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.

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

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! :)