Next I better share several cute photos of Isaac, then I might be forgiven for not having spent any time doing this recently...
and the girls of course...
Girls with cousin Ben (eating very healthily as you can see)
I finally figured out I can have both of the girls painting at the same time -- one on either side of the easel. DUUURRR!
This was one of the days Willow wore TWO amber necklaces. Yes, I am very glad all her baby teeth are finally through! 
So... having realised I asked Nick for some time to blog last Sunday, and since it didn't happen, I thought I ought to take advantage of the fact that I'm home from church this Sunday (snuffly smalls) and Isaac is in bed and Willow is watching Timmy Time in her nighty.
Elimination Communication.
Well... I've never been 24/7 with this one. Isaac has been using the potty from day 0. He's pretty amazing in that if he's being carried he doesn't wee unless absolutely desperate. We went out for a 3 hour walk and his nappy was still dry when we got in a few weeks back. I think the most important thing for me is that he gets the opportunity to wee/poo as often as possible, not the fact that we catch every wee/poo. We mainly have clean nappies, occasionally there will be a skidmark if he hasn't been offered the potty to poo in recently. I really don't feel the need to be superwoman on this count. I'm never going to catch every wee/poo at this stage, and I have 2 other smalls to look after and entertain. My carpet doesn't really care about the odd accident, but I can do without the extra washing, especially since the washing machine is broken (and has been for the last 3 weeks) I think with EC you really have to think about your motivation and what's important to you. For me, it's keeping the baby as dry as possible as well as them not losing that instinct to eliminate away from themselves... allowing them to get used to being in a wet/dirty nappy is not helpful to anyone. I often think that in many years time when I am old and unable to get myself to the toilet, I would rather someone helped me get to the potty/toilet to do my business rather than leaving me to mess myself. I'd like that my children were able to put that need first rather than leaving me so that they could be busy with their own thing and dealing with it when I've finished. Bleugh.
These are the split crotch trousers I hand sewed for Isaac the other day. It's taken me ages to get round to it because I wanted to use the machine, but it wasn't happening. They are made from the arms of one of Nicks old fleeces, so pretty thick.
Willow is pretty much done. She wee's and poo's on the potty. I don't have to help her, I just try to remind her when we're around other people, as sometimes it's far too exciting to remember. We had a long period over my heavy pregnancy and when Isaac was little where she just wouldn't use the potty AT ALL. Which was fine. We put on nappies (but no wrap) and I tried to remind her as much as possible. The poo was really difficult to predict. It's only been in the last couple of weeks she's been back to managing that by herself. We've had a few pooey pants, but I think considering she's not even 2, and she's pretty much put herself back on 90% boobie juice, she's doing really well. I really cannot complain. I'm thankful to not have 2 children in nappies, because that would be hard work.
Baby Wearing.
Well, Isaac has only seen the inside of a pram once... and that was when I pinched his cousins pram to lie him down in at Grandmas house one time. Willow has been in a pram a couple of times when she's been out with Nanny and Daddy. Lately though she's been fine walking. We take our time and stop whenever they want to rest or explore something.
Tandem breastfeeding.
Much the same as last time. During the day Willow sticks to my right side and Isaac my left (it's easier for me to hold him like that!) At night if he wakes Isaac will use my right, since that's the side he's on... and when Willow comes into bed with us in the morning she will usually have the left since it's "fuller"... then she'll have the right as well...
I've been trying to express and freeze a stash of milk to donate. Not sure who to, but it's good for 6mths in the freezer. If no one wants it we will make soap :) Also been expressing in the evening so I have milk for Eves breakfast. It's her "special milk". She hasn't been sick with the littlies this time, which is great, but I still feel a bit sad she didn't get the chance to self wean and certainly will not re-latch ("it's for babies mummy!")
Lapbooking. My new addiction. But clearly not Eves... so we still haven't finished one... ha! We do have lots of crafts going on, but we don't have the attention span yet to do anything big. And by "We" I mean both of us! We've done a few mini books, and there's a lot of crafting going on. Just not on one topic!
Sourdough creations.
This was great for about a month. Then I decided to put it in the fridge since I didn't want to use it for a week, and the poor thing never recovered. I did make one batch of bread after I took it out again, and it tasted vile. So I kinda lost interest and didn't feed it. I now have the lovely job of disposing of it... on the compost heap I guess... but bleugh!
We did make some pretzels which were fab, and a few of my loaves turned out great. It's not an exact science though, so the recipes are a bit weird... in percentages and stuff, so I'm still figuring it out!!
Home Education... well I've successfully got a group of lovely families together (thankyou facebook, you're good for something!) mostly from Northampton way, but all happy to come over for an activity in Daventry once a fortnight. We've had 3 lovely meet ups, all with at least 3 families (including us) and a wonderful range of different aged children. Eve is enjoying having 2 other girls her age for company as well as playing with the older kids, but for me... I am simply adoring being around other adults who have similar interests and don't think I'm a complete lunatic for doing the things I do. We don't all have the same interests, but I think we all overlap in at least one place other than Home Educating our children. It's wonderful. I feel accepted, not tolerated. And not just virtually. You don't often get that outside of your own family if you're lucky enough to even have that (and I do).
Knitting. I have lots of projects on the go. I'm trying to finish my own multicoloured socks so I can start on a few pairs for the kiddles... I also want to start knitting a Terry Pratchett swamp dragon. There is also little dolls to be knitted for various childrens birthdays as well as a housewarming gift I am still working on. So little time to myself, and I really need to start going to bed earlier.
