Signing for babies?

Jackson signing "CAT"

Jackson and I have been going to baby Singing classes now for some time and I must admit, I was a bit sceptical in the beginning....

I mean seriously, why and what's the point right?

Well, I have been pleasantly surprised and I now swear by it!

Jackson signs all day long - he absolutely loves it! He signs when he's tired, hungry, thirsty, needs a nappy change and he signs things like airplane, cat (his favourite - at the moment all animals are cats... Must work on that one!), car and biscuit.

I was a bit surprised when he started using the signs at home.. I guess I wasn't sure that he knew what he was doing, if he was just using random gestures - but I can tell know that this is his way of communicating his needs to me.
It's truly amazing and as he's so good at it, I feel encouraged to do it more too.

This particular signing class is based on Makaton and BSL and so it's easy and straightforward. Sadly, I won't be able to use it for Swedish as it's designed for the British language (although some signs are based on ASL!).
I'm really keen to get something similar started in Sweden actually... Does anyone know if there are classes??

Anyway, I've been reading lots of articles on the subject and here are some interesting factors:

1. Signing with you baby does not mean that your child won't learn how to speak or slower. On the contrary - it has proven to improve language and comprehension skills.
2. Researchers found that eight-year-olds who had learned a simple form of baby sign language using invented signs did better on IQ tests than comparable children who had not learned baby sign language.

I get very excited and passionate about something when I can see that it works so I can't stress this enough - try it! It really does work!

One thing to keep in mind though:

1. BE CONSISTENT.

It'll only work if you keep doing it, again and again and again...


A little bit more info if you are interested:


http://www.singandsign.co.uk/index.php
http://www.makaton.org/about/about.htm

Busy be me

Wowser! It's been a busy few weeks!

For my birthday my friends and I went to the All Star Lanes in Holborn which was fantastic!! I love the American fifties feel to the place and the food and drinks were great. My team won the bowling challenge which was a bonus too. I didn't manage a strike but a few spares so all good there!
(Also - as it was my birthday I got a free drink and a birthday card from All star - nice touch!)

I spent my actual birthday in a lovely Spa Hotel with B and the wee man - AMAZING!! We had room service, went swimming in teh pool and went shopping in St Albans. My boyfriend is the best!

Maria and Marlene were over from Sweden and we had a great weekened! It was so much fun - we went to Camden Town for some shopping and people watching. Always a great day out!

My newphew Alex and Josefin have been visiting too. We had a great time - they were super helpfull and very generous so we were all sad to see them too. (Especially the wee man who clearly has a soft spot for Josefin - it must be all teh hugs and cuddles she gives him!!)
It was a fun filled week and although Jackson was recovering from his op - he managed very well.
I went with them to London Bridge and teh London Dungeons. I've been many times and i still LOVE IT!

Jackson had his operation and although it was the most stressful, weirdest and emotional so far (bar giving birth!!)- it all went well. I'm so, so proud of my little boy. So brave! I'm so blessed to have him.

Back to "normal" now (whatever that may be!) and at the moment we're plugging the Summer school... Fingers super crossed!!

Also - job interview tomorrow so think happy thoughts for me!

I was trying to find some artistic inspiration last night but somehow the TV kept pulling me away. I need to try and be more resilient, I have to get this done and I keep putting it off! Argh! It's as if I need and want stress in my life to function.
Mind you, working under a deadline does make me feel like it's a "proper job" rather than just writing as a hobby.

B had a stand up gig in town so he came home late which should have given me tons of time to finish the piece. I must put away some time today and whizz through it.

Glee was very good though - not only beacuse I love Idina Menzel so much but I do have a soft spot for Lady GaGa.

I have been thinking of other endeavours to embark upon aswell... I went to a car boot sale this weekend and it made me think that I could make stuff and sell it. But what? And it must be said that I have zero patience so it needs to be something quick and easy... Hard nut that one...

Any suggestions?

Carboot sale Bargain!

Someone wise said once that Life is like a rollercoaster.

Well... Actually I think it was Ronan from Westlife, but I do think it sort of hits home all the same.

B, Jackson and I went to a Carboot sale this morning - finally! I have been wanting to go forever and so this morning we went. It didn't disappoint - there were tons of people everywhere selling anything from prams and strollers to furniture. We did bag some bargains but most importantly it made me think of things I coudl make and sell myself. I have a few ideas, so will have to try and focus them a bit more...

We went for a lovely pub lunch and then B had to leave for rehearsals.

Jackson and I decided to go for a walk around the park. It was absolutely rammed with people - as is expected from a Bank Holiday - and so we sat down to have a bottle. (Jackson that is - not me!).
I suddenly felt really sad, sitting there on my own with my baby. I miss my family and friends in Sweden terribly, but more so on these days when I'm on my own.
We went on the swings and slides and there was a very enthusiastic Dad there playing with his daughter. It was so lovely to see and sadly isn't something you see much of in England.

