Big Sister

Well we are now 6monthes down and I got say that Charlotte is very excited at having a little sister (probably). She has grasped the concept that Mari is having a baby and she is looking forward to changing and feeding the baby. (and will find nappies... dirty..)

Every time she sees something baby on the telly she says so "Sweeeeeeet, for baby". Not really sure we can afford all things on the telly but it is nice she is thinking of her. We will see how she feels when the baby is crying at 3am :-)

Mari you are getting big

Well it has been a while since my last past. Charlotte is safely installed in big school. to be honest the move wasn't that bad for her as she just basically moved up stairs in the school. Seems to be well.

Still not having much luck in some of her development especially around personal hygiene but only in one are and seems to be because she is lazy rather than not being able to do it.

The other big news for those not following the other blog is that she will have either a small brother or sister (God willing all goes well)

High school

Yep my little girl actually starts high school in September (or Secondary). I am not allowed to call her "Baby" or "my little Girl" any more. Instead she prefers to be know as "Big Girl" or "Princess" but it does depend on who calls her what.

After an initial hic up, where she seemed to go back wards in certain areas of development, we seem to be back on track. She is growing up to be a nice sensible young lady. Even enjoying taking time out on her own to go and play in her room.

Only seems like yesterday I held a 5lb8oz tiny bundle with a tube in her nose, wondering what the hell the future has install. In truth I still don't know but I have enjoyed the ride. Can't wait to watch her grown even more and whatever the future brings, it will bring.

The review

It is that time of year again today. Big C's annul review of statement. Regular reader and colleges will know this has in the past been like pulling teeth ans emotional draining. However since she has moved to Addington it has been a breeze and a pleasure. The focus is very much on her and not what the school should be doing to focus on her. Man we tried hard to keep her in mainstream bu the the truth she is so much better at Addington. She has grown in confidence and maturity. The argument will rage for many years about to mainstream or not but I have to say I am happy where she is. A school that is geared up to look after her and her needs.

The Bat suite

..... Turned out the be a pair a of purple shorts with zips. Now I am no Doctor but I am not really sure how these are supposed to help. I imagined a kevlar composite of black shiny armour to help correct my babies posture....... yes I even imagined a utility belt (we can all dream) but shorts... really.

However in the true nature of Britishness we will give it a go and see what happens.

Little women

Just heard that my little girl is now a little women. I am shocked and very emotional.

Future so bright

Well reading the memory keepers daughter has certainly hit a chord with me. I think I mentioned before that some of the emotions portrayed have certainly made me think about things in the past and the rawness of the emotion.

Well I am getting to the end of the book and it has opened a whole can of feelings I was not ready for. Perhaps as the big C is still only 11 or because I have not wanted to think about it. SPOLIER ALERT - in the book the young girl has now grown up which have lead to a couple of situations.

Whilst on the bus she is invited back to look a man's birds. She says she has to ask her Mum but it is clear that this is Pedo and he has other things in mind. I find that totally scary. I know there are people like that out there and the worst thing is they pray on kids like that or rather kids in adult bodies. Can we teach C to identify these treats and avoid them.

She has boyfriend and wants to get married. Not as scary as above but still room for thought.

I guess what I concluded is that it is I that is scared. Not for her but for me. Will I be able to let go. Will I be able to support her let her make mistakes. It is so difficult planning the future but would you do that normally. Probably not. We have to let her grow and then support what she decides and help to achieve the targets she my aim for.

Good Morning eeerrr no

So my beautiful baby girl got herself all dressed and ready for school yesterday morning. Including putting a lovely clip in her hair. Shame it was at 3.30 in the morning.

I was woken to Mrs H going "What is she up to". After stumbling down the stairs. I was greeted by Little Miss C in her school with a hearty "GOOD MORNING" to which I replied "Eeeeerr NO it is too early". "Oh" she said. So we got her beck in her PJ's and back to bed. Where she dropped in and out of sleep. Blesss

Silly Aunty Nanna

It is amazing how far C has come in the last year and the things that she can do when not watched. On Sunday I ran Mrs H up to Aqua fit as it was raining very hard and went and picked her up again. While I did that Ori (Aunty Nanna) sat with C. When we got back we expected yet another DVD on but we were wrong. For you see after her DVD had finished C decided that her and Aunty Nanna should play on the Wii.

