As a Christian, I've never been brought up to enjoy Halloween. As a child myself we'd go to a big party at Church instead, where all families were invited, and the community as well to do crafts, watch fireworks, have a bonfire and eat hotdogs.
And now we have Joel, it seems harder to avoid Halloween. It's everywhere this year. Commercialism has completely taken over. The shops in the high street are decked out in orange and black with cobwebs everywhere. I dislike the commercialism of it a lot. It does feel a bit as though we're being duped into having a holiday forced on us and people are going for it.
As a country we do like an excuse for a party, and this year, I'm evaluating my thoughts on the whole Halloween in light of having Joel.
His nursery were having a Halloween party today. I'd told them Joel wouldn't be dressing up, but would be attending and it made me worry that this was the last year he'd not notice he looked different. My friend from Church also said Trudy wouldn't be dressed up. Then they changed the theme to bonfire. Whether this was for us or other parents didn't want the Halloween conotation I don't know.
On taking Joel this morning, half the children were pumpkins or skeletons, some were princesses and about half were in normal clothes. Joel was wearing a dinosaur jumper with jeans. Maybe he could have been a pirate or something like that. I just didn't know what to do for the best.
Am I wrong to dislike Halloween? It just holds conotations of evil and paganism for me, and I really dislike trick or treaters. As a Christian we believe in evil. And yes, we believe that Jesus has conquered it so why should I be afraid or feel that Halloween is letting the devil win?! I disagree with letting children going to knock on strangers doors and beg for chocolates and how greedy it makes them. I hate having surly teenagers appear at my door just wearing a 'scream' mask and expecting to be given chocolate and if it's not good enough, telling me so. I don't think that's a good example to set children. I'd like Joel to become a polite boy!!
But am I being a bad Christan by being a party pooper? Will Joel resent not being allowed to participate? What I think I might have to do is organise a proper party next year in a hall. I'd not mind fancy dress, and chocolate but under proper supervision, and with an emphasis on family and fun. Because who minds a bit of apple bobbing or doughnuts on a string? Games are fun. I guess shutting myself away and ignoring it is not the way to go anymore!
I've listened to a talk given by our minister on a podcast :- link here if interested and I think I do need to evaulate where I stand on the matter and remember that in Jesus, we already have the victory and focus on the family fun side in an evangical setting. Which I guess we're called to do in the Bible anyway. We should use Halloween to be in the world and encourage others, and share the good news. This may sound a bit bible bashy to some, but I wouldn't have it any other way!!
Wednesday 31 October 2012
Tuesday 30 October 2012
Joel's Christmas Pics
Joel's nursery have sent me these proofs which I think are mainly very cute indeed, although I wasn't happy with two of them that I would buy if straighter, so on emailing, I've had them amended!
The smiley ones are my favourite. He looks a bit too scared in two of them, but they'll make a nice present for Grandparents this Christmas! The photographer was a bit loud, and strange, and I think that's reflected! Plus, Joel went first so it was all a bit new to him! Not that he's a stranger to cameras in his face I guess!
Daddy Day-Care
Steve certainly has a different parenting approach to mine.
Yesterday we were eating some dates and Joel wanted one. I said it wasn't a good idea, but if he must to remove the stone as it was a hazard for him, so Steve just gave it him and was shocked that Joel put it whole in his mouth. Then he panicked and turned to me to tell me that Joel had put the whole date including stone in his mouth.
Whilst he was panicking, I had to go over, retrieve the date, remove the stone and put it back in his mouth. Which he then promptly rejected as being tainted!!
I know I've said it before but I'll say it again. Men!
Yesterday we were eating some dates and Joel wanted one. I said it wasn't a good idea, but if he must to remove the stone as it was a hazard for him, so Steve just gave it him and was shocked that Joel put it whole in his mouth. Then he panicked and turned to me to tell me that Joel had put the whole date including stone in his mouth.
Whilst he was panicking, I had to go over, retrieve the date, remove the stone and put it back in his mouth. Which he then promptly rejected as being tainted!!
I know I've said it before but I'll say it again. Men!
Uh-Oh and Gesticulations....
I don't know if it's a new craze going round nursery or not, but at the moment, 'uh-oh' is heard a lot in our house.
Something happens to the television picture = 'uh-oh'
Something gets knocked over = 'uh-oh'
Something is deliberatly done just so the little man can say = 'uh-oh'!!!
He loves it! And it's not just him. His friend Trudy is saying it as well and they're at nursery together.
It's cute though.
And his gestures are so funny. If we say 'where is something?' He holds his hands up, as though he's shrugging, and he'll purse his mouth in an 'oh' shape, as though he's thinking really hard about where something might be. He's quite the dramatist at the moment with it all. Maybe he'll be on the stage before too long. He loves the attention he gets from it, and the fact he can make us all laugh.
Also, rather than developing his words like normal babies, he's developing his gestures. So rather than saying 'more' like others we know, he holds his hand out, and makes a grasping gesture to mean more. I wonder whether we shouldn't just let him have more, and make him try to ask for it. The trouble is, we know exactly what he means and we give it to him.
