Going, going, gone.....

You can follow my new wordpress blog over here:

http://thenthebabycarriage.wordpress.com/

I've still a few bits and bobs to sort out, but I think it's the way forward for me :) 

Outlaws

Steve's family came up for the weekend. 

We had a lovely Friday, Steve was at work, and his younger brother was left with him to do some inputting (he's fundraising for a trip to Malawi and we're paying him some money for work he does for Steve), so Steve's parents came to our house to see Joel. 

After a cup of tea (well, tea for me, and herbal stuff for them!!) we walked to town to show Joel the Christmas lights.  He liked them a lot and pointed, and cooed.

As it was quiet by 5pm, we let him out of the buggy and he ran around the town centre, and looked at the giant tree and the nativity set.  We're telling him all about baby Jesus this year, and the Christmas story which is lovely.  We have a lovely Usbourne book with touchy feely bits that he's liking :)

We then took him to our favourite Indian restaurant, and we had poppadoms to start, with mango chutney, which he liked.  Then he had some rice with passanda sauce and a bit of naan bread for his main.  He liked sitting on a chair on his own (albeit a bit low!) although we could tell when he was getting a bit tired.

On the Saturday we took him to the sensory room within our library and did a bit of shopping.  In the evening, Steve and I went to a party and were only out till 11pm, and on returning, found Joel to be awake, with tear marks.  Apparently he'd woken up quite upset, and had cried for 45 minutes (I wished that they'd rung me to ask me to come home) and wouldn't settle, and had kept crying.  The most bothersome comment was that 'it was becuase I'd not told Joel we were going out and Granny and Grandpa would be there instead'. 

He's 19 months old, and if I'd said we were going out, I'm not sure he'd (a) understand, (b) understand and be upset, (c) forget after a sleep anyway

So I was upset after that, and he wouldn't settle for ages, so we were all tired and grumpy on Sunday, Joel was extra pickley at Church, and I was stressed out and burst into tears at church as everything seemed to go wrong. 

So I had a little lie in on Monday which helped but Joel's routine was all out of whack, which these visits seem to do to him.  So Christmas will be hectic as Steve is cross my work do is on Thursday 20th, as he wanted to go to Exeter that night, I'll have all the packing to do, the last days of wrapping I won't be at home for, and I'll need to be super ready and prepared.  Christmas just isn't relaxing when you have to travel with a baby for hours.  And it doesn't help that Steve feels I'm keeping him from his family and home so Joel can have Christmas morning in his own home and go to his own church. 

I'm trying to find my peace and goodwill at the moment.

Blogger Photo Issue

I'm a bit cross with Blogger to be honest.

It currently won't let me upload any photos, as it hosts them on picasa, and I've reached my 1gb limit.  Well, I can't delete them without losing them from my blog, so I'm not going to do that, and I think it's a shame that it seems to be making blogging more difficult.

Is there an easy (without paying for extra photo storage) way of carrying on with Blogspot, or is Wordpress the way forward?

I have imported my blog over there already, although I still find it confusing (and without a lap top at home is's not easy to update it via an ipad) so I'm all a bit up in the air with it all.

Any thoughts or considerations?.......

Limbo

I don't know what's going on with my cycle this month.

I had some weird spotting, midway through, which is not normal for me.  Could have been ovulation bleeding (which I'd not heard of) but doubt it was implantation bleeding.

I then had the positive OPK a week later than it should have been according to my handy (or not so handy app).

And now, I'm in limbo.  I'm on day 30 of my cycle so far.  I'm not 10 days past ovulation yet as that was on day 22, so I guess I'll allow myself to test at the weekend if AF hasn't shown up by then.

With all the signs of ovulation this month, I have to add, I am hopeful, although I've not got any symptoms at all yet.  Not like in May so I'm half expecting a period, but it would be the best ever Christmas present to see two lines this month.

I hate the waiting. 

Humpf

I felt that I'd been quite good this week, with mainly boring diet foods so I was a it bleurgh to find i'd not lost any weight at all this week.  So in two weeks I've still only lost 1 pound.  Maybe this dieting lark isn't for me if I can't actually lose weight through dieting and eating less.

So Steve's parents have come up this weekend and we went for an Indian with Joel after seeing the Christmas lights in town.  (well, dieting hasn't worked so far soi felt i deserved a treat!) He loved sitting with us, eating poppadoms and rice with pasanda sauce.  He had a late night as we didn't get back till after his bedtime but he coped very well.

He loved the lights and Christmas trees, and he looked so adorable in his winter pramsuit.

Pictures to follow.

Slimming World

I've been trying to be good this week with staying on 'The Plan'.

I can see why I didn't try dieting before.  I don't like feeling restricted.  I am suddenly craving food I didn't use to crave as much as this.  I am looking forward to Christmas and feeling that I will eat what I want for one week, and never mind the consequences.  I'm not someone who overeats for the sake of it at Christmas, but I'm longing for pate, and brie, and mince pies.

This week I've eaten about 4 melons.  (that's right, I said 4!!!)

I'm trying to stuff myself with vegetables, salad and fruit before going onto free food.

After the weekend's upset with too much fat laden food, I've reigned it in, and have been nibbling ryvita, extra light philly and red grapes for lunch (surprisingly tasty and nice and crunchy), salad bits, ham for snacking, fat free potato wedges, poached eggs and baked beans.  Stir fry with noodles, and slow cooker beef stew with mash and fat free fromage frais stirred through for moisture.  Mullerlight yoghurts, and more mullerlight yoghurts.  I will probably make another curry this friday night and pretend it's a takeaway in my head.  I will probably try the lamb rogan josh recipe this time.  And something with chicken tomorrow.

It's a bit exhausting thinking about food all the time.  I didn't used to think about it this much, and it's hard thinking of what to make night after night.  It's more expensive as well, as I'm buying a lot more fresh fruit and vegetables and seasonal stuff I find boring!  Apples and oranges.  And melons.  So many melons.   I used to like melons!!

I hope to see more of a difference this week.  Come on 2lb loss!!

OPK's

This is the first month I've been trying ovulation prediction tests.

I bought some cheaply off Amazon, not the smiley face sort, but sticks on which two lines appear when one's LH hormone levels surge which demonstrates ovulation is about to take place.

I'd given up with them really, having dutifully tested every day from day 10 of my cycle but to no avail.  I began to think that I didn't have any eggs, my hormones were not around, and things looked a bit hopeless.

Then on day 22 of my cycle I got a postive test!  Two very strong lines meaning ovulation was imminent!  A week later than is normal for a 31 day cycle, but with mine alternating between 31 and 38 days for the last 6 months (weird isn't it) I guess it's not too crazy.

