Four - That Grand Old Age

Once again, I was astounded that another whole year had passed since I was attempting to find cards with SON and the appropriate age on.  J2 and I had made it through another 365 days, to the grand old age of four.

 

In 2013 when the impending age of three loomed I looked forward to it with the naïve hopefulness that, like in that legendary episode of Harry Enfield when Kevin turns from boy to teenager - but with the reverse effect - my tantrum throwing, stubborn little red head would turn into a polite, mindful little boy.

 

'When they get to three, they get easier.' I had heard almost everyone say. 

 

Hopeful.  Ever hopeful.

 

As you may have guessed this, of course, did not happen.  In fact I would dare to say that for the first six months of being three, he actually got worse.  However, things seemed to calm back down to a more manageable level for the latter six months.

 

At the ripe old age of four, J2 knows everything.  And is so unbelievably verbose he has no qualms in telling me, and most other people this in a four year old fashion.  He also has already established, to frustrating perfection, that amazing male art of 'selective hearing'.

 

Now don't get me wrong.  We have good days.  Those wonderful times when you can dare to think to yourself 'Houston I think we have turned a corner.' but more often than not, days are filled with drawn battle lines.  In a way this is fun.  I like to see my boy argue his case and try to negotiate his way out of trouble or into doing whatever he wants.  I think this could serve him as a good trait in the future if he hones it properly.  However, I do not appreciate it when we are in the middle of the supermarket and he is testing this skill out.

 

Most people take to J2 well.  He is a 'cheeky chappy' and of course I can see how that little grin and quirky comment will make you laugh and love him.  It makes me laugh and love him.  But when you see me snap 'Will you please - just do as I ask!', please remember I have been dealing with that 'cheeky chappy' and his disinterest in doing anything I ask him too, all day.

 

This is not a complaining post, I thought I had written about J1 a lot of late and it was high time I put a little something on here for my little J2 because he is such a character.  Yes he is very hard work to entertain as he doesn't have the greatest attention span, but it is a pleasure to be able to do just the 'normal' stuff such as scooting and going to the park or to the cinema.  When he behaves of course.

 

To get a day where he does and we get our chores done (hands up, he is a fantastic helper) and then we can take a trip and randomly chose an activity is, priceless.  When I watch him hop onto J1's bed with a tissue to wipe his dribble, or correct his glasses or just give him a cuddle makes me swell with pride.  To hear the two of them trying to have a little conversation - there is nothing sweeter to my ears.

 

So, as four approached I didn't imagine a big overnight change.  Good job, I didn't get one.  But I also realised that four really is a big number.  School applications have been submitted and results are eagerly awaited.  Number and letter learning books are being featured for 15 minutes a day in an attempt to get him to try and focus for more than 30 seconds.  Bikes have been mastered (with stabilisers of course) and artwork by the bucket load arrives from nursery.

 

Do I long for the baby years again?  In all honesty no.  But do I think time is going a little too fast?  Maybe.  Unless we are having a really stubborn day, then school I think will be the best place for him to learn some discipline that I am struggling to get through to him.

 

He is a character, our youngest boy, who is very into Mr Men and the only way to sum him up :

 

Mr Unique.

 

We're Going To The Zoo, Zoo, Zoo...

As previously mentioned in past blogs J2 turned 2 this week.  Many people fear their child turning 2, but considering J2 has been having 'The Terrible Two's' syndrome since he was about 9 months old, for me it was no scary matter.

J2 looking not so scary...

Having secured the knowledge that The Hubby would be able to 'work away from the office' I set about thinking about a suitable birthday activity for J2 to indulge in.  As it was Thursday we would be dropping J1 to school and then would have about 5 hours to spoil J2 with some one to one time. 

I sometimes have a hard time separating myself from my J1 thinking, of places we can not really go to, or avoiding activities / places that might 'upset' a sensitive child.  I have to remind myself that J2 is fully able bodied and a typical 2 year old who wants to charge around and have pure and carefree fun thus we can go and do all those things that I so desperately wanted to be able to do with J1 for all those years.

Although we try not to impose restrictions on what we do with J2, we try and make the weekends 'family time' and sniff out activities that we can all enjoy, and sadly, that means that a lot of places that J2 could enjoy we rule out because J1 won't.  And sometimes that just isn't fair to J2.  I do not say that in any way complaining, as J1 is getting older, his sensitivity issues are getting much better and we can not go to places that at one time I would never have dreamt we could (because of noise for example) but I have just got so used to not being able to do run of the mill things, and having to think / find J1 suitable trips etc that I sometimes forget that I can do all of those things for J2, and more importantly, should. 

So I decided that a trip to Colchester Zoo would be ideal for J2.  I know that it is big, but not too big, it has fantastic indoor and outdoor play areas as well as the vast array of animals and they are forever improving and extending enclosures, so it really does feel like your money is going back into the good of the Zoo.  Plus it is only a relatively short drive and I hadn't been there for years (the last trip had been an attempt at taking a very young J1 and he created hell most of the way round...).  After the beginning of the week gave us appalling weather, it was up in the air until the last minute as to whether would go, but fortunately Thursday dawned bright and dry, if somewhat chilly.

