December 2012 tantrums galore and they're not even two yet!

[SpottyTeacakes]

Hope everyone finds this and I haven't doubled up!

I've got really bad back pain and ds is spinning on his zebra crying. No idea why!

Bloody hell pidj - hats off to you! I would hate to have been supervising me as a teenager! It's really good that Rs trial visit went so well.

gah keep cross posting!

yaaaaaaaay love dangermouse despite nickname of penfold love the i patch idea. i introduced dn to bananaman a few years back

I'm an only (not my parents' choice) and it isn't something i want for r. i can see benefits to both types of family, its just that having more than one suits us fx it works out that way!

and again! i took 6 to Poland 3 years ago and 6 to Latvia at 6m pg. was to miss Liechtenstein last year. all those were for a week. oh and we're running a music festival for them this weekend! i get paid for the weekly sessions but not for the extra stuff although i won't be needing to pay out anything while away either iyswim

pidj DS is an awful flirt and smiles at the ladies and laughs when other people laugh. We get compliments and told how gorgeous DS is even by other mums with toddlers. I think it's when they have a really friendly, cheeky, sociable nature it just comes across even in pictures. DS also loves to wave at bus drivers. I love it that he can light up a stranger's day. Although if they had to entertain the monkey for a whole day they'd probably think differently
The teenage stuff sounds cool. And hats off to you, teenagers and toddlers are probably not so different in their willingness to test every boundary all the time.

yeah an old colleague of mine has recently turned up working the bins so r loves that, gets loads of waves!

I'm used to teens. babies are a bit of a mystery to me but i quite enjoy a bit of rational debate - teenagers still believe in stuff so passionately its fun! my favourite is " you're so gay!" to which i reply "that's an insult how?" guaranteed they have an answer and its usually not what you'd expect

Oh yeah, bin men too.

We had a new fence put up in the garden recently (yay, finally got the landlord to make a decision) and DS spent ages waving at the workmen. They were lovely and smiled and waved back
Actually he waves at the neighbours houses too. Even when you can't see anybody

I showed T a snail the other day, she looked it quizzically for a minute then beamed, waved and said 'hello'! Dd1 thought it was hilarious.
I always wanted dd1 to have at least one sibling as my db was such a huge part of my childhood (my other db not at all). Having 3 works really well at times, like today when dd1&2 played together all morning in a way an adult and child never could, and they both get a lot out of T and she gets masses from them but the downside is that no-one gets much one to one, and of course there can be a lot of bickering.

Oh, just remembered a cute DS kissing story...

DS loves to give kisses. Slobbery open mouthed kisses that might turn to a bite if you linger too long. DH was away overnight this week and DS really missed him. When DH came home DH was cuddling DS and getting some lovely kisses. I also got kisses from DS.
Then DS wanted DH and I to kiss and he joined in
DS also gave us a group hug. It was soooo cute!!

Aww nutella. He's going to love his new sib!

Ds waves at everyone too. As soon as I've finished paying in a shop he god 'mnaa' and waves (that's all he says). It upsets me when they don't notice

Dd is spelling three letter words all by herself with her puzzle pieces. I'm really proud so I'm putting it on here so I'm not "that" parent!

Four letter words

That's amazing spotty, she's going to fly at school! If you want to encourage her reading you could see what scheme the school follows and get a couple of books for over the summer. Dd1s school did the oxford biff, chip and kipper, there were some at the library but I bought a massive set from the book people for about £12.

Good idea. We've got one of the Julia Donaldson phonics books. She asked to do it but hasn't asked to read. That might follow shortly though. It's her last week at nursery this week

Wow Spotty that's brilliant!

spotty yay DD! And awww last week at nursery. Bless. That must feel like a huge leap to be sending her to school in September.
I'm contemplating nursery for DS. On the one hand to keep him busy and on the other hand to give me 1-1 with new DC when it arrives. I'm very tempted. DS loves being around other kids. I think there is a bilingual Montessori place near here too... I've no idea what they cost though

And enjoy the proud mummy moment!

