Three years five months
By hissychick | July 4, 2008
You talk and discuss and muse aloud, using words such as interested, dangerous and probiotic in their appropriate contexts with consummate ease. You have so many funny sayings and philosophical questions, as I have faithfully recorded so many times on this blog.
You can dress yourself from head to toe, patiently threading the straps of your shoes through the buckles in a demonstration of your exceptionally fine motor skills. The same cannot be said of your fashion sense, which could be described as unique but is oh so endearing and a source of many beautiful snapshots, like the one I have included at the end of this post. You are starting to draw pictures that are identifiable and promote aspects your world, both real and imagined. And you are starting to colour in your artistic creations too. Perhaps we should take advantage of these new skills and get you to repaint the living area. Although I’ll pick the colour scheme thank you very much.
You have sure and steady motor skills, with your latest skill mastered being the hop, courtesy of physie. During class you listen and try to follow direction, so well l that many parents think you are older than you are. Wish I could say the same at home when it comes to eating vegies, not picking up your sister and going to bed!
Speaking of food you still love it, and have only just recently tried a fussy patch on for size, one in which you are outwitted by your own logic. “I’m hungry”. “Well here’s a choice of fruit”. “No I don’t want fruit”. “Well then you can’t be too hungry”. “But I need a treat”. “You don’t need a sometimes food, you want it. Too much food, especially treats isn’t good for us remember?”. “OK Mummy…” At which point you will sigh and slink away until next time.
All that food has to fuel your brain, as you are still a whizz with numbers (we still play the read the speed sign game) and courtesy of your In the Night Garden fixation you are back to enjoying books again. You’re on the way to reading, knowing what is meant to happen on each page of your favourite stories, and I am quickly and frequently corrected if I don’t read the correct words, or worse, try to skip ahead in an attempt to keep the bedtime routine progressing towards sleep time :“But Mummy, I don’t want to close my eyes because then I can’t see what’s going on”. “umm that’s the point darling, you need to rest so that you can grow and be happy” “But why? ” “Just go to sleep now, we’ll talk about it in the morning”.
You love your little sister, (s)mothering her and often trying your hardest to prevent her from hurting herself in her latest death defying adventure (“E noooo, you can’t climb up on the telly/dishwasher/my cupboard!”). You are first to greet E in the morning, and quick to offer suggestions as to how to soothe her tears (“Maybe she’d like come booby juice Mummy!”).
At times you are a little too exuberant, and this is how many of E’s bumps and scrapes occur. You are also very much aware that picking on your sister will set Mummy off, and will use this to your advantage when you want my attention. However on the whole I don’t think E could ask for a more loving and protective big sister. I know I certainly couldn’t ask for a more emotionally aware and beautifully spirited eldest child.
You now like to give mummy proper kisses, rather than cheek to cheek air ones daarrrling, something you have shied away from until now for some reason that I am sure is very valid to you. It is delightful to have a big sloppy kiss planted on my lips before you confidently go to join your friends at daycare, where you are finally, finally thriving in the much more stimulating ‘big’ kids room, a place where you have older peers who accept and enjoy your advanced speaking and play skills, and more importantly, accept that you are a little quieter and slower to warm to social situations. It’s lovely to watch your confidence grow, and as it does, to see you slowly emerge from your cocoon into the social butterfly that you really are when you are comfortable. My girl is growing up.
But you’re still my baby. I love snuggling up with you in bed at night and giving you your “If I close my eyes Mummy you will give me one last snuggle?” cuddle.
And when I watch you sleeping I see the baby that was, the one who was so desperately wanted and wholeheartedly cherished. I see the beautiful girl that you are now, body and soul. I also see glimpses of the future, the strong, bright and determined woman you will become. And I will always be here for you, your devoted Mummy.
I love you to the stars and beyond.
Topics: I'm a Mum, Threenager alert, Uncategorized, hi ho A is on the go | 2 Comments »
At one
By hissychick | July 1, 2008
You toddle toward me on increasingly steady feet, arms upraised simultaneously for balance and a cuddle. With an impish grin on your face, your bury your head into my lap for a recharge of love, exclaiming “ahhh” with delight as you refuel your sense of security and self. In the blink of an eye you are off again, lurching along like a little ewok towards your next source of fascination and interaction, be that your sister, your sister’s contraband toys, anything remotely dangerous and doors of any description.
