tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957882367660519502024-03-14T18:12:05.059+00:00Bump2Basics: Random Musings From an American Mom in LondonTanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-51881891524341181982012-02-04T22:29:00.000+00:002012-02-04T22:29:11.797+00:00I've Moved to www.bump2basics.comThis blog has a new home - going forward I hope you will join me at<a href="http://www.bump2basics.com/"> www.bump2basics.com</a>.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-63010222741650879882012-01-27T00:00:00.003+00:002012-01-27T00:13:05.974+00:00Two trips around the sun...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGAaVf1CWgIfQBqc0UAhXwUkSkaaaY1WrY4roUho09eYHI-Wapgat6ET1-U_xEsGcFS1cUNEJZ02aWG7x1puN0C0ip1MrlzwtxYhaXrLs5HFX5gZaWBPaJvgycB2H3bH_BliX7ftI7G-A/s1600/Charlotte+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGAaVf1CWgIfQBqc0UAhXwUkSkaaaY1WrY4roUho09eYHI-Wapgat6ET1-U_xEsGcFS1cUNEJZ02aWG7x1puN0C0ip1MrlzwtxYhaXrLs5HFX5gZaWBPaJvgycB2H3bH_BliX7ftI7G-A/s320/Charlotte+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>You charge, as in run with a purpose....<br />
-And then deliver a big open-mouthed kiss on my lips and nose<br />
-At animals screeching, and often scare them in your enthusiasm<br />
-Away from daddy when he's seeking a scrum<br />
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You love....<br />
-Our cat Rico, though remember he is not a horse for riding<br />
-Your mom and dad (you've started to tell us and we freeze frame those moments in our heads)<br />
-Bumper, Morris and your bed-time crowd - it's growing so popular soon there won't be room in your bed for you<br />
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You chatter a lot, like your mama, and are strong-minded, again like your mama...<br />
-"LLC do it. No, this way, not that way."<br />
-"Rico sit on LLC's lap."<br />
-"Want cake mommy." Want kiwi and more milk." How do you ask nicely? "Pease?"<br />
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Your fascinated with the art of dressing and undressing....<br />
-Zipping up your boots<br />
-Pulling down your trousers<br />
-Wearing my high heels and your dad's slippers<br />
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You enjoy....<br />
-Examining my teeth<br />
-Swimming in the bath and jumping in the pool<br />
-Drumming on that shortbread tin to hard rock<br />
-Coloring, painting, mess-making<br />
-Dusting the house with a napkin or baby wipe<br />
-Singing 'Jingle Bells', your 'ABCs' and 'Row Row Row Your Boat'<br />
-Laying on the couch with the fleecey blanket for a cuddle<br />
-Rubbing lotion on my bump<br />
-Role play, as in making food, taking care of Baby Petal, parading with your own pocketbook<br />
-Reading - this week's fav is "Good Night America" (USA! USA!)<br />
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You don't enjoy....<br />
-Sock fluff in the bath<br />
-Being confined in a stroller. It is no longer your friend.<br />
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Every day you....<br />
-Call for us first thing in the morning,come in bed for a cuddle and then kick us in the face<br />
-Learn something new and surprise us<br />
-Issue your orders<br />
-Bid the turtle and fish photos goodnight after bath<br />
-Choose your bed-time story. Or five.<br />
-Make our hearts swell with love, joy and pride - I never <i>really</i> knew it would be this good but now I do....<br />
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HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY LLC - XXTanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-47043277658756382602012-01-25T22:46:00.001+00:002012-01-25T22:53:58.490+00:00Late Night in AmsterdamLLC started off 2012 with a few more imaginary stamps in her passport when we packed our bags and drove to The Netherlands for the PhD Conferral of my dear confidant, wedding photographer and friend TVC. She's Dutch, and now she's a Doctor!<br />
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TVC's folks kindly offered us a room in their house just outside Amsterdam. Kind, generous, and as experienced short-term foster care providers for babies and young toddlers, they welcomed us with open arms and we could not have asked for a more child-friendly and relaxing base. LLC received scores of attention and food, discovered the joys of the iPad and made a great friend in TVC's sister D. Chris and I were gifted a child-free outing to The Hague for some history (<a href="http://www.vredespaleis.nl/default.asp?tl=1">Peace Palace</a>, home to the ICJ), art (<a href="http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/culture-and-arts/museums/Mauritshuis-16.htm">Mauritshuis</a>) and hot chocolate. We also visited the interactive natural history <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g188630-d319261-Reviews-National_Museum_of_Natural_History_Naturalis-Leiden_Zuid_Holland.html">Museum Naturalis</a> in Leiden with LLC where she posed with a gorilla and clambered over rock and earth exhibits.<br />
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Then to top off all the excitement, LLC attended her first academic ceremony in the company and saving grace of raisins and partied until late in Amsterdam. Not too shabby for an almost 2 year-old.<br />
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I really enjoyed catching up with TVC, her boyfriend, family and friends that I've gotten to know over the years. LLC drank in the experience with her usual adaptability and interest in the new. I've always said she is spirited, but with this phase of toddler-hood this spirit seems continually on the rise. I'll leave you with this image.<br />
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It's after 9pm and we are in a bar in Amsterdam post PhD officiations. LLC has had a long day of ceremonies and celebration and is full on couscous and apple pie but showing no signs of tiredness. Chris and I turn our backs for only a moment and turn around to find her charging at TVC's boyfriend's grandma with wielding a balloon and roaring. It's a friendly but aggressive roar and we need to move quickly to restrain her. Fortunately grandma takes it in good spirits. We choose that moment to bundle a protesting LLC into her stroller and break through the bar's buzz into the crisp January night. It takes a 20 minute walk down and around one of the Central Canals for LLC to drop off. Chris and I smile at her defiant lips, pursed in sleep and enjoy our quiet family moment. <br />
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Then baby #2 starts to pummel me from within and I need to pee, so we dash back to the bar.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-6648036605541657592011-12-29T19:42:00.002+00:002012-01-18T22:42:38.409+00:00Danger Drumming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mbbGp5r-rnU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Just ignore the horrible throw, laundry and general mess....and enjoy the dangerous madness. Yes, we are encouraging LLC to aim away from her face, and ours....Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-32559580902653996932011-12-25T22:53:00.003+00:002012-01-18T22:52:52.630+00:00Merry ChristmasChristmas reacquires the "wonder element" with children that is partially lost somewhere along the fuzzy transition into adulthood. Although LLC doesn't fully comprehend the ethos and lore of this holiday, she does much more so than last year and its been special watching (the run up to) today unfold through her eyes. Some of our highlights have been:<br />
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-Opening our USA sourced picture-based Advent Calendar throughout December....naming all the Christmas-related and winter scenes behind each window. <br />
-Teaching LLC about Santa, his impending visit, and her emergent recognition and discussion of him.<br />
-Wrapping presents with the help / hindrance of small go-getting hands and conversations about giving / appreciating those that we love.<br />
-Visiting a favorite forest pub and unwinding before an open fire.<br />
-Playing the "name the ornament on the tree" game.<br />
- Leaving out a mince pie and glass of brandy for Santa / carrots for Rudolf and Co.<br />
-The look of excitement on LLC's face when she finally noticed her new tricycle next to the fireplace this morning.<br />
-Delving into the contents below the tree...<br />
-Beach walks with family and friends - the ultimate re-invigoration.<br />
-Saving LLC from falling spread eagle into a huge puddle in her Christmas dress.<br />
-Eating fine food, and lots of it.<br />
-Watching my bump dance each evening post dinner - baby #2 likes his food already!<br />
