13/52

I took some paparazzi shots of Charlie and Milla sitting on the bluestone step in the yard, peeping from the window. Then Charlie got up and peeped Milla around at me. So good. 

Who's that peeping? 

Books

Charlie sold some bike gear on eBay and declared the profits would be available for new books. Awesome.

Milla has had books read to her since her first weeks. Guess How Much I Love You was read many times in the Ballroom to the tiny infant.

Then we were given Lost and Found and Maisy's Colours and they become firm favourites.

A few others have joined the repertoire. Since Christmas, Charlie and I learnt Each Peach Pear Plum by heart and Where is the Green Sheep gets lots of grins from Milla. She now points at elements in the pictures (pointing is her favourite thing this week) and tries to turn pages. She rocks and reaches and is very happy to be read to and unless exhausted will want more and more.

So the family excursion to Readings finally happened yesterday (after Ikea! We must be mad!). We spent $95 in twenty minutes, anxious to get back on the road before Milla let us know she was tired.

Readings haul at home. 

It was fun and mad. We three picked up books and quickly read them. The Mix it Up book was the only one I'd already seem before. Though I've coveted the black and white fabric books. Perfect for little ones. How to Catch a Start is by Oliver Jeffers, who we love from Lost and Found. It's going to be fun reading these!

12/52

Did my second of two photography classes last night. Lucky me I know someone who would come to me. So we took photos down at the waterfront at the end of my street.

First portrait of Milla with technical intent.

My brain was emptied almost completely of all the technical photography know how from school and when I had my lovely Pentax and amazing Zenit. I was starting again.

11/52

Long night, slow morning, strange days. Great light.

Waking up in travel bed at Castlemaine.

Castlemaine

Another girls' overnight trip. In Castlemaine to see art and friend. Milla and I have house to ourselves, it's cosy and strange. Lucky I have lived with this dear friend before, stops the house from being too spooky.

Outside gallery, playing. 

Milla barely slept last night (and me too, having brief nightmares about Milla taking a huge fall). She was so hot to touch and very upset. When Chemist Warehouse opened at 830am, I was there to purchase a thermometer. She registered 37ish and perked up a little. We hit the road.

Clapping

Friends for dinner last night and Milla clapped. She does a lot of things with her hands but this was the first time clapping. Very exciting. Yesterday morning I collected her from bed to race of to Pilates and she was all sleepy on her tummy. Progress there too.

Few days have passed in the last eight months with no photos of Milla. Yesterday was one. Here's a pic from Monday instead as Charlie introduced her to a new toy.

Bit exciting.

This time last year we were in New Zealand and I was 25 weeks pregnant and feeling great. Time flies. Life marches on. We are now in the gap where I have no income, after my work maternity leave has run out and the government parental scheme. A few weeks from now and we'll be back on the road, headed north, Buller again, Jindabyne, Blue Mountains, Newcastle, Byron Bay, Nowra... A month of life on the road before I return to work. Eep.

10/52

Running low on photos. Thank goodness I'm doing a photo course next week. Expect huge improvements here. Huge.

Just woke up. 

Just back from three days up Mount Buller, a very different high country weekend. Charlie competing mountain biking and us girls hanging out. We feared it would be long boring days on the summit, but Milla and I managed to socialise and really enjoy the gorgeous weather and relaxed pace. Charlie's races started later in the day so we enjoyed mornings together and Milla slept well so we were all happy. So much to say.

Tried a run around the village, hills and thin air made it so challenging! I was dreaming of the long flats.

9/52

Yesterday was a baby-led weaning kind of day so Milla didn't eat much. Woke at 1:45am and got a bonus feed. Most times I go to collect her from her room, she's on her tummy. Here's her snotty sleepy face with pink cheek from rubbing on her bed this morning as I cycled on the stationary bike unawares. She's got some beautiful block sets from family which can be used for all different types of activity. Here she's using a wooden set for drumming.

Baby Milla at work.

8/52 and Eight Months

Eight month check up yesterday. The last one was 4 months, seems like forever. At that appointment we were told we could start giving Milla food. This time we found she's at the 90th percentile for weight, yup. Huge.

At the nurse, lifting up the toy in waiting room.

