Music from another room

Drawings

2011-02-12T15:13:00.002+13:00

Upside down, but Selah drew a few pages of hearts after putting too much food in the goldfish tank...it was a 'love you Mummy', 'love you Daddy' expression after being timed out.
Selah's drawings are getting alot more complex and detailed :)

Selah 4years 4months

2011-01-11T15:37:00.003+13:00

Here's Selah making up a song on the spot. She has a crazy sense of humour!

Selah's art

2010-08-26T08:32:00.003+12:00

Selah's writing is coming along...this is her busy writing unattended. She can mostly write her name so that I can recognise her art at kindy.
The above is a picture of Daddy doing the dishes. The sun is out and there are some spots of rain also (yes that is happening alot in Auckland of late). The swirls are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
This is a picture of a one-eyed giant with Sinbad and other captives on the island where there are gold nuggets all of the island. Sinbad and the others are trying to escape.

Selah the baby whisperer

2010-08-23T11:12:00.004+12:00

Selah loves the new baby in the house so much she cries sometimes when she has to pass her back to her Mum..."I want my own baby now" she cries!

Selah's house

2010-03-29T08:47:00.003+13:00

This is the puppy house Selah made - there is a cot for the puppy, the feather is carpet, the tv was on fire because the squirrel ate the cord, fireman sam squirted the fire out...lots of detail, partly captured on video but obviously more detail as she drew.

Selah's bikeathon

2010-03-22T20:17:00.005+13:00

Selah biked for half an hour with lots of kids from kindy. She cruised along and got faster and more confident with time. She definitely enjoyed the approval of teachers, and was frequently distracted looking at the babies in buggies. She said today when she grows up she wants her ears pierced and 6 babies...

Into life

2010-02-27T20:37:00.002+13:00

Selah loves life and experiencing day to day things with her is great as as an adult because the simplest of things are amazing. I stopped working outside today to take her a black and yellow ladybug (which is now in her bug collector and is named 'Helen'). I lay with her this afternoon and drew a mermaid a merman, a mermaid baby, a mermaid sister and a mermaid brother. If I didn't have her I wouldn't have noticed the bug apart from sweeping it off me probably, and I definitely wouldn't have been colouring in!

Selah predicted before we went to the Chinese New Year celebrations that she would see dragons and have candyfloss. I don't know what would have happened if those didn't eventuate, but thankfully we saw dragons perform and she spotted candyfloss on our way out. I remember Dad buying me candyfloss at a circus that came to Foxton. I hope Selah remembers these good bits of growing up too!

Christmas day with Selah

2010-01-08T20:14:00.002+13:00

Selah makes a tea party for her toys (including tractor)Christmas stocking stuffer
Selah plays Mary, I'm Joseph pretending to, and wishing I was having a sleep. Baby Jesus is in the baby bath manger.

Napier holiday

2010-01-08T19:57:00.004+13:00

Selah waving at Mum coming up the hill... she was in a tree house and enjoyed the freedom to explore on her own a bit.

A new experience - sparklers on New Year's Eve before the countdown ... of bedtime...

All tangled up

2009-12-12T16:59:00.002+13:00

Message for Dad

2009-11-16T19:39:00.004+13:00

After Tina's blueberry ice-block
Posing for Mum
A carefully placed school bag (her choice of attire)

Selah sings

2009-11-11T11:48:00.004+13:00

Selah wanted lots of hairclips in today :)

Here she's singing ABCs as I said she could have the camera after I took a movie of her :) Hopefully there's sound - I was having issues with it.

Selah Busy at Kindy

2009-11-03T15:39:00.004+13:00

Selah was very busy at kindergarten on her first day without Mum/Dad visiting with her. Her painting at the easel is as follows: "This is a bumblebee with a tail on it's bum and a poo coming out it's bum". Hopefully that is the description of what it looks like after she's drawn it (which I can see what she's saying) as opposed to pre-thinking of bee poo...

Her first carpentry experience also left no fingers damaged - phew!

Overall I think it will take a wee while for her to settle to the fact that there are lots of other kids at kindy that will want to play with 'her' things :) and it'll be great social development on how to make friends and not cry everytime someone causes an injustice in her world. After all, isn't that what preschool education is about?!

Selah swims at home

2009-10-18T19:53:00.004+13:00

Selah using her imagination...

Age of the computer

2009-10-14T15:09:00.003+13:00

Selah has mastered the mouse and thanks to Elmo, can click and drag and create drawings and such without Mum's help. Yay! Next touch typing and she can update this blog herself seeing as I'm getting slacker ;)

I'm taking Selah for an allergy test tomorrow. She seems to have hayfever (sore eyes, runny nose, general malaise) and antihistamines definitely work to lessen all of these, but I want to know what it is she's allergic to to see if we can desensitise her or make sure she's on the right antihistamine and right dose to make life more enjoyable. Poor sausage 3rd day without antihistamine today and her nose is red and raw from wiping her streaming nose. She had an unsettled night last night so I can't wait to give her more antihistamine tomorrow after the test!

Some sad news from TEAR Fund yesterday that our sponsor girl April and her community were affected by the second typhoon that hit the Philipines. It makes it alot closer to home in a sense -you can see tragedy when you hear it on the news, but it makes it all the more personal because our April is possibly going hungry and scared with her family.

Selah turns 3!