You adore doors. For some reason they thrill you, and many times over the course of the day I will hear your sweet voice exclaim “Door-uh!” as you attempt to open and close the kitchen cupboards, the bedroom door or as you stand banging excitedly on the front and back screen doors, desperate to engage with the trees/birds/grass/sky that are beguilingly just out of reach. Funnier still is the way you take every opportunity to play with the safety gate in the bathroom if you ever spy it left accidentally ajar. You will race towards it, and carefully close it behind you as if its presence is there to prevent the egress of some other baby.
Along with “Door-uh“, words beginning with d seem to be the flavour du jour. As well as the ubiquitous “Dee-dee“, “down” is another favourite, and you repeat it like a mantra as you pull the zip down on my jacket before exhorting me to pull it up again, a game that you will happily play for hours. “Duh-duh” is squealed with delight as you play with a rubber duckie in the bath, and whenever and wherever you see a quacky type critter. Equally as delightful is the way you call A’s name, your own version beginning with D that at first I mistakenly took for being “Dada” (and was humoured that you had decided to call your sister by the same name as your father). No, it is distinct and your big sister absolutely adores the fact that you now greet her by name too.
While the words are slowly forming you have turned gesticulation into a fine art form. Your pointing is very distinct, and is usually accompanied by an attention seeking “Ooooooohh!! Ooooohh!!” that can be heard from three kilometres away. Your other favourite word and action combination is a definite “Nah!” accompanied by a shake of the head, something which is sure to remain firm favourite for a long time to come. We hear and see this one most often at mealtimes, when you have had enough to eat, want to take over the feeding procedure for yourself or you are simply refusing to try whatever new food is being offered. You are certainly a girl of your own mind in this department, and although frustrating and a sure sign of the many food battles to come I am also pleased that you are learning to regulate your own intake. You even try to feed me, exclaiming “Yum!” as you cram your mushy rejects into my mouth. Between that and “Ta” as you hand over whatever you have collected on your forays around the house and I seem to spend a lot of time putting away the remote controls and cleaning mashed banana out of my hair. Not that I would have it any other way.
If it’s not an “ooohhh” it’s a “Dooooodooodoooh!!” accompanied by swaying if you are trying to convey a tune, especially the theme to In the Night Garden or the Teddy Bears’ Picnic song, two of your current favourites…and clips that you try and persuade me to show you on the computer during mealtimes. You clap and excalim “Yay!” whenever I relent, and wriggle your fingers in a manner akin to the gestures for “Twinkle twinkle Little Star” along with the music. You are a very musically oriented child, stopping to bop whenever you hear a tune that takes your fancy. And you absolutely love the xylophone toy we got for your birthday, happy to bash out a tune with your big sister whenever and wherever the mood strikes.
You are a social butterfly, happy to engage your world and other people provided Mummy is still somewhere in sight. Whenever we drop your big sister at daycare you wriggle with all of your might to escape my arms in a desperate attempt to join in with the other children. At mother’s group and in the park you are an absolute daredevil. After chasing you up the ladders of slippery dips and helping you to push the toy cars that belong to the little roller coaster ride at mother’s group I am firmly convinced that you already see yourself as a three year old. You have brought smiles of absolute delight to the faces of strangers as they have watched me bring you safely back down the local park slide, one leg raised awkwardly in the air as we negotiate equipment designed for much smaller bottoms than mine.
And at nap times, the end of all action packed days and when you wake in the night we still wind down with a breastfeed, much to my amazement and pride. With eight teeth and another couple on the way, it’s at times a somewhat interesting experience but it is my absolute pleasure to be able to still nurture in this way. However I think, I think you may be starting on the process to weaning yourself, as you are pretty much saying “nah” to my left breast at all feeds except during the night, shaking your head and blowing raspberries at the poor old slow thing. I am not going to attempt to boost supply at this stage, as this was behind the last bout of mastitis, and have simply accepted that we can soldier on with one side if need be. Given that you’ve always had such a distinct preference for old righty I am pleased that we got as far as we did with loser lefty.
