Oh, hope you all have a great evening tomorrow night... not quite sure whether we will join in the festivities? It will have been an extremely long, hard, stressful, tiring day!
See or speak to you all in the New Year! Happy 2012!
And... thanks for all your support so far. Hope you are not sick of me yet!
Friday 30 December 2011
A whole day of it!
Well... today was my final day home with my family in good old NZ.
We spent the day at home, all 12 of us... the Grandies'(2), my family(4), sister G's family(3), and sister K's family(3).
It was an entire day... (that's 7am to 8pm) of noise and chaos!
Stupidly, we decided to have a photo shoot... mainly to photograph the young'uns.
My sister G has a bit of an eye when it comes to photography... still what do they say? 'Never work with animals or children!'...well... there were 4 kids to work with... two of which aren't particularly interested in doing what you ask of them! So when sister G wanted a photo with Nana and my girls... cousin C naturally wanted to be in the shot! Or when placing children in certain positions for colour effect or symmetry etc, my big girl would always be disagreeable... usually wanting to sit next to cousin C!
Still we got there in the end, even if our brows were drenched in sweat and we were all nervous wrecks!
Now... best I get to bed. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Damn it... 'Gavin and Stacey' has just started... might have to watch that first!
We spent the day at home, all 12 of us... the Grandies'(2), my family(4), sister G's family(3), and sister K's family(3).
It was an entire day... (that's 7am to 8pm) of noise and chaos!
Stupidly, we decided to have a photo shoot... mainly to photograph the young'uns.
My sister G has a bit of an eye when it comes to photography... still what do they say? 'Never work with animals or children!'...well... there were 4 kids to work with... two of which aren't particularly interested in doing what you ask of them! So when sister G wanted a photo with Nana and my girls... cousin C naturally wanted to be in the shot! Or when placing children in certain positions for colour effect or symmetry etc, my big girl would always be disagreeable... usually wanting to sit next to cousin C!
Still we got there in the end, even if our brows were drenched in sweat and we were all nervous wrecks!
Now... best I get to bed. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Damn it... 'Gavin and Stacey' has just started... might have to watch that first!
Thursday 29 December 2011
A first...
Today our big girl experienced her first film. We had been thinking about taking her for a while, and finally settled on 'The Muppets' as our film of choice.
We invited Auntie G and cousin C to go with us and met them at the cinema for a 2.20pm start.
On our arrival to the cinema, the queues went from the candy bar to the entrance. Both tickets and food items were on sale at the candy bar, it was a particularly busy time of day, with lots of children's films screening.
We had prepaid for our tickets on line in the hope of avoiding queues and to ensure we would be able to sit together, and were both surprised and annoyed that we would have to wait in a queue for 20 minutes or so to verify that they were paid for. I couldn't believe my eyes when we walked into the theatre as we basically had our choice of seats with perhaps 20 people in all there for the viewing!
I recommended this film to kids with parents who used to be Muppet's fans, but also to fans of Bret McKenzie of 'Flight of the Conchords' fame as he was very involved in the song writing side of things!
It was thoroughly enjoyed by all!
We invited Auntie G and cousin C to go with us and met them at the cinema for a 2.20pm start.
On our arrival to the cinema, the queues went from the candy bar to the entrance. Both tickets and food items were on sale at the candy bar, it was a particularly busy time of day, with lots of children's films screening.
We had prepaid for our tickets on line in the hope of avoiding queues and to ensure we would be able to sit together, and were both surprised and annoyed that we would have to wait in a queue for 20 minutes or so to verify that they were paid for. I couldn't believe my eyes when we walked into the theatre as we basically had our choice of seats with perhaps 20 people in all there for the viewing!
I recommended this film to kids with parents who used to be Muppet's fans, but also to fans of Bret McKenzie of 'Flight of the Conchords' fame as he was very involved in the song writing side of things!
It was thoroughly enjoyed by all!
Wednesday 28 December 2011
Fireman Sam...
I love hearing Dad singing at the top of his lungs in the shower... especially kids songs... this morning it was the Fireman Sam theme song! Very cute!
Tuesday 27 December 2011
Dinner with kids...
Dinner was a tad chaotic tonight.
