Spring and flowers

When I get home, I know they've been out for a trike walk as there are flowers all over the front step. A little trail. I open up and walk through the house. All quiet. Milla is leading Charlie around the backyard. She turns, her face is puffy from crying. Teething. The yard is green and it is a beautiful mild spring evening. Just gone 7pm.

First run this morning, post half marathon. Left calf still aches. Supermoon hanging over Newport at 6am. Milla wakes late, happy and helps in the yard.

Helping sort rubble in backyard.

Grampians Paradise 4

The two nights at Paradise near Pomonal are not enough. We supersized our trip and spent two cool nights at Jimmy Creek Campground first up. It was a mad drive up on Wednesday, I was on the phone, texting, chatting and working. New job in the works and lots going on. Lunchstop in Beaufort.

By the lake at Grampians Paradise.

This was our first tent camping since the big trip before I went back to work. It was clear Milla had no memory of camping. Arriving at the campground she was clearly overwhelmed by the place, particularly the cockatoos. She settled in and was very good at staying safe around hazards like creeks and fires. Importantly, she slept well. I noticed three huge molars finally have sprouted (maybe two months of work there?) and she occasionally pawed at her mouth and drooled. So we gave her some painkillers.

Four nights of sleeping in her own tent. She practically leapt from our arms at bedtime to get into her cot. And when she was beat yesterday afternoon, she went and sat in the cot quietly. She had late bedtimes, it was bright and interesting so it tended to be after 8pm. And then we all slept in, 7am or after.

Milla under cake screen. Check the photo from last year.

It was different and the same with the crew. Now lots of babies. Lots of work. Milla was bowling them all over. Everyone overcatered, that was the same. Weather was great, as usual. It was too hurried and I just wanted to chat chat chat with my friends but it was hard to find the space.

43/52

I've considered cutting her hair. It's long and thick and so beautiful. It sticks on her snotty nose and gets porridge wiped in it and is wild in the mornings and she can't see. She pulls out ties and clips. Childcare returns her to me with braids, perfect.

Train ride home, always making friends.

42/52

Killer pout!

41/52

Bike til you barf. 

Loves it when the trike is pushed down bumpy lanes or Charlie shoots it super fast. Can say 'mwah'! Ate a whole mango at lunch.

15 months

Says "ear". Can find her nose and yours. Understands when I say "both hands" when on the trike. Will stand up in the bath when she's done. Hates the ocean. First trip to zoo. Loves curry by the bowl fulls. Rarely sits still for a book now. Loves the climbing wall. Says "taaaaa" and gives you tiny tiny things. Picks her nose. Hates getting her nappy changed. Can take her top off over her head. Very steady on her feet. Very good with dogs, courageous and mostly gentle. Flat tummy in morning and huge round belly by evening. Loves to drink water. Still has a 150ml bottle of cow milk before bed.

Williamstown Beach. Milla 15 months.

Helping in the yard

Getting muddy.

Family Train Ride to Work

Passing through Footscray. 

Spring Days

I think Milla's been well for... days! And current obsessions are keys and her trike. Warmer weather means playing with buckets of water. And another howling trip to the beach. Why doesn't she like it?

Hated the beach on a warm sunny glorious Sunday. 

Walking, striding, very confident. Face planting in the evening when tired. Put gumboots on her today and her waddle changed. She undid her nappy and thought she was hilarious. She picks up the tiniest thing and hands it to you. Played with cars today for the first time. Winner. The funniest thing is when I drive them off the side of the bluestone step and say 'noooo!' when they crash.

Brm. 

It's all about the bike and the trike. Got the trailer for my bike, a helmet for the monkey, and did two test rides into town. It's such an awesome ride, bike paths all the way. Big ships and lots of anglers at the back of the power station. Everyone in the city points at us.

Watching the traffic. 

The trike I found on the street. It's pink. It's a favourite. We have been doing an evening block, and met some chooks in a front yard.

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Watching Milla stack blocks. Unbelievable the feeling it gives me. Utter pleasure and satisfaction. This feels like a milestone.

She stacks up five on top of each other. Examines each piece for suitability. When they fall, she says 'owh!' and continues undeterred.

Spring has sprung. My half marathon is weeks away. We finally got a bike trailer so maybe I can ride to work with Milla.

Afternoon busy work. 

Bright

Milla roamed the backyard wearing a merino top, a bib, socks and volleys. No pants. She played joyously on the swing with Charlie and chatted at full volume, maybe playing an imaginary game.

The guys left for afternoon biking and I ran the bath and placed Milla in the shallow water. Hysterical howling and trying to climb up the side. I checked the tepid water, I checked her feet, legs, area for painful wounds. All good. She clung to me.

I got undressed and lay in the bath. She put her head on my chest and fell asleep immediately. Time passed.

The kid is teething, out of sorts.

Last night we had dinner at the Bright Brewery, saw the warm afternoon disappear by the river. Walked home and put Milla to bed. She woke at usual time, 6am, and I picked her up from her room next door, and jumped back into bed, placing her on Charlie's chest. She fell asleep immediately. Aside from murmuring and taking some glugs of water, she stayed asleep, cheek to sheet, across the centre of our bed until lunchtime.

Sweetness. 

Walking to school

Franklin Street pair.

14 Months

A stranger gave Milla a paper crane this morning on the train. No words, just the crane.

Using my pedometer as a phone. 