-Our transatlantic skype call where LLC decided to strip for the camera.<br />
-Stopping to relax and drink the day in - it's been a good one - I hope for you too.<br />
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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy holidays all!Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-30678880664104605342011-12-21T21:21:00.003+00:002012-01-18T23:26:57.527+00:00LLC TootFrom the shores of Long Island to the brown tides of the Thames, men are no different when it comes to pride in their bodily functions. Why why why? I don’t understand how a person could take such pride in the volume, stealth or noxiousness of what is quite natural but foul - the expulsion of intestinal gas.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And how can something so common but so best left in the toilet command such a raft of names: gas, wind, fart, cut the cheese, trump, and now in our house, “toot.” Because that is the newest addition to LLC’s burgeoning vocabulary and it’s thanks to her daddy, alongside her less developed social inhibitions.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Chris and LLC were camped out on the sofa when she happened to let one rip. “LLC,” Chris declared proudly. “You went toot!” And a new phrase, understanding and misplaced pride took root in our almost 2 year-old.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“LLC toot. LLC toot,”</i> she chirped, grinning. And of course the phrase stuck. It’s now right up there with her version of clock (“cock”) and treat (“tit”). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What next?!</div>Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-67935575476107109782011-12-14T23:40:00.001+00:002011-12-14T23:43:58.631+00:00Extraordinary Breastfeeding - But What About the Kids?After my now compulsory fix of 'Professional Masterchef' (how did I never discover 'Masterchef' before?!) I managed to catch a chunk of the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478300/">'Extraordinary Breasfeeding'</a> documentary. I'm sure I heard rumblings about this portrayal of parents that breastfeed past the age of two in the UK, though I'd never seen the film myself. I'm also sure the content has previously given ample fodder to the blogging and journalistic world and beyond, but here are my two cents as a pro-breastfeeding woman.<br />
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I appreciate the benefits, and in my case with LLC the relative ease of breastfeeding, and respect those that choose to do it just as I respect those who can't or don't. Bottom line it's a personal choice in my view.<br />
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Having breastfed I also appreciate how it comes to strike a real emotional and bonding chord, whether this is invited / expected or not. I definitely felt a sense of loss when I stopped feeding LLC, but at the same time I felt confident it was the right time for the both of us.<br />
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I'm sure many who viewed this documentary found it "disgusting" or "unsettling" by virtue of the fact it showed children up to 8 years old still feeding and a father admitting jealously of his kids as he also liked to be breastfed (and indeed sometimes still did - it was a family activity!).<br />
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What I'm in a quandary about is the impact of this well into childhood feeding on the children themselves. I stopped feeding LLC around the time she turned 1 and I do appreciate that for some it's preferable to feed longer until 2 or just after. But once you reach a point where your children actively discuss and will remember the act, for me, it's time to pull the plug.<br />
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Children are so impressionable, and I expect the later a mother leaves it to stop breastfeeding, the harder it may become to wean her child off the breast. I'm less concerned that toddler and child feeding breaks social norms, but more curious at how it may lead to unhealthy attachment issues between mother / child. I question whether mothers feeding this late are largely swayed by their own selfish sense of loss at stopping rather than truly acting in their child's own interest. <br />
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Once children grow mature enough to no longer request feeding (unless a case of 'Bitty' ensues), how will they feel about the late feeding? Will it just be their norm, or could it really disturb them a bit and make them feel some boundaries were violated. I'm not saying it would definitely be the latter, but it likely could.<br />
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It's a sensitive topic and these are only my views. I'm not saying others should feel the same, but I wonder what your thoughts are on the subject?Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-77622588118483382872011-11-30T22:47:00.001+00:002011-11-30T22:50:55.429+00:00Blue on the BrainThroughout this second pregnancy Chris and I debated if we should find out the baby’s gender. We did with LLC – I always felt that I’d want to be surprised but when push came to shove in that ultrasound room, I couldn’t wait. My want to know got the better of me. Not even because I wanted to kit out baby’s room or know what colour clothes to buy.....I just wanted to know.<br />
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This time, we seriously considered not finding out and having that magic moment where we meet our child in the flesh and take that life-shaping glance at their anatomy. But again, I just couldn’t do it. Even Chris, who first time around would have happily waited had I not been so keen, seemed to want to know.<br />
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So at my 21 week ultrasound we asked the question and tada – it’s a boy! A healthy baby boy.<br />
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A boy....as in not a girl....? I have to admit, I was slightly stunned. Having grown up in a house of two girls and now as mom to LLC, girls have become my comfort zone and a big part of me kept picturing baby number 2 as another little lady. But as the ultrasound technician kept pointing out, we’ve definitely got a little dude on the scene or something is really awry down below.<br />
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Now that I’ve got my head around it, I’m really excited. If we only have two children, we’ll have had both the son and daughter experience. My aunt tells me little boys really love their mothers. My work colleague/mother of a small lad tells me little boys are wonderful. I never doubted it, but I’m also sure I won’t fully appreciate the thrill of my boy until he pops out and I get to know him.<br />
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In the immediate, one of my first thoughts was that I’m going to have to learn how to clean boy parts and avoid being sprayed! So mothers of sons out there, talk to me! What new adventures will life bring for us in the blue zone?Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-88703628802343739602011-11-15T11:37:00.002+00:002011-11-15T11:41:47.260+00:00The things we do for our childrenI was walking through our local park, home to<a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2010/06/walk-on-wild-side.html"> tactless teens</a> and <a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2011/07/friday-faux-pas.html">moody mums</a>, when I heard an almighty wail. Distracted from our duck watching, LLC and I turned to see a little girl of about four burst into a tearful meltdown while her mother wrestled desperately with a long reed. At first glance it was a bizarre sight.<br />
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And then I saw it: a small doll, partially enveloped by the murky algae-rife water of the adjacent pond, gently bobbing away three feel below the pavement lining the water’s edge. I now approached sympathetically just as the mother won her battle with the reed and our eyes met.<br />
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<i>“Would you keep your eye on my two while I try to fish out her dolly,”</i> she desperately enquired motioning at her hysterical daughter and slightly stunned smaller son, confined within a pushchair. <br />
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<i>“Sure, of course.”</i> I murmured gentle words of encouragement to the little girl as her mother poked and prodded her doll through the railing. With each unsuccessful effort, her level of hysteria mounted. The reed was just too short.<br />