Righto - now I must get back to my play writing - I have a deadline!

I thought I would take this rare oppertunity and discuss something a bit "taboo" - namely parent rivalry.

If you're not yet a parent, then don't stop reading though, as some of this might apply to you, particurarly if you have pets or partners. (And to be fair - you might soon see it for real too!).

It's a strange thing, the parent competing, beacuse it's like we suddenly behave like our children, in truth mostly worse, and the funny thing is: we keep reprimanding our chilren for this behaviour although we do it ourselves! We are such hipocrites!
No wonder our chilren don't listen. They must be thinking:

"Well, mummy if you are going to do that - why can't I??!

And don't think for a second that this sort of childish behaviour is only contained to the innocence of the "stranger mum playground" scenario. Oh no, more commonly these ridiculous battles are fought on homeground.

So what's the point then you may ask?

I have no idea to tell you the truth. But I suppose it's beacuse your offspring is (in your eyes) an extension of you. All your desires, wants, dreams and wishes all whisked beautifully togther like a nice sponge cake into one. It's someone, something precious which can't be touched/changed/challenged.

As we feel so strongly for these creatures our emotions highten and our rational and normal mind caves in. We start to believe that our chilren truly are:
The most beautiful, The smartest, The most important.

And guess what - it should be like that. They are all of these things.

The difference is that we only think that of our own. Like Michael Mcintyre said once:

"I only have love for this child."

Operation: Cancelled

After getting geared up both mentally and physically - loading up bags with clothes, dummies, bottles and comforters and stressing like a Madhatter to the hospital, it turns out the operation has to be postponed. To be continued...

Jesus. So not only do we have to go through the whole process again, but Jackson's cough has now proven to be "serious" meaning that I am not just a over-sensitive, paranoid hen mum.

As the hospital nurse was going through the procedure with us, giving Jackson the magic cream (to nub pain from the needle - OUCH!), handing him his hospital gown and whatnots we mentioned his cough and she looked "concerened".
It's the look that all parents fear the most. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest and I had the sudden urge to throttle her, in lack of other things to do. She nodded slowly, listened to his chest and tilted her head.

"He sounds chesty." She said slowly.

Oh yeah? Hadn't noticed, well done Nurse Sherlock!

She said that the anesthetist would have to call the situation and when the very chirpy man appeared he deemed the cough to be too serious to ignore. (Who in Gods name is chirpy - at work - at seven in the morning?! Dodgy I reckon.)

You know, it was weird. In a way I'm glad that they cancelled the operation as it would be unsafe, but on the other hand it means we will have to wait again so I'm feeling kind of torn and confused.
I have spent most of yesterday and today taking my aggressions out on Brooks instead, something which I'm sure he appreciates.

So, to summerize: Jackson and I will have to re-energize, penicillin him up, and we're now looking forward to not sleeping the week of the 25th June.

Photos and fatness

I mean seriously - how depressing is Facebook sometimes? Or more to the point - the five million photos of you on Facebook. I was looking through some of my old photos, as I was trying to find a good "party themed" one and boy did I have to look faaaaaaaaaaaaaar back...

I'm talking years. Goddamn, I am a bit rusty on the good old party front.

Not only that, but I looked so much better back then. Jesus, having a baby really do pile them on. Yes, yes, we all know that and it's only "Babyweight", you'll be back into shape soon... Bla, bla, bla.. But hang on... Erm... Something's wrong here. Oh yeah - I had Jackson over a year ago. The ugly reality is that: I CANNOT BLAME THE BABY WEIGHT ANYMORE. Jackson is technically a TODDLER. Bugger-ee-do.

Depressing.

(Not the having Jackson - part, the fact that I look like a whale - part).

Speaking of parties though - I went to my friend James' birthday party BBQ this weekend and Mummy got wasted!
But it was a rubbish drunk, you know the kind that hits you when you leave so I spent the whole journey home plastered and talking bollocks to B and then was sick twice when I got home.

Rock n' Roll.

Not only that - but baby J didn't care that mummy had one (or five) too many glasses of vino blanco, he was up at 7.30 as usual demanding absolute surrender to his every whim and needs.

Mum's here at the moment and as usual it is BLISS. She's sorting out our garden, thank God, as my fingers are most definitely not green. They are a healthy pink shade, (as is normal), but anything green, small-ish and living that my hands touch die... I just can't keep flowers or plants alive, they all finally crumble and die. (Part from the few cactus I have - sturdy buggers).

Mum babysat last night as Brooks and I went to see Flight of the Concords at Wembley. They were friggin AWESOME!!! I had such a nice time, thank you Carrie for sorting out the tickets!

B's having his leaving do tonight. It's weird to think that he'll be off work at the same time as me! (WHich reminds me that I need to find a job pronto!)

I'm just praying that someone will read my shorst and go: "Hey, she's good! We'll pay her a million pounds in royalties!"

A girl can dream right?