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!