My 'baby' is a kindy kid!

*wipes away tears* yesterday Gaby had her first day at Kindergarten!!!!  For those of you who aren't from NZ, our kindergarten is between ages 3-5, and (generally) on a child's 5th birthday, they start primary/elementary school.  Regardless of that, it is still Gaby's final stop before being a school kid - and that is such a scary thought!!!  She was so excited all day about going to kindergarten, and when we arrived, she wanted to go straight to the playground - of course!  We spoke to the head teacher & she showed us around again, and explained more about the daily routine, after that Gaby was off outside, I followed her around for awhile, but it was pretty clear she didn't care if I was there or not!  I took the obligatory 'first day at.......' photographs, then told her I was leaving - she gave me a kiss and then yelled out "hey guys, my Mummy is going now".  Very cute!

I picked her up at 3pm and the teacher I spoke to was thoroughly impressed, at how Gaby had reacted to her first day!  She was very 'confident', played with the other kids freely, helped to tidy up at the end of the session - and was in general a 'treasure'.  I had a feeling that she would have reacted that way, but you never do quite know!  It made me feel so wonderful, that MY kid had been such a 'treasure', and that the teachers were impressed with her - I figure that surely it must mean that over my 3 years as a Mama, I have done something right!  She is still going to be attending Ready Steady Play (her preschool) 1 day a week - because she loves that place, and the teachers - and the kids, but if she seems okay with kindergarten this time next year (when she will start going 5 mornings a week), I might cancel her enrolment at R.S.P... which is a bit of a sad thought really!

It really is a crazy feeling - knowing that she is going to be THREE in 13 days time.  It's making me reminisce and remember 'the way things were' - we have BOTH come a long way in that time!  I have been so blessed to have such an amazing little princess, in my life - and it really has been an honour to watch her grow & develop into the wonderful almost-3-year-old, that she is today!  This time three years ago, it was a day past my due date, and I was wondering if Gaby would EVER decide to arrive - somehow I KNEW that she wouldn't be coming of her own accord, and of course my Mummy instinct was right!  That said - I don't care that I had a caesarean - I don't feel like less of a woman for not having a vaginal delivery... my baby was born healthy - and to me, that was/is the most important thing...

20 days to go!

Only 20 days now until my 'baby' turns 3!!!! We have decided to not really have a party for her - we'll just have a special afternoon tea with immediate family & perhaps Sarah & Rikki, and Gaby's boyfriend Josh & his Mummy - Serena. It's going to be so exciting to see how she reacts this year, now that she seems to understand the importance of birthdays (well, that birthdays=presents & cake!)... I just hope she likes what we got her!!!

Terri was up on Saturday for around 24 hours - before flying out to Thailand! Was good that Gaby got to spend some time with her - they made a tent (though not as extravagent as last time!), went out early in the morning & played at the playground, then got Macca's for breakfast... Gaby was at Stu's for the afternoon, so Gab didn't get to go to the airport with us to see Terri off - but that kind of made it easier! Well, less stressful!

Under a week now until Gaby starts kindergarten! Exciting!!! I can't wait to see how she is after her first couple of days there, whether she has found some new friends, whether she likes the teachers, whether she adjusts easily - I believe that answer will be a YES to all of the above, but I guess there is always a chance for things to go a little pear shaped huh...

It's so cool to see her growing, and having all these new experiences - though I'm sure the time will come where I will wish I could stop time & go back to when she was still little & depended fully on me. Bittersweet to think that in two years time, I will be saying "only 20 days until Gaby is 5 & at school".. gosh, it seems so far off - yet so close at the same time.

One month left as a 2yo!

Today is September 26th - this time in one month, Gaby will be THREE!!!!!!!!!!! How the heck did that happen? Seriously?!

Being completely honest, I'm having a hard time dealing with Gaby's behaviour lately - she's so... stubborn & ignorant, and at times she is just plain obnoxious. I know it comes with the age, and Gaby isn't the first child in the history of the world to drive her Mama a bit loco - but once again THIS WASN'T IN THE MANUAL! Heh... Luckily she seems to be fine when she is out with OTHER people. Jason took her out y/day morning & said she was perfect - but when she got home.. wham bam psycho girl... Obviously I just need to figure out the best way to deal with her behaviour, and then be consistent with it.

On the flipside, when she is being good, she is very very good. Her manners are coming along perfectly, sometimes she asks for something so sweetly, I have to battle the urge to give her 10 of whatever it was she was asking for! Guess this is what being a parent is about though, the good, the bad & the ugly... Mum assures me that in 15 years time, she'll start being nice again! Oh-so-reassuring!!!

Not too sure about what we'll do for her birthday yet, might just have afternoon tea with Mum, Dad & Jason, it's labour weekend so everyone will have plans to go away for the weekend, and Aunty Terri will be in THAILAND (! how exciting!). I'm going to make her a Nemo cake - I think, but she is also quite a fan of Mickey Mouse now as well, so am thinking of a Mickey Mouse cake - guess it'll depend now creative I feel like being. Jason suggested we take her to Lollipop's or Chipmunks (massive indoor play area's for kids) - which I think is a good idea, and probably something we could do in the morning - if they're open over the long weekend. I ended up getting her the LeapFrog Scribble & Write, so her birthday present is out of the way, but we might get her a couple of small things over the next couple of weeks....

"want Dora stuff" & another milestone reached

& suddenly Gaby appears to understand what Santa is all about!

Gaby: Mummy want to sit on Santa's knee
Mummy: Santa isn't here for a couple of months Gab
Gaby: Oh - tomorrow?
Mummy: No Gab, not tomorrow
Gaby: Oh. I want to sit on Santas knee
Mummy: Yes Gab. What are you going to ask him for [usually this results in 'a lollipop']
Gaby: I going to ask Santa for Dora stuff!!!!! Santa is going to bring me Dora toys!!!!