2009-09-11T12:53:00.005+12:00

Selah had a butterfly birthday to mark her 3rd birthday - butterfly cake at the park Saturday, butterfly creek monday, actual birthday Tuesday... she keeps declaring with independence that she wants to xyz because she's a big girl now. Unfortunately she wanted to wear undies to bed night 'because she's a big girl now' and that was a bit troublesome so we've now learned a few things she isn't big enough for...
Mummy and Selah on the slide at the park - Selah likes to climb up the slide then slam into Mum at the bottom

She will start afternoon kindy 2 afternoons in November so that's exciting - time flies and she'll be off to school in no time!

fun with friends

2009-07-20T12:20:00.004+12:00

Ambury farm with friends
We baked a cake for baby Emily (not the real baby Emily, the one in the picture) and had a 1st birthday for her. She's probably more like 2years old but we felt like chocolate cake. Well, I did and Selah just wanted the 'ice'.

muffy giggles

2009-07-16T19:13:00.002+12:00

Who knows where Selah got this from, but she and I got a laugh out of it. :)

art work

2009-07-16T13:02:00.002+12:00

Selah's 'girl' picture with face, eyes, nose, mouth, legs, ears (sticking out like little arms), one arm (on the right), hair. Genius.

Croaky 2years 10mths

2009-07-08T13:06:00.005+12:00

Here's a croaky girl, 2 mths off her 3rd birthday. Would you know she's sick with the way she's bouncing around? She has terrible night breathing and cough...she's a bit better today as she isn't asking for a nap (in fact she doesn't want one now- poor me).

Selah gets bigger

2009-07-08T12:34:00.004+12:00

Selah loves to help me with chores and asks to do them. Long may that continue. :)

Aren't they lovely when they're asleep.

Helping Mum with Soup. Daddy took the photo on his new camera.

Some pics

2009-05-22T11:57:00.005+12:00

Selah has pretty much dropped her daytime sleep so I've had less time to do things in the day and the blog has been a bit neglected...the top photo is Selah and Emily in the zebra tent, and bottom is Selah with her kids earmuffs which have been worn to bed at noisy rain nights successfully :) She has conjuntivitis at the mo so we're not going out to play with kids etc. hoping to not spread it. The day passes so much quicker when you can go out so the days are feeling long at the moment.

2009-04-27T20:16:00.006+12:00

Selah loved her holiday and her Jo and Jermy and their rabbit marmalade.

There is great space to hide from the Daddy monster at Aunty Faye's house...

I went away this weekend and left Selah with Frank for the first time (overnight-2nights). I was very tense and nervous on the Friday of leaving but knew it would be good for all of us. I enjoyed chatting with girlfriends about life, lying in bed after 7am, finishing a meal and staying seated! It's the small things!
I was interested to see upon my return, that Selah had stepped up a notch in independence - she got out of the bath, dried herself, put on her jammies and buttoned up the front (one two miss a few!) and helped unload the dishwasher. She did her own make-up and hair this morning even (resulting in eyebrows on her cheek!)
Here's a clip of Selah being teacher to Emily singing 'row row row your boat' gengen down the street'.

Selah loses baby

2009-03-23T12:54:00.002+13:00

We had a fun weekend with a lunch party for Anthea (40th) in Hamilton on Saturday, and a coffee group outing to the beach/park at St Helier's bay on Sunday...the dampener was when at bedtime on Sunday night, 'baby Emily' was nowhere to be found (not the real baby Emily)...was she in the car? no! Oh no! She must be at the park. Neither Frank nor I could remember specifically seeing baby go into the home bag or coming out of the bag, or seeing her in the house on our return.
Selah was happy enough to go to bed with cat because she reasoned 'baby not at the beach, she must be in the car' (as Daddy was at work so we'd be able to fetch her when he was home'). Cat didn't cut it at 3.30am and 5am when she wanted me to 'find baby' and I said we would find her in the morning (i.e. I was hoping beyond hope that farmers still sells that type of baby 19 months later!)...
Selah woke with a real desperately sad grieving cry that I've never heard before and she was very hard to soothe. I found it very heartbreaking.
On our preparations for getting ready to go to Farmers, Selah exclaims 'there's my baby' pointing into the pantry behind the lasagne...she had been a little ninja and snuck her in there while I was getting something out for dinner. I remember saying 'don't get that out' (as in the lasagne) but I hadn't realised she'd actually put something in...
So we were all very very relieved and Selah is now happily sleeping with baby after baby's trip to Daddy's work and the zoo.
My heart was sore with my 2 1/2 year old losing a $10 doll...what on earth will it feel like if she is bullied or has a break-up or something else? I can't imagine how that weighs on a parent.
Kia kaha parents!

Selah dresses up

2009-02-21T16:06:00.003+13:00

Selah has been successful for almost a week of no accidents in big girl undies and it's very exciting for a first time Mum to have my girl gain independence :)

Selah is starting to enjoy dressing up more, manicures and the like. Here she is 'posing' without being asked to. Inate? Magazines? I'm not sure what that is.

I did it

2009-02-08T14:40:00.002+13:00

Selah has been a delight of late - I don't want to speak too soon though!...whether the two-year old battles are over (I doubt) or the heat of the night and back to routine aspects of life have helped I'm not sure. She's been listening well usually and saying 'don't be mad Mum' if she's thinking of doing something she thinks might not be quite right. It's lovely to see some self-control developing. I say' some' for obvious reasons...
Hard not to laugh :)

Farm Girl

2009-02-01T13:53:00.005+13:00

We had Auckland Anniversary Weekend away at the Mellar's farm. Selah and the cat got on splendidly for the most part but a scratch and bite didn't put Selah off going back for more tries at putting her head on Socks' tummy. Poor Socks. Selah kept asking for 'sock' (after all there was only one cat).
We found out Selah gets hayfever. Poor Selah (and Frank who got it badly too). Although, I have a cold this week so it might have been that I caught a cold off her...Although she was better once we were back in Auckland...who knows.

