25 months

Cleaning the bricks. 

Zoo trip after a sleepover at our place with uncle and aunt. Funtimes apart from the senseless night wakings. Random.

Started to amass critters for bedtime... Used to just be Alpi, then doll, then rabbit, then baby, sloth, rat, more rabbits, a duck... Referred to as 'everyone, everyone!'.

Riding the balance bike around the block with skyrocketing confidence. Great for lighter evenings as winter begins to wane.

Hasn't done swimming lessons for maybe six months, maybe start again this week.

Hard to describe but seems strange to call her my daughter as she feels like she is her own person, Milla, an independent member of our family.

Did two year check in at the nurse and she's mid-range for height and top of range for weight. Speaking in sentences of six or seven words, sings her whole alphabet, can sometimes count to seven.

Life at two

Life at two is us writing lists of her impressive sentences and great imaginative interactions. Great at playing by herself, very caring and interested in others. Can sing forever, medleys of favourite and the occasional new composition. Great at recall, people's names, my mentions of things in past and future. Hilarious. Eats well, sleeps well, though started skipping naps. Takes an increasing cast of cuddly friends to bed with her. Said 'happy birthday, Paul!' to her grandfather on the phone. Helped spoon muffin mixture into tiny cases. Rides on my shoulder. Tantrums. Loves to say 'I did it!' though latest catch-cry is 'what are you doing there?!'. Favourite colour is orange.

Morning ponder in the garden.

Birthday Eve

It's the eve of your birthday and I'm listening to you coughing. An hour and a half, in bed, warm and cosy with your four little friends, a doona over you, the heater on, a chink of light through that big gap under the door. Coughing coughing. The doctor says it's just snot in the back of your throat. Not much we can do. Honey and Panadol.

It's a little heartbreaking. But we're hoping better and brighter tomorrow after three days of crook. Your birthday is right when winter bites. That was a name on the list - Winter. But Milla won.

First week baby. 

Of course thoughts go to last year, we were all crook then too. The year before, the amazing story of your arrival. And the year before, moving into our home, before you.

Now. We are so mad in love with you. Charlie's face when you're naughty and we send you to sit in the hallway. Trying not to laugh. How you say 'scuse me' as you busily bump into us as you work around the house. How good you are with your letters. How lovely you are with Alpi and friends. Your serious face when helping cook, crush garlic, stir, pack the dishwasher, carry laundry to your room. How you try to tickle me. When you ask for cuddles. The face when you've just poured water over your head in the shower. The habit of wanting to hold our hands lately. Saying 'I wake up!' in the most cheery way. How you pretend to be a baby with me. Gah, and those tantrums, particularly trying to get undressed as we head out the door.

26/52

Sitting in Sooty.

And here we were, two years ago.  And last year, breastfeeding finished.

Bedtime

Just like that.
She wanted to walk down the hall to put herself to bed.
We were taken aback.

23 Months

Meeting (Grand-) Papa.

First of June we flew to Cairns, a long lovely day. Started with caution, as Milla has thrown up on the train the previous day... Childcare called and instructed me to collect her as she had a temperature. I had cycled in (four degrees in the morning!) and so thought better to take her home on the train. She was flat, cuddly, warm, then vomiting and distressed.

First of June she woke ok so we retrieved the bike, packed the car, headed to the airport and boarded without incident... Milla was a handful on the plane, tired but not restful. We arrived to Papa's following that dark, winding drive along coast and through cane fields up to Wonga Beach.

Milla at 23 months. Energetic. Conversational. Warm, caring, cheeky, stubborn and very curious about the world.

Eats everything. Drinks tea. Loves sausage, blueberries, almonds and olives. Sleeps from 730pmish to 630amish. Needs to wake up on her own terms or grouchy. Sometimes has hysterical illogical tantrums that end suddenly. Sings sings sings. Particularly A-B-C lately. Insanely affectionate with the puppet teddy in a book that Charlie animates. Not quite but nearly toilet trained during day.

23/52

Being defiant. 

We've had some toileting setbacks. Frustrating. Maybe we need another intensive? 

This week we go to FNQ to relive my first trip there in September 1982. Mum brought the albums around so we could review the photos... me in a t-shirt saying 'kids are people too'. Discovered pigtails too. 

Overnight all good in bed, no problems with falling out. Maybe getting cold when doona slips away. Very grouchy sometimes upon waking. Or ecstatic. Yup.

Being a defiant character. I think it's just with me, a bit with Charlie. Lots of 'mine' and 'no' to any question. A performer, big in comedy, legend in her own lunchbox. 

22/52 Big bed

First night in big bed. Well, I saved money and just asked Charlie to take a side of Milla's cot. It worked a treat. Her doona was intact, tucked in just as Charlie left her, eleven hours later. Trying right now for first nap there so we'll see. 

Walking the plank

19/52

Listening to story of the caterpillar. 

"I funny!" she says from the back seat of the car, cracking herself up. This is after childcare calling to say she may be crook, wasn't herself... Um, I think she's ok.

Found a baby tomato plant and rapidly got a trowel to dig it up... wanted to relocate it... Somewhere.

22 months

Can be grouchy in the morning. But is awesome. Is toilet trained. Is speaking in sentences: "I found it!" "I did it!" "I fix it!". Very keen to help in kitchen. Seems to genuinely want to understand when concept are explained to her. Loves to high-five and first-bump. Still. Olives are still the best treat.

Calls 'Each Peach Pear Plum', 'I-peach' and wants it read every day. When she sees letters she makes letter sounds, like spelling out the words, likes to try counting, has moved on from 1-2-6 to 1-2-3!

