As yet unnamed!

The weekend

Another weekend has come and gone and we're into March tomorrow. Amazing how time flies. I think I need to start making weekend plans as we just sit around and hang out. I know that's not a bad thing as it's time spent together but it would be nice to do more. The weather being sucky isn't helping matters but soon it will be spring and summer and it will be great to be out and about. I'm hoping to take the kids to Battersea Park zoo on Wednesday morning if it's nice out. Mimi has school in the afternoon but it's not far to go to the zoo and we can always eat lunch there and Charlie can nap in the stroller anyway. We'll see how the week goes. 

We did some baking, we did a web cam, Kirk and N took apart the nursing chair in her room. Finally, as it's been broken for a while and Charlie started climbing on it which makes it kinda dangerous. Kirk has promised her a purple chair for her birthday so I better start looking for one soon. 

I just finished my first week of WW and am pleased to say I have survived without killing anyone out of hunger. Not to eat them of course, just that I am extra cranky as I'm trying to adjust from eating 500000000 calories a day to something like 1500 I think. It gets better with each day though. I need to build in some exercise into my days which will be easier once the weather improves. I hate going to the gym so my exercise has to be in the form of walking. I'd consider swimming but at the moment there is no chance in hell of me getting into a bathing suit. Who knows, once I lose my weight I might join the gym as it has a pool and when I am thin I will be happy to get into a bathing suit. I weigh in tomorrow morning so wish me luck. 

The photo is of the kids from yesterday in the playroom. They both have a weird fascination with baskets and sitting in them so here they are, sitting in one together. Charlie was there first (he emptied out the balls that were in there) and then Noemie climbed in and they were feeding each other playfood. They played well most of the weekend which is always a good thing when stuck indoors in canoe weather!

Girls' day out

A day late but I had a bad headache last night so I didn't blog. I woke up with the headache which had gotten worse, threw up a few times then stayed in bed for the most part. Not a tummy bug or food poisoning but a migraine I think. I'm so fed up of being unwell. The colds this year seem to linger too. Sucks big time. Luckily I didn't feel too rough yesterday and a few headache tablets did the trick. 

I went shopping with my Mom and Alice at Westfields yesterday along with a yummy lunch. We went to a French restaurant called LPDJ where my Mom had lobster, I had a grilled halibut and Alice had the seared tuna. We of course had starters and desserts as well. Delicious! Definitely will go back again. We did a bit of shopping, mainly some casual wear at Gap and some cute stuff for the kids. Mimi is modeling one of her new ones in the photo above along with her fake smile on command. I managed to wash the rest of the stuff before she insisted on wearing everything at once. The best purchase of the day was a new Apple MacBook Pro courtesy of my folks. I had started saving for one but will readily admit that saving isn't my forte and neither is waiting for something I want. And luckily for me my Mom spoils me rotten and I love it! I'm blogging from my old laptop at the moment as I have to load Photoshop Elements to my new one but otherwise I've been on the new one and the kids now have a laptop of their own to watch their DVDs and such and none of us have to share. Yeah, it's good to teach kids to share but I'm not a kid. Hahahaha! 

Going to bed early. Hope tomorrow is a better day.

Awesome Day!

Today was such an awesome day! Everyone woke up happy and ate a good breakfast. Noemie and I decorated her dinosaur cookies from last night with some white and red icing and lots of different sprinkles. Then we all went out during a brief dry moment to buy milk and then some flowers for Noemie to take to school. A different child has to bring in cut flowers to school on their designated week and then they are responsible for taking care of them for that week. This week was Noemie's and she's been excited all weekend about picking out her flowers. Here she is sniffing flowers and making choices. We ended up with a fairly large bouquet and it was a bit more than I had planned on spending but she was having so much fun I didn't want to ruin the moment for her. I think we'll go back each week now to get a few flowers for our dining room table and Mimi can choose for me. This afternoon was the first time since the very beginning where she was thrilled to go to school. She had her shoes on 15 minutes early, cookies packed and kept reminding me about her flowers. She was dying to go this afternoon. What a nice change! The kids loved her cookies and I also met and chatted with her friend Hannah's Mom. Hannah is Japanese which is cool as Noemie is 1/4 Japanese. When I chatted to the Mom about Noemie talking about Hannah at home she asked if my daughter's name was Naomi (many people call her that much to my dismay). Great to know that Hannah talks about Mimi at home too. 