I need to give Milla more finger food, so she can feed herself. Mealtime is so messy anyhow, what am I waiting for? Last night while I was at Pilates Charlie played lots of 'development' games with things hidden in boxes, requiring various skills to find and retrieve them.

First swimming lesson on Sunday was a blast. We had Grandma cheering from the sidelines and Milla grinning at everyone. Who knew Braybrook could be so much fun? I had been warned that the lessons were exhausting.

Post-swim coma. 

Rolling and Evenings

Yesterday Milla howled during the afternoon attempt at nap. I went in after a while and found her on all fours in her crib, facing me, tears. So, she's rolled over. Using the bars as a tool to hoist up. So, it's hard for her to rest.

Same this arvo. Charlie got her up. He's sick and tired.

Tiny nurse. 

Sometimes we dread the evening and I say I'll put Milla to bed early. We think it'll be hard with velcro kid and no relaxing and she'll be hard work and the evening will be stressful as we're tired... It always seems to be that the next hour flies by in a delicious flurry of giggles and games.

Playing with my foot. 

Second round of conjunctivitis sent us to search for a Westside GP and we weren't disappointed. A serious, gentle and no nonsense woman who told us to bathe Milla's eye with salt water. And it's better. Just like that.

Busy days and good days, despite the lurgy. I've been for lots of runs. And went to St Kilda Readings to see John Darnielle genius read for his brill book. Milla and Charlie came for the ride and hung out on the grass while I basked in the brilliance and got my book signed. Life goes on, eh.

Affection

Milla's arms around my neck. Her right hand patting my shoulder. Her open mouth on my face. Tongue on my cheek. So much affection and crazy cute natural ways to show me. I hid under her chair yesterday as I wiped up the mealtime mess and she arched and searched. When I appeared on the other side, she clung to my arm. Looked at Charlie - 'I found her!'.

Examining her foot.

7/52

Got a cold. First time I've been crook in a year or so. Might have broken the back of it today. Charlie home all snotty. Put Milla down for a nap and she howled. And howled. So I went for a run. Came back to a sleeping baby, but forty-five minutes of howling, wah.

Milla takes big bites out of the backyard tomatoes. I'm harvesting a kilo a day still.

Learning 'no' by trying to eat leaves. 

Post-swaddle life is good. Though with the naps, it's harder to get her to rest and she pushes herself up to bang her head on the top of the crib.

Swimming lessons start this week for Milla, Mum will take her and hopefully I'll get some longer runs in.

Post-Swaddle 3

"Third verse, same as the first, just last night..."

I'm tired. But the overnight unswaddle has been great. No turning back. Already thinking about Montessori-style floor beds and the next step for this kid.

Walked to the Happy River Cafe yesterday and sprawled out with Mother's Group. It was grand. Lucky to have another mother nearby who loves to walk. Six kay walk, both ways, 2 and a half hours walking.

This morning Milla said 'Mum' at me. She says lots of different sounds, including ma-ma and duh-duh all the time but this seemed to be with intent.

Milla electing not to take an afternoon nap.

Post-Swaddle 2

All good with one arm out until 2am sharp. Then two hours of howling. Pick up, rock, count backward from 100. Go to kitchen and listen to crying. Repeat. And an hour slips by. I took the other arm out. I switched the arms. I did a nappy change and mercy boob. I listened to her cry again. At 4am I heard the howls peter out and we both fell asleep. Milla woke at 930am and we began our day. 

Milla. My sweet. 

Post-Swaddle

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. But we had a very good night.

Bottle feeding.

Milla is working hard to roll herself over. She also sleeps really well. Usually she goes to bed by 9pm and wakes around 5am. Time to stop the swaddling. My plan was to have a few days of all naps with no swaddle before trying overnight. But the opportunity with Charlie being away was too good.

Yesterday Milla slept for two hours in the stroller as I pounded the westside pavement picking up local honey and beautifully pressed second hand clothes. It was 30 degrees but felt cooler. It was glorious. Hard work walking. Found the Vernon Street shops for the first time.

After lunch Milla declined to nap. I tried. She screamed. I tried. She got up and was cute. Ach.

Bedtime came a little early. Strangely I was exhausted. I left one arm out of her sleep bag. Nervously sat and waited for her to fright. Nope. Woke up at 5am for a feed. I put her back to bed in a new sleep sack with both arms out. Slept for two hours. Winning. Then she got up and ate vegemite toast. And gulped down her peach and fig porridge.

