Reflection – How Things Change

It is really amazing how much has changed over the last year. It was this time last year that I was preparing to become pregnant. I now have a 5 month old and have finally finished my Cert IV of Training and Assessing. Looking back over the year it feels like time has flown by, although there were certain times that that didn’t feel like the case.

I have been much more relaxed and confident over the last month and I really enjoy the interaction with Ashley. Previous to having Ashley I hadn’t looked after children under the age of 4 months very often. Reflecting back on those first few months I feel that I lacked some of the bonding. Whether this is from the depression, Ashley’s hard time with the food or just me I don’t know but I am concentrating now on looking to the future.

Ashley changes on a daily basis. He has quite a big personality for such a little guy! He loves talking (not just to people but also to anything bright (the alarm clock reading) or shiny (handbags)). He is a very happy and content baby and loves learning. I have just taught him to say ‘arghhh!’ when I shake his rattle. It is pretty funny and cute (well, for now anyway). Now that my course is complete I enjoy being able to spend all my time with Ashley. I love singing to him, pulling funny faces and doing everything I can to make him smile and giggle – it’s great, and like everyone says, make the most of it while he still thinks your funny.

You know your baby is happy when you find that they fall asleep holding onto their toys. Ashley tends to get frustrated when he can’t put his rings into his mouth. He will pull and shake them and then gets so tired he just falls asleep. It’s funny how quickly it happens.

Ashley loves playing with his toys, especially his Eeyore blanket, Spot rattle and bunny teether. His favourite part of them is the crinkle noise they make when he chews on them. The video below shows you just how enthusiastic he gets!

Starting Solids

Yesterday was a big milestone for my lil boy…starting solids! It was exciting to see the look of anticipation on his face when the spoon headed towards his mouth. He really seemed to enjoy it, even if it was just rice cereal with a bit of milk. It was a pretty messy affair and after half an hour he spewed some of it up but all in all it was a success!

Toys! Toys! Toys!

Just like every other mother, today Mum and I braved the crowds and took Ashley toy shopping. With no deposit lay-by’s the shops were packed. After going to Myer last week and Big W and K-Mart this week, Christmas shopping done!

Ashley enjoyed himself just looking around at all the other people and all the toys. I tried to stick to only buying him a few toys, since when you buy kids too many toys they don’t get around to playing with them all. I am also planning on saving them for the next baby and don’t really have that much storage space. To be quite honest I think once he has finished playing with them they will have to be stored at Grandma’s house.

OK, so what did I buy? A Go Baby Go – Sit to Stand Giraffe, Rocking Plush Lion, an Interactive Letterbox and Foam Letter Mats. Besides the fun things I also have put aside some ‘traditional’ learning type things, like books and flash cards. Mum and Dad bought him; a Winnie the Pooh Story Reader, Wooden Count and Learn, Animal Wheelpals Hammer the Bedbugs and Foam Letter Mats.

Since we thought that Ashley also needed toys to play with now, we bought him a Train Set with flashing lights and music, plastic ball with bell rattle, 2 nursery rhyme CD’s and 2 teething pacifiers. With all the exciting stuff going on at the shops he also ended up with a purple balloon (from Big W) and an orange balloon (from BankWest).