Emma's first tooth fell out!!!

Update from Geneva

So, the weather has not been as awful as the weather man had predicted, but it has been humid and heavy and we are looking forward to the predicted storm to break the tension in the air. 

Other than that, Emma has turned into William's Mum - sometimes helpfully but often annoyingly as she is obviously not equipped for the job at the grand age of nearly 5. This frequently results in her fighting his growing independence; not letting him put "his" groceries in the fridge or his things in the laundry basket but taking them from him and doing them in his place which ends up in William having a massive fit.
I am finding this exhausting and no amount of explaining that helping is good but that he needs to also learn to do by himself/ he has a Mummy/ asking her to do her own "jobs" is getting through. 

I think part of it is jealousy (because he is requesting more attention) and part is wanting to compete with me or replace me (as in be a Mummy herself - don't all girls play that?) which I think is part of development of push/pull loveyou/love you not in between a mother and daughter. But I am struggling to have enough praise and energy to fill Emma's cup on my own. It's as if no matter how much I listen, answer, explain, encourage. play, tease, tickle, it's never enough - she always needs more of me. And then I just can't anymore. 

Will on the other hand is increasingly independent and so requires running after and catching and also frequent saving from the mischief he has gotten himself into.  Actually, I often need to save a house-hold object from Will as he unplugs/dismounts/ opens everything! 

Oh well. 

 Anyway, Will decided to poo in the potty all by himself for the first time yesterday. 

Here he is just afterwards

and here are Emma and Will on the merry-go-round in the centre of town

Tomorrow is Friday and Steph will be joining us for the week-end! Yay!!!!

And she goes...

As an update to this post here is a short film of Emma cycling alone on her bike without trainer wheels for the first times.

These were filmed Monday evening after dinner.

Emma's new bike

Last week-end we bought Emma her first bike with pedals (until now she has been using a balance bike, like the one Will is on in the pics). It was a bit scary for her to actually pedal instead of having her feet on the ground...

She made progress quite quickly once she stopped freaking out every second. The hardest thing about Emma and novelty is her negative approach to things (even things she is clearly good at!). It's really hard to keep praising and encouraging someone who is constantly saying they can't, will not, aren't able, don't know, etc. I wonder if there is another way to encourage her while feeling less annoyed at her attitude. When she was the only child, it was feasible to stop the activity at hand of sit down, talk it out and have an ice-cream or whatever but now that she is no longer an only child, it's unjust to stop everybody's fun because of her -and sometimes simply impossible of dangerous because William is too small to be left alone and I can't carry two bikes and two kids.  :-(

Emma is a bit of a diesel, when she gets the hang of things, nothing can stop her, but until she gets there... wow, the cows have come home. I find it hard as a parent to want to give her the extra time and attention when she has ruined 4 meals in a row because she won't eat or has taken ages to finish when I have to get William to bed. Also, and it's unfortunate, but the praise and encouragements don't always work - in fact sometimes shouting or a threat are much more effective with her but they make me feel like crap. I just don't understand why we have to get to the shouting/punishing/sending her away from table for her to react. And when others are around she sometimes is just another person; full of beans, positive and not the least bit whiny. I guess she's testing me and looking for boundaries but, but, but BUTTT ... AGHHH! 

Guess I just need to hang on to the idea that it's a phase and that it will pass. Soon I hope.

First childhood disease for Will

William is ill for the first time. Huge fever. He soaked his pajamas thoroughly last night. He's on ibuprofen when the fever exceeds 39° (which improves his mood) and is drinking lots quite readily. Also, for once, his naps exceed an hour. In fact today, he napped for 2,5 hours for the first time since he was a week old! Poor darling is, totally understandably, quite miserable.

According to the dr. it's probably three day fever which is also the first childhood disease Emma had if my memory serves me correctly.

Also, I have stopped brestfeeding him. It's been 3 days now (after 8,5 months) and I am still leaking a bit but all in all quite happy to wear matching lacy undies again as opposed to the immensely practical but not most beautiful) breast-feeding bras.
Another step ahead in the right direction. ;-)

Ah, ... and it's raining spring-like rain at 9° C! If only winter were really over... but I'm quite sure another bout of cold and snow is just around the corner.