ILX Parenting 3: Back In (Potty) Training

beeps can only walk a few feet before she falls down

She takes after her father.

Edith is completely amazing. I love her. Is there an extra?

Oliver's first big snow day last week

http://vassifer.blogs.com/alexinnyc/images/2008/02/22/img_7265_3.jpg

Charlotte was a bit more stoic about it.
http://vassifer.blogs.com/alexinnyc/images/2008/02/22/img_7259_2.jpg

Charlotte's hat is so great. She's got a "Yeah, I've seen snow before, Dad" look. Oliver looks so happy. Look at his snowy mittens! I wished it snowed more here.

Its really hard to get a non-blurry photo of Beatrice these days but here a couple of only slightly blurry ones:

Hanging out on our bed:

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6319/prettykittyml0.jpg

Posing for a "happy birthday" picture for her Australian cousin:

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9607/hbclaudiaww6.jpg

It only occurred to me last week that it might snow when we go visit my sister in Rye, NY next week! I'm not really looking forward to the flight, Aidan's learnt to crawl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98eRZ5FZmsA) and just never stops moving so I get the fear every time I think about the 7hrs 50mins flight.

Happy birthday Howie! And Happy Birthday on sunday Beeps! Goodness, that flew by, didn't it?!

Sunny, I've read lots about how much safer it is to have them rear facing for as long as possible too, here in the UK it's not such a widely discussed issue, most people turn them round as soon as they fit into a forward facing carseat.

Natalie, did you wean Ophelia earlier then? We were going to wait until 6 months but decided to do baby led weaning - i.e. finger food, from the get go and apparently if they can pick up food, get it into their mouth and swallow it then they're ready, and Aidan eat some carrot at about 5 months and a week.

That's odd. My sister lives in Rye as well. And her name is Vicky.

Oooh, got any 7 month old friendly tips for Rye/NYC then?! We're planning on making sure we go to any proper restaurants at off-peak times, we've been told that Otto would be a good place to go early evening.

Is Manhattan really as stroller unfriendly as we've been led to believe? We're planning on buying a back pack baby carrier when we get over there to make getting around a little easier.

Is Manhattan really as stroller unfriendly as we've been led to believe?

Parts of it, especially downtown (Soho's cobblestones and thin sidewalks are palpably stroller-hostile).

I think the subways are inherently stroller-unfriendly, and between stairs and turnstiles and getting on/off trains, are guaranteed to make you wish you'd done something else instead (like vacationed somewhere without subways).

Hah. You guys must be JOKING. Come live in my city which has no subway but every pavement is slanted to the max and streets have "klinkers" and cobblestones. Compared with that, subways are the bomb.

Man, it's already four months ago that I delivered Elisabeth into this cold hard world (to quote Falco). Time flies with one kid, but it *swooshes* by when you have two (sick) kids. It's been a rough couple of weeks with Ophelia having a urine infection and also a little bit of a virus which she passed on to my husband and also Elisabeth. The latter started to puke the other night, projectile wise on mummy and everywhere else. Not a fun thing to behold but I know that this too shall pass. :-)

Vicky, I think we started with solids when she was nearly five months old. Mostly because teh feeding chair hadn't arrived in the shop. We did it once when she was exactly four months old, mostly because we were so excited to enter a new phase in her life, I guess. With Ophelia (first born) I was so excited to do new htings and couldn't wait for her to grow up. With Elisabeth, which is the second and last child (though you never know!), I want to wait and enjoy everything a bit more, I guess. I'm not sure if I can hold out another two months though. Although I love breastfeeding, I do sometimes... certainly not dislike it, but it can be somewhat inconvenient because you have to plan around it, especially when you're feeding every two hours. But what am I saying, I love to breastfeed. I am extremely happy I was/am able to. :-)
It's a very strange experienced seeing something *foreign* (not mummy's milk) enter their body. I must be a freak for thinking that. But really it WAS (and will be) freaky: you're so used to pumping milk into their body, it was kind of alien to see Ophelia eat something out of a pot. hah.

