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Showing posts with label always changing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label always changing. Show all posts

Monday, February 22, 2010

LEARNING LESSONS

Alice doesn't really draw. She has an easel in the playroom, one side is a chalkboard, the other is drawing board. She'll draw shapes and different shaped lines but not pictures, never pictures.

Recently she's had several 'star' charts but she always requests a smiley face not a star, I started describing what I was doing as I drew the smiley, then I started getting her to tell me which bit to do next. She still never drew!

This weekend I tried a different approach - I ASKED her to draw a picture and SHE DID!!!!!!!! So simple, so easy, boy I feel daft!

This is my Alice drawing a tiger, she needed encouragement to use some colours (right now her default drawing style is quick to finish in lead pencil, no colours), she identified the colours of a tiger, found them and then used them both at once! (After that I asked her to draw her and I AND SHE DID!!)

Lesson learnt - by Mummy!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

MY GIRL SMILES THROUGH

Today didn't go as planned!

We were due to meet D, A and baby D at the aquarium. Our car was the last allowed into the car park, they travelled separately and were only a few cars behind us. They were directed to another car park with so many others that even though they managed to park, they didn't manage to make it onto the shuttle bus. So we went into the aquarium and they went to the zoo!

Alice smiled through it, she seemed to understand that we couldn't control the situation either and handled her disappointment in a very mature way, she's only 3! We hoped to catch up with them once we were back at home, but that didn't work either. Still no tears. I'm really impressed with her behaviour, communication and maturity. Every day she's changing in incredible ways.

(It's not all sunshine, we're currently focusing on not using baby / made up words, she has an unfortunate way of making words that are very close to rude ones!)

Sunday, January 31, 2010

JANUARYS - 2010, 2009 AND 2008

January 2010 - big changes since last year. Alice had her second major experience of snow, she loves it, especially eating it and throwing snowballs. She loves our 3 dogs and our fish and snails, currently 6 fish and 1 large and 1 very small snail. She goes to nursery 2 full days per week, she loves going, she has a packed lunch each time and nearly always has egg sandwiches (a real labour of love as I detest them!) She's learning a lot very quickly, especially letters and numbers, she can sing the alphabet song with a few interesting edits (T, U, B!), identify 10 or so letters and count to 13. She's more strongly than ever attached to Flat Panda and was devastated to lose one earlier in the month. As for toys, her favourites are computers and playing games - D*tty Dinosaurs, D*odlebugs, dominoes and Un* Moo. Alice adores technology, I don't know if that's nature but it's definitely nurture! Princesses are a huge part of her life - small dolls, card games, sticker books and bedding but not films. Dressing up is still a very popular activity, especially as a Princess, fairy or an animals, she's more and more into pretending - both telling me made up things or becoming other things, especially animals. Monsters are also a big part of life but not a good one - they're frightening and can be found almost anywhere, a lot of films are frightening too. For most of last year Alice had lots of favourite films to watch but at the moment she'd rather watch TV - Sh*w Me, Sh*w Me or Hi 5 in particular. She loves books and, given the chance, will select a whole pile of books if anyone offers to read to her. Her favourites are Elm*r, the Sn*il and the Wh*le and a mermaid book, she still listens to Elm*r twice every evening after I've said goodnight. In the car she really likes to listen to Be*uty and the Bea*t. She's finally beginning to sing along to songs on the CD and even unaccompanied at times (she tends to sing Twinkle or Christmas songs). This month she began dance lessons and got a special reward at school for dancing too. She is very sure of her favourite people and always delighted to hear that we will be seeing them, especially A, O, L or GFN. She likes going to soft play centres but her very favourite activities always include animals - farms, zoos and aquariums. She also loves going to the theatre and went to the cinema for the first time last month (which she enjoyed but it was a bit too loud for her.) She's a social child who knows her own mind, she's opinionated and you won't change her mind without a good reason! Her favourite foods are mashed potato, cheesy pasta, eggs (especially egg sandwiches or boiled (dippy) eggs) and chocolate in any form, she's recently discovered hot chocolate but really only likes it lukewarm! She's demonstrative and very affectionate, she's becoming more and more helpful but she's still not very good at looking for things, even when they're in plain sight (like me!) She loves water too - playing with in (or in it), baths and swimming, she gets very wet at school and regularly comes home in a different set of clothes to the ones I left her in as she gets SO wet! She continues to love life and bring such joy, we are so lucky.

