Weekend Bear

It seems an age since I last posted - probably because it has been.

During the first weekend of half term we had a special visitor. It seems that my son had managed to behave for long enough at nursery to be bestowed with the task of looking after weekend bear.

This was no minor feat - he's been trying for 18 months. With the stuffed toy came much responsibility - there was a diary to fill out with all of weekend bear's adventures.

'Competitive parent' came out in earnest as I read the diary to see what adventures the bear had been on over previous weekends. What was funny was that my OH suffered the same affliction. He had grand ideas for taking him to museums and outings. Unfortunately it was the weekend that the clocks went back and son had a cold so we managed about 4 hours sleep and ... well ... we went to Sainsbury's.

But I think the bear enjoyed it ...

How was the holiday?

Despite all my fears the holiday was good from a parenting point of view. DS took long haul air travel in his stride - mainly by sleeping through it. He slept constantly through the 12 hour flight from Heathrow to Singapore - woke when we landed and for the transfer to the hotel and settled down for a full nights sleep about 3 hours later - okay cough medicine did play a small part but he DID have a bad cough. The flight from Singapore to Sydney was a bit different as it was during the day- he was excited about the flight and the new game we presented him with for his Leapster. Then as we went to take off he suddenly fell asleep for about an hour before waking up and taking advantage of the in-flight tv. As we began the decent he again fell asleep - must be to do with the air pressure. In between he was entertained with the various offerings of the Quantas staff - meal, choc ices, bananas, hot chocolate, meal and more choc ices (I'm surprised we made it off the plane!). The pattern was repeated on the return journey - on the flight from Sydney he repeatedly asked if we were on the runway and as soon as I said 'yes' he fell asleep - so four flights and he's yet to experience take off or landing! The toilets were a bit frightening but he was a very brave boy!

As for the actual trip we fell in love with Singapore - we stayed on Sentosa Island which is holiday island with many attractions. The hotel was very child friendly and they made a huge fuss of DS (he has red hair which apparently is a novelty). In Sydney he shouted out excitedly 'it's the Opera House' every time we caught a glimpse of it and he was very proud of his daddy for climbing the bridge. He took seeing Koalas and Wallabies (in the Zoo) in his stride and was even unimpressed by the Cockatoos and Parrots flying in the trees instead of the sparrows and starlings we have at home. Hong Kong was less than child friendly and he was quite constrained there as we were frowned upon for letting him show any exuberance - we found out later that there aren't many children in Hong Kong due to the high living cost. He did have a special treat - Disneyland Hong Kong - okay we really enjoyed it too. And what does he remember of the whole holiday - the 'orange monkey' (Orangutan) at Taronga Zoo!

We've had some adjusting - for 3 weeks the 3 of us have shared a room and have been 'together' with no break. Behaviourwise he got away with a lot which caused many cross words between myself and my other half! Is it wrong that I was SO glad when he went back to nursery and hubby went back to work and I got some space to myself?

The Signs

Swollen ankles, irrational mood swings, trousers getting a bit tight, jumping a bra size - normal when abroad right? or perhaps PMT? Yet add tired all the time and feeling a bit queasy, even on land and I realized I'd been here before. Eventually told my other half and we did a test - I wonder if I'm the first to do a pregnancy test at the top of the Sydney Tower? - which confirmed it - I'm pregnant again. We're not sure how many weeks but it can't be more than 7 or 8 and though it was planned it's happened a little earlier than expected.

Of course now every time the 3 year old plays up I panic as to how I'll manage with two. We took him to the Aquarium - he screamed because he wanted to go on the train, we took him on the train and then he screamed when we left (these are not even pleasant trains, more like London Underground in 30 degree heat). We're planning on taking him to see Dragon boat racing and to the Zoo - but it will be punctuated with cries for the train!

As we probably wont be having any more I am planning on enjoying this pregnancy (turn around and touch the ground and a whole block of wood that it all goes well) as I was too worried about the unknown with the first. There's still plenty to worry about - a close friend lost her first baby a week before it was due late last year and I never want to go to a funeral like that again. Plus now we have moved I gather the whole process is different to where we used to live and we have to get our own scan. Then there is when to tell people - unfortunately I can't keep secrets and I am dreading talking to my mum on the phone tonight (as I can pretty much guarantee she'll be in on Sat morning in the UK) as I know I'll just blurt it out (that's how she found out the first time). But the as the in-laws are picking us up from the airport they will find out first and I will be telling my mum as soon as we get home.

We've decided DS behaviour is a direct result of not having the routine of nursery and grandad's usual afternoons with him. My OH is too soft and I'm too tired to argue but there have been a few occasions where I've shouted at him in the street 'No you've got to carry out the threat otherwise he'll not learn'. I actually spent the whole afternoon alone with him yesterday while OH climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and we had a great time - he was absolutely filthy from climbing all over walls and running up and down hills BUT he came when called and didn't cry about going on the train. I do miss the naughty step though - the naughty corner isn't quite the same :-)

Just say 'no'!

Picture the scene. Been 'at my desk' for 4 hours working on an almost late project. Just broken for a quick lunch before picking DS up from nursery, taking him to get together at his friends house where I've agreed to meet a new mum to our parents group as well as 'look after' another friends' 4 year old and 1 year old before dashing off for a swimming lesson at 4! Phone rings and it's know it all mum

KIA: 'Can you do me a favor?'

ME: ' Sure'

Inner voice: Say no! for once in your life stop being a doormat!

KIA: 'Oh great, I've just done a poster for the group tomorrow but our printer's not working and it needs the new logo that I know you've got could you just print off a few copies and take them the the get together for me?'

ME: 'Erm'

IV: NO! No! NO! you've got 10 mins before you've got to pick DS up, it takes 15 mins to crank up the computer, let alone print it. SHE's got the logo too AND she's been using the printer excuse for 6 months now - remember the fundraising posters?

ME: I can't see it in my inbox and I'll have to crank up the PC to print anything and it's a bit slow and I need to pick DS up in 10 mins.

KIA: 'Oh well you know the sort of thing we need, but could you do it on A5? Thanks, Bye.

ME: Argh why didn't you just say NO!!?

Result was 10mins late to pick up DS from nursery and logo wouldn't print so had to listen to KIA tell everyone how we couldn't have the sign up at the group (which I no longer go to because DS is at nursery) because I couldn't print it - I did point out to a few that I only had 10 minutes notice!

Which reminds me I must ring the new mum and check she's okay and is planning on coming back. KIA was in full force but Super Mum was a little subdued, and I was a little distracted by a 4 year old who was sulking, a 3 year old who was HUNGRY MUMMY! and a 1 year old who can move very, very fast! - I hope we didn't put her off :-)