Yes you are STILL in our room, even though your very own is more than ready. It should come as no surprise then that you still wake in the night. I don’t know why we are so reluctant to let you go, you really could do with the uninterrupted sleep, but it has been so lovely to have you nearby, never having to strain to hear your cries through a monitor and knowing that when you do wake that all it usually takes to resettle you is a few steps to bring you to bed for a snuggly feed and few steps to place you back in your cot once you are satiated. Never mind that poor Daddy seems to end up sleeping elsewhere a lot of the time (eek).
My darling, darling E, you have inveigled yourself into my heart and there I will hold you always. Ahhhhhh.
Topics: E is good, I'm a Mum, hi ho E is on the go | 4 Comments »
Time out
By hissychick | June 27, 2008
All the usual signs are there:
- The bogan non parenting
- The lack of interest in anything.
- The irritation at the monotony of it all.
- The lack of motivation to start, let alone finish any of the number of little projects that I could work on.
I’ve been given my warnings, I’ve counted to three. It’s time for this hissychick to take a time out.
Topics: Going bogue, hello i'm boring | 1 Comment »
In trouble. Again.
By hissychick | June 24, 2008
Mr hissychick is currently a bit pouty. The reason? My mosaic, wherein I revealed my latest celebrity crush to be Jemaine and Bret from Flight of the Conchords.
The fact that I have a crush on two rather funny blokes should come as no surprise to all of you inside the computer. It’s fairly obvious that mr hissychick himself is a very amusing bugger, so it should be very clear that an intelligent sense of humour is one of the most important qualities that I look for in a man. I mean looked for of course (kiss kiss darling husband).
It wasn’t always the case. Two exceptions come to mind. The drug fucked abusive moron ex fling whose second greatest crime was being blonde -both literally and figuratively- and the ex boyfriend before mr hissychick himself. The one who was younger and very good looking but without that all important sense of humour. And the joke ended up being on him, as was so painfully obvious to the viewing audience of the reality TV show that he starred in. The name of which I may just reveal to you all if I ever find myself posting after a few wines.
Back to celebrity crushes.
For my mosaic I could have picked George Clooney (intelligent, great actor, some impressive film choices, so very funny in interviews, looks improving with age). Or John Mayer, who is rather cute in that all important dark and handsome way, quite a talented muso even if you find his music a little too sappy (I don’t), a hit with the ladies and a very funny bloke to boot. The latter point being the one that drives mr hissychick crazy, because he can’t stand the music and I’ve dragged him to two John Mayer concerts to date. Yet he still has to concede that John Mayer is funny in precisely the way that appeals to his wife and also makes him laugh too. As evidenced by this clip.
However I went for the Conchords boys this time as they are my latest thing, fickle chick that I am. For those of you that aren’t familiar with their TV show*, here’s a link to bring you up to speed. And here is one of my favourite songs of theirs, and the reason why mr hissychick doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
It doesn’t matter either way honey, just keep your socks on when it counts.
Now it’s your turn dear internets. Who is your current celebrity crush and why?
*A note to Australian commercial television station Ten: boo hiss to you putting the boys on so late on a Sunday night, and then running so far over schedule with that pathetic dross Big Brother that our Foxtel iQ box stops recording Flight of the Conchords halfway through an episode. I never thought I would say this but I’m so glad that mr hissychick insists on pay television.
Topics: a bit of fluff | 5 Comments »
Dismissed
By hissychick | June 24, 2008
Me: So what did you do at preschool today?
A (ignoring me):……………
Me (a few moments later): A, did you have fun today? What sorts of things did you do?
A (ignoring me again):……
Me (persisting after a short pause): Painting? Dress ups? Play….
A (sighing and cutting me off): Mummy, I don’t know. I’ll tell you tomorrow OK? Stop talking, I want to listen to this song. Can you turn it up please?
Me (gobsmacked, reaching for the radio dial): Um sure sweetie.
And I thought contempt for one’s mother started in the teenage years.
Edited to add: Below is one of the things she had been busy working on and thinking about. Introducing the first full family portrait as drawn by A. Gives me goosebumps. Apparently I’m at the front left and to my right is mr hissychick, wearing glasses. A is behind her Dad and E is to her left. What a treasure.
Topics: Threenager alert | 8 Comments »
Mosaic
By hissychick | June 20, 2008
Rather than regale you with scary tales from the toilet bowl, where I just discovered for myself exactly what happens when you eat cake with black icing (ahem), I thought I’d do a Friday fluff post. The idea is not mine, and has been doing the rounds of some favourite blogs of mine, although I do believe it originated here.
