We are both frustrated...

Mabel and I that is. G Kisby probably is in his own way but let's not go into that here!

So I am finding that parenting a two year old is a little trixy. It really makes me smile that every time I reach a new stage I realise that the earlier one wasn't as hard as I thought. I remember saying,

"It will be much easier once she can talk and say what she needs" referring to Mabel when about a year old. Hmm not so much I realise now as she incessantly shouts, "Mummy come here" from the other room with no apparent regard for my answer if it doesn't meet her demand.

Or,

"If she could just move I think she would be happier" when about 6 months. Seriously? When Wilf shows signs of pulling up his little porky legs when on his tummy, even at 4 months, I am one step away from just pushing them gently back down. "No need for that baby, you stay put".

Makes me slightly nervous about what is ahead. At what point doesn't it keep getting harder???

Anyway, our little girl is full of toddler frustration. And I really do appreciate that is must be hard to be that age (said whilst trying really hard not to add a big fat BUT at the end).
She wants her independence but can't have as much as she would like. She wants to put her own shoes on but can't work out why she hasn't managed it (wrong feet normally). She doesn't understand why we have to do lots of planning around her little brother's routines. 

And I find that I too become frustrated and that we come to loggerheads over things. Like the fact that yesterday we spend hours exploring the forest (also known as our overgrown garden that you can no longer access), making a puppet show (more about me that one but did involve some good drawing) and reading stories. I then tried to get myself a cup of tea and sit down for a minute only to be greeted with tantrums and general bad behaviour.

I complained to G Kisby,
"She needs to be able to entertain herself better. It just isn't on"
He concurred but rightly questioned,
"What are you expecting our over indulged toddler to say? "You know what you have excelled on the activity front this morning and I have had lots of attention, why don't you take five minutes and I will play nicely here""
And I know that he is right (grrr).

Sometimes I just can't avoid the tantrum, there is nothing I can do and they go on for ages man. At other times, if I could keep up my energy to negotiate / divert / distract, I probably could. Sometimes I wish I could explain more, help her to understand, think through, have more patience. Other times I know she is too young for any of that and just needs to be told. 

It is such a strange age since on the one hand she is very funny ("Oh goodness me, not more paint" - said to a stranger in B&Q yesterday alongside adorable manners when chatting to the lady at the till) but on the other exasperating, "I want to get out" screamed as we made a sharp exit from the store when she did not agree with my clear direction on remaining firmly strapped in (I let her walk around the supermarket recently whilst trying to push Wilf and carry a basket. It wasn't my proudest moment. She wrapped me in circles with her 'reins' and her demands whilst I smiled at the passers by who were also questioning my decision. At one point a shop assistant asked if I wanted to enter a competition to win £100 by giving some feedback on the store. I think I literally spat, "Are you kidding me, do I look like I have anything else to give here" at her. She didn't ask again. I felt slightly guilty afterwards. But seriously)

Anyhow, I will continue to try and find the humour and make our days fun (which they largely are to be fair). I find that her attitude can be very much effected by mine (and yes I know I am the adult in the relationship) and a lot of the time a decent tickle or a big fright does a lot to lighten both our moods. 

P.s Mother's day gifts were a lovely treat. A Joules gilet from Wilf for our many walks and some old school cookware from Mabel for our shared love of baking. Well done G Kisby.

Wilf at 4 months

At the end of February Wilf turned 4 months old so here is his monthly photo with Pierre Duck:

He continues to be such a gorgeously smiley boy who properly chortles when tickled and likes a good chat. 

When hungry or unhappy he has a mega loud cry which I reckon could clear a room (it nearly cleared Starbucks recently) but luckily that is not very often. 

At the moment we are very lucky to be getting some decent sleeps and he has even shown a liking for an afternoon nap (Mabel still tries to laugh in the face of a daytime nap though luckily nowadays becomes so tired that she normally gives in). 

He hasn't rolled too often since that first time but he is more keen on tummy time now and grabs at everything (Mabel likes to sit close and see if he can "get her"). 

She is still adorable with him and very gentle, though we do currently have a slight issue with faux injuries when the attention isn't firmly on her. Normally involving a leg or finger. Our big girl also continues to amaze and make us laugh. She loves to sing and we often wake up to a repeated rendition of 'twinkle twinkle' or 'old macdonald'. Counting is her current obsession so we spend full car journeys looking out for a number of her choice. She can count up to 15 now and seems to understand the concept of 1 to 1 to a certain degree. 

Things are very hectic and tiring but currently all good so fingers crossed it continues... 

Little black book and a little round up

A quick round up of the last few weeks....

On 13th Feb we celebrated our wedding anniversary and with it being three years the (old) tradition said the gift should involve leather. 

Turns out that the years have made us think quite similarly (three years married, 14 years together) and we both unknowingly bought each other new wash bags (check out Scaramanga where I purchased G Kisby's vintage leather one and nearly came away with a leather satchel for myself). Aren't we just crazy nowadays! Prior to children I am hoping that would have been a very different gift.

However, G Kisby also pulled it out the bag (see what I did there) by presenting me with a gorgeous black leather note book entitled "the anniversary book" - "somewhere to record how much I love you so that in 50 or 60 years time you have lots of little notes reminding you of our years together". Love love love this idea.

And continuing the theme of my incredibly thoughtful husband (who claims to not be creative) I also recently received a ring which he designed and got made containing the birth stones of each of our children. So I can wear it either way depending on which child is my current favourite (joke). I am hoping this isn't a sign that he is finished at two. Really wished I hadn't complained (loudly) recently to friends at my lack of gift upon birthing said children. It was something along the lines of, "not even pushing out an 11 pounder gets me jewellery" (will I ever learn?)

For our anniversary our lovely friend Amy came over to babysit allowing us to go out for dinner. We were giddy and got a taxi out to allow us to share a bottle of wine (it has been so long since this happened, shown by the fact we have never used a taxi company whilst living in this house - 3 years no less). We had amazing food at a little place called Erics in Huddersfield and were out so late (10.30pm) that by coffee G Kisby actually exclaimed, "I'd do anything to be in bed". What??? I was obviously thinking it but you don't say it out loud!

Then we spent last weekend in York with friends Amy and Matt.

It may sound bizarre but when Amy's parents go away (who live in York) we have taken to going on a mini break at their house. We didn't actually do that much but it was ace to be away from home and the jobs list which never quite goes away. Amy, Mabel and I did a trip out to a cafe for some girls chat and cake then we did lots of playing and hanging out. Largely with a big basket of Duplo which Mabel is currently loving. We even bought the papers.

It was good for G Kisby to get some quality time with our little man since by the time he gets home on an evening the 'witching hour' is well under way and he is normally being carried around gnawing his entire arm as if he has never been fed.

This weekend involved swimming, an aborted trip to Ikea (on a weekend, what were we thinking, far too busy so we went to Pizza Express instead) and a trip to Canon Hall Farm in Barnsley. I heard there was a sheep giving birth and practically ran (o.k maybe I did run a little) to the lambing sheds leaving husband and both children far behind. Turns out the farm trip was all about me, Mabel wasn't nearly interested enough for my liking.

Happy days...