Both boys are in bed. Cedric is sleeping, Ned is still singing and reading and talking (BUT he can do with his nap time what he wants to do, as long as he doesn't scream his head of and stays in his bed/room, I'm fine with it!!). Slowly my days take on a bit of a structure... and I am VERY thankful for it. Although I am NOT the most organized person in the world, I hate living in total anarchy and chaos ( a little bit of chaos seems to be a natural thing with me though, hmpf). But here I am sitting in the kitchen, it is as good as tidy and clean (thank you, wonderful husband), the kiddos are in bed and quiet or sleeping, the paper war for registering Ced is almost done (so he is almost a German citizen and the Aussie application will also be done soon, so then he'll be a true blue Aussie as well) and now I am sitting at the kitchen table and am almost a bit bored, shocking. I guess there is more cleaning to be done or laundry to be washed or things tidied up, but well, I do enjoy sitting here and basically doing nothing... okay, writing my blog, but putting thoughts into words somehow helps untangle the messy mess in my brain and is rather relaxing :o))) I could also go and do my toe nails. It WON'T almost kill me no more, yay,.... but I think I'm too lazy to be bothered :o))) I should also start thinking about dinner, but hang, I'll find something in the freezer :o)))). I really should read my bible, it has been quite a bit neglected lately, but the bible is in the bed room, and in the bed room our little tiger is sleeping.... so I think I'll continue a little while longer just to sit here peacefully and enjoying the quietness of a lazy afternoon, before it get loud and noisy again at the Wyatts.

P.S. I really, REALLY, REEEAAAAALLLLLLLY dislike those nasty little fruit flies A LOT!!!!!! (Just a random comment)

"How did we do it with Ned???"

is a question we ask ourselves a lot lately in one form or another. How was it with Ned; somehow the human memory seems to forget "everyday-normal-life-things" really quickly. I often hear Ben say: "Surely Ned didn't do that!!!", just for me to inform him that "Yes, Ned did do that as well". Just the other day Ben had the great honour and privilege to change Ced's nappy, when all of a sudden this little 53cm tall guy started a pooing marathon. The unhappy dad looked helplessly at me and of course the question came: "Ned didn't use to do that, did he??", "Yes, he did that as well" was my usual reply. Well, poor husband was already on the second or third new nappy when all of a sudden our super- pooer wound up to the grand final and did a one meter poo shoot. "Did you see THAT???? SURELY Ned didn't do THAT!!!!" Well, I could not reply with my usual answer because I was struggling to breath due to a laughing fit which lasted for well over 1/4h. But well, Ned did NOT do these kind of shooting poo stunts, but thinking back on poor husbands face still gives me fits of giggles, it was too precious!!!!

I guess it is only natural to compare, especially because we seem to be "similar-looking-offspring-producers" (just like our friends Dirk and Hilde C. :o) ) and honestly, so often Cedric looks so much like Ned, but there are also biiig differences (at least in our eyes:o) ).

• Ned had very clear dark brown eyes, with Ced we are not so sure yet, it isn't the typical baby eyes blue, but also not as clearly brown.
• When Ned popped out one of my first observations was that the little guy had HUGE feet and real little "digger hands" (and his hands are still huuuuge) and his voice was rather deep (for a baby). Well, Ced doesn't have "digger hands" nor bigfoot feet, but he's Mr. Longfinger and Mr. Longtoes. I hope he has musical inclination because those long fingers might be rather useful with playing the guitar or the piano :o). But one of the first thoughts I had about Ced was "Oi, his voice is VERY high". Honestly, I had to get used this high cat-like screaming, which can be rather cute, IF it isn't a distress or "I want food, NOW!!!" cry.
• Ned also really liked his dummy, Ced rather sees me as his personal giant dummy and doesn't like the plastic thing very much; unfortunately I don't like being abused as dummy.

Unfortunately, I'm not a very good milk cow again and by the third day Ced had lost already more then 10% of his birth weight and we had to start him on formula, and drinking out of a bottle is just SOOO much easier then having to work for ones milk on the boobs; but as a dummy he likes it, great!!! And now that he's on the bottle he drinks like a camel and is back to his birth weight. It was the same with Ned and I wonder if he'll also grow as quickly as Ned. But it makes me a bit sad, that I'm not able to "feed" my own kids. If I had lived 200 years ago they might have died or not thrived at all because I would not be able to feed them myself. Or if WW III broke out, we'd have bad chances too. So, I am very grateful that I live nowadays in a country, where it is no problem to get good formula and I am grateful, that they invented formula. God designed mother's milk, so it is the best there is for babies and I would have LOVED to be able to breast feed, but it seems like I just don't have a calling to be a milk cow. I cried a bit but accepted the fact and now we move on and I try to see the advantages of feeding with a bottle.

