Baby led weaning

OK, so K is a rubbish eater. He's getting better, no doubt about it but fruits and veges are not his friends... hell, most of the time they are barely passing aquaintances... and this is why I seized upon baby led weaning as the way to go with Cameron.
Basically you remove the need for purees and mashes by waiting until the baby is 6 months old and can sit up by themself. You then offer them finger food which they feed themselves. You know, steamed carrot, asparagus, broccoli etc. I have to say that it has worked like a dream. Cam has eaten a vast array of foods - and is not yet 7 months old. In fact, he eats almost as much as K, and a FAR greater variety. He has eaten pesto, pasta, fish fingers, pork, beans, carrots, brocolli, snow peas, mashed potato, chips, greek yogurt - plain and strawberry, tangelos, apples, strawberries, watermelon, kiwifruit, pineapple, marmite crackers, corn thins, gingernuts, muffins and, I must confess, has also sampled some traditional baby foods. I tend to buy the more exotic fruit flavours and stir them through his greek yoghurt. I got a lot of odd looks when I said I was going to do this but boy, oh boy. I am so thrilled that we did!!!

And now, just to paint me as a total crackpot, I am starting to teach Cameron Baby sign language... just a few key words to make our lives a little more harmonious :) But that is a topic for another post.

Sadly, my status as a plague Mary has been reconfirmed. Poor Jen, who stayed over Saturday night spend a merry night vomiting her heart out upon her return to Hamilton. Chris has picked up the mantle and staggered home early from work. I opened the door to his green faced visage and knew it was going to be a rough night. Luckily the poor bugger had made 6 litres of lemon and barley water from scratch... very lucky as he has been going through it at a rate of knots. The poor guy has spent much of the evening locked in the toilet, bewailing the fact that he got the more virulent strain, and saying that I got off lightly... I did at that!!! Today we stayed home so as not to infect Playcentre and K and I did puzzles, played with Cameron, had lovely chats and cuddles and had a lovely time. Tomorrow however we will head out to Playcentre for the morning... K has missed it, and it will be nice for him to have a more exciting environment. Poor little devil was still a bit off today, eating virtually nothing and putting himself to bed at 11:40 today.

A Bumbo

Over the last few months I have been looking into the cost of hiring versus buying a bumbo seat. It worked out cheaper to buy it, which was all good as they hold their resale value. Chris and Jen headed off to collect it and the bemused owner of said seat was presented with it today. He was interested in the toy, excited by the the tray liner and thrilled that he could now feed himself. So a win:win for everyone!

The other child was happily poking about the kitchen last night helping his father cook. He has developed an odd habit of fondly patting one's backside. So there the boys were, Chris cooking, while K patted his father's rump. I lounged on the couch eating choc - er, feeding my baby - when I heard from the kitchen "Ooooh! Daddy has a poo in his pants!" and his father's resigned (oh god, she heard, this will be on the blog) voice muttering "No Kieran, that's Daddy's wallet". Maybe Chris should don an adult nappy for a few days then announce he's a big boy now and needs big boy underwear.... reckon that would speed up toilet training? I think it's worth a shot :)

I want to RUN!!

It's been an exciting few days. Having felt somewhat nauseated over several days I celebrated Thursday with the onset of a quite delightful tummy bug. In fact, between one of my many dashes too the loo I emailed Chris to request an early departure from work if he could manage it. Lack of sleep - Cam's current routine of waking every couple of hours is quite ennervating - and illness do not a good parent make. Chris arrived home just after I collapsed on the bed for a quick lie down. Some panadol helped with the fever, but the 3 hour sleep I had helped more. I was still feeling pretty ill - and tired, thanks Cam! - the next day but I wasn't sick enough to keep Chris home. Alas, I had to renew my drivers license which had expired. The boys and I caught the train in. At this point I have to say that the boys behaved exceptionally well, as we hunted for the AA for nigh on 40 minutes. I then stopped the hunt to buy some baby food and allow K a play in the New Lynn playground. We resumed the hunt and found the sodding store 20 metres from the train station where I would have seen it had I not headed off on the other side of the road to post a parcel! Grrrr. I entered, and queued... and queued. Nearly an hour passed before I got to the counter. At this point I must note that the license is in my maiden name. I wished to have it in my married name. Apparently I did not have enough forms of id for this. Apparently some of my id only having Shannon Tracey, and the rest having my full name was such a cause for concern that my license could not be reissued. I had left the house at 10am. It was now 12:50. The boys were frantic, C in particular was having hysterics as he was hungry. K was just bored. I totally lost it. It was a hot day and I was still ill, had walked in a hot day up hill and dale to be told to come back later. Anyway, I left the store and it's mile long queue and bought birthday presents as K was attending Georgia's birthday on Saturday and Nicole's the following week. We then hopped on the train, and got home at 1:40. Both boys slept like the dead. K only staggered downstairs just past 4 and was ruthlesly hustled out of the house. Aware that I had the birthday party and the Santa parade on Saturday I knew I had to get my license that day. By the time I dragged a tearful tot to the train station we had missed 2 trains, and caught the 5:05 which got us to New Lynn at 5:18. There was one person waiting in line but the (ahem) person who had served me earlier was bollixing up their request in fine form. I eventually wound up insisiting on being served by someone as quote " it's now 5:28 and I AM NOT coming back here tomorrow". After the long and drawn out process was completed I left, bought bread for dinner and caught the 6:08 train... which had Chris on it :)

