Current favourites foods:
- gherkins
- polenta
- plain yoghurt
- butter (licked off bread or rice cake)
- cream cheese (licked off bread or rice cake)
- rice
- soup
- plums
- apple (preferable whole and skinned)
- blitva (a bit like spinach)
My child definitely has Croat in him!
the random ponderings of an ordinary person
Thursday 31 July 2014
Wednesday 30 July 2014
In the absence of sunshine...
...we went for a lovely walk exploring some winding roads I have never before explored...
...we had a lovely swim in the pool without worrying about sunburn or heatstroke...
...we will sleep and have slept well in the cooler temperatures...
and
...I shall now eat pancakes.
...we had a lovely swim in the pool without worrying about sunburn or heatstroke...
...we will sleep and have slept well in the cooler temperatures...
and
...I shall now eat pancakes.
Tuesday 29 July 2014
Today's joy
Had the most awful night, but as it was thundering and raining this morning, we stayed in our PJs. Just woken from a most delicious and unexpected hour-long nap and the boy is still sleeping. Feeling divinely rested. :-) Time for tea and book while I sit next to the heavy breather and the thunder continues to rumble outside. I feel more myself than I have in ages!
Sunday 27 July 2014
10 months and 1 day
He can now open doors.
He's been learning the open-shut concept a while, but today he opened the garden gate by standing on his tip-toes and pulling down the handle. I praised him and told him he was a clever boy, but gently told him that he needed to be careful, because he cannot yet stand and the door opens inwards, which means he falls on his bum once the gate is open and swings towards him.
Every day, something new.
He's also taken to napping only once a day, for an hour or less, which is rather tiring, but does mean he falls asleep very quickly in the evening. More time for me in the evening, but a more tired me in the evening...and a very tired little boy!
The world is so exciting. Tomorrow is for sleep.
He's been learning the open-shut concept a while, but today he opened the garden gate by standing on his tip-toes and pulling down the handle. I praised him and told him he was a clever boy, but gently told him that he needed to be careful, because he cannot yet stand and the door opens inwards, which means he falls on his bum once the gate is open and swings towards him.
Every day, something new.
He's also taken to napping only once a day, for an hour or less, which is rather tiring, but does mean he falls asleep very quickly in the evening. More time for me in the evening, but a more tired me in the evening...and a very tired little boy!
The world is so exciting. Tomorrow is for sleep.
Ready for bed and it's still morning
Or...
...advantages of waking at 6.20am (after a night of cracking thunder and gentle rain) is that we have been for a lovely long walk up to Sveta Ana and back ('we' being me walking and Solly chilling in the sling, obviously) appreciating the beautiful view across Rovenska where the sea glistened silver behind the church and the sky swirled with grey, silver, blue and white. We have played in the garden, we have put on a nappy wash, we have cleaned the whole flat and changed the bed, we have played with ladles and bells, we have managed to fit in two poos and cleaned out our little belly, we have spoken with 'daddy', we have responded to all emails and messages...and 'we' are now napping and it's only 11.30am. Please make your own assumptions as to what each 'we' means!!
Time for a cup of tea, a nap or a read of a chapter of my book...perhaps all three if I'm very lucky.
...advantages of waking at 6.20am (after a night of cracking thunder and gentle rain) is that we have been for a lovely long walk up to Sveta Ana and back ('we' being me walking and Solly chilling in the sling, obviously) appreciating the beautiful view across Rovenska where the sea glistened silver behind the church and the sky swirled with grey, silver, blue and white. We have played in the garden, we have put on a nappy wash, we have cleaned the whole flat and changed the bed, we have played with ladles and bells, we have managed to fit in two poos and cleaned out our little belly, we have spoken with 'daddy', we have responded to all emails and messages...and 'we' are now napping and it's only 11.30am. Please make your own assumptions as to what each 'we' means!!
Time for a cup of tea, a nap or a read of a chapter of my book...perhaps all three if I'm very lucky.
Saturday 26 July 2014
And another morning in Croatia
Toward the main harbour, just visible; and on the way home - squeezing just between the church and the yellow house.
Another beach morning
The other day.
