Little Rascal has always been delicate when it comes to being told off. You don’t even have to say “no” some days and her lip quivers. Other days she will grin at you when you say no. But when you physically remove her from a situation she isn’t meant to be in, the waterworks really start. I can’t decide whether she is hurt that she has done something she wasn’t supposed to do, hurt that she cannot do the thing she wishes to do or embarrassed that she’s in trouble. Whatever the reason, the age of ONE hasn’t stopped this phenomenon.

Just today, we were at a 1st birthday party. There are many of these to attend at this time of year as all the mums from the mother’s group all have their babies turning one too. She was playing happily with a toy when another mum with a much younger baby, just sitting up, came and put her child right near Rascal. This wasn’t a problem at all and Rascal was excited to have another baby sitting right near her. She started off patting the baby on the head. I said, “That’s right – we are gentle with babies.” She grinned at me in a “I’m such a good girl” way. This continued for a few more seconds. I then noticed that the pats were becoming less pats and more slaps. So I crouched down next to her and repeated my first suggestion of being gentle with babies. She looked at me with innocence again and promptly reached out to gouge the baby’s eye out. 

I reacted with lightning speed and grabbed her arm, just before the gouge made contact, saying “No darling, we don’t do that to others.”  Her reaction to this was emotive. She began to wail – loudly. Of course all the other mums at the birthday party looked over to see what had happened and I reassured them everything was fine. I picked her up when she didn’t immediately get over the situation. She continued to wail. By this stage, the other baby, who’s eye I had valiantly saved from a sure injury, decided that something sad must be happening. She too, then began to wail at a high volume. 

Between the two of them, it was quite a sound. The other mum came and got her baby and I assured her that no injury had occurred, just sympathy or fright, I couldn’t tell which. They continued their duet of tears for about 5 minutes, which, when you are waiting for a child to stop crying, is quite a while! One would back off and then hear the other and the start again and vice versa. They both sounded so sad! When the last tear was shed, both bubs were able to play once again and we all moved on. 

But the fact still remains. Rascal cannot handle being told off! What will she be like in school? If someone tells her to stop talking, will she burst into tears? I must admit, if I think back, I felt like crying when I got in trouble at school, so she probably will too! Oh well, I have a delicate little soul. At least I don’t have a hard, heartless one. I’ll take my delicate soul any day!


Libby :)

I recently had the pleasure of becoming an Aunty for the first time. Obviously I’ve been an Aunty for years to my friend’s children, but this was a real, blood-connection Aunty, the child of my brother. And it has brought about some interesting feelings.

This little baby, who we then didn’t know anything about (boy or girl, etc) was due to be born near my Rascal’s birthday. I nervously paced the day before her birthday, and was relieved that the bub wasn’t born on her birthday, as if the date somehow belonged to me and I was the only one allowed to have a child on that date!  

The days ticked on and the bub was several days overdue when born. I had been excited the whole pregnancy because I was happy Rascal was going to have a cousin. But nothing prepared me for the actual arrival. We didn’t see a picture for a few hours but we knew the baby, a little nephew for me, had been born. I was so excited! Then I saw a picture of the little bundle.

I nearly burst into tears. He was perfect! And he was so tiny and cute! And I had a very similar feeling to when I first laid eyes on Rascal!  Possession! Ownership! He has to be partly mine! I need a percentage of ownership! Obviously his mother would probably have something to say about me marching over there and taking full possession of him but I truly felt that he was part of me and belonged to me! 

I have recovered from my bout of possession and have decided that he does indeed belong to me in a nephew sort of way. He’ll always be my nephew and no one can take that away! I didn’t realise how special it could be when a sibling has a baby but now I know! And I haven’t even met him yet! 

Libby :)

We have just been through a big weekend! We had a little girl turn ONE year old. This was a big thing in our family, as she is the first grandchild on both sides. Both sides of the family were present and had a wonderful time together. My closest friend was able to come last minute with her whole family as well!

Rascal’s birthday was on Thursday last week. So she opened her presents from Mummy and Daddy in the morning, which she loved! I was so happy about that because you never know if something will be a hit or not!  I play the piano and want her to have the opportunity to learn, so I got her a gorgeous toddler piano. She kneels (it’s too scary to stand by yourself) up against it and tinkers away several times a day! Then she started opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa. They gave her a rocking horse, which has become the MOST favourite present. For some reason she wants to be on it ALL the time. As in ALL the time. I’m not talking about once a day. She would literally sit on it for every waking minute. Of course she cannot do that as someone has to hold her on and rock it for her, so she spends many a minute sitting beside the horse patting it and gesturing to be put up on it.  Talk about a HIT! The other Grandma arrived the day after her birthday and bought heaps more presents, which she dutifully opened and played with and also enjoys just as much! 