His walking is really good now. But try to take him for a walk and he howls, cries to be picked up, and drags his feet and sits down in a strop. Show him a park or somewhere he can run around and he'll run around for ages. Steve took him to a field with a football and he was playing and running for about 90 minutes!! That's like a whole football match! But just regular walking is a bit difficult at the moment, despite us trying to encourage him. I guess he still counts as being young for walks like that at the moment, but I do worry we're setting ourselves up for a stroppy walking child later on. We'll see!
Something happens to the television picture = 'uh-oh'
Something gets knocked over = 'uh-oh'
Something is deliberatly done just so the little man can say = 'uh-oh'!!!
He loves it! And it's not just him. His friend Trudy is saying it as well and they're at nursery together.
It's cute though.
And his gestures are so funny. If we say 'where is something?' He holds his hands up, as though he's shrugging, and he'll purse his mouth in an 'oh' shape, as though he's thinking really hard about where something might be. He's quite the dramatist at the moment with it all. Maybe he'll be on the stage before too long. He loves the attention he gets from it, and the fact he can make us all laugh.
Also, rather than developing his words like normal babies, he's developing his gestures. So rather than saying 'more' like others we know, he holds his hand out, and makes a grasping gesture to mean more. I wonder whether we shouldn't just let him have more, and make him try to ask for it. The trouble is, we know exactly what he means and we give it to him.
His walking is really good now. But try to take him for a walk and he howls, cries to be picked up, and drags his feet and sits down in a strop. Show him a park or somewhere he can run around and he'll run around for ages. Steve took him to a field with a football and he was playing and running for about 90 minutes!! That's like a whole football match! But just regular walking is a bit difficult at the moment, despite us trying to encourage him. I guess he still counts as being young for walks like that at the moment, but I do worry we're setting ourselves up for a stroppy walking child later on. We'll see!
Friday 26 October 2012
Techno Baby.....
I'm on Steve's I-pad today, still haven't replaced my laptop yet. This thing is awful to type on. I'm a touch typer and using two fingers feels rather alien to me. I eonder whether I can touch type on e keyboard. Hmm a little bit. I miss my lap top. Joel on the other hand, he loves the iPad. He knows how to swipe to open it up, then turns the pages to get to his page of apps. I've downloaded him lots of children's free apps. At the moment he loves the Fisherprice ones. They're also on Steve's iPhone. He loves talking ginger the cat and he has some singing ones and story ones too.
He is a technically clever baby and can do things on the ipad that Steve wishes he could but doesn't know how!
He does also enjoy his other toys still though and will play very nicely on his own with his mega bloks, he likes sitting on his v-tech trike, and books are a big favourite at the moment. When we take him to bed he'll point to his book shelf and say "burr" which we think must mean b ook, and so we read him a bed tie story. Sometimes he'll try to drag. It out, more with Adaddy than Mummy, and daddy has been known to read all the books! Mummy is more strict and will read no more then two before putting Joel in his cot!
With Christmas coming up he'll be getting a whole lot of new toys so we're going to need to make some space I guess.That'll be difficult. We've got him a 2nd hand Brio train track, In the Night Garden books, Two Wow cars,and I was looking at the Aquadoodle sets as I've read good reviews of them and heard good things about them. We've asked family for new books to fuel his new love of them, and a toy vacuum cleaner as he loves our real one and the toy ones at toddler group!
I'm about half way rough my Christmas shopping. Trying to be leaner this year but it's hard when there's so many more to buy for! I can't wait though. I'm getting excited already!
He is a technically clever baby and can do things on the ipad that Steve wishes he could but doesn't know how!
He does also enjoy his other toys still though and will play very nicely on his own with his mega bloks, he likes sitting on his v-tech trike, and books are a big favourite at the moment. When we take him to bed he'll point to his book shelf and say "burr" which we think must mean b ook, and so we read him a bed tie story. Sometimes he'll try to drag. It out, more with Adaddy than Mummy, and daddy has been known to read all the books! Mummy is more strict and will read no more then two before putting Joel in his cot!
With Christmas coming up he'll be getting a whole lot of new toys so we're going to need to make some space I guess.That'll be difficult. We've got him a 2nd hand Brio train track, In the Night Garden books, Two Wow cars,and I was looking at the Aquadoodle sets as I've read good reviews of them and heard good things about them. We've asked family for new books to fuel his new love of them, and a toy vacuum cleaner as he loves our real one and the toy ones at toddler group!
I'm about half way rough my Christmas shopping. Trying to be leaner this year but it's hard when there's so many more to buy for! I can't wait though. I'm getting excited already!
Saturday 20 October 2012
Hyper baby?!
How is it that when, for example like last night, Joel was up from about 1.30 till 6am, he still got up at 7.30 for breakfast as normal? And was fine?!! He was energetic, playful, happy??????
