Being home with the 4 of us

After being at the hospital, it was so lovely to be able to come home with my boys. I really did miss them and it was hard saying bye to them each time they headed home. 

After we left the hospital, we headed to the park (as you do just after having a baby). It was important for me as it was to meet up with the girls - Ali + Tom and Sam, Zoe + Poppy, Elise + Hannah, Ez + Penelope and Shell. I do love catching up with these girls and it doesn't happen often, so we were keen to go. It was also nice for Daniel to be able to run around (after being restricted in the hospital for the morning). Daniel had a great time playing with Tom and Penelope while I enjoyed chatting with the girls - and Eliza was perfect and just slept the whole time which made it an easy adventure.

When we got home, Daniel was very happy to help rock Eliza in her capsule, before I woke her up for a feed. It is pretty cute to see how he wants to help. He just needs to understand that he needs to do gentle rocks, as he does do extreme rocking at times.

When we came home, Daniel was the adoring big brother. He wanted to be where Eliza was, do what Eliza was doing, give her cuddles and kisses and play with her. Pretty sweet to see.

Daniel holding Eliza's hand while she had tummy time

Giving Eliza a kiss on her hand

Helping Eliza clap her hands

He was pretty excited to have his little sister and mummy home. Happy feet and a very energised little boy was present.

It will be tricky to help him understand what is acceptable when playing with Eliza. Things like wanting her to clap is cute, but he needs to understand that her arms don't bend in any way he wants. Also when standing up from the ground, he will use Eliza to push up on. Again, totally innocent but needs to understand that it's not suitable for her. James or I will just need to be around Eliza when she is on the ground to keep an eye on her and Daniel. But I guess they are good problems to have because he is caring about her and wanting to interact with her.

Me with my 2 kiddies

Adoring eyes

James is still totally smitten

While I was in hospital, Daniel started to say his name. He says 'Non-nal' and it's pretty cute.

For Eliza I have pulled out the mobile that Daniel used (and Oscar too). 

It has been in the back room the whole time but, of course, since I pulled it out and put it over Eliza to look at, Daniel decided that he wants to play with it. He has started to use it as a shop. He will stand behind it and go 'ummm...'. I then ask for something from the 'shop' and he gets it (using his imagination) from the cupboard and gives it to me. He then asks for money and puts it into one of the coloured circles on the top. It is a pretty handy game to play while I'm feeding Eliza as it keeps him occupied.

Eliza is like her brother and enjoys having tummy time more than being on her back.

She's pretty cute!

Daniel has been a great help with Eliza. Having 2 kids I have decided that Daniel can be involved with things like settling and being in her room when I'm changing her nappy/dressing her, etc. It is very cute when I go in and settle Eliza, as Daniel will often follow and ask to go 'up'. I pick him up onto my lap and he will reach over and pat Eliza (like James and I do) while saying 'shh, shh, shh', like James and I do. It really is very sweet.

Patting Eliza to settle her

He also loves looking at her through the monitor. When he sees it he says "La" and asks to look at time. He will sometime talk on it like it's a phone (fortunately it doesn't travel through). The only thing is there is a button that plays music through it. We encourage Daniel to avoid using the buttons because we don't want the music to start playing.

Daniel hasn't shown much jealousy with regard to the times I am spending with Eliza. When feeding her, it is often a time that I read to Daniel. James has been able to play with him while he is home. He has also taken to driving cars on my legs while I'm feeding. So that is good. He also seems to like doing what Eliza is doing. Things like when Eliza is on the mat, he will come and lie down too. When I'm patting Eliza's back, he will rub his back for me to pat. Even when I was feeding Eliza, Daniel went and got his cup and held it up to me to get some milk. It was very funny to watch! He even wanted to be wrapped up like Eliza.

James wrapped Eliza and Daniel wanted to be wrapped too

Sleepy cuddles

A week after Eliza was born Malcolm and Julie came to visit before their fun trip over to Europe. It was really lovely for them to meet Eliza and have some lovely cuddles.

Meeting Nana J

Proud grandparents

With Eliza it now makes 3 grandkids

Meeting Boompa

I do love how both James and I are close with our parents-in-law. I love how supportive and encouraging they are to us both with parenting. I especially appreciate how Julie encourages me and helps build up my confidence. When they came I had decided to try self-settling Eliza which was a little bit stressful, but she got there with patting. I also love seeing how Daniel clicks with them even though he hasn't seen them frequently. He does love his 'nana and boom boom'. 

