Wordless Wednesday

Yes folks, it is remnants of dried blood in his nostrils. Nasty...his nose bleeds are back.

Want to guess how I got this photo?

Just leave me a comment and I'll post the answer up in the next few days.

I want a broom??

Since Josiah is on his fourth week at nursery, I would like to update on his eating habits at the nursery. Most days he would only eat the dessert (yogurt or something sweet) and pick at the main meal. He only eats most of the meal when they serve pasta, shepherd pie and fish fingers. He does not eat any roast meat and veggie combo, or couscous or chicken type dishes. No one is also able to get him to take a snack (fruits, biscuits or toast)yet but the teachers have been very understanding in persisting to encourage him to eat independently.

On the mornings that Josiah goes to nursery, I would normally anticipate him falling asleep in the stroller on the way home especially when his teacher tells me that he had a proper lunch.

So when she told me had ate MOST of his lunch today, I knew he would be sleeping on the way home. He slept for about 1.5 hours and then woke up asking for milk. Then he asked me for a broom.

A broom? Why is he asking for a broom? Don't know. But as I hand him the broom - he looked at me like I was nuts.

I want to go to the ROOM, Mummy

Right - that's more logical. Hmm....wonder how many more incidents where I have not been able to understand him and offered him other things from what he asked for.

Well, Josiah, when you grow up, do enlighten me because I find you strange and you probably find me even stranger!! A broom.....bah....

Happy Tuesday all.

Alone time.....finally!

Hello world, this is my first time blogging in my own house....all ALONE!

For all those with young children, this moment is a moment to be celebrated and savoured. Josiah has been going to nursery for 3 mornings for three weeks now and this is the first time I have felt relaxed enough to come home. Before, I was always hanging around the nursery, you know, in case they had to ring me to get him....etc. I was also frequently leaving the nursery feeling upset because he is crying so hard when I leave but now, he is happy and smiling when I pick him up. So I know the crying bit in the mornings are just his little way of saying,"Hey, I want you to be here with me" which is perfectly normal seeing that we have NEVER been apart like this.

Anyhow, with the morning runs, even when it is raining, I have managed to catch myself a cold. So this morning, I was thinking about not sending him but then this incident happened and I knew that it was going to be one of those "Let's Challenge Mummy's Patience Day" so opted to send him off albeit later than usual.

Our morning started as usual and I gave him a choice of cereal or eggs (half boiled). He was excited about the eggs as I always let him put it in the egg container and he hasn't had eggs for some time. After waiting for it to cook, I then proceeded to put soya sauce on it and then he said he did not want it. I tried to coax him and reason with him but he was adamant. So I ate the egg and was thinking of using the other egg for lunch or something. Then, he said he wanted the egg....and I told him that he had better eat the egg this time or else I would put him in timeout corner.

He ate one spoon and told me, "I go stand in the corner."

Grrrr......now I have the leftover egg and one hungry boy to deal with.

He did not even cry whilst standing in the corner and then requested for cereal!!!

Although it is weird to be home without him, I could definately get used to this. After nearly three years, I am happy for some time alone....

...to have a relaxing breakfast
...to read my papers on the actual day it arrives and not three days later
...to cook dinner at one go without having to say,"Wait a minute, Mummy is cooking" like 20 times
...to have a shower uninterrupted
...to play the piano and actually hear what I am playing amidst Josiah's banging
...and finally just to be able to poo like a normal person without rushing it or having someone try to sit on my lap or worse play with the flush

Life is good.

:)

Mummy is naughty...so am I

You know that feeling, when sometimes you think you have a good idea and without consulting anyone else just rush ahead and do it. Then when the inevitable good idea turns out to be not quite the good idea in your head - you know you are in trouble!! And normally by then it is just.too.late.

Damage done. Your son has got two bald SQUARE patches on his head and he has to go nursery the next morning.

Why, oh why, did I even try to deviate from my usual scissors and use the new electric shaver?

What was I thinking? Obviously, not thinking enough or else this wouldn't have happened.

Yes, folks....for some insane reason, I decided to try out the new electric shaver on Josiah whilst he was happily watching TV. Then for another insane reason, decided used the smallest attachment thinking that since he was small, he should not use the big attachment. WRONG!!

I had tears in my eyes when I ran my hands through his hair to see this :

I rang my friend for advise but decided not to go with the "little monk" look and have opted to wait for it to grow and hopefully forget about this whole incident.

Sometimes, even mummies are naughty.

Here is my little naughty boy, caught in the act of counting my kitchen drawers !!.....