Whereas Steve and I have been sleepy zombies for most of the day. I got up with him 2-4, then Steve took over 4-6 and I got up with him at 7.30 and we're both shattered and Joel has just been his normal happy self.
Can toddlers do without that much sleep? Because I certainly can't.
We've tried to tire him out today, so he's been to town for the Italian market this morning, he did some serious toddling around and about, and after a nap of 1.5 hours, we went to Cannock Chase and he must have toddled about 1/2 mile, and been out in the fresh air, splashed in muddy puddles, found interesting things like pine cones, sticks etc... made fun noises on the drums, sat on the fish, and generally enjoyed it all.
After a tea of cheesy pasta with broccoli, and a yoghurt for pudding, he played and played and played until 7.30 then had hysterics when I picked him up to carry him upstairs. But once we got up there he calmed down and went straight to sleep.
Lets hope he sleeps all night long tonight. And we can see whether it will take a full on exercise day to make sure he sleeps well every night!!
Whereas Steve and I have been sleepy zombies for most of the day. I got up with him 2-4, then Steve took over 4-6 and I got up with him at 7.30 and we're both shattered and Joel has just been his normal happy self.
Can toddlers do without that much sleep? Because I certainly can't.
We've tried to tire him out today, so he's been to town for the Italian market this morning, he did some serious toddling around and about, and after a nap of 1.5 hours, we went to Cannock Chase and he must have toddled about 1/2 mile, and been out in the fresh air, splashed in muddy puddles, found interesting things like pine cones, sticks etc... made fun noises on the drums, sat on the fish, and generally enjoyed it all.
After a tea of cheesy pasta with broccoli, and a yoghurt for pudding, he played and played and played until 7.30 then had hysterics when I picked him up to carry him upstairs. But once we got up there he calmed down and went straight to sleep.
Lets hope he sleeps all night long tonight. And we can see whether it will take a full on exercise day to make sure he sleeps well every night!!
Back to Birches Valley
 |
| We love being outside... |
 |
| Jumping in muddy puddles |
 |
| Banging on an outside drum |
 |
| Sitting on a giant shoe sculpture (Mummy was not enamoured!) |
 |
| The Good Life indeed... |
 |
| And more muddy puddles! |
Friday 19 October 2012
Most Amusing Parenthood Test
This has been circulating on the Daily Mail and it tickled me to say the least!!.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Test 1: Preparation
Women: To prepare for pregnancy
1. Put on a dressing gown and stick a beanbag down the front.
2. Leave it there.
3. After 9 months remove 5% of the beans.
Men: To prepare for children
1. Go to a local chemist, tip the contents of your wallet onto the counter and tell the pharmacist to help himself
2. Go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home. Pick up the newspaper and read it for the last time.
Test 2: Knowledge
Find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels and how they have allowed their children to run wild.
Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behaviour.
Enjoy it. It will be the last time in your life that you will have all the answers.
Test 3: Nights
To discover how the nights will feel:
1. Walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 4 - 6kg, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.
2. At 10pm, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 11pm and walk the bag around the living room until 1am.
4. Set the alarm for 3am.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2am and make a cup of tea.
6. Go to bed at 2.45am.
7. Get up again at 3am when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs in the dark until 4am.
9. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up when it goes off.
10. Make breakfast.
Keep this up for 5 years. LOOK CHEERFUL.
Test 4: Dressing Small Children
1. Buy a live octopus and a string bag.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that no arms hangout.
Time Allowed: 5 minutes.
Test 5: Cars
1. Forget the BMW. Buy a practical 5-door wagon.
2. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
3. Get a coin. Insert it into the CD player.
4. Take a box of chocolate biscuits; mash them into the back seat.
5. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Test 6: Going for a walk
a. Wait.
b. Go out the front door.
c. Come back in again.
d. Go out.
e. Come back in again.
f. Go out again.
g. Walk down the front path.
h. Walk back up it.
i. Walk down it again.
j. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.
k. Stop, inspect minutely and ask at least 6 questions about every piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead insect along the way.
l. Retrace your steps.
m. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbours come out and stare at you.
n. Give up and go back into the house.
You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.
Test 7: Conversations with children
Repeat everything you say at least 5 times.
Test 8: Grocery Shopping
1. Go to the local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing you can find to a pre-school child - a fully grown goat is excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.
2. Buy your weekly groceries without letting the goat(s) out of your sight.
3. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.
Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Test 9: Feeding a 1 year-old
1. Hollow out a melon
2. Make a small hole in the side
3. Suspend the melon from the ceiling and swing it side to side
4. Now get a bowl of soggy cornflakes and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon while pretending to be an aeroplane.
5. Continue until half the cornflakes are gone.
6. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it falls on the floor.
Test 10: TV
1. Learn the names of every character from the Wiggles, Barney, Teletubbies and Disney.
2. Watch nothing else on television for at least 5 years.
Test 11: Mess
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out:
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains
2. Hide a fish behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flowerbeds and then rub them on clean walls. Cover the stains with crayon. How does that look?
