The early bird gets the worm

The Early Bird Catches the Worm!

photo from here

I used to hear this saying all the time when I was younger... I think mom and dad used to say it to Sean and I when we would roll over in bed and complain about getting up at 4:50am for swim practices..
But- its true.  The early bird does get the worm.  I was reminded of this in an email from a good family friend, Cori Nickerson, the other day- as she has decided to start blogging- offering women advice on how to really live life to the fullest.  Her first piece of advice is "to start by getting up really early, and making the most of the day".  Cori has always been chalk full of great information and advice.  She has a cure, remedy, explanation, and understanding for pretty much everything.  I don't know how she does it, she really is a great source for information, inspiration, motivation and advice.  She loves helping others and I can't wait to read her blog (I will let you know when she starts blogging!)

Anyway- the early bird gets the worm.  Cori is right.  Getting up early is one heck of a way to start your day- Dan and I have been getting up earlier and earlier lately..  I dont know if its because we never readjusted after setting the clocks back from daylight savings.. the fact that the sunrises here are too pretty to miss... the fact that even if we did try to sleep in.. Dyllan wakes up around 6am...OR... the darn birds here are up so early!! 

As soon as the tiniest bit of light comes into the horizon... the birds go CRAZY!!  There are several noisy (annoying, loud, obnoxious) birds here in Sydney...   and I think flocks of them must live and breed outside our window! 

Kookaburra
photo from here

Have you ever heard a Kookaburra? If not- click on the youtube link: kookaburra laughing . Member that nursery rhyme- "kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, eating all the gumdrops he can see.. laugh kookaburra laugh kookaburra, gay your life must be"  ??  OHMYGOSH.... their laugh is soo funny, and soo loud!!  I just wanna throw a gumdrop at its head!



Cockatoo
photo from here



Then there are the cockatoos! These birds are gorgeous- in fact I think people pay a lot of money to have these birds as pets.  According to parrotsecrets.com - "The Cockatoos are one of the most favored birds as pets in the Parrot family.  Cockatoos are extremely beautiful, loving and social creatures, portraying an intelligent, playful, inquisitive and enchanting self. "  AND they live for 40-80 years, AND you can train them to talk.  Cool.. maybe I should capture one.  There is one that sits on our fence.. they Dyllan and I like to throw her left over dirty Cheerios from her stroller seat at.  I think its the same one.. but there are so many of them.. it could be a different one each time.







Listen to the cockatoos

And the obnoxious crows!  These are the most annoying.. but they usually get louder as the day goes on.  By 3pm or so- they are all bickering with each other- over who stole who's moldy sandwich from the garbage bin.  They always seem like they're fighting with each other.  And always looking for scraps!  I'm pretty sure the Australian crows are twice the size here than they are back home..  big, pesky, black birds!

photo from here

photo from here

Listen to the Australian crows

Or the Magpie.  Haha!!  These guys go CRAZY... and I guess they swoop too?!  Scary AND annoying!

Magpie
Photo from here

Listen to the Magpies on youtube..

The most interesting, and impressive bird.. but probably the most annoying of them all is the Lyrebird.  They are super impressive because they can imitate any sound.  But the one outside our window in the morning does the same 3 notes- I kid you not.. the same 3 notes.. over and over and over again.  Dyllan is even making these same three notes.  AHH.  Find a new tune, dude!  This video is really interesting on the lyrebird and how it can imitate any sound.. it does the Seinfeld tune.  haha!

Lyrebird
Photo from here

OHMYGOSH.. I almost forgot the waddle bird!!!  You have to listen to this guy.. this is exactly what we hear in the morning.. well all day long.  Listen here

Doesnt the Wattle bird just look pesky?!
photo from here

And.. if all this noise STILL doesn't wake us up at the crack of dawn... there are always the neighbor dogs.  I don't think there is such thing as puppy kindergarten, dog obedience class, dog de-barkers, dog bark collars, or anything having to do with shutting your yippee, ankle biter up!  Oh, but its not just the ankle biters making the noise.. there is an old (hate to say it.. ) Black Lab (and I love the labs!) next door that lets out one loud bark/howl every 2 min or so every. single. morning.  at around 6am.  Oh boy..

Ok - off to bed.  All this talk is making me realize that if i don't get some sleep soon.. I wont get much at all- seeing as I will be up so early thanks to my furry, feathery friends.

Good night!

photo from here

bon voyage

Bon Voyage Yunny and Lozzo!

Dyllan had her suitcase packed and her caravan hooked up and ready to go for her week long caravan trip down the coast with Yunny and Lozzo...

Thanks Eileen, Phillip, Dino for the awesome new caravan!!  Dyllan loves it!

.... but it seems that they took off without her.

