Happy happy 101

I've been tagged by my oldest friend, Monique (a glass half full) to create a list of 10 things that make me happy. If I'd written this list 10 years ago I'm sure it would've been very different:

1. Drinking a cup of tea while it's still hot. A rare experience and so special when the moment unexpectedly arrives.
2. Sleeping for longer than 3 or 4 hours in a row. Ahh the bliss of waking up and realising I've had a 5 hour stretch.
3. The rare times when both my boys are asleep at the same time, particularly if I'm on the couch with a DVD, the remote control and a HOT cup of tea. Ahh, give me more of that good stuff.
4. Driving on my own, listening to adult music or radio.
5. A good long (uninterrupted) chat with a girlfriend.
6. Hanging out in the backyard when the lawns are mowed and everything looks nice and tidy. It's so inviting, particularly on a calm, sunny day.
7. That glass of wine in the evening after baby Bugalugs has fed and gone to bed. I've finally reached the stage when he's unlikely to demand a feed for a good few hours.
8. Sitting in the dark at the movies, when the film's just about to start, with a choc-top in hand. Ahh, the anticipation. That's my happy place.
9. Writing, getting lost in it, not noticing the time passing. Wish I could do it more.
10. Listening to my kids laughing their heads off when their dad is getting them ready for a bath, blowing on their tummies.

I think I'm supposed to tag others to write their lists but Monique's the only one I know who blogs. Maybe some of you might like to send a favourite thing or two as a comment ...?

The long-awaited 'TRUCK CAKE'!!!

4th August - singing, cake, Ruby and pulling funny faces! Four of Monkey's favourite things in one go (actually, five - Granma and Gramps gave him a bin truck), so who could ask for more on their birthday?

But then there was more: 7th August - most of Monkey's favourite people all in one place - the Munns and Roses all gathered together to share his 2nd birthday. All Monkey wanted for his birthday was 'a truck cake' which made for quite a bit of pressure for his mum and dad in the cake-making department. We overcame a big hurdle when our first attempt broke in half but Ad made a late night dash to the supermarket for more ingredients and we got there in the end.

When Monkey saw the cake he decided it wasn't just any old truck cake, it was a 'bin truck cake!' (and we quickly agreed that's what we'd intended to make all along). He was in birthday cake heaven!

After all the excitement, Monkey crashed out for a long sleep while everyone else continued to enjoy his party.

Monkey's second year

Tomorrow is our Monkey Boy's 2nd birthday. Looking back at how much he's learned since he turned one I realise that it's been quite a year. A year ago Monkey was crawling, only knew a few words, would sleep twice in the day and we were still spoon-feeding him.

This year my baby has grown into a little boy. Not only has he learned to walk (and run, dance and get dizzy), he's also learned to talk (incessantly), count, and sing (and making up songs, albeit not very tricky ones - 'truck song, la la la').

This was a year of firsts including his first sand castle, first ride in Poppy's boat, first hair cut, first stay in hospital. Monkey became a big brother and is reluctantly learning to share his parents' attention.

When asked who his best buddies are he lists 'Braden, Ruby and Acey-Boy'. His favourite grown ups are Granma, Aunty Net and Mardi. And a few of his current favourite things are: his blue sippy cup with dolphins on it, all types of trucks! (especially tow trucks, cement trucks, crane trucks, diggers and his absolute favourite: BIN trucks!), watching the bin truck collect the rubbish on Monday mornings, doing jig-saw puzzles, providing a running commentary of everything he does (all day), going to Symbio, Crazy Maze and the Nursery Cafe, watching Play School, singing, eating cheese, eating brocolli (yay), not sleeping during the day and building space men out of Duplo blocks. A couple of new favourites have emerged this week: making collages (we've cut up every magazine in the house) and pulling funny faces.

So happy 2nd birthday to my little fella, I love you more than I ever could have dreamed was possible.