A moment to remember

Beau woke up from his sleep this afternoon very grumpy. I picked him up from his cot, taggie held firmly in his hands and with his sleeping bag still on. He nestled into my shoulder and put his head down. I walked out to the lounge room with him so that he wouldn't wake Jasmine, and we sat on the couch. He looked around a bit then lay his head back onto my chest, playing with the loops on his taggie. His breathing became slower, and I felt his eyelashes tickle my skin as they closed. He fell asleep in my arms. I don't know how many more times he'll do that, but it was just bliss. 

Happy Christmas from the Little Lawrences

Bomit

Neighbourhood Christmas party at our house + largely unsupervised platters of cheese, dips and chocolates + about 15 children tearing around = Jasmine vomiting on Daddy, our bed and our floor at midnight.


Scraping chunks of bile-smelling dinner off the carpet with a knife onto a plate at midnight is not a great way to start the day. Especially when you've had a few too many champagnes and can't quite remember actually going to bed.


I was hoping it was overindulgence induced vomiting until she followed it up with another massive spew while we were sitting in a Bob Jane T-Mart waiting room while the car was getting a wheel alignment. She'd just had a pink milk, so the vomit was a beautiful shade of Jasmine's favourite colour.


All my hopes of a gastro-free Christmas were finally dashed when she jumped off the couch later this afternoon, ran into the kitchen and said "the bomit is coming again, mummy". We made it to the toilet just in time. Clever kid. 

Food donations welcome

People warned me that having a son would mean big grocery shops in the future. I didn't realise the future came so soon. Beau ate five weetbix yesterday morning for breakfast. Five!!! I struggle to eat three. The kid is going to be a giant. 

Our first concert

The Little Lawrences attended their first concert today - The Wiggles!! It was their birthday party tour. Believe it or not, they've been around for 20 years, which means that there must be mums and dads who grew up with the Wiggles, now watching Wiggles with their own kids. 

A couple of the Wiggles were showing their age (beer bellies and more salt than pepper up top). But they rocked the party and we all had a blast. 

A special shout out has to go to the outrageous priced helium balloons which were TWENTY DOLLARS!!! Unfortunately I had promised one to Jasmine before I found out how much they cost, so I couldn't re neg on the deal, especially since she was just about to wet her pants with excitement at the prospect of bringing one home. The bloody thing is a Dorothy the Dinosaur balloon and is about the size of a 3-year-old which we had to put in the boot (trunk) to bring home because we couldn't see out the windows driving home with it in the car. I felt like we were bringing home a dead (but strangely buoyant) body.

Also a a shout out to Wiggle Murray who impressively (given his gut) climbed up on a human pyramid with his electric guitar during a particularly spectacular number, and then broke out into, no, not Hot Potato, or Wiggly Party, not even Rockabye Your Bear, but, wait for it, Stairway to Heaven!

Here are some photos from our morning.

This was taken shortly after Beau stopped
crying at the start of the show.
I think he was frightened by all
the noise and lights, but by the grand finale
was dancing on the chairs... literally!

Finally, Jasmine is wearing something on her
head that's not a pink crown.
But is still a crown. D'oh!

Dorothy the Dinosaur in tutu. Who said big
girls shouldn't wear short skirts?

Jasmine with her hero, Dorothy the Dinosaur.

All tuckered out on the drive home.

Words to cherish

Some of Jasmine's latest:

• I luff you mummy ( can be genuine affection or a cunning ploy to divert attention from a recent misdemeanor) 
• I want to marry you mummy (spoken once after a particularly cuddly and authentic 'I luff you' moment, and just about made me cry) 
• This is sooooo yummy! I luff this dinner mummy! Can I have this next time? (I was shocked into stunned silence at this comment, as it is such a far cry from our usual hour long negotiation over whether Jasmine will even contemplate eating dinner)
• You made me choo too! (when Jasmine sneezed straight after I sneezed)

The last balloons of the year

Beau still points outside almost every breakfast and calls "BOON! BOON!" (balloon, balloon), in the vain hope that we will spot hot air balloons one morning. 


Alas, the winds have changed and the hot air balloons must be travelling in a different direction, for we haven't seen them for weeks now. 


Luckily I caught the last ones for the year on camera.

