Giggles

For a few days now Eliza has looked like she wanted to giggle, however, each time she tried she would smile and cough. Today after Daniel's party she and I were hanging out while the boys had a nap and while we were playing she started to do some proper giggles. I just love how their faces light up when the laugh. Looking forward to many more laughs to come.

 

Fire engines

Daniel wanted to tell you what he got to see and do today.

It was really cool. We went to the Library for Storytime and as we were walking back to the car we saw a fire engine. We were looking at it and talking about it when a fireman came up and asked if Daniel wanted to sit inside it. We said yes so he opened the door and let Daniel sit on one of the chairs and looked around. He then asked if Daniel wanted to wear one of the helmets so we put it on his head (holding it because it is quite heavy). Daniel really didn't show any expression - but he tends to do that when he is excited but also feeling shy. He then hopped down the the 3 other firemen came over to say hi to Daniel and Eliza and had a little bit of a chat with them - asking their age, where they had been, etc. They had to go so we said bye and as they left they turned on the flashing lights and turned on the siren. Daniel started making the siren sound too.

They were so lovely. They also said to take him to the firestation some time to sit in the fire engine properly and look at everything. I'm thinking we'll go as a mothers' group to see it.

What a fun special experience :-)

Big Boy Bed Part 2

After such a wonderful start to Daniel being in a big boy bed, all has gone out the window. He is more than happy to get into it, the problem now is staying in it. For the past 2 days he hasn't had his nap because he has been too keen to get out of the bed. Yesterday Eliza needed a feed so I had to just close the door. He didn't cry, he didn't get upset. What he did do was happily entertain himself in the room - putting on shoes, his hat, playing with his toys, looking at books from in the draws. Everything and anything besides going to sleep. Each time I did go in, he looked up at me with a big grin and said 'Hi Mummy'. Very cute, but also very annoying! 

The last 2 nights have been a battle of staying in bed. Again, he is more than happy to be put in there (even 1000 times), but he just won't stay there. I know that the strategy is to keep putting him there but it really feels like there is no end in sight. He is wearing me down and wearing James down. At this stage, there is no way that I can have someone else look after him during a nap time or bed time. It is just way too taxing on them. 

Last night was 2 hours of constantly trying to put him back to bed. Definitely a team effort to get there in the end. He was so overtired and therefore over energised, he just couldn't stay in bed. It wasn't until I had had enough and took Teddy from him, saying he needed to stay in bed to get Teddy back (a special toy we bought for going into his big boy bed). He was devistated and cried, but stayed in bed, therefore he got Teddy back. The next minute he was sound asleep. I was so tense after it all, I just had to have a big cry.

Today for his nap, he again kept getting out of bed. For 1 hour 45 mins I had the door slightly openned. Each time I saw his legs going down to the ground, I picked him up and put him back into bed. I have no idea how many times I did it. After the hour 45mins, I just had to shut the door so I stayed sane. Eliza then woke up after 5 mins. No rest at all.

Tonight Daniel again was in and out. He went to sleep at 7:40, so that was 20mins earlier than last night, so that was an improvement. Consistency is the key. I again just stood outside of the door and each time I could hear him climbing out of bed I went in and put him back under the covers. He was more settled tonight but still took a long time. James took over toward the end and eventually Daniel went to sleep.

I hope this doesn't continue for a long time. I am exhausted about it. Not just doing it, but also thinking about it and trying to work out strategies to apply. It is a learning process for us. Hopefully he will settle down over the next few days and the length of time to get to sleep decreases. I also hope he settles for his nap times too.

Edit: Today (Tuesday) Daniel had an afternoon nap after 40mins of getting out of bed and then went to sleep tonight after 30mins of getting out of bed. Tonight he did fall asleep in the middle of his bed so we had to move him back under the covers but that was ok. Hopefully he will continue to improve. Feeling much more confident about it now.

Praising God

I just love how Daniel responds to music, especially Christian music. When we go to church, Daniel likes to bounce, dance and clap with the music as the band plays the first few songs. He then really enjoys going out to creche for the rest of the service. Last week I got a video of him dancing to the music. He tends to dance more when James' band is on which is pretty cute.