Charlie and I went to the bookshop and played together this afternoon and then when we picked Mimi up we all played in the kitchen until bath time. Noemie got a bowl of treats for Charlie (his cheesy puffs) and Charlie just sat down on the floor with his back to me and reclined against my feet. I didn't set it up, he just figured that was a good place to be. Noemie was on my lap and we were giggling at him the entire time. I'll leave you with the video! Please note I say "he's leaning on my hands" but I do realize that those are my feet, not my hands!

Well the weather pretty much sucked for most of the day and as we're lazy, we stayed in all day! The kids had a great time playing with each other. At one point Kirk wanted to take them out but Noemie refused and said she wanted to stay home with me and then we ended up doing a webcam with Nana and then it was dinner time and so forth. 

I took a few videos today so can share 2. I will do photos again someday but I need to remember to charge my camera battery more often! The iPhone doesn't take great photos so I tend to use it more for videos when it's not busy taking a bath. Noemie did several dances for us. She did one really nice ballet routine in the kitchen but the moment the phone came out she stopped. She did several turns with her hands fluttering above her head and then did something fancy with her feet. Cute. A definite step up from the ring around the rosey she did in the past which she insisted was ballet. 

Next video is of Charlie and Mimi playing with a duvet. She was rolling him up and saying it was time for his nap and he was just enjoying being rolled around. He LOVES the duvet and he will be getting one in spring when it won't matter that he kicks his covers off. He would freeze if he did that now as his room has the worst temperature control in this house. It was 15 degrees in there the other morning. If I turn the heat up a bit more though it ends up like an oven and he doesn't do well in the heat. Good job he runs warm to begin with. 

I baked some sugar cookies with Noemie today and we will decorate them tomorrow morning so she can take them to school in the afternoon. We used the dinosaur cookie cutters from our previous outing to the Natural History Museum. I need to get some blue food dye in the morning so we can mix it with red as she wants purple icing. That kid is so in love with purple... my least favorite color. I made my blog purple as she likes it!

Fun times

Noemie likes Charlie a lot at the moment. She plays with him non stop and wants to be around him. This video was taken yesterday after Noemie got home from school but it's been repeated over and over today as well. The stroller is one for a baby sized doll that came in a set of stuff such as a cot bed, swing, etc. We need to help him into the stroller and once he's in, it's hard for him to climb back out as his butt is a snug fit. Noemie pushes him all around the kitchen and the dining room and Charlie squeals with joy for the most part. He does get impatient if she stops and sometimes he's not a very cooperative passenger and N shouts at him to "sit down Charlie!". He pushed her around this morning as well. Love it when they play together. 

We went to Gambado this morning and everyone was exhausted by the time we got home. They have a new soft play area for under 2 year olds (or under a certain height, which Charlie is just about to reach despite only being 16 months old). It has a little climbing thing and then a slide which of course Charlie went down head first. He has no fear. He also climbed up the bigger kids' climbing frames and went down the long big slides. Not head first on those though as we're worried he might flip or hit his face as it's a long run. Both kids went to sleep easily tonight. Hope they sleep through the night again. Charlie's had a run of night time wakings this past week. Most likely a growth spurt as it's for milk and his clothes are getting shorter on him. 

My cold is still with me and it's irritating as I can't smell or taste anything. Well, the smell part has worked out well when I'm around Charlie's butt, but the taste thing is miserable as we had some Vacherin and Epoisses cheeses for dinner tonight and I couldn't taste a thing. I also made an apple pie and couldn't taste it. On a mission to get healthier I've started taking vitamins, echinacea, vitamin C and Zinc tablets each day and have increased my fruit and water intake as well. I have never been one to get sick so easily and often so I think it's more to do with not taking care of myself properly than an immune system issue. Fingers crossed it works. Am also going to start taking walks a few times a week to get some exercise. I'm getting fat again and am fed up already. I'd like to lose 25lbs by my birthday at the end of April which should be doable. Maybe I'll reward myself with a new laptop if I reach the goal in time for my birthday!

