George and Aoife (1 week)26.01.07
Gen and George (3 weeks)25.12.79
Friday, 26 January 2007
Thursday, 25 January 2007
Aoife is pronounced Ee-fa!
The night before.
Why won't they let me watch what's going on??? Ahhh, the anticipation is killing me!!
The first glimpse.
Here she is.
You little beauty!
Proud Daddy of a little girl.
Oh, wow, I love her.
Me too, my little sister rocks!
Hey Georgie, check out what we've got.Awsome, but right now I'm eating!
She's all mine.
Yep, that was hard work, time for a nap.
My Little China Doll.
Mum of two finally.
MC Baby.
The blanket stole my baby.
Going home outfit - Booties courtesy of Amelia's Mum!
And bub makes four (sorry Bubble, five).
Dad squeezing a blackhead.
At home.Friday, 19 January 2007
Excited and HUNGRY
T'was the night before Dot's birth. Mummy was too excited to sleep ...
4:39am. Due to get up at 5:15 to check in for 6:30am. I should be getting all the sleep I can, while I can, but I can't. It's worse than Christmas Eve - and believe me, I am like a little kid at Christmas, growing up did not spoil me for the most exciting day of the year. Except this year the most exciting day is the 19th of January. Today. Woo hoo!!!
I am also damn HUNGRY! I was told to fast from midnight, and seeing as I happened to be up finishing the packing (not sure why, I've been packing for about a week) I had a little snack around 11, 11:15, 11:30 and 11:45. From then 'til now, 5am, is not a long time, but I always wake up absolutely starving these days. Keeping food from a hungry pregnant woman is not a recipe for happy thoughts, I'll tell you that much!
Last night we put Euey to bed at my Mum and Dad's. It was weird wandering around the house getting prepared for Dot with Euey's bed empty. I always feel like something is slightly wrong when he's not underfoot but not in his bed, and last night it was worse 'cause I kind of felt like I'd shunted him off for the new arrival.
I'm sure he doesn't feel like that though, he loves being at Jeh and Mup's place (He hasn't quite got Gen and Mudge down pat, but he's getting there. Hasn't figured out Chuck or Gus completely either, but says Guck for both - although there is usually more emphasis on the 'G' when he means Gus and on the 'ck' when he means Chuck.) Anyway, the fact that he's learnt all their names is testament to how much he loves staying there, so I'm sure he'll be excited to wake up there.
Well, it's nearly time to wake up Willy. We set the alarm for 5:15am. He was up at 5am yesterday to get all his work done in preparation for today, then I kept him up 'til nearly midnight (no, not just so I could get in all the eating I could before I had to fast!) packing and organising and just generally 'nesting'!
Next time you check in for a Morrissey update we will be a family of FOUR!
4:39am. Due to get up at 5:15 to check in for 6:30am. I should be getting all the sleep I can, while I can, but I can't. It's worse than Christmas Eve - and believe me, I am like a little kid at Christmas, growing up did not spoil me for the most exciting day of the year. Except this year the most exciting day is the 19th of January. Today. Woo hoo!!!
I am also damn HUNGRY! I was told to fast from midnight, and seeing as I happened to be up finishing the packing (not sure why, I've been packing for about a week) I had a little snack around 11, 11:15, 11:30 and 11:45. From then 'til now, 5am, is not a long time, but I always wake up absolutely starving these days. Keeping food from a hungry pregnant woman is not a recipe for happy thoughts, I'll tell you that much!
Last night we put Euey to bed at my Mum and Dad's. It was weird wandering around the house getting prepared for Dot with Euey's bed empty. I always feel like something is slightly wrong when he's not underfoot but not in his bed, and last night it was worse 'cause I kind of felt like I'd shunted him off for the new arrival.
I'm sure he doesn't feel like that though, he loves being at Jeh and Mup's place (He hasn't quite got Gen and Mudge down pat, but he's getting there. Hasn't figured out Chuck or Gus completely either, but says Guck for both - although there is usually more emphasis on the 'G' when he means Gus and on the 'ck' when he means Chuck.) Anyway, the fact that he's learnt all their names is testament to how much he loves staying there, so I'm sure he'll be excited to wake up there.
