Sit Baby, Sit!

Yesterday morning I was woken 'early' by the dreaded alarm clock on my Blackberry... You know those mornings. You turn the alarm off five times and still don't feel like getting up. Mashing the keypad for the sixth time the wife warned me to get up, or I'll be late.

I groaned, but as much as I wanted to curl back into my pillow, I knew that she was right. Half asleep, I dragged myself under a long hot shower and tried drowning myself awake.

After nearly slipping in the bathtub, I realised I probably should have stayed in bed. Too tired to dry myself off properly, I stood for a while in front of the fan in the baby's room and tried not to evaporate.

Noticing the kid was missing from the crib, I fumbled for some clothes in the laundry basket, (that I'd left in the hallway the night before), and was only half dressed before flopping back down on the bed with wife, plus giggling child. I knew I was going to miss the bus that morning, but I was totally zonked and didn't care. Boy, I was tired. I could hardly muster the energy to put my socks on, let alone hold down meaningful conversation with my daughter and make baby sounds at my wife... (you get the idea).

Anyway; there they both were, wide awake and having fun with one another. Michelle laying on her side, beautiful as ever, and Charlotte cooing and making happy baby noises. It was painfully clear that no amount of resetting my alarm was going to make the day start any later.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and the moment I started thinking about breakfast and coffee; my child performed her first miracle for the day... SITTING UP ON HER OWN!!!

Haha, well-done baby - well done...

Things were obviously a little shaky at the outset for Tiggy, (especially when she realised she was doing it by herself without any help from Mum or Dad); but as soon as she had her audience you've never seen a kid sit up so straight.

We were so excited - but not as excited as Charlotte was I can tell you. She was so stoked! Sitting up for the first time was like walking on the Moon.

Too funny!

You could feel how impressed she was with herself. Mum was cracking up laughing while Dad was grinning at her from ear to ear, and she squealed at us and waved her arms around as if she had been doing it all her little life.

Man, these changes happen so quickly. If you're not careful and you sleep in, then you'll miss them. I've only been heading into the Office for the past six weeks or so, but that wee girl is changing so quickly I'm worried that if I stay at work late one day, I'll miss out on it all. Before I know it, Charlotte will be introducing me to her Rocker boyfriend Chaz and will be asking to borrow the car keys to the wagon.

It's so amazing how fast she is growing up. What frightens me most is how quickly we forget. I mean, every milestone she has achieved so far, is so quickly eclipsed in our minds by her latest magic feat.

We must continually remind ourselves that just seven days ago she was eating solids from a spoon for the first time, and then sprouting a head of hair. Just think about it, now she's done it, she will never have another first like that again.

Nice one baby - I guess crawling is next on the list of things to do.

Perhaps it's time we warned the dog and baby proofed the house.

Love you kid, you're doing so well!

A+ from your Dad, xx

Eyelash Kisses, Baby O!

Hey Charlotte,

I've just watched you roll over onto your front in the middle of a big deep sleep; then wake yourself up and get upset, because you weren't sure how you were going to roll back onto your back.

Oh well, wee Baby, you needed a new bum anyway and Mum had half a bottle on the warm to get you through the night; so I guess it was as good a time as any to get up for a stretch. 

You're doing so well kid. You are changing almost every day, and now that I have started going back to work, there are so many things that already I am missing out on. Michelle has been great at filling me in though.

I always sit and listen to your Mum talk all about your day while I am recovering from my run home from the office. She loves you to the bones, you know. With everything she has. One thing I don't miss out on is being here to give you lots of cuddles, bedtime stories and eyelash kisses; Baby O! 

Go well little baby; I'm proud of you little girl. Tomorrow night I will read you 'Benjamin Bunny' again and you can giggle every time I say, 'Beatrix Potter' - then it's 'Hairy MacLary From Donaldson's Dairy' and maybe even 'Old Huhu'.

Love you kid,

xx, Dad.

Mission Possible

“Everyone tells Mum that I must be teething because I dribble lots and put everything in my mouth, but I'm not. Everyone tells Dad that I'll be crawling soon because I look like I want to be everywhere at once; but actually, I'm not in any hurry; and people are constantly reminding me how small and cute I am all the time... but, well ok - they're right, I am.

But let me tell you guys, it's hard work being a baby.  Man, just growing eyelashes seems to take conscious effort at the moment.  I mean, I must put all my attention into trying to get my Soother back in my mouth after five balked attempts at sucking on the handle. On top of all that, have you ever tried to hold down a conversation when you're in the middle of a Prune Juice induced poo?  It's enough to drive an infant up the wall...

...but let me tell you what I can do without even batting an eyelid: as of yesterday, I can roll over on my own!

That's right, no assistance necessary.  No gentle nudge from Rosie's snout when I squawk and no one hears.  Granted, it was a little scary yesterday when I was trying it out for the first time because it felt like I was falling; but once I figured out how to throw my arm out to slow myself and pull the other one out from under me once I was there. The rest of it is history.

Tummy Time for Tig

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Anyway, that was yesterday, so it's like 'ages' in Baby Terms. Now I have mastered the art of rolling over and have refined it to perfection. Guess what?  My next challenge is sitting up! Haha, no more shopping online or watching The Hills or The City while I'm trying to drop off to sleep, Mum. Now I can roll over I can see everything you're up to.

Let me know when you're willing to compromise about the pre-sleep activities and perhaps it's time we adjusted the height of my cradle's walls - you know, just until I'm tired of 'Tummy Time' and roll back on my side or back to have a sleep!

Ha, rolling over is easy.  It's not climbing Mt. Everest, or K2 or Dad's pile of laundry in the living room... but it's totally Mission Possible for a determined little baby.

I make this growing up stuff look easy!

xx Tiggy”