Charlie

 

Yay, good to have my iPhone at the ready as I can do videos as well. Charlie was having his hands washed before lunch and thought it was the funniest thing ever. He is quite the giggly little fella and laughs most of his day. He has a contagious laugh and is just such a happy guy. 

The kids had a good day. My parents were over for lunch and Mimi charmed them as always with her non stop chatter. She played lots of dollhouse with Papa and gave Baba lots of hugs and kisses. She went off to school this afternoon without a fuss and Charlie went to the park and ran around and tired himself out quite nicely. Bedtime was super easy tonight. Wish it was like that all the time. I had my nails done and then did some knitting. Just finished dinner and am off to knit some more :)

Conversation's with Noemie

No photos again as my camera battery needs charging and my new iPhone is in a protective metal box under lock and key so there is no risk of it coming to harm again. Ok, that last part was a lie but I just haven't taken any photos in the last few days. I do however have some cute conversations with Noemie to share. 

This morning

N: Mimi wants robop (robot) for birthday present

M: What kind of robot?

N: Purple one

M: OK, I'll get you a purple robot for your birthday in 6 weeks from now

(drags me to my laptop)

N: Mimi look at robop pictures

M: (googles for robot pictures)

N: I want that one! Mimi want robop for birthday

M: Ok I will get you that one (it was like 6 quid, bargain!)

N: Mimi wants robop now. For birthday present.

M: Your birthday isn't for another 6 weeks.

N: Yah!

M: OK so I will get you the robot then so you have to wait, okay?

N: Yah. I wait. 

:::few moments pass:::

N: Mimi wants robop for birthday present now yah?

I'm guessing she thinks a present is for birthdays (or Christmas) but she has no concept that her birthday is not everyday but a specific day once a year. So for her, she was asking me for a robot as a birthday present just thinking it meant she'd get it now. Hahahaha. Cute. I'd love to give her one now but I also need her to learn to be patient so I will just start looking soon for some cool robots to get for her in time for her birthday.

Another cute thing she did yesterday was to do with a visit from my friend Alice who Noemie thinks is da bomb! Alice promised Noemie on Saturday that she would come see her on Monday. Noemie doesn't forget these things. If we're out and she asks to paint and you "sure, when we get home" the moment you get home she asks for her apron and painting gear. So you can't agree to something with her unless you know you can make it happen. 

N: (asks me when I get home from a morning outing) Alice?

M: She'll be here later this afternoon.

N: I want to go to bookshop!

M: Ok we can go to the bookshop when Charlie wakes up in a bit. (it was Susanna's short day)

N: OK, we go bookshop after Charlie wake up!

M: Yes.

N: I want robop book. Dinosaur book. Alice coming after bookshop?

M: Yes, Alice will come here after we get back from the bookshop. OK?

N: Yah! I see Alice. (or Alee as she calls her)

Fast forward to just after their dinner and we're in the kitchen/playroom and Alice arrives via the back door.

N: Alee!!! Alee!!! Then she jumps up and down excitedly and says to me "I see Alee!"

She had a treat as Alice read her a bedtime story and tucked her into bed last night. She was so thrilled and when Susanna came to work this morning N told her "I saw Alice, bedtime!"

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! Charlie wants to send a big wet sloppy kiss to all the ladies out there! His latest thing has been to kiss people. It's very sweet but also a bit wet. He comes in with his mouth wide open and lays a wet one on you. Other times he blows kisses complete with sound effects of "mwah!" and the hand gesture. Only a Mom could appreciate a kiss complete with slobber AND snot. The kids still have a bit of a cold. Yuck. I got rid of my cough thanks to two rounds of anti-biotics but it's been replaced by yet another cold. I can't remember when I've ever been sick like this in my life. Either I need to take better care of myself or I need to accept that the kids bring bugs home. In any case it's a hassle. 

