Off to Nursery School

 In the Baby Room.
Happy and covered in gunk - she loves messy play and got stuck right in straight-away

Well, I can't quite believe it but my girl is now ten months old and has started nursery school already. Time really has flown by, all the usual spiel you hear about kids growing up fast is so true.

I've been prepping since last week, after speaking to my friend who said they get through quite a few changes of clothes each day at nursery with all the fun activities that they get up to. So I went to a charity shop and a second hand baby shop and bought some extra vests with sleeves and some more pairs of socks. Apparently it's also a good idea to write your child's name or initials in all of their clothes so that they don't get mixed up with someone else's. So I've bought a permanent sharpie pen to mark inside Eve's clothes.

I remember my name label which was sewn into all my clothes during primary school.  My mum carefully sewed one into the inside of each collar. I'm probably a bit mad but I'm looking forward to doing that in the future...

Eve is standing well holding on to things but often goes 'bonk on the bum!'...

The manager of Mama Bears Nursery told me about a cool website where you can order personalised iron on, stretchable name labels (good for all clothing especially swimwear and sportswear), and vinyl dishwasher and washing machine proof labels (great for any baby bottles, tippy cups, lunch boxes etc).

http://www.identitydirect.co.uk/

There are some cool designs, some basic and others more expensive using brands such as Disney. They range from £9.99 up.

They last for a year if stored between 10-25 degrees. Full instructions for use are included on their website.

I love these ones with unicorns and will get them for Eve's clothes at some point in the near future.

Eve has three settling in days this week. Today I stayed with her there for an hour, tomorrow she's there for an hour by herself and then on Wednesday she stays there for two hours by herself. Then on Thursday we're rolling.

We are really lucky that there is a nursery just down the road from our house, that is on the way to where both Sam and I work. So it's going to be fairly easy for us to drop her off and pick her up each day.

Eve is doing pretty well with food which I'm so glad about. I have quite a few bags full of frozen food cubes, so instead of wasting them (Eve won't eat them anymore) I am adding them into various finger foods. I've been including veg and fruit cubes into mixtures for mini potato cakes (sweet potato, normal potato and grated cheese), mini sweet or savoury pancakes and omelettes.

The potato cakes are so easy to make and she really likes them. When we have mash with a meal I just save some for Eve for the next day. I then add in defrosted cubes, herbs, pepper etc and fry 'em up - bingo!

Banana pancakes

Eve liked mashed up banana when she first started eating, then went off it as it was too slimy. She then liked holding and eating banana but has now decided that she only likes to squish it to death and not eat it. Therefore this morning I cooked up some wheat-free banana pancakes - simple, just 2 eggs whisked up with 1 mashed banana and a tiny pinch of cinnamon if you fancy. A good way to get banana in her!

Eve was weighed last week, just after her 10 month birthday and weighed 18lb 9oz. She had slightly dropped some weight, which is quite normal as she is crawling all over the place using up lots of energy.

Casio SA-46 - Keys for Kids

We've been a bit naughty and have bought and given Eve her first birthday present a couple of months in advance.

Eve loves playing in the studio on Daddy's synths so we thought this sturdy, colourful keyboard would be a lot of fun.  She is learning at such a rate that we felt bad to hold it back until December. We weren't wrong, she's been playing away on it. As I'm cooking and cleaning it's nice to hear her tinkering away in the other room, so I know she's not bored, or getting up to mischief. Eve has worked out how it works much quicker than I have. I'm still not sure what all the buttons do!

If you would like to have a look at the spec for this keyboard click this link. It can be bought at various places online for between £30 and £40.

www.casio.co.uk/products/musical-instruments/mini-keyboards/Product/SA-46H5/

My sister and I both received a mini Casio keyboard for Christmas one year when we were small (much more basic than this one, but still very cool in the 80's), and we just adored playing tunes on them. I have such fond memories of those days. 

