can't even lie still for 10 seconds

In an attempt to get Preston to sleep (after hours of not sleeping), we let him lie in our bed on the condition of 'no squiggling around, or you go back to your own bed'. "I PROMISE", he assures us. After we'd said about 50 comments like 'stay still!', 'stop kicking me' and so on, I exasperatedly said 'Preston, I don't think you could even stay still for 10 SECONDS!'

Well, that's a challenge to any kid (I did this at Brownies last week - they nearly exploded after 6 seconds of keeping quiet, which to them meant they had to hold their breath and shut their eyes - it was very funny).

So I counted. Every time he squiggled, I started at 1 again. For quite some time, we didn't get past 2. It was getting a bit silly (and funny). Preston, you can't even last 2 seconds, I exclaim. Right, he says, THIS TIME.

So in the dark, I begin counting again. He's trying hard - Purple Bear is firmly pressed over his eyes. 1, 2, 3, 4. Then I feel the bed jiggle with contained laughter. But Preston was still. 5. Then I realised it was Dan who was trying really hard not to giggle. It was contagious and I couldn't help myself. Soon I had tears streaming down my cheeks, especially when Preston got all mad at us and said "what are you two doing? Why are you laughing? SHHH!!! I'm trying to be quiet so we can get to 10!" This made us giggle even more and we were a total mess! Poor Preston was so annoyed. Especially when I started counting again from 1....

May 2010 Update

Oops, I haven't been updating as much as I should, and reading back over the detail I included about Preston's development has made me realise I should really be doing the same for Maxwell.

He is nearly 15 months now and is a very busy little boy with 7 teeth. He runs around after Preston and he wants to be just like him. He loves coming along to Kindy when I drop off and pick up Preston - he feels like a big boy when he stand on tiptoes and reaches into the water trough to splash about.

Last week he started daycare for two part days a week. It's a lovely daycare, much better than the one Preston went to. It will take him a while to get over the separation anxiety, but he will be fine. Lots of other people look after him at home and he's ok with that - it's just a new location with lots of strange (but friendly) faces.

Maxwell is desperately trying to talk. He tries really hard to say words especially these:
Mama, Dada, Mummy (mummeeeeeeee!), Daddy, kitty, please, thank you, nose, shoe, sock, bag, keys, cheese, dog, kindy, eat, (ba)nana, Nana, MINE! and a whole lot more that I can't think of. He still does some baby sign language.

Preston is nearly 4½ and is a total know-it-all. Today he said "Mummy, I just bought a new game on your phone." I said "what? how?" He replies "I downloaded it from the App store - don't worry, I didn't need your password." Oh.

He loves playing video games, and on Dan's new iPad. I'm not sure if he realises that probably none of the other kids at kindy have all the tech stuff he's allowed to play with!

And on the days that Maxwell is at daycare, Preston has really missed him. I'll pick him up from kindy and he'll ask where Maxwell is, and then spend the next few hours pestering me with "is it time to get Maxwell yet? What about NOW?" So that's cute.

April visit to One Tree Point

Haven't had time to update this blog, but don't forget to check Dan's flickr page for recent photos www.flickr.com/regen.

We went to stay with Dan and Karon at One Tree Point for 4 days when my friend Melanie got married. It was a wonderful holiday - I got to catch up with my girlfriends, and also Preston and Maxwell had so much fun. They played at the beach, went fishing, built sandcastles, played Lego, got to come to a post-wedding lunch - it was great.

The boys are growing up so fast and they really enjoy each other's company. Maxwell is running around now and can understand verbal instructions and does whatever we ask. It's amazing! You can tell him to find an object and he'll get it for you!

Bagels!

Dan & Preston made bagels from scratch. Dan was inspired by an Iron Chef America battle, where Morimoto’s team made bagels in less than an hour. These bagels were made using a Hamelman recipe, basically just flour, water salt and yeast.

Images (left to right) show kneading, dough, on tray to go to fridge overnight, boiling, resting in ice bath, tray for oven, baked, cream cheese and jam.

And I felt a bit like the Little Red Hen's friends who didn't help, but I still got to eat them - they are delicious!! Thanks Dan and Preston!

Maxwell is clever

Maxwell now has two teeth which he is rather intrigued by, and he is now walking a lot more - it seems he prefers to walk (unless speed is required). He can walk across the room quite happily, so it will not be long before he and Preston are running around together. They play together a lot now, especially since Maxwell is so much stronger and can handle a bit of roughness.

He's also picking up baby sign language quickly now - I taught him grapes yesterday and he picked it up immediately, and then repeated it today a few times when he saw them again. I also signed him instructions (accompanied with verbal) for 'where is the other shoe?' and he knew what i meant, located it, and went to get it for me. He was so happy when he completed the task, and did the shoe sign! What a clever boy!