January 2009 - Alice has given up milk from a bottle (she had milk every morning and most evenings). Her speech is less clear recently but she's speaking in longer phrases and repeating EVERYTHING. She's finally really interested in story books and loves repeating the key phrases - her fav books are Dirty Bertie, Owl Babies and Elmer, she still hasn't got a long enough attention span for the Gruffalo! Role playing doctors and in the kitchen are favourite activities, jigsaws are finally interesting but turn taking games are much more fun - Who Knows Whose Nose is the best yet (ELC). Princesses and dressing up are Alice's most favourite activity. She can count from 2-5 but needs prompting for 1! She can fairly consistently name blue, white and a few other colours and she know the names of most of them but can't match them all up yet. She did love sausages, but not any longer, beans are still off the menu and toast isn't popular. Alice continues to love eggs and has now learnt how to eat boiled eggs. Her most favourite foods are oranges, cheese, potatoes, ham and chocolate.

January 2008 - lots of new words, lots of new teeth and most noticeably Alice took her first independent steps.

Some things haven't changed - most noticeably her easy going, affectionate personality (though that is now matched by being 2 and wanting control!) and her love of dogs.

(This is a post that I originally posted in 2009 and I felt it was time for an update!)

SPECIAL VISITORS

Alice and L were adopted at the same time, we're very lucky to see them often enough to keep a bond between the girls. Alice adores the B/E family and always looks forward to their visits.

They last came to stay in mid October. This time it was noticeable that L had changed more than Alice - but L has had more reason for change this time. It was also noticeable that their relationship is becoming independent of their parents - they now talk to each other and play together, all is lots of fun with many giggles.

Precious times again.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

SNOW COMPARISONS - FEB 09 AND JAN 10

The first photo is Feb 09, the others are from last Friday.


Sunday, December 13, 2009

RECENT HAPPENINGS

Thursday - Nana looked after Alice for the morning while I had a haircut - unfortunately it's too short and not the most flattering, it should be better in a month or so! Other than that we had a quiet day, Alice was obviously poorly and got worse through the afternoon, eventually we went to bed, where she vomited all over the bed and both of us at about 6pm.

Friday was another quiet day for her and she was still not herself, but no vomit so there was some improvement. I popped to her school to deliver the teaching staff their pressies and collect Alice's bits and bobs - they were very kind and had been planning for one of the teachers to call in with everything - that goes to reflect how caring they are. Luckily she doesn't realise all that's she's missed - a theatre trip, Christmas party with a visit from FC, Christingle service and Santa's Grotto, and the things that she did know about she was too poorly to care about, poor baby. I'm so grateful that she was well enough for the Nativity - think I'll have to swap days next year, I don't want to leave it til the second performance just in case (strangely I thought of this whilst I was there on Tuesday, Mother's Intuition?)

Saturday - we spent at home, I was still being very careful as I didn't want a repeat of Wednesday. We trialled a Christmas recipe and later on T arrived to help me bring in the Christmas tree.

Today was panto day. We went to Bristol to see S*now W*hite. Alice complained of a tummy ache after breakfast (that's how Wednesday started) but was OK. We both thoroughly enjoyed the panto, it was good but not as glitzy as last year's. I got quite emotional at the start, as Alice snuggled in whilst straining to see it all, marvelling at the change in the time since last year's panto and at how lucky am to be with this amazing little girl. It was obvious how much more she understood and enjoyed this year, when she got home she pretended to be the 'W*icked B*itch!' (I love free!)

Tonight I put the lights on the tree whilst Alice threw the tinsel pieces all over it - it was immediately obvious that decorating the tree is a rite of being 3 (and so different to last year when she was happy to watch TV while I decorated!) Not only is decorating a rite, but there's so much opinion to WHERE the decs should go - I can see that I'll have to do some discrete moving after bedtime - as I'm THAT picky too!! When I put Alice to bed I always talk about what we did today and what is happening tomorrow, I've already prepared her that she has to wait for me to decorate the tree!

Saturday, December 05, 2009

MY PERSONAL SHOPPER

We had a lazy morning this morning - partly the after-effects of last night and partly because we could!

