Well, at the grand ole age of 12 1/2 moths Libby decided she could WALK! Shes so cute, wobbling everywhere The most Ive counted is 20 steps, but she just astounds me every day with what shes capable of. Shes trying to talk, and babbles all day, occasionally coming out with a recognizable word. So far she says Mum, dad, poppa, meows, barks and baas, up, jet, blast off (we love singing!) and mmmm for more!

Her birthday went off without a hitch, she had so much fun with everyone spending time with her. She had a wee nap before everyone arrived, then went down around 3 when everyone left so was perfect. She was spoilt rotten! The cake turned out alright too...

She also loves helping grandad mow the lawns, sits there on his back chatting away to him, smiling and waving when she go past :)

I added some photos :)

Thought I would add some photos for you :)

Well it is the middle of September already. I have sent out invites for Libbys party and so far everyone is coming - Im so excited! I hope she has fun.

Its the school holidays, so our usual activites are all off. So we're stuck at home, because its raining! Usually we're off to playgroup today. And library yesterday :( nevermind. Amberlees coming to stay next week, and we have lots planned. Just a quiet one this week.

So what are our plans for next week you ask...Staglands on Wednesday, antenatal first birthday on Thursday and Libbys party on Saturday! Yeah!

last weekend we went to grandma and grandads for a visit as uncle Tony and Mary Anne are off to Australia to live. The weekend before that Libbys dad came to stay and we went to the parent and child show. Busy busy as per usual. This weekend Im up to Palmerston to a birthday party - hope I dont see my cousin who owes me money ans is now apparantly pregnant. How can she look after a baby when she cant take care of herself? Arr. Rant over!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Middle of August already!!

Sunday the 19th August - can you believe how much time has flown past. I have been run off my feet lately, hardly a moment to myself. Im so tired!!
Recap of this week...
MON: Work 8-12. LLL meeting 9.45-11.30
TUE: Playgroup 9.30-11. Meet Ali and Katie for morning tea. Shop for paint stripper and dont get home till after 1pm.
WED: Work 8-11
THUR: Libby had jabs booked for 9.45. Get there at 10!! Library for storytime. Pick up family photo. Scrapbooking in the evening.
FRI: Kathryn comes down from Levin for the day. Go to Upper Hutt for lunch
SAT: Meet Nat from nanny school for lunch. Look after Clem overnight.
SUN: Go to Nat and Marks for afternoon tea. Visit Nicci and Jerm

And thats the brief version. Next week is much the same, excpet on Tues Im catching up with Kim, on Fri meeting Ava from LLL and on Thursday have antenatal meeting at home. So you can see why time goes so quickly - coz Im so busy.

Poppa came over on Sat to do a bit of work in the garden too, hes been keeping busy with work and golf.

Libby is still not sleeping through the night, but she usually only wakes around 10-11 and then sometimes around 3 or 4 or 5. Nothing too major really! Have been thinking about her first birthday, will have a few friends and family around, nothing huge. Hope to do the cake as a number 1 - Libby loves chocolate cake!! She coped really well with her jabs, gave her pamol for a couple of days and she only has a little bump on her leg now.

Well I have the new Harry Potter book - so think I will have an early night!

Heres the family portrait Libby and I had done - she was 10 months old exactly. And another of her looking cute by the door!

no smiles for the camera

Had our "family" photos today at playgroup - Libby decided she wasnt in the mood for smiling tho, so will be interesting to see how they turn out.

Nicci came over last night (Friday), gave Libby her bath and read her stories and played with her too, Libby had such a good time and gave me a few moments to sort out stuff around the house. She slept till 6, fed then slept till 9! No boots on, last night she was miserable so I took the boot off at 3 am - in the morning her little feet still had a mark on the heel so I wont put them on her any more.

Today I decided Libby needed her own room, so after we got back from playcentre I moved the spare room around and moved her cot into that room. Changed my room around too. I hope I can cope with not having her in my room!

I also childproofed the computer area - dads hot rod models are all within reach of little hand so teddy bears have been moved down and cars up - and all have been dusted! Lots of changes today.

Was going to check out the parent and child show in Porirua but decided to give it a miss today. Will see how I feel tomorrow.

Only a few more weeks of solitude!

hump day

Middle of the week, is always hump day. And thats how I felt today - Blah!! Went to work this morning - was really good as the girls both slept so I caught up on my Thats Life magazine. This afternoon went and posted a book I sold on Trade Me, and my competition entries.

libby only had two sleeps today -about an hour each. Ive decided she really needs to have 3! Was quite grumpy tonight. Ate well though, had her jar and custard that I made, then I had lamb chops, mashed spuds and carrots, and she ate some of that too.

