Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Lesson Number One

Never leave your two year old child alone in the house while hanging the washing out.



Sunday, June 15, 2008

Sleep! Where art thou?

I had this strange concept in my head that babies were meant to improve their sleep patterns as they got older... ( a little naive I know) My precious Elisha seems to be doing the opposite. Although his day sleep patterns are improving somewhat ( but now catnapping i.e. 40min sleeps), he is getting worse at night. He started off very well as a newborn, doing long 4-5 hour stretches at night and by 6weeks sleeping through the night (8hours at least sometimes 10 or 11hours!). By 14weeks Elisha started waking once in the night again around 3am. This is reasonably common for babies at the 3-4month mark. Although if I gave him at late feed around 10pm then he would generally sleep through till 5.30am!

The last 4 nights have been a disaster for my sleep. He is waking every 2-3hours and wanting breastmilk! What a shock to the system. The last two nights have not been quite as many times and last night I got to sleep for 4.5 hours straight! Yay! (not). What is going on???

It's easier to cope with your first cause you can catch up on sleep during the day when they are sleeping. But with the second, forget sleep. Even if it is the weekend and hubby is home, your toddler makes too much noise for you to get any decent sleep anyway.

I see only one answer. Escape.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

We finally made it!

After months of saying that I would get to a local playgroup - we finally made it! It has been hard to get out of the house for the last few months but I finally bit the bullet and decided to go. I nearly didn't go, when Elisha decided not to have a morning sleep, but I was determined that nothing was going to stop me.

It isn't easy forcing yourself to do something that is out of your comfort zone. I really want to make some local contacts and build some good relationships with other mums in the area... but it is hard work. It's hard to go alone to something when you don't know anyone else. But then again, I did drag two kids along with me and that makes things a bit easier. Kids are an easy subject of conversation, and you can hide behind them when conversation is lacking or when you are just plain standing on your own. I am sure many of you know what I mean. Suddenly you need to check on your baby, or the pram needs rocking so that you are 'doing' something. Or you son 'needs' you to help him build blocks or a train track.

It seems like a great group. There are 17 adults (each with one or two if not three kids), so plenty of people to get to know. People were reasonably friendly - once I had introduced myself. What is it about human beings, that we are so reluctant to make others feel welcome?I tried to introduce myself to most of the other mums in the room, but no one initiated it with me. Is it that people are too involved in their own activities that they don't even notice you? Or is there just not enough care to take a small step and say hi.... Anyway, I enjoyed the morning nonetheless. Caelan had a ball running around the hall and for once, there were more boys than girls!

God also surprised me with one other thing that morning. One of our neighbours goes to that exact same playgroup with her 2year old daughter! I have chatted to her a few times, but she is quite shy and the family keeps to themselves. Our other set of neighbours are very friendly so we generally pour more energy into that relationship. So by taking me along to this playgroup (which was a completely random choice off the internet), God was telling me that there is more growing to do with this family next door and not to give up so soon!

So bring on Wednesday mornings!!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Green growth

It seems over the last few weeks my interest and commitment to the garden has increased. I have always loved gardens but never been one to put much effort in myself. Most things I have attempted have not grown terribly well. I am not entirely sure why all this has changed (it's still early days!!) A few thoughts: a) My current life circumstances of being shut up in the home more than I would like have forced me to go outdoors for some therapy! b) Adriaan has more free time on weekends and after work to assist me with certain projects c) the fact that the backyard was virtually devoid of any garden or tree (just lawn and fence) has been a catalyst to make it a more delightful space for me and a space for exploration and discovery for Caelan.

Unfortunately as renters we need to consider what we want to take with us and what we are wiling to leave behind. So there is probably more in pots than I would normally like... but I am thankful all the same.

So today's project was to pot a couple of citrus trees we purchased (lemon and lime) and a few herbs that didn't go in the garden bed. Caelan enjoyed the process of helping fill the pots with soil. Here are a few photos of the process.



My herb garden has flourished over the last few weeks and we are already enjoyed the fresh crunchy lettuce leaves and herbs. In the garden I planted some parsley, dill, thyme, oregano, chives, spring onion, rocket, cos lettuce and mixed lettuce. In pots I have mint, coriander, rosemary and a bay laurel tree. Basil will be planted in the spring. I have also planted lavender bushes, marigolds and a couple of other border flowers and leaves for colour. It's amazing with a little effort how a place can be transformed. May God continue to bless its growth as we continue to enjoy him in the garden.



Shown above are photos of before, after the intial planting and then 4 weeks of growth.


Today's efforts

Friday, June 6, 2008

When the dust settles...

It's been awhile since I have signed in. Life with two young boys keeps me pretty busy and when I do have a moment to myself I am just too tired to engage the brain!! So right now is a pretty rare moment these days.

Elisha is now 4 months old and has finally settled down somewhat. My days are easier with him - he now sends himself off to sleep which has released me from the physical burden of having to 'get him off to sleep' in whatever way I knew how. My secret was dancing with him but was awfully time consuming. I can now take him out in a pram (he didn't like the pram before) and he will fall asleep while at the shops. So this morning we had a lovely outing to Mt Druitt Westfield.

He loves watching his older brother and interacts with him beautifully - laughing at his antics (including being almost jumped upon!) He has been rolling for a couple of weeks and this last week has started pushing his knees up under his bottom. He is very smiley, talkative and giggles a lot. A real delight.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was in the thick of tears and tiredness. (Tiredness not gone away yet!! I will have to wait about 15years at least for that one!) Life has become a little more sane and I am feeling a little more human. I coped. I got through that particular hard time. My question is: Is coping enough? Why in the hardest times do we force ourselves to cope alone? Why do we so often isolate ourselves? I was completely isolated during that time with the exception of my mum and Adriaan. We have moved away from our old friends - I could have called someone, but didn't. It was too hard. I didn't want to burst into to tears over the phone and be that vulnerable to anyone. Why so often do people find out about our hard times after the event? Why are we so afraid to let people along side us in the darkness?

I would have loved some company. Someone to come round and just be with me for the day. Someone to take Caelan off my hands for a few hours. Someone to ring and say hi, how are you? But it's hard for people to do that, if they don't know. We are designed as relational beings. To be in relationship with each other and with our Creator. It is a comfort to know that despite the twisted state of our human relationships, the Author of life knows all, sees all. Nothing is hidden from him. He has sent his Counsellor to guide, strengthen and comfort. He was my helper during those trying months. I know that God is enough... that he will provide for every need. Yet, what an amazing tension exists in life... just like Adam in the garden of Eden... we are designed for human relationship too... it is not good for us to be alone.