Nicholas at ten months

Our sweet boy is ten months old.  Just two months away from his first birthday...

Nicholas is walking EVERYWHERE!  He is so fast too, and I am sure it won't be long till he is running around.  He has learnt to climb stairs too which I find a bit frightening.  

He can also clap his hands together and shake his head to say "no" which is cute now, but probably won't be for too much longer...  {{smiles}}

He is crazy about his Daddy and will cling to Rucus when he leaves to go somewhere and squeal with delight and rush to him when he comes home.  It is so sweet to see their bond growing as Nicholas gets older.  They play hide and seek together now too.

Nicholas is still obsessed with animals, cats in particular.  I read his one book, a treasury of "Mog" (a cat) stories, over and over (and over) again.  He can actually say "kitty"...or something very close which is definitely his word for a cat.

He also says "Fletchy" for our Border Collie.  "Dog" and "Dada" sound the same, and I'm "Mam" or "Ma".

Being outside, opening and closing doors, playing with Fletch, eating sand and climbing stairs are just a few of his favourite things at the moment.  Nicholas gets into everything he shouldn't, and my house is in a permanent state of disaster when he is awake!

He laughs a lot more these days and likes to be funny so that we will laugh at him.  Just today he threw his lunch across the kitchen and packed out laughing.  It was tough to look all stern and not laugh along with him.

His current favourite foods are beans, courgettes and peanut butter sandwiches, and oats remain his go-to breakfast each morning.  He also loves smoothies and it is a good way for me to get berries and other fruit he is not so keen on into him.

He has two teeth now, one top and one bottom, but he is teething again and it looks like another top tooth is about to pop through.

Night time sleep is still an issue, but thankfully his naps are usually pretty good.  

Nicholas has the most gorgeous head of blonde hair, and Daddy actually gave it a trim the other day because his hair was getting in his eyes and growing over his ears.  Of course I saved his first locks in his box of baby things.

Now that Nicholas can walk, he is a much happier little boy and fast becoming more independent.  He loves it if I just sit on the floor and watch him play.  He also enjoys trying to put lids on containers or pushing lids and Popsicle sticks through a slot I made in the lid of an old formula tin.  He wants constant stimulation and loves a good challenge.

He has started showing a little more affection which has been sweet.  He has never been a cuddly baby, so it is a treat if he rests his head against my shoulder or lies quietly beside me for a bit.

He is still breastfed...this boy loves his "milkies".  I am almost sure he has started saying "milkies" which is what I have always called breastmilk.  If I ask him if he wants, he gets all excited and anxious for it.  Just yesterday he started lifting my shirt, so I had best be careful he doesn't do that when we are in public!

We are really enjoying Nicholas...he is so cute and always making us smile and laugh.  He still whines and cries a lot and sometimes I feel like I can't take it anymore, especially if we have had a particularly rough night, but I can't imagine life without him.  He makes me so happy and fills my heart with such joy.

And I think that brings us to the end of this slightly belated (again) ten month update...  I am starting to go through his newborn pictures and plan his first birthday party and I get all emotional thinking of my baby boy being a year old soon!

Have a blessed weekend, sweet friends!

~ Kelly-Anne

in my world ~ November

^Nicholas and mama posing by the roses...

 How can we already be in the last week of November?  

This time last year we had reached the ten week countdown to Nicholas' due date (he only arrived almost two weeks later, though), and I was feeling pretty big and uncomfortable and so done being pregnant.  

Despite the sleep deprivation and constant running around after a busy tot who is walking all over the place, strangely enough, I still don't feel as exhausted as I did when I was pregnant with Nicholas.

Life has been very full recently, and I have felt pretty overwhelmed with trying to keep on top of everything.  I would rather be busy than bored, though, as I do love feeling productive.  

But before I ramble on any longer, let's begin this month's in my world post...

outside my window

Hubby has a course on this weekend (he is a bladesmith and hosts knifemaking courses from time to time), so the sound of grinding and talking above the sound of the grinder is coming from the workshop.  Nicholas is napping, so there is peace and quiet in the house.

in my cup

Earlier it was coffee.  No surprise there.

around the house

There are changes afoot in the Coetzee household...I am sure I'll share a little update before long.

reading

Nothing at all, I confess. What with the sleep regression we have been going through recently, this mama is exhausted by the time she climbs into bed each night!

listening to

A few songs from Celtic Woman's new album, Christmas Cards from Ireland, as well as some music from Rebecca Winckworth and The Secret Garden.

in the kitchen

I have been so enjoying experimenting with kale salads lately...for some reason, I have been craving kale!  I'll have to share my current favourite recipe in another post very soon...