... so apparently Gaby now understands that Santa brings toys... this is most likely the beginning of a very long couple of months before Christmas!!!!!!! It is pretty cute that she now understands the big deal about presents, but it's probably a bad thing for me - especially on our trips to the mall! Usually she asks if she can have a lollipop, or an ice-cream - but I am thinking that pretty soon she's going to be seeing toys & asking for new toys! My babe is growing up!

Yesterday I enrolled Gaby at Kindergarten - another milestone! I have always wanted her to go to Kindergarten - because I went, because Terri went - because everyone I know went... but I always had the preschool dilemma - she LOVES her current preschool, all the teachers & the kids - and I was worried it might be hard on her, leaving preschool & starting at kindy, but it seems that I'm able to have her enrolled in BOTH preschool & kindy! She will be going to Kindy Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 12.30-3.00, and will be going to preschool Wednesday, 11-5. Once she turns 3 we get our 20 hours free ECE, so it won't cost me a cent! She starts Kindy on October 12th - which coincidentally, was my due date with her! While we were there yesterday, enrolling, the head teacher invited Gaby to play with the playdough, and she seemed to fit in very easily with the kids who were also playing with playdough - and at one point they took her outside to play on the playground, so I don't think adjustment is going to be a big deal! If it turns out that Gaby really enjoys Kindy, I will probably take her out of preschool - once she is 4 she will be at Kindy for 3-4 hours a day, so there isn't really much point keeping her in preschool. This is the link to the Kindy website:
http://www.kidsfirst.org.nz/

Can't believe my babe is going to be a KINDY KID soon! Makes me feel old - because *I* remember when *I* was a Kindy Kid!

Searching for birthday presents...

What do you get a 3 year old for their birthday, when you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, want to get something that will keep their attention - but that isn't *just* a toy, and is actually somewhat educational??? I can't find the *perfect* 3rd birthday present for Gaby, and it's driving me a tad nuts! I wanted to get her her own toy digital camera, but the cheapest I've found is $180.00, which seems a bit exorbitant to me - especially for a 3 year old.

Jason & I searched around KMart & Farmers, on Thursday, but nothing really jumped out at me as being the PERFECT gift, howeve I THINK we might get her a new LeapFrog [educational] toy - the LeapFrog Scribble & Write http://www.leapfrog.com/en/preschool_toys/scribble.html - it looks like it'd be a really good tool for helping her learn her alphabet, which is something I'd like to start teaching her. My other idea was the LeapFrog Tag Reading System, but it may still be a *little* bit too old for her.. it says on the box it's for ages 4+, so perhaps that will be an idea for next birthday, or even for this Christmas.

I am thinking of asking people to buy Gaby clothes for her birthday, rather than everyone getting her toys - because she already has toooooo many toys, and she has grown out of ALL her size 2 clothing, so we really need to get onto the size 3 clothing. Pity that size 3+ clothing is about twice the price of 0000-2 clothing, it was actually quite a surprise to me, you don't seem to be able to buy just PLAIN tshirts, or PLAIN shorts, or PLAIN dresses, everything has print & frills - and adds an extra 50% to the price of the clothes, if they were just PLAINNNNN. Beggars can't be choosers though huh - and I'd be lying if I said I didn't think all the pretty, bright, frilly stuff is cute!

Gaby had some time with her big cousins today, well, her 2nd cousins - and it was so cute seeing her running around, keeping up with them . Geordie is closest in age to her - he is just under a year older than her, but there was still quite a big difference. She had fun following Livi (12) around, and playing with Will (the birthday boy - 10), they played with a soccer ball, with bubbles, wrote on the concrete in chalk, and explored Aunty Sally's garden (hopefully not too much trampling was done!). A huge difference from when we were there for Will's birthday last year!

Cutest thing ever!

Today when I dropped Gaby off at preschool, she opened the gate to go in to her area - and out of nowhere this little boy raced over, gave her a hug & started holding her hand! Gaby started giggling & then they ran off outside together!!!! It was so-o cute! I spoke to her teacher & she said that Gab & the little boy - Kayne, are inseperable, and play together all the time. It's so sweet that my little girly has a friend - who is a boy!!! I'm wondering if maybe I should invite him to Gaby's b/day party, but I think she's a bit young for that, especially since I don't know his Mum or Dad - it'd probably be pretty awkward..

Nothing else to really update.... Gaby is just as cute & happy as ever!

Has anyone lost an attitude? Because Gaby has picked one up...

Gaby has had the worst attitude this week!!!!!!! It's shocking!!! Admittedly sometimes it makes me laugh, but it is also a bit scary - she has become so argumentative - and not just with me, but with Nan & Poppa as well. First comment that made me think "what the?" was this:
Mummy: Gab, go and put your sweatshirt on please (talking about a hooded, zip up sweater)
Gaby: No! It isn't a SWEATSHIRT it's a JACKET!
Mummy: Fine - go and put it on then
Gaby: No, I don't want to!
then yesterday when we were leaving my parents house (aka Nan & Poppa), she pretty much disagreed with everything I asked her to do... Me & Mum were trying to laugh without her seeing us, and I think it worked, but mixed in with the laughter was also a little bit of fear.. lol. At the Palms I asked her to get in her stroller so that I could do her up, and her reply was "NO, I DON'T NEED TO BE DONE UP!", I told her if she sat in the stroller, that I wouldn't do her up, and that seemed to diffuse the situation - of course when she got out & Nan did her up, she acted as if we'd just told her that Santa wasn't real, or that we'd thrown away all her toys... Out at the Greyhound racing with Jason, he was sitting on a seat, and Gaby kept pushing him, saying "NO THAT IS MUMMY'S SEAT - YOU SIT HERE" (pointing to another seat). It seemed as if every second word was NO, or a bossy command. Not good!!!! I am trying to tell myself that it is just a phase, but I have a feeling it can only get worse..... and if this is any glimpse of what she'll be like as a teen, all I can say is.................... ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh save meeeeeeeeeeeee!

