August 29th 2011

Well...hello reality, I have not missed you. 


I have however had a rather fantastic week in the sun with my boys [& various other people - but they're the most important!]. We're just back from a week of sun, sea, strops [cos no week would be complete without one or two], sandcastles and sailing. It has been glorious. 


Before we left I was so worried about taking Chops on a boat, as one false move would've left him alone in a great big sea. Thankfully, the only thing that went overboard was oooh...every thing I asked him not to throw overboard except for himself, it started with a football, followed by a couple of toy cars, a book, a dummy and a cup. No doubt lots of other stuff too that he threw when I was looking the other way!!

 Checking out the waves - no chance he was going in though!

Home for the week!

Our little boy has come on leaps & bounds this week - he's gone from being totally afraid of being in water to loving it and happily jumping into the pool & sea [though to be fair, the kid was weighed down under the enormous amount of flotation devices I got for him, so he was very safe], he's got a few new words [ball, nana & my favourite...MAMA!] and he's coming out of his shell. He has had his first crush on an older girl, I'd estimate around 10x his age, but a boy can dream!!

Reality has hit me with a great big slap though, ironing to be done, shopping to be purchased, dinners to be made. Best get busy thinking up a money making plan...!

August 20th 2011

Dear Diary,


Please could you free up some space between work and bedtime for some fun?


Or some space between Friday and Sunday for some husband & wife one on one action [get your mind out of the gutter, I was thinking dinner and the cinema maybe...nothing more!]?


Maybe a small gap on a Friday night for a girly night out, or even in, I wouldn't complain either way.


Oh heck, I'd even take an afternoon shopping sans pushchair, please?


Thanks ever so much, xx


p.s. anyone got any tips on hitting a decent work life balance? Other than jacking in work, cos sadly I need the pennies.

August 16th 2011

We've hit the terrible twos 8 months early.

Yesterday morning started all sunshine and roses, lovely kisses and cuddles for mummy and daddy. Then we dared get out of bed and the troubles began.

Tooth brushing resulted in a paddy because I wouldn't let him eat the toothpaste straight from the tube.

Getting dressed? No chance, he's a fan of the birthday suit look.

Eating breakfast? Apparently the cats are more in need of food than he is, incidentally, they are both quite partial to Weetabix and scrambled eggs.

Leaving the house resulted in a head banging strop, made all the more awkward on account of his nudity.

I could have screamed, but instead I laughed and reminded myself that this too shall pass, like every other phase we've hit. 

Today I have a day off [hurrah!] so decided to halt the tantrumming train by spending the day exactly as he wants. We go up at 7.45, but stayed in bed til about 8.30 watching CBeebies, had a bath together, got dressed in his choice of clothes [star print tracksuit bottoms & a stripy tee - he's all about clashing, clearly], had raisins and dry cereal for breakfast, spent a couple of hours getting covered in wet sand at playgroup then had more raisins on the walk home. Once we got in he happily stripped off and got into bed for a nap, albeit wearing only a nappy and t-shirt. So as I type, I'm drinking a cuppa and enjoying the peace. He's happily snuggling Colonel Cat & snoozing.

I've been told on more than one occasion that I'm spoiling my boy, but if you can't spoil your baby, who can you spoil? He's stirring, so I'm off to let him choose his lunch and then spend the afternoon playing cars - and I'm going to enjoy every second of it.

August 14th 2011

Sunday Slacks

I love fashion & fashion blogging, and used to love dressing myself, however these days I love to dress my little fella.

Before he was born I spent forever and a day picking out babygros and outfits for him, ones like daddy, others like grandpa and some cutesy baby numbers too of course. At the moment I only really dress him at the weekend as he's usually bundled off on work days still in PJs [bad mama alert! we enjoy spending the little morning time we have playing cars - way more fun than getting dressed] and I reckon I've not got much longer til he prefers Chuggington & Thomas the Tank to Paul Frank, so for now I will enjoy it :)

So today he woke up in classic checked Gap PJs - my absolute favourite, they are so cute on.

