Two Otis gems for you, at opposite ends of the spectrum.
At IGA the other day, upon being asked if Peggy is his little sister:
"She's my Peggy-boo." (Accompanied by couldn't-have-been-cuter-if-choreographed gestures of love and possession.)
Yesterday, in anticipation of a tantrum (mine, although I actually managed to take control of my frazzled-ness and behave for once):
"F*ck. F*ck."
WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?
"F*ck?"
Uh-oh.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
We've found our rhythm...
and life is just grand.
I've been absent from this blog for good reason - I've just submitted my PhD thesis after 6 years. It's funny, when I was in the throes of my research with one hand typing and the other feeding my boob into Otis' mouth, I felt really put out by the fact that I had to focus on something other than him. But now that I am done, I am already embarking on new projects, and am realising that that is how I parent - mothering is not my only occupation, it never will be. I think that if it were I would lose all perspective and, perhaps, my sense of self. Being a SAHM is something of a "calling" for some women, and not something I wish to dismiss. I respect those who have the paience to be at the mercy of infants and toddlers non-stop. I have issues with anger and am very quick to fire, and I believe that using my brain in ways that don't relate to toilet training or discipline or breastfeeding allows me to fully switch off from parenting and thus take the odd, genuine "break" from it. It's a relentless experience.
Anyway, yes, things are good. Otis is a real boy now - all feet and hands, singing sweetly (not sure that he will be a choirboy, however, his pitch is all over the place!), recalling minutiae in frightening detail and mimicking many of my not-so-fine parenting moments ("That's enough Peggy! Shut up, please!"). His current favourite things: Fireman Sam, a book called The Farmer by Mark Ludy, anything chocolate and the very sweet Japanese film Ponyo. He doesn't like wearing jeans, and hates waking up after his afternoon nap (yes, the irony is not lost on me). He adores Peggy, and continues to shower those around him with love and affection. He has started asking for "another baby in Mummy's tummy". Not yet matey!
Peggy is wonderful too, cruising furniture, pulling herself up and then letting go, with the occasional well-balanced moment of real standing. She's perfected the art of falling "softly" on her well-padded nappied bottom. Has given me plenty of grief with boob-refusal lately, but the past few days have seen her get reacquainted with the process. She has certainly never been the booby monster that Otis was. It will probably make the weaning experience less emotionally fraught for me. She's eating well, not huge volumes of food though. She is sleeping beautifully during the day, but is co-sleeping and waing reasonably frequently of a night. Mostly she is easily re-settled though, and I am happy to have the cuddles given the freezing weather we've been having. Waking up to her gorgeous "anime" face each morning is inexplicably excellent...
She's developed a very strong attachment to me in the last few weeks, and likes to spend much of every evening in my arms whilst I do my domestic duties. I don't mind, I know these phases come and go.
She's babbling away, saying "dada", "mama", "baba", "yeah, yeah, yeah" and has been waving with an accompanied "hi" or "bye" for a couple of weeks now. She started clapping at the Play School concert and hasn't stopped. She's an energised,spirited, determined and bright little girl. Delicate rather than chubby, with a definite olive tone to her skin, so different to O's "English Rose" complexion.
Loving my family, they really do make my heart feel full.
I've been absent from this blog for good reason - I've just submitted my PhD thesis after 6 years. It's funny, when I was in the throes of my research with one hand typing and the other feeding my boob into Otis' mouth, I felt really put out by the fact that I had to focus on something other than him. But now that I am done, I am already embarking on new projects, and am realising that that is how I parent - mothering is not my only occupation, it never will be. I think that if it were I would lose all perspective and, perhaps, my sense of self. Being a SAHM is something of a "calling" for some women, and not something I wish to dismiss. I respect those who have the paience to be at the mercy of infants and toddlers non-stop. I have issues with anger and am very quick to fire, and I believe that using my brain in ways that don't relate to toilet training or discipline or breastfeeding allows me to fully switch off from parenting and thus take the odd, genuine "break" from it. It's a relentless experience.
Anyway, yes, things are good. Otis is a real boy now - all feet and hands, singing sweetly (not sure that he will be a choirboy, however, his pitch is all over the place!), recalling minutiae in frightening detail and mimicking many of my not-so-fine parenting moments ("That's enough Peggy! Shut up, please!"). His current favourite things: Fireman Sam, a book called The Farmer by Mark Ludy, anything chocolate and the very sweet Japanese film Ponyo. He doesn't like wearing jeans, and hates waking up after his afternoon nap (yes, the irony is not lost on me). He adores Peggy, and continues to shower those around him with love and affection. He has started asking for "another baby in Mummy's tummy". Not yet matey!
Peggy is wonderful too, cruising furniture, pulling herself up and then letting go, with the occasional well-balanced moment of real standing. She's perfected the art of falling "softly" on her well-padded nappied bottom. Has given me plenty of grief with boob-refusal lately, but the past few days have seen her get reacquainted with the process. She has certainly never been the booby monster that Otis was. It will probably make the weaning experience less emotionally fraught for me. She's eating well, not huge volumes of food though. She is sleeping beautifully during the day, but is co-sleeping and waing reasonably frequently of a night. Mostly she is easily re-settled though, and I am happy to have the cuddles given the freezing weather we've been having. Waking up to her gorgeous "anime" face each morning is inexplicably excellent...
She's developed a very strong attachment to me in the last few weeks, and likes to spend much of every evening in my arms whilst I do my domestic duties. I don't mind, I know these phases come and go.
She's babbling away, saying "dada", "mama", "baba", "yeah, yeah, yeah" and has been waving with an accompanied "hi" or "bye" for a couple of weeks now. She started clapping at the Play School concert and hasn't stopped. She's an energised,spirited, determined and bright little girl. Delicate rather than chubby, with a definite olive tone to her skin, so different to O's "English Rose" complexion.
Loving my family, they really do make my heart feel full.
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