Sit ... Roll Over ... Good Girl

Kathleen has finally learnt to roll over all by herself. She can now roll from her back to her tummy. As can be seen in this video. She normally only does it when she's reaching for a toy that is behind her. Thankfully she hasn't figured out how to roll back to her back again, and hasn't made that further leap of logic that once she can do that she can get places. As soon as she realises that then I'm in trouble.

She is also getting closer to learning to crawl as well. At the moment all she can really do is push herself backwards, and gets very frustrated when the toy she was reaching for just gets further away.

It won't be long now until she's mobile ...

-Megz

Swann

Swann. That's my maiden name. Margaret Swann.

I always hated my surname when I was growing up. I hated it because it was an unusual name. When I said it, people never knew how to spell it. When I hand-wrote it, people never knew how to say it. I got called "Swain" so often. The worse was the time I got called "Swam". I always hated it and looked forward to the day when I could get married and change it.

But then when it came time to get married and change my name, it was really hard to give it up. After all, I'd been known by that name for 25 years and it was part of me. It felt like giving up my identity in a way.

Now I've been Margaret Hamilton for eight years and I can't remember who Margaret Swann was any more.

But all of a sudden the name Swann has become popular. The female lead in Pirates of the Carribean is Elizabeth Swann, and a new character has just joined the cast of EastEnders (yes I still watch it after all these years) and her name is Dawn Swann (she has just joined the cast on NZ screens, she has been in the show for 9-10 months in the UK).

And the other day I was nosing around on the Old Friends website and found another ex-Margaret Swann!

So suddenly I'm not the only one any more.

-Megz

Six Months

Kathleen is six months old. Where has the time gone? She has come so far in those six months. She's gone from a tiny newborn that just cried all the time, to a smiley, interactive child who sits up by herself and plays with toys, who loves to stand when you hold her hands to steady her, who really wants to get moving but can only go from sitting up to lying on her tummy, who is eating one solids meal a day and enjoys fruit, and who is starting to "talk" back when you "talk" to her. She hasn't changed in some respects though – she still hates being put to bed, hates being left alone, and loves being held and carried.

A couple of weeks ago a friend and I were talking about Big Life Events, and it is funny how they change your perception of time. By far the biggest event in my life has been the birth of Kathleen. And although it was only six months ago, I cannot remember what life was like before that. And yet I remember the day she was born so well. It's almost as though my life started the same day hers did. I guess it did in a way.

We have a regular daily routine going now. Every day is slightly different depending on what time Kathleen wakes up, but she normally wakes up sometime around 7am. Then throughout the course of the day she will have four 40 minute naps, and be up for about two hours inbetween the naps. She normally has fruit for lunch. I have tried to introduce her to vegetables as well but she doesn't want to know about it.

Kat is now well accomplished at sitting and is keen to get off her bottom and get moving. She will lean forward from her sitting position until she is on her hands and knees. Unfortunately once she gets to that stage she doesn't quite know what to do next and ends up stuck. Also if she is sitting down and you hold her hands she will pull herself into a standing position. She loves standing up.

She's quite the little drama queen too. She'll be lying down crying and as soon as you pick her up, or pull her up to standing, she is all smiles again. How do you tell a six-month old baby that you know she's faking it???

At the end of June/beginning of July Kathleen and I went to Palmerston North and Wellington for a visit. Kat is now a seasoned traveller, having made six flights and one train ride (PNth to Wgtn) in her life.

Recently everyone in our little family came down with the flu. Kat had it for about a week, I have finally shaken it after 4 weeks, and Peter still has it. We have all been very miserable.

Peter has been put forward for several jobs in Wellington but no luck yet. He actually flew down for an interview a while ago, and after a couple of weeks of leaving messages with the agency wondering what was going on, he finally got told "sorry they've decided to restructure the position". Grrrr.

