Toilets!

Well, since I ordered some new cloth nappies from Ebay yesterday, thinking that Harlan was showing no signs of toilet training, we've had two wees in the toilet!

Last night he did one, then today we've had a second one, plus a litle drip later on when he was determined to go. I'm feeling very proud, and plotting the sale of the nappies I've bought, but I know it'll be a while before he's completely out of nappies. We're staying with my parents at the moment while Rusty is at home doing university work, so we phoned last night and Harlan was very pleased to tell his daddy that he'd done a wee.

Tantrums and tears

Today has been.... interesting! Harlan is not normally prone to tantrums, partly his nature and partly that I've learned to head them off before they begin. Today has not gone as smoothly as usual and boy have we known about it when he didn't get what he wanted.



The complete meltdown came after his midday nap, when he woke up hungry and was offered a choice of rice crispies or porridge. He emphatically opted for rice crispies and sat nicely at the table, waiting for me to serve them. As he started eating I went to boil the kettle for a cuppa and the next thing I heard was cereal hitting the floor and Harlan exclaiming "Oh dear!". Initially I thought he'd accidentally knocked the bowl over, but when he refused to eat what was left, repeated "All gone" and dragged me back to the pantry, it became obvious what was going on. When I said that I wouldn't make porridge and that rather he should eat the rice crispies he'd chosen, the tantrum began.

What made me laugh was that later he considered tantrumming again over ketchup but figured out a better way to manipulate me! At dinner he wanted more and more ketchup but wasn't actually eating any food so I told him he couldn't have any more, but rather than kicking off, he calmly told me he'd had enough to eat. The result was that I said that he could leave the table and go play with his trains in the other room (where the ketchup was) and a few seconds later he reappeared, very happy that he had a bottle of 'dip dip' in his hand. Mum nearly burst out laughing and had to go into the other room to compose herself, but I was impressed enough to let him have some more ketchup. What can I say, the boy knows how to get what he wants!

Tonight he woke up, a little cold I think, and cried for me and when I went up to him I lay next to him, cradling his head. He reached up with one arm and pulled my head down onto his so that our faces were smooshed together and his face was buried in my chest. I thought he must not be able to breathe properly like that but if I moved an inch he snuggled in even closer and pressed his face against mine, so we lay like that til his breathing slowed and he drifted off to sleep. Moments like that make tantrums seem insignificant.

My two favourite men

Things have been tough in the Hewitt household for a while. My husband was out of work, but has now returned to university to finish his PGCE in Physics and Chemistry. Harlan has been teething and we've discovered that back teeth take a long time to come through! My moods have been fluctuating as ever and all this put together has meant that there has been more than a few tears along with the smiles.

Sometimes small things make you realise how lucky you are, despite the bad times. Today's small thing that made a huge difference to me, was a photo I took this evening of Harlan playing with his daddy. He had climbed up on top of Rusty and ended up sat on the back of the chair. They were then shouting "echo!" which I taught Harlan to say last week while walking through a subway. The photo captured their fun and made me realise I'm lucky to have such a wonderful son, and such a wonderful husband.

Fa fa!

Today's main activity was intended to be swimming, as we have vouchers to swim free (if you are a British Gas customer, check it out http://www.britishgasswimming.co.uk/) . We went, and enjoyed it, but the excitement of going to the pool was completely usurped by the fact that we travelled there on the bus, which is currently Harlan's favourite thing to do. He calls the bus a "fa fa" for some unfathomable reason and had to be persuaded to go swimming rather than get on another bus! Of course he has to sit at the back of the bus, it just has to be done.

 Yesterday we went on an adventure, all the way to the park. It's about 500 yards from our house but took twenty minutes to get there because a lot of exploring had to be done. We took Harlan's trike with us and he rode it all the way there and back, although I had to be careful to keep between him and the road as when he gets some speed up he has a habit of veering off to one side!

It was lovely to not be in a rush to go anywhere, or have to get home quickly, so we took our time and Harlan investigated every leaf, pebble and stick. On the way home my pockets were laden down with stones he had collected, treasures that excited and fascinated him. I love spending time this way - just following his lead and trying to see the world form a toddler's perspective.

Swimming!

We went to a different pool today and Harlan did amazingly well. He wore his armbands and kicked his legs as he had done last week, but today he began to move his arms and actually propel himself through the water. He thought it was hilarious to push a float ahead of himself, then chase after it, and declared that flapping your arms to swim is like flying. My son, the penguin!

After peeing on the changing room floor yet again (!) he came home for a nap. In fact, I've just sent Rusty upstairs to wake him up as the cottage pie I've made for dinner is nearly ready and he's still asleep!


Recipe for cottage pie:

Boil potatoes, then mash
Brown off some mince (beef or lamb) in a pan
Add finely chopped onion, carrot and savoy cabbage
Pour in half a pint of gravy and simmer til  vegetables are getting soft
Put the meat and veg in an ovenproof dish, top with mashed potatoes
Bake in the oven, and add cheese to the top ten minutes before eating

Splash

When Harlan was tiny, we took him swimming a few times, but it petered out for various reasons. Then early this year we took him for a few months but again, because of one thing or another, we stopped. Today we went to our local pool and have decided that this will be a regular family activity for us on a saturday, especially as Rusty goes back to university next week and will have less time to spend with us. I think that makes it even more important to spend quality time together, as opposed to being in the same room but not interacting.

