Is nursery that important?

Yesterday we got a letter confirming that James is entitled for free hours at nursery even though he isn't 3 until February. I have very mixed feelings about this.

Currently I'm on maternity leave and will be until January, so there is no need for James to be at nursery so I can work. However, I feel that it is important that James begins to untie the apron strings so to speak. To learn to be independent and to be able to socialise with other children. I know that he would enjoy nursery. So, am I being selfish because I want him to stay at home?

Getting creative

As promised, this is the result of our monster cut and stick session. It has turned out better than I expected and James is very proud of it. It has taken up pride of place in his bedroom so he can see it before he goes to sleep.

Ditching the Dummy

Right.
Penny is now nearing 6 months old, so it is time to ditch the dummy.  Penny is a constant dummy sucker. She is the Maggie Simpson of our family.

When I was first pregnant I was adamant that no dummy was ever going to pass the lips of my child, then James arrived. Less than a week and we gave in. We had dummies, spare dummies, emergency dummies and emergency emergency dummies. Peace (sort of) reigned and we were able to get a bit of much needed rest. We did try to limit its use to just at bed and nap time.

With Penny, we have just been plain lazy and when she starts to cry, though it isn't very often, the dummy is popped in to settle her, even James has taken to trying to force her to have the dummy.
James kicked the habit at 4 months, it only took a few night of controlled crying until he was able to self sooth himself to sleep. Hopefully it will be just as easy with Penny.

Silent Sunday

Wonderful Weaning

Well, the purees I made seem to be going down well. The damson especially, though I won't give her too much as it might upset her stomach. It was really easy to make.

Handful of damsons which are washed well. Boiled in an inch of water for 5mins. Let them cool and the skin peels off and mush out the stones. Probably best to counted the number of damsons so you know how many stones to find. It is a bit like hide and seek trying to find them. Then blend it all together, place in ice cube trays and freeze.
It has a lovely deep purple colour, which is fine until it gets splashed and smeared everywhere. You can mix the puree will a little baby rice and milk or water to make it go further.

Going to try mashed bananas next, but because I can't stand the smell of bananas this one for John to do.

10 things I found a could do after having children.

As the title suggest, there are many things I am good at and I few things I excel at (sitting for example) this is a compilation of 10 things I can do now I've had children.

1. Creating food monsters. I have become a master at turning a plate of food into funny faces and monsters, not because James won't eat, but because it makes him happy when he see it. 
2. Became a master at play doh. Give me a blob of dough and I can create things that Henry Moore would be proud of. 
3.  Multitasking. OK, before I had children I could multitask, but often I had a choice whether I wanted to or not. Now, I'm lucky if the multitasking only involves 2 things. It is a good thing I am an excellent juggler. 
4. Actually like children programmes. I have discovered that they snare you in. You start just absentmindedly watch bits of a program while doing something else (multitasking see). Then, I find I'm watching the whole thing while multitasking. Now I'm sitting down purposely watching it, commenting and doing voices throughout the day. Darn you Peppa Pig.
5. Go out semi-naked. I never would do this before children and given an option I would never do this after children. Called it forgetfulness or baby brain, but after feeding Penny I have been known to not do up my feeding bra. Poor postman. 
6. Invent a noise for a giraffe and a camel. Thanks to Dear Zoo for this one. 
7. Be a human climbing frame, digger, slide, horse etc.
8. 4min Showers. After watching TV the other night about a woman's rehabilitation program where the women were only allowed a 2min showers. I time my shower time, 4mins. It is a rush in rush out job, with the door open so I can hear any yelling, screaming or crashing. Baths are classified as a luxury which I have to book in advance. 
9. Cook. Before children cooking involved taking something out of the freezer and sticking it into the microwave or oven. Now I cook and bake from scratch. We may sneak in the odd frozen pizza here and there, but most the time we eat homecooked food.
10. Smile and laugh. Yes, I smiled and laughed before, so number 10 is a bit of a cop out, but not to the same extent. James and Penny amuse me and make me laugh everyday.
    
     

5 Essential Light Nights to go to in October.

Fancy doing something completely different for a day/evening out, then Light Nights are something enjoyable for the whole family. Light Nights see buildings being turned into works of art, by lights being projected onto them. They have been around for a while now, but more towns and cities are getting into act and seeing it as a way to get tourism and as most of the Light Nights are free to go to, it is a win win for everyone.

