Family times

Sorry this post has taken so long. The videos haven't been going up for a week so I have been putting it off. Hope you enjoy reading it.

The holiday period has led to being a lot of family time which is wonderful! Not just time with James but also my family and James' parents.

The Wednesday before Christmas one of my mothers' group friends gave me a ticket to go and see the Pennant Hills Library Christmas pantomime. It was lovely to see the performance of the turtle vs the hare. They did a very good job (I had no idea of what to expect). Daniel had such a blank look on his face but did enjoy doing the actions with the songs that they sang.

Very curious about what is happening

Part of the performance

Daniel and Oscar have continued to enjoy hanging out together (most of the time). Daniel just loves copying what Oscar is doing. It was pretty cute watching him and Oscar share the little couch to read books. They are such little book worms.

In amongst family things we had Anne, Angus and Lachie around for lunch - friends from Mothers' Group. It was really the first time that I had let Daniel run around and play in the courtyard and it was really good. He loved it, Lachie loved it and we enjoyed being able to sit and chat. We just closed the gates to the driveway and the boys were fine to move around. We also got out the little pool and the boys enjoyed playing in the water together. It is nice to see them playing together - they are getting to an age where they interact together rather than go in opposite directions.

Like in my last post I mentioned that Daniel is showing some affection toward Squeak. He will give Squeak kisses (my tummy)

 

And he will sometimes give cuddles too. It is very cute to watch.

He also likes finding my 'bah' (bellybutton).

The Monday before Christmas we had Christmas part 1. This was at Auntie Sue's place with Mum's side of the family. The day started with games

Then we were ready for lunch. While waiting for our food the little boys started popping Bonbons.

 Daniel's face was very funny in anticipation for a loud bang (not captured on camera).
After a tasty lunch we sat around for a little bit while cleaning up lunch. Daniel got into the spirit by doing high fives for everyone.

Then Oscar played Santa and did a great job at handing out the presents. Unfortunately Daniel was too busy on his phone to come and open presents.

Too busy on my phone Mummy!

Oscar handing out presents

Eventually the phone conversation ended and Daniel could join in on opening presents. He really enjoyed ripping the paper open.

He loved looking at the pages in his Gruffalo book - Ahhhh each time he say a picture of the Gruffalo.

Then on Christmas Eve we hopped into the car to head up to Tamworth for Part 2 of Christmas. As you can see, Daniel was very excited to be in the car.

We stopped at a park along the way so that Daniel could have a run around. Unfortunately it had been spitting and so he couldn't play on all the things, but he did enjoy the parts he could play on.

It was very cute playing with him in the shop. I would ask for something and he would come up to the shelf and say 'ahhhh, ummm' and then some gibberish. When I asked for something he would give it to me, but then eat it himself (eg. Can I please have some strawberries. He would put out his hand and touch my hand but then put his fingers in his mouth to eat them). 

I do love that imaginative play starts at such a young age!

When we arrived in Tamworth we unpacked, had lunch and a bit of a play.

Daniel just loved being scared by Uncle Awesome and Oscar in the cupboard

Then it was birthday cake time for Oscar's 5th birthday.

Hanging out with Uncle Awesome

Once the cake was consumed (good job Jens!) and Auntie Ros, Uncle Mark and Grandma G went back home it was time for a swim in the pool. Fortunately Tamworth wasn't as hot as it could be, but it was still warm enough to have a dip in the pool (but then was very cold to get out of the pool).

Then it was bedtime for the little ones and boardgame time for the oldies - TV Logo game. It provided a lot of laughs, learnt some things about each other (like James can't say 'green' in the game) and I won, which was a surprise! Jenny and James weren't too happy about that.

On Christmas morning Daniel and I hung out while we waited for the others to wake up, then it was present time. Oscar again played Santa which he did a very good job at. He gave Jenny an awesome present (Howie couldn't wait for he to open it)

Even if Jens didn't love it, the boys sure did - hugs all around (until the beak got Daniel between the eyes and he was quite hesitant to touch it)

Again Daniel enjoyed opening his presents, ripping the paper and looking at his toys.

He was very excited to get a trolley bag! Immediately took it for a walk around the apartment

Someone decided that Daniel would make a good present.

Our beautiful boys

After presents we got ready and headed to church for the Christmas service. I didn't get to hear much of the message between reading books to Daniel, drawing with his new bag crayons and colour-in pictures and then playing with stickers (which Daniel thinks are meant for legs, not paper). But he did well to keep pretty quiet for the service.

