My favourite time of day...

Back when Jimmy was very new, I loved those first few minutes of the morning: waking up to his little face on one side and Michael on the other; we were all cozy and warm and still a little sleepy (ok, Michael was usually still asleep). It was just lovely.

I still like mornings, but I'm usually squished up against the wall and Michael has probably spent half the trying to avoid being kicked off the other side of the bed... Jimmy has slept soundly... kicking Michael and headbutting me. Yeah, not so lovely.

Just this week I have really started to notice afternoons, particularly the moment Jimmy realises his Dada is home: Michael stomps up the stairs to our apartment, but Jimmy still has no idea what's coming, then Michael puts his key in the lock and Jimmy looks a little worried, Michael unlocks the front door and Jimmy stops what he is doing and whips his head around in the direction of the front door and then he looks at me, almost in disbelief, asking "is it really Dada? Can I get excited?", and then he's off! Jimmy crawls from where ever he is in the house to the entrance hall and all he wants is to be in Michael's arms. It's so incredibly sweet.

But it gets better. On Wednesday we had lunch with Michael at uni, because that's what we've started doing, and when Michael came home that afternoon Jimmy was super excited, why? I really don't know, but it was lovely. Jimmy and I were sitting near the entrance hall when Michael turned the lock, Jimmy looked in the direction of the door, turned back to me, flapped his hands to say "pick me up so you can pass me to Dada", but there was a little "I'm so excited, I think I did a little wee".

A close second is bath time. Jimmy's bath time to be precise, although I like bath time too. But that's a story for another time.

We're settling in...

Home is where the nappies/dippers dry, where we eat and sleep, where I have a comfy chair for knitting and nursing Jimmy, where I display collected pine cones because we need some sort of decorations, where books collect, and where cups of tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are consumed throughout the day. This place is starting to feel like home, and nothing says that better than Jimmy happy to sleep on his own.

17/52

“a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2014”

Jimmy: reading an old favourite, Mem Fox's "Where is the Green Sheep?", that came in a care package from Granny and Pop (because Mumma and Dada were silly and didn't bring enough books for their avid reader).

It also has the Spanish translation, along side the original English, which is pretty cool. The edition of Ellen Stoll Walsh's "Mouse Paint" is the same. But the best thing of all was seeing Jimmy's face light up with recognition as I read him "Where is the Green Sheep?" for the first time in weeks. He also recognised Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", but he was looking for the finger puppet (quite cute).

And as we have internet at home (yay!), I'll fill you in on settling in and spring etc. over the coming weeks.

16/52

“a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2014”

Jimmy: going “ah-warble, warble, warble” with Daddy. We’re not sure, but we think he thinks he’s taught us how to do it.

This week has been about rest and settling into our new home and routines. More later, but basically we’re getting there: Michael is getting into the swing of things at work; Jimmy and I are getting our heads around being without Michael during the day; and we're still without internet at home, but soon, soon. And little by little our apartment is starting to feel like home.

15/52

“a portrait of my son, once a week, every week in 2014”

Jimmy: looking out onto our new balcony and the blossoming tree just outside.

We have arrived in Manhattan, KS, and moved into our apartment. This last week has been spent traveling (Brisbane-Sydney-Dallas-Manhattan), trying to locate a suitcase, opening a bank account, picking up keys and inspecting our new home, having the misplaced suitcase delivered to our new home, shopping for the bare minimum of household items, finding the local shops, finding Kansas State University (K-State) and Michael’s new building, working out how to deal with a drying north wind and central heating, getting US phone numbers, and recovering from all of the above.

We feel settled in our new home, even though we’re still short on a few things (home internet, dining table etc and high chair being the priorities), and while some things are still ongoing processes (dealing with the new climate and recovery mostly), I think I can say that we like it here. Arriving at the start of spring, when flowers are starting to bloom, is probably good timing. 

14/52

"a portrait of my son, once a week, every week of 2014"

Jimmy holds on to his teething ring, while his aunty (and my little sister) holds on to him.

We're flying to Manhattan, KS, tomorrow after enjoying a few weeks at my parents place, ending with birthday celebrations for my Mum, who has reached a significant milestone. We surprised her by successfully arranging for her in-country siblings to visit. It's been a lovely weekend filled with family, laughter, lots and lots of food, and a few tears. This photo was taken just before the birthday breakfast, which Jimmy enjoyed eating and wearing. Photos of the breakfast will come later. Happy weekend and we'll see you when we're on the other side of the world.

I was married...

Because, sometimes, six years of loving each other, living together, and a child together is not always enough... and because it can be nice to get together with family and friends and celebrate being together, even if the whole thing required a catalyst... 

 

My mum insisted on bubbles, because they were allowed at the registry chapel.

And then we had high tea, because it was a good idea (and it turned out to be very delicious and fun).