I have been so enjoying watching Bernard playing with his blocks. They say block play is a foundation of mathematics and I can see why. He is crazy at the moment about putting things inside other things. He puts the smaller blocks inside the bigger blocks, and then he tries to put the bigger blocks inside the smaller blocks. It's an emotional process for him: he was crying with frustration yesterday when he had the 2 inside the 3 block but could not get it out because its empty side was not facing outwards. I could help him let it drop out, but he could only make it happen himself by accident. It's interesting that one or two successes were not enough: he needs to understand how to make it work.
Friday 30 April 2010
Thursday 29 April 2010
take it off the menu!
i give up!!
It is high time to get rid of those plastic tubs of mush and move on to something else - they are a waste of effort. It's obvious now that Bernard thinks mush is the product of some devilish conspiracy to wean him off breastmilk (would we dream of it??) and while he is happy to snack on solid things, the spoon and its sloppy contents are his sworn enemy. Avoidance tactics include:
1) throwing objects off his chair and staring down at them as if hypnotised,
2) closing his lips, eyes etc and moving his head out of range,
3) all of (2) plus arching his back and hanging upside down in my arms,
4) standing up in his chair - very competently, and breathtakingly dangerous - or crawling onto the tray of the high chair,
5) filling his mouth with something else,
6) intercepting the spoon and dashing it to the floor,
7) putting his hands in the bowl, rubbing them on his highchair tray and then smearing me too,
8) crying (this is when tired and wanting to snuggle up and breastfeed instead)
9) trying to ignore the existence of the mush completely.
OK, so .... watch this space.
It is high time to get rid of those plastic tubs of mush and move on to something else - they are a waste of effort. It's obvious now that Bernard thinks mush is the product of some devilish conspiracy to wean him off breastmilk (would we dream of it??) and while he is happy to snack on solid things, the spoon and its sloppy contents are his sworn enemy. Avoidance tactics include:
1) throwing objects off his chair and staring down at them as if hypnotised,
2) closing his lips, eyes etc and moving his head out of range,
3) all of (2) plus arching his back and hanging upside down in my arms,
4) standing up in his chair - very competently, and breathtakingly dangerous - or crawling onto the tray of the high chair,
5) filling his mouth with something else,
6) intercepting the spoon and dashing it to the floor,
7) putting his hands in the bowl, rubbing them on his highchair tray and then smearing me too,
8) crying (this is when tired and wanting to snuggle up and breastfeed instead)
9) trying to ignore the existence of the mush completely.
OK, so .... watch this space.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
list writing
Today was a glorious day, warm and sunny, ending in rain. In the morning we took it easy; at lunchtime I got the tyres on my pushbike fixed, went to Love Chocolate Cafe and did some writing. I got back just as baby was waking from his nap. I took him for a stroll in the stroller, then went for a quick swim, came back and taught Chi Nhung some English. The local pool Tay Ho Hotel has opened and is clean and ready for the new season. The changing rooms have been scrubbed and they have put up some odd high visibility bollards at the edges of the pool - not sure what they are for.
I wrote about all the aspirations I had when I came to Vietnam - how few of them have come true!! Apart from the being fluent in Vietnamese part.
Then I wrote about all the things I never dreamed I would get to do, like go on a pilgrimage with a bunch of French Buddhists, for one.
Then I wrote about the things I still dream of doing here. One of them is to inspire others.
This list-writing process was very refreshing and I recommend it to anyone else who happens to be sitting with a mug of delicious iced chocolate (or soya honey banana shake I guess), and wondering if their life has fallen flat, or whether they're at the brink of something new and exciting. It might just tip the balance.
I wrote about all the aspirations I had when I came to Vietnam - how few of them have come true!! Apart from the being fluent in Vietnamese part.
Then I wrote about all the things I never dreamed I would get to do, like go on a pilgrimage with a bunch of French Buddhists, for one.
Then I wrote about the things I still dream of doing here. One of them is to inspire others.
This list-writing process was very refreshing and I recommend it to anyone else who happens to be sitting with a mug of delicious iced chocolate (or soya honey banana shake I guess), and wondering if their life has fallen flat, or whether they're at the brink of something new and exciting. It might just tip the balance.
Tuesday 27 April 2010
please ignore if you are fed up with food/sleep updates
Baby is eating less and sleeping more. Go figure. I've put my foot down about force feeding him (for this week at least) and though a bit more stressful as I never know when/if he's going to eat next, it seems to be a very good thing.
The food-refusing came to a head this weekend. On Friday (a national holiday), Bernard ate nothing. There was a huge pile of refused pots of stuff in the sink. On Saturday he ate one bowl of rice porridge, some carrot cake and an entire banana that the banana lady put into his hand. On Sunday he ate two bowls of mush plus a few bits of bread. On Monday Mrs Nhung came and he ate one bowl of mush and one meal of fruit (I think she gave him rather a lot of fruit). On Monday night Bernard took a late nap and didn't go to sleep till 9.30. We were both exhausted. I woke at 4.30 this morning. Bernard was next to me - I didn't remember bringing him into my bed. His nappy was still dry. Wow! We had slept all night, more or less!!! Bernard didn't wake till six.