4. Empty every drawer/cupboard/storage box in your house onto the floor and proceed with step 5.
5. Drag randomly items from one room to another room and leave them there.
Test 12: Long Trips with Toddlers
1. Make a recording of someone shouting 'Mummy' repeatedly. Important Notes: No more than a 4 second delay between each Mummy. Include occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet.
2. Play this tape in your car, everywhere you go for the next 4 years.
You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Test 13: Conversations
1. Start talking to an adult of your choice.
2. Have someone else continually tug on your shirt hem or shirt sleeve while playing the Mummy tape listed above.
You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
Test 14: Getting ready for work
1. Pick a day on which you have an important meeting.
2. Put on your finest work attire.
3. Take a cup of cream and put 1 cup of lemon juice in it
4. Stir
5. Dump half of it on your nice silk shirt
6. Saturate a towel with the other half of the mixture
7. Attempt to clean your shirt with the same saturated towel
8. Do not change (you have no time).
9. Go directly to work
You are now ready to have children. ENJOY!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Test 1: Preparation
Women: To prepare for pregnancy
1. Put on a dressing gown and stick a beanbag down the front.
2. Leave it there.
3. After 9 months remove 5% of the beans.
Men: To prepare for children
1. Go to a local chemist, tip the contents of your wallet onto the counter and tell the pharmacist to help himself
2. Go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home. Pick up the newspaper and read it for the last time.
Test 2: Knowledge
Find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels and how they have allowed their children to run wild.
Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behaviour.
Enjoy it. It will be the last time in your life that you will have all the answers.
Test 3: Nights
To discover how the nights will feel:
1. Walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 4 - 6kg, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.
2. At 10pm, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 11pm and walk the bag around the living room until 1am.
4. Set the alarm for 3am.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2am and make a cup of tea.
6. Go to bed at 2.45am.
7. Get up again at 3am when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs in the dark until 4am.
9. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up when it goes off.
10. Make breakfast.
Keep this up for 5 years. LOOK CHEERFUL.
Test 4: Dressing Small Children
1. Buy a live octopus and a string bag.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that no arms hangout.
Time Allowed: 5 minutes.
Test 5: Cars
1. Forget the BMW. Buy a practical 5-door wagon.
2. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
3. Get a coin. Insert it into the CD player.
4. Take a box of chocolate biscuits; mash them into the back seat.
5. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Test 6: Going for a walk
a. Wait.
b. Go out the front door.
c. Come back in again.
d. Go out.
e. Come back in again.
f. Go out again.
g. Walk down the front path.
h. Walk back up it.
i. Walk down it again.
j. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.
k. Stop, inspect minutely and ask at least 6 questions about every piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead insect along the way.
l. Retrace your steps.
m. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbours come out and stare at you.
n. Give up and go back into the house.
You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.
Test 7: Conversations with children
Repeat everything you say at least 5 times.
Test 8: Grocery Shopping
1. Go to the local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing you can find to a pre-school child - a fully grown goat is excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.
2. Buy your weekly groceries without letting the goat(s) out of your sight.
3. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.
Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Test 9: Feeding a 1 year-old
1. Hollow out a melon
2. Make a small hole in the side
3. Suspend the melon from the ceiling and swing it side to side
4. Now get a bowl of soggy cornflakes and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon while pretending to be an aeroplane.
5. Continue until half the cornflakes are gone.
6. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it falls on the floor.
Test 10: TV
1. Learn the names of every character from the Wiggles, Barney, Teletubbies and Disney.
2. Watch nothing else on television for at least 5 years.
Test 11: Mess
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out:
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains
2. Hide a fish behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flowerbeds and then rub them on clean walls. Cover the stains with crayon. How does that look?
4. Empty every drawer/cupboard/storage box in your house onto the floor and proceed with step 5.
5. Drag randomly items from one room to another room and leave them there.
Test 12: Long Trips with Toddlers
1. Make a recording of someone shouting 'Mummy' repeatedly. Important Notes: No more than a 4 second delay between each Mummy. Include occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet.
2. Play this tape in your car, everywhere you go for the next 4 years.
You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Test 13: Conversations
1. Start talking to an adult of your choice.
2. Have someone else continually tug on your shirt hem or shirt sleeve while playing the Mummy tape listed above.
You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
Test 14: Getting ready for work
1. Pick a day on which you have an important meeting.
2. Put on your finest work attire.
3. Take a cup of cream and put 1 cup of lemon juice in it
4. Stir
5. Dump half of it on your nice silk shirt
6. Saturate a towel with the other half of the mixture
7. Attempt to clean your shirt with the same saturated towel
8. Do not change (you have no time).
9. Go directly to work
You are now ready to have children. ENJOY!!
Wednesday 17 October 2012
Night Terrors
You know how I said Joel goes from sleeping well to not sleeping well?
We're going through a not sleeping well spell at the moment.
