I was just reading the milestones on babycentre.de (the German version of the UK/US site) and found out that Madness is advanced. I am one of those mothers who says her child's intelligent, I openly admit it. I do temper it, though, with saying I have to wait till he's a little bit older before I can really be sure.
Heh. That's why I check the milestones on Babycentre... suuuuure. (Well, really, it's because I don't want to clean, proofread, work on my novel or nap, but that is not the point here!). Anyway, all the three things in the "advanced" column of the 17-month babies Madness can do. He's been brushing his teeth for months (after we do, obviously) and has been dancing to music for months. He's been kicking a ball for months. He's not yet 17 months old. Again, heh.
Anyway, if I keep thinking like this, I'm going to convince myself that Madness is a genius and enrol him into University for his second birthday. So, time for a topic change.
Travelling on my own was challenging. Once I actually got to England, and home, everything was fine, but wowzer. Carrying my hand luggage, our coats, my laptop and my baby through an airport was quite the adventure.
I'm pleased to say that when I had to drop something, it was the luggage and the coats that copped it, rather than the baby. He walked everywhere but where I wanted him to walk, making me glad we had 50 billion hours to catch our connecting flight.
The 50 billion hours we had on the way back weren't as adventurous. In England, I got a wrist holder thing, kinda like a friendly, child-safe set of handcuffs. Okay, okay, I'll say it: I put my kid on a leash.
Turns out he didn't need it, because right on our gate was a child's play area. Pretty funky thing to have in an airport, actually. Only there was nowhere for the Mummys to sit down. Woe.
We met a two-year-old there that was a whole head shorter than Madness.
Also, whilst in England, not a day went by without the word "Papa" being mentioned at least a dozen times, making me feel horribly, horribly guilty for separating them for the week. Well, not really, but I did feel a bit bad.
Then I ate some Cadbury chocolate and knew the trip had been worth it.
Fun Tip: If you're travelling alone, make sure your carry on luggage is big enough to fit your baby in it. Kinda like Paris Hilton and her silly little accessory she tries to pass off as a dog. Only bigger and more whingey.
Serious Tip: If you're travelling alone, make sure your carry on luggage is big enough to fit your baby in it.
Showing posts with label travelling with baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travelling with baby. Show all posts
April 6, 2008
March 9, 2008
More jet planes!
Madness and I are off to England straight after Easter. Eek, thankfully it's only a one hour flight, but wowzer, I'm not sure I'm ready for flying on my own!
All is well in the land where Madness reigns. The tantrums have started in earnest now and they are thankfully shortlived. They are also thankfully thus far contained to our humble abode, and have not yet occurred in the supermarket or other such public gatherings.
Now that I've said that, though, I think we'll stay in this week!
This age is amazing. I thought when Madness was a newborn that "wow, he does a lot" but looking back, he really just lay about and looked around a lot, soaking it all in. Some days, when it's 3pm and I haven't had time to brush my hair, I miss the old days.
I wouldn't trade this new and exciting time for the world, though. Madness lets out a pleased "hi!" when one of us walks in the room, he says the German word "doch" so clearly that his mouth becomes quite funny-looking, and we have whole conversations now that usually end in me saying "I'm not sure" and Madness shrugging. Of course, I don't understand what he says, generally they go like this:
"Stpuf, dobistu difitu doch"
"Oooh, really?"
"Dobistudidu doch Mama ststst doch Mama"
"Oh, well, hmmm. I'm not sure".
*Madness shrugs and goes about his merry business*
Also, the other day I asked him what his book said. He promptly answered: "Woof woof".
It's the cutest thing, and we do that ALL day. Also, we have started letting him watch some television. Namely, the Wiggles, which are an Australian boy band for pre-schoolers and toddlers. I love them, but we're still strict about how much he watches (really, there's no need for children this age to watch television, I don't think).
He also sings and dances.
And is really stubborn.