Well, it's nearly time to wake up Willy. We set the alarm for 5:15am. He was up at 5am yesterday to get all his work done in preparation for today, then I kept him up 'til nearly midnight (no, not just so I could get in all the eating I could before I had to fast!) packing and organising and just generally 'nesting'!
Next time you check in for a Morrissey update we will be a family of FOUR!
Tuesday, 16 January 2007
Dear Dot
Dear Dot,
You can come out now. I know you want to. It can't be comfortable for you in there, otherwise why would you persist in doing the YMCA and split jumps on my bladder? Maybe that's your idea of fun, but at the moment my idea of fun is lying on my back with a guy cutting open my stomach in an air conditioned room. 3 days, that's all. Actually, 2 days and 18 hours, give or take a few minutes.
Strange that, knowing exactly when you'll arrive. We could write your birthday in the birthday book already. I watched Mum write 'Dot due, 1:30pm' in her diary the other day - that was weird. With your brother we knew he would be induced on the 14th of June (his due date), but after the first induction failed we didn't really lend much faith to that method. This is different, come Friday they will cut you out no matter what.
We still have no name. Well, that's not true, we have one; Aoife (pronounced 'ee-fa').
According to http://www.babynamesofireland.com/ it means "beautiful, radiant, joyful."
Known as the greatest woman warrior in the world, Aoife was the mother of Cuchulainn's only son, Connlach. Aoife Dearg ("Red Aoife") was a daughter of a king of Connacht who had her marriage arranged by St. Patrick himself.
We have loved the name since before Euey was born. The only drawback is that it's taken us this long to learn how to spell it - so how long will it take you? I'm sure you'll be clever enough to get the hang of it.
The real problem is: what if you don't LOOK like an Aoife? So, we need a list. But we can't find the baby name book we used when Euey didn't look like a Jack or any other name we picked. Maybe we'll download some stuff from the net. But really Dot, as disorganised as we sound, we actually have everything else completely ready for you, I promise.
Love Mum
You can come out now. I know you want to. It can't be comfortable for you in there, otherwise why would you persist in doing the YMCA and split jumps on my bladder? Maybe that's your idea of fun, but at the moment my idea of fun is lying on my back with a guy cutting open my stomach in an air conditioned room. 3 days, that's all. Actually, 2 days and 18 hours, give or take a few minutes.
Strange that, knowing exactly when you'll arrive. We could write your birthday in the birthday book already. I watched Mum write 'Dot due, 1:30pm' in her diary the other day - that was weird. With your brother we knew he would be induced on the 14th of June (his due date), but after the first induction failed we didn't really lend much faith to that method. This is different, come Friday they will cut you out no matter what.
We still have no name. Well, that's not true, we have one; Aoife (pronounced 'ee-fa').
According to http://www.babynamesofireland.com/ it means "beautiful, radiant, joyful."
Known as the greatest woman warrior in the world, Aoife was the mother of Cuchulainn's only son, Connlach. Aoife Dearg ("Red Aoife") was a daughter of a king of Connacht who had her marriage arranged by St. Patrick himself.
We have loved the name since before Euey was born. The only drawback is that it's taken us this long to learn how to spell it - so how long will it take you? I'm sure you'll be clever enough to get the hang of it.
The real problem is: what if you don't LOOK like an Aoife? So, we need a list. But we can't find the baby name book we used when Euey didn't look like a Jack or any other name we picked. Maybe we'll download some stuff from the net. But really Dot, as disorganised as we sound, we actually have everything else completely ready for you, I promise.
Love Mum
Friday, 12 January 2007
Slide
Euey just went down the slide all by himself!! He's climbed the stairs before, but never done the whole lot. We went over to the park last night and he was going down by himself but only if Will was at the top with him. This morning he went straight over to it, up the stairs and down the slide without even thinking about it!
The Moon
Euey loves the moon. His fascination started with a book about animals going to sleep (a very welcome gift). Once he discovered there was a moon to point out on every page he stopped caring about the sleeping or the story and now just wants to read it over and over only stopping briefly on each page to point out the moon.
Anyway, that was the story, but you should have seen his face the night Will took him out and showed him the real moon. I love that look of pure amazment he gets, like 'Holy Shit, why didn't you show me that cool thing before?!' He has that look right now. It's 9 in the morning but he's just discovered you can see the moon really clearly. (Why is that? There must be some scientific explanation involving Earth rotation or something, surely?) The difference between this time and the first time is not in the level of amazment but the level of congnition. He's not just looking at it, he's saying 'Mooore, moooo, mmmmm' (not quite there, but well on the way to 'moon').
