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So Pink hates the potty. She has perfect control – we don’t have accidents, not at all.
But.
Try and get her to actually wee on the potty or toilet?
Not a hope. She hasn’t had a nappy on since she got up this morning. She has drunk two full beakers of pure orange juice (necessary for the constipation which is a story for another post). And still she hops from foot to foot, clutches herself, squeaks for a nappy – but magically the wee is ‘all gone’ as soon as she is forced/bribed/tricked into sitting on the potty. We’ve been on potty watch, playing this merry little potty-on-potty-off dance for the last two hours. I have two Waybuloo stickers of my own for successful wee trips to the toilet. Big brother has read countless stories whilst she sits on the potty. We have watched unending back-to-back Spongebob and Waybuloo.

Sit she’ll unwillingly do. But she point-blank refuses to go.

How long can she possibly last? Am I damaging her forever by not giving in? Will I damage her forever if I do? Will I ever get anything else achieved today?

Sigh.

Can I swap her for a blue one please? They were far easier to train…

Have been busy, and forgot all about this lovely little blog. But instead of feeling the pressure and guilt of all the catchups, I’ll do them as and when necessary, importing from other places – and just keep right on posting, jumping right in from where we’re at.

So. Where are we?
Me – 35. married since I was *just* 18 to the same man. Four children. Love to read, love to write, love to walk and talk and laugh. Love Life.

C – photographer, friend and comedian. Love him.

No.1 – 10 year old son, diagnosed with ME (or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome this year). Amazing, bright boy (no, really, officially Gifted and Talented, they tell me), unbelievably clever at lego modelling and creating stop motions – and equally unbelievable talent at talking non-stop for very long periods of time on Very Dull things.

Boy – middle son, aged 8, stringbean with tin ribs, never stops moving, loves to run, dance, sing, jump and be happy. Clown of the family, utterly passionate in all he does, wears his heart on his sleeve, life is lived at headlong pace, moral compass is physically attached to Magnetic North, our own Enid Blyton 1940′s boy. Just makes the world a better place.

Jolly – youngest son, 6 – soft, sensitive, loud, liquid giggle, likes nothing more than cars, soldiers, playmobile knights and his family. Lives in a cloud; inside the daydreams is a very sharp brain, we are told. But difficult to know for sure through the fluffiness. Contented like a cat whenever he is held, but one of life’s worriers.

Pink. The Girl, 2 – and headstrong, wilful, opinionated and the princess of the family. Charms all who meet her, very very bright, sparky, meltingly beautiful when she smiles… and totally adored.

There. Enough for today – Tea and sunshine needed.

My man did bring me a bar of the new Cadburys Cranberry & Granola. Anyone else in love yet?
yumyumyumyumyum…
And no. You can’t. Go buy your own. It’s all mine mine mine.

What would your instant reaction be if I said we were considering getting a rottweiler puppy? And in addition to that question, do you/have you owned a dog?

First off, don’t misunderstood me, we’re in no way novice dog owners thinking a rottie would be ‘way cool’ for a pet. We have looked at many many breeds of dogs (did you know the most common dogbite injury in the UK is caused by a labrador?), and we just keep coming back to the rottweiler.
We have waited for two years since Holly died, considering when/if/how would be a good time for a new dog. We both adore rottweilers, and actually contrary to popular perception, they are one of the best family pets you can have. IF you’re prepared to cope with the size and demands of a giant, sensitive and highly intelligent breed of course. As for having the time – thats half the point. To MAKE us take time away form the puter, to get us outside and walking. Taint no way you can ignore a rottie in need of some attention!

I think people fall into three camps – we have yet to speak to someone who has owned a rott themselves who doesn’t say ‘best dog we have EVER had’. Those who know ‘of’ a rott tend to cautiously say ‘they’re okay, but…’. And those who have no personal experience of them tend to suck their teeth in horror and try to persuade us that a lab would be far more suitable!

We’re not idiots, and not rushing into anything. Our reasons are many and varied, and as long as we know we’re going into dog-ownership (breed is irrelevant for the main decision) responsibly, the choice of breed is down to our own desires, really. However, having already had two friends pretty much say that if we get one, they won’t bring their children to come and stay, we did wonder if that would be a common reaction.

We’re also not stupid enough to buy one cheap from some random stranger on epupz, nor to get a rescue ’2nd-hand’ dog the way we always have before. We’ve already discounted quite a few simply because they’re already 14-16 weeks, and we want one as young as possible straight from its Mum. We’re in no rush, like i say it was just interesting to see what reactions people had! Me I can’t think of anything more wonderful – but I can see who the sheer size can put many people off, let alone the sad and scary crap press created by stupid ignorant owners.
Have had such mixed reactions, am curious to see what the split is!

10 o clock. All children sleeping peacefully, night is warm and still.
So.. We woke them all up
Hauled them out of bed (Cam confused but willing, Joe decidedly unwilling, Toby just baffled, Ella unruffled and rather pleased), plopped them into jeans and t-shirts and bunged them in the car. Took them on an exciting night time drive, all the windows down, seeing what we could see (lotsa moths, one fox, two mice, one hedgehog, and most exciting of all a beautiful pair of barn owls, one of which ghosted along beside us, swooping in and out of the headlights just in front of the car till it was joined by its mate and they finally veered away for some uninterrupted hunting). Made it to Win Green (large hill top, open chalk downland with 360 degree view) after about half an hour, and we all tumbled out – absolutely STUNNING night. Millions of stars, light enough to see each other, not a breath of wind. And off we went – hunting glow worms. :D
Just a special night it was. we spent an hour up there, counted 15 glow worms – which was a little disappointing for C and I, its been truly spectacular in the past but we have never done it with the children and we’re a bit late in the season, so they were thrilled. Joe lost his croc, Toby stood in horse poo, Ella was enthralled at escaping into the darkness (the starlight was strong enough to see her by so we didn’t need to hang on to her), and everyone got to hold a glow worm.
Truly magic it was.
We got home just after midnight, and are all alittle jaded today – but it was SO worth it, am glad we acted on our impulse and just took them.