So I'm sure you can guess what happened next without me going into too much detail (!) and I'm now in the two week waiting period, which is crazy times where your hopes slowly rise, and your search yourself for symptoms every day until finally, you allow yourself to take a test when you presume you're 10 days past ovulation.  Obviously, I'm really hoping that Aunt Flo doesn't show this month.

Lets wait and see.  At least I'm reassured that I do have the relevant hormones, even if they're a bit like my husband, always late!!!  :)

What to Blog?

We've had a nice weekend despite the rather glumifying weather.  (Is that even a word?!)

We had a quietish Friday once back from the slimming group.  We had some lunch, then Joel napped (I love that quiet two hours to do what I want to!) then we played lots and had a trip to the post office, and then an important visit!  We went to a craft shop and bought some fabric and trims to make an outfit for Joel to wear to our Church nativity morning. 

We got him some purple material, and some gold and red ribbons and sequins.  That makes two sewing projects as I'm still trying to finish his advent calendar. 

We've decided to have a real tree this year, but where it will go I have no idea.  We'll have to rearrange the room utterly to make room.  And I've no doubt it'll get rather decimated by Joel before too long.

Yesterday we went along to Joels' nursery Christmas Fayre.  I won back some stuff I donated to the tombola.  I bought some cakes that were a bit strange, and we froze on the walk there and back.  But it was nice to dress Joel up in his snow suit.

All the kids there got totally hyper and were all running around a lot yelling for most of the morning!!  Joel loved joining in and racing about.  I got him a little tattoo on his arm which he didn't like and he cried every time his sleeve was pulled up and he could see it!!  I had one too to see whether that helped but no, he didn't like seeing me with one either.  He's so funny!!

We've been to church this morning and Steve let him take his ukelele with him.  He wandered about with it strumming and singing, but also in the quiet bits so it was a relief for him to go through to creche!  I was playing keyboard this morning so couldn't be on hand for him.  He was not willing to share it with anyone else either.  Luckily, Grandad kept him entertained.

And he didn't go down for a nap until 1.30 with us getting back late, so whilst he slept, we watched a film together.  It was a nice change to have a quiet time in the day together.   I guess this is our first weekend together at home in about a month!

We'll have to see what next week brings but there will be a visit from Steve's family which warrants a good house tidy!!

First Weigh In

Well today I got on the scales again.  I have to say I didn't know what to expect but hoped to get to under 11 stones.  I even didn't sleep well last night feeling anxious about it! I never thought I'd worry about it!

Anyway, I lost 1lb.  Not a great start in my mind but still a loss.  I've put down to lose 2lbs for next week so am going to have to try to be better.

On the plus side, I tried a pair of size 12 jeans on they fitted!! So that made me happy! I'm almost back to what I was :)

Bop

This is Joel's favourite new word.  He says it as he hits us, as though it adds extra hittiness.  Saying that, the hitting levels have dropped a little, and he is starting to look a bit abashed when he does it.    He really doesn't like not getting his own way at all.  And if we take something away, or say no, we get a 'bop'.

He's going into nursery so beautifully at the moment and the staff have commented on it, and put a sticker on the wall for him!  There is a note there saying 'this morning Joel had his coat off, took off his shoes and put them in the pot, walked back into the baby room, waved goodbye to Mummy and blew her a kiss before sitting himself down for breakfast'!!!

And in the evening on collection, I can tell him to get his slippers or shoes and he brings them back to me to be put on.  Now, that is good, and I'm proud of him!!

His words are coming on.  He says a very nice 'yes please' when offered more of something he likes, like egg, or cheerios!!  Other than that, we still get Muh-Ma, and 'Zeeeee' (for Izzy) and what is funny is 'Teve' for Steve, although when he looks at photos he calls him Dada now.  But if he calls him from a distance, it's 'Teve' every time.  I guess that's my fault.  I sometimes forget to call Steve Dada around Joel.

He's very into his colouring and drawing at the moment.  He loves sticking things on paper if I give him a shape and a glue dot.  Books are a firm favourite as well now.  The bedtime story has become a necessity and he knows what he wants to hear.  We got some from the library and he loves one called 'Counting Dragons' and he likes it three times.  He'll push the book he doesn't want away and point to that one every evening. 

Slimming has gone well this week.  I hope.  I have a weigh in tomorrow morning so will see whether it's done anything.  I've not really felt hungry so can't really tell whether I've lost anything or not.  I will be surprised if I have.  I did eat a wispa yesterday!  I'm not someone to withold food from myself if I want it that badly to the point of binge eating.  I'm not even sure I quite like the group therapy session after weigh in as I'm not really someone who is that way inclined.  But I guess it's all good in the end.  And all I want to do is lose a few remaining pounds and feel trimmer in time for Christmas.  I looked fat on our family photo last year and would like to feel pretty on this years.  But as for eating issues, I wouldn't say I have any and am healthy in my approach to it.

And today is my last day of the week at work.  I'm starting to get into the swing of these three day weeks, and I have to say, I recommend them!! 

And that's my news for today :)

First Slimming Meeting

Well, I went along on Friday as planned, and I was glad I did.

I got weighed and it was what I'd expected.  I think I have about a stone and a half to lose to get back to pre-pregnancy weight.

So, we've been having slimming world recipes for dinner, and I'm monitoring my breakfast and lunches more closely.

Breakfasts are consisting of a couple of weetabix with milk (which I used to do anyway to be fair).  Lunches have been homemade vegetable soup, or jacket potatoes, and dinners have been quite varied.  We had noodles with beef and broccoli stir fry (tasty), chicken tikka masala (tasty) and carbonara (just ok).

Of course going for a weekend away to a B&B when commencing a diet isn't a great plan, but I just tried to make good choices.  I opted for poached eggs, rather than fried, with tomatoes and baked beans.  I went for wholemeal toast rather than white.  I had a jacket potato with my steak, instead of chips.

As I'm not really a binger or snacker between meals, I'm not finding it too hard, it's just changing the way I cook food, and ingredients I use.  The fat elements I used have gone and low fat is the way foward.  So far, I don't feel that it's compromised on taste too much.  But I am missing crisps.  They're a no no now.

I will be interested to see what happens on Friday for my second weigh in!!

Mummy Time

As you may be aware, trying for baby number is taking its time.  Maybe thats a good thing.  It's not the close age gap I thought I wanted, but we're taking things easy in the run up to Christmas and I've got two new projects on the horizon.

Firstly, I'm signing up to join a Slimming World group.  I don't think I'm overly huge, and I've managed to slim down and lose most of my baby weight, but I'm not someone who weighs herself every day.  In fact, I don't even own a set of scales!

The group I've found meet on a Friday morning, and have other mums who take toddlers and babies, so it seems perfect for me.  I've had a copy of the Slimming World magazine this month, and have done an online shop to stock up on the basic essentials, such as low fat spread, low fat yoghurts and ingredients for recipes.

