I have been back at work since the 20th November, so our time together has taken a different structure.
Mondays - might be Sing and Sign (though we are finishing this class soon) followed by St Luke's Toddler Group in the afternoons.
Tuesdays - I am at work and Jessicat is with her Nanny. There is a Toddler Group in the afternoon that she attends, where she particularly enjoys going on the trikes.
Wednesdays - from next week, Dave will be spending the day with Jessicat whilst I am at work. Jess and I usually attend a Baby Bounce session at the library and go to Stay and Play in the afternoons.
Thursday - another day with Nanny and another Toddler Group. Jessicat seems to need a full and busy day to tire her out.
Friday - hurrah, my time with Jess again! We usually attend a Storytime at Wick Road library, where Jessicat doesn't sit still for a second and Mummy ends up doing the craft activity. Afternoons often see us going to a soft play area, sometimes with our neighbours, Shelley and Rex.
The weeks are busy but satisfying. Jess still enjoys her books, though her concentration continues to wander as her main aim at the moment is to learn to walk. Something she does frequently now is to make connections between what she sees in a book and what she can see in real life. For example, if I point out that a character in a book wears glasses, she turns and points to mine. The same if I point out a fire, a candle, and lots of other easily recognizable objects she can see in our front room.
Friday 30 November 2007
Friday 23 November 2007
Some of Mum's reading as well
Some of the books Jessicat and I are enjoying together at the moment include:
Mr Bear Says Let's Go Outside - Debi Gliori. Another one from the series we both love. Jess enjoys looking at the last illustration of Mr Bear in front of the fire, and pointing to our fire (sadly not a pine-scented log affair).
Follow the Fish - Mandy Ross.
Dear Santa - Rod Campbell. Well, it's nearly December!
"Where's the Cat?" Stella Blackstone. Jessicat loves this book so much that I am considering ordering some from the Barefoot Books range for her Christmas stocking.
Ghost - Luke Depondt.
I have an admission to make. At the moment, I am reading Philip Pullman's Northern Lights. I can't believe I left it so long, and can only plead that pregnancy and the rigours of motherhood kept me too busy to read much. This is one of the best books I have read, ever. I am genuinely frightened of Mrs Coulter and cannot believe that I am so absorbed and gripped by a fantasy novel - normally a genre I avoid. I am savouring the novel, allowing myself a chapter a night. It is like a fine wine to be sipped I think, rather than a drink to be gulped back. I wonder if Jessicat will ever want to read it?
Mr Bear Says Let's Go Outside - Debi Gliori. Another one from the series we both love. Jess enjoys looking at the last illustration of Mr Bear in front of the fire, and pointing to our fire (sadly not a pine-scented log affair).
Follow the Fish - Mandy Ross.
Dear Santa - Rod Campbell. Well, it's nearly December!
"Where's the Cat?" Stella Blackstone. Jessicat loves this book so much that I am considering ordering some from the Barefoot Books range for her Christmas stocking.
Ghost - Luke Depondt.
I have an admission to make. At the moment, I am reading Philip Pullman's Northern Lights. I can't believe I left it so long, and can only plead that pregnancy and the rigours of motherhood kept me too busy to read much. This is one of the best books I have read, ever. I am genuinely frightened of Mrs Coulter and cannot believe that I am so absorbed and gripped by a fantasy novel - normally a genre I avoid. I am savouring the novel, allowing myself a chapter a night. It is like a fine wine to be sipped I think, rather than a drink to be gulped back. I wonder if Jessicat will ever want to read it?
Friday 16 November 2007
Happy Birthday Jessicat!
We are off to the zoo shortly, so just a very quick post to record for posterity that Jessicat has reached the grand old age of 1! And despite sniffles, PND (mine :(), lots of disturbed nights and lots of difficult days, there have been moments of such joy and love that they take my breath away. Here's to the next year being even better!
Monday 12 November 2007
Jessicat's first birthday party
We held Jessicat's party yesterday, though it is not her actual birthday until the 16th. All our close friends and family were able to attend, including Dot and Brian, who had been staying with us on their way back home from their cruise. Jess coped with a full house of people very well, enjoying the balloons and cake, and making me feel ridiculously proud when we all sang "happy birthday" to her.
As of today, we have substituted the early morning bottle for a cup of milk, and that went smoothely. It's more difficult to persuade Jessicat to drink cow's milk instead of formula, and I have to confess to giving her Frosties in lieu of her normal Weetabix to entice her to eat cereal with cow's milk. Hmmm, bad mummy. The next step is to began adding cow's milk to her remaining milky drinks, and swapping the evening bottle for a cup. One challenge after another, one step in front of the other.....
