

Then the carer said to Mia "Oh I didn't realise you could feed yourself." So maybe she had been trying to feed Mia and of course, Mia wouldn't have liked this and probably would have refused the food.  It's also because it is all new to her and I suppose refusing to eat is the only thing she is in control of at the moment.  The carer kept going on about Mia not having her milk either and she asked if she had it warm.  Mia just drinks milk in her cup straight from the fridge, she's not fussy.  Then I realised that I think they had been trying to give her milk from a bottle.  I had told them she drinks from a cup but they had obviously forgotten.  

Mia ate her banana and then it was decided that I would leave again and come back at 2pm.  This time Mia cried when I left.  I just went to the top of the road and grabbed a coffee and a slice of banana bread to wait the 45 minutes before it was time for me to collect her again.

I got there at 2pm and she was in the office with one of the carers with a dummy in and away from the other children.  She'd been a bit upset again. We left and she slept in the pushchair all the way home and stayed asleep until 3:30pm.

I had been told by other people that some children refuse to eat in their first few days at nursery, but I hadn't thought that Mia would do that, as she loves her food so much!

Orientation day at Nursery #1

Well, today was Mia's orientation day at the nursery that she will be going to on a Tuesday and a Wednesday.  She seemed to be absolutely fine, playing with the other kids in the play area for a bit, whilst I was talked through the things I have to sign when I drop her off and where to put her drink cup, nappies, fruit etc.  I've had to label her clothes, her cot sheet and I even have to write her name on the front of the nappies that I will leave at the nursery for her!

The carers there thought she was a lovely, happy little girl and seemed to take to her.  Mia took to them as well and let them pick her up.  She played with the toys and even shared one of them with another little girl who was about the same age as Mia but who can't walk yet.  The carers seemed impressed with her sharing toys.  

I tried to stay in the background as much as I could, but ended up playing with the other kids as well.  The children there all seemed quite nice, one little boy tried to hug her but Mia wasn't interested.  In fact another little boy actually pushed her over, but Mia was fine.  She didn't cry, just looked at me for a second then got herself up and carried on.  So that makes me feel better about how she'll cope on her own.  In fact when it was time to go inside, the other kids piled up the stairs and Mia just followed, well slowly climbed up the stairs.  She didn't seem fazed by anything.  Just confidently got stuck in!  She seemed quite vocal as well, compared to the other children her age.  

The carers thought Mia was very good around other children, and seemed to think we had spent a lot of time at playgroups but I haven't really been part of any playgroups.  I did do a baby sing and sign class with her and I've tried to let her play with as many kids as I can.  Which is one of the reasons why I wanted her to go to nursery, so that she would learn the social skills that she'll get from playing with other kids.

We spent about an hour and a half there and she fell asleep in the pushchair on the walk home.  She didn't have her usual morning nap as we had had to get there at 10am, so she was tired out.  I met my mum for a coffee and some lunch and we went to the kids playground, around the corner from our flat, when Mia woke up.  

Catch the pigeon

We went for a little drive yesterday through Woolloomooloo, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutter's Bay, past Darling Point, Double Bay and finally we stopped off at Rose Bay for a look around.  The seaplanes are based at Rose Bay, so we saw a few land and take off in the harbour whilst we were there.  

It was a glorious day and there was a kids playground right near the water's edge, so we let Mia have a little play around.  She chased the seagulls and pigeons and started pointing at the older children, especially the older boys!!  She's quite confident in playgrounds now, and only looks for us every now and again to make sure we are still there but she has no qualms about going over to things she wants to play with.

Today we decided to have a picnic on the beach at Balmoral.  It was more like 'do you want cheese with your sand and crackers?' but still an enjoyable afternoon, relaxing on the beach by the sea.  Balmoral Beach is our local beach and doesn't usually get too busy.   

Believe it or not but this was the first time me and Damien had actually gone sunbathing on a beach since we arrived here in December!!  We just have not had the time as we've been exploring around the Sydney area as much as we can.  

We took Mia into the sea, she was a bit hesitant at first but she soon got round to splashing us.  The sea was a bit cold so she held on tightly and didn't want to be floating too much.  

She is getting used to the sand as well, especially since I taught her how to brush her hands clean, so she wipes the sand off of them all on her own now.  

