Jenny and Maddie's visit

This week has been a lovely time hanging out with Jenny and Maddie (and Julie for a day). When we got home from Tamworth we came home to see Jenny, Maddie and Julie. It was lovely for Jenny to be able to meet her nephew and for Maddie to meet her cousin (and for Daniel to meet his Auntie and cousin and see his Nana J again).

First cuddles with Aunty Jen and cousin Maddie

Kisses from Nana J

Smiles with Aunty Jen (beautful!)

Kisses from Maddie (beautiful too)

Pats from Maddie

Sadly that night Julie got a call to say that Grandpa had passed away, peacefully. She then changed her flight to return to Hervey Bay to be with Nana. This was sad as we had waited so long for her visit, but there will be lots more cuddles from tomorrow when we fly up to Hervey Bay. It was lovely though that Jenny and Maddie were going to stay until Sunday.

Jenny and I decided that we would do a park crawl on Thursday with Maddie and Daniel. In the morning we walked to Ruddock Park for Maddie to have a play on the pirate ship.

She enjoyed going up and down the different objects and exploring the playground

Daniel found that it was more fun to sleep at the park

Then after returning home for a sleep we went to Pennant Hills Park to have some sushi lunch and another play.
Maddie enjoyed playing in the fire engine, going down the slide (backwards), climbing up the rock climbing wall and putting bark on the steps. Jenny and I enjoyed eating our sushi, following Maddie around and chatting. Daniel enjoyed sleeping and watching Maddie play.

Driving the fire engine

Concentration when climbing

Climbing the rock climbing wall. She knew exactly where to put her hands and mostly where to put her feet.

Going down the slide is much more fun on your tummy and backwards

Daniel decided to join the park party.

I have been so pleased with how Maddie has played with Daniel. She hasn't been too rough with him and each time she starts to push Jenny or I just remind her to be gentle and she lightly pats him. Daniel has received lots of cuddles, kisses, pats and toys from her.

She has also helped Daniel understand what to do when playing with his mobile. She has also loved hanging out with Oscar which has been so nice. As Jenny says it is very rare that you hang out with your cousins cousin but Maddie and Oscar have gotten along so well. I have also been so proud of how Oscar has played with Maddie and looked after her.

Playing at mum and dad's place. Maddie sharing the blocks with Oscar and Daniel just hanging out

Maddie helping Daniel in the bouncer

 On Friday we decided to go on an adventure to the Australian Reptile Park. We asked Jenny and Oscar to come along as well to help be tour guides as they have yearly passes. Daniel got loaded up into the Ergo so that it was easy to move around. The only downside of that was it got very hot for us both!

 When we entered, Oscar took us to see the platypus, Maddie following close behind. It was so lovely to hear Oscar constantly saying 'come on Maddie'.

 Then Daniel decided that he wanted to have a feed. While I fed him, Oscar took Maddie and Jenny to see the crocodiles.

There they are!

Next we went to see Hugo and Dippy. Jenny and Maddie were amazed at how big they both were and how cute Dippy was while eating.

Then on our way to look at the birds the cutest thing happened. As we were walking, Oscar leading the way, Maddie walked up to him and took his hand. Oscar didn't resist, but instead held her hand back. It was so precious to watch! They were so cute.

We then went on to see the birds, koalas, dingos, wombats, etc. Maddie seemed to love seeing the different animals. Just before she came to Sydney she learnt 'Woof, woof'. Each time we have seen a dog she would say 'woof, woof' and point to it. When she saw the dingos, she kept saying 'woof, woof'. So cute!

Looking at the koalas

'Woof, woof'

Daniel decided it was too hot to be in the Ergo so he was carried around after the dingos to try and cool down. Thanks Jens for helping carry him.

 It was a really lovely day hanging out with my niece, nephew and baby boy, as well as their lovely mums.

When we got home, after a nap Maddie had a bit of a play outside looking at the different flowers.

Then this morning we had a bit of a lazy day as it was the AFL grand final day with the swans playing in it (excitement plus!). Daniel got dressed, ready for the game.

Maddie helping Daniel play with his mobile

Gently pats

Playing with the phone

Running circles around Mummy and Daniel

Today I have noticed that Maddie seems more comfortable with Jenny holding Daniel. Before she would want to be held too, but today Jenny got some longer cuddles which was lovely. Then Jenny, Maddie and James went to get a coffee and play in the park which was lovely. I stayed home with Daniel to do a few things and to feed him. When 2:30 ticked around Dad, Jenny and Oscar came over to join in the party.