Anyway, that was the story, but you should have seen his face the night Will took him out and showed him the real moon. I love that look of pure amazment he gets, like 'Holy Shit, why didn't you show me that cool thing before?!' He has that look right now. It's 9 in the morning but he's just discovered you can see the moon really clearly. (Why is that? There must be some scientific explanation involving Earth rotation or something, surely?) The difference between this time and the first time is not in the level of amazment but the level of congnition. He's not just looking at it, he's saying 'Mooore, moooo, mmmmm' (not quite there, but well on the way to 'moon').
Friday, 5 January 2007
Words
Just wanted to record a few of Euey's first words.
It is difficult to pin down the first word, I'm finding. Do animal sounds count? What about words like Yuck. Is that a 'real' word? In order Euey's first words were Quack, Yuck, Dada. Does that make Dada the first official 'real' word - I'm sure Will would love to claim as such. I like to think that Quack counts. But does that mean 'Ah ah ah' should count, considering it is accompanied by a very definite monkey looking action?
WAIT: Jesus! Something in my belly just poked out so far I doubled over, said something I'm glad Euey wasn't awake to hear and actually saw it poke out in my peripheral while looking at the computer screen. I think Dot is getting impatient and cramped in there!
Anyway, back to the Words. They're so lovely. All of them.
Dada was a great one for awhile, then, much to my disgust, he learnt Bubble (the dog's name) and I was (and still am) subjected to Dada? Bubble? over and over all day - my disgust lies mainly in the fact that he did this for nearly 2 weeks before he finally learnt 'Mama'. I am still obliged to play the 'Dada? He's at work. Bubble? He's at home.' game constantly, but it doesn't hurt as much now that there is the occasional Mama thrown in and accompanied by a huge grin.
We also have other regulars: bap (bath), guk ('Chuck' - my sister Charlie - or 'truck', depending on where we are), car-car (never in the singular, always car-car), bup (bus, are you beginning to see the pattern here? My son loves things that go) and many more. Today we got two new ones - pool (we were there) and Den (meaning my Mum Gen, which would have brought tears except she was getting changed for the pool at the time!).
The Words are fantastic, but the thing I really love is the nonsensical, yet understandable, sentences - groups of sounds that are consistently used in the same scenario. We have: ah-ya-gaaa? (where did you / it go?), ah-i-ya! (here I am) and ahh-ya? (where are you? - repeated 'til he gets an answer).
It is strange (wonderful and amazing yes, but very strange) watching language develop. I had no idea how it would work before it happened. I could not for the life of me figure out how this little thing who had only vowel sounds would eventually, seemingly all by himself, figure out the marvel of the English language.
It happens slowly. The way it happens makes sense when you're watching it. Vowels combine with consonants to make little syllables. Eventually those syllables are said with meaning. Then those little baby words go together to form mini sentences. Dada Bap? is easily understood to mean Can I have a bath with Daddy? While all this makes sense, it's hard to really grasp until you see it unfolding before you. And what I didn't expect is that Euey would grasp the vague sound of a sentence, and the meaning, and use it before he can actually pronounce each individual word. The aahh-ya-ga? amazes me every day. It sounds so close to Where'd you go? and is only used in that context. I didn't expect that language would develop like that, I thought it would be more like building blocks, like the Dada bap? example.
And we're only just beginning. All the really funny, inappropriate comments are still ahead of us. Awesome!
It is difficult to pin down the first word, I'm finding. Do animal sounds count? What about words like Yuck. Is that a 'real' word? In order Euey's first words were Quack, Yuck, Dada. Does that make Dada the first official 'real' word - I'm sure Will would love to claim as such. I like to think that Quack counts. But does that mean 'Ah ah ah' should count, considering it is accompanied by a very definite monkey looking action?
WAIT: Jesus! Something in my belly just poked out so far I doubled over, said something I'm glad Euey wasn't awake to hear and actually saw it poke out in my peripheral while looking at the computer screen. I think Dot is getting impatient and cramped in there!
Anyway, back to the Words. They're so lovely. All of them.