After a nap back at home it was time to head to Auntie Ros and Uncle Mark's place for Christmas lunch. It was so lovely to see them, Grandma G and my 'little cousins'. It was also lovely to meet Logan. He is a cutie and Daniel just loved looking at him, patting him, being near him. We facetimed Jenny and Maddie which was great to see them. Maddie sure has grown up! Glad we weren't in Hervey Bay as it looked like a very hot day (fortunately Tamworth was rather cool in temp which was great). They had set up a kids table, which was perfect for the little kids, as well as the big kids. I think Jens used it the most. Lunch was yummy and had so much food! Good job Auntie Ros!

Getting some Christmas lovin' from the boys

Hi Aunty Jen and Maddie!

Getting into the craft table

Daniel saying hi to Logan

Decided he would lie next to Logan

And gave him gentle pats

The table decorations (good job Kylie!)

The boys

Daniel loved running around the backyard

Auntie Jenny helping Daniel with a colouring-in (she wouldn't let him touch her artworks)

Proud of her reindeer creation

 Then it was present time. There were a lot of presents to bring out (so that the little Gowers could swap between each other). Fortunately there were lots of little helpers.

And then it was family photo time.

Jens and I with Grandma G

Grandma G with her little Grandkids

Grandma G with 2 of her boys and her youngest Great-grandchild

On our way back to the apartment James and I had a quick stop to show Daniel the Golden Guitar. He had fun trying to play it.

After a little bit of a hang out at the apartment, Daniel had fun wandering around. He did somehow manage to get stuck beside his port-a-cot and the mirror. I think he was trying to check himself out. Me, being the loving mother, got the camera, took a photo and then helped him out :-)

In the morning Daniel woke up and he and I went into the loungeroom to play with his toys. I openned his wooden board with transport blocks - it's very cute and he really enjoyed using it. I didn't think he would take to it so much, but he proved me wrong. Purchase win from the Wooden Toy Factory in Adelaide. 

He was great for the car trip home and enjoyed playing with his new camera - ready, smile, 'snap'. Happy little man.

When we got back home it was wonderful to see Nana J and Boompa! Daniel was very excited to see them. He loved reading stories with Nana J and running around the house with Boompa. 

I just love how he takes to Julie and Malcolm even though he only gets to see them a couple of times over the year. We frequently heard 'Nana' and 'Boom Boom' both when they were here and once they had gone back home.

Breakfast out with Nana J

Playing with the farmyard with Nana J

We cracked open the sandpit from Jens, Howie and Oscar and Daniel just loved playing in it with his new sand toys from Great-Grandma and Logan. It will take a bit of practice to remember that sand stays in the sandpit, but he did pretty well for first attempts.

The next day we headed to the park with Nana J. It was lovely seeing him enjoy playing and venturing with Nana J.

On the lookout

Enjoying having a swing with Nana J

First flying fox ride

Buying some products from the shop

Loving using the slippery dip

 Daniel still loves sitting on different things - his mini car, his walker, his bucket, his ball. Not the most stable thing, but he enjoys it.

On New Years Eve, I decided that it would be fun for Daniel to have a play in the sprinkler - as it was a warm evening. It was pretty awesome to watch his progression - from not interested, to inquisitive but not confident to go close to it, to getting his face wet, to putting his hands on it. All part of the learning.

Sprinkler time!

It's getting my face

This is fun!

Trying to catch it

I love this photo!

So much fun!

He has also had fun playing with Daddy. We have started to teach him how to tickle. It doesn't really tickle us, but his reaction is very cute when we pretend to giggle.

Also, Squeak has been getting bigger. All is going well. When I went to my obstetrician, he had to leave to deliver a bub so Rhonda, the midwife, measured the bub and it is growing well. My blood pressure is good still and Squeak's heatbeat is also going well.

27 weeks

28 weeks

29 weeks

I have been wondering what a good mother is. Since having others around so much, having days away from Daniel and having James at home, since James went back to work on Monday I have been anxious about looking after Daniel by myself. Silly I know because I have been doing it for 18 months, but still, it has been something that I'm nervous about. Trying to think of things to do, ways to keep my little active boy entertained, working out if I'm spending enough time with my little man or not, just lots of thoughts and annoyingly, doubts. I know a lot of mums who I think are awesome, but they seem to doubt themselves. I look at my mothers' group mums and wonder how they get the energy to go to the park each day, to do different activities with their kids, etc. I know that Daniel loves going out and others do so well with taking him out, but I just don't really have the energy at the moment (and for so long he has been content just hanging out at home). I know that Daniel loves hanging out outside, but I find I don't take advantage of it very much. It is silly, and I know that it is silly, but yeah, just trying to work out who I am as a mum, how I'm going to be with 2 bubs, how I'm going to be as Daniel gets more active. Just doubts which as I hang out with Daniel more I'm sure will fade away but yeah. Thoughts going around in my head.

Also, I'm not writing this to hear 'you're a good mum' because that's not my intention, I just wanted to get it out of my head. I wanted to try and stop having it pop back into my thoughts, and thought that maybe writing it will help. :-)