Saturday saw the return of my dodgy tum and the hogging of the toilet facilities. I had to cancel going to the birthday party which was really sad, as K had been so excited about it. However I still had to buy a sack of onions slice them and drop them up at the Plunket Sausage Sizzle along with the other bits and pieces. Suffice it to say that I barely made it there, before fleeing to the bathroom again. This occurred several times and I finally managed to stagger off home, meeting Chris (who'd been volunteered to bbq) and Jen on the way. I put K to bed fairly soon after we got home, ditto Cameron, as they were fairly knackered and I needed them to be good in the parade. The parade went well, K cavorted about in his Spiderman costume and when I asked if he wanted to walk or ride in the stroller stated "I want to RUN!" And run he did.... He had a blast. That evening Chris succumbed to the dreaded bug but Cameron surprised us all with a lovely 5 hour sleep, quick feed then a further 4 hour sleep. What a wonderful lad he is!! Sadly his brother was up and down all night long :( Sunday started out well. Chris made beetroot relish, which he liked so much he licked the saucepan clean. K was a bit low key and snuggly but we thought that was due to the wakeful night. Both boys were put to bed early. I amused myself by mopping the floor, wiping down the couches and sweeping under them. Absolutely wasted effort when one thinks about the following events. Sigh. At 6ish K erupted. Spectacular fountains sprayed over the freshly mopped floor, the child, Chris... but luckily not the exersaucer or Cameron. Chris bundled the sad wee boy up into the shower while I had the delightful job of picking up vomit covered clothes, washing them, and mopping the floor. We got him settled again and I reclaimed Cameron, who was producing his own fountains.. from the other end!! And then, K moaned gently sometime later and vomited all over the pillow he was resting on, his clothes and the couch that had been wiped down that afternoon.... this time I headed up to the shower with him, while Chris cleaned the furniture. Back downstairs we watched Happy Feet together, until C fell asleep. Now both boys are tucked into their beds, alseep and vomit free. Long may it last. My plans for Playcentre tomorrow are scotched - I couldn't do this to other kids! Happily I, while still feeling fairly seedy, am getting better!

same old, same old

Yesterday we headed off to Playcentre where once again K wrung every last morsel of enjoyment from the morning. He nearly wept when he was told that we had to go home. I had two tired little boys tho - K was asleep by 12:40 and C slept through being transferred from the car seat to the stroller - unheard of! The evening was spent typing minutes. I begin to feel a real hatred for minutes :) On tuesday Emma called up and suggested catching up. I threw the boys into the car and hastened out. K had a blast playing with Hana on the trampoline. We got home at 2 and I poured K into bed, and poured C and I into my bed. Happy nappings ensued. Tomorrow is Plunket coffee group, and setting up the Plunket display window. Luckily Chris is coming home early to manage childcare or I couldn't do it! Thursday - I had plans but they escape me, and Friday I have a Plunket meeting then Playcentre. God forfend I keep K from a playcentre session :P