1: Leeds: Friday 4th October from 5pm. Leeds opens its galleries, museums, public buildings and open spaces for everyone. The evening includes over 50 family friendly activities ranging from theatre, performance to story telling. http://lightnightleeds.co.uk/

2: The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry, Scotland. Friday 4th-27th October.

The Enchanted Forest is one of the oldest Light Night Festivals, this award winning event has be going for over 10 years.As the names suggests the Enchanted Forest is a magical experience and one not to be missed. This sound and lit show is set within a woods which are lit, creating a ethereal atmosphere. There is a charge for this event. http://www.enchantedforest.org.uk/

3: Bury: Friday 11th October from 6pm.

Bury are being a little secretive on what they are planning on doing this year, but they do promise it being spectacular, and by the look of at last years photos, the event it will amazing. With diverse street entertainment and colourful light display, it looks like a fantastic evening out. http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8511

4: Birmingham Hippodrome, Friday 25th-27th October. From 6:30

Birmingham Light Night promises 3 evenings of interactive light show entertainment, including a 360 cinema experience. There is a trail around the area which leads to the square and the first 100 visitors there will receive free Illoom balloons which will add extra light to your evening.

http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/whatson_focus.asp?showid=1810

5: York, 30th Oct-2nd Nov. 

Using Yorks historic buildings as a backdrop, illuminating York is a spectacular showcase. This year you can, taste chocolate in the dark, visit beautiful buildings by candlelight and be wowed by the projected images on buildings including the famous York Minster and the National Train Museum.  http://illuminatingyork.org.uk/

The teacher in me is sneaking out.

Grandad gave James a tractor catalogue. James being mad and tractors, combines and diggers wanted to make a picture for his room. So we spent the morning cutting out farming pictures. I have make. I think I've gone into teacher display mode, just look at the wonderful background I have painted really for tomorrows gluing session.

Penny is on the move.

Penny has got going. not quite crawling, it is sort of a weird carpet swim/shuffle. She looks a bit like a seal out of water. At just 5 months it seems very early. I think it might is a result of trying to escape from James, as he is a little over zealous with her. She seems to know exactly where she is going to goes forward to get it. James and at time John tend to go round in circles, then backwards before achieving anything.

weaning

I know we are a little early to starting weaning and the guidelines are not to until 6 months, but we have started and Penny is doing beautifully.
Right from weeks old she would have a little taste of something off my finger, this then progressed to the tiniest amount on a spoon. Now she is having a few spoonfuls while we have out dinner and tea. I think she thought she was missing out because out normally placid daughter turned into a growling monster when we were eating despite being in her blue chair.
So for the past weeks I have peeled, chopped and boiled all the free Autumn fruit I can get my hands on. Froze it in ice cube trays in preparation for the months to come. We have pear, apple, damson, plum and blackberry to try as well as carrot and sweet potato mush.
With James, who started weaning at 4 months due to being very sick after every feed, we did puree until 6 months then had a mixture of baby led weaning and mush. It seem to work and at the moment at 2.5year old he eats very well.
Here is a picture of Penny in her highchair, she looks so tiny. James likes to sit on my knee and help feed her.