out and about

Our little family recently did a quick trip to a big town about two-ish hours away.  I enjoyed getting to grab a few things from the larger stores and having lunch at one of our favourite restaurants.

in the garden

My flax is blooming!  And I am harvesting handfuls of blackberries each day which is glorious!  Nicholas and I love smoothies (hubby is not too keen on them so there is more for us!), so it has been fun getting to add our own berries to our smoothies!

creating

I have had almost no time for creating lately, but I did manage to sew a stack of reusable wipes for Nicholas.  I don't use wet wipes for him at home, only when we go out.

thankful for

My little family and new seasons of life.

thinking of

Exciting changes and all that entails.

hoping

To share more regularly on my blog.  I really miss writing and chatting with all my sweet blog friends!

one of my favourite things

Craft mornings with sweet littlies.  I love watching them enjoy the creative process and seeing how happy they are with their finished products!

And there you have it, this is what is happening in my world in November...

~

And how are you, sweet friends?  Drop me a note in the comments below, or pop me an email at kelly.countrydiary@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you!

Sending love your way!

in which we go to the sea

 I love getting to make memories as a family...

Being the three of us is so much fun!

If you remember from my in my world post last month, I shared that we were planning a little getaway to the sea...

^How precious are sandy baby feet?

My sweet sister came along to help us with Nicholas, so Rucus and I could go out a couple times while she watched him.  We hadn't been on a date as just the two of us since he was born, so that was a real treat!

^I feel so blessed to be this man's wife!  

To be honest, hubby and I were both so tired (and still are, really), that we didn't get to go down to the beach till the morning we left.  We rested and relaxed at the house as much as we could...

^Nicholas loves Aunty Gabrielle.  She is so good with him!

It was lovely to take Nicholas down to the beach for his first proper beach outing.  When he was six weeks old we took a drive to St Francis Bay and spent a few minutes on the beach taking photographs before getting back in the car to escape the wind!

Nicholas was definitely a bit nervous of the crashing waves, and it took him awhile before he would go near the water.  He held his Daddy's hand and enjoyed walking barefoot in the sand, though...

Later we took him to the lagoon, and he sat in the shallow and calm water and splashed about very happily.  This boy really loves water!

I am hoping we will be able to take him to the beach again fairly soon - he enjoys playing in his sandpit and building sandcastles, or rather watching me build sand castles, and then smashing them down, so beach outings should be more enjoyable for him now.

I love watching Nicholas discover the world around him...it is so wonderful seeing him get excited about new things.  Mama life is crazy and exhausting but oh! so wonderful.  

My heart is full.

I hope you're having a lovely week, sweet friends!

~ Kelly-Anne

Nicholas at 9 months (he's walking!!) - the month of milestones!

 Once again, this little update is over two weeks late.  Life in our home has been so busy, and Nicholas has been quite the handful too, and I'll tell you why in a moment...

I can't believe that Nicholas has now been in our family for as long as he was in utero.  I feel like we are really getting to know him now as his little (or should I say, not so little), personality is emerging more as he is getting older.

The big news is...Nicholas cut his first tooth and took his first steps a few days after turning nine months old!  He actually only learned to crawl just two weeks before, so this little guy is hitting his milestones all in one go it would seem.      

I feel quite emotional thinking that the baby stage is officially behind us...  Nicholas is definitely entering toddlerhood, and is even busier and more curious than ever.

He seems to be more sensitive to loud noises all of a sudden - his bottom lip will drop and he will cry inconsolably if he hears a loud or strange noise, even if its in the distance.  Funnily enough, if he falls over or bumps himself, which happens fairly regularly right now, he doesn't seem particularly bothered.

In terms of food, he doesn't seem very interested in eating at the moment.  Perhaps being mobile is just way too thrilling and eating just means he has to sit still.  Or he is cutting another tooth...

As a result, he is waking for an extra feed each night, and feeding more during the day.  Much as I love breastfeeding and am so thankful that it has gone so well for us, I look forward to Nicholas weaning, because he wriggles and squirms and pinches and pulls off so much, I feel so irritated after a nursing session!  I have no idea when he will wean, but I don't see myself being able to keep it up till the age of two as is recommended.

In terms of sleep, Nicholas was doing so well for a good few weeks, but we seem to have hit another regression, because he has been waking every two or so hours again each night, and Rucus and I are absolutely exhausted from all the disturbed sleep.  

For the most part his naps are fairly good and he usually he takes two a day - either a long one in the morning and a short one in the late afternoon, or the other way around.  I have had to extend his wake windows a bit lately as he has been refusing naps and instead standing up or playing in his cot.  

