Impro Jazz

Tilly likes the new piano

Tilly nods off during dinner

Peter Pointer

Whilst changing Tilly's nappy today she was practicing bending her index finger.  We've been singing and acting out a lot of nursery rhymes recently including Tommy Thumb.  She looked so pleased with herself for doing it, continuing to do it over and over again.  I am incredibly proud of each of these seemingly minor milestones but they are all such big ones in our eyes. 

Blood

Tilly was crawling around on the floor and seemed quite happy.  Out of the corner of my eye I could see her doing what looked like press ups, I guess she was playing and experimenting.   All of a sudden she just released her head and her face sped towards the hard laminate floor and I heard the bump as it made contact.  Her cry started, one of those cries that starts with a big intake of breath followed by silence, the length of the silence usually tells me just how much something hurts.  I scooped her up off the floor, after a long silence, her face red, eyes full of tears and her mouth wide open the howl finally came.  I expected that she'd hurt herself badly and I was right, her lips had been caught between the floor and her teeth and blood had started to show in her mouth.   I'm not sure if it is because I knew how she'd injured herself but I was surprised how remarkably calm I was.  I don't really like the sight of blood, especially in other people.  I took her into the kitchen to get a tissue and find something to placate her and take away the taste of the blood.   I popped her on the kitchen counter and gave her a tiny Milky Way little star, which although hadn't removed the shock completely was certainly helping. Richard had followed us into the kitchen, looking very concerned and worried she seemed to pick up on this and start again.  Richard is usually the calm one in things like this and I'm normally the one panicking and over-reacting.   After a few minutes she was OK.  Her lip is swollen and is clearly sore but perhaps she'll have learnt not to drop her face to the floor in future!

Radio feature about being a mum

University of Warwick has issued a new research paper about the difficulties of motherhood on modern women as they no longer have an extended family network.  

I was asked to take part on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Annie Othen mid-morning show to talk about my experiences. Available on BBCiPlayer from 20 minutes into the recording for 30 minutes. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0028xt9/Annie_Othen_03_03_2009/

A compliment

A compliment has made my day. A few weeks ago I went to visit a friend from work who had just had a baby. I've just been speaking to another friend to ask how she is now, she said that she told her she enjoyed my visit as it was a breath of fresh air compared to some other mums as I was very down to earth. Very real and relaxed with motherhood in comparison to other people she'd met.

Jam Jam Boomerang and walking

At the Box of Delights course we were talking about birthday parties and things to do with our little ones. Nicole recommended Funky Monkeys or Jam Jam Boomerang, I was quite surprised, I didn't think that they'd take children as young as Tilly but apparently they do and the adults get to play in there with them - bonus. So today, we went to find Jam Jam Boomerang. It is a large warehouse on the outskirts of Coventry and as we approached the door we could hear the children screaming inside. Adults are free, so it only cost us £2.00 to get in which we thought was a bargain. You get 2 hours of fun in a soft play area. Tilly had fallen asleep in the car was wasn't best pleased when we woke her up to get her out, so she was still a bit groggy when we got in. We took her into the PVC clad foam climbing frame, all caged in with netting. Tilly seemed totally bemused and a little uncertain. Richard went up with her and I stood looking through the net to encourage her to move around it a lot more. After two trips round the lumps, ramps, through tunnels, down slides etc she was fine and you could see her really start to enjoy it and more importantly to get better at her agility with the strange obstacles. It reminded me a lot of the children's TV show 'Funhouse'. We spent nearly the full 2 hours there, mainly crawling around on all fours and squeezing through the obstacles that had been designed for small children. It was a great and cheap day out and I'd certainly do it again.

Tilly has been practising walking a lot more today. Before we went to Jam Jam, we took this video footage of her walking. She tends to have a problem when she gets excited about what she's doing, she giggles, her knees go and she launches forwards towards us.



