RAMBLINGS OF A MIND UNTAMED

She's a big talker.
at 2 she says sentances like "it's similar, its same" (if something is similar or same, sometimes she gets it wrong though)

Super good communicator with needs - "Wendy wants"... There isn't any I want yet.

She will say please if prompted but doesn't if not - we are trying to get her to say "may I please have". She tries but it appears the string of words is too difficult for her.

She's sitting next to me and heres the conversation
W- i want another paint
M - which one?
W - this one.
W- I'm painting with the lid. To close it. I want to close it (tries to put the lid back on the paint, then smears the paint off the lid onto her hand - must feel nice. Now she's using the lid like a paint brush- smacks her hand with paint onto the paper to make a print.

Then she tells me after some time "mama clean it?" and she points to the brush (an already clean brush) and then at the paper. and I refuse - because that was her artwork, /and the brush is clean = so I ask her "do you want a new peice of paper, is that what you mean? " and she says "oh yes!" and so i fold over the page and she seems satisfied with that.

It's so cute. She drops things, she picks them up. She follows instructions mostly accurately.

Communication definitely helps - there's very few tantrums where I can't communicate with her and distract her to something else. Everything with her is short lived.

It's a good age.

Work in progress as we go along this should be edited.

Gifts list
red pockets -
Shirley
Tania
Apoh
Ria

Others -
Abigail - Disney Frozen book + dress
Moe- Book
Ika/Maddie/Ethan - 2x books? (the package was empty and I had to guess this one)
?? -Bubble gun
Lily/Callie - water bottle
Soo min/Teddy - hand me down clothes that were girly and unlikely to be boy appropreate
Ben/Nazomi/Harry -

Foods list -
Apoh:
Jamie/Louise- dip and fancy crackers
Vanessa - salad
Aunty Sally - Lo
Tan Chan
Myself -
Sonia- Walnut and apple cake home baked


Fruits list -
Rhiannon -
Jen - actually paid attention and brought 1 single apple (very fresh and crunchy)
Moe - plums and mango and returned the 2 passionfruit I left at her house a week ago, luckily still edible and fine.

Face painting was a hit with the 6/7 yr olds I wanted to entertain. So that was a cracking idea that was cheap. They had fun painting people themselves lolz. I think that was what was exciting -- cause we had the kit, and its not a pro job -- I only asked my cousin to facilitate it/paint faces - and she picked a kit with a stensil which was a great idea :

Kids love being given a task to complete independently in the style of their choosing (with guidance and assistance etc.) so it was a win win.

1. What are some of your favorite memories with your child?

I'm changing the question to include "from today"

Well today I got out this cutter toy I bought from amazon for a friend's kid who is 1 mo younger than Wendy - but I got one for her too-
its a knife and some metal cut outs and --- there's a bunny shape, a bear and ... I think the other one is sort of a mushroom shape.

And shockingly it works on carrots, cucumber, sorta cabbage, bread.
-- and the knives also work fine, probably not for cabbage though.
Wendy doesn't have the power to use the tools very well though. I showed her how to use the carrot peeler and she sort of got it (it works very well and doesn't seem too sharp). And she can use the cutters with assistance in -- more assistance with harder items - like carrots and cucumbers but slightly less assistance with the bread.

That was pretty fun. it's a cute way to get kids into making food. Probably more value could be had with an older child who was probably 4-5 but, we can start now at almost 2.

My favourite memory will always be what she smelled like for the first 6 days after birth. That is one heeeedy scent. Never have I smelled it again. And I don't think I will -- until kiddo 2 comes along, and I wonder if she will smell the same. That is one potent scent. It's probably a favourite memory because I literally cannot recreate it again (well...) and it can't really be experienced again. Not without an insane amount of effort. It literally is a one time thing.

1. What is the best part of being a parent?
Watching them gain skills and doing things you set out for them.

Like Pete wanted Wendy to feed the cat as a chore. So ever since she could hold a cup we put a cup of cats dry food in her hand and got her to pour it into the cat's bowl. We probably started this since she was about 1?

