Thursday 28 April 2016

He isnt a tiny baby anymore...


I bavent been the sentimental type when it comes to Archie moving away from "baby stage", so far anyway. I donated and gave away most of Archie's baby clothes with a ruthlessness that may shock most Mums (we just don't have the space to keep/store them all). I didn't get misty eyed over the 6 month mark, or that I had stopped counting in weeks.

However, what has made me emotional over my little boy growing up was cutting his hair. And not just because I had to do it and did a bad job, (it looks a bit jagged in some places). A hairdresser I am not.

I just couldn't believe the change in how he looked. Pre hair cut he looked like a pudgy baby with overgrown baby fluff/hair. But now he looks like a little boy rather than a baby!

His hair seems more adult now too, coarser rather than baby soft and fluffy. It is no longer that bit too long and, and to me it has made such a difference.

I looked at my handiwork, ignoring the severe edges around his ears, and realised for the first time he wasn't really a tiny baby anymore. It made me want to do something crazy like glue the hair back on. Of course I wouldn't.

But the change was done, it was permanent and I was forced to realise I had said goodbye to my small baby.

I actually wanted to cry when I realised the difference.

I know this means many more exciting things are on the horizon but it was a sad moment as a Mummy to say good bye to those days of a small baby.

Tuesday 26 April 2016

Nursery Decipher

Butter wouldn't melt...
My son has been going to nursery since he was 4 months old, it has done him the world of good and the staff are amazing with him.

However, they are barely ever negative about him. If I took what they said at face value it seems he is all sweetness and light for them, which I am not sure I believe. (As he is not that at home).

I think they may be sugar coating things. So I have created my "nursery decipher" - taking what they say and putting into "real" feedback.

What they say: He is very independent!
What they really mean: He wouldn't do a damn thing he was told to do and I am so glad he is going home.

What they say: He has really interacted with the other babies today.
What they really mean: He hit several other children with a toy/brick/book and we had to put him in baby prison (aka baby walker) to save the other kids.

What they say: He really enjoyed the sensory area today.
What they really mean: He destroyed the sensory area!

What they say: He loved reading time.
What they really mean: He wouldn't sit still, he tried to steal/eat the book before hitting another baby with it.

What they say: He has made you a biscuit/cake today.
What they really mean: He made you a biscuit today... dont eat it, all the babies made it together and it contains enough dribble and snot to sink a battle ship!

What they say: He has been so active today.
What they really mean: I have chased him around all day while he rampages and destroys the entire nursery, he could make Attila the Hun look like a fairy!

What they say: He really is active, even during a nappy change.
What they really mean: We have to get three staff to hold him down while we change his nappy/clothes because he wriggles so much. We are investing in a nappy changing unit with straps!

What they say: He loved playing in the ball pit.
What they really mean: He refused to get out at the end of the play session and had a tantrum when we had to remove him. He head butted the nursery manager in his tantrum rage and she has a black eye.

If they do ever say...

"He has been a handful today, was grumpy or difficult..." well... send the staff flowers because I dread to think how bad it really was.

(He hasn't really head butted the nursery manager of course... yet...)

Liebster Award: Discover New Blogs!


I love the blogging community, they always show you in unexpected ways that this is a real community... (and I especially love parent bloggers, they are on the same crazy journey). I was really surprised and appreciative to be nominated for The Liebster Award by MummyBlueBlog. The Liebster Award is something meant to welcome and promote great new blogs into the community. 

Its a classic Q&A, you answer your nominator’s questions then post your own to the other bloggers you nominate.

These are the rules:
  • Thank the person who nominated you and link back to his/her blog
  • Copy and paste the Liebster Award badge to your post
  • Answer ten questions you’ve been asked
  • Nominate 5 new bloggers that you want to share with the world
  • Then create ten new questions for the bloggers you are nominating
  • Notify the bloggers that you have nominated

My nominations for the 5 blogs I would like to share:

mumtomorethanachild

Deep In The Cornish Countryside

A Mum Track Mind

Craft, Love, Learn

SCABECOMINGMUM

My questions to my 5 nominated bloggers are:
  • What is your favourite family moment/memory?
  • If you could rule the world what would you change?
  • Favourite holiday destination?
  • Do you own a pet? (If so, what is it?)
  • What was your favourite school subject?
  • What was the last book you read?
  • What is your favourite season and why?
  • What do you love most about blogging?
  • What is your favourite phone App?
  • Who inspires you the most?


My answers to  questions:
If you could be invisible for the day, what would you do?
Sneak onto a plane to the Maldives!

What made you start blogging?
I needed an outlet for the hard days of late pregnancy and being a new Mum! Plus, wanting to review places/baby things I have. I think sharing knowledge as a parent is important.

Marmite…love it or hate it?
Love it! Yum!

If you won the lottery..what would you buy first?
Give some to my close family!

Country or town to live?
Country - I desperately want chickens!

What best describes you in 3 words?
Contrary, Competitive, Caring

If you could be anything…what would it be?
Travel writer... I want to see the world!

What is your guilty pleasure?
Trashy sci-fi romance novels.

Grow old gracefully or hair dye?
Hair dye until I am all grey then I am gonna rock grey!

The best moment in your life so far?
Marrying my husband (I know I should say the birth of my son, but the birth was pretty long and ended in a stressful c-section, so I don't feel I would be being honest if I said that. That doesn't mean I dont treasure my son, I love that chubby lil' man!)

Thank you again Mummy Blue for my nomination!

Love,

Mama Lucy xx

Monday 18 April 2016

Honey & Mustard Chicken Recipe

I put together a quick and simple Honey & Mustard Chicken dish the other day and was pretty pleased with how it turned out.