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<i>“I better try from the other side of the railing,”</i> the mother reasoned. She moved further down the pavement where the railing began and moved to the other side, gripping it as she shimmied along the concrete slant leading to the water’s edge. <br />
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Try as she might, the doll was still out of her reach. Her daughter’s tears reached a new powerful crescendo while her son and LLC watched on in awe from their strollers. <br />
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<i>“Here, take my hand,”</i> I offered. We locked fingers and I braced my shoulder against the railing for leverage. <i>“I’ve got you.”</i> I extended my full arm through the bars until the railing dug into my shoulder. But that reed was flimsy and useless, and the doll swirled and dipped with each failed attempt to fish it out.<br />
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<i>“If I lay down and you grab my ankle, maybe I’ll be able to reach just a big further,”</i> Reed Mama cringed.<br />
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<i>“Sure, yes, go for it,”</i> I tried to pump her up. <i>“Okay, I’ve got your ankle. I won’t let you go.” </i><br />
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And this is how another kind mother found us. She promptly detached the sun cover of her pushchair and passed it down to Reed Mama, who used it as a much more effective fishing line to catch and capture the sodden dolly. We three mothers exhaled, and cheered.<br />
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Back on level ground on the right side of the railing, Reed Mama presented the beloved dolly to her crestfallen little lady. Dirty and wet, the doll reflected the wear and tear of her ordeal and this brought on a fresh wave of wailing.<br />
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Reed mama rolled her eyes at me, dusting the dirt from her clothing.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-3467524859913386482011-11-06T18:16:00.001+00:002011-11-06T18:20:40.441+00:00Snapshot from our neck of the woodsThe last several weeks have passed in a blur – not a bad blur, but a blur all the same. I’m tired, and although we’ve been on the go and I’ve been travelling more than usual for work, this is mainly due to my penchant for going to bed at midnight, 1am and sometimes even later. I’d ask Chris to drag me up the stairs to bed but he’s just as bad as me in this department.<br />
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I don’t have time revel in this pregnancy as I did the first time around. I still subscribe to the weekly update emails, but I rarely a spare moment or feel compelled to read them. Pregnancy comes with less of the ‘wonder’ element. My main focus is keeping up with an active toddler! Here are some of our updates:<br />
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<b>LLC:</b> Dynamic, opinionated, feisty, affectionate with a rapidly expanding vocabulary and love of the ‘repeat after mama’ game. She’s really into dancing, drumming even though we don’t have a drum set (but with real drum sticks – totally dangerous) and singing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’ Our fab friends from Devon just stayed for the weekend with their little toddler and the two girls managed to play and share together with a moderate amount of violence and paddies. Result!<br />
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<b>Pregnancy:</b> I’m now at 19 weeks and my bump is definitely bigger than it was at this point with LLC. Alice at <a href="http://morethantoast.org/">More than Toast</a> aptly says this is because the second time around your “abs are shot to shit,” or something like that and I think she’s on the money. Dressing has become a fun game, since many of my regular clothes no longer fit but my old maternity wear is mostly too baggy. It’s getting harder to flip over in bed from one side to the other without feeling like I might pull something and I’ve regularly felt the baby moving about for the last couple of weeks. <br />
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<b>Exercise with Bump:</b> Keeping fit is important to me, and issues aside, I plan to keep running until the weather gets too bad, or my bump obstructs my view of my feet! I’ve also re-started pregnancy yoga, which is some lovely, incense fuelled zen time for me. Having solely used yoga breathing as my method of pain relief for LLC, returning to this class was really important to me.<br />
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<b>Halloween</b>: American festivity runs through my veins, so I enjoy that Halloween has become more celebrated in the UK. Aside from retailers totally cashing in, I enjoy carving pumpkins and singing witch songs to LLC. It's actually a great creative avenue for kids. We dressed her as pumpkin and she went to her first late-night costume party where she sampled an array of normal and spooky food and chased after balloons before crashing out on her nap-mat.<br />
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<b>Work:</b> Very busy. I don’t tend to discuss my job here on the blog but I benefit from working part-time for an employer that affords me lots of opportunity. Things are going well for me in this department though a side affect lately has been an aversion of the computer after hours, cutting in to my blog time and making me fall seriously behind on emails. Sigh.<br />
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So that’s life right now. Nothing riveting, but very full. Although I’ve been quite quiet on this blog lately I have lots I’d likely to write about here so hopefully I’ll re-find some sort of balance. Watch this space Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-23225791140479881702011-10-11T21:52:00.001+01:002011-10-11T23:16:12.698+01:00When Three Become FourThose who have been with me on this parenting journey from the start may remember I announced my pregnancy on this blog with the confidence inspiring tale of Chris and I arriving home to find our kitten locked in the fridge (he was fine – read the story <a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2009/07/cat-is-out-of-bag.html">here</a>). How were we ever to handle a baby?<br />
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I’m still often clueless about child development issues beyond LLC’s current stage. I often don’t know what to do in the parenting department, make mistakes, or find myself in tricky situations, like when LLC tried to launch her slippery body from my arms in the gym shower after we went swimming, resulting in a mad clutch and scramble that led to a head butt against the shower wall and many tears. Incidents like this aside, I have generally grown in confidence in my abilities and instincts as a parent. <br />
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So now that things are running smoothly enough, we’ve decided to introduce another major dimension to all our lives – another baby! Yes, I’m pregnant, 16 weeks today.<br />
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I have no doubt that we’re going to have our hands full, but like anything with parenting, I’ve learned that I won’t really understand the full extent of this until baby arrives. Overall LLC has been a relatively easy baby, so does that mean we’re due for some major drama with baby number 2? You just never know and even my planning mind is switching off from even attempting to imagine how we’ll find our groove in this next chapter.<br />
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I’ve been fortunate so far that this is again proving a comfortable pregnancy, free from any serious morning sickness or other ailments. I’m tired, but this no doubt has something to do with a small toddler running circles around me. My body is already changing, and my mini bump is probably already 2-3 weeks larger than it was at this point in my first pregnancy. I had heard this would be the case, but for entertainment purposes, I’m going to again take weekly bump shots and compare them to how the bump took shape first time around.<br />
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Let the games begin!Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-71639141664994461802011-09-30T23:54:00.004+01:002011-10-01T01:13:06.263+01:00My Petite Frite - Why LLC is Bilingual While Chris and I are notAs a little kid, I can remember speaking gibberish to my sister in the supermarket, faithfully believing that other customers would think we were speaking another language.<br />
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The difference for LLC is that hopefully, she actually will be.<br />
