And to celebrate, here’s my favourite pic ever, in the whole wide world, ever!  Photos of Flopsy’s birthday to follow soon…

The natural learning processes of babies and children is of endless fascination to me.  Observing it makes me more and more keen on autonomous education and I feel very certain that we will continue our parenting philosophy of being led by our off-spring forever

Cotton-tail is currently learning how to eat solid foods.  As regular readers of this blog will know, we unintentionally did ‘baby-led weaning’ with Flopsy (she refused anything off a spoon except yoghurt) and, having learnt more about it, did it on purpose with Mopsy.  Cotton-tail is now 6.5 months and has been joining us at the table in her tripp trapp high-chair (no tray) for a few weeks (of course she’s been with us at mealtimes since she was born, but usually sleeping in someone’s arms or wriggling on someone’s lap).  She is learning to eat in this way:

1. Learning how to pick up food, and, more specifically, learning how to pick up different types of food.  She loves it that cucumber slides around and feels cold but that potato mashes up in her hand

2. Then she has learnt how to get it into her mouth.  Her hand control has developed enough for her to make sure she picks the food up in such a way that there is enough food ‘visible’ to get some into her mouth.  She is also starting to learn how to put food from one hand into another to make it more accessible.

3. Next she is learning how to bite pieces off what she’s got in her hand - a very pleasing experience, particuarly when every food does different things: Brocolli kind of breaks up into tiny little pieces which feel very interesting in her mouth; pasta feels slippery

4. Her current plan is to master the art of moving food around in her mouth with her tongue.  Lots of gagging involved in this phase; and spitting food out onto the table, but she’s getting there.

5. The next thing she has to learn is how to mash the food up so it’s easy to swallow.  We’re beginning to see less food on the floor after mealtimes so I’m guessing she’s doing this a little already.  Her poos have yet to change, though, so she’s obviously not doing it very much!

The theory suggests that all this falls into place at about the same time her gut is ready to digest it all effectively and safely, when it’s less permeable to allergens and bacteria.  I don’t need to worry about her lacking in nutrients due to the lack of solid food intake because she’s still breastfed on demand.  If she’s anything like her sisters, by the time she gets to 8 or 9 months she’ll be eating food like her Daddy (albeit a bit messier!).

 Mopsy is currently learning how to settle herself in the night.  Flopsy is the only one of our babies to experience any sleep-training and that only consisted of a grand total of two minutes controlled crying and a week’s worth of patting/rocking to sleep at 5 months old in the misguided belief that it was bad for her to learn to fall asleep at the breast.  When we stopped all that nonsense, life got much easier and, miraculously, Flopsy has been falling asleep without breastfeeding for at least 18 months and sleeping right through the night most nights; only needing a loo visit and a cuddle to settle if she does wake. 

Mopsy is doing exactly what Flopsy did.  Breastfeeding no longer gets her to sleep. It does switch her mind off and start the process, but the action of suckling now keeps her from falling fast asleep most of the time.  So we feed, and then she rolls over and falls asleep herself while I cuddle her (when evenings work out well, that’s what happens - I won’t go into that whole thing now, though!).  Most of the time when she wakes in the night (two or three times), she now rolls over mumbling a half-hearted request for a breastfeed (yak yak, she calls it) but falls asleep before I get to feed her. 

The next step will be settling before she even asks for milk.  However we’ve upset the process a bit now by decorating their room for them and pushing the two single beds together.  They now both want to sleep in there, which is lovely for them.  And it’s very pleasing to me to note that when Mopsy does wake, she doesn’t cry for me - she’s not scared of not sleeping next to me - she just calls ‘Mummy’ and me or DH go and get her and bring her back into our bed where she settles very quickly.  It does mean that she’s woken up more than she would if she were stirring next to me so she does need feeding to get back to sleep. 

When Flopsy did this, it was the start of the weaning process…maybe I’ll start thinking about weaning Mopsy but I don’t really feel like I want to like I did when Flopsy was this age.  Mopsy is much happier than Flopsy was to have feeds that last a few seconds (more a cursory checking in with me, than an actual need to feed); and she doesn’t ask as much as Flopsy did.  We’ll just see how it goes for now.

