Musicals, Metropolis and the Moon

Eve playing with the Leapfrog Farm

A Leapfrog Farm arrived in the post for Eve, from Uncle Jon, Liz and Lottie on Friday evening. She's had a great time playing with it this weekend. 'Old Macdonald' is one of her favourite songs. She loves owls and cows and is very keen at turning light switches on and off - so this toy has been a big hit with her.

http://www.thisismetropolis.com/

Sam was up before me and Eve on Saturday morning to get the train to London to take part in a Samplethon at Metropolis Studios. 

He had been selected with 19 other sample based producers from across the UK.

Metropolis Studios started hosting Whosampled.com Samplethon for the first time in 2014 and it seems to be going from strength to strength.

Sam said it was an intense day but a good challenge. He had a great time talking to like-minded producers working alongside him, and judges who included; Roni Size, Ollie Teeba from the Herbaliser, and Breakage.




Sam said the studios are completely amazing. So many of the greats from across the decades have recorded there. I'm glad that Sam had the chance to experience and be part of such a cool event.

Meanwhile at home, I was pottering about in the kitchen, when Eve came running out of the lounge shouting, 'Mummy, Aliens, Moon!' Q Pootle 5 had begun on tv. After the show, she came in to the kitchen to have fun with play dough. I was still busy cleaning. After a while Eve looked at me and held up her play dough creation for me to see. She said, 'Mummy, Moon.' I loved that she had made craters in her play dough moon, it wasn't just a ball. Good attention to detail I thought.

Eve's play dough moon creation

During the afternoon as it was stormy we stayed indoors and decorated a gingerbread man. It was quite a hard biscuit, and Eve was a bit cross about it at first. But shortly she got on board with it and loved eating the pieces that I broke off for her. 

As it started getting dark on Saturday afternoon, I found 'Annie' on Sky and put it on for Eve. I wasn't sure if it would hold her attention. I fast forwarded to some of the big show tunes and she just loved it. I shed a few happy tears, seeing her excitedly dancing about. For so many years I thought that I might never have a baby; decorating gingerbread men and watching 'Annie' with Eve are what my dreams are made of. And although we missed Daddy greatly, it was nice to spend quality time with my girl. We played and had cuddles throughout the day, which was a real treat.

'Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love Ya, Tomorrow!'

Traffic Light Activity

Today at nursery Eve has been learning about traffic lights. She listened to the instructions and then ran forward when the adult said, 'go'. The next step is to learn not to run I guess.

On Wednesday when we arrived home from nursery, Eve asked me to read a book with her. She pointed, and instead of saying, 'A, B, C's' she said, 'alphabet book.' 

This morning Sam asked me if he looked ok in what he was wearing. Eve turned to look at him and said, 'Daddy's weird!' And so, it begins....  :-)

Happy Time

Daddy and Eve in Arnos Vale Cemetery this weekend.

Yesterday morning as Daddy strapped Eve into her pram, ready for me to take her to nursery, Eve looked at us and said, 'bye bye slide, bye bye swings, bye bye sponges, happy time.' She was of course referring to the lovely weekend that we have just spent together.

When I collected Eve on Friday, the nursery girls explained to me that Eve had spent most of the day in the Bouncies room, as the beginning of her settling in days. After saying hello to the moon on the way home, she excitedly told me how she had been out in the big garden. 

The garden off the Tweenies room which she is currently in, is really just a narrow balcony which doesn't get any sunshine. It's been fine for this past year whilst they've been younger, but when she moves into the Bouncies room it will be lovely for her to spend time in the big garden. During the summer if a Friday happened to be sunny, as a treat the Tweenies would be out in the big garden with the older children at the end of the day. Sam and I loved picking her up seeing her having fun outside in the wendy house and on the trikes.

I love looking up into the large window as I walk up the hill toward nursery in the evening. Sometimes Eve sees me, but even if she doesn't just seeing the kids running about playing is so sweet. I'm looking forward to seeing Eve's face behind the Bouncies garden gate instead soon. She will move up into their class in the middle of December when she turns two.