And we're all rather shattered from it.
We've been taking turns at night, and two nights ago was Steve's turn. And he got Joel suffering what we think could be night terrors. He woke up howling at 11.30, pointing to the corners of his room, absolutely inconsolable.
It was awful. We took him into our room and into bed with us but he howled more as it was too dark. Is this when babies develop a fear of the dark? I don't know. He was not a happy bunny. In case of teething we doped him up with teething powders, calpol and calgel on his gums. This seemed to help a little, but also wake him up, and so he was feeling happier, awake and would not go to sleept ill 3.30am. Steve took him downstairs and he played like a little maniac for two hours with megabloks. It's all about the megabloks at the moment.
Anyway, last night was my turn on sleep duty. And I went to bed early, and Joel woke up at 10.30pm howling. So I got him out, and we cuddled and read the 'Hug' book which he loves, and he points to Bobo's mummy and says 'Muh-ma' (I hope he doesn't think I'm a chimp!!) but he knows that she is Bobo's mummy.
Then I settled him back in his cot, his night lights were on, and as I went to leave the room, he cried, so I got into the spare bed next to him, and the next thing I knew, it was 6.30am. So no terrors during the wee small hours. Maybe we'll have to leave the lights on every night now. Or at least get something smaller as his current night lights are a fairy light tree that we had at our wedding!! It's not the dimmest light but he likes it.
We're going through a not sleeping well spell at the moment.
And we're all rather shattered from it.
We've been taking turns at night, and two nights ago was Steve's turn. And he got Joel suffering what we think could be night terrors. He woke up howling at 11.30, pointing to the corners of his room, absolutely inconsolable.
It was awful. We took him into our room and into bed with us but he howled more as it was too dark. Is this when babies develop a fear of the dark? I don't know. He was not a happy bunny. In case of teething we doped him up with teething powders, calpol and calgel on his gums. This seemed to help a little, but also wake him up, and so he was feeling happier, awake and would not go to sleept ill 3.30am. Steve took him downstairs and he played like a little maniac for two hours with megabloks. It's all about the megabloks at the moment.
Anyway, last night was my turn on sleep duty. And I went to bed early, and Joel woke up at 10.30pm howling. So I got him out, and we cuddled and read the 'Hug' book which he loves, and he points to Bobo's mummy and says 'Muh-ma' (I hope he doesn't think I'm a chimp!!) but he knows that she is Bobo's mummy.
Then I settled him back in his cot, his night lights were on, and as I went to leave the room, he cried, so I got into the spare bed next to him, and the next thing I knew, it was 6.30am. So no terrors during the wee small hours. Maybe we'll have to leave the lights on every night now. Or at least get something smaller as his current night lights are a fairy light tree that we had at our wedding!! It's not the dimmest light but he likes it.
Monday 15 October 2012
So We Had A Nice Day....
We had a nice family weekend with my sisters all visiting for some point of it.
Sarah, Aaron and the twins came on Saturday, so in the afternoon we all headed out to Birches Valley in Cannock Chase. They have a lovely mile long sculpture walk which they pedalled around, and Joel had a bit of a toddle and play. There was a great park as well, which was admittedly a bit big for Joel but he had a good go at the slides and swings there.
Then we had a hot dog supper with onions and ketchup although Joel took his sausage out and therefore had a ketchup sandwich for his tea!!
And once it got dark, we had a box of fireworks that Steve lit in the garden which the twins loved, but Joel got a bit bored of once he realised he wasn't allowed outside with the big boys.
Then on Sunday Amy, Karl and Martha joined us and we had a bit of a relaxing day with a bit of a walk, a nice Sunday dinner and it was nice for the cousins to play, although Joel and Martha are still a bit small for Theo and Isaacs games!! although Joel tried to keep up with them and got a bit in the way poor thing!!
 |
| Peek a boo tennis player |
 |
| I see you!! |
 |
| Theo and Isaac on their bikes! |
 |
| A man and his dog on a lead and Steve and Joel on a lead! |
 |
| Riding a fish! |
 |
| Sitting on a log |
 |
| Clambering on a giant dragonfly |
 |
| Joel loves slides |
 |
| Trying out the monkey bars but he's a bit small! |
When we got home we had hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows to warm us up, and Joel loved his from a mug, and grabbed it to down every last drop that he could from it and got cream all over his face!
Then we had a hot dog supper with onions and ketchup although Joel took his sausage out and therefore had a ketchup sandwich for his tea!!
And once it got dark, we had a box of fireworks that Steve lit in the garden which the twins loved, but Joel got a bit bored of once he realised he wasn't allowed outside with the big boys.
 |
| One in focus boy and one blurry boy! |
And neither were terribly happy about having to sit on laps for a group photo!!!
 |
| Martha at 7 months is nearly as big as Joel at 18 months! |
Friday 12 October 2012
Sleep Issues Again
It seems that Joel will have a lovely time of sleeping through brilliantly, 12 hours a time, all very peaceful, and then suddenly for what seems to be no reason, this is all very disturbed!