Bernard's current top five: 1) cake; 2)banana; 3)bread; 4)biscuits; 5)cereal flakes.
The food-refusing came to a head this weekend. On Friday (a national holiday), Bernard ate nothing. There was a huge pile of refused pots of stuff in the sink. On Saturday he ate one bowl of rice porridge, some carrot cake and an entire banana that the banana lady put into his hand. On Sunday he ate two bowls of mush plus a few bits of bread. On Monday Mrs Nhung came and he ate one bowl of mush and one meal of fruit (I think she gave him rather a lot of fruit). On Monday night Bernard took a late nap and didn't go to sleep till 9.30. We were both exhausted. I woke at 4.30 this morning. Bernard was next to me - I didn't remember bringing him into my bed. His nappy was still dry. Wow! We had slept all night, more or less!!! Bernard didn't wake till six.
Bernard's current top five: 1) cake; 2)banana; 3)bread; 4)biscuits; 5)cereal flakes.
Thursday 22 April 2010
end of term
end of term!!!! A week at home. Hopefully Bernard's room will get a makeover, and maybe I'll get some sleep. A swimmmm, maybe.
It's been stormy every night recently. I'm crouching on the floor in B's room with the window flapping in the breeze listening to the wind chimes next door.
Today I took Bernard to the 'baby parade' (the evening walkabout of nannies and babies by the lake), and it was lovely. I sat on the grassy football pitch with Maxim and Arthur and their nannies, and intermittently helped b do some running. Then we got home, had a drink and a bath and it was bedtime before I'd even thought about feeding him. Yet another evening passes at which Bernard's latest meal is at four: but this time at least I did not suffer the indignity of him refusing dinner.
goodnight all.
It's been stormy every night recently. I'm crouching on the floor in B's room with the window flapping in the breeze listening to the wind chimes next door.
Today I took Bernard to the 'baby parade' (the evening walkabout of nannies and babies by the lake), and it was lovely. I sat on the grassy football pitch with Maxim and Arthur and their nannies, and intermittently helped b do some running. Then we got home, had a drink and a bath and it was bedtime before I'd even thought about feeding him. Yet another evening passes at which Bernard's latest meal is at four: but this time at least I did not suffer the indignity of him refusing dinner.
goodnight all.
Sunday 18 April 2010
Ong Ba Ngoai's visit
Bernard plays on the lawn on top of the hill at Victoria Hotel Sapa
Hannah places the order at Xoi Yen - the sticky rice Mecca of Hanoi
Ba Ngoai and mummy putting on Bernard's shoes I think.
counter evidence
OF COURSE we both slept really well last night, as if to disprove my eating-sleeping correlation theory.
pumpkin features
today has been one long food fight. it is only 3.33 and i am exhausted. how do stayathome mums do it??? bernard has persistently refused food all day. not even finger food will tempt him to take more than a bite. after a failed attempt at feeding him some (to me) delicious pumpkin, i swore to give up. but at 3 o'clock he was showing so much interest in my empty ice-cream bowl that i was sure he was hungry. but when i tried to feed him fresh stewed apple porridge (with/without musical accompaniment) he refused straight off the cuff; i gave him the spoon to dip in the porridge, he brought it to his lips; he immediately turned his head away, cried and threw the spoon on the floor. was it too hot? too cold? it certainly was not yucky. finger foods are no good as he only takes one bite or less before deciding it's more fun as a throwing toy. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh
please forgive my unhealthy obsession with food at the moment. it will pass, i am sure of it.
please forgive my unhealthy obsession with food at the moment. it will pass, i am sure of it.
Friday 16 April 2010
chocolate buffet
A cold snap suddenly! What a bizarre climate: every day you have to go outside to check the weather before getting dressed. Yesterday I was totally freezing because it was about ten degrees warmer inside than out, as the temperature had plummeted in the night.
Today we went to the Chocolate Buffet at the Sofitel Metropole in Hanoi, to celebrate Kate's birthday. We ordered the High Tea, which for a few extra bob includes miniature sandwiches and a mug of tea. Wow, what a feast. I was invited one time but chickened out at the last minute because I thought it would be too sickly. But as a feeding mum, rich foods are less intimidating. I got the Chocolate Bombe, Chocolate mousse, freshly made hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream and a pile of fresh fruit. Delicious.
