Dear Addison - Two and a Half Years Old

Dear Addison,

I'm not quite sure where half a year went since your birthday but here we are. You have grown in a lot a ways but especially upwards. Still tracking on the 50th percentile line as always and you will probably end up around the same height as me - around 170cm. You hair has also grown a LOT, especially when comparing photos from a year ago! It reaches more than halfway down your back now and is quite wavy, also like mine. Since it is so long we need to tie it back and this proves to be a daily battle, a sticker rewards chart is about to be implemented I think.

Speaking of sticker charts, toilet training is back on in full force. After a good run just before you hit two, you decided you wanted to be back in nappies and we followed your lead. You have now decided that undies are the way to go and quite often use the toilet at home, and you are pretty good at preschool and only have the occasional accident, here's hoping it continues!

You have sprouted all of your teeth now, the 2 year old molars arrived just after you turned two, the bottom ones first.

You are a pretty good eater right now, quite happy with routine. As with most toddlers you have a sweet tooth and would eat treats all day if you could so we make sure to offer plenty of fruit and veges. You most requested dinner is 'Chicken and Peas' which we can fulfill in various forms. You enjoy pasta, noodles and cous cous, and potatoes when they have the skin taken off. You love sauces and gravy and dipping your food in things. You eat the tops off broccoli and cauliflower and really enjoy cucumber. You also really like kidney beans which you call 'jelly beans'. Weetbix is your breakfast of choice although you rarely eat it all. You are good at telling us when you are full and know the rule is that once you are finished there is no more food. You still graze but are getting better at eating at set meal times.

You are thriving at preschool, you go for 3 full days a week while mum studies. You have been going since March and are now very comfortable with the teachers and other children there. You tell me all the other children's names and can identify their parents faces when they come to pick them up. You spend a lot of time outside in the sandpit and riding the bikes. You also love playdoh, stories and duplo and have made a couple of close friends there. Sometimes one of the amazing mums comes in and does some face painting which you have really taken a shine to!

This beautiful tiger was painted at her besties 3rd birthday and she spent the whole day roaring like a tiger!

Another favourite is dressing up. You are getting pretty pro at putting on and taking off clothing (including nappies) and I regularly find you after your (occasional) naps with very interesting clothing combinations and you are very adament in your days outfit. I have been stashing away a box of dress ups that I will continue to add to because I love that you are enjoying imaginative play.

You love being in the shed with Daddy and he is so patient with you and teaches you how to use the real tools. He is so excited of the many years to come and is already planning out projects that you can do together.

Other things you love include: being outside, being a doctor, climbing, fluffies, doing whatever mum or dad is doing (or eating, or wearing), playing with Dolly, playgrounds, water play, sandpits, playing with the hose, not wearing clothes, reading stories, going to the library every week, telling us what to do, pretending to go to sleep in the middle of the day, doing everything yourself and just generally being cute.

There is so much more I could say about the beautiful girl you are, we are loving being your parents, you push us everyday to be more patient and you show us what it is to love someone with all of your heart.
xx

On using my brain again - a life update

This year I decided on a whim to do something crazy, awesome and a little bit scary.

I enrolled myself in a degree level course by correspondence.

The course I am doing is a Bachelor of Applied Science (Information and Library Studies). The end goal? To be a qualified librarian, or archivist or even work in the Sound Archives of New Zealand (Nga Taonga Sound and Vision).

I am just wrapping up my first three papers now and I have discovered quite a few things about myself over the last few months.

-I am not a last minute person. Those of you that pull all-nighters to get assignments done on time - it's not for me. I am that annoying person who has it done a week before the due date. Sorry bout it.

-I am motivated. Addison goes to preschool three days a week while I study and I make the most of that time! The chance of me getting any work done with her around is slim to none so I beaver away. 

- I was craving time to use my brain. It's not that I didn't love being a full-time stay at home mum with Addison, because I so did and we had so much fun growing together and it has been a privilege doing life on one income (and still are). But after nearly two years I needed to have some space to myself so I could be a better mum, wife and person in general.

-I can pretty easily ignore the housework on a study day.

-I can think in long term goals. This course will take me 2.5 years if I can work hard and keep up the pace I have now as well as study over the summer months. In the big picture, that really isn't a long time. Addison will almost be at school when I am qualified which works well with getting a job that will fit in with whatever our family gets up to.

-I really enjoy studying. I would happily consider doing a masters thesis or PHD somewhere down the line.