Steve has moaned at the prospect of healthy eating and has promised to visit McDonalds every day, but I think he quite liked our noodles and stir fried beef last night.  I'm hoping that tonight's Chicken Tikka Masala goes down as well.  The chicken is currently marinating in spices and low fat natural yoghurt at the moment and smelt lovely when I put it together last night!

Steve and I are away this weekend so that won't be a good start as I won't exactly be sticking to jacket potatoes but I still think being a little bit good in between will be better than not doing anything at all.

My other plan is to take part in the County Chorus Oratorio after Christmas.  I used to be an active member of our local youth choir until I was 18, then on returning from University, there wasn't really a choir for me to join, but once a year, after Christmas lots of folk get together to perform this Oratorio.  This year, it will be Verdi's Requiem, so I will enjoy that.  It's a big committment with rehearsals every Sunday afternoon for three months but Steve has assured me that he will manage with Joel on his own!! 

So slimming and singing will be my two new hobbies, and we'll just see what happens with babymaking, but I'm not stressing about it this month.  And I will look forward to Christmas as well. 

600 Posts Today!

This is my 600th post and it will be about hitting.

And more to the point, Joel hitting.  He is suddenly into slapping people in the face.  Me, Steve and other children when I take him to a toddler group on a Monday.

I was really taken aback on Monday as he just wandered around the room full of playing children, and would go up a group and just start hitting on faces.  I reacted as I hope is normal, and grabbed him, told him 'no' very firmly, and sat him in a quiet corner to sit on his own for a minute.  Which he did.  I then tried to get him to say sorry to the other children, but they weren't that interested.  And then the sitting down in the time out area didn't make the least bit of difference.

It's awful though, as I'd be horrified if Joel were being smacked by others, but to have him as the smackee, is almost worse.  I don't know if he wanted the toys the others were playing with, but sometimes they didn't have anything! They were just standing there!

Ironically, he went to toddler group wtih my Mum on Tuesday and didn't even try hitting anyone.  He was the one being pushed about by a bigger toddler. 

And at nursery, when I told them what he'd been doing, they were shocked as he doesn't hit at nursery at all.  At least he didn't.  When I went to collect him he smacked me hard in the face, and the staff were very surprised at it, and I was almost relieved that they could see it, and that it was something reserved for me.  He seems to use it as a tool to get my attention.  At least he's not taking it out on his nursery friends.

So this is where I come over all Jane Austen and say 'Dear Reader', please tell me I'm not too alone in all this, and any ways you might have to encourage him to stop smacking faces!  Is he too little for time out, or naughty step?  What other method do I have to encourage good behaviour? 

My Mum says he may have felt a bit too new and not knowing these other children being new to the group he could be asserting himself. 

I'm a bit lost at the moment, and don't want to be a horribly strict mum, but want him to learn right from wrong.  Any pointers or suggestions would be gratefully received.

A New Page.....

It's so nice to think that today is like my Friday.  It's my last day of the week and tomorrow will be a funday rather than a Friday with Joel!  I feel as though I'm ready for a weekend and it's only been three days so how I've managed full time for six months being so tired I don't know.

This will be month 10 of trying for baby number two, so I've ordered some ovulation tests to see whether I am.  It'll be interesting at any rate.  I'm also ensuring I take folic acid daily.  I wonder whether I can get Steve to take vitamins?!  Probably not!

I've also decided to think about going along to a Slimming World meeting.  If conceiving isn't working, I need something to take my mind off it, and dieting would be a suitable hobby!!  I've contacted a group and will go along on Monday.  I've had a look at their website, and since I'm at home 4 days out of 7 now, I feel their menus are more manageable for me.   I don't feel happy with my appearence at the moment, and I've never really tried to diet before.  I know lots of folk who've done well on this one, and it appeals more than calorie counting approaches, so I feel it's more for me.   So I'll record my progress and food here in case anyone is interested, and apologies if it's not interesting, please skip the diet focussed updates!

And since being ill last weekend I've been put off having take aways so that's a bonus!!

Oh, and I've pretty much done all my Christmas shopping now.   Yay me!!  In fact, all I have to get now is one online shopping voucher for my sister for Emma Bridgewater and we're done!  Thank you and goodnight!!!

p.s. I've ordered myself the Michael Buble Christmas album as a treat, and will listen to it whilst wrapping presents and writing cards with a glass of mulled wine.  Steve will have to be kicked out of course!  He won't enjoy that as an evening!!  Is mulled wine allowed on slimming world?   I hope so!!!

Our Musical Prodigy...

Joel loves music, and guitars, and strumming and singing, just like Daddy.

Last night they had a good sing song, and I thought my heart might burst it got so full of love!!!!  Especially in his pyjamas, there's just the extra factor of cuteness!!

And he doesn't mime, he really sings!  Well, tries to!  He's like his Daddy in that respect, as it's a bit more of a shouty yell but he goes 'baaa, baaa, baaa'!!!

A Wandering Minstrel I......

 

Rocking Out!!

He loves his Ukulele

It was a nicer evening before bed, and after two bedtime stories and a good drink of warm milk, he tucked himself up for the night.  He nearly made it for 12 hours sleep, not quite, but it was a good enough effort!!

Our First Part Time Day

So, yesterday was my first day as a part timer!

It was nice to wake up and not have to rush to get ready, so we had a leisurely start with just toast for breakfast after our weekend of poorliness.

We took Izzy for a walk in the fresh air and sunshine and to play with her ball launcher round the woods nearby, and then walked her home again to carry onto a toddler group which takes place in the church hall near me.  We've not visited this one before, mainly because when I was on maternity leave, we were out every day, except Monday, and that was our lazy day!

However, now that Monday is a special Mummy and Joel day, we want to make the most of it, so off we went.  It started at 10, and we got there to see lots of Mums and toddlers.  There were lots of toys out so after a bout of initial shyness, Joel toddled off to play.  He loved the coupe car, and kept just sitting in it, and waving and then getting out.  He didn't quite get the concept of moving his feet to go forwards.

There was a craft activity of making a firework picture, so we glued shapes onto black paper and used chalk to make fireworks. We had a snack time.  Parents are all asked to bring a piece of fruit to share, which is then chopped up, and parents have tea and biscuits.  Then it was story and singing time by which time Joel was getting very sleepy indeed, and his head began to loll on my shoulder as he'd wanted to be picked up.

We got home and I sat him on the sofa and within five minutes, the second I looked away to serve up his spaghetti on toast (with beaten egg and grated cheese mixed in, yummy and nutritious!!) he was asleep!!  So up he went to his cot for a good 2 hour nap, and I ate his lunch, and saved him some for when he woke, tided the kitchen, did a load of laundry and caught up with the finale of Downton Abbey, and had a general relax.