Six and a half of us (the half being Miss H), sat down to eat the evening meal. Miss H had been saying how hungry she was, but after one bite of a BBQ'd sausage, she said she was no longer hungry. She hopped down from the dinner table and I continued with my meal. Next minute Baby O was crying... after having been asleep for 45 minutes or so. I scoffed my meal quickly with Miss O on my shoulder, then relocated to the couch to feed her.
Normally we wouldn't give Miss H desert if she hadn't eaten the main part of the meal, but tonight we did. Desert consisted of brandy snap baskets with cream and berries. Miss H ate the berries and snorted the cream, but showed no interest in the sugary goodness that is a brandy snap!
After bath and PJs she started going on about how hungry she was(I would be too if all I had had for dinner was cream!), we stuck with our guns saying she could enjoy breakfast the following morning.
She went to bed a bit hungry, but hopefully will learn to eat a bit more of what is served for dinner, and not expect whatever she wants later on when dinner is over and done with!
Six and a half of us (the half being Miss H), sat down to eat the evening meal. Miss H had been saying how hungry she was, but after one bite of a BBQ'd sausage, she said she was no longer hungry. She hopped down from the dinner table and I continued with my meal. Next minute Baby O was crying... after having been asleep for 45 minutes or so. I scoffed my meal quickly with Miss O on my shoulder, then relocated to the couch to feed her.
Normally we wouldn't give Miss H desert if she hadn't eaten the main part of the meal, but tonight we did. Desert consisted of brandy snap baskets with cream and berries. Miss H ate the berries and snorted the cream, but showed no interest in the sugary goodness that is a brandy snap!
After bath and PJs she started going on about how hungry she was(I would be too if all I had had for dinner was cream!), we stuck with our guns saying she could enjoy breakfast the following morning.
She went to bed a bit hungry, but hopefully will learn to eat a bit more of what is served for dinner, and not expect whatever she wants later on when dinner is over and done with!
Monday 26 December 2011
Dinner at the harbour...
So we had this great idea today... There is this fish and chip shop on the city side of the harbour that has this fantastic reputation... We would get dinner there... drive back to the 'The Mount' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Maunganui and have a picnic dinner!
Lovely idea in theory!
Silly of us to assume that the fish and chip shop would be open, or that any fish and chip shop would be open on Boxing Day!
Anyway... one was finally located, and we had a lovely picnic on the beach... even if it was a little cold!
Lovely idea in theory!
Silly of us to assume that the fish and chip shop would be open, or that any fish and chip shop would be open on Boxing Day!
Anyway... one was finally located, and we had a lovely picnic on the beach... even if it was a little cold!
There were 4 in the bed...
On this trip we are sharing a double room with our two girls... I am loving being so close to them as they sleep. There is a double bed, a blow up single air bed and a moses basket in its stand, so as you can imagine there isn't an awful lot of floor space!
I love sharing...but... the mess is driving me nuts!
It is tidy now, as I spent some time this afternoon organising, but I can guarantee you that by morning it will be chaos once more! Its nice that it is all contained to one room... but its making me realise that I am completely disorganised!
I love sharing...but... the mess is driving me nuts!
It is tidy now, as I spent some time this afternoon organising, but I can guarantee you that by morning it will be chaos once more! Its nice that it is all contained to one room... but its making me realise that I am completely disorganised!
Sunday 25 December 2011
Christmas at our house...
Well... that was fun! I am however exhausted! My family is a little nutty... maybe thats understating it... they are more than a little nutty!
Christmas at our end consisted of a lovely brunch at my Sister's place and dinner at Mum's.
The big girl and her cousin couldn't get on this morning... Miss H was the antagonist, quite enjoying winding cousin C up.
They got on way better in the afternoon/evening, apart from when Miss H tried to hit cousin C with her foot!
My little one had bad wind all day... she hardly slept, and was pretty miserable, which added to the chaos of the day. But now she sleeps... and so does the big girl!
Am enjoying a quiet coffee before I head to bed... ahhhh sleep!
Hope you had a lovely day!
Christmas at our end consisted of a lovely brunch at my Sister's place and dinner at Mum's.
The big girl and her cousin couldn't get on this morning... Miss H was the antagonist, quite enjoying winding cousin C up.