Last week was a good week, and we got lots of lovely (and needed) sleep.
Until Saturday night. When Joel woke up at 3.00am and was wide awake and wanting to play. Having tried to settle him in his nursery for an hour to no avail, I finally succumbed to taking him downstairs where I lay on the sofa and he played and played and played until 5.30 when he decided maybe he could go back to bed, and was put quite happily back in his cot and he slept till 8am.
And again on Sunday night. This time, Steve was kicked out of bed to deal, and after all his comments about how we shouldn't let Joel get his way and go downstairs to play, by 4.30 and three episodes of In the Night Garden on Steve's laptop didn't work in settling him so he ended up taking him downstairs so he could play again!!
I think Monday night wasn't too bad, and Tuesday night was a little disturbed but he didn't want to go to play, but Wednesday night was terrible again and Steve got up with him, took him downstairs and when I woke up horribly late at 8am (having got used to not setting an alarm and relying on Joel to wake me) both Steve and Joel were cuddled up on the sofa fast asleep. I took advantage of this to get ready, have breakfast and make my lunch, which meant it was a rush waking Joel, getting him sorted and up to nursery in time for breakfast. to make matters worse, he'd been lying with his head in Steve's armpit and the back of his head was drenched in sweat and didn't have time for a bath or hair wash. I hurridly got a wet flannel and rubbed it round his head and hair but it really didn't seem to make much difference and I dropped him off with an apology for the state he was in!! And gave him a good soapy bath and hairwash before his bedtime.
Which didn't really happen as we settled him down at 7.30, but on him crying after 20 minutes Steve got him up and he was like a little manic playing baby. He sat by his megabloks truck and just emptied it out, started building, knocking it down and building. He did this for an hour, before looking a bit more sleepy then got his books out. He read 'That's not my Lion' with me, and 'That's not my Reindeer' with Daddy, and then decided he would go to bed. And then he slept, with a few bits of coughing now and then, right through till 7.30am this morning.
I don't get his sleep patterns at the moment! Do i need to drop his midday nap? I don't think he'd cope very well, although the time of it seems to be getting later and later. He's not going down now till 12.45 and at nursery they're letting him go past 2pm. Hmmm. It's all trial and error really, but I need him to sleep through the night more regularly!!
Last week was a good week, and we got lots of lovely (and needed) sleep.
Until Saturday night. When Joel woke up at 3.00am and was wide awake and wanting to play. Having tried to settle him in his nursery for an hour to no avail, I finally succumbed to taking him downstairs where I lay on the sofa and he played and played and played until 5.30 when he decided maybe he could go back to bed, and was put quite happily back in his cot and he slept till 8am.
And again on Sunday night. This time, Steve was kicked out of bed to deal, and after all his comments about how we shouldn't let Joel get his way and go downstairs to play, by 4.30 and three episodes of In the Night Garden on Steve's laptop didn't work in settling him so he ended up taking him downstairs so he could play again!!
I think Monday night wasn't too bad, and Tuesday night was a little disturbed but he didn't want to go to play, but Wednesday night was terrible again and Steve got up with him, took him downstairs and when I woke up horribly late at 8am (having got used to not setting an alarm and relying on Joel to wake me) both Steve and Joel were cuddled up on the sofa fast asleep. I took advantage of this to get ready, have breakfast and make my lunch, which meant it was a rush waking Joel, getting him sorted and up to nursery in time for breakfast. to make matters worse, he'd been lying with his head in Steve's armpit and the back of his head was drenched in sweat and didn't have time for a bath or hair wash. I hurridly got a wet flannel and rubbed it round his head and hair but it really didn't seem to make much difference and I dropped him off with an apology for the state he was in!! And gave him a good soapy bath and hairwash before his bedtime.
Which didn't really happen as we settled him down at 7.30, but on him crying after 20 minutes Steve got him up and he was like a little manic playing baby. He sat by his megabloks truck and just emptied it out, started building, knocking it down and building. He did this for an hour, before looking a bit more sleepy then got his books out. He read 'That's not my Lion' with me, and 'That's not my Reindeer' with Daddy, and then decided he would go to bed. And then he slept, with a few bits of coughing now and then, right through till 7.30am this morning.
I don't get his sleep patterns at the moment! Do i need to drop his midday nap? I don't think he'd cope very well, although the time of it seems to be getting later and later. He's not going down now till 12.45 and at nursery they're letting him go past 2pm. Hmmm. It's all trial and error really, but I need him to sleep through the night more regularly!!
20,000 Views! Oh my!!
I can't believe that now I've had over twenty thousand views for this blog!
Whether its regular folk or just random people dropping by I don't really know, but hello, and hope to see you again!!
I never thought I'd have this many folk reading about my little life but I do hope we're not too boring!!
Whether its regular folk or just random people dropping by I don't really know, but hello, and hope to see you again!!
I never thought I'd have this many folk reading about my little life but I do hope we're not too boring!!
