So I'm having my morning coffee (strong, didn't sleep well), watching Grace potter in the garden while the dog sniffs for cats. We've had breakfast, the three of us and we're heading off to a play date in the village soon. I'm tickled to see Grace picking handfuls of long grass (the mower is in for a service so I'm treated to a view of knee high savanna until it's back).
She toddles off in the direction of the dog... to feed her the grass. Miffed when Daisy ignores her, she throws it on the ground in a huff and goes off in search of a better tuft. Pulling it from the roots, she runs after Daisy, more insistant this time. Daisy rebuffs her offer again, presumably because only the dog can pick grass suitable for eating.
Very cute, the things they do.
Gracias, said Daisy.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012
A mad half hour
I'm a bit of a clean freak so it's taken me this long to dig the paints on when I'm alone with Grace. Matt the Husband is a little more carefree, the paints, the mud, the baking mess... he'll readily dive with a frenzy and think nothing of the time it's going to take him to clear up. (Mainly because he doesn't).
Yesterday, Grace woke late from her afternoon nap leaving us less than an hour until making the run to the station to get her Daddy. I felt reckless. Digging paint and paper out of the crafts cupboard (read: dumping ground for everything that doesn't have a home elsewhere), we dove in.
I'd picked up these foam stamps from Wilkinson's a while ago and never had the urge to use them. Fast forward to a messy game with primary colours, and we'd both had fun making art.
And the best bit for both of us? The clearing up. Grace giggled, laughed, even guffawed turning the tap on and off, soaking us both in the process.
Daughter like mother, she's a clean-bean.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
(Extra) Good Books
Bedtime routine has always been an easy affair in our house. Grace climbs the stairs at the end of the bedtime hour on CBeebies at 7pm, plays while her bath is run, cleans her teeth and then hops in the tub. How long she spends in there depends on her mood and whether there is a tired-toddler-tantrum hanging out in the wings.
Recently Grace has been employing tactics to delay bedtime, even though she might be overtired.
Take today for instance. A full day of flat out fun at nursery, total nap time 50 minutes... short by Grace's standards. She's tired. I know it, because she whinged her way through dinner, refused a bath, refused to clean her teeth and insisted on clinging to my finger the whole time (and I mean the whole time) from walking in the door from work to getting as far as putting her in her PJs ready for bed. It's hard cooking dinner with a toddler on your hip. Anyway, there I am, Grace in her PJs and she throws another paddy, desperate to wear the t-shirt I have laid out for tomorrow morning. Judging by the kicking and screaming, she has a very strong opinion this is going to be put on top of her pyjama top - she's not fussed about being too warm - this is how it HAS to be. So we do it.
Tantrum abated, we read a book and she has some milk to drink before I lift her gently into bed and sneak out of the room as she falls asleep as her head hits the pillow.
In my dreams.
For about a week now, since we got back from Turkey, Grace has decided she is NOT letting her Mummy go at bedtime. AND she wants to read book after book after book... at bedtime. I am hostage. Any attempt to inch closer to the door brings on tantrums, red faces, tears (and I'm certain, bad language).
She has two books that are flavour of the day, currently being read so often I almost know them verbatim. Tonight, we read the same book 3 times, and she still wanted more. Now either Grace is slipping into the terrible two's a little early, or these writers of children's book are jolly good at what they do and have a lot to answer for.
Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo is first on my hit list. What the Ladybird Heard is a super little story that lets me exploit my inner-Yorkshire voice to become the story teller. Grace enjoys the rhyming, the animal noises and the way she gets to spot the ladybird on each page.
Shortly followed by Chloe & Mick Inkpen who penned this little beauty...
Both much loved, dog earred, dribbled on, taken to bed and slept on like a pillow. These books are currently Grace's bedtime comfort. When Mummy's handhold slips from the room, these books are there to comfort. Yes, I listen to tears as I close the door and she realises when I say it's bedtime it really is bedtime. But after a moment or so, I can hear her settling down with a good book before she drifts off to sleep.
Not just a good book. An extra-good book.
Recently Grace has been employing tactics to delay bedtime, even though she might be overtired.
Take today for instance. A full day of flat out fun at nursery, total nap time 50 minutes... short by Grace's standards. She's tired. I know it, because she whinged her way through dinner, refused a bath, refused to clean her teeth and insisted on clinging to my finger the whole time (and I mean the whole time) from walking in the door from work to getting as far as putting her in her PJs ready for bed. It's hard cooking dinner with a toddler on your hip. Anyway, there I am, Grace in her PJs and she throws another paddy, desperate to wear the t-shirt I have laid out for tomorrow morning. Judging by the kicking and screaming, she has a very strong opinion this is going to be put on top of her pyjama top - she's not fussed about being too warm - this is how it HAS to be. So we do it.
