Jinxed!

Why is it that every time I write or talk about how well the kids are doing, it comes back to haunt me?

After saying that Oliver's speech is developing, but that he had started screaming and squealing... well, he is really working on his squeals.

I tell everyone that Ella is only waking once in the night... so I end up with her waking two times a night for the next week or so.

Then after weeks of excellent feeding, Ella decides to purge her feed all over me (and the couch and the carpet) again today. Let's hope I've just reversed the jinx on that one!

And to top it all off, lately Ella has had a few "code brown" situations in the bath. Most times she could be whisked out before soaking in it, but a couple of times she's needed a wash in a bucket!

Latest developments

We had a pretty quiet Father's Day. I snuck out for a little ride and spotted a helicopter parked up on the grass in Hayes Paddock. So when I got home I told Andrew and he took Oli out for a look. He was very excited and could not stop running around! (Oli, not Andrew!!). The pilot came over and offered to let Andrew and Oli sit in the helicopter, but Oli didn't like the idea of that... at least not until the pilot's daughter jumped in, but by then it was too late - they were getting ready to take off and fly home. Maybe next time, Oli? Andrew did get a cool photo though.

Oliver is gaining confidence with his climbing, spending most evenings jumping around on the couch. He's fallen off a couple of times (usually onto his head), and once he gets over the shock (and hurt) of it, he's back up there jumping around and thinking it's a great joke to be making mum so worried! I'm really glad to see his rough 'n tumble boyishness finally coming out. :)

His new-found confidence also means that he is climbing the ladders at Jumping Beans with minimal assistance from me (just the odd help to get his feet on the rungs when he goes over the top and down the other side). It makes me proud. :D

Oli's speech is continually developing, so we are understanding each other better every week. He has started screaming or squealing - usually to gain attention. We are doing eveything we can to discourage it, and get him to use his words. It's hard work! Hopefully it is just part of his 'terrible two' phase.

Ella is developing more sounds and thoroughly enjoying interacting with people. She is getting stronger too, and is holding her head up more when on her tummy. She tends to want to stay awake a bit longer now... getting closer to an hour and a half.

I couldn't leave her to sleep in the portacot in the lounge during the day, because Oliver is just too loud! So, I wrap her up downstairs, then wait for her to start getting sleepy before I whisk her upstairs and into her cot. We have a gate on the stairs now, so I can safely leave Oli unattended for a few minutes.

Ella is not sleeping through the night yet, but that's because she goes to bed around 7-8pm and then I leave her to sleep as long as possible. She usually wakes around 2-3am, so I give her a little snack feed and pop her straight back into bed (and get straight back into bed myself ), so it's only 15mins or so of awake time for both of us.

More news next time.

New Zealand Cyclocross Champs 2008

The inaugural (Unofficial) New Zealand Cyclocross Champs was held in Hamilton at the Pukete MTB Park last weekend. After weeks of wet weather forcing us inside each weekend, we finally had some fine(ish) weather for a race format that usually runs regardless of the weather or track conditions. Luckily Pukete MTB Park was still plenty soggy.

I had originally planned to enter the race and be part of the fun, but I soon realised I'd need to do a fair bit of planning to organise the kids and fit in Ella's feeds around race time. I also had to admit that I wasn't ready for that level of pain and suffering just yet.

I chose to go along as a spectator. Oli had been unwell on Friday, so we decided he should stay warm and dry at home, and it made sense to leave Ella tucked up in bed too. Thanks to Andrew for being child-minder while I had fun. :) I made it to the park just in time to see everyone lined up ready for the reconnaissance lap. There were lots of pure cyclocross (CX) bikes, one token mountain bike, three MUni's (mountain unicycles), and one 1930's ladies bike.

The course used a small bit of the inner track (singletrack), and a lot of the hilly grass area in the park. The grass was quite soggy from the weeks of rain, but had actually dried out a little over the last couple of weeks. There were barriers to run and jump over (carrying your bike), and a compulsory uphill run section.

What a cool race. I really enjoyed being a spectator - CX is a great race format for spectators. The high turnaround of riders and the fact we could easily wander between 3 or more different viewing points (and see very different parts of the track) made it interesting and exciting.

Ron King from Auckland took out the number one spot aboard his Cotic Roadrat, running as a singlespeed.

I managed to pick up the prize for 'best spectator', along with my friend Andrew and his son Chris. Chris (a few months younger than Oli) did the hard work, shouting "go, go, go!" and honking his bicycle horn, whilst his dad and I shouted random insults, made sarcastic remarks, marvelled at the lovely CX bikes, and reminded the race organiser of his position throughout the race (off the back... apparently because his gears weren't working properly - a good reason to run a singlespeed!). We took home a dozen Waikato. Andrew only drinks spirits, and I don't drink at all at the moment, so it's all been given away.

Well done to all those who participated and to Warwick for organising the whole thing. Props to the people on the MUni's - mad. And a big "wow" for all the bling being dragged through the mud. Who would have thought there were so many nice looking cross bikes in existence, let alone in, near, or around Hamilton? I should have raced... I think I might have been able to beat Tui to take the women's title... although she looked pretty fast on that uphill run. Maybe next year?

Results are here. Photos are here and here.