Last last day

Presents for my teachers!

The final day at her day care...

It has been nearly three years that my toddler spend more of her time here during the day than I had to spent at my work-place. (I drop her off an hour before I start at work, and fetch her half an hour or more after work.)

She started here in the baby's section when she was nearly 5 months old, end now she is turning three...

For the most part, she has been very happy here, and I did not have problems leaving her here. She loves her teachers!

I don't think she realises that this is the last time... We tried telling her, but it has not clicked yet!

I am the one sad on her behalf!

She had friends here whom she spend many happy hours playing with...

The end of a chapter, and next year she will go to a "big school"! That's what we are going to call the new pre-primary school that she is going to next year!

I know that we are doing the right thing! There is going to be more structure, with qualified teachers!


An ending...

I don't like goodbyes!

Benji Boytjie

There was a huge adjustment phase with our Miniature Yorkshire Terrier, but WE have adapted!

He walks around unfazed by any commotion going on around him...

We get upset about his bad toilet manners, but it doesn't make a dent in his behaviour. 
He does not DO grass! Period! Accept it!
It is only Hubby who still curses every time  he has to scoop up the "jewels" from our patio...

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (I know! How lucky can you get?)


Seven years multiplied by seven makes him forty nine years!
He is the oldest resident in this house!

King of the Castle and Mr Cool!

He's got the other dog grooming him the whole day long.
Petite Peu bites-bites him around his face. He loves it!!
If you know the reason for this, please tell us.
(It's the same behaviour we see in monkeys grooming each other.)

The tongue hanging out because of pure pleasure

Benjamin got his "summer cut" today, and the toddler allowed him extra time next to her...


How can we give such a boytjie away?






Related post:
Our furry dog - update

Wordless Wednesday #103 - Pappa-razzi

Nobody as surprised as the surprised mother

I wanted to write the blog post last night, but we had a sleep fail night, and the off switch did not work, except for both parents! (Nothing new!)
We staggered out of our room after 11 last night, with washing that still needed to be hanged, and the lights to be switched off in the rest of the house... (No wonder I don't get time to read!)

The Toddler was 35 months yesterday. 3 is a month away.
And.... Ta-da-ta-dum!-ta-dum! is nappy free.
She announced last Thursday evening that she did not want to have a nappy on at bed-time, and that was it!

The status update on Friday
about the first nappy-free night at MomAgain@40 FB page

She is wearing panties 24-7, and she tells us when she wants to go...

Nobody is as surprised as me!
Something just clicked!

I was beginning to worry about the deadline of next year and the new school...She is supposed to be potty trained by then.

It just shows you! All in their own time...

"I can do it!"

It dawned on us last night! We don't need to buy those expensive pull-ups or Pampers or Huggies... anymore!
*Happy dance!*

Related posts:
Up close with the toilet
Potty training - report back
Wordless Wednesday #69 - More uses for the potty

Wordless Wednesday #102 - Driving my car

Up close with the toilet

Another title: Potty training adventures

There is nothing like potty training to get you up close and personal with a toilet...

A toddler has intense fascination with a toilet, and there is nothing more exhilarating than flushing it. (Woot-woot! squeamish parents!)

I am of the opinion that you should spend as less time as possible on a toilet, and get finished with your business... Well, quickly! There is the minor fact of germs and multiplying...

That’s why I still don’t understand why people would want to read while there. It’s the germs multiplying, people! Take into account that if the previous occupant flushed the toilet while the seat was not closed... More germs multiplying all around... 

(Not to mention those magazines stacked up in toilets... Germ palaces?)

(Maybe it’s just me, or I have watched far too much of The Doctors!)

But potty training brings the toilet very close:
-    The toddler touches the seat with both hands while getting on. (I can do this myself, Mom!)
-    She sits with both hands on the seat.
-    She even checks inside the bowl...
-    She comments about anything landing in the bowl!
-    She lingers while sitting there...
-    She wants to flush immediately! (Please close that seat, Love!)