The week sort of slipped by and the thought of blogging always occurred once I was nearly asleep in bed. On Thursday, Susanna and I took the kids to the Natural History Museum to see dinosaurs (the one that moves mommy!) along with big bears, elephants and whatever else Noemie remembers seeing there from the few times she's visited. We all had an awesome time and Charlie walked most of it and Noemie enjoyed getting to be pushed around in the stroller for a change. We had lunch there and saw big dinosaur again afterwards before we came home. We're going again this Thursday according to Noemie. I think she liked the toy shop purchases we made on top of loving the dino. Neither kid is scared of the big mechanical T-rex that appears to be looking right at you while it turns his head and growls. Noemie was saying hello and waving at him, Charlie was giggling as well and all around us kids were yelping to be picked up by their parents/carers. It was insanely busy with tons of school field trips. Nightmare for me who isn't overly fond of other people's kids. 

Yesterday we went over to Alice and David's for Chinese New Year. Alice did a knock out job with food preparation and I only wish we could've relaxed and eaten more. The kids were invited as well (other people brought their kids) so we took them as Susanna was not available and we don't have another sitter that we would want to leave the kids with at bedtime. Alice's goddaughter was there and she is about a year older than Noemie and they played a little bit. Or it was more like Noemie followed S around. Hopefully we will get a playdate together when it's not bedtime for the little folks! The kids were okay but they were very busy and running around everywhere so we spent most of our time chasing them. Lovely to meet their friends and hope to get to see them again without our kids. 

 

The kids did some painting this morning and much to our surprise, Noemie let Charlie join in. Usually she freaks out as it's her thing but they were happily painting together. I think Charlie actually put paint on the paper rather than in his mouth as well. He did manage to get some on his nose though and then later he licked his painted hands and his face was a bit messy. Noemie managed not to get any paint on her white cardigan (it's too small anyway so we weren't worried about it). Not sure what they were painting but it was for me apparently. Then afterwards Noemie did a painting for Charlie.

Tomorrow I am off to the Apple Store in Westfields to meet with one of their folks at the "Genius Bar" to have my iPhone looked at. It's dried out and it syncs with my Mac but the screen stays white and it doesn't ring... doesn't bode well for me. I looked up their terms though and if the phone is less than a year old (mine is 4 months) they won't give you a free one under the warranty as it's water damaged but they will give you a replacement for £150 I believe. Far better than the £450 it would cost to just buy a new one right out. I have 14 months left on my contract so not replacing it is not an option... fingers crossed they can fix it or I'll be buying one for hopefully the £150 amount.

Kiddie Update

It's been a few days since I've updated about the kids. We had a quiet weekend as always so not too much to report there. Noemie decided again today that she really didn't want to go to school. She went on to say she didn't want to do ballet. And then she didn't want her nappy changed at school either. She wound herself up a bit and ended up taking a nap right after lunch. When she woke up she seemed a bit better and went to school without a fuss. When I picked her up she was happy as always and then informed me on the way home that "Mimi changed nappy at school". I asked her if it was okay and she said yes. Then I asked what else she did and she said ballet. She enjoyed it and she held hands with Hannah. Hannah is apparently someone she played with last week as well and when I asked if Hannah was her friend she grinned and said yes. If only we could get her to want to go to school without any of the fuss and stress. 

While she was at school, Charlie and I hung out at home. I bought him a blueberry muffin at Starbucks on our way home. He loves muffins so he happily sat in the playroom and ate. The thing with him though is after he is done eating something, no one else really wants to finish off the left overs. He tends to grab a hold of the item and bites from all angles and licks it all over as well so it's all a bit mushy. You'd think I would learn to cut stuff up a bit but it's fun to watch him eat a whole muffin and it made for cute pictures. He looks SO much like Kirk did as a little boy. I'm also stunned at how grown up he looks all of a sudden. He's only 16 months and 2 days old but he looks older to me. Then again I'm having a hard time believing that Noemie is turning 3 in a few months time as well. We won't even talk about how old I am turning soon.

Another finish!

Just a quick one. Finished another pair of socks tonight, these are for my Mom. Same pattern as the pair for my Dad last week. I actually started these blue ones first and had one done sometime last November.  

Not too much to report from the weekend. Hope to blog more this week though. Must get the camera out again. My iPhone fell into the bathtub tonight while I was running the kids' bath but hopefully it will dry out in a few days. Until then I am using K's with my SIM card and leaving mine in a tub of dry rice to dry out (according to suggestions from googling).