Generally Ced is a very content little guy, burps and farts like a real man, so he doesn't have any problems with wind and he's also no "spitter" like Ned. Right now he's "sitting" in one of our bean bags, watching me type on the computer and (hopefully) will doze off soon. Nights aren't so bad either. He does say hello once or twice but besides that he does what we all are supposed to do at night: sleep (although I do have to admit, that he prefers sleeping next to us in our bed than in his bed).

Ned was with Oma and Opa for the weekend, which was nice and gave us some time to relax a bit, although, honestly, I did miss having him around (with tantrums and all). Today we walked to down town Mosbach and we tried out our "kiddy board" for the stroller. My dad had to make an alteration to our stroller in order for this kiddy board to fit on and after all that work, Ned does not like standing on it. Great!!! How in the world am I to manage walks with both kids??? Ned likes walking to a certain extend, but then he'd like to sit for a time or be carried. And with Ced occupying the stroller there is nowhere to sit for Ned and I am NOT carrying this 14kg bundle of energy (I almost wet my pants as it is without carrying an extra 14kg.... oh the joys of delivery). But we'll see, there are many occasions when I wonder how it'll be without Ben being around, but- like I said to my mum on the phone today- others did it before me and survived and so will I :o)))

So to finish off I need to share a little Ned story again. The other day we put him down for the night and normally, once he is in bed, he's a happy chappy, talking and singing away for a while before dropping off. Well, that particular night he kept on whining and whinging after we left him alone so I went in again after a while. Then he told me: "water". I told him: "You have your usual water bottle with you." But he kept on saying water, water. Until he picked up his bottle to take a suck to show me his problem: I could hear the funny sound the bottle makes when the "leak proof valve" isn't properly clicked in. I solved the problem and my son dismissed me with a cute "night, night" and a kiss :o)))).

Ned meets Ced :o)

I wanted to post a little video here, but somehow it isn't possible to do that, hmpf.... Well, Ned has met Ced and he fell in love with baby. It really is tooooooooooOOOOO cute. The question is, how long will it last???? Ou well, I am grateful that he agrees to baby for now and isn't jealous or anything. So far we are doing good as a family of four, but there are really major adjustments to make, but that was expected :o))) We will be coping, but it needs time to get used to.

I just uploaded some pics to our web album (the link should be somewhere on this page) so you can check out our new little fellow!! I must say, our boyS (gaaaash, will I ever get used to that????) will not be able to deny that they are brothers, they look sooooooo similar, too funny.

That's Cedric just a couple minutes old....



....and that is Ned, truly brothers, eh????

I had more challenging things to do,

... then to watch the WORLD CUP 2010 grand final. And I should be in bed now, but am totally hyped up with adrenalin and endorphins, so instead I'm sitting here, drinking a nightly cold chocolate milk and update my blog.... I wonder if insanity runs my family somehow :o))))

Around the time when Spain became football world champion our baby decided to make an appearance. Funny, we were always joking about having a baby on the final and now it really happened, crazy....

Well, Cedric Jamie Wyatt was born on the 11th of July 2010 at 2257h (that's three minutes to 11pm), 3800g and 53cm, and whoever said that second births are easier then first ones is a liar. BUT the baby is here, I DID survive (although I yelled and screamed like a Turkish farm wife and almost strangled poor hubby) and we are actually home already. I am fit and fresh and a tiny bit hyped up AND should be sleeping now, but can't. Maybe I DID will out that baby after all, I am so very happy that he arrived on the weekend and that Ned was taken care off. He actually spends the night at Oma and Opas and will come back tomorrow morning

Well, night night, I'll try again now (now that the sun is starting to rise, hmmm)

Aaaaaaand still pregnant.....

