I just have to blog this, in case it never happens again....I had a REALLY GOOD DAY WITH TOBY!!! He's been adorable and wonderful today - almost like a different child!
Started by sleeping through without waking us at least twice (which hasn't happened for AGES) so that might be why he was in a good mood for one thing. We walked to school, dropped Oz off, went to my friend's for a quick cuppa and then walked to the park. Toby dozed off just as we got there but I woke him to get him out of the buggy. He had a lovely time running through the trees, chasing squirrels, getting soaked on the slide then found the most enormous mud patch and got filthy. But who cares.....
I walked the long way home and he fell asleep again so I kept on walking until I got to my favourite local coffee shop Caravellos where for the bargain price of £3 you get a cappuccino and a fried egg sandwich that is perfection (2 eggs, runny yolks, thick white bread...). Toby slept all the way throught. Got the bus home as my feet were killing me and he woke up as we got to the door.
Stripped him on the doorstep as he was filthy, and he asked for food! Now Toby's appetite has been pants for at least 4 months. He rarely sits at the table at mealtimes - often just the sight of a plate of food makes him tantrum - no idea why. He'll pick here and there but he won't eat. I made 2 scrambled eggs on toast - he sat right up and ate the lot. Then ate a yogurt. Then an apple. Watched a bit of Dora The Explorer and went to a soft play place for an hour. He had a fab time - no tantrums, no hitting or pushing....
Picked up Oz from school, had friends round for tea - again TOBY ATE!!! Miracle. Played nicely....went to bed like a dream.....
I'm not tired, not stressed. I feel great! And I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I've started a course type thing at Oscar's school - SHARE - it's a scheme to improve children's attainment and get parents really involved in learning. I was a bit scornful when I first heard about it thinking, Rob and I are intelligent, we know what we're doing - but I went along just to see and it's actually brilliant. Each week we have a task to do with Oscar - this week I had to make a shopping list with him and talk all about it - helping him understand WHY we need to write things down. He's a reluctant writer - never interested in writing or drawing - so having this guidance and suggestion of methods is invaluable for us. I've even swapped Toby's nursery days round so I can do SHARE in peace on a Tuesday morning.
So tomorrow- SHARE till 10, Aquafit from 11-12, lunch, then pick up Toby - meet friends for coffee in the afternoon then out to my fave restaurant Sapporo in the evening. Instead of worrying if I'll have all the energy for it or feeling miserable, I feel fab.
Hoorah for well behaved 2 year olds - it may never happen again but I can hope at least since it happened today!!!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Some nice pics...
Just a quick picture post..... Oz and Toby watching Kerwhizz on Cbeebies Website....a rare moment of brotherly love!
We went to the park today - unfortunately Toby slept through the whole trip!
This is my new favourite picture of Oscar - on the seesaw!
Or maybe this one?
Cold but sunny here in London. Oz still a bit emotional and tired from his first week at school - but this wasn't a full day week - next week he's all day every day! We'll see how he copes (I know he'll be fine). More soon....
We went to the park today - unfortunately Toby slept through the whole trip!
This is my new favourite picture of Oscar - on the seesaw!
Or maybe this one?
Cold but sunny here in London. Oz still a bit emotional and tired from his first week at school - but this wasn't a full day week - next week he's all day every day! We'll see how he copes (I know he'll be fine). More soon....
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Swings and Roundabouts....
So....Oz is settling into school well. Wednesday was his first full day. And my first proper morning off - no children until 1pm when I pick up Toby from nursery. I had a wonderful morning - went to Bromley and had a very leisurely coffee (on a sideline, I've decided that I now make nicer coffee than Starbucks with my lovely coffee machine - I can make it precisely how I like it and they can't despite their marketing promises). Wandered into M&S and got a new bra, having taken my time browsing and trying things on.
Got some contact lenses in Specsavers and then just popped into Evans on a whim....and found....my perfect boots. I've been wanting a pair of knee length boots forever - and with incredibly wide calves, I've seen a few pairs on specialist sites but they're upwards of £180 every time....and I've never been able to get a shop pair over my ankles....but there they were - half price in Evans - black leather, extra wide fitting, stretchy enough to zip up (a little bit tight but really only a little and they'll give as the leather softens.). I love them. I bought them. And I loved walking around with a big fuck off carrier bag with a huge shoebox in. Perfect retail therapy.
