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.