Esther's growing up

Only a month or so on from putting up the bunk beds for Lydia and Esther, things were going well enough that we were able to take out the cot. It's now found a home thanks to the second-hand shop in town that specialises in children's stuff. The end of an era! No cot in our house for the first time in nine years....

Of course, soon after this Esther realised she could climb out of bed herself and has been giving us a lot of challenges at bedtimes the past few weeks. Ho hum.

Somewhat related, Esther is also now sporting big girl pants! Her she is excitedly sorting them out the day we bought them. So far she is doing very well at the potty, so it's possible that we will also be nappy free in only a few weeks' time too. Jings!

Holiday

Finally in this round of catch-up, a few days with all the grandparents during the summer. We also managed to get a visit with my brother, and Jay's sister and niece who were up visiting.

First time on a slide!

Great.

My perspective!

Miriam still loves her Cat. It's important that he gets to play too.

Weeeee!

Potty training for Miriam has been an experience like no other. The was a period that coincided with our holiday where we would sit with her on the potty for the best part of an hour while she tried. Here, she has actually fallen asleep.

Naomi has now acquired the life skill of self-swinging. She did this a lot at Grandma's house.

I just really like this one, and the next...

Golf at the Broch. Well, a long walk with some clubs anyway. Sometimes I hit the ball too.

Miriam takes lining things up to the next level.

Crass...

The editors make the necessary apologies for the somewhat crude nature of this blog post, but there are not really any means of avoiding it. Our life seems full of toilet humour just now - though some of it just isn't funny.

A special guest column from our agony aunt, Anita Gohe.

Miriam writes: Dear Anita, I have a wee problem. Well, in truth, it's a pooh problem. I've been doing wees on the potty for months now just fine, but I just can't seem to sort out the solids. My big sister was able to do it no trouble, so I feel there must be something wrong. Is there anything I can do?    - Agreeably thankful, Miriam

Miriam, don't worry. These things take time and some people have to wait longer than others. This is all perfectly normal - just keep persevering and everything will be okay. Anita.

Anita, when I first saw your reply I said to myself "Okay" and kept waiting. Unfortunately a couple of days ago, I felt a pooh coming and it caught me somewhat by surprise. I didn't make it to the potty in time, and quite frankly the experience was terrifying! How can it possibly be better to do it that way? Miriam

Poor Miriam, you sound really upset. It's important to remember that this isn't a big deal. "Everybody Poops" as that classic Barry Manilow track has it (- actually was it him? well, someone like him anyway... Maybe it was Sting.) Use those training pants to their full advantage, and in time the fear will fade. Then we can start trying again: you could suggest to your Mummy and Daddy that a treat for success might be beneficial!  - Anita.

 Thanks Anita, I decided not to worry about it. he only thing is that I feel a little bad that Mummy now has so much washing to do! It seems to be even more than when I wore nappies. On the other hand, the offer of treats has been most welcome. To start with, there was this abstract offer of stickers. I would get one sticker for a pooh or wee on the potty, and after getting to the end of a line on my chart, there would be a biscuit. Then they upped the offer to two stickers for a pooh. The offers quickly inflated to the point whereby now I think I will get ALL of the chocolate, just for one pooh on the potty. Honestly, this hard to resist!

Miriam, this sound like a most suitable position to be in. You are now in control. Remember who Number Two works for! Just sit and wait until it happens, then enjoy the treaty goodness.

Neither mother nor father has any idea what to do

Anita, things are not going well. Mummy and Daddy have no idea how to proceed, and have resorted to reading the strangest story about a chap called Poo, who wants to return to Pooland. It's quite mad. Why can't he just go himself? I don't see what this has to do with me. Besides which, everything seems to be stuck now. It's a bit sore and I'm getting quite grumpy about it all.

Miriam, I have just the thing for you. Take some of this delicious medicine and things will be flowing freely soon.

Anita, that medicine works a treat! I am no longer sore. There's just one problem. I seem to need my pants changed very frequently. Mummy and Daddy are being very good about it but I can tell they're a bit frustrated. Recently they've taken the unusual move of asking me to go sans-pants around the house. Our carpet seems to have poo all over it recently, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it might be something to do with me. I really don't like to cause any trouble.

Miriam, it seems to me that you're just going to have to go with the lesser of two evils. If you don't want to leave deposits on the carpet, try investing in the bank of potty. Who knows, you might even come to enjoy it.

Anita: alright, I'll give it a go. I'm really not all that convinced though.

Oooh, the suspense.

 Anita, it's been a while. It turns out that it wasn't so bad after all! I've even been sitting on the toilet like a *really* big girl. I've been at a friends house and at nursery too. I really think the problem is solved. There is just one issue though: now I expect treats all the time.

It's a celebration.

Dear Miriam, that's great news. Let's go one step at a time, but do remember, the gravy train will have to end some time. And remember, I'm always here to help!

Thanks Anita. You know, trains are okay, but I like fire engines best!

* if you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this blogpost, you have our sympathy. We'd love to assure you that it will end quickly, but as it didn't in our case, we can't. Just sit back and enjoy your juice.

Potty training

Miriam has recently started showing an interest in sitting on the potty, so we've started potty training in earnest. We're going well so far - at least a couple of accident-free days. She looks so proud when she's been successful too, doing a little dance! It doesn't seem all that long since Naomi was doing this - hard to believe it's nearly two years already. Anyway, one immediate benefit is that our house is no longer filled with drying nappies every night. Party on!

As part of this, Miriam now has a button jar to match Naomi's. Both girls are now working hard to get treats...

Developmental leap frog

In the last couple of weeks the children have been trying to out-do each other on the developing front, here is my summary of all that has been going on...

Miriam grew some teeth (they are bigger than this now as the photo was taken only a day or so after they first made an appearance).  They are being well used for eating food, which is to be approved of, and chewing people which is less desirable.

Then Naomi grew another tooth, she is now the proud owner of one of her back molars, I haven't included a photo as it is hard to get a clear photo of something so far inside the mouth!

Miriam learned to roll!  Hooray! Better late than never (although, in her defence it is hard to learn to roll when your Mummy never puts you on the floor out of a realistic fear that you will be trampled on by a loving yet over enthusiastic big sister)

Here you can see she has rolled over for a snooze (as an aside, sleep still has quite some improvement to be made but Miriam is now more regularly sleeping for 5 or 6 hours at a time which is much nicer than the 2 to 3 we were subjected to for the first 5ish months of her life!)

One of the big changes in the house is that Naomi has decided she is a big girl now and doesn't wear nappies any more!  We are only a few days into this so might decide it isn't working out but she seems to slowly be getting the hang of what she needs to do.  The big problem seems to be that you need to stop playing/reading/eating/running/climbing in order to sit on the potty!

For obvious reasons I won't include a photo of Naomi on the potty but here you can see her sticker chart, she loves this! Every time she successfully uses the potty she is rewarded with a sticker and when she gets to the end of a row she gets to have a chocolate biscuit!

Today, Miriam didn't want to be outdone (again) and so spent a good chunk of time sitting unaided (with me behind her as she still likes to nosedive every so often!)

I think that's it for now (although it's enough to be getting on with!!) but here are some lovely pictures that I would love to share with you...

This is the sight we are greeted by most mornings, what a lovely way to wake up

Naomi, being two, likes things to be a particular way and the things she want things to be aren't always that obvious.  One day last week she point blank refused to leave the house unless I let her take with us this decorated paper plate (I kid you not!).

And finally, I got this photo of Miriam yesterday morning, how beautiful?