I picked Toby up but then an hour later left him with my Mum to go and do an audition up in town. It went well (no idea if I got it) and it was nice to be in Leicester Square - there was a huge crowd waiting for Will Smith there. Nice and buzzy. Nice and grown up....nice and ME again.
Got home and the kids were happy, I was happy, Mum was happy. Lovely......
Went to bed at a reasonable time....and then the payment for the lovely day started to become due.
Toby refused to take any meds last night and he has a rotten cough. So he was coughing all night. Woke me at 12, 3, 5 and then was wide awake at 6.15. I was exhausted by morning. The plan I had was to get them both to nursery/school, skip my usual swim with the other mums and go back to bed. I couldn't get to sleep. My head was whizzing with all the other stuff I had to do - I just couldn't relax. I had a shower and ate some pasta then it was time to pick Toby up.
He hadn't had a bad morning they said at nursery - had slept for about 20 mins and hadn't eaten. We were going straight to a birthday party for my friend's 2 year old daughter Emily - along with all Toby's little chums. Toby was in a foul mood the moment we arrived. Screaming, tantrumming, being horrible. He was tired. I put him in the buggy and wheeled him back and forth in the hall for about 20 minutes. SCREAMING at the top of his voice. I put on my ipod and went for a walk with him, thinking the noise of the kids playing at the party was keeping him awake. He was furious that we'd left the house and he SCREAMED all the way as I walked around the block with my volume as high as it would go, trying to ignore the stares from people walking past.
I walked for 30 minutes. He was so tired but he fought it and fought it. I stopped back at the party to pick up my bag and then threw him in the car and drove. He fell asleep in minutes. By this time I had only 40 minutes until I had to pick up Oz so I parked outside the school and listened to the radio. Toby woke up screaming and then didn't stop. Picked Oz up, took him to his gymnastics class. We waited in the cafe as we were early and I planned to get them a snack before class. I ordered chips (I'm such a good mother) as I knew they'd both eath them. The fuckwit behind the counter took my order. 15 minutes later as Toby was screaming the place down with his heels drumming the floor shouting "chips" I asked the waiter guy how much longer. He'd forgotten to give the order to the kitchen.
So we sat for another ten minutes trying to ignore Toby's screams and the looks from the other customers. Chips arrived. Toby burnt his mouth. Guess what he did?
So Oz goes into Gymnastics. I give Toby jellytots to shut him up or I would have committed infanticide with a plastic fork and some ketchup. On rare occasions at Gymnastics they leave the blinds on the windows open (the window looks into the cafe) so parents can watch their little angels as they do their class. Invariably Toby is always on his worst behaviour on these days so I don't often get to watch Oz. But jellytots and chips were keeping him quiet so I snuck over to the crowd of parents who were watching.....
Just in time to see Oscar jam his hands down the back of his shorts exposing his bum, scratch all around and inside his little arsecrack, pull out his finger and examine it thoroughly, then wipe his nose with it.
I was so proud.
Remind me again why I had kids?
Got some contact lenses in Specsavers and then just popped into Evans on a whim....and found....my perfect boots. I've been wanting a pair of knee length boots forever - and with incredibly wide calves, I've seen a few pairs on specialist sites but they're upwards of £180 every time....and I've never been able to get a shop pair over my ankles....but there they were - half price in Evans - black leather, extra wide fitting, stretchy enough to zip up (a little bit tight but really only a little and they'll give as the leather softens.). I love them. I bought them. And I loved walking around with a big fuck off carrier bag with a huge shoebox in. Perfect retail therapy.
I picked Toby up but then an hour later left him with my Mum to go and do an audition up in town. It went well (no idea if I got it) and it was nice to be in Leicester Square - there was a huge crowd waiting for Will Smith there. Nice and buzzy. Nice and grown up....nice and ME again.
Got home and the kids were happy, I was happy, Mum was happy. Lovely......
Went to bed at a reasonable time....and then the payment for the lovely day started to become due.