Here’s what you do:
Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
Using only the first page, pick an image.
Copy and paste your chosen URLs into the Mosaic Maker and make a lovely mosaic to put on your blog or flickr.
The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.
And here’s my mosaic (don’t ask me why Wordpress does silly things to the mosaic size. Just click for full size)…
1. Metric @ Neumos - Seattle, Wa, 2. we fell in chocolate over love, 3. l_97bc7fe4a8f4fa49f843b6e012444fa6, 4. Just hanging around, 5. Flight of the Conchords, 6. Tea…, 7. Montmartre, 8. Sticky Date Pudding wristlet-ittybitty bag, 9. Greenlife!, 10. Joy of life, 11. enigma, 12. Legs crossing the street
And no I won’t give the game away by telling you my answers! Although from the lack of balance in colour/proportion/everything really you can pretty much tell my answer to number nine was not artist. And seeing as no images were returned for hissychick for number 12 I had to get creative.
Here endeth the post.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Topics: a bit of fluff | 1 Comment »
A series of firsts
By hissychick | June 18, 2008
First birthday girl smiles after the first full night of sleep in ages*:
First birthday present:
(OK, I cheated, that was an early birthday present and photo taken last week.)
First birthday present received today:
First birthday cake (and here I break my own rules so you can see said cake in full colour):
First candle to blow out:
You have brought us so much joy my darling girl. Wishing you a future filled with love and happiness. Thank you so much for choosing me to be your mother and allowing me to revel in the sheer delight that is you.
Happy 1st birthday E.
And one last thing…..
First romantic gesture of the day from mr hissychick**:
* From 7:30pm to 7:20 am when A came into the bedroom to wake us all, with a self resettle at 9:30 pm and a quick wake and feed at 10:30 pm. Sheer bliss. Oh for a repeat tonight….
** Somewhat tempered by the “Happy surviving squeezing out a puppy and the first year thereafter” that accompanied said bouquet.
Topics: E is good, I'm a Mum, Partypartyparty! | 9 Comments »
Thanks
By hissychick | June 17, 2008
Thank you everyone, for your lovely comments/emails. You provided some much needed support and encouragement just when I needed it most.
I am happy to report that last night E did a whole lot better than usual, only waking at 9:30, followed by 1:30, resettling herself at 5 ish before waking at 6 for a feed, then settling back for a sleep until 7:30 when A got up. How brilliant is that?
I haven’t raised my voice at either of the kids in the last twenty four hours either. If anything was gained out of the low point that was the other night it is the fact that my appalling behaviour seems to have flicked on the patience switch in my brain. Don’t get me wrong, shock and guilt are a large part of this, and I won’t set myself up for a fall by saying that I won’t ever yell again, because that’s just asking for trouble. However I have had some time to reflect, and I realise now that I have been so volatile, not only because of exhaustion but because I spend so many of my waking hours in a permanet state of frustration.
Frustration at E for not sleeping.
Frustration at A for not listening and following through with simple requests so that we can get out the door to activities on time.
Frustration again at A for continuing to pick up her sister and snatch away her toys even though she is repeatedly told not to do this, and time outs have not helped one iota.
Frustration that my whole life seems to revolve around child care and the domestic chores that go along with said care.
Frustration that I always have a child with me and no time to myself.
Frustration that I have no identity outside of the home, no independent income at the moment.
I also realise that the only person who can do anything about this is me. Instead of feeling helpless I’m going to take the time to address each of these issues one by one. I’ve started by relaxing my expectations regarding A’s behaviour. Of course this isn’t to say she is getting away with murder, but I’ve reminded myself that she is only three and it is my job to model appropriate behaviours. How can I expect her to be patient when I have been anything but of late? And- shock! horror!- a calm and consistent approach to discipline leads to a much better behaved child. Fancy that.
I’ve also decided to go with the flow with E a little bit more. Who cares if I comfort feed her when she wakes in the night? If it means that everyone can get back to sleep more quickly and with minimal tears then so be it. It’s not forever, and can and will be changed if moving her to her own room shortly doesn’t do t he trick. Which it might. Fingers crossed.
OK that’s enough navel gazing for now. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that. So to finish on a positive note:
- A tried her very first physical culture (’physie‘) class yesterday and loved it. So gorgeous to watch. More on that later.
