The major downside is that H keeps refusing to walk on the ramble to the bird hide. She just kept sitting down and screaming! It’s very embarrassing when children much younger than her are walking without problems. I found myself getting more and more angry with her, especially when I’d explained to her the reasons why I can’t carry her at the moment. Games, songs etc keep her going for a very short time, but then she’s crouching on the floor screaming again. I suspect it’s similar issues to Alfie at that age as she walks miles if it’s “disguised” (ie lots of interesting things and no straight stretches she can see) With hindsight, I can see that my current exhaustion and horrible cold probably made me more angry and low about it all than was warranted, mainly inside my own head not directly at her, although I did get rather too grumpy with her, fuelled by Alfie having a tantrum too :-/ I’m going to see if a back carry with the mei tei makes things any easier in the short term.

Back home, things picked up considerably. We decided to make Easter cards, and then did some play dough.

A fruit juice ice lolly break!

It was nice to get out to the pub for a drink with the lovely Bex in the evening.

Today we picked up Nanny and went to Aldridge. The children were gutted that the playground had been vandalised and was shut for repairs We went for coffee and cake and a mooch in the charity shop to compensate. Mom bought them some fab books to keep at her house for only 20p each

Back at Nanny’s we had some lunch, made sticker scenes and read all the new books. Holly wanted to go to the playground whereas Alfie didn’t so he stayed with Nanny whilst we walked down to the park and had some girl time Alfie enjoyed some time chatting, reading and building Mega Blok monsters uninterrupted

Now Rich is out at a meeting and I’m off for a cup of tea and a catch up

Last night I had a yummy curry with Tracey, Maxine and Mel. Lovely company and great food, but sometimes you feel a world apart from people. I find myself retreating more to real life and online home edders and attachment parenters, to where I belong. Thank goodness for the internet leading me to real life and virtual support and friendship from people who share my beliefs, views and aspirations. It is good to have lots of different friends though, and I value the differences and love the people – cheers girls

Today we went to see Sal and Evie, bringing donuts We were meant to go to Think Tank but Evie has the chicken pox. It was good to see them both though. Real friends are a precious and wonderful thing H spent the entire day dressed as Upsy Daisy – at Sal’s, in the Co-op……….What else can I say? Just lots of cleaning, reading book after book, unpacking organic vegetable boxes, painting, scissoring, the usual “events” (spilt wee from the potty, kicked over cold peppermint tea, a few fights…) Wonderful, precious times

The children had a magical day. Alfie’s first words to Rich when he came into his bedroom this morning were “we went to Thomasland and I went on the Troublesome Trucks” lol! H was rather grizzly at times and spent a lot of time cuddled up on the hip seat, but really enjoyed herself nonetheless. We went back to Nanny and Grandad’s afterwards and had takeaway pizza as Daddy was away in London at a meeting, then home and to bed. The children were 2 hours late going to bed and by the time Rich walked in I was worn out lol!

Today we’ve paid the price for the late night with some amazing Blast from the Past Alfietastic tantrums (in public of course lol!) We met Nanny and Grandad in Sutton for a bit of shopping, watching the animatronic reindeers at the grotto and a breakfast in the Bottle of Sack. The rest of the day has consisted of fudge making, organic box unpacking, memory card games (both real life and on PC – Alfie is really into them at the moment), Alfie/Holly jigsaw teamwork, cooking a curry, cleaning out the fridge together and various other chores and play. Alfie is starting to get a real curiousity about letters and words, which is great.

After posting about his tantrums on the April’06 board it seems many people on there are having the same experiences – really overtired kids despite apparently sleeping well and a return to tantrums thought to be outgrown. As there is a last pre-school growth spurt at this time, and as it is coupled with Alfie eating more than usual and complaining of leg aches, I think that is the answer. He does seem much taller judging by his trouser length and measured over 95cm on the theme park ride boards. The main problem is handling the awful tantrums. You have so much less patience with a tantrumming nearly 4 year old than a 2 year old and my unconditional parenting has been sorely tested (and at times sorely failed!). This too shall pass I’m trying my best, overall doing well, and am modelling apology and contrition when I slip up

Oh, and my cholesterol and blood sugars are normal

Yesterday we went to Hatton with Nanny and had a lovely day.