After lunch we visited the town library and tried going to the park, but he was a bit too tired, I guess not fully over his sickness bug, so we headed home and played with his toys instead, piling them up into colours.  I don't think he gets colours yet.  But he can walk backwards now!!  And at one point, he pointed up to a shelf where we have a pot of bubbles and shouted 'burb', 'burb' so I got them down, he laughed his socks off, and ran to the front room shouting 'zeeee', 'zeeee', which was him calling the dog in to play as well, because Izzy loves bubbles too!  In  fact, he just watched her bounce and catch them all in her mouth, and that entertained him more than trying to pop them himself!

After tea which was rice, with chicken and brocolli and fully rejected, we had cuddles on the sofa reading our new library books before Daddy got in.  Then after a short play time, Daddy had to go out, which reduced Joel to inconsolable sobs.  Mummy just wasn't the same as Daddy and it took him a while to go to sleep.  Joel loves his Daddy time, so Daddy won't be going out tonight, and will be on bedtime duty, to wrestle, and play and read stories!  Which will be a nice break for Mummy too!!

Lurgy Bug

This weekend started off ok.  We had a fun walk to the field by the hospital with the dog and took some balls to play with.  We explored along the path and climbed up and down some steps a few times and met some nice doggies to wave hello to!

But then at tea times I started feeling sick.  By 8pm I was shut in the bathroom having put Joel to bed just in time. 

I was then seriously struck down with vomiting and diarrhea all night.  As our bathroom is downstairs I dozed on the sofa to be closer to the loo, and in the night heard Steve up and about and on checking found that Joel had too, been very sick.  This is only the second time it's happened   Steve had changed I'm and put him in our bed but left his cot full of vomit!  So I cleared his cot, put new sheets on it and sorted that out and went back downstairs.  I didn't think it was a good idea to have him I our bed and was proved right when he was sick again.  Loads of washing! Poor baby was very good about it.  He had another full change and seemed to be more awake so came down with me and we both dozed on the sofa till 7am.  I was poorly most of Sunday as well and I think had it been the other way I'd manage things and leave Steve to get well.  He did try, bless him, but his managing things still involved asking me to dress Joel, which I had no energy for, and sorting out lunch and such like! I napped in the morning and the afternoon from having such a little amount of sleep in the day and Steve seemed to resent that! Yes he was tired too but I'd had Joel from 4am and let him sleep till 9 and he wasn't ill!! S when I came down, they'd not been out for fresh air to walk the dog.  They were sat in a dark room with the tv on and Joel was playing on the iPad.  Not the most constructive of days.  

And to top it all off, Aunt Flo arrived this morning which to be honest hasn't surprised me too much but it's still disappointing. Onto cycle 10 we go.  

Holiday Plans

Last year as a family of three (well, four including the dog!) we opted for a week in a tent in south Wales.  And to be fair, we were extremely lucky with the week we chose.  We had glorious sunshine pretty much every single day.  Joel loved camping, and he loved the beach and we really enjoyed it.  We cooked a few nights, and we went out one night, and had a take away another.  It was relaxed and fabulous.

But Steve has been wanting an abroad holiday for ages.  In all honesty, it worries me.  I worry about flying with Joel, foreign foods, balconies, child abduction, swimming pools.....  although part of me thinks a week abroad would be lovely.

So after much consideration, we've decided to go for it.  A friend took her son (when he was much younger actually) to Majorca, and Menorca, and we've heard great things about Menorca being very family friendly, so when a collegue at work said they had an apartment to rent in a quiet village on the south of the island, 15 minutes from the airport, we booked it. 

We've now booked and paid for flights so there's no going back!  I just need to sort Joel's passport and E111 card thingy out.  And write lists.  Many many lists will be needed.  And forums will need to be explored, and questions asked.  I'm not sure about car seats, whether we need one on the plane.  I'll have to enquire.  And for the taxi or car at the other side.  Would I even be happy with Steve driving over there on the wrong side of the road with a gear stick for a different hand?!  I'm not sure!

But the apartment is cosy and looks lovely.  It's in a block with a pool, and there's a water park nearby.  We're walking distance to the beach and there's plenty of entertainment for a 2 year old.

So in about 6 months time, (we're going in Mid-May) we'll be attempting to have an abroad holiday!  And I can't wait now! 

Grown Up Time

And no, that isn't meant to sound saucy.

It's just that I'm excited to be having people round for dinner! 

We've invited Chris and Liz wth Trudy for dinner, so it isn't a baby free evening, but it's so nice to think we'll have grown up company for once!!

I was wondering what I could possibly make as to feed to toddlers as well it can't be too late, so this morning I had a wrestle with four lamb shanks and got them into my slow cooker after browning, I poured over some de-glazed red wine, some chicken stock, herbs and onions and have left it to cook on high for 8 hours!

I hope it works.  Else we'll be eating beans on toast and have wasted some decent lamb. 

We've got a bottle of red (remainder from cooking but decent) and a bottle of rose, and beers, and I'm making a banoffee pie for pudding.

We might get the buzz buzzers out as well!!  It should be fun!

I've also asked Joel's nursery to not limit his nap, so he is able to stay up a bit longer.  Trudy has a later bed time, so it would be nice for them to play together and sit round the table with us.

Feeding the Family

These past few weeks, Steve has been making a bit effort to come home at 5 and have a meal with us rather than at 6pm.  It's been good, as he gets to play and entertain Joel, and I get to cook and then we all sit together as a family.

The only issue at the moment is what to eat!

When we get in from work, it needs to be not too long, something tasty that everybody likes and easy to cook. 

I downloaded a menu planner from Netmums :- Link Here if Interested and it was really helpful.  It wasn't too fathy, and having a plan at the start of the week meant I could do a big shop (or send Steve with a shopping list) and I was prepared for what to do every day.

We've used this for about two months, and although I've not always followed it religiously, we have had all the meals in different orders!!

Last night thought I attempted something different.  I love corned beef hash, although Steve is slightly more picky about food.  He likes burgers, hot dogs and generally just freezer junk food covered in reggae reggae sauce.  He's no gourmet by any means of the word.

Anyway, he was grumbling about corned beef hash, which normally I fry into patties, and serve with a side of beans and a fried egg.  (I know, not terribly gourmet either but tasty!!) and so I decided to make it into a pie. 

Here's my version:

Corned Beef Hash Pie

Pastry - 8oz plain flour, 4oz butter, cold water to bind.

Hash - A bundle of potatos, peeled and chopped., 3 carrots, peeled and chopped, 1 onion, peeled and diced, 1 tin of decent corned beef, chopped into cubes, Baked beans (optional).

1 - Cook chopped potatoes, onions and carrots in a pan of water. When soft drain the veg, and add chopped corned beef.

2 - Line the baking dish with rolled out pasty, and leave a third for the top.

