Where everybody knows your name...

Remember this place?

I generally go for a long walk around Boston every other day and most times end up lost. This picture was taken during one of those walks.

I arrived just over a week ago and have been non-stop since I got here. I have looked at a couple apartments but they were overpriced and quite small. No worries. I think I haven given myself enough time to hold out for something decent.

The B&B I am staying at is a really nice, big house in Somerville. There havent been too many other guests so I have the house to share with the owner and her two kids. They have been very nice company.

Christal and Jackson are doing well and staying and Dad and Vicki's for now. I think the plan is for her to go stay with Mom soon and also pay another visit to Matt and Sharon's.

Here is Jackson riding a car at Paw Paw's house. He is much taller since I saw him last!


My new number is: 617-909-2688
I also have an 870 number: 870-365-2923

I will give that phone to Christal soon so she has a phone as well.

More to come...

:)

moving

Brad: So I hear Boston is a pretty cool city
me: Hmmmmmm (Boston? - I have no idea why he is mentioning this too me at 10 at night while I try to numb my mind watching late night SBS)
Brad: Met a guy in the airport on my last trip.
me: Hmmmmm
Brad: So I was thinking maybe we could move there
me: (now looking at Brad) Are you serious?Boston in America?
Brad: I think I've got a new job.

..... the guy from the airport....... fixed his computer...... set up interviews...... moving to Boston.

And away we go.

The biggest thing so far I've had a hard time with is getting rid of all Jackson's baby clothes - ALL OF THEM. Then my size 6 (US size 2) clothes - o.k I know I should get over it, but I'm still living in hope that my hips will shrink. They wont - so the clothes are gone - designer dresses, sparkly tops, all my pre baby going out without a care clothes - gone. I have sorted through hundreds of old photos, poured through every item we own to decide which has true sentimental value, and which is just a pretty ornament/thing. I have decided to start out our new life with only things around me that I truely love and have meaning for me. This has left our house bare. I have a small box of sentimental letters and cards as does brad (for some reason he is keeping the small budda that used to sit on the dash of his old car in the US when we dated - I know - too sweet). Other than that I have 5 large framed pictures which I must take with me as I love each of them. A pen holder and some hand made Christmas ornaments. So thats it. That is my life. So long as I have Brad and Jackson, I really don't need much else.

Did I mention Brads new company is not paying for relocation. It is a forced cleansing, but I think it has been good for us none the less.

We leave at the end of Feb. It will be sad to leave Oz, I've loved it here and it has been good for us. Tasmania especially has been so rich in friends and good times, I am sad to leave them all but excited to be going to America again.

SLEEPING!!!!!!!!!

o.k - I'd had it with Jackson not settling by himself - but even worse for me was the thought that he didn't seem to feel safe in his own company at night in his room alone. So all the sleep props they tell you not to use - we had slowly over the past few months began to use them all - dummy, blanket, lying down with him. Anyway - Brad and I talked it through and decided enough was enough, he needs some sleep retraining (he used to go to sleep unaided and sleep through from 7 till 6:30). so i got rid of every dummy we own - and brought a sleep bag to put him him so he wouldn't wake up cold from kicking off the blankets and was prepared for the tantrum of all tantrums. I got a beauty when putting him down for a nap that day - but at night after a lot of reading and the usual bottle, he went to sleep without even a peep - not ONE grizzle! not even the hint of a cry! and SLEPT THE ENTIRE NIGHT! from 8 until 7. Again tonight he hopped into his beg bag and again - not one peep out of him! Brad said "well this is no fun" who would have thought a simple change like taking away all his sleep props and just sticking to his normal night time ritual would make for a happier baby - but seriously I thought after the past month it would be so hard to change him back from the 'crying till we puke' to 'peaceful baby' like he used to be before the holiday - but my boy has come through for us. Now.... I am going to bed for a long, peaceful nights sleep!