I must say that I'm really glad that I double checked with the accounts department of our nursery. I knew that the cost changes when a child turns 2 years, but I wasn't sure of the details. When they checked our account it turned out that we've been wrongly charged for the past few months, so Sam and I were owed £200 each. With nursery fees being so high to get this refund is a big help.

Getting in the festive spirit 

Christmas began at 5.45am on Saturday morning in our house (even though we haven't hit December yet). Sam and I woke up to hear Eve singing 'Jingle Bells' in bed. I took her downstairs and pulled out the Casio Keyboard. I found the pre-set Christmas songs and we blasted them out whilst dancing and clapping. Eve made me laugh a lot.

We headed to Lidl to do the shopping after our early morning shenanigans. Depending on what the item was, I handed it to her to put in the trolley. She's so funny; she would take something from me and say, 'gently' and would then fling it into the trolley. Not so good when it's a bunch of tomatoes! I told her what each product was as we went through the store, and she repeated each word after me. She always charms other shoppers in Lidl, with quite a few of them saying hello to her.

 Navi with Agnes, Jilly and Lamorna, and Elodie

On Sunday afternoon I took Eve in a taxi over to Bishopston in Bristol to celebrate Laura's birthday.

We spent a couple of hours chilling out together, playing with the children and eating birthday cake.

It was lovely to see my dear old friends. Our girls are so cute and played very well with each other.

Eve loved playing with Elodie and Agnes' toys and books

The electrics aren't working on our car so I didn't want to drive it, but getting a taxi was nice because it meant that I could point things out to Eve as we drove past. We looked at cool graffiti on Stokes Croft, and Eve just loved seeing all the twinkling Christmas lights down Gloucester Road.

On the way home in the taxi we got stuck in traffic. I was a bit worried that Eve was going to get upset, but instead she started singing 'The Wheels on the Bus,' which made our taxi driver laugh. When we got out of the taxi at our house, I said 'cheers' to the driver, Eve then waved at him and said, 'bye bye, cheers!' He drove off down the road laughing and waving.

Enjoying the rocking horse at Laura's house

Eve loved squidging this frog. 

I asked her what it was and she said, 'frog, rrribbett, rrribbett!'

Me with Lamorna

Eve had a very happy weekend, and even played her toy saxophone successfully for the first time. Unfortunately she pretty much only ate meat, pasta and yogurts and refused to eat anything else during the weekend. On Sunday the poor girl found it difficult using the potty. I took boxes of raisins to nursery and asked them to try to get her to eat as much fruit and veg and water as they could, but when I collected her last night she was upset and had not had a good day due to a sore tummy.

I gave her a fruit smoothie as soon as we arrived home, then she wandered about wailing. I managed to soothe her to help her use the potty. She was much happier by the time that Daddy arrived home. Daddy says that we have to change tactics and be firm with her. I often give in on the weekends rather than battling her at meal time. Generally she eats very well at nursery, and pretty well at home. When she doesn't have the other children there eating fruit and veg next to her it's more difficult to get her to eat these things. Daddy is going to make his special vegetable pasta sauce tomorrow when they share the morning together. Fingers crossed that will go well.

Carry The Future - and - Carriers for Kos

www.facebook.com/carrythefuture/?pnref=story

I saw this on Facebook today and wanted to share it with you.

After seeing the harrowing images of Syrian refugees, many of them with tiny babies and small children, a lady in California has set up a charity. She wanted to do something to help these people who are struggling to carry their children, so she has set up a charity called 'Carry The Future.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/people-donate-hundreds-of-baby-carriers-to-refugees-carrying-children-to-europe-in-their-arms-a6686406.html

You can donate your used and loved baby carrier via the Facebook page. It has a full list of FAQ's, if you read their guidelines you will see how easy it is to send them your well loved baby carrier.

