This Little Clan Mac

I've been quite tired today...coming down with a cold, I think. So after lunch, when the boys were being quite difficult (as they were both tired), Keith put them to bed. Neither of them slept, I think they were both egging each other on.... but when I did finally go up (after a lovely child free half hour and cup of tea) I found that Ewen had been developing his artistic side. He was obviously experimenting with a different medium than usual....... I found his "artwork" all over his bottom sheet! His excuse...no paper. Luckily he only has water soluble pens, so it all came out in the wash.

Posted by Clare at 07:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Since Ewen potty trained, he has been dry at night as well. Quite a surprise for us as we weren't expecting that too, but we were rather pleased. After a month of so of using a nappy at night just in case, we persuaded him to sleep in trainer pants and then pants (he wasn't keen on not having a nappy on, even though it came off dry!)

The downside of this has been an early morning call (sometimes as early as 4am) of "Mummy I need a wee wee!" This is yelled at full volume from his bed, where he waits until I go in, carry him to the loo and let him do his business. This is rather tiresome, so I asked Ewen if he could come in to me to let me know he needs a wee.

This morning I awoke to a small voice next to my bed saying "Mummy I need a wee"

Posted by Clare at 06:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tonight, Ewen decides to read the story of Jonah and the whale to me as his bedtime story. Here is his version, based on the pictures he saw:

"Once upon a time a man had lost his fish, so he went to look for his fish, and he found his fish"

Not quite the Biblical story.....:)

Posted by Clare at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The young mind is absorbing so much everyday! And while they're at it, developing a great sense of humour. Iain in particular came to me with great glee written all over that small, cute face of his. Why? He had a marker pen (koki-pen for the South Africans). But most importantly, he had the lid off.

The pen was green. I took hold his hands in mine and placed the lid back on the pen. Iain immediately pulled the two parts apart. I repeated my action of closing the pen. Needless to say, that the pen didn't stay closed. However, Iain had discovered something amusing! Doing exactly the opposite of what Dad wanted, and having fun while doing it. Is this an image of things to come? A sneaky smile?!

Posted by Keith at 09:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tonight, about an hour after the boys had gone to bed, I decided to have an early bath. I was running the water when a quiet voice behind me made me jump. "What are you doing Mummy?" Ewen must have heard the water and come to find whoever was up. This is unusual as he is usually asleep very quickly, and he very rarely gets out of bed once we put him down.

"I'm having a bath" was my reply to his question. "Why are you out of bed?"

"I want to watch you" he said, as he put the toilet lid down and climbed on top of it "I'm going to sit here and read my book while you have your bath" After I shooed him back to bed, I realised that I often sit in the same place while Ewen has his bath.....

Posted by Clare at 08:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Speaking of big. Dad Savage arrived just as the boys were sitting down for their lunch. Once we had finished Barry revealed his gifts from his trip to Thailand. One of those gifts was a manicure set for Clare. It's a silver plaid-like covered box with various bits: tweezers, nail clippers, etc.

Ewen discreetly took hold of the box and opened it. His description, "It's beautiful!!" Not a word we've heard him say yet. Where he learnt it we're not sure, but one thing is for certain, his vocabulary is increasing ever so rapidly. So much so, we won't be able to keep up with all the new changes. I keep saying, time is flying!! He is a bright little boy, and me thinks his brother will follow suite too.

Posted by Keith at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Iain has been coming along in, what seems like leaps and bounds. Hence the greater number of recordings of his actions. Today is no exception.

Lunch is typically quite a similar routine each day. Often it's a sandwich or roll, and something to drink. Ewen has his cup of apple juice (current favourite), Iain is still on water with the occasional cup of milk in his doidy cup. Clare generally has blackcurrant, or peach, mixed with lemonade. Mine is any of peach, apple, but most often pink grapefruit juice (squash). Today's lunch wasn't too dissimilar to past lunch times. Iain squealled and pointed toward my cup, a good indicator he wanted a drink. I offered him his cup, which he refused, preferring mine. I duelly let him sip from mine (pink grapefruit). He stopped after taking quite a hefty glug. Well!! His face was an absolute picture. Having realised the drink was actually a little sour, his face twisted in all directions. He still wanted another glug though, so it couldn't have been too bad.

