From the er 'meadow' that is our garden.
20 May 2008
17 May 2008
13 May 2008
A chive flower
I had it on my barbecued potatoes for dinner. I know better now than to wait for summer. We've had two barbecues already.
Izzy has been watering plants for me at the allotment
Though sadly she still often insists on drowning the same patch of empty soil.
Says it all, no?
The children's fair was not popular with Izzy though she did ask to watch two people doing face painting for about 20 minutes. Now she paints my face and arms with a chopstick.
05 May 2008
It's been a lovely weekend
I'm not quite sure why but Izzy has been behaving really well of late. A month ago we were a bit worried that the combination of taking her dummies away for good and potty training, all at once might prove a bit much to ask.
But since the fairies left her erm a Kit-kat bar in return for all the dummies she gave them for other babies, and since the first two weeks of potty training at nursery, all has been good. Last week she was dry every single day at nursery, except Friday. Which is a big improvement on the two to three changes of clothes a day we were going through the previous week.
Today, the last day of the bank holiday, she has been pretty much angelic. She woke up and Alex took her downstairs since he was on call for work, which means I got a much beloved lie in, and from time to time I could hear various noises which seemed to indicate satisfaction. Exclamations of 'Daddy!' and the sound of toys being poured out of her basket.
When I said I was going to go out and buy some knitting supplies (now I've finally finished on Izzy's scarf, I'm starting on a slouchy tank top (fourth picture down) for me) and lunch, she said she would rather stay at home. And then as I walked to go to the door, I heard 'Wait Mommy!' And braced for the usual last-minute change of mind. But she just ran up to me and said 'I want to give you a cuddle before you go.' And she did and gave me a big kiss for good measure.
Last night Alex said she'd been very good with him too: climbing on him, giving him a hug and generally just messing about with him while he was reading the paper on the floor.
We've not had any tantrums since the ones I posted about when we first moved in to the new house and the worst it gets is days when she's got a stuffed nose and is therefore extremely whiny. Like when we get home from nursery sometimes:
'I can't take my shoes off.'
'Yes you can.'
(Using one heel to stab ineffectively at another) 'I caaaan't. I can't do it, Mommy. Help me.'
When feeling mean I walk into the next room going 'Bend down and use your hands to undo the straps.'
When less mean or on the verge of wanting to asphyxiate myself because it would be less expasperating I give in and undo her shoes for the princesss.
Similarly sometimes in the mornings it's all 'I want to go downstairs. Mommy, I waant to go dooownstairs!'
And the thing that annoys me is that if I snap and say 'Do you think you're going to go asking like that?' she immediately switches to her auto-response, polite 'PleasemommycanIgodownstairsnowplease?'
But ah days like today - and actually the previous two days - she has just been an angel. Partly I think because she has this whole reward system she knows about. She earns treats when she:
* wees in the potty
* poos in the potty
* brushes her teeth well
* sleeps when I ask her to
* turns off the TV quickly when it's time to go
* gets in her car seat quickly
* closes her eyes and opens her mouth and doesn't cry when I rinse the shampoo out of her hair
And fortunately I've learned that she doesn't necessarily have to be bribed with sweets. When we started this whole bribe - er reward system - I'd automatically offer sweets or chocolate. Then one day she asked for a cheese biscuit instead. What a fool I've been. So now she can have grapes, strawberries, cheese biscuits, frozen yoghurt, and I throw in sweets every so often to keep her keen.
I've not quite worked out who's smarter in this whole system yet.
I'm not quite sure why but Izzy has been behaving really well of late. A month ago we were a bit worried that the combination of taking her dummies away for good and potty training, all at once might prove a bit much to ask.
But since the fairies left her erm a Kit-kat bar in return for all the dummies she gave them for other babies, and since the first two weeks of potty training at nursery, all has been good. Last week she was dry every single day at nursery, except Friday. Which is a big improvement on the two to three changes of clothes a day we were going through the previous week.
Today, the last day of the bank holiday, she has been pretty much angelic. She woke up and Alex took her downstairs since he was on call for work, which means I got a much beloved lie in, and from time to time I could hear various noises which seemed to indicate satisfaction. Exclamations of 'Daddy!' and the sound of toys being poured out of her basket.
When I said I was going to go out and buy some knitting supplies (now I've finally finished on Izzy's scarf, I'm starting on a slouchy tank top (fourth picture down) for me) and lunch, she said she would rather stay at home. And then as I walked to go to the door, I heard 'Wait Mommy!' And braced for the usual last-minute change of mind. But she just ran up to me and said 'I want to give you a cuddle before you go.' And she did and gave me a big kiss for good measure.
Last night Alex said she'd been very good with him too: climbing on him, giving him a hug and generally just messing about with him while he was reading the paper on the floor.
We've not had any tantrums since the ones I posted about when we first moved in to the new house and the worst it gets is days when she's got a stuffed nose and is therefore extremely whiny. Like when we get home from nursery sometimes:
'I can't take my shoes off.'
'Yes you can.'
(Using one heel to stab ineffectively at another) 'I caaaan't. I can't do it, Mommy. Help me.'
When feeling mean I walk into the next room going 'Bend down and use your hands to undo the straps.'
When less mean or on the verge of wanting to asphyxiate myself because it would be less expasperating I give in and undo her shoes for the princesss.
Similarly sometimes in the mornings it's all 'I want to go downstairs. Mommy, I waant to go dooownstairs!'
And the thing that annoys me is that if I snap and say 'Do you think you're going to go asking like that?' she immediately switches to her auto-response, polite 'PleasemommycanIgodownstairsnowplease?'
But ah days like today - and actually the previous two days - she has just been an angel. Partly I think because she has this whole reward system she knows about. She earns treats when she:
* wees in the potty
* poos in the potty
* brushes her teeth well
* sleeps when I ask her to
* turns off the TV quickly when it's time to go
* gets in her car seat quickly
* closes her eyes and opens her mouth and doesn't cry when I rinse the shampoo out of her hair
And fortunately I've learned that she doesn't necessarily have to be bribed with sweets. When we started this whole bribe - er reward system - I'd automatically offer sweets or chocolate. Then one day she asked for a cheese biscuit instead. What a fool I've been. So now she can have grapes, strawberries, cheese biscuits, frozen yoghurt, and I throw in sweets every so often to keep her keen.
I've not quite worked out who's smarter in this whole system yet.
'Fly balloon, fly!'
We've bought her helium balloons before but this is the first time she expressed delight at the fact it could fly.
Bucklebury Farm Park
Shame Izzy was asleep am hour and a half the two and a half hours we were here. Got some great pictures of her on the slides on my camera which I'll download later.
Knitting project five complete
She finally has a scarf to match her hat only a year later, just in time for next winter. The result of reasonably regular half hours once a week at lunchtime.
Eyes are for Izzy
Yes she's still insisting on sucking and chewing fish eyeballs. Don't ask where she learned this, I only like the brains.
03 May 2008
Good day out
We went to our local park today which has a lovely tots playground, sandpit and paddling pool. Afterwards we went to the fair nearby which was very loud.
Kay poh helping me to shop for groceries
Ever since I once forgot to bring my wallet to the supermarket, prompting an anguished episode for Izzy in which we had to give back all the goodies we'd just selected for consumption, whenever I ask if she wants to in to the supermarket, she will gravely ask: 'Do you have your wallet, mommy? Can you pay for things?'
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