Later this afternoon I took her out into the garden to practice. They say that children start to walk better in open spaces as they feel less likely to knock into something and feel free to move. She did really well and probably took about 16 steps. I can't believe how fast she is learning, it was only Friday that she took her first steps and she's grasping it quickly, with much better standing balance too.
I'm so proud of her. It is so amazing to think that not even a year ago she was still inside me and already she is out, crawling, walking, babbling and understanding what I say.
Her understanding is growing so fast. Yesterday we were reading books, she kept going to her bookcase, picking out a new book and coming back to the sofa to read it. After flicking through all the pages, she'd turn around go over to the bookcase and point at the next book and back. This continued for about six books. A while later I asked if she wanted to read a book and she turned to look at the bookcase.
Today we were standing by the light switch and she was trying to turn it on and off. I was telling her it changed the light but with the bright daylight the difference could hardly be seen. Richard said she didn't understand and I almost agreed until she pushed it and then turned and pointed at the light.
Earlier today she came to see me in the kitchen, she'd just been playing with a ball that she no longer had. I asked her where the ball was and she turned around to look where she'd left it. I told her to go and get it and off she went, crawling purposefully towards it. I am totally amazed by how much she can do and understand now, literally every day is new. Although they say you learn something new everyday, it is strange to think how profound these new skills that you can see her learning are to the rest of her life.



In a week's time we'll be holding a small gathering for Tilly's birthday. I thought I'd practice the recipe for the cakes. I plan to make little fairy cakes, small ones and very small toddler ones. Of course the best way to test them is to test them on Tilly. I didn't expect her to fit the whole thing in her mouth but she did. (Apologies for the noise in the background, Richard was shredding).

'no hands' Larry

Tilly has several times today stood unaided, as I type she's carefully let go of the computer table to try out the new trick.  Only for a few seconds each time but she's doing it nonetheless. 

She's also just found the phone, put it to her ear and said "Da Da".  Wonderful moments are happening all the time now. 

"I don't know why you're the one crying"

 . . . no one ever likes having them done.  Alongside the media spotlight on Jade Goody's battle against cervical cancer came my reminder letter for my smear test from the doctors.  

The appointment was supposed to be last Friday evening but the nurse cancelled at the last minute, how inconsiderate - I'd waxed and everything!  I rearranged for today, not a great time, 11.30am - when I've got Tilly with me.  I tried to get Tilly to sleep early in the morning so she'd be happy to play by herself during the appointment.  I took a toy and a box a raisins, usually a surefire way of keeping her occupied.  The timing didn't work out, she was still tired and clingy when we got there, I set up her playing on the floor with the toys and her raisins but as soon as I walked a metre away to the bed she started to scream.  

Smears are always undignified, I mean how on earth can you have any dignity with your legs spread apart whilst someone shoves a stick up your bits 'to have a scrape around' for samples.  I'd cleverly worn a skirt, last time I hadn't thought it through and worn jeans and a top and there is that really awkward and embarrassing bit where you have to walk around with all your bottom half on display.  In the end, Tilly's screaming was so distracting that the nurse brought her over to see me and I had the examination with her sitting on my stomach, still howling her head off.  "I don't know why you're the one crying" I told her as the nurse was busy at the other end of the bed.  Believe it or not, it was actually weirdly better than all the other smear tests I've ever had!  The distraction of having her on my tummy and trying to calm her down meant I didn't have time to feel as embarrassed or uncomfortable.  

Examination over and I was able to get dressed.  The nurse and I laughed about little ones and she told me how it gets more difficult as they get older, mainly as they are so inquisitive that they often want to be down at the 'action end'*.  Phew, at least I got away with her just sitting on my tummy.  

*Mental note for the future: I must remember that next time I really need to do them when she can be looked after by someone else.

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Today we went to Twycross Zoo for Richard's birthday.   I knew she was on the young side to enjoy it thoroughly but it is always lovely being out.  She didn't like the monkeys as much as I thought she would.  There was a moment when we were inside looking at a monkey that she did seem fascinated by, however all of a sudden another money flew through the door, jumped on a swing which banged loudly on the window and jumped off.   Tilly immediately started screaming, it made her jump (as did we all), after that she didn't seem to trust any of them. 

I spent the time walking around with Tilly on my shoulders and holding her hand, partly to wear her out and to stop her from being frustrated. She is always on the go now and so to keep her confined in the pram just gets her really cranky at the end of the day.