And cute.
And likes to cook and clean, so I'm training him well for his future partner.
And my days are grand. I hope yours are, too.
Fun tip: Throw preventative tantrums yourself in the supermarket. Show that little madness monster exactly how embarrassing it is! Scream as loud as you can, and make sure you knock a few things off the shelves when you get to the fun part of throwing yourself on the floor and flailing about.
Serious tip: Read a lot of books with your baby. They can understand words and it will help them more than anything to build up their vocabulary. It's all right if they want to grab the book and turn the pages themselves, you can talk about the pictures without having to actually read the story.
All is well in the land where Madness reigns. The tantrums have started in earnest now and they are thankfully shortlived. They are also thankfully thus far contained to our humble abode, and have not yet occurred in the supermarket or other such public gatherings.
Now that I've said that, though, I think we'll stay in this week!
This age is amazing. I thought when Madness was a newborn that "wow, he does a lot" but looking back, he really just lay about and looked around a lot, soaking it all in. Some days, when it's 3pm and I haven't had time to brush my hair, I miss the old days.
I wouldn't trade this new and exciting time for the world, though. Madness lets out a pleased "hi!" when one of us walks in the room, he says the German word "doch" so clearly that his mouth becomes quite funny-looking, and we have whole conversations now that usually end in me saying "I'm not sure" and Madness shrugging. Of course, I don't understand what he says, generally they go like this:
"Stpuf, dobistu difitu doch"
"Oooh, really?"
"Dobistudidu doch Mama ststst doch Mama"
"Oh, well, hmmm. I'm not sure".
*Madness shrugs and goes about his merry business*
Also, the other day I asked him what his book said. He promptly answered: "Woof woof".
It's the cutest thing, and we do that ALL day. Also, we have started letting him watch some television. Namely, the Wiggles, which are an Australian boy band for pre-schoolers and toddlers. I love them, but we're still strict about how much he watches (really, there's no need for children this age to watch television, I don't think).
He also sings and dances.
And is really stubborn.
And cute.
And likes to cook and clean, so I'm training him well for his future partner.
And my days are grand. I hope yours are, too.
Fun tip: Throw preventative tantrums yourself in the supermarket. Show that little madness monster exactly how embarrassing it is! Scream as loud as you can, and make sure you knock a few things off the shelves when you get to the fun part of throwing yourself on the floor and flailing about.
Serious tip: Read a lot of books with your baby. They can understand words and it will help them more than anything to build up their vocabulary. It's all right if they want to grab the book and turn the pages themselves, you can talk about the pictures without having to actually read the story.
January 26, 2008
I'm leeeeaving on a jet plane...
So, I am officially a world-travelled Mum. Madness did well on the way to Australia, and from driveway to driveway it was a whopping 38 hours. Wow, go little boy. We had a 7-hour layover in Seoul, and ended up napping in some chairs.
I did learn some things. If you’re going on a long trip, say longer than two hours, take enough to eat and drink, but also order baby food on your flight. Depending on what they give you (Madness got some jarred fruit and yoghurt, and sometimes cold pureed green beans… ew), you can stow some of it away for snack times.
TAKE LOTS OF TOYS. (This isn't a header for the next section, it's just really important).
This will increase your handluggage amount. It will probably mean sacrificing the final Harry Potter book you were going to read on the plane. However, once you’re there and your baby will start to get bored, you will not care that you had to unpack and scatter Fisher Price Little People all over airport security, while running for your flight because you know you should be boarding first, and they’ve already started calling people.
If you feel comfortable enough with it, let people touch and play with your baby. We flew Korean Air (which apart from mashed cold green beans is highly recommended) and they loved, loved, loved Madness. Of course, his nature helped – he didn’t cry once – but the attendants would come and visit and play, meaning we could shut our eyes for 10 minutes or so before they had to go again.
By the end of the flight, he was in the kitchen, messing with their cupboards.