After a six-month hibernation we are starting to think about getting our lives back again. When Kat and I were in Wellington we went out to dinner at a restaurant with the family, Kat's first time. It didn't go very well but she hadn't slept too well that day and was in a bad mood to start with. It was my mistake to try putting her into a highchair as soon as we arrived. I just wanted to see what she'd do. Well, she hated it, and didn't have any problem letting us know about it. So that's ok, she can sit on my knee while we order and maybe she'll relax a bit. When the food arrived we put her back in the highchair. Nup, still didn't like it. So grandma/Mimi and I took turns eating while the other kept Kat entertained in the bar. It might have helped a bit if Daddy had been there too.

After we got back to Auckland again I invited some old work friends around for dinner. I think it's the first time we've entertained since she was born. That went a lot better and Kat was well behaved and happy to play while we all sat around talking. Once again when it was time to eat she got a bit stroppy and once again we took turns eating. But at least we were at home so it was a bit easier.

Then this week we took her out socialising. One of Peter's friends is off on his OE soon and was having drinks at a bar in town. The three of us went along and Kathleen was very well behaved indeed. She spent most of her time just looking around gobsmacked at all the people and lights and things going on.

So each time we've done something it's gotten a little better each time. Next week we're going to put it to the big test and go out to a restaurant again. The key will be timing things right for when she's just had a good sleep and just eaten, rather than making a reservation and having to stick to it regardless of how she's feeling.

Will keep you posted.

-Megz

Lots of Achievements

Well it's only been about six weeks since my last big post, but Kathleen has grown so much in that time. She hasn't changed so much physically (although she does now weigh twice her birth weight), but developmentally she's a whole new girl. She is learning so much.

Biggest achievements in the last six weeks have been:

* Feet in the mouth. Probably not a skill that will get her a job later in life (unless she wants to be an acrobat), but she had been trying SO hard to get her toes into her mouth, that the day she finally succeeded was a big achievement. Now, every time you take her nappy off the feet go straight up to the mouth. In fact you have to struggle to get them down again to put her nappy back on!

* Sleeping through the night. Kathleen has been sleeping through the night for the last four weeks now. She sleeps from around 8.30-9pm until 7-7.30am. It has made life a lot easier for Peter and I. Basically we knew that she could sleep through the night because she had done it on occassion. So one morning when she woke up around 5-6am we just got up and gave her her dummy back and went back to bed. She pretty quickly got the message and went back to sleep herself. She still sometimes wakes up early, but as long as we give her the dummy she will go back to sleep.

* Sitting up by herself. About a week ago Kathleen finally learnt to sit up by herself unsupported. I guess it's probably no surprise that she learnt this skill earlier than most, as she has always preferred being upright to lying down. Her balance is pretty good and she rarely falls over. So now every playtime she spends some time sitting up and playing with her toys.

* Teeth. Kat now has her two bottom front teeth poking through. They both appeared within a couple of days of each other, around the beginning of June. This has brought its fair share of unhappiness to both her and I, but we are learning to live with it.


In addition to all this, Kathleen also smiles and squeals, and reaches out for things that she wants. She wants everything I have - if I'm using the remote control she wants to play with it. If I'm drinking out of a bottle she wants to put it in her mouth too. If I'm reading she wants to read too, only her idea of reading means stuffing the book in your mouth. I've taken to saving the junk mail that comes on the heavier glossy paper for her to play with, and she loves it - she can crumple it, and rip it, and stuff it in her mouth, and it makes lovely noises when she does so. It is one of her favourite things to play with, and it's free. Another favourite is museli bar wrappers as they also make lovely crinkle sounds, and are shiny and colourful as well. (Both 'toys' always played with under supervision BTW).

As for Peter and I, we are doing well. Still no news on the shift to Wellington. Although Kathleen and I are heading down that way again for a week or two around the beginning of July to see family and friends again. If anyone wants to catch up, send me a text message.

-Megz

Kat Is a Ham

Kathleen advises me that she has been updating her blog recently, and wants everyone to know about it.

http://katisaham.blogspot.com/

Cheers,
Megz