Hervey Bay

We are just back from a lovely holiday to visit James' family in Hervey Bay. I didn't know how this holiday would be - just because of Daniel walking I didn't know if it would be a relaxing time or if it would be a stressful time chasing after him. Fortunately it was a relaxing time, partly spent chasing after him. :-) And a great time catching up with family.

On Sunday morning James and I woke nice and early to have everything ready before Jens came to take us to the airport. Clearly James and I were taking too long and Daniel just wanted to get going.

Let's go guys!

The check in line was massive (not helpful having a huge group booking go through oversize luggage) so I gave Daniel his breakfast while James waited in the line. Eventually we got through, checked in and waited for our plane at the gate.

Look, there's our plane!

The flight times didn't really work well with Daniel's nap times. He normally sleeps around 10:30, the plane took off around 10am. Not helpful. Daniel was quite unsettled for the flight, but did quite well considering. He was entertained by drinking water and reading his books. I tried a couple of times to have Daniel go to sleep, but he just isn't used to going to sleep in my arms. with about 20 mins left in the flight, Daniel eventually gave up the fight, closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Mummy win!

Unfortunately that timing meant that we started descending after Daniel had slept 10mins. He started to pull at his ears in his sleep and then started to cry - annoying air pressure. (the other funny moment of air pressure was when after take off, we opened the straw on Daniel's drink bottle and the water started spurting out the straw - silly air pressure). He wasn't keen to have more water so we gave him some apple pieces. This made for a very happy bubba. Once off the plane it was lovely to see Malcolm, Julie, Jenny and Maddie all waiting for us! We packed the cars and then head home for lunch. Daniel and Maddie had some fun playing together (or competing to play with certain toys - the fun ages when they want to play with the same thing as others) while we sat around and chatted.

Daniel also found that he enjoyed going up and down Malcolm and Julie's stairs. He is pretty good at going up, not so great with going back down. He just wants to walk, but we want him to crawl backwards. He will get there eventually.

The rest of the day was spent hanging out, chatting, napping, dinner, relaxing.

The problem with being in Queensland is that it is very bright early in the mornings, and Daniel let us know that. My normally 7am waking bubba decided that most mornings he would wake up at around 5:30am. This was a bit too early for James and I. It provided time for us to play in the grandkids' room, go and get coffee, go for a nice morning walk, etc. On Monday morning I got up to look after Daniel and it was just the sweetest thing when he picked up his book, sat on the little chair at the table and started reading. Completely melted my teacher heart!

He then decided it was time for breakfast - an imaginative one, but apparently it was yummy.

Once others woke up he started to play again. I just loved that it didn't take long for him to become comfortable again with everyone in Qld after not seeing them for a few months. He loved reading more books with Nana J and Maddie.

Taking turns to find who was hiding on the farmyard

More stories with Nana J

 There was lots of playing on the back deck (thanks to Malcolm putting boards up closing in the steps) and inside the house. Daniel was very intrigued by some wind up caterpillars. 

Focussed on catching the caterpillar

Got it!

He also loved spending time with Benny! "Woo, woo" became a frequent phrase in his vocabulary (and still is each time he hears the dogs next door bark!) Benny is just so good with Maddie and Daniel. He is so patient, doesn't retaliate when they get overly friendly with him, he will just stand up and walk away. Such a good boy.

Benny's ear

Benny's foot

Gentle pats

In the afternoon we went for a walk down to the beach with Maddie and Jenny. Daniel and Maddie had a wonderful time playing in the water, splashing around. Maddie has really grown in confidence in the water since I last saw her. Daniel just loved being in the water too.

In the water with James

Gorgeous Maddie

Daniel splashing the water

I love how happy they both look in this photo. Something must have been funny

Maddie fetching a stick

Little waves for a little boy

Splashing excitement!

Cousins

The kids loved the water, it was a bit too cool and pebbly for the adults. After walking back home and having a both Daniel and Maddie then had a bit of a play before Daniel went to bed.

Watching Maddie

Maddie making 'dinner for Daniel'. Even cracking the eggs on the edge of the bowl. So cute!

Daniel tasting his meal

Maddie joining in too

 I can't wait for these 2 to grow up a bit more and play together more, sharing the being imaginative. I saw glimpses of it this trip but it will be lovely when it happens more.

The next morning we headed to Enzo's for our traditional Enzo's breakfast. While we waited for the food, we had a little walk and play on the beach. The sand here is much nicer than the end of the road.

Walking along beside the beach. So beautiful!

Maddie showing Daniel different things you can find at the beach

My beautiful boy!

Breakfast was yummy (as normal) but options were limited with being pregnant, and that we had a quiche the night before so I didn't feel like having an omelet either. But I made my own yummy breakfast. Daniel did pretty well with sitting and eating his own food and even got a special treat of some of Nana J's bread to munch on (so we could sit and eat peacefully too).

After a nap at home we headed around to Aunty Jen and Maddie's place to hang out and play. Daniel said hi to the guinea pigs that they are minding and then proceeded to have a great time playing in the sandpit. 

We are working on not flicking sand everywhere as it is something that he enjoys doing, however, it is a big learning process for him. Maddie and Daniel also had a turn driving Maddie's red car. Inside we looked at Maddie's room and had a turn on her rocking horse. It's a pretty cool toy.

We had some yummy rolls for lunch and played with more toys in the loungeroom. The ball was a great hit (of course) as well as exploring playdough. He is still a bit unsure of the texture but it was an improvement on when we gave him some dough to fiddle with and he did not want a bar of it.

Then it was time for Maddie and Daniel to both have a rest so we headed back home.
After our nap Daniel had a bit of fun with Nana J in the garden, playing with (you guessed it) a ball! He just loved throwing and catching it.

