Last Minute Halloween Costumes

No, I don't celebrate Halloween.

I'm horrified by all the merchandise I've seen in the shops recently.

Skulls, spiders, witches, and ghosts can be scary for small children, and difficult to explain.

I try to focus on the pumpkins!

I received an email yesterday from the early learning centre that Grace and Charlotte attend, reminding me to send them in costume today for Halloween. I mentioned it to Neil (who usually drops them off and collects them).

"Oh yeah," he said, "I forgot to tell you about that."

Great!

I asked Grace about it. "I want to be a monster," she said.

About 10:00 pm last night, after our dinner guest had left, I googled "last minute children's Halloween costumes" and found some wonderful ideas for dressing up as a butterfly, octopus, ladybird and the like. But the email said "scary costume".

Neil and I discussed it, and decided the whole scary Halloween scene isn't really something we want to encourage, so we decided not to worry about costumes. I did something else, then went to bed.

This morning, Grace greeted me as usual. "Get up Mummy, it's light!"

Closely followed by, "I want to be a monster. Will you make me a costume?"

She and Charlotte went off happily with Neil, after I had assured her I would work on a costume. I threw on some clothes, and Lucinda and I set off for the shops.

An hour and a half later, we arrived home loaded with supplies. Cheap nighties and leggings from Kmart, and fleece, felt, and other craft supplies from Spotlight.

The raw materials.

I found some good girl/bad girl headbands in the party section at Spotlight.  With a little effort I managed to transform them into googly eyes and horns for the little monsters-to-be.

Wrapping the headband in pink chenille sticks and securing with glue.

Cutting out felt eye pieces from a template I made.

Stuffing little felt horns with filling from a dead cushion insert.

One of the finished headpieces.

My trusty sidekick found it all a little boring.

"I was watching, Mum, but I'm sleepy now."

I hand sewed a piece of fleece to the front of each nightie for the monster's chest, and little felt claws to the bottom of the leggings.

'Claws' at the bottom of the leggings.

I sewed other claws onto little strips of fleece, that could be tied around each girl's wrists for the paws.

It's not bunting, it's claws!

I worked at it most of the day, and only stopped for some appointments this afternoon. I completed the last few stitches in the carpark outside the early learning centre late in the day, but managed to take the full costume in for Grace when we picked her up.

The complete 'little monster' costume.

She got to show her teachers, but I wasn't too fussed that she didn't get to wear it earlier in the day. She may have been too shy to do so anyway. For her, the excitement was in putting the costume on at home later, and it was all the reward I needed to see how happy she was with it.

One very happy 'little monster'!

I made an identical costume for Charlotte, in case she felt left out when Grace got hers. Unfortunately it was a bit late in the day for her though, and she wasn't really in the mood for photos.

"I'm too tired for this, Mum."

Tonight I made one more costume, this time for Lucinda. I had bought a singlet a few sizes too big to sew the fleece onto, and treated the leggings the same way as the others. Instead of a headband, she has a beanie with little horns and one big monster eye.

Felt horns and eye sewn onto a little beanie for Lucinda.

Lucinda's finished costume.

I've never made any costumes before, but I was pleased with my efforts. For less than $50 we have three more dress-up outfits, and I have plenty of fleece and other supplies left over for other projects.

Maybe tomorrow I'll try for a photo of all three 'little monsters' together. Wish me luck!

Growing Wild

We had another day out at Melbourne Zoo on Sunday, and particularly enjoyed checking out the new 'Growing Wild' interactive children's exhibit which has just opened.

The meerkat enclosures have tunnels underneath and lots of sand to play in.

Keeping watch.

A building houses reptiles, and ants scurrying through a perspex pipe between exhibits.

Checking out a turtle through a domed tunnel.

Near the giant tortoises, you can crawl through a pretend tortoise shell, or see how many people it takes to match their weight.

Giant tortoises.

Grace doesn't quite fill out the giant tortoise shell!

Being weighed on the scales, and found wanting!

The landscaping was great too, and the girls enjoyed exploring for quite awhile.

The bower bird bower sculpture.

Of course, the Keeper Kids area is still popular, and a great place to spend some time while I feed Lucinda in the parent's room. This time I arrived back to find Grace was a vet treating an injured kangaroo.

"You'll be alright."

The zoo also contained the 50 'Mali in the City' painted elephants that have been displayed as part of their 150 year anniversary celebrations.

Lucinda mesmerised by the colourful faces.

Grace's favourite - pink!

Mum and the girls.

The family.

The zoo membership passes we were given last Christmas have been great value. We're trying to make the most of them before the weather gets too hot!

More Dora Cooking

Grace's new Dora Little Cooks Collection magazines arrived today, so I thought I'd better post photos of her last culinary masterpieces before I get too far behind!

First, some funny face pizzas, made with the help of Nicole one Saturday night.