Dada was a great one for awhile, then, much to my disgust, he learnt Bubble (the dog's name) and I was (and still am) subjected to Dada? Bubble? over and over all day - my disgust lies mainly in the fact that he did this for nearly 2 weeks before he finally learnt 'Mama'. I am still obliged to play the 'Dada? He's at work. Bubble? He's at home.' game constantly, but it doesn't hurt as much now that there is the occasional Mama thrown in and accompanied by a huge grin.
We also have other regulars: bap (bath), guk ('Chuck' - my sister Charlie - or 'truck', depending on where we are), car-car (never in the singular, always car-car), bup (bus, are you beginning to see the pattern here? My son loves things that go) and many more. Today we got two new ones - pool (we were there) and Den (meaning my Mum Gen, which would have brought tears except she was getting changed for the pool at the time!).
The Words are fantastic, but the thing I really love is the nonsensical, yet understandable, sentences - groups of sounds that are consistently used in the same scenario. We have: ah-ya-gaaa? (where did you / it go?), ah-i-ya! (here I am) and ahh-ya? (where are you? - repeated 'til he gets an answer).
It is strange (wonderful and amazing yes, but very strange) watching language develop. I had no idea how it would work before it happened. I could not for the life of me figure out how this little thing who had only vowel sounds would eventually, seemingly all by himself, figure out the marvel of the English language.
It happens slowly. The way it happens makes sense when you're watching it. Vowels combine with consonants to make little syllables. Eventually those syllables are said with meaning. Then those little baby words go together to form mini sentences. Dada Bap? is easily understood to mean Can I have a bath with Daddy? While all this makes sense, it's hard to really grasp until you see it unfolding before you. And what I didn't expect is that Euey would grasp the vague sound of a sentence, and the meaning, and use it before he can actually pronounce each individual word. The aahh-ya-ga? amazes me every day. It sounds so close to Where'd you go? and is only used in that context. I didn't expect that language would develop like that, I thought it would be more like building blocks, like the Dada bap? example.
And we're only just beginning. All the really funny, inappropriate comments are still ahead of us. Awesome!
Summer
Well I shall eat my words.
I can't count the number of times people have said to me with that knowing look:
I calmly answered the same thing every time:
Well, as I said, I shall eat my words. I AM HOT! I hate Summer. I hate 35 degrees. I'm not fine. And 'uncomfortable' and 'not pleasant' do not even begin to explain how crap it is being 8 1/2 months pregnant in the middle of an Aussie Summer. One of these people with knowing looks who were so right was my cousin Kel. I have never met anyone who feels the heat as much as she does and only now am I beginning to understand her pain. I remember talking to her on the phone one summer a few years ago (long before she had kids or was pregnant) and asking her how she was dealing with the heat
'George, I have a fan and a bath full of ice.'
I think I'll go and get some ice.
I can't count the number of times people have said to me with that knowing look:
'Oh you'll be uncomfortable when it gets hot, being pregnant in Summer is not pleasant'.
I calmly answered the same thing every time:
'No, I'll be fine, I love the heat. I hate being cold. I've always loved Summer.'
Well, as I said, I shall eat my words. I AM HOT! I hate Summer. I hate 35 degrees. I'm not fine. And 'uncomfortable' and 'not pleasant' do not even begin to explain how crap it is being 8 1/2 months pregnant in the middle of an Aussie Summer. One of these people with knowing looks who were so right was my cousin Kel. I have never met anyone who feels the heat as much as she does and only now am I beginning to understand her pain. I remember talking to her on the phone one summer a few years ago (long before she had kids or was pregnant) and asking her how she was dealing with the heat
'George, I have a fan and a bath full of ice.'
I think I'll go and get some ice.
Wednesday, 3 January 2007
Chrissy
Chrissy. I love Christmas. Santa sacks, christmas trees (real ones of course, the fake ones don't have the smell), decorating the house, making shortbread, looking at everyone's Christmas lights ... I love it all. And I tell you what, it's ten times more fun when you have someone little and excitable to buy for! This year Euey was old enough to understand the nature of presents and new toys, old enough to be a little afraid of Santa but not quite old enough to get the Christmas Eve jitters. I was old enough to spend waaayy more money than necessary and not quite old enough to know when to stop - Willy had to remind me that if I didn't stop there would be nowhere to put all the stuff. Lucky he did cause the cupboard was about to explode.
