Stella Winter; 18 months old.

The age of new found Independence and the age of tantrums. Quite possibly the age of humour too! Stella is now 18 months old and in her second year of life.

The past month has bought about incredible change and we are definitely now in full blown 'toddlerhood'. Stella is no longer a baby but a fast-paced, inquisitive, forever busy, constantly changing little girl. I am enjoying this age more than I initially anticipated, I love her quirky sense of humour and her sly 'have it my way' ways. Her personality shines through brightly in every little daily activity, she has distinct likes and dislikes and can certainly vocalise them well!

Our mornings consist of self fed breakfast at the breakfast bar, she loves Weetbix. Devours it in seconds every single time! Mess is far less intense than it was a few months back, and she is slowly learning that when she is finished the bowl doesn't need to be dramatically thrown to the floor or splattered to the walls. A cute and clear "All gone" pipes out sometimes followed by demands for more "aaaapppple".

"Apple" and "Bubble" take the crown for being the cutest damn words that come out of Stellas mouth. Both the P and B are emphasised and the vowels drawn out. Apples and bubbles are favourites in this household, if Stella could eat apples and blow bubbles all day long she would be one content girl.

Her vocabulary has increased tenfold. She will have a try at saying any word that she hears, some are far clearer than others and some are far more inappropriate than others ("faaart", for example). Nick and I often talk around the house in code, using the classic 'spell it out' method.
"What time would you like d-i-n-n-e-r sweetheart?" or "Just popping to the supermarket, we are out of M-i-l-k". This is all well and good until she starts to recognise the letters involved in her favourite words, and believe me this is not far off! I have noticed that toddlers are far more alert, cluey and intelligent than we give them credit for.

Her vocabulary now includes attempts at sentences and phrases. Albeit jumbled and shortened but adorable all the same. "Need to do a weeee!", "Go in the car?" "Have a bickie ma?". That would have to be my ultimate weakness, I just die with cuteness overload when she speaks with such determination. I think the day she answers the question "are you ready for bed?", with "no thankyou mum!" I will relent and let her stay up to all hours!

Stella loves the pool, she loves animals, she loves showers, she loves being outdoors and loves any toys with wheels. She dislikes the pram, dislikes socks and hats, and dislikes with a passion having her face washed. She is tall for her age and has the biggest foot of an 18 month old I know! She has a talent for rhythm and song, pumping out a tune whenever the chance arises.

I find myself becoming more (if this is possible) proud of her as the days go by. I often watch her from behind when she sits on the floor and draws in her scrapbook, I look at the length of her hair, the size of her hands and the character she exudes and just breathe it in with awe. That tiny 6 pound something baby that I held 18 long months ago is now an independent and absorbent little being. I didn't think it possible, bit I love her more and more with each passing minute.

Toddlerhood is challenging yet comfortable at the same time, I have reached a stage with my parenting in which I feel confident and controlled. I feel as though I can relax a little more, enjoy a little more and experience a little more. I am looking to the future with nothing but enthusiasm for my growing daughter. I wonder what the next 18 months will bring my sweet Stella?


plenty of love...

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...

Stellas first ice cream. Watching her eat it was better than eating it myself. She held it like a seasoned ice-cream eater and gave herself a white creamy moustache. Although she didn't last long eating it, I think that perhaps, maybe, possibly... she enjoyed it. Just a little!

One of the many things I swore upon before giving birth to my child, was that he/she would only eat natural and organic food. I told myself that I would avoid giving processed food or food with additives and preservatives at all cost. In my head I seemed to have this vision of a perfectly well behaved child sitting at a table eating greens without even a hint of mess. This, was one of the many things that I like to call "Pre-baby delusion".

When reality started to become, well, real...many things changed. Not only was my child messy and fussy but I also found my own opinions and ideals changed. I went from being over-controlling and naive to being realistic and relaxed. Needless to say, my child does have the occasional sweet-treat or quick fix. But, as long as she is healthy and more often than not eating home cooked, preservative free, natural and fulfilling meals, then I too am happy. I'll let you in on a little secret... If you look in my handbag and find her lunchbox during a day out shopping and running errands, you will usually find some store bought crackers and a pre-packaged jar of Heinz fruit puree.

