Filed under: Organic Bump | Tags: Organic Bump, babies, reassurance, health, development
I find it very cliche when parents talk about their kids ‘growing up so fast’ but it really is true. Jay has been changing loads and it hits me sometimes that he’s more a little boy now than a baby. However, unlike so many of my other Mummy friends, I have no yearnings for the ‘baby days’ and certainly won’t be making any further Johnsons so recapture those early months.
What I have also become aware of is how different children of the same age can be. I have always know that children learn and develop at different rates but I recently had lunch with three friends and I was shocked at the difference. Our children are very close in age (November ’10, December ’10 and February ’11). The eldest wasn’t yet walking and the youngest was talking with Jay being the piggy in the middle with fantastic walking but few words.
He has occassionally said words but these have been replaced with grunts and pointing. It is plain to see he understands and can follow instructions e.g. put the sock in the washing bin, arms up and fetch me the train he just doesn’t verbalise. However, nursery aren’t worried so I am choosing not to be too.
Jay Can:
Use Three Words
Point to Desired Objects
Run
Use Spoon and Fork
Point to body parts when asked (tummy, nose, head and ears)
Kick a ball forward
Follow a two-step command
Not Yet:
Identify picture by naming
Use 50+ words
Filed under: Organic Bump | Tags: Organic Bump, babies, reassurance, health, development
It feels like a very long time since I updated in March. I realise it’s only been a month but it feels like a lot longer; a guess a lot has been happening between March and April. He has certainly changed a lot over what has in real terms only been four weeks. He has developed a wicked sense of humour and adores making people laugh. He now obviously understands us what we’re telling him so he can follow instructions and copy things we do.
We’ve taught him to put his hands over his mouth when he coughs but he doesn’t know the difference between a cough and a laugh. So he laughs like a Japanese school girl. He knows how to throw his hands in the air in mock surprise whenever he does something naughty e.g. throw something on the floor, hands in the air to say ‘who was that?’. He is a pretty funky dancer and loves mainly punk and is a proper climbing machine. He also likes moving furniture and tidying up.
But, that’s just mum waffle for you. If we compare him against the usual what to Expect (Toddler Years) to see how he’s getting on.
Jay Can:
Use two words: Mum, Dad, Yes, Bubbles, Glasses, Bob (word for Cat) etc.
Drink from a cup
Build a tower with cubes
Remove clothes (he can also put his shoes on)
Feed a dolly
Walk up Steps
Throw Ball Overhead
Not Yet:
Identify pictures in books (although we’ve not really tried)
Combine Words and Speak and be Understood (I think boys do develop language later apparently)
I am not too worried though.
Jay’s middle name is Danger but it’s also George so here he is to wish you all a very happy St George’s Day.
Happy St. George’s Day
Filed under: Organic Bump | Tags: babies, development, family, food, harm, Husband, news, Organic Bump, weight
Both me and Omri’s Dad areterriblewith food. We are both overweight and can pack away crap food with ease.
So, we knew that when we had a little Johnson we’d need to change. Neither of us wanted to pass bad food habits down to our children. So, Eddie and I both made a conscious effort to eat mindfully (lose weight but only because we didn’t want Jay to be ashamed of his fat parents) and generally eat well.
The mantra we used was: Would we feed this to Omri? No, then why are we feeding it to ourselves? It was about learning to value food and ourselves.
This has gone well and thus far Omri is eating well. He eats a huge range of foods and only has a dislike for a few things. He eats from our plates and hands and doesn’t have seperate meals. I think it’s important to eat as a family; this is one thing that the Johnsons believe in heavily. We eat together as a trio at the table.
This weekend we went for a picnic and Omri had what we had (bread, hummus and veggies) but we also had some things just for us. Daddy had olives and Wasbi Peas and I had some sushi.
Omri, naturally, put out his hand to try what Dad was eating and enjoyed some olives (although we discovered this a few weeks ago) however when it came to the Wasbi peas we decided it was probably best that he didn’t partake. I personally find them far too spicy so I couldn’t imagine what small would make of them.
After several minutes of pleading we decided to let him taste; figuring he would hate them and then the pleading would be over.
Nope.
He LOVES Wasbi Peas and is therefore more hardcore than his Mum.
March is here and to be honest it isn’t as good as last year. This time last year I was fretting because it was so hot and I wasn’t sure what to do with such a small baby in the incredible heat; this year I am far more preoccupied what to do with a toddler in such incredible drizzle.
But lucky for me Jay is very playful and is quite content to be indoors playing rugby or chasing the cat (which is great for me and him, but not so good for the cat).
In terms of his development this month, this is where we are:
Omri Can:
Imitate activities (he likes to copy things and it’s so odd seeing him talking on the phone, typing on the laptop and putting things in the bin). He’s like a shadow.
Scribble (but he has been a little scribble monster since he was 11 months).
Use Words (Mum, Dad, Cat, No, Yeah, Bob etc).
Dump an Object in imitation
Run
Brush Teeth (with help)
Kick a Ball
Toddlers are pretty awesome to spend time with for many reasons but particularly because they give you an excuse to go for little outings.