They got on way better in the afternoon/evening, apart from when Miss H tried to hit cousin C with her foot!
My little one had bad wind all day... she hardly slept, and was pretty miserable, which added to the chaos of the day. But now she sleeps... and so does the big girl!
Am enjoying a quiet coffee before I head to bed... ahhhh sleep!
Hope you had a lovely day!
Saturday 24 December 2011
Something funny...
Something funny that happened today...
It was a gorgeous sunny day, Miss H wore bathers most of the day... at one stage her bathers were riding up her bottom, so I said pull your bathers out of your bottom... she didn't get quite what I meant and proceeded to give herself the biggest wedgie!
Very funny and oh so cute!
Merry Christmas one and all.
It was a gorgeous sunny day, Miss H wore bathers most of the day... at one stage her bathers were riding up her bottom, so I said pull your bathers out of your bottom... she didn't get quite what I meant and proceeded to give herself the biggest wedgie!
Very funny and oh so cute!
Merry Christmas one and all.
Merry Christmas...
So family has started arriving, and the days are getting louder and busier...
I don't know if I will have time to post tomorrow, so I wanted to wish all of you, but especially those with young families, a wonderful, magical, slightly chaotic Merry Christmas.
Speak soon!
Vanessa
I don't know if I will have time to post tomorrow, so I wanted to wish all of you, but especially those with young families, a wonderful, magical, slightly chaotic Merry Christmas.
Speak soon!
Vanessa
Friday 23 December 2011
Dinner time...
So... dinner time is my worst time of the day... I can never think of what to feed the big girl, so much gets rejected, I end up giving her the same things over and over again.
Tonight... all we hear prior to dinner is the usual... 'I'm hungry', dinner is served up, she has a few mouthfuls and says 'I'm not hungry'.
I have been pretty consistent for a while now, saying this is what is on offer, and if you aren't going to eat it, there will be nothing else, which she accepts fine.
Tonight, as we were about to hop into the tub, she again announces that she is hungry... (ugghhhh, haven't we just been through this?' We troop back out to the kitchen to scoop up our dinner plate... still full of uneaten food, and proceed to not only finish it, but also finish a bowl of yoghurt, cherries, strawberries and grapes...
Not hungry my arse!
Tonight... all we hear prior to dinner is the usual... 'I'm hungry', dinner is served up, she has a few mouthfuls and says 'I'm not hungry'.
I have been pretty consistent for a while now, saying this is what is on offer, and if you aren't going to eat it, there will be nothing else, which she accepts fine.
Tonight, as we were about to hop into the tub, she again announces that she is hungry... (ugghhhh, haven't we just been through this?' We troop back out to the kitchen to scoop up our dinner plate... still full of uneaten food, and proceed to not only finish it, but also finish a bowl of yoghurt, cherries, strawberries and grapes...
Not hungry my arse!
Busy, busy, busy...
Well... I had two mad, but wonderful days with my sister and her girl.. thanks to you all for putting up with us!
Last night we celebrated my niece's 3rd Birthday, ending up at a lovely little night market called the 'Little Big' markethttp://thelittlebigmarkets.blogspot.com/... with lots of gorgeous stalls, full of handmade clothes, bags, food etc... my sisters ended up buying my little one a couple of outfits from this cute little french label...http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101266543316655.2199.100002999286329&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=327966927230155&set=a.292375220789326.89036.290865550940293&type=1&theater.
We ended up on a grassy patch grooving along to Tiki Tane... of Salmonella Dub fame.
A lovely night, which ended badly on the road home, when our girl figured out she had left her baby(doll) at her cousins house, and also that she wouldn't be spending the night sleeping in her cousins room... disaster!
After a lovely sleep and a slightly chaotic morning, we made it to the harbour for a lovely swim and play in the sand.... absolute bliss!
Am stuffed... as per usual!
Last night we celebrated my niece's 3rd Birthday, ending up at a lovely little night market called the 'Little Big' markethttp://thelittlebigmarkets.blogspot.com/... with lots of gorgeous stalls, full of handmade clothes, bags, food etc... my sisters ended up buying my little one a couple of outfits from this cute little french label...http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101266543316655.2199.100002999286329&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=327966927230155&set=a.292375220789326.89036.290865550940293&type=1&theater.