6/52

Back up to Tolmie this weekend. Much better than our first trip. Milla woke each night but I put it down to cold. So back on Gumtree to look for merino clothes! 

Watching her hands. 

I drove up Friday evening with girlfriend. We had a lovely long stop in Yea and then Milla screamed all the way to Tolmie. Horrible but we two sang and chatted and it didn't feel to angsty. 

Saturday was spent at the Tolmie Sports Day watching the woodchop, three legged races and dog jump. I went for a 4k run each day. Brilliant. 

Drive home Sunday following Produce Store visit was entirely different to Friday. Milla slept the whole way to Melbourne. So. We still can't travel in evenings. 

Home with a week ahead of no Charlie, travelling for work. I'm going to try to break the swaddle. Less at risk if we don't need to preserve his sleep for work. Wish me luck. 

Fail

Camping. Fail.

Thankfully the drama is receding, but Milla and I had a camping fail.

A trip with a group of friends to camp at Warburton on the Yarra. We did it last year when I was pregnant and rode not quite all the way up Donna Buang. This time the dates changed and Charlie couldn't come as he was booked into a mountain biking workshop for the weekend. That's ok! Milla and I will still go! The friends who we camp with are baby-lovers and will help me with Milla. We've always had good times camping!

Happy baby at camp.

But no. Milla couldn't nap at the campground. It was noisy, and too hot in the tent. So I took her in the stroller and she snatched 2 x 45 minute stroller naps. Bedtime was ok, she fell asleep on me in the socialising marquee, I took her to the tent to nurse her a little more then put her down. It was a bit slow but ok. A bit later, I slid in next to her. She in her crib, me on the thermarest beside. I woke to her noises, of course, which we don't usually hear. She wakes, cries out without waking, goes back to rest.

Then at 2:20m she really woke. Nurse, nappy change, nurse, nappy fail, bedding wet, nappy from the car, nurse, wants to play, grizzle. I am totally panicked. It's so clear and beautiful outside. I text my friend, sleeping nearby in her van with her baby. She comes and holds Milla while I get dressed and grab gear from the tent. We get in the car and abandon camp. Tent still up. It's 3:35am and I'm driving 84km back to home.

5/52

Blue suits you like me. Yesterday you tried sipping through a straw for the first time. You were a quick learner. You also learnt to drum, following your father's instruction. We had a great day, swimming in the pool, you kicked and kicked and followed the bubbles, fighting the urge to drink the water. I ran three 3kms along the Darebin Creek. You ate almost a whole kiwi and seemed to hate every mouthful... Why did you keep coming back for more? Right now you've been asleep for 18 minutes with your arms out. Sun is shining and we're having a quiet day.

Figs are a new friend. Pre-loved and much loved dress. 

Maybe girls camping tomorrow, weather's hot, water keeps beckoning. Charlie is riding all weekend at You Yangs. Can I do it solo?

Seven Months

Milla at seven months.

Wild Child

Milla. Tries to peak at the next page of the book. Giggles hysterically at Charlie's peak-a-boo. Can glug from her sipper cup: loves loves loves drinking water. Sits. Tries to crawl. Is still swaddled, though I'm trying to break it. Feeds from the boob so well. Chats "ne ne ne ne" and "da da da da". Can sit outside by herself for ages and watch ants and butterflies and listen to motorcycles. Occasionally will fall asleep in our arms, particularly in the evening when Charlie watches mountain biking vids on YouTube...  Can feed herself toast fingers and big chunks of dried fruit. Always loves yoghurt. Is amazed by clapping, baffled by my dancing. Wants to play with the back door chain. Very strong tummy muscles and will stay in a v-sit-up for ages. Cries getting nappy changed when tired.

Love love love this kid.

4/52 aka snot

There was a little girl.

Mopey baby with a cold out visiting. 

Now my friends' babies are coming, I am reminded how quickly memories fade. How did we get Milla to sleep in her room? When did breastfeeding stop hurting?

This week Milla had her first cold. I think she's just over it now. It was lots of snot, so noisy feeding and gasping for a break when eating, and a bit of sooky moping.

Backyard tomatoes a-go-go. Been for six runs. Four months now til I'm back at work. Life goes on.