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....

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!

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!

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!

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...

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!

Terrible two's.. uh huh!

Mischief: Gaby Styles.

Moisturising Mummy's bed....
Here Mum - join in, it's fun!

can't get enough of that hot chocolatey powder goodness

The terrible two's really can be terrible! Seems I am ALWAYS cleaning up some mess of Gaby's, or washing something she's drawn on/pooed on/spilt something on - and as for the time-out's I'm issuing? I think her record for one day was about 15!!! Shocking little monster! BUT she is getting more and more adorable by the day, and I love her to little tiny bits & pieces. Nothing cuter than her coming in in the morning and saying "have good sleep?" to me, or when I am putting her to bed at night & she asks for another kiss. Seeing her with Fluffy is also another thing that makes me love her a little bit more each day - she loves that cat SO much - she has to kiss her goodnight before bed - & give her a hug, then in the morning first thing she does when she gets up - and what I usually wake up to, is her checking the door & seeing Fluffy & squealing with delight! She's also just becoming more & more loving toward people and seems to be developing a little bit of a sense of empathy, which surprises me!

What else can I say about lil Ms Gaby... Tonight she is spending her first night at her Dad's - he is having her Christmas Day/Night & Boxing Day - and I'm going to Temuka with Mum & Dad, so I decided it would be a wise idea for her to have a night or two at his house before then, so that when Christmas Day does come - and i'm 90 minutes away, there is less chance of it going badly. I'm pretty sure she'll be just fine, but I guess it'll be a good confidence builder for him, and it'll reassure me some, so I am not stressing all Christmas! It'll be sad not having Gaby for Christmas, but he has as much right to have her on Christmas Day as I do - & his family have as much right to see her as mine do! That said, it will be nice to have some time without having to worry about her - and maybe I can even have a few Christmas Drinks with the 'rents & Deb/Mark!

Tooth #18 is through, so now there are only #19 & #20 to go! This teething thing is almost over! If I believed in him, I'd be praising the lord right about now! Trying to think if there are any other new developmental milestones she's reached.... she seems to be growing a lot, but that's to be expected isn't it! Her language still blows me away. She says a lot of numbers now, just not in order - and she always mimic's the Daily Keno draw - which is so cute, I still don't know where she learnt the number 92 - but she says it regularly!!! She's starting to enjoy books a bit more, sat through a whole story that Nan read her yesterday, and did the same for me earlier in the week - I guess that comes with the age though, her attention span is getting a little longer. She's still on the go all the time - never ever sits still, but that's not so bad! Gymnastics is over for the year, so I might start taking her swimming once or twice a week so we can still get out & do something 'special' together. Although school holidays now - the pool will be busy as heck.