The lady and her friends have set up a group who personally take the carriers over to Greece and distribute them themselves.

This is a great way to help the refugees. I look at the images of these people and think how easily it could be me and Eve. 

Copyright Carry The Future - this is team leader Sarah Johnson in Athens with Zarah and her father. 

Zarah's father said it hurt his and his wife's back carrying their daughter for so long. They fitted the carrier  to him yesterday and he said, 'finally peace.' Peace of mind, peace of heart, and hopefully a way to make the world a little bit more peaceful.

They do ask only for soft structured fabric carriers - ones like Baby Bjorn are good. The distribution group fit the carrier to the parent in Greece. They only have a few minutes for this process and little or no communication due to language barriers, so easy to fit carriers are best. They are not accepting wraps or pouches.

However, if your baby carrier has a small pocket you could slip a little note inside or a small soft, fabric toy. They are not accepting toy donations at the moment, but something soft and little that fits inside the carrier would be ok.

Thank you to Carry The Future for setting up such a great charity, and thanks for allowing me to share this information.

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR MUMMY AND DADDY FRIENDS!

www.facebook.com/carrythefuture/?pnref=story

Since writing the above I've found Cheshire, UK based charity, Carriers for Kos.

They are also accepting baby carriers for refugees. You can send to them in Cheshire, or you can send direct to Greece - but check the customs charges before you send as the cost can be quite substantial.

There is full information on their website below. They also have a Facebook page.

http://www.carriersforkos.co.uk/

www.facebook.com/groups/878450718889374/

Prepping for Christmas

Having a great time making Christmas cards with Mummy on a rainy Saturday morning.

On Friday afternoon I was worrying about Eve and her teeth whilst I was at work, so I phoned nursery to see how she was. They said she had only eaten half a yogurt for lunch. I asked them to give her some medicine. I'm so glad that I phoned them as I don't like to think of Eve in pain. 

The medicine must have helped. I rushed from work to collect Eve on Friday evening as I couldn't wait to see her, after such a difficult week. She came straight over to me and looked very happy; the happiest I had seen her in the past 7 days. I had a nice chat with the nursery staff whilst I got Eve into her pram. Daniel, who is one of Eve's friends came over to her to say goodbye. They have been potty training together and are good potty pals. Apparently they high five each other and say hurrah when the other does a successful wee! Funny things. 

College Green, Bristol. I love walking through here between nursery and work each day.

Daniel's mum was there and we both laughed and smiled at how happy our kids were together. Daniel then came over to Eve and gave her a kiss on the lips. It was a beautiful moment and the nursery staff and us mum's oooh'ed and aaah'ed about it together. 

On the way out of nursery, Daniel's mum invited Eve to his birthday party in December. It turns out that Daniel and Eve were born on the same day with about half an hour's difference. It was nice to be able to laugh about the fact that we were both going through child birth at the same time - hindsight is such a great thing isn't it. It took me a long time to get over the trauma of that experience, but of course as a mum I look back on it with mixed emotions. Our minds are so clever at helping us to remember the positive parts and not the negative as we progress into the future.

Unfortunately this is not the 'Alfie' that I remember from the original 1980's books.

On Thursday evening I passed the bath time baton over to Sam, as I just couldn't handle another bath battle with Eve. I felt sad to be missing out on her bed time routine but also felt very lucky that Sam was there to be able to give me a bit of a break. Friday evening bath time was such a change in comparison. Eve was happy and let me wash her, brush her hair and do her teeth with ease. Granny T gave Eve a little box of 'Alfie' books for her birthday last year. We've just started reading them in Eve's room before bed. 

'Alfie gets in first' by Shirley Hughes, one of my favourites. 

Eve knows that Annie Rose is Alfie's sister and listens intently as I read the books to her.

