Ball pit fun

His Gran gave Wee Man a ball pit for Christmas which he loves. Plus it's great for him to practice sitting - he gets a soft landing. 

I like this yellow one. I think I'll eat it. 

Blue ones taste nice too. 

Playing hide and seek.

Boobies just like mum!

It's like Christmas!

I had three parcels this morning - the rest of my goodies arrived. 

Tiny cutters in various shapes,

cute forks,

and some freebies - some cookie cutters with imprints, some rice ball wrappers with animal faces on and a couple of sauce bottles - thank you!

I can't wait to start using them. They are all so cute and tiny!

My first lolly

Wee Man has been having a bit of constipation since starting solids. He's a bit reluctant to let you feed him from a spoon so I made him some plum puree and yoghurt lollies. It should be nice for his gums too.

I put 1/4 cup of milk powder in this batch of yoghurt and it was lovely thick.

Bed head

Piggy picnic

Most Thursdays we pick up Wee Man's Gran and go to visit his Great Gran (hello Nana) and Great Grandad. The last visit or two he has been tired when we arrive so I thought I'd bring his lunch with him so they get more awake time.

Plus it was a good excuse for me to use some of the goodies the postman delivered today.

Some cute food containers,

and an expressions cutting set (woohoo).

We had ham in the fridge and a pig container so there was only one way to go...a piggy ham sandwich.

His Gran loved helping him with his lunch and he loved being the center of attention.

P.S. He had a yoghurt with puréed fruit too but that wasn't cute enough to be in the photo.

Poor Megdog

On Friday night Meg's ear became swollen. A quick google suggested Aural Hematoma.

We went to the vets on Saturday morning he the syringed the blood out. Meg was very brave and only gave a couple of tiny yelps. Sometimes this works and the ear heals up but not today. By the time we got home her ear was filled with blood again.

On Monday she was operated on. They drained the blood and sewed the ear together. This causes scar tissue and stops the ear from being able to create a blood pocket.

The stitches have to stay in for three weeks.





Poor Megdog.

March of the penguins

Wee Man loves Pingu so I wanted to make him a penguin lunch today.

I started by boiling the eggs and dying them blue and pink. Instructions here.

When the eggs were a deep enough colour I sliced the bottom off so they stood up, then chopped the bottom in two for wings. I then added cheese and cucumber eyes, carrot beak and a cheese tummy. I meant to do carrot feet but forgot. The eyes were a bit faffy but I got there in the end.

As luck would have it the first of my bento picks arrived today, so I made some little fruit kebabs on sea animal picks for his pudding.

The finished masterpiece. I need more practice to get things tidier but not bad for my first go.

Yum yum. Just some penguin innards remained.

Here's lookin' at you kid

The first of my supplies arrived today - yay! I was meeting my mum for a picnic and duck feeding, so I dressed desert up a little.

Lunch was a hit but the seagulls stole the duck's bread and they were so noisy they made Wee Man cry.

Professor Toddles says...

Today I have constructed a model of the element boron. Tomorrow I will make plutonium.

Beware minions.

Not just another lunch!

I'm so excited. I've found bento supplies on eBay!

I should probably start at the beginning. A while ago I stumbled across anotherlunch.com and was really taken by her lunch-boxes - they are just so cute.

Bento lunch-boxes are big in japan (and starting to take off in america too I think). I don't think any kid there goes to school with a boring cheese sandwich for their packed lunch. They are instead an art form in which the mums compete.

I was looking to see what the latest creations were on anotherlunch.com yesterday, and thought I'd see what eBay had to offer in the way of bento supplies. I was amazed at the selection because when I last checked there wasn't much at all. I was quite restrained - honest - but postie will have a few parcels to deliver over the next few days.

I'm sure I'll need lots of practice before my lunches are anything like as good as some of the ones I've seen, but here is today's creation (and this is before my goodies have arrived).

Must start thinking about tomorrow's artistic masterpiece...

Tiny talk

On Tuesdays we go to baby sign language classes. They are great fun - and educational - but mostly fun.

Today we learnt the signs for Mummy, Daddy, baby, who and home. All the signs are based on British sign language so it's a useful skill for me to learn.

When Wee Man does his first sign then he gets a certificate! Watch this space...

You know you co-sleep when...

You wake up to a beautiful baby boy blowing raspberries on your boob.

He's such a cheeky chops!

Damn child!

Ate most of my lemon curd yoghurt!

In the blue corner weighing in at...