Nicholas is obsessed with animals - he gets so excited when he sees a dog or cat, and recognizes them in books too.  He loves stories, especially one lift the flap book in particular called Dear Zoo, and I have to read it over and over.  He will lift the flaps himself and is generally quite gentle.  Our neighbour has horses, and he squeals with delight when he spots them on our walks.  Fletch continues to be his best friend, and watching the two of them interact is really precious.

Nicholas also gives high fives now and has been waving goodbye each time we say "bye".  He will also sometimes gives me a slobbery kiss which is the best thing ever...that and hearing him say "mama" or "mum" when he sees or wants me.

He thinks his toys are boring, so mommy packed them away.  All he wants to do these days is practice walking or play outside in the dirt or with the hose pipe.  This boy is crazy about water!  I end up bathing or showering him and changing his outfit multiple times a day because he gets so dirty and brings all the dirt into the house.

And I think that brings us to the end of this update...  I am so enjoying my little boy and can't believe he is almost a year old.  I am thankful for being able to spend every waking second with him, even though it can be completely draining, because babies are small for such a short amount of time and they change by the day.

Love and hugs to you, sweet friends...pop by again soon for another in my world post...

~ Kelly-Anne

P.S.  Nicholas did in fact cut another tooth shortly after I wrote this update.  So now he has one bottom and one top tooth which is too sweet and would explain why he wasn't too keen on food for awhile...

in my world ~ October

It would seem that my last in my world update, was in October 2021!

While I was still pregnant with Nicholas, it felt like the days and weeks just d r a g g e d by, but having a little one to care for makes time feel like a blur.

Nicholas is actually taking an early nap right and I am sipping coffee and recovering from (yet another) very early start to the day, and having a now almost nine month old who just wants to have me help him walk everywhere and play with him from the moment he opens his eyes each day.  I may am an early bird, but 5:20 is too early even for me, especially if there is a massive poop diaper involved.

Before I ramble away this precious nap time, let me begin my first in my world post in a whole year...

^Those chins...got to love chubby babies!

^I love everything about these pictures...the glee on his precious little round face, the chubby feet stretched out, and the too tight corduroy pants.  

^Since when did he become such a little man?

^Cappuccino foam mustache.  My heart.

outside my window

Birds and greenery galore.  Spring is in full swing, and my soul delights in how green and vibrant the world around me is right now.

in my cup

As previously mentioned, coffee.  My second cup for the day and it is only 8:30.   Don't judge me, mama life is crazy and sometimes you got to do what you got to do.  {{smiles}}

around the house

I have settled into a good cleaning routine and find it best to just do as much as possible while Nicholas naps, because it is virtually impossible trying to get anything achieved when he's awake.  He is so close to crawling, and will also pull himself up on whatever he is nearest to, so I am realising I need to move things and make our home a bit safer for a baby who is on the move.

reading

I just finished The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery and I think it may be one of my favourite books of all time and perhaps even surpass my love for her Anne books...  I couldn't put it down. 

Before that I read At Home in Thrush Green.  Honestly, all Miss Read's books are delightful and a treasure to get my hands on.

listening to

A lot of 70's soul music...  I find it relaxing at the end of the day and helps slow me down and enjoy our evening routine more.

in the kitchen

Have I ever mentioned how much I love having a man to cook for? Honestly, he is so appreciative and complimentary about pretty much whatever I make, that cooking is an absolute joy.  I have found quite a few new favourite recipes lately which I really need to share.  I tried my hand at making pita bread the other day, and I am obsessed!

in the garden

My poppies are just about blooming!  And there are strawberries and blackberries coming too...I'm hoping the birds don't get to them first, though.  Our peach trees seem to have some sort of disease, so I am going to need to do a bit of research on how to fix that...

out and about

Hubby recently took our little family out to a nearby farm stall for a bite to eat.  They had chickens, rabbits and ducks and a fluffy ginger cat Nicholas wouldn't leave alone.  This boy loves animals - they always make him smile so big!

creating

Do toddler crafts count?  I don't get too much time for being creative at the moment, but I have been trying out crafts for my arts and crafts classes each week which has been fun!

thankful for

Nicholas has been sleeping so much better at night.  Usually he only wakes once for a feed.  It may change again, but I have enjoyed getting a bit more shut eye than usual, even if it means we start our days at just after five.

thinking of

Going away to the seaside for two nights next week.  We are taking my sister along to help with Nicholas so Rucus and I can actually unwind a bit and maybe even go on a date as just the two of us.

hoping

To stop in at a couple second hand stores next week and find one or two books for my collection.  I was so upset when The Blue Castle came to an end...I need a new book to read in the evenings!

one of my favourite things

Art and crafts classes every Thursday morning.  I started doing these classes almost a month ago and have four, sometimes five, 2, 3 and four year olds each week and we are having a blast!

And there you have it, this is what is happening in my world in October...

