At this moment, I am taking the time to think from the perspective of my 2.5 year old. She has quite the personality, and quite the reaction to many things.
She loves fluffy animals, especially cute cats. She also loves her fruit and wants to eat baby food whenever I take out her baby brother's food. She will also suddenly turn into a very shy little girl whenever there are strangers around, even turning around to hide her face from people, as if that would make them disappear (or make her disappear!). Her favourite things also include storytime with mommy and daddy, playing with flash cards, playing with her tea set / kitchen toys, and singing songs (and occasional dancing along).
But at times, the life of a 2.5 year old must really be hard. She is learning how to speak correctly, often taking time to find the right words, and when that fails, she resorts to pointing, or rambling what's in her head (but seems to make sense to her). She is also becoming more independent, which often means becoming defiant when she wants to do certain things, and throwing the occasional tantrum.
At this particular time, however, potty training is her greatest challenge. She knows she's supposed to go sit on the potty, she just doesn't tell us when she needs to go. Today, we have started on the "3-day method" of putting her in underwear. Day one, of course, was not a success in getting her to tell us that she needs to sit on the potty. However, I believe she did realize that getting wet was not fun or comfortable. Tonight, she is back in her night-time training diaper but tomorrow morning she will be back in underwear. I hope we will make a little more progress, but I will also be more vigilant about prompting her to go sit on the potty.
Hopefully we will have this challenge conquered soon.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Oh what a week! What a life!
The past two weeks have been full of strife!
With challenges, many visitors, parties, and wrenches in life!
From out-of-town visitors times four,
To colds plugging noses, and making throats sore,
I suppose we are lucky that life isn't a bore!
When Easter parties and Birthday parties, and dinner parties fly by,
It amazes me how so little the babies did cry!
So many adventures at QE Park, Granville Island, and seeing a scary yellow parrot,
Makes bonking your head at Safeway seem like a little tut-tut!
The Little Big One now has lots of fond memories,
As well as a scratch and red lump on her head.
As for the Littlest One, he still has a smile.
He's always happiest when he's just been fed!
And now my dear friends, with things half-way to normal,
Its time to say good-night! We'll see you tomorrow!
The Little Big One will blow you some kisses,
And the Littlest One can only make wishes,
Of another fun day, where we can all play all day.
Farewell! Sweet dreams to you. Good night!
With challenges, many visitors, parties, and wrenches in life!
From out-of-town visitors times four,
To colds plugging noses, and making throats sore,
I suppose we are lucky that life isn't a bore!
When Easter parties and Birthday parties, and dinner parties fly by,
It amazes me how so little the babies did cry!
So many adventures at QE Park, Granville Island, and seeing a scary yellow parrot,
Makes bonking your head at Safeway seem like a little tut-tut!
The Little Big One now has lots of fond memories,
As well as a scratch and red lump on her head.
As for the Littlest One, he still has a smile.
He's always happiest when he's just been fed!
And now my dear friends, with things half-way to normal,
Its time to say good-night! We'll see you tomorrow!
The Little Big One will blow you some kisses,
And the Littlest One can only make wishes,
Of another fun day, where we can all play all day.
Farewell! Sweet dreams to you. Good night!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The joys of being 10 months old
Yesterday I realized that the Littlest One would be 10 months old today. This morning I completely forgot about it.
I forgot about a lot of things actually. I woke up at 7:30 am to the cries of the Bigger One calling for Mommy. It took me a moment to remember that the Littlest One didn't wake me up for his usual 6:00 am or 6:30 am feeding. I really had to think hard whether I woke up earlier than 7:30 am. Maybe I had forgotten I fed him, because I've forgotten before. But I did not forget. He didn't wake me up.
So instead of the usual morning routine, it had to be switched up first so that the Littlest One could get his milk first. That meant that the Biggest One could sit in bed with mommy and watch TV of all things! But that wasn't the only surprise in store.
