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!!
Friday, 12 October 2012
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.
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| 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!!
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Wet at the Wildlife Centre
We had a lovely Saturday. We had a lazy morning and took Izzy out for a long walk and play with her ball, before heading over to The Wolesley Arms for a nice lunch. Steve and I had sandwiches and Joel had a bowl of pasta (which he polished off) and bananas and custard. Then we went over to the Wildlife Centre to have a wander round in the sunshine.
The first point of interest on the walk around was a welly splash and as Joel was in his wellies we thought we'd let him try it. He loved it and splashed through, giggling and laughing, turned around and splashed again!
He did this about 6 times and then as I was trying to get him to walk on he decided to sit down in the river!
His face registered a bit of shock as it was very cold! We quickly got him up and he was drenched through so back to the car we went and we took his trousers off. I was cross with myself for not anticipating that and holding his reins up and we had to go home.
On the drive home he fell asleep so we transferred him to his cot for an hours nap, whilst I went to town and Steve pottered at home. Then after a full change, he was ready and we went back again! It was too nice a day to stay in.
And the second visit was less eventful. We managed to get him to walk well on his reins and he loved toddling around the board walk rather than being in his buggy. He walked and ran races with Daddy, (he seemed to know what 'Ready, Steady, Go! meant, and always set off just before the go, giggling as he tried to beat daddy!)
We found the giant snail, and fish to make music, and other sculptures. He wasn't enamoured of the web swing, and wanted to wade into the lake, and when restrained decided to have a sulky tantrum. As if we'd let him back in the water on a cold day! His face was funny though!
He did cheer up when he was put up in the tree!
He did this about 6 times and then as I was trying to get him to walk on he decided to sit down in the river!
His face registered a bit of shock as it was very cold! We quickly got him up and he was drenched through so back to the car we went and we took his trousers off. I was cross with myself for not anticipating that and holding his reins up and we had to go home.
On the drive home he fell asleep so we transferred him to his cot for an hours nap, whilst I went to town and Steve pottered at home. Then after a full change, he was ready and we went back again! It was too nice a day to stay in.
And the second visit was less eventful. We managed to get him to walk well on his reins and he loved toddling around the board walk rather than being in his buggy. He walked and ran races with Daddy, (he seemed to know what 'Ready, Steady, Go! meant, and always set off just before the go, giggling as he tried to beat daddy!)
We found the giant snail, and fish to make music, and other sculptures. He wasn't enamoured of the web swing, and wanted to wade into the lake, and when restrained decided to have a sulky tantrum. As if we'd let him back in the water on a cold day! His face was funny though!
Then it was home for tea via Tesco to get the tea! We munched on toasted pitta bread with hummus to dip in, and grated carrot, beetroot salad and some coleslaw. He is a bit hummus fan! And he loves dipping things.
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