.... and although it's only 3 days over due so far, I feel like getting desperate.... Isn't it totally weird and almost wacky that one LONGS for that pain to start? I just want to be over and done with it and have a cute little reward on my arm instead of in my belly, which I can pass on to others as well and don't have to carry around the entire time myself!!! :o))))
Well, I've tried quite a few things already to speed things up:

1. prayer - but I guess God's timing isn't always our timing, and he knows when the perfect time will be, even if I might not agree with him right now :o))))
2. Pineapple - it de-waters, which is really great (now my ankles are not all blown up anymore, yay!!)
3. Ginger - we just made a yummy new patch of ginger beer
4. cinnamon - apple sauce is DROWNED with it
5. walking stairs and up hills - it rather kills and exhausts me
6. biking - it really must look funny :o)
7. resting - nowadays thay say it is much better to rest then to wear yourself out

Well, I won't try grapefruit, as I really don't like it, and I am not desperate enough to go for castor oil, which is purely disgusting.... maybe some herbal tea.. but I don't like tea.... maybe some Chinese stretching exercise which will almost kill me by only trying it.... or maybe that baby will just come when it decides to come and I just have to wait until then (ou how I LOVE waiting!!!)

I guess my main concern is, that I get worried what to do with Ned tomorrow and the following days. It is really hot and humid here (for Germany), somewhere in the mid thirties, and I'm not very good with coping with heat... it zaps me out of energy and I just want to lay down and rest, but instead I have a toddler around who is pumped full with energy and hates me seeing resting. Plus if I don't go out with him, he goes gaga inside and we both get VERY irritated with each other. So my wishful thinking is that this baby comes TODAY!!!! unfortunately one cannot WILL a baby out..... very unfortunate!!! Or I would have WILLED that baby out already 3 weeks ago, hahaha!!!

Well, I sent off my boys to go to the park and cool down in the water play area there and will lay down myself and rest.... admiring my beautifully de-watered feet and wishing for this baby to come..... seeya later!!

Still pregnant...

... although it was due yesterday, Wyatt #4 seems to want to teach me patience. Well, to be honest, I didn't expect differently. I tell myself it can still take almost up to two weeks (although that thought almost makes me cry. I HAD ENOUGH!!!!!!). Temperatures are in their mid thirties and Germany isn't designed for these kind of temperatures, and neither am I. My feet started to take on elephantine proportions, BUT I found a cure for that: PINEAPPLE!!!! Man that stuff works and de-waters you like crazy.... which means you spend more time on the toilet, but at least the legs look in better shape (even if everything else is only in one shape describable: ROUND).

For my due day I planned NOT to sit at home and mope, but rather have nice plans, so I strapped Ned in his beloved bike seat and met my friend Karla and her kids in the swimming pool. Actually that was the first time ever for me to go swimming super-pregnant. :o)))

As it also happened, the 8th of July is also our "official" wedding anniversary, as you have two weddings in Germany, a civil and a church wedding, and the civil wedding was on the 8th, but the real one in our eyes was on the 10th of July. And of course we both forgot until the evening, then Ben brought back some flowers when I send him shopping with Ned:o)))

Now, that I am "over due" it is very annoying that I have to go and see the doctor every second day (ou what a joy, I love seeing doctors and I LOVE waiting up to 3 hours in the waiting room). So like a good girl I went and saw her today and she told me, that then in 2 days, on Sunday, I need to go to the hospital for the 2 days check up. I almost burst out in tears. I don't wanna go to the hospital for stupid CTs without having a reason, like baby is coming. On the other hand, if baby decided to come on Sunday I'll be more then happy to go to hospital and get over and done with it. I pleaded with my doc and she had mercy on me and I was allowed to have a 3 days check up instead of a 2 days check up and see her on Monday instead. I much rather would not have to see her (although I do like her very much), but I much rather would like to have a baby in between, but God alone knows when this will happen (I HATE waiting, did I mention that before???) I am also very grateful I am not on the ship at the moment, because the constant comment a hundred times a day: "WHAT??? You're still pregnant?????" ("Really?? I hadn't noticed!!") would have (eventually) made me a murderess. But living here in peaceful Mosbach I am only occasionally confronted with those remarks and in less quantity I can handle them without going psycho:o)))) I think what I struggle with the most is expectations. I expect it to be similar to the first birth: it was "only" 3 days late, it was quick and it wasn't as bad as I imagined. So now I start panicking myself with thoughts like "Gosh, what if they have to induce, like 2 weeks later??", "What if it is so much longer then the first time???", "what if it is a really bad birth, because I expected it to be 'easy'????", "What if...??", "What IF...?" and "WHAT IF....??????". They don't help at all, what ifs. They just drive you gaga. But sometimes I just can't help myself.