I was a huge 'Alfie' fan as a child, and Eve is exactly the same. Looking at the illustrations in those books gives me a big hit of nostalgia. Of course, the only problem with the 'Alfie' books is that Eve loves them so much it's tricky getting her to go to sleep, as she wants to read more. She has gone to bed clutching an 'Alfie' book almost every night recently. Luckily my mum bought the book collection from a second hand shop so the illustrations are the original ones. It seems that they've slightly changed the images in the modern books compared with the 1980's versions. Both images above differ from the ones that we have in the books at home. 

The weather has been atrocious lately; really blustery, rainy days and even stormier nights. On Saturday morning, as we couldn't go to the park, I set Eve up in the kitchen to make Christmas cards for friends and family. I cut a couple of shapes from some bath sponges. Eve loved holding the sponges and pushing the paint down on to the cards. She loved throwing the glitter about even more and was a happy mess by the end of our art session.

I guess this post ruins the surprise of these Christmas cards for our friends and family,
but hey ho the internet sucks me in and made me want to share this with you.

Sam in Arnos Vale Cemetery

After our painting session and whilst Eve had her morning nap, Sam and I pushed her in the pram through the woods by our house. We had a drink and shared a piece of cake in the lovely Atrium cafe at the entrance to the cemetery to celebrate our 15th anniversary. Eve had slept all night and had had a lovely morning making the Christmas cards, so we were both feeling super relaxed, after the past weeks stress of her teething.

An arts and crafts cafe has opened near our house last week, so we enjoyed visiting it on Saturday afternoon with Eve. She liked playing with the games and puzzles, and loved sharing some chocolate brownie with Mummy and Daddy.

After we had put Eve to bed that evening we headed to Assilah, a Moroccan restaurant at the end of our road. We had been looking forward to checking it out for a long time. The decor is lovely and it has a nice warm, cosy atmosphere. The food was pretty good but unfortunately after waiting 1.5 hours for it to arrive we had kind of lost the mojo. It was good to spend that time chatting though. We didn't mind that much as we were heading into town for our friends, 'Big in the Gambia' event, fundraising for a hospital in the Gambia, so we left quick sharp after our anniversary meal.

My lovely husband, Sam

We had a great time at the 'Big in the Gambia' event. It was fun seeing friends that we've literally not been out with for a good few years.

Our friend Jess Farmer on the right hand side of this photo has made an incredible effort fundraising for this great cause. He is a real inspiration - thank you Jess!

The Gambian Baby Fund is working towards improving the quality of life of newborn babies and mothers within the Gambia. They will be heading to The Gambia at the end of 2015 to begin work on a brand new maternity wing to be added on to the Royal Victoria teaching hospital in the capital of Banjul. 

Hospitals in Britain are amazing and I feel so grateful that I could give birth in a caring, supportive environment, with medical and specialist care should I have needed it. Please dig deep and donate to help mothers and babies in the Gambia, who really need our help.

If you would like to donate to 'Big in the Gambia' for the Gambian Baby Fund please click the link: 

www.gofundme.com/biginthegambia

http://www.thegambianbabyfund.org/

The dreaded teeth strike again

Sleepy Eve, ready to go to the Teddy Bears Picnic at nursery this afternoon. 

(Part of fundraising for Children In Need week.)

Eve has had sore teeth since Friday, which have become progressively worse. It seems that I spoke too soon on my last post, when I said the pain didn't seem to be as bad as before. Last night for the first time in 8 months she woke up at midnight, 2am and then at 4am she absolutely screamed the house down for half an hour. There was no point in trying to put her back to bed as she was in such a state.

I took her downstairs as she kept asking for breakfast, but of course when I tried to give it to her she didn't want it as her teeth hurt. I managed to put a load of teething gel into her mouth which eased the pain so that she could manage the medicine a little while afterwards.

When Daddy came downstairs just before 8am, Eve was looking very sleepy in her chair watching alphabet songs and I was looking even sleepier about to head out the door for work. Sam put her to bed for a nap at 9am. He said he cuddled her and she fell asleep in his arms, something that hadn't happened in a long time. She did the same with me the other day. 