Rovenska, again, on the way to Rovenska beach, and beyond Rovenska, towards Javorna
Rovenska, again, on the way to Rovenska beach, and beyond Rovenska, towards Javorna
Friday 25 July 2014
End of the food strike
So he's not been eating. Nothing at all for days, except maybe the odd (Organix) carrot stick (like a non-cheesy healthy carrot wotsit) and the yoghurt of yester-evening.
Today he did the mother of all poos this morning, followed, throughout the day, by another three. He has also been dribbling snot everywhere. And clingy, cuddling and wanting to be held (and wiping his snot on me) all day.
Breakfast was breastmilk and butter (licked off his toast).
His lunch was breastmilk and licking the olive oil and dried rosemary off a very long handled wooden spoon (used to cook mushrooms and courgettes), then playing with it and waving it precariously close to Bakica's face. She was alarmed.
He seemed to cheer up a little when I placed him in front of a dried apricot. This evening - information which I am sure is dull for most, but exciting for me - he ate more yoghurt (almost three tablespoons full), dried apricot, courgette, tomato, pineapple and apple. He was happy. I was very happy. My boy is back to normal, for at least one meal.
He ate, he played peekaboo behind his favourite green cowboy cushion, he wriggled, he smiled, he happily had his bath and stood up to climb out once he'd had enough, wasn't too irate with the nappy putting on (though tried to take off his short sleeved vest - essential to prevent removal of velco-tabbed nappy), he chose his three books of the evening and practiced turning pages one by one (without my assistance and brrrm brrrmed me if I attempted to assist), happily let me turn out the light (night night to the tractor book, the lion book and the weather book), fed and fell asleep. It's been a wonderfully easy evening.
I hope it predicts the night.
My only sadness is that our new friends are leaving on Sunday and so tomorrow is our last day of fun and playtime with them - hopefully it won't thunder ALL day (the current forecast for tomorrow).
Now it is time for me to drink my tea and go to bed...
Today he did the mother of all poos this morning, followed, throughout the day, by another three. He has also been dribbling snot everywhere. And clingy, cuddling and wanting to be held (and wiping his snot on me) all day.
Breakfast was breastmilk and butter (licked off his toast).
His lunch was breastmilk and licking the olive oil and dried rosemary off a very long handled wooden spoon (used to cook mushrooms and courgettes), then playing with it and waving it precariously close to Bakica's face. She was alarmed.
He seemed to cheer up a little when I placed him in front of a dried apricot. This evening - information which I am sure is dull for most, but exciting for me - he ate more yoghurt (almost three tablespoons full), dried apricot, courgette, tomato, pineapple and apple. He was happy. I was very happy. My boy is back to normal, for at least one meal.
He ate, he played peekaboo behind his favourite green cowboy cushion, he wriggled, he smiled, he happily had his bath and stood up to climb out once he'd had enough, wasn't too irate with the nappy putting on (though tried to take off his short sleeved vest - essential to prevent removal of velco-tabbed nappy), he chose his three books of the evening and practiced turning pages one by one (without my assistance and brrrm brrrmed me if I attempted to assist), happily let me turn out the light (night night to the tractor book, the lion book and the weather book), fed and fell asleep. It's been a wonderfully easy evening.
I hope it predicts the night.
My only sadness is that our new friends are leaving on Sunday and so tomorrow is our last day of fun and playtime with them - hopefully it won't thunder ALL day (the current forecast for tomorrow).
Now it is time for me to drink my tea and go to bed...
Disconnected
I've been prompted to write by an article I just read called I miss the village.
At university I lived in shared houses - first a flat in halls, with seven other girls, with boys in the flats above and below, and we wandered into each others' homes and rooms as if they were our homes too.
In my 10 years in London, I chose to live in house share. Sometimes with one other, the most with five others, and all of these homes I loved. There were challenges as we disagreed on rules, none of the rules discussed in advance, and it worked best in those homes where things could be talked about and agreed and changed...it worked best where we had a cleaner, especially in those homes where disagreements couldn't be discussed (because the English love to avoid conflict). Despite the challenges and arguments, it never occurred to me to live alone. I don't remember ever being alone as a child, except when I was unhappy. All my happy memories are full of other people, often too many in a small space. My energy comes through being with others, though, of course, as is normal, I sometimes crave my own space and need some time out, alone, to just breathe...
.
.
.