In the morning we went to breakfast together which was lovely. Eliza was great and slept the whole time. Daniel was wonderful too - playing with his train from Grannie, drinking his water, and loved watching the trains come and go.

Looking at the trains with Nana J

Daniel is starting to understand how to 'share' things with Eliza. Sometimes he is good, other times he isn't so great. One morning Daniel decided that he would read one of his books to Eliza. It was very sweet!

Reading the hungry caterpillar board book

My gorgeous girl

Daniel just loves giving Eliza cuddles. He asks to give her cuddles at time and we try to oblige. Eliza doesn't always love it, but that doesn't turn him off.

Cuddles

My lovely family

Daniel has also enjoyed having some visitors, particularly Auntie Jenny and Oscar. He loves riding his bike around and Oscar and he found that one can sit in the trailer. It's pretty cute to watch.

Each time Daniel rides his bike, he points at it and says 'Oscar, Oscar, Oscar'. Clearly it is a fond memory for him. Fortunately Daniel hasn't worked out that Eliza could fit in the back while he rides around. I'm sure that will click some time. He is very good at riding his bike!

It is pretty crazy to think that we are a family of 4. I do love our 2 kids though and love having James to support me through this journey. We both comment that we are a team and we definitely embrace that.

My gorgeous family!

Daniel has loved reading books, particularly when I'm feeding Eliza. He loves choosing the books and then sitting and reading them. 

When Eliza has been sleeping, he has chosen to read Dr Seuss books. When we read these books he sits on his couch and tells me to go next to him by pointing and saying 'Mumma'. We then get the toy puppies and rest our heads on them as we read. It is a very special time for me.

I have started to use the bouncer for Eliza, just so she isn't lying on the floor. It's a bit safer when I can't sit next to her to stop Daniel accidentally hurting her. Daniel likes to help her bounce. Sometimes it's pretty extreme bouncing, but sometimes it's a good, gentle bounce. 

Daniel and Eliza both enjoyed James' time being home. Eliza enjoyed cuddles with her Daddy (and I enjoyed Daddy changing her nappy times). 

Daniel enjoyed hanging out with his Daddy, doing different activities - a lot that we do regularly each week. One of these was to watch the garbage truck go past on Tuesdays.

Toot toot

Happy boy when watching the truck drive past

We had a family trip to the shops to get a few things. It was Daniel and Eliza's first time in the double pram and he loved it! Eliza was good and went to sleep too. The pram is good - excellent as it can fit the capsule. The downside is that the wheels stick out quite far so it is tricky to push around, but other than that it works really well.

Happy boy

When Eliza was 2 weeks old I took some upclose photos of her. I wish that I was more of a professional photographer to get those amazing shots, but still. She is pretty amazing. Daniel also wanted to join in on some of the photos.

My gorgeous kids

Tummy times

In James' last week home we decided to do a couple of family outings. The first was to go to Eden Gardens. We had morning tea there which was very tasty and Eliza had some milk too. 

Daniel is loving drinking from straws

We then went for a wander through the gardens. Eliza was very happy in the ergo and fell asleep which was great. Daniel enjoyed walking along the paths and in the gardens. It was quite a nice time.

Look, a lizard

Daniel has enjoyed spending some time outside. He had fun playing games with James on the grass.

When Daniel holds Eliza, he likes letting me know what parts of his body she touches - his neck, his eye, his hand, etc. It is lovely watching them interact together.

My neck

She touched my neck

This is my sister

My happy family (if you ignore Eliza crying)

On the last day before James went back to work, we decided to do a family day at the Australian Reptile Park. Oscar has loved going there as he has grown up and we thought that Daniel would enjoy it more now. He loved it, and so did we. Again, Eliza was great in the ergo - slept a lot of the time, fed well and then slept again. Here are some photos from the day.

Never smile at a crocodile...

'Lii'

Patting the frog

Checking out Elvis

'Anada Li'

Looking at the turtles

Curious boys

Hi Hugo

There he is

Hi

Patting an alligator

Chasing a goose (or some kind of bird). He was gaining on it too

Patting a kangaroo

Adventure!

Patting Hugo

It has been a lovely 3 weeks with James being home. I am not looking forward to him heading back to work and me being '2 against 1', but I feel that I can do it. At times while James was home I asked him to sleep in or to go into the other room so that I could see how I'd go by myself. Times like the morning routine and around dinner time. Each time I did it, I survived and so did the kids. It was important for me to build my confidence and that was good. 3 weeks down! Crazy that my baby girl is now 3 weeks old.