Got my hair trimmed by Aarons girlfriend Grace tonight...so nice to have it done.

Have been in contact with the leader from Le Leche League, they are doing an award ceremony for most breastfeeding friendly place in UH - the Library won - so will go to that on Friday morning. Dont have much else planned for the rest of the week.

Have family (Libby and I) photos on Sat. Might have a roast dinner with Nicci and Jeremy this weekend...nothing set in stone yet.

Goodnight!

Tuesday

Tuesday - Playgroup day :) Went along a little late as little miss sunshine was having a wee nap...sang and played - Libby wanted to crawl all over the place so I let her - she had a ball. Had morning tea - didnt want apple or sandwiches just biscuits please!! After that was free play - she had such a blast. So confident, crawls over to other kids to have a look, asked to get picked up by other people! Everyone says how beautiful she is - well I have to agree!!

Went and popped in to say Hi to Nicci, and have big cuddles with her, and show off her crawling (and phone book wrecking) skills

Then off to Eastbourne to visit Tineke and have lunch.

What a busy day!

Now catching up on all the washing mum and dad left before they left for their holiday...the sun is finally shining :) Have to go give poppa a quick call...then thats all folks :) Another day done and dusted

Well last night I thought I would be little miss organised...got libbys clothes ready for the week, got all our breakfast stuff out, all ready for the early start. Libby went down great last night, didnt wake till12.30 to be fed, then again at 5am. Unfortunately I didnt really go back to sleep after that - I had to be up at 7 to get ready for work and was lying there thinking - as you do. So up for a shower, unpacked the dishwasher and then I got the phonecall to say that the little girl I look after is still sick and the mum would stay with her in the morning, and the grandmother will take her in the afternoon....so all that prep for nothing!!!

In the end went to meet a friend for coffee, which was so much fun as we met at the (deserted) mall and let the kids roam wherever they wanted...they looked so cute - Blake was in the lead and Libby followed wherever he went!! Little pants and shoes were quite grubby after that wee adventure...

This afternoonI had arranged to collect a stroller I had brought off Trade Me......weird phone call, weird emails even weirder in person! And Rude to boot!! I had to be there at 3.45pm as she was busy and was home for 5 minutes at this time. Well I got there at 3.45, parked in the drive...a woman doing gardening said she was out and would probably be back in a few minutes, I had said to the guy on the phone the night before if noone was home I could leave the money in the letterbox and they could leave the stroller on the porch so I go up to the door - the person inside knew nothing but I handed her the money and took the pram - as this was happening a car pulls into the driveway and Im yelled at "can you move your car?" well I relpy just let me get the stroller. So she parks on the road, walks towards me going "I only have a few minutes" so I just reply "well I left the money with your daughter" (which is what gardener person had told me) and shes like "shes my neice actually." No "Hi Im so and so I guess your here for the stroller, let me show you how it works"....if she was only calling in for a few minutes then surely its OK for her to park on the road during that time? Man, why do people have to be so awful? The stoller cost me a whole $7. I had to drive for 30 minutes to get there, in Libbys sleep time - and she wouldnt sleep in the car so was grouchy...I didnt need her to be rude too. Anyway - got a cheap stroller!!

And OK rant over!!!

Mum and dad are safely in America....house to myself...and they already have phoned a couple of times!! Libbys been on the webcam to see them...and they have brought her something from baby GAP - cant wait to see it!

Alrighty, signing out for tonight, catch you again soon

Libby can CRAWL!!

Libby can crawl! And she is so fast! I can see that when she learns how to walk she wont be walking but running!! We think she looks like a little wind up doll. Very cute :) the hard part is baby proofing the house. I say NO for plants and the TV but I have moved everything off the coffee table - except things I dont mind her touching, but I cant leave her anymore in one room like I used to, she will either follow me or get into something she shouldnt!! Wires are a huge problem - too many computers and phones around.

Mum and dad are away tomorrow. They fly out at 7 pm from welly and 10 something from Auckland. They went out and got a laptop and video camera to take away so I have been filming Libby all week - in the bath, highchair, swing and crawling around. She is growing way too fast - mum and dad wont recognise her after 5 weeks! Ive set my webcam back up too so they will be able to see her while they are away.

Poppa is good, I helped him clean out nanas wardrobe and take the clothes to the Salvation Army.

Havent been to work as the little girl is sick.

Missed out on swimming - didnt sign up quickly enough. Have to make an effort to get tothe pool - its been a month already!