We ended up on a grassy patch grooving along to Tiki Tane... of Salmonella Dub fame.
A lovely night, which ended badly on the road home, when our girl figured out she had left her baby(doll) at her cousins house, and also that she wouldn't be spending the night sleeping in her cousins room... disaster!
After a lovely sleep and a slightly chaotic morning, we made it to the harbour for a lovely swim and play in the sand.... absolute bliss!
Am stuffed... as per usual!
Been seeing a chiro in NZ...
Just wanted to get your thoughts on Paediatric Chiropractors... any one used them... swear by them?
Thursday 22 December 2011
Wednesday 21 December 2011
The sleep over...
Oh... Our sleep over lasted 2 nights... the first night was particularly exciting... we took Miss H and cousin C out once it was dark to see a street of houses heavily decorated with Christmas lights... they loved it, but were past it on our arrival home!
Bed time last night was a bit all over the place! We had two very tired little girls. Miss H ended up getting a bit upset at bed time, but went off quietly in the end... so as you can imagine, we were all a bit worried about how tonight would go!
Well... it was a huge success! They both went off to sleep very quietly.. no calling out, no popping out of bedrooms to ask questions. They talked to each other for a while, then went off to sleep beautifully!
For our little family, this trip has been a massive disruption in our daily routine... and although life is a little more chaotic and busy than normal... I am continually amazed at how well my big girl adjusts to everything that is thrown her way!
Bed time last night was a bit all over the place! We had two very tired little girls. Miss H ended up getting a bit upset at bed time, but went off quietly in the end... so as you can imagine, we were all a bit worried about how tonight would go!
Well... it was a huge success! They both went off to sleep very quietly.. no calling out, no popping out of bedrooms to ask questions. They talked to each other for a while, then went off to sleep beautifully!
For our little family, this trip has been a massive disruption in our daily routine... and although life is a little more chaotic and busy than normal... I am continually amazed at how well my big girl adjusts to everything that is thrown her way!
Day time sleeps...
Have been wondering for a while now if I should drop the day time sleep!
In our house it goes like this...
Day time sleep... bed at 7.30pm, asleep by 8.30pm, sometimes later!
No day time sleep... bed at 7.30, asleep by 7.45pm!
So you can see my dilemma (probably many of us share it!). Should I be dropping day time sleeps?
Well... we have been in NZ for four days, and over those four days have not yet had a day time sleep... to be honest, I don't think she is coping very well... she lasts the full day, but becomes a bit erratic and unmanageable in the early hours of the evening. Granted... she goes to bed far earlier... but is it worth the erratic behaviour?
I'm thinking not! As of tomorrow, I think we will trial a day time nap every second day... will let you know how we go!
In our house it goes like this...
Day time sleep... bed at 7.30pm, asleep by 8.30pm, sometimes later!
No day time sleep... bed at 7.30, asleep by 7.45pm!
So you can see my dilemma (probably many of us share it!). Should I be dropping day time sleeps?
Well... we have been in NZ for four days, and over those four days have not yet had a day time sleep... to be honest, I don't think she is coping very well... she lasts the full day, but becomes a bit erratic and unmanageable in the early hours of the evening. Granted... she goes to bed far earlier... but is it worth the erratic behaviour?
I'm thinking not! As of tomorrow, I think we will trial a day time nap every second day... will let you know how we go!
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Not best friends...
I'm a bit sad... I have just been told in a voice (with attitude), that I am no longer Miss H's best friend... all because I said she couldn't watch TV!
Cuteness...
Don't you just love kids conversations on the phone.
Miss H was speaking to her cousin Miss C (3) today... They talked for about 5 minutes with no adult contact... Miss C took Miss H down to her room to show her her dinosaur bed... so cute she didn't realise that Miss H couldn't see through the phone!
BIG adventure tonight... We are having a sleepover and Miss C's house tonight... will let you know how it goes!
Miss H was speaking to her cousin Miss C (3) today... They talked for about 5 minutes with no adult contact... Miss C took Miss H down to her room to show her her dinosaur bed... so cute she didn't realise that Miss H couldn't see through the phone!