The joys of a child growing up & becoming their own person!!!

Beach fun!

Spring is here! Okay so it seems silly saying that, when it was bucketing down with rain outside, a couple of hours ago - but Friday & Saturday it was definately here!


Friday me & Gaby went out to Sumner for an hour or two - to kill some time before we had to pick Nan up at the airport. It was a glorious day - the sun was shining, there wasn't any wind, it was just really really awesome weather! Gaby loved playing with the sand, and running around, like a lunatic, but I think her favourite part was playing in the little rocky cave area!!!!!! She was exploring, climbing all over the place - she never really stopped! After we had finished playing in the cave & sand - it was time for an ice cream!!!! Needless to say Gaby got verrrrrry messy & sticky -but she had such a fun time eating it, and I got some great photos! After we left Sumner, we took a quick detour out to Lyttelton, so Gaby could go through the tunnel, and see the big ships at the harbour - she loved it too, kept telling everyone that she'd been through the tunnel, and it was 'cool'.


Saturday Jason was here, and we decided it would be nice to take Gaby out to the beach again - so we took her out to New Brighton. She ran around, built sand castles & dug holes, then we had a quick play on the playground - and went for a walk along the Pier.. I think Gaby thought it was pretty cool, being above the water. We watched a couple of surfers for awhile, but the water was too calm & I think we saw them riding one wave! We had another play on the playground on the way back to the car, and then headed to the Palms (mall)! All that activity obviously did its trick, because on the way home from the Palms, Gaby fell asleep - and proceeded to have an 80 minute nap!

Of course after getting used to the nice, warm, sunny weather - it is now grey & cold outside... typical!

My kid is ahead of her time

See her grow!
photos all taken between 26 August & 2 September

2007

2008

2009

I think Gaby is really a 16 year old in a[n almost] 3 year olds body. Why you ask? Because of the following conversation...
Mummy: hey Gaby, your birthday is coming up soon!!!
Gaby: can have a birthday cake!
Mummy: yes you can
Gaby: and candles!!!
Mummy: yes Gaby, you can have candles
Gaby: and I blow out the candles!
Mummy: yes, that's right. What do you want for your birthday Gaby?
Gaby: WANT TO GO SEE BLACK EYED PEAS!
Mummy: you want to and hear them singing?
Gaby: yes! Got got get get boom boom pow!
... my three year old doesn't want a Barbie, a doll, a teddy, a book or anything age appropriate for her birthday - she wants to go to a Black Eyed Peas concert! It made me laugh so hard - which is rather dangerous while you are driving, but it just sounded so cute - and so grown up! I can almost hear her now when she's 16, grumping on at me about wanting to go to a concert!

In other news... Mum is down visiting Terri, in Queenstown - and she's coming home today, so Gaby & I are going to pick her up at the airport. I think the airport is one of Gaby's favourite places in the world, so I'm sure that she isn't going to mind having to go there. It was sad yesterday though, Gaby started crying - out of the blue, and I gave her a cuddle and asked what was wrong & she said "miss Nan, want her come home"... it brought a little tear to my eye. Not long after that she started putting things in a bag, and when I asked what she was doing she told me "packing my bag to go pick Nan up at airport"... awwww!

We seem to have the sleeping problem all fixed now as well - thank goodness! Most nights she stays in her bed all night, hopping in with me around 6 or 7am - and it's lovely - I didn't realise how badly I was sleeping, with her in my bed! For the first while that she was sleeping back in her bed, I would rub her back until she went to sleep - she would cry if I didn't, but NOW she goes to sleep without me sitting beside her!!!!! Yay Gaby!!! She seems a lot happier as well, and doesn't seem as grouchy during the day. Yay for us both getting decent sleep at night!

Gaby is now 2 years & 10 months old - less than two months & she'll be turning three! SCARY! I was looking at her old baby photos, and it is amazing to see how much she's grown, and to think of everything she has accomplished in that time... makes me feel pretty good as well, to know that I am part of the reason she's such an awesome little kid!

The first confiscation of some of Gaby's property.. first of many...

As Gaby is getting closer to 'preschool' age, her behaviour is changing. Yet again. Past couple of weeks she has been so strong willed, it is starting to wear me out!!! I will ask her to do something & she will tell me "no", or just pretend like she hasn't heard me - and when she does eventually do whatever it is, she'll do it differently, compared to how I asked her - almost as if to show me that she still has the upperhand! The most irritating thing though, is her continuously doing things I ask her not to - such as getting into the coffee/sugar/etc - before I wake up, and tipping it all around the kitchen, into the jug, into the toaster, into the breakfast spreads... was kinda funny the first two times, but since then, not so funny.

Today she got a box of my tampons & tipped them ALL down the toilet - shouldn't be a big deal, but due to PMS - it seemed like a HUGE freakin' deal, and I kind of lost it with her - though not inappropriately, I was just more hard than usual. I put her in timeout for her 3 minutes, took her out & explained why she was in timeout, blah blah - but the look on her face, I could tell she didn't give a damn - so I took away all her DVD's!! There is usually a DVD on the TV ALLLLL day - she doesn't really watch them for long, but they're always in the background, while she plays. But as of midday - NO DVD'S FOR THE REST OF THE DAY... and I have to say, since then she has been VERY good, I asked her to tidy up her toys, and she tidied up the shoes and clothes that were lying around as well, then she came to me & kept telling me how much she loves me, and that I'm her favourite... Greasing me up to get her DVD's back - obviously!

There is always a big emphasis on what sort of disciplinarian you are going to be, as a parent - authoritarian, permissive, democratic - will you spank, use timeout, this that & the other thing - but what no one REALLY tells you, is that after making the decision as to what sort of disciplinarian you will be (whether it's a conscious or sub-conscious decision) - you have to continuously adapt and reassess the different methods you USE when it comes to discipline....