How to occupy a 15 month old

Dyllan was helping put together her Easter basket

Haha.. this post sums up my day... not just today, everyday.  I think Dyllan is getting really sick of the same games, toys, and lack of constant attention.  Dont get me wrong- she gets plenty of attention- as you can imagine- we live with her uncle Lionel, next door to Yunny and Lozzo, and she is attached at my hip most of her waking hours!  But lately, she wants constant attention.  She will play by herself for about 10- 15 min MAX.. which allows me for just enough time to do... NOTHING.  I have always wished I was good at multi-tasking- but in this case.. Dyllan is all over me when I try.  So today I went on a search for ideas of ways to occupy this 15 month old (in 5 days).  Let me give you a little insight into what a typical day looks like for us..

Dyllan wakes up around 6am these days- happy and usually singing in her crib until someone comes to get her (cant complain here).  We play- eat breakfast- then head down to the gym so I can work out and Dyllan can play at the kids club.  We often meet with friends/ play at the playground after the gym or run an errand or two while we are out and about- then come home for lunch- and Dyllan's nap- phew!  While Dyllan naps- its my time to get stuff done.  Usually a crazy scramble.  Shower, clean up Dyllans breakfast and lunch mess- laundry (the old fashioned way- line dry!) folding, vacuuming or sweeping (everything on the ground is edible to Dyllan)- then I try to catch up on emails/ calls - get a little work done (trying to work from home a few days a week)-  uploading photos/videos and writing a blog post if I have any time left over.  Dyllan is a good sleeper- thank god!  but her naps are never long enough..haha! 

Once Dyllan is up- I am on duty till 6:30pm when I put my bug to bed.  Lately, I have found myself in a bit of an afternoon activity rut.  I have gotten good at popping in a DVD ( horrible, I know.. funny cause I never even turned the TV on while I babysat/nannied...ever.  But now- that the kid is mine- its suddenly ok?!)- making a snack (usually cereal O's, or rice cakes, raisins, seeds, or something that wont squish into the carpet or smear on the floor)- dump out her bucket of toys and hope that she can stay entertained while I finish whatever I was working on before she woke up from her nap. 

Today- entertaining herself by doing handstands

I am lucky when Dijere ("Dearie") comes over to play with Dyllan- because at least she is occupied- however since Dijere is still "in babysitter training"  I have to keep my eyes on both of them quite a bit.  Dijere is getting much better though (not leaving Dyllan alone, sharing the toys with Dyllan, making sure she is safe, doesnt eat anything she shouldn't.. etc..)- so we are making progress.

At 5 o'clock- Dyllan gets ready for dinner- she likes to help me in the kitchen while I figure out what to whip up.   Dyllan eats- then we go straight up stairs for her bath.  By this time of the day- Dyllan really needs a bath!  She hangs onto the side of the tub bouncing up and down squealing with delight as I fill up the tub and squeeze the bubble bath in.  She basically takes her own clothes of- so she can get in quicker.  Dyllan plays with her 4 toys- whale, walrus, nemo, and whale bath book- oh and her toothbrush- same toys, every night.  I could probably add some more- but those plus her wash cloth take long enough to get out- plus she doesn't seem to mind that the selection is limited!  She likes to bite the bubbles- and I taught her how to blow bubbles under water- which she is getting good at now.  After bath time- its story time- usually just 1 or 2 stories (even though she would be up for 10-20 stories)- she loves books!  Then off to sleep.  Phew.  Done. 

..well not quite.  Then I gotta pick up all the toys, food, clothes, bibs from the day and make dinner.  But you know what?  I actually enjoy my routine- and I feel so fortunate that I get to spend the day with Dyllan- and not some nanny.  I get to watch her laugh, walk, talk, play, eat, swim, grow.  These times I know I will always look back on with fond memories. 

So back to the title of this post:  How to occupy a 15 month old. 

I actually googled that today when Dyllan woke up from her nap.  I think shes getting pretty bored with our afternoon routine.  haha.. or at least fed up of me trying to pawn her off on her fisher price friends and a bowl of Cheerios.  I need some new ideas of how to keep her busy for a few min while I get other stuff done.  Any ideas?!  Please share if you have some!

I bought a pack of colored pencils this morning because she likes to color at the kids club.  I'll put those in her Easter basket. 

One of her favorite things to do at the moment is climb the stairs - although she can't climb down (fearless though!  yikes)- Im trying to teach her how to go back down backwards.  She also loves her walking toy- and is starting to learn how to turn it around so she doesnt get stuck every 3 steps. Her keyboard needs new batteries (need to add that to the "to-do list") so its out of commission.  She also loves "folding" laundry- Ill have to post the video I took yesterday- its so funny- she basically just moves her clothes around, and piles them on her head.  But it keeps her occupied while I fold!

Anyway- here is what I found on google...

from www.magicmum.com I found these suggestions:

• "Chasing the dog & the cat (poor things!)"
• "Water - splashing, pouring. "
• "Also, very helpful things like unpacking all the nappies, taking all her clothes out of her chest of drawers, taking all of the baby potz, sippy cups, etc, out of the cupboard."

