Mika’s party started out big … there was a theme I had in mind, big ideas all planned out. Then I got busy … and now his party is going to be small and understated.
And I’m SO happy!
Much less stress for me and hopefully just more fun to be had by all who are coming
Moemas will do Mika’s cake and some snack platters, Clamber Club will entertain the little ones, I’ll do the (simple) party packs and my sister has done this gorgeous invitation!
Thanks Poops, love you more than a Viking loves a good ale!
I’ve learnt a couple of lessons over the past few weeks. Most importantly, I have been reminded that my three boys are the most important people and influences in my life. It’s no secret that when you become a mother (or, parent, for that matter), you experience love like no other. Your children teach you how to love stronger, play longer, worry less about petty stuff and to appreciate the small things in life that, in fact, give us the greatest pleasure.
Make no mistake, I adore my family and friends. They provide unwavering support, objective shoulders to cry on and ears to whisper into … but Dave, Luca and Mika are my EVERYTHING.
I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy
I was feeling insecure
You might not love me anymore
I was shivering inside I was trying to catch your eyes
Thought that you were trying to hide
I was swallowing my pain
I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy …
Could it be, that almost 10 months after his brother was born, Luca is now starting to show signs of jealousy? He’s always been so sweet with Mika: he’s never once tried to hurt him. But lately, it’s like he’s sad … in fact, he’s said it to me … “Mommy, I sad”, which you can imagine tore my heart to shreds.
I didn’t think that it was a problem … until he started holiday school this week after being off ill for a while. He’d been at home, not feeling great at all, and sharing his space with his baby brother. Maybe this was the catalyst? Maybe it’s because Mika is just so damn cute and he’s now little person, more than just a baby. Most of the parenting websites talk about jealousy issues with a new baby. Mika is anything but new at this point … so why now?
Either way, I can see my big little boy is hurting and it’s killing me. Time for some one-on-one Mommy & Luca time.
Staying in on Friday nights. And Saturdays … hell, EVERY night!
Woolies’ amazing soups … perfect on chilly winter nights.
Mika in his fluffy bear Winter clothes
Dark-coloured clothing … I had a bit of a quarter-life-crisis after Mika was born, feeling out-of-place and like I was dressed totally age-inappropriately in bright clothes. I googled “Spring 2012″ and this came up … I’m scared. I’m not saying that I HAVE to follow fashion, because I don’t! But you know how the shops are? If the fashionistas/trendsetters say “BRIGHT”, then by g-d, the shops will stock nothing other than “BRIGHT”.
Not shaving my legs … whoops! Did I say that out loud? *ashamed*
That’s it really … as much as the idea of luminous clothing scares me, I am a Summer gal through and through. I LOOOOOVE sitting out in the sun, soaking up the warmth and seeing my naturally olive skin darken. I love driving with the windows open, glasses of white wine filled with ice and daylight stretching into the evening hours.
I know that Hayley and Roz both love Winter … do you? What will you miss about it?
Our Mika Alex has been a pretty laid-back little dude for the past 9 months and 3 weeks. In just under a week he’ll be 10 months old and, while he’s not crawling 100% properly (i.e. forwards) just yet, he’s definitely making moves.
See above, Exhibit A: he gets up on all fours, monkey-style. Not sure if maybe the wooden floors hurt his knees? Although I don’t think that’s even possible, given how FAT his knees are! He does a couple of baby push-ups, maybe moves an inch or two forward, then rolls over onto his bum, usually ending up about 30cm or so BACK from where he started. He has started pulling up onto the furniture (which is kinda scary as he has NO fear and has already bumped his nose/chin a couple of times), as well as standing up in his cot, which I lowered today after he almost did an Olympic gymnastics dismount FAIL right out of it!
Exhibit B: Mr Busy Body, below:
He’s at that stage where you can’t really leave him on the floor, to his own devices. You can’t leave him on the bed, either, I’ve learnt. That’s right. I ALLOWED my baby to fall off our bed. *DIES* It was possibly my worst moment as a mother EVER. No … I think having to hold Luca’s writhing body down in theatre while the anesthetist drugged him for his grommet procedure was probably my worst moment as a mother. Either away, it sucked. I sometimes think that Mika already has a case of “Second-Kid-Syndrome”, having been already allowed to fall off the bed, eat unwashed fruit (and many more) before his first birthday. I felt horrible. As soon as I knew he was okay (which didn’t take long as he’s a tough little guy!) I downed a glass of wine and had a bit of a cry. As we do.
