Harry is slowly beginning to speak more & more. He's definitely behind where his brother was at at this stage (just post 2 yrs old) but he's getting there. I've heard that 2nd children do tend to be a bit slower on the uptake of some of the developmental milestones and quicker at others. What I've noticed with him is that he's often saying things and you don't realise that he is doing so. His pronounciation isn't the best and he often half says a word...... when you clock that he's actually saying something in this way you realise that he's communicating far more than you first thought. For example: Tuck!! means Stuck.... and Guk!! means Truck.... Big Guk !!! (obvious), 'HELL!!" (help) and Wa Dat Mummy? .... the usual toddler speak that you expect, really, I suppose... it's just that Dylan was aways so clear and precise! He has a number of animals instantly recognisable but for some reason Dog must be pronounced as 'Ga Ga'. He also tries to string words together that he just can't do yet which can make it seem like he's saying rubbish but infact is saying a bunch of half words...... just now he ran up to me with a book with a picture of a man doing something and said 'wassat..samanmummy!'
Dylan is settled back into school.... he's getting homework already & seems to be enjoying it. With soccer 3 times per week, cubs weekly, science classes about to start and full time school he's also a right grumpy little bugger who is clearly not getting enough sleep but refuses to do so before 9pm every night regardless. In the mornings he is like a bear with a sore head...... a sign of teenage years to come, sigh!
The kitchen is slowly taking place. We now have a gas hob which looks great but can't really be used properly because there's a gas leak somewhere that G installed it and he needs to look at it again. We still don't have a sink. We have started a new trend in Cardboard Countertops....... covering the wood which is not ready to be used yet. I was pleased to have the ability to use the counters to store things but soon realised that Cardboard = Not Ideal. It soaks up water and other liquids and if you put food on it you have to replace it immediately. Roll on the weekend where we can hopefully get the rest of it into place, then we'll be left with some finishing touches + buying a couple of appliances...... but at least I will be able to put stuff away out of the dining room and maybe clear up some of the bloody mess that is here as a result.
I am back at the gym regularly after the summer ... feeling fit but not losing weight as I'm obviously still eating for England. The bad diet (compounded by take-out-aplenty) is not only putting me in danger of getting Scurvy but also meaning my appalling headaches are plentiful. I found a new supplement that is supposed to help headaches.... called Migrelief. It is a combination of Magnesium, Riboflavin & Feverfew..... and you are supposed to take it twice daily, seeing results in up to 4-6 weeks. So, I started taking it and after 3 weeks of bright yellow wee I realised the headaches had significantly dropped.... hurrah! I was so pleased and saw a light at the end of the tunnel of these awful awful headaches... then (belatedly) doing a bit of research discovered that these might not be advisable for people with blood clotting disorders. Sigh. So I stopped, and have had a headache ever since :(
On the social front things are back to being manic and busy and good. I forget why I felt down when I got back now, really....... I have some good friends here! One of them is still a bit out of it after having premature twin girls recently, and I hope she will be around more soon as I miss her. G and I have also been going out at the weekends, last w/e with friends to dinner and a movie and this w/e we're going to someones birthday dinner... which should be a laugh.
Better go - Harry is banging the TV and shouting DORA! DORA! He doesn't like to be told NO, a concept I'm introducing as he becomes more uncontrollably wilful!