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Actually a lot of grizzles, but some good HE

As I think SB is a bit run down/tired. We had fake wails and some real ones about all sorts of nothings that turned into major disasters in her mind. However, do look at gorgeous photo in post below this one!

She started the day with cbeebies, and learning how to spell her surname. I could hear her discussing it with Chris whilst i was on the big ‘puter upstairs finishing a poster for the conference in glasgow – yeah, should have been done ages ago! luckilly the lady in medical illustration didn’t insist on receiving it on a floppy with a hard copy, but agreed to email of a word doc. I told her she could lay it out however she fancied, as I’m so behind I don’t really have a right to argue!

I like a nice bit of HE in the morning
When I went down, she was keen to do some more studydog, so we started the second lot of 3 lessons, where you have to get the first letters right [english]. Now, most of this she was fine at, but every so often, would just wildly hit any old button. This annoys me as
a) She’s just not even trying, yet when I say she’s obviously had enough we have a major wail that she wants to carry on.
b) If she does it to often, she may have to repeat the lesson [to my interminable boredom] to get the clue. This wouldn’t be so bad if it was because she found it difficult, but when it is just from messing about – Aaargh.
Anyway, when this happened, we did some physical activity, had a drink or some fruit.

We also started on her thankyou letters. I have printed out a foldover with picture and a short note, and she is adding her name. We did alright until she decided she wanted to do it in swirly writing like mummy. hmmm!!!! Roll on after move, when I can put getty and dubay in a sonlight order. [writing]

We also got the DK history explorer through the post [ebay purchase 99p]. It works!!! SO obviously the patch works for that one, and the science one we have is either duff or patch resistant. We had a bit of a scoot about the mediaeval section as SB wanted to look at knights. She enjoyed collecting the stickers, and seemed to get the answers easily. however, she got bored quite quickly. this might have been due to her being tired or due lunch though, so we stopped. [history]

shopping spree [ i wish]
I thought I would quickly nip to m and s to get some birthday presents. Also got a skirt for me, a nice book on the human body for SB and a fleecy oversuit for BB. The drive home was a nightmare, stuck for 30 mins behind v smelly van due to lorry crashed on roundabout ahead. not quite so much of a nip after all.

Biker Girl/ knackered girl
As in SB, wending her way around huge paint tins on the drive on her bike mostly. I think she did do some scootering as well while I was out. [PE] We then coloured in some Maisie pictures in the book she got for her birthday [art], played shopping, and role played with her dollies.

Sent Chris out to post nursery application form and stagecoach application form, and found SB had fallen asleep on sofa in front of one of the baby einstein DVD‘s. Some hefty rousing, and we did a bit of all playing together with BB. This is where I took that gorgeous piccie of my girls! We wound things down and she read a few books with Chris, I particularly like the one of the 3 wolves and the bad pig! [literature], and following up yesterday’s surprise german with a Muzzy video [foreign language], where it does seem that some has been going in. I am encouraged enough that I will try and do it more often. Dinner, bath, supper, book [gruffalo and nativity story] and bed – ah, peace!

BB has started shrieking/screaming when either tired or hungry. When hungry, she also acts as if feeding is poisonous for the let down. Does my stress levels no good! Mostly she is still relaxed cutie, with lots of smiles and giggles. She has a really good reach and grasp She’s making some efforts in rolling over, but her big bot is a it of a handicap! Anyway, lots of wiggling, arching of back and leg scrabbling going on. Not able to sit yet either – SB could sit b 16 weeks. However, she enjoys being sat up and rolling forwards. Chris is giving her a sitting/falling workout at the moment. How much falling can they do before risk of shaken baby syndrome? I always felt SB learnt to sit as a self defence measure.

Day summary: I wish I could prevent more of SB’s whinge attacks. they are v short lived, and she doesn’t seem to hang on to them, but they do on occassiona drive me up the wall. Particularly if timed when BB also crying/shrieking. Hopefully they wont be what she remembers of childhood, but instead all the cuddles/tickles and general loving that fills the day. [we are quite a tactile family].

things to do over weekend: Must try and do some Singapore or Exeter maths [1a] this weekend though. The next few pages in the singapore earlibird 2A seem quite practical, so should be fun and easy. Will also try and pop in a bit of DK explorer when she is more alert, to see what she really makes of it. Its quite a busy weekend with 2 parties to go to. For me, I’ve got to decided whether to sort out the questionnaires i talked about yonks ago, or def forget the whole thing.
Also, Jax has prompted me to think about the DfES guidelines and make my own statement. She’s right, in that it is us at the beginning of HE who are going to be the most affected, and although we might not have got our HE styles etc sorted out, we need to keep open the freedom to do that, rather than get progressively more tied to the National Curriculum and frequent more and more intimidating visits/inspections.

smiley girls

smily girls

Aren’t they gorgeous!! Both were watching a baby einstein video together – Ah
Helen

the long goodbye

well 2 today. hmmm not enjoying this bit of moving.