6 months old

On friday I headed off to playcentre for the morning. K painted up a storm and we emerged at 12:30 content, happy, and ready for a nap. We all napped and at 3, when the boys awoke, we braved school traffic to head into Henderson to pick up Plunket posters, Alex's birthday present and look for small glass bottles for rhubarb vinegar. K was exceptionally well behaved and had a ride on Buzzy Bee outside the toy shop. We found an inflatable Ben10 beachball and a Ben10 watch. I also found some sticky wall decorations going cheap so got some for Kieran. I got some pirate ones for his birthday and a space theme for after the party. Well, Saturday dawned cool and grey and Cameron was 6 months old. It would have been nice to celebrate with an uninterrupted night of sleep but one can't have everything :) After racing around like a maniac looking for my wallet I left the house for K's dance class at 9:56. The class started at 10. I screeched into the carpark at 9:59, parked precipitously and hauled K across the carpark, and into the studio. TYPICALLY, K chose a day where I had no money and camera with me to truly dance his heart out. We dashed home and collected up Cameron (still snoozing in his cot) and Chris and headed off to Alex's 4th birthday. There was lots of toddlerish enjoyment, and K cavorted naked with Alex on the lawn, nimbly avoiding the water from the waterslide..... If I could have photographed those 2, buck naked, swinging together...... they looked so funny :) But alas! It was not to be. Cameron snacked ferociously upon watermelon and strawberry and pineapple... K ate nothing. He did however blow out Alex's candles as Alex was waiting for his happy birthday song to end. Face:palm. Chris has plans to do all sorts of exciting cooking this this weekend. YAY!

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa

For Christmas I would like a:

Ice cream

Lollipop

Sandwich

Sausage

BIG car

BIG truck

Fire engine

Blocks

xxxx Kieran

Dear Santa

GOO!

xxxx Cameron

My funny little boys :) As you can tell we have been working on the letters to Santa :)

The train trip was veeeeery long. We collected the newsletter but forgot the santa parade posters (doh), looked into the madness that was the Farmers sale, went to Toyworld where K found a HUGE truck ($800!!) that he fell in love with. We then hustled to catch the train, and got to watch it pull out of the station - without us. I took the boys down to the Zen garden next to the train station and K jumped in the fountains while C investigated the grass. Lunch was eaten and then we caught the train home. And K walked the entire time - very impressive!!

I was so tired by the time we got home at 1:40 that I fell asleep on the bed next to C, and K had to wake me up :) My evening was also quite exciting as my car got locked into the underground carpark! Luckily Suzie was there and called the property owner who turned up a moment later and released my vehicle hahaha. I could have walked home, Cameron in arm, but I didn't fancy it!!

Today is painting day at Playcentre and then I need to drive into Henderson to collect the posters, buy a birthday present and check out Briscoes :)

A bit of this, a bit of that

C is thoroughly enjoying starting solids - and what a messy beast he is!!! He rolling about like a loon and is desperate to crawl :) On saturday we visited rob and sam, borrowed their high chair and also visited spotlight on henderson road - also known as the store from hell! It took 40 minutes to get some fabric, the salesperson was rude, overcharged me and didn't give me a bag... Iwrote a complaint and they asked me to come in so they can :make it right". Perhaps saturday...The fabric will be used to make C a hat and also xmas presents for the twins. I was going to make K a superhero costume for the Glen Eden santa parade but Rob and Sam kindly lent us a Spiderman costume. We made a cat kite on friday. K mixed the paint. He was very excited as we cut out and painted the kite. I visited Kym yesterday morning, while the cat kite dried, at least, it was supposed to be morning! C threw a spanner in the works by sleeping for 2 hours 15 minutes! W drove past many trucks etc which K really enjoyed. He had a blast playing with Alex. Sadly he became very tired and fell asleep in the car. He slept for 15 minutes and woke up a right little horror! Even taking his kite to the playground to fly it didn't help - especially when he smashed it to the ground while having a tantrum.... on saturday we went to a BBQ over at Isabelle's. It was good fun and K cavorted about. They headed off to Quebec on Sunday. I don't know how K will cope without them haha. On Sunday we went to the Arataki Kids day which sent Chris's blood pressure through the roof. K used to be terrified of bouncy castles. At the kids day he flung himself on the "circus" and wouldn't come off. We hauled him off and he threw such a strop he had a timeout in the car. Sigh! I was mulling over doing a letter to santa so asked K what he wanted from Santa.... apparently he wants an ice cream and a lollipop lol! He loves Splat the cat books and we were debating getting him the splat books and Splat stuffed toy from the book depository for his birthday....we will see. On monday we went into playcentre and k loved it as always. I had a playventre meeting on monday that ran very late, so very late that Chris wass pacing the floor when I raced in the door....and he was jolly cross. On tuesday we went to visit Suzie and Amanda. K bustled about, playing with her toys and getting into the playdough like no ones business. Both boys slept like dream when we got home at 2! On wednesday we had plunket coffeegroup and K's behaviour was positively angelic! As a reward we will ride the train into henderson, buy some summer pj's, some xmas paper, pay money at the toyshop for K's xmas present, and pick up the plunket newsletter. I also have a Plunket meeting tonight, and a skype meeting to minute on Sunday..... Good times!