Monkey Man is 3

**A letter to my birthday boy - warning, photo heavy**

Dear Monkey Man,

On this day, at this time (10.15am) 3 years ago you were born and I became a mum. Today you are 3.

You entered the world quietly, I believe you were a little stunned to be taken from your warm home where you enjoyed kicking my insides and restricting my food intake. It wasn't long though and you were screaming the place down.

The last few weeks of pregnancy were hard, but we were so excited to finally meet you and all the discomfort was soon forgotten. We knew you were a boy but we kept it a secret and it was lovely to have such a big secret. I did tell a few people but they too were sworn to secrecy. We did however keep your name a complete secret, so it was nice to have one thing that no one but your Daddy and I knew.

You kept us on our toes for the first 6 weeks, wanting lots of cuddles and spent most of the day and night attached to me. Once we figured out you liked to sleep on your tummy you were much happier and were able to sleep without me.

Life would never be the same again, you were happy, smiley and into everything from an early age, rolling, crawling, standing, getting teeth, walking all at an early age, you even became a big brother at age 1. Life with you is loud, busy, full of questions and cuddles, and even a few tantys....You're now a busy, inquisitive, clever, observant, protective and loving little 3 year old and I couldn't imagine life without you, I wouldn't want to! Love you to the moon and back Monkey Man xxx

Looking at these photos I can't believe how much he's changed and I couldn't be prouder of the little man he's become. I am so thankful I took alot of photos because honestly there are times I would have forgotten. Life with 3 under 3 has been hectic, chaotic, crazy busy and without photographic reminders there are definitely things I would have had no chance of remembering. Would I change it, changed how we did things? Sometimes yes, but overall no.... it's a ride I will never forget though.
I now no longer have 3 under 3? Do I change my blog name? 

a simple task

I've been arguing with medicare over a bill since February. The short version is they stuffed up and still owe me money. The long version involves multiple phone calls, trips to medicare offices, faxing paperwork, chasing down reprints of said paperwork and just a whole heap of bullshit in my opinion. Anyway! After going postal on the phone on Friday and refusing to hang up or be put on hold AGAIN until I had a resolution an appointment was made for me to attend an office and see the manager today. Only problem is I have the kids today. Ok, no worries, off we all went to medicare.

Monkey Man insisted on walking so I put the girls in the pram and he walked - a reasonably novice experience for him as I usually strap him into the pram or trolley. Things were going ok for all of 30 seconds, until we actually entered the shopping centre and were met by one of those skill tester games. He tried to be like Buzz and climb in the back of the machine. Bloody movie! Our first crisis was narrowly avoided by me hauling him backwards off the machine at a rapid pace.

We made it to our appointment and the first part of the problem was resolved - don't even get me started on why it couldn't have been done when I took the SAME PAPERWORK to the SAME OFFICE in March!?!??! Monkey Man was climbing all over the chairs, whether they were occupied or not. I heard him say something about 'boobies' and managed to grab his hand before he squeezed some lady on the boob - current annoying habit? He drew all over a desk, and his hand and then showed everyone his artwork. Meanwhile Missy Moo had pulled her hair out and was busy throwing her hair clips and bands all over the floor and Little Miss was trying to have a nap in the pram but finding it rather difficult as her sister kept kicking the back of her chair. We then went next door to the healthfund office and Monkey Man pulled a handful of dirt out of a pot plant, went behind a barricade and attempted to open an alarmed door. While I was being served, being told 'we have a problem' here I watched Monkey Man jumping in and out of the door sensors and trying to shut his arm in the door. I'm arguing with this woman over how I'm kinda over coming back here, phoning here to get what I am entitled to and a little voice says 'Mummy, I need to go toilet'. So I tell the woman we will be back and off we go to find a loo. After navigating a maze of corridors pushing the pram one handed while steering Monkey Man to the loo and out of cleaners cupboards we make it and he does nothing. Argh!!!