We had a very nice unexpected visit from Poh Poh and Little B! Little B and the big Z had lots of fun together, although Z didn't want to share her toys. I had to remind her that we share things with people who visit, and then she let Little B have the blanket (that's what B was holding at the time). And then it was time for "school". Poor B wanted to stay. Awww. But off to school they went.
But back to the Littlest One's 10 month old birthday (which we all forgot)....the Littlest One still got his birthday fun because for the first time, he got a ride in the laundry basket! YAAAY! Inside the empty basket he sat, with a blanket behind him and a stuffed toy in front of him, and he was pushed from living room to kitchen and then back again (many times). He had soo much fun! What a great birthday present for him!
Happy 10 month birthday Littlest One. I'm only sad because that means I have to go back to work soon. :(
As much work as it is, I'm gonna miss the fun with the babies. Maybe I should actually go buy lottery tickets......
I forgot about a lot of things actually. I woke up at 7:30 am to the cries of the Bigger One calling for Mommy. It took me a moment to remember that the Littlest One didn't wake me up for his usual 6:00 am or 6:30 am feeding. I really had to think hard whether I woke up earlier than 7:30 am. Maybe I had forgotten I fed him, because I've forgotten before. But I did not forget. He didn't wake me up.
So instead of the usual morning routine, it had to be switched up first so that the Littlest One could get his milk first. That meant that the Biggest One could sit in bed with mommy and watch TV of all things! But that wasn't the only surprise in store.
We had a very nice unexpected visit from Poh Poh and Little B! Little B and the big Z had lots of fun together, although Z didn't want to share her toys. I had to remind her that we share things with people who visit, and then she let Little B have the blanket (that's what B was holding at the time). And then it was time for "school". Poor B wanted to stay. Awww. But off to school they went.
But back to the Littlest One's 10 month old birthday (which we all forgot)....the Littlest One still got his birthday fun because for the first time, he got a ride in the laundry basket! YAAAY! Inside the empty basket he sat, with a blanket behind him and a stuffed toy in front of him, and he was pushed from living room to kitchen and then back again (many times). He had soo much fun! What a great birthday present for him!
Happy 10 month birthday Littlest One. I'm only sad because that means I have to go back to work soon. :(
As much work as it is, I'm gonna miss the fun with the babies. Maybe I should actually go buy lottery tickets......
Monday, March 26, 2012
Kayaks and Tire Swings
This Sunday was quite an unexpected day as well. I woke up to a beautiful sunshine-filled day and a feeling of adventure. In other words, I was tired of going to the mall every weekend, and I wanted to do something different with the family. Ideas were passed around including Science World (they are having a Lego show), and going to Granville Island. Well, with Science World admission at $28 for an adult (or something like that) plus paying for parking, we opted for Granville Island.
The toddler had a lot of fun and I think the baby enjoyed the sights too. We saw kayaks on the water, there were a lot of people and kids walking around, we saw a magic performance, lots of toys, and the toddler even got to sit on a tire swing! She was so brave, and had lots of fun, she didn't want to get off!
I even found sheeps-milk gouda cheese, which is quite tasty and it doesn't give me allergies! It tastes much better than goats-milk cheese, which has that off-flavour. If you've ever had goats milk cheese, you know what I'm talking about. The toddler even had a sample and liked it! I have to keep telling her its mommy's special cheese and she can only have a little bit!
Anyway, we will go back again sometime with the weather getting nicer. And we can plan it better too so we can pack our own lunches instead of having to go buy expensive food.
I think this was the best family outing day we've had in a long time. It sure beats going to the mall!
The toddler had a lot of fun and I think the baby enjoyed the sights too. We saw kayaks on the water, there were a lot of people and kids walking around, we saw a magic performance, lots of toys, and the toddler even got to sit on a tire swing! She was so brave, and had lots of fun, she didn't want to get off!