3 - Stir the hash all around, add some baked beans, and put it in the pastry, then add a top.  I didn't bother with an egg wash because I was hungry, but if you want a nice shiny pastry lid I recommend it!!  I made a cross in the top to let the steam out and whilst that was cooking, I made some gravy and cooked some cauliflower and broccoli. 

4 - I then put it in the oven on 180 for 25 minutes, until it had cooked the pastry.

I thought it was tasty, and certainly Steve preferred to think he was eating a pie rather than corned beef hash.  Joel was not so enamoured as he really has a thing against potatoes in any form!

Oh well.  Back to the drawing board.  At least I liked it.

Christmas is Coming......

I may be getting carried away with Christmas presents for Joel!!

Last night, I was searching on Ebay for a toy guitar for Joel.  I think he'd like one.  I found a couple, but with bids already on things, and postage, I'd be looking at about £8 all in all.  Not too bad.  Then I looked on the ELC website to compare and they have a 50% sale.  So a brand new one, with free postage was £10.  So I went for that.  £2 is ok extra for brand new, and it'll come in a box and I also added on a little keyboard for £7.50.  Mainly because I play the piano and Steve plays the guitar and Joel wants to join in so with his own little instruments he can!!  I'll certainly encourage the piano when he's older.

Then I came into work today to find this on my desk:

It's 26 original Thomas the Tank Engine books, in a special box case from a lecturer who had it as spare and wondered whether Joel would like it!!  I know I was dubious about Thomas, being a bit old fashioned, and potentially could encourage naughtiness, but I was so touched.  It's almost £100 to buy, and it's not been read at all.  So that will be wrapped up and put under the tree as well.

He's going to be spoilt this year I think.  He wasn't overly spoilt last year, as there wasn't any point, but he certainly does like new toys this year, and I can't wait for Christmas Day to see him open all these presents!

All Hallow's Eve

As a Christian, I've never been brought up to enjoy Halloween.  As a child myself we'd go to a big party at Church instead, where all families were invited, and the community as well to do crafts, watch fireworks, have a bonfire and eat hotdogs. 

And now we have Joel, it seems harder to avoid Halloween.  It's everywhere this year.  Commercialism has completely taken over.  The shops in the high street are decked out in orange and black with cobwebs everywhere.  I dislike the commercialism of it a lot.  It does feel a bit as though we're being duped into having a holiday forced on us and people are going for it.

As a country we do like an excuse for a party, and this year, I'm evaluating my thoughts on the whole Halloween in light of having Joel.

His nursery were having a Halloween party today.  I'd told them Joel wouldn't be dressing up, but would be attending and it made me worry that this was the last year he'd not notice he looked different.  My friend from Church also said Trudy wouldn't be dressed up.  Then they changed the theme to bonfire.  Whether this was for us or other parents didn't want the Halloween conotation I don't know.

On taking Joel this morning, half the children were pumpkins or skeletons, some were princesses and about half were in normal clothes.  Joel was wearing a dinosaur jumper with jeans.  Maybe he could have been a pirate or something like that.  I just didn't know what to do for the best.

Am I wrong to dislike Halloween?  It just holds conotations of evil and paganism for me, and I really dislike trick or treaters.  As a Christian we believe in evil.  And yes, we believe that Jesus has conquered it so why should I be afraid or feel that Halloween is letting the devil win?!  I disagree with letting children going to knock on strangers doors and beg for chocolates and how greedy it makes them.  I hate having surly teenagers appear at my door just wearing a 'scream' mask and expecting to be given chocolate and if it's not good enough, telling me so.  I don't think that's a good example to set children.  I'd like Joel to become a polite boy!!

But am I being a bad Christan by being a party pooper?  Will Joel resent not being allowed to participate?  What I think I might have to do is organise a proper party next year in a hall.  I'd not mind fancy dress, and chocolate but under proper supervision, and with an emphasis on family and fun.  Because who minds a bit of apple bobbing or doughnuts on a string?  Games are fun.  I guess shutting myself away and ignoring it is not the way to go anymore! 

I've listened to a talk given by our minister on a podcast :- link here if interested and I think I do need to evaulate where I stand on the matter and remember that in Jesus, we already have the victory and focus on the family fun side in an evangical setting.  Which I guess we're called to do in the Bible anyway.  We should use Halloween to be in the world and encourage others, and share the good news.  This may sound a bit bible bashy to some, but I wouldn't have it any other way!! 

Joel's Christmas Pics

Joel's nursery have sent me these proofs which I think are mainly very cute indeed, although I wasn't happy with two of them that I would buy if straighter, so on emailing, I've had them amended!

The smiley ones are my favourite.  He looks a bit too scared in two of them, but they'll make a nice present for Grandparents this Christmas!  The photographer was a bit loud, and strange, and I think that's reflected!  Plus, Joel went first so it was all a bit new to him!  Not that he's a stranger to cameras in his face I guess!

Daddy Day-Care

Steve certainly has a different parenting approach to mine.

Yesterday we were eating some dates and Joel wanted one.  I said it wasn't a good idea, but if he must to remove the stone as it was a hazard for him, so Steve just gave it him and was shocked that Joel put it whole in his mouth.  Then he panicked and turned to me to tell me that Joel had put the whole date including stone in his mouth. 

Whilst he was panicking, I had to go over, retrieve the date, remove the stone and put it back in his mouth.  Which he then promptly rejected as being tainted!!

I know I've said it before but I'll say it again.    Men!

Uh-Oh and Gesticulations....

I don't know if it's a new craze going round nursery or not, but at the moment, 'uh-oh' is heard a lot in our house.

Something happens to the television picture = 'uh-oh'
Something gets knocked over = 'uh-oh'
Something is deliberatly done just so the little man can say = 'uh-oh'!!!

He loves it!  And it's not just him.  His friend Trudy is saying it as well and they're at nursery together.

It's cute though.

And his gestures are so funny.  If we say 'where is something?' He holds his hands up, as though he's shrugging, and he'll purse his mouth in an 'oh' shape, as though he's thinking really hard about where something might be.  He's quite the dramatist at the moment with it all.  Maybe he'll be on the stage before too long.  He loves the attention he gets from it, and the fact he can make us all laugh.

Also, rather than developing his words like normal babies, he's developing his gestures.  So rather than saying 'more' like others we know, he holds his hand out, and makes a grasping gesture to mean more.  I wonder whether we shouldn't just let him have more, and make him try to ask for it.  The trouble is, we know exactly what he means and we give it to him. 

His walking is really good now.  But try to take him for a walk and he howls, cries to be picked up, and drags his feet and sits down in a strop.  Show him a park or somewhere he can run around and he'll run around for ages.  Steve took him to a field with a football and he was playing and running for about 90 minutes!!  That's like a whole football match!  But just regular walking is a bit difficult at the moment, despite us trying to encourage him.  I guess he still counts as being young for walks like that at the moment, but I do worry we're setting ourselves up for a stroppy walking child later on.  We'll see!

