Writers Block? No, Just Clingy Toddler.

So many posts, so little brain capacity. That's whats happening around here right now. I have roughly four half written posts waiting for me to make sense of them but every time I sit down to finish one my brain goes into sleep mode. 


So I give up and watch Real Housewives, or Jersey Shore (because that won't kill my brain cells).


The only thing that is really going through my head lately is Skye's voice, in various states of whine. 


The joys of a toddler going through a clingy phase.


She has had them before and no doubt will have them again. Generally they coincide with a new tooth and since she still has a couple of molars to come through, I suspect that is probably the cause. But my God, Skye seems to have found a whole new level of demanding this week after insisting that she shower with me while I tried to wash my hair. 


Not such a big deal except that she wanted me to hold her the whole time. 14kgs of slippery toddler and shampoo are not a good combination. 


Mr Bond is away for work again which means there is no one to share the load. Not that it would help anyway, Skye wouldn't even let Gran get her out of the car this week because 'mum do it'. 


Actually I think 'mum do it', would have to be the sentence of the week.


Skye, can you put your shorts on? 'Mum do it.'


Mr Bond tries to get Skye out of her cot in the morning 'Mum do it.'


Skye, can you take your socks off? 'Mum do it.'


Skye, who's turn is it to take you to bed? 'Mum do it.'


Mr Bond tries to assist by running the bath 'Mum do it.'


I know I am good, but I am positive other people are just as capable of these menial tasks as I am. 


It's starting to impact on my ability to retain anything for more than two minutes. Real conversations with adults see me drifting off mid-sentence, asking the same question over and over, or just forgetting what I was about to say because Skye requires me to pick her up.


I don't generally like to indulge her too much during these clingy phases, but I just don't have the mental capacity to think long term about my actions. I didn't even realise I was already wearing the pair of earrings I just spent half an hour searching for this morning so I doubt I am capable of proactive parenting.


Sigh.


Here's hoping the teeth come through soon and I can stop writing rubbish posts like this!

Babycino's, Fluffy Slippers and Car Strollers - The Essentials Of Car Servicing

This week it was time to get the car serviced. Oh the joy. When you live hundreds of miles (ok, like 20 minutes) from everything, it's just not practical to drop the car off and then try to get back home only to have to try and get back to pick the car up a matter of hours later. Plus, public transport is pretty much non-existent on the Central Coast of NSW, so our best option is to make a day of it at the nearby Westfield Shopping Centre. 


This time I thought I had it all planned out. After too many occasions where I thought I would be nice and tell them I had no particular time I needed the car back thus spending roughly 7 hours pacing up and down the same 5 stores waiting for my magic phone call, I had told them that I required the car back at lunchtime. We would go to the shops for a couple of hours and pick up a couple of things, then head home in time for a nap.


Perfect.


Never going to happen.

Honey, It's Just Not That Simple: A Case Study In Shoe Shopping

Why is it that when daddy has to take over for the day, things go off without a hitch? It's not that I want Skye to be a difficult screaming little monster when Mr Bond is in charge, lets face it, I want him to enjoy his daddy-daughter time (if only so they have more of it). But returning home to a peaceful house where everything has been just fine is a little unnerving. It makes all those tough days I complain about look like a total crock and I can't help feeling a bit useless. But I discovered that something even more disheartening than daddy and daughter having a nice day at home together is when they decide to go out and do something like shoe shopping successfully - now that's going too far!


While Clever Baker Friend and I were preparing Cake Pops for her Market Day the other week, we had handed over all child wrangling duties to Mr Bond and Running Man so that we could get through rolling eleventy billion pops in one day. To minimise the chaos, I left Mr Bond and Skye at home and headed over the Clever Baker's house to get on with the job. 


The morning had gone pretty well, and we were making good progress, but the kids were starting to get a little restless. Running Man had been perusing the papers in the living room when he announced that he was going to take both Mini Bakers with him to the nearest Myer because they were having a shoe sale. 

Happiness Is... Bathtime Grafitti

Who You Gonna Call? Mouse-Busters

There's is a mouse in our house. Actually there is a couple. I don't know for sure where they are getting in, or why they are coming in to start with, I just know they are freaking me out and I would very much like it if they would just bugger off already. 


Meet my Chief Mouse Hunter, Bundy.

Awesomely Great Grandparents

Last weekend we had a visit from Mr Bond's Grandparents, Skye's Great Grandparents (obviously). To me that is a pretty big deal especially considering that Grandad requires a constant assisted oxygen supply and they are both in their late 80s, not to mention the fact that they live six hours away! That trip is a mission for most people and honestly it does take it out of them, but they love coming over to see everyone so much just try and talk them out of it.


Their visits are all the more special for me as my own Grandparents had passed away by the time I was 13 and ever since Mr Bond and I have been a couple, they have always treated me like part of their family. It has helped to fill a void I did not even realise was there.

Managing Day Care / Life Balance With Toddlers

This year we started sending Skye to Day Care two days a week rather than just one. I wasn't really sure if it was necessary, and I did feel a bit guilty about it, but late last year she seemed to enjoy going an extra day when there was a vacancy and I figured it was better to take the spot while it was available with the option of dropping it if it was too much, rather than trying to get her an extra day when there were no vacancies. 


I won't lie, the idea of having two days to myself was pretty appealing too. At the time when the spot was offered, Mr Bond was still working away and it was getting close to Christmas so staying on top of everything was getting overwhelming.

Pump It - Louder!

No, this is not another post about my neighbours, the pump I am referring to is that of the pumping iron variety, as in a Pump class. I attended my first in about 3 years this week and let me tell you, I felt every damn minute of my hiatus. Even more so in the days following. What on earth possessed me to even go to a Pump class after such a long time? Simple, I felt like a change, well, that and I had a seminar to go to later in the week that interfered with my normal program. After all, it's just one class, piece of cake, right? Who knows, I might even enjoy it.

Buns of Crazy Image Credit

To Market To Market To Sell A Cake Pop

Last week I got to play Baker's Assistant to Clever Baker Friend as she prepped for a local Market Night. She had about 4 billion Cake Pops to make and not quite enough time (or hands) to do the job solo, so I stepped in as Sous Chef. I also got to help out on the night selling the pops which meant that I got to see roughly 500 kids (and some overly excited adults) practically wet themselves at the site of all the brightly coloured treats we were offering.


It was the first time in a very long time Clever Baker Friend and I got to spend a bit of girl time together without the kids (thanks Mr Bond and Running Man!) and even though we had a lot to get through, it was still a pretty fun way to spend the week, I mean, who doesn't love being surrounded by chocolate and sprinkles?!?

Oh Give Me Land, Lots of Land... Or Some Ear Plugs

As the house hunting continues and our wish list seems to grow longer by the day it is starting to seem like we will never manage to find the 'ideal home'. One of our deal breakers that is currently creating a problem with many potential new homes is our need for a large yard with side access and a oversized shed for all of Mr Bond's Man Cave paraphernalia. Blocks here are pretty small and houses tend to take up most of the block. Low maintenance, but a little too claustrophobic for my liking. 

Image Credit