But, I find I breathe best and most deeply and most clearly with the support of friends, with love in the room next to mine, with a cup of tea waiting for me on the table that I did not have to make myself, where I can do all the cleaning and cooking and tidying when I have the energy and you do not...where someone else can give me a hug and tell me to lie down and sleep when I'm not able to make this judgement for myself.
I work best in a community. I am happiest in company. I enjoy the flow of group energy, where everyone pitches in and deals with what needs to be dealt with, working as one, like the all the toes on a foot, taking the weight when it's turn comes.
I long to live with other families, not alone, though I do adore my own small family too. It's not a sign of not appreciating what I have and not wanting what I have. It's a sign of knowing I'd be happier with something slightly different.
I hope, maybe, one day, we will live in a co-housing space...or maybe, even better, one day, we can find land and build homes with those we love...but we shall see...time will tell.
At university I lived in shared houses - first a flat in halls, with seven other girls, with boys in the flats above and below, and we wandered into each others' homes and rooms as if they were our homes too.
In my 10 years in London, I chose to live in house share. Sometimes with one other, the most with five others, and all of these homes I loved. There were challenges as we disagreed on rules, none of the rules discussed in advance, and it worked best in those homes where things could be talked about and agreed and changed...it worked best where we had a cleaner, especially in those homes where disagreements couldn't be discussed (because the English love to avoid conflict). Despite the challenges and arguments, it never occurred to me to live alone. I don't remember ever being alone as a child, except when I was unhappy. All my happy memories are full of other people, often too many in a small space. My energy comes through being with others, though, of course, as is normal, I sometimes crave my own space and need some time out, alone, to just breathe...
.
.
.
But, I find I breathe best and most deeply and most clearly with the support of friends, with love in the room next to mine, with a cup of tea waiting for me on the table that I did not have to make myself, where I can do all the cleaning and cooking and tidying when I have the energy and you do not...where someone else can give me a hug and tell me to lie down and sleep when I'm not able to make this judgement for myself.
I work best in a community. I am happiest in company. I enjoy the flow of group energy, where everyone pitches in and deals with what needs to be dealt with, working as one, like the all the toes on a foot, taking the weight when it's turn comes.
I long to live with other families, not alone, though I do adore my own small family too. It's not a sign of not appreciating what I have and not wanting what I have. It's a sign of knowing I'd be happier with something slightly different.
I hope, maybe, one day, we will live in a co-housing space...or maybe, even better, one day, we can find land and build homes with those we love...but we shall see...time will tell.
Thursday 24 July 2014
My well of peace
Let's start with the lows (always good to end on a positive note):
- Boy fed lots overnight and left me feeling rather weary
- Boy was restless all night, crawled over to me and slept on me quite a lot, preventing a toilet pit-stop for about an hour
- Woke very early (boy woke me up)
- Had only five minutes nap time today (for me)
- Both the boy's naps were in the sling
- We only managed one swim - boy too tired and cranky to go to second swim
- Boy wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch
- Boy took ages to fall asleep and fell asleep finally on my shoulder, and I had to attempt extrication twice before I could leave
Highs of the day:
- Boy's excessive feeding will either (a) allow me to eat more chocolate and spek or (b) trim my thighs and tummy or (c) both 'a' and 'b', if I'm lucky
- Prevention of wee pit-stop will strengthen my pelvic floor muscles
- Boy woke me smiling, as he always does
- Five minutes nap left me feeling more able to cope with the day
- It was lovely to have my boy snuggled against me for his first nap and it gave me time to sort through my photos on my camera, and for his second nap I was able to decant him and have lunch very peacefully with my mama
- My lovely new friend looked after the boy so I could have a delicious cool swim in the calm waters
- The boy's new friend came with his mama to play in the garden and both (slightly cranky) babies were happier
- Boy ate an enormous amount of yoghurt for his dinner, plus one 'Organix' carrot stick - and his lack of food for the first two meals meant that he breastfed more (with the same result as my first positive point)
- Now that I no longer try to get my boy to sleep and just enjoy his snuggling and pre-sleep staggering, I love the going to bed process - it is such a short period of his life and I have nothing better to do with my evenings right now! And, during his snuggling and falling asleep on my shoulder, I was able to do some of my core exercises to strengthen my tummy, which will help prevent back pain.
