Age = oh who cares?!?!

What kind of sick world is it where a child learns to suck his toes the same day (the same hour) he poohs all over the floor and sticks his feet in it?!

Age = 6 months 12 days

And the most exciting news of all – Linus is going to meet his Great Aunty J for the first time this week!!�

Age = 6 months 12 days

Great-Gran and Great Granny

Yesterday Linus and I were picked up by Granny and Pop-pop and went to visit Linus’s Great-Gran at Marne Street Hospital. She seemed quite well and very glad to see the little man and to get a photo of him with his Daddy.

While we were there Linus got to hear what might have been his first music recital (apart from amateur recorder-playing in private by parents and grandparents). A couple of old people were performing lovely music in the lounge at the home, a lady on piano and a gentleman singing and playing the violin. I got Linus up to hear a couple of waltzes. I wouldn’t say he noticeably enjoyed them. In fact, I’m not sure he noticeably noticed them!

Mummy’s Boy

The Mummy’s-Boy-ness is well and truly established now, and extends even to poor Daddy and Nana.

Songs

I don’t think I’ve made much comment on songs for a while. It’s just worth noting that one song has become far and away Linus’s favourite – and it’s “How Much is that Doggy in the Window?”. Another one I don’t think I’ve mentioned that’s a favourite nappy-changing song is “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport“. (That one’s more my favourite than Linus’s, but he humours me.)

Age = 6 months 10 days

Bad Mummy

Linus rolled off the change table (actually a bench) in the changing room yesterday at the swimming pool. It was his first ever roll-off anything. Naughty Mummy looked away for literally half a second to hang up a towel.

Only a few of the family changing rooms have proper changing tables with straps on them, and the rooms are very sought after so you can’t usually choose which type of room you get (unless you want to wait round shivering for ten minutes!).

Linus was OK… although it was a tile floor, his head managed to bump into his Daddy’s leg on the way down and then land on Daddy’s foot.

Swimming

Linus and I have been swimming three times now, firstly with Nana and Aunty Claire, then with fellow mum-and-bub RH and SO, and yesterday with Daddy.

Yesterday I dunked Linus a couple of times and he didn’t seem to mind too much. I think he is starting to enjoy the whole experience (except the bench-rolling-off part!) more and more.

We spent over half an hour in the pool and all had great fun, especially Daddy who hadn’t been to the pool in years and enjoyed the waves and the swirl pool!

Travel Plans

I’ve got a bunch of Air New Zealand Airpoints about to expire, so I decided that I should spend them on a trip to see the Ms in Napier in October (in return for their visit at Easter). I’m going without Bob during the week rather than the weekend, so it will be just us mums and bubs while the men-folk work.

I’m very excited to see the Ms’ house that they bought a year ago, and of course most of all to meet their brand new (as at the end of June) baby daughter CM. It will also be neat that I’m there during the week because I’ll be able to go into my old office and show off my son to all my former colleagues!

I’m a bit… I was going to say nervous, but that would be overstating it… Let’s just say I’m interested in how it will be travelling (four flights) with Linus on my own. Let’s hope he behaves well and that I’ve got room to breastfeed him on the plane. (Feeding him should keep him quiet and happy, plus I’ve heard it helps with any ear pain they get from the pressure changes.)

Age = 6 months 5 days

Well it’s finally started. I finally feel that Linus prefers his mummy sometimes (and not just because of the whole milk-on-board thing!).

Up until the past couple of weeks, it’s been hard to see much difference in how Linus acts around different people. He smiles at people who smile at him or play a fun game with him, but I haven’t noticed a brighter or happier or quicker smile for me vs others or family vs strangers.

But now he’s starting just a little to stop crying at times when he’s handed back to me. He’s also getting a bit difficult to leave on his own (e.g. on the floor in the lounge while I put washing on) because he starts grizzling as soon as I step out of the room.

It’s obviously nice to be recognised and needed and loved, and just as obviously it makes some things a little trickier.