Oisìn At Three Years Old!

My Darling Boy, 

I am finding it hard to believe you are now three year old! Where has the time gone? It only feels like yesterday when we where in that newborn bubble getting to know

 each other, days spent feeding, changing and cuddling you! 

You have turned into a threenager almost over night! We managed to miss the terrible two's with you but you have hit the threenager head on! You are so moody, laughing one minute then crying the next because you dinner in your own words is just too tasty!!!

You run around the house in the nude because it's time to get dressed and then decide the minute before we leave the house that you suddenly hate the outfit you have on! 

All of sudden you no longer do what we tell you, you have decide to ignore every order we give!

You also play on us, when Mammy says no you ask Daddy!! You also have took up fake crying and it very amusing to see you try squeeze out tears!

You have a fierce temper and because of all the emotions that you are trying to understand you lash out quickly. Yet now you say sorry straight away and sometimes cry if you know you have been wrong.

Your imagination is so fun to watch you love playing pretend, sometimes Daddy and I will watching you play and listen to you, and we smile. You love to play chef with your kitchen and builder with your tool kit. Yet your favourite toys are still you toy cars and of course Woody from Toy Story, Santa Claus brought you Buzz LightYear and he has been added to your favourite toys.

You totally loved Christmas this year, we didn't think you would understand it as much as you did. You totally understood Santa Claus, presents and loved Jolly The Elf On The Shelf who you are still sad has gone back to the North Pole! You loved singing Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming To Town. You made lovely Christmas decorations in day care and asked Santa for watch like Granddad's and a chocolate doughnut! You got some lovely surprise from Santa but your favourite was your minions!

Minions is one of your favourite movies, along with Toy Story, Alvin & The Chipmonks, Monsters Inc and new favourite The Grinch!

Peppa Pig is still always on the TV but we are doing our best to get you to watch other TV shows!

You are back in pull ups full time as you where getting very upset in day care when going the toliet and we thought it best to leave potty training for now. In the new year we will be trying again and hopefully you will be ready.

My beautiful boy, Happy 3rd Birthday you have gave us the best three years of our lives

we love you so much   

Over The Weekend #58

This weekend was a cosy family one, we put up our Christmas tree last weekend

but it was this weekend that really started off Christmas for us

On Friday Jolly our Elf on the Shelf joined us for Christmas
He came baring gifts for Oisìn Peppa Pig Christmas Colouring books and a Santa hat!
Paul and Oisìn enjoyed some time in the afternoon colouring!

That night was the Irish Christmas Tradition The Late Late Toy Show

this was the first year attempting to watch it with Oisìn it's on quite late so we weren't sure if he would enjoy it or even stay awake to see it!

We had lovely treats and Oisìn actually really enjoyed it! He lasted to 10.30pm which is VERY late for him!

This weekend Paul was working so I was looking for things to do with Oisìn our local retail park was having a free family Christmas day out in aid for Make A Wish Foundation. Myself, Mam and Oisìn went along it was brilliant, with lots of different activities for children, Santa Letter writing, making reindeer food, facing painting, a children's choir, free hot chocolates and then a visit to see Santa all for free! Oisìn took a long while to come around! He kept saying he missed his Daddy but I think it was a bit over whelming for a two year old! In the end a friendly elf won him round and we went to visit Santa, who was one of the best Santa's we have been to see, he took his time with Oisìn made him feel at easy and gave him big high fives. Oisìn told him not to forget his chocolate doughnut which is on top of his Christmas list! 

Oisìn's face when we told him after seeing Santa we could go to McDonald's for a special treat!

In the end we had a lovely day out, myself and Mam even ended up doing some retail therapy!

Sunday we had a family day with my parents coming up for dinner

I done a nice roast beef with all the trimmings I have converted my parents to Slimming World's Oxo Roasties which they loved!

After dinner in the glow of the Christmas tree lights we sat an watched a Christmas classic Miracle On 34th Street it was cosy and lovely!

When my parents had gone home and Oisìn was in bed

Paul and I made hot chocolates and watched the final of I'm A Cele

We are glad Scarlet won, as we do a sweepstakes in our family and we had Scarlet

but also because we love her in Gogglebox

So that was our fun family weekend

Over The Weekend #55

This weekend we didn't get up to much to be honest!

Paul was working all weekend so it was just Oisìn and I for most of the time

Saturday morning we done a bit of Christmas shopping and went for a festive coffee

When I ordered it I didn't realise that it would be so big!