Then after a very lazy breakfast and a couple of hours of playing cars and catch, he changed into Zara trousers, a Paul Frank 'Einstein' T & a knitted Gap cardigan with his Converse hi-tops. Gorgeous!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend & the Sunday blues haven't hit yet - we're dragging the weekend out with a pizza & DVD night. Bliss.

x

August 11th 2011

Today has been a mega miserable weather day, which lead to a first foray into puddle jumping. We've tried before what with us having had such a lovely summer [ha! typical Brit bemoaning the weather] but he just couldn't get the hang of a/ keeping his wellies on, b/ jumping [squatting was just the same in his mind!!] and finally c/ keeping his hood on to keep him safe from driving rain.


Today he was fantastic though. I collected him from work and took him to the local park - letting him walk rather than taking the pram, as I hate getting it muddy then having to bring it back into the house! He walked pretty well most of the way, the wellies came off once or twice and he knelt down to touch whatever caught his eye countless times, oh and he rejoiced when a wet dog rubbed itself all over him and licked his face. Once we got to the park and puddles were in sight, he shrieked and ran and started jumping, proper full on grown up jumping, then squealing with pure joy. Adorable.


Days like today I feel like I could just eat him, in a non cannibalistic way obvs :)


Oh & we had a breakthrough last night, just adding to my happiness...our little man slept through, all night, in HIS OWN bed! More on that soon, but believe me...it's nothing short of a miracle!

August 8th 2011

Sadly we're still battling through teething today - only adds to the Monday blues when the day starts at 4.45am! 

On a cheery note, we picked up a bargain of a toy yesterday which has had me thinking all day, are the classics the best?

As we were up and about early, we went to the car boot yesterday morning. I told myself that I wasn't going to look twice at any toy, as our house looks like an explosion in Toys R Us, however for the princely sum of £3, I took home a 'vintage' Fisher Price Ferrari garage. And believe me, it's a whole lotta toy for 300 pennies.

It is literally enormous, Chops is only about 2 inches taller than it, and it's got lots of fun little features, like a lift, petrol pump, ramps and flippy bits to hold the cars in.

My lovely other half moaned as soon as he set eyes on it, calling it a monstrosity at best. The proof is in the pudding though, Chops LOVES it. 

He doesn't however love the talking Lau Lau he had for Christmas, or the magnetic Brio blocks, not even his toy keyboard. I must've spent hundreds of pounds on brand new, shiny branded toys for Chops since he arrived, and this really made me think - he doesn't need it, my bank balance doesn't need it, and the big money brands are probably just fine without my cash too. This 10 year old toy is just perfect for us.

So my tip of the day, get yourself to the car boot!

August 4th 2011

Today we've been battling teething, in a way I've not yet
experienced.

We're awaiting the breaking of tooth ten, after the 
other nine came through without a hint of warning
or a sniff of trouble. Tooth ten is making up for all 
nine, with two days on the trot [excuse the pun] of 
4.45am wakings with some seriously well used 
nappies. My poor boy has cried pretty consistently 
since the weekend and nothing I do seems to be fixing it.

So far we've tried Calpol, teething toothpaste, teething
powders and the newest addition, Bickiepegs.

If Chops could put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard - 
it is 2011 after all, I reckon he'd pen something like this:

Dear Mr Bickiepeg,

Your 'teething biscuit' idea is rubbish, mostly because they're neither 
useful as a biscuit cos they taste of nothing nor as a teething aid 
because said tastelessness means I won't put it in my mouth. Please 
invent something better, ideally something that does not resemble 
a dog biscuit.

The baby on the box is a total mis-sell too, seriously I do not look 
that happy right now.

Proof is in the pudding, looks like a cross between a dog biscuit 

and a retro whistle lolly.

Thanks kindly,

A teething troubled Chops.

So, the little squid is safely tucked up in bed for the 
night now, for how long I don't know. We managed a few 
smiles before bedtime while reading

You're Not So Scary Sid  Chops fave book - always raises 
a cheeky smile & I'd wholly recommend it. Any tips for teething toddlers?!x