I think this keyboard will provides hours of entertainment for our girl, and will also help her with various developmental skills.  I know that she will feel just as much enjoyment as we did. 

Organix Book of Weaning

I thought I'd share a link for Organix's Book of Weaning with you today. They are offering a sneak peak before it's release. 

You can download a presonalised preview. I made mine last night and though we've been weaning for five months already it has some useful tips and ideas.

If you use the Facebook or Twitter links on the page you are automatically entered into a free prize draw to win a weaning starter kit by Organix and Nuby.

Click the link below to create your own personalised preview:

http://www.organix.com/support-advice/little-book-of-weaning?field_is_organix_value[0]=1#products-top

Stowe Baby Fest

This weekend we were invited by our lovely friends Duncan and Anne to their home in Buckinghamshire, along with another dear couple Dan and Ocky. We thought it was time that we all got together with our babies for a nice wholesome weekend.

We were so lucky with the weather, so after a few glasses of celebratory prosecco we went on a short walk through the countryside, around Stowe. It's such a beautiful part of England.

Daddy loved carrying Eve on his back in the rucksack

General Wolfe's Obelisk

Arthur and Eve having fun with bubbles

Both Arthur and Eve enjoyed 'driving' about the kitchen in Huey's car - such a cool toy.

Duncan cooked the tastiest stew n dumplings that I've had for a long time. It was really nice to just kick back and relax together and have a laugh once the babies had gone to bed.  Us gals are so lucky to have amazing husbands. They are all such devoted dads!

Sam and Eve, Duncan and Huey, Dan and Arthur

Eve's new cousin Jago

My sister Claire and her boyfriend Jody's baby, Jago arrived last Thursday 2nd October at 6.06am, weighing 6lb 1oz - exactly the same weight as Eve was when she was born.

They live in Teddington, just outside of London.  Eve and I got the train this morning to go and visit them. Holding my new nephew was a dream, he is such a gorgeous little chap. I am completely besotted by him.

Me and Jago

I've been on the phone and email to my sister a fair bit this past week, which really brought home the memories of those exciting yet frantic early newborn days. They're all doing well, it was lovely to see them looking so happy. I wished that I could have stayed longer, especially to chat with my sister.

Sisters and cousins

The first six weeks of Eve's life were a very stressful and tiring time for us - I feel like I've learnt so much much this year.  It must be the most intensive job training in the world.  I'm glad that I am able to offer advice and tips to Claire.  I know how much I appreciated my sister-in-law Katie-Jane's help and support in those first few crucial weeks - she was always there on the other end of the phone.  My oldest friend Laura was a real star too, bringing me yummy cakes and treats to keep me going through the difficulties of breast feeding.  I wasn't eating much as I was so tired and stressed - which of course did not help the breast feeding at all. The best advice I was given was to 'take everything with a pinch of salt', which I definitely still stick to. Friends and family are so important to have nearby or just on the end of the phone, someone to listen and offer support is the key to a happy heart and of course a happy baby...

The amount of times Laura stopped by to see how we were doing (whilst I was still in my dressing gown with crazy bed hair) was just what I needed. Having a little laugh about some baby related thing with her got me through the day.

I was so thankful for programmes on the Sky planner and the internet. I'm not sure how I would have made it through breast-feeding in the middle of the night without them. 

We've been thinking about buying a baby/toddler basketball net lately. I had searched around on the internet but hadn't seen anything I thought was really suitable for Eve. And then, a few days ago the post arrived with the 'Nuby Fish Swoosh Bath-time Play Set', which I had won on another box of Organix baby cereal. It's such a cool little thing - very colourful and sucks on to the side of the bath or a window so your little one can have hours of fun throwing the fish 'balls' through the hoop. What luck that this was my prize!