My family ready to cheer on the Swans

Daniel ready to play for the Swans

 At half time we all went outside to have a bit of a kick around with the ball and a run around outside. Maddie was more comfortable with James today which was great to see as she had been quite shy around him.

Maddie and Oscar also had more fun hanging out.

Cheese

Oscar leading Maddie over to the windmill

Maddie giving Oscar a cuddle

 Ever since out neighbour built a windmill in his garden Oscar has loved going over to watch it spin. Today was no different. He introduced Maddie to the windmill and it was a very windy day for it which made it even more exciting!

Watching the windmill

Wow! It is spinning so fast!

I loved watching Maddie look at what Oscar was doing and try to copy it

The fun game then became run in circles around Auntie Debbie. Maddie started doing it and then Oscar noticed that he liked playing that game too so he joined it. I am glad that I could provide some entertainment.

Toward the end of the game Daniel woke up. Fortunately he was happy to have cuddles with Aunty Jen and not have a feed as it was a very close and stressful game. I don't feel that feeding would have been very appropriate or safe. He is such a cuddly little boy!

I ususally get very stressed in the Swans games but James was quite funny to watch. With 3 mins left on the clock, James couldn't stay seated - he was too nervous. Then when there were 30 secs left on the clock we scored another goal and knew that the Swans had won the grand final. James was a little bit excited!

Daniel did pretty well to survive with all the cheers, singing and excitement in the air. In the end it all was quite tiring for him and I got to have some lovely cuddles before Daniel's bed time.

It has been so lovely have Jenny and Maddie stay with us. It has been lovely for Jenny to be able to have lots of cuddles with Daniel and I have really enjoyed playing with Maddie and seeing her warm to both James and I. Tomorrow they return home again but we also head off to Hervey Bay tomorrow too. I am a little bit nervous about taking Daniel on a plane as I don't know how he will go with flying, but it will all be good. We are thing hiring a car from Brisbane so hopefully the drive will be ok too. It will be lovely to see the rest of the family (not so lovely the circumstance) and for them to meet Daniel. I am hoping that he can bring some joy during a hard time. I am really looking forward to Nana meeting Daniel and also to seeing Ruth again as she is coming in from Scotland. Now for a good sleep tonight!

By the way, well done Swannies! Very exciting stuff :-)

 

Tamworth

On Sunday James and I did a mini car trip to the Blue Mountains to see our old pastor Neil. It was  so lovely to catch up with him again and to have him meet Daniel. We went to the 10:30 church service to hear him preach on Prayer and obstacles to praying which was good to hear and be challenged about. We also had communion. Daniel was great on the whole but during communion prayer he decided that he wasn't very happy while feeding. He started to get fussy but as it was in the middle of a prayer I just pushed him into me so that his voice was muffled. After pulling him off and giving him a hug he was much happier. He then slept for the rest of the service on James and slept during lunch. We then went back to Neil's place for a chat, Daniel to have a feed and then a nice cuddle with Neil. I'm looking forward to catching up with him again soon!

Then on Monday James and I went on our first long car trip with Daniel. We went all the way to Tamworth to see our wonderful family and to farewell Lucy, my cousin Andrew's baby girl. As this was our first long trip we both didn't really know how Daniel was going to go. Part of me thought that he would sleep the whole way there if we let him, but then another part of me worried that he would be ok for the start but then grumpy for the rest of the trip. Fortunately he was wonderful for the trip. He was happy to feed at 2 different stops along the way and he was also happy to sleep in the car. Basically James and I wouldn't have known he was there besides the fact that we put him into the car. Champion!

On Monday night we went over to my Auntie and Uncle's place for dinner. It was so lovely to see them all again but it was hard, as we were introducing them to Daniel for the first time after they had just lost their grandchild and niece. I was nervous about how they would be with him as I'm  sure it is hard to see another baby. I offered them to have a cuddle with Daniel and it was so beautiful to see how happy and excited they were to hold him.

I love this photo of Uncle Mark holding Daniel and them both just looking at each other!