This last semester of courses has been a great start. It was a good kick up the bum when I felt like the courses were easy. I got a less than ideal mark (which really wasn't that bad) but because I had studied before I thought that I should fly through everything. Well there is still lots to learn Amy! Also adjusting to a new way of learning - all online based with forum support from tutors, is a lot different than a classroom or lecture scenario. Learning to understand the assignment brief and jump back into APA referencing - which luckily has come back to me now!

I have been learning about information and how it works in today's society, how to search for information going deeper than Google, how to evaluate and justify resources, the library systems and processes that go on behind the scenes and how technology is changing the information landscape among other things.

A librarian is an information specialist and part of the pull of the job for me is the customer service focus. I enjoy solving problems and doing the monotonous tasks that most people dislike. My focus may change over the course and that is what I want. I want to find out where I fit and where I can use my skills to help people.

 I may be using my blog to review some books and things, something I am doing for fun, and as professional development of sorts.

If you have questions about my study, please ask! If you need any help with any study or research you are doing then let me know! I am also happy to proof read assignments to the best of my ability.
Thanks to those of you that have supported me so far on this journey, especially Dave who has to put up with my lack of housework and word vomit after three days of very little social interaction.

Crochet Jellyfish (pattern here)

I am still busy as ever crafting too, I am trying to find my niche in the crochet/craft market, if anyone has tips on establishing an online shop or marketing in general then hit me up! Otherwise I am working on custom stuff and building up stock for a market near the end of the year hopefully.

We are gearing up for more house renovations too, our small budget is funded by us selling stuff we make so soon we should have some more sandpaper (expensive!) and plaster and then it is all systems go. Our next space to renovate is the second small hallway and probably the laundry or the lounge. We are also getting a new fireplace installed somewhere in the middle of the winter so that will be happening too.

Date night

Addison is growing up super fast and is really enjoying her few days at preschool as well as her independence at home. She can now do lots more around the house like choose her clothes, get up to the table, help me bake and help me feed the cat so she feels like a big girl. Her speech is getting really good now and she is starting to do a lot more imaginative play and has begun trying to sing songs a lot more too. She still gets frustrated a lot but she is learning to ask for help and learning to have some down time too as naps seem to be declining.

So there is a bit of a life update from me, crazy big things are happening!

xx Amy

Sew Lately - An Attempt at Pattern Making

 Recently, this dress headed out to one of Addison's little friends for her 2nd birthday.

This dress was based on a pattern that I can't remember where it came from but I have altered it pretty significantly. I made a dress out of navy and white chevron material, way back when Addison was coming up to a year old. At the time the dress was a bit big and ended down by her ankles! It still fits her pretty well at 2 years old but she has clearly grown taller as it is now knee length!

When making this dress for a 2 year old I lengthened the skirt length and also the width of the bodice to allow the elastic to stretch and fit for longer.

The materials I used were a lightweight cotton (pink) and a heavier quilting cotton (arrows). It was an interesting combination for the dress as the bottom band weighs down the skirt but makes for some pretty cool swirly movement. 

I used french seams for the majority of the garment and enclosed the rest since I don't own an overlocker. This makes it look nice and tidy on the inside and stops the dreaded fraying!

I am still a pretty 'wing it' kind of sewer and I would love to learn more about the pattern making process so I can troubleshoot a lot of my mistakes. The skills I am improving at though are edge stitching and keeping seams even and neat. 

The matching oversized bow headband was a free pattern I found in The Natural Parent Magazine and it is so cute! There will definitely be more of these made in the future.

Here is the first dress on Addison at age 22 months. I love the fabric combo and she always gets loads of compliments when wearing the dress. Now if only she will give up her trackpants phase so I can get her wearing pretty dresses again!

Dear Addison - 2 Years Old!

Dear Addison,

Two weeks ago you turned TWO! You had a great birthday week with plenty of cake (which was the most important part in your opinion!). On the day of your birthday you got to stay in your PJs all day for Pajama Day at preschool. We took in a little cake for you to share and you got to blow out your candles and sing some songs. You came home and opened a couple of presents with Daddy and Mummy and got another piece of birthday cake at home and went to bed a happy camper.

Then a couple of days later Nana and Koro arrived and then that Saturday we had a little casual birthday party with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunty and Uncle and a few close friends. It was fun and simple and you got some beautiful gifts. We made you a Thomas cake and you loved the 'toot toots' around the top.

You are growing up into a beautiful girl and your baby days are long gone. You want to do everything your 'self' and have gotten really good at climbing - especially onto your chair ready for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Food is still one of your favourite things. You are the usual fussy toddler though and you don't eat everything we serve. You have a sweet tooth like your Mum and you also enjoy kiwifruit, feijoas, marmite sandwiches, honey on toast, weetbix with sauce (golden syrup) and spaghetti.You must be going through a growth spurt because the last few nights you have been polishing off 2 weetbix faster than me for breakfast and downing just as much dinner as us then asking for more! It's one of the first times you have cleared your dinner plate!