Back to the health fund office to be told it can't be resolved today and I'll have to come back another day. Ok then. We headed off to find a snack, and its a slow trip as he has to touch every door, every ATM, every rack of clothes on the way. We managed to walk past one of those junky type shops thats filled with licensed clothes, bags etc so Monkey Man has to 'check this shop' and shout rather loudly everytime he finds something new: 'look mummy, its Buzz!!' etc etc. The girls are getting restless and I'd like to get home before everyone loses the plot so I finally managed to bribe him with the promise of a donut if he leaves now. We find the food court, bingo is happening so Monkey Man walks straight up to the lady calling numbers and says 'you are very loud!'. I want the ground to open up and swallow me, now. We get a donut for everyone and sit down to eat it, although Monkey Man scampers while I attend to the girls and has sat next to a rather shady looking old man chatting away before I even realise he's gone.

If I'd had a free hand, and I knew he would stay in there, I would have happily tried this:

Our trip back to the car was equally as long, equally as entertaining and completed by a lay-down-on-the-floor tantrum because I wouldn't let him climb up a mannequin to take its 'batman shirt' nor would I let him shove his arm UP a vending machine to get the 'thomas drink'.... oh yes it was time to go home.

Will something as simple as going to medicare ever be easy again? When does it get easier to take children to the shops? Is there such a thing as a simple task once you have kids? Or am I kidding myself and need to find a way to accept my forseeable fate?



xx

its my birthday!

So on Friday I turned 33. I still don't feel like a grown up. Things like mortgages and medical bills make me feel like a grown up but otherwise, I generally have to remind myself I am in fact a grown up with proper responsibilities. My 3 little monkeys are however usually enough to remind me.

3 little people and my hubby greeted me in bed with smiles, cuddles, a present (a camera bag for my new toy) and a couple of beautiful cards. Monkey Man made his presence known with a mega throw down tanty because 'its not my birthday!' Well sorry about that son. In a few days it will be, and trust me you'll get more than Mummy got for hers. I might just come into your room at 6.30am and throw my own tanty because 'its not my birthday!' 3 years ago I gave up my big 3-0 as I was massively pregnant with almost ten pounds of breech-football-playing-baby. I couldn't sleep, couldn't sit for long, was living on milk and heartburn tablets and wondering if I'd ever see my feet again. I'm pretty sure I will never cause you that much physical discomfort so you know what, you're just gonna have to deal with the fact that 'its not YOUR birthday' today.

He does like the fact that Mummy is now 'two 3s', and loves to torment his sister by telling her that he and mummy are the same number. He has asked for a blue cake with blue smarties on it and I'm happy to fulfill his wish. I didn't get a birthday cake and feel a tad ripped off to be honest. Hubby and I are gonna go for dinner and a movie in August to celebrate both our birthdays so maybe I'll get cake then. It better be good too if I have to wait that long for it.

Mind you, this time last year I was 36 weeks pregnant and huge, in fact for my last 3 birthdays I was massive and heavily pregnant. This year I am not pregnant and considerably lighter - when I look at photos from this time last year I just cringe and dammit, I'm gonna have some cake for my birthday this year AND I'm gonna enjoy it. It might be blue with smarties, or purple as Missy Moo has requested but I am gonna have some. A girls gotta have treats right?? especially if I make the bloody cakes!

me this time 2 years ago - on the left [obviously]. huge, hugely pregnant and ready to have that baby!

me in May this year

me in feb this year vs me at the end of June this year
pretty sure I've earnt a piece of cake!

xx

shoes, shoes, shoes!

About half way to work today I realised I forgot my heels. I was wearing flat, daggy, beaten up old shoes that I only wear while driving so I can protect my nice shoes (I tend to destroy them with scuffs and marks when driving a manual car)... you know the type I mean? Shoes you wear in private and kick off as soon as the doorbell rings?? Shoes you wear ONLY under long long pants and pray that no one notices. Those. This realisation was devastating! How nanna-like could I possibly look? I'm officially becoming a nanna as I wore bedsocks last night, meoooow!! I had a skirt on so my legs were going to be nice and dumpy, and I've only been at this place a few weeks so I'm still trying to make a good impression. Far out. It sounds so silly to say but something simple like the wrong shoes flattened me for the day. I know it could have been worse, I could have had my bed socks or my slippers on (oh yes I love me some slippers) but I was crushed. I couldn't justify a new pair, not that we could afford it at the moment plus its 'end of season' so summery stuff is in stores - never mind its still actually Winter and its bloody freezing. What is up with that by the way? It's easier to buy a t-shirt right now than it is to buy a jumper? I've even seen swimsuits in stores!!?? The shopping centre near my work has sweet FA in the shoe department too so even if I'd had the cash, I was totally stuffed.