Wednesday 10 October 2012
The Entertainer
I've been so busy fixating on going part time, that its only really hitting me this week that it's actually happening, and I'm going to need to entertain a boistrous toddler for two whole days a week on my own! It's not going to be easy, and it will probably be more tiring than being at work, but it'll be quality time for us, and I'm a bit worried to be honest I won't be good enough at it!
I know that's a bit silly, but it is something on my mind. I shall have to start looking at structures of days, and get ideas for trips out and places to go and things to do. Dry day plans and wet weather plans. It's going to be a challenge, but I did it before going back to work, so I've just got to get back into that mode again!
I know that's a bit silly, but it is something on my mind. I shall have to start looking at structures of days, and get ideas for trips out and places to go and things to do. Dry day plans and wet weather plans. It's going to be a challenge, but I did it before going back to work, so I've just got to get back into that mode again!
Autumn Days....
We've had some lovely Autumn times this week.
Joel had been a good boy at nursery, and on Saturday we went to town in the afternoon to take Joel to the park to play. He loves being able to toddle around on his own to play, and go down the slide. We have to sort of stalk him around the play area as he's a bit independant and gets grumpy if we offer too much help.
On Sunday, after Church we made a picnic and intended to head to Cannock Chase with it, but Joel couldn't hold out from his nap, and fell asleep on the way home!! So he was dropped off in his cot for an hour whilst we pottered about, and when he woke up, he was too hungry to wait. So we all sat on the floor for a carpet picnic!! Joel thought this was most amusing.
Then we headed off to enjoy the sunshine at Brocton Coppice and Joel loved being able to walk and I relaxed in that we weren't near water as he has a bit of a penchant for trying to dive in!
He also got to ride in his big rucksack on Daddy's back when he got tired before coming out for walking again when he was bored of that.
His eating seems to have got a bit fussy again recently. Whether it's teeth bothering him I'm not sure. He's managing to sleep through most nights at the moment but he even turned down pasta the other day and that's normally a sure thing with him.
Yesterday I had a day off with him, and we went to toddler group in the morning. We had fun playing with his little friends, and the activity was an autumn trail where we found things to make into a picture. This is what Joel (and me) made:
Then we went to the weigh in clinic as it's been 6 months since his last at 12 months old and he wasn't even 20lbs then! Well, he's perfect on his chart, had a little growth spurt (which surprised me considering how picky he's got with food) and is now 23lbs and 10ozs.
We headed home after a busy but nice day together.
Then Joel decided to try and bite me! I was looking on the I-pad, and Joel wanted it. I decided to try and demonstrate he couldn't always have what he wanted, and he took umption at that and next thing I knew, he's lauched his jaw at my hand! I was shocked and told him off, which made his lower lip wobble and he cried. I really hope he doesn't take that to nursery. He's already begun pushing at other children if they're in his way. I don't think it's malicious, it's just they're in his way, and thats his baby minded way of dealing with it. We're getting to a 'have to learn to share and be patient' stage and it's going to be difficult I think! Nursery will be very good for him on that front though.
Mind you, he is remarkably good on the i-pad. He knows how to switch it on, and flick the pages, and he goes to his regular apps, 'Talking Ginger' the cat who repeats what he says, 'Singing Monsters' which just sing on an island and he sings and bops along with them, and 'Fantasy Town' which was a game I downloaded but he likes the little people wandering about. He mainly ignores the Fisher Price apps downloaded for him!! He manages to do stuff on it that Steve wishes he knew too!!
Joel had been a good boy at nursery, and on Saturday we went to town in the afternoon to take Joel to the park to play. He loves being able to toddle around on his own to play, and go down the slide. We have to sort of stalk him around the play area as he's a bit independant and gets grumpy if we offer too much help.
On Sunday, after Church we made a picnic and intended to head to Cannock Chase with it, but Joel couldn't hold out from his nap, and fell asleep on the way home!! So he was dropped off in his cot for an hour whilst we pottered about, and when he woke up, he was too hungry to wait. So we all sat on the floor for a carpet picnic!! Joel thought this was most amusing.
Then we headed off to enjoy the sunshine at Brocton Coppice and Joel loved being able to walk and I relaxed in that we weren't near water as he has a bit of a penchant for trying to dive in!
 |
| Posing for his picture!! |
 |
| 1, 2, 3, wheeeeeee!!! |
His eating seems to have got a bit fussy again recently. Whether it's teeth bothering him I'm not sure. He's managing to sleep through most nights at the moment but he even turned down pasta the other day and that's normally a sure thing with him.
Yesterday I had a day off with him, and we went to toddler group in the morning. We had fun playing with his little friends, and the activity was an autumn trail where we found things to make into a picture. This is what Joel (and me) made:
 |
| Autumnal work of art. |
Then in the afternoon we went to town to get his feet measured and he had grown again, so is now a 4 1/2 so we got him some new shoes and he was not happy about relinquishing his old ones and cried, so the shop assistant handed his old ones over, and he hugged them to him, as though he were really sorry to lose them! I think he knows that they're his, as he goes to get them out of the shoe bucket at nursery and puts his slippers in at the end of the day! It was rather cute actually, and a bit funny too.
 |
| He's just pulled his woolly hat off and gone spikey!! |
We headed home after a busy but nice day together.