We then went to my parents for a chat and a cuppa

Oisìn wanted to bring his green car but his legs got tired half way to Grandparents house so I end up pushing him most of the way!

I wasn't feeling 100% for most of the weekend but tried my best to be fun for Oisìn!

  Sunday was a mostly do nothing type of day!!

We snuggled on the sofa and watched the new Sky Christmas Movie channel!

It is early to be talking about Christmas but this was just what I needed!

We had a late Sunday roast when Paul got home and then later watched the last in the series of Poldark.

Over The Weekend #54 Halloween Edition

This weekend we did lots of lovely Halloween things

Friday Oisìn had a little dress up party in daycare

He wasn't 100% all weekend due to an ear infection, chest infection and was tired due to the meds he is on. Yet on Friday he was so exicted to dress up for all his friends to see!

He wore last years pumpkin outfit and it was crazy to see the difference a year makes!

On Saturday Paul's parents invited us up to there's for dinner

We had a relaxing afternoon and then later the local pub put on a firework display for the children

It was great fun sweets and fireworks for the children with wine and beer for the adults!

Oisìn loved seeing his Uncle Jamie dressed up! It was so sweet to see the little children's faces when looking at the fireworks and the adults dressed up!

Sunday was a bit of a chill out day we watched Halloween family movies

I chanced watching A Nightmare Before Christmas with Oisìn liked it but he LOVED Hocus Pocus!

While watching it he decided he wanted to be a witch!

Later we carved pumpkins it took a while for Oisìn to agree to it he was having so much playing with the pumpkin!!

Then he finally done some carving with Daddy, he asked for a happy pumpkin and not a scary one!

Monday was a bank holiday here in Ireland its nice to have an extra one before Christmas!

We went to my parents for dinner and we had the Irish tradition of colcannon with a money surprise inside which took me straight back to my childhood.

Oisìn ate his dinner so quickly he was so exicted to get out and do some trick and treating!

Oisìn loved getting ready and getting his face painted when he saw me as a witch

He said I was a brilliant witch! Although he was dressed up as Frankenstein he though he was the hulk so we didn't disagree with him! 

Our little man loved trick and treating he loved the firework display but his favourite was the bonfire

He asked to go back to it three times! My parents neighbours loved seeing him all dressed up and he got lots of sweets and treats to last for weeks!!

After all the trick and treating was done we had a glass of wine and watched Monsters Inc before heading home

Then we settled down with a glass of wine and watched The Walking Dead

Oisìn enjoyed Halloween so much that he thought he could dress up again this morning after breakfast and do it all again!!
Hope you all had a Happy and safe Halloween

Over The Weekend #53

 This weekend as a household we where all feeling fairly tired and a little rundown

Oisìn has come down with a bad cough at night time which sounds a little like croup

He is fine during the day but night time is awful poor little thing the sound of that barking cough breaks my heart. So we are all more than a little tired during the day and the circles under my eyes have got a little bigger!

My Mam invited us to dinner on Saturday understanding that we where all more than a little shattered. She whipped up a large pot of her Irish Stew and it was just what the doctor order for all of us! Although Paul has also been run down lately trying to shift a lingering viral infection he still smiles and makes our little boy feel better. I found 25 selfies on my phone from these two jokers from when we where in my parents for dinner!

 It was a very restless night for us all Saturday night but before all that Paul and I got into the Halloween spirit and watched one of my favourite scary movies An American Werewolf In London!

After a long night we all need fuel the next morning, so I had a big Slimming World friendly grill up!

Sunday we spent relaxing Oisìn and I did alot of dozing on the sofa!

We got cosy and watched Disney's Aladdin and Oisìn loved it!

So that was our weekend! Hopefully next weekend we will be all feeling a little better! 

Dealing or Not Dealing with Potty Training Regression

After spending most of August getting Oisìn potty trained the last thing I thought about was potty training regression! He was doing so well and took to using a toddler toilet seat instead of a potty.

I think he had a set back when in creche he moved to the larger toddler room with two new childcare assistants. Although he loves the room and most of his friends moved with him, I don't think he felt comfortable asking to go to the the toilet. I don't blame creche or anything like that these things happen. I do think at home I went about it all wrong! I panicked, stressed out and thought I was doing something wrong! 

Then I started to google everything about toilet regression! I tried EVERYTHING! 

I made a song up to sing when he needed the toilet-it didn't work he wet himself while singing it!

I used stickers as a reward-didn't work stickers where everywhere and so was the puddles of pee!