The veggies looked good, but unfortunately still didn't get eaten!

Then, an apple cake in the shape of a butterfly, courtesy of the silicon mold that came with the magazine.

Grating the apple.

The finished product, decorated with sultanas instead of strawberries.

Apparently in the next few weeks we can look forward to mini chocolate cupcakes, and tutti frutti nests. Soon I won't be needed in the kitchen!

We Did It!

Grace has not had a bottle since her "big girl" party.

The first two days were tough. There were a lot of tears and a couple of tantrums, as she struggled to find a new way to soothe herself. She has been quite clingy to me, and I've had to lie with her while she goes to sleep most nights since. However, she seems to understand the situation now. She will occasionally say she wants a bottle, but doesn't actually expect to get one. I tell her I know it is hard, but I'm very proud of her, and together we think of something else she might like to do instead.

I had a second present tucked away in case things got tough, and it did come out. Water soluble (easy to peel off) little girl's nail polish. A stroke of genius! It kept her occupied for hours, with everyone in the family (except Lucinda and Rosie) getting the treatment.

Daddy's toes don't usually look like this!

Daddy's fingers with expertly applied nail polish!

Grace carefully put a sticker on the calendar each day for a week, looking forward to her promised trip to the shops with Mummy to choose a new DVD.

Stickers on the calendar marking a week without a bottle.

Last Thursday, Neil came home over lunch to look after Charlotte and Lucinda, while Grace and I went to the shopping centre. She chose two Wiggles DVDs from the ABC shop (we now know all the words to 'Surfer Jeff'!), and then we shared a waffle with pink ice cream at Gelare.

A lovely way to celebrate what is quite an achievement for both of us!

Cup Day

No, it's not the first Tuesday in November just yet.

It's a far more important day in our house.

Today is the day Grace officially becomes a "big girl" and drinks her milk from a cup instead of a bottle.

Drinking some milk from her special new cup.

I've been aware that we need to do this for quite awhile, but I have to admit I've been dreading it. For Grace a bottle is comfort and security, and a means of falling asleep. She is used to having a bottle when going to bed, and during the day whenever she is upset (which is sometimes quite often!). Now that is all about to change.

I figure it is best to get it done while things are relatively stable, as our lives don't tend to stay that way for long. I'm not currently on IVF or pregnant, Neil and I are both well, and we're not moving house or renovating. So there's no time like the present!

On a shopping expedition this morning we found a special cup with a princess, castle, flowers, and lots of glitter on it. We also got a 'Pillow Pet' to provide extra comfort in bed.

'Lily Ladybird'.

I purchased a couple of balloons in Grace's favourite colours (pink and yellow), as well as four little cupcakes which we enjoyed after dinner to celebrate this momentous occasion.

If there are balloons, then it's a party!

Cute little cupcakes purchased from Browns.`

After dinner we had a special ceremony where all Grace's bottles were collected and placed in the rubbish bin (so neither of her parents could relent over the next few days).

Yes, that is a look of pure terror on Neil's face!

"Bye bye, bottles."

After the bottles were disposed of, Grace received a present. She was also promised a special trip to the shops (complete with babyccino) to choose a new DVD, after we've made it through the next week.

Stamps and a Dora book (not pictured) were Grace's special presents.

I have to say, I'm pleased with the way she has coped so far. She is happy drinking milk from the cup, and although there were a few tears when she wanted a bottle (and she had one last one late this afternoon) she has been pretty good.

It took until 9:00 pm tonight for Grace to be tired enough to go to sleep, and I didn't push her. I tucked her in with Lily Ladybird, and she went to sleep all by herself. Sans bottle. Hooray!

I know there will be tough times in the next few days, but I also know that she can do it.

I'm very, very proud of my big girl Grace.

Four Months Old Already!

Our lovely little Lucinda is four months old today!

That time seems to have just flown by. I'm already starting to feel sad about ceasing breastfeeding in December, and going back to work in February. I want to savour these precious moments while I can, before they disappear forever.

Lucinda is a very "good" baby. She has been sleeping through most nights since she was about 11 weeks old - which is more than I can say for her older sisters!. Her blocked tear ducts have resolved, and her eyes are now lovely and clear. She smiles, giggles and coos, and absolutely loves eye contact and attention.

As a mother, I enjoy my children at all ages, but there is something really special about the early months. To me Lucinda is entering the most delightful stage now - happy, cuddly, and interactive. Her personality is gradually revealing itself, and her physical skills are gradually developing.

Spending time with Lucinda is very rewarding. I love watching her on her play mat, learning to reach and grasp the toys. I love watching her attempt to roll over. Most of all, I love watching her face light up and her smile grow when she sees me.

I know these photos aren't all necessary, but I'm a proud mum. Lucinda is such a delightful little girl, and I love her to bits. Here's hoping the next few months go by very slowly!