I'm sure it's called the "Terrible Twos"

I'm sure I've heard it called the "terrible twos" so why when Boddler B is just 13 months old am I finding myself having to deal with monumental tantrums of Nikki Grahame proportions? (yes I do mean the ex-Big Brother contestant and yes I am aware I need my references bringing up to date)

I wouldn't be too phased if the strops where for a reason that, well, required a bit of an attitude but when it happens because I've taken a spoon off her or taken too long to button up her pyjamas I can almost pull my own hair out. I can see the tantrum approaching like a tornado, first the bottom lip begins to quiver, the hands come up to the head and then the loud ear-piercing scream is sounded once this initial bit has happened it can evolve into anything from just a lot of shouting and crying to a full on roll around the floor, foot stamping, attempting to hit me (but nearly always missing...) and basically throwing herself into any object that may be in her way. To be honest I sometimes watch these displays of bratish behaviour and think she should be on stage as she clearly has an aptitude for the dramatic arts, other times I sit and think is it just me that has a child like this? I am at a bit of loss of how to deal with these moments to though, she is too young for the naughty step or to listen to reasoning but I feel like I shouldn't really just ignore her either maybe I'll write to Jo Frost and ask her to pop round with her Supernanny skills one afternoon.

I think I should be able to sue someone for trade descriptions or something for calling it the "terrible two's" because I wasn't prepared for it this early or maybe once she hits two she will become worse and this is nothing! If this is the case I'm going to seriously consider finding a boarding nursery for Boddler B next year...

The next one...

When is the best time to have baby number two? Now that I’ve survived my first year as a mum without too much scarring I’ve been thinking about the “next one” and when would I want it to arrive?

I don’t think I could cope emotionally or financially with another one just yet but then again I don’t want Boddler B to be heading off to university when I decide it’s time for a new addition either. I have friends who have a variety of age gaps in-between their precious bundles varying from 1 year to 7 years and all of them have good and bad things to say about their gaps so what is best? I think I would prefer to have 3-4 years between Boddler B and any new baby, this way I can train her to fetch and carry anything I need and surely by 4 she will be fully capable of babysitting…. However since I was very lucky to fall pregnant in the first instance maybe I shouldn’t even think about another baby and just let fate take its course as it did first time round. If I was to have another baby next year would I really want double the amount of nappies to change and not to mention buy and in the same breath I think if I waited another 3 or 4 years would I want to start all over again with night feeding, colic and ice cube trays?

In my mind I have always thought I wanted two children and I think this is still true, maybe just maybe if I win the lottery I would possibly want a third, but otherwise two is the ideal number for me. The gender of the children has never really been a issue so if I had another girl I wouldn’t ‘try again’ to get a boy I would just celebrate having very pink palace.

I’m sure some university of whatsnots of come up with a wonderful scientific theory on the ‘perfect gap’ but I’m not even gracing their nonsensical studies with a Google search, whenever I have the pleasure of having that next wonderful little person I’m sure I will think it’s the perfect time.