Obviously it's a joy to watch your child developing, reaching their developmental milestones, becoming more indepedent & their *own* person.... but sometimes, that process is dang hard, and leaves you pulling your hair out!

Why - thank you Aunty Terri!

All that tent making is tiring!

Last time Aunty Terri visited Gaby, she taught Gaby how to make tents/huts! We all had a blast, sleeping in the lounge on my matress, with a sheet slung between chairs/the couch on either side of us, and draped over the back of the TV. Yes, super fun. Took me back to mine & Terri's childhood, we often went on tent building missions, although usually I was sitting & watching, or assisting, while Terri took charge.

Well, the past THREE mornings, Gaby has gotten up nice & early, and either partially or fully removed the bedding from her bed, in order to make a tent! Friday morning she came in at 6am and told me she wanted to make a tent, quite a strange request I thought, in my half-asleep state. Then this morning upon waking up, I looked into her bedroom & thought it looked as though her bed had no bedding on it, but figured that was just because I didn't have my glasses on... but no. I was right. No bedding. Sheets were draped over the couch in her room, over the 'special light', over the dolls cot - and when I asked what she'd done, she proclaimed she'd been making tents! Could be the beginning of a very frustrating hobby!!!

Of course I love the fact that my princess is using her imagination!!! I think it's awesome, I love seeing her using her imagination, and entering into imaginary play - makes me feel good to know that she's reaching all her cognitive developmental milestones at the right age! I guess I just need to set some ground rules - now that it appears to not be a one off! Maybe this means she is going to stop getting into the sugar, flour, coffee &... well, anything she can make a mess with!

Grandma time!

my little princess, gorgeous as ever

Grandma & Arthur are up for a few days, and Gaby is loving being able to see her Grandma!!! I think last time we saw them was in April?, when Stacey came back from Aus, so it's been a few months. It's nice that Gaby has time to spend with her Great-Grandmother, not something all little kids have the chance to do. She is off to her fathers today, I would have preferred him to have her on Saturday (so Grandma could have all Sunday with her), but he had 'plans' - which turned out to be going whitebaiting... awesome to think he'd sooner spend time outside in the wet, cold, muddy weather, than with his own daughter!

finally, sleeping in her own bed

Everything is going great with Gab sleeping in her own bed! Yay! I think we've finally broken the curse of the not-wanting-to-sleep-in-her-own-bed-ed-ness! It's lovely to see her sound asleep in her own bed, and knowing that she's getting a better sleep than if she was in my bed - and it doesn't hurt that it means I also get a good nights sleep! She's had a few nights where she's slept right through in her bed, but usually she hops in with me in the morning at some point - I think usually around 6-ish? She hops in and goes back to sleep, so I don't really mind!

Only really 2 months + 1 week until Gaby turns three! I'm absolutely flabbergasted, as to how she has gotten so big, so fast... It doesn't feel as if she should be approaching three - two maybe, but not three. Then I look at her - and listen to her, and it's undeniable that she's going to be three... She is getting pretty tall now, all her size 2 pants are getting too short, whereas about a month ago they all fit fine, and she's just starting to look more like a child (as opposed to toddler), in general. Of course one of the biggest giveaways as to her age, is her language - that child can TALK!!!!!!! I don't know if she's 'advanced' as far as language goes, or what - but sometimes I wish I could find the mute button... 99% of the time I love it though - but it does get to the point that S I L E N C E would be nice!

Sleep progress!

FINALLY Gaby seems to be settled, sleeping in her room! At Mum's suggestion, I put her mattress on the floor - that was 15 days ago, and so far she's slept in her room everynight! There have even been two nights where Gaby has slept ALL night in her bed! I think that usually she's getting in my bed around 5am, which is fine by me! It's a huge relief to finally have this sorted, and we both seem to be sleeping better, and a bit more alive during the days!

Still having bed issues

Gaby has barely slept in HER bed all year. It all began when she threw up in her sleep, while in her bed (back in January), and since then, she has refused to sleep in her own bed, much preferring my bed. I tried to be 'firm' to get her sleeping back in her own bed, but no matter how 'firm' I am, she is a lot stronger & I end up giving up. I don't think people realise how hard I DO try to get her to stay in her own bed, but there comes a point (usually around midnight), when it doesn't seem like it to have a screaming toddler & a crying Mummy. That is when she gets in my bed.

I know she needs to go back in her bed, I just don't know how to get her there. Even the mention of sleeping in her bed sends her into tears, and she gets all panicky about it - I don't so much mind her sleeping in my bed, because it's *just me* in my bed, but what happens when I have a partner who stays over regularly?? Can't very well have three of us in the bed! Related to that, I want to get Gaby into her own bed SOON, so that when it does happen to be, that I'm in a relationship, that Gaby doesn't feel like she's being 'kicked out' of my bed, in place of said partner.

I have asked her numerous times why she doesn't want to sleep in her bed, and the answer is always the same, quite simply "I don't like my bed", or "my bed isn't big enough" or - the heartbreaker "I miss Mummy". It's like I'm being pulled two different ways the 'firm' Mummy side, competing against the nurturing Mummy side, I guess it says something that it's always the nurturing side that wins over? The only thing way I can think of, to get her into her own bed - is to BUY HER A NEW BED... but I hardly have the money to do that. I'm keeping an eye on TradeMe, a second hand one would be okay, but then there is still the matter of transporting it between point A & point B.. it would mean trailer hire, and finding someone with a tow bar.....

Hmmmm I keep hoping that one day she'll just snap out of it & decide her bed is awesome, but so far... nothing...

Close to three...

