DK this one's for you

(HK aged 6 weeks)

Are you reading DK?  I found this in my readings and I thought of you.

There was a lovely time, long ago, too private to tell anyone, or too ordinary. It had nothing to do with anything, really: it was almost embarrassingly humble. One December night, unable to sleep, he had glanced out the bedroom window to discover that it had snowed. He woke his wife and made her come to the window, and the surprise of it delighted her as it had delighted him.

They dressed and bundled the baby up and took a walk, and watched the dawn arrive, and when they returned to the house, he took the day off. They played with the baby, cooked dinner, and baked bread. They listened to the baby playing in his playpen, and they talked idly about anything that came into their minds, and that evening, late, they lay whispering to each other about what a beautiful day it had been.

He thought about all this on his way down to the grocery store. The memory of it came through him like a breath, and then he was savoring it, basking in its warmth. And he thought that this is what love really meant: this very ordinary memory. That love was easy and plentiful as grass, and as still, as calm somehow. 

 "The Last Good Time" by Richard Bausch

Let's never stop talking to inanimate things - let's just teach HK to do it too.

to the last possible day

A very christmasy day here today.  DK stayed home so that I could attend my work Christmas lunch and then brought you down to join in after your nap.  It was lovely to see everyone and chat.  Naturally enough I was asked over and over "when are you coming back to work".  It was felt really good to say back that I would be stretching my mat leave to the last possible day because hanging with you was just so much fun.

Mr HK for a while there your MK was very into her work and would have been mortified to give the impression that she wasn't 100% committed.  MK's work can get pretty intense at times - once the big boss said (and he wasn't really joking) "I want my lawyers to have a life - I just want the firm to be their life".

MK loves her work and the firm but there certainly is a lot more to life.  You're only my little baby once and sadly I have no doubt that people will still be fighting each other in the courts when I get back.

There was a fun little parcel waiting when we got home.  A half sheet of Christmas wall stickers picked up on ebay for a song.  We made them into a cute wreath for our front door.  You knew immediately that something was new and gave me a big smile.  We're gonna love Christmases with you little moo.

There was a note in the package from the ebay seller say they were selling up all their possessions to take their kiddies travelling.  What a brave and fantastic thing to do.  I'll be following to see how they go.  We might do a few short trips with you first HK before we consider any such grand plans.

grown up sensible things

Your DK and I did a thing very grown up and sensible this morning.  We went to MK's old office and organised a wills.  Being a sensible lawyer your MK has had one for years but it was out of date and your DK had never gotten around to doing one.   But that sort of thing wont cut it anymore.  It was strange to think about my eventual death - and it was certainly different from when the issue had past my mind before I was your mum.  

shaaa swing..

OMG mum

Little HK when something really catches your interest and you think it is seriously amazing you give me this look - to me it says "oh my god mum have you seen this?".  I love it and I'm so glad to have caught it.

Oh and I also really love how rolly polly you are at the moment - its a stage apparently - you're storing up energy before you start crawling.  And it is seriously very cute.

here comes the sun

Grandma and Granddad got us a new beach sun tent for chrissy.  Getting prepared for your two weeks in the beach house.  We're not even there yet and you're having fun already!

Now DK's day off

Your DK has been seriously busy at work recently little HK.  Lots of travel, lots of late nights and generally busy busy busy.  Today is the first day in a while that he's had off just to hang around with us.  We took you out for a nice breakfast.  You tried pancakes.  You loved pancakes.  A walk with the puppies and after your nap we might head out to the noisy market that you love.  The weather is grey through so here are some snaps of our last day off together nearly a month ago.

MK's morning off

On Saturday mornings you and DK go off to swimming lessons.  You love it.  He loves it.  And I love it.  Because its MK's morning off.  This morning MK had a massage ... a no reason, not in pain or suffering an injury massage but just a "I deserve a nice relax" massage and they are the very best kind.

Top it off with a stroll through the local bric a brac shop and guess what? I finally found the beside lamp!  After several false starts and years of general low grade irritation with its Planet Lamp predecessor (not that I don't love planets but it just didn't fit right there).

nom nom nom

serious business

Something has suddenly come over you these last few days Mr HK.  Suddenly play has become very serious business.  Not just a few minutes with this or that and then back to MK for a cuddle.

Nope - over that now.  Now you want to play.  And as long as I stay close (so that you regularly look up and grin at me - such a boy - I swear you are saying "are you watching me? are you watching me mummy?") I a free to do other things.  What a strange feeling!

Have decided though - 'other things' had better not be internet shopping.  That's going to get way too expensive.  Ok maybe just a little more - after all it's christmas.   Most recent addition to your presents.

unexpected fun

You are very very into books little HK.  And somewhat to my surprise so am I.  Memories of books I loved as a child that would not have pasted my mind for 20 (cough - ok 30) odd years just come rushing back.  You have the impressive start of a collection (or maybe I have a new obsession - but at least I am not alone).

The latest edition for a $2 coin at the op shop.  Much too old for you (long stories and chistmas crafts but we'll get to those someday) but you already love the pictures.

It once belonged to a "Flavell" - what an unusual name.  As you know your DK and I like unusual names - we hope you do too.  You get only two reactions to your name either "what?" or "great name".  I guess you better get used to it kid.

suddenly big

You have been changing so fast these last couple of weeks little HK.  I look at your feet now and they seem just huge to me.  You sit, you reach, you play (with regular checks to make sure I'm watching) and now you are old enough to sit in the shopping trolley? When when did that happen?

jingle bells

You are beyond excited about your very first Christmas.  Ok maybe that's me but you certainly do enjoy watching the baubles sway on our little mini tree while you eat your lunch.

Santa has been busy organising your first gifts because you have clearly been a very good boy (sleeping through all but one night in the last month which in your defence was stinking hot).

This year you will be enjoying:

1. these funky blocks (from grandma and grandpa);

2. a cool Santa sack (to be located);

3. a collection of Christmas story books (too many to picture you lucky thing) and:

4. this first Christmas ornament (below).

dada da!

We are about 80% sure we had your first word this morning! So very exciting - now it might just be random but this morning after your feed I picked you up and pointed to DK and said "who's that?" and immediate response from you "DADA".  I've always said you were going to be a chatty one.

thrifty

MK has recently been doing a lot of thinking about money.  In particular your money Mr HK.  There are a number of things DK and I have talked about regarding what we would like to teach you about money.

We plan to have two accounts for you - one (already opened that you manage with half of your pocket money, chore money or gift money going in there) and then one that we deposit into for you to save for your future.  We hope to save enough so that we can go halves with you on your first car, trip around the world, first house deposit or whatever your passion is.

Better get that sorted for you now!