Day 1 to 3

Snapshot of our first three days:

• Wet weather
• Bella screaming (ok, let's be fair. She is cutting another tooth so we discovered)
• Biddy defiant
• Tom constantly hungry
• Van travelling well
• Caught up with family on day 1
• Now at Merimbula and the caravan park is REALLY nice.

We are staying at Merimbula for 5 nights and we hope to take the kids fishing and to see some of the sights. The weather is reasonably good here, so let's hope it holds.

More news when we do something more interesting than driving!

We're off!

Amazingly, we are actually running to time at the moment. We have set ourselves the timeframe of leaving after lunch and so far so good. Food packed, clothes (almost) packed, bedding done, books and colouring stuff in. The kids just need to sort out what toys they want to take (which could take a bit of negotiating) but all in all, I think we are getting into a groove.

There is light rain falling here at the moment, so I hope we leave that behind. Nice for the pastures but crap for holidays.

First stop is only at Beaconsfield to catch up with family, then to Bairnsdale, then Merimbula and finally up to Broulee (neat Bateman's Bay). As we did for our trip to Darwin and back, I'll be updating this blog with our exploits, so tune in over the next fortnight to see what we are up to.

Our next trip and update on Tom

As you may be aware, this time last year we set out with 2 kids, 1 caravan, 1 very pregnant lady (me!) and a man with a dodgy back and headed to Darwin for 4 weeks. And it was FANTASTIC.

We resolved to have a big trip each year, but with Tom starting school and just so many things on during first term, it really was impossible to take 4 weeks away. We had originally thought to take 1 week either side of the school holidays, but it hasn't worked out that way.

We decided that we would have a shorter trip this year and see if we can work a longer trip (hopefully to WA) next year. Initially we thought we would just go as far as Merimbula as we have had some friends stay there with their kids and they said it was great. However, seeing as we were nearly there, we made the decision to continue up to Broulee (near Bateman's Bay) so we could visit to Mogo Zoo. I checked out their website the other day and discovered that at the exact time we will be there, they have a ZooKidz programme on and Tom was old enough to attend. He is going to be participating in the "Slither & Hop" workshop. You guessed it, snakes, lizards and frogs.......right up a small boy's alley!

The fact that Tom wants to do this workshop is a direct reflection of him going to school. Prior to starting prep, he would never have gone to a holiday programme by himself with people he didn't know, even for just a few hours. I know that this is surprising to many considering how full on he can be, but Tom is a bit of a shy kid. It comes to the fore when he is placed outside his comfort zone and he makes a beeline for what he knows best (usually me). So for him to understand and agree to participate in this, just warms my heart. He really is growing up!

School is going wonderfully for him and he is coming home reading all sorts of things, doing sign language (in the good way!), talking about new friends and recounting all the new experiences. After the 2nd week of school, he also started going to and from school on the bus. This was a HUGE thing for me to let him do (and yes, I followed the bus to and from school that first day unbeknown to Tom), but to see him now, it is like he has never known any different. AND he has to change buses. Whilst he has a bus buddy to help him, he can do it all by himself now and occasionally the buddy is not on the bus and Tom is fine. I think there are a few mother hens on the bus!

Tom getting off the bus on his first day

Bella update

It's been a while since I posted anything on Bella.

Some positive changes on the weight gain front. She has been steadily putting on moderate weight gains over the past 6 weeks and is now on twice monthly weighs. The vomiting subsided for a while and we had fantastic weight gains, but it reappeared and the weight flattened out somewhat. As a result, she is off to have a barium meal and check out her insides.

At 8 months of age, she is now 6.8kg and thankfully is back on the growth charts!

Her development has been fairly normal otherwise except for sitting. She is a bit behind the 8 ball on this one, but that is probably attributed to her poor growth rates. But on Thursday last week (3/2/11) she started commando crawling and has been going that little bit further every day. Ahhh...life is changing for her and us. The other kids are now on strict instructions not to leave any little bits and pieces lying around that will fit nicely into a baby's mouth.

Some new noises are coming out of her mouth too. She is making this weird sucky noise and today started blowing raspberries. It makes me laugh at how funny they think these noises are! I'm guessing that bibs will be the attire of the season as she burbles her way through the next month or so until she learns a new noise!

He's no longer a baby......

Someone tell me where the past 5.5 years have gone. Because today I had to send my 'baby' out into the big wide world to take his first real steps at becoming his own person. Yeah ok....I know he is not really a baby and I also know that he has spent 2.5yrs at daycare and kinder, so he has not exactly been hidden behind my apron. But the times that he has spent away from me have been limited and short and the bulk of his learning, nurturing, educating and discipline has largely come from me. But from today, this will all change. Forever.

I know that for some time to come, I will form the basis of his life. I will be the platform from which he launches. But today, Tom started primary school and whilst it was a hugely joyous occasion for us all, it was also a time for sadness and mourning of the passing of time and the realisation that other people will now play significant roles in my son's life. And these relationships will also make him into the man he will become. I have to share. And I'm not all that ready to let go and hand over joint responsibility.

But whether we like it or not, it is time. It is possibly harder for us mums that are sending our first borns out to the word. Will I be like this with Biddy and Bella? I don't know. I know that Mark doesn't think so, as he recorded me sniffling and weeping in the foyer of the prep room today. He said that thought that the emotion should be captured because when it comes to be Biddy's turn, there will be less tears, and by the time Bella's gets to primary school, I will be opening the car door and kicking her out!

After all is said and done, it really is an exciting time for all of us. For Tom, it means a steep learning curve, new friends, new responsibilities, new skills and the chance to develop his own persona away from the family. For me it means new acquaintances, new opportunities, a more developed relationship with Tom, some measure of freedom and the chance to review my parenting skills over the past 5.5yrs. For the girls, it means developing a relationship with each other without the distraction of Tom's presence. I'm not really sure what it means for Mark. I haven't asked him!

St Mary's feels like such the right choice for us and the kids. I'm not sure how other primary schools handle newbies, but we have events lined up in order to welcome us into the school community and to ease the transition into school life.

I hope all those that are starting prep this year have a great time....and mums...take the tissues with you. Be proud of the happy tears. And trust me, you will not be the only one weeping in the foyer as your son or daughter struts proudly into the classroom in a uniform that seems two sizes too big. There are plenty of us crying too!

Thoughts with those up north

Just a quickie tonight....just to say that our thoughts are with all those in Qld, NSW and Victoria that are affected by floods, particularly those in the rural areas and are farmers. Our business will be donating to the appropriate fund and whilst our contribution will no doubt be a drop in the ocean (no pun intended there!) I guess every little bit helps. And I would like to think that if we and our business were ever in dire states of emergency, that others would be looking to help us out.

Thought and prayers are with you all.

365-12 project

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So what's this all about?

Well check out the new blog I have created (see side bar for link) that will explain all! I never make new years resolutions, so this is as close as I am going to get.

Wish me luck with it.

(alternatively, click here to go to www.365-12.blogspot.com)