I have just enjoyed a lovely shower and hair wash, eaten the second half of my dinner in peace (albeit in darkness) and have had time to write this.
By writing about the same things in both lists, my point (made in a possibly slightly monotonous manner), is that everything can be seen as good or bad. Going back to my post of a previous day, if I cannot find peace in my own life, how can I expect our world leaders to find peace on a larger scale, without being hugely hypocritical?
Today I have found a lovely deep well of peace.
- Boy fed lots overnight and left me feeling rather weary
- Boy was restless all night, crawled over to me and slept on me quite a lot, preventing a toilet pit-stop for about an hour
- Woke very early (boy woke me up)
- Had only five minutes nap time today (for me)
- Both the boy's naps were in the sling
- We only managed one swim - boy too tired and cranky to go to second swim
- Boy wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch
- Boy took ages to fall asleep and fell asleep finally on my shoulder, and I had to attempt extrication twice before I could leave
Highs of the day:
- Boy's excessive feeding will either (a) allow me to eat more chocolate and spek or (b) trim my thighs and tummy or (c) both 'a' and 'b', if I'm lucky
- Prevention of wee pit-stop will strengthen my pelvic floor muscles
- Boy woke me smiling, as he always does
- Five minutes nap left me feeling more able to cope with the day
- It was lovely to have my boy snuggled against me for his first nap and it gave me time to sort through my photos on my camera, and for his second nap I was able to decant him and have lunch very peacefully with my mama
- My lovely new friend looked after the boy so I could have a delicious cool swim in the calm waters
- The boy's new friend came with his mama to play in the garden and both (slightly cranky) babies were happier
- Boy ate an enormous amount of yoghurt for his dinner, plus one 'Organix' carrot stick - and his lack of food for the first two meals meant that he breastfed more (with the same result as my first positive point)
- Now that I no longer try to get my boy to sleep and just enjoy his snuggling and pre-sleep staggering, I love the going to bed process - it is such a short period of his life and I have nothing better to do with my evenings right now! And, during his snuggling and falling asleep on my shoulder, I was able to do some of my core exercises to strengthen my tummy, which will help prevent back pain.
I have just enjoyed a lovely shower and hair wash, eaten the second half of my dinner in peace (albeit in darkness) and have had time to write this.
By writing about the same things in both lists, my point (made in a possibly slightly monotonous manner), is that everything can be seen as good or bad. Going back to my post of a previous day, if I cannot find peace in my own life, how can I expect our world leaders to find peace on a larger scale, without being hugely hypocritical?
Today I have found a lovely deep well of peace.
Wednesday 23 July 2014
Contemplations on war
I realise that it scares me to have my child growing up in a world where adults cannot resolve conflict without using deeply aggressive and hate-filled behaviour - or where adults cannot live in peace. I am not taking sides, but there has to be a better way for both sides.
Makes me really focus on my own behaviour too...obviously on a much smaller scale than the Israeli/Palestinian conflict...but if we cannot resolve our own conflicts, how can we expect our leaders to resolve conflict on a larger scale?
Prompted by these two articles/pages:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarren/jewish-and-arab-people-are-posing-together-in-inspiring-phot
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/18/father-children-gaza-bloodshed-palestinians-israelis
Makes me really focus on my own behaviour too...obviously on a much smaller scale than the Israeli/Palestinian conflict...but if we cannot resolve our own conflicts, how can we expect our leaders to resolve conflict on a larger scale?
Prompted by these two articles/pages:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarren/jewish-and-arab-people-are-posing-together-in-inspiring-phot
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/18/father-children-gaza-bloodshed-palestinians-israelis
Business daydreams
Not much to report - the little man is napping.
At Rovenska, the air was breezy and the skies cloudy, but lovely. The water was cold and choppy and not to the little man's taste. He was distinctly unimpressed with me for dipping his toes in, so I extracted him and got him fully dressed - shorts and t-shirt, just nappies will not do today! He fed...almost fell asleep, then heard something and opened his eyes, sat up and started grinning and chomping at the bit - and with this metaphor I am not talking about me as the bit - no he was tugging on my arms trying to crawl off across the beach to his new little girl friend, who is just two weeks older than he is.