We went out just before lunch, my plan was to shop and the eat at the supermarket (such a glamorous life!) However as soon as we were in the car Alice started asking for lunch, so we reversed the plan, this left us short of time to do the shopping and having been in the supermarket for a while (Alice can make eating a tuna sandwich into a 3 act play) she wanted to walk around the supermarket rather than ride in the trolley, as I only wanted a few bits it was a good day to practise not being in the trolley. She did a really good job but is very irritating as she grips the side of the trolley and isn't good at cornering! When we got to the dairy aisle I bought some yoghurts and she wandered off, I want her to learn the limits so I let her go and then realised she was going towards the milk - she'd remembered that we needed it, found the right brand, size and type of milk and lugged 2 bottles back to the trolley - 4 pints each, strong as well as smart, I could get used to this personal shopper's help!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

LEARNING SO MUCH, SO QUICKLY

Alice loves her 'puter' (she has a Leap*frog Click*start that works through the television) I've just watched her use the arrow keys to navigate around a maze, something she couldn't do a month ago and just did with ease! The same system has also dramatically improved her mouse control.

(PS I'd recommend the LF CS to anyone considering it, we've had it since Alice Day on July 1st and it's one of her most played with toys! Alice is having the handheld LF Leap*ster for Christmas.)

These photos also show our favourite outfit at the moment, we both love this patchwork dress (why do I love patchwork so much?) from an auction site and her furry boots - which she wears at every opportunity!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

ALICE'S 1st, 2nd AND 3rd BIRTHDAYS




FIRST FULL DAY OF BEING 3!

Alice woke at the usual (ish) time, I sang HB and she began the day with a huge smile. Then she had a bath - it shows how much she loves the water that she still didn't want to get out after 30 minutes and the reminder that there would be presents downstairs!

I directed her towards the largest present first and she was pleased to FINALLY unwrap her baby! She wasn't overly excited about the baby but then played with her almost all morning, I fell in love with her all over again watching her play so gently and caringly with her baby. She insisted that it was called, 'Baby' but when pushed pronounced it to be, 'Baby Sister'. It's an interactive baby that talks baby talk, cries, opens and shuts it's eyes and when you give it a dummy or a bottle it makes slurping sounds while the mouth moves! After 2 minutes of 'Dadadad' Alice told it to stop and asked why it was making that sound.

I tried to get her to have breakfast after she'd opened 'Baby' and initially she agreed but then insisted on continuing the pressies until they were all opened, as it was her birthday I let her dictate the pace but I'm forewarned for Christmas! We had a relaxed morning - Alice played a lot with her new toys before wanting a cuddle in front of a princess DVD, I was only too happy to oblige! Nana arrived after lunch, Alice opened her presents and then showed her Baby and the other things from this morning while we gently got ready for a birthday tea. C and L (T's sons and Nana's grandsons) and GFN joined us for tea and more presents.

So we had a lovely day, relaxed and happy, Alice loved her presents - her favourite was eventually NOT Baby but 2 goldfish from T and the boys (a present that I've dithered over for the last year!) So we now have Gold and Silver to add to the menagerie!

Saturday, October 03, 2009

MID AUTUMN FESTIVALS

Alice told me last night that it was time for bed, as I put her to bed she told me she needed a lie-in in the morning - even without that I knew she was tired. She slept til 8:30 this morning and we then had a gentle start to the day and Alice was delighted to have a very leisurely bath! Despite our gentle start she was tearful before we even made it downstairs and grumpy for the rest of the morning.

By lunchtime I had a humdinger of a headache and so all our plans were shelved. I was intending to stew this year's apple crop (which was very poor) and then make some mini apple pies - to eat for Mid Autumn Festival, family fruit in a round shape, I thought it appropriate, but it didn't happen. Instead Alice watched a film as I sort of snoozed. She had a cupcake after supper (which we've done every year), she stayed up late to look for the moon, but it was cloudy. We read 'We See the Moon' and talked about her birth family in China and Granny and Grandpa on the stars, we sent them all kisses to the sky. Then at bedtime I sang her 'I See the Moon' and explained that I used to sing it while I was waiting for her, she listened and then told me I was silly - one day she might understand!

We don't celebrate many Chinese festivals, but this is the one that always makes me very emotional - thinking of a birth family far away, wondering if they remember their beautiful baby and wonder what happened to her, wishing they knew she was loved and happy, my treasure.

(And the photos - each MAF from 2007 onwards, huge changes every year, she surely can't go on changing this much?)

Saturday, September 26, 2009

MORE EVIDENCE!

We went to the zoo today. Almost 18 months ago we met M, C and L there.

The first photo is from our first visit - it's one of my favourites, I love seeing the girls as toddlers and the contrast between them whilst their body shaping is so similar. Remembering this photo I tried to get an equivalent photo of Alice today to act as a comparison, but she wasn't feeling too cooperative, but it's easy to see the change!

GROWING UP

This week we put aside the booster seat, several days later and Alice is coping well without it - me, less so, I'm still amazed at how fast she's growing up!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

ATTITUDE!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

YES, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG, AGAIN!