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When I was heavily pregnant with LLC one of my neighbours stopped me in the street to let me know she was becoming a childminder, and would I need her services in due course?<br />
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Having bought into the London pre-booking nursery craze, we’d already booked LLC into a local nursery three days a week even though she wasn’t yet born and I was no longer gainfully employed. Madness. So initially, I didn’t consider her offer too seriously, even though now the answer would be a total no brainer for me.<br />
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But at some point, Chris and I actually sat back and considered the convenience of dropping LLC with a neighbour literally five seconds from our front door. So I asked for more information, and really liked what I saw. The cost was significantly lower than the nursery, and my neighbour’s creative, laid back but firm style felt comfortable to me. Plus, there was the French offer.<br />
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My neighbour, I’ll call her C, is French but is married to a Brit and has been living in the UK for a number of years. And one of the benefits she pitched as part of her childminding service was speaking to LLC in French.<br />
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You might think I leapt at this opportunity, but I didn’t – quite the reverse. The offer discomfited me. If Chris or I spoke another language, I believe we would definitely have raised LLC in a bilingual style from the start. But this was different, in my mind. LLC would only be with C 3 days a week, and I was concerned whether this would be enough to enlighten her, or merely confuse her and impede her English development. Plus, if C had other children that she didn’t speak French to, would this end up confusing LLC further, leading to her mixing her languages?<br />
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I asked a number of friends and family what they would do and received a mixed reply. Some said it was a wonderful thing to do for LLC, others understood my concerns. My conversation with the mother of a little boy C used to regularly babysit ultimately tipped the balance for me. She said even if her son didn’t come away from his time with C fluent in French, she felt that exposing him to French so early on, while his sponge-like young brain was taking shape, would potentially “wire” an innate capacity for French into him that he would hopefully pick up on later.<br />
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For whatever reason this rationalisation struck a chord with me and Chris and I decided to go for it, enrolling LLC with C with the understanding she would speak French to her.<br />
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Fast forward just over a year. Oh how naive was this over-concerned mama! LLC’s inherent aptitude for learning has guided her, and she’s picking up the French in leaps and bounds. She never mixes languages or has tried speaking French to me, her English vocabulary is developing and she never appears thrown whether C speaks to her in French, or English when addressing other children or me. <br />
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On a recent trip to the Loire Valley, LLC frequently said “Merci” and “Au revoir” when I observe C speaking French to her, she understands and responds in action, even if not yet words.<br />
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So we haven’t looked back, and seeing what I do now I can’t believe I questioned giving LLC this opportunity. Plus, perhaps this will be a kick up the bum for me, rapidly losing my six years of school Spanish, to reconnect with language. I’m tired of being a spoiled purely English speaker!Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-56041904526444635572011-09-27T20:43:00.002+01:002011-10-01T01:13:32.974+01:00W...W...E....What?!Hysterical laughter greets me at the door following my Sunday morning run. <br />
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<i>Wow, all the fun happens around here when I’m out</i>, I think as Chris greets me on the threshold.<br />
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<i>“You have to check out LLC,”</i> he grins, padding back in the direction of our living room.<br />
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<i>What’s she got up to now, </i>I muse, grabbing some water and trailing after.<i> Maybe she’s upended the laundry basket and is rolling around in our clothes?</i> Cue crescendo of laughter. <br />
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M<i>aybe she’s got Rico our cat in a headlock, poor boy. Or possibly Chris has riled her up with one of the many “indoor” ball games they play?</i> I brace myself for carnage. Cue high pitched hysterical fit of giggles.<br />
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Nothing prepares me for the sight I find. LLC’s toys remain in their box, giving the room an uncharacteristically calm and tidy aura for a Sunday morning. On the couch sit Chris and LLC, like possessed zealots, eyes animatedly fixed to the television. And there on the flat screen, two half-naked men are rolling around, hair streaming, punches flying, slam dunking each other across a wrestling ring. It’s <a href="http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw">WWE “Raw”</a> or something like that, but why is it on my television and why is my daughter lapping it up?!<br />
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With that, LLC leaps up as one fighter pounds the other into the floor, all smiles, practically pumping her fist in an animated cheer. And I look at Chris like he’s crazy, and with a click of the remote put an end to the fun before LLC has any more time re-invent herself as a WWE wrestling champ. I shudder at the thought.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-66938748919145344122011-09-20T22:35:00.003+01:002011-09-20T23:04:13.044+01:00MagicChildren are magic. Maybe it takes becoming a parent and having your own kids to marvel at to really realize this. Maybe it’s just a matter of temporarily disconnecting from the noise of adult life to observe children and see the world through their eyes to recognize it.<br />
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What I do know, is that LLC has the striking ability to cut through my consciousness at the most unanticipated times, stopping me in my tracks and providing respite to my heart and mind as if a restorative tonic.<br />
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<i>Like when I’m struggling to prepare LLC’s dinner, prep for Chris and my dinner and wash the dishes from breakfast and lunch when LLC burrows her head in my bum and throws her arms around my waist.</i><br />
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<i>Or when I’m huffing and puffing up a hill on my bicycle, cursing the exertion of it all when I notice LLC lolling from side to side in the seat on the back of Chris’ bike; the fresh air and motion have lulled her to sleep.</i><br />
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<i>Like when LLC stands tall, shoulder backs, belly out (no holding in the stomach for her!) focusing her attention 100% on learning how to remove a CD from a CD case.</i><br />
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<i>Or when she gets frustrated and slaps me, but the immediately provides a gentle follow-up stroke and cheeky kiss. In her mind the latter has completely undone her previous assault. We are working on this to encourage this affection in its own right rather than as an apology!</i><br />
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Such small but significant moments. I think it has something to do with children’s innocence, instinct and the ability to live wholly in the present, drinking in each sensory experience for what it actually is. Though it’s impossible to live adult life from the same perspective, it’s still a compelling and invigorating one that cuts through my busy thoughts and reminds me to remember the little things. And for that I smile.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-17039504127113054482011-08-24T23:07:00.000+01:002011-08-24T23:07:09.022+01:00Magic word confusionLLC has forged her own version of the “magic word:” NO.<br />
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It comes out as “noooo,” and almost sounds like a yodel. It’s pretty cute, and because of this it can be easy to forget that she’s repeatedly shunning the affirmative and voicing her opposition, even when the answer clearly is yes!<br />
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Cue eye rub. <i>“LLC, are you tired?” “NO!”</i> Okay, I understand, she has already developed a love of being awake and not missing anything.<br />