Unfortunately this meant no swimming for me today, as he was in desperate need of sleep, so we packed up and he happily fell asleep on the way home and is now snoozing in his buggy in the living room, his watering can tucked nicely under his chin.
Some of his nappies are dry and in the bedroom ready for use. The others I have strategically arranged around the garden to maximise sun-time.
I've been thinking about the businesses here. The bar/cafe at Rovenska repeatedly fails. It is open, it fails and closes down, and then someone else opens it. Every single time they make people pay for the use of toilets (which remain closed), sun loungers (which cover most of the beach, empty) and sunshades (which stand, closed, in a corner). It doesn't make sense. There are no improvements or renovations to the bar. I can picture it in my head, renovated, with sofas, wicker floors, floor standing lamps for the evening and mosquito netting windows with shutters. Some people sitting alone, reading a book, with tea or coffee, or, even, a beer. Families lunching. Couples enjoying a sunset cocktail. I can see rag rugs covering the floors. I can imagine free sun loungers and sunshades, and a person (probably an attractive woman or muscular man) wandering around offering cocktails (alcoholic and fruit juice), water and snacks and I can imagine this offering a much more pleasant environment. It's the same up at Punta, near the paddling pools. There is no shade for the children over the shallow baby pools or next to the pools. There are no bars to buy snacks and light lunches. Both places are perfect for small children, and both places I could imagine spending the day if they were more suitably equipped and kitted out. With good marketing, they could make more money, but all this requires investment. It's a shame. They both could be lovely (as opposed to 'acceptable') and more people would come...and more people would stay...and people would spend more.
Anyway, the chicken soup is cooking its dumplings (courtesy of Bakica) and the sky is clouding over again. Time for me to stop indulging myself with my laptop and indulging myself with day dreams.
At Rovenska, the air was breezy and the skies cloudy, but lovely. The water was cold and choppy and not to the little man's taste. He was distinctly unimpressed with me for dipping his toes in, so I extracted him and got him fully dressed - shorts and t-shirt, just nappies will not do today! He fed...almost fell asleep, then heard something and opened his eyes, sat up and started grinning and chomping at the bit - and with this metaphor I am not talking about me as the bit - no he was tugging on my arms trying to crawl off across the beach to his new little girl friend, who is just two weeks older than he is.
Unfortunately this meant no swimming for me today, as he was in desperate need of sleep, so we packed up and he happily fell asleep on the way home and is now snoozing in his buggy in the living room, his watering can tucked nicely under his chin.
Some of his nappies are dry and in the bedroom ready for use. The others I have strategically arranged around the garden to maximise sun-time.
I've been thinking about the businesses here. The bar/cafe at Rovenska repeatedly fails. It is open, it fails and closes down, and then someone else opens it. Every single time they make people pay for the use of toilets (which remain closed), sun loungers (which cover most of the beach, empty) and sunshades (which stand, closed, in a corner). It doesn't make sense. There are no improvements or renovations to the bar. I can picture it in my head, renovated, with sofas, wicker floors, floor standing lamps for the evening and mosquito netting windows with shutters. Some people sitting alone, reading a book, with tea or coffee, or, even, a beer. Families lunching. Couples enjoying a sunset cocktail. I can see rag rugs covering the floors. I can imagine free sun loungers and sunshades, and a person (probably an attractive woman or muscular man) wandering around offering cocktails (alcoholic and fruit juice), water and snacks and I can imagine this offering a much more pleasant environment. It's the same up at Punta, near the paddling pools. There is no shade for the children over the shallow baby pools or next to the pools. There are no bars to buy snacks and light lunches. Both places are perfect for small children, and both places I could imagine spending the day if they were more suitably equipped and kitted out. With good marketing, they could make more money, but all this requires investment. It's a shame. They both could be lovely (as opposed to 'acceptable') and more people would come...and more people would stay...and people would spend more.
Anyway, the chicken soup is cooking its dumplings (courtesy of Bakica) and the sky is clouding over again. Time for me to stop indulging myself with my laptop and indulging myself with day dreams.
Tuesday 22 July 2014
Update on sleepy time (mark 2)
So, the boy is struggling to nap in the daytime again - unfortunately things like his Bakica sweeping, or the sound of rain outside or the rustling of plastic bags, or anything vaguely exciting, stops him falling asleep. So I resorted to the sling again. And now he's napping very happily.
