Where did THIS come from???

Laxing out - very ladylike, watching TV

In the past Gaby has always said "can I have breakfast now" or "can you get me _______", but this morning... out of the blue I get:

"GET ME TOAST - NOW!"
"GET ME A TISSUE - NOW!"
"PUT THE LION KING ON - NOW!"

someone has suddenly - literally overnight, become very bossy!!!!! Yet another example of how quickly a child can change - I guess now it's back to the drawing board, to figure out a method for teaching Gaby to NOT BOSS MUM AROUND! Toad. It sounded cute the first time she said it, but after that first time, it was irritating. I guess it's just a glimpse of what the tween & teen years are going to be like huh....

Still amazed that she can change so much overnight......

Good behaviour - do I worry?

Gaby has been sooooo well behaved the past couple of days, it is wonderful. BUT it makes me wonder if this is the metaphorical 'calm before the storm' as far as kiddy behaviour goes? Friday and Saturday I didn't raise my voice at her once, and had no troubles getting her to go to sleep... I have praised her numerous times so she knows that I'm really proud of her - hoping that perhaps she'll realise she should be that way all the time.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

I must be an idiot, being worried about good behaviour?!!!!! Funny how too-&-fro toddlers behaviour can be. She can be a total devil for a week, have me at the end of my tether, and then all of a sudden she is being a little angel - and I don't think butter would melt in her mouth! She has really been a total joy the past couple of days, it's lovely!!! Guess it's these sort of things they do to keep us on our toes - can't let us get TOO used to one sort of behaviour! That'd just be too easy after all!

The never ending circle of parenting style adaptation

my lil' Mama, giving Georgia a cuddle

Oh my. Gaby is becoming rather assertive. I know it's a wonderful thing that she's reached this developmental stage.... BUT it also has me tearing my hair out!!! She has gone from doing what I ask her to do, when I ask her to do it - without much protestation, to letting me know in no uncertain terms when she doesn't want to do something - when she doesn't want to go somewhere, when she doesn't want to wear something, eat something, read something, play something... I guess it's just a glimpse of how she is going to be as she gets older.

... crazy monkey!

I always figured that you would have a parenting style that was the same right throughout your child's life - but I am fast learning that as your child changes (grows older, reaches more developmental milestones & stages) - you have to adapt your parenting style right along with the child! Seems that when I get on top of parenting - when I figure out the best way to deal with negative behaviour, positive behaviour, tantrums etc etc - that is the time that Gaby decides to change. It's a never ending circle!

officially closer to 3 than 2!

Cheeky McCheekerson

Last Sunday Gaby officially turned 2 & a half! 30 months old - wow, where has time gone? I know I say that in almost every entry - but it's so true, time just flies when there is a little one who has you enchanted!

What is new with Gaby? The potty training continues to go well, it is very rare to have an accident now, which is AWESOME! She's also started using the toilet as much as the potty, so it seems as though the transition between potty - toilet, isn't going to be so hard after all! It's so nice to not have to change nappies all day long - Gaby wore a nappy for a couple of hours on Friday because she was sick (& grumpy & exhausted) - and it was SO weird seeing her with a nappied butt!

Tea party with Ali!

Gaby seems to be understanding language more lately - it's really awesome. Like when it's dark she says its 'darking' (aww!)... She has also started saying "I think it's......." (such as I think it's in my belly, I think it's a cat, I think it's wees...), and I wondered if maybe preschool had been concentrating on use of language the past few weeks, but no! Gaby figured it out herself! I'm so proud of that little lunatic! She also freaked me out the other day - she pulled two paintings from the artbox at preschool - and they weren't hers. I told her this & she said "no, this is Leo's" - I checked & it WAS Leo's... I figured it was a lucky guess - then she took the 2nd painting & said "this is Leah's"... I looked - and it WAS by Leah! Scary. The paintings were done in early March, so it wasn't like she'd seen them painting them earlier in the week either.