In fact, she has learned quite a few little tricks now.  She can do a monkey impression when you say the word 'monkey'.  She does the baby sign for 'lights' when the lights are switched on, I think she has also just learnt the sign for 'finished, all gone'.  She knows who Granny is, she does loads of things on command, i.e. give the book to daddy, or drink your milk/water.  

She still loves to help me with the washing and constantly puts all the clothes on her head.  The other day she was wondering around the lounge with her pink knickers on her head which looked like she was wearing a pink beret.  It was hilarious.

Tooth number 9 has arrived

Just spotted another tooth in Mia's increasingly sharp mouth. She was in a particularly giddy mood in the car on the way back from Manly and our walk around to Shelly Beach today. So when she was laughing I could see a little tooth iceberg popping through on her bottom jaw.

My brother has now left Sydney and is in Melbourne with his friends. We've had a busy week so far, showing both him and my mum around the sights of Sydney and the Blue Mountains. We walked around Circular Quay on Saturday and took loads of pictures in front of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Had a coffee at the Opera Bar, walked around The Rocks, had a great lunch in a bar called The Argyle where Mia wanted to get down and explore everywhere. 

On the Sunday we walked around just as much and went over to Woolloomooloo and had pie, mash, peas and gravy at Harry's Cafe de Wheels. We took them to Darling Harbour because it was Easter weekend, and there is always stuff going on over there. They had some sort of Hoopla festival with circus acts dotted around. Mia was more interested in the playground, and a five-year-old girl called Dorothy. Little Dorothy thought Mia was cute!!

The Blue Mountains trip was great. We stayed in a cottage in Katoomba, very close to Echo Point, which is where you get a great view of the Three Sisters. Obviously we took the obligatory thousand pictures of us all there.  

The cottage had a fire, which Damien kept going for us throughout the three days.  There's not much to do in Katoomba or Leura (the next village along) so we just had takeaways and stayed in drinking wine!

The views at Govetts Leap Falls near Blackheath were particularly amazing, well worth a look.  Mia had a great time in the cottage, she even learned how to climb up the stairs!  

Here's a little video of her being silly at the cottage.  

Mia and the vacuum cleaner

Mia's first enrolment

We went to enrol Mia at the child care centre today, the one where she will be going on a Tuesday and Wednesday.  We had a quick tour round, as Damien had not been there before and then we left Mia to play with the other kids in the play area whilst we went off to do the paperwork.  For some stupid reason this is where I decided to get upset!!  Even though we weren't actually going to leave her there today.  Mia was fine, just looking at the other kids and starting to play with the toys they had out on the floor.  To be honest, the toys at this place aren't that great, they were all a bit damaged and old and not very inspiring to me.  

Anyway, whilst we were in the office, apparently all the other kids came over to Mia and a few of them tried to kiss her!!  The woman looking after her said that Mia just stared at them and didn't seem bothered.  

When we came back, Mia looked visibly happy to see us and started to show us the toys she had been playing with and then she clambered over to us.  We carried on playing with her and the others kids to help ease her into her new environment and a little girl came over and gave Mia a little plastic boat.  So all in all I think it went well, Mia just seemed to take it all in her stride, didn't seem that bothered but not totally at ease with it all either.  I suppose we'll just wait and see what happens at her orientation day.  Mia won't be starting there until 1st April now, so that's a bit of relief for us both as we now have time to get used to the whole idea of Mia not being looked after by us during the day.  We didn't realise how hard it would be for us to put Mia into nursery.  I'm sure it'll all be fine after she's been there for a couple of weeks.

I took Mia to the playground round the corner in the afternoon and she enjoyed herself playing with the different apparatus, slides and swings.  She loves the slide, it's a bit steep for her to go down it on her own, so I hold onto her and slide her down.  She laughs all the way down.

Whilst she was playing with some giant abacus thing, some little girl came over to her and hugged her twice!  Mia just stood there, not moving, with her arms by her side and then she pulled a little face as if to say "what are you doing?" and then attempted to push the girl away.  It was hilarious.  It made me think that Mia will probably stand up for herself with the older kids whilst she is at nursery.  Which in turn makes me feel a bit happier about her going to a nursery.