Later in the afternoon, I had Ewen on my lap and Iain approached us. He then tapped me on the thigh. Following that, I placed my hand on his, which Iain found amusing. It then became first a game of me moving my hand, and him slapping me followed by me covering his hand. Shortly the game changed! He started to push my hand away before slapping my thigh. And, he knew exactly what he was doing. Looking up at me, he expectantly waited for me to cover his hand

Come supper and a bit, I picked him up in the lounge. He became quite adamant about something—he was pointing toward the kitchen. Arriving at the stairs, he pointed upwards toward, I assume, the bathroom. Bath-time normally follows supper (tea as it's sometimes called). He loves to watch over the edge these days. Before long he'll be doing what Ewen has started doing—climbing in the bath himself.

During the afternoon, I was out in the garden adding topsoil to prepare one of the beds for seed planting. Ewen noticed I was playing with sand and was very eager to help. His first trowel load was on the grass, so needed a little guidance. His response to mom's enquiry as to what he was doing was, "I'm building a house, mummy!"

Posted by Keith at 09:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mid-afternoon, Keith was trying to do his bit in the garden (actually did a very nice job of tidying up one flower bed and planted some seeds). I was busy doing washing and looking after the boys. Iain had finally gone down for a nap, when I suddenly said to Keith "Have you seen Ewen?" I'd been thinking he was out in the garden and Keith thought he was inside. Having just been upstairs I knew he wasn't there, and looking in the lounge, he wasn't there either. So I started to look in all his hiding places.
I found him, behind the door in the lounge, half a chocolate muffin in hand, with crumbs from another blueberry muffin on the floor. Earlier I had told him he could have a muffin after lunch, and had obviously forgotton to give him one, so he had helped himself quietly (and so managed to have two rather than one!)

Posted by Clare at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This morning when I got up, the boys shoes were sitting neatly on the top steps on our upstairs landing. However, by the time I went upstairs to get the boys dressed, not only had they been scattered somewhat, but one of Iains shoes was missing. I looked down the stairs at first, thinking that one of the boys could have "posted" it through the bannister. No shoe there. The second place I looked shows that I a mother of two boys, and that one is 14 months....... yes, there bobbing about in the toilet was Iains missing shoe. Luckily it has a very thick plastic sole, and remained upright, so none of the leather was wet and all it took to be wearable was a quick wipe. I'm just thankful Ewen hadn't needed a wee before I found it......... (yes, probably too much information!)

Posted by Clare at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There is alot of noise! Clare's downstairs and I'm up here fiddling on my computer. And the boys are both asleep, though, Ewen was playing reluctant. Asking for Teddy, then water, then wanting the covers pulled back over him. It's the possibility that he may be missing something. Or, that we would be going out. But no! It was just Mom hosting a 'Baby Shower' for our neighbour. It's actually quite good to hear all the laughter filtering upstairs.

Posted by Keith at 09:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For being in Iain's cot as provided by Ewen. Ewen had been in Iain's cot playing with teddy bears and Iain's cot toy. Iain didn't seem to bothered until Ewen limited Iain's movement to the little corner Ewen had left him.

Clare asked Ewen why he had been in the cot. His reason, "There was a spider in the bath so I had to climb in Iain's cot." The really amusing thing is the sequence of events. Ewen had only seen the spider in the bath after I had removed him from Iain's cot.

First thing this morning when Iain woke, before Ewen had switched the light on, Iain was heard to call, "Ma-ma, Ma-ma, Ma-ma." It was just a slightly raised voice. Amazing how they develop, isn't it?!

Posted by Keith at 07:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ewen always has Daddy give him some raw porridge when he makes breakfast. He has it in a little container, which he carries around the kitchen. This morning, he dropped the whole lot on the floor. Typically, I had actually hoovered the floor the night before! So, I was a bit disappointed to see oats all over the carpet. Ewen piped up "I wash it up, I wash it up!" He then went to the cupboard and proceeded to get out the dustpan and brush, and went and swept everything up. And he did a really good job!

Posted by Clare at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today, with Ewen at creche, I went to Clarkes to get Iain some new shoes. Apart from having to keep bringing him back to the Clarkes area in Mothercare (the books and toys were far more interesting than shoes!), he gave us all a good laugh. Once the lady had measured his feet (4G), she brought out a selection of shoes for him to try. She put the first pair on and felt to see if they fitted. Then she asked me to put him down for a little walk. He took two steps, then stopped, and bent over to look at his feet. His expression said "what on earth have you done to my feet???". It took quite a lot of persuasion to get him to walk any further. He looked like someone had stuck his feet in concrete and they were just too heavy to move, but once he did start walking there was no stopping him (he took off towards the door while I was trying to pay!).

