One baby blog

26
March
2007

Lyla had her first swimming lesson today at the American Club, a high-security operation (we were not allowed to take our humble taxi in) with lots of ominous signs warning white people not to take their nannies into the fun areas (they were allowed though into the supermarket filled with imported essentials like Frosties and Nutella).

The class, with just one other baby, 11 month-old Henry, began just as Lyla should have been settling for a nap — our morning routine thrown out by her very welcome 4am start to the day. I thought we were going to maybe last five minutes before she’d scream (and bring the security guards running) but as soon as the initial shock of the cold water passed she was smiling and totally in her element. Hooray! It really was amazing to see her so comfortable. We’ll be getting in our pool every day now (so long as our nanny doesn’t get in — goodness, who knows what one might catch from the natives).

The Australian swimming teacher was lovely and very excited to have a four-month old (well, nearly) in her class and pleaded to be allowed to take some photos of her splashing around. Mum tried to take some photos but discovered her camera battery was flat. So Dad took this one of Lyla as she arrived back home. The cardie is from Nannie Sandra and was very much needed after more than half an hour in the unheated pool!

I think the look Lyla was aiming for here is: “I’m really very cool. I can swim or I can like totally relax in a car seat. What’s next for the sista?”

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22
March
2007

Weight, height…1

Four-month vaccinations today and a weight height check.

5.9 kilograms — just a touch below median.
62.5 cm — just a touch over median.

That is, I guess, long and skinny.

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20
March
2007

Bye bye Bali1

Lyla was not happy to be leaving Bali.

But the staff where we were staying seemed pretty pleased…

Actually they were wonderful and once Stu left there was a steady stream of people knocking on the door asking if they could play with her.

So unfortunately I was unable to find the dummies book I was looking for. A shame as it would have come in handy.

On take-off and after screaming during boarding our hour-late flight we had lights dimmed, then: dropped dummy, vomit and HUGE poo.

During nappy change we had a wee — thank goodness for Air Asia’s vinyl seats.

Then some happy time.

Then we had some more serious, inconsolable screaming.

When the hostie told me put my seatbelt on when we were approaching Jakarta I think I hissed at her. I guess Lyla loves Jakarta as much as us.

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19
March
2007

Day of silence — we wish!0

Lyla settled easily after last night’s festivities and a change of rooms after Dad left for a visa run to Singapore.

But she began the day of silence with a lengthy crying session from about 6am. One of the staff ended up knocking on our door to see whether she could help me…

In the evening it was strictly lights out from sunset — no laptop as it cast too much light and my little bedside lamp had to be covered with foil so it was not even possible to read by it. I feared a big pooey nappy at 3am, even though they only come once a week or so these days. It came at 530am! We were cheerful enough to wait 30 minutes for sunrise and a return to a clean bottom and normal life. I figured a photo was unnecessary.

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18
March
2007

Party ahead of the silence1

Lyla and I made the trek up the road to the village market for the parade of papier mache ogres meant to scare the bad spirits away from Bali ahead of Nyepi, the Hindu holiday of silence on Monday.

While waiting for their arrival everyone wanted to give her a cuddle and once she was out of her sling it really was impossible to keep her to myself, but it seemed like she was in capable hands… and hands… and hands.

One woman didn’t like her hairstyle. So she changed it.

Even the local TNI soldier insisted on a hold. Maybe a winning hearts and minds PR strategy?

Anyway, Lyla showed him what she thought of TNI human rights abuses.

And then the fun began!

Here’s one of the silence police: they roam the streets on Nyepi itself to make sure everyone is inside and at night there are no lights showing to the street. This means that when the fleeing bad spirits look back over Bali they’ll think no one is home and keep on flying… on to Java or Lombok, presumably. Considering all the disasters on Java lately, Bali probably did a good job of tricking the spirits last year.

Then it got too dark for me to take any more photos… The ogres were paraded down to the beach to be ceremonially burnt, but we went to bed. And it seems that the burning only takes place in theory: so much work goes into building the monsters that they stay on display for a few days in a public area.

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17
March
2007

A day in my life1

by Lyla May McDonald

When I wake up in the morning I’m always very happy. I like to smile at everyone, even when they’re still half asleep.

I like to get active immediately. This involves rolling over, which seems to wake everyone up, like they’re worried I’m going to hurl myself over the edge of the bed or something.

On our holiday my dad has been carrying me up to the restaurant on the hill for breakfast in the morning.

I like to have a lime juice on the rocks.

But I have to be careful. If I have too many it’s easy to roll off the lounge.

On the way back down the hill we usually check out the surf.

Dad reads to me a lot.

He also tries to show me my face in the mirror but I think he’s really just looking at himself.

Mum likes to put light clothes over my face then quickly take them away. This makes me giggle. But then she keeps doing it and doing it and I try to look interested to keep her happy but it just gets boring.

Sometimes I like to spit up. That’s just so I can change my clothes, because I’ve got so many great outfits and I like to show them off.

This is the view I’ve been showing a lot now that I can roll over and stick my head in the air.

I like to walk all over my dad when I can. He says this is only going to get worse later on.

I like to sit on the veranda outside so I can see the cows in the field.

This is Dad trying to make me go to sleep in the evening. I don’t think he understands that if I don’t want to go to sleep, it doesn’t matter what he tries to do, I’m not going to go to sleep.