If you want to buy one they are between £5 - £9:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nuby-Fish-Swoosh-Bath-Time/dp/B00A9N21HI

My journey to Teddington was such a success.  I came home to Bristol buzzing with good vibes. I sat next to a mum and her 4 month old baby boy on the train on the way home. It was really nice chatting about our babies and experiences so far. I am thankful that I was helped by quite a few different people on my trip. With all the crazy things going on in the world, it really puts your faith back in humanity. There are so many kind people out there who are genuinely interested in your little one, and I love to hear about their lives.  Even if only a few passing words are mentioned, little happenings such as those make my day.

Creative play

Eve starts nursery in a couple of weeks so I thought we really should let her do some painting before she goes there. Thankfully our bathroom floor is dark lino (easy to clean) so we just let her 'go to town' and then plonked her in the bath once her art work was complete. She had such a great time and really enjoyed herself.

Eve loves playing in Daddy's studio whilst he is working on his music. She is a big fan of the bongo's! 

Banging on pots and pans with wooden spoons is also one of her favourite past-times.

Now that Eve is crawling around so well she loves investigating in the studio - in particular she loves a bit of digging! The girl has good taste in music already...

We had the most fantastic weekend, painting, playing, walking and eating.

We enjoyed another exploration of Arno's Vale Cemetery yesterday, through some pathways that we had not been down before. We all had a lovely time - especially Eve who had a good sleep in the rucksack!

A rather lovely canopy of trees held up by a grave stone

Very sleepy after the fresh air and wondrous sights

There are so many fascinating and beautiful memorials in the forest cemetery.

It was such a gorgeous day we decided to wander down to The Star and Dove pub in Totterdown to try their sunday roast, which we have heard very good things about for years. Now that we are in the area we thought we really should go and try it out. We were not disappointed and had an incredible lunch. Eve slept through the whole thing which was brilliant, being able to eat our meals hot whilst having a good chat and a laugh. We hadn't been out for a meal in ages so it was a welcome treat!

It's just fantastic and boasts being Britain's first Gastro pub. It is really 'our kind of place', we felt like we could have stayed there all day and all night.

http://www.staranddove.co.uk/

Eve woke up at the end of our meal and had a great time eating her lunch with a fig for dessert of course...

Wearing a new Nuby Dribble Bib that I won from a box of Organix baby readybrek style cereal

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nuby-Art-4275-Bandanna-Paisley/dp/B00LOMQXRC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1412583834&sr=8-6&keywords=nuby+bandana+bibs

Happy days

Happy figgy times...

Eve has been enjoying fresh figs for a few weeks, but today for the first time she devoured the entire fruit. I was looking for the remnants and was so surprised when there was none to find. Even the skin was gone, hurrah...

She's a curious little thing and has already worked out how to break out of our cordoned off play pen (we didn't want to put her in the cage style play pen as it seemed a bit mean - but we'll see as the days go on...), so I've had to devise another idea. I came in the other day and she had escaped and emptied the wicker bin on her head - thankfully there was not much in it.

I've been playing roll the ball with her for a couple of days this week and this evening after watching me do it, she started bouncing the ball, repeatedly with ease. Things that seem so simple to us as adults are so thrilling to see when your baby does them. Daddy got rather excited and has already found a Nerf hoop that he wants to buy her - watch out Lebron James!

Daddy and I took her to soft play in Knowle this week. We'd never been with her there together so I think it was nice for her to have us both there. I carried her up through the squashy fun house and then down the slide together which was great fun, for me as well.

Our new health visitor Carla stopped by at our home at the beginning of the week. We chatted for about an hour, along with Sam who had the morning off work. It was so nice to have someone who is so supportive an understanding. We really clicked.

Our health visitor at the beginning was ok, but there was a slight atmosphere between us.  We were only passed on to her at the time as I had informed the midwife department that we didn't want our home visiting midwife to see us anymore. I felt bad at having to do that but she upset both Sam and I so much that we couldn't take her visits any longer. Sometimes as a mum you have to do what is right for you and your family...

Carla is such a positive and cheerful person, finally being told by a 'professional' that we're doing a good job made our day!