Now although she has got better at selecting the games she has trouble turning it on and fiddling the TV to make it work. However she has now sorted this all out. So her and Aunty Nanna could play Bowling. Unfortunately aunty Nanna is not that games savvy and struggled with how to do it so C played both characters.

Letting go is Hard

Last night Mari was late. This left me in charge, which is not a bad thing. See when Mari is about Charlotte is her shadow and to be fair Mari is great about it. They are doing all sorts of Girlie things together and it is lovely to see.

So after dinner Charlotte got the words she dislikes. "Bath time and Hair wash". However to my surprise she wondered off with out a word. So After a few minutes I went up, She usually needs the toilet first. So as she was finishing she pointed to the shower. Now Mari and her have been used it a couple of times because we want to her to use it for when she has special lady time (I am told it is easier than having a bath). However she has not used it on her own. She was adamant she wanted a shower so I turned it on and she got all her shampoo's and sponges and in she went.

Now I was concerned that she would not like it or just hope in and out. I had decided to sit and see if she got on ok but was order out the room with "Daddy OUT, door CLOSED". "NO", I said I will sit and wait. "DADDY OUT, DOOR CLOSED". "OK OK" and I left. I did keep popping my head in just to make sure she was ok but she was fine and washed everything that needed doing with no help (OK I need to help with the conditioner coz it was nearly empty).

I guess I have to accept that for some things I will have to push her but for others I will need to let go and that is very hard.

Okey Dokey Kareoke

It was one of CN classmates birthday party on Saturday. Since she was with us we were tasked with taking her which turned out all right in the end.

My Little girl is not the sociable sort. Get in her in large crowd of kids and she is happy to be on her own or be with us. We have started to try and get her to be more involved when there are party's or guests but I fear it may be a long road. She is ok as long as everyone is doing what she wants but as soon as you try something else the face comes out and the arms get folded.

Anyway it was lovely to see that in a group of her peers she did very well eventually. Everyone got a hug and she started dancing with everyone until the singing started.... Not happy about that... She then started being a bit funny and not in a good way. One little girl kept trying to involve her but she wouldn't. Then she started being rude to the little girl and that dear reader was that. Daddy had a quiet word and then a louder word about a) Being rude b) We were there for the duration so might as well enjoy it.

So she did !! Which was lovely to see. Need to try and break the cycle of going somewhere and doing what she wants. Sometimes you have to play what everyone else is playing

The IPE Result

Was very positive. There are usually five targets on the form up for discussion. She had met 2 of them, with one being slightly changed as it was a bit adventurious.

One of the targets was to get her using her fine motor skills in her hand. Since she can now use chopsticks they agree that she has now met that.

Need to work on her maths. If I have 3 pins how many do I need to make 5 etc.

In all she is doing very well and is much liked by her class. Seems that she is very in to boys. So I will be keeping an eye on that.

IPE Day

Not it's not a bear but a termly chat with her teachers to see how she is getting on. Normally goes well but will blog more tomorrow

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I have really started to get into the meat of this. In some ways I find it hard reading as there are certain aspects of the book that are very close to my own. Maybe not the actual events but certainly the emotional aspects are hitting home. Seems to focus a lot on the Mum,Dad and son at the moment but I am hoping it will move to Daughter in the next few chapters. (Having flipped through it would seem the next two do anyway)

No news on the bat suit yet but I had it has a utility belt.

The bat suit

Happy New Year.

Well my young girl has been walking with a very wide gate for a while and Pigeon toed. For ages they have been saying the can't do anything for her mainly prescribing special shoes to try and correct her walking. Should add it is not bad, she just tends to drag her feet. Turns out it is a problem with her hips. Apparently they no longer do the old fashioned leg braces and instead do like a modern body suit made of some technical advanced substance. This we hope will push her hips forward and straight here up. I am hoping it is much like the Bat suit but I am sure with the NHS it wont be.

apart from that she had a cracking Christmas. In fact we had a bloody good Chinese meal the one night. Not only did she eat all here food but she used the chopsticks (one handed properly). I am 36 and struggle with the bloody things :-)