BIG adventure tonight... We are having a sleepover and Miss C's house tonight... will let you know how it goes!
Monday 19 December 2011
What do you want for Christmas...
So... Miss H (2.75) would really like a scooter for Christmas... so far she has met two Santas', and if I am to be honest, has been a little disappointed with a.) the book she received at her creche Christmas party, and b.) the skipping rope she received at a second Christmas party...
I make her sound so ungrateful... shes not... she loves both, its just that she was expecting a scooter!
For a couple of months she has been talking about this scooter... How she came up with the idea of a scooter, I have no idea... but... she has stuck with it!
Last week we wrote a letter to Santa, to 1.) make sure he knew we were staying at Nana's for Christmas, as this is where our present needs to be delivered, and 2.) to tell him that what we really wanted most in the world was a pink scooter!
Yesterday Nana's neighbour organised a video from Santa... one of those sites where you upload a photo, and your request... Miss H, was so excited to see that Santa had received her letter, knew her name and that what she really wanted was a scooter.
Lets hope there are enough scooters to go around!
Will keep you updated.
I make her sound so ungrateful... shes not... she loves both, its just that she was expecting a scooter!
For a couple of months she has been talking about this scooter... How she came up with the idea of a scooter, I have no idea... but... she has stuck with it!
Last week we wrote a letter to Santa, to 1.) make sure he knew we were staying at Nana's for Christmas, as this is where our present needs to be delivered, and 2.) to tell him that what we really wanted most in the world was a pink scooter!
Yesterday Nana's neighbour organised a video from Santa... one of those sites where you upload a photo, and your request... Miss H, was so excited to see that Santa had received her letter, knew her name and that what she really wanted was a scooter.
Lets hope there are enough scooters to go around!
Will keep you updated.
Sunday 18 December 2011
Finally home...
I'm stuffed! I have had about 4 1/2 hours sleep, but I am home... in NZ, ready to spend Christmas with my family!
The plane trip was great... a little chaotic, locating bottles, or toys to keep the Miss H(2.75) amused, changing babies clothes, battling our way to the toilet etc., But finally we got there... picked up our car and drove all the way to mum's, arriving at 4.15am before hitting the pillow for 4 1/2 hrs.
It is lovely seeing everyone, but especially my nephew Master J(4mths) and my niece Miss C(3).
Can't wait to hit the pillow with a vengence tonight!
The plane trip was great... a little chaotic, locating bottles, or toys to keep the Miss H(2.75) amused, changing babies clothes, battling our way to the toilet etc., But finally we got there... picked up our car and drove all the way to mum's, arriving at 4.15am before hitting the pillow for 4 1/2 hrs.
It is lovely seeing everyone, but especially my nephew Master J(4mths) and my niece Miss C(3).
Can't wait to hit the pillow with a vengence tonight!
Saturday 17 December 2011
Friday 16 December 2011
Waste...
Have just defrosted and tipped out litres and litres of precious expressed breast milk, which is about to go past its used by date!
CAPS LOCK...
OUR CAPS LOCK BUTTON HAS A LITTLE GREEN LIGHT, WHICH ACCORDING TO MISS H (2.75) ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE ON... I TURN IT OFF, THEN 5 MINUTES LATER IT IS BACK ON... ITS LIKE SHE HAS A SIREN WHICH GOES OFF WHEN SOMEONE DISABLES CAPS LOCK!
I USUALLY GET ABOUT TWO WORDS IN BEFORE I REALISE EVERYTHING I AM WRITING IS IN CAPITAL LETTERS!
Am I a terrible mother...
So last night was a tad chaotic... H didn't get to bed till 8.30pm, as Dad and Mum were trying to organise a make shift chicken coop so our 84 year old neighbour doesn't attempt to climb over our shared fence...
H was watering the garden... Dad was organising a mat for the Father in Laws car, so our dog's malting hair doesn't destroy his car, and I (with bub's in the Ergo) was putting the chickens away so we could organise the new coop!
Anyway... I needed to put the chickens away, so we could go in and out of their area, I didn't want the dog thinking he could help himself to an easy meal (not after last time!)