We've been busy having fun, nothing unusual but lots of smiles, giggles and cuddles - who could ask for more?!

What have we been doing? Nursery on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Mummy catches up with grown up things and non child friendly bits (with the occasional pedicure amongst the paperwork). On other days we've been swimming, playing and catching up with friends. We spent last weekend with GFW and his family before seeing some other friends - none of whom we've seen for awhile, it was good to catch up but it's a long drive!

Today Alice finished at the childcare nursery that she's attended since December. It was always the plan to finish now, this nursery was about getting used to nursery and being away from me. They were fantastic and I was very sad to say goodbye. The staff have done a fantastic job settling Alice in and distracting her as I leave in the mornings, she always had a busy day and lots of 'treasures' came home on an almost daily basis. Alice continued to object to going during almost every drive there and seemed unmoved by saying goodbye - and I'm convinced that she does understand that she's not going back there. She's looking forward to her new nursery (they had tadpoles there when we first visited and she still remembers them, I keep reminding her that they won't be there when she starts!) The new nursery will be a shorter 'day' so that might help her by not being away from Mummy for so long, it's a longer drive too so I will get significantly less time to myself (and it only operates during school terms!)

I'm continually blown away with how much Alice is changing and maturing, the toddler's all gone and she's all little girl with big attitude! The room manager even said today how much Alice has changed in just the last few weeks.

As for sleep - the single bed in my room is now called 'Special Bed' and is the second choice bed every evening, Alice would prefer 'Mummy's Bed' but she knows that that's not allowed so Special Bed is a good alternative. We're both sleeping better and Alice is calmer, it's a good solution for now. Long term I'm hoping that she'll go back to her bedroom but with the change of nurseries coming up I'm not looking for that yet.

I woke up this morning to hear, 'I love you lots Mummy!' Priceless.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

SLEEP - A PLAN EVOLVING

Last night I barely slept at all, something had to change.

Tonight we're trying a new approach - Alice is on a trundle bed at the foot of my bed. She was quite happy to help make the bed and fetch her sleeping accessories, quite happy to role play sleeping on it but when it came to really sleeping on it, hysterics, again. An hour after bedtime she was still sobbing and sweaty, not happy, but I'm getting desperate and the previous solution (her in my bed from bedtime) was only working for her. Luckily my Dad rang and distracted me just after I'd tried to leave her for the second time and by the time we'd finished our chat Alice had settled - hurrah!

Even if it doesn't last all night, hurrah! I'm desperate to snooze.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

WHEN DID SHE GET TO BE SOOOO GROWN UP? AGAIN!

This is a beautiful hand-me-down skirt from GDP! It's from B*den and I think it's lovely and that Alice looks great it in, but so grown up. I keep having to remind people that she's still only 2! Seeing her walking along at the station yesterday morning she could easily have been mistaken for a 4 or 5 year old.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

SPLISH SPLASH

Alice was finally able to go swimming again today. We went to my club. It was nearly 2 weeks since her swimming success at another pool, I was worried that she wouldn't like it in the club's pool but she took to it straight away. She swam in armbands and did many lengths (25m each) virtually unhelped by me, huge result!!

I was so proud of her, she was proud too, it was a super swimming session.

We stayed for lunch, Alice demolished half a baked potato and even ate the skin.

(I'm slow posting - it's now Sunday and we went swimming this afternoon at Alice's request. She swam many more lengths, some without stopping, today we varied her swimming aid - she did most lengths with arm bands but some without and used the woggle instead, she even used a kick-board for one length but she didn't like it!)

Monday, July 06, 2009

WHAT A SPLASH!

For the past couple of weeks we've been swimming on a Saturday morning. We go to my club and then stay for lunch.

We used to baby swimming but stopped in January when the class we attended was cancelled. Since then we haven't been swimming until recently. Alice hasn't been keen to swim.

On Saturday we went swimming at my club, every time we got to the end where we get in / out Alice would say something indicating she wanted to get out. Eventually I got her calm enough to try floating on her back, kicking on her front, riding on my back while I swam etc and she had some fun.

But TODAY we went to a different pool, where they have a shallow children's pool. Alice ADORED it and was soon bouncing in the water, doggy paddling and swimming with arm bands not bothered where I was (a huge change from her limpet-like behaviour in the other pool)! She didn't want to get out of the pool and has repeatedly asked to go swimming ever since!!

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

MORE GROWING UP, AGAIN!

My big girl is now using the Big Girl's Swing and (like life) she loves it!