May 2005 Archives

The Belfast Children's Festival is on at the moment and how could I resist taking Emily to a 'Baby Rave'! Just to let you know what this involved:

'Enjoy the sounds and visuals of a rave with your baby. The Waterfront Auditorium will be turned into an ambient environment complete with DJ, music, lighting and projections....tactile toys and sensory floor coverings'

In fact it was completely MENTAL! Normally I would be well up for anything with Emily but even I had to ask Warren if we could leave a bit early! At first I wondered if it would be under subscribed, with just Emily and a few other toddlers hanging out. But I was SO wrong. I wish I knew exactly how many people turned up but there must've been at least 100 toddlers running wildly about with lots of parachute games and loud music (which in fact was better than anything I go out to listen to, I almost asked the DJ if he played anywhere).

It was total chaos. I thought it would've been structured a bit better but who was I kidding? How can you structure a hundred 0-4 year olds? Emily loved it though and was thoroughly excited by it all. But it was very hard to keep track of her running about like a maniac, dipping under parachute silk, with loud music and dimmed lights. It would've been so easy to lose her in there and I would be surprised if someone at some point during the day didn't lose their child.

On a totally different note, sorry I haven't got your icon done yet Ian. I will have to get working on it. You will have to be Archie for a little while longer...you know you like it!

This week Emily had a visit from her Auntie Panda (aka Tamara) all the way from Canada. She came bearing some really cool gifts such as this ABC book of Canada! It was the first time Tamara had seen Emily (apart from the odd photo) and the first time we had seen each other in over 5 years.

They really hit it off and we all had lots of fun, scouring the beach for shells, trying on hats, going out for lunch and learning what each letter of the alphabet stands for in Canada!

It was really sad to see her go back yesterday, but it was so nice to catch up again and it was like she had never left. Hopefully we will see each other sooner than another 5 years...

Thanks for the visit Auntie Panda!

It looks like we are entering the terrible twos stage. Or I should say terrible 20 month stage. We are always saying what a good girl Emily is and she is. Most of the time anyway. I already told you how she had started to become contrary, which I might add, she is mastering to a fine art. Doing things just to get a reaction when she is told not to do them etc. The tantrums and sulks, although they don't last long, have become more frequent too. She just flops right on the the floor, onto her belly and either just lies there quietly or grizzles grumpily.

She has moved this up a notch into the 'pretending I'm an ironing board' phase where she goes completely stiff when trying to put her into the car seat, if its not what she wants to be doing. A 'stiff as a board' toddler wedged inbetween the car seat and the front seat is a very tricky situation indeed. I just leave her until she gets bored. What more can you do?

Its very hard not to let all this contrariness get you down. But I am in control (or so I am telling myself in a mantra like style every day).

Emily had her first experience of bullying today, by a little 2.5 year old girl at the mother and baby group we go to. I think Emily was playing with a baby doll and the little girl had an empty pram, which needed a baby. So as you can work out the little girl took the baby for her pram. Mind you it wasn't this that upset Emily, she is used to sharing toys, it was the fact the little girl wasn't satisfied with just taking the toy as she pushed Emily too.

I think Em wasn't sure how to take this at first, and stood looking as if to say 'what's going on? why are you being mean?' but then she realised and got really upset.

Its very hard in these situations to tell off another persons child. The mom wasn't around, probably off somewhere chatting, and i couldn't not say anything, after-all the little girl needed to know she was wrong. So instead of getting cross I told her that she needed to share the toys. I think she knew she'd done something by the look on her face.

I just need to make sure that Em grows up to be a nice, considerate and sharing child who doesn't let people be mean to her.

Well its about time I posted some recent photographs of Emily. She changes so much in such a small amount of time its hard to keep up! That and the fact that I am totally disorganised with my photos at the moment, due to a combination of decorating, domesticity and laziness. I really have to get my life in order!

There are a lot more photos floating about and I will have to do a general 'all ages' photo post when I do get a bit more organised. Until then have a look here.