 Uncle Mark later told me that it was so lovely to hold Daniel and to be able to cuddle him. It really helped with the healing process. I'm so glad. Auntie Ros said the same thing. They both were also amazing at understanding and recognising that this was a hard time for me too considering the situation. But they really were appreciative and so grateful to have met him. It was hard looking at the photos of their gorgeous girl. She was just so swollen and the photos of them holding her - which should be happy - you could just see the sadness and sorrow in their faces. It broke my heart as each photo I looked at, I remembered the opposite image of James and I holding Daniel and the smiles and joy which was evident in ours. It was really hard to look at the pictures of her, but also so nice to be able to see this little girl who was so dearly loved.

At the apartment, Daniel had a great time playing with his portable mobile from Nana and Poppy as well as playing with Nana, Poppy and Auntie Jenny. Jens was putting her finger up infront of him and he was able to grab it (after a lot of focus and concentration!). Clever boy!

It was also Daniel's first time being in the port-a-cot. We weren't too sure how he would go with this as it was unfamiliar and he ususally woke up at Mum and Dad's place when sleeping in their port-a-cot. But he was a champion and slept right through. He looks so little in the big cot!

The next day was really hard. It was Lucy's funeral. We had decided that James would take Daniel for the morning because it wasn't appropriate for him to be there and even more inappropriate if Daniel started to cry during it - it would just be too hard for Andrew and Emma! So I left James and Daniel to go and get a coffee. I am so amazed at the strength, courage and faith that both Emma and Andrew showed, and continue to show. When I gave Emma a hug, the first thing she asked was 'How is your little man?'. It brought me to tears. How can she be so loving to think about me and my baby when we were at the funeral of her own? It was so hard to answer 'He is good' knowing that she didn't have a chance to say that about Lucy. Then I heard her apologising for making me cry. Oh dear. It then continued to be hard. It was nice to hear from my cousin Mel that she had been in a similar situation when she had just had her first baby - Kaysey, and also to hear from Auntie Barb about how hard it was when she was pregnant with Nat. I was nice to hear that the feelings I had are normal and that others in my situation would feel the same. It was so hard to go up and place some petals on Lucy's coffin. So little, so petite. But I felt I needed to do it to show support to Andrew and Emma. 

After the funeral I asked Emma and Andrew if it was ok for James and Daniel to come and meet up with us all at the wake. Emma said that she would love to meet him (amazing!) and Andrew said that it was ok if Emma was ok with it (he was/is such a supportive husband!). It was lovely that when we arrived at the wake, both Andrew and Emma got up and came to us to meet Daniel - this alleviated my anxiety of them meeting him. Emma apologised for any tears she would have and I told her it was ok, I'd probably join her in crying and that it was totally understandable. She had a cuddle with Daniel who became quite grizzly. I think the toll of the long car trip the day before, plus meeting so many new faces and being held by lots of different people started to catch up with him. 

Beautiful Emma with Daniel - she is so amazing in how she is working through her sorrow!

 Andrew then had a cuddle with him and again he started to get grizzly. We tried to have Daniel smile, but he wouldn't have a bar of it.

 I was feeling bad because I wanted Daniel to be happy for them at this time of sorrow. They both loved meeting him and having cuddles with him though. While Daniel was being held with Andrew, Emma was talking to him and told him that in many, many, many years when he goes up to Heaven, he will get to meet his cousin Lucy. Out of the blue, Daniel smiled. This absolutely melted Emma's heart and made her day.

I am so glad and so proud of Daniel that he was able to make a loving, happy, memorable moment on such a hard day for them. It is something that Emma mentioned a couple of times and it will stay with her for many years to come. Good job bubba. He also settled down in Andrew's arms for a while which was lovely too. I was so happy for them to have cuddles with him for as long as they needed to.
That night Daniel again slept through - little champion! We decided because he did so well in the port-a-cot, he was going to be upgraded to his cot at home. No more bassinet. Eeek.

Sleeping in his cot! Champ! He slept really well.

The car trip home again was great. We managed to have just one feeding stop which Daniel was mostly happy about. 15mins out from home he woke up and was hungry and let us know it. But it was too close to home for us to stop so we pushed through and he survived. He did enjoy the stop at the park in the sun.

Nana putting on sunglasses so it wasn't so glarey for Daniel

So overall Daniel was a champion to travel with! I am so proud of him and for the joy that he brought to my family during this hard time! I hope he will do it again this coming week when we head up to Hervey Bay to farewell Jim - a wonderful man and fantastic Grandpa.