It's Now The Mash. A Room With A View.

It's now the monster mash...

 This can only mean one thing. No Chububby isn't on solids yet but it's just a matter of weeks so I'm stock piling frozen mashed food. This is mango, we had more than can be consumed in the next few days so I mashed some for the baby.

I used to think that the toilet on level 9 of Fisher Library at Sydney University had the best view but I was wrong.

View from the Parent's Room at Westfield Bondi Junction. 

It's so easy to get distracted looking at the window and forget what you're there for. I like the padded change mats too but I still use my own. I like a posh parent's room.

On the Upside.

It's past midday and'm still in my pajamas, I smell like eau de baby vomit, I can't have a shower because the sound of the water pipes will wake up Bubby and all I had for lunch is a croissant because I can eat it with one hand while I hold a colicky possibly refluxy baby.

On the upside, Bubby has been fed and is asleep, baby is fed and passed out in the baby capsule, the satay chicken for dinner is marinating ready to be thrown in the oven. I may or may not get the chance to cook the nasi goreng for dinner but at least there's steamed rice in the fridge. Go me!

The only way Chububby can sleep soundly, lying flat is too painful :(. The hell with the mess, I can feed and put to sleep two babies simultaneously!

Nappy Bags.

As Jerry Seinfeld might say, "What's the deal with nappy bags?" I have always wondered what other mums stuff in their nappy bags so I googled nappy bag contents. I had to laugh at some of those images. Firstly, I marvel at the size of some of the nappy bags and secondly, I marvel at the amount of stuff people think a tiny person could possibly need on one outing. I get that you'll need nappies, wipes, a change mat, a change of baby clothes and bottles and formula if bottle feeding or snacks if on solids. However, some people pack several outfits for every season/weather/occasion, toys, books, creams, medicine cabinet, kitchen sink... Seriously how long will they be away that 5 changes of clothes are necessary? Will baby really get that bored that every type of toy vehicle is required? Bubby was allowed two toys at most and they have to be small enough to stuff in a pocket I never had an actual nappy bag, I just used a big bag I already owned. My first few outings with Bubby I packed so much crap in my 'nappy bag' that I practically couldn't close the zipper. You know how when going on holidays you can pack your bag nicely but when you pack for the trip back you can't make anything fit? Well, it turned out like that every time I needed to get anything out of the darn bag. In the end I realised, I don't really need to bring that many nappies or a spare outfit for myself, or a spare muslin and spare blanket. Here are my nappy bag essentials

A napkin that I use as a burp cloth, a bib, a small washer, I also bring a spare onesie but forgot to include it in the photo, a change mat, nappy wipes and in the case I have three nappies, nappy cream and hand sanitiser, I can even fit my Filofax in there. I also have plastic bags in the pram for dirty nappies. So far, and I know we've only been getting out of the house for a week, the only item I've used is my Filofax. The nappy bag stays in the pram basket and I carry my personal items in a small handbag. And by small I mean it fits a purse, a phone, lip balm, lip gloss, keys and little else. I used to carry around a little camera but I now use my phone.

This is the nappy bag that I use now:

It's a medium sized shopper. There's still plenty of room in there for my shopping.

I started off with this. I liked how it's structured but that turned out to be a problem as once it's in the pram basket I couldn't fit anything else in. The cherry red colour and polka dots make me happy.

This is what I originally used with Bubby:

I've used this DVF bag for travelling. It fits a helluva lot but I soon realised I don't need a helluva lot.

Kuala Lumpur, January 2009. Shameless showing off of travel pic. I am living vicariously through this blog. It will be years before I'm brave enough to travel with kids.

I eventually just started to stuff my nappy essentials in my Totally PM which is the biggest everyday handbag that I own. I was even able to also carry around a bottle of milk in there.

Going out to see the grandparents is a different kettle of fish altogether. One needs lots of toys, the musical puppy, the baby swing, the travel cot...

Caught on Camera. Unforgettable Moments .

When I gave birth to Chububby the nurse to whom I entrusted my camera thought she took lots of photos but she actually only took a couple. I was so disappointed when I looked at my camera. I'm so glad one of the other nurses thought to grab my phone and used it to take photos. I think they must have spare nurses on hand just to take photos.

This photo gives me goosebumps every time. This was the moment that I first heard Chububby cry his little lungs out. The anaesthetist was just about to lower the curtain. I was a moment away from meeting my baby for the first time.

First touch. He smelled so good. Had I known I was going to give birth that night I would have put some makeup on. I looked so yellow!

The Dream Feed

Photo Source: Essential Baby

The dream feed is a funny thing. It doesn't matter how deep in his sleep Bubby is bring a booby to his mouth and he'll feed. Actually, as soon as he is in the feeding position he'd open his mouth wide. On the other hand, if I bring a cheeseburger to hubby's face while he's asleep I don't think he'll dream feed on it. Or will he?

Never Trust a Quiet Baby.

A quiet baby is always up to no good. Last night I left Bubby on the floor while I folded up some clothes. He was happily watching me and I look at him every couple of minutes to make a funny noise when he calls out 'Ha!" to get my attention. He was very quiet for a while and when I looked down he had shoved a receipt in his mouth and was very enthusiastically chewing on it. There was a small bit still hanging out. I had to pry his mouth open and fish around in there with my fingers to make sure I got every bit out that I actually made him throw up a little. He seemed to think that was a game and was also looking pleased with what he'd done. Unfortunately, there was no time to grab the camera. We think we got all the bits out but it was impossible to try and put the receipt together to see. If he ingested any it would have only been a very tiny piece. I never leave paper on the floor so I think the breeze must blown the receipt off the table. I didn't give any solids as he's already had his fill.

Another time, I was having my afternoon tea and having a bit of quiet time to myself while Bubby was also having a quiet time on the floor. He had managed to move off his mat and was observing the fringe on the rug. I just let him since he didn't look like he was eating it. When I walked up to him I realised that he was practising his fine motor skills by unravelling the knots on the fringe of the very expensive silk rug. He was two-handedly, expertly pulling on it with his pudgy little fingers. I say expertly because on closer inspection there were several undone knots along the edge of the rug. He must have had plenty of practice on a number of occasions. I have since put a beach towel with fringed ends over his mat but this boy has taste as he is not as impressed with a towel as he is with a Persian rug. I think I need a play pen, or a cage.