Whilst I was rubbing teething gel into her gums this morning I felt for any new teeth but she still has 12. She's had 12 teeth for so long. But it now seems that the time must be now for the rest to finally come through. I hope it's quick, for Eve's sake. She doesn't have any canine teeth yet (green in the above image), or any molars.

She's very good at having her teeth brushed now and has been fine with it for the past 4 months or so I guess. Of course when she's in pain she doesn't want her teeth brushed so I don't push it too much. As soon as the pain comes to an end I try to give her teeth an extra good clean.

This afternoon she is off to nursery to take part in the Teddy Bear's Picnic, so I'm sure this will cheer her up. She was telling me yesterday how much she likes playing with her friends there.

Adventure-time at Grandad Col's

Eve inside Grandad Col's greenhouse

Eve had sore teeth both days this weekend and woke up earlier than usual. Saturday she was a trooper and had a great day, even though she was in pain. But Sunday was quite bad and she cried and whimpered all morning. It was one of those tricky ones where you're trying to get things ready to get out the door, but Eve wouldn't let me put her down. Thankfully we were heading down to Wedmore near Cheddar, to see Grandad Col and Jeggsy. Sam and I managed to get Eve in the car after lots of tears. Sleep did her the world of good so that when she woke up she was a lot happier.

She didn't eat much lunch and has been off her food since Friday; however she did love Grandad Col's real 'Cheddar' cheese.

Daddy and Eve, with Saffy the dog and Grandad Col

We had a lovely time wandering through Grandad Col's garden. It was drizzly and grey but it was so good to breathe in the fresh countryside air. Eve loved going inside Grandad's new greenhouse.

Garden construction has been underway all this year and it's really coming on. I feel so happy that Eve can run around three lovely gardens that her grandparent's own, as she grows up. My grandparent's lived in America so we never had the joy of exploring their garden.

Looking at the apple trees, with the greenhouse in the background

Daddy and Eve walking by the fruit cage

I put Eve in a nappy for the car journey down to Cheddar. I didn't take it off her when we arrived as she had been upset with her teeth, so I figured I wouldn't rock the boat. After our walk in the garden we went inside for lunch. Eve then told Daddy that she needed to use the potty. She didn't wee in the nappy at all. Both Sam and I were delighted, it seems that I underestimated our girl. I think we may be able to dismiss the nappy for naps and bedtime in the next coming months which is exciting. To be free from nappies is going to be a wonder!

Eve loved playing with the pebbles in the garden. I remember that during springtime when we visited she did the same. She just loves exploring her surroundings.

During a rather grey lunch break last week I was a bit naughty (but not really) and bought Eve a little pink Mason Pearson hairbrush. The children's size nylon and bristle brush is very cute. I remember my sister having one when we were small.

My mum had a Mason Pearson hairbrush when she was a child and thought it was important that we should also have them. The hairbrushes are expensive but they literally last for a good 20 years. I've had x2 of them during my lifetime, they are made to last and are brilliant things. This classic design was invented in 1885 in London.

http://masonpearson.co.uk/why-us

My mum's mother told her that 'you should brush your hair 50 times every evening.' I helped Eve open the box when we got home from nursery. I was hoping that it might make her happier about having her hair brushed. Of course, I was wrong. She took one look at the hairbrush and started crying.

It gets through tangled hair in one stroke and is definitely helping to keep Eve's hair under control. She's still not keen on it, but I can usually hang onto her for a few strokes of the brush before she wriggles free. 

                                                    Morning pyjama time with Daddy

I learnt a lesson last weekend. Eve and I were having a nice time in the bathroom whilst Sam was out playing basket ball. I told Eve that Daddy would be home to say goodnight to her before she went to bed. We finished up in the bathroom and Daddy had not come home. Eve didn't want to go into her bedroom as this symbolised going to bed without saying good night to Daddy. I took her downstairs to try to calm her down but this made her even worse as we don't go downstairs after bath time usually.