Elimination Communication.
Well... I've never been 24/7 with this one. Isaac has been using the potty from day 0. He's pretty amazing in that if he's being carried he doesn't wee unless absolutely desperate. We went out for a 3 hour walk and his nappy was still dry when we got in a few weeks back. I think the most important thing for me is that he gets the opportunity to wee/poo as often as possible, not the fact that we catch every wee/poo. We mainly have clean nappies, occasionally there will be a skidmark if he hasn't been offered the potty to poo in recently. I really don't feel the need to be superwoman on this count. I'm never going to catch every wee/poo at this stage, and I have 2 other smalls to look after and entertain. My carpet doesn't really care about the odd accident, but I can do without the extra washing, especially since the washing machine is broken (and has been for the last 3 weeks) I think with EC you really have to think about your motivation and what's important to you. For me, it's keeping the baby as dry as possible as well as them not losing that instinct to eliminate away from themselves... allowing them to get used to being in a wet/dirty nappy is not helpful to anyone. I often think that in many years time when I am old and unable to get myself to the toilet, I would rather someone helped me get to the potty/toilet to do my business rather than leaving me to mess myself. I'd like that my children were able to put that need first rather than leaving me so that they could be busy with their own thing and dealing with it when I've finished. Bleugh.
These are the split crotch trousers I hand sewed for Isaac the other day. It's taken me ages to get round to it because I wanted to use the machine, but it wasn't happening. They are made from the arms of one of Nicks old fleeces, so pretty thick.
Willow is pretty much done. She wee's and poo's on the potty. I don't have to help her, I just try to remind her when we're around other people, as sometimes it's far too exciting to remember. We had a long period over my heavy pregnancy and when Isaac was little where she just wouldn't use the potty AT ALL. Which was fine. We put on nappies (but no wrap) and I tried to remind her as much as possible. The poo was really difficult to predict. It's only been in the last couple of weeks she's been back to managing that by herself. We've had a few pooey pants, but I think considering she's not even 2, and she's pretty much put herself back on 90% boobie juice, she's doing really well. I really cannot complain. I'm thankful to not have 2 children in nappies, because that would be hard work.
Baby Wearing.
Well, Isaac has only seen the inside of a pram once... and that was when I pinched his cousins pram to lie him down in at Grandmas house one time. Willow has been in a pram a couple of times when she's been out with Nanny and Daddy. Lately though she's been fine walking. We take our time and stop whenever they want to rest or explore something.
Tandem breastfeeding.
Much the same as last time. During the day Willow sticks to my right side and Isaac my left (it's easier for me to hold him like that!) At night if he wakes Isaac will use my right, since that's the side he's on... and when Willow comes into bed with us in the morning she will usually have the left since it's "fuller"... then she'll have the right as well...
I've been trying to express and freeze a stash of milk to donate. Not sure who to, but it's good for 6mths in the freezer. If no one wants it we will make soap :) Also been expressing in the evening so I have milk for Eves breakfast. It's her "special milk". She hasn't been sick with the littlies this time, which is great, but I still feel a bit sad she didn't get the chance to self wean and certainly will not re-latch ("it's for babies mummy!")
Lapbooking. My new addiction. But clearly not Eves... so we still haven't finished one... ha! We do have lots of crafts going on, but we don't have the attention span yet to do anything big. And by "We" I mean both of us! We've done a few mini books, and there's a lot of crafting going on. Just not on one topic!
Sourdough creations.
This was great for about a month. Then I decided to put it in the fridge since I didn't want to use it for a week, and the poor thing never recovered. I did make one batch of bread after I took it out again, and it tasted vile. So I kinda lost interest and didn't feed it. I now have the lovely job of disposing of it... on the compost heap I guess... but bleugh!
We did make some pretzels which were fab, and a few of my loaves turned out great. It's not an exact science though, so the recipes are a bit weird... in percentages and stuff, so I'm still figuring it out!!
Home Education... well I've successfully got a group of lovely families together (thankyou facebook, you're good for something!) mostly from Northampton way, but all happy to come over for an activity in Daventry once a fortnight. We've had 3 lovely meet ups, all with at least 3 families (including us) and a wonderful range of different aged children. Eve is enjoying having 2 other girls her age for company as well as playing with the older kids, but for me... I am simply adoring being around other adults who have similar interests and don't think I'm a complete lunatic for doing the things I do. We don't all have the same interests, but I think we all overlap in at least one place other than Home Educating our children. It's wonderful. I feel accepted, not tolerated. And not just virtually. You don't often get that outside of your own family if you're lucky enough to even have that (and I do).
Knitting. I have lots of projects on the go. I'm trying to finish my own multicoloured socks so I can start on a few pairs for the kiddles... I also want to start knitting a Terry Pratchett swamp dragon. There is also little dolls to be knitted for various childrens birthdays as well as a housewarming gift I am still working on. So little time to myself, and I really need to start going to bed earlier.
yaaaaaaaaaaaay! Some pleasant reading. And a pic of dad, shhhhhhhhhhh he is a lovely man!
ReplyDeleteLovely blog, hon! I was wondering where that outdoor pool is?!
ReplyDeleteThe pool is down in Reading where Nick picked up his motorbike. He just went to pay for it and check it over... a courier picked it up actually. He took Eve with him for some Daddy daughter time, and because he rocks.
ReplyDelete