Here’s some of the days out we’ve had recently:
- Visit to the petshop to see the Guinea Pigs
- Swimming
- Science Museum
- Natural History Museum
- British Museum
- Bunny Park
- Bushey Park
- Richmond Park
- Various Parks in Ealing
There’s nothing like being a kid again!
Filed under: Organic Bump | Tags: babies, health, news, Organic Bump, relax, worry
Since we went to Cornwall here Jay has really not been back to his 100% self since. He was forever running a fever, being ‘floppy’ or just generally a bit upset.
I was starting to worry that our little one’s personality was not the happy little chap we originally thought. I was also pretty fed up with the amount of days we were paying for at nursery and not using; Jay was being sent home weekly because he was too hot/sick/not right.
Finally the doctor decided that four months was too long for anyone to be ‘not right’ and prescribed him some antibiotics. A quick listen to his chest showed that it was not clear and he needed some help.
That was two weeks ago and now I am delighted to say that our boy is back! We had a week of a very off tummy and lots of sleepless nights but since he finished his course he as been bright as a button. Seriously, he has been running around and giggling.
I am so glad because it was getting to a very stressful point for us. We was so sleepy all the time but needy and wouldn’y actually sleep then yesterday he went for a walk up to Waitrose with him walking hand-in-hand with Mum up the steep passage way to the shop. It was such a difference.
So here’s so good health.
I don’t normally read the Daily Fail but a friend pointed this article out and it really is quite sweet.
This couple have documented her pregnancy and added their own quirky twist. Worth a watch.
Filed under: Organic Bump, Uncategorized | Tags: babies, birth, hospital, HypnoBirth, labour, news, Organic Bump, reassurance
You must have had your head under a rock to have not heard about the arrival of Blue Ivy Carter but you’ll be forgiven for missing the drama this little one’s birth has caused within the birth judgement circles of the world.
Beyoncé, as an American icon, was assumed to be just another cut and shut Momma (translation: it was expected she would have an arranged c-section like the rest of her cohort) so when news broke that Mrs. Carter had given birth ‘naturally’ the message boards of the internet were buzzing with various birth obsessives to try to fathom what exactly was meant.
Natural Birth is a bit of an odd term because it can mean anything from giving birth without any intervention at all to giving birth with all the drugs in the world, all the equipment but baby happens to come out vaginally rather than through the sunroof.
So you may be able to see why people were interested. If Beyoncé did the former then she would go down in history if she did the latter it would just be proof that the media is afraid of the word vaginal… vaginal… vagina*.
*I’m not afraid!
The very fact it was reported in this way means that someone thinks its important. To me a natural birth is one without intervention and nobody is going to have that these days; we’re all made to be in hospital generally so you’ll be lucky! I didn’t have a natural birth I had an augmented birth because I had syntocinon to re-start my contractions.
To be honest I don’t think it matters; all they really needed to say was that Beyoncé had given birth and leave it at that. A person’s birth is a personal thing; there aren’t any awards for vaginal olympics and you won’t be disqualified for doping. I suppose ideally babies would come out of the designated exit because apparently it’s better for them but whatever works for you!
Filed under: Organic Bump | Tags: babies, development, harm, health, Organic Bump, weight
There are some set questions a person is asked as soon as they impart the knowledge that some woman or other (friend, stranger or celebrity) has had a baby
- Boy or girl?
- What weight?
- What did they call it?
- Is she still fat?
Yes, the return to the pre-natal figure is apparently now just as important as an APGAR score or a person’s identity marker.
I am now (according to the scales) at the same weight I was before I got pregnant. So, in theory, I have my pre-natal body back… except… I am pretty sure this isn’t the one I put into storage all those months ago.
Things are undoubtedly different; which is apparently normal but socially awkward. If you don’t get your hips, tummy and arse back where they should be; you’ve really let yourself go… and that’s just the bits people can see when you have your clothes on. Never ever ever mention the war vagina.
Funnily enough once you’ve added an extra 27.5lbs (average expected weight gain over a pregnancy taken from here) over ten months things are bound to have shifted around to accommodate. So, why is there such a focus ensuring that the impossible (being the same weight straight after pregnancy as at conception) is mandatory?
I think it comes down to fear. A lot of pregnancy fear comes from the feeling that a person is going to be out of control. During pregnancy your body is not your own it is the domain of another and they aren’t going to treat it that nicely. The idea that things will be the same afterwards sort of works to soothe those feelings of fear and makes it all alright. However, all this does it put a lot of pressure on women who may already be at breaking point.
That is not to say however that pregnancy and parenthood give your carte blanch to pack on the pounds and give up – but I would say that things will not be the same afterwards as before.
If I am honest the only reason I’ve noticed a change in my shape is because I have the same clothes and they fit differently. Otherwise I’d have probably not realised. Since having Jay and returning to the weight I was before I now have smaller boobs, my hips are larger and my middle is looser. However, my thighs and back are more solid and leaner and my hips now make an awesome clicking sound. So, it’s not bad; it’s just different (and apparently a change is as good as a rest).