So I clomped to work in my nanna shoes and felt like a dumpy old granny all day. It really did dampen my mood and I struggled all day to find motivation. The only other girl in my team is a bit of a glamour too which always helps you feel crappy about your own appearance. She's in sky high heels and mini skirts most days and struts around like she owns the place, mainly cuz she sorta does. Urgh I felt like a ugly out of style nanna! I kept a low profile all day and was so grateful when I could escape home.

Years ago when I worked in London I got sick of damaging/destroying decent heels walking to and from work on cobblestone pavements so I would wear trainers or flats and change my shoes once I got to work/home. In heels I would bounce along confidently, strutting my stuff with my head held high. In flats I found I kept my head down and got where I was going as quickly as possible. I was on a budget, I couldn't afford to replace/re-heel my shoes all the time.

I've often chosen to wear the hot or sexy heels for a night out or a wedding, only to end up crippled in pain and sitting out dancing because my feet hurt. Who cares right, as long as they look good? That used to be my attitude but as I've gotten older I've decided I need to find comfort AND looks in shoes or else they're not going on my feet. And that balance is pretty damn hard to find.

How can something like a pair of shoes make such a difference to your mood??

um how cute is this?? I am SO doing this with my girls *love*

xx

that moment I've waited for

Little Miss is 11mths old today, Missy Moo will be 23mths old tomorrow, Monkey Man will be 3 in less than 2 weeks and yesterday all 3 of my babies played happily together for more than 2.5 seconds. For real. And I've been waiting for this day for along time.

There were some issues, don't get me wrong. Little Miss is only just working out how to stand without help and her new found independence is very exciting for us all. The kids forget she is there I think and that shes not as steady or as strong as they are, and they tend to knock her over a bit.

But for a few brief minutes they played happily. together. They got along, there was no fighting, there was no screaming, no hitting, no pushing and no tears. . .  I watched on and positively beamed with pride. These cheeky monkeys are my whole world and moments like these, short lived or otherwise, make it all worthwhile. They also make me question my decision to go back to work. The guilt never goes away does it??? I wonder if this balance I'm searching for is ever going to appear??


xx

Little Miss in on the move!

It's been a big week for my Little Miss... she's almost 11 mths old and she finally crawled! I was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen but yay, she's on the move. And she's into everything and anything in her path! After two kids you'd think I'd be used to this stage but I think you forget, even if it was only a year ago that I was at this exact same stage. Just to keep it interesting though, Little Miss is more interested in opening cupboards and shoving things in power points than either of my older two were. She won't keep her socks or shoes on, which again my older two were fine with. It's bloody freezing so I'm constantly worried about her catching her death with those bare feet. Little Miss is my version of baby karma... she's giving me a hard time! She's cut another tooth, which makes 5 in as many weeks - I think? I really should check where I've written it down. Total teeth: 7 (note to self for baby book reference).

She's standing up every chance she gets, pulling herself up onto everything and is so proud once she gets up, big smiles all round.  She's not mastered the descent yet though and seems to plonk down rather heavily onto her padded bum, sometimes onto her head oops. After a slightly rocky start, she's enjoying daycare with minimal tears at drop off and oh so cute excited cries and yelps at pick up time. She seems to be adjusting and is sleeping and eating better each day, although she still loves to see me when I pick her up and greets me with the best cuddles. She enjoys painting but eats more than she puts on the paper, so her nappies are lovely and colourful.

There isn't much she won't eat but she's happiest when she can feed herself and dessert holds a special place with her as it does with all 3 of my kids - they totally get that from me.

Now if only we could get her sleeping through the night again then we'd all get more sleep and life with three under three would be busy but relatively easy. So it's official, I now have 3 little ones who are all moving independently and a whole heap of trouble is on my way! So many people said it was going to be so hard having a toddler, a baby and a newborn. So many people said it would be hard having two toddlers and a baby. I personally think 3 toddlers is going to be the hardest of the lot. Watch this space, I'm sure I will have loads of stories to entertain you with. . .

xx