Starting to grasp 'soon' and 'later' concepts. Is in the toddler room at childcare. Catches the train into the city, walking, no stroller. Loves to say "all done" as question and answer.

Sometimes says 'sad' but we can't tell why. Still doing swimming lessons, been 15 months of weekly classes now. Sat next to guitar tonight and strummed.

We love her. She's the best kid around. She just surprised us by identifying a puffin! Also charming when she says 'one day...'

Milla watching birds at Chorki Ski Club, Falls Creek. 

One change

After two days of riding to work, catching the train felt harder. It was a weirdly balmy day, end-to-end. The train home wasn't too packed: there was a 2-week old baby mewling near us while Milla commandeered a seat and ate cheese and crackers. But the big win was that I only had a tiny bag of soiled goods to cart home: one change of undies. We got home and went to bathroom together. Two more wees and poo and no, as they say, 'accidents'.

No Charlie this week and houseguest out late. It's been Mum n Milla. She's tired, clever and gorgeous.

Headed home, Mum and Milla times.

Toilet training or die part 2

Not dead yet. Day two of three. Not particularly encouraged. Not giving up. We did have more 'wins' today than yesterday. Less undies washed, no poos in undies, a few big wees in potty and poo in toilet. High fives and olives as a reward. She didn't sleep, howled in cot for an hour instead, while I took a turn outdoors, which felt miraculous. House arrest.

Dressing up. Defiant.

Toilet training or die

Only four hours in. Listening to Milla howl from bed. She was really exhausted by morning one of toilet training. As am I. She's on undies #5 and likely wee-d in bed now.

We drilled her on the idea, she was on board. This morning when she came into bed I said "it's undies day" and she replied "no more nappies".

One big wee in the potty was the highlight of the morning. It followed her wee-ing on my lap and being in between undies. She took herself to potty in bathroom and filled it, coming out to kitchen declaring "I did it!".

First blossoms on our Silver Princess.

She also wee-d in bed when I'd just put new sheet on, wee'd on my slipper as she tried to see saw and a big wee at the door of her tipi.

She's exhausted, we've just started. We have the weekend and Anzac Monday to get this. Tuesday then marks day #1 of moving into the toddler room at childcare, hoping this will help not hinder the #ttod project.

21 Months

These days. A barista told Milla she was too big for the stroller. She talked about the truck and its engine, dazzling Charlie when he asked about her day. This week, screaming after going to bed, and crying upon waking "mummy, mummy", not a name I'm known by.

Picked up from childcare today and she had a baby doll in arms and a carrier sling. Apparently needed her hands free to go to the shops. Wanted to walk to station, howled down Elizabeth Street, strapped in stroller.

Says "tiny" in the cutest way. Scrunches up her nose in a gesture of negativity, hard to explain. Loves going under bridges, loves circles, loves sitting at her desk and drawing on an already full page. Drinks her milk from an open cup, seated on couch, usually 7:30pm.

Big crazy happy love and affection.

14/52

Fat curls. 

Hometime, after riding, to backyard to draw with chalk, refill bird bath and play bikes.

13/52

Watching the screen, in Charlie's lap. 

Attentive little face. Was caring to her 'tiny' rice, she thought they were cute! Decided to put of toilet training for another few weeks. Her little friend, Toby, has moved up a room at childcare, now they meet at the sandpit when they can. I'm sad for her.

11/52

Look at this big girl. 

We have a houseguest, an artist, fresh from Paris. Wonderful to have the Ballroom lived in and really, to meet a new and lovely person. She helps in the kitchen and with Milla.

Meanwhile I've been walking. Doing the big walks as Oxfam Trailwalker training. Though I'm a sub, not sure if I'll be doing the event. Getting out of town, remembering old hiking and awenturing days. Also it's meant Milla and Charlie spending some long days together.

The garden has had a major refresh, 1.5 cubic metres of soil and said goodbye to the tomatoes. Now Milla will wait for the lemons to yellow.

20 months

Really good at remembering names. Really tired on Monday and Tuesday nights after running running running at childcare all day. Best friends with Toby (Toby Toby Toby!). Spent first night and day with just Charlie. Hot cross bun for breakfast. Eats all meals standing at tower, high chair gone. Wants to help, put nappy in bin or laundry, pack/unpack dishwasher, wash vegies, wipe up spills.

Goes to bed with Alpi, Doll and Peter 'Babbit'. Getting longer all the time. Loves to kiss and cuddle and greet and farewell.

Really getting into conversation, will run through all vocabulary and seek confirmation. Very content and peaceful sitting with tools out by the bikes. Knows an Allen key and where to use it.

Still very adaptable with people, happy with groups of people. Not interested in books.

Would benefit from moving into toddler room, her brain is exploding. Can say goodbye to me going to yoga or wherever and be relaxed.

Visiting my office. 

Love her love her love.

8/52

Warm night, big raindrops, pink sky. Milla quiet to bed. Charlie away.

Home on train, strawberries from Aldi disappearing fast. Unfriendly people on train, rare. Home to stand at counter, eat haloumi and more strawberries.

Into Milla's room, "Switch, light. Shoes, off, please. Buttons." Turns around for me to take her dress off. "Shorts, nappy. Up!"

Into bed to lie on her tummy and gaze at me lying on the couch. Chatting chatting. Pulls a blanket up over her head, turned away from me. Chatting chatting.

At some point she wants out and lies on me on the couch, soft fleece dressing gown covering her. Little eye peeping.

At home. 

6/52

Singing talking chatting. 

Talking talking. This is a vocal kid. To bed tonight and 1 hour, 15 minutes later... Still singing to herself.