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So this happened the other day:

Me: "What was that thing that you had a go at me about for always forgetting?"

Noisy Daddy: "You forget everything!!" 

And it's true, I do. Baby brain is still in full swing around here and Stickybeak is just about to turn 1. The really sucky thing is that I'm not even being choosy about what I forget - it's one thing to forget to do a chore it's another to forget that awesome idea I had for a birthday gift for myself.

I guess at some point the memory hits overload, right now it feels like mine is screaming "At Full Capacity". There is just too much stuff to keep track of and not enough time to do everything (and not enough people to do it). Plus I'm tired. Plus my hormones are still elevated (or something). Plus I am trying to be kind to myself which means letting some stuff go.

In the book I Don't Know How She Does It the main character Kate Reddy talks about The List - it's a mental list that she frequently runs through which contains all of the stuff that she has to remember to do, or at least all of the stuff that she has remembered that she has to remember to do. It is spot on. Here is my list right now, if of course memory serves correct:

buy packet mix for birthday cake, visit cake shop for special icing colour, birthday candle(!!), figure out vegetarian party food option, confirm bad weather backup location, buy Stickybeak a present, sort out childcare fee schedule, pay for childcare birthday cake, rsvp to engagement party, buy card and gift(!!), check when swimming term ends, replace gas bottle, buy brother-in-law birthday gift, find book club book (I'm pretty sure we already own it), read book(!!), buy cat biscuits, cancel Quickflix, choose restaurant for Noisy Daddy's birthday dinner, confirm babysitting arrangements, sort out baby clothes that are now too small, pick up parcel from post office, offer baby stuff to my pregnant friends, sell ski boots, plan ski holiday, find cleaner, clean fridge (strawberry jam spill, ugh), ring council to remove hard rubbish, write to govt to oppose neighborhood development, apply for childcare rebate, get Stickybeak a passport photo ... and on and on and on...

This doesn't include my return-to-work arrangements (wardrobe, childcare pickups, etc), general household cleaning (clean duplo bin, remove cat vomit stain, replace litter, etc), household organising (grocery shopping, dinners, clothes washing, etc) and of course writing and co-managing this blog (a lot of work but essential for mental health).

There is also a whole separate list for Stickybeak's development  - book vaccination (OMG the cats! book vaccination for them, worm them!), ensure his meals have variety, what food hasn't he tried, check when to trial reaction to egg and nuts, should we move to toddler formula, maybe milk, what kind of milk, is he ready for a different teat flow, how about a different sippy cup, practice walking, looks up words to that nursery rhyme he liked ... all of this and more runs on in the back of my mind.

How do people stay on top of all of this??

In the book Kate's main problem is that she is working full time and overtime but also is in charge of The List. Everything concerning the children and the family is still all of her domain to keep track of and organise. This is partly my problem too, for eg I would love to be relieved of all birthday duties this year including coming up with gift ideas for myself, but aside from that never happening I am also sure Noisy Daddy has a megalist all of his own. The scary thing is that I imagine it is only going to get worse when I go back to work. Hopefully our new Daddy Day Care arrangement will see some of the items on my list transfer to a mental shared list so when I inevitably forget there is a chance that he will remember.

But for now is it any wonder that I forget everything? I am not a robot but if I was it would most certainly say "system overload, forcing shut down".

Next time Noisy Daddy complains about me forgetting something I will tell him to log a complaint with tech support. Because as I said I am learning to be kind to myself about this and unfortunately everyone around me will be forced to be kind to me too (don't judge me if I do in fact forget to buy Stickybeak a birthday candle or if it rains and you find yourself squashed up against a relative in my cramped, messy house which has a cat vomit stain on the rug).

And if you do come over, whatever you do, don't open the fridge door.

-- Natalie

The Essential Guide to Nudie Runs

DreamBaby dreaming of his first Nudie Run

DreamBaby decided last week he was of age, he too could join in the 'Nudie Run' with his older brother.

I had no objections when I witnessed such joy last week when he giggled and chased CheekyMonkey up and down the hallway.