Bernard teethed on a hard-baked chocolate biscuit which he appeared to really enjoy, and then ate rice porridge and flirted with my colleagues. After that he hid under the table and played with his transportation puzzle. Everyone was really impressed with how good Bernard is. You can still (touch wood) take him places, and he appears to enjoy himself. My colleague Lisa who teaches Pre-K was great with him, putting a cupcake holder in her mouth which he found very entertaining and wanted to do again and again.
Lisa and Kate tower over the hot chocolate station (photo from Kate)
Today we went to the Chocolate Buffet at the Sofitel Metropole in Hanoi, to celebrate Kate's birthday. We ordered the High Tea, which for a few extra bob includes miniature sandwiches and a mug of tea. Wow, what a feast. I was invited one time but chickened out at the last minute because I thought it would be too sickly. But as a feeding mum, rich foods are less intimidating. I got the Chocolate Bombe, Chocolate mousse, freshly made hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream and a pile of fresh fruit. Delicious.
Bernard teethed on a hard-baked chocolate biscuit which he appeared to really enjoy, and then ate rice porridge and flirted with my colleagues. After that he hid under the table and played with his transportation puzzle. Everyone was really impressed with how good Bernard is. You can still (touch wood) take him places, and he appears to enjoy himself. My colleague Lisa who teaches Pre-K was great with him, putting a cupcake holder in her mouth which he found very entertaining and wanted to do again and again.
Wednesday 14 April 2010
bid for freedom
Today was an easy day. I did a lot of testing with my students, and one of my supervisors was away so I felt somehow at ease. Then there was no afternoon meeting: just a Function at which lots of canapes were served and we got to chat with each other. I had almost forgotten how to have a purely social conversation.
Chi Nhung and I have come up with another plan to try and dissuade Bernard from waking at 3am and demanding feeds every twenty minutes thereafter. Instead of feeding him more at 4pm, we'll feed him less at 4, in the hope that he'll eat a big meal later. This has worked so far: I fed him a big bowl of mung bean dal, potatoes and zucchini with olive oil. He is now asleep... very asleep. The initial plan did not work out as Bernard refused to eat a single bite once he had been fed the lentil concoction, and 11hours later I guess he thought it was time for a refill, quite justifiably. It just happened to be 3am.
The weather remains hot, wet, sticky and rainy. The plant on our landing has started sending out thick green roots, maybe looking for a new home. One root has tracked its way over the stone Buddha head. The other is heading for freedom outside the pot; I'm sure it grew over 4cm today alone.
Bernard added 3 more noises to his repertoire today: clucking, trumpeting and the ET noise where you talk whilst breathing in instead of out. Yesterday and the day before he has also been making a silly voice noise where he babbles in a half-strangled tone. Even adults do this to be funny sometimes. Still, the most common syllable at the moment is zazaza, though ma ma ma and na na na are making more frequent appearances. Also there has been an increase in Bernard's glottal stopping da. da. da. - I feel sure that this is the influence of all the Vietnamese.
Today Bernard stood up for several seconds unassisted.... in his high chair. Then again, later... in his bath. He doesn't seem to have as much confidence to do so on dry land!
Chi Nhung and I have come up with another plan to try and dissuade Bernard from waking at 3am and demanding feeds every twenty minutes thereafter. Instead of feeding him more at 4pm, we'll feed him less at 4, in the hope that he'll eat a big meal later. This has worked so far: I fed him a big bowl of mung bean dal, potatoes and zucchini with olive oil. He is now asleep... very asleep. The initial plan did not work out as Bernard refused to eat a single bite once he had been fed the lentil concoction, and 11hours later I guess he thought it was time for a refill, quite justifiably. It just happened to be 3am.
The weather remains hot, wet, sticky and rainy. The plant on our landing has started sending out thick green roots, maybe looking for a new home. One root has tracked its way over the stone Buddha head. The other is heading for freedom outside the pot; I'm sure it grew over 4cm today alone.
Bernard added 3 more noises to his repertoire today: clucking, trumpeting and the ET noise where you talk whilst breathing in instead of out. Yesterday and the day before he has also been making a silly voice noise where he babbles in a half-strangled tone. Even adults do this to be funny sometimes. Still, the most common syllable at the moment is zazaza, though ma ma ma and na na na are making more frequent appearances. Also there has been an increase in Bernard's glottal stopping da. da. da. - I feel sure that this is the influence of all the Vietnamese.
Today Bernard stood up for several seconds unassisted.... in his high chair. Then again, later... in his bath. He doesn't seem to have as much confidence to do so on dry land!
Tuesday 13 April 2010
they are gone
they are gone - oh it was so nice to have family here.
now the weather is sticky and hot. nicholas is in england where it is clear and cold.
bernard is downstairs yodelling.
now the weather is sticky and hot. nicholas is in england where it is clear and cold.
bernard is downstairs yodelling.
out and about
at cafe daluva with aubrey, 7 months, left, and blake, 9 months
at mum's band practice
trying out those new shoes
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