PRECIOUS HOUR

A - 365

I am still struggling with you and D being at school.  I have to collect you both just after 3.00pm and we are normally in the house and sorted by 3.30pm which, on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, gives me an hour with you both before I have to dish up the dinner and then start working at 4.45pm.  I am desperately trying to make sure I have prepared dinner while you are at school and that I have something we can all do together for our precious hour.  Today I got out some phonics wipe clean books that we have and we all practiced letter formation while we talked about your day at school.  Oh how I miss the luxury of the time that we have had together for almost the last five years.  It is so heartwarming to see how you submerse yourselves in school and how you are forming such lovely friendships, but there is a tiny bit of me that constantly feels anxious and possibly even uncomfortable about school and wishes I was confident enough to consider other approaches to education like homeschooling and unschooling.  I know that as parents we are all supposed to know what is best for our children, but I'm afraid that I honestly sometimes really don't...... 

WARRIOR

D - 365

THE NEWBIE

 

A - 365

Being the mini mommy that you are, you are so happy that your new baby cousin is a girl and were extremely excited to get to meet her today.

CHECK OUT THE SHOES

A -365


Oh my,  how you love trying on my "heel shoes",

A BEAUTIFUL HEART

A - 365

Even in the paddling pool in the garden you had to have on your new 'bikini' (actually it is a tankini, but who am I to argue) accompanied by a necklace, a bracelet and a flower in your hair?  I am forever trying to tell you  that you are always beautiful no matter what you wear or look like because it is about whether your heart beautiful, but I am never sure whether those words are sinking in.  I really hope they are.

MALE BONDING

D - 365

Bonding whilst working on the car; anybody would think you were grown men!

IRON MAN

D - 365

I'm not sure how it happened, but, in typical boy fashion, you seem to have discovered a love of the Avengers and so here you are trying on rocking your new Iron Man shorts.  I rarely buy character clothing even though you always lust after them in the shops, but I couldn't resist today, especially as you needed some more summer clothing anyway.  You were extremely impressed with my purchase and thoroughly appreciative.

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY SEVEN



 

This is the final photograph in my little series to celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

 

Granted, this isn't the best quality photograph, but I really love it.  It was taken at my lovely mother in law's 70th birthday party, so Teeny would have been 11 days off 13 months old and this is what I call snuggly boob.  It was way past his bedtime and he was tired and so *gasp* he was feeding for comfort, but you know what?  That's ok!! Even though there are plenty of parenting "gurus" who will tell you otherwise I am telling you now that the world will not end if you feed your baby for comfort.  Yes I could have let him cry, but what would that have achieved?  I tell you what a stressed out mommy and a very distressed baby.  This is the beauty of breastfeeding; it can be used to calm a baby who is hungry, tired, teething, feverish......the list is endless.  Mother nature made it that way.  Isn't she clever?

GENTLY DOES IT

D - 99/365

Looking at these photos of you gently transferring these seedlings makes me think about was a sweet natured and sensitive soul you are.   This is one of many things that makes you such a special boy; don't ever change who you are for anybody.

SHOPPING

A - 89/365



Today we went shopping for your dress for your brother's naming day.  I can never get over what a girly girl you are and how much you love shopping and all things pretty.  Thankfully we both liked the same dress, but if we hadn't I can't imagine I would have won that battle.

READY FOR BED

A - 87/365

Your girlishness (as you like to label it) comes out even at bedtime.  If there is a nightdress clean it will always be chosen over a set of pyjamas!

ROCKING THE DOUBLE DENIM

A - 86/365

Despite having a (very dark blue) denim skirt on you were insistent that you should wear your (mid blue) denim jacket too and here you are rocking the look on a trip to the supermarket.  I love how you know your own mind and are developing your own unique sense of style.

BOY TOY

D - 83/365

What is it about men and tools?  Even at  just four years old you're always keen to get your tools out and "do fixing" like Daddy.  We've always had a pretty even split on what would be deemed girls v boys toys in our house and I don't really think we have ever really pushed  either of you in one way or the other, but since I can remember you have always been drawn to cars and trains and tools and today's picture documents this perfectly.

IN CHARGE?!