I even found sheeps-milk gouda cheese, which is quite tasty and it doesn't give me allergies! It tastes much better than goats-milk cheese, which has that off-flavour. If you've ever had goats milk cheese, you know what I'm talking about. The toddler even had a sample and liked it! I have to keep telling her its mommy's special cheese and she can only have a little bit!
Anyway, we will go back again sometime with the weather getting nicer. And we can plan it better too so we can pack our own lunches instead of having to go buy expensive food.
I think this was the best family outing day we've had in a long time. It sure beats going to the mall!
All the best laid plans
All the best laid plans can very easily be thwarted by a 2.5 year old and a 9 1/2 month old.
This past Saturday we had plans to do some family grocery shopping in the morning followed by lunch and a visit with Poh Poh and Auntie Elle. It was going to be a productive day and a day of fun, we thought. But with a late morning by both babies, and a sleepy 9 1/2 month old by 10:30 am, the morning plans were out the window. The baby had a nap. The toddler had an early lunch.
We thought the timing would be ok that we could get visit Poh Poh by 12:30 pm or 1:00 pm. Not so! The 2.5 year old kept wanting to eat more, and then it took forever to get her to sit on the potty. Then the baby had to be fed. I think we left the house at 1 pm. All in all, it was a very long morning, and nothing went according to plan.
But we did have a good time at Poh Poh's house. We had a good dinner at Penang Malaysian restaurant, and we did manage to get grocery shopping done, although we didn't go as a family.
I think it was just a day for us to realize that sometimes things don't go according to plan, but they still work out in the end. I suppose I need to keep that in mind with the on-going terrible twos and potty training challenges.
Maybe with the baby, it will seem a little bit better the second time around. Or not. The baby is a little more mischievious, I think haha!
This past Saturday we had plans to do some family grocery shopping in the morning followed by lunch and a visit with Poh Poh and Auntie Elle. It was going to be a productive day and a day of fun, we thought. But with a late morning by both babies, and a sleepy 9 1/2 month old by 10:30 am, the morning plans were out the window. The baby had a nap. The toddler had an early lunch.
We thought the timing would be ok that we could get visit Poh Poh by 12:30 pm or 1:00 pm. Not so! The 2.5 year old kept wanting to eat more, and then it took forever to get her to sit on the potty. Then the baby had to be fed. I think we left the house at 1 pm. All in all, it was a very long morning, and nothing went according to plan.
But we did have a good time at Poh Poh's house. We had a good dinner at Penang Malaysian restaurant, and we did manage to get grocery shopping done, although we didn't go as a family.
I think it was just a day for us to realize that sometimes things don't go according to plan, but they still work out in the end. I suppose I need to keep that in mind with the on-going terrible twos and potty training challenges.
Maybe with the baby, it will seem a little bit better the second time around. Or not. The baby is a little more mischievious, I think haha!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Anticipation
Today is the day when a new family member is going to be welcomed into the clan (officially!).
All the family has already opened their hearts to the little baby boy who is going to be my nephew. I feel so much love when I think about the little guy and his parents, who have been waiting for his entry into their lives, for a long time. This is what they have wanted most in the world, and I know they have loved him even before they ever knew of his existence.
It will be such a special moment when they first lay eyes on the little one and greet him for the first time.
Meanwhile, I am trying to think of ways I can help them to transition into being new parents and how to help them prepare for the sleepless nights, midnight feedings, over-bearing family members and friends, and the over-all lack of time to do anything.
Everything is going to change, and they're going to cherish every moment.
All the family has already opened their hearts to the little baby boy who is going to be my nephew. I feel so much love when I think about the little guy and his parents, who have been waiting for his entry into their lives, for a long time. This is what they have wanted most in the world, and I know they have loved him even before they ever knew of his existence.
It will be such a special moment when they first lay eyes on the little one and greet him for the first time.
Meanwhile, I am trying to think of ways I can help them to transition into being new parents and how to help them prepare for the sleepless nights, midnight feedings, over-bearing family members and friends, and the over-all lack of time to do anything.
Everything is going to change, and they're going to cherish every moment.
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