Amongst all the present opening and visitor arrivals, we made a cake. It was an epic cake and may have been beyond our abilities, but with the help of a friend who is a magician with cakes, we were able to have the fantastic cake we imagined! We also cooked for most of the week to provide for the party lunch. It was a wonderful time of working together for a common goal.

The day before her party, on Saturday, while all the family were there, we also had Rascal dedicated in church. She always behaves quite sensibly and is not a super loud child. As soon as she got up the front of all the people, she started chatting and squealing loudly! She was pulling my hair and dancing. It was quite hilarious! But luckily she didn’t mind being held by the pastor as he said a dedication prayer. She even rested her head on his shoulder! 

Saturday night involved finishing the epic cake. Others helped decorate the hall as we did it. We worked til midnight and had it finished. The decorations were mostly done too and the hall is starting to look awesome!

On Sunday, we arose early and started to make final arrangements. The decorations were mostly done, just a few final purchases and a few more things to stick up. At 12 the guests began to arrive and Rascal welcomed the first few with glee! She then started getting quite over it and looking at newcomers like – why are you here? It was funny as I don’t think she quite understood what they were all doing there! We had lunch, and soon realised that we had made far too much food! But better more than less, that’s for sure! We had the lunch, cake cutting and Happy Birthday singing (where Rascal reached over and touched the flame on the one candle! Luckily she didn’t receive any burns, though Mummy’s heart stopped temporarily!) and present opening. She sat and opened each present until about 4/5 of the way through when she turned around and crawled under the present table for some time out! We were going to have a picture with everyone in their party hats but didn’t get to do it in the end, which was a bit disappointing. But everything else was awesome and I am so glad we decided to do a big party for our little Rascal.

We spent today chilling. I lazily played with Rascal's new toys and read her new books. It was a lovely day to sit around and do not much, which, compared to the last few days, is the complete opposite! I am looking forward to some nice early nights as compared to the 3 or 4 midnight nights last week! It's all worth it, though, and we have come out of it satisfied and fully celebrated!

Libby :)

This week is going to be busy. It is the week of Rascal’s FIRST BIRTHDAY!  There is so much to do! I have shopping to do, food to cook, decorations to make, a cake to decorate perfectly, presents to wrap, people to contact for RSVP’s and the list goes on!

When I first started envisioning “The Party,” I had in mind all the people who had gotten to know Rascal in all the different areas of life there with pink and purple decorations, of course. So I sat down to write the most important people down. When I stopped writing, there were 100 people! I was surprised that there had been that many people involved in Rascal’s life!

I culled a few who weren’t too important and thankfully about 40 couldn’t come because 100 couldn’t fit in the venue I had chosen! So we now have approximately 60 guests, including children (and my husband is sure I am organising a wedding reception, not a first birthday party, but he doesn’t know about these things). Lots of family are coming in and our house will probably resemble a refugee camp at some point during the weekend. There will be people strewn around the floor and in every spare corner.

The cooking will be monstrous. I have to cook for about 12 people for every meal apart from breakfast because they will just have to find their own! Luckily the family members are quite good cooks themselves, so it won’t be just me cooking.

But aside from all the preparations, which I may or may not survive, I am reminded what we are all coming together for. My little Rascal is nearly ONE. This time last year I was awaiting her arrival with anxious and excited anticipation! I was almost pacing in my desire to meet her. And now I know her. And what a privilege it is to know her. She is such a beautiful person inside and out.

When I think about what she was this time last year, just an unborn baby who no one knew, and then think about what she is now – a bustling nearly ONE year old who thinks she knows everything and is increasing in skill and talent on a minutely basis, I am amazed. So much has happened! So many milestones have been reached! She has changed so much and is becoming less and less of a baby, more of a toddler.

So this week will be a mix of emotions: pride for sure – I am so proud of her and all she has achieved to survive a year of life; nostalgia – remembering back to when she was more helpless and tiny; happiness – all the family and friends coming together to celebrate; it will be a lovely time.

And I will survive it somehow!

Libby :)