I told him he was a big boy and he needed to wee in the potty or toilet-didn't work the lip came out and he burst into tears....major Mammy guilt

I used one jelly sweet as a reward-didn't work he sat on the toilet pretending to go and then had a tantrum if he didn't get a sweet!

So I stopped and remembered that this clever little chatter box isn't even three yet! I was stressing out, putting so much pressure on this little boy who although picks up many things quickly was just had a set back with potty training.

 He can have a full conversation with me, sing songs, dress himself, tell stories, feed himself but yet he still isn't three years old. Sometimes I need to remind myself of that! 

I remembered my own words in my own post regarding potty training that every child is different and to have patience.

Why was I putting so much pressure on his little head?!
I was guilty of comparing him to other children in his creche and his friends. Nervous that he was behind other children in his age group. I stopped and gave myself a serious wake up call!!
I took a step back and looked at how upset, unhappy and even slightly scared he looked when I brought him to the toilet or when he had wet himself.

I took the stress and pressure off him and put the pull ups back on. He goes the poo in the toilet and will always tell me when he needs to go to the toilet for that. Now that I have took the pressure off him he tells me more now when he needs a pee. Of course he goes in his pull up alot of the time but he is now much more vocal when he needs to go.

The advice I would give other parents is don't stress about it. I put way to much pressure on myself and on my son, it will happen but it will do so when he is ready.

Over The Weekend 50&51

I have been MIA from this blog the past few weeks

I had alot on with my Mam's Birthday and then my brother's 10th Anniversary

While I am still in a bit of a change of seasons slump

While I back to reading and watching my favourite TV shows I still seem to be feeling

a bit meh in myself.

Hubby and I are having a bit of a treat the end of this week

Oisìn is having a sleep over in his Grandparents and we are going for a meal and to see a show

I am really looking forward to some quality time with the hubby

Anyway two weekends ago it was my Mam's birthday

I brought her out for a meal and it was a bit of a ladies night!

It was lovely to spend time together just the two of us

 That Saturday was the All Ireland GAA Football final rematch with Dublin and Mayo

It was a tight match but Dublin won and it reminded me of this picture of my brother

He loved Dublin and went to alot of the matches but he died before Dublin started there winning streak. So he never got to see the team he loves so much raise the Sam, but I know he was smiling down on Croke Park

I always wear Patrick's Dublin jersey when Dublin are in the final. 

Oisìn asked to wear this time so I let him and he was so pleased

but it did look like an over sized nightie on him!

That Sunday it was ten years since this funny face left us

It did hit me a little hard that morning I had some time out listening to his favourite songs.

I really missed him it's funny how even after ten years it can feel like yesterday

He was a beautiful gentle soul and the world is a little bit darker and harsh without him 

 We had a family dinner at ours that Sunday it was a day to spend with family

We raised a glass of Patrick and spoke about the good times with him

When my parents had gone home Paul and I watched our Sunday night favourites

Poldark and Victoria

 After a illness filled week this was very much needed Friday night

Oisìn & I have been filled with cold and hubby had a chest and sinus infection

So it was nice to chill out with a glass of vino and watch Gogglebox

On Saturday I got some of the Halloween bits down

Oisìn was slightly scared but came around and now loves talking to the pumpkin!

Speaking of Oisìn he seems to be going through a funny stage

He has been lashing out in creche and at home

He has regressed in potty training and it feels like we are starting again with toilet training

I think moving into the older room in creche has set him back a bit

This Mammy needed alot of patience this weekend with tantrums and wetting accidents!

A last minute family Sunday roast happened which was really nice
I love having my parents for dinner and Sunday really is our family day
Bubbles, candles and Poldark finished off our weekend!

Oisìn Almost Three Years Old!

My Darling Boy,

I wasn't going to do another update till your third birthday in December,

but I could let this Summer past without documenting it!

This Summer you said goodbye to all things baby, although you will forever be my baby!

You took things in your stride, became even more independent and become more of a little boy then ever! 

Over the Summer you moved into a toddler bed from a cot and you love your bed. Lately you have been having bad dreams, and little night terrors. Your little imagination has created monsters and dragons in your bedroom! Daddy has created this magic Monster spray (water) for night time to banish those awful creatures! Normally after a cuddle you go straight back to sleep, but sometimes you try push to sleep with us and being honest sometimes we give in!

Your speech has always been good but now you really are a little parrot and we have heard you repeat some bad words that you have overheard!! Your favourite thing to do at the moment is make up fairy tale stories and tell them to me and Daddy! You also love to sing and dance, you know some Bob Marley songs as well as nursery rhymes. One of my favourite things you do is when a song comes on the radio you will say 'I love that song' even though you have never heard it before!