His overnight sleep the last three nights has been amazing however. He's been going to bed around 8pm (7pm home time) and waking between 7am and 8am (6am and 7am home time). This means he's finally getting a good long nighttime sleep stretch. He's waking up an awful lot to feed and also to do his staggering around the cot, though usually he just wakes to wriggle his little body closer to me and to flop onto my belly, shoulder or chest so he can continue his sleep closer to me.
His nighttime antics are melting my heart at the moment and I feel so acutely aware that they will be short-lived and on a very nearby day, not far into the future, he will no longer need me on a daily basis to snuggle to, or to help him sleep or cuddle while he dreams. So I shall enjoy them for what they are - a very sweet, loving and temporary nighttime phase.
His overnight sleep the last three nights has been amazing however. He's been going to bed around 8pm (7pm home time) and waking between 7am and 8am (6am and 7am home time). This means he's finally getting a good long nighttime sleep stretch. He's waking up an awful lot to feed and also to do his staggering around the cot, though usually he just wakes to wriggle his little body closer to me and to flop onto my belly, shoulder or chest so he can continue his sleep closer to me.
His nighttime antics are melting my heart at the moment and I feel so acutely aware that they will be short-lived and on a very nearby day, not far into the future, he will no longer need me on a daily basis to snuggle to, or to help him sleep or cuddle while he dreams. So I shall enjoy them for what they are - a very sweet, loving and temporary nighttime phase.
Monday 21 July 2014
5 down, 15 to go
Fifth tooth has made an appearance and his sleep and nap times are finally beginning to settle a little. Hurrah.
Sleepathon
Wow - he woke at 7.40am! I think the darkness and sound of thunder and rain kept him sleeping, but I was able to do my exercises even after a long snooze. How delicious!
Sunday 20 July 2014
Update to sleepy time
We woke at 7am!!! Woweeee, hurrah, hooray!
Admittedly, he woke first at 5am but I was too shattered to contemplate moving, so I pretended to be asleep and he did his standing/staggering/crawling routine, until he finally fell asleep again on my neck. Not especially comfortable, but I managed to sleep a little, before rolling him off my throat and dead left arm.
Success...and a sleeping baby until 7am. :-)
Admittedly, he woke first at 5am but I was too shattered to contemplate moving, so I pretended to be asleep and he did his standing/staggering/crawling routine, until he finally fell asleep again on my neck. Not especially comfortable, but I managed to sleep a little, before rolling him off my throat and dead left arm.
Success...and a sleeping baby until 7am. :-)
Saturday 19 July 2014
Sleepy time
Last few nights the boy has taken to standing up and charging around the bed after his bedtime feed - rather than sleepily dozing in my lap and allowing me to transfer him to the bed, where he curls over onto his left, then onto his tummy, rubs his nose in the sheet, rubs his feet in the sheet, cuddles his bunny and falls properly asleep.
The main problem with this charging around has been that he's been trying to get his little fingers into an un-earthed socket, so I've been having to pick him up and lay him down - or trying to put him to play in his cot (which he totally disowns as his, preferring my bed). This has caused crying, screaming, stropping and general signs of displeasure.
Today I finally got round to putting sticky tape over the sockets and rearranging the bedroom so that the bed area is safe (apart from some sharp rusty nails sticking out of the headboard, which conveniently broke yesterday, but that's a job for another day and the nails are currently covered with my pillow, which for some (happy) reason is unappealing game for the boy).
Anyway, when he did his usual standing up and crawling around routine this evening, although it lasted a long time, I remained peaceful and pretended to be asleep. He smacked my cheeks and my tummy and my bum in the hope of 'rousing' me, but to no avail, though I was able to cuddle him and gently stroke him in my 'sleep', and slowly slowly he started making his pre-sleep grunting sound and his movements became slower and slower until finally he flopped on his belly next to my left shin. I chucked over his bunny and, cuddling my foot, he fell asleep chewing his bunny's face off. I successfully moved him up near where my head shall be when I go to bed (which is in about six minutes), so that I don't inadvertently kick him in the head while we sleep.
Well done my little one for falling asleep on your own! There is hope then, without ever having to resort to sleep training or any other system that I don't believe in. My little one will learn when he is ready.