It was a pretty relaxing afternoon just hanging out and playing games.

The next morning we went to go and visit Grannie. I did the mistake of giving Daniel to Grannie as soon as we walked in. This resulted in tears - just because she was an unfamiliar face. So after a few cuddles, an investigation of her house and a bit of distracted play, he started to warm to her again. He was very interested in her DVDs and the little teddy that is on the tv. His cuddles are very cute - lifting the teddy up into his neck and tilting his head toward it. Grannie was just great with him. She loved playing 'this little piggy' with him and he kept asking for more, pointing to his toes each time she had finished. I just love watching her interact with him and how much delight it brings her (I'm sure it's the same with each great-grandchild). She is also excited to be meeting Squeak in May when we plan to return. This will bring some non-wriggly cuddles :-)

Grannie blowing raspberries into Daniel's hand to say goodbye

 We headed back home again for a nap and then had some time outside with Maddie, playing with the ball and pushing around the washing basket. It was cute to watch Maddie and Daniel 'throw' the ball to 'eachother'. 

Pass it to me!

I'm ready!

In the afternoon we headed down to the beach at the end of the road again. There were a lot more dogs around this time. Maddie had a great time pretending to be a dog - chasing after a stick thrown into the water. Daniel loved splashing in the water again and playing with the sand. We had a special treat of seeing a group of dolphins swimming in the water too - very cool. I wish they were closer but still a special treat.

Where has it gone?

Cousins

The next morning James and Malcolm headed to the movies to see Rush - one about F1's, definitely a movie for them and not so much for me. Jenny and Maddie were going to playgroup and invited Julie, Daniel and I which was lovely. It was at the park so a very open place. We arrived a little bit early so went for a walk up to the look out. Daniel wasn't so keen on the view but that's ok.

At the lookout with Nana J

We then headed back down to the equipment and saw Jenny and Maddie as well as a few other people from their playgroup (it is connected with Julie's church so she knew the lady who organised it). Daniel had a great time. Unfortunately the equipment was not very toddler suited but that didn't stop him enjoying the slippery dip, the swings and the bark chips (I am finding that I enjoy the parks that have the soft, spongy ground. It is easier for Daniel to play on, and not throw around). 

He really did enjoy his time on the swing!

He was very excited to see these balls (even though they weren't able to be moved)

Playing in the bark chips

Fun on the slippery dip with Nana J

After a bit of playing we went and sat in the shade for a bit. Mostly because I was hot from walking around after Daniel, but also to have a drink of water. Daniel had some of Aunty Jen and Maddie's apple, which he really enjoyed. Maddie brought over a couple of books and Daniel wanted to join in the reading so placed himself on Aunty Jen's lap.

He obviously wasn't very interested in the book though because he kept trying to close it after just a couple of pages. Fortunately Maddie found this funny and kept giggling at Daniel.

Maddie laughing at Daniel

A very sweet moment when Maddie was sitting on this step, so Daniel walked over, climbed up and just sat next to her. Maddie doesn't look very excited by it but I thought it was very cute!

The next morning James and I decided to head to the beach beside Enzo's. The sand it just nicer here and being the morning it was hopefully not going to be very hot. It was actually a pretty windy day so we were worried about the sand blowing and being uncomfortable but fortunately it was very sheltered. The tide was right up too, but that didn't matter. We found a nice bit of sand and plonked Daniel down in the water. I had planned to go into the water, but it was a bit too cool for me to venture out past my waist.

Standing in the water with Daddy

He just loves the water

Look at the sand!

Gooey

Fun!

The waves are coming (but not fazed by them)

Daniel just loves the water. I know I have said it before, but here are a couple of videos to show just how much it doesn't faze him. And also how much he loved playing with the sand. I hope his love for the beach continues. I would love to take him and Squeak to the beach as they grow up and hang out there in the sand and the waves.

After a nap we went to visit Grannie again. This time Daniel felt a bit more comfortable. He enjoyed walking around her place, playing with the little teddy and looking at different things in Grannie's place. She again played 'this little piggy' which he just adored and again, kept asking for more - pointing at his toes. 

We had a pretty relaxing afternoon again. It was nice to be able to sit and read a book while others looked after Daniel. It took me a while to be ok with that - not that I don't trust others to look after him, more so that I felt bad that they were doing it. Feeling that it was my job being his mum. I needed to look after him. But as the holiday went on, I loosened up and believed it when people said 'it's ok, I'll look after him.' Next time I will try to relax from the start :-) On Sunday morning we had hugs and cuddles with Nana J before she headed off to church, because we were heading home. 

We then put Daniel down for an earlier nap so he would be awake and rested for our flight home. We woke him up just before leaving and packed the cars and headed to the airport with Malcolm, Jenny and Maddie. Everything was checked in fine and then we waited for Ryan's plane to land. 

We had goodbye cuddles with Boompa, Aunty Jen and Maddie and then said a quick hello/goodbye to Ryan and then went to board our plane. 

The flight home was ok. Daniel ate his lunch happily but did get a bit restless toward the end of the flight. It is a long time for him to be sitting still, in the one place. I even get bored on the flights too. Daniel enjoyed looking at the plane magazine - particularly the 2nd page which he constantly pointed out having a ball on it (he noticed it first, not us). There was another page with a dog on it too - woo woo, woo woo. So that provided some entertainment as did his books and of course, the dried apple pieces that he happily munched on. When we got to the airport we headed out to the car and Grant gave us a lift home. It is nice to be back at home, Daniel has settled back into his normal sleeping - no more 5:30 wake ups - atleast for the time being. But we do miss our Hervey Bay family. Looking forward to seeing Nana J and Boompa around Christmas time again and Aunty Jen and Maddie when Squeak comes (or in May when we go up). We really are very blessed to have such wonderful families!