Ophelia had a terrible week: urine infection, guests in the house who wake her up VERY early and that virus. She was so *strange*: flopping on the ground and cranky and sh*t. We had her blood tested but it seems to be tiredness and maybe a bit of a growth spurt? She's also displaying new behavior: manipulation. Funny but at times GRRRRRRR. For example she has the tendency to let herself fall or knock against something and then say "PAAAAAIIIIN!" or start to cry. Or just moan or whatever. She has also dropped me as fave and now daddy is numero uno.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2297344237_c43da3edf7_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/2281147015_9d95fca3cf.jpg

I waited til 6 months to start Howie on solids -- when breastfeeding is so damn convenient, I couldn't see any rush to start complicating things. I think I am a bit of a freak for doing this, though -- most people I know in RL got out the purees much earlier.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1571/bdaycakely4.th.jpg

Howie's birthday cake...

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1571/bdaycakely4.jpg

Sorry, this should be the right size.

aidan & vic on a horsey:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2299197406_40e794ed7a.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v216/213/42/619069358/n619069358_705277_5933.jpg

Oliver preparing to pass judgement.

ha. Cutest judge ever.

So it was book week at school and on friday the children go to school as their favourite book character and Child No.2 IS Lola from the Charlie and Lola books.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2315812193_26d944b66d.jpg

Holy shit - don't post this on the internet, you'll get sued for copyright infringement!

(I met the author once - she is TOTALLY HOTT)

that dress! id totally wear it.

STOP PRESS! Potty training regression (just after Cardiff took the lead).

Amazingly, Edith pissed on me just after West Brom took the lead. Perhaps she is trying to tell me something.

Anyway, here is a picture from happier times:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2313561435_cd0d7027ab.jpg

that dress! id totally wear it.

-- sunny successor, Sunday, 9 March 2008 03:59 (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

It was available in adult sizes, my friend bought one!

parents, how do you start your kid on peanut butter? dial 91 and leave finger poised over the 1 while they take their first bite?

have a plastic tube from a dismantled ballpoint pen ready for an emergency trachiotomy?

Drive to the hospital and give it to 'em in the parking lot.

Wow, I have never even considered worrying about this! I guess if one of you (the parents) or yr family members has ever had food allergies, you're a lot more aware....

I dunno, this might be paranoid but maybe put a schmear of it on their skin somewhere and see if it rashes/gets hives? That'd be extreme, I guess, but at least you'd know.

Thats a good idea, L. I'll probably end up doing it rock hardy's way though! I dont remember anyone having allergies when I was a kid. Maybe seasonal ones. Certainly not peanut allergies.

I bought a cookbook for toddler recipes because I figure I'm going to have to quit the baby food soon. Later, I realized it was written by a Brit and a lot of the receipes for 12+ months have either something peanut based or involve whole eggs. My pediatricians says not peanut oil, honey or egg whites until 2 y/o. I wonder who is right? I know my Australian BFF is giving her 16 month old all of those things.

not = no, of course

yeah we just gave our kid peanut butter when he was about 14 months old. then the doctor said "wait until he's at least 18 months old, or as long as you can" and we decided fuck it around 17 months. he doesn't seem to like it very much but no ill effects. No-one in the family has nut allergies though, just hay fever. The whole nut allergy thing seems quite mysterious and strange, they certainly say it's on the rise, and we know a few kids who can't have even almond oil near their skin....

also, how long do these terrible twos tantrums last? Ian is almost 21 months old but has done everything early: talking, walking, etc; downside is that he's doing his tantrums and fits now as well. Holy god, try to put a sun hat on the kid and prepare yourself for an hour of misery.

i heard they last until 4 or 5 :(:(:(

my niece did the terrible two from 3-4 y/o

ok pics time:

beeps covered in cake at 1st bday party:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/7453/birthday1sa6.jpg
beeps in snow:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3093/snow7ve9.jpg

That face really says "PICK ME UP. NOW. COLD. STRANGE. MAAAMMAAAAAA!" Kekeke

Oliver is Two Years Old Today:

http://vassifer.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/10/playground_3.jpeg

fark
http://vassifer.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/10/playground_3.jpeg

http://vassifer.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/10/playground_3.jpeg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2322218201_79dc7eb39b_b.jpg

as always, the ilx posse does not disappoint, are there any cuter kids on the planet?? happy birthday, all! howie's cake was fab. it's too bad we don't all live closer so we could have a group partay. everyone could come dressed as charlie and/or lola (or marv or lotta or sizzles). I for one would be very happy to have lola's wardrobe as my own. and excuse me but her house decor should be completely and totally mine.