I walked from room to room holding Eve who was by this point very distraught. I sat with her on the rocking chair in her bedroom and tried to explain that Daddy was coming home but he was a bit late. She asked me, 'Is Daddy fine?' and looked very worried about him. I kept telling her over and over that he would be home soon. Thankfully he arrived home and Eve was so happy to see him, she said to him that she wanted to say 'night night' to him. She was completely exhausted and fell asleep straight away. 

For some reason it hadn't crossed my mind that Daddy would be late home. Eve is fine if Daddy is out when she goes to bed, but not of course if she is expecting him to be there. A big lesson learnt there, Mummy.

Eve is so funny with her Dad. He is a massive basket ball fan and loves watching the NBA on his laptop and playing the game on the Playstation. Eve isn't very impressed by this and says to him, 'off the bench Daddy, this way,' and leads him into the lounge to play with her. She also tells him to turn his Playstation off. He complies; this is something I've not managed in fifteen years. Well done Eve! ha ha!

Last Monday morning I got up for work and Sam told me that Eve had woken up in the middle of the night from a bad dream and that he had gone to settle her back to sleep. I didn't believe Sam and told him that he must have been imagining it. But it turned out to be true. For the first time since Eve was born I didn't hear her cries as I slept. It shocked me a bit and it's definitely strange. Things seem to be happening so quickly, each evening when I pick her up from nursery she seems more and more grown up. The days of babyhood are now long gone.

One morning last week before nursery, Eve and I were in the kitchen. She looked up at the fridge and said to me, 'O' and pointed up at the magnets. I pulled it off the fridge and gave it to her, she looked at it and said, 'O.' That sent me off to work feeling very happy.

On Saturday night during bath time she sang the full alphabet song without any mistakes. She's been enjoying singing it throughout the summer, but hearing her sing the whole thing made me feel very proud of her. I love waking up in the morning hearing Eve singing in her cot, it is just the cutest thing and fills my heart with joy.

When I collected Eve from nursery on Bonfire night she gave me a 'firework' biscuit that she had decorated with icing and sprinkles. I was missing her a lot last week. It seems harder to be away from my girl when it's grey outside. I just want to be at home giving her cuddles and tickles. I'm so thrilled with her development; she's such a determined and amusing little thing.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Sam and I had a lovely lunch with his mum at Pata Negra on Friday to celebrate his birthday, which is on Hallowe'en. When I collected Eve from nursery that evening she had her face painted like a cat. She was just thrilled with the face paint and had obviously had a day full of fun, as she had also made some paintings as presents for her Daddy's birthday present.

For Sam's birthday on Saturday we spent a lazy day at home and went for a walk in the woods with Eve. We wore Hallo'ween masks for our afternoon wander. Sam and I used to love dressing up for Hallo'ween parties in years gone by, with no effort spared. I think we are both looking forward to hosting a Hallo'ween party in the future - probably more child friendly than the days of old though!

Daddy and Eve prepping for a walk in the woods

We had a wonderful time slowing meandering through the woods. We walked down to Boca Bar, shared a pizza and knocked back a couple of espresso's to keep us awake for a bit of Saturday night movie watching.

Eve loved the 'pumpkin man.' 

She ate her dinner in the semi dark with the pumpkin glowing next to her.

On Sunday Jilly, Navi and Lamora popped over for a walk. Eve had been asking to see Lamorna and Jago on Saturday so I think it made her very happy to see them. This time we walked across the cemetery plateau and down to Arnos Vale playground. It was a beautiful day for a bit of park action with the kids. 

 Arnos Vale Playground

 Lamorna and Eve enjoying the swings

Jilly and her cute little munchkin, Lamorna

Eve has been using connecting words such as, 'and' over the past couple of weeks and is formulating sentences well. Yesterday afternoon she came over to me in the kitchen and said, 'Eve wants to eat.' She would tell me that she was hungry before by saying things like, 'flapjack,' or 'yogurt.' It's great that she can finally tell me properly.