SBand BB decided I should get up at 7.15 this am. humph. We made cards for saying good bye to the gym instructor, Diane, and the tots group aunties, particularly Aunty Carole. We also picked some daffodils and hellebores from the garden. [must remember to divide hellebores before we move to take with us] They were supposed to be of the people, I think, though Diane had turned into a dragon by the end of the drawing? Aunty Carole fared a bit better. [art]

goodbye 1
So we piled out of the house to gym, and SB had a good time, as the temp instructor the week before hadn’t done the right badge things with her, so she got a fair bit of one on one. I decided to stay and watch [and take photos] as it was the last one. I was impressed as SB knew most of the positions, could do a backwards headover heels, walk backwards along the beam, stop in the middle and turn round, and then balance on one leg, and the touch toes [which I can't do on the flat ground!] She also had to do different jumps and gallops, skip through hoops etc. The parachute and bubble machine was out at the end. BB was fascinated. Diane did say if our move was delayed, we could sneak into a lesson or 2 next term though. Does feel end of an era-ish. SB has been to gym since 18 months, and it is really well designed, getting them more confident and then learning the apparatus. She got her last badge today as well. [PE]

Goodbye 2
A quick lunch of pizza and we were off again, this time to tots group. This is at the free church, and we chose it basically cos others from y postnatal group went there. Again, we’ve been going since SB about 6 months – though with some breaks. the ‘Aunties’ made a bit of a fuss of her, and she had great fun playing with her friends, in particularly Z. He thinks she is the most wonderful thing ever as well. She made quite a cute Easter card, and sang all the songs. I know liufe would change anyway if we had stayed, ‘cos I was still going to have to be a 4 day week, and all her friends would be going to school in Sept, but I do think we would have kept up with some of them. No changing the decision though, and for all else it was the right one. [And not convinced they could have afforded to give me the job in leeds anyway, as have not advertised for anyone else to do it] Back on track, and can say it was a good day. SB growing out of tots group [obviously as it is aimed at the under schoo age]. just 2 lasts in one day a bit much. [socialisation, music]

When we got home, SB wanted to eat the choc buttons they got as a goodbye for easter break, she was only going to have them if she could read the word. Having easily told me the letters, I heavily helped her join them up into the word. Also got her to count all the buttons out before eating, and do a bit of button maths! Since then we have made curry for tea together [potato, brocolli and borlotti bean biriyani] and read a couple of books. [english]

must go back into the world again, have had a 15 min break and chris wants to have a nap before driving to Huntingdon. May have the nap myself and drive, except BB after yet another feed! At the mo, she is having a good giggle as Chris dropping her!! SB is dressing cardboard cutout fairies and ballerinas with their cutout clothes. I remember loving similar things as a child.

Oh Happy Days

I was supposed to go to a conference in London today, but instead played with the girls. SB went to nursery in the morning. I fed BB about 6000 times, and did a modicum of housework.

Picked up SB at lunchtime. She really enjoys showing BB off to all her nursery friends. We then went to a soft play centre with my first postnatal group. It feels really sad that we will be leaving this group. Anyway , we had a lovely time.

My Aunty Margaret then visited in the evening, and they did some hama beads and jigsaws together, and BB got more cuddles. SInging practice in the bath and a quiet bedtime. no obvious ed at all!

today is Party Day

today is Party Day


Helen

today is Party Day

today is Party Day


Helen

The BirthdayParty

photos will have to follow, as still on camera.

SB wet last night. our fault, as she was asleep when she came home from her party, and we didn’t lift her soon enough. So in bed with us. BB joined us at 5am. Hmm, must start waking to feed at midnight if it means otherwise an early feed.

