So this week has been something of a landmark week in the Live Oxfordshire house. Initially we moved The Girl into her own little cot bed, which was a big enough change as she had been sleeping in our bed with us since we busted her out of the hospital at 6 days old. But then, just yesterday, we thought “in for a penny” and popped her little bed into her brother’s room. Thus she spent her first ever night in her new bedroom. Not a huge deal to some people, maybe, but she is my last baby and because we were separated in the early days I was possibly even more reluctant to move her out of my arms at night, but now the time has come and it was the right time: for me, for her, for the family. There is a sense of rightness that our two precious children (they’re asleep as I write this, which makes them eminently more precious than when they’re awake) should be sleeping in the same room, their slow breaths sweetly intermingled as they dream.
She seems happy about the whole thing, anyway and is very protective of her new nest “Mine bed! Let go! Mine!” when her brother tried to bounce on it. Amazingly he listened to her where he only ever ignores us. Go figure. She even spent nearly the whole night in it, only materialising by my side at about 5am for cuddles in our bed, but that’s cool. No need to rush things.
The Boy had his first ever parents’ evening, which was in equal parts amusing, exciting and nervewracking. The anticipation was made distinctly worse by fellow parents, who had their meeting before us, telling me how negative all the feedback had been. We were both very thankful that this didn’t seem to be the case with The Boy and, whilst reiterating that he needs to learn how to stay focused and pay attention, his teacher mostly heaped praise upon his little blond head, enthusing about how well he had settled in and how far he had come with his letters and numbers. Very pleasing and a relief for us as his parents considering he had got called into the heads’ office on his very first day of school. A nice way to move towards the end of his first term, certainly.
Other things that have been happening this week: The Girl is constantly nagging me to “Elsa seeng, Mummy” (she wants me to sing ‘Let it go’) or “Elsa seeng, Snowman, Mummy (she wants me to sing ‘Do you wanna build a snowman?’). We also developed a fun new game where she sits on my lap and rounds her mouth whilst she raises her eyebrows at me in an approximation of surprise. I do the same expression back and then she flings her soft little arms around my neck and I say “Oh a lovely cuddle”, which she repeats then falls about laughing. This is then repeated and can go on for as long as 10 or 15 minutes before she loses interest. I would play it even longer, because is there anything better than endless cuddles and giggles with your wee girlie?
The Boy is very into his colouring and keeps requesting print outs to methodically colour in with his felt tips. We’ve had to reinstall the stair gate, but on the kitchen door instead of the stairs, to stop The Girl from getting hold of said felt tips as she likes to draw on herself and her clothes, an activity she terms “Paper!” The Boy is also going great guns on his reading and writing. I adore seeing some of his spellings for things, it tests my maternal intuition and lateral thinking no end to try and correctly deduce the intended word! He’s not doing badly for a 4 year old though, yesterday he sounded out “children” and “little”, as well as learning the sounds “ow” and “ay”. I honestly had forgotten how complex the English language was until I tried to teach it to a small person.
Whilst ‘enjoying’ a few days off from school due to a gyppy tummy The Boy and I stole a march on Christmas and made some white clay tree decorations to give his teachers. They weren’t quite as slick as I would have liked, but they look smart enough and, when decorated and varnished, will make nice little gifts I think.
That’s pretty much it in news for this week, but it’s nice to keep track of little moments like these and I’ll be trying to do it more so, if you like to read the ins and outs of family life in Oxfordshire, do come back next Friday for another family round up.
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