Sickness, Peppa Pig, Calpol and a screaming toddler. That was the story of our Sunday night this week.
Melissa had put Harry to bed as I’d been at work so when I arrived home, I was expecting a relaxing evening. Melissa had even opened a bottle of wine but, alas, it wasn’t to be.
Harry was unusually restless and woke up several times crying. He was so upset in the end, that I went to his room and picked him up to comfort him. Ten seconds later, Harry had been sick all over my dressing gown.
I shouted Melissa who rushed upstairs to help. And Harry was immediately sick all over her too.
Thankfully, that was the end of the throwing up, but Harry didn’t drop off again until half eleven.
Unfortunately, he only slept for an hour before waking up crying. This time, there was no way he was going back to sleep. We soon discovered that the only way to stop him crying was to let him watch Peppa Pig.
There is something a bit bizarre about watching children’s television programmes at half past one in the morning, but we were so grateful that he’d calmed down we didn’t mind.
While he was calm, we took the opportunity to get some Calpol down him. Of course, Harry didn’t want to swallow any but, with Melissa holding him down, I managed to get some in his mouth.
The effect was dramatic – I swear that stuff is magic. Within half an hour, Harry was sleepy enough to get him back into bed – our bed this time. A few minutes later, both he and Melissa were flat out, leaving me wide awake unable to shake the Peppa Pig theme tune.
Being a parent is, as I’ve said time and time again, a wonderful experience; but it definitely has its challenging moments.
Friday 26 November 2010
Thursday 11 November 2010
Swimming again...
I took Harry swimming on Sunday – the first time I’ve been for a couple of weeks – and was amazed at how much progress he’s made since starting lessons in September.
It sounds young – 21 months – to be having lessons, and I admit I was a bit sceptical at first. But having seen Harry on Sunday, I’ve no doubt that they’re extremely beneficial.
I took Harry to one of the lessons at Waterworld, Wrexham, a month or so ago, and it was an eye-opening experience. The half-hour sessions involve a teacher standing at the edge of the pool issuing instructions to the children and parents or guardians in the pool. There are plenty of activities, including jumping in, rolling in, dancing, singing, splashing, kicking and so on.
Now although the teacher was very friendly, she was also quite strict (as I’m sure she has to be) and I found myself on the end of a couple of sharp reprimands for not letting Harry’s head go under the water. As the teacher later explained to another cautious parent, if you show any fear, it’s only natural for the child to be scared too.
As I say, that was a few weeks ago and when I took Harry to the pool on Sunday, I was surprised at the change. He jumps in on his own, doesn’t mind his head going under water and – best of all – when he kicks hard enough, he is able to move around the pool on his own. It’s great to see him enjoying himself so much in the water.
In fact, the only downside with swimming is getting changed afterwards; keeping an adventurous toddler in the cubicle can be surprisingly tricky. However, Melissa has now developed a foolproof system to keep Harry still while she dries and dresses him – food, or crisps to be precise. After all that activity though, it’s no wonder he’s hungry – I know I am.
It sounds young – 21 months – to be having lessons, and I admit I was a bit sceptical at first. But having seen Harry on Sunday, I’ve no doubt that they’re extremely beneficial.
I took Harry to one of the lessons at Waterworld, Wrexham, a month or so ago, and it was an eye-opening experience. The half-hour sessions involve a teacher standing at the edge of the pool issuing instructions to the children and parents or guardians in the pool. There are plenty of activities, including jumping in, rolling in, dancing, singing, splashing, kicking and so on.
Now although the teacher was very friendly, she was also quite strict (as I’m sure she has to be) and I found myself on the end of a couple of sharp reprimands for not letting Harry’s head go under the water. As the teacher later explained to another cautious parent, if you show any fear, it’s only natural for the child to be scared too.
As I say, that was a few weeks ago and when I took Harry to the pool on Sunday, I was surprised at the change. He jumps in on his own, doesn’t mind his head going under water and – best of all – when he kicks hard enough, he is able to move around the pool on his own. It’s great to see him enjoying himself so much in the water.
In fact, the only downside with swimming is getting changed afterwards; keeping an adventurous toddler in the cubicle can be surprisingly tricky. However, Melissa has now developed a foolproof system to keep Harry still while she dries and dresses him – food, or crisps to be precise. After all that activity though, it’s no wonder he’s hungry – I know I am.
Hands off my CDs
I’ve just learned another valuable lesson: don’t leave Harry alone with anything you want to keep safe.
Now I know what you’re going to say: surely that stands to reason. You’d be right of course, but earlier this week I got complacent and paid the price.
The thing is, Harry’s determination to chew, tear and generally destroy everything has waned in recent weeks.
So when I left him watching Chuggington on my computer, I didn’t give a second thought to the fact that I’d left a CD within grabbing distance.
When I returned to check on him a minute or two later, the CD was back on the desk in front of the computer – in almost exactly the same place it had been originally. The only difference was the cardboard sleeve was now in several pieces.