Selah had a try of David's drums and every now and again held a beat. She also loved Jess showing her the hens and carrying the eggs inside.

My favourite things at the farm were the QUIET (no noisy neighbours, no constant noise of traffic/cicadas), reading in the quiet (Chris had some mags that I enjoyed there), and sleeping in the quiet (at least until 6am...). Did I mention it was quiet? It was great to catch up with the Mellars and Moetaras too obviously and chat over a steak. Jess was a lovely friend for Selah and made yummy French Toast for everyone.

Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonwhachuare

2009-01-06T16:15:00.003+13:00

My girl

2009-01-06T16:05:00.003+13:00

Selah loves to do things 'bow self'...here she has on 4 t-shirts and 15 bibs. She did get a bit of help to do this however.

Summer has brought some challenges of late - sleeping on holiday (early starts = grumpy girl), fireworks in Onehunga (terrified 2year old = grumpy girl) and heat (=grumpy girl) and 2year old = grumpy girl. Tiring! She has been developing some further loveliness of late however as she enjoys praying and saying grace (or having others do this for her), talking about how she will say 'help me Jesus' if there are 'bangers' that scare her (i.e. fireworks) and loving on her toys (showering them, putting them to bed etc.). We have had fun trips with Daddy to the domain, beach, zoo etc. and are sad that he's back at work again.
I'm definitely relishing today with Selah back in care and me at home sorting out jobs that I don't get around to with a toddler in tow.

Dressing up

2008-12-18T13:00:00.006+13:00

Selah talks on the phone (actually a remote)

Selah doing 'pakipaki' with her feet. (i.e. clap clap)

Selah listening to the bible on MP3 with Dad. She likes hearing the sheep, horses and people she recognises like 'Mary and Jofis'.

Selah self

2008-12-08T13:34:00.003+13:00

Selah is getting more independent and enjoys dressing herself 'Selah self' she says...

Selah all grown up

2008-11-30T19:49:00.004+13:00

Selah likes to be swaddled in a blanket as baby roleplay. This is the blanket we had doubled over to fit her when she was 8weeks old!

Movember

2008-11-22T19:31:00.002+13:00

Selah supports Movember...
Selah at Parana Park in Hamilton...

Selah had a fever Thursday/Friday and wanted to stay in bed for stories but still wanted to wear her frog hat from sunday school..

November?!

2008-11-15T16:02:00.002+13:00

The end of the year is drawing near. It has been very hot already and I'm not looking forward to humidity and heat. Though, I am looking forward to summer salads, bbqs, the beach, Christmas holiday, and more than anything, my girl graduating on toilet training...

Life is good at the moment albeit hectic. I'm enjoying writing teaching sessions for Mercy Ministries though it grates me sometimes that I have to fit it in last when it's something I'm really enjoying, but that's ok. Apparently it's all about seasons and doing what you can when you can and trying to be content in all circumstances.
I'm enjoying cell group at our house and some good conversations with friends. I'm loving Emily more playful and awake. I'm enjoying Lauren&Eden growing up with Selah. I'm enjoying my new pair of shorts :).

Realistically I won't get to my blog again for awhile so unless you want to come over and help in my weed garden or play with Selah so I can, see you in December!

Holiday

2008-10-20T13:56:00.005+13:00

Once upon a time, Frank & I would have tripped around wineries sampling a range of wines; sat in cafes talking, and strolled along the beach hand in hand. Holidays are different now - we hunt out parks with swings, take bread in the car to feed ducks, and pop into the shop for bonjela.

We did however have a relaxing time away at Dandy and Nan's house (Dandy is Grandy as Selah says it at the mo). Aside from what will be called 'the tissue night' where Selah rolled 3 bits of tissue into balls and stuck them in her nose causing her to wake every hour through the night (I got one out with tweezers but didn't realise there were more there until she sneezed the next morning and they came out).

Here's a couple of pics - Selah with Dandy and on her birthday bike from Dandy&Nan.

Wheee!

2008-10-09T17:35:00.003+13:00

I just put the same video on as the last post. Clearly my brain isn't working.
I've been on antibiotics this week for pneumonia and my brain hasn't worked for the last week - misspellings and muddled words galore.
Just as well I noticed once I published!

Daring Selah

2008-10-03T19:11:00.004+13:00

Selah is loving going 'wast' down the hill. She is learning to slow down by putting her feet on the ground but there is bound to be a bit of a scrape at some point.

Selah's getting her last tooth finally. I'm sick again but am hoping with the onset of good weather everyone can get healthy properly. We're off to Napier next weekend so I'm looking forward to time with family.

Selah is two

2008-09-29T18:57:00.004+13:00

We went to Ambury farm for Selah's birthday and watched cows get milked and had a picnic lunch. She's growing fast and entering toddlerville pretty fast too ('no mummy', 'not me', 'don't like it'). She's growing into a caring girl more too though ('what's the matter mummy?')...
We're off on holiday in Napier in a couple of weeks time to see Grandy&Nan yay.

Selah teaches Emily Rahera

2008-09-04T14:21:00.002+12:00

Hey Emy, this is what you do when you don't want eardrops.

Hey Emy, this is how to relax watching Fraggle Rock. (wearing Daddy's t-shirt) Hey Emy, this is your tummy.

