Adventures with N & G

Dear Family and Friends,

My Mum has asked me to take charge of writing her one and only entry for this month. It sounds like my Mum has been preoccupied with looking for work, amongst other things, that she has not been able to share her random thoughts of late.

Anyhow,  I want to dedicate this entry to my Nanny and Grandad - who came to visit Eliza and myself all the way from England. I hope that you enjoy the adventures that I had with them as much as I did creating them.

First of all, let me introduce you to my Nanny and Grandad Philip.

Nanny and Grandad arrived very early on a Monday morning. My Daddy and Eliza picked them up from the airport since my Mummy had a job interview that morning and I was at school that day. It was so special to have them come and pick me up from school that afternoon though.

I missed out on their visit to Whale Beach on Tuesday as I was once again at school. However,  on the Wednesday, I finally got to take N & G to the zoo, as I have been promising them on skype for a very long time.

We had a great time at the zoo. I wanted to show them so much, especially the chimps, my favourites.  It was so good for them to see how much of a monkey I really am!

This is N & G's second visit to the zoo. Luckily, despite having been, they were entertained with new antics from the animals. The chimps were crazy chasing each other, the lions were all awake,  the elephants played in the water. N & G also watched the spectacular bird show which they missed last year and once again enjoyed the seal show.

Of course, no trip to the zoo with me can end without us riding the zoo car aka Sky Safari.

That same week, I also got to take N & G to my other favourite hang out.... the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary! Oh I had such a great time showing them my favourites - the rock pool, the sharks, penguin and I even got to introduce N & G to my girlfriend, the mermaid!

I have my swimming class on Saturdays and oh how proud I was to be watched my N & G. I swam exceptionally well, with the help of my new found friend Pingu (a penguin that N & G bought for me earlier). Pingu would jump in the water and I would swim after him. After my class, our family drove to Bobbin Head for an explore. We went for a walk and while N & G had an extended walk, I took advantage of their great playground. Thank goodness we were able to borrow Ninong's big car so all 6 of us fit comfortably (well at least for some!).

The following day, we took N & G on our favourite family Sunday outing - Sunday Funday. We caught the ferry from Manly to Circular Quay, then caught the train to Wynyard Station. We could have walked it but because I was so keen on sharing this experience with N & G. I think G was very excited (he LOVES trains!) as he even went up on the top floor to get a better view.

As usual, we went to the Wild Life Park and to the Aquarium. They were both very busy but nonetheless fun. I spent a good part running through the exhibits (so much to see!) and poor N & G were not able to see everything. Of course, our day was capped off by lunch at our favourite food court in Chinatown, were N & G had to decide between so many exotic flavours tempting them.

N & G left for Melbourne very early the following week. Instead of flying to Melbourne, they caught the train - another adventure feather to add to their cap. I heard wonderful stories of their train journey, which I hope I will get to do, one day. N & G also told me about their visit to Gladys, Nanny's relative and last remaining maternal kin, and their visit to the Great Ocean Road, where they were able to see koalas in the wild, as well as the 12 apostles (which are apparently dwindling fast!).

Upon returning back to Sydney, I had many more adventures with N & G. We went to the Hunter Valley where I enjoyed a Babycinno while the adults had proper coffee. Of course, the adults got to wine taste and we took the obligatory photo at Audrey Wilkinson.  We also took N & G to Pottery Brewery - a great pub with really good food and a fantastic atmosphere. I was just happy that it had a playpark and I was allowed to play outside until it was almost dark.

On N & G's last full week with us, they spent a lot of time exploring on their own. I did not mind as I was at school anyway. However, on my Wednesday off, I got to go on a special trip with Daddy and N & G. We took the ferry into the city really early in the morning, then took the train to Central Station to catch the train to Katoomba! We went to see the 3 sisters!!! Now all of us had seen the 3 sisters (well, N & G had to imagine it through the mist last year!) but this was a special trip as none of us had taken the train to Katoomba. The 4hr round trip was very tiring but it was definitely a brilliant adventure!!!

Of course, we needed to find a playpark close to the 3 sisters!

Plenty more adventures we had. On N & G's last weekend with us, we had my school's Christmas party on the Saturday which was so much fun. Grandad was so lucky that he took home one of the hampers that was raffled off (I sold him his winning ticket!). Then we had Eliza's baptism on the Sunday which was wonderful. Lucky Eliza for having two sets of Grandparents present. It was Eliza's very first party and oh I was so pleased for her. I touched a couple of her presents but did not once get jealous that she was getting plenty of attention!