The pool was lovely, not too cold and fairly quiet. Although the teaching pool was closed, the main pool wasn't busy and there was plenty of opportunity for Harlan to splash about with me while Rusty swam lengths, before swapping roles.

Harlan wore armbands (which he hates putting on!) and a swimsuit with built in floats which allowed him to float without holding on to me, although at first he was very unsure and clung to me. I started swishing him around in the water and encouraged him to splash Rusty, which made him laugh! Before long his confidence grew and he was soon holding on to a float and kicking his little legs to propel himself forward.

I'm really looking forward to going next week.

I've decided I should start blogging again, after I did a few posts then abandoned it!

Harlan keeps me busy at the moment, and Rusty will be going back to university next week to complete his PGCE in physics and chemistry. He had to leave last year, after Harlan was hospitalised for a fortnight and he missed too much of his teaching placement. Unfortunately, despite the circumstances of his leaving (and the university's support in tkaing a leave of absence) we will not be entitled to his bursary until January, which will leave things rather tight. Ah well, we'll manage, as always.

Harlan turned two on 28th September and was spoiled rotten by family and friends. The weekend before his birthday we held a barbecue and had his friends round for food and playing in the garden.

He's begun to fall asleep on me when he's really tired, and to enjoy cuddling up on the sofa or in the double bed with me and just chill out watching television, talking about what we've done that day or what we'll do tomorrow. I love this time with him and I love how he can tell me now what he wants and how he is feeling. I sat down the other day and listed 120 words he uses but he learns more every day and says such funny things sometimes.

One of the things he got for his birthday was a play kitchen, and he really enjoys pouring me a cup of tea or cooking dinner. I'm encouraging the role play, we don't stick to gender stereotypes in this house and it's fascinating to see his imagination at work.

Lastly for this post, we have adopted a cat called Tia, who is 13 years old. Her previous owners had her since she was a kitten but had to rehome her when their new landlord put his foot down and refused to let them keep her. She's settled in very quickly, mostly living upstairs away from the dogs. She has appropriated the spare room as her sleeping area but appears whenever we go upstairs and throws herself in her back to have her tummy rubbed. She's become a part of the family already.

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter!

Harlan didn't sleep well at all last night and I spent a lot of time sitting on his bed with him. Rusty kindly decided to let me have a lie-in this morning which made a huge difference, especially as I had the sunday dinner to cook.

I prepared all the vegetables for dinner (carrots, cabbage and broccoli) and put them in the steamer, then we went to visit Grandad Bob, Uncle Rob and Uncle Mike (Rusty's family). Harlan thought it was hilarious to let Uncle Rob whizz him around til they were both very dizzy and Harlan looked rather drunk! I taught Harlan to kick the little football he has at their house and he was very pleased with himself at the new accomplishment!

When we came home, I sent Harlan and Rusty off to the park so I could get dinner done in peace. I tried a tip I saw from Heston Blumenthal to salt the par-boiled potatoes before putting them in the hot, oiled roasting pan. It worked a treat, and we had crunchy roast potatoes to go with our vegetables, roast beef, stuffing, yorkshires and gravy made with the meat juices.

Delicious :)

Busy day

Today we loaned out the services of our truck to help a friend get her new sofa, which I want dibs on if she ever gets rid of it, as it's gorgeous!

Then Harlan and Rusty went home and my friend took me to get my hair cut. The lady who did it, Kelly, was lovely. She works from home so it wasn't at all intimidating - unlike when you walk into a salon and all the ladies (and men!) are manicured, bleached and perma-tanned! I'm trying to grow my hair, after having a bright pink mohican for a while, so she left the top to grow but trimmed the sides and back and I'm currently sat here with "intense rich auburn" hair dye on.

This evening I made a rather hurried dinner and then read a book called 'Duck in the Truck' to Harlan about half a dozen times. Then he managed to get himself undressed with a little help and was very pleased with the success! I took a few photos of him in jst his nappy while he was in such a happy mood, as chubby babies are always very photogenic.

I'm off now to rinse the dye off my hair and see the finished product :o)

Today we woke up late, 9 o clock - what a luxury!

We headed off to a softplay centre to attend a sling meet - basically a group of people who enjoy carrying their babies in slings, known as babywearing. We try each others' slings out and offer tips to improve carries while the toddlers run amok and tire themselves out. I was hoping to sell one of my slings but unfortunately it didn't suit the person who was interested so we'll have to go with plan B and sell it online.

Afterwards we visited "Grandad Bob", Rusty's dad. Harlan was getting pretty tired so we headed home for a nap.

Now I guess I should really get some laundry done. But coffee is calling...

This is love

Harlan woke upset this evening, a few hours after going to bed.

I sat on his bed with him on my lap and we cuddled for a while - he was awake but relaxed in my arms. It reminded me how lucky I am to have him.


Earlier on today he had his first creme egg - a big treat, as he is lactose intolerant so isn't supposed to have chocolate. I think he enjoyed it!