As of today, we have substituted the early morning bottle for a cup of milk, and that went smoothely. It's more difficult to persuade Jessicat to drink cow's milk instead of formula, and I have to confess to giving her Frosties in lieu of her normal Weetabix to entice her to eat cereal with cow's milk. Hmmm, bad mummy. The next step is to began adding cow's milk to her remaining milky drinks, and swapping the evening bottle for a cup. One challenge after another, one step in front of the other.....
Wednesday 7 November 2007
November's reading
We've got some good books on the go at the moment. They include:
Ten Chuckling Ducklings - Sally Crabtree. Jessicat loves to press the sound chip to make the ducks quack, and enjoys looking at this book on her own, making the sign for "duck" as she does so.
Moo, Moo - Jo Lodge. Bright, clear and relatively uncluttered illustrations mean that this book triggers lots of chat and questions even though the text is very basic.
Happy Christmas, Lulu - Caroline Uff. Really this book is aimed at older children, but it's a nice way to start talking about Christmas with Jess.
Where is Maisy Going - Lucy Cousins. Jessicat loves Maisy, and we are always looking out for more in this series.
Ready for Bed-y-Byes- Helen Stephens. Another book with textures - putting her fingers on the sticky cake makes Jessicat laugh.
Dave and I are getting ready to host a little party for Jessicat this weekend. We have our family and close friends coming to help us celebrate surviving the year (surely you mean Jessicat's first birthday?!?!), and will be able to show off our front garden which is now newly converted to a driveway.
Ten Chuckling Ducklings - Sally Crabtree. Jessicat loves to press the sound chip to make the ducks quack, and enjoys looking at this book on her own, making the sign for "duck" as she does so.
Moo, Moo - Jo Lodge. Bright, clear and relatively uncluttered illustrations mean that this book triggers lots of chat and questions even though the text is very basic.
Happy Christmas, Lulu - Caroline Uff. Really this book is aimed at older children, but it's a nice way to start talking about Christmas with Jess.
Where is Maisy Going - Lucy Cousins. Jessicat loves Maisy, and we are always looking out for more in this series.
Ready for Bed-y-Byes- Helen Stephens. Another book with textures - putting her fingers on the sticky cake makes Jessicat laugh.
Dave and I are getting ready to host a little party for Jessicat this weekend. We have our family and close friends coming to help us celebrate surviving the year (surely you mean Jessicat's first birthday?!?!), and will be able to show off our front garden which is now newly converted to a driveway.
Thursday 1 November 2007
November already....first birthday approaching
Unbelievable to think that Jessicat is now nearly a year old - only two weeks to go! Also scary to think that in 3 week's time, I will be back at work - a prospect I view with some ambivalence. Yesterday, Jess attended a birthday party for all the babies from my ante-natal cohort, and we are also planning a little family gathering for her nearer to the 16th.
Jessicat still continues to be restless, constantly pulling herself up onto her feet, but she is still enjoying being read to. We find it helps if we move around the room a bit with her, or simply continue whilst she wanders off, as she nearly always finds her way back to us; sheer nosiness means she needs to see what is going on!
Some of our books of the moment include:
Bathtime Peekaboo - Dawn Sirrett
I wish I were a dog - Lydia Monks. I'm pleased that Jessicat enjoys this book as there are no gimmicks - ie flaps or textures - so it must be a combination of the pictures and text that captivates her.
Poppy Cat's Farm - Lara Jones. A little gem of a book. The repetitive rhyme is fun and Jess likes to wave back to Poppy Cat on the final page. She loves this one!
Ready or Not, Mr Croc? - Jo Lodge. Another great read. The flaps and pop ups are fragile, so I have to watch Jessicat carefully when we read this book, but she loves Mr Croc jumping out at the end of the book. We will be looking for more books in this series.
Jessicat still continues to be restless, constantly pulling herself up onto her feet, but she is still enjoying being read to. We find it helps if we move around the room a bit with her, or simply continue whilst she wanders off, as she nearly always finds her way back to us; sheer nosiness means she needs to see what is going on!
Some of our books of the moment include:
Bathtime Peekaboo - Dawn Sirrett
I wish I were a dog - Lydia Monks. I'm pleased that Jessicat enjoys this book as there are no gimmicks - ie flaps or textures - so it must be a combination of the pictures and text that captivates her.
Poppy Cat's Farm - Lara Jones. A little gem of a book. The repetitive rhyme is fun and Jess likes to wave back to Poppy Cat on the final page. She loves this one!
Ready or Not, Mr Croc? - Jo Lodge. Another great read. The flaps and pop ups are fragile, so I have to watch Jessicat carefully when we read this book, but she loves Mr Croc jumping out at the end of the book. We will be looking for more books in this series.
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