33 months old...I am losing count

I file all of Josiah's photos by month and seeing that he is nearing three....I have to admit that I am having trouble keeping count of exactly how many MONTHS old he is. When people asks me his age, I would reply - nearly three or 2.5 years old. So every time I want to upload some pictures from the camera to my laptop, I have to do "the count".

33 months old.

That is how old my son is. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Let's do the mandatory list of his achievements so far:

- Can count from 1 till 20

- Can recognise all his alphabets

- Can recongnise numbers 1-9

- Can walk up without assistance and walk down holding on to the banister

- Can jump lifting both legs

- Can feed himself better

- Can eat pasta, pizza, pork chop, mushroom

- Can use the potty for a wee (but not able to tell me when he wants to go)

- Can talk in sentences using up to 4 syllabic word like caterpillar, helicopter

- Can recite Little Miss Muffet, Humpty Dumpty, This Little Piggy effortlessly

But I would have to say his greatest achievement this month is to be able to say, "See you later, Mummy" and then watch me go off without crying. Yes, folk....he is on the road to a little separation from me and I am sooooo happy for the both of us.

This new nursery has been super supportive in making this process as natural and painless as possible for both the child and parent. I have been going to the nursery every morning and I stay with him every time. We leave as soon as he is crying and not happy (so not to associate the nursery as a bad place) . We always leave when he is happily playing (so he associates happy memories of the nursery). On the fourth morning, I went over and said bye to him and left for 30 minutes. On the fifth morning, I said goodbye and left him for one hour. Although, he is still teary when I leave him in the morning, his recovery gets better and better. He is now able to stay on his own for the entire 3 hours or so. And he even had his first meal of pasta which he ate all on his own. I know I am rambling but I am just so happy for him and so proud of him. I await the day when he is able to say goodbye in the morning without crying.....now that would be fantastic. Shaun and I have already planned to celebrate that day by going out for breakfast together.... I predict that Josiah will take up to 2 months to be able to achieve that so stay tuned.

When I grow up, I want to be a...

Doctor, lawyer, teacher, scientist or maybe an accountant like my Daddy...

Nope, I think I would like to be a photographer.

Here I am with my first "still model"

He is a good friend to agree to pose for me.

Thank you, Elmo. I love you

xxx

Josiah

Are you ready, Elmo?

Elmo, say cheese...

Okay, this shot looks good....

The finished photos...

A closer shot....perfect :)

When will I see you again?

I have consciously been avoiding having to blog these past few weeks. Why? Because I am feeling a bit down and I am just so L.O.S.T.

Lost, feeling lost, losing my mind.... you get the picture. To clarify and maybe help you understand, let's see... My in-laws went home after 6 weeks, then my parents left after being with us for 4 weeks. Josiah is not making a lot of progress in potty training and I have had to spend every morning in nursery trying to get him to like it. I just struggling with all the changes and having to put on a "it's okay" face for Josiah whilst feeling absolutely crap inside. I have difficulty falling asleep and yet hate to have to wake up to face the reality in the morning. Crazy, crazy time for me.

The pain mainly in having to send Josiah to nursery and seeing him screaming and crying every.single.day. It breaks my heart and is just as painful for me to turn my back and walk away calmly. I know it will get better but really wished that it would "get better" sooner. It makes it harder for both of us too knowing that this nursery is not the right one for us. The nursery itself is wonderful with a huge sandpit and playground, lots of different types of toys...etc But the staff there, my goodness, they all look so uptight and unfriendly. No one really talks to the kids there, no smiles, no laughter.....even their singing session is depressing. The teacher puts on a tape and holds up a book to show the kids. She does not sing, the kids are not encouraged to sing....my goodness, what is the point of a singing session. His assigned key-worker is cold and unfriendly. She is always in a rush to go for her "break time" and leaves the nursery before I can even ask her about Josiah. Enough said. I have made the decision to change nursery today and I hope the next nursery would be better for the both of us.

In the mean time, I am going to enjoy our time together again, going to playgroups together. I know that Josiah would love nursery when he meets with the right key person with the right attitude. He is so easy going and loves to be around other kids so this step of independence is quite due. Plus, I am hoping that he would gain from being with other kids around meal time and learn to feed himself. He is the only nearly three year old I know who still does not self feed and it is beginning to bug me. I love to feed him (which ensures that he actually eats) but I know that it is time for him to learn this new skills which I have failed to impart to him. I am not a good mum when it comes to thing like this and here I am trying to delegate it to the good people at his nursery :p

Typical. When the going gets tough, the tough gets a "helper". Hehehehe....

Happier times - group photo in Bruge, Belgium