Us - "Charlie, have you learnt a new word recently?"
Charlie - "No!"
Us - "Are you sure?"
Charlie - "No!"
Us - "Can you say yes, Charlie?"
Charlie - "No!"
Us - "Would you like to have dinner?"
Charlie - "No!"
Us - "Would you like to go outside an play?"
Charlie - "No!"
Us - "Would you like a biscuit?"
Charlie - "BISKIT!"
Ah, makes that two new words then...
20 Aug 2009
16 Aug 2009
Bleurgghhh!
It's been a sickie weekend at Team Burchell.
Both boys have been poorly for a few days with (initially) high temps followed by upset stomachs and vomitting. We've had a massive clean down in the house today - the high chairs have been hosed down and disinfected and all surfaces thoroughly cleaned.
The boys have been visibly better today (only had 3 nappy changes each - yesterday, we lost count!) so we took a trip to the local swings with the boys on their trikes. Here's some pics...
Both boys have been poorly for a few days with (initially) high temps followed by upset stomachs and vomitting. We've had a massive clean down in the house today - the high chairs have been hosed down and disinfected and all surfaces thoroughly cleaned.
The boys have been visibly better today (only had 3 nappy changes each - yesterday, we lost count!) so we took a trip to the local swings with the boys on their trikes. Here's some pics...
15 Aug 2009
Wake Up Bro'!
Theo, tends to be awake before Charlie, especially after a lunchtime sleep and loves to jump into Charlie's bed to 'help' wake him up. 'Helping' normally consists of gently cuddling Charlie, potentially the odd kiss before the inevitable bite or pinch as he starts to stir....
Parenting Observation #379 - The Dishwasher
Before the boys arrived, if we were lucky, we could stretch turning the dishwasher on to about 3 days - usually 2 but sometimes 3 (especially as 'home cooking' wasn't so high on the agenda when we were DINKY's).
Since having the boys, the dishwasher religiously goes on every evening before we go to bed. If we forget it, we're screwed the next morning and end up having to half empty it to wash stuff up for breakfast.
Recently though, we've found the need to do a midday cycle as well. Will this ever end?
As the boys grow, can we foresee a future where the dishwasher (like the washing machine and tumbledryer) end up on a constant cycle? Emptying, filling, emptying, filling, emptying, filling....
Since having the boys, the dishwasher religiously goes on every evening before we go to bed. If we forget it, we're screwed the next morning and end up having to half empty it to wash stuff up for breakfast.
Recently though, we've found the need to do a midday cycle as well. Will this ever end?
As the boys grow, can we foresee a future where the dishwasher (like the washing machine and tumbledryer) end up on a constant cycle? Emptying, filling, emptying, filling, emptying, filling....
12 Aug 2009
Beds Beds Beds - An Update
So, we're five nights in to the transition from cots to beds and how's it gone? Well, they've not fallen out of their beds yet which is comforting however, other than that......
IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!
We decided to move them into beds because of how unsettled they'd been over the last few weeks (since we came back from holiday, actually). Every night it has taken us between 1½ and 2 hours to get them off to sleep involving a mixture of laying on the floor next to their beds, reading stories, cuddling until their almost asleep - you name it, we've tried it.
On top of that, they've been waking several times in the night too. Sometimes getting out of their beds, sometimes just sitting up. I think Monday night was probably the worst - Theo was up every half hour between 10pm and 2am (conveniently waking up the minute you start to drift off to a deep sleep yourself) - whilst Charlie took over the baton at 4am.
However, last night we went HARDCORE.
In a co-ordinated team assault executed by Mum and Dad that Jo Frost would have been proud of, Mum carried out the first shift (which involved a couple of stories and some settling down whilst she stayed in the room) - she then executed a tactical retreat (ie. took Monty for a walk) whilst the main artillery (ie. Dad) advanced and administered the Super Nanny Tactics 'Alpha'.
Theo settled down immediately - Charlie meanwhile, resisted all attempts and kept getting out of his bed for what must have been 45 minutes plus. He must have realised that his escape attempts were fruitless though and finally just lay in bed crying before eventually giving up and drifting off to sleep!
The sense of achievement was fantastic and we had one of the best nights sleep we'd had in over a month.
Have we broken the back of the transition to beds? Only time will tell but the signs are good. I've received word from the front line (ie. home) that settling them down for their lunchtime nap today was achieved in record time!
We shall see if it continues....
IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!
We decided to move them into beds because of how unsettled they'd been over the last few weeks (since we came back from holiday, actually). Every night it has taken us between 1½ and 2 hours to get them off to sleep involving a mixture of laying on the floor next to their beds, reading stories, cuddling until their almost asleep - you name it, we've tried it.
On top of that, they've been waking several times in the night too. Sometimes getting out of their beds, sometimes just sitting up. I think Monday night was probably the worst - Theo was up every half hour between 10pm and 2am (conveniently waking up the minute you start to drift off to a deep sleep yourself) - whilst Charlie took over the baton at 4am.
However, last night we went HARDCORE.