I do miss having a little bubby - BUT having a toddler who is learning things every single day & continually blowing your mind, well - that is pretty awesome as well!

bug girl!

Gaby has started enjoying BUGS! Not a passion she gets off her Mama, I guess we can thank Poppa for that one. Yesterday she was holding a caterpillar & a grasshopper - which I guess was kind of cute, but the moment she tries to pick up a spider, well, she's on her own!

Potty training is going REALLY well. Over the weekend we spent a lot of time away from home (well, most of it!) - and she didn't have any accidents either at Nan & Poppa's or at the mall/shops we went to! She has started doing wee's in the toilet a lot more, which is awesome - because I was wondering how to try & transition her from the potty to the toilet. As I type this, she is at preschool without any nappies on - so hopefully today is a success as well!!! I don't mind if she has accidents, because it's still pretty new to her, but I have been very lucky with her, she's only had a few accidents - and they've all been the wet pants variety - not pooey pants.

What else is happening in the world of Gaby? Her imagination is really starting to get a good work out, and she never fails to amaze me! This morning she was 'cooking dinner' - she had some crackers, a wheatpack & ball in a pot & put them in the (not turned on) oven. When she said she had to check it, she asked for an oven mit because it was hot!!!! So cute!!! She also looks at my curtain & points out fishes & dinosaurs in the pattern (there are none!), and when she looks at my wallpaper - which has flowers on it, she says "walking in garden with Grandpa Dave" (her Father's step-dad)... Very clever my little girly!

Long overdue update!

I have been a bit slack lately updating the blog! The most interesting/exciting thing that has been happening lately, is Gaby's sudden understanding of doing wee's & poo's in the potty!!! All of a sudden she just started going to the potty when she needed to do one or the other (or both) - and on Saturday spent most of the day in just undies! Today is an undie day as well, and so far so good!!! She is very proud of herself whenever she goes in the potty, and I make a big deal of showing her how exciting it is - and admittedly I do give her a little treat whenever she goes! Small price to pay to get her potty trained!

Other than the pottying, she is continuing to grow and talk and do things each day that amaze me, and/or make me laugh. She really is a joy to have around - but I am guessing there aren't really any parents who wouldn't say that about their kiddy! She's still loving preschool & the increased hours (now that I'm back at uni) don't seem to have phased her at all - not that I thought they would - according to the teachers she is a very good helper... aw, that's my girl!

We are still having issues with her sleeping habits - ever since she vomitted in her bed almost two months ago! The past week or so she has gone to sleep in her bed, but gotten up before I have gone to bed, or has hopped into my bed with me before I've gone to sleep. I would prefer that she slept all night in her own bed, but I eventually realised that me trying to get her to stay in her bed was stressing both of us out - so I guess you could say I've given in & am not 'fighting' her when she wants to sleep with me. Usually she has a good nights sleep in my bed, so it isn't so bad I guess. Last night she did stay in her bed, until some point this morning, so hopefully that will be a theme from now on!!!

Sleep issues...

For the first time in ages Gaby is having sleep issues.

Ever since she threw up in her bed last week, she has HATED her bed & not wanted to sleep in it. She will only go to sleep if I stay with her - and then she wakes up REALLY easily, and joins me in my bed at some point during the night. It's been going on for a few nights now & we are BOTH starting to show the signs of sleep deprivation.

Last night I made up the pull out couch in her room & lay with her until she went to sleep - and she didn't come through to my room until 7am, so maybe she can sleep on that for a few nights. I know it isn't ideal, definately not the same as sleeping in her bed, but at least she's staying in her room and we're both getting a good sleep. I'm thinking of changing the position her bed is in, to see if that makes some difference - I'm not sure it will, but it's worth a try.

I'm guessing that when she is in her bed she thinks she's going to vomit - and obviously that upsets her. I would probably feel the same way I guess!

Ha, serves me right for bragging about how good of a sleeper Gaby is!!!!!!!! You'd think I'd have learnt by now to never say something like that & think I wouldn't jinx myself!