Long day at childcare, very tired kid upon home time and only ate a little dinner. First day of spring and blossoms all through the backyard, clear night but not too chilly at 6pm. Now she's been in bed for an hour but has woken, howling. Maybe another tooth? She was pawing at her throat. Maybe another gastro?

Yesterday we went to the Bowie exhibition, hung out in Fed Square, and in the afternoon, she declined naps and instead walked walked walked independently around the house. She turned corners, turned around, and fell well. It was amazing.

Milla at 14 months walks, eats bircher muesli for breakfast. Still loves being read to, often in a hurry to turn pages. Just started trying to wear things as bracelets, drapes things around her neck as scarves. Can now reach shelves where delicate things are. Still howling and it's nearly 9pm and she's had Nurofen.

Toddler life

I'm at the computer. Milla is standing next to me. She's very tired. Declined afternoon naps, now it's gone 6pm. I ask her, "Milla, would you like to choose a book?". She takes a few steps to her left, sorts through the book tub and hold one aloft. Charlie in the kitchen, so surprised. Big kid.

Determined to get the mower started.

She's walking more, still wants to grab a hand but loves to take a few hilarious steps between us. Occasionally will walk from us to furniture. Charlie has taken her for a couple of walks down the street.

She's started collecting crumbs and replacing them into her bowl, a welcome change from flinging everything about. Eating a lot. Naps unpredictable.

Cheetah

Milla's new word today is cheetah. She also says 'hi, Dad' and can wave at Sooty when we say 'where's Sooty?'.

No riding for Charlie today, feeling lackluster and it was raining. We decided to drive and explore. It wasn't roses, we'd woken at 3:30am to Milla's coughing and struggling to breathe, so stopped at a Doctor in Scottsdale where we got a dose of reassurance.

We drove north, to Waterhouse, where the fields of cows and sheep gave way to some dunes, little beaches and rocks like those at Cape Conran.

Stopped at Bridport and Milla walked the sand, took a few steps down the main street independently, and watched the seagulls fight for our soft apple. Almost trendy café, yarn bombed tree with blossom litter, yummy coffee and retro high chair.

Afternoon back at Derby, our final night. I did my 'easy' run, 6k in the drizzle, along the Tasman Highway. Tomorrow long run, 1 hour 20, we've checked out the northeast rail trail as a possible venue. Then back on the big boat from Devonport tomorrow night. It's been a long week. In a good way.

Bridport bike.

Derby

Arrived tiny Derby. Cold, foggy, no frost. 10k run along the Tasman Highway, birds and rockcrushers about, no track to run along.

Happy Indian meal at St Helens last night, hosts had gorgeous cheerful baby for Milla to play with. Long drive on windy roads to Derby.

Milla has her own room, sleep through, as did we. New tooth in the morning. Eight now. She's coughing a lot. Mostly when resting. No other symptoms. Seems to be getting good at saying 'hi-i' and 'byyyye' in a sweet voice with a floppy wave.

Helping in kitchen. These moments. 

Hobart

Up early to pound the pavement with Dadda. Unbelievable to be running together, somehow. He ran fast and I kept up. Possibly my fastest 5k ever. The sun came up and it was a brilliant day with no break from beautiful warm sun.

Milla and I went for a long walk while Charlie explored some trails not far from Hobart. It was relaxing, strolling, over to Sandy Bay, back through Battery Point and then over to the CDB. I found a cafe and Milla made friends with a little punk called Adelaide. 

Something went wrong and we forgot MONA was closed Tuesdays so instead we headed up the mountain to get a look at some snow. Poor Milla got cold feet but it was glorious up there. 

First snow play for Milla. 

Dinner with Dadda-Pop at the amazing Smolt. We realised it was the first fancy dinner we'd taken Milla out to. It felt like a long time since we ate so well. Afterwards Milla walked home! Up the Salamanca hill, refusing to let go of father and grandfather's hands. 

Spirit

Milla was so good getting out the door. After pizza dinner and a quick offer of warm milk in a bottle, we were into the car instead of off to bed.

Queuing at the dock she was calm and sweet, singing occasionally and pointing out the seagulls. Into our room and the lights of the coast, something about the view, filled her with excitement. She marched around the tiny room and carried on happily.

Anyhow, it wasn't a terrifically restful night. Milla woke around 3am and after a good while of wailing, I lay with her. She in the cot on the floor, me naked, half in, half out. She was chatting and singing and called to Charlie a few times. We eventually slept, Charlie put the doona over me.

Then it was all hustle as we slept in. Milla had to be roused.

Sleeping on her side on the big boat.

Walking

Well, I didn't see it. At childcare they announced that Milla walked yesterday. Mark this day, I guess.

At the National Gallery of Victoria. 

She was exhausted last night: big effort at swimming class, yielding a sticker, a certificate, and praise from Grandma. Then apparently the walking and lots of garlic bread and raisin toast. Then tired and grouchy at dinner with us.

Flashback

Flashback a year ago. Milla in her crib, swaddled, in Ballroom.

Brilliant light. 

This morning, after three nights in her new big blue bed, she again took me down the hall, to her bed, patted it and pointed at it, chatting. It's definitely a new thing, receiving note.

We chickened out last night and after two cups of milk in her tiny glass (about 60mls) we gave her another 60mls or so of cow milk in her bottle. She was tired and grouchy by 6pm. An adjustment to one nap per day perhaps. Maybe I should do as they suggest and follow the childcare routine of early lunch and one afternoon nap.

Hanging out in East Brunswick.