In 4 days time, Gaby will be 2 years & 9 months old - it blows me away, because it still seems as though she's the little bubby I brought home from the hospital all those months ago... But she is almost THREE... It seems so old to me, so grown up - so un-baby-like, and well, I guess it is! I'm going to either get her a bike or a LeapFrog Tag Reading System for her b/day - whatever I get her for her b/day, I'll get the other thing for her Christmas present. I'm starting to think about her birthday party - where & when to have it, whether she's old enough for a 'themed' party. I wanted to make her a Thomas the Tank Engine cake for her b/day - but she seems to have started getting over her little Thomas fad, so I'm pretty much back at square one. She does like Nemo & Happy Feet a lot, so perhaps I could do a Nemo/Marlin/Dori cake, or a Penguin cake. I'm not creative, but I LOVE making & decorating cakes!

I've been reminiscing a lot about what it was like when Gaby was a little bub, and about my pregnancy with her. The up & down of emotions, the joy at feeling movements, the anxiety before ultrasounds & m/w appointments... all these memories kind of scroll through my mind, like a slideshow - sometimes there is even music playing in the background.... Ahhhh dear.. I'm getting so soppy in my old age!

keep on keepin' on!

For once nothing major seems to be happening in the life of Gabrielle Oakden!!! She seems to be well over her illness of a couple of weeks ago - and thank goodness for that, it was not fun seeing her so miserable! We've been working on using our manners the past two or three weeks - and I think it is all finally starting to make sense to Gaby - yayyyy. She regularly asks in the car "May I please listen to Halo", or "may I please have a sandwich" it is so cute to hear her speaking so maturely!

She has been very spoilt lately by her Aunty Terri - but I guess that is what Aunties are for! She got an adorable little denim jacket and a very cool flap book, as well as 5 pairs of cute undies - AND her own (used) iPod, with her favourite songs already loaded! There is apparently a book on the way in the near future - and goodness only knows what else... Now if only we could go and visit Aunty Terri to thank her properly!!! She may be seeing her at the end of this month - fingers & toes crossed, because we haven't seen Terri since... well, I can't even remember, so must have been quite awhile ago!

Sicky McSickerson

Poor Gaby is sick.

Friday night I noticed she was coughing a bit - Saturday morning I noticed she was coughing a lot more - and had a fever, and by Saturday afternoon she was coughing pretty much constantly, so it was off to the after-hours doctor for us! Because Gaby had symptoms of the flu - ie she had a cough & fever, we both had to wear masks & sit in the 'swine flu' part of the waiting room. We must have all looked rather funny (or scary), sitting there with our masks on.

It was around an hour before we got taken in by the nurse for the first assesment (to make sure we really needed to see the doctor), and Gaby was very good - let her take her temperature & check her heart-rate... I think Gaby actually enjoyed it, because at the end of the assesment she got given a lollypop. Probably made her day! She confirmed we did infact need to see the doctor, so back to the waiting room it was for us!

While we were waiting, Gaby crashed a bit more, she got very sleepy and quiet (which is strange for her!), and I noticed her breathing got a bit worse - I was tossing up whether or not to inform the nurse at reception about this, when the doctor finally called us (over an hour after we saw the nurse). He listened to her chest, looked at her ears & throat, and decided that it was possible she had viral pneumonia, or early onset asthma - he then sent us (well, Gaby) for a session on the nebuliser & a chest x-ray.

The nebuliser was horrible, Gaby screamed the whole time. I guess the combination of the noise, the funny thing on her face & the actual medication didn't make her very happy. I'm not sure how much she eventually got in her, but the doctor didn't notice much change. The chest x-ray went a bit better... we had to wait in the radiology waiting room for about 15 minutes, but were then taken in and it was all over in about 3 minutes... the radiologists that were in there made Gaby feel at ease - and me, which was really good. After the chest x-ray it was back out to the radiology waiting room, to wait for our doctor... who eventually came, took us back to his exam room, and told me that Gaby's chest x-ray hadn't displayed any signs of viral-pneumonia (yay), but her chest looked 'kind of asthma-like'. He prescribed her some antibiotics, some liquid asthma meds & sent us on our merry way.

Last time I took her to after-hours it cost us $10.00. So I went in, armed with $20.00, figuring that'd be more than enough to cover the doctor fee, and any prescription fee. But no. $35.00 for the examination, I was obviously short, so the receptionist told me she'd just send me out an account so I could pay for the prescriptions. We went across the hall to the emergency pharmacy (it is great they have doctor, radiology & pharmacy all in the one building) - handed over the script. 20 minutes later our prescription is read - I presumed it'd be $2.00 - because Gaby's prescriptions are always $1.00 at our pharmacy - so you can imagine how much I choked when the prescription fee was $21.50!!!! She explained that the medication for the asthma wasn't subsidised, hence the price. I told them I only had $20.00 & the pharmacist told me to just bring the rest in when I was over that way (ha! not bloody likely)....

We get home - 3 1/2 hours after going to the after-hours, I give Gaby her first dose of her medications, she gets all cozied up on the couch & falls asleep. The doctor then rings me. Of course I'm freaking out, thinking they must have picked something up on the chest x-ray after all, but no - he is ringing to tell me not to give her the liquid asthma meds, becuase it isn't the one he prescribed - that the pharmacy didn't have any of what he prescribed in stock, so the pharmacist swapped it for a similar medication.... I was so pissed. The $21.00 medication was USELESS! He then told me he'd written a prescription for an inhaler & asked if I could go in & pick it up, I explained Gaby was asleep, but I would try and see if someone would go and get it for me. In the end Stu went and got it - he had asked if there was anything he could do to help, and well - that was a big help. Of course when he brought it over he acted as though he was some knight in shining armour, that he'd saved my life & that I owed him something....

Fast forward to Monday morning... Took Gaby to our regular GP to be reassesed. She said that she is cautious about saying Gaby has asthma, seeing as it is her first episode like this, and said she may just be a 'wheezy child'. She checked her heartrate & oxygen levels - her O2 levels were borderline, so she gave us a prescription for some steroids, to help her lungs get better a bit faster... but other than that, she seemed to have improved a lot...