Once we landed in Australia, things went a little awry. We had a morning landing, so we had to make Madness stay up in the middle of the night, his time. He had no problem falling asleep at the end of the day, but he did wake up at 5:30am for the first week, which ended up being a real downer on our holiday. Cause man, we were tired.
Having my family take the load off was brilliant, too. My in-laws, thank goodness, are wonderful people, but it’s completely different with your own family, your own flesh and blood, that lets you relax more around your family in terms of your child.
It was a marvellous holiday.
In less travel wary news, madness sprouted six – that’s right, six! – molars while we were away. Four are through so far and I am not looking forward to the other two. Also, I bought him a pair of shoes yesterday. Sniff My baby boy is all growing up.
Which also means he’s started to Know What He Wants and How To Get It. I’m sorry, sweety, but yelling at me is going to get you precisely nowhere. Luckily, for all the whingey cries etc, Madness is still a very sweet-natured person. It just makes everything that much easier.
I do cuddle him when I don’t let him touch the oven and stove dials, though. Poor thing doesn’t understand that burns are bad!
It’s good to be blogging again. I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and that 2008 is healthy and fun.
Fun tip: The ear plugs you bought for your in-laws late last year? Keep them for when your child starts Knowing What They Want. And you have to tell them 'no'
Serious tip: Stay as relaxed as you can when travelling. Do breathing exercises if you have to. If you stay relaxed, chances are your baby will, too.
I did learn some things. If you’re going on a long trip, say longer than two hours, take enough to eat and drink, but also order baby food on your flight. Depending on what they give you (Madness got some jarred fruit and yoghurt, and sometimes cold pureed green beans… ew), you can stow some of it away for snack times.
TAKE LOTS OF TOYS. (This isn't a header for the next section, it's just really important).
This will increase your handluggage amount. It will probably mean sacrificing the final Harry Potter book you were going to read on the plane. However, once you’re there and your baby will start to get bored, you will not care that you had to unpack and scatter Fisher Price Little People all over airport security, while running for your flight because you know you should be boarding first, and they’ve already started calling people.
If you feel comfortable enough with it, let people touch and play with your baby. We flew Korean Air (which apart from mashed cold green beans is highly recommended) and they loved, loved, loved Madness. Of course, his nature helped – he didn’t cry once – but the attendants would come and visit and play, meaning we could shut our eyes for 10 minutes or so before they had to go again.
By the end of the flight, he was in the kitchen, messing with their cupboards.
Once we landed in Australia, things went a little awry. We had a morning landing, so we had to make Madness stay up in the middle of the night, his time. He had no problem falling asleep at the end of the day, but he did wake up at 5:30am for the first week, which ended up being a real downer on our holiday. Cause man, we were tired.
Having my family take the load off was brilliant, too. My in-laws, thank goodness, are wonderful people, but it’s completely different with your own family, your own flesh and blood, that lets you relax more around your family in terms of your child.
It was a marvellous holiday.
In less travel wary news, madness sprouted six – that’s right, six! – molars while we were away. Four are through so far and I am not looking forward to the other two. Also, I bought him a pair of shoes yesterday. Sniff My baby boy is all growing up.
Which also means he’s started to Know What He Wants and How To Get It. I’m sorry, sweety, but yelling at me is going to get you precisely nowhere. Luckily, for all the whingey cries etc, Madness is still a very sweet-natured person. It just makes everything that much easier.
I do cuddle him when I don’t let him touch the oven and stove dials, though. Poor thing doesn’t understand that burns are bad!
It’s good to be blogging again. I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and New Year, and that 2008 is healthy and fun.
Fun tip: The ear plugs you bought for your in-laws late last year? Keep them for when your child starts Knowing What They Want. And you have to tell them 'no'
Serious tip: Stay as relaxed as you can when travelling. Do breathing exercises if you have to. If you stay relaxed, chances are your baby will, too.
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