Christmas at home

Christmas has been a great time to catch up with friends and family, eat a lot, play a lot and reflect on the meaning of Christmas. It has also been a time of thanksgiving, for all the blessings i've received, all the favour, all the forgiveness. It has truely been a magical year where i got to watch my darling grow and develop into a sweet yet cheeky toddler who bestows kisses on all and is generous with her smiles and hugs.Sometimes i feel guilty that i've gone back to work part-time, just when she's starting to get interactive, but bern says he prefers me to work. better for my sanity! i'm just thankful that Maeve has wonderful care givers in the afternoon and that mum and dad are so willing to sacrifice their time and personal space to look after the little one.

BReaking the midnight snack

I just got kicked out of bed. It is for the best. Acccording to the hubby. Maeve has been crying non-stop for milk since 4am and we've been trying to get her the kick the habit. If she smells me, it makes it all the more hard and it doesn't help that i turn to mush once she starts begging. It has been an hour and she's still at it while i type in the next room. It is heart wrenching to know you can end her misery so easily, but are deliberately not doing so....for the long term good of everyone. I am just pacing and trying to distract myself from the crying so that i won't dash into the room and rescue my little one. When we come back from our retreat, the plan is to migrate her to her own room and cot. Not sure how that'll work or how long she's cry, but if we were to get our nights back together as a couple, she'll have to move. I guess i'm ambivalent about it as i figure she'll only stay a baby for so long and before we know it, she won't really want to sleep with us, prefering her own space. I also enjoy the cuddles in bed, the singing and holding each other to sleep. But! i guess hubby needs his wife back and he doesn't quite appreciate Maeve's slamming her little feet into his face nightly!

phuket

we're back from phuket! we stayed in a wonderful 2 bedroom apartment at alllamanda that overlooked the lagoon. peaceful and so gorgeous! while bern and i didn't get to do the snorkelling, kayaking that we hoped to do, we had just as much fun taking the shuttle boat around the lagoon, from hotel to hotel. almost felt like venice, well, except for the scorching weather. we brought along the pram, but as usual, it was more to put the diaper bag than the diapered one. And as usual, maeve spent most of her time in my arms whenever she's not exploring on her little fox-shoed feet.

the little things

It is the little things that make life worthwhile and me, the most blessed person in the world. it is the way Maeve strokes my arm before she sleeps, the way she flutters her eyelashes at us and grins when she is being cheeky. it is the way Bern sits up in bed in the middle of the night, fast asleep but wearing his glasses (to show he's not asleep) when i nurse maeve for the umpteenth time when she is sick and fussy...a sign of support and solidarity.it is the way mum drops everything to drive us to the PD AND waits 2 hrs together with me only to have to return in the evening because the doctor needs a dinner break. it is the way dad puts maeve on his chest to sleep EVERY afternoon nap having to contend with a saliva-perspiration soaked shirt after (and the possibility of being nursed on by a drowsy baby!). It is the way my helper fusses over maeve like she were her own child and gives her the love and attention that could have been directed towards her own children back in her hometown. I couldn't get any more blessed!

our bumble bee

THe only time you can dress your child up as an animal is when they are 1 and under...so i'm relishing the experience! now, maeve can't protest, can't be stroppy, can't decide she'd rather wear this or that, or not be caught dead in what mum buys..! so here she is, with daddy, as an adorable little bumble bee...bzzzzz..... of course, this bumble bee doesn't want to be air-borne for long, prefering instead to walk and traipse all round the house. now, no one can carry her for long. she'll demand "walk walk" and writhe and wriggle her way out of our arms. Thank goodness she doesn't do that in public..i can't imagine her writhing on the floor of a shopping centre! Although i must say, she is starting to exhibit the scary terrible-twos syndrome! bern and i were discussing our discipline methods and what we agree on. AND what we agree on is that we don't want maeve to turn into a brat, so if we need to give the right spank, we'd have to grit our teeth and do it. NOW i understand the "it-pains-me-more-than-it-does-you" that parents dole out. i always thought "yah, right! as if!" but now, it comes back to haunt me. it really is true! i can't even bear to scold her! oh dear! i'm such a fluffy bunny!

Maeve's birhday...a month and a half ago

We had a little teeny weeny party with family and 2 friends with kids. i don't really want big dos, well, i'm too lazy to have them, and besides, maeve will probably be overwhelmed. so her party was really quite nice as i got to catch up with mich and chris and uncle and aunt. maeve also had her nap in the midst of her party! Dwayne has offered her a hi-5 party when she gets older! that'll be great fun given her ardent adoration of the group.