You had a good go of potty training at around 22-23 months and were in undies during the day for a few weeks with only a few accidents but you hit a regression and are currently refusing to wear them but you will still happily use the potty occasionally. We aren't pushing you in this aspect  - I know you will get there in your own time.

You also moved to your big single bed at the end of March and you have really taken to it! Sometimes, especially during the day, you get distracted by the toys in your room and skip a nap but you will happily be in your room for a couple of hours of quiet time so I still count that as a win! You have fallen out of your bed twice now but it doesn't seem to bother you after a quick cuddle. We have a video monitor that comes in extremely handy for checking what you are up to in your room. Sneaky parents we are!

 I looked in your mouth the other day and spotted your bottom two molars (the second set) coming through. I hadn't noticed much of a change except that you have been sucking on your hand a bit the last few weeks and have a bit of dribble rash. They don't seem to be causing you as much pain as last time which is good. I'm looking forward to leaving the teething train behind.

Your vocabulary is exploding everyday. You say up to 4 word sentences sometimes and have reached the NO! stage. You are good with your manners but only when prompted so I will keep at it. You have started to sing along and do actions to songs - your favourite being 'The Wheels on the Bus'.

You have finally decided that cuddles are actually pretty nice to have and I finally get a good few. Not quite at the wrap-your-hands-around-my-neck level, but a good snuggle anyway.

   Your favourite toys at the moment are your Duplo (to build castles and towers), Dwight of course, your soft toys including Piggy (a Peppa Pig one), Rainbow the reindeer, Kitty and Piglet. Others rotate in the favourites list. You love trains and dinosaurs and dolls and prams. You love drawing and painting and you love collecting fluff (like pillow stuffing). You also love bouncing on beds and balancing on a long piece of wood like a mini balance beam.

   You are getting so adventurous which is a huge change from the cautious baby you were. It takes a bit of getting used to seeing you climb the ladder to a slide that is way taller than me and happily slide down, or standing on the coffee table and try and jump into our arms! I can now see how the grey hairs start to appear. 

  We love you Addison and we pray that you feel loved and surrounded by the village that is helping raise you.
xx Mummy and Daddy

Dear Addison - Painting with Droppers

Addison, today you had a day at home with Mum. (11/04/16) After having breakfast and dancing to The Wiggles we decided to do a bit of painting. I remembered that we had some droppers saved and so I watered down some red and blue paint, put out some newspaper on the floor and gave you a few sheets of coloured paper.
I showed you how to squeeze the dropper and suck up the paint and after a while you got the idea! You have some bath toys that do the same thing so you were a pro in no time! You were concentrating very hard at making sure the paint stayed on the paper.

You also liked using the dropper like a paintbrush and drawing with it which made some lovely designs.

I reminded you to stay sitting on your bottom while we painted so you didn't walk through the paint. You did quite well at following that instruction but there was still paint on the bottom of your sock somehow. (You only had one sock on!)
I had a lovely morning painting with you Addison and now I have lots of beautiful pieces of art that we made together.

Smile for the camera!

Another cheesy smile!

Dear Addison - 21 Month Update

Dear Addison,
It has been a loooooong time since I have had time to sit and write about how much and how fast you are growing up! You are now 21 months old and that 'big girl' number 2 is coming up too quickly!

So much has happened since I last wrote, you were only 13 months old then!
The biggest physical milestone - walking - happened at 15 months. You stood up one day all by your self and balanced there for about 30 seconds before falling down. You did that a few more times then the next night you took a bunch of steps, then walked down the whole hallway, falling on your bum every few steps. You were off after that and it only took a few weeks for you to get really comfortable and become a pro. You are now experimenting with climbing, you can climb up and down all stairs confidently and are practicing with ladders. Playgrounds are a big hit, lots of switching from swing to see-saw to slide, back to swing. I have multiple heart-stopping moments each trip we take when you take risks that I am not ready for like running in front of moving swings. 'Welcome to parent-hood' I hear you all saying!

Marmite-faced summer splashing

Another thing we get a lot of comments on are your teeth! You decided to get most of your teething done in one big lot. You had 8 teeth when you turned one and two months later you had 16. It was a rough two months of teething powder and pamol and lots of night wakings but after those 8 teeth came through you were good as gold. Now we just need the second set of molars to come through and we are doneski. You have a beautiful cheeky grin.

Helping me bake a cake - most important job!

