Wonder Mum

Day 1 of 'proper' training was today. We have introduced the idea before, but hoping the concept of 'softly, softly' will hold us in good stead. Up until today I think we have had 1 'wees' on the potty, but LOTS of talk about it! Mr Big will, I am certain, vouch that there has been LOTS of talking, generally, which to be quite honest he is starting to struggle with (which I, of course, find hilarious - he really is outnumbered by talkative females in this house - I just dont think he expected it to have already gotten that way! She is only 2!) So, the foundations have been laid, very slowly, as preparation for today. Foundations included daily (and sometimes several times in a day) reading of a book about a little girl who learns to use the potty - called 'Lou Lou's loo' I think. It's an interactive book, so baby A can get involved in the story, which I think is really helpful. So much reading about 'Lou Lou' and much TALK about t...

I had, dare I say it, a day off yesterday. And it was good. I realised I was in my 'happy place' when, towards the end of the day, I could hear Baby A running round the garden, squealing with delight as she played, with my Mum chasing her, all the while as I cooked dinner for us all & Mr Big was in his element doing 'man stuff' in his workshop he built himself. And everyone was happy. And I had made it that way. And I was happy. In my happy place. It lasted for the briefest of fleeting moments, but I was content. Just for a little while. If I hadn't noted it, the moment would have crept by unnoticed. But I did notice. And I liked it. I felt happy inside. This came at the end of a day spent playing in the glorious weather with Baby A and various playmates. There were sandpits and water tables and bubbles and paddling pools. There was also lots of innocent nakedness as nappies were off, sun cream & hats were on, and the running around & lau...

Baby A has just turned 2. Not a baby any more. My poor heart breaks :( Of course she's much more fun but there is something about her turning 2 that means the baby years are behind us. We had a great family day on her actual birthday - a rare day with just myself, Mr Big & Baby A. We had the party the day after, so we had 'protected time' on the day itself. We had breakfast in bed and presents of course! Baby A was more interested in the eggs than in her gifts, much to Mr Big's and my amusement. We were grateful as I expect she will know all about presents by age 3 and that'll be that - no more innocence around getting gifts - she'll be ripping off paper faster than we can blink & asking where the next one is, before we know it. We had a great day & took bubba to the beach so she could 'go running with the doggies' as she puts it. She can never keep up with said doggies , but she just loves seeing dogs on the beach, and we always go u...

It seems like it's not going to stop. As if our summer won't arrive. And everyone's depressed. Understandably. I felt like that too. That is until I realised how cute Baby A could look! We went strawberry picking. In the rain. And it was FUN! All you 'glumsters' out there should try it! Make some metaphorical sunshine in your life! WM xx

Wow. C Beebies has a new show. And don't we know it! I'm sure there will be many a parent now familiar with the saying, 'it's only my toy spider'. As if. It is far from 'only' a toy spider! No other toy, let alone toy spider, has had such an effect! On the plus side, when did toy spiders get so cute? Baby A of course is obsessed. As I hear are lots of kiddieswinks. But it's a mixture of pleasure & pain. While she loves the programme, and it is very clever in helping her to identify with some of the things she could encounter that may be challenging or fearful for her, each episode is only 5 mins long! BBC - what were you thinking??!! How am I meant to get ANYTHING done in that time? At least Waybuloo is a respectable 20 mins. And In The Night Garden - an even more helpful 30! Don't get me wrong, I'm a far cry from having a 'tv babysitter' & I am really quite strict about the amount of tv I let Baby A watch. But it ...

What a fun afternoon! My little bro is about to have his first baby (well clearly he is not giving birth, but you know what I mean!) His engagement party was this afternoon and it was fab. In light of the fact Baby A would be seeing her relatives at the same large gathering, I thought I'd better pre-empt her potential overwhelm with some explanation. Not least as I also knew we would arrive not long after her nap & she wouldn't have eaten as lunch was served there. So I explained. Auntie L and Uncle A were having a party. And lots of people would be there. We went through exactly who would be there and how fun it was going to be. And the reason for the party was because Auntie L is going to be a princess for a day because Uncle A asked her to. I'm not sure what went in, but she wasn't too shocked when we arrived. And she was good humoured all afternoon. It was a lovely day :) Note also: lovely 'man shot' of Mr Big carrying the Little Tikes car. He ...