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But then, cue dinner time, and LLC loves her food. <i>“LLC, are you hungry? Let’s go get some dinner.” “NO!”</i> Yet then she’ll reconsider and start using her “eat” sign.<br />
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Next cue really bad smell.<i> “LLC, do you need your diaper changed?” “NO!”</i> And then she’ll wander off in the direction of her changing mat.<br />
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I’m not sure where “yes” is hiding in her daily expanding vocabulary, but it hasn’t yet come out to play. I wondered if maybe I say no a lot, but I don’t think I do, since at our sing and sign class I also learned the sign for stop and I often use this instead of no when I want her to quit something. I’ve also been trying to respond to negative actions by responding with what a more appropriate positive action would be, as suggested to me in a previous post.<br />
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I guess through this phase of NO I must bear in mind the old adage that actions speak louder than words!Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-27170704274588744732011-08-09T11:02:00.003+01:002011-08-09T14:34:17.103+01:00How much of the England Riot shame starts in the home?<i>Devastated, disgusted and frustrated</i>. This is my initial reaction to the senseless, barbaric looting and rioting unfolding on my London doorstep and quickly spreading across England like wildfire. It’s horrific to see vibrant city streets crumbling and burning at the hands of, largely, young people without discernable conscience or respect for social order. How else can we explain those willing to crush the homes and livelihood of the innocent by throwing petrol bombs or breaking shop windows with the same ease they’d use to switch off a light? How did things come to this? Were they never taught about values and consequences at home?<br />
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The fatal shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham by police, still under investigation, proved the catalyst for this mayhem. Yet the root cause of the riots of the last three days runs far deeper than this incident in my opinion. Mark’s peaceful protest gone wrong appears a worrying testament to the latent tensions brewing across the country, poisoning our society and fundamentally blurring the line between right and wrong.<br />
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Fortunately the closest I’ve ever come to anti-social youth was riding the train home from work one evening. I was in my early 20s, and with Chris. Two young boys, probably in their early teens, were smoking on the train. It wasn’t the height of rush hour so the train wasn’t packed. A number of us asked the kids to put out their cigarettes. They scoffed. Then they snubbed them out on the train seat, only to light up again. This pattern continued our entire train ride home. Perhaps naively, I was shocked how these boys just <i>did not care</i>. They had no respect for Authority, and that they weren’t supposed to be smoking on the train. They had no respect for fellow passengers. They acted as if they were untouchable, and how dare we even attempt to mess with that.<br />
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This memory always stays with me. It reinforced my knowledge that I have to keep my wits about me living in a city; it also worried me and discourages me from attempting to reason with wanton youth, for fear of a worse result than pure scoffing and a face full of cigarette smoke. I don’t believe people in the street should sanction anti-social behaviour by teens and children, but simultaneously stories of people being stabbed for asking youth to stop messing around prove a pretty big deterrent.<br />
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So what to do now, now that an unfortunate incident has been blown out of proportion and become an excuse for seemingly bored, angry, frustrated young people to run feral and destroy society in their wake? Undoubtedly the police are working hard at quelling this challenging situation, yet so far they appear a limited disincentive to rioters and that is worrying. Should they be using limited force or tear gas or rubber bullets? Or would this just lead to a portrait of them assaulting human rights? Should the army be called in, as many were suggesting on news boards and in social media?<br />
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And what to do with the perpetrators as they gradually are identified and charged? How can we genuinely get through to the “untouchable” to show that their behaviour hurts the innocent and is unacceptable? Some are calling for a re-introduction of a National Service-like programme. Most importantly, how to we rehabilitate more than condemn? What do you think? <br />
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Yes, burning London and England-wide cities are a wake- up call about the ripple effects of poverty, lack of education, gang warfare and survival of the fittest mentalities that run deep in England for which there are no easy solution. But when we strip that all away, and ask how these kids came to be involved in such rioting, I can’t help wondering where their parents are? I know I can’t tar them all with the same brush and that often bad eggs/influences in society may cloud positive family influences but I can’t help feeling shame for these rioting children, and shame for the parents that don’t know where their children are or who won’t chastise their children’s behaviour as anti-social, cruel and wrong. I'm not talking about dumping their child with social services either - I'm talking about taking some personal responsibility and being involved in a positive way. <br />
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I may be speaking out of turn, but how did we reach a point where young people are running rampant destroying English cities? I’m not saying that there aren’t very real challenges in our society that need addressing or that these children and young adults shouldn’t be held directly accountable for their actions. I just wonder why they never learned that for every bit of good they put back into the world they are one step closer to tackling inequity. And that anti-social behavior or rioting or cruelty will only cause hurt, condemnation and more struggles. <br />
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These are messages we should all be sharing with our children in hopes that gradually we will collectively generate goodwill, that as part of the bigger picture, will help shift the balance away from the madness of late.<br />
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</i><br />
<i>*For a take on why rioters feel like they don't belong to "the community", read <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/camila-batmanghelidjh-caring-costs-ndash-but-so-do-riots-2333991.html">Camila Batmanghelidjh</a></i><br />
<i>She makes a compelling case for more proactive approaches to social inclusion with fair insights into the anti-society where rioters may be coming from. I don't feel, however, that this negates personal and in some cases parental accountability for the goings on of late. Rehabilitation of this mindset is key, just not cheap or easy.</i>Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-13380649006560144342011-08-05T13:47:00.001+01:002011-08-05T14:03:36.159+01:00Bliss meets late night flight fandangoHello again, I’m breaking my silence. Part of the reason for it was that last week Chris, LLC and I jetted off to Malta for a last minute break. This was our first week long family holiday of three to somewhere hot, but not too hot, we’re talking the low 30s C / high 80s/low 90s F.<br />
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And it was bliss. I rarely (if ever) swim in the sea or an outdoor pool in the UK without being cold. I get cold easily, but still. To play in the water, to make drip castles in the sand, to be generally sun kissed on a daily basis was something I’m not used to and really appreciated. And so did LLC.<br />
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I referred to <a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2011/01/long-haul-lifesavers-my-top-10-tips-for.html">my tips</a> for taking a one-year old on a long haul flight (even though this was short haul) and unsurprisingly found that some of them weren’t applicable (no more boob on tap for take-off, no bulkhead seats on offer, etc), though armed with snacks and lightweight distractions, we had LLC happily playing on our laps. She even sat for about half an hour in the small space by our feet on the floor. She likes small spaces. Amazingly she didn't ask to parade the cabin. But I quickly saw what others indicated – flying with small children quickly evolves into a different ball game, even with the passing of months.<br />