I also found:

www.edhelperbaby.com:   cool website that allows you to upload photos, keep a journal, record milestones..
 
Then I got to thinking that maybe I should enroll Dyllan (and me) in a swim school.  These people on the playground were ranting and raving about it the other night when Dan and I took Dyllan to play.  Might be kind of fun for the Bug!  Ugh.. I havent gotten in the pool for more than a few minutes after I stopped swimming competitively in High School... should be interesting.

Happy Birthday Yunny!

Happy Birthday to Yunny, today!

Helping Yunny out in the herb garden (yesterday)



We celebrated ALL day long- starting with a pump class at the gym, a visit with the nuns,  a tour of Marianne's high school (where Laurie works now) then lunch by the beach and finished off with a sushi /seafood feast at home with a caramel chocolate swirrel cake (yum!).  Happy Birthday to you, Yunny!  Hope you had a great day!



Craft time:   Making a picture frame and mini scrap book for Yunny's bday.








After the gym- we stopped off at this side walk sale the local nuns were holding- and Laurie bought Dyllan this cute sweater and matching hat- the nuns said "Ohh, he looks so cute in that sweater!"  SHE, its a GIRL.  haha.  serves us right for buying a brown striped sweater and matching brown hat.  ah, well.







A quick stop off at Lauries work- got the full tour- his office, classroom, and school.  Pretty cool place.  Marianne went to school here, Dan went to school here, now Laurie teaches here.







Dyllan was making some business calls during lunch- how rude.



Dyllan got tired during lunch, and took a nap on Lozzo's shoulders.

(But from this picture, it looks more like the opposite was true- Lozzo was the one who got tired..)

a girl on the go

Nothing will stop her with this look...

Dyllan is on the move.  Look out, wont be long now till she really starts walking.  Dyllan's new favorite activity is pushing this toy.  She would push it all the way down the street if I would let her.  I probably should have gotten this toy out a while ago- as she was trying to walk on just about everything- glass doors, tables, couch, railings.. anyone who would give her a hand- although it wasn't till about last week that she was actually motivated to go anywhere.  I think the motivation came from Alice's dog giving her the time, patience, and a nice short flat surface to support her and a tail to hand on to.  She is now on-the-go.  Every free chance she gets, she is scooting something across the floor..

Pretty happy with herself!

I love this look.  She does it a lot.  a little attitude.
"what."

cruising.. no big deal.
(her bug looks jealous)

Freshwater Carnival

The other weekend Dyllan and I and Natalie, Anthony and Ethan (the little guy that Nat used to nanny) ventured down to freshwater beach (where Dan and I used to live) for the kids carnival.  Unfortunately Dan had an expo to work at that weekend so he couldn't join us.  The weather was threatening to rain all morning so we weren't sure if it would still be on- but the rain held up and we had a great time!  Pretty much a kids dream come true- the carnival had rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, ice cream, face painting, crafts, BBQ, and lots of kids and parents!  Dyllan wasn't quite old enough for most of it (although she had a fun time)- but Ethan didn't hold back.. he got his face painted as batman, ate an entire ice cream cone covered in sprinkles, rode the bumper cars with Anthony, checked out the petting zoo, and played on the playground till he could barely keep running.  In fact the drive home- both Ethan and Dyllan fell asleep. 

Next weekend Anthony and Nat are getting married!!   Dan is the best man- and the wedding is at a gorgeous church in Manly.  All week has been wedding mode for them- starting with their friends and family arriving from Manchester (Nat's friends and parents) and S. Africa (Anthony's grandma) on Thursday- followed  by "Hen's" (Bachelorette) and "Bucks" (Bachelor) Parties over the weekend.  

Ethan choosing his face paint with Nat and Anthony

Pony Rides- no Dyllan didn't go..

Dyllan watching Anthony and Ethan on the bumper cars







Nat came back with a box of cupcakes and Dyllan couldn't resist!  She dug in and would NOT let go of my cupcake if her life depended on it. 





Nat, Dyllan and her cupcake



Music Videos and Spying on Dyllan

Here are a few videos from the last few days..

This first one is my favorite video! Give it a minute into the video- my phone camera didn't pick up the sound until I moved closer.  Dyllan is DJing on her keyboard and working her fake audience.  She didn't know I was spying- like most times I try to video her- she gets too curious in what I am doing.. to continue doing what she was doing.  Anyway, I did my best to sneak up on her.. haha. 

I tried to catch Dyllan dancing in her car seat on the way home from Ulla Dulla.. but every time I turned on the camera she stopped dancing.  Here is the best attempt in catching her.

I love sneaking up on Dyllan when she wakes up from a nap or the night.. she is always soo happy to see me.. and never makes a peep to let me know shes awake- so I end up having to spy on her a lot.