Posted by Clare at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ewen had a good day today at Alisons (his wonderful childminder). He calls her "Lassies" which as close to Alison as he gets. He went to the childminding group today and made a wonderful card with a "tree" (clover) on for St Patricks Day. He was the only one to make a card today - perhaps he has artistic tendencies.

He also got a sticker for good behaviour, although this seem to finish when he got in the bath and proceeded to try and push his brother over in the water.

Posted by Clare at 07:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

During the morning ritual of preparing the boys for breakfast; mixing the porridge, putting bibs on, pouring juice, and placing the bowls on the table, I was reminded just how much little Ewen is growing!! I had already placed his bowl in front of him and was placing his cup of apple (current favourite flavour) on his place mat when I realised he had just said grace. Yes!! Ewen had said, "Thank you Lord" for the food, and finished with an Amen. I was decidedly impressed.

Iain doesn't seem too well! :-(. He had a good rest and pretty much slept through the night. After breakfast, he slept for an hour before his weekly visit to the creche. He didn't half surprise me there. Of late he has cried the moment I put him down, but not today!! He was quite content to play with the blocks.

However, he had another hour's sleep at creche, so hadn't eaten. He was quite clingy after we had lunched together. I tried to put him down, but he wouldn't have any of it. He didn't sleep again even though he was tired. He was just very restless! Would remain focused on any activity for more than a minute or so. Ewen was similarly restless when he returned home, so it would seem both have started another bout of runny noses again.

Posted by Keith at 07:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What's the title you say? It's the name of a CBeebies programme, one of Ewen's favourites at the moment. So much so that he actually repeats this phrase, particularly when the programme is about to be played. He hasn't quite got the singing yet, but won't be long. So why the title?

Clare and the boys took the day out to visit Colchester zoo, which is about an hour's journey. Another half hour in bad traffic. Ewen was very well behaved apart from one incident where he was playing with another little boy and wanted to continue playing when their family left.

During the day I received a rather panicked call from Clare. One of the playgrounds has quite a tall tower with slides at different levels. The whole tower is is out of bounds to kids under the age of five. Try and tell a three year that. Ewen was warned not to climb it; however, undeterred he took the opportunity to do just that when Mom had to tend to Iain's bawling. Clare tried to get back in time, but Ewen lost his grip and fell. Clare was on the way to find a first aid point when she callled me. He has quite a nice little bump to show for it.

Clare was cynically amused by the response to her request for an ice pack. The shop attendant turned to look for one in the first aid bag. Clare knew Ewen appeared quite well when he was excited about another playground they passed on the way to a first aid point. So on the whole, a good day was had.

And Ewen had fun when I returned home from work. We played with his radio controlled quad bike that Grandad Barry bought him. And now they're sleeping.

Posted by Keith at 09:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Been a bit of a busy weekend so didn't get round to making the entries when we witnessed the events. It's kinda like I'd like to just brain-dump whenever I / we see something that we want to record for posterity. Time flies just to fast, and we're always just so busy.

Anyway, Saturday morning Iain was in Mom and Dad's room and wanted a drink of water. Mom lent over to hold the doidy cup to Iain's mouth. Iain was having none of it and wanted the cup himself. Yup! That means we have two very determined little boys. Iain took the cup, held it in one hand and promptly started drinking quite nonchalantly. Quite as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Then he spilt some on the floor. Next it'll be the spoon while eating.

Speaking of eating. Iain now holds the spoon in his hand mimicking Ewen. Next step, how to place food on it and move it to the mouth. Ewen is advancing in his use of the spoon too.

Sunday morning, Ewen held his spoon far more intricately instead of the typical fist like grip. He pointed out that he was copying me and almost twisting his hand at the wrist to move the food towards his mouth. Impressive!!

Posted by Keith at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, I've finally jumped off the deep end and actually registered for a blog. Been meaning to do this for absolutely ever. Actually, truth be told, I've been meaning to bring our website up-to-date, but failed dismally there.

So, this was the next step. The idea of using someone else's hardwork to do the leg work in generating the page and html and stuff while I concentrate on this little bit works for me. Hopefully, the cries of, "What's going on?" will die down as this develops.

Past ten and I'm about to turn into a pumpkin. See you soon!

Posted by Keith at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)