Byron, I love you

Things I learned in Byron Bay:

• No holiday is complete without a trip to the doctors with a sick child
• Food bought at an outdoor market tastes better
• Frisbee on the beach makes you feel 10 years younger (especially with Ben's fool-proof frisbee)
• Pam has burn-proof skin
• Don has lobster skin
• Jasmine can find pink anywhere, even when you refuse to pack fairy dresses, ballerina tutus and crowns she still manages to draw pink items to her like moths to a flame
• I can grow dreads in a week of salt water and no shampoo
• When you start considering hemp as a viable clothing option you know it's time to leave Byron

Day trip to the beach

We have recently said goodbye to the Little Lawrence's Grammy & Grampy. Here are the first of some snaps taken during their visit down under. 

Christmas decorating

We put up our Christmas tree on the weekend. It's a rather large one, and took quite some time to assemble, especially with two Little Lawrences wanting to get involved along the way. 


Once the tree was put together, we all stepped back to admire it when Jasmine piped up:


"But mummy, we pogot (forgot) to put the jewels on!"

Rainbow snot

This morning Beau sneezed at the breakfast table and produced a very impressive, massive booger out of his nose, which he promptly wiped all over his hand and forearm (it was that big!).


As Tim wiped it away I commented "Oh no, it's a green booger! You'd better not be getting sick again, Beau."


Jasmine quickly replied "We don't want green boogers, do we? Mummy, I want a PINK booger!"

Man Of Mischief

It's hard not to put some of the differences between Jasmine and Beau down to gender. And whether Beau is rougher because he's a boy is anyone's guess. But hey, I'm up for some gratuitous gender stereotyping!


Beau has become a real Man Of Mischief recently. Even his teacher at childcare commented to me the other day, "He' so curious! He wants to touch everything, put his hands into everything! He will be a scientist one day." I couldn't help but be reminded of all the stories I've heard about his dad as a toddler touching everything in every store he entered.


One of his favourite pastimes while I'm cooking dinner these days (other than crying around my ankles to be picked up) is to open the bottom drawer of our pantry and take all the bottles in and out with as much glass clanking and noise as possible. It's not really an ideal activity, but it's the only thing that keeps him quiet for 5 minutes at that time of day. Fortunately none have spilt yet, especially since there are some with contents that would be a doozy to clean up (like sesame oil or fish sauce, euggh!). 


We never had to put child locks on any of our cupboards or drawers with Jasmine. She just figured out which ones were ok to play in, and which ones were out of bounds. Beau, on the other hand, will have a crack at opening anything. He especially loves the fridge and freezer, and says " 'ot! 'ot" (hot) whenever he touches anything inside. We've had to 'lock' it shut with an ikea plate wedged behind the handles, and for a day or two after we implemented the new high tech locking system he would stand there grunting like crazy trying to get it open and then throw himself on the floor, crying in frustration when he couldn't.


He has also discovered the highly entertaining pastime of irritating his big sister. Which, I guess, as her younger brother is his birthright. It's made me so grateful I had a little sister! He loves to give her a whack on the head to get a reaction. Which, of course, he does every time. 


The other morning Beau finished his man-sized bowl of porridge and refused milk and toast, which is very unlike him. He kept saying 'Booze' and shaking his head. I couldn't figure out what he wanted. 'Booze, booze". Finally he reached around and patted his bottom and I realised that he was trying to tell me he had done a poo!


Trouble is, he's also starting to get very cross when I try to change his nappy, and will often give me a whack or try to pull my hair when I carry him to the change table. Usually I'd just put him down on the floor, but it kind of defeats the purpose when that's exactly what he wants! Plus when he does it he usually has a big stinker in his pants which would just squish everywhere. 


Here are a few photos of my favourite little Man Of Mischief.

Vocations

We have endured pretty much non-stop illness for the last month. Beau has had croup twice, a double ear infection and bronchiolitis, and for one night, what we feared might be meningitis (but wasn't, thank goodness). Jasmine meanwhile has had croup and bronchiolitis and mummy has almost had a nervous breakdown. 


I was feeling so relieved that we'd made it through winter with two whole months free of illness, but it came back to bite me in spring. I have got so used to seeing Beau with green snot coming out of his nose and red-rimmed eyes I've almost forgotten what he looks like well.


Fortunately he's a little trooper and pretty cheerful even when he's crook. He spent most of Thursday last week being lugged around in the back seat of the car while I did errands, happily playing with an empty yogurt tub. Not one whinge or whine, just big smiles every time I turned around to look at him, thrilled with his toy and a few seconds of attention.


