I've been pondering the growth of my child from the time he was a little dependent baby, to a more separate little boy. I'm feeling the swing lately, between clingy, crying child and a mindful boy who knows exactly what he wants. I was wondering if this process had a name, and I found something that … [Read more...]
The Perfect Biscuit
I'm aware that the sensitive period for order will be with us right up until four years old. But it seems that at this age everything must be in a certain way, or else much grief will ensue. Case in point: 4am and we don't have the perfect biscuit, or in Nicky's terms, "biccy". I'm getting rather … [Read more...]
Our current object of affection: “Zee-bra”
"Zee-bra!" This was Nicky's plaintive call at 4:30am in the morning. "Zee-bra!" "Nicky, I don't know where your zebra is, can we not just go back to sleep?" "Zee-bra!" rather insistently now. (If you're wondering why he is saying it with an American accent, it is all our fault. We let … [Read more...]
Putting Two Words Together
Every week there is more development in Nicky's speech and it is amazing to watch. He can name a lot of animals. He can say if he is "wet" or "hot". He can demand "duice!" or "wator" or "eat!". He can name all the members of his family "Mama, Dada, Co Co and Ilo" (the last two are the dogs Coffee … [Read more...]
That Time My Toddler Fell on Me and Gave Me a Black Eye and Other Parenting Adventures
If I think about all the injuries I have sustained directly as the result of being a mother, I could put up quite a list. Starting with Bell's Palsy during pregnancy, things only went downhill from the time my tot became more mobile. He launched himself into my face, causing ulcers, and frequently … [Read more...]
Nicky 29 Month Update
It's been a while since I've done some Nicky news so I thought I'd update you all on how he is doing, bullet point style. -Nicky seems to have moved to another level of being interested in everything around him, particularly in how things work, open and shut and function. He likes going into … [Read more...]
Who Needs Exercise When You Have a Toddler?
Running after a toddler all day long is actually good exercise. I've come up with a list of how Nicky keeps me in shape, and I'm not even including the Tuesday afternoon walk where I push him around in a stroller. In fact the ways that he keeps me active are never ending. 1) Weight … [Read more...]
Four Things that Drive You Crazy About Your Toddler Actually Have a Purpose
I hit a new parenting low today. I sat in my child's pee. This wasn't something I planned. Nicky was standing in his standard position under the cupboard where the biscuits are. Grunting for biscuits, obviously. I have no idea how long he had been standing there but I went over to give him a hug … [Read more...]
Montessori Around the House
You don't have to have all the Montessori materials to use her philosophy in your home. I have been noticing what my toddler is doing around the house and can see how it slots in with at least two of her different categories. 1) Practical Life: Practical life is just as it suggests, the normal … [Read more...]
Nicky’s First Salon Haircut
I was driving back one morning from dropping off my hubby when I was handed a pamphlet for "The Pear Tree", a venue where you can get your hair and nails done while someone looks after your kids. This appealed to me on a lot of levels. I only have the maid once a week on a Friday, and basically … [Read more...]