Hey Emy, this is a high five.
Hey Emy, you're so funny-you just farted. Must because I just gave you a 'bestfeed'.

knitting with Mum's wool

2008-08-26T13:47:00.003+12:00

I've finished a vest and hat for Selah - my sewing up isn't as neat as Mum would have done, but it turned out well otherwise...

Selah tries Mum's very old glasses...

2008-08-22T16:53:00.001+12:00

Selah 23months

2008-08-18T13:22:00.004+12:00

This is Selah's 'what happened?' pose...

Selah is well, but a bit 'off' as she is cutting her last 2 molars. Once these are done she'll be finished till they start falling out I think!

I've still got a cough (8weeks after the chest infection) but Dimetapp red seems to help (thanks Rachel) as on the nights I haven't taken any, I wake up coughing and it takes awhile to settle back to sleep again.

We've had a breakthrough with Selah settling at Sunday school without Mummy or Daddy - for the last 4 Sundays in a row she's stayed the whole time without us. It's cool to sit through a whole service, and to get to participate again too yay!

I finished a hat for Selah out of the wool from Mum's jersey. I didn't do as good a job as Mum would have with the sewing up part, but it looks cool and Selah likes it. Now I'm making a matching vest. I think with the amount of wool I have, she'll have purple hats and vests for the next few years!

Cooking with Selah

2008-07-31T13:56:00.005+12:00

22months old (2yrs old around the corner!)

Selah has a cold today - hopefully it won't turn into an ear infection this time. She is teething her 2nd back molars so once these are through it'll be ages before she gets anymore.
Not the best photos but Selah was more intent on the cooking than the 'damwa' this time...
We're cooking self-saucing lemon pudding - delish! Frank put the recipe in neice Johanna's recipe book. We'll be sending it on to Grandy&Nan soon for their additions.

Selah playing:

Unravelling wool... Project Help??!

2008-07-20T20:45:00.001+12:00

Mum knitted a purple thick jersey for me that I don’t want to get rid of because Mum knitted it for me... but it has an obvious run in one of the stitches and is usually too hot to wear. Also wearing wool at the moment is annoying as Selah gets me all mucky so I'd rather wear easy to wash clothes! I’d like to undo it and make hats/mittens for Selah (should make a few as she gets older!) but I can’t remember how to make the wool straight again. Tips please!
I’m guessing unravel the jersey then do a wool wash (in a pillowcase so it doesn’t tangle?) dry – then roll up into a ball? I seem to remember Mum using my arms stretched out and winding wool around them but I can’t remember why…

2months2 2

2008-07-13T18:38:00.005+12:00

Selah chilling on her seat. She is enjoying pretend play, e.g. making lunch/cups of tea, giving baby a bath, dressing up, pretending to seepies (sleep). She is well behaved on the whole and big ups to Diane Levy for her book on time out to help on the not so good moments.
We're looking forward to Melissa&Jacob's arrival e.t.a. early August and I'm sure Selah will drive me nuts asking 'where's baby?'.

Selah chasing me around (slower crawling but still fun). I instituted chasing with 'ssss' as a snake rather than 'raaa' from a lion as it's a bit quieter and easier on the throat.

Big smiles from my happy girl! She's doing so well with her talking and development. She loves to jump around and copy what we say. My favourite things she says at the moment "I hold it", "that's the way" "this is a ___", "a,b,c,d", "ba you" (copying love you).

Winter rains are upon us

2008-06-30T13:52:00.002+12:00

Cousin Mark stops in Auckland on his way to South America. Selah on the move
Selah a year ago...

We've all been a bit sick here - apart from Selah (wrists are touching the wood as I type - I should have my hands up I know it's not ergonomic but hey, my body is tired).

I'm on my first lot of antibiotics for the year (if memory serves correctly) so I'm hoping that there aren't too many doses through the winter. The weather has been terrible here so we haven't had much outside time, but Selah's attention span is increasing so we can engage in play for longer and actually do helpful things together like baking and putting washing on the inside line. She is sleeping less than I'd like, but enough to give her maximum energy as toddlers seem to have to keep busy...I think she's teething her second lot of back molars but until something shows there it's hard to know.

I'm sitting my first Te Reo exam for work in a couple of weeks. It's my first exam since Uni about 9 years ago and I don't get the kind of time to practice or study as I might without a poppet so it's extra anxiety-producing.

I've been helping write some session plans for Mercy Ministries, thanks to Aiden Holliday from VLC I learned alot about such things as VAK learning styles, multiple intelligences, Johari window and other things that have been useful to develop some teaching material. It's been a bit pressured to get things done in Selah's limited sleep times, but something that I really want to be doing so worth the effort.

Must go and do a few other things before my girl wakes from her day nap...

2008-05-25T12:45:00.002+12:00

Adventurer trying to get in the cupboard. Crazy thing is, she used to crawl in there and fit only yesterday I'm sure!
Selah first thing in the morning... She's in a portable highchair that she loves to carry around and sit in all over the house.

We're off to Taupo for Queen's Birthday weekend for 'the gathering' ie. Wesleyan Methodist convention. I'm somewhat looking forward to a holiday, but it's always a bit nerve-wracking the whole change in sleep for baby/me and predictably, not for the better...
Will let you know how we get on!

Unbreak

2008-05-19T08:06:00.003+12:00

I had an empty 'dirty' washing bin for about 8 hours on the weekend. Yay! It is a never ending task when Selah and I both can go through a few changes of clothing in a day. We hope you enjoy this wee video clip of Selah with her dress-ups and music.