As usual there are not nearly enough photos to record the day 'cause everyone with a camera was too busy opening pressies to take photos, but here are a few ...
As usual there are not nearly enough photos to record the day 'cause everyone with a camera was too busy opening pressies to take photos, but here are a few ...
The aftermath of Chrissy morning before we drove to Shepparton. Pressies, croissants, fruit salad and chocolate - just as Chrissy morning should be.
More pressies at Marjie's place.
Looking at the birds - more interesting than the pressies for the moment.
Murray doing his bit for capturing the moment.
Cousins. Second cousins. Whatever!
(Euey and my cousin Kel's daughter Anna)
Euey fell in love with Anna - or 'Nanna' as he calls her - over Christmas and Boxing Days. We stayed at Annabelle's and he just followed her everywhere. It is weeks later as I write this and Euey still asks for 'Nanna' at least once a day. I think I'll have to find more time for trips to Bendigo in the coming months!
December Escapades
Before I head off to visit my new sewing machine - which has been used HEAPS since Mum and Dad gave it to me for my birthday - I thought I'd just post a few pics of what we've been up to lately.
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Tripped over to Adelaide to visit Ann and Dan (Euey's 'Good Parents') and for Will to go with the boys to the Test. (They had tickets to the first two days and were absolutely gutted to be watching days 3 and 4 - with all the action - on the tele. Had a few very relaxing days hanging around the house and comparing bellies.+2006+050.jpg)
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Caught up with an albino Kangaroo (actually, a whole paddock full of them!) on the way home from Adelaide, in Bordertown.
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Euey was invited to Xavier's 2nd birthday party, with a super hero theme so I set to work on my beloved sewing machine and did some real Mum stuff. Banana Man had a very enjoyable, sugar filled morning followed by a sugar crash on the way home.
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We went to see Kylie, who was spectacular!
We've had the tickets for so long that we nearly forgot to go. It was only because I heard people on the radio talking about her concert opening that day in Melbourne that I remembered!
Hmm. That's enough for now, I'l post some Chrissy photos later.
+2006+001.jpg)
Tripped over to Adelaide to visit Ann and Dan (Euey's 'Good Parents') and for Will to go with the boys to the Test. (They had tickets to the first two days and were absolutely gutted to be watching days 3 and 4 - with all the action - on the tele. Had a few very relaxing days hanging around the house and comparing bellies.+2006+050.jpg)
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+2006+004.jpg)
Took in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens and hung out with Mel Muston for the day (Euey loved her).
+2006+039.jpg)
Caught up with an albino Kangaroo (actually, a whole paddock full of them!) on the way home from Adelaide, in Bordertown.
+2006+013.jpg)
+2006+053.jpg)
Euey was invited to Xavier's 2nd birthday party, with a super hero theme so I set to work on my beloved sewing machine and did some real Mum stuff. Banana Man had a very enjoyable, sugar filled morning followed by a sugar crash on the way home.
+2006+184.jpg)
We went to see Kylie, who was spectacular!
We've had the tickets for so long that we nearly forgot to go. It was only because I heard people on the radio talking about her concert opening that day in Melbourne that I remembered!
Hmm. That's enough for now, I'l post some Chrissy photos later.
Here's hoping!
Okay! I've started websites before (http://aussiemorrisseys.spaces.live.com/) and they've just been too ugly and too hard to deal with for me to actually cope with updating them. I kept wanting to change them in ways I wasn't allowed to.
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My boys! (Please excuse the 'Mo-vember' Mo)
+2006+113.jpg)
So I've started a blog. For those of you who know her you will find it hard to believe that it was Cath Witten who inspired me - not because she's uninspirational but because she's computer illiterate! I took one look at her blog and thought 'huh, that looks good, and it must be easy if Catha can do it'. Then noticed it was through google and I already had a google username etc, how easy can you get?
So, here's hoping that I continue. I think it will be a great place to write down all those random things Euey does that I don't want to forget - and I guess all the random things that Dot will start doing once she arrives. Anyone who considers endless stories about other people's children overwhelmingly boring may take this as a warning not to continue. I am a doting Mum and proud of it!
My boys! (Please excuse the 'Mo-vember' Mo)My babies.
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