Techno Baby.....

I'm on Steve's I-pad today, still haven't replaced my laptop yet. This thing is awful to type on. I'm a touch typer and using two fingers feels rather alien to me. I eonder whether I can touch type on e keyboard.  Hmm a little bit.  I miss my lap top.  Joel on the other hand, he loves the iPad.  He knows how to swipe to open it up, then turns the pages to get to his page of apps.  I've downloaded him lots of children's free apps.  At the moment he loves the Fisherprice ones.  They're also on Steve's iPhone. He loves talking ginger the cat and he has some singing ones and story ones too.

He is a technically clever baby and can do things on the ipad that Steve wishes he could but doesn't know how!

He does also enjoy his other toys still though and will play very nicely on his own with his mega bloks, he likes sitting on his v-tech trike, and books are a big favourite at the moment.  When we take him to bed he'll point to his book shelf and say "burr" which we think must mean b ook, and so we read him a bed tie story.  Sometimes he'll try to drag. It out, more with Adaddy than Mummy, and daddy has been known to read all the books! Mummy is more strict and will read no more then two before putting Joel in his cot!

With Christmas coming up he'll be getting a whole lot of new toys so we're going to need to make some space I guess.That'll be difficult.  We've got him a 2nd hand Brio train track, In the Night Garden books, Two Wow cars,and I was looking at the Aquadoodle sets as I've read good reviews of them and heard good things about them.  We've asked family for new books to fuel his new love of them, and a toy vacuum cleaner as he loves our real one and the toy ones at toddler group!

I'm about half way rough my Christmas shopping.  Trying to be leaner this year but it's hard when there's so many more to buy for!  I can't wait though.  I'm getting excited already!

Hyper baby?!

How is it that when, for example like last night, Joel was up from about 1.30 till 6am, he still got up at 7.30 for breakfast as normal?  And was fine?!!  He was energetic, playful, happy??????

Whereas Steve and I have been sleepy zombies for most of the day.  I got up with him 2-4, then Steve took over 4-6 and I got up with him at 7.30 and we're both shattered and Joel has just been his normal happy self. 

Can toddlers do without that much sleep?  Because I certainly can't.

We've tried to tire him out today, so he's been to town for the Italian market this morning, he did some serious toddling around and about, and after a nap of 1.5 hours, we went to Cannock Chase and he must have toddled about 1/2 mile, and been out in the fresh air, splashed in muddy puddles, found interesting things like pine cones, sticks etc... made fun noises on the drums, sat on the fish, and generally enjoyed it all.

After a tea of cheesy pasta with broccoli, and a yoghurt for pudding, he played and played and played until 7.30 then had hysterics when I picked him up to carry him upstairs.  But once we got up there he calmed down and went straight to sleep. 

Lets hope he sleeps all night long tonight.  And we can see whether it will take a full on exercise day to make sure he sleeps well every night!!

Back to Birches Valley



We love being outside...



Jumping in muddy puddles

Banging on an outside drum

Sitting on a giant shoe sculpture (Mummy was not enamoured!)

The Good Life indeed...

And more muddy puddles!

Most Amusing Parenthood Test

This has been circulating on the Daily Mail and it tickled me to say the least!!.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Test 1: Preparation

Women: To prepare for pregnancy

1. Put on a dressing gown and stick a beanbag down the front.

2. Leave it there.

3. After 9 months remove 5% of the beans.

Men:  To prepare for children

1. Go to a local chemist, tip the contents of your wallet onto the counter and tell the pharmacist to help himself

2. Go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home. Pick up the newspaper and read it for the last time.

Test 2: Knowledge

Find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels and how they have allowed their children to run wild.

Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behaviour.

Enjoy it. It will be the last time in your life that you will have all the answers.

Test 3: Nights

To discover how the nights will feel:
1. Walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 4 - 6kg, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.

2. At 10pm, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 11pm and walk the bag around the living room until 1am.

4. Set the alarm for 3am.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2am and make a cup of tea.

6. Go to bed at 2.45am.

7. Get up again at 3am when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs in the dark until 4am.

9. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up when it goes off.

10. Make breakfast.

Keep this up for 5 years. LOOK CHEERFUL.

Test 4: Dressing Small Children

1. Buy a live octopus and a string bag.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that no arms hangout.

Time Allowed: 5 minutes.

Test 5: Cars

1. Forget the BMW. Buy a practical 5-door wagon.

2. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.

3. Get a coin. Insert it into the CD player.

4. Take a box of chocolate biscuits; mash them into the back seat.

5. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Test 6: Going for a walk

a. Wait.

b. Go out the front door.

c. Come back in again.

d. Go out.

e. Come back in again.

f. Go out again.

g. Walk down the front path.

h. Walk back up it.

i. Walk down it again.

j. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.

k. Stop, inspect minutely and ask at least 6 questions about every piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead insect along the way.

l. Retrace your steps.

m. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbours come out and stare at you.

n. Give up and go back into the house.

You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.


Test 7: Conversations with children

Repeat everything you say at least 5 times.


Test 8: Grocery Shopping

1. Go to the local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing you can find to a pre-school child - a fully grown goat is excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.

2. Buy your weekly groceries without letting the goat(s) out of your sight.

3. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.

Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.


Test 9: Feeding a 1 year-old

1. Hollow out a melon

2. Make a small hole in the side

3. Suspend the melon from the ceiling and swing it side to side

4. Now get a bowl of soggy cornflakes and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon while pretending to be an aeroplane.

5. Continue until half the cornflakes are gone.

6. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it falls on the floor.


Test 10: TV

1. Learn the names of every character from the Wiggles, Barney, Teletubbies and Disney.

2. Watch nothing else on television for at least 5 years.


Test 11: Mess

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out:

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains

2. Hide a fish behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flowerbeds and then rub them on clean walls. Cover the stains with crayon. How does that look?

4. Empty every drawer/cupboard/storage box in your house onto the floor and proceed with step 5.

5. Drag randomly items from one room to another room and leave them there.


Test 12: Long Trips with Toddlers

1. Make a recording of someone shouting 'Mummy' repeatedly. Important Notes: No more than a 4 second delay between each Mummy. Include occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet.

2. Play this tape in your car, everywhere you go for the next 4 years.

You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.


Test 13: Conversations

1. Start talking to an adult of your choice.

2. Have someone else continually tug on your shirt hem or shirt sleeve while playing the Mummy tape listed above.

You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.


Test 14: Getting ready for work

1. Pick a day on which you have an important meeting.

2. Put on your finest work attire.

3. Take a cup of cream and put 1 cup of lemon juice in it

4. Stir

5. Dump half of it on your nice silk shirt

6. Saturate a towel with the other half of the mixture

7. Attempt to clean your shirt with the same saturated towel

8. Do not change (you have no time).

9. Go directly to work

You are now ready to have children. ENJOY!!