Mess

2008-05-10T13:11:00.004+12:00

Selah is able to tell me when she's made a mess...I'm looking forward to when she can clean it up herself :) Here she is scooping nuttella out of a pita pocket. Trying to balance everything from her kitchen toybox in the pram.

Selah grows up

2008-05-04T13:39:00.003+12:00

Selah and her spirulina mustache... Selah climbs in her bag to find some dress ups...
And out...
Voila!
People says she looks like her Dad, but they say this is my look??? WHAT??
Selah is getting to be a big girl...she sleeps in a big bed (and gets up in the night wondering if it's morning yet??) she plays with her baby (giving it kisses and cuddles and putting it to bed) and enjoys 'brmming' things around like a car (learned from boys at her home care). She says 'want that one' as she points to something (not helpful when she's pointing at the bookshelf!) Selah is pretty determined about what she wants and tries to pull me out of bed in the morning saying 'up' and giving me my glasses and watch off the bedside cabinet. This is a wee snapshot of her playing to show you how much she has grown.

2008-04-21T14:10:00.002+12:00

Selah dresses up and Daddy tries to make her gangsta...
Selah sat here intently reading 'Baby and Toddler' for 20minutes!

Selah cosy and warm ready for bed. She's holding a small bottle that is her 'comfort toy' - no need for teddy bears for her!

We had a lovely time in Nelson on holiday for a week, coloured by hefty sleep deprivation (hard for Selah to settle in a different place, combined with daylight savings and sharing a room). The highlights were the beach, a zoo animal shelter type place, Carcassonne and for Selah 'baby' and 'meow'.

Selah since returned home and went into her big girl bed. She generally pops out of bed once in the afternoon before going to sleep, but is pretty regularly staying in bed first time at night. It took 2 weeks to get back to sleeping at night with daylight savings, being in Nelson and in her new bed, AND a virus/fever/rash that has bugged her for a week. I don't know how people do it without a supportive partner and with more children.

Easter Weekend

2008-03-23T15:19:00.004+13:00

I have a throat and chest infection for Easter - kinda good timing as Frank is home to help with Selah, but not so great timing as it's nice to have a holiday and actually enjoy it rather than be sick. It is good that Selah is not sick, and I am very lucky this afternoon that she had a nap (the last few days she hasn't so it's 11 1/2-12hours of running around after a toddler!

Here's a small video from Selah building blocks. In it she is making a 'darduw' i.e. tower or castle -I call it a tower, so I'm not sure what she's saying really. She gives the blocks a kiss and a cuddle, like practically everything (especially babies).

Selah with all her bibs on...

Biker Selah

2008-03-02T15:17:00.002+13:00

Selah gets grommets

2008-03-01T13:29:00.005+13:00

Selah shows great patience to build a tower. She currently turns them 'the right way up' which means a coloured letter is always at the top. She's wearing some big-girl pyjamas and it's amazing that there is a little person in the house vs a baby!

This is actually a portable highchair that should be strapped to a chair but Selah thought it was her art chair for the afternoon. Her Mummy had to clean it down after the pencil and crayons slipped over the page...

In this video clip we've been playing with water inside on a muggy, rainy day. Selah is dancing and has a lid she is using as a cup.

Selah is now the proud owner of grommets in both ears. It seems strange to inflict pain/confusion on your own child even when you know it is for their good. It's similar to discipline and putting them to bed when they're crying. She was out of kilter for a day, then back to her normal self the next day. I can't imagine what it must be like for parents with very sick children needing lots of medical procedures done. Or God - imagine watching us all in pain and confusion and knowing what is around the corner (good or bad).

I feel blessed to have free Doctor's visits for babies, health insurance, and to be in a country where there are great Doctors and surgeries for relatively minor things. Yay NZ.

Cheeky girl

2008-02-11T12:56:00.000+13:00

There is a toy baby hidden in the pram under all the animals and balls!

Selah will get grommets in two weeks - I'm sure it will be a good move prior to winter, but with stats of 1:200,000 people dying under general anaesthetic (which seems high to me?!), I'm definitely going to be praying that Selah is one of the 199,999 that is fine.

I start a speech group this week that will run for one term- parents will bring their 3 1/2-5yr old children who have difficulty with saying 's' and I'll try and help them as a group (with some individual time). I've taken a stuttering group with pre-schoolers before and that was enjoyable. Something about this group makes me more nervous, but the worst that can happen is that I make absolutely no difference and waste people's time vs harming anyone!

Instead of spending brain time thinking of my nervousness, I will try and think positively on other things. Hmmm. Today I'm thankful for the car passing it's WOF, a mechanic friend fixing up the wagon without charging for time, sales on children's clothes, Selah being well-natured enough to chill while I shop (today), noodles, Grey's Anatomy, my husband who looked after Selah while I went out by myself yesterday, and toothpaste.

Selah and family photos

2008-02-06T13:11:00.000+13:00

These photos were taken by my lovely friend Brooke http://www.wheretheheartis.co.nz/ when Selah was 15months old. She's now almost 17months old.

We're off to the ENT specialist tomorrow to see about grommets for Selah as she's had repeated ear infections.

Selah hides

2008-01-06T20:05:00.000+13:00

Hmm, where's Selah???

White Christmas

2007-12-30T12:58:00.000+13:00

Happy Christmas, end of 2007, and New Year!

I didn't really dream of a white Christmas as I enjoy the warmer weather...but I had

a white Christmas when I put a dishwasher cleaner in the dishwasher and ended up with ALOT of white foam on the floor. It took close to a couple of hours to get rid of it and my hands ended up a bit white too! Another white moment was when I went white when Selah stood up in the white bucket (below) that I was swinging her in...she lost her balance and fell on the floor. Luckily it was carpeted floor, not too high, nothing was under her and she hit the side of her head rather than the front or head first. I didn't get to make shortbread, my traditional it-feels-like-Christmas food as I didn't realise we were out of cornflour in time (also white) and that was my plan on the evening of the white foam.