Happy Birthday Maxwell!

Maxwell turns 1 today - at last! We had a little party for him with banana cupcakes (with whipped cream on top), and presents, and a lovely lunch with Nana.

Maxwell's birthday eve

Tomorrow Maxwell turns 1! At last - he is so grown up and I can't believe he is not 1 already.

Today Preston was so well behaved that for the first time ever, I let him hire a Wiggles cart at the supermarket! He always asks and then we have the obligatory tantrum when I say no, but today I had no help and no stroller, and both boys at the supermarket (normally something carefully orchestrated to avoid). The cart was very good actually - both boys were strapped in with doors locked and they had their own steering wheel, and they could hear Wiggles music and stories playing on the inside (thankfully I couldn't).


It was the quietest, most uneventful shopping trip ever, and we left the supermarket without a single tantrum, or stern glare from other disapproving shoppers. Amazing! $2 well spent. However, since I don't plan on using this treat every time, I image the tantrums will be even worse when I say no....

Knight Preston

Preston went to a birthday party that was a Princess theme, so he went in this cool Knight costume. He was the only boy and apparently slayed a dragon bravely to save all the princesses, and they all love him. It was a big adventure - he had to catch the ferry to Devonport with one of the other mums (I wasn't going), and they went on an exploration through the tunnels over that way.

Preston is getting very popular at kindy and has been invited to 3 birthday parties this week! Wow!!

Maxwell update

Just a quick pre-1 update on Maxwell's developments. He is taking steps all the time now - his biggest streak is 6 steps, but her regularly does 4, and seeks praise which is very cute. We all celebrate with him! He spends most of his time standing now, and crawls just for speed. (eg to get away from nappy changes etc)

He's trying really hard to communicate and say words - he has got 'mama' and 'daddy' and 'uh oh' sorted, and he's attempting to say other words. He's figured out what 'stop' means, and he says it to us - hand up in the correct format and 'DOB!' It's pretty funny (and clever). He's pulling out a lot of baby signing now that I had taught him a while ago but I though he didn't get and I've kind of let it lapse - but he has remembered and he's trying to use it. He was having a giant signing explosion the other night over Preston's toothbrush - he really wanted to touch it and he was signing 'cat' over and over and pointing at the bristles, so maybe he thought they were soft and furry like a cat? Clever logic really.

Maxwell takes his first steps!

Hooray! This morning Maxwell took his first steps! He's been standing for a while and is really steady on his feet, and if he holds one of our fingers for balance, he can walk around the room. Then this morning finally figured out that he can move his feet without holding onto anything. Won't be long now before he is chasing Preston around. I should also point out that the first steps were Preston-related - ie, Maxwell was trying to get to Preston.

Here is a list of things Maxwell should be able to do at 11 months:

MOST KIDS CAN:
Says "mama" and "dada" to the correct parent
[yes]
• Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo
[yes, doing this for months]
• Stands alone for a couple of seconds
[yes, for ages]
• Cruises
[yes, has been doing this for months]

HALF KIDS CAN:
• Understands "no" and simple instructions
[yes, and understands when i do baby signs]
• Puts objects into a container
[yes, this is a favourite game - especially with lego]

FEW KIDS CAN:
• Says one word besides "mama" and "dada"
[yes, says 'uh oh' every time he drops something. also tries to say a word for the cat and preston. Also does baby signs for more, food, flies, hat]
• Stoops from standing position
[yes]

Clones again

I thought Maxwell was starting to develop his own look and wasn't so cloney anymore, and i think generally he is looking less like Preston, but i caught them watching tv today with the same expression and they do have the same facial features....

Maxwell is 11 months old!

He's standing for ages now, and can stand up from crouching position without holding onto anything, so i don't expect it will be long before he takes a step!

Also today he FINALLY started saying 'Mama' properly (I've been teaching him for ages but it's been no use, i've been 'yaya' instead). So his current words are Dada and Mama. He says something like 'daidai' for Preston and he tries to say something for the cat. He hasn't bothered with signing for any of those words, but he knows what i mean if i sign it. He's not that interested in doing signing much any more since he can get his message across in other ways, but he does occasionally do milk, more, all gone, again. I think he just wants to talk - i was trying to get him to copy sounds like 'ssss' and he tried to copy me straight away which was really cool. Don't know why he wouldn't say mama all this time.

Maxwell and Preston are best friends and they play together so nicely (mostly). They love to laugh and be silly together - it's very cute!

Preston's had 2 weeks of swimming lessons every day, so he's quite competent now. Tomorrow he starts a week of art class every morning, and then it's back to kindy the week after. He is not into art much at all, so hopefully this class will encourage him to do some drawing/painting/writing etc, especially since his world is all about interacting with a touch screen or controller or keyboard... but wow, he is so clever at playing games. I want to find some kids gaming championships for him to enter!