Nanny and Grandad Philip left to go home last Tuesday. I count myself so lucky that they came over to Sydney to visit Eliza and myself. I count myself even luckier that we created so many memories together while they were here. We did so much together. However, what I will miss the most is just having them around.

Dear Nanny and Grandad - how I miss seeing you in our house. I am still saying Where's Grandad but I know that you are no longer in our house and have gone home to your house in England.

Thank you for all the lovely presents and treats that you gave Eliza and myself. You know how special they are. Thank you for all the cuddles that we received. Thank you for my Hippo book and for constantly reading to me. I hope you did not mind that I had a habit of reading another book while listening to you read.  Thank you for the lovely story about Ned the donkey. Thank you for teaching me the window song.  Thank you for playing music with me and for dancing with me. Thank you for being my audience and for putting up with Wiggles playing all the time. Thank you for just being around!

Eliza and I already miss the both of you.

So family and friends, I hope that you enjoyed my little tribute to my N & G. Now you can probably understand why my Mummy has been in absentia.

No worries, I will tell my Mum to get on with.

Lots of love,

Noey
X

Sibling L.O.V.E.

Shortly after giving birth to Noah, I found myself getting clucky very quickly. Tim and I had spoken about having more than one child and given that I was in my late 30s and that my Mum menopaused early, we knew that we had to get cracking as soon as we could.

I never thought of planning for my children's age gap. I actually never thought much about it. My brother and I have a 4.5 year gap which was significant when we were young (ie. when I was an angry teen and he was a pesty little kid) but as we grew older, the gap quickly disappeared. It was not long until we were doing things together, had common friends and I counted him to be one of my best friends. Hence, I know that big age gaps effectively does not matter. However, when I was pregnant with Noah, I was exposed to mums wanting to have their children to have a close age gap. Two under Two was the catch phrase. I am not sure if it is because a closer age gap meant automatic playmates/friends for the children or it is to get the sleepless nights over and done with as quickly as possible.

For me, I was just desperate to try and give Noah a sibling.

Noah and Eliza have a 25 month gap. We are not within the Two under Two threshold but close enough.

In the short span of 6 months, I can already see how much they adore each other. Noah is generous with his kisses and cuddles to his little sister, at times, a little bit overzealous. Tim and I are trying to find the balance between encouraging him with his affection and trying to stop him from trampling on her, which unfortunately he already has.

One time, Tim caught Noah riding on Eliza during her tummy time. No photos for evidence which is just as well. Tim was probably too busy rescuing Eliza from her brother!

Luckily, Noah loves playing with Eliza. He often keeps her company when she is doing her floor exercises. Tim, Noah and Eliza have recently developed a habit of going out to the lounge first thing in the morning, leaving me to sleep in a bit (Yey!) so that Noah and Eliza can do their exercises together!

When Eliza starts to fuss, Noah often tells me what Eliza might need. "Milk Mummy for Eliza" or "Put Eliza to bed Mummy".  More often that not, he is right as to what she needs.

Eliza, in turn adores her kuya (older brother). She watches him with such warmth and delight in her eyes. You can tell that Eliza is watching and learning from Noah, absorbing and just itching to play with him. Occasionally she will also have a chat to him which never fails to melt my heart.

N & E, I hope that you will never stop adoring each other. I know that you will grow up driving each other insane, but I hope at the end of the day, you will continue to love and like each other.

If not, I will forever remind you of these moments...

Mummy loves you both very much X

Today's prayers to overcome my weakness!

I have been very lucky to have been blessed with careers that I have enjoyed and employers who have been family to me in the past. Part of the reason I ended up staying in Washington DC for over 5 years was because of how much I loved my job and my previous employer Tracy. Tracy was not only a mentor but also a friend. She guided me through my career and my life and made bidding America goodbye very hard.  With my role prior to getting pregnant with Noah, I also had the opportunity to work with a fantastic team led by Stuart who encouraged me amongst the unknown and paved the way for my success in the role. 

Getting jobs within these two companies were a bit random given that I had no experience within either industries prior to joining them. Tracy hired me simply because we shared the same birthday (yes, I used to include my DOB on my CV) and Stu passed on me the first time he met me (yes, I was the second choice!). It does not really matter how I started with them but to me, what matters the most is that I was given a break.

I started the process of job hunting a couple of weeks ago. I thought I would test the waters out, given I have already completed my online course. I have the time to spare especially during the days when Noah is at daycare. Besides, we have daycare sorted for the children from January 2013 so all I needed now is work to embark on. 

