Home Away From Home

Anna and I are staying at Nanna's and Pa's house for a little while, just so mummy can focus on her health and get better. We're having a great time, and I know Nanna and Pa are enjoying us staying with them too. And Daddy comes to visit all the time.

The first week, we stayed with Nanna Lou and Pa-Tom. It's been really great being there and always having good company. Anna really loves sitting with us in her awesome high chair and watching us all cook dinner.

There was a lovely room set up for Anna, seems to me there may be some other motivation for setting up a nursery? Perhaps our welcome is a little too warm :)

It's been great having an extra hand to take care of Anna. She's been unwell this past week, and colds seems like they just never go away. Anna is a thumb sucker and it's very hard to suck your thumb when you've got a blocked nose.

So Nanna Lou has been helping out, trying to get her off to sleep before I pull all my hair out from frustration. Nanna must be so tired staying up so late when she has work the next day.

Anna's such a good girl and I really feel for her because no-one likes a cold, and babies don't really know what it is, they just know its not fun. But having to get up and struggle for at least three hours at a time to get you to sleep is very physically and emotionally hard, so I'm glad I've got Nanna Lou to help. She seems to have the knack.


Then we went to stay with Pa and Pa's Tiff. We managed to plan a good sleeping routine for Anna, and three days in, she seems happier.

Anna really loves staying at Pa's. She seems so happy and relaxed, and she knows she's loved here. At the moment, she's learning so many news things so quickly. She has a fascination with noses currently, and loves it when you poke your tongue out at her - she tries to grab it! And she plays 'peek-a-boo' and can pull the tea towel off her face when it's covered, like it's a big surprise! And she's also 'sharing'. She'll be chewing on something, stop and look at you, then offer it to you, waiting for you to take a bite, then she'll chew on it some more, then offer some more to you. It's so sweet.

And she's also mastered 'No' in baby talk. That is, spitting at us. She's become so skilled at it, she'll start spitting even before the spoon hits her lips. It has me laughing in hysterics, and covered in banana.

Solids have become part of her routine, and she's now on three meals a day. And we make sure she has plenty of floor time, to learn, discover and 'expend energy'. Pa and Pa's Tiff have created a baby wonderland.

And as part of her bedtime routine, she has a bath and then read a book with Pa. I've noticed lately she's much more interested in books and less interested in eating them.

I'm not sure how long we'll be staying her for. But for now, we're having a great time, and it seems to be working for us.