Toby refused to take any meds last night and he has a rotten cough. So he was coughing all night. Woke me at 12, 3, 5 and then was wide awake at 6.15. I was exhausted by morning. The plan I had was to get them both to nursery/school, skip my usual swim with the other mums and go back to bed. I couldn't get to sleep. My head was whizzing with all the other stuff I had to do - I just couldn't relax. I had a shower and ate some pasta then it was time to pick Toby up.
He hadn't had a bad morning they said at nursery - had slept for about 20 mins and hadn't eaten. We were going straight to a birthday party for my friend's 2 year old daughter Emily - along with all Toby's little chums. Toby was in a foul mood the moment we arrived. Screaming, tantrumming, being horrible. He was tired. I put him in the buggy and wheeled him back and forth in the hall for about 20 minutes. SCREAMING at the top of his voice. I put on my ipod and went for a walk with him, thinking the noise of the kids playing at the party was keeping him awake. He was furious that we'd left the house and he SCREAMED all the way as I walked around the block with my volume as high as it would go, trying to ignore the stares from people walking past.
I walked for 30 minutes. He was so tired but he fought it and fought it. I stopped back at the party to pick up my bag and then threw him in the car and drove. He fell asleep in minutes. By this time I had only 40 minutes until I had to pick up Oz so I parked outside the school and listened to the radio. Toby woke up screaming and then didn't stop. Picked Oz up, took him to his gymnastics class. We waited in the cafe as we were early and I planned to get them a snack before class. I ordered chips (I'm such a good mother) as I knew they'd both eath them. The fuckwit behind the counter took my order. 15 minutes later as Toby was screaming the place down with his heels drumming the floor shouting "chips" I asked the waiter guy how much longer. He'd forgotten to give the order to the kitchen.
So we sat for another ten minutes trying to ignore Toby's screams and the looks from the other customers. Chips arrived. Toby burnt his mouth. Guess what he did?
So Oz goes into Gymnastics. I give Toby jellytots to shut him up or I would have committed infanticide with a plastic fork and some ketchup. On rare occasions at Gymnastics they leave the blinds on the windows open (the window looks into the cafe) so parents can watch their little angels as they do their class. Invariably Toby is always on his worst behaviour on these days so I don't often get to watch Oz. But jellytots and chips were keeping him quiet so I snuck over to the crowd of parents who were watching.....
Just in time to see Oscar jam his hands down the back of his shorts exposing his bum, scratch all around and inside his little arsecrack, pull out his finger and examine it thoroughly, then wipe his nose with it.
I was so proud.
Remind me again why I had kids?
Friday, January 09, 2009
Toby's Birthday
What a hectic day yesterday was - which was why I didn't manage to post this yesterday. Toby woke up at 6 (hoorah). We went downstairs and he found his present (wrapped in Christmas paper cos he wouldn't notice)
He was a bit disappointed that it wasn't a dinosaur but then played happily with his garage!
Cake for breakfast - a tradition in this house....
Then off to nursery with another cake to share there. In the afternoon we had a party for him at Oscar's old preschool - a messy play party - trays of shaving foam with glitter and food colouring, bowls of custard and Toby's favourite - a tray of "gloop" with dinosaurs and giant bugs in it!
It was great seeing the little uns in the preschool - none of them are old enough to attend but they all loved being able to play with everything.
Toby was in plastic toy heaven - they had boxes full of dinosaurs, wild animals - he tipped them all out and had a blast.
Then the birthday tea - the staff at the Goldsmiths Centre were amazing - a feast of sausages, nuggets, sausage rolls, crisps and chocolate and cake. Perfect for little two year olds! Toby discovered a passion for onion rings, marshmallow cake and wagon wheels. All together.
Mum made the cake again - a huge hit with everyone.
Toby got loads of brilliant, thoughtful gifts - many dino themed - and I promise I'll write thank you cards once I've recovered (and Rob is home to give me a minute!). It was a wonderful party so huge thanks to everyone who either helped create it or came along and helped us celebrate.
He was a bit disappointed that it wasn't a dinosaur but then played happily with his garage!
Cake for breakfast - a tradition in this house....
