I like to move it, move it

Ok, that is a complete lie! Well at least when the 'move it, move it' is referring to moving houses. Which is probably pretty obvs from the photos because we were only in the new place for 24 hours when I thought it would be a fabulous idea to go explore the park down the road. And wear a pretty dress. And take some toys. And have a picnic. Because I am totally practical like that.

Let me just say moving homes with a toddler is nowhere near as hard as moving homes with a toddler and a baby, or a toddler and several kids or even a toddler while being pregnant (which I'm not)... but it is most def harder than moving without any kids.

So if you are about to do the big ol' move yourself and wondering what to expect, a little list for you:

1. One thing is for sure when moving houses with a toddler you can feel confident that as soon as you've done one task your toddler will create an equally as big if not bigger task for you (woooo isn’t this fun?!) My favourite from the weekend was when Austin found the box of rice bubbles (why did I think they would be safely hidden under the sink? Why???), poured them on the couch and then tried to see how many he could push in to the cracks of the cushions. Turns out he is pretty good at pushing them in to the cracks. And they are so damn small. Even after vacuuming I’m still finding them hidden everywhereeee. 
2. Toddlers will not nap on this day (or if they do it will take a HUGE amount of effort to get them to do so) so don’t under any circumstances rely on this precious time for unpacking (or resting yourself).
3. If you let your toddler watch the van being packed, in particular his unboxed toys being carted off (wooden trike, push oven, scooter) he will go BANANAS over the horrible men who are TAKING AWAY HIS TOOOOYYYYSSSSS. Damn. Letting him watch at the window seemed like such a good idea.
4. Although you will finish the day exhausted but satisfied don't get overly excited for bed and sleep because you know that there will be little of it with the small one in a new area waking through the night calling out for maaaaaaaa
5. The toddlers room will of course look pristine and perfect by end of day one while the rest of the house is a maze of unopened boxes and piles of 'things to put away'

Here's to the next three weeks (or months... or ever??) of getting the rest of the house in order. 

They see me rollin'

Best £4 we've spent and he hasn't even worked out how to scoot on it yet. He does lurrve to push it, and point at it and get excited about it. And in his usual style, it probably looks like he is so very unimpressed here, but I really promise this is just his 'concentration/super interested/I've got a new thing to look at' face.

How is that less than two years ago this boy was a little helpless blob and now he's his own proper little human, with a scooter and all. Time really does fly when you're having fun. 

Homeboy

So when you have plans to sightsee the whole god damn town... what happens? BOOM toddler flu. Bye bye London Museum, bye bye old London wall and HELLOOOO a weekend at home watching Paw Patrol on repeat, nutella toast all day long and general spoiling of the sickly one. Jumping on the bed YES, doona forts YES, pancakes YES (well for us, not Austin, no matter how hard we tried to convince him they weren't poison pies he wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.)

Hey and you know, it was pretty fun. The last time Austin fell asleep sitting on my lap was about a year ago, probs longer, aww the kid melts my heart. And it didn't last too long, he's already back to his old self, pretty much running around flatstick all day long (the kid is BANANA's, B-A-N-A-N-A'-S... you get the idea). 

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

There’s a small little man in our house just swimming in new toys. Unlike last year, when he really had no idea what was going on, this year he knew enough to know that something good was coming, something REALLY good. And yep when he saw all of the gits wrapped under the tree he was READY to get at em.

We were really hoping he would crack a smile, or you know, look like he was enjoying himself when he was opening all of his fabulous gifts, but he was far too focussed on the job at hand: tearing off the wrapping paper, inspecting the wares and then moving on the next package of kiddy heaven.

There was a lot of interest in the fire engine, and the big double decker bus but the best reaction had to be when he opened a package to reveal a little Elmo… and it scared the hell out of him. Poor little man, we’re still working on getting the two of them to get along….it may take a while.

Some toy makers have a lot to answer for why, oh why do they insist on using all sorts of ridiculous packaging that you can’t get off, or that you need scissors for, or a screw driver (yes, a screwdriver) to remove the packaging (yes, I am serious). But I would personally kiss the feet of the man (or woman) who included a mute button on his noisy as hell ambulance and fire truck (oh THANKYOU you amazing son of a gun).

And of course when there is extreme excitement (yes I promise, there was extreme excitement even if it doesn’t look like it) there are also tears. Ah the highs and lows of toddlerhood. In the photo of the three of us with Austin laying down he was actually mid tantrum, pretty much just screaming his head off. And you know, we’re just smiling, because sometimes the best thing to do with a toddler throwing a tanty… is well… nothing. 

But the one tanty aside, Austin was a fabulous little trooper. And oh, can’t wait until he is old enough to be bribed with Santa’s naughty or nice list.