This is a nice clean boy being cute - below is a dirty boy, just as cute.
This is not our dog - it is the neighbours dog Buffy - she is a beautiful old dog and most every day she perches herself on our doorstep - waiting for hugs from Jackson. Jackson thinks Buffy is pretty special too.
Battle of the berries - as Jackson attemted to stuff his mouth with at least 4 blackberries and reach for more he fell head first into the sharp thornes, scratching his face up and drawing blood! Grandma and Paw Paw were witness to their grandson's huge appetite - nothing gets in his way of fresh fruit! or Macdonalds! (yes i have given him chicken nuggets)
Grandma! Quietly these two set about their path of destruction! What fun was had!
In other news......

Jackson has being gearing up for the grand finalle of "Driving Dad to Drink" which was the sequal to "Migranes for Mum" - through his complete aversion to sleep. Going to sleep, sleeping and anything to to with sleep. This has progressed from when we first went on Holiday to QLD, where he did not like the port-a-cot. My Dad ended up laying with him to get him to sleep while I tried bribes of extra milk - and sleeping in with Brad and Me. Once home in Tas the drama continued, with me and Brad resorting to laying down with Jackson to get him off to sleep (which of course results in him not being able to settle himself when waking at night) so when he would wake at night and the tears start - we would bring him in to sleep the rest of the night with us. So I'm so over it - I want my sleep and sanity back! The last 3 nights were the WORST IN MY LIFE. So I know in comparison to most I've had a dream sleeper up until now, but this feels like I've never known a full nights sleep! He screams when we put him down until he almost vomits. One of us has to stay with our hand on him so he can pick at our fingers until he falls asleep - or else he will scream the house down. Anway - I've heard all types of suggestions but think I'll stick with what I know, just try to ride it out and keep the night time routine (bath, book, bed) but brad and I are trying to settle him a bit differently by reasuring him at 5 - 10 minute intervals and spending time with him while he is settled in the cot. Today has been a lot better and last night was also good but he woke up freezing as I left the window open. He also has had a fever the past couple of days and I thought it was teething, but he has a viral rash now so he was probably really unwell which may have been the reason for a cranky winey baby for the past few days. Joys of motherhood. Thankfully I have Brad here to help, he is great at settling Jackson as he is so patient, where often I give up and will happily let him cry for 10 mintues until I'm ready to do it all again. Don't worry - I'm not going for mother of the year award.

holiday fun

my little Anzac

Christmas break, photos photos and more photos

The best Christmas present was my mum and dad teaching Jackson to walk - on Christmas eve he walked to me and then by Christmas morning was enjoying walking to everyone.
This is Brad's dad Bob with Jackson - making faces.
Yes this is chocolate and yes he is now addicted, just like his ma ma he has a sweet tooth!
playing with/ eating sea weed. Too cute
Bob and Vicki enjoying some down time by the beach
Thanks Aunty Pearl for my new favorite t-shirt!
Just like his Paw Paw Jackson has discovered the healing benifits of Bundy Rum (only kidding) he just wanted to drink out of the same container - so we swished it out with water and he then used this as his sippy can. What can I say but he just wanted to be a big boy - not like he isn't already - check out the piccy below to get a rough estimate of how tall my one year old boy is! Also much love to Uncle Matt and Aunty Sharon for the Harris shirt - way too cute!



Happy times.

In the best news we've had in a while my sister in law Angie gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy - William Christopher Harris, born 3rd of Jan. I've had a chance to speak with Angie and she is doing great - Christopher is gaining and should soon need a t-shirt similar to Jackson's in the photo's above except with "boob addict". When we are all back in the same country one day, sooner rather than later, Jackson will have a little boy just a year younger to play with which I think will be neat.

We have enjoyed having the Christmas break off, travelling to see my parents and then joining us from America was Bob and Vicki. We spent some fantastic quality time together, and Grandma Vicki and Paw Paw, Lollie and Granddad fell in love with Jackson, as did he with them. Once back in Tassie Grandma was a great play mate and spend endless hours chasing our now walking/running toddler around the house, and as soon as Paw Paw had had some morning coffee - he too was all for entertaining Jackson! or was it the other way around? I think Jackson can be pretty entertaining too.

Fun at sea

This is my Dad playing in the ocean with Jackson over the Christmas break.