Your hair is growing in well now, you have a decent amount of length in the back and a little bit on top. I can put in a couple of pigtails or a ponytail at the back and it turns you into a big girl straight away. You aren't a big fan of hair washing and have developed a couple of little dreads at the back of your head. So cute but so frustrating so they have been chopped out and saved. You have blonde hair that is a couple of shades lighter than Mummys and it looks like it will be a little bit wavy like hers too.

You are now talking like a pro too, around 14-15 months came a few words - stuck, Mummy, Daddy, Dight (Dwight the soft toy), more, mmmmm, no, appy (nappy), car, and you have taken off since. I can understand most of what you try and say and you will make a good effort most times to copy the word. We have had a couple of times when you strung a few words together and you are good at associating things too 'Daddy - bye-bye- big truck -gone' when Dave goes to work. We also get a lot of 'uh-oh' 'oopsies' and 'oh-no' which is super cute. Right now you are awesome at saying please and thank you when prompted - long may that last! It is awesome to watch your brain develop and make connections with words. I estimate you can say just over 100 words at the moment which is awesome!

Twinning with your cousin

Blanket fort

Your baby sign has pretty much transitioned to words now, you still sign for food/hungry while saying 'eat' and getting your lunch bag, drink is one you use a word for and please you will usually say and sign at the same time. Those were the main signs we taught you and I am so glad we did. You clearly enjoy being understood and your knowledge of routine is pretty awesome.

Sleeping is going pretty well too, we have a pretty solid bedtime routine - nappy change/jammies, into sleep sack, teeth brushed while having some stories read to you, drink then bed with your 'friends'. You play in your cot for a while before drifting off and lately have been waking up a couple of times in the night because you have taken your socks off, thrown a toy or three out of the cot or managed to half take off your clothes. Sometimes all of the above. But once we go in and sort you back out you drift back off quite happily. I am so, so thankful that you are a pretty good sleeper. We are starting to think about either taking the side off your cot or bringing in your single bed - crazy stuff!

Unique sense of style

Best way to eat yoghurt

Personality wise you are a beautiful soul with a very unique view of the world. You are quite wary of new things and still cry when you see some strange men. You like to have mum or dad close in a new environment or situation and will cuddle up to us for the first wee while until you feel comfortable enough to explore. At home you run around like a wild thing transporting and fetching things and moving them from room to room, playing tea parties, riding your trike, pushing your trolley and generally creating mess wherever you go. You love to be read to, you love dancing and nursery rhymes, you love being outside and you love wearing gumboots. You have your dads sense of humour and laugh a lot. You also have a very clear way of doing things. You wake up every morning and straight away ask for your socks to be on, then your boots. Only certain soft toy friends are allowed to be in your cot at night. Mum and Dad MUST put socks and shoes on as soon as possible. You ask us hopefully every day if you are going in the pram or the car. You are adorable and learning so much about the world.

I am excited to see what the next few days and months hold, you learn so quickly and each day is different than the last. We are so lucky to be your parents Addison!

xx Mum and Dad

Addison's Room Renovation

 

It has been a long time coming, Addison is approaching 18 months old and we have finally finished her room! I have been hunting for my before photos but they have gone awol so you will have to make do with a blurry couple of photos from the builders report!

When we moved into the house, the second bedroom was a bit worse for wear. It had a weird stripy wallpaper thing going on - one strip a fawny brown and the next a really light brown, all the way around the room. The window frames were green and the edges of the wardrobe had been well scratched by a giant German Shepherd.

Before

Before

(those photos were from the previous tenant of the house!)

 The first thing we did once our awesome flatmate moved out was rip down the wallpaper. It stayed that way for the first year of Addison's life. Once we had finished the hallway, I moved onto the week-long task of scraping off the wallpaper backing that stuck to the wall with concrete glue. Then we did the all too familiar task of scraping out cracks and then plastering, sanding and painting.

Finally I got to do some decorating and I managed to hold back from my usual style of filling the walls up with stuff, and Dave convinced me to stick with a slightly more minimalist style. The wardrobe alcove will eventually have some louvered bi-fold doors but until then it is the perfect place to hide away some of our junk as well as Addy's drawers.

The general colour scheme is light blue, gold and light pink but we were never going to go all out on colours. Function wins in our household, as well as keeping it neutral for sellability. We also kept the original curtains as they keep the light out pretty well and our small budget didn't allow for new ones.

I feel like this room will transform well from nursery into a little girls room. I am thinking about getting Dave to build some shelving for book storage and to free up floor space. I am loving the job we did and I think Addison will be happy spending her time in this room.

After