December 2012: Everyone loves nap time.

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Started a new thread for us before we run out of room.

Ds is really good at answering questions as to what he wants. Quite a relief tbh!

R's pretty much always been like it tbh, although it varies a lot between his little buddies a similar age - some just shout till you guess, some are already telling you what they want! Today he actually said Biccie while rummaging through the cupboard my Mum keeps the biscuits in though :o

WillYou he'll be choosing his own outfits and the week's shopping in no time

DS has always been good at communicating. Especially for snacks! He demands crisps "cripu" as soon as we get near the local supermarket, will rummage through the nappy bag looking for whatever snacks might still be packed in there, and will stand and point to the biscuit/raisin cupboard and say which one he wants. He'll also say or point to which cereal he wants, and ask you more when he finishes his bowl and is still hungry.

Often you need something to trigger the asking though, more and more often now he'll see a banana or biscuit in one of his story books, then ask for one from the kitchen. He'll also ask for cheese whenever you open the fridge.

Haha, R does the nappy bag thing too! Other mums especially of younger babies are all like wtf because he's rummaging in my bag and I just let him - he's either hungry or thirsty and can sort his own drink out/bring me the pot of snacks to open! He doesn't tend to say the words yet, but definitely knows what you mean when you say stuff :)

My mum and MIL hear a lot more language from him than I do, I think it's because I put most of it down to scribble talk whereas they can hear the real words among the babble. I should pay more attention

The problem is she immediately stands up and shouts for me which turns to hysterical crying if left. I know I just need to keep on for a few more days gradually getting meaner! She's been quite a whinger this weekend as I'm sure her teeth are hurting and her naps have been crap as well as her nights. She's fine when distracted though like at a friends this aft, playing in the paddling pool and with my friends 4yo ds who adores her.
pidj what a great choice for dinner. Hurrah for all the communication!

We went through several weeks of just giving calpol in the bath with R for his teeth. If you suspect it's that, give the medication about 20 minutes before you put her down so it has time to work :)

Yeah she had some about 30 mins before tea and I'll give her some more when she wakes.
All a bit frought in our house tonight - dd1 has been told off a lot today and finally went to bed without a story. It's such a shame as we had a lovely day apart from her repeatedly not doing as she was told.

Wl he did used to moan more at first and there is definitely a difference between having a whinge and hysterical screaming. Why is small child sleep so complex?! It isn't fair!!

pidj DS can communicate what he wants and will sometimes sign to reinforce what he means. But it's funny that some words cross both languages and could be English or German. He definitely says no in German... Except I must say it more than DH because he's with me more
DS rummages in anyone's bag for food. In my bag he likes to play with his dummy & spare dummy, my purse and allllll the contents and any snacks he finds. Snacks are all "yummy yummy" he doesn't usually mind what you feed him as long as you feed him when he asks.

I'm with Nutella - whinging gets left in this house. If he's actually crying for more than 2 minutes I go in and change nappy/top up drink/administer calpol etc. So I wouldn't describe it as Controlled Crying as much as Controlled Mumping iyswim

R does the yum yum thing too, but only when he's feeding his doll/elephant/sheep/random toy that apparently must join eat all his dinner before he takes any mouthfuls

Oh, and if he already knew some signs then I'd be pushing the toilet one for sure! But I've never really got beyond watching Something Special with him and he's not much of a one for copying actions. This despite knowing Makaton for work in a previous incarnation must do better with hypothetical next baby

I love the signing because I expect a certain delay in speech due to the extra language load and it's so cute plus DS will point and nod but deciphering what at/ why is sometimes impossible! I find it a handy back up.

WL i hope tonight is easier for you both. I am waiting to get H's sleep sorted till we move into our new home which is feeling like its not going to happen

Stacks and Nutella i hope your sleep becomes easier soon this heat can't be helping.

H is able to ask for a lot of things her talking is brilliant. if only her sleep was as well We don't do any signing with her as i don't know any, but i love seeing children sign. I was watching the programme called 'The Secret Life of Babies', and they had a deaf couple whose babies had been signing from a young but were also able to speak. It was amazing.

hales I bought a book "baby's first signs" I think. It just has a few tips and about 40 simple signs.

DS has had me awake for about an hour. His bottom canines are coming so of course we have had an episode of croup cough type thing. Always seems to happen when he is teething.
He is still rattling but sounds much better than he was. He's had his special medicine.... Fx he goes back to sleep.

I can't believe that we all just woke up. I don't remember the last time I slept until 7 am!

