Stella, Lately

I don't really do the blogging thing for Stella the way I did with Cal. I guess there's a few reasons for this. Firstly, being a parent first time around takes a lot of processing. That work has mostly been done and the need to write about every challenge and joy doesn't really exist for me anymore. Also I'm also much busier with 2 kids and work. But it's a bit of a shame, because lots of sweet Stella's milestones have passed without due commemoration. So a small update, just for me, because writing them down does preserve them in a way that just enjoying them doesn't.

Stella can walk! She took her first steps 2 weeks after her first birthday. Unlike Cal she's happy walking carefully and slowly. She definitely listens to us when we say, "just walk slowly". She hates going bump on her bum. She's starting to say more words every week. I hear the beginnings of Bird, Cat, Apple. And she's good with Up!, Mama, Dada, Ca(l), AnneMa and Oma. 

We've sadly had to cancel our upcoming trip to Oz, which would have been Stella's first visit. Hopefully when Coronavirus dies down we can reschedule. But for now, we're staying put. But the first green leaves are out in Amsterdam and when we wake up at 6.30 it's already light. Stella's sleep is still touch and go. Occasionally she sleeps through the night, sometimes screams for a bottle – especially if she's sick...which has been a bloody LOT this winter, as expected. We're hoping for a bit of respite with the arrival of warmer weather. And we're all looking forward to the season of no coats, hats and scarves.

And with the change in seasons, and her newfound mobility the world is opening up. She loves the library around the corner and little playground across the road with the tricycles and slide. She's already slapping my hands away to slide down by herself.