Then off to nursery with another cake to share there. In the afternoon we had a party for him at Oscar's old preschool - a messy play party - trays of shaving foam with glitter and food colouring, bowls of custard and Toby's favourite - a tray of "gloop" with dinosaurs and giant bugs in it!
It was great seeing the little uns in the preschool - none of them are old enough to attend but they all loved being able to play with everything.
Toby was in plastic toy heaven - they had boxes full of dinosaurs, wild animals - he tipped them all out and had a blast.
Then the birthday tea - the staff at the Goldsmiths Centre were amazing - a feast of sausages, nuggets, sausage rolls, crisps and chocolate and cake. Perfect for little two year olds! Toby discovered a passion for onion rings, marshmallow cake and wagon wheels. All together.
Mum made the cake again - a huge hit with everyone.
Toby got loads of brilliant, thoughtful gifts - many dino themed - and I promise I'll write thank you cards once I've recovered (and Rob is home to give me a minute!). It was a wonderful party so huge thanks to everyone who either helped create it or came along and helped us celebrate.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
And later....
Mum and I walked with Toby in the buggy to pick Oz up at 3.15. We were early. (Of course). I peeped through the window of Oscar's classroom and he was sitting with his teacher and all looked calm! He rushed out full of excitement and kept telling everyone outside that he'd been to big school. Walking home a couple of his classmates were shouting "insults" to each other over the road - calling each other stinkers - nothing really bad. Oscar said they had called him a banana head. So I've taught him the sticks and stones rhyme - he's going to have to get used to name calling I think! And learn to cope with it. Just wasn't expecting it on the first day. And so starts a school-life time of me not liking some of Oscar's classmates methinks....
Anyway. He was very giddy, very happy and very hungry! Toby fell asleep on the way home but I had to wake him up - he wasn't pleased and tantrummed for about 20 minutes. He refused his dinner - veggie nuggets with carrot and swede mash - and after an hour of whining, he asked for (and received) Fruit n Fibre in a bowl for dinner. He asked for second helpings too!
And tonight - at bedtime (I'm on my own since Rob is away so I was doing them individually), Toby kept saying "poo poo" though he hadn't - since we were in the bathroom I sat him on the potty that has been stored there waiting for him (I haven't even considered beginning toilet training yet) and he sat down straight away and did a wee!
I know if you're not a parent you can't understand why I'm sharing this with the world wide web....but I'm so proud! I haven't done any prep for potty training - as far as I know (unless they've done it with him at nursery) he didn't even know what a potty was. But he peed in it!
So a milestone on the day before 2. Maybe I need to pull my finger out and start trying some potty time - Oz didn't manage it until he was nearly three but they are so different!
Right. A quiet house. I'm going to tidy up and then watch Lipstick Jungle that I recorded on Monday. I can't be arsed to cook myself dinner (and I did eat Toby's refused meal).....
Anyway. He was very giddy, very happy and very hungry! Toby fell asleep on the way home but I had to wake him up - he wasn't pleased and tantrummed for about 20 minutes. He refused his dinner - veggie nuggets with carrot and swede mash - and after an hour of whining, he asked for (and received) Fruit n Fibre in a bowl for dinner. He asked for second helpings too!
And tonight - at bedtime (I'm on my own since Rob is away so I was doing them individually), Toby kept saying "poo poo" though he hadn't - since we were in the bathroom I sat him on the potty that has been stored there waiting for him (I haven't even considered beginning toilet training yet) and he sat down straight away and did a wee!
I know if you're not a parent you can't understand why I'm sharing this with the world wide web....but I'm so proud! I haven't done any prep for potty training - as far as I know (unless they've done it with him at nursery) he didn't even know what a potty was. But he peed in it!
So a milestone on the day before 2. Maybe I need to pull my finger out and start trying some potty time - Oz didn't manage it until he was nearly three but they are so different!
Right. A quiet house. I'm going to tidy up and then watch Lipstick Jungle that I recorded on Monday. I can't be arsed to cook myself dinner (and I did eat Toby's refused meal).....
A week of big things...
First of all, Happy New Year!! Hope you had a good one - we actually did something on New Year's Eve for the first time in years - even before Oz was born we were crap at New Years (how foolish we were not to party while we had the chance!). I think the last big one we did was the millenium with Moxie - a fab night that has yet to be topped....