So I grabbed a few pellets in my hand and sprinkled some over the fence, went into the run, and chucked the rest in their coop...
What I didn't realise was that 4 little pellets went down my babies shirt... and I didn't discover them until burping her at midnight! Poor wee thing must have been so uncomfortable as she slept...
Am I a terrible mother?
Nessx
H was watering the garden... Dad was organising a mat for the Father in Laws car, so our dog's malting hair doesn't destroy his car, and I (with bub's in the Ergo) was putting the chickens away so we could organise the new coop!
Anyway... I needed to put the chickens away, so we could go in and out of their area, I didn't want the dog thinking he could help himself to an easy meal (not after last time!)
So I grabbed a few pellets in my hand and sprinkled some over the fence, went into the run, and chucked the rest in their coop...
What I didn't realise was that 4 little pellets went down my babies shirt... and I didn't discover them until burping her at midnight! Poor wee thing must have been so uncomfortable as she slept...
Am I a terrible mother?
Nessx
Watching Sesame Street...
Watching Bert and Ernie, Miss H (2.75) says of Bert... 'He's a banana isn't he, like the Bananas (in pajamas)' and why wouldn't she say it... he certainly looks similar, It just hadn't occurred to me he looks like one... maybe she is more observant than me!
Thursday 15 December 2011
Home for Christmas... The trials of packing with 2 kids in hand!
So... Saturday afternoon we leave for New Zealand. We are having Christmas with my family! Yay! I have a nephew, Master J(4mths) who I haven't met yet... and I need to introduce my sisters to my baby girl.
There is just so much to organise... The days are chaotic enough without putting aside time to pack!
Thank goodness the animals are all sorted! Our dog Ravi is going to the Father in Laws down on the Peninsula, the chickens (Harriet and Flossie) are staying put, and our lovely 84 year old neighbour is going to feed them... and a good friend is going to take Murray and Anthony (our fish).
I have lists galore, but I'm sure I am forgetting things... I'm sure as we get closer to departure time I will start freaking out... I will probably require a bit more help from the baby sitter tomorrow... aka the TV, to 1. keep my sanity and 2. allow me the time to pack.
Wish me luck! I think I will need it!
Ness ;)
There is just so much to organise... The days are chaotic enough without putting aside time to pack!
Thank goodness the animals are all sorted! Our dog Ravi is going to the Father in Laws down on the Peninsula, the chickens (Harriet and Flossie) are staying put, and our lovely 84 year old neighbour is going to feed them... and a good friend is going to take Murray and Anthony (our fish).
I have lists galore, but I'm sure I am forgetting things... I'm sure as we get closer to departure time I will start freaking out... I will probably require a bit more help from the baby sitter tomorrow... aka the TV, to 1. keep my sanity and 2. allow me the time to pack.
Wish me luck! I think I will need it!
Ness ;)
A little something sweet...
Oh, while I remember, I wanted to share the easiest recipe with you!
It is officially a Date Loaf... though I didn't have the full cup of dates required and our local shop was closed, so I Ad Lib'd and threw in a banana. So it has become...
Banana and Date Loaf
Ingredients
1c dates
1c lightly packed brown sugar
60g butter / marge
1c boiling water
1 3/4c self raising flour (sifted)
1tsp bicarb soda (sifted)
2tsp vanilla essence
1 banana
Directions
1. Put chopped dates and sugar in a bowl then add butter.
2. Pour in boiling water, stirring until the butter has melted completely.
3. Add sifted four and bicarb, mixing well, stir in mashed banana, add vanilla.
4. Bakein a loaf tin lined with baking paper in moderate oven (180) for 45 - 60 mins.
Be warned... it is YUM!
It is officially a Date Loaf... though I didn't have the full cup of dates required and our local shop was closed, so I Ad Lib'd and threw in a banana. So it has become...
Banana and Date Loaf
Ingredients
1c dates
1c lightly packed brown sugar
60g butter / marge
1c boiling water
1 3/4c self raising flour (sifted)
1tsp bicarb soda (sifted)
2tsp vanilla essence
1 banana
Directions
1. Put chopped dates and sugar in a bowl then add butter.
2. Pour in boiling water, stirring until the butter has melted completely.
3. Add sifted four and bicarb, mixing well, stir in mashed banana, add vanilla.
4. Bakein a loaf tin lined with baking paper in moderate oven (180) for 45 - 60 mins.
Be warned... it is YUM!