Nappies are white too -there's been a few of those this season too, but that's enough of white things.

We had a quiet Christmas at home in Auckland this year with Frank and his Mum, Selah and me. We will probably have a quiet New Year's as well given that babies don't let you sleep in the next day, but I'm enjoying a break from work, and Frank being around too! I don't have plans or goals for 2008 apart from getting to Nelson to see my friend Sally, putting Selah in care for an extra half day so I'm working half-time without trying to do some hours while she's asleep, and reading more! I'm looking forward to Selah talking more and growing more hair, and desperately looking forward to Grey's Anatomy coming back on!

Selah pics

2007-12-16T14:20:00.000+13:00

Selah enjoys a marmite cracker outside at Great Aunty and Great Uncle's house in Cambridge.

Selah enjoys a taste of Mum's spirulina drink (there's actually not much in there despite a very green bottle!)

Cousin Ollie gets a kiss

One of Selah's favourite pasttimes - pegs usually are found everywhere!

Selah 14months old

2007-11-09T13:32:00.001+13:00

It's been awhile since I posted on my blog - not sure why - busy, dealing with Selah sick/teething (better now). Work still takes up alot of time as I do some work from home in Selah's sleep times. Selah is getting on a bit now and has 15words (but who[theSpeech-LanguageTherapist] is counting?) and loves to hide quietly away till found. It makes mothering easier to have a playful girl!

Selah 13months old

2007-10-22T20:45:00.000+13:00

Thankfully I'm now counting months of Selah's age rather than weeks, though the months do seem to be whizzing by almost as fast as the weeks. It's been fun with Selah getting more playful and active as she gets older. Also that because she is awake more in the day we can go on outings together, some being playing with a ball in the park if it's sunny. She currently has ear infections again, whether because the top molars are still coming through or co-incidence I don't know. So much sickness! Poor thing- just as well she won't remember it.

Selah walks confidently (almost over the step)

2007-10-05T12:39:00.000+13:00

Selah is walking alot more confidently now and moves from room to room a bit too quickly for my liking. She's pretty much better now and just has a runny nose...we just need to get all of us sleeping through the night again (sickness has a way of ruining sleeping and creating a habit of night waking).

In case of emergency

2007-09-30T18:41:00.000+13:00

ICE Campaign - "In Case of Emergency" (forwarded to me at work- blimmen good idea)

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?

Hence this " ICE" (In Case of Emergency ) Campaign

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name "ICE" ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as "ICE."

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference! Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!

Ice-cream and raspberries...

2007-09-27T17:59:00.000+12:00

Selah is walking, has 3 new teeth (11 now) and another on the way. She is getting more interactive and fun all the time.

I am getting well slowly - still have a cough but today was a good day with no painkillers for sore ears/throat. Some friends came to take Selah for a walk for me today and having some space to garden was lovely :)

Selah is one year old (and counting)

2007-09-15T19:28:00.000+12:00

It's my party and I'll look unimpressed if I want to... She did like the ice-cream really! My sister, Selah's Aunty...

Well it's been a week...Frank was sick on Selah's birthday (vomitting and stomach issues) so it was a busy day for Selah and I getting things done for visitors and going to the zoo. Thanks to Uncle Jakey for running around getting things that I couldn't get...then Tuesday I came down with a flu virus that made me hot-cold and wicked throat/ear pain. I'm still getting over that, and am riding the pain with voltaren. What a terrible winter it's been! Here's a few of Selah on her big day, and a couple from today.

A couple of steps

2007-09-01T10:08:00.000+12:00

Selah still crawls around but is getting more confident with standing and creeping around furniture. She takes two steps by herself unaided. She'll be off before I know it-where did my baby go?

It's interesting to watch emotional development alongside physical development. Selah loves to cuddle into us and go 'mmmm'. She's now taken to cuddling into anything - her ball, the door, the carpet...
Next week Selah will turn one year old. I'm hoping that she will be well for that and the weather will be nice for a trip to the zoo. Don't worry if you think you should have been invited to a 1yr old birthday party and haven't received an invite-we're not having a party for her until she understands what it's all about ;) Also, it's in the too hard basket for the winter we've had - I can't guarantee we'll all be well - Selah developed a cough/ear infection over the week and her Mum is feeling a bit sleep deprived now. Ahhhh, let's pray next year her immunity will be so great that we have a lot less trips to the Dr/chemist!

Selah 11 1/2months

2007-08-26T10:04:00.000+12:00

Selah cuddles into Mum.
Almost ready to let go. She's taken one step out 3x, but not yet ready to go without support.

Our health is slowly on the improve. We still need to get over coughs but generally we're much better than last week!

Comparison of Selah then and now

2007-08-20T09:55:00.000+12:00

Selah standing and holding Big Bird. She stands for 30seconds by herself to play and balances pretty well. She loves to walk behind a trolley (I might put up a vid of this later on)
Selah at 9weeks old looking at Big bird! What a difference 8months makes!
Selah dressed for a wedding party. Poor thing was a bit miserable with an immunisation shot last Saturday so she didn't much feel like dressing up but oh well!