Harry was smiling angelically at me and when I told him off, he just chuckled. It didn’t help that Melissa was stood behind me, also laughing. So while I was trying to explain to him why tearing daddy’s CD cases was not wrong, Melissa simply said: “You shouldn’t have left it there in the first place.”
She was right of course but that didn’t help. Anyway, Harry had obviously worked out I wasn’t best pleased, however, because he came up to me and cuddled my leg, saying ‘awww’.
Rather than saying sorry, though, I think this might have had more to do with trying to shut me up – Harry had obviously had enough of me talking about CD sleeves.
When I returned home later the same day I spotted our house phone in pieces, balanced on a radiator. When I asked Melissa what had happened, she sheepishly admitted Harry had managed to grab the phone and throw it in the bath. Obviously I wasn’t the only one being complacent that day.
Now I know what you’re going to say: surely that stands to reason. You’d be right of course, but earlier this week I got complacent and paid the price.
The thing is, Harry’s determination to chew, tear and generally destroy everything has waned in recent weeks.
So when I left him watching Chuggington on my computer, I didn’t give a second thought to the fact that I’d left a CD within grabbing distance.
When I returned to check on him a minute or two later, the CD was back on the desk in front of the computer – in almost exactly the same place it had been originally. The only difference was the cardboard sleeve was now in several pieces.
Harry was smiling angelically at me and when I told him off, he just chuckled. It didn’t help that Melissa was stood behind me, also laughing. So while I was trying to explain to him why tearing daddy’s CD cases was not wrong, Melissa simply said: “You shouldn’t have left it there in the first place.”
She was right of course but that didn’t help. Anyway, Harry had obviously worked out I wasn’t best pleased, however, because he came up to me and cuddled my leg, saying ‘awww’.
Rather than saying sorry, though, I think this might have had more to do with trying to shut me up – Harry had obviously had enough of me talking about CD sleeves.
When I returned home later the same day I spotted our house phone in pieces, balanced on a radiator. When I asked Melissa what had happened, she sheepishly admitted Harry had managed to grab the phone and throw it in the bath. Obviously I wasn’t the only one being complacent that day.
Monday 1 November 2010
Thomas and the sausage roll
Harry was 21 months old last week. On the one hand, it’s hard to believe it’s that long since I was pacing up and down the corridors of the Maelor waiting for Harry to arrive.
On the other hand, it’s difficult to remember what life was like without Harry. And one thing’s for sure, they have been the best 21 months of my life.
As I’ve said before, being a parent certainly encourages you to make the most of your weekends. The fine weather last Sunday saw us head to Llangollen to ride on Thomas the Tank Engine.
It was great watching Harry’s expression change when he recognised Thomas – it was the trigger for an afternoon of excitement as far as he was concerned.
When we first got on the train, Harry was so excited he wouldn’t sit still, climbing up to see out of the carriage one minute, before jumping down to explore the next, and all the while shouting Thomas or ‘choo choo’ at the top of his voice.
In fact, the only time he did sit still was when he was demolishing a sausage roll – and then only because I was practically holding him down in a vain attempt to limit the mess.
Put it this way, I now understand why my dad used to complain about us eating sausage rolls in the car when we were little.
When we arrived at Carrog, trying to keep hold of Harry was the biggest challenge as he charged up and down the platform waving his new Thomas flag. Thankfully, Melissa had remembered to put the reins in – and I was left in no doubt that they are an essential tool in the battle to hang on to adventurous toddlers.
But it was great fun – and I’m sure if Harry gets his way, we’ll be booking ourselves on to the Santa Special in December.
On the other hand, it’s difficult to remember what life was like without Harry. And one thing’s for sure, they have been the best 21 months of my life.
As I’ve said before, being a parent certainly encourages you to make the most of your weekends. The fine weather last Sunday saw us head to Llangollen to ride on Thomas the Tank Engine.
It was great watching Harry’s expression change when he recognised Thomas – it was the trigger for an afternoon of excitement as far as he was concerned.
When we first got on the train, Harry was so excited he wouldn’t sit still, climbing up to see out of the carriage one minute, before jumping down to explore the next, and all the while shouting Thomas or ‘choo choo’ at the top of his voice.
In fact, the only time he did sit still was when he was demolishing a sausage roll – and then only because I was practically holding him down in a vain attempt to limit the mess.
Put it this way, I now understand why my dad used to complain about us eating sausage rolls in the car when we were little.
When we arrived at Carrog, trying to keep hold of Harry was the biggest challenge as he charged up and down the platform waving his new Thomas flag. Thankfully, Melissa had remembered to put the reins in – and I was left in no doubt that they are an essential tool in the battle to hang on to adventurous toddlers.
But it was great fun – and I’m sure if Harry gets his way, we’ll be booking ourselves on to the Santa Special in December.
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