This Summer you also finally gave up your soother (dummy/pacifier) we tried give up this before but it never worked. Until we weaned it down to bedtimes only, then one day I put it away and you never asked for it since! You haven't been well lately with a chest infection you haven't asked for your soother but have sucked your thumb when feeling poorly.

You also dropped your mid day naps! One day you just wouldn't take one for me and that was that! I do miss you going for naps if I'm honest as that's when I got most of my housework done! Yet now my favourite time of the day is when we have quiet time, we watch around 40 minutes of TV and you snuggle beside me! I should be doing housework but this is so much better!

Over the Summer you have also become very attached to me, of course you still adore Daddy. Yet it has got hard for me to do anything with my little shadow following me. Before you had no problem going on sleep overs to Aunts and Grandparents, now its much harder chore for us all! You refused to stay in your Aunts when you realised I wasn't going with you! I am hoping this is just a stage you are going through due to us having spent most of the Summer together, because as much as I love you, we both need our independence.

One of the biggest things you conquered this Summer was potty training, it took you a while but you are getting there. You still have accidents especially when you are playing and forget to go to the toilet! You only used your potty a handful of times then when Nanny bought you a junior toilet seat you took to that straight away. One thing that makes me smile is that you really like your privacy while using the toilet once we have helped you on the seat you ask to turn away or leave the bathroom and then you call us again when you are finished!

Last week you went back to daycare after a Summer of play camp, this time you are in the pre-school room. Some of your friends are there but most of them have moved on to early start school, because you where born in December you don't start till next year. You also have some new childcare assistants so last week you found it a little strange and we had a few tears when Daddy and I left but I know you will settle in fine and have lots of friends.

This Summer was bittersweet as you left behind babyhood and started the journey of growing up

Over The Weekend #47

This weekend was fairly uneventful to be honest

Oisìn was unwell with a chest infection and on antibiotics so not in the best form 

Hubby was working all weekend, so Oisìn and I curled up for the weekend!

Oisìn seems to be on the mend now but hubby and I feel like we are coming down with something!

I topped up on all our daily vitamins and got lots of fresh vegetables and fruit so that we boost out immune systems during the change of the seasons.

Friday Hubby and I shared a early coffee date together

Lately we haven't had much of a chance to be alone so it was lovely to spent

a little time chatting over coffee and cake.

This poorly toddler spent most of the weekend in his pyjamas cuddling me on the sofa

He has an awful chest infection with a very chesty cough which has been making him vomit

at night. He has been happy enough dozing on the sofa with lots of Disney movies and cuddles from Mammy!

There was no wild late nights this weekend for us! I was happy enough to be in bed at 9pm reading this book. Once every few years I read a book that I know will stay with me forever and this is definitely one of those books. While Oisìn was dozing on the sofa this weekend I made peppermint tea and curled up and read. I can't wait to do a full review on this at the end of the month

After a late Sunday Lunch, we watched Wreck It Ralph and Thomas The Tank Engine for the 100th time this weekend!

Later we settled down with a glass of wine or two, to watch Polark and Victoria

My Tips For Potty Training!

We have been potty training almost two full weeks now
By no means am I an expert! We still have accidents, we still go through at least two pairs of pants a day, but we are getting there! Oisìn no longer uses a potty but a toddler toilet seat on our toilet which we can take off and bring with us when we go out. He normally tells me when he needs the toilet but can get carried away when playing and forgets! We have had days out and he has been great but the big test will be seeing how he gets on in daycare this week!
These are the big tips that helped me out when starting potty training Oisìn

Every Child Is Different
I learned this pretty quickly when becoming a parent and it's no different when potty training. Every child is different some might not learn in three days to potty train, some might take weeks. Some might love using the potty, some will only just the big toilet. Some might go the poo straight away, some might hold it until they can't anymore! Some might like bribes some mightn't need it, so don't compare your child to anyone else and just let them be themselves

Make Sure Your Child Is Ready
I learned the hard way with this we tried Oisìn at the start of May with the potty and he HATED it!
He just wasn't ready and we had two days of crying and weeing until we decided he just wasn't ready. We then looked for signs like he would leave the room or go to a corner to poo! He wanted to be changed straight after a poo or big wee! He then started to show a little interest when we where going to the toilet.
This tip is a big one for me because there is no point to try potty training if the child isn't ready

Patience Is A Virtue
Some children learn to use the potty is three days, Oisìn took a little longer than that! In totally it's been around two weeks for him to master the toilet. He much prefers to use the toddler toilet seat than the potty and thankfully took to doing poo in the toilet not a problem. Don't get me wrong he still has accidents when he forgets he needs a wee when playing with friends or toys. Just be patience and don't rush....patience is definitely the key

Naked Time
Sun out bum out!! Setting time for Oisìn to be in his buff really did help him learn to use the potty. At the start of the Summer we started setting aside naked time for Oisìn before bath and bed time, we slowly introduced the potty and weeing in the big toilet.