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And once we arrived, LLC drank everything in and coped with the heat like a native. We made sure to bring her inside during the middle of each day for a nap and some down time, but aside from that, a UFV sun suit and hat from <a href="http://www.konfidence.co.uk/">Konfidence</a> and a healthy dose of sun cream each day, LLC was business as usual. Running around, exploring, splashing, chatting and people watching. <br />
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Used to city breaks and more active travelling, I felt a little strange being largely resort based though our aim for this trip was to chill out, which we did, and I can't fault the resort's convenience for a child. Everything was on our doorstep, it was easy to pop LLC upstairs for a midday nap, she could eat for free at certain times in a couple of the hotel's restaurants and we also managed to wheel her out asleep in her pushchair on the nights we went for a late dinner or evening drink. I’m not sure how much more mileage we’ll get out of that night transplant from bed to stroller and back trick, but it’s handy while it lasts! And to satisfy our want of exploring, we did rent a car and visited Mdina, Valetta, Saint Julians and much of the rugged, barren limestone that is Malta - I hadn't realised it must really be only about the size of the Isle of Wight.<br />
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Refreshed and happy, we boarded our 9:40pm flight home last night hoping LLC would conk right out. Hope springs eternal. Conk out? She freaked out! Overtired, she did not want to be strapped onto Chris or my lap for takeoff. (This highlighted to me that although she will be under 2 next time we fly to NY, we will really need to get LLC her own seat). We fortunately had an empty seat in between us she that she could claim once cruising, but oh, to get to that point. She went mental. Crying, gasping, gagging, flailing, gouging, arching. Forget the snacks and toys. She was past the point of no return. A “well meaning” flight attendant, who I’m sure didn’t have children, asked "didn’t have any toys to share with her?" Had she not noticed the book or teddy that just flew through the air when proffered? <br />
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Finally, once we were allowed to unclip LLC, she moved to her “own” seat but took about 2 hours of the 3 hour flight to settle. She kept laying down, popping up, cuddling us, standing up on the seat, trying to climb on us, all the while clearly tired but the well lit cabin didn’t exactly scream sleep. Unlike the long haul red eye flights to NY, there was no dimming of the cabin lights.<br />
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So would we do it again? Most definitely; I'm not a resort-only type of person who can spend all day by a pool but definitely enjoyed the change of pace and the convenience of it. Ideally I'd mix these types of holidays with more adverture/exploring ones, probably "harder" with children but still near and dear to our hearts (and hopefully LLC's if she gets a taste for them growing up). The only thing I would reconsider is taking a short haul night flight home – after a long day we were all tired but the environment didn’t invite rest and I quickly found my zen state fading fast. The forever learning curve continues.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-13278900974333060502011-07-21T23:52:00.003+01:002011-07-21T23:53:57.172+01:00Down UnderHello down there in between my legs. No, I’m not being rude! I’ve just got a little person peeping through my not so pin-like pins in a manner that unsurprisingly brings back acute memories of giving birth. This is the new trend of the week in our household.<br />
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Yes, LLC likes to “hang out” in between my legs. If I lay in bed with my legs bent she’ll wriggle through them to say hello (thus the birth memories!) and give me a cuddle. Maybe this feels extra cozy to her?<br />
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She’s also started frequently crawling through my legs and back while I’m standing, or walking, or attempting to walk. It’s like I’m some type of mommy cave. She sees an opening, scuttles through and then pops her head out the other side, giggling up at me. Then she’s back out the other side. <br />
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For an extra bonus, if I happen to be wearing pants (sorry trousers) with a ties or drawstrings on them, she will pull at the strings and attempt to take me for a walk. This can get tricky, and has led to a few close call tripping incidents.<br />
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What strange habits are your children crafting this week?Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-35796340236958750012011-07-18T16:38:00.000+01:002011-07-18T16:38:10.472+01:00Blink at your own riskI’m sure every month I comment on how LLC is now really interacting with the world, increasing her understanding and expressing her desires. I may sound like a broken record, but every month I see her become more of her own person in all of these respects and while I should be used to the rapid development leaps by now, they still never cease to amaze me.<br />
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Lately she’s all about movement. After retiring her love of knee walking, LLC lingered with regular paced toddling before developing a penchant for running. And she is quick. All I need to do is take my eyes off her for a brief second, and she’s off in the other direction, picking up stones (what is it with small children and stones?!), giving our cat an overly enthusiastic stroke, clambering towards an unlocked park gate leading to a lake, gnawing a Bounty bar next to the supermarket check-out or befriending some diners at a table down the aisle.<br />
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And she loves her freedom and wants to walk. Or run. Most of the time. If I’m walking outside or through a shop with her, she doesn’t mind the stroller ride. But once we stop she gets a bit antsy, and once she’s been let loose, putting her back into the stroller has become a struggle. Seriously, she deserves an Oscar for the performances she puts on before I manage to strap her back in. <br />
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I’m not a fan of reigns. I can’t remember seeing as many children in the USA with them as I’ve seen here in the UK, but that could be because I didn’t take notice. I know they serve a purpose, and would do what they say on the tin, but they’re just a little too dog on a leash for me. I’d rather try to teach LLC about potential dangers and that she can’t run off at her every whim, but this will no doubt take time, get tiring and mean I have to kiss goodbye to more leisurely coffees or lunches that I’ve previously enjoyed while she sat happy as can be in her stroller or highchair.<br />
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We’ve recently had a mix of visitors with Chris’ parents staying for several days and our dear Aunt T visiting from Holland so I’ve had strength in numbers keeping up with LLC, but I’m expecting this next period to keep me on my toes, literally.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-69314526035695481722011-07-07T16:34:00.002+01:002011-07-07T16:53:00.406+01:00Fit MamaTo avoid confusion, I don’t mean “fit” as in “good looking” as the British often use the phrase. I mean fit as in healthy and in shape, although I suppose that is linked to beauty...<br />
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What mother has time to exercise regularly, or even to exercise at all? Free time is a valuable commodity as parent. On the rare chance that it crops up, aren’t we more likely to nap or drink wine or read a book than hit the gym? In many cases, probably. <br />
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For me, exercise has always been a part of my life. I played soccer for years growing up and was generally sporty (not necessarily good at sport, but just up for it) in school. You may remember that I’m a bit of a <a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2009/08/bump-on-board-running-in-pregnancy.html">runner</a>, in a non-competitive, I do it for <a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2010/09/old-friend-forgotten.html">my health and head space</a> kind of way. Until LLC came on the scene I was a regular attendee of Pilates. I’m no exercise guru and some weeks I would do nothing, but it was a priority for me and I usually did some type of work out each week.<br />