In a co-ordinated team assault executed by Mum and Dad that Jo Frost would have been proud of, Mum carried out the first shift (which involved a couple of stories and some settling down whilst she stayed in the room) - she then executed a tactical retreat (ie. took Monty for a walk) whilst the main artillery (ie. Dad) advanced and administered the Super Nanny Tactics 'Alpha'.
Theo settled down immediately - Charlie meanwhile, resisted all attempts and kept getting out of his bed for what must have been 45 minutes plus. He must have realised that his escape attempts were fruitless though and finally just lay in bed crying before eventually giving up and drifting off to sleep!
The sense of achievement was fantastic and we had one of the best nights sleep we'd had in over a month.
Have we broken the back of the transition to beds? Only time will tell but the signs are good. I've received word from the front line (ie. home) that settling them down for their lunchtime nap today was achieved in record time!
We shall see if it continues....
10 Aug 2009
Teddy and Carkey
The boys are learning new words on a daily basis now. They constantly try to mimic words we're saying as well as having their own favourites.
One really cute thing we noticed over the weekend is that they now each have a name for the other. Theo has been calling Charlie, 'Carkey' for a couple of weeks but it was only this weekend that Charlie started calling Theo, 'Teddy'!
Obviously, this made our sad old hearts melt. I'm sure however, as the weeks, months and years roll on, they will call each other many different names - some far less polite than others!
One really cute thing we noticed over the weekend is that they now each have a name for the other. Theo has been calling Charlie, 'Carkey' for a couple of weeks but it was only this weekend that Charlie started calling Theo, 'Teddy'!
Obviously, this made our sad old hearts melt. I'm sure however, as the weeks, months and years roll on, they will call each other many different names - some far less polite than others!
5 Aug 2009
Chuck Out The Cots, In Come The Beds!
The disturbed sleeping pattern continues. It seems that we're spending less time in our own bed during the night and more time settling the boys down in their bedroom! So, we've taken the big decision to move them our of their cots and into their beds this weekend.
We're going to change their room over whilst they're at nursery this Friday morning and hope they have a lunchtime nap in their new beds! What fun! It will also mean we have a whole weekend to get them used to the new sleeping arrangements.
Having had some further thought on the whole nursery vs. bedroom debate, I think THIS is the point at which we start calling it their bedroom!
We're going to change their room over whilst they're at nursery this Friday morning and hope they have a lunchtime nap in their new beds! What fun! It will also mean we have a whole weekend to get them used to the new sleeping arrangements.
Having had some further thought on the whole nursery vs. bedroom debate, I think THIS is the point at which we start calling it their bedroom!
3 Aug 2009
Poo Poo (all over the place...)
At weekends, we tend to give the boys' their breakfast and then take them back up to their cots to have a play for half an hour or so whilst we have breakfast in bed. A little luxury we like to bestow on ourselves!
During this time they also tend to (how shall we say) 'do their business'.
Yesterday morning, Charlie had worked out how to take his pyjamas off AND undo his nappy during this half hour. I'll leave the carnage that confronted us in their room to your imagination but it involved a full strip down and clean of the bed, the carpet, the walls, and even Monty....
During this time they also tend to (how shall we say) 'do their business'.
Yesterday morning, Charlie had worked out how to take his pyjamas off AND undo his nappy during this half hour. I'll leave the carnage that confronted us in their room to your imagination but it involved a full strip down and clean of the bed, the carpet, the walls, and even Monty....
2 Aug 2009
Beds Beds Beds Part 2
We've been shopping today! Not that that's a massive surprise - just that this time we've been shopping for the boys' first beds! We went to Ikea - not a journey I take lightly, especially on a Sunday. The thought of those meatballs being one of the few things that spurs me on.
They have a wide range of beds there but we plumped for a couple of very low white beds, with a side rail on one side. We didn't want to spend too much, especially considering that a) we have to buy two and b) they're probably not going to be in them for years.
We have to admint, our hearts did melt at the sight of the boys climbing onto the beds on display. A real poignant moment and the thought of them no longer being in their cots makes us realise that they are officially no longer babies.
So, after a fully loaded car journey home, we've got to work out when and how we convert them over to beds. First things first, we've got to prepare for the freedom they'll now have. Do we put a gate across the doorway to their bedroom*? Do we put locks on their wardrobe and dresser unit? So much to think about....
* - When does their room become a bedroom and is no longer called a nursery?
They have a wide range of beds there but we plumped for a couple of very low white beds, with a side rail on one side. We didn't want to spend too much, especially considering that a) we have to buy two and b) they're probably not going to be in them for years.
We have to admint, our hearts did melt at the sight of the boys climbing onto the beds on display. A real poignant moment and the thought of them no longer being in their cots makes us realise that they are officially no longer babies.
So, after a fully loaded car journey home, we've got to work out when and how we convert them over to beds. First things first, we've got to prepare for the freedom they'll now have. Do we put a gate across the doorway to their bedroom*? Do we put locks on their wardrobe and dresser unit? So much to think about....
* - When does their room become a bedroom and is no longer called a nursery?
1 Aug 2009
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