So naturally I snapped some pictures of its deliciousness before wolfing it down.


If anyone else wants to recreate this then the recipe is below.

 







Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, diced up
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 can of new potatoes, cut up into quarters
1 carrot, diced/small cubes
1 courgette, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons of mustard (I think wholegrain mustard is best for this recipe)
2 tablespoons of creme fraiche
3 tablespoons of runny honey
Handful of mushrooms sliced up
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Method

First of all, fry of onion and garlic in a pan, with the vegetable oil. Then add in the chicken, season to taste and cook... until the chicken goes from fleshy pink to white, you now, so you can eat it ;)
Then add in the carrot, mushrooms, potatoes, courgette, cook for about 5 minutes before adding the honey and mustard. Mix these in well, so everything gets an even coating of the mustard and honey.
I usually add about 2 tablespoons of water at this stage just to avoid things sticking to the pan and loosen any flavours from the pan.
Once the carrot is soft turn the heat down on the pan and add the creme fraiche. Mix everything together well for a couple of minutes and then serve.

We had this with rice and buttered baguette. It was YUMMMM...

Enjoy if you make it! :)

Friday 15 April 2016

Cornwall is calling...


About a month ago my husband, baby and I all drove down to Cornwall for a long weekend. We went with the objective of a family break and a chance to see family there.

I could go on about all the things we did but the real highlight of our trip was the place we stayed.

It.was.just.amazing.

It wasnt that it was 5 star luxury, it was more that it was perfect for our small family. We stayed with Avallon Lodges in Launceston, who rent out 6 Norwegian eco lodges in a beautiful rural setting (a 200 acre farm) via Hoseasons.

I feel like I have to share this place on the blog because it is just perfect for families.

On arrival we got a bit lost but a quick call got us through to the friendly Ross, who pointed us in the right direction and greeted us on arrival. He also had the adorable and incredibly friendly retired sheep dog, Wilf with him. (Wilf was a massive hit, even my husband wanted to dognap him, and take him home, and he isnt a massive fan of dogs).

The lodge was one of their 2 bedroom options, with a hot tub outside. The bedrooms are small but have all the space you need to rest your head and store your luggage/clothes. We rented a travel cot for my son (Archie), rather than take up more boot space with it, because we had a lot of stuff (just for a long weekend!). Naturally it everything you need for baby.

You can also rent a highchair with them, via your Hoseason's booking.

The living room has seating enough for everyone and the cabin has an open plan space for the living room, small kitchen and dining room. It is adorably compact and has everything you need. It has a TV and DVD for lazy days too.

Of course, a real highlight was the hot tub. It eased away the aches and pains of parenting and stressful jobs. The deserving parents managed to steal some time in the hot tub in the evenings, once Archie was asleep. We snuck out with the baby monitor and a bottle of Prosecco, relaxing in the cold evening in a deliciously warm, bubbling hot tub.

As well as the cabins being ideal for families, the farm is set in beautiful Cornish countryside. They have a lake you can walk up to (take wellies/walking boots) and you will have the friendly sheepdog, Wilf as a guide. It was also lambing season while we were there so we managed to sneak a peek at some excitable little lambs... Archie wasn't quite sure what to make of them.

The local area is full of family friendly activities, not least the beaches to explore. Nothing blows away citylife cobwebs better than a salty breeze! Also, Dartmoor Zoo is about an hour away and I highly recommend a visit. This family run zoo, which the film "We Bought a Zoo" is based on, is a great way to spend a day with children of all ages.

So, if anyone is looking for a family holiday I can't recommend Avallon Lodges enough! I can see how charming this place is for families with children of all ages, but I really felt that it was a great first holiday as a family with a baby.

Avallon Lodges have their own website: http://www.avallonlodges.co.uk

But to book you need to go via Hoseasons: http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/lodges/avallon-lodges-aval

Thursday 14 April 2016

7 signs your a Mama!

The tiny dictator in my life!
I managed to sneak in a nice, long hot shower today while my son was napping. It was awesome!

I even managed to shave my legs! When your husband complains that your hairy legs are prickling him in bed then you know you have got to make some "me" time!

While I was lather, rinse, repeating in the shower I was thinking about how I am such a "Mum" type these days! All those kind of funny, kind of frustrating things that mean you have a tiny person dictating your life. Here are my top 7 signs of motherhood!

One: The sexiest words your husband can say to you in bed are "I will get him/her" (meaning he will go and sort the crying baby in the middle of the night, so you get to continue sleeping). Those words can make any Mum weak at the knees!

Two: When you go shopping for clothes you never get anything for yourself! I spent 4 hours in town the other day and bought nothing for me, but my son is going to look like a fashion victim this summer!

Three: You no longer get designer bag envy, that is replaced by pram envy... That woman has the new Cosatto limited edition Wonder... Bitch!
 
Four: You have "the" hair cut. One day you will cave, you will go to your hairdresser and beg for a easy to maintain and quick to blow dry Mummy cut. It will happen, I caved just last month. 

Five: You clean your whole house with baby wipes! I think it is because there is literally a pack of baby wipes in every corner of my house (but typically never any when you have a nappy explosion to deal with).

Six: Your laundry basket develops magically powers. No matter how many washes a day you to, it never goes down!

Seven: You have nothing to talk about (if it isn't about babies). Before I was a parent, I couldn't understand those parents that had nothing to talk about besides children/their kids. But I am one! I cant help it though. I was sat having my Mummy haircut the other day and I couldn't think of any conversation starters (that weren't about kids). I just sat there for 20 minutes trying to think of something witty to say... and I had nothing!