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And that’s just it. Priorities. I’ve quickly learned that parenting only increases the juggling act that is the real adult world and if you are going to stay fit as a mom, exercise usually has to be one of those many priorities. (Unless you are one of those lucky svelte people that can eat like a horse and who has naturally shapely legs.) <br />
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But this is not about being thin. This is about exercise to stay healthy....to feel healthy. Once I get over finding a free space of time and then dragging my booty out the door, I always feel really good for my efforts in the exercise department. I feel more toned. I've given myself some time out to think of new writing ideas as I jog. I’m not super fit, but I’m in decent shape and mentally I think the exercise does me good too. <br />
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You might be scoffing at me saying you have far too many other things to do to consider exercise, but, if you do want to jump on this bandwagon and are struggling to find the time, here are some of my totally non-expert tips to get started and stay on board.<br />
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<ul><li><b>Make exercise a priority, but be realistic</b> about what you can achieve. Don’t go from nothing to attempting 5 work-outs a week. Aim small, doing one or two things a week. And stick with them. There will be a cumulative affect on your fitness.</li>
<li>Pick <b>something you enjoy doing</b>. Swimming? Walking? Yoga? Home aerobics dvd? Dancing? Give yourself one slot a week to do this activity, just one slot, and try to stick to it.</li>
<li><b>Stretch before bed.</b> My calves tend to get tight, so I do some calf stretches before bed. I also throw in 15 squats a night. I’m still waiting for glutes of steel, but it’s better than nothing.</li>
<li><b>Walk walk walk and take the stairs</b>. It’s hard to walk quickly with children...I can already see this now that LLC is just toddling. But whether you have the opportunity to push a small baby in a pushchair or walk to the shops, or to the office while without the kids, do it! Save your petrol and your commuting costs. Okay, this takes longer and time is of the essence, but if you can integrate more walking it is an easy way to fit in exercise and let your mind breath a bit too. Or better yet, find a time to do it with friends and chat!</li>
<li>Buy a cheap set of <b>weights or a resistance band</b>, look up some exercises online and do a few sets, one or two nights a week. I’m talking 10 minutes here. But if you keep it up, it does make a difference.</li>
</ul><br />
And tad da – you are a fit mama! Or at least more fit than you were before. I think it’s worth a try but what do you think? And do you have any tips to add?Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-74316209037511686582011-07-01T23:57:00.004+01:002011-07-02T00:04:54.738+01:00Friday Faux PasToday LLC and I were in the park where we last year encountered <a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2010/06/walk-on-wild-side.html">this howler</a>, but this time the only faux pas on the scene was me.<br />
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The children’s play area was nearly empty (hurrah) when we arrived, with only one other mother pushing her two children on the swings. Of course LLC also wanted to ride the swings. This was no issue as this playground has several swings, so over we went and off went LLC, swinging happily away.<br />
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And here’s where I made my cardinal error. I attempted to make eye contact and friendly small talk with this other mother on the playground. We were standing directly next to each other. LLC was craning her neck directly towards her two children watching them swing. I didn’t want to exchange life stories, but in the rare relative quiet of the playground it just felt strange to me not to share some basic pleasantries or at least a sympathetic glance with this other woman. Grudgingly she offered me a few words in return but I can take a hint and clammed up pretty quickly.<br />
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This is not the first time I’ve had something like this happen to me in England. Is there a small talk line here in the UK that I really shouldn’t cross, although the ‘American’ in me feels compelled to do so? Was she affronted that we also chose the swings near her brood, when faced with an empty rest of playground? Of course this mother's reticent stance was surely only exacerbated when she heard my accent and probably feared a verbal assault of <i>“Oh my Gods.” </i><br />
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<i> </i>Is it that bad to be friendly?Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-87335177407734737282011-06-29T20:06:00.003+01:002011-07-02T00:06:09.308+01:00Sit or Squat?I have an issue with public bathrooms.<br />
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Sandy, wet beach toilets missing seats. Nice toilets in more upmarket restaurants. Questionable toilets in pub with that stale bleach smell. Dirty park toilets with backlog. Rank toilets on London Bridge platform. Squat toilets abroad. ‘Relatively’ clean toilets in the office.<br />
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I use them all. My bladder is the size of a pea. But one thing I never do, is sit on the toilet seat. Over the years I have perfected the art of “the squat,” where I teeter over the toilet seat in a desperate attempt to avoid contact between it and my bum. This is quite a skill, when you are wearing several inch heels, or when, in flats and faced with a particularly high toilet seat.<br />
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The thing is, LLC is making me more conscious of my aversion. Aware that I have an audience, I wonder if I should just bite the bullet, wipe off the seat if there is anything on it and put toilet paper or a seat cover (more readily available in the States) down before sitting like a ‘normal’ person. I’m sure this is what my mom taught me growing up, and I’m not quite sure where I went awry. While heavily pregnant I eventually succumbed to this in my office toilets but not until after months of squatting with bump.<br />
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With potty training looming on the horizon, it won’t be long before I’ll be taking LLC into public bathrooms *cue image of me holding small child over toilet* and I’m even more conscious that I should probably set a better example for her. Unless a toilet seat was particularly gross....then I’d probably hold her....<br />
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Most women I know don’t particularly care for public bathrooms (compared to most men I know who don’t seem to notice) but do you go as far as me and what do you teach your children in this department?Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-21366721684747139222011-06-23T23:09:00.004+01:002011-06-24T12:44:36.429+01:00Cybermummy 2011 Meet & GreetI can't believe we are almost halfway through the year or that <a href="http://www.cybermummy.com/">CyberMummy 2011</a> is already this weekend. For the non-bloggers out there, this is the second year of this UK parent blogging conference where bloggers get to put faces to names/words, exchange ideas about blogging and just generally chit chat. <a href="http://www.huggiesclub.co.uk/bump-on-board/home">Huggies</a> has kindly sponsored my ticket for the second year running and I'm looking forward to another good, inspiring day out.<br />
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Carly at Mummy's Shoes has again organized a <a href="http://www.mummysshoes.com/2010/11/cybermummy-2011-meet-and-greet.html">'Meet and Greet'</a> to help those of us going recognize each other so here are my "stats":<br />
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<b>Name</b>: Tanya<br />
<b>Blog</b>: <a href="http://www.chatty-t.blogspot.com/">Bump2Basics</a><br />
<b>Twitter ID</b>: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mummysshoes" target="_blank">@Bump2Basics</a><br />
<b>Height</b>: 5ft 1" but will be in a small heel<b></b><br />
<b>Hair</b>: Long Brown<br />
<b>Eyes</b>: Brown<br />
<b>Likes</b>: Talking, morning scrums, running, Pilates, fine wine, long walks, adventure, writing<br />
<b>Dislikes</b>: Milk, being condescended to, ugly words<br />