And hopefully we'll sleep more peacefully tonight than last night and the bed will be sufficient for him (rather than on my tummy or chest or in my armpit).
Night night all from a happy ninki-mama.
The main problem with this charging around has been that he's been trying to get his little fingers into an un-earthed socket, so I've been having to pick him up and lay him down - or trying to put him to play in his cot (which he totally disowns as his, preferring my bed). This has caused crying, screaming, stropping and general signs of displeasure.
Today I finally got round to putting sticky tape over the sockets and rearranging the bedroom so that the bed area is safe (apart from some sharp rusty nails sticking out of the headboard, which conveniently broke yesterday, but that's a job for another day and the nails are currently covered with my pillow, which for some (happy) reason is unappealing game for the boy).
Anyway, when he did his usual standing up and crawling around routine this evening, although it lasted a long time, I remained peaceful and pretended to be asleep. He smacked my cheeks and my tummy and my bum in the hope of 'rousing' me, but to no avail, though I was able to cuddle him and gently stroke him in my 'sleep', and slowly slowly he started making his pre-sleep grunting sound and his movements became slower and slower until finally he flopped on his belly next to my left shin. I chucked over his bunny and, cuddling my foot, he fell asleep chewing his bunny's face off. I successfully moved him up near where my head shall be when I go to bed (which is in about six minutes), so that I don't inadvertently kick him in the head while we sleep.
Well done my little one for falling asleep on your own! There is hope then, without ever having to resort to sleep training or any other system that I don't believe in. My little one will learn when he is ready.
And hopefully we'll sleep more peacefully tonight than last night and the bed will be sufficient for him (rather than on my tummy or chest or in my armpit).
Night night all from a happy ninki-mama.
Friday 18 July 2014
Clap clap clap!
He's started clapping! Yesterday was his first clap, that I saw anyway.
I said "clap clap" and clapped with him and he grinned excitedly and clapped again. He loves the clapping.
I said "clap clap" and clapped with him and he grinned excitedly and clapped again. He loves the clapping.
Wednesday 16 July 2014
Recognition of self
Little one is starting to become aware of himself.
A few days ago he was playing with his shadow hand in the rays of sunlight coming through the window and has been curious about shadows for a while - to which I have been offering the explanation of sunshine being light and not being able to get through our bodies properly, so we cast darkness in front of us (or behind us).
Yesterday he showed the first real sign of recognition in a mirror. I'm sure he's been slowly understanding when I explain that it is mama and S in the mirror...or daddy and S...etc, but yesterday I put a little yellow sand sifter on his head and he couldn't find it, so I held up a mirror in front of him and he raised his hand to his head to feel for it. I was delighted. Such small things delight me about my child.
Perhaps this is why he is so clingy at the moment and upped his feeds so much - the heat, the unfamiliarity, but also this huge period of developmental leaps and greater separation of self from his mama.
A few days ago he was playing with his shadow hand in the rays of sunlight coming through the window and has been curious about shadows for a while - to which I have been offering the explanation of sunshine being light and not being able to get through our bodies properly, so we cast darkness in front of us (or behind us).
Yesterday he showed the first real sign of recognition in a mirror. I'm sure he's been slowly understanding when I explain that it is mama and S in the mirror...or daddy and S...etc, but yesterday I put a little yellow sand sifter on his head and he couldn't find it, so I held up a mirror in front of him and he raised his hand to his head to feel for it. I was delighted. Such small things delight me about my child.
Perhaps this is why he is so clingy at the moment and upped his feeds so much - the heat, the unfamiliarity, but also this huge period of developmental leaps and greater separation of self from his mama.
Tuesday 15 July 2014
Learning
Well I've been barely sleeping, because my child has been sleeping barely at all in the day and only just longer than I'd like to sleep at night, but with up to six feeds over night.
He's so interested in things and curious about everything. Last couple of days he's learned to climb up and down single steps, turn pages of his books, turn lights on and off, open doors (desperately trying to reach door handles if they close properly), chase ants, use his fork (to eat overly slippery mushrooms that his little fingers couldn't hold onto) and roll an orange around the floor. He is constantly investigating and repeating his experiments to try and understand how the world around him works.
I am proud of his efforts and his interactions with his world - both with inanimate objects and with people - but it is utterly exhausting.
