Milestones a-go-go

Family holidays can be a little intense (the one last year with 3 families was more relaxing), but there are some up sides.

Elissa said her first word yesterday, and it was "ball". At least it wasn't "car" which was both her brother's first words. This is the first word which really means the same thing to us as her. She says "mama", and has done for a couple of months, but it means "I need attention - NOW!" and doesn't refer to me specifically. She also said it over and over, making it convincing - unlike when she said the same word, in reference to an actual ball only once or twice a couple of months ago.

Ben learned to swim. Actual swimming with strokes, rather than the "failing to drown" technique he used to employ. That technique was actually very efficient, which is why he took so long to learn to swim properly, but he is now doing a believable, if slow, freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke.

And Charlie finally decided that going to the toilet unaccompanied, at least for a wee, is a Good Thing. His mother thinks it is nothing short of a Bloody Miracle.

Endings and beginnings

Our long awaited holiday in the Hunter Valley is over, and it was great - if really exhausting. I was an utter mess for about 36hrs after we got home. But it was worth it. Good family time without heaps of pressure. And now my friends are acutely aware of all the bad habits my children have that don't actually bother us much, but get right up other people's noses. :)

And now we begin operation bedtime. It is time for Elissa to have a proper bedtime. At least I think it is. She may have other ideas. I am giving Plan A one week. If I see no progress in that time, I revert to Plan B. Plan A is bath with the boys around 7pm, last feed at 7:30pm and then to bed. Bedtime story, then roll on to tummy with dummy until sleep descends (while Twin Peaks soundtrack plays), then roll onto back - job done. Plan A took until 10pm the first two nights. Not exactly a raging success. So far I am unsure of Plan B, but I suspect it involves surrendering to settling in my arms, although I might give 10 minutes of crying a shot too. The story, on the other hand, is very popular. Laughs and giggles, it's all good.

And we also begin school tomorrow for the eldest. I still have much name writing to do tonight. It's very exciting for everyone.

But now, back to Plan A....