I am not sure why but for some reason, I am being very impatient with the results. I am so ready to begin the next chapter of the Beautiful Life Jo but I am being made to wait. Despite knowing that God is working on something special, the human in me wants answers now. Luckily Tim is being my voice of reason as he reminds of what I already know - that I should enjoy this time now as once the craziness of life as a working Mum start, I am going to miss my time with the children and being at home. I also need to be reminded that God continues to bless me with far more than I could pray for; I just need to trust!

To overcome my weakness, I have been saying extra prayers of late and have been asking my prayer warriors to say an extra prayer (or two) for me. Today, I want to share my prayers with you as I lift this up to God and to the universe.

Today, I pray for the randomness. I am praying for God to lead someone to take a gamble on me. See, at present I am convinced that I want to bring my expertise to an industry where I have no experience in. Again, I am hoping for that break. Take a chance and give me a break and I will show you what I can do. I will ensure that you don't have any regrets!

Today, I also pray for greater patience. I know that God is already working on the best job for me, considering my family especially the children and our finances. However, I need to constantly remind myself that answers are not immediate. I need to constantly remind myself (and with Tim's help) to just enjoy where I am right now as once the new chapter starts, there is no turning back.

Dear Lord, this is your story, your painting, your work! You have blessed me with so much more than I imagined for myself and I truly know that You continue to answer my prayers and know what is best for me.  Please erase any doubts in my mind, but instead replace it with greater faith. Greater faith that in Your time, all will be revealed. Thank you.

The innocence of children!

Dear Noah,

Since you are not old enough yet to "Oh Mum" me, I am going to share some photos of captured moments from your play date yesterday with Ashleigh.

I must admit I love looking at these photos. I think there is so much innocence and purity captured between the two of you, despite the reason for getting the both of you to hold hands was so that you would stop running away!

I know that one day when I ask you to hold your friend's hand, I will get the "Oh Mum, please stop embarassing me" reply from you. However, I hope that you will never allow awkwardness to surpass the innocence in you.

With lots of love darling,
Mum X

The adventures of Puple Poss!

 Dear Noah,

I cannot believe that at your age of 2.5, we are already working together on "school" projects! I am planning to document all the milestone projects that we work on together because one day I can hopefully show you how much fun I have had in helping you put your project together!

Anyhow, your very first project is to document the adventures that Purple Poss had with you for the last week.

This is Purple Poss...

He is a stuffed purple possum that lives in your day care permanently. Weekly, he goes home with someone from your class for different adventures and all his adventures with each of your mates are documented in the Purple Poss (PP) Adventures book.

Last Tuesday, it was your turn to take PP home. You were so excited and so very proud. You immediately showed him your favourite tree that you have to climb every day you are at day care and as soon as we got home, you showed PP your bed and introduced him to all your friends. He then kept you company in the bath!

When Daddy got home, you excitedly told him about PP and together you spent a long time looking at his adventure book, reading all about the adventures he has had and wondering where you can take him for his special adventure with you.

It was then decided that you would take PP to the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary (previously Manly Oceanworld). Given that you visit this place almost weekly, it was apt that PP see the place that you love. Besides, someone had already taken him to the zoo....

You even watched the Manly Ferry together....

One day, you also took PP to Isaac's house for your play date. Isaac so loved PP and wanted to take care of him too. Unfortunately, PP could not stay overnight with Isaac.

Over the weekend, you took PP to the Manly seafront to show him your backyard. Unfortunately, PP took a tumble and fell onto the sand. Oh dear Noah, you were so worried. Luckily a little girl picked up PP and gave him back to you. Daddy had to give PP a good shake to try and get rid of the sand.

PP's last adventure out was when you took him to the play park when you met up with your mates. We tried so hard to take a photo of PP with your mates Alec, Aidan and William but trying to get a photo of the 4 of you together was impossible! Instead, it was easier to take a photo of you and PP on the tea cup ride at the play park.

At home, PP had the luck of joining you in your activities. PP listened to bedtime stories with you, built blocks with you  and even shared in your breakfast! You even taught PP how to play the piano!

 

Yesterday, Eliza and I spent the morning getting print outs of selected photos so that when you got home from day care, we could work on completing the adventure book together. You were so keen to cut, glue and stick!

Today, this is our finished product.

Oh dear Noah, how I enjoyed working on this project together with you. Having PP at home was so much fun and having documented your adventures together is even more rewarding. I am not sure how I am going to feel come the day when we have to work on bigger and harder school projects (which have deadlines!) in the future but at least I can always remind you of how much I enjoyed our first project together!


Love you lots darling.

Mum X