Sooooooooooooo... that's our sick weekend.. It scared the hell out of me when I realised how much Gaby was struggling with her breathing, and I'm so glad I decided to go to after-hours, because I think that if I hadn't, we would have ended up at A&E in the early hours of Sunday morning....

Where did THIS come from???

Laxing out - very ladylike, watching TV

In the past Gaby has always said "can I have breakfast now" or "can you get me _______", but this morning... out of the blue I get:

"GET ME TOAST - NOW!"
"GET ME A TISSUE - NOW!"
"PUT THE LION KING ON - NOW!"

someone has suddenly - literally overnight, become very bossy!!!!! Yet another example of how quickly a child can change - I guess now it's back to the drawing board, to figure out a method for teaching Gaby to NOT BOSS MUM AROUND! Toad. It sounded cute the first time she said it, but after that first time, it was irritating. I guess it's just a glimpse of what the tween & teen years are going to be like huh....

Still amazed that she can change so much overnight......

Good behaviour - do I worry?

Gaby has been sooooo well behaved the past couple of days, it is wonderful. BUT it makes me wonder if this is the metaphorical 'calm before the storm' as far as kiddy behaviour goes? Friday and Saturday I didn't raise my voice at her once, and had no troubles getting her to go to sleep... I have praised her numerous times so she knows that I'm really proud of her - hoping that perhaps she'll realise she should be that way all the time.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

I must be an idiot, being worried about good behaviour?!!!!! Funny how too-&-fro toddlers behaviour can be. She can be a total devil for a week, have me at the end of my tether, and then all of a sudden she is being a little angel - and I don't think butter would melt in her mouth! She has really been a total joy the past couple of days, it's lovely!!! Guess it's these sort of things they do to keep us on our toes - can't let us get TOO used to one sort of behaviour! That'd just be too easy after all!

The never ending circle of parenting style adaptation

my lil' Mama, giving Georgia a cuddle

Oh my. Gaby is becoming rather assertive. I know it's a wonderful thing that she's reached this developmental stage.... BUT it also has me tearing my hair out!!! She has gone from doing what I ask her to do, when I ask her to do it - without much protestation, to letting me know in no uncertain terms when she doesn't want to do something - when she doesn't want to go somewhere, when she doesn't want to wear something, eat something, read something, play something... I guess it's just a glimpse of how she is going to be as she gets older.

... crazy monkey!

I always figured that you would have a parenting style that was the same right throughout your child's life - but I am fast learning that as your child changes (grows older, reaches more developmental milestones & stages) - you have to adapt your parenting style right along with the child! Seems that when I get on top of parenting - when I figure out the best way to deal with negative behaviour, positive behaviour, tantrums etc etc - that is the time that Gaby decides to change. It's a never ending circle!

officially closer to 3 than 2!

Cheeky McCheekerson

Last Sunday Gaby officially turned 2 & a half! 30 months old - wow, where has time gone? I know I say that in almost every entry - but it's so true, time just flies when there is a little one who has you enchanted!

What is new with Gaby? The potty training continues to go well, it is very rare to have an accident now, which is AWESOME! She's also started using the toilet as much as the potty, so it seems as though the transition between potty - toilet, isn't going to be so hard after all! It's so nice to not have to change nappies all day long - Gaby wore a nappy for a couple of hours on Friday because she was sick (& grumpy & exhausted) - and it was SO weird seeing her with a nappied butt!

Tea party with Ali!

Gaby seems to be understanding language more lately - it's really awesome. Like when it's dark she says its 'darking' (aww!)... She has also started saying "I think it's......." (such as I think it's in my belly, I think it's a cat, I think it's wees...), and I wondered if maybe preschool had been concentrating on use of language the past few weeks, but no! Gaby figured it out herself! I'm so proud of that little lunatic! She also freaked me out the other day - she pulled two paintings from the artbox at preschool - and they weren't hers. I told her this & she said "no, this is Leo's" - I checked & it WAS Leo's... I figured it was a lucky guess - then she took the 2nd painting & said "this is Leah's"... I looked - and it WAS by Leah! Scary. The paintings were done in early March, so it wasn't like she'd seen them painting them earlier in the week either.

I do miss having a little bubby - BUT having a toddler who is learning things every single day & continually blowing your mind, well - that is pretty awesome as well!

bug girl!

Gaby has started enjoying BUGS! Not a passion she gets off her Mama, I guess we can thank Poppa for that one. Yesterday she was holding a caterpillar & a grasshopper - which I guess was kind of cute, but the moment she tries to pick up a spider, well, she's on her own!

Potty training is going REALLY well. Over the weekend we spent a lot of time away from home (well, most of it!) - and she didn't have any accidents either at Nan & Poppa's or at the mall/shops we went to! She has started doing wee's in the toilet a lot more, which is awesome - because I was wondering how to try & transition her from the potty to the toilet. As I type this, she is at preschool without any nappies on - so hopefully today is a success as well!!! I don't mind if she has accidents, because it's still pretty new to her, but I have been very lucky with her, she's only had a few accidents - and they've all been the wet pants variety - not pooey pants.

What else is happening in the world of Gaby? Her imagination is really starting to get a good work out, and she never fails to amaze me! This morning she was 'cooking dinner' - she had some crackers, a wheatpack & ball in a pot & put them in the (not turned on) oven. When she said she had to check it, she asked for an oven mit because it was hot!!!! So cute!!! She also looks at my curtain & points out fishes & dinosaurs in the pattern (there are none!), and when she looks at my wallpaper - which has flowers on it, she says "walking in garden with Grandpa Dave" (her Father's step-dad)... Very clever my little girly!

Long overdue update!

I have been a bit slack lately updating the blog! The most interesting/exciting thing that has been happening lately, is Gaby's sudden understanding of doing wee's & poo's in the potty!!! All of a sudden she just started going to the potty when she needed to do one or the other (or both) - and on Saturday spent most of the day in just undies! Today is an undie day as well, and so far so good!!! She is very proud of herself whenever she goes in the potty, and I make a big deal of showing her how exciting it is - and admittedly I do give her a little treat whenever she goes! Small price to pay to get her potty trained!

