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December 15, 2003
Monday 15th December
Hi everyone, how are all those Christmas preparations going? Can you believe it is only 10 days away?? I am just about done with my Christmas shopping except for the last minute fresh food purchases. I have been trying to avoid shopping in my lunch break as it is always chaotic and far too busy for my liking. Add the hot weather into the mix and it’s not good! Can you imagine doing your Christmas shopping in mid summer heat, frequently with an impatient, inquisitive toddler in tow? I just love it when DH offers to watch Ryan for a while and I can disappear and shop at leisure! Not that it happens very often though….
We have bought Ryan some outdoor play equipment for Christmas (cubby house structure with little roof and a slide down one side) so that needs to be collected and put together, ready for the little fellow on Christmas morning. I’m sure he will love it and won’t want to come back inside so we will finish opening the other gifts first. I have also got him some Fisher Price bits and pieces, including a school bus driven by ‘Carlos’ who speaks with a very Mexican accent. Ryan will love it! My parents have got Ryan a police bike and a table and bench set that converts to a see-saw (not sure what you call that in the U.S - teeter totter??).
My stepdaughter will be with us late morning on Christmas Day so we will delay our gift opening until she arrives. At the age of 2, Ryan is none the wiser but in years to come I don’t think we will be delaying gift opening – it will be more like a 5.00am awakening I’m sure. Oh well, once a year! We are conscious of giving my SD an equal number of gifts so that she feels very definitely a part of our family even though she spends the majority of her time with her mum. She is 13 so obviously can’t share Ryan’s outdoor toys this year – she’s much more into Hilary Duff CDs and other cool girl stuff.
DH has finished putting all the lights up outside. It looks wonderful and very festive. Ryan has not seen them yet as he is generally in bed by 7.30pm and because it is summer, it is still light then. I will have to keep him up just to see the lights (and pay the consequences when he won’t go to sleep no doubt).
RYAN UPDATE
He’s doing very well and is now over a nasty cough and cold which was keeping him awake at night. He has so much energy and is on the go from the time he wakes up to the time I put him to bed. He still takes a 2 hour nap each day after his lunch. I have not taken him to see Santa as yet but I’m hoping to do that this weekend. I fear the Santa visit may well end in tears, but I will try to get the elusive photo.
I have an appointment for studio photos in January so I hope that turns out well. It is so hard to keep the little mite still for any period of time! I think I will have to appear in the photos too just so that I can restrain him. That might not be a bad idea as there are very few photos of Ryan and I – it is usually me taking all the photos and video at home.
He loves to cuddle and snuggle with me which is just the best feeling. He will run across the room with arms outstretched saying ‘Mama!’ and give me the biggest hug. I remember those early, early days when he was a newborn and I thought these days would never come. It’s a great feeling to know he loves his ‘Mama’ as much as I love him!
Our day carer rang me at work today to tell me one of the children she cares for has measles! This surprised me as the MMR vaccine is standard at one year of age in Australia. Ryan certainly had it so I am hoping it’s no big deal. Does anyone know if children can still contract some ‘form’ of a disease even though they have been vaccinated? Ryan was a bit off colour on Sunday, a bit grizzly and hot but maybe that’s just a coincidence.
We had planned to go to a Mum’s Group end of year get together on Sunday afternoon but we didn’t go as Ryan was just not himself. I had his new Disney shortalls and top ready and waiting, got myself all spruced up, had the bag packed but nope, he did NOT want to get up from his nap around 2pm. Poor little darling, I just let him sleep on and he slept until nearly 4pm. Maybe he was just having an ‘off’ day. Today he seems fine, just a little trouble getting to sleep tonight – I’ve had to go in 3-4 times to resettle him which is VERY unusual for Ryan. It’s a very warm night though so that’s not helping.
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH ME?
Work still takes up the majority of my week of course. Most of the Health Department closes down from Dec 24th until 5th January but because of the nature of my work we still have to provide a service to the Coroner. It will be fairly easy going though – we have Christmas/Boxing Day off then the following week my co-worker and I will alternate days so I will get a couple of extra days off. On the days I have to go into work, my boss has already said we can just do the work that’s there and then leave. So I will work like a Trojan to get out of there by midday!!
I am so looking forward to some time off. I get really tired these days what with working full time, looking after Ryan and running a household. DH helps out but I think we women do carry most of the load. DH looks after all the gardening and outside work, maintains the car and does all those things I really don’t want to do like garbage duty! I would say I do 98% of things in relation to Ryan – dressing, feeding, bathing, shopping, taking to appointments, organising his cupboards, preparing for the next day etc etc. By 9pm I am totally knackered! To wind down, I generally get online but it’s amazing how much time passes when you’re net surfing. Before I know it, it’s nudging 10.30pm and time for SLEEP – aaaaahhh. I hope Ryan sleeps right through tonight – even just one night of broken sleep is enough to throw our little system out for the next week.
CONGRATULATIONS!
I just wanted to say a special congratulations to Kelly, fellow Mom’s Today writer on the arrival of little Austin. I have made some great friends through this site and I think that is one of the wonderful aspects about this community – we are on opposite sides of the world but we can ‘chat’ any time and share the ups and downs of this amazing journey of motherhood - challenges and joys that are the same the world over! Kelly & Kevin, I wish you much joy and happiness with your 2 sweet boys!
Wishing you all a safe, happy and peaceful Christmas.
~ Sue & Ryan
www.babiesonline.com/babies/r/rg - to be updated soon with new pics (I promise)
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