Dd started nursery just after I had ds and she was fine. I loved the time with ds and felt less guilty that dd was doing loads of fun stuff when I was too tired!

nutella I've been thinking of a childminder for DS, our neighbour is one and DS loves her and being around the other kids. Just now though he really wants mummy, even with DH pandering to his every need. I'm not sure how well he'd take to being sent next door now. My plan is to wait until the schools start back, then maybe ask if she can just take him on the school run a couple of days a week, then build up from there if he's happy - stay for a snack after, then a play etc.
I thought about getting him settled in to going over there before baby, but didn't get round to it. I think adding another change now wouldn't be good for him. So depends how your DS reacts for you, and when you'd think of starting him. It's all dependant on the child, but I think a nursery couldn't be as flexible with easing him in? You might lose money if he hates it and you decide not to send him for a while?

Bit of a waffle there. I've been surprised though at the change in DS and his behaviour, he seems a lot more needy and fragile this last week. Though, he was fine with all the changes the first week. I guess he maybe realised they're permanent?

That said, he's been coming on loads in his speech recently. A few short sentences, lots of copying/parroting words, and loads of new words added. Also seems to have started with some imaginative play, building aeroplanes out of duplo and pretending they fly (with sound effects) also cars and robots. He'll tell you what he's built, and play with it appropriately.
Loads of crying and tantrums though, for big and little stuff. If he asks for juice but you need to wash his cup first, or he asks for cheese and you need to find a knife to cut it... It's instant tears and screaming, and takes ages to make him listen and realise you are actually doing what he's asked! I've started trying to introduce the concept of doing something first - we build his block tower, then turn him upside down and knock it over, and repeat. He wants the upside down, but I insist on the building first. I'm hoping it'll help with the tantrums over having to wait for stuff. Like wiping hands before getting out of the high chair.

Anyone got any other tips?

Spotty impressive skills from DD. Hopefully the school will encourage and support her to continue. I'm sure they will though.

I'll probably go for nursery with R - there are big changes coming in September to the 2+ funding, worth checking if you need childcare! - but that's because I don't need him to be there, I just think I should take advantage of it if we qualify, and he'd enjoy it. If I were needing childcare for long hours I'd consider childminders too.

Stacks sounds to me like you're doing all you can. Waiting is a learned skill, so you just need to plug away I guess?

R loves the sea! Took him today to paddle, previously I've taken him to slightly protected areas but met some friends who were going. He adored it, no fear just lots of giggles :o I need to start saving for sailing lessons

Man we had an awful bedtime tonight. She's only just settled - 2 hours after bedtime! Not sure if it was because I got home at 7 just as DH was about to put her to bed as she was tired but I took over and put her to bed and she went down fine but started crying a couple of minutes later and got in such a state. I gave her calpol and water and she just howled no matter if I stroked her, cuddled, sang, left her etc. the only thing that stopped her was looking at books in the dark! After an hour I bought her down where she troughed half my tea (even though DH said she'd eaten well today) and did a big poo! Maybe she had a belly ache. Her nappy was the start of bedtime all over again.
Just 2 days left in my old job!

Might be growing WL if she's that hungry?

Stacks don't get me started on the childminders here. It is essentially the same as sending him to nursery. The local area has a special system that the stupid old bat lady who runs it thinks is perfect. There is absolutely no flexibility.
Where we were before (10km down the road) it was super!

One of my apprehensions of sending DS to nursery is also the English vs German language development. He hears and understands both; but obviously spending lots of time with me means he gets more English

WL fingers crossed you all get a good nights sleep!

Yeah maybe pidj I'm sure she wasn't crying because she was hungry though as she'd had loads and didn't want much of her milk. I think it was a fun consequence of ending up back downstairs.

Argh this bloody child - up at 5.25. Ridiculous.