Jasmine, on the other hand, has been very testing again lately. When Jasmine was a baby I thought she cried a lot because that's just what babies did. Then, when she started childcare I thought she cried a lot because she was sick so often. Then when she turned two I thought she cried (and had tantrums) a lot because she was in the terrible twos, and was also dealing with having a baby in the house. Now she still cries, whinges, whines and tantrums a lot but I also have another child who is so different that I've come to realise that it's just her personality. So I have started compiling a list of possible vocations for someone who is headstrong, determined, grumpy and sensitive. I've only got two so far, so if you have any other suggestions please let me know: 
1) Actress
2) Managing Director

Pinkland

Everyone knows how obsessed Jasmine is with pink. Since it's been a long time since my last blog I thought I'd give you an overview of a few happenings in pinkland.


Jasmine has taken to getting up during the night when the whole house is sleeping, running to the laundry, turning on the lights, dragging her step stool in, fishing through the dirty laundry until she finds her favourite princess fairy dress (which is only ever on or in the laundry basket - as soon as it's washed it's back on again without delay), puts it on, then runs back to her bedroom and climbs back into bed and sleeps the rest of the night in her filty, stinky fairy dress.


The other day when watching an episode of Sesame Street Jasmine pointed out a pink monster and said "Mummy, were you ever pink?" 
I said "No, I was never pink."
"Was your hair ever pink?"
"No, I've never had pink hair." (Pretty much every other colour of the rainbow though!) 
"Mummy, when I get bigger, can I be pink?"
...explanation about why we are born a colour and that's the colour we'll always be, and that people can be born lots of different colours and all colours are lovely and beautiful...
"But I want to be pink!"
...short explanation of why she can't be pink...
"BUT I WANT TO!!!"
...melt down.


Last night; "Mummy, when I get bigger I'm going to be a princess and live in a pink castle with a pink car, and a pink roof and a sparkly pink cat and a pink dog that licks me".

Manners

Jasmine: I want a drink

Mummy: Where are your manners?

J: I lost them

M: Where are they?

J: In my toes.

My night

Alternatively titled WTF?! OMFG!

• Jasmine and Beau in the bath
• Beau shits in the bath
• Quickly heave both children out of the murky water
• Both kids crying because they were unceremoniously removed from the shit-bath
• Throw a towel over Jasmine
• While throwing a towel over Jasmine, Beau escapes from my reach
• Beau runs squealing across the bathroom dripping water on the tiles
• Beau slips and bangs his head making one of those awful dull thudding sounds only heads make
• Blood starts coming out of Beau's mouth. He's bitten his tongue.
• Hold Beau and rock him till he quietens while Jasmine screams that she's cold
• Poo still in bath
• Dry Jasmine
• Dry Beau
• Drain bath. Poo has been in bath so long that it's turned into mush. Can only salvage small chunks for the toilet.
• Keep tap running to try to wash all traces of poo away.
• Re-run bath and throw in half a packet of Miltons tablets (anti-bacterial tablets for sterilizing baby stuff)
• Start dressing Beau
• Jasmine reaches into bath and grabs a Miltons tablet and puts it in her mouth
• Jasmine screams and starts scratching her tongue
• Grab Jasmine and wash her mouth out with water from the sink
• Grab the Miltons packet and check for poison advise
• Turn around
• Beau has started throwing clothing and towels into the Miltons bath water
• Grab Beau
• Don't need to check Jasmine's still breathing because she's crying so much because her tongue hurts
• Beau goes up to Jasmine to 'comfort' her and smacks her on the face
• Jasmine cries more
• Beau starts crying
• Jasmine gives Beau a cuddle
• Jasmine smothers Beau
• Beau bites Jasmine on the chest
• Jasmine starts screaming
• Beau starts crying
• Mummy reaches for the red wine

The peanut butter showdown

Beau had a fight with the peanut butter toast this morning. 


I think the peanut butter won.

You want a piece of me?

What do you mean there's peanut butter on my face? Where?

Mr Peanut-Butter-Sparkle

Flamingoes for morning tea

Jasmine and I were discussing our favourite fruits yesterday over morning tea.