I don't think its a matter of lowering our standards as parents, but more about learning as we go along. Our ideals may change slightly, but our morals and values usually remain stable.

So after a going off on a very long tangent, my conclusion is; let them eat ice-cream. And let them smile whilst you eat one too!

The venture into Childcare...

Over a month ago I took the leap from my safe mothering waters and enrolled Stella into a Childcare centre. It was a decision I had been dwelling on for quite some time, based on a combination of work becoming available for me and the desire for Stella to be in a social and stimulating environment. It was never a question as to whether or not she could happily be away from home one day a week, but more "Can I cope with her being away from me?". They say that children can experience separation anxiety? Well, I say Mothers can experience even more severe separation anxiety!

After a lot of thinking and embarrassingly a few quiet tears, I decided that the separation would be healthy. Stella needs to experience a social environment and perhaps experience other adults in a different aspect. Maybe she'll learnt that other adults think she should eat all her lunch as well! Or maybe she'll even come home toilet trained. Ok, so maybe not. But, the conclusion is, this is a healthy move for the both of us.
Step 1. Making the decision; tick, tick, tick.


For two very long weeks beforehand we toured centres, each one not being quite 'right' for us. When we walked into the centre she now attends, I knew it was the one. Stella held confidence and intrigue whilst exploring the room and meeting the carers.  
Step 2. Finding a centre; tick, tick, tick.

I then went on a crazed buying spree. This is also perfectly healthy, I call it 'Mamas way of coping'. New drink bottle, super-cute new backpack, new lunchbox. Oh, and name tags on everything. Label, label, label. This also made me cry; seeing her name on grown up little girl items.
Step 3. Emotional melt-down.

Soon enough, her first day rolled around and we packed the sweet bag with spare clothes, a hat and a drink bottle. I tried to get her to pose for photos and failed miserably. But the snapshot of her all ready for a totally new and exciting experience is embedded in my mind forever, it was added to the large, large memory book in my mind, filed under "Moments that induce tears for intense feelings of pride".

When she entered her room, called the 'Diamond Room', she didn't even glance backwards. She spent the next five hours playing happily amongst new friends, and Mama survived!
Step 4. Childcare attended; all in one piece. 

Now, each Wednesday follows an organised routine and smiles all around. She's happy to go and even happier to come home. She even brought home a fingerpainting to proudly stick on the fridge!

The main challenge we face is how to deal with childcare sickness. She comes home with a new sniffle every week and although it doesn't seem to distress her much, I'd hate for it to develop into constant colds and flu's. Other than getting enough sleep, an abundance of fruit and vegetables and a clean environment how else can I avoid the dreaded snotty nose? Does anyone have some suggestions or tried and tested tips?

I am so proud to see Stella making friends and being socially educated. Childcare for us so far, has been a very rewarding and positive experience. I cant wait to watch her continue to play, laugh and grow!

Plenty of love...

Chubby, chubby goodness

Look at all that chubby goodness! This photos gives me the warm and fuzzies inside, her smile is so big, showing how happy and content she is. One of my favourite parts about mothering a toddler is the sheer joy and pride I feel when watching her experience something new, watch her learn a new skill, grow a little older and become even smarter. Seeing a smile and a laugh is like the motherhood version of getting a good report card, you feel relieved and confident that you are doing something right.

Stella and her little friend Evie enjoyed a lovely splash on a very hot day last week, it was a totally spontaneous trip to the local outdoor pool and she just loved it! I am hoping to start swimming lessons this summer for her, which gives me a perfectly good excuse to buy some adorable new bathers. Tis the season for new experiences and plenty of smiles!

Oh, and did I mention how adorable all that chub is?!

Sand, water and Stella.

We recently took a road trip to spend the weekend with family and to celebrate my Dads wedding (A wedding post to come soon I promise!) While the sun was shining we ventured to a nearby beach. This was Stellas first impromptu beach experience, and she was both in awe and terrified at the same time. Watching her tentatively wriggle her toes in the sand and curiously look to the water was priceless.

These are the experiences that make parenting wonderful and magic-filled.