Learning Leaps

my little pumpkin has recently learnt to wave bye-bye. at all animate and inanimate. so, bye-bye to grandpa and grandma, bye-bye to the tree, bye-bye to the rubbish bin. she even waves when she is sleepy and yawning! and lest you think you are extra special when she waves at you, your ego comes crashing down when she waves at EVERYONE in the shopping centre and gives her cheeky smile and wink. oh yes, she winks. God alone knows what other flirty gestures she'll be up to when she's older! and now that maeve is older and easier to manage, it is time to think about job possibilities. i know i have to really pray about this before making big decisions. its funny how it took me a year to pray and seek God before i took a year's no-pay leave, but takes me seconds to decide to return to work, even if just part-time. maybe, it is the need for adult conversation, maybe it is the need to feel i still can contribute economically, maybe it is so that i won't be forgotten in the "outside world". i am filled with envy everytime bernard brings home stories from work and i so long to be a part of that life of his out of the house. i've even desperately suggested inviting his colleagues over for dinner...but...he ain't havin any of it. ah well. will think of something else. desperately need to have a party. the party animal in me dressed in housewifedom is dying to get out.

Motherhood and guilt

when one becomes a mother, one signs on the dotted line for a lifetime of guilt. Guilt when you don't pick up the little screaming bundle..so she learns to wait, guilt when you DO pick her up...then you negate your training. Guilt when you drop the precious bundle at the granparents', guilt when you have absolutely no idea why she's crying (aren't mums supposed to be cued in??). i've decided this week will be a guilt-free week. consciously. apparently the same thing doesn't happen to daddies. Thank goodness i married the epitome of zen or i'll be in the looney bin soon enough for having numerous debates with myself every day. hubby takes things slow and easy with a calm smile. even if maevie's screaming with gusto and breaking the cot down in anger. hopefully some of that zen-ness rubs off me soon.

splash splash splash!

we brought maeve swimming at lawrence's and kian's house on friday, after bible study. it was really great fun as maeve took to the water, like a little mermaid! it is fascinating how babies know how to swim automatically, and apparently, lose that skill after they turn one. i held on to the little one and she kicked her way from end to end nonchalently, like she's been doing it for ages! will try to bring her again, hopefully on a regular basis. now, off to find the perfect swimwear for her as the one i bought rides up. not very modest for a girl.

maeve's baptism

25th march 2007. maeve gets a sprinkling of water on her head. fun for her and ultimately more for us than for her. although there are huge theological debates about whether one should baptise an infant, after all, they don't understand a thing, but bern and i feel it is more of a dedication and affirmation on the part of the parents, to publically declare that they will bring their child up to be Christ-centred and to love God, and to be accountable to the church in that committment. hence, maeve's baptism. we hope that when she grows up, she will once again, take that step of faith and reaffirm that decision that was made for her as a baby.

perth

perth is a beautiful place...we think....we didn't get to spend much time taking in the sights and sounds as most of our time was spent in the house/apartment depending on when maeve wakes. even so, we did walk along the river, the beach, we did some window shopping, and maeve was of course an instant celebrity. all the little old women wanted to carry and cuddle her! which is fine by me, gives my poor ol arms a break! what was really good though was bernard and i managed to have some couple time, snuggling to watch aussie TV while maeve slept, chatting while we strolled along the beach. and that was what perth was really about.

maevie vs mommy. round 1!

i believe 6 month old babies have wills of their own. they are not placcid nor blur and in fact, highly intelligent and evolved at this stage. i can see it my my bub's eyes. that fiery look that says "aah...if i scream at this decibel, mom will come running. if i keep at it long enough, mom will whip out the boob". it is all a baby conspiracy really. bernard came to that conclusion yesterday too when she stopped her shannanigans to listen to bern blow-drying his hair. when he was done, she started up again. of course, bedraggled mommy had it and left the room, turning the TV volume up and left daddy to tend to her. i should do it every night as maevie fell asleep after 30 mins of crying. with me, no way, it goes on forever! maybe i should start part-time work. it may give me my sanity back, some social interaction, some time away from the house and i would appreciate and miss maeve so much more. might be good for both of us.

throw away those baby books!

i've broken every cardinal rule in any baby book. i've nursed maeve to sleep EVERY TIME she wakes, brought her into my bed, rocked her...i guess i'll suffer the consequences of accidental parenting later. but right now, as Janice says, do what flight attendants tell you: tend to yourself first then tend to the child. and i must do whatever it takes to get some sleep. let's hope she doesn't act up so much when we take her to perth or i'll have a lot of apologising to do.