Other than the pottying, she is continuing to grow and talk and do things each day that amaze me, and/or make me laugh. She really is a joy to have around - but I am guessing there aren't really any parents who wouldn't say that about their kiddy! She's still loving preschool & the increased hours (now that I'm back at uni) don't seem to have phased her at all - not that I thought they would - according to the teachers she is a very good helper... aw, that's my girl!

We are still having issues with her sleeping habits - ever since she vomitted in her bed almost two months ago! The past week or so she has gone to sleep in her bed, but gotten up before I have gone to bed, or has hopped into my bed with me before I've gone to sleep. I would prefer that she slept all night in her own bed, but I eventually realised that me trying to get her to stay in her bed was stressing both of us out - so I guess you could say I've given in & am not 'fighting' her when she wants to sleep with me. Usually she has a good nights sleep in my bed, so it isn't so bad I guess. Last night she did stay in her bed, until some point this morning, so hopefully that will be a theme from now on!!!

Sleep issues...

For the first time in ages Gaby is having sleep issues.

Ever since she threw up in her bed last week, she has HATED her bed & not wanted to sleep in it. She will only go to sleep if I stay with her - and then she wakes up REALLY easily, and joins me in my bed at some point during the night. It's been going on for a few nights now & we are BOTH starting to show the signs of sleep deprivation.

Last night I made up the pull out couch in her room & lay with her until she went to sleep - and she didn't come through to my room until 7am, so maybe she can sleep on that for a few nights. I know it isn't ideal, definately not the same as sleeping in her bed, but at least she's staying in her room and we're both getting a good sleep. I'm thinking of changing the position her bed is in, to see if that makes some difference - I'm not sure it will, but it's worth a try.

I'm guessing that when she is in her bed she thinks she's going to vomit - and obviously that upsets her. I would probably feel the same way I guess!

Ha, serves me right for bragging about how good of a sleeper Gaby is!!!!!!!! You'd think I'd have learnt by now to never say something like that & think I wouldn't jinx myself!

'mobit'...

Yesterday Gaby vomitted (properly) for the first time. Poor thing. She came out of her room after her nap & I smelt the stench of vomit straight away - she had puked all over her pillow. We cleaned that up and went into my room to read books. She got off my bed & then started retching & next thing I knew, I was COVERED in vomit.

Strange thing - I didn't once thing "oh gross", or feel the need to be sick myself -like i can guarantee I would have if it had been someone else who'd thrown up on me! I didn't know what to do first so stripped off, put my dressing gown on, then took Gaby to the bathroom & put her in the bath. After I'd cleaned her off I cleaned up the vomit from my bedroom floor - and Gaby took a lot of interest, telling me I was "cleaning the mobit". I think she thought that she had been naughty for throwing up everywhere, so I reinforced over and over that it wasn't naughty and she had no control over it!

Luckily there was no more 'mobit' after that episode, but last night she was very cuddly and didn't want me to leave her room while she was awake - I think finally she went to sleep just before 10pm, only 3 hours later than usual...... Today she seems to be a bit off colour - she was very grumpy earlier, but at the same time very clingy. I hope she isn't coming down with some nasty bug... I hate seeing her sore or sick!!!

Not too bad I thought - she's 27 months old & now is the first time she's vomitted.... Here's hoping it doesn't happen too often!

My parrot...

Gaby has decided in the last week or so that she's going to be a parrot. She repeats EVERYTHING I say - it's so funny, and also rather impressive, her language acquisition is increasing each day, and never fails to amaze me! She came into my bedroom this morning when she woke up & told me to get dressed - I said "no, give me a couple of minutes to wake up" - and what'd she say? "Be patient Gaby"... which I just so happen to say to her about 1 thousand times a day! Rather funny to hear her saying it.

I had basically a whole weekend without Gaby, which was weird. Refreshing but weird! Friday night Mum & Dad had her & then Saturday night Serena had her - then Sunday during the day she was at her Father's. I got all the housework done & had a chance to relax and actually sleep - feel a lot better on an emotional level now. Of course I missed her though! I was in the car at one point & a song of Pink's came on - that Gaby sings along to, and it made me sad that Gab wasn't there to make me giggle at her singing! This weekend Stu is having her on Saturday night - he was meant to have her the last 2 weeks in a row but each week something 'came up', so we will see what happens this weekend.

I think he thinks I want him to have Gaby overnight just so I can have a little break - but that's not the reason. I think it is important for him & Gaby to spend as much time together as they can - because Gaby is getting to an age that she's going to start notice if she isn't seeing him much - and I want her to have a close bond with him, which is only going to come from spending decent amounts of time together. I want them to BOTH be comfortable with her spending the night there, incase there is a point in the future that he needs to have her for longer than 9 hours a week! Hard to figure it all out though. I was admittedly really p*ssed off each time he told me he could no longer have her over night.. it's hard to not do things to 'pay him back' - because as much as I'd like to do something mean & vindictive - the only person who is going to suffer is Gaby.. and I don't want that...

Mummy's little helper

Today I decided to get onto the mammoth task of tidying Gaby's bedroom. Her room looked like a tip, but luckily it was fairly easy to tidy - just had to sort out her clothes & toys that were ALL over the floor. Of course one thing led to another & I ended up sorting out her drawers, putting clothes that are too small in a bag, then I sorted out her toys & put the ones she no longer plays with in a bag.

Naturally Gaby was with me the entire way - helping me pick things up and put them in bags, or to put clothes on the couch, her toys on the bed - but of course it didn't take long for her to get sidetracked while doing each task! I put a new mesh hamper in her room & explained that whenever she takes dirty clothes off, they have to be put in the hamper... we then put a few dirty items in - it was all going swimmingly, 5 minutes later I looked & the clothes were out & GABY WAS IN! It was rather funny, but made me realise that getting her to 'be tidy' isn't going to be as easy as I thought! Of course *I* need to keep at it as well, be a good role model and all of that good stuff.....