Praise You Baby
It's all about the praise when it comes to Oisìn not just with potty training but he loves to be praised when he tries anything new. High fives, big hugs, well dones, and good jobs and his face lights up!
When he started using the toddler potty seat on the big toilet we piled on the praise so much so he hasn't looked back and has started going into the toilet himself and just asks for help with his pants!

Bribe That Child
Stickers and Jellies is what Oisìn gets if he goes his toilet when we are out and about!
It can be nerve wrecking going out with a toddler when potty training, images of wet clothes and poos on the floor come to mind! In fairness this only happened once in the car on the way out with Oisìn! He has been very good when out while potty training, that is mainly because he knows if he tells us he needs to go the toilet when we are out he either gets a sticker or two jellies!!

Be Prepared
My last tip is be prepared when leaving the house, at least four pairs of pants, and three changes of clothes. My handbag has been switched for a large tote bag filled with stickers, jellies. underpants, wipes, tissues, hand sanitiser, small sanitised bags and a toddler toilet seat!!! Oh the glamour!!

Over The Weekend #44

This weekend was a nice one

I was shattered from hospital appointments and not getting the answers I wanted from doctors

but I put that one side to have a lovely family weekend

Saturday morning I had a bit of a lie in with breakfast in bed from hubby

then I had to go get bloods done in the hospital

Then we headed to the cinema with Oisìn

 We went to see Ice Age Collision Course in the Kids Cinema Club

Oisìn wasn't a big fan of this movie after a about an hour when all the popcorn and sweets where gone he got bored! This added with potty training he had to go to the toilet five times in an hour and half! 

I didn't think much of the movie myself and I love kids movies!

We are going to wait and go to see Finding Dory next!

After the cinema we went for lunch and done a bit of shopping

and then went to the In Laws for a cuppa and chat

 Sunday was a chill out day!

We walked to the local shops for a few bits

We had planned to go to the park but the weather was cold and wet here in Dublin

So it was back to the house and this yummy Sunday Roast!

Oisìn really enjoyed his Sunday Lunch and had second helpings

This was his third outfit of the day after being so good all week with toilet training

He had three accidents on Sunday! Guess he will have good days and bad days!

After dinner we had cheese cake and coffee and I started Finding Fraser

which I am helping with my Droughtlander I am really missing Outlander on the TV!

After Oisìn was bathed and put to bed I relaxed with a glass of rosè!

So that was our weekend nothing too crazy or busy but we enjoyed it all the same!

Over The Weekend #43

This weekend hubby was working and it was all about potty training at home!

We technically started last week but cause Oisìn is in daycare three days a week

he needs to be fully potty trained or in nappies. It set him back a bit so I have decided to

go full steam ahead and keep in out of daycare this week until he is comfortable to say he needs the potty at daycare!

He has been doing brilliantly and fingers crossed he has got the hang of it this weekend!

He goes straight to the potty himself sometimes just asks for help getting his underpants down quick enough!

I am a bit nervous about bringing him out while potty training

but on Saturday we went to the library and he went to the toilet in the big boy toilet!

This is our local library and Oisìn loves it!!

He had a good chat with the librarian who then invited us to a Teddy Bear Picnic on Wednesday!

He then spent 15 minutes talking to a random car on the walk to the park
because he thought it was Herbie!!
So sweet and funny!

Today seemed to have an Autumn feel to it! The nights are drawing in, this morning it took
a bit later to get bright and we where up from 6.30am! It was also a bit chilly here in Dublin
Oisìn and I went for a walk.....I brought the potty with me!

The park already has signs of Autumn
I find this a bit bitter sweet.....I love Autumn its my favourite season
but I am not ready to let go of Summer yet after all it's only August!
In another news thankfully Oisìn had no potty training accidents all weekend
I am not patting myself on the back just yet but hopefully this time next week
we should be a nappy free zone!

My Mam came up for dinner today and I cooked a roast beef Sunday Lunch
I am now in bed curled up with a cup of hot chocolate and a book!!