laranettle

Fun with the hose

One of the great things about visiting the farm (apart from the wonderful company, lovely food, amazing orchard and beautiful animals), is the water tank.

That means that small children can play with water despite water restrictions!

Day 4 of the Invasion

Inigo at the park, in better days

Inigo is walking more and more, and the other day he was lurching towards me, I thought that his walk is very much like that of a cartoon zombie (hence this morning’s cartoon).

As he lumbered and tottered, it struck me that this drooling, staggering and excited toddler was like a zombie attack from a 50’s horror film – terrifying, but quite slow.

My little body snatcher is having a rough time. It now looks as though he has a cold on top of the Foot & Mouth (which I have renamed Bum, Knee & Mouth Disease, because he seems to have sores on his knees and bum instead of feet and hands), and the poor little guy is very sooky, and very needy.

Today is indeed, a GOOD Friday – Mark is here to co-parent, and I can get some time alone (marooned on a couch while my lovely cleaners do their thing).

Too many cuddles are never enough when you’re sick

Happy Easter

Image stolen from If You Were a Zombie.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Well, OK, it’s officially Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, but I am being dramatic because I want everyone to feel sorry for me.

Last Wednesday, we had lunch with some friends, and on Friday I got an email to say that one of the kids had come down with HFMD, and to keep an eye out. The incubation period is from 3-7 days, so by yesterday I was pretty confident we were safe.

But no. This morning Inigo was really clingy, and went down for his morning nap WITH NO FUSS WHATSOEVER! That is when I started to worry. When he refused to eat much lunch, I was sure my child had been kidnapped by aliens and replaced with a weird sleeping and not eating child substitute. Then he lunged at me to give me an open mouthed kiss (how adorable!), and I realised 2 things.

This odd child was actually mine, and the open sores inside his mouth probably meant that he caught the bug.

Today has been difficult. When he isn’t sleeping, he’s been clinging to me like a limpet, and shrieking like he’s never going to see me again if I try to get more than a millimetre away from him.

And we’re completely out of gin. Goodnight.

Thanks Bilby

A little while ago, I joined a group called Baby Carriers Downunder. A lovlier online group of parents would be hard to find, and their help with finding a carrier solution for Inigo has been invaluable.

Recently, they organised a Secret Pal type swap, called a “Bilby Swap”, and my Bilby package arrived yesterday.

I will post separately about the wrap (which is gorgeous, and far more tasteful than anything I would have chosen), but here are a few pics of the lovely play silks that my Bilby Ruby made.

And in Lara news, the reason things have been so quiet here is that we have a house guest for a few days 🙂

I can’t possibly think of a title that isn’t vulgar

Where the Wild Things Are

A million years ago, I found some leaked pictures from the set of this production, and I dared to hope that it would be an awesome film.

It was one of my favourite childhood books, and I have never fallen out of love with the story, or the beautiful illustrations. It was really important to me that the movie had the right visual “feel” of the book, and the pics I found indicated that the production designers got it right.

Even the way Max’s tail moves when he runs is perfect.

I can’t wait!

War on the streets

For a while now, there has been an escalating war between bikie gangs in Sydney. Last Sunday, while we were at the farm, it got really nasty, with a man bashed to death in front of the general public at Sydney airport.

Since then, there has been drive by shootings in Auburn, another shooting in Punchbowl, and a war of words between the various gangs, and the terrified politicians. It’s all been revolting, but rather remote (a drive by shooting in auburn is close to home, but not enough to scare me).

Then I heard the news this afternoon that a home made bomb had been found in Lisgar Street, Merrylands. I rang Mark to let him know, Lisgar street is really close to our house. Mark did some poking around, and foud that the Lisgar street house has a garage that opens onto Augustus Street (formerly Wright Street), and that the package was found on the street outside the garage.

One of the websites we saw showed a picture of the exterior of the garage, and I recognised it. You can see it from our front door.

So while I have never seen a bikie in my area, apparently they are here.

Sixteen Months

Twinkle

Kid has a serious twinkle in his eye.

He likes to keep one foot on the table at all times.

And is still unbearably cute.

He adores music (and his Grandma)

Is thrilled at every little success. The Tupperware shape sorter has become a favourite toy.

He is quite the budding artist.

And sometimes it is all just too much.

Interestingly, after he fell asleep into his noodles, he woke up miming eating noodles. Like he was dreaming noodly dreams. I am so glad I was there to see it, I wouldn’t have believed how cute it was if I hadn’t seen it.

Last week he discovered my bunny ears – gifts from my “hen’s night”.

Climbing is his new thing. With the combination of some walking, and the climbing, he can push the stepladder to the counter, and climb on to the bench.