It's my last Monday off before I go full time in my new job. DH is home because we have lunch at school with DD today. We're trying to think of something fun for this afternoon- currently either softplay (because 2 hrs of it on Saturday won't have been enough!) or maybe getting a new paddling pool (ours is too small for 2 now). Then hopefully a barbecue for their tea.

WL what would happen if she shared a room for a bit, with a big sister? We find A will stay calm if DD is in the room. Although I do worry slightly that he doesn't cope well if she isn't- MIL is planning a sleep over for her soon.... that will be DH sleeping on the floor again then!

Beasty we brought a paddling pool from Smyths which has an inflatable slide and a hippo type thing that you can throw balls in. You can connect a hose pipe to it and it sprays water it cost £35, but its brilliant. I'll try and post a picture of it on fb if i can find one, it took me about half am hour to blow up by mouth.

Nutella i had never even thought of buying a book with signs in it. Learning sign language has always been on my bucket list.

Great sleep beasty!

What's everyone's thoughts on going on holiday without your dc? I've always said 'I'd never do that' but following our lovely holiday dp and I have been talking about it. Maybe a cheap week away for us in the sun during term time and then a week in the summer holidays of swimming, peppa pig world, legoland etc plus a weekend in bath with my sister. I think the dc would enjoy it just as much, if not more, but it feels really selfish

spotty I would do it. Although I don't know when. My plan is when we all feel ready we would take the kids to my mum in France, give them a couple of days to settle and then go away from there on our own for a few days/week.
I think the big question is having someone they are happy staying with and you feel confident can handle it.

hales that paddling pool sounds amazeballs! (Not a word I use often)
Re the signs - a few of the more obvious ones are easy. I have a deaf cousin and learnt the alphabet many moons ago; but that's not been very helpful

DH was supposed to be out from early today but decided to stay at home. I really appreciate it; but I would have survived (somehow). But I have just had a two hour nap - thanks DH - so I'm definitely not complaining!!

I wouldn't consider it now but I'm thinking ds will be 2.5 by then plus he'd be with dd and in his own home (I'd get my mum to stay). The thought of a whole week relaxing is so tempting!

I'm going to look for that padding pool! Dd got given one of those water slides for her birthday. You attach it to the slide and it's five metres of plastic. Unfortunately we've just been moved to a water meter so it might have to live at my parents

Spotty i would do it, my mum and dad use to let us go abroad with our nans when we were little and it was great.

Nutella i am very of a 2 hour nap but i think you deserve it i can't imagine chasing an 18 month old round all day whilst being pregnant.

Off to find a picture of the paddling pool now whilst i remember.

I'm managing to sneak in a cup of tea at softplay, while DH supervises. It's beautifully quiet in there, only about 4 other children.

A keeps disappearing to the top, then struggles as his shorts fall down!

I'd kill for a night off i think a few days with gprs/aunt+uncle is as much a holiday for the child as a break for the parents. dn first came to us at 3 for a week to give sil some respite and apart from a 30 second wobble the first night we all had an amazing time.

hales it helped after DS woke me with his cough just before 4
And I love the paddling pool hales! It looks great!

DS was such a pain this evening. So glad he is finally in bed. I'm hoping, with everything crossed, that he sleeps well.

spotty if you have the opportunity def do it! Honestly I think its great for all of you - the dc tend to get spoilt and enjoy adventures away from you and it's so good for you as a couple. I'm really hoping DH and I can get a couple of nights away later in the year.
Hope you enjoyed your day beasty. Hats off to you juggling full time.
So I formally accepted my new job today and cribbed am email copy of my contract. Will hand in my notice tomorrow. T was a star last night and slept til 5 then back down til 7 after some boob. Unfortunately I was feeling really stressed about all the job stuff and didn't get off to sleep til after 1. Dh has been being a star about getting up early and letting me catch a bit extra where possible.
Hoorah for paddling pools!

hales that pool looks AMAZING! I want to come and play

I fucked with the routine today, gave R his nap in the car and he woke after half an hour luckily he's sensible - "R, do you want the rest of your dinner?" No "Do you want a yoghurt?" No "Do you want to watch the rest of Andy and the dinosaurs?" No "Do you want yoru bath?" That was at half past 4, he's been asleep since 5:05 without so much as a murmur

yay WL I'm chuffed for you :o

Me too hales!
pidj that's amazing. If T is tired and fed up the answer to any question is 'nooo' with accompanying sad face and shaking head.