Flopsy is currently having a ‘learning to read’ phase.  She’s had lots of these during her life so far.  The early ones were things like a desire to learn her letters; or wanting to sit with me with a book and tell me her own version of the story; or asking me to point out the words in whatever book I’m reading and tell her what they say.  At the moment she’s bringing books to us and asking us to read the words with her.  Her favourite book ever is one she discovered a couple of years ago at the back of a bookcase.  It’s called Daily Light and is a collection of Bible readings - one for every day of the year.  Now no one could describe us as devoted Christians, but I’ve been brought up a Christian and my Grandparents would love it if we went to church regularly and read the Bible.  They gave me this book when I was 15.  It’s small - about 8cm wide; 13cm tall and 2cm thick and Flopsy has fallen in love with it.  It has proper thin pages like a Bible has, which I think appeals to her.  We’ve never read to her from it, so she has no idea what it says (I think!), but she loves it - ‘reads’ it when we’re reading our books in the evening etc.  At the moment she often brings it to me asking me what the words say - she doesn’t want me to read it to her, but wants me to point to the words and if she knows them she reads them and if she doesn’t, I do. 

She’s also very keen on reading one of the bedtime stories they choose every night and that’s really enjoyable.  We have a collection of Puddle Lane books - mostly bought from car boot sales to satisify my nostalgia! - and she is also really enjoying reading those with me.  I read the adult’s side of the page; then she reads the child’s side; then she gets bored and wants me to read it all. 

These reading bouts take place randomly during the day and very frequently happen at 10pm when we’re reading in bed before going to sleep.  Another reason to be glad she won’t be going to school - she can learn to read in her own time and whenever and whatever she likes

PS.  All three girls are also learning heaps of other things all the time, of course, but these things seem to be what they’re focussing on at the moment. 

Our house purchase completed this morning and we are now the proud owners of the house we’ve lived in for the last 9 months, which we love and prefer to all the other four houses we’ve had in the last five years.  Our first project is decorating our big spare room for Flopsy and Mopsy to share; and to do work on the garden.  I feel so grown up!

The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Sorry for not blogging much at the moment.  Anyway, I’ve been tagged by the lovely Shukr so I have to now

1. I’m an NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor and the Chair of our local branch

2. I’m a registered nurse and am about to start looking for a nursing agency to join ready for when Cotton-tail’s old enough to leave for a while

3. As well as my darling husband, I am also in love with Lee Mead (of Any Dream Will Do) and Bruce Parry (of Tribe)

4. I can french plait hair - something I thought all women could do until people started commenting in amazement at Flopsy’s and Mopsy’s french plaits!

5. I’m very particular about how I have my tea - so much so that I often politely refuse it and then make my own (or get some other trusted individual to make it for me!)

6. I do a strange sort of grin when I’m concentrating on something (in fact DH has just told me I do it about 80% of the time - time to try to stop that I think!)

7. I think that my babies’ armpits are the cutest thing in the world and can’t resist stroking them whenever visible!

8. I think my husband is the kindest, most wonderful and amazing person on the planet

Sorry, not tagging anyone as 8 people is a lot and with this thing doing the rounds nearly everyone in the world has probably been tagged already!

I’ve seen this all over the blogosphere!  Put “[your name] needs” into google and see what comes up…

1. Clare needs more nous

2. Clare needs a temporary fiance (!!!)

3. Clare needs sure touch when invading Russia - something I do on a regular basis!

4. Clare needs to get out more - hahahahaha

5. Clare needs to be found out and get her comeuppance for being so evil and nasty (?)

This afternoon we all witnessed the next stage of Cotton-tail’s development, she hauled herself along towards play money (highly appropriate toy for a 5 month old). She achieved her goal to a rapturous applause from myself (dh - yes I am having a go with modern technology and sat at the computer!!),  mummy and her 2 older sisters who thought it was the best thing ever.

We want some chickens.  We’re thinking of getting ex-battery ones.  We also want a veg patch.  We also don’t have acres of land.  I’m making a wild guess here but I suppose there are other people who want to grow veg and also have chickens…?  How do you protect your veg from the hens? 

Also, I’d really like to read a bit more about day-to-day life when it includes hens and I know some HE bloggers have chickens but can’t remember who…can someone point me in the right direction?  Thanks

After a week when I’ve wanted to blog heaps!  Flopsy’s 4th birthday was yesterday and we had a children’s party on Thursday at a local soft play place - I’ll post some photos later on.  Her family party is next weekend and she’s very excited.  Not everyone she loves will be there this year, but never mind.  Hopefully there’ll be some nice long posts coming up soon LOL!  Just a short one right now, though, as DH is off to work soon (Sunday morning - poo!  And he’s got to work tomorrow Bank Holiday as well :-().

