Muggy heat misery and teething troubles

The above title says it all, really. The last few days have been long and the nights a bit longer... poor Fred has been too hot to sleep and itchy and scratchy with it all. Rob dug up an old air conditioner to try and drop the temperature in Fred's room by a degree or two, which was great for the first half of the night as the temperature only gradually rose again after we switched it off at bedtime, but the second half of the night has been broken with a hot and grizzly and uncomfortable little boy. This hasn't been helped by the fact that his last four teeth are cutting through - his canines. He's drooling and chewing everything in sight.
Work has been hot hot hot. My office has a window that is barred and locked shut anyway, for safety, so it is like a sauna in there. I have an ancient fan that drones so loudly that the patients and I can't hear each other over it, so it isn't really used, and in any case, it's only moving hot muggy air around. I cheered when the skies darkened and the heavens opened this afternoon - it's much better tonight and Fred is in bed in a shortie, rather than just a nappy as he was last night. We've abandoned sleeping bags - which he's taking a bit of getting used to and is resenting being put to bed when he thinks he's not ready for it (ie not in a sleeping bag) - he seems to think being put in his cot without his bag is a punishment rather than bedtime. He'll soon twig.

However there have been lots of bright moments. I had to have him at work with me for the afternoon on Wednesday as our child care arrangements fell apart at the last minute - and he was an absolute angel - playing contentedly on the floor of the office during a meeting with books and puzzles and a packet of crisps! Everyone commented on how well behaved he was and how friendly and inquisitive he is. He was very taken with the curtains round the examining couches playing endless games of peekaboo and trying to roll the emoty bottles from the water cooler around. He really enjoyed himself and it made my day, having him with me for half a day!

Other interesting things of recent note - Friday night is pizza night round here, and Fred has now joined this tradition, with gusto! He has his own home-made baby-size pizza which doesn't last long! He may be nearly ready for potty training as he picked his nappy changing pack up and brought it over to me while I was at work, having just filled his nappy.. we have a potty in the house which we'll start introducing him to bit by bit..

Let's do it all again..

At first light Fred was in the paddling pool again...it was so much fun yesterday he wanted to climb straight in. The water was rather icy but that didn't seem to bother him at all.




He then (after a shower and getting dressed) went for a ride on his Christmas trike from Granny and Pops - this picture is for them.


He's having a few broken nights at the moment - bottom jaw canines breaking through his gums, poor boy.

The inflatable Mini gets used as a paddling pool at last

It was a warm and rather muggy afternoon,so we went for a stroll up to the dam with my old friend and her family (including my goddaughter and her marvellous brother who is still beating the odds). Fred and Molly played happily together (Molly wanted to hold Freddie's hand and hug him, he wanted to kiss her) and we cooled off with an ice-cream and a paddle. There wasn't enough time for Molly to join in, but Freddie had a whale of a time - we put a few bowlfuls of warm water in and got the hose spray out, and Fred was utterly delighted - popping up and down, squealing, pouring his watering can out again and again, and just generally enjoying himself. I'd have got in with him myself but I've been feeling a bit under the weather this weekend (bronchitis) so that's a treat for another day. He's wearing his new UV swimsuit which will really come into its own when the sun's beating down in the middle of the day, rather than in the evening shade. More pictures on Flickr.

I noticed the spray from the hose had splashed one of the roses that opened this morning - isn't it delicately gorgeous?

What does mummy do?

Daddy tells Freddie what Mummy does when she's not at home with him...

Out comes the Mini again

Combine an inflatable Mini, a sunny afternoon, two Mini fans and a garden in full bloom - these are the results. Don't they look happy?












The broad beans have podded! Hurrah!

Happy Half-Birthday, Rosie

Rob and Freddie woke me up this morning wishing me a happy half-birthday (which I hadn't even noticed was coming!) and a present all wrapped up - it was a toothbrush. Were they trying to tell me something?? Later on I spotted that one of the walls in our bedroom looked different and realised there was now something hanging on it above the jug and bowl (last year's half-birthday present)... a canvas print of Fred at Clumber Park. Doesn't it look great - and don't I have a very lovely pair of boys? The toothbrush was from Fred, the canvas from Rob.

Peas in a pod

Rob brought some pea pods home yesterday - new toys for both me and Fred. You can see what I did with them.. and what Freddie did with them in response. He soon worked out that they were edible.. and he was instantly taken with this new method of food delivery. He ate loads and loads - pure raw protein, vitamins, minerals. Good stuff. He was mightily pleased with himself!























He's still eating things he shouldn't - the other day his nappy was blue/green - most odd, until Rob mentioned it at nursery and they said "ah!" They'd found him in a corner with paper and wax crayons and blue crayon all over his face. They didn't mention it as they hadn't thought he'd eaten any. Think again!

Tuesday...

Two photos from today - our new sofa has arrived (a massive bargain) and don't you just want to siiink into it and stay there until forcibly removed?


Fred had fun in the Peace Gardens in the sunshine this afternoon while I had coffee with a friend and her five-week-old daughter. There are about ten giant silver balls which have water flowing out of the tops and a pool at their base, perfect for small boys to play in! I got him a UV swimsuit that covers most of his body so he can get wet in the sunshine quite happily and not need endless plastering with suncream. Hopefully he'll soon be enjoying it in the garden here... we have a hose spray gun and now just need a small paddling pool and some sunshine!

Stickers

Rob found these in town and brought them home to adorn Freddie's walls. Don't they look great?











We are having a few problems getting them to stay attached the walls though. A combination of the glue not really sticking enough in this warm weather (they are supposed to be removable) and eager little fingernails..

A blissful English Sunday afternoon

Freddie's godmother Sal spent the afternoon with us and we all went along to the delightful village of Youlgrave to do a gorgeous round walk through Lathkill Dale. It was just lovely... There were lots of cows (cue "Moo! Moo!) and flowers (cue "Ower! Ower") which delighted a certain little boy on my back, wonderful views, a cool breeze, warm afternoon sun, and a swift half at the end in an old pub. It is well-dressing season in the Peak and we saw several fine examples in Youlgrave, but my camera had run out of juice, so no photos of the incredible efforts the villagers had gone to with their two wells - a modern take on the ancient pagan appeasement/propitiation/pacifying etc etc rituals... (last two pictures on here are from my phone). Freddie had grabbed a baby food pouch off the shelves (Ella's Kitchen) at the supermarket and chewed it, so I had to buy it.. he had it for his supper at the pub and actually, it was pretty good. Vegetable and lentil bake (what kind of child chooses that off the shelf??) with an impressive lack of additives and preservatives, and it was tasty too. Not to mention incredibly convenient - you squeeze the food onto a spoon (or directly into child's mouth) through the nozzle, hey presto, a well fed baby. Freddie preferred the nozzle in mouth version, and there was none left.