I thought I might try and repeat the breakfast in bed thing, but SB joined me v early on with a book on spacetravel [we got it from dynamic earth]. So we both ate egg with soldiers whilst i read it. When we did get up, we came downstairs and did a rather nice picture of spacetravel. [science, art]

The day was so gorgeous, we went to the local park, which SB enjoys cycling around. today she was in rather a hurry to get to the cafe for cheese on toast. gloriously sunny though, with just a bit of a nip to the air. And I have finally sorted out moorhens vs coots in my head. [PE]

Back with a bit of a rush to get ready and out for the party. At least we weren’t late, though had to stop in Asda for candles on the way there. Party went v well, everyone seemed to be having fun, SB particularyl. We had one drop out due to illness, and one non-responder attend, so all evened out. [socialisation]
It did mean another haul of presents though, including some midi hama beads – v nice. A slush maker, jigsaws, lots of books some craft things and some very girly girl things. We opened them when we got home. We has some cake left over, approx 1/5. SB said she wanted it all, but that we could cut it in half to make it easier. on asking for a piece, she was adamant it was her birthday cake, but we did get a bite!

When SB went upstairs to bed with Chris, I had a wiggle and giggle with BB. It is nice to spend some time purely trying to make her laugh. She does it quite readily now, and particularly likes the word digger.

to my great shame, chips for tea. Not very waitwotchery at all.
obviously as a summary, another happy day. tes, there were the odd aarggh get your coat on etc moments, and SB has started screaming often just before I feed her, which I’m not liking? why?? but has been fun.

3 hours, 1/2 pound of icing and glass of wine.

3 hours, 1/2 pound of icing and  glass of wine.

It’s Stringbean’s delayed birthday party tomorrow, so I’ve spent the evening icing the cake that she and Helen made the other day. The design was her request (it didn’t involve pink…..!)
I’m quite impressed with myself really :-)

now for the daily news

SB woke us up – as usual – by crawling into our bed. I think it was just before 5. BB then woke up for a feed. To be fair, BB had slept through from about 10 o clock. this made SB completely perky. As she said, her blood had carried energy to all her body, and there was no sleep left. Sigh! At about 7.00, chris realised resistance was futile and got up. Yay! I spent another 2 hours in bed with BB, then got breakfast in bed. Almost makes up for the complete lack of mothers day I got. 4 in a bed too many though, and will have to buy a superking. the owners of the next house might sell us theirs for a song as it doesn’t fit in their bungalow.

SB proudly announced she had been doing ‘Art’ [it definitely had a capital to it!]. She got an art set for her irthday, with paints, felt tips crayons and pictures to colour in. She particularly liked the white crayon on black paper effect. We played with her dolls while eating my first breakfast, and her second. She is getting more imaginative with her stories as well. I got some kiss cuddle and tickle time in. We do lots of this, I just don’t tend to blog it – it would be a bit like blogging nappy changes!

When I got up and went to ‘puter, she remnded me we needed some more of the match and sort, so we got the next 6 pages of exeter maths printed off, and then did them all. Obviously with breaks for skipping, annoying daddy, getting felt tip and pen on sofa and sulking when they were put away! Yes, my fault for having them on the sofa. We usually do it at the kitchen table though. Daddy was trying to sweep the floor, and kicking the piles was not appreciated. Anyway shes got the bigger than etc stuff sorted. we had to give up on one of the matching to the number line exercises tough, as she was seeing how long the path could be, and after 2 interminable squiggles there was no clear paper left. I was a giggly heap as well, as she was giving the pen road directions.

Beans on toast for lunch, so nice and simple, and we whipped through some of the phonics flash cards. She’s definitely getting the hang of this, though if she guesses the word, she’s apt to say something begining with the last letter or letter sound cluster.

We both had quite a play with BB, getting her to hold and stretch for a rattle. She is giggling a lot, and it makes SB proud. though she says ‘are you making fun of me’ to BB at this point.They’ve both been in a sunny mood today.

She nipped next door to visit our neighbours and then out to her friend’s party. As Chris went to, hopefully he will add something. She came back fast asleep anyway.

I actually did housework [shock]. blogged, and fed and played with BB. Mostly jiggles, tickles and silly names. She really does love her pudding club cube. I also got a letter re my medical. After panicking, i’ve decided to waitwocher [is it tm?] my meals in points, and limit them to breast feeder amounts. hopefully will lose a bit, and get me in habit. I also found some riviying trash on telly – being americas next supermodel. fantastic! They are so bitchy.

so , another good day, relaxed vibe to it.