Lilli's Fun Day

Mummy and I had so much fun today!

I helped Mummy with the clean laundry. I rolled around on the bed and crawled through the big pile of clean clothes. I enjoyed hiding under my clean sheets and bibs and pulling them off my head. Mummy folded my clothes for me and I unfolded them. I even managed to climb into the laundry basket, though Mummy wouldn't let me play with the pegs. When I got too close to the edge of the bed she would pick me up by the ankles and I would turn upside down. Oooooh!! My head would spin when Mummy plopped me down again on the bed which made me laugh.

Later we went to the park where there were lots of big boys and girls playing and running in circles around me. It was exciting. I can't wait to be able to run and join them. Today though I sat in the swing and dangled my arms and legs and giggled and giggled. Mummy even helped me swing. It was great!!

We then went to the shops and Mummy bought me a ball that wiggles and giggles. Later I chased it around the living room floor. I like my new ball. It's pink and blue and fun. I wish I had it yesterday to show to my friend Anya who came to visit with her Mommy.

Mummy also let me ride in the grocery cart. I felt so grown-up! I loved the view from the chair. I chewed on my shoe and practiced dropping it over the railings of the cart. I would then chew it some more and drop it some more. I had a red chin from all my chewing. Mummy even let me hold the yogurt. I love yogurt. I met a lot of friendly people in the store and smiled at other kids riding their carts.

Mummy tells me that next week is also going to be lots of fun since Nana and Grandpa are coming to visit. I grin at their picture they sent us for Christmas every day!

From hands and knees to feet

We're entering the age of bumps and bruises! It's only mid-morning and Lilli has a nice red welt on her forehead. She lost her balance while attempting to climb the mirror and tumbled head first into the sharp wooden frame. The crib is another fun place to practice standing as is the baby corral, both having handy vertical bars which are great for support. However both can hurt too! The soft couch is perfect, though a little too high for her to pull to standing unassisted. Though it is early days with this new trick. I'm sure it won't be too long before she'll be independently cruising the length of the couch. For the time being we're just practicing standing on wobbly legs and flat feet. Moving those legs and feet is another matter. The best climbing gym is Mummy, Daddy or Uncle Pete lying on their side. Belt buckles, buttons and zippers become accessible and hips and shoulders are the perfect height for hoisting that round belly off the floor. Sometimes Lilli just enjoys tottering high above her knees while gnawing on the end of a tasty leather belt. Other times she'll attempt to scale you to reach the toys lurking in the shadow of your back. Hair makes for great hand holds and various bodily bulges and hollows work as foot holds. Oh did I put my fingers in your eyes and my foot in your mouth?

The 5th Tooth!

As Lilli lay asleep on my lap at bedtime tonight I was able to run my finger along her gums and discovered the appearance of tooth number 5! But where is her middle left tooth? She has both lower front teeth, the top middle right tooth and both top side incisors.

Corralled

Lilli has been corralled! We have set up a large baby prison in our living room. It is almost the size of our living room, but it keeps Lilli away from the unfinished dry wall, the heater vents, our appetizing shoes and all our electric wires and plugs. She has made frequent perimeter laps, inspecting the walls for weak spots. I know she's planning her break out and is currently biding her time till an opportune moment arrives. Until then she seems perfectly content on the Inside chewing her toys and occasionally eating the rug. She is even using the bars for her new game of posting the plastic toy through the bars to the Outside.

Abba Ba Ba Ba

Lilli loves Abba! She frequently requests Abba, "abba baba" she says, and so on it goes and we dance around the living room to Mamma Mia, Super Trooper, Take a Chance on Me, oh the list of favourite tunes is too long to write here. I think a disco ball may be a good 1st birthday present for this little diva!

Swimming

Lilli and I went swimming today. We are enrolled in swim classes at the Greenlake pool and today was lesson 1. It turned out to be more stressful than fun! We were running a little late due to naps and parking was tough despite the rain, which I had hoped would dissuade the lake walkers and joggers. Not so, since the car park was overflowing. However we waited in the car, holding up traffic, until a spot became available. Hey, it was raining and I have a baby. People can wait! I walked into the changing room and found chaos with Mums, toddlers and babies everywhere. Lilli and I found a tiny patch of floor space in a corner and I wedged her on the floor between my knees and wrestled her out of her clothes. It took me about 3 tries to get the swim pants on since I couldn't figure out which side was the front! All the other kids, apart from 1, were sporting swimsuits over the top of their swim pants. Oh well! There will be time enough for cute swimsuits. In the water Lilli didn't even notice her change in surroundings. She was avidly interested in all the other children and their Mummies/Daddies/Grannies. However they were doing their best to avoid us! Lilli was hacking loudly and despite my attempts to pass it off as pool water inhalation, concerned parents were throwing me accusatory glances (I knew they were thinking "why bring your sick kid here!") and edging away from me. I used it as an excuse not to be social. I would like to chat with other Mums but I hate meeting people in those types of situations. I'm terrible at small talk and have no idea how to start a conversation with a stranger. Not even when we're sharing the same experience!! To make it worse, I was irritated with myself and my anxiety and shyness since I wasn't being the role model for Lilli that I would like to be. However, Lilli made friends with a rather grotty and independent rubber duck which would float away as soon as it was free of her hands and mouth. It's tough holding on to a wriggling baby, sing songs with actions and keep the duck close by! Of course Lilli would loudly protest the duck's frequent freedom dashes!! Getting dried and dressed wasn't too bad. I gave up on making sure Lilli was completely dry. Damp was good enough. But she did enjoy the shower, though was trying her hardest to eat the hand-held shower head!! I hope it becomes more fun and less farce!

Baby Cuisine

I'm having fun combining flavours for Lilli's snacks. Pureed dishes prepared to date include:

Sweet potatoes, prunes and cinnamon

Mango and yogurt

Dried apricots, banana and yogurt

Peas and carrots

Leeks, potatoes, peas and parsnips

Chicken casserole with root vegetables

She seems to enjoy them all, though none are quite as satisfying as chewing on our toes!

I have many more recipes to try thanks to my new cookbook by Annabel Karmel.

Happy New Year

Day 1 of 2010 and Jon is currently coaxing Lilli to take a nap. This is a habit was hope to break this year! The jet lag isn't as tough flying east to west, however we're still a little out of sync and Lilli's having a hard time getting back on track. Last night, which was NYE, Jon and I were in bed at 7.30. Lilli was asleep in my arms at 5.45. Fireworks woke us around 8pm and I vaguely recall Jon rolling over in bed and muttering about how obnoxious it all was! It's New Years Eve love and it isn't even midnight!

Well I have a few goals for 2010. Unfortunately nothing exciting. They are very ordinary, slightly boring goals. Here they are, listed in no particular order:

1. Exercise so I can tackle the mountains in the summer with Lilli on my back

2. Organise the house (including the basement and garage)

3. Help Jon finish the attic and office

4. And most importantly be the best mother I can be!

Perhaps I should also include 'remember to blog frequently' to my list!

Granny Boot Camp

Granny has been taking Lilli through her paces!! She's determined to witness Lilli's first true crawl! Granny has been using the carrot on a stick method, by placing toys just out of Lilli's reach. Lilli in frustration stretches out to them, rocks on all fours towards them and asks Granny for help. It all falls on deaf ears!

Not content with focusing solely on crawling practice, Lilli is also perfecting her pincer grip, babbling and eating skills. She's enjoying British baby food and she gobbles down pots of banana and peach puree. I rather like this flavour too!