- E is one tomorrow! One! Woo hoo!!! Naturally there is a spectacular birthday cake to be made, as is the tradition chez hissychick, and this time it will be a lady beetle. Pics to come later in the week.
I bid you all a fond adieu for now.
PS Will get back to commenting on all of your blogs again shortly. JLow, I will get around to the post you tagged me for in the next week or so. Promise.
Topics: Silly mummy | 4 Comments »
And the prosecution rests its case
By hissychick | June 16, 2008
Internets, I would dearly love to be writing you a somewhat witty and uplifting post about the fact that E and I will be celebrating a twelve month breastfeeding relationship on her birthday this Wednesday. Or details of the latest clever, insightful and hilarious conversation I have had with A. But now is not the time.
I’m beyond it.
The hissychick inside the computer before you is drained, physically from yet another nightmare night of broken sleep, during which E woke four times absolutely screaming her head off and inconsolable without either breast or rocking. However it’s the emotional turmoil that has done me in.
I stand before you, the jury, charged with the following: failure as a mother.
Prosecution: Is it true, ms hissychick, that on the night of 15 June 2008 you let your youngest daughter scream for twenty minutes without picking her up?
Me: Yes, mr hissychick and I have tried everything. This has been happening for over a month now. It’s been well over a year since I last had a full unbroken eight hour stretch of sleep. We’d already tried to soothe her and decided that there was nothing else left to do…
Prosecution: Just yes or no will suffice.
Me: Well…yes.
Prosecution: And is it true that after these twenty minutes you screamed at your defenseless child to stop screaming?
Me:Well yes…I’m exhausted and stressed, it was so upsetting, I’m so tired that I am not always rational of late.
Prosecution: Would you care to repeat the last part of your statement?
Me: What? Ummm I am not always rational?
Prosecution: So you agree you are irrational.
Me: Wait a minute…
Prosecution: Would a rational person yell at a baby? Would a rational person let their child scream so loud that they woke their neighbours up night after night?
Me: But…
Prosecution: Yes or no ms hissychick?
Me: I guess not…
Prosecution: So you agree you are irrational?
Me: I guess.
Prosecution: Answer the question.
Me: Yes.
Prosecution: And should a mother be that irrational?
Me: Hang on a minute, we all have our moments, I love my kids, they’re OK….
Prosecution: Answer the question.
Me: No.
Prosecution: So tell me why this court should not find you guilty of poor mothering when you yourself have admitted that you are less than rational, that you will let your child cry, that you will scream at them?
Me: But…
Prosecution: And have you asked for help?
Me: Well I’m starting to think that might be a good idea…
Prosecution: So you are admitting to the court that you can’t cope?
Me: Well I’m not doing so crash hot right now, but I am sure that with a bit of help and advice I can get the sleep issue sorted that things will improve and this will-be a blip on the horizon…
Prosecution: Ms hissychick, just answer yes or no, are you coping right now?
Me: No
Prosecution: I put to you ms hissychick, that a mother must cope. A good mother knows she has to cope and she does.
Me: But I will get through this. I am a good mother, I’m just having a rough patch, my kids want me and need me as I do them..
Prosecution: But have you not just admitted to the court that you are not coping, that you are irrational?
Me: …
Prosecution: Yes or no?
Me: Yes.
Prosecution: No further questions.
********************************
Words have a way of coming back to haunt you, as I am sure these ones will.
Guilty as charged.
Topics: WWM 08, moody blues | 8 Comments »
It was one small step for E…
By hissychick | June 12, 2008
Between three and sixteen actually.
Yes, our littlest miss has officially taken her first steps. Of course her very first three were witnessed by mr hissychick because, naturally, they happened behind my back as I was tucking A into bed. The next three were the classic walk to Mum with an excited grin on your face, thereby ensuring that she is your devoted slave forever type.
The little monster then proceeded to take sixteen steps once I was out of the room again, casually walking across the loungeroom past her Dad to flop on her big sister’s Barbie couch. I, on the other hand, am yet to witness more than a few staggered steps, because E gets all excited when she sees me, shrieks “YAY!!” and dives into my waiting arms. Am getting all goosebumpy just thinking about it.
My baby is officially a toddler. And the rollercoaster begins………….
Topics: hi ho E is on the go | 5 Comments »