Granny's Visit

The bouncy exercise ball has made a come-back and I've discovered that Lilli dislikes the dark. Nap times and bed times have been sorely trying over the past days. Coaxing her to sleep has been so much harder than usual, particularly at night time when she screams harder than we've ever heard her. However I left the door open tonight to allow a little light in the room and she fell asleep in my arms with barely a peep. Her tense bedtimes have coincided with these increasingly darker autumn evenings. Recently I have noticed that Lilli fixates on an object or a slither of light while being lulled to sleep. I love watching her eyes gradually close over the course of my lullaby. A big sigh signals her complete surrender to sleep. Only then can I gently lower her into the crib. She'll awake 40 minutes later, with a dream or a twitch startling her awake. During naps I'm unable to put her back into the crib to finish sleeping. She stirs as soon as those tiny feet touch the sheet. Invariably she spends the remainder of her nap snoozing in my tired arms.

Yesterday was a very sad day. Granny returned to the UK. We had a wonderful two weeks together. Granny taught Lilli peekaboo and lots of new songs. They waltzed and galloped together around the living room. Granny pushed Lilli in her pram around the neighbourhood. There were many hugs and kisses. Sometimes Lilli and I would wake Granny by climbing into bed with her for morning cuddles. We had fun outings in the beautiful sunshine to the Arboretum and to Discovery Park. Granny was an enormous help around the house and even helped paint Daddy's cupboards. One night Granny looked after Lilli while Jon and I escaped for a long overdue birthday/anniversary dinner at Eva. While Granny was here we thew a big welcome party for Lilli, celebrating her arrival in the garden with our friends and family. Granny and Jon made triangle sandwiches: grilled veggies and goat's cheese, ham with spinach and baked plums, tuna salad and the traditional cheese and cucumber. I baked pumpkin and chocolate cupcakes and mixed up a delicious cranberry, cider and ginger punch. Come back soon Granny and bring Grandad with you. We miss you and love you very much.