Anyway! 2009 is here and it isn't looking brilliant in the world so far is it. Middle East, Credit Crunch.....doom and glooooooom......
There's a bit of gloom here - after a fabulous couple of weeks, my sister flew back to America on Tuesday morning so we miss her a lot already. We had a fab time with her over Christmas - 2 pantos, lots of nephew playing, fab presents, great food....
So this week - Rob is away in Reading at a conference and he's missing some big things...Today is Oscar's first day at school - BIG school. Here he is in his uniform - he was very excited.
Unfortunately his trousers were long enough for my tall boy but way too big on the waist so we went this morning and bought him a belt - which he's very proud of too as it's Lightning McQueen....
It's actually his first afternoon at school technically. The first week they do half days - half the class come in the morning, half in the afternoon - which gives his teacher time to get to know everyone. So it's every afternoon till Tuesday when he has a morning plus a lunch (which I have to go in for - to see how he does in the dinner hall and decide on school lunch vs. pack lunch). Next Wednesday he's in for the whole day from then on.
I thought I was really blasé about it - but it really hit me this morning. It's a huge milestone! And though I'm not worried about how he'll do, I do hope he is ok at the moment. He was so excited - saw lots of his friends outside playing while we waited to go in to his class. He was desperate to ask his teacher what his favourite colour was (Mr Duhaney likes blue!). He was full of beans and very outspoken so we'll see - he's going to have to learn to pipe down occasionally, follow rules, line up - all good things - but all things that he will find challenging at first.
I can't wait to go and pick him up at 3.15. It's nice having just Toby in the afternoon - we've been watching Baby Einstein Da Vinci - which Oscar loved at this age....but which he wouldn't let Toby watch the other day - so now Toby gets to choose!
And of course - Toby - big thing number 2 - he turns 2 tomorrow. So Rob will miss that too.....such a shame. I've promised to take lots of pictures so I'll be back here to post them - especially since I'll have no company in the evenings till Saturday so will be permanently online!
So will report back on Oscar's opinion of his school......
Anyway! 2009 is here and it isn't looking brilliant in the world so far is it. Middle East, Credit Crunch.....doom and glooooooom......
There's a bit of gloom here - after a fabulous couple of weeks, my sister flew back to America on Tuesday morning so we miss her a lot already. We had a fab time with her over Christmas - 2 pantos, lots of nephew playing, fab presents, great food....
So this week - Rob is away in Reading at a conference and he's missing some big things...Today is Oscar's first day at school - BIG school. Here he is in his uniform - he was very excited.
Unfortunately his trousers were long enough for my tall boy but way too big on the waist so we went this morning and bought him a belt - which he's very proud of too as it's Lightning McQueen....
It's actually his first afternoon at school technically. The first week they do half days - half the class come in the morning, half in the afternoon - which gives his teacher time to get to know everyone. So it's every afternoon till Tuesday when he has a morning plus a lunch (which I have to go in for - to see how he does in the dinner hall and decide on school lunch vs. pack lunch). Next Wednesday he's in for the whole day from then on.
I thought I was really blasé about it - but it really hit me this morning. It's a huge milestone! And though I'm not worried about how he'll do, I do hope he is ok at the moment. He was so excited - saw lots of his friends outside playing while we waited to go in to his class. He was desperate to ask his teacher what his favourite colour was (Mr Duhaney likes blue!). He was full of beans and very outspoken so we'll see - he's going to have to learn to pipe down occasionally, follow rules, line up - all good things - but all things that he will find challenging at first.
I can't wait to go and pick him up at 3.15. It's nice having just Toby in the afternoon - we've been watching Baby Einstein Da Vinci - which Oscar loved at this age....but which he wouldn't let Toby watch the other day - so now Toby gets to choose!
And of course - Toby - big thing number 2 - he turns 2 tomorrow. So Rob will miss that too.....such a shame. I've promised to take lots of pictures so I'll be back here to post them - especially since I'll have no company in the evenings till Saturday so will be permanently online!
So will report back on Oscar's opinion of his school......
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