Sometimes I look forward to the time when Selah will say words, be able to tell me what hurts; to the time when Selah will independently go to the toilet, and be happy at school...but it's nice to also look back and see how much she has grown and developed. Not a bad thing for me to do as an adult. Sometimes I look forward to my next holiday, to summer...looking back seeing that I have grown and developed since having Selah e.g. knowledge, skills- that's a good thing too.

Selah has had a vomitting bug on the weekend that hit the coffee group hard. She's picking up again but I'm looking forward to the time when we are all well for at least a week. Now that's definitely something to look forward to!

Selah 11months old

2007-08-11T09:45:00.000+12:00

Selah is well again, though still a bit grizzly after her immunisation shot yesterday...I'm feeling way better but still a bit congested and coughing like a smoker. Life is getting rosier with the sunshine and us starting to get better-it's been a long hard winter and we're looking forward to spring that's for sure.

2007-08-05T15:43:00.000+12:00

Loves marmite crackers...

While Selah has a halo in this shot, she hasn't been an angel - only because of being sick with a cold however (and possibly teething???) I got sick again this weekend following Selah getting sick Wednesday evening and so the cycle of illness continues. Ahhh, maybe I could write some devotions and be famous like John Donne (though they suspected he had bubonic plague so I'm not quite that bad ;))...

More of Selah

2007-07-29T12:38:00.000+12:00

I'm still sick with a cold/flu (now 4 1/2 weeks of it) and I'm sick of being sick! Frank got a headcold over the weekend too. Hopefully Selah stays clear and this winter is over in a hurry.

Selah continues to get more confident with 'talking' and sometimes chatters away in her cot avoiding sleep. She's also getting more confident with standing and walking holding onto things (e.g. pushing the recycling box along the kitchen).

Selah well again

2007-07-20T14:24:00.000+12:00

5 little ducks went swimming one day...over the hills and far away. Mother duck said "quack quack come back and 4 little ducks came back". Where did the duck go? I sing that to Selah 4 little ducks came back, 3, 2, 1, no ducks came back but I don't know if I'm missing a verse or they all got caught in shooting season?? Maybe they made their own family ;)

What a week

2007-07-17T10:05:00.000+12:00

My goodness I've been sick for a few weeks now...firstly with a flu virus, then gradually better before Selah got sick with a fever last Monday. By the time her sickness revealed itself (throat infection) and her fever broke a week later I was massively sleep deprived and got sick again...now we're both on antibiotics and gradually on the mend (though Frank is now sick too). Add to this a power cut on an already bad day, vomit everywhere, someone backed into our car and drove off (if if was you, let us know and our insurance companies can sort out the payment) -those extra things you can do without. I felt so much like crawling under a rock and Frank & I wondered how others cope with more children or worse illness. We came to the conclusion that they probably don't cope, we just don't often talk about it! I hate the word 'cope' anyway. I don't know really what it looks like to cope or not.
Anyway, another day dawns and my cute and happy Selah is back in town!

These are a few photos of the last couple of weeks. I didn't take many when she was sick for obvious reasons.

Selah almost 10mths

2007-07-02T11:00:00.000+12:00

Quick update on me

2007-07-02T10:32:00.000+12:00

Working isn't so bad after all...I do miss Selah but she doesn't cry when Frank drops her off at homebased care and she apparently laughs as the other 2 boys run around so I know she's happy. She has a great bond with the carer and will be learning different things that I can't teach her yet (especially about how to get on with older boys!). It's nice to get some headspace from nappies and to get some perspective on how other Mums cope. As my job is with children, I do get to see Mums with their babies&children and some are managing superbly despite so many pressures (think unwell children in hospital alot, autism and tantrums). And then of course there's the income that will allow us to do more than make ends meet.

I am currently unwell with a fluey virus thing that is doing the rounds. Thank goodness Selah only has had a runny nose-I had ear pain so bad that I woke up from sleep in the middle of the night with tears down my cheeks. Huge thanks again to Frank for taking over caring for Selah so I could sleep in the day on the weekend-again I have no idea how people cope without a partner. I don't make a great patient (getting up to do things to help out) but it's particularly difficult to think only of oneself when there is a dependant that you're attached to (and vice versa).

We're halfway through the year and I always feel a bit more sunshiney on the inside when we're working our way up to spring (my favourite season) and summer (warmer weather). I just need to get a haircut and dye it a warmer shade from grey and then I'll be sunshiney on the outside too.

More Selah. Getting Older and Wiser

2007-06-24T14:44:00.000+12:00

Selah plays with a musical mat (last week)

2007-06-15T13:49:00.000+12:00

Selah outside - a mission to keep her hat on

2007-06-15T13:02:00.000+12:00

Selah 9months old

2007-06-08T16:36:00.001+12:00

Selah crawls!

2007-05-27T15:48:00.000+12:00

Bacteria...

2007-05-24T17:43:00.000+12:00

A handy hint... Microwave your wipe-the-bench-cloth for 2minutes. Apparently it kills 99% of bacteria. It sure comes out without that disgusting smell!

Selah Ga

2007-05-21T09:30:00.000+12:00

Selah 8 and a bit months

2007-05-21T09:26:00.001+12:00

Selah talks to Mama

2007-05-17T15:07:00.000+12:00

More of Selah

2007-05-13T16:37:00.000+12:00

Selah pulled herself up to this position from sitting. She then fell off again onto the toy to the left :( All part of learning aye?! Must get some arnica cream...
The shaky hand = waving. Selah loves to wave hello to people she knows, and animals, and cars that pass on the road (not trucks- they're too scary so she grabs hold of us then).
Good view of 2 bottom teeth (she has 4 on top).