~

And how are you, sweet friends?  Drop me a note in the comments below, or pop me an email at kelly.countrydiary@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you!

Sending love your way!

Nicholas and Friends in Spring and other Spring Ramblings ♥

 

Just a bit obsessed with this little boy....

...And these glorious Spring days..

There is just something about the arrival of spring that fills me with happiness.  Maybe it's the chorus of the frogs at night...a sweet lullaby to drift off to sleep listening to.  

Or the joyful song of the birds during the day.  There are so many different birds inhabiting our garden this year...Weavers, Robins and Sugar birds, to name but a few.  

I love the pretty butterflies fluttering about from flower to flower, looking too lovely and delicate to be so hard at work.  The crisp, cool mornings and the still chilly nights - I love snuggling under a fluffy blanket as long as possible.  

I always feel hopeful in the springtime...the blossoming of the trees remind me of the sweet new life that follows the gloom of winter.  

I want to spend all my time out of doors soaking up the warmth of the still mild sunshine and breathing in the sweet aroma of the clean air.  Nicholas spends many hours each day outside on his playmate or in the same pit.  Or we will go for a walk or practice his standing and crawling on the grass.  These are glorious days, and I am constantly chattering away about this tiny wildflower, or that happy bird.  I stop and pick flowers on almost every walk, or pause to snap a picture.  

One can't help but smile in spring.  

I find springtime so inspiring and my head feels like it may burst with all the ideas that are occupying my thoughts.

This year I have sown flowers in my little garden...poppies, cosmos and flax are just beginning to show their baby leaves, and I have hopes of also planting zinnias and sunflowers and other cheery flowers.

What do you love most about Spring?  

Nicholas' Eight Month Update

 Before yet another month goes by, I thought I should share an update on how little Nicholas is doing...

Nicholas is now eight and a half months old, and I feel like he has changed dramatically in the last six weeks or so...

He is desperately trying to get moving...he will go onto his hands and knees and can scoot backwards, but he's not crawling yet.  He can pull himself up, though, and will "walk" holding our hands, or just stand holding onto something for hours each day.  

I have a feeling this boy is going to skip crawling altogether...

He can now say "Dada", "Mama" and "Baba", but not in context yet.  He also started waving hello last month which is so precious.!

We have started experiencing some separation anxiety...  Even though Nicholas is still a very friendly and smiley little guy, he's not too eager to go to just anyone anymore, and doesn't like it if I hold another baby or do anything which means he doesn't get my full attention.  

He is just fitting into 18-24 month clothing which is crazy.  I have no idea what he weighs, but he's growing, no doubt about that!

He is eating three meals a day with a snack somewhere in between, and usually nursing twice in every wake window.  This boy loves his food and is still breastfed.  Breastfeeding is really not fun anymore as he wriggles and pulls off the whole time, and even though he doesn't have teeth yet, he has bitten me.

Nicholas is very busy...from the moment he opens his eyes in the morning or after a nap, he is on the go, and this mama is struggling to keep up!  I still take him out as often as possible to keep him stimulated, and he is outside for a good few hours each day, whether it be on his play mat with his stacking cups and plastic tea set, or in the sand pit, or in his pram for a walk, he gets lots of sunshine and fresh air.  

He actually had his first swim on Sunday which he absolutely loved!

In terms of sleep, things are still pretty inconsistent.  After we got back from our trip, we started sleep training for night wakings and nap time because we were co-sleeping and he was waking sometimes eight times a night and nursing whenever he wanted to.   I just wasn't coping anymore.

Some nights he will wake at 11pm and cry for an hour (I check in on him every so often), other nights he will sleep till 2 or 3am before waking for a feed.  

And we have even had a few 9, or like last night, ten hour stretches, which has been amazing!  

Nicholas is an early bird, but thankfully summer is coming and we don't really mind getting up early.

Usually he only takes two naps a day, and he will go down by himself which is a game changer for us.  Some days he will do one or two long naps or 1 hour +, other days, like today, he woke after 35 minutes and I had to go in and get him down again.  

His wake windows are about 2 hours and 45 minutes to three hours long now, except between his last nap and bedtime, which can sometimes be four hours, depending on what time he woke from his second nap.

At the moment, Nicholas loves...

Eating raisins.  He can pick them up beautifully and will even transfer a raisin from his left hand to his right hand.  

Having Mommy sing 'Pat-a-Cake' and help him do the actions.

"Walking" with Mommy and Daddy's help.

Playing with Fletch or holding onto him and standing.

Bath time

Riding in his new big boy car seat

I can't believe that our baby is already almost nine months old...

I love having a little boy around and even though I am sad he is growing up, I am enjoying this stage and cherishing each moment.

~

Happy October, dear friends!

How are things in your corner of the world this month?