I can confidently say J2 absolutely adored it.  We could let him out of the buggy to run his little legs off for most of the day, as being a week day in term time it wasn't too busy.  In fact it was ideal, most of the other patrons also had toddlers running riot so we were like one big 'knowing and sympathetic' group.

I think J2's favourite part of the day was visiting the penguins, we could barely drag him away.

Followed by the playground...

But the biggest bonus of the day (for me) was discovering some brilliant baby changing facilities (including baby changing in the male toilets too) and (cue exciting music) they have an 'Adult Changing Facility'.  This is like finding the 'Golden Ticket' to us.  So we will be going back soon with J1 in attendance, as I think he would also really enjoy it now, and if that goes well Gold Passes might feature in their Christmas presents this year.

Dear Baby Boy - As You Approach 2

Dear J2

February 2012

At this point of the year, in 2010, I thought my stomach was stretched to it's maximum capacity, that my bladder had been reduced to the size of a ten pence piece and was reminded that any sleep was now a thing of the past - well at least for a couple of years.

Yes, I was in my 8th month of pregnancy with you, J2, and although it had been a little anxious at times I had thankfully made it to 36 weeks and a much safer 'delivery period' than during pregnancy number one.  All this 'big belly - no bladder' phase was new and exciting to me.

You continued to happily stay put for a further two weeks, in the photographs of Grandad's 60th Birthday, you are the bump in the pictures.  You finally decided to say hello at 20.02 on Monday 8 March 2010 and weighed in at 7lb 1oz, with a head of fiery red hair, which you have retained so far.

Fast forward 2 whole years to 2012, the year of the London Olympics - a mammoth thing for our country.  And the year of your second birthday.  This to us is just as mammoth.  Every year that you and your brother celebrate another birthday, happy and healthy we count our blessings and appreciate how lucky we are.

Before I had children I didn't really understand why people worried about having parties and making a big deal out of babies birthdays.  I used to think 'The child isn't going to remember it, why go to all that effort?'.  But I soon learnt, those early years are precious, they go quickly and are fast paced with change, so every moment should be celebrated.  That, and babies and toddlers generally have no fear, so the fact that as a parent you have managed to get your child to another birthday unscathed deserves celebration!

Of course for your first birthday we decorated in '1st Birthday Boy' attire.  This year however, you are old enough to start to have opinions on things you like.  Your favourite theme at the moment is a close call between Peppa Pig and Stars.  As I want to attempt to make your birthday cake this year though, we are going for a Star Theme, this I am hoping will be easier to try and bake and decorate than Peppa or George Pig...watch this space...

A Star 'Tea' Party is what we are planning, with a spread of all goodies of cakes and biscuits and chocolates and pick 'n' mix, the usual mix of family and friends are on the invite list.  Although, by the time you are reading this, you probably won't have any recollection of this birthday, you will be familiar with it by the copious amounts of photographs I am likely to take (the power of the digital camera enlightens your era).

So those are our plans, it's now time to summarise a wonderful, happy, if sometimes a little challenging year of J2...

By the end of March 2011, you had progressed from walking holding the hands of any adult to completely independently, and believe you me, there was no stopping you.

In April 2011 you started to go to Nursery for one afternoon a week.  There was only a few weeks of tears and before long when I dropped you off I didn't even get a backwards glance, too much fun to be had.

In June 2011 we went on holiday to Centre Parcs and you would have spent every available second in the swimming pool if you had the chance, a real water baby, although when you were smaller we wasn't sure you would be, you certainly are now.

During the summer months of July, August and September we discovered that you adored the beach, the sand and water, and living by the seaside - very handy.

In October, you started to verbalise words other than Mumma / Mummeeeeeee.  Also with your mobility and ability to point we started to be able to have actual two way conversations of sorts.

In December we moved, from the house you came home to when you were born to a new abode.  It gave us more space and you loved having the ability to charge around, although sometimes this proved to be a little hair-raising for us.  You also changed Nurseries and seem to like the new one even more.  You threw yourself into Christmas like a real toddler (i.e playing with the wrapping and boxes more than the toys).

January blighted us with coughs and colds and bugs, yuk.

February saw your first proper experience with Snow (Noooooooooooo as you so sweetly shouted up the window).  And you started to say Milky / Jakey / Jack / Georgie Cat / Peppa Pig & George as well as beginning to put words together.  You also started to watch a whole episode of Peppa Pig, independently and asking for stories to be read.  Your favourites being Peace at Last and The Red School Bus.

So a very packed out, milestone achieving and fun year.  We are all looking forward to watching you grow this year from a toddler, to the age of 3 and turning into a 'boy' rather than just 'baby'.  I am sure you will make beautiful memories for recording down in next years letter.

Happy Birthday (very soon) Dear Sweet J2.

Love Mummy.