Tantrum abated, we read a book and she has some milk to drink before I lift her gently into bed and sneak out of the room as she falls asleep as her head hits the pillow.
In my dreams.
For about a week now, since we got back from Turkey, Grace has decided she is NOT letting her Mummy go at bedtime. AND she wants to read book after book after book... at bedtime. I am hostage. Any attempt to inch closer to the door brings on tantrums, red faces, tears (and I'm certain, bad language).
She has two books that are flavour of the day, currently being read so often I almost know them verbatim. Tonight, we read the same book 3 times, and she still wanted more. Now either Grace is slipping into the terrible two's a little early, or these writers of children's book are jolly good at what they do and have a lot to answer for.
Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo is first on my hit list. What the Ladybird Heard is a super little story that lets me exploit my inner-Yorkshire voice to become the story teller. Grace enjoys the rhyming, the animal noises and the way she gets to spot the ladybird on each page.
Shortly followed by Chloe & Mick Inkpen who penned this little beauty...
Both much loved, dog earred, dribbled on, taken to bed and slept on like a pillow. These books are currently Grace's bedtime comfort. When Mummy's handhold slips from the room, these books are there to comfort. Yes, I listen to tears as I close the door and she realises when I say it's bedtime it really is bedtime. But after a moment or so, I can hear her settling down with a good book before she drifts off to sleep.
Not just a good book. An extra-good book.
Bloomin' Marvellous
Ha! Bet you thought I was putting pen to paper about the wonderful Mr Bloom again? Not so. As much the thought of Mr Bloom (with his ruddy complexion and dirty fingernails) still makes me want to watch an episode so I can sing along with Margaret the Cabbage and Sebastian the Aubergine (my personal favourite), this is more about watching two children blossom.
Grace and Dimitris were born a blink apart from one another some 22 months ago, and looking back at some old photos from when they were 6 months old makes me sit back and take stock at how much they have changed and developed in that time. Distance means we don't see Dimitris, son of my cousin Christina, as much as we'd like but whenever we do get together it's always fascinating seeing them play and go about their little lives. I want to capture the energy I get from watching them.... if only I could bottle it, taking a sneaky sniff to perk me up when I'm lagging at the office perhaps?
I love their expressions in this sequence. Getting them to stand together now took a bit of bribery (the promise of cake) but getting them to look in the same direction at the same time was impossible. Grace is teething too, hence the hand stuffed into her mouth. The only way we could make her take her hand out was to get them to clap!
At six months old, we just plonked them on the mat together and hey presto - photo! So much easier!
Christina and me, we're 18 months apart and enjoyed family holidays, occasions and time together growing up. Just like Grace and Dimitris are - being so close in age it's interesting - so many difference between them already. Love it, love it! Bloomin' marvellous!
Grace and Dimitris were born a blink apart from one another some 22 months ago, and looking back at some old photos from when they were 6 months old makes me sit back and take stock at how much they have changed and developed in that time. Distance means we don't see Dimitris, son of my cousin Christina, as much as we'd like but whenever we do get together it's always fascinating seeing them play and go about their little lives. I want to capture the energy I get from watching them.... if only I could bottle it, taking a sneaky sniff to perk me up when I'm lagging at the office perhaps?
At six months old, we just plonked them on the mat together and hey presto - photo! So much easier!
Christina and me, we're 18 months apart and enjoyed family holidays, occasions and time together growing up. Just like Grace and Dimitris are - being so close in age it's interesting - so many difference between them already. Love it, love it! Bloomin' marvellous!
Sunday, 3 June 2012
A G-Free Day in the Dales
Grace-free. It's not so often Matt the Husband me get to date since Grace was born. We're too focused on learning to be great parents we forget we have a marriage to nurture as well. Life before Grace was packed with long walks off the beaten track, on the beaten track and generally anywhere that got us and the dog, Daisy-woof out into the fresh air. So when Grandma offered to take Grace for a spot of retail therapy, we jumped at the chance to spend the day in the wilds.
Dog lead and water bottle in hand, the weather looked clear so we set off for the 1.5hr drive up into the Dales. In actual fact we were on the very western edge of the National Park at Ingleton near Kirkby Lonsdale, a quiet little spot with a popular trail walk up along the River Twiss gorge and back down the River Doe gorge.
We were lucky the trail was quiet, possibly because we set off early, or maybe because folk have things planned to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee? Either way, we were grateful. Daisy got to run off lead for the most part, just back on for crossing farmland... she like sheep and not in the cuddly kind of way. The guide said to allow 1.5-4 hours to do the 4.5 mile trail. We were back at the car in 2. Note to self: must slow down to appreciate the scenery more next time... I was just so chuffed to be child-free and able to pace out I didn't expect the trail to be over in the blink of an eye! Ah well!
and of course, one of the best bits of a child-free day is coming home when they get giddy to see you!
Saturday, 2 June 2012
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