Dear Matthew
Growing up, Christmas' in the Constable house were magical. We were surrounded by family and friends, amazing food and a truckload of presents. But on reflection my memories aren't filled with the material gifts we received. They are filled with the smell of waffles in the morning, hearing laughter at lunchtime and the thrill of swimming or playing games with my cousins in the afternoon. Even the lead up to Christmas had memories of singing carols at Judy and Johns house, decorating the family tree and having a visit from a very familiar looking Father Christmas on Christmas Eve (where we would have gathered for dinner with friends and family and each received a small present from the big guy).
The point I'm trying to make is that there are so many good things about Christmas other than materialism and consumerism. While the act of giving is important, it's who we give things to and what we give that are key.
So this year, we have donated to hampers for St Vinnies and have sent Christmas cards to our World Vision kids. In the past we have donated to the Kmart Wishing Tree and bought goats for third world families. And we have bought you one present. Because you have a thousand toys already, and you won't remember what we bought you anyway (it's a car garage that your dad picked out for himself- I mean, for you- that I'm sure you and him will have fun playing with).
In the future you'll hopefully receive a stocking from Santa and then four gifts from your mum and dad- something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.
And no doubt you'll still find Christmas magical. Because there doesn't need to be a mountain of presents for it to be that way. It just is.
Love you gorgeous boy.
Mum xxx
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Preparing for the man in red
Dear Matthew
Well, your second Christmas is not far off and we've been busy putting up trees, buying and making presents and starting/maintaining our Christmas traditions.
At the start of December, grandma, gramps and Aunty Robyn all came over to decorate our tree with you... And you slept through the whole thing haha! We also set up your advent calendar that Aunty Robyn made for you last year. It's mostly filled with your own toys but you don't seem to mind! And as tradition dictates, we watched National Lampoons Christnas Vacation.
The next day we were at grandma and gramps' house so we set up the Constable family tree with them. Since then you've also 'helped' decorate their ten or so other trees when they've been looking after you while I've been at work.
Last weekend we also managed to get a really good photo of you with Santa, much to our surprise and delight! After hearing traumatic unsuccessful stories from mums at mothers group we weren't sure how you'd go but thought we'd give it a shot (as it means a lot to me to keep this tradition going from last year). We asked the guy taking photos what he recommended and he said I should hold you, walk backwards towards Santa, put you on his lap without you actually seeing him and then hope for the best. And it worked! You were a little but freaked after a few seconds but no real tears thankfully. You even managed to get a teddy from Santa for being such a brave boy. I'm going to make the teddy into your Christmas tree decoration for this year :)
Lastly, we have also been walking around at night looking at all the houses nearby that are lit up for Christmas. We're so lucky there's five or six really well decorated houses nearby.
So!! The traditions are alive and well. Only six more sleeps!
Love you my little elf.
Mum xxx
Well, your second Christmas is not far off and we've been busy putting up trees, buying and making presents and starting/maintaining our Christmas traditions.
At the start of December, grandma, gramps and Aunty Robyn all came over to decorate our tree with you... And you slept through the whole thing haha! We also set up your advent calendar that Aunty Robyn made for you last year. It's mostly filled with your own toys but you don't seem to mind! And as tradition dictates, we watched National Lampoons Christnas Vacation.
The next day we were at grandma and gramps' house so we set up the Constable family tree with them. Since then you've also 'helped' decorate their ten or so other trees when they've been looking after you while I've been at work.
Last weekend we also managed to get a really good photo of you with Santa, much to our surprise and delight! After hearing traumatic unsuccessful stories from mums at mothers group we weren't sure how you'd go but thought we'd give it a shot (as it means a lot to me to keep this tradition going from last year). We asked the guy taking photos what he recommended and he said I should hold you, walk backwards towards Santa, put you on his lap without you actually seeing him and then hope for the best. And it worked! You were a little but freaked after a few seconds but no real tears thankfully. You even managed to get a teddy from Santa for being such a brave boy. I'm going to make the teddy into your Christmas tree decoration for this year :)
Lastly, we have also been walking around at night looking at all the houses nearby that are lit up for Christmas. We're so lucky there's five or six really well decorated houses nearby.
So!! The traditions are alive and well. Only six more sleeps!
Love you my little elf.
Mum xxx
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Build 'em up, build 'em up, build 'em higher
Dear Matthew
It might seem trivial when you read this, but today you put one building block on top of the other and began to build a tower. This was a big leap in your cognitive development as prior to this you would just have fun knocking over the towers I built. But today you built one four blocks high, and I was so so proud of you!