I gave ava peanut butter when she was about two, and I had that momentary fear that you get when you're about to drill a hole in the wall and you're only 99.9% sure there's not an electric line underneath. but we were raised on peanut butter so I was pretty sure it would be ok. the midwives have said wait till they're three for nuts, but ava isn't a huge fan of meaty things and when she went off hummous for a while I was worried she wasn't getting enough protein. I know so many younguns with serious allergies, and I don't remember knowing anybody with them when I was growing up. I feel for the kids - ava's pal sofia can't be within 2 feet of an egg or any milk products or she breaks out in awful hives. thank heavens for claudio at our cafe, who will happily make a soy babiccino for her when all the other kids are having their l'il fake frothy milk 'coffees'.

In the UK we're told honey and eggs are fine after 1yr. Nuts are OK after a year if there are no allergies in the family, but if there are then you are supposed to steer clear til they're 3 or 4 (I think). Howie's being tested for nut allergy (among others) so we haven't given him any yet.

I love Aidan's wrap, what kind is it? We've got an Ergo but Howie is kinda getting a bit big and wriggly for it.

Also I am gutted that we haven't had any snow this winter so haven't got any cute snow-baby pics :(

It's an 'ultimate baby wrap' Meg, but I don't think you can get it in the uk, it's $40 in the US, if you really wanted one I could sort out shipping for you. In theory it will take him until he's three, but if I don't put it on tight enough then I get backache after just a little while. He doesn't wriggle in it at all though.

Happy second birthday Oliver!

Re. allergies, I thought that it wasn't the first time that was the problem, but the second, but I can't find anything to back that up. I did find this though http://en.allexperts.com/q/Pediatrics-1429/Introducing-Peanut-Butter.htm

We gave the boys almond butter around 1 year, and peanuts around 14 months. Neither of us have any allergies, so we weren't too worried. At around 8 months, we tried eggs, and we THINK that may have been what caused Owen to throw up and get hives all over his body, so we held off for a while. Now, though, he can eat all kinds of stuff with eggs in, with no ill effects, but I don't think Tracy has tried to give them straight-up eggs again yet.

More pictures!

Ben in the stroller with his new lion friend:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2325260803_b7ee86bdd8.jpg

Owen setting up for a Superman seat-grab:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2244/2305398549_4b3c8d56dd.jpg

Oh yeah - our new camera comes today, so hopefully the pictures will get fancier soon ;)

Ooh, the Pentax DSLRs look ace! I think Brapps of this parish have one and they've taken many adorable pix of their little 'un with it.

I can't believe how cheap this is on Amazon US and I'd recommend it for indoor kid photography (our 50/1.8 barely left the camera in about 9 months), but the last thing you want to hear after buying a DSLR is "spend more money". A 50/1.4 for £90 equivalent though!

Yeah, I don't think my wife will go for another 200 bucks (well, 180 with my 10% employee discount! ;P) right now, but I will keep it in mind. Judging from your photos, you are the expert!

Judging by your first efforts with the K200D on Flickr, you don't need any help from me! (Funny how I could tell from the first thumbnail that they were SLR shots).

Thanks! They have a bit of a reddish cast, but I can fix that in iPhoto/Photoshop with some curve-tweaking. I also need to look at the color settings in-camera. That lens looks pretty sweet. I'll have to see about saving up for that in the next few months. Looks like I'm on my way down the SLR money-hole.

Here are a couple of my first attempts. My boys like the taste of blocks.
Owen:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2327596957_f9f6725dce.jpg

Ben:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2022/2327593501_ee984df9c5.jpg

After reading your comments, my wife thought it would be a good idea, so we got the lens! I'll be in China when it gets here, but hopefully I'll have some shots up in a couple weeks...

Yay! You can't beat a fast prime and the Pentax 50/1.4 should be a great lens for photographing increasingly-mobile kiddies.

No more night time feedings but we do have to get up about FIVE FUCKING times per night.
Can I just say: I am exhausted.

The doc at Kind & Gezin said I should wait half an hour. "Studies have shown babies can deal better with falling asleep this way." Yeah, riiiight, they are too tired to cry anymore.