The 2's (the age of negotiations)

At two and a half my little one now seems more like a little girl than a toddler *sob*. It is a truly wonderful age – her imagination is amazing, her dance moves are hilarious, her ability to learn is inspiring, and her giggle just so infectious. 

But what I have come to realise is that our days are now just one big negotiation.

We wake up, I negotiate her coming to take her bedtime nappy off (she says she likes it wet). Then I negotiate getting her downstairs for breakfast (she's not hungry). Then once downstairs she finds all her favourite things to play with so again I have to persuade her up to the breakfast table. 

Me: "oh but little giraffe says he really wants to help you eat your breakfast."
3:0 to mummy.


And so the negotiations continue:

Sit on the potty. 
Go upstairs again.
Get dressed. ("But your rabbit dress is in the wash and this one would be perfect for running really fast in.")
Brush teeth.
Go downstairs again.
Put shoes and coat on if you want to go to the park.
Hold my hand walking to the park.
Time to leave the park.
Hold my hand walking back from the park.
Sit up for lunch. 
Wear bib.
Use fork.Wash hands.
Just play a minute while mummy does the dishes.
Don't play with mummy's jewellery boxes.
Get shoes and coats on.
Get in car.
Sit in the trolley.
Persuade her to look after the bread rather than the eggs.
Stay on trolley at the tills.
 
...Oh you get the idea. I'm worn out writing it!

It's battle of the wills and I can just about outwit her with my clever negation skills at the moment. We get there in the end... but just once wouldn't it be nice to say "time to get our coats on" and hear "OK mummy here I come".


Those days are just around the corner right?

Potty time... the next instalment

At the minute I can't decide if we are moving forward, going backwards, or just staying the same. I'm trying not to worry and just take it as it comes but any advice would be very welcome, I'm just wondering if these are common potty issues?

We've been doing really well and had quite a lot of action on the potty and toilet. We've been so pleased with her and she's been getting lots of well deserved excited praise. My one concern is that her potty triumphs are always after I convince her to give it a go. The positive side is she must be doing well with her bladder control as she is holding on till I put her on the potty to go and on the whole keeping her favourite pants dry. We have however had a couple of wee accidents last weekend (one sitting on my lap in Nandos - nice) and one in the lounge when I think she was too busy playing to notice, but I know this is to be expected! 

I'm just not sure now how to get to the next step where she asks for the toilet. I'm not sure she recognises she needs to go but if she does how do I convince her it's a good idea to tell me. She is very articulate so that's not the issue but gets very engrossed in what she's doing and hates to be interrupted mid game/book/programme! I've tried explaining that using the potty is great as you can play, pop on it quickly, and then get straight back to playing, rather than having to go off and get cleaned and changed. Not worked so far though!


I had a breakthrough on Monday when a toilet we visited had a squirty tap that splashed me, she's been a lot more keen to visit toilet since, I guess in the hope she can laugh at me again. Hey whatever works!


Number twos seem to be an even greater sticky problem with her, we've had success by me knowing her routine or watching out for her pulling a funny face but when she has to go she goes. There doesn't seem to be much holding in of this yet!


If anyone has any good tips of how to get to the next step I would love to hear them. There's no manual for this stuff is there? 

Toddler travels

There is a great buzz in our household at the moment, the source? My little baby brother's wedding is fast approaching! Now most of the dress/hat/shoe sagas are sorted out there are a couple of new hurdles on the horizon.

Task one: Getting there
This involves a bit of a road trip, an estimated 6 hours in fact. We did a similar length journey last year but at 2.5 years Squiggle now has twice the energy and half the patience, so it might not be be such plain sailing. I need to travel prepared. 

I have a to do list as long as my arm:
Buy/pack some mess free, slow to eat snacks for bribery 

Purchase a surprise toy for novelty value
Look out some travel sized books
Check the car

Clear out the car
Look into breakdown cover
Get lots of sleep so we can leave at the crack of dawn while there's a chance little on may still sleep.
Pack a couple of her CDs (or will 10 renditions of the dingle dangle scarecrow tip daddy driver over the edge?)
Borrow in-car DVD player from a friend – potential life saver.

Research service stations in the hope there is one on route with a playground where she can stretch her legs.

Task two: Sitting nicely through the wedding

My little girl adores my brother and fiance and follows them about everywhere whenever they visit, giggling and becoming almost delirious with excitement. It is very cute but I have visions of Squiggle chasing the bride down the aisle and asking her to play hide and seek. 

In preparation we've been talking about the wedding for a long time now. I've been telling her that her aunt will be so so proud of her if she sits and listens nicely with all the boys and girls at the wedding.

I have an emergency sticker book which I plan to whip out during the wedding breakfast but it's such a long time to sit still for a little one. I've told her that the reward for all this is the best party she's ever seen with lots and lots of dancing and fun with all her cousins.

Lets hope it's a day to remember for all the right reasons!

Cross your fingers for me and if you've got any good tips, I would love you to share them.

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Coming home

So that's us, we are back from our little family holiday to Italy. It's such a nice feeling when you realise your house isn't just a house, it's your home. I got that real warm feeling when we walked in last night. The hubby and I both said it wasn't coming home we were sad of, just that it meant back to the old routine and back to less time together. But...

It also means back to my blog which is of course a big positive!