#irisgreyloong

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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this little person has so many faces, she’s very expressive like her dad @devin_loong. can you believe she’s almost two soon 🥳 . last night, she pinched me while nursing, and when I shouted OUCH, she surprised me by unlatching to say “Sorry!” and then went back to nursing. she even says sorry on Topher’s behalf and cries for him when he’s in trouble. he’s often in trouble that kid. 🤦🏻‍♀️ #irisgreyloong #23monthsold #daddysgirl https://www.instagram.com/p/CK_bXpdnqJF/?igshid=1ttv1t37c9b25

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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

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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

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daddy’s girl ❤️ #irisgreyloong #crazyhairdontcare #bigbananafan @devin_loong https://www.instagram.com/p/CE6x2gypF3C/?igshid=628xlgo5jnap

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hello iris, you’re 18 months old today. how time has flown by, raising you in covid times has been quite a rollercoaster ride. life has slowed down, but at the same time, it has become a little too quiet. luckily, you’ve been spending so much time with your big brothers, it’s wonderful to see. 🥳 . . you are so used to seeing friends and family via the iPad or on mommy’s phone. we see grandpa and “akoo” and aunties almost everyday now. I wonder when will we be able to see our family in person. but the delivery person gets a big HERROW. always exciting to get a new parcel in these times 😂 . . your favorite foods are cheese, cereal, banana and milk milo, plus we enjoy the occasional pokky stick. #sweettooth soup and rice are winners too. you enjoy playing in the kitchen, and today you made up a dish for your big brother to eat! 🍲 you have a temper of a raging dragon, adventurous and playful. your favorite teacher is your brother Topher whom you love to imitate, he taught you up and down today. you’re getting super chatty, and you looooove to play peekaboo and scare me! Gah! ❤️ . . we love you heaps little dragon Iris 🌈 #happy18mo #irisgreyloong #almostwalking #almost https://www.instagram.com/p/CEt-NfMJ33i/?igshid=1qb8ypf2dh3ir

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oh hello Iris! little one is 16 months old today. she can sing “let it go”, as in shout “GOOOO!” over and over again when we play it in the car. Topher is not impressed as she tries to outshine his singing abilities with her own. 🎶 she can slide down the slide on her own, definitely knows her own nose, and extremely proficient chomping on apples, spitting food out and throwing bits of everything into the floor. 🍎 she also rides her “scooter” very well around the house, and has bravely taken corners at high speed and ended up flying onto the hard ground. ouch. many times, she is unfazed. also, not yet walking. has a fiery temper. but also pretty chilled most days 🤔 #irisgreyloong #16mo #mylittlewildchild https://www.instagram.com/p/CCNcTuKpUWK/?igshid=1jg0dy7mgkevc

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she climbs. 😅 and this independent little girl has decided that she doesn’t need any help to join us at the dining table. she only needs an empty chair 🤦🏻‍♀️ today alone, she climbed up several times on her own. and so, now has her own chair at the table 😂 #irisgreyloong #notyetwalking #reallygoodclimbing #bothupanddown @devin_loong https://www.instagram.com/p/B-RnCgmp1su/?igshid=95or2v6v0g3y

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it was a lovely sunny March day and the little one sat amongst the dandelions and lush green grass watching the bubbles whooosh by. and wearing a dress that my mother made for her first granddaughter, and now on her second. ❤️ blessed to have celebrated her birthday surrounded by family who love her very much. my heart is full, thank you xx #irisgreyloong #happybirthdayiris #irisisone #myboo #bubblemachinefun #allthehappys @devin_loong https://www.instagram.com/p/B9g3VURplHb/?igshid=3qgmoi5rqum

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oh hey just me, feeling super chuffed that I have my own paper now. the big people realized I could “write” when I signed on daddy’s documents for him 😂 #irisgreyloong #sohelpfuloops #lookatthatchin https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Wp6B3pe4g/?igshid=17xqp89oezgiw

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almost a year old soon. busy as a bee, shouting for her daddy and then for her kor kor. so loud and cheeky 🐖 #irisgreyloong #justbeingbaby #thismamaistired https://www.instagram.com/p/B8dzTXMJvvc/?igshid=ql8ycb3jbixc