Anyway, I was saying that he’s at the age where it’s impossible to take your eyes off him for longer than a minute, unless you’re prepared for SOMETHING to happen. Because it will.
He LOVES his Tigger Bouncy thing but I think he gets frustrated that he can’t get around like the rest of us. So, I’m thinking of borrowing a walking ring for him for a while. I have a feeling he will have a very short crawling phase and will, instead move along to walking in no time. He just prefers being upright and I can’t say I blame him. We also popped out and bought him a Chicco Modo Music ‘n Play Table today, which he’s loving. I think he’s also losing interest in the “baby” toys (hand-me-downs) from his big brother and is looking for something more. Second-Child-Syndrome again …
Just can’t get over the fact that he’ll be one in two months’ time. Wasn’t it just yesterday that he was born? Wasn’t it the other day that we had INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE sleep-deprivation and we had to hire a night nurse? (RIP Patricia … we miss you!)
Between home decor, Mika’s 1st birthday party (which is just days over 2 months away!) and general, day-to-day owl-love, it’s safe to say that I have an obsession with owls. I started my “Owl Love” board on Pinterest a couple of months ago and just this morning, started my “Mika’s First Birthday” board, with all sorts of gorgeous owl-inspired party stuff!
This is not a new obsession though. My late mom’s favourite animal was the owl and we always had hundreds of owl ornaments, pictures and other owl-related stuff all over the house. My super-talented sister made Luca a gorgeous owl quilt, which he now lovingly refers to as his “Lolly-Blankie”. Two special friends, Ilona and Roz, both gave me owl jewellery for my recent 30th birthday. I’ve wanted to get a little owl tattoo ever since Mika was born, as a tribute to both him and my late mom.
This was the inspiration I originally had for my tattoo:
But now, after hours of pinning and browsing Etsy and other gorgeous websites, I have these inspirations too:
I love the idea of the owl on the top of the key for my tattoo inspiration …
I also LOVE the owl in glasses … given that I’m a bespectacled little nerd at heart
I love the placement of this very simple little owl, on her wrist.
All I know is that after watching my sister get her beautiful tattoo done by the talented guys at Fallen Heroes, that’s where I’m getting my owl done.
Can’t wait till the end of the month when we can collect these beauties from Angie and Shane at Wolves!
Thank you for buying them for me Mika’s room my love!
In case you didn’t know Wolves has awesome exhibitions which run for a month at a time. There are the most exquisite line drawings up at the moment … but the trio of owls are MINE! I mean … Mika’s.
Pop over to Wolves to check out this exhibition, which closes at the end of April. While you’re there you should also eat one (or four) of Angie’s Red Velvet cupcakes … even Luca thinks they’re the business
It’s no secret that the last couple of weeks have been … hard. I haven’t been sleeping well. Ever. I haven’t really felt happy, just okay. I’ve been uptight, ratty, difficult to talk to without tears flowing and more or less completely without humour.
Anyone who follows me on Twitter will know about “Beautygate”, about Mika having an awful ear infection and about Luca being dubbed “Sir Whine-a-lot”, which all-in-all has led to me being torn in twenty different directions, feeling guilty about EVERYTHING and the general vibe in our home being pretty much CRAP.
Thankfully, I believe something’s just happened to remedy that. I won’t say right now what it is, but when I do, you’ll read about it on Tanya‘s new website, Rattle & Mum. Tanya asked me to write a guest post (on a topic of my choice) for the site and quite frankly, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Watch this space! I promise I won’t keep you waiting too long
Too keep you happy until then, here are some pictures of Luca, Bella and Georgina from this past weekend, enjoying the summer sun and the Ioannoy’s beautiful blue pool! So proud of Luca for becoming so comfortable in the water! Pics taken with Dave’s new iPhone 4S … of which I am INSANELY jealous, if only for the phenomenal 8MP camera!
I was feeling insecure
