Category Archives: Firsts
The question that all mothers dread
‘Where do babies come from?’ Except it was worse than that. My 4 year old, prompted by the fact that we had just driven past the hospital where she knows her little brother was born, asked ‘how do babies get in your tummy?’. No opportunity to talk about storks here. So I took a deep breath and debated whether to say, ask your father later but decided I, as her mother, should just take the plunge. A 4 year old does not require graphic detail and I felt pretty good about my explanation of a ‘special’ cuddle. I’ll save discussion around planting seeds for another day.
Just when I thought I was safe, she followed up with, ‘how do babies get out of your tummy?’. Eek, make that double eek! Since she exited through the sun roof and the little brother through the natural route, ably assisted by a pair of forceps, I felt that I couldn’t just offer one route and chose to go for through the cervix (she didn’t ask where that was) or through your tummy using a knife, to which she said ‘you must need a sharp knife for that.’ Thankfully we arrived at Hobbycraft before any further enquiries could be made. I think I may have some reading up to do before our next car journey and a mental note to self not to go past the hospital enroute to anywhere, unless there is an emergency that requires the services of the hospital.
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
Christmas Song
One of Ava’s Christmas Advent Activities was to write a Christmas song (with a little (and I emphasise the word ‘little’) help from Mummy) so here it is! All the ideas were Ava’s and I think it’s pretty good. I’m going to try to encourage her to learn it for Christmas Day and if she does and I manage to get any video footage, I’ll be sure to post it here!
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
First wee on the potty
No, I have not started potty training Benjamin at 16 months, however I have felt for some time that it isn’t fair to his sister that almost every night he wees in the same bath where Ava is trying to get clean. Cue the potty. Thank goodness he doesn’t know his colours yet as I suspect when he does, he’ll have a thing or two to say about the pink potty. Anyway a couple of rounds of ‘I have a Tiny Turtle’ and he was sufficiently relaxed to do the business. Ava and I were pretty excited but I’m not sure he really knew what all the fuss was about.
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
The baby to toddler transition is complete
As a mother, your children will always be your ‘babies’ but this household is now officially baby less. The baby to toddler transition is complete and can be confirmed by a few observations. My ‘baby boy’:
- Walks competently on his own.
- Takes short instructions like ‘put that in the bin’ and ignores instructions on purpose in equal measures.
- Everything dropped whether intentionally or not is an uh-oh.
- Says ‘bye bye’ when he leaves or when you’re leaving (no sign of separation anxiety).
- Says ‘waz tha’ and points when he wants to know what something is.
- Is very definite about what he wants to eat and what he doesn’t. He shakes his head vigorously with disdain when required and heads over to the cupboard, pointing his finger aloft and says ‘da’ when he wants a biscuit.
- Has discovered the on and off switch of his lamp in his bedroom, much to his amusement.
- Can take the child safety covers off the power sockets. Great that he’s got such dexterity not so great on the safety front.
- Can open the car door from the inside. Child safety lock has now been applied.
- Can slide down the stairs on his tummy.
- Takes the Peppa Pig DVD off the shelf, walks over to the TV and says ‘Peppa’.
And finally, the temper tantrums have started (albeit fairly short bursts) and the naughty step has been instated.
In honour of this new stage, this will be the last time that I use the ‘Baby Boy’ category on here and I have created a new category, ‘Little Man’.
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
First swimming badge
A first swimming badge may not seem like much but when you consider that when I first took Ava swimming I couldn’t get her in the water without screaming (a water baby she is not), let alone joining in the lesson, this is a huge achievement for Ava and one for me too. Both my husband and the lady that ran the swim school had tried to persuade me to wait until she was ready but knowing how head strong my little Madamski is (it’s in the genes!), I didn’t feel it would make any difference and we would still be faced with the same issue in a year’s time so I and she persevered and Ava is now the proud owner of a Grade 1 Duckling Award.
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
I Did It Mummy 