Penny's birth

Defiantly a better birth than James, but it seemed a lot longer. As with James, due to drugs and pain the details are hazy and no doubt John will remember them differently.
On the 26th (due date) a was watching a rubbish film, therefore didn't go to bed very early. I wasn't sleeping very well any way, due to being so fat and having SPD. Two hours later I was regretting stopping up so long, as 2o'clock contractions had started. John was down stairs either sleeping (kicked out of bed) or working can't remember which. I lay there trying to work out whether this was it or now. With James my waters broke so it had definitely started, no so with this one. 2.30 pain wasn't going away, so went downstairs to wake John. John, as with James, didn't seem overly concerned and when to bed, I tried to watch TV. 3.30 pain was getting stronger, so woke John. As we now live away from the hospital we had to sort out baby sitter and a lift. I was worried that either we wouldn't make it to the hospital on time or the hospital would turn us away because I want as far gone as I thought. Decided to ring Dad to come and collect us and Mum to look after James. They both took 1.5 hours to get here, by this time the contractions had really started. Dad arrived saying that he hadn't time for a drink and as he came straight away, john offered him a coffee. I moaned that there wasn't time and he had to make do with a coke. Got to the hospital about 5.30. Dad hung round for a bit to make sure they didn't sent us away. Got examined and was found to be in early labour. Dad went home. By 10o'clock no progress in fact everything had all most stopped and they wanted to sent me home.
Now for the TMI part, after a few tears, the midwife did a sweep and sent me in walk up and down the stairs to try and get things moving. By this time I was shattered so they found me a bed in the ward where I tried to get some sleep. Unfortunately, things started going again, so John and I wandered up and down for a while stopping now and then for contractions. We also went for a walk outside in the cold and rain, didn't really help. Hours and hours later still no go. They decided to break my waters. Wow, did that work instantly there was pain, I thought I could handle it but after a few contractions I was asking for pain relief.
Penny was born quickly afterwards at 7.46pm, weighting 8lb 6oz. It was a total surprise to have a girl, was expecting a little boy. It was a good job we had a girl as it was the only name we could agree on. Penny Lynette.
Dad picked john up at 11pm and he stopped over.
After a rough night with Penny crying all the time and if she wasn't crying the baby in the bed opposite was. John and dad arrived to take us home. They had to wait a while as the nurse told them to let me sleep because of the lack of it in the night. They even managed to examine Penny without disturbing us. We was discharged about 3.00 and went straight to Grandma's to show her Penny. We did stop long, then headed home.
James was introduced to Penny the following day when mum brought him back along with Katie who stopped over a few days. Over the next week we had visitor from both side to come and see the newest member of the family.
For the first 3 weeks Penny was backwards, she would sleep all day and awake all night. It was a struggle to get sleep but thing soon settled out, we put her outside in the sunshine during the day to help. It was also needed as she was quite jaundice it last nearly 2 weeks. She soon made up for the lack of sleep as by 4 weeks old she was only having 2 feeds and it wasn't long before that became 2.
She was and still  is very good. For the first 4 months when we went out she would do nothing but sleep, with was very disappointing for the relatives who wanted a cuddle. At 4 week we went on holiday and she didn't see any of it and slept through the whole thing. Now at 5 months she is enjoying going out looking round and taking it all in.

bzz Agent

I have just got my first free sample from Bzz Agent, a company which sends you goodies in return for honest reviews of the product. My first sample is of WHITE 'N' BRIGHT a produce by Dylon which claims to make your whites whiter, and judging by the state of my undies it is something which I need. It is very easy to use, pop a sheet in the washing machine and away you go. BZz agent have very kindly sent not only samples for me to try but some to give out to friends and family. I was hoping to test it out today on my grubby meant to be white bedding up due to the rain I think I will wait until I can get it dry.

Penny and James

Today is dads birthday, so we started this morning off by giving him a ring. Got the answering machine. As James was practising singing Happy Birthday yesterday, we all left a message singing Happy birthday, even John joined in. It was really sweet.
Penny now on move, she is rolling over everywhere. Though she often gets stuck and lays there wailing until rescued. She is a very happy baby and smiles a great deal. She is use starting to giggle. Her favourite thing are, bouncing, flying, watching James and pulling hair. It isn't often she cries.
Yesterday we popped over to mums. James found crickets to play with and make jump. We also came back with masses of damsons, blackberrys and a big marrow. Not sure what to make yet, might have to freeze some. Will make some puree for Penny. She has just started to eat, just a tiny taste. She doesn't like missing out at meal times. James is doing well potty training. It is costing me a fortune in sweets.

James has been very lucky and got a new bike. Grandma brought for him. We go out most days for a ride. He hasn't quite got the hang of turning the peddle all the water round yet. 

Penny

Exciting news. We have a new addition to the family. A little girl born on 27th April weighing 8lb 6oz. I was so surprised it was a girl thought we were going to have a boy. So now we have a matching set. She is gorgeous, looks so much like her brother at that age. We have called her Penny Lynette, it was one of the few names which both John and I agreed on. James helped chose it as at the time he was Fireman Sam mad and there is a girl called Penny in the books. Though if he had his way she would be named Fireman Sam Pig Pig. Lynette is after Katie.
Penny is absolutely beautiful she is also very well behaved and nowhere near as fussy as James was at that age. By week 5 she started to sleep from 10.30 to 7.00 with only one night feed. Now at 3 months she goes to bed at 8.30 and sleeps to 8.30 with only 1 feed.
James absolutely dotes on her and is always giving her little finger kisses and hugs. John went to see her yesterday and she had a digger sticker over her eye, so we have to keep an eye on him. Marley too is very fascinated by her. She has also started to smile and loves to be bounced and danced with.

