#irisgreyloong

this amazing kid has done it. she’s walking, running and jumping. 🥳 and best of all, no longer needs her brace! YAYYYY! she can wear gumboots now. she can wear all the colors! she can wear any shoe she likes! YAYYYY! she had a specialist appointment today and they concluded that she had enough flexibility in her feet and no longer needs her brace to help correct her walk. I sobbed tears of joy and relief on the kitchen floor just now. she’s OK. 💕 #irisgreyloong #iriscanwalk #proudofyou #growingup https://www.instagram.com/p/CUwbUmGlICf/?utm_medium=tumblr

I often hear her small voice ask me politely, “Can you help me?”. She needs a tissue for her nose, she needs to charge her iPad or she needs some water to drink. 💕 But lately it’s become more “I want to do it myself.” She’s getting so independent. I expected it, but still I don’t feel ready! Being independent equals to picking her own clothing choices, making many many decisions in her day, shall we walk or scoot, strawberries or pears, and holding her own when it comes to taking her turn with the TV. 😂 Today, she went to the toilet, and she put on her own PJs, including her pull-ups too. Her needs are to feel safe to decide and be in control, and being able to do it herself is really important to her, to all our kids. It means a smoother bedtime routine for all. 🥳 Growing up so quickly, I’m going to ask her for squishes and squeeze out as many hugs as I can. ❤️ #growinguptoofast #irisgreyloong #littlestloong #respectfulparenting #gentleparenting #consciousparenting #parenting #purposefulparenting #proudmama #bedtimeroutine https://www.instagram.com/p/CSebdvNF3sM/?utm_medium=tumblr

this kid. she knocks on the door. I’m hiding and she knows. “Mommy, open door.” “Mommy, open the door.” “Mommy, open the for for Iris!” I open the door for the kid. I’m not sure if she’s only two years old here. #irisgreyloong #noescape #twogoingonfiveyearsold (at Rhyll, Victoria) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRJGIZnFAJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

we had a check-in this week at @rchmelbourne on her progress with walking as she’s had the brace for quite a few weeks now. so far so good, she’s able to bend a little more but the physio said we need a lot more flexibility as she will need it as she grows bigger. we will be wearing this brace for a while. hard to believe she only started walking in March, when she just about turned two. and now she’s been excitedly trying to learn to jump with little hops everywhere, and shouting “mommy, watch me!” and closely followed by “mommy, did you see me?”. “Yes Iris, I saw that big jump! You should be so proud of yourself..!” each child has their own journey and I once thought walking milestones wouldn’t be that big a deal after the two other kids, but I was wrong. for her it is a really big one and we will take it one step at a time. ❤️ #proudmom #welldoneiris #irisgreyloong #parenting #respectfulparenting #positiveparenting #peacefulparenting #untigeringme #learningthroughmychildren https://www.instagram.com/p/CQhqVGtnQnK/?utm_medium=tumblr

didn’t want to go to daycare this morning. #thatface but we made it. and in the evening when I picked her up, she ran to me and gave me a hug ❤️ and then told me it’s fruit time and went back to sit with her friends, waiting for their turn to pick some fruit for snack time. 😂 I’m so glad she’s happy at daycare. so much to play, learn and do there. 💕 #irisgreyloong #grumpypot #likeaboss @devin_loong https://www.instagram.com/p/CPGEC9cn79i/?utm_medium=tumblr

love spending the day with my little rainbow. her brothers are at school and we are having a lovely time going out by ourselves and she is trying on each and every ride-on we see. 😂 #irisgreyloong #onlychild #meandmyboo (at Highpoint Shopping Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/COSY4_mn8gg/?igshid=1k3b9j4ttd651

she took her first actual steps today. it’s been a long wait, I was quietly panicking inside (she’s 21mo now) but everyday, we kept encouraging and practicing with her. would she reach two years without walking her?! 😱 . her brothers just stood up and walked, but not this willful little one. she has a mind of her own and everytime she shakes her head, no stand, no walk - we wait to learn another day. hopefully more actual walking has begun ❤️ . #irisgreyloong #firststeps #iriswalks #proudmama https://www.instagram.com/p/CIVlNGnpYEd/?igshid=1x3rbiz2xxlzo

she started saying thank you yesterday at the dinner table. gave us a surprise, she’s always been chatty with baby babble but clear words after she’s asked for “moar” was wonderful to hear ❤️ #learningbyexample #hastwobigbrothers #irisgreyloong @devin_loong https://www.instagram.com/p/CFpANK9pyu-/?igshid=mckixn8yo2ab