Christmas Delight (Lazy Nana)

Lazy Nana?

Indolent, lumpish, slothful, torpid, languid...yes, I am all of these. It's been far too long since my last Oliver update.

Now that Damien and family live in another state, it's been difficult to find the time to visit. Skype, email and phone calls keep us close, but there's nothing that compares with a full contact Oliver visit!

I drove to Melton South (a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria) on boxing day. It's nearly an 8 hour drive, but quite enjoyable while listening to the cricket along the way (Australia vs. India boxing day match, which actually lasts up to 5 days...). It would have been quicker to fly, but I had a car full of presents to deliver.

It was hard for me to accept, but the reality is...Oliver is even sweeter than the last time I saw him. Already enamoured of that wry grin and bubbling affection, I was further enchanted by the generous nature and amiable personality that now define Oliver.

We took three walking trips to different playgrounds nearby, always holding hands and chatting about everything along the way. Seems life in Melbourne is pretty fun most of the time. Slim and Drastic (the family dogs) love the new house and big backyard. Sleeping in a "big boy" bed provides much more freedom than the crib. Robots are cool. Don't need nappies anymore. Mum makes me baby-chinos when she has coffee ("it's mostly milk, Nana"). We collected interesting things along the way...a round pine cone ("perfect for our garden"), two tennis balls, a 5 cent piece, small colourful stones, and a yellow golf tee (very sharp for a little man... I tucked it into my pocket for safe keeping).

Damien took us all for a tour around Melton, then a nice family lunch out together. Far too much food, but the company was exceptional.

Back home, we played with the dogs and enjoyed some quiet time together with Damien and Jax.

Proudly sporting grazed elbows, Oliver collapsed into fits of laughter (and proud admiration) while watching Damien skateboard around the back patio. One day, he'll be just like Dad.

Two sleeps later, I was saying goodbye.

As usual, my trip home was much more sombre. The cricket on the radio kept me focused. Travelling with a heavy heart, I could only smile when I played the scenes back in my mind. Great little man. My little Oliver.

I managed to keep smiling all the way home, until I unpacked...and pulled that yellow golf tee out of my pocket...

Chilling out in Dad's reading chair

fun at the park

mmmm...banana milkshake...mmmm

battle wounds

practicing for "Meet Uncle Mike" day

a happy goodbye...

Growing and Glowing

(Better late than never, right?)



I've been sitting on photos from our August visit with Oliver, and today I've just returned from my Christmas visit with the little man. Let's review...



Julian had a conference in Melbourne during August this year, so we seized the opportunity to catch up with Damien and family. We caught a flight on a Friday night and made a long weekend of it.

There's something completely magical about an Ollie hug. It always comes with an excited squeal and a sunshine smile. He melts me.

At 2+ years old, Oliver can already rip through the alphabet, and count like Dracula.

The perfect play room has everything - places to hide, soft cuddly friends, things to count, things to ride, things to stack, things to write on, musical things...

...but what he really wants is an i-phone like Grandpa!



So now, here we are in December.

Julian was scheduled to work, so I drove to Melbourne myself, just after Christmas.

What did I discover about Oliver 5 months later?

Well, he looks FABULOUS in a Leafs jersey...

...nothing at "Scienceworks" will go unchallenged...

...and Oliver LOVES summertime!

Angel Boy

After an early morning arrival in Melbourne, I hid in the hallway as Jacki dressed Oliver for the day. There was excited conversation between the two...a special visitor was here today! I was already feeling teary when he raced out to find me, stopping in front of me with a big grin, little hands held behind his back. "Hi Nana!" before launching himself into my arms and squeezing my chicken neck with a warm Ollie bear hug.

It wasn't long before I was grasped by the finger and led through the yard.

There are two different types of apple trees in their backyard, an obvious hit with Oliver. The branches are low, heavy with fruit...perfect for a little man to choose and pick for himself, then straight to the tap to wash the fruit before eating.

The narrative was endless. Books, pets, toys, movies, friends, numbers, shapes...there was just so much to babble about!

The local playground is very close to home. Oliver knows all the gardens along the way, and the best sources for free flowers. His moves are smoothe and defined...bend comfortably, snap low on the stem, follow through with a raise to the nose and a deep inhaling of the sweet perfume. Tuck everything neatly into a small sweaty palm, ready for presentation to Mum.

Climbing, running, sliding, swinging...not a step out of place.

We spent some time in the Preston Library, a favourite spot for Oliver and Jacki. Oliver and I curled up into a bean bag chair to read for a while. Oliver turned the pages and told me the stories...

Nana & Mumpa are here!