Mummy "I like apples and strawberries and cherries"
Jasmine "I like apples and strawberries and cherries too!"
M "And I LOVE mangos! Mangos are my FAVOURITE!"
J "I love pamingos too!"
M "Did you say that you love mangos, or that you love flamingoes?"
J "Pamingoes (flamingoes). They're so yummy! And they're pink! I love pink!"

Jasmine's 3rd Birthday Party

Who's the pinkest fairy of all?

Beau's new trick

Grandma

Grandma is the new flavour of the month. Since Grandma arrived on Saturday Jasmine has taken to running into her room for cuddles in bed in the morning, sitting on her lap after meals and snuggling with her on the couch.


Grandma is taking full advantage of her grandparental perogative to spoil the kids silly, giving Jasmine gigantic cupcakes covered in pink icing, sharing her coffee with Beau and feeding Beau peanut butter with a spoon.


The kids are in heaven. Mummy is trying not to have conniptions!

The wheels on the (cardboard) bus go... well, nowhere actually

But it's so much fun pretending!

I have to admit I'm not sure whether I had more fun making it, or the kids had 'driving' it!

Winter photo update

Speed racer

The Little Lawrences

Can we get a little more pink into this outfit?

Serious artwork

How much do you reckon it's worth?

Counted

The Little Lawrences were counted in their first census tonight. It made me feel warm and fuzzy to let the number crunchers know that since the last census five years ago we have built a home and added two Little Lawrences to the world.


*sigh*

End of an era

Last night was the first time since Beau was born that I put him to bed and didn't breastfeed him. My milk has dried up, and even though I know he would still love the snuggle time, it's time for both of us to move on. I don't feel sad about it - I have been so lucky to be able to breastfeed both my babies so easily and I had a good run of it. 


So this week marks the first time in four and a half years (!!!!) that I have not been trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding! 


Let's party!


Beau is 15 months this week and in a brilliant plot twist has just learnt to crawl properly, about 5 seconds before he starts walking. I think he's given up the bum shuffle because he's just become too big to drag around. I mean, the kid weighs over 12Kg! He took 6 steps in a row today, walking between Tim and I, which we were all super proud of. Lots of claps from everyone. 


He's also been a naughty little monkey recently. He gets so frustrated that he screams and bites whatever's nearby - usually a toy, but occasionally his sister or me. I'm hoping it's just a phase, but I fear that he may be growing into a mini Tim and will end up swearing at the neighbours, trashing his bedroom, calling people "fat" to their faces and smearing poo all over his room like his dad (in his toddler years - don't worry, Tim seems to have grown out of most of those behaviours now although he still hasn't figured out how to put his clothes in their cupboards). I'm hoping that once Beau gets the hang of walking that he cheers up a bit and gets back to being my chilled out little man.

Cheeky Beau

Jasmine has been a bit up and down again lately. I have a feeling it's because she's resisting having a daytime nap recently and is just too tuckered out most days. One day she'll be an angel, the next she'll tell me, "I'm NOT going to go to bed! I'm going to get up and get out of bed and scream and cry!". Or, "I'm NOT going to eat my dinner! I'm going to throw it on the floor!", or "I don't want water! I want milk! I'm going to spill the water all over the floor!". And then she'll plant her feet and scream.

"No! I will NOT smile!"

Honestly! How much can one mum take?! I swear my parents reckon I was an easy child... how did I get two challenging ones?! Between the two of them I've been doing a lot of snort-laughing, and quite a bit of swearing under my breath as well. 


On the upside, they are playing beautifully together when they're both in a good mood, and Jasmine is so incredibly caring with Beau it makes me well up with pride. Lately we've been bringing them into bed with us in the morning and Beau lies on my tummy, resting his head on my chest and just lies quietly and contentedly. In those moments I could just eat him up with a spoon he's so delicious. 


Jasmine is completely smitten with fairies right now. Yesterday she was dancing like a fairy and said "Maggot, maggot! Pairy (fairy) maggot! Pink pairy maggot!" I was a little concerned that we may have an outbreak of a rare breed of pink maggots in the house until she went on to explain that the "maggots" were coming from her "pairy wand". ie. the magic was coming from her fairy wand!


I was folding washing today in a shaft of sunlight and I told her that the little dust particles she could see in the sunlight was leftover fairy dust from when the fairies sprinkle you at nighttime to put you to sleep. She was completely mesmerised and laughed and waved her hands around to make them swirl.


Here are a couple of photos I took of the kids today when they were playing mummies and babies.