Then Joel decided to try and bite me! I was looking on the I-pad, and Joel wanted it. I decided to try and demonstrate he couldn't always have what he wanted, and he took umption at that and next thing I knew, he's lauched his jaw at my hand! I was shocked and told him off, which made his lower lip wobble and he cried. I really hope he doesn't take that to nursery. He's already begun pushing at other children if they're in his way. I don't think it's malicious, it's just they're in his way, and thats his baby minded way of dealing with it. We're getting to a 'have to learn to share and be patient' stage and it's going to be difficult I think! Nursery will be very good for him on that front though.
Mind you, he is remarkably good on the i-pad. He knows how to switch it on, and flick the pages, and he goes to his regular apps, 'Talking Ginger' the cat who repeats what he says, 'Singing Monsters' which just sing on an island and he sings and bops along with them, and 'Fantasy Town' which was a game I downloaded but he likes the little people wandering about. He mainly ignores the Fisher Price apps downloaded for him!! He manages to do stuff on it that Steve wishes he knew too!!
Wednesday 3 October 2012
And....... action!
Mum and Dad have been taking Joel on a Tuesday to a toddler group as they feel he needs more stimulation and he loves mixing with other kids. His favourite parts seem to be the group story and song time. They put cushions out and he's the first there, sitting down and ready to start.
Last week he came home having learnt the actions to Wind the Bobbin up, and now he keeps doing the winding action, pulling and pointing to everything!
This week they were telling me about how he really liked Sleeping Bunnies and he lay down to sleep at the wrong time, and got up to hop at the wrong time but really enjoyed it! Of course, he can't really hop, he sort of squats and bounces and seems to think that his feet are leaving the floor!
He is so full of cuteness at the moment!
And as for number two? Well, still nothing to report. I think my body is trying to play tricks on me at the moment as Aunt Flo is a week late this month, and having done two tests of different brands and all coming up negative, I think I'm just going to have to wait to see what happens but am fully expecting a period before too much longer. I went late by a week in July so it's happened before. It's just disappointing now. At least I have Joel to cheer me up anyway! He's a little ray of sunshine :)
Last week he came home having learnt the actions to Wind the Bobbin up, and now he keeps doing the winding action, pulling and pointing to everything!
This week they were telling me about how he really liked Sleeping Bunnies and he lay down to sleep at the wrong time, and got up to hop at the wrong time but really enjoyed it! Of course, he can't really hop, he sort of squats and bounces and seems to think that his feet are leaving the floor!
He is so full of cuteness at the moment!
And as for number two? Well, still nothing to report. I think my body is trying to play tricks on me at the moment as Aunt Flo is a week late this month, and having done two tests of different brands and all coming up negative, I think I'm just going to have to wait to see what happens but am fully expecting a period before too much longer. I went late by a week in July so it's happened before. It's just disappointing now. At least I have Joel to cheer me up anyway! He's a little ray of sunshine :)
Monday 1 October 2012
Muh-Ma
Joel has learnt that I'm his 'Muh-ma' and Steve is his 'Da-da'!
He points at us when Steve sayss 'who's your Mama?' And then he points to me, and I say 'point to your Dada' and he points to Steve and we clap him proudly!!
And then this morning I was awoken at 6.15am to hear 'muh-ma! muh-ma'! and when I went in, Joel was sitting up in his cot, playing with his soft toys just calling me that it was time to get up. He gave me such a smile when he saw me and we had a little cuddle.
That made it worth being woken up so early!!
Other words we're getting are 'iggle iggle' meaning 'Can I watch In The Night Garden please mummy', uglele possibly meaning Steve's Ukelele (maybe we're imagining that one!?) and a loud Ganda for Grandad!!
I think if I were to say what his first word was, it would be Ganda. He's been shouting that for a little while now and normally when he sees his Grandad or wants Grandad's attention!!
He points at us when Steve sayss 'who's your Mama?' And then he points to me, and I say 'point to your Dada' and he points to Steve and we clap him proudly!!
And then this morning I was awoken at 6.15am to hear 'muh-ma! muh-ma'! and when I went in, Joel was sitting up in his cot, playing with his soft toys just calling me that it was time to get up. He gave me such a smile when he saw me and we had a little cuddle.
That made it worth being woken up so early!!
Other words we're getting are 'iggle iggle' meaning 'Can I watch In The Night Garden please mummy', uglele possibly meaning Steve's Ukelele (maybe we're imagining that one!?) and a loud Ganda for Grandad!!
I think if I were to say what his first word was, it would be Ganda. He's been shouting that for a little while now and normally when he sees his Grandad or wants Grandad's attention!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)