Night Terrors

You know how I said Joel goes from sleeping well to not sleeping well?

We're going through a not sleeping well spell at the moment.

And we're all rather shattered from it.

We've been taking turns at night, and two nights ago was Steve's turn.  And he got Joel suffering what we think could be night terrors.  He woke up howling at 11.30, pointing to the corners of his room, absolutely inconsolable.

It was awful.  We took him into our room and into bed with us but he howled more as it was too dark.  Is this when babies develop a fear of the dark?  I don't know.  He was not a happy bunny.  In case of teething we doped him up with teething powders, calpol and calgel on his gums.  This seemed to help a little, but also wake him up, and so he was feeling happier, awake and would not go to sleept ill 3.30am.  Steve took him downstairs and he played like a little maniac for two hours with megabloks.  It's all about the megabloks at the moment.

Anyway, last night was my turn on sleep duty.  And I went to bed early, and Joel woke up at 10.30pm howling.  So I got him out, and we cuddled and read the 'Hug' book which he loves, and he points to Bobo's mummy and says 'Muh-ma' (I hope he doesn't think I'm a chimp!!) but he knows that she is Bobo's mummy.

Then I settled him back in his cot, his night lights were on, and as I went to leave the room, he cried, so I got into the spare bed next to him, and the next thing I knew, it was 6.30am.  So no terrors during the wee small hours.  Maybe we'll have to leave the lights on every night now.  Or at least get something smaller as his current night lights are a fairy light tree that we had at our wedding!!  It's not the dimmest light but he likes it.

So We Had A Nice Day....

We had a nice family weekend with my sisters all visiting for some point of it.

Peek a boo tennis player

I see you!!

Theo and Isaac on their bikes!

A man and his dog on a lead and Steve and Joel on a lead!

Riding a fish!

Sitting on a log

Clambering on a giant dragonfly

 Sarah, Aaron and the twins came on Saturday, so in the afternoon we all headed out to Birches Valley in Cannock Chase.  They have a lovely mile long sculpture walk which they pedalled around, and Joel had a bit of a toddle and play.  There was a great park as well, which was admittedly a bit big for Joel but he had a good go at the slides and swings there.

Joel loves slides

Trying out the monkey bars but he's a bit small!

 When we got home we had hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows to warm us up, and Joel loved his from a mug, and grabbed it to down every last drop that he could from it and got cream all over his face!

Then we had a hot dog supper with onions and ketchup although Joel took his sausage out and therefore had a ketchup sandwich for his tea!!

And once it got dark, we had a box of fireworks that Steve lit in the garden which the twins loved, but Joel got a bit bored of once he realised he wasn't allowed outside with the big boys.



One in focus boy and one blurry boy!

Then on Sunday Amy, Karl and Martha joined us and we had a bit of a relaxing day with a bit of a walk, a nice Sunday dinner and it was nice for the cousins to play, although Joel and Martha are still a bit small for Theo and Isaacs games!!  although Joel tried to keep up with them and got a bit in the way poor thing!!

And neither were terribly happy about having to sit on laps for a group photo!!!

Martha at 7 months is nearly as big as Joel at 18 months!

Sleep Issues Again

It seems that Joel will have a lovely time of sleeping through brilliantly, 12 hours a time, all very peaceful, and then suddenly for what seems to be no reason, this is all very disturbed!

Last week was a good week, and we got lots of lovely (and needed) sleep.

Until Saturday night.  When Joel woke up at 3.00am and was wide awake and wanting to play.  Having tried to settle him in his nursery for an hour to no avail, I finally succumbed to taking him downstairs where I lay on the sofa and he played and played and played until 5.30 when he decided maybe he could go back to bed, and was put quite happily back in his cot and he slept till 8am.

And again on Sunday night.  This time, Steve was kicked out of bed to deal, and after all his comments about how we shouldn't let Joel get his way and go downstairs to play, by 4.30 and three episodes of In the Night Garden on Steve's laptop didn't work in settling him so he ended up taking him downstairs so he could play again!!

I think Monday night wasn't too bad, and Tuesday night was a little disturbed but he didn't want to go to play, but Wednesday night was terrible again and Steve got up with him, took him downstairs and when I woke up horribly late at 8am (having got used to not setting an alarm and relying on Joel to wake me) both Steve and Joel were cuddled up on the sofa fast asleep.  I took advantage of this to get ready, have breakfast and make my lunch, which meant it was a rush waking Joel, getting him sorted and up to nursery in time for breakfast.  to make matters worse, he'd been lying with his head in Steve's armpit and the back of his head was drenched in sweat and didn't have time for a bath or hair wash.  I hurridly got a wet flannel and rubbed it round his head and hair but it really didn't seem to make much difference and I dropped him off with an apology for the state he was in!!  And gave him a good soapy bath and hairwash before his bedtime.

Which didn't really happen as we settled him down at 7.30, but on him crying after 20 minutes Steve got him up and he was like a little manic playing baby.  He sat by his megabloks truck and just emptied it out, started building, knocking it down and building.  He did this for an hour, before looking a bit more sleepy then got his books out.  He read 'That's not my Lion' with me, and 'That's not my Reindeer' with Daddy, and then decided he would go to bed.  And then he slept, with a few bits of coughing now and then, right through till 7.30am this morning.

I don't get his sleep patterns at the moment!  Do i need to drop his midday nap?  I don't think he'd cope very well, although the time of it seems to be getting later and later.  He's not going down now till 12.45 and at nursery they're letting him go past 2pm.  Hmmm.  It's all trial and error really, but I need him to sleep through the night more regularly!!

20,000 Views! Oh my!!

I can't believe that now I've had over twenty thousand views for this blog!

Whether its regular folk or just random people dropping by I don't really know, but hello, and hope to see you again!!

I never thought I'd have this many folk reading about my little life but I do hope we're not too boring!!

The Entertainer

I've been so busy fixating on going part time, that its only really hitting me this week that it's actually happening, and I'm going to need to entertain a boistrous toddler for two whole days a week on my own!  It's not going to be easy, and it will probably be more tiring than being at work, but it'll be quality time for us, and I'm a bit worried to be honest I won't be good enough at it!

I know that's a bit silly, but it is something on my mind.  I shall have to start looking at structures of days, and get ideas for trips out and places to go and things to do.  Dry day plans and wet weather plans.  It's going to be a challenge, but I did it before going back to work, so I've just got to get back into that mode again!

Autumn Days....

We've had some lovely Autumn times this week.