During the week I had the iPod on while we were in the back room. A Hillsong song came on, 'Beneath the Waters'. We have sung this song a couple of times at church and it has been on the iPod for a while. Daniel, out of nowhere, started to sing some parts of it. Basically he was saying the last word of each line in the chorus. It amazes me what goes into his little brain and how he processes it.

My little boy is growing up

Today has been a big day for Daniel. He moved from his cot to his big boy bed! We have played on it for a while and he has really enjoyed pretending to sleep on it. Yesterday I mentioned to Daniel that he would move into his big boy bed tomorrow and he was very upset that he couldn't do it then. I would have tried but his bed rail hadn't been set up yet and James and I had also decided it be best to try when we both were home (yesterday he was at the AFL during nap time). So he had his last nap, and then last bed time, in his cot.

This morning when he woke up, we mentioned that he would move into his big boy bed for his nap and he was very excited. When it was nap time, we asked him if he wanted to move into his bed or sleep in his cot. He said bed and ran into his room. We gave him a hug like normal, told him 'Daddy loves you very much, do do Mummy and Eliza but God loves you more' (like we normally do) and then put him under his doona. He rolled onto his tummy, closed his eyes and was very happy to go to sleep. After about 20mins I snuck in and he was sound asleep. He looks so grown up in the bed, using a pillow. 

I'm a bit sad that he is growing up. It feels too soon! But I am proud of him.

Again tonight we did the normal be routine - into pjs, brush teeth, say prayers, say our goodnight line, then put him into his bed. Again he just rolled over. James said that he asked for a kiss and Daniel turned his head, gave a kiss then turned his head over on the pillow again. James asked if Daniel loved him and Daniel said 'I love you'. He then went to sleep. Again, so proud of my little boy! 

He slept in it the whole night. He woke at 6:35am while I was feeding Eliza and as his door was a little bit open he decided to get out of bed. He walked down the hallway and saw James in our room getting ready for work and I just heard a very cute, little giggle. James picked him up, walked him back to his room and put him back into bed, which Daniel didn't seem to mind. At 7am he called out 'Sun up, sun up' (his gro clock had changed meaning he could get up). I went in and he was still sitting on his bed. Good job Daniel! 

Paddle, paddle, kick, kick

Daniel has been doing swimming lessons for almost a year now and he just loves it. We started last year just after his birthday and I am so grateful for the swimming teacher he got, Robina. She is so lovely, friendly, encouraging, funny and works with the kids where they are at. She doesn't just stick to the level that they 'should' be at. As a result she has been pushing Daniel further in his swimming lessons. We have been fortunate to have the majority of his swimming lessons as a one-to-one lesson time which has been great for both Daniel and I and Robina says that it is a highlight of her Wednesdays. 

I am so proud of how far Daniel has come and what he can do. After having Eliza I have had a bit of a break as you can't be submerged after giving birth to avoid infection. I am so grateful for Mum and Dad who have willingly taken Daniel into the water for his lessons (and they have also loved doing it). I have been able to do a few lessons with him since Eliza has been born which have been lots of fun. It is a real joy to share swimming with him.

Here are some videos of him swimming with Poppy and with myself last month. Sadly they have pushed back our lesson time and as a result we have 3 other people in our swim class but that's ok. Robina still enjoys using Daniel as her model to show different techniques and she has taught myself, Dad and Mum a lot of the standard she expects from him so we can push him a bit further even if she isn't there with us.

Swimming lessons consist of things like using the pool noodle to swim (without assistance) to get balls or ducks. He is gradually understanding that he needs to keep the noodle under him (even thought he doesn't always like it).
 

 Robina has been working with Daniel putting his head under when she says 'down' and he is getting very good at it. He is also getting pretty good at swimming short distances by himself which I am very proud of him for.

Robina also suggested that it would be good for Daniel to start wearing goggles. We bought him some but he isn't very sure about them. Today he asked to wear them and they did last about 10mins which was impressive. Slow and steady I guess.

Wearing Robina's goggles for the first time

Here Robina was using a duck under the water to encourage Daniel to use the goggles to open his eyes under the water. It did work a little bit.

Daniel still loves going under the water! Head down, and off he goes.

So we will power on through the winter months because he is doing so well.