We also made a delicious sizzling sausage casserole with the remnants of our organic vegetables when we got home.

I had a lovely time in the pub with Bex yesterday evening too. It’s always good to catch up with your best friend

Poor Holly was up barking with croup in the night, and Alfie was also unsettled so we are all zombies (yet again lol!) Poor snotty Holly is feeding a lot at the moment and really tired after the disturbed nights – but still manages to sing “ring a ring o roses” constantly and read us the Bear Hunt book over and over again

Today we headed to the nature centre with Nanny.

Holly particularly loved the meerkats and spent ages watching them. Alfie enjoyed scaring Nanny with the giant taranrulas in the invertebrates house We had some lunch in the cafe and the children had a good run around on the soft play as well as the outside playground there. They both walked miles again too. I carried Holly a few times, but not even enough to warrant use of the hip seat I’d brought with us. No wonder she was asleep by 6.10pm tonight!

Grandad came round this afternoon to do a further bath modification (aided by Alfie whilst Holly watched Peppa Pig with Nanny and I cleaned the fridge out lol!) and spend some time with the children. They really enjoyed doing play dough, and Alfie and Grandad also made a giant spider from his Halloween craft kit! Poor Grandad was a bit upset by Alfie crying and restraining him from going, but he soon calmed down, mollified by the thought of seeing them on Sunday for the Halloween trail at Biddulph Grange and the promise of a sleepover soon

Afterwards we popped to Nanny’s house so the children could have a bath (and see their favourite person – Holly gets so excited at the prospect of seeing Nanny, and Alfie won’t ever let her leave   )

Tonight was another “economy gastronomy” meal success. Roasted butternut squash and chopped tomatoes pureed in the blender make the best curry sauce when mixed with spices

Back home, after lunch we cleaned the toilet (me!) and watched CITV (them!) then did lots of jigsaws before heading onto the PC to look up a few things and play lots and lots of Thomas, Fifi, Roary and various other games – some educational, most just fun

Back home we’ve had a busy day, although the children were so worn out from swimming that they required a bit of TV and chill out time – meaning I got 3/4 of my kitchen cleaned We finished the birthday cards that we’ve been making. I’ll post pictures once the person in question has received them. They were wondrous creations involving leaf prints, glitter, stars, stickers, drawings and more though We played the Very Hungry Caterpillar game – a good opportunity to practice counting and have some fun This led to us investigating various insect related websites, settling on the ladybird survey one. We learnt about the different types of ladybird, including the harlequin one which is taking over and threatening our native species. We printed off a ladybird identification guide and headed off into the garden to see what we could spot, interspersed with bike riding . We found 17 ladybirds – unfortunately 15 were harlequins and only 2 were 2 spotted ladybirds. We found none of the up to now most common 7 spotted ladybird We filled in our results on the survey website and printed off some giant ladybirds for the children to design and colour themselves.

Other than that, Holly and I popped out to Lidl, Alfie designed his own exhibition using various toys, we did lots of washing, some babywearing and a fair bit of playing. A good day

The only downside was a MASSIVE tantrum from Alfie about who was carrying who. At the moment he wants me 100% of the time, and even when Holly was very tired and wanted to be with me, he was insistent that he had to be carried on the hip seat, despite being carried on it for ages already. Grandad carrying him was not good enough. He refused to walk, screamed, rolled on the floor, for what seemed like hours! He really is the king of Big Feelings. It’s so hard not to really lose your temper with him when he behaves like this. I really have to stop and take a mental time out before I say/do something I regret. It’s hard when it feels like the generally good natured Holly always seems to lose out, so I have to strive for balance. Parenting more than one is tricky at times – but wonderful!