So, enough panic-thoughts.... a little funny story about offspring. Well, Ned's still a two year old and we still have tantrums and melt downs. Well, we had one in his room today where he just was NOT happy with mum. So mum decided to leave the room. And so that he couldn't throw it, she also took his juice bottle with her, which off course, he wanted to have back straight away. So I was sitting in our little corridor (in a comfy chair) outside his room and he was howling inside "drink, drink, drink", when all of a sudden, he opened up the door, threw out his beloved Hermie bear, closed the door again and then started howling "Hermie, Hermie, Hermie!!!". It just cracked me!!!

Well, I wished the next time I write something on here, it could be that baby has decided to come and that it wasn't bad and that I'm doing alright and that baby is healthy and a boy or a girl, but I shall be patient and use the time until that event and rest as much as possible, because who knows how much sleep and rest I will get afterwards

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Not that I have ever read "The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson -it is so NOT my kind of book-, but growing up one still "knew" about this book or the different movie adaptations. And lately I've come to the conclusion that Mr. Stevenson must have gotten his inspiration of Dr. Jenkyll and Mr. Hyde by observing two year olds.

I tell you, they CAN be the cutest things in the world, packed full with charm and smiles and cuteness that it almost overflows out of the ears. I mean, how adorable is it, if your little boy comes in with a bunch of "flowers" (other people might call them weeds, but they don't know what they are talking about) he and his daddy just picked outside.... or if he kisses you again and again and again and again (and again...) and then cracks laughing, just to make fun of daddy, who would like to have a kiss himself.... or to be TOTALLY excited about daddy coming home soon and then not letting daddy in but looking through the glass part of the door with a adorable but very cheeky grin :o))))

He can play very nicely all by himself in his room with his cars, his baggers, his trains, his books or his DUPLOs. He can play very nicely with other kids or with us. He can eat like a big boy without making a mess and eat like a horse. He can tell you LOOOOOOOOONG stories about who knows what (I don't get a word he says, maybe an occasional "Bagger", "Zug", "Car", etc., but it is still highly entertaining). He can sit peacefully in his bike seat and enjoy the breeze (while mum or dad get their exercise and sweat their butts off). He can play nicely in his blow up pool on the balcony. He can sit on his potty for 1/2h and read his books (without WANTING to get up). He can be cooperative and opens his mouth and doesn't make a fuss whatsoever when it is teeth brushing time. He can jump and bounce through the entire flat and dance his "Bagger, Bagger"-war dance before bed time and then clean up his toys without any complaint, but with much joy and excitement.

Wouldn't it be soooo much lovelier, if there was only "Dr. Jenkyll" in your two year old????

But unfortunately "Mr. Hyde" is always closer then you think. And I've got absolutely no idea whatsoever what triggers the transformation from Dr. Jenkyll to Mr. Hyde. Circumstances, moods, situations, food or whatever might be EXACTLY the same, but somehow the adorable little two year old is NOT, instead there is this highly irritating, immensely frustrating, extremely nerve-wrecking two year old little "monster". And these rather not so attractive displays of the "Mr. Hyde"-side of offspring are sometimes rather embarrassing in public (yes, I have been tempted to walk away and say aloud "Man, to whom does this naughty brat belong??? That mother did something seriously wrong in the raising of this kid".... alas, so far I have resisted temptation!!).

Well, one indication that Mr. Hyde took the lead is the reaction to the simple word: "No". I try NOT to over-use it, but there are certain things he has to learn, and a "No" is a "No" and it stays a "No". If Mr. Hyde is in the lead, the immediate reaction is "throw yourself on the ground and scream your head off", no matter where or if the ground is wet or dirty or whatever. And there he stays. If you try to pick him up, he just "melts down" to the ground again. Well, highly enjoyable, especially if you're out and can't just leave him there. It happened in the water play area in the park the other day. He was all Dr. Jenkyll when all of a sudden he ran away, and Mr. Hyde kicked in. In the end I had to pack "away" the screaming and kicking kid in the bike seat and ride my bike home with this "adorable" soundtrack on the back. It must have looked rather comical, to be honest. I mean, this really pregnant woman puffing away on her bike with a howling kid on the back who was also using his fists on her back. Well, Dr. Jenkyll DID take over again before I reached home, which was good, because I was on the point of boiling over myself (and not only because of the Mosbach June heat), but I kept my own Mr. Hyde under control, thank you Jesus.