Unfortunately for me, it appears no one had mentioned to DreamBaby with all this new found freedom, there still needs to be a few guidelines or should we say:

'The Do's and Don'ts of Nudie Runs'.

Rule 1: Do Not Pee 

Rule 2: Do Not Poo

Rule 3: Adhere to Rule 1 and 2.

I had it on good authority from GeekDad that DreamBaby was up to the task now that he can walk and run with the best of them.

So lets just say tonight DreamBaby made up his own set of Rules.

Rule 1: Hide from Mummy

Rule 2: Ride my toy car nude

Rule 3: Poop on the toy car whilst demounting to ensure maximum poop coverage.

For a split second I did think I was being 'Punked' by Ashton Kutchner as I chased not one but two nude boys down the hallway. My saving grace was to scramble for baby wipes and yell to CheekyMonkey to stay clear of the poo as I disarmed his brother from further damage.

I know this will not be the last time I encounter poop in strange places.

Did I happen to mention CheekyMonkey's recent foray of christening our fireplace did I?

No?

Hmm let's save that for another post shall we.

Hence, from this day forth in preparation of all future 'Nudie Runs', you will now find baby wipes strategically placed in every room. This will be especially handy if DreamBaby decides his 'Rules' are the 'New Rules'.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who gets to have this much fun.

Share your joy and leave me a comment or twenty....

-- Hannah

Daddy day care

Let's hear it for the boys ... What To Expect When You're Expecting.

Daddy day care began in our house today. Noisy Daddy has dropped back to four days a week at work so he can mind Stickybeak on Mondays. He got his own nappy bag to mark the occasion and he is quite chuffed about it.

I'm really proud of him for doing this and I think he and Stickybeak will have a great time together. Do a lot of dads do this? I can think of a few men that I know personally who have shifted to part-time hours so that they can spend more time with their children and I hope that you know some too.

One of the lovely things about having a baby was having the world of new dads open up to me - they are everywhere, loving and enjoying their babies at the swimming pool, at the playground, in the supermarket aisle and on Facebook. I love that we live in an era where parenting is shared, where dads change nappies in the middle of the night, give bottles, make dinners, and take control of bath time.

Hopefully Noisy Daddy will one day write us a post on his stay-at-home adventures with Stickybeak but for now here are a few posts by some great dads that I have enjoyed recently:

Ben Pobjie - To my daughters

Jason Seiden - One dad's simple dream

Nigel Marsh (TED talk) - How to make work-life balance work

Dan Pearce - You just broke your child, congratulations

Philip Barker - PND & blokes: A how-not-to-guide

How to be a Dad -- all of it really, they're awesome.

Are there any dad blogs or posts that have stuck with you?

-- Natalie

Hey Stickybeak, watcha looking at?

A little while ago we noticed that Stickybeak has an eye for the ladies. At first we laughed it off, we obviously were just imagining it and besides he is too young, he isn't even one yet! But ... well, it kept happening.

At a cafe if a pretty waitress walks past he swings his head around to watch. If he manages to catch her eye (and he usually does) then he gives her a special smile. That's how he hooks them in. Next thing you know she is coming over to the table and telling him how gorgeous he is, what beautiful eyes he has, and those dimples! He laps it up - every single time.

Now the thing about Sydney is that most of the waitresses are young and pretty but even among such a group he still seems to have an eye for the exceptionally attractive - no wonder his daddy likes to take him to cafes! And it extends beyond the coffee crowd; we've noticed that a cute little girl in the playground will also stop him in his tracks (see photo above). Maybe it's because little girls wear such bright, pretty clothes ... or maybe he just likes the laydeez (said in my best fake sleazy voice).

At daycare I'm told one of little girls there has adopted Stickybeak, she frequently is by his side and looks out for him in the playground. When I went to collect him the other day she was trying to fix his jumper - his arm was lost in the sleeve - and when I picked him up to take him home she gave me a look that was a combination of crushed and accusing. Poor thing, I don't think this was her doing, I reckon he hooked her in too!

I think it's time to face facts: my baby is a playa. Of course Noisy Daddy couldn't be more proud.

Have you noticed this sort of behaviour with your little one?

-- Natalie