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Please come say hi, you can tell I like to chat! This photo is a little deceptive because my hair is tied back and is actually quite long but this is the most recent, close-up shot that I have of me.....LLC gets most of the camera time around here these days, thankfully!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqKLc_uWdfnqdJPSbBAXI1wEA60GCBVI0iGncwRCR8B5WHqzJMAQKf_iKJQd-JCYKy3lJvR4o8u3vAR_bPY6fFFoc4mQMvlq0SF1XPe3ObGOIBN08TYtIliB8ZhwSrbssut4VzrCE7TJh/s1600/IMG_7932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqKLc_uWdfnqdJPSbBAXI1wEA60GCBVI0iGncwRCR8B5WHqzJMAQKf_iKJQd-JCYKy3lJvR4o8u3vAR_bPY6fFFoc4mQMvlq0SF1XPe3ObGOIBN08TYtIliB8ZhwSrbssut4VzrCE7TJh/s320/IMG_7932.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-31101968650204825672011-06-19T22:31:00.004+01:002011-06-19T22:45:19.374+01:00My type of art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>When it comes to art, decoration and style I know what I like and can create the perfect picture in my mind’s eye, but ask me to translate this to reality by my own hand and the result often looks like several cans of paint run over by a piece of industrial machinery.<br />
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This is probably because while writing has always come easily to me, things like drawing, painting and sewing have not. Have I tried very hard to apply myself in these departments? No. Would I like to try harder? Yes. So I’m making a start with baby steps via some messy projects with LLC.<br />
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I remember as child loving to paint at nursery school. The paint was gooey, messy, fun. A simple sheet of paper was my blank canvas and without inhibitions I would just “create.” My mom still has a large wooden frame dating back from those days holding some of these fine works. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgai5JFOdoE6OYLO9kta7zVDmx_8kcyct0-swaQlcaaLcpcrsYDOhZ2S5FXopKObX0Hqt9FXzgbXurl2d7NqSIvCKeEtyIX4waDtg6nZRGyrSjOqFj3QYSKT_CUdTdcPtbafrb-0g5Dp0Mq/s1600/IMG_8226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgai5JFOdoE6OYLO9kta7zVDmx_8kcyct0-swaQlcaaLcpcrsYDOhZ2S5FXopKObX0Hqt9FXzgbXurl2d7NqSIvCKeEtyIX4waDtg6nZRGyrSjOqFj3QYSKT_CUdTdcPtbafrb-0g5Dp0Mq/s320/IMG_8226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
LLC isn’t quite at the paint brush stage yet so we tried our hand at some finger painting. I bought some child friendly paint pots at the Early Learning Centre and decanted the paint on some plastic coasters for LLC’s easy access. A little ghetto, but the first time we tried this I let her dip straight from the pots and she kept wanting to take more and more out. Next time, we’ll use our newly purchased plastic palette from Amazon and I’ll probably thin the paint a little too with water.<br />
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Chris then cut a few small potatoes in half and carved simple raised shapes into the flesh of the potato with a kitchen knife. We then passed them over to LLC for her dipping enjoyment and a little added twist to her finger smears.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This kept her busy for a whole 15 minutes. It was messy. LLC was fascinated, by her handiwork and the taste of the paint. Chris and I couldn’t help making our own creations and it turned into one big family art session. Overall, I’d say it was a result. Who knows what ambitious project we’ll try next time? I don’t think I’ll get too far ahead of myself, but at least the baby steps are in motion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4II9CvRXwLOyKMCwLSfHffDMQ3nPgAjrVp2j9TUZMzr5cHHkvSok3v0EG0xdNU4juGXI2wg87uFV1dXWqFwvbY0hA9X9uebe2eV5aHXyA8L8wepPqrDI6l0Aon0psA1dYafj-D1B0TGCw/s1600/IMG_8231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4II9CvRXwLOyKMCwLSfHffDMQ3nPgAjrVp2j9TUZMzr5cHHkvSok3v0EG0xdNU4juGXI2wg87uFV1dXWqFwvbY0hA9X9uebe2eV5aHXyA8L8wepPqrDI6l0Aon0psA1dYafj-D1B0TGCw/s320/IMG_8231.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSqEMyNNXCdSNlCIYmv9iSkGscapjJDIDf-VVwUhkeOXHdRyS8rklPPiNEfw4WLUfUeiu7BWrT0yStsiLptagPm5QpcD51iEtk6fm3i173nrvDpwouLhfIsAZVusmxd2-51c0sO5TKNpv/s1600/IMG_8235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSqEMyNNXCdSNlCIYmv9iSkGscapjJDIDf-VVwUhkeOXHdRyS8rklPPiNEfw4WLUfUeiu7BWrT0yStsiLptagPm5QpcD51iEtk6fm3i173nrvDpwouLhfIsAZVusmxd2-51c0sO5TKNpv/s320/IMG_8235.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195788236766051950.post-78430421279762294712011-06-14T10:34:00.000+01:002011-06-14T10:34:16.361+01:00Sad start to swimmingYesterday LLC and I rocked up at the gym for a swim in the kiddie pool as we often do on a Monday morning. She gets really excited when we arrive, and doesn’t even protest when I <a href="http://chatty-t.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-loud-fish.html">strip her down to suit her up</a>. After catching up with one of the attendants in the changing room that we’ve got to know over the last year and a bit, we were off to the pool. LLC’s shrieks of excitement announced our arrival.<br />
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Hmmmm. The pool looked a lot busier than normal, in fact, what was this? There was a parent/child swimming lesson underway for five mothers/babies. Now LLC and I have been swimming at this time on and off for months, and we have never once encountered a swimming lesson for more than one other person in the pool at this time. It is a “pay as you go” swimming lesson slot, but no one is usually there aside from us.<br />
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I put down our towels and headed to the pool with LLC, but thought I better have a quick glance at the nearby lifeguard for affirmation that we were still okay to use the pool a la full flow swimming lesson. She said no. I asked if we could join the lesson and pay afterwards. She said no. So LLC and I had to huddle together on our towels on the bench at the side of the pool to wait 20 minutes for the lesson to finish. <br />
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I braced myself for a meltdown; how do you explain to a 16 month-old that loves swimming who knows the routine (arrive at the pool, go into the pool, splash!) that you have to wait your turn for 20 minutes (an eternity in baby time). I felt quite tearful actually. I had been speaking to LLC for the last half hour about our swim and here we were, and we couldn’t even go in.<br />
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She really surprised me though. It must be because she likes people watching so much. I got her a little plastic fish that squirts water and between that and watching the other children, she was really patient and didn’t cause a fuss. So I pulled it together. Finally it was our turn and we had a lovely swim.<br />
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Now I did know there was a pay as you go lesson at the time we arrived but I didn’t think twice about turning within the slot because it is never subscribed. And even if there had been a lesson on, I didn’t think they would stop us from entering the pool (unless it was totally overrun, which it was not) or reject my request to join and pay for the lesson. Considering the things I have seen at that pool – teenagers kissing and fondling in adult pool, older children leaping into shallow water of the kiddie pool – I think it is a bit ridiculous that they made us wait on the side for 20 minutes. The lifeguard was like a programmed robot, recalling policy, blind to the human element. If the room temperature was colder, or LLC has been younger, we would have had to go back to the changing room and "hang out" or just call it a day. But I've learned my lesson now.<br />
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You may have seen that Huggies has a new Little Swimmers campaign where you can i<a href="http://www.littleswimmers.co.uk/baby-friendly-pool-finder">dentify and / or rate your local pool </a>as child friendly. They take several factors into account, and suffice to say I won’t be rating my gym pool as such at this time. As a Huggies Mum I was involved in a focus group about this Little Swimmers campaign earlier this year and it’s lovely to see it come to fruition. LLC and I also benefited from a free swimming lesson (one with a lovely, informative instructor who didn’t look like she had swallowed a wasp like the one at my gym – glad I didn’t have to pay for that in the end....) when we joined some other mothers to generate pictures for the campaign. If you look on the<a href="http://www.littleswimmers.co.uk/home"> Little Swimmers websit</a>e, you might just spot us.Tanya (Bump2Basics)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11190613569079236305noreply@blogger.com8