Potty training is teaching me a few things as well! Patience is definitely one of them!

Luckily we can wash our hands afterwards. Also something the toddler enjoys immensely...
And the promise of washing hands also helps to move things along considerably!

We have been very lucky the last two weeks! Fingers crossed! (Don’t tell Murphy...)
It seems the Toddler will be potty trained by next year. Err.. Toilet Trained!

Movie Clip Monday #22 - Body awareness exercises at Tiny Tumbles

Tiny gymnastics on Saturday.

The Toddler was in a good mood...

She was very excited that she got to do a foreward roll on her own as well!

Guess what we did this weekend?

Best time of the year

Jacarandas & Johannesburg city in the distance

The sun is blazing here each day! It is hot hot HOT, and I love it! It is truly summer here!
You can give me hot any time. I don't like winter and grey and cold!

Driving to work each day, I am confronted by the Jacarandas in full bloom each day.
Johannesburg is lovely this time of the year!

December and Christmas is around the corner, and we are beginning to look forward to holidays.
The plans have been made for lots of get-togethers and parties and family gatherings!
(I am even contemplating a small party for the Toddler on her birthday...)

My brother is going to visit us from America. We can't wait to see him again!

We spend each evening outside. Watching the sun set!

The Toddler plays ball, and we - mostly Dad and me, because her sister is learning for the final exams - has to play along!

Especially her most recent games of make-believe.
Her favourite is going to Kyle's party now!
She "fasten" our seat-belts and "drives" us to his party, where we "do" all the fun  party stuff, such as "eating" cake, and "jumping" on the jumping-castle.

One of the "games" she plays outside:

Exercising, but getting very upset that the dogs take up her exercise mat space...

Do you like this time of the year? If not, why not?

I am grateful for the best time of the year. Linking up with Maxabella's
"I'm grateful for..."

The story of the angel vs the sheep

The Toddler is still upset that she was cast in the role of an angel.
See Wordless Wednesday #101 of yesterday as well for two more photos. 

She wanted to be a sheep...
(Light bulb! That's why she told us before the time that she was going to be a sheep: "A night at the ballet")

She told me last night that the teacher would not dress her in the sheep clothes for the concert.
I should definitely go and give the teacher a hiding (her words!)

The concert took place two weeks back already, but she is still unhappy about the fact...


Disappointments start much too early in one's life!

Photos here by Jaqueline of JPhoto

Wordless Wednesday #101 - Concert Angel

Changing her mind

The Toddler changes her mind constantly!
It is a given!

She doesn’t want to eat her food, but when asked if we can give it to the dogs, we get an emphatic “NO!”

She gives us the exact opposite of what we ask of her.

“No!”

(Wait for it....wait for it...)

“Yes!”

The question usually takes a while to register, and normal toddler-response is a “No!”

Do you want to play with the ball?

“No!”
...
“I want to play with the ball!” (Whine!-voice)



We can use it to our advantage. (Sly grin)

We plant the seed of the required action by asking her a question.

The “No!” follows.

It helps to sell it a bit more, and then leave it and wait for her to respond otherwise!
(It really works!)
 

Sometimes it takes a bit longer. Sometimes it takes months for her to change her mind...

The Toddler now wants to wash her hair every day. And she wants to lie down on her back in the bath.
Before it was a struggle for months to get her to wash her hair, and she used to complain bitterly!
We don’t know what made her change her mind, but we are grateful for every small gesture that makes it easier on all of us...


Ah, what is the good of a mind...?

5 Tips on how to enjoy a childen's party

I do not have a particular fondness going to children's parties, especially those of children (and parents) that I do not know.

It measures just a little bit lower that my pet hate of going to stork parties.

But my little one of three is starting to get invites from day care, and she is starting to understand what a party means. It means that I can't ignore the invites anymore...

Instead of thinking of a survival list,  I thought I would  approach it in a positive manner, and try to get enjoyment out of it as much as possible.
There is a couple of years of parties ahead of us!
I said yes to our first party on Saturday.