Julian and I travelled to Melbourne for a pre-Christmas visit with Oliver (and family). We flew over on Friday morning, catching up with everyone shortly after lunch. Oliver greeted us with big smiles, cuddles and kisses. It wasn't long before I was grasped by the finger and taken through every room in the house, as well as a tour of the back garden.

Julian and I will be on a road trip for Christmas, so we thought it would be good to take the Olimonster to Toys-R-Us to choose his Christmas gifts. Oliver loved the freedom to explore, but would most likely have been happiest to take home the cages holding the balls, or the fire extinguisher by the emergency door.

We ended the evening by sharing a meal with Damien, Jax and Oliver in their Melbourne home, entertained by Oliver on his new drum.

The next day we visited the Melbourne Aquarium, a brilliant place to face the wildest creatures of the deep. Oliver LOVED the King Penguins, talking to them through the glass and laughing as they swam like bullets through the water.

The other exhibits proved to be just a bit too overwhelming..."I cared!" cried Oliver, as he buried his face in my shoulder. "You shouldn't be scared" said I..."Nana will keep you safe." But the fish were big (especially the sharks) and Oliver found it best not to make eye contact. The best part of the aquarium for Oliver was the fire extinguisher (again) and the fire emergency door handles (OPEN ONLY IN EMERGENCY SITUATION...no Oliver...wait, wait...!).

Sunday was Melbourne Zoo day. Jacki came along as well. We started with a nice lunch together at a pub along the way. Grandpa (Mumpa) followed Oliver while he explored each room of the pub. The place filled up quickly and soon Oliver was competing with a stage stealing pink fairy girl, singing with a magic wand that changed colours (if you have to resort to props, you really don't possess the talent...).

The Zoo was fantastic! I guess we all ran out of steam far before covering the grounds with the desired level of appreciation (remember yesterday??). Jax had several precious moments with the spiders (her secret love) and Oliver paid homage to the elephants.

Of course, the day wouldn't be complete without the fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and buttons to push. Our little man slept like a puggle all the way home.

Damien transferred Oliver to his bed...I crept into his room to say goodbye, but he was quietly counting the stars.

Back in Melbourne

It's been a very long time since I've updated this site...things have changed. Damien, Jax and Oliver have moved to Preston Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne.

So the weekend Nana visits have ended...

I helped them shift, taking a few days off work to drive up with Oliver and Jacki in my car, Damien close by in the hire truck with Slim dog. Many friends in Melbourne welcomed Damien's family, providing temporary shelter and storage. When I left, Oliver was too busy making new friends to say goodbye to Nana.

I grabbed a room for the night, then drove back to Adelaide the next day and cried all the way home (it was raining and grey, the perfect setting for self pity...).

Although the initial reason for them moving back to Melbourne was for better work prospects, Damien has since been encouraged to complete a PHD...and it looks to be the popular choice.

After a few weeks, I returned for a visit and a million hugs from Oliver. We visited the Preston Markets, the local library, and had a great play in the back yard with Slim dog chasing the ball.
Oliver is growing into a beautiful young man with a great smile.

I'm counting on Damien and Jax to keep me updated with photos and significant milestones.

This is one cool little dude.

Back on Track!

Oliver is once again healthy and on the move!

It's so good to see that smiling little face and hear the squeals of excitement as he makes his way through each new day...and he's been a very busy little man.

Damien and Jax have prepared a lovely garden area in their backyard, and Oliver has been put to work.

No one can tap a seedling into place quite like Oliver can, smoothing the soil with his shovel, providing the first quenching drink from the water in his bucket.

He's a natural gardener, not afraid to eat a little dirt along the way.

Take the toys out, move them around, pack them away, take them out again...

the work is never-ending...

At the end of it all, there's nothing better than to pop into the jim-jams and enjoy

a cool cleansing beverage.

Every day brings something new and exciting...

...and Oliver just can't wait until tomorrow!

Clouds block the sun

I'm certain that there is nothing in the world that can make me feel more helpless than holding a sick child. Oliver is unwell...red, spotty, and feverish with a viral infection (measles).

Despite confirmed medical significance, this time my Nana kisses didn't work.

Through his red, weeping, swollen eyes, he smiled at me. His warm and limp little body felt so much smaller than usual. I pushed my finger into his small fist and he gripped it lightly. For the first time in his short life, my Oliver is quiet.
Not the usual little man who only sits still long enough to devour a cookie or two, entertaining me with funny faces and random songs between bites...not the same little guy who turns the pages faster than I can read them, or baits me for a chase by grabbing something prohibited and running down the hallway, or drops the remote into the dogs water dish, or pockets my fridge magnets when I'm not looking...