To believe or not to believe... that is the question!
Our bedtime routine... Pj's, teeth, toilet, an episode of Peppa Pig or Fireman Sam, Mum or Dad read a book, Our big monkey reads a book by herself, she then blows the light out, it is then that she is supposed to snuggle under her blankets, close her eyes and go to sleep!
This is what is supposed to happen... it doesn't always quite work out like that!
Last night, after a few questions like 'What are you having for dinner?', 'Are you talking to me?', 'I'm thirsty again!', then half an hour of silence, Miss H (2.75) announces she needs to push one out, convinces us into believing her (how can you not!) sits on the toilet for 5 minutes and then says, 'Nuh, nothing there'... The art of procrastination and manipulation! They all seem to have it so sorted!
This is what is supposed to happen... it doesn't always quite work out like that!
Last night, after a few questions like 'What are you having for dinner?', 'Are you talking to me?', 'I'm thirsty again!', then half an hour of silence, Miss H (2.75) announces she needs to push one out, convinces us into believing her (how can you not!) sits on the toilet for 5 minutes and then says, 'Nuh, nothing there'... The art of procrastination and manipulation! They all seem to have it so sorted!
Wednesday 14 December 2011
An afternoon walk...
Just been to the local park, a little girl arrived as we were about to leave. Miss H (2.75) said 'Hang on a minute Mum', wandered over and said 'Whats your name'... sadly... there was no reply! She turned to me and said 'Why is she not talking to me?' I can feel her dissapointment.
The little things...
I adore how my big girl gets so excited about the things we as adults take for granted...
- collecting the mail from the letterbox, tops is seeing the postman deliver them!
- feeding the chickens and collecting eggs from the chicken coop
- watering the garden
- jumping on the tramp with me or her Dad
- baking... jelly, biscuits... licking the bowl... they are all exciting!
Gotta love them to bits... they are so delightful!
Whinging!
So... my daughter is a bit of a whinger... and my partner and I have been trying to figure out how to
1. either tone it down, or 2. make it stop altogether, the latter being the preference!
We originally went down the route of attempting to explain that we don't like it when she whinges, and would prefer for her to use her big girl words... a reasonable attempt and explanation, which worked... sometimes, but... when due to tiredness or frustration we answer to her whinges, it only encourages her to whinge again as a way of communicating.
My background is in childcare, so I have a few tools, but felt really stuck and cornered when nothing seemed to be working.
Can I just add, that you can only control how your child reacts to you, by how you deal with their behaviour... they will behave differently for your partner, depending on what your partners reaction is!
The reason we came to the decision I am about to tell you, is that neither of us like to ignore our daughter, my partner finds it particularly difficult, so going down this route meant that there was no need to ignore our precious girl.
I call it the pardon rule! Every time our daughter whinges, I say pardon... she usually repeats what she is trying to tell me 3 or 4 times, whilst still whinging... and then there is a click in her brain...'Hey this doesn't seem to be working for me', and she alters her voice and asks without whinging, which is when I reply!
Note: You must reply immediately when the whinging ceases, to encourage your child to ask properly, their reaction time will begin to get faster and faster as they realise this is a far more efficient way of getting your attention!
Good luck! Hope it works for you!
Introducing myself
A mum of two girls. A witty, smart, confident, strong willed 2 year old, who thinks she is the boss, and a sweet, innocent, dependent 10 week old who has just begun to smile...
I am writing this to both document what continues to unfold in our now chaotic life, but also to share what may or may not be helpful to you the reader. Hopefully you will fall in love with our little family and follow our journey, and have a few laughs with us along the way!
Feel free to comment or ask questions... I am not an expert, just a parent like you, trying to figure it all out!
Vanessa.
I am writing this to both document what continues to unfold in our now chaotic life, but also to share what may or may not be helpful to you the reader. Hopefully you will fall in love with our little family and follow our journey, and have a few laughs with us along the way!
Feel free to comment or ask questions... I am not an expert, just a parent like you, trying to figure it all out!
Vanessa.
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