5 Tips on how to enjoy a children's party:

1.  Enjoy the fact that your child are enjoying it.

2.  Food. Coffee. (Enough said!)
     Wine.  (Big bonus)

3. See it as an opportunity to check out new party venues. It is very enjoyable to go to places where you don't have to fork out the money.


4. See it as a an opportunity to meet new people. Especially people with children your child's age.

5. Even if you don't connect socially with any of the people there, it can still be an opportunity for  you and Hubby to have a coffee/talk with each other while the little one is occupied with the rest!


Looking forward to our first party already!

Any other suggestions for enjoying a children's party?

Wordless Wednesday #100 - Summer swimming

First Halloween

Treats from the neighbours

We had a bit of Halloween fun today!

Halloween is mostly a non-event here in South Africa...

We got invited to a Halloween party, mostly for the sake of the kids, and they had lots of fun!
With so much sweets involved, who can not have fun?

"Daddy's little pumpkin"

Jekyll & Hyde

The Teen had a "split personality"! Maybe the final exams taking their toll?
Or perhaps just a reason to take a break from studying?

Did you do anything for Halloween?

Wordless Wednesday #99

Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Sick with a sick toddler

Being sick, with a sick toddler, is not a recipe for bed rest when staying at home. 

No, it makes you wish that you have gone to work very early in the morning already!

But the thought of another night of both of us taking turns to cough, and Hubby having to run around between two beds is not something you are looking forward to in a great way! 

Getting the Toddler dressed, trying to get her to eat something before we go, and finally giving up with a banana packed in the bag... Just to get out of the door!

And all you wanted to do was stay in bed in a foetal position for the rest of the day...

Forget it when you have a toddler!

Taking us both to the doctor, getting the medicines at the pharmacy, and coming back home takes a huge chunk out of the morning...

Then it is trying to get her to eat something again, before trying to get her to drink the medicines...

And using the nebuliser on both of us...

And coping with a toddler-in-potty-training as well! She wants to wear panties (or nothing), and we are running to the toilet constantly!

And getting her to stop washing her hands are also something of an exercise in extreme patience!

Exhaustion!

On another note: The Toddler behaved very well at the doctor, and did not cry once. It was a first!

She sat on the bed while the doctor checked her over and the doctor even got a smile and a chuckle!

This little girl has passed another milestone!

Fingers crossed for a better night tonight! We had two terrible nights of coughing in a row now!

Movie Clip Monday #21 - Toddler skipping after watching Don Quixote ballet

The Toddler loved her first classical ballet, and she was hopping and skipping away after ten on Friday night!

See yesterday's post:
A night at the ballet - Don Quixote 

Movie Clip Monday on loan from Tasneem at MumDrum.

A night at the ballet - Don Quixote

We took the Toddler to her first classical ballet, Don Quixote, at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City on Friday night.

We were worried about the show starting at 8:15, which is her usual bed-time. Also that she would not be able to sit still for the duration of the show.

The Toddler loved it. She sat transfixed for most of the first pat, with only her legs rhythmically moving to the music.

The second part of the show got a bit more challenging.
The Toddler was so impressed with some of the moves, she wanted to practice them right there and then. I had to push down the little legs flying past our heads, and hoping the people in the back did not mind the legs and arms flying up in the air.

She sat through the whole show, and was skipping away after that. I am planning to put up a Movie Clip Monday tomorrow to show her happily walking with her dad after the ballet.

She was up at seven the next day, and there was no problems at the school concert.
She told us she is a sheep, and we were checking all the little sheep on stage...

It turns out she is an angel in the concert! (What's up with that?)

Of course, she was very cute, singing and clapping away on stage.

She saw me once in the audience, and we could see her mouth "Mamma!"
We realized again that she is definitely older, because there was no sign of the crying of the previous year with her first concert!

She is a big girl now!

Wordless Wednesday #98 - Toddlers making pizza at Papachinos