Today Wendy informed me "feed the cat" I asked her where the cat's bowl is and she pointed out out. I set it up on the mat, got the food gave her the cup and she took the cup of cat's food and said "Thankyou" (kid you not - she actually surprised me) and poured it in the bowl and then clapped for herself.

What a cutie. But also, an (almost) 2 yr old can do chores. Who would have thought.

2. Describe your child(ren) and what makes them special.
I dunno. That she's genetically half my DNA? She's like any other kid otherwise.

3. What is something funny or clever your child has said lately?
Thankyou for the cat food without prompting was pretty good.
identifying her fears - like if she's scared of something she will say "xyz is scary" lol. I think that's a bit next level.

4. What are your parenting goals?
Avoid eating disorders.
avoid body dismorphia
Avoid a person trapped in cohesive controlling relationships or DV style situations

If kiddo is functional and independent and happy and has some give back to the community - that'll be enough really. Everything else will be a bonus. lolz. I want her to be like me but maybe a little better. (next version should always be an improvement, no?)
I hope she likes her parents. 'Cause we're alright people.

5. What are you doing to achieve your parenting goals?
Hum. Not being restrictive on eating. But be the role model. Provide a variety of foods - but that includes the whole spectrum, junks on special occasion to healthy stuff every day. Encourage her to try everything. If she doesn't like anything no cajouling or calling her "stupid" or an "idiot" or missing out (which is what my mum would say). There's no need for this type of language. Food is food. Enjoy a variety. But don't go crazy. Can't have chocies and ice cream every day (I don't purchase them usually).

6. How do you recharge your mind and body?
This journal is pretty good. Sleep helps heaps if I can get it.

I miss proper excersize but its hard when your pregnant and feel restricted in many ways. Especially with a cruddy pelvic floor. Probably makes it more important that I prioritise excersize but restriction just builds malaise- for me anyway.

7. What does balancing family, friends and work mean to you?
Don't give up on your friends without children. Priorities may differ but as long as they're not giving up on you or asking you to do impossible things and not being a little bit flexible for you - don't expect them to always wanna hang out with ur kid or hear about ur kid. It's your kid not theirs. But also I don't not want to share the challenges entirely. Like we all have our issues and friendship is about sharing your issues, not hiding them. But I'd pick my issues.

Ok you can't have everything. So work is part time for me now, which is nice -but also I can see how career opportunities are just impossible with part time. If you don't sign a form you'll get stuck with the shit shifts. Which is fine if that suits - but it's not always fine all the time. And when it's not fine it sucks. But, I'm going for mat leave soon so they can suck it.

cbb caring about work 2 weeks before I go on leave.



Going through these: journal prompts

After 2 days of no nappies and no pants - barenakid bum, Wendy finally did a poop on the toilet. She must be so sick of not wearing any pants.

( day one )



Day 1 ended late, and she slept fine but woke up early. Early being 545am.
We had morning nen nen.

Then it was night nappy off - and it was a very heavy night nappy too.

I tried to clean out a closet a little - didn't make much headway - whilst watching kiddo for any signs of pee or poop.

We got a small puddle in front of the fishtank when I obviously wasn't looking close enough.

Then brekky. Moody all morning - not enough sleep. More nen nen-
and then I decided to take her (and myself) for an early nap at 1030.
I went to work.

Almost arrived late due to waking up at noon.

Apparently kiddo was so tired she slept 4 hours until 14:30.

It was a lovely rainy day (not lovely to drive to work in) but lovely to sleep in.

And then my mum caught her first poop in the toilet on camera.

Hopefully it continues.

Small victories.

Apparently after that my mum couldn't get her off the pot.

It's meant to be Christmas at an exended family member's house tomorrow and I intend to keep potty training her. Although in a dress rather than a t shirt so her bottom is at least covered.

I hope to line the car seat with cloth nappy just incase. Hopefully we make it through the car ride ok.