A - 80/365

I promised myself that I would quote you when I came to blogging this picture.  I clearly recall being amused as I sneakily watched you instructing D to do something, but now I can't, for the life of me, remember how the conversation between you went.  I do recall though, that it was one of those rare instances where he decided enough was enough and did not do as he was told, much to your dismay.

IN THE PINK

A - 57/365

Look at you so beautiful and peaceful and PINK!  Seriously I have no idea where your love of all things pink came from because it is certainly not me.  In your case it is definitely nature and not nurture.

FRENCH PLAITS

A - 40/365

Today you had a lovely couple of hours with your big cousin Hannah.  She could have been doing a dozen other things, but instead she patiently painted your nails for you and, at my request, quickly French plaited your hair.  You see I am not a very girly girl and whilst I try I am pretty useless with hair and nails whereas you and she love all things pretty and although I am not a big fan of nail varnish I do love a French plait. 

 

My sweet girl I do adore how you embrace your feminity; ever since I can remember you have been fascinated by jewellery (one of your first words was 'pwitty') and hair clips and more recently you long to wear lip gloss, nail varnish, perfume, sparkly shoes and skirts/dresses on an almost daily basis.  As you can probably imagine though you are not my biggest fan when I don't always comply with your daily list of desires.

FOUR YEARS OLD (2)

 

LIKES:

 

Everything that Daddy likes!!  Seriously Son it surprises me that, despite the fact that on a day to day basis you seem to be surrounded by women and are a sensitive little soul, one of your favourite things is just being one of the boys.  There isn't much you love more than chilling with the boys and the camaraderie that comes with it; whether it's rough and tumble or motorbike talk with Daddy, trying to play computer or getting the tools out with your big cousins, feeding the birds or checking out the shed with Grandad Bobby or an activity at nursery with your (male) teacher you are most at ease and at your happiest when you are to quote you "with the boys doing boy things."  Even when you play with your sister your favourite things to do together are to play with the trains, the Hot Wheels or ride your bikes!  Although on occasion you have been known to wear the odd clippy cloppy shoe and push the hoover or pushchair around with some of your girlfriends.

 

DISLIKES:

 

Hurting yourself which, given that you are your father's son, doesn't bode well as he has had more trips to A&E that your nan has had hot dinners.  You could almost win an Oscar for your acting skills following a slight fall or bump, although you haven't perfected the fake cry yet as I am afraid there are still no tears!  I am pretty sure that with you a trip to A&E is inevitable and it is probably a case of when and not if.  Your other big dislike is playing baby or pupil or whatever other submissive role your sister has in store for you on any given day, but you have not quite learnt to stand up to her yet without resorting to whining at her or smacking her depending on what mood takes you.  Like I said before though you are a very sensitive and caring soul and as dominating as your sister can be sometimes you still love her and your little brother dearly and it really upsets you to see them poorly or hurt or sad in anyway.  As much as you hate hurting yourself I'm pretty sure you would walk on hot coals for them if you could.



FOUR YEARS OLD (1)

 

 

 LIKES:

 

Jewellery, handbags, dresses, lip gloss, nail varnish, clippy cloppy shoes as you label them and anything else remotely feminine that you can lay your hands on; I can't even begin to imagine where that comes from because, as much as I like to get my glad rags on for a night out, I am not what you would label a girly girl so that is definitely nature and not nurture!  What else...?  Being outdoors; you are rarely more happy than when you are running about in the garden, the park or the playground at nursery school and poor weather doesn't phase you.

Your other big things are singing, dancing and generally performing.  You have recently developed a real love of music and are happy to listen (and wiggle) to most of what I play, but your current favourites are (thankfully) anything by Kimbra, Hottest Girl in The World (JLS) which I don't mind, but the rest are far too cheesy for me and include Live While We're Young (One Direction), Candy (Robbie Williams), Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepson) and We are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor Swift).  Yuk! ;-)  I think it is because you hear them on TV alot; you definitely know exactly what you like.

 

DISLIKES:

 

Not getting your own way.  You are a strong willed and impulsive young lady and not a force to be reckoned with; a leader and not a follower.  Oh my darling as much as I love you there are days where I find you such a challenge.  My poor mother must have said the same about me though!  There aren't many other things that I can think of that you don't like.  You're pretty adventurous and fairly happy to try most things as long as it is on your terms.  People had better not mess with either of your brothers though; there is no way you can stand for that.