We had weight issues when Wee Man was born. He was a very robust 9lb 5oz but quickly lost weight over the first few days dropping to just under 8lb. He had a tongue tie and so wasn't feeding very efficiently. One of my "favourite" moments was bring told by the midwife that if he lost any more weight he would be hospitalised, but not to worry because that would affect my milk supply. Aaahhh!!!

After a few weeks of struggling, topping up with formula and finally getting his tongue tie snipped, we got feeding cracked. I'm chuffed that he is now gaining weight perfectly and has been following the 50th percentile for a good few months.

On his half birthday he weighed in at 17lb 11oz - perfect.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Wee Man is a bit of a liability.

I had to visit the physio this week because I've got a hernia after having him. Big Man had to go back to the hospital for the third time to get his eye checked after the baby scratched it.

We need baby insurance - or some kind of baby cage.

Co-sleeping

It's just a posh word for having the baby in the bed with you but it's something that everyone seems to have an opinion on. "You're making a rod for your own back", blaa, blaa.

However research shows that you are likely to breastfeed for longer if you co-sleep, and I can see why; no getting up in the night, baby just snuggles a little bit closer and helps themselves. You get more sleep and the baby is happy. Plus you get to sleep snuggled up with the cutest little bundle of delight. And get woken up by them practicing blowing raspberries on your boob :)

If I needed any reassurance that I'm not storing up problems for myself then the kellymom website (great breastfeeding resource) gives it: http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/comfortnursing.html

Cartoon eyes

He just needs some love heart shaped pupils...

Recipe: Home made yoghurt

We're starting to get through quite a lot of yoghurt at the moment as Wee Man loves it. It's supposed to be very simple to make so I thought I'd give it a go.

Ingredients:
1 litre of uht full fat milk
2 large tablespoons of live yoghurt

Method:
1. Warm the milk slightly (I put it in the microwave for 2 minutes).
2. Add the yoghurt (it's fine to use the last of the previous batch but you might need to get a fresh pot every now and again) and stir until well mixed.
3. Put in yoghurt maker for 15 hours then fridge for 6 hours.

You can add milk powder to make it thicker but I couldn't see any when I was last shopping.

It turned out really well - a bit thin but the milk powder would sort that out. Wee Man approved and slurped his down with some mango puree on the side.

A boy's best friend

Wee Man loves watching the dogs and cat. He thinks that Scooby is the funniest dog ever!





Scooby quite likes him too - I wonder why!

Lookin' cute!

Trying out his toy storage for size

Mummy, thai prawn fish cakes are SPICY!

Oops - I gave Wee Man a mouthful before I had tasted them. He was right - they were very spicy. I'm a bad Mummy! Thankfully he is quite good now at letting us know what he wants and after looking at me with very big eyes, he pointed at his water then drank about a gallon of it. I'm a bad Mummy!





So far he's eaten:
Mashed potato
Roast sweet potato
New potato
Carrot
Broccoli
Asparagus
Peas
Tomato
Cucumber
Celery
Spring onion (a bit surprised at this one)
Banana
Apple
Pear
Mango
Cherries
Raspberries
Grapes
Cheese
Tuna
Roast chicken
Salmon
Cod
Shepherds pie
Spag bol
Pizza
Pasta
Falafels (again quite surprised)
Rice
Chicken tikka
Nan bread
Toast
Weetabix
Porridge
Yoghurt
I'm sure there is other stuff I've forgotten

So far he's rejected:
Thai prawn fish cakes
Lentil dhal

I don't think I can complain really. Mind you I'm sure it won't last!

Mummy led babying

That's what Big Man calls what we do - I read the books, scour the Internet, etc and summarise what I've found. He says "yes dear" and does what I've come up with. It seems to work for us - he's very laid back and I'm a bit more of a stress head.

I think he is gently taking the micky - cheeky monkey.

Monday is wash day

So are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - or at least that's that it feels like.

Since we started solids my washing has increased significantly, mostly with bibs and babygros. Thank goodness for washing machines. Of all the household gadgets it is my favourite. I'd happily give up my dishwasher, microwave, electric kettle, toaster and blender if I get to keep my washing machine.

Can I keep my fridge too please. Else my G&T will get warm.

Kirsty Allsopp - you're fired!

I know, I know - I'm mixing my tv programs up.

I have some very talented friends and family and have been given some beautiful hand made cards this year. I reckon they could give Kirsty a run for her money.

Good bye 2011, hello 2012

What a year!

A beautiful baby boy and 6 months off work to spend with him - what more could I ask for?

I can't wait to see what 2012 brings - walking, talking and lots of fun.

Happy new year everyone x