I did have a couple of vids I shot on the camera, but the footage was sideways...nobody told me you could only shoot 'landscape'. Doh. Watch this space! Selah says 'ga', 'aga' alot and blows raspberries - very cute to see but you'll just have to wait till I get the camera the right way around!

Sticky Date Pudding

2007-05-12T14:17:00.000+12:00

Here's my all time favourite dessert:

1 cup dates, pitted & chopped
1 tsp baking soda
1c boiling water
2T butter
1c soft brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2c self-raising flour (1 1/2c flour & 2t baking powder)

Preheat oven to 180degC.
Mix the dates and baking soda in a bowl. Pour boiling water on top and leave until needed.
Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, beat well after each addition. Fold in the sifted flour, stir int he date mixture and pour into a greased 18cm square or round cake tin.
Bake for 30-40mins until a skewer comes out clean.

For the sauce: combine ingredients in a saucepan-add cream last once sugar is dissolved and mixture is gently bubbling. Simmer for 5mins. Keep stirring so it doesn't stick on the bottom.
Set aside until ready to serve.
Sauce #1: 1c soft brown sugar, 3/4 c whipping cream, 1t vanilla, 2T butter
Sauce #2: 3/4 c brown sugar, 1/4c cream, 2T golden syrup, 1/4c butter
(I mix and match the sauce from the ingredients I have at the time...I usually do sauce one and include golden syrup instead of vanilla).

Enjoy!

Going back to work and other thoughts

2007-05-06T11:23:00.000+12:00

This week Selah practiced being without me at a Barnados caregiver’s house as I’ll be returning to work half-time from this coming week. I occupied my time with little jobs, and a bit of Oprah ;). Included in the ‘little jobs’ was a check-up trip to the Doctor, Optometrist and Dentist. I know my Doctor and he was very friendly, which probably highlighted more that the Optometrist and Dentist did not even say hello or introduce themselves. Note to self- make sure I alllllways introduce myself to new people and say hello- it just seems so odd to me not to!

Anyway, there's no mixed emotions about going back to work for me- I don't want to go and I'd rather look after Selah. But, given that we need the money for more than making ends meet, I have to look for positives in it. Aside from the money, it will be good to have Selah learning in a different environment (e.g. how to get on with others, different toys etc.), I'll try to remember that 'boring' meetings are a chance for me to sit down and finish a drink, and of course I'll get to spend some time with work colleagues who are friends also. I also have 5/7 days with Selah and hopefully will appreciate those days with her more.

Hat’s off to solo parents also this week. Friday arvo through to the wee hours of Saturday morning I had a vomiting&diarrhoea bug that left me pretty much physically incapable of looking after Selah. Frank took over so it makes you really appreciate the support of your partner/other family. I really don’t know how solo parents do it. Sometimes they probably don’t know either. Not the best way to start a working week for me or Frank, but at least it was only a 24hour bug!

Selah plays for the camera

2007-04-29T15:04:00.000+12:00

Selah 7 months and a bit

2007-04-29T14:26:00.000+12:00

Selah almost crawls

2007-04-23T09:46:00.000+12:00

Selah has discovered you can just 'hang out' in the jolly jumper (may be hard to see but her feet aren't touching the ground!). Thought this looked particularly ballerina-ish

Get ready, get set... but not yet go- Selah can get into crawling position from sitting and wiggles while there, and moves one hand forward, but she hasn't figured how to co-ordinate the leg movement too.

Selah goes to her first wedding...

2007-04-14T14:59:00.000+12:00

...and cuts 3more teeth (at the top).

Selah 6 months and a bit more - playing

2007-04-07T09:54:00.000+12:00

Selah 6 months and a bit more - trashing the junkmail

2007-04-07T09:39:00.000+12:00

Selah 6 months and a bit more - jiggling

2007-04-07T09:17:00.000+12:00

Selah 6 months and a bit more

2007-03-30T16:49:00.000+12:00

Selah 6 months and a bit

2007-03-25T13:26:00.000+12:00

Prayer for Selah, me, and you.

2007-03-17T11:18:00.000+13:00

May you stop hiding under the covers. May you let God pull the covers back. May you embrace Him.
May your whole life become a response to the truth that you've always been loved, you are loved, and you always will be loved.
And may you know, may you know deep in the depths of your soul, that there's nothing you could ever do to make God love you less.
Nothing you could ever do to make him love you less.
Nothing.
Nothing.

(rob bell).

Selah 6months old now!

2007-03-09T20:17:00.000+13:00

Selah had her first fever this week (37.8 after pamol and a cool bath) and it lasted a few worrying days - that's not even a really bad fever either!. She's mostly better now bar diarrhoea. Her first tooth cut through this week also. Big week for her! The blue cloth on her head is cool to bring her temperature down but I thought even though she was sick she looked cute.

Selah 'reads' the junkmail with me on the bed...

Selah's a big kid now (except you can't see folded towels beside each leg to keep her skinny butt in there!)

Almost 6months old

2007-03-04T13:08:00.000+13:00

Flip time goes fast doesn't it! Some days you want to speed time up to get to bedtime to sleep, and other days you want to slow it down to get more things done. Curious thing time. As for Selah- our big girl - she's big compared to when she first was born, but small in that she needs pillows beside her to prop her up in the highchair to eat mush! You look back and forward more with a little bub than you do with your own life as an adult (well, consciously at least) perhaps because there's such a huge amount of change in such a short amount of time.

Here's Selah on her first go in her own exersaucer-not the best as I've cut off her head etc. but you get the idea...

Selah Chatting

2007-02-24T14:55:00.000+13:00