This morning (while his Bakica has taken him on his second walk of the day in the hope he naps), I have put together a schedule and routine to try and work from. We're also going to try a playgroup with the nuns, three times a week, I think, so that he can have more company...my little extrovert's needs will be better met.
It's lovely to have time to type, I realise, the feelings of fingers tapping on keys. It's relaxing and therapeutic...also to have my thoughts spill out of my head and onto the screen, leaving my mind emptier and more relaxed. I listen to other people's mornings begin - sound of cutlery on crockery, sound of frying something, maybe polenta. I hear the blackbird singing on top of the fir...I hear the sound of the cicadas croaking up and all around me, as if the air is made of the stuff of their calls...I hear Croatian voices chatting, muffled...I hear distant sounds of motorbikes, dogs barking, children playing. The sounds are peaceful and they are starting to infuse my brain. I need more time to write.
Time to sign off. My little investigator has returned from his walk - wide awake now, having napped his usual 30 minutes.
He's so interested in things and curious about everything. Last couple of days he's learned to climb up and down single steps, turn pages of his books, turn lights on and off, open doors (desperately trying to reach door handles if they close properly), chase ants, use his fork (to eat overly slippery mushrooms that his little fingers couldn't hold onto) and roll an orange around the floor. He is constantly investigating and repeating his experiments to try and understand how the world around him works.
I am proud of his efforts and his interactions with his world - both with inanimate objects and with people - but it is utterly exhausting.
This morning (while his Bakica has taken him on his second walk of the day in the hope he naps), I have put together a schedule and routine to try and work from. We're also going to try a playgroup with the nuns, three times a week, I think, so that he can have more company...my little extrovert's needs will be better met.
It's lovely to have time to type, I realise, the feelings of fingers tapping on keys. It's relaxing and therapeutic...also to have my thoughts spill out of my head and onto the screen, leaving my mind emptier and more relaxed. I listen to other people's mornings begin - sound of cutlery on crockery, sound of frying something, maybe polenta. I hear the blackbird singing on top of the fir...I hear the sound of the cicadas croaking up and all around me, as if the air is made of the stuff of their calls...I hear Croatian voices chatting, muffled...I hear distant sounds of motorbikes, dogs barking, children playing. The sounds are peaceful and they are starting to infuse my brain. I need more time to write.
Time to sign off. My little investigator has returned from his walk - wide awake now, having napped his usual 30 minutes.
Saturday 12 July 2014
Life is precious
He's discovered ants. He's been chasing them around the garden, poking them, trying to catch them (thankfully not dextrous enough yet) and occasionally maiming them. I've been trying to explain how to be gentle with them and not poke them too hard, but I'm not convinced it's being understood.
He also walked today, zimmer-frame style, using a chair to push along in front of him, twice. Though not to be repeated for video - he chose to eat the chair instead then. Not sure he knew what he was doing (the walking bit, not the eating bit), but his little legs are sturdier every day. Soon...
It's been a wonderful day of discoveries for him and he has napped well and fallen asleep well this evening too. Fingers crossed for peaceful sleep.
Thunder forecast for tomorrow, so we shall see what the day brings.
He also walked today, zimmer-frame style, using a chair to push along in front of him, twice. Though not to be repeated for video - he chose to eat the chair instead then. Not sure he knew what he was doing (the walking bit, not the eating bit), but his little legs are sturdier every day. Soon...
It's been a wonderful day of discoveries for him and he has napped well and fallen asleep well this evening too. Fingers crossed for peaceful sleep.
Thunder forecast for tomorrow, so we shall see what the day brings.
Discoveries
Yesterday we discovered the sea and had great delight dipping in our toes.
Today we have discovered dust floating in sunshine, cobwebs under the kitchen table and the shadows of our hands.
He also had great joy speaking to his daddy via video chat.
A very happy little baby this morning.
And it's only 8am!
Today we have discovered dust floating in sunshine, cobwebs under the kitchen table and the shadows of our hands.
He also had great joy speaking to his daddy via video chat.
A very happy little baby this morning.
And it's only 8am!
Tuesday 1 July 2014
Sushi - first attempt
Tidy ones are mine. Chicken, avocado, shiitake mushroom and chives. Untidy ones are the man's! Egg, chives and cucumber. Yum.