1.Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
“…pregnancy, birth and the hours, days and weeks and months that follow it…”

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can…what do u find?
My wall

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Bob the Builder

4. Without looking, guess what time it is?
10.00am

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
10.05am

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The washing machine

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Last night, to collect DH from work

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
My emails and my cousin’s facebook

9. What are you wearing?
Long brown skirt and biscuit coloured t-shirt

10. Did you dream last night?
Yes - I can’t remember much about it except that it was nice

11. When did you last laugh?
Half an hour ago when I couldn’t see Cotton-tail and realised she’d rolled under the sofa!

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
A CD rack; cobwebs; NCT agendas; kitchen cabinets

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Plenty…I have three very young children…I’m constantly seeing weird things!

14. What do you think of this quiz?
It’s taking up a bit of spare time until Bob the Builder finishes his building and the girls come downstairs

15. What is the last film you saw?
Casino Royale - DH went to see the regional premier for free because his work were providing the dinner suits for the cinema staff and he’s been raving about it ever since.  We borrowed the DVD from my parents an age ago and only just managed to get Flopsy in bed early enough to watch it on Sunday night!  Loved it and loved Daniel Craig
16.If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
A lot of land and do a ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’

17. Tell me something about you that I don’t know:
My hair is wet as I just got out of the shower

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
I don’t know!  Get everyone living in communities and burn all the parenting books so parenting was a whole lot easier!

19. Do you like to dance?
Yup

20. George Bush:
Is a wally

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Flopsy (ha ha!)

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Peter Rabbit (ha ha ha!)

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes - would love to live somewhere more libertarian!

24. What do you want to say to God when you reach the pearly gates?
Hi, wasn’t sure whether or not you existed!

Round 2
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Not much!

2. When is the next time you will have sex?
Ha ha!  Um…I don’t know but I expect DH would love to know the answer to that one!

3. What’s a word that rhymes with “DOOR?”
Four

4. Favorite planet?
Don’t have one

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your mobile?
A random 0208 number that I don’t recognise

6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?
“Ring ring”

7. What shirt are you wearing?
I already told you!

8. Do you “label” yourself?
Yes - I have many roles and beliefs and choose which one I want to label myself according to my needs at the time!
9. Name the brand of shoes you’re currently wearing?
M&S
10. Bright or Dark Room?
Bright

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
I love her to bits and wish I could see her more often

12. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sleeping (possbily breastfeeding)

13. What did your last text message you received on your mobile say?
“At work, safe and well clarey.  Love you all xxx”

14. Where is your mailbox?
Eh? 

15. What’s a word that you say a lot?
Ha ha!  ‘Breastfeeding’ I think most of my friends and family would answer to that question…I think I say ‘love’ much more often though (as in ‘I love you’)

16.Who told you he/she loved you last?
Mopsy, I think

17. Last furry thing you touched?
The throw on our futon

18. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
None whatsoever

19. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
None - we only have a digital camera now

20. Who was the last person you had a chance meeting with?
I can’t remember!

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
I like being 27 at the moment - I haven’t had all three children at any other age

22. Your worst enemy?
Don’t know
23. What is your current desktop picture?
Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
“Just put the tissue on the bookshelf and when Mopsy gets off the loo you can flush it away then”

25. If you had to choose between a million dollars, or being able to fly, which would you do?
A million dollars

26. Do you like someone?
Yes, I like lots and lots of people

27. The last song you listened to?
“Bob the Builder, Can you fix it?, Bob the Builder, Yes we can!”

28. If the last person you spoke to was getting shot at, would you jump in front of the bullet?
Absolutely

29. If you could punch one person in the face who’s in your life right now, who would it be?
Can’t think of anyone I’d like to punch in the face!
30. IF YOU COULD BE DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Eating chocolate or maybe sleeping!

Oh dear…am currently addicted to facebook.com.  My cousin and I look at it every five minutes to see if we’ve made any more friends - it’s so sad!  Have any other bloggers been struck by this addiction I wonder…any more potential friends around…?  What a saddo I am!