Yesterday at 4pm Cate was feral and I was flat out of ideas to keep her entertained for the hour before dinner time. So I improvised...and busted out one of her Christmas presents just that little bit early. That's right, yesterday Cate received her brand spanking new paddling clam-shaped pool.
Do I care that it made an early appearance? Nope. Cate was happily entertained climbing in and out of her clam pool for nearly an hour (then she threw a chunk of dirt from a nearby pot plant into the water and that signaled the end of pool time).
So when I spoke on the phone to one of the mummy friends from Mothers' group last night, I told her how great it had worked as a distraction and, considering it was set to be 31 degrees here today, I invited Kelly and her bubba Hayley over for a paddle this afternoon.
Paddling pool set up with both sides full of water: check.
Water warmed slightly as it was hardly 31 degrees as promised: check.
Two little girls in swimming nappies and togs: check
Deck chairs set up next to pool for mummies to recline upon: check
A plethora of brightly coloured plastic bath toys on hand for entertainment: check.
Sounds great right?
Well, what actually eventuated was that the moment Cate hit the water, she started drinking it like she had been trapped in a desert for a month. First she starts tipping buckets of water into her mouth, then she chucks the bucket to one side and just plants her whole face in the water, still guzzling. Oooooooo - kay. Weird behaviour from my kid, but we moved past that and started enjoying paddling time...
...until five minutes later when Cate vomited up all of said water, plus half of her afternoon nap bottle.
Great. Just freaking great.
So, from this point on, Hayley was designated non-spewy side of the clam and Cate just had to paddle in her vomity water. Yummy. Except Cate and Hayley both had different ideas - Hayley was over the whole idea of the paddling pool and Cate wanted out of her vommy side and into the clean side thank you very much. All good, except that once Cate had happily repositioned herself, you guessed it, she started drinking the water like a thirsty mad woman AND, five minutes later, vommy number two. In the previously clean side of the clam pool.
At this point, although Cate was quite content splashing around in her own vomit, Kelly and I decided it was time to pull the plug. I don't think paddling pool etiqette allows the continuation of paddling after the water has been well and truly contaminated with toddler vom.
So, note to self: do not allow frantic drinking of paddling pool water by darling daughter...especially when sharing her toddler pool with others!!! Thank God both Kelly and Hayley have thick skins!
PS No piccies. The whole vommy in the pool thing happened far too quickly to allow for photo taking opportunities!
Ewww!
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