2nd birthday

James' 2nd birthday was yesterday. I am shattered. Because he doesn't know anyone his age we decided to go to kids world in Skeg, play and have a meal. Charlie and Marley came too. They all loved it. I enjoyed the meal, mum and dad both came. The cake I made was amazing and tasted great.
James opened his cards in bed with us in the morning, then had a few presents downstairs. He got a remote control car from us which he keeps banging into things. Some bricks from aunty Kerry, Thomas birthday train from aunty Katie and a mouse, grandma Greenaway got him a Thomas lunch box and book. Throughout the day he got Thomas bricks from dad, mix mix stuff from mum, wooden train track bridge and gates from Col. Lovely books from Grandad Metcalf. play do from Ros. He also got some money.

We visited Johns dad in the evening, then nipped in to see grandma to giver some cake, by this time James was fast asleep. He had a very busy day.

James

This has to one of the cutest photos of James. We are all loving our new house and the village we live in. John is getting someone in to do the garage as an office next week. Fingers cross it should done in 2 weeks leaving enough time for us to decorate James' new bedroom and get him settled in a big boys bed.
Pregnancy is going well. Baby is constantly kicking me, having restless night now and also a problem moving think it might be something called SPD but I need to see the midwife and ask her about it. James' birthday is coming up. We have arranged a small party at kids world in Skegness. I'm just debating whether to make or buy a birthday cake. Thinking of doing a Thomas one but Marley is having a Thomas themed party on the Saturday before, so I might do something different.
Holly and I have booked to go and see Rocky Horror in March. I would normally dress up, but I will be 8 months pregnant and not sure I can get away with corset and stockings. X

Christmas Part 2

John and I told everyone about the baby over Christmas. Most were very surprised, but pleased for us. All the family know now. I think we will wait a bit, before we tell friends, because it is still very early on. I have a blood test on the 4th Jan which I hate. The scan date is on the 7th Feb hopefully mum will have James for a few hours because I don't really want him in the hospital, sometimes there is a long wait.

Moved

Well we have been in about a 2 weeks. It still feels as if we are living someone else's house and it takes a moment to work out which room I need. I'm also not just to having so many doors in a house and they are doors which work and shut correctly. It feels like we are living in luxury, we have hot running water, which we didn't have before unless we put the tank on, after 5 years of washing our hands in cold water it is bliss. We also have a garage, extra bedroom, dish washer and a lovely large dining area. James was a little unsettled with the move. I think it was because we kept having to go back to Boston to clear out the rest of the stuff. He looked in all the kitchen cupboards saying gone gone gone in a little sad voice. He also came running into the bedroom and stopped mid flow and look very confused and sad. Since the moved we have had a few rough nights where he wouldn't settle and if he woke up I think he was confused and took ages to calm down. He has also been a little mardy in the morning again due to the surprise of being somewhere different.
Managed to get the Christmas shopping finished today, I went into Boston and had a facial and eyebrow wax and did a little shopping. Now I give up, everyone has got at least one gift so that will do. Going to enjoy the run up to Christmas now and chill out.
James and I ventured in to the local community last Saturday. We visited a local church group who had put on a childrens Christmas activity morning. It was really pleasant and everyone was very friendly. We have been invited to tea and toast with them on Friday. We also had a trip to see Santa at Heckington windmill. James was slightly wary of Father Christmas and the only thing he said to him was 'clock' and 'tick tock'. He did however enjoy the windmill.
Had the second scan last weeks., baby looks fine, I have to have a 3rd scan nearer the due date but we will panic about that at a later date.
 

Packing

All our possessions are gradually being packed into boxes. I can't believe how much stuff we have got. James' bedroom it nearly packed apart from his clothes and toys. The kitchen has been gutted with just the essentials left. John has cleared one of the sheds and tidied the garden. I dare no touch the dining room as it is Johns domain.We move in two weeks and have got so much to do before then. Including getting organised for Christmas. Panic is starting to take over.

Logic

Normal we can eventually work out James logic. For example he calls a helicopter a 'plany' because plane is easier to say and it flies.
However we are stuck on 'Deny' for windmill.