My friend Michelle had her baby, Livvie, earlier this week. Looking at the newborn clothes I bought for her, I couldn’t believe mine were ever that small! They are both so Big now! They were podding peas together this evening, and Alfie was getting very exasperated by Holly’s ones keep missing the colander and rolling across the floor for him to chase!!!

Oh, and the curry at Indus last night was fabulous. Delicious food and some wonderful time with my fantastic husband We managed to only talk about children 10% of the time rather than the usual 90% Thanks to my wonderful parents for babysitting. I am so lucky to have such fantastic parents. Oh yeah, as we walked past Lidl on the way to the curryhouse, some bloke came running out with nicked stuff chased by the staff. I would never steal – but from Lidl??? Please! LOL!

Back home, we had some lunch then embarked on the mammoth task of cleaning out the food cupboard. Apart from Holly having a couple of accidents whilst emptying the food out (strawberry milkshake powder and caster sugar – joy!), we had a successful end result. Clean, tidy food cupboard rather than a big mess covered in spilt flour The kids did some craft – which Alfie did not want to stop to eat his dinner – the time for bed. I am very pleased that Holly knows all her colours, but it’s a bit disconcerting when you’re trying to get her to sleep and she’s holding each strand of Upsy Daisy’s hair and saying “Got yellow, got pink, got yellow, got pink like Holla” etc etc

Holly had a nap today. I think the tiredness from missing a couple had caught up on her. It’s funny too that I was saying yesterday about her 3pm breastfeed being less certain, and today she had one at 2pm and one at 4pm instead lol!

It began with Holly babywearing – excuse the PJs and night dummy, she’s only just got up. Note the fine demonstration of the hands free options with a sling

Afterwards we had to drop the car in for a service. The garage is in not a very nice area at all. However, the day was dry so I suggested to Alfie we walk to Rookery Park, a mile or two down the road from the garage. We spent over an hour there and the children had a fantastic time.

Afterwards we walked back into town and had some lunch in the Charlie Hall Wetherspoon pub. Then we browsed a few of the bargain shops

After picking up the car and heading home, Alfie wanted to make a banana cake with the 7 over-ripe bananas we’d bought for 20p. It was the most delicious cake, with a yummy chocolate and banana icing Holly took a while to join in, preferring to wear a sunhat but no trousers and build towers out of felt tip pens lol!

Whilst it cooked, Holly helped me clean a drawer out

then we headed upstairs to change beds, play fuzzy felts, sort washing, bounce on beds (kids not me!) and play imaginary pirate games.

Oh, and the kids played Kneebouncers on my PC after Alfie looked up why onions make you cry (they were helping me make pasta sauce and Alfie’s eyes were streaming from peeling the onion so he looked up why).

Holly seems to be dropping her nap. She has skipped several days in the past couple of weeks, and the skips are getting more frequent. Alfie dropped his a couple of months after his second birthday, so nearly 21 months seems very young to me. I guess every child is different though, and she does go to bed by 7pm. I vowed never to let Holly’s naps become the nightmare that Alfie’s did towards the end so I’m just going with the flow. She ahs also changed her feeding pattern. Suddenly, over the last couple of weeks, she has stopped comfort feeding. She feeds in the morning and before bed, and once or occasionally twice in the night, but can now lie with me without feeding, resettle just by cuddling. This has been led by her. I haven’t refused feeds at all, apart from asking her not to bite. The 3pm feed you could set your watch by has also become less sure. She feeds if she remembers or if you remind her, but can easily skip it now. Another step closer to weaning – a sad day in some ways but so positive that it will be led by her. I hope she carries on until at least 2 to meet the WHO guidelines of “2 and beyond”.

Anyway, I just like to note these changes down as so many pass by without you remembering. Today she called herself Holly not Holla for the first time too. She is growing up scarily fast, into a cheerful, beautiful, bright little girl. I feel so lucky to have her, along with my gorgeous, intelligent, not so cheerful but still wonderful little boy