Thats all folks :)

no more playcentre

I started my new job this week - yah a bit of pocket money :) Im looking after a little girl who is two months younger than Libby two mornings a week. So far so good - she didnt even cry when her mum left and actually smiled when I arrived today. They seem to play happily together until Libby gets too rough and pulls Olivia over - WHOOPS!

Had playcentre this afternoon for the last time. Ive decided its too much ona Wednesday to be out all morning and then all afternoon too - she needs her sleep at some stage of the day! Went to visit poppa this morning (after work!!) and he seems to be a lot chirpier today - he'd even been out to get a paper - all good signs. He had spoken to his Dr and she was having a bad couple of weeks - Nana was her 4th patient to pass away - oh dear!

So now our week consists of Mon/Wed = work, Tues = playgroup, Thur (fortnigthly) antenatal and possibly swimming on Friday - wow thats a full week!

its nice to sit down every once in a while! The pic is Libby in her dolls pram - wont be able to do this in a few months!!

My nana passed away :(

My nana has been sick with bad lungs for a long time, she even had oxygen at home. She went into hospital last Thursday and passed away on Saturday night - a little after 11pm, which in itself is interesting - my bedside light always flickers at 11.05 exactly.....anyway thats another story!!

We had her funeral on Tuesday, and have had people around every day. Mum is off work and dad went back today - I live at home so its been weird to have people around so much.

Poppa is coping but only just. He has basically stopped smoking, so has that horrible cough to show his lungs are trying to rid themselves of years of gunk....I hope he feels better soon.

My brother is moving back home too...he has brought a rental property (that his new girlfriend lives in) and was already flatting so has decided he will save money by moving home.

Mum and dad go away for 5 weeks in two weeks time. They will be touring America.

Libby is now crawling - albeit backwards! Can sit up and clap and say dad - lord knows how she learnt without him around!! Loves her food, especially pickles and broccoli and grapes :)

Ive been housesititng since Monday - and we have had the busiest week imaginable.....and the funny thing is Ive been back at mum and dads every day!! On Monday My friend Nat came to visit, shes over from Australia as her sister has just had a baby. Then it was moving time - two car loads later and I still forgot some things! On Tuesday had our appointment with the orthopaedic specialist about Libbys feet - had to be there at 8.45am, and it was kindve a waste of time - he didnt even look at her feet, just said "carry on and we'll see you in three months". Hmm. OK. Then Groceries and back to mum and dads to get some clothes we forgot.
Wednesday we had playcentre at 12.30 then went home and visited with jet. Thursday had antenatal (at mum and dads!) the plate painting at 1 which was great fun. Then on Friday had swimming lessons at 10. then afternoon tea with the girls from playcentre. Also had a flood to clean up in the laundry and I kidnapped Jet for the day coz I missed him! Mum and dad finally got to see Libby - they had missed her big time! Dad has caught something and was lying on the couch when we got home so it must be serious! So today....nothing planned. Its already 11 am! Libby is back having a sleep. Shes still not over her wee cough and runny nose - poor girl will have an aversion to tissues before long! Hasnt affected her appetite though - shes a hungry wee mite! hhmmm what to make for dinner tonight? Must go check out the freezer!

I just found out today that I am housesitting next week instead of next month! Will have to get organised this weekend - decide what gear of Libbys I need to take with me, and what is purely luxury items I can live without! Im looking forward to some Libby and me family time - it'll be our first time spent with just the two of us, Im really looking forward to it :)

Had swimming lessons this morning - Libby gets so excited when we get there, she really recognises places and events now. Shes loves the water and doesnt even seem to mind putting her face in - as long as theres plenty of warning!

Im doing baby sign language with her, and shes trying out the signs now - so cute to watch and Im really looking forward to being able to communicate with her as she gets older. She knows milk, more and up, and Im going to start adding eat, water and cat - since we have four of them Im sure Ill get plenty of practise in with that one!!

Shes desperate to crawl - she lies onthe floor and her little arms and legs go a hundred miles an hour! She then gets frustrated and just rolls over instead! Wont be long now - my little baby is growing too fast :(

hello to the world

Well here I am. Sitting at my computer. Again! Waiting for Libby to wake up, so I can give her her lunch, then we're off for a walk to return some DVDs and post a parcel. Was meant to be going out for afternoon tea but the baby is sick so its a no-go. Maybe next week. Have so many things to do, people to ring....and no motivation to get on to it! Ok. Maybe I need to get away from the computer and stop procrastinating....here goes....getting ready to log off.....