Sometimes with Gaby I feel like I need instructions - I have no idea at what age I can expect her to do specific things - like how old she needs to be before I can start expecting her to follow instructions to clean up..... I guess I just have to play it by ear huh...

A strange little irony

Yesterday Gaby was being a toad.... and she got me right to the end of what I could handle, so I put her in her bedroom - where she could play with her toys etc, while I took a bit of timeout so I could settle down. Many tears were shed, but eventually I felt better & went in to apologise to her and to get her dressed so we could go out. I saw her and started crying & she came and sat by me & said "Mummy sad" - and her little bottom lip was trembling and SHE was going to cry, then she gave me a big cuddle & said "I love you"....

Ironic that the person who had made me angry to begin with, was the one person that could make me feel better so quickly...........

Toilet training seems to be underway!

Yesterday I noticed Gaby running out of the lounge & into the bathroom twice - to do wees!!! There was absolutely NO prompting from me - so that makes me realise that she IS ready to do this toilet training thing, and it also made me realise that it can't be forced. It's all very good me telling her to sit on the toilet & do wees, but she needs to learn for *herself*, what it feels like when she needs to go to the toilet - and to go when she feels that way.

Whenever she does wees or poos on the toilet, I congratulate her and tell her how proud I am of her, what a big girl she is - and then we high five - and she usually runs off after that to high five the cat! She seems to get a big buzz out of being able to wear 'undies', and whenever she puts them on she says "tell Mum if need do wees" - which impresses me, because it means she understands that she isn't meant to do wees in her undies. & heck, she looks so cute running around in her big girl undies!!!

It is a little sad though - all the things that made Gaby a baby are disappearing...
She is communicating by talking now, rather than crying
She is sleeping in a single bed, rather than in a cot or bassinet
She is starting to wear undies more & more & is going to the toilet, rather than needing me to change her nappy
... it's amazing, my little baby girls is now a child, doing more and more for herself each day - soon she isn't going to need me for anything, well, she won't depend on me as much...

I love being a Mummy.. and I'm so proud of my Gaby... and I guess in a way, proud of myself - because she is happy, healthy & developing as she should be. And heck - she's just gorgeous!

Our trip to Temuka, Wanaka & Queenstown

Last Wednesday I decided it'd be a nice idea to travel the 2 hours(ish) to Temuka, to stay a couple of nights with Deb & Mark... Planned to be home by midday Friday so we could keep our regular lunch-date with Mum at the Palms. Thursday Terri text me & managed to convince me to travel the extra 4 hours to go & visit her in Queenstown. I had planned to go to Wanaka & Queenstown later this month, but figured that since I was already 2 hours of the way there, why not just go through then.

Friday morning we left Temuka & met Grandma, Arthur & Stacey in Omarama, before travelling over the Lindis Pass, to Wanaka (well Albert Town, but close enough), where we set up camp at Grandma & Arthur's house. Stacey is staying with them for the next few weeks before she goes to Australia, so it was a nice chance to catch up with her too!!! Friday nothing major happened (minus of course all the travelling) - but Grandma did take Gaby down to the river, and Gab took great pleasure in laying in the [muddy] puddles down there!!! She came home looking muddy and dirty, but it was so adorable!

Saturday midday me, Stace & Gab left for Queenstown (about 80 minutes away from Wanaka) to stay with Terri for the night! We arrived in Queenstown after Ter finished work & then went up to the supermarket to buy some buns & salad stuff for lunch - then went to a playground nearby so Gab could have a play & we could have a bit of a picnic. Was lovely - such a scenic spot compared to the playgrounds in cities! Could see the Remarkables & hear the jetboats on the lake... Amazing. After we got back to Terri's we went for a walk down to Lake Wakatipu to have a swim. Trust me, it was cold - but very fun! Terri & Gab stayed together on the shore & in the water up to Terri's waist, but me & Stace swam out deeper... & I got rather dizzy trying to touch the bottom in a particularly deep part of the lake. I was still light headed two hours later. Saturday night we had a BBQ for dinner, then just hung around Terri's - was nice to just chill out!

Sunday we went into Queenstown (Terri lives in Frankton, which is like a suburb of Queenstown) & went to watch the National Rugby 7's - sexy men in short shorts - who could ask for more? We were there for a couple of hours, but stupid ignoramus' kept standing in front of us so we didn't really get to see much!!! It was pretty hot & I managed to end up with a little patch of sunburn on my leg! Afterward we went back to Terri's - and then down to the lake for another swim, before heading home about 4.45 that night. We got back to Grandma's & were met by a lovely dinner, then just had a quiet evening. Stacey, Grandma & I played Yahtzee later in the evening, and it was a lot of fun - full of lots of laughing, and cheating on Staceys behalf!

Monday... Monday... I don't really remember Monday. Oh, we made a waterslide, which was very fun, but me & Stacey both woke up sore & bruised & scraped the next day - never used to happen when we were kids! Monday night we went into Wanaka for a swim in Lake Wanaka - which was reallllllllly nice! Was cold to start with, but you soon got used to it! Was quite sad when we had to leave - but Gaby was ready for bed, so it wouldn't have been a good idea to stay!

Tuesday we were up bright & early, I packed & we left at 8.45am, to head home. Just out of Wanaka I picked up a hitch hiker! He was really nice, quite talkative too - he was tiny & I could have squashed him if he'd tried anything evil! Temuka we stopped and picked up Mark - and brought him through to Christchurch to pick up their new truck. We got home at 4.15 - was definately a relief to be home, but at the same time it was sad, because we'd had such a nice time away!!!!!!!!!!

I will post photos on a seperate blog entry!