Bathtime

I've been doing morning baths with Eli for a couple of weeks now. It's become a fun, relaxed morning routine - even on days when I'm going to work we often start with a leisurely bath first! I start off showering to get some steam in his nose, and then put the plug in and taps on for a sitdown bath. There is a big difference in his showering in the past week - instead of throwing his head up into the flow of water, he just chills out underneath the shower head as if it's the most natural thing in the world. He is enjoying his bath more too. Yesterday was the day he really started to kick and float by himself. Up until now he just lies there and floats, completely still. Today he had progressed further and was pushing off the edge of the bath with his feet. I kept the water more shallow than usual and let him lie by himself and move around more freely, watching closely so he didn't turn his head into the water. He is inclined to attempt to drink the bath if I let him! He has some cool squirty toys, but his only interest is when I use them to squirt water on them. He doesn't watch them float yet or touch them. Bathtime is fun for me though - lots of singing, and games, and water splashing about. One day I kept topping the bath up until I ran out of hot water, then we had to get out! To get out I put the hooded towel on his head, then I lie him in the bed of towels I have outside the shower, and fold the towels around him. Now he smiles and starts pulling the towels over his mouth and sucking them, although he used to be confused. I then quickly turn the shower back on and rinse myself off, and dry myself before I take him to get dressed. So far it seems fine, although once the weather is colder I may need to rethink that strategy. When we did night-time showers his Daddy used to come get him out and dry and dress him. That was a nice routine, but we always felt rushed and never knew when to fit it into our evening. Really loving this new routine instead. I still skip a day if I feel like a solo shower, but I look forward to my bubba baths too!

Photos from 20th April:

Fun day out!

Eli woke up at 5:30am for a feed, which was a shame as I hoped he would do 6:30am. I gave him a dummy which he happily sucked on until 5:55, and then had a feed. We both went back to our own beds for awhile. My alarm and Shane's both went off, he snoozed his as always - except unfortunately he turned it off! At 7:25 I happened to look at my phone and swore... we were supposed to leave for the airport at 7:15, or 7:30 at the latest! Ah well, we made it out the door finally at 7:50. Eli went into his seat in his PJs, with his sleep sack half undone. He went back to sleep during the airport drop-off run.

After we dropped Shane off, we drove to Jeanie's for brunch. He was so happy the entire time there - relaxed, chatty, smiley self! Managed to fill 3 nappies though. Impressive. The first was his overnight nappy, to be fair, as I changed and dressed him when we arrived. But two more in the 90min we were there!

Then we dropped Jeanie at the bus stop and went to Broadway. At the last second I opted for pram instead of carrier, which was nice except that I then had to search for ages to find the parent's room to use the loo!

In Kmart Eli woke up and decided he doesn't like the pram, so I ended up carrying him in one arm and pushing with the other. He finally went back in with the back upright so he was sitting... you know, like the 6 month old he *thinks* he is! Blue bear suit



Smiling at strangers!

On a whim we drove to Olympic Park and went for a walk in the carrier, then I found a nice piece of grass for a feed and a lie on the grass.   I read a magazine while he stared at the sky and played with his new wrist rattle (which he had picked out off the shelf himself!)



Got home at 3:30pm.    In the evening he went to bed like a good bubba and I watched Les Miserables.   Lovely day, lovely evening!

Piano

When Eli was small I tried playing the piano to him, and he often cried, which I attribute to his excellent taste in music. It is the appropriate reaction to the noise I make on that thing.... He has shown more interest in playing the piano together, staring at the black and white keys.

Today was an exciting milestone though - he watched my fingers move along the keys (I was playing Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring for the record), and then carefully pressed a key himself. He seemed to now realise the relationship between the piano keys and the music. He continued to play notes, much to Shane's surprise when he came in a few moments later! Very cute.

Haven't been able to replicate the cot naps yet. He wakes up the second he goes in. Just likes to be held! 

Parade

No photos - I was in such a hurry to run outside I didn't grab my phone!   Heard exciting noises and took Eli down to Church St.   Exciting parade going by.  Of course realised afterwards that I had no idea what the parade was for.... turns out it was for a soccer/football team.  Eli enjoyed watching the people and the fire trucks, and the nice fireman said hello to him!

Monday Monday

Had "one of those days". On Sunday night Eli went to bed around 11:30pm. However, to quote an email I sent Shane: "I went to sleep around 1130, then got up at 130 to feed Eli, then 2am to put him to bed, then 430 to feed Eli then 5am to put him to bed, then 630 to feed Eli and there was no way I was putting him back again." I think he was cold as I can't think of any other reason he wanted feeding so much. I don't think he's in a growth spurt right now.

I still intended to go to work but in the end gave up, I was so tired. Eli and I had a nice day at home together instead. We also walked down to the supermarket with Eli in the ergo. He started out standing up half leaning out (while I supported him!) but eventually curled up to sleep and I was able to pull the ergo around him properly. Could only buy what I could carry, but it was still nice rather than driving. Got to keep our Vitamin D up!

Made a few decisions needed to keep our sanity. Such as ordering a clothes dryer, getting fruit & vege delivered each week, and possibly hiring a mother's helper a few hours a week to give me a hand. It's hard feeling torn between work and house duties.