27/52

A portait of my child, once a week, every week for 2013.

We spent our Sunday afternoon dedicated to craft, a crafternoon if you will. You glued on the pom poms with delight, you dipped your paint brush in the paint and smooshed it on your page with glee, you delicately placed down each sticker and move them around until they were just right. You could crafted all afternoon and were still apprehensive to accept it was over.

Our evenings together are so precious now. Your bed time has been pushed back a little later so we get more time with you. You continue to adapt so well and for that I say thank you. You are the best person that has ever walked this earth in my eyes, and I am so glad that through all these changes you continue to be you.

I love you more each day little sir.

Love always.

Your Mama J x

26/52

Halfway through this year, my how time flies. I am still completely in love with this photography project. Every week I get to reflect on my time with Oliver, the changes he has made, the moments we have shared. What a perfect way to keep track of our child in 2013. 

A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013.

23.06.2013-29.06.2013

We took you to the National Museum and you ran around with glee. You tooted at the cars and trains, you pushed the buttons, you turned the pages, you opened the draws, you touched different textures and you even wore headphones and got to pick the songs. You loved leading us around from exhibition to exhibition, and you waited (at first) when one of us was lagging behind. You were so well behaved and you were the best little tour guide. What a delightful day we had.

This week you have started truly adapting to our new way of life. You hit us for attention and already react before we have told you no. You are after attention- negative or positive- you just want all eyes on you all the time. That's okay, I am not letting you get away with any bad behaviour, but I am also patient with you and understanding. It was you and me mate, everyday bar a few for the last two years. And now we get merely a few hours together a day. It is a massive change and I am doing everything I can to keep you as the confident, wonderful, albeit cheeky little boy that you are. 

So much has changed in the past month, but one thing never will, my unwavering love for you.

You are wonderful my sweet and I love you with all my heart.

Love always,

your Mama J xx

Around here...

Things have been so busy around these parts, so ridiculously busy.

As most of you know I returned to full time work two weeks ago, so Oliver has gone into full time day care. Our life has flipped upside down and with less time I have found us doing more. We are enjoying every second together, we are spending more time keeping the house clean, we are cooking more, and we have stopped taking things for granted.
Honestly, I am so happy to be at work. Part of me wishes I had done it months ago. I was growing sour, growing bored. Not bored of Oliver, just the life of a stay at home mum. I am a very driven person, throughout my pregnancy and Oliver's first year of life I was still completing uni full time (from home). When that finished I found myself somewhat lost.
Well I have found myself again. That something I was looking for wasn't in a cafe, or a photography gig, or a baking tray. It was in a little building in the centre of Canberra, somewhere I could put my university degree to good use, my skills and my creativity to good use.
I actually feel like I have the best job in the world, it's perfect for me and my co-workers make the workplace such a great place to be.

Oliver has adapted well. There have been a few teething pains, and I am nervous about how it will change him. But he is happy, and he loves going to there most days. One day he was a little unwell and he didn't want me to go, but once I left he was a happy camper. Another day I didn't want to leave and I almost made him sad- but I realised what I was doing just in time. Most days he doesn't want to leave. He has a good thing there, a supportive loving carer with a beautiful son who is a good mate and a little girl who is a good friends daughter. The kids all get along well and he has learnt some fantastic dance moves.
When he is home with us he is mostly happy. He has become more demanding for our attention, good or bad, and seems to get bored a lot easier. We are just supporting him through this change and not letting him get away with too much- but realising the change he has gone through.

We have a lot of fun in our down time. We took Oliver to the cinema for the first time last weekend, and it was a blast. He sat the entire time, and it was a great film (Despicable Me 2). It was a great night out.
We visited the ER twice this week. Once because I found him in a puddle of his own sweat- which admittedly was an over reaction- but at the time it seemed so bizarre because it was very chilli over night. And the second time, last night, because he dislocated his arm. That was terrifying, all of a sudden he just lost complete control of his arm and it was just just flopping there. We were at the hospital for two hours and Oliver played the entire time. Eventually he started using his arm again, and the nurse told us we could go home. He popped it back himself whilst playing. Today, you wouldn't have a clue he had hurt himself- in fact I think he'd completely forgotten himself.

James completed a course last week. He picks Oliver up every night and their relationship is stronger than ever. He has been really getting together with this whole 50/50 parenting and housework thing. He's doing a great job and I couldn't do it without him.

So that's about us. This blog deserves more of my time, but my family deserves it more so I'm still trying to find that whole balance thing. For only two weeks in I'd say we're doing okay.

Much love 

Cassandra J xx

25/52

A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013.

16.06.2013-23.06.2013

Your language has improved dramatically, you cheers us with your cup, you tell us oh well and you yell for Panda to come your way. You also respond to our words with a greater understanding and it reminds me to watch what we say around you. You understand more than we think, and it's such a wonderful thing.

• You had your first five day week at day care. There was one day this week you didn't want me to leave, and another that I didn't want to leave. But the other days you were the one who didn't want to leave daycare.
• You dislocated your shoulder, but you did not cry a peep. We only noticed because you stopped moving your arm completely. It was absolutely terrifying, and after two hours in the hospital you relocated it yourself by playing. I'm pretty sure you think we spent last night at a play centre, and you adapted so quickly to only being able to use one arm.

I miss you, and some days I feel like you are grumpy with me for not being there 24x7 like I used to be. Know that although I am not physically there, I am always there for you when you need me- I'll drop everything to be where you are.

I love you senior Joyce.

Love always,

Mama J xx

24/52

A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013.

09.06.2013-16.06.2013

Your first week in daycare, my first week at work. What a dream boat you were. You slept better, you hugged tighter, and you left my sight without a care. You adapted so well, and took it in your stride. You are too busy to think about it, and although I know you miss me- and your life has been completely shaken up, I know you are happy and that's all that matters to me.

I miss you, more than I think you miss me. But we are doing okay, in fact we are doing great. Thank you for letting me follow my dreams and know that no matter what happens my biggest dream has already come true, you!

Love always,

Mama J xx

23/52

A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2013.

03.06.2013-09.06.2013

We all went to Questacon, and you showed us how much of a boy you have become. We left the pram at home and you spent the entire time running from exhibition to exhibition, spending extended time at a few in particular. You loved the interaction, the cause and effect, and ALL the button pushing. The final room is a large play room, and there you even launched a rocket (several times). What a day we had! Mum and Dad had a blast too. 

You're coming into your own, you're fiercely independent and some days it makes me very sad. Last week you began day care, and now that Mummy is going to be working full time you will be there 4&1/2 days a week. When I left you at daycare with a smile on your face and not a care in the world I was so SO happy for your independence. (And when I came to pick you up and you wouldn't leave my side, I was a little bit glad you noticed I was gone.) Thank you for always being you, and being so determined in your way. I hope you know that everything we do, is ultimately for you.

Love always

Mama J xx

22/52

A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013.

27.05.2013- 02.06.2013

My little artist at work. Just weeks ago we couldn't get you to stay still for more than a minute at a time, and now you lie there for as long as you please, drawing away in delight. Sometimes your goal is to put the pen in through the paper and your artwork is created by little holes. Mostly, you pick one colour and turn the whole page that colour. The other day you even said blue!

As we continue to fight with your day time nap you continue to become your own person. You certainly are determined and you certainly know what you want. You are calming, and listening and feeling. When you hurt me, and you do, accidentally but you do, you follow me and watch me with concern and cover me in your kisses. You are learning about consequences. You are learning, always learning.

Big changes are coming our way, and I know together we will conquer them all.

I love you, my little Oliver J.

Mama J xx