You've also started doing a few cool things:
1. Blowing kisses, waving goodbye on request, high fiving, trying to jump, shushing Soda, moving me to where you want me to go, and just generally communicating more through mime
2. Talking way more- at last count you're up to 20 words (mum, dad, da for Soda, ball, jump, ta, gone, duck, clap, broom, woof, uh-uh, shhh, boo for peekaboo, boobie, mwah for kiss, boom for thunder, toot toot for train while making the arm movement of blowing a horn, duh for dummy and making a sss sound for snake)
3. You make a clicking sound around the cats (which we taught you as we do it) and literally lay on all the animals with a smile on your face, seemingly cuddling them
4. Walking to the point where you're basically running
5. Become obsessed with the hose and being outdoors. You know where the two hoses are at out house and three hoses are at grandma and gramps' house and head to them at every opportunity.
6. You dance- to ads, mum singing, the radio. It's gorgeous.
7. You are much better in the car! Yippee!!
Better go as you're waking up from your nap.
Love you!
Mum xxx
It might seem trivial when you read this, but today you put one building block on top of the other and began to build a tower. This was a big leap in your cognitive development as prior to this you would just have fun knocking over the towers I built. But today you built one four blocks high, and I was so so proud of you!
You've also started doing a few cool things:
1. Blowing kisses, waving goodbye on request, high fiving, trying to jump, shushing Soda, moving me to where you want me to go, and just generally communicating more through mime
2. Talking way more- at last count you're up to 20 words (mum, dad, da for Soda, ball, jump, ta, gone, duck, clap, broom, woof, uh-uh, shhh, boo for peekaboo, boobie, mwah for kiss, boom for thunder, toot toot for train while making the arm movement of blowing a horn, duh for dummy and making a sss sound for snake)
3. You make a clicking sound around the cats (which we taught you as we do it) and literally lay on all the animals with a smile on your face, seemingly cuddling them
4. Walking to the point where you're basically running
5. Become obsessed with the hose and being outdoors. You know where the two hoses are at out house and three hoses are at grandma and gramps' house and head to them at every opportunity.
6. You dance- to ads, mum singing, the radio. It's gorgeous.
7. You are much better in the car! Yippee!!
Better go as you're waking up from your nap.
Love you!
Mum xxx
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Your first trip overseas....Rotto!
Dear Matthew
Last Friday we took the ferry to Rottnest, just for the night, along with your Nanna, Darryl, Aunty Chantel, Mikayla, Ella and Harrison, as part of Camp Autism.
You loved the ferry ride over, charming a bunch of Japanese tourists with your willing smile and twinkling eyes. It was a slightly rough journey but you didn't complain too much and we arrived around 10:30. We headed straight to the bakery where you encountered your first quokka and were more than comfortable walking up to it, wanting to touch it. Luckily your dad intercepted and you were happy enough to just chill with it for a bit.
After yummy pies for lunch we met up with the fam and set off to our accommodation. After some hiccups we finally got the keys and settled in. During the afternoon we went for a chilly swim and you had a little nap on our makeshift bed (two single beds on the floor). For dinner we headed to the pub and you managed to cuddle a quokka, you sneaky baby!
The next morning we chilled in the town centre, played on the nearby playground and headed back to the beach again, before boarding the ferry back home in afternoon.
While we had a lovely time, you seemed a bit off colour and unfortunately kept falling over/bumping your head. Hopefully you'll enjoy it a bit more (and therefore your mum and dad too) when you're a bit older!
So blessed to have you my darling boy.
Love,
Mum xxx
Last Friday we took the ferry to Rottnest, just for the night, along with your Nanna, Darryl, Aunty Chantel, Mikayla, Ella and Harrison, as part of Camp Autism.
You loved the ferry ride over, charming a bunch of Japanese tourists with your willing smile and twinkling eyes. It was a slightly rough journey but you didn't complain too much and we arrived around 10:30. We headed straight to the bakery where you encountered your first quokka and were more than comfortable walking up to it, wanting to touch it. Luckily your dad intercepted and you were happy enough to just chill with it for a bit.
After yummy pies for lunch we met up with the fam and set off to our accommodation. After some hiccups we finally got the keys and settled in. During the afternoon we went for a chilly swim and you had a little nap on our makeshift bed (two single beds on the floor). For dinner we headed to the pub and you managed to cuddle a quokka, you sneaky baby!
The next morning we chilled in the town centre, played on the nearby playground and headed back to the beach again, before boarding the ferry back home in afternoon.
While we had a lovely time, you seemed a bit off colour and unfortunately kept falling over/bumping your head. Hopefully you'll enjoy it a bit more (and therefore your mum and dad too) when you're a bit older!
So blessed to have you my darling boy.
Love,
Mum xxx
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