Joel had been a good boy at nursery, and on Saturday we went to town in the afternoon to take Joel to the park to play.  He loves being able to toddle around on his own to play, and go down the slide.  We have to sort of stalk him around the play area as he's a bit independant and gets grumpy if we offer too much help.

On Sunday, after Church we made a picnic and intended to head to Cannock Chase with it, but Joel couldn't hold out from his nap, and fell asleep on the way home!!  So he was dropped off in his cot for an hour whilst we pottered about, and when he woke up, he was too hungry to wait.  So we all sat on the floor for a carpet picnic!!  Joel thought this was most amusing.

Then we headed off to enjoy the sunshine at Brocton Coppice and Joel loved being able to walk and I relaxed in that we weren't near water as he has a bit of a penchant for trying to dive in!



Posing for his picture!!

1, 2, 3, wheeeeeee!!!

He also got to ride in his big rucksack on Daddy's back when he got tired before coming out for walking again when he was bored of that.

His eating seems to have got a bit fussy again recently.  Whether it's teeth bothering him I'm not sure.  He's managing to sleep through most nights at the moment but he even turned down pasta the other day and that's normally a sure thing with him. 

Yesterday I had a day off with him, and we went to toddler group in the morning.  We had fun playing with his little friends, and the activity was an autumn trail where we found things to make into a picture.  This is what Joel (and me) made:

Autumnal work of art.

Then in the afternoon we went to town to get his feet measured and he had grown again, so is now a 4 1/2 so we got him some new shoes and he was not happy about relinquishing his old ones and cried, so the shop assistant handed his old ones over, and he hugged them to him, as though he were really sorry to lose them!  I think he knows that they're his, as he goes to get them out of the shoe bucket at nursery and puts his slippers in at the end of the day!  It was rather cute actually, and a bit funny too.

He's just pulled his woolly hat off and gone spikey!!

Then we went to the weigh in clinic as it's been 6 months since his last at 12 months old and he wasn't even 20lbs then!  Well, he's perfect on his chart, had a little growth spurt (which surprised me considering how picky he's got with food) and is now 23lbs and 10ozs. 

We headed home after a busy but nice day together. 

Then Joel decided to try and bite me!  I was looking on the I-pad, and Joel wanted it.  I decided to try and demonstrate he couldn't always have what he wanted, and he took umption at that and next thing I knew, he's lauched his jaw at my hand!  I was shocked and told him off, which made his lower lip wobble and he cried.  I really hope he doesn't take that to nursery.  He's already begun pushing at other children if they're in his way.  I don't think it's malicious, it's just they're in his way, and thats his baby minded way of dealing with it.  We're getting to a 'have to learn to share and be patient' stage and it's going to be difficult I think!  Nursery will be very good for him on that front though.

Mind you, he is remarkably good on the i-pad.  He knows how to switch it on, and flick the pages, and he goes to his regular apps, 'Talking Ginger' the cat who repeats what he says, 'Singing Monsters' which just sing on an island and he sings and bops along with them, and 'Fantasy Town' which was a game I downloaded but he likes the little people wandering about.  He mainly ignores the Fisher Price apps downloaded for him!!  He manages to do stuff on it that Steve wishes he knew too!!

And....... action!

Mum and Dad have been taking Joel on a Tuesday to a toddler group as they feel he needs more stimulation and he loves mixing with other kids.  His favourite parts seem to be the group story and song time.  They put cushions out and he's the first there, sitting down and ready to start.

Last week he came home having learnt the actions to Wind the Bobbin up, and now he keeps doing the winding action, pulling and pointing to everything!

This week they were telling me about how he really liked Sleeping Bunnies and he lay down to sleep at the wrong time, and got up to hop at the wrong time but really enjoyed it!  Of course, he can't really hop, he sort of squats and bounces and seems to think that his feet are leaving the floor!

He is so full of cuteness at the moment!

 And as for number two?  Well, still nothing to report.  I think my body is trying to play tricks on me at the moment as Aunt Flo is a week late this month, and having done two tests of different brands and all coming up negative, I think I'm just going to have to wait to see what happens but am fully expecting a period before too much longer.  I went late by a week in July so it's happened before.  It's just disappointing now.  At least I have Joel to cheer me up anyway!  He's a little ray of sunshine :)

Muh-Ma

Joel has learnt that I'm his 'Muh-ma' and Steve is his 'Da-da'!

He points at us when Steve sayss 'who's your Mama?'  And then he points to me, and I say 'point to your Dada' and he points to Steve and we clap him proudly!!

And then this morning I was awoken at 6.15am to hear 'muh-ma!  muh-ma'! and when I went in, Joel was sitting up in his cot, playing with his soft toys just calling me that it was time to get up.  He gave me such a smile when he saw me and we had a little cuddle.

That made it worth being woken up so early!!

Other words we're getting are 'iggle iggle' meaning 'Can I watch In The Night Garden please mummy', uglele possibly meaning Steve's Ukelele (maybe we're imagining that one!?) and a loud Ganda for Grandad!! 

I think if I were to say what his first word was, it would be Ganda.  He's been shouting that for a little while now and normally when he sees his Grandad or wants Grandad's attention!!

Wet at the Wildlife Centre

We had a lovely Saturday.  We had a lazy morning and took Izzy out for a long walk and play with her ball, before heading over to The Wolesley Arms for a nice lunch.  Steve and I had sandwiches and Joel had a bowl of pasta (which he polished off) and bananas and custard.  Then we went over to the Wildlife Centre to have a wander round in the sunshine.

The first point of interest on the walk around was a welly splash and as Joel was in his wellies we thought we'd let him try it.  He loved it and splashed through, giggling and laughing, turned around and splashed again! 

He did this about 6 times and then as I was trying to get him to walk on he decided to sit down in the river! 

His face registered a bit of shock as it was very cold!  We quickly got him up and he was drenched through so back to the car we went and we took his trousers off.  I was cross with myself for not anticipating that and holding his reins up and we had to go home.

On the drive home he fell asleep so we transferred him to his cot for an hours nap, whilst I went to town and Steve pottered at home.  Then after a full change, he was ready and we went back again!  It was too nice a day to stay in.

And the second visit was less eventful.  We managed to get him to walk well on his reins and he loved toddling around the board walk rather than being in his buggy.  He walked and ran races with Daddy, (he seemed to know what 'Ready, Steady, Go! meant, and always set off just before the go, giggling as he tried to beat daddy!)

We found the giant snail, and fish to make music, and other sculptures.  He wasn't enamoured of the web swing, and wanted to wade into the lake, and when restrained decided to have a sulky tantrum.  As if we'd let him back in the water on a cold day!  His face was funny though!

He did cheer up when he was put up in the tree!

Then it was home for tea via Tesco to get the tea!  We munched on toasted pitta bread with hummus to dip in, and grated carrot, beetroot salad and some coleslaw.  He is a bit hummus fan!  And he loves dipping things.