Tag Archives: eating

An indoor picnic – how to keep a poorly toddler happy

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Play, Weaning and eating

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Frog is poorly. Not super poorly, or properly poorly or even poorly poorly, but poorly enough to miss two whole mornings of her beloved nursery. She has a (highly infectious) spot of eye-gunkiness, which she doesn’t seem to be hugely pleased about. So, in a bid to make my diva child smile yesterday, I took her to the supermarket. (She’s two, this is where she gets her thrills OK?)

Once at the supermarket, my toddler delighted in choosing some delicious treats for an indoor picnic. She perused the veg aisle and plumped for juicy red peppers with crisp cucumber. Her eyes wandered over the various types of coleslaw but she ignored them in favour of hummus and a pot of sour cream and chive dip.

We hurtled past the yoghurts and I really let her loose on the cheese. Usually we shop online or do the supermarket trip in a bit of a mad rush, so it was sweet to see her relishing the opportunity to take her choice so seriously. Eventually (I’ll admit, my super mum patience was wearing thin by this point) she picked Applewood smoked cheddar and wensleydale with apricots. Her taste is (unfortunately) by no means cheap. Continue reading »

So, that was Christmas

02 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Family, Seasonal

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Nearly two weeks ago I made a decision to relish every second of the holidays and not spend any time at all in front of my computer. For that reason, I missed the blogging boat with posts about Christmas Day and New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I’m capturing it all here, because it was too special not to save.

Last year was a tough one. Long working hours, not enough family time and barely any holiday, family loss, high stress levels and a distinct lack of sleep, all made it less than perfect. But I smell new beginnings, big change and some exciting plans in 2013. All made concrete by an amazing ten days together as a family, with time to talk and realise that we actually rather like each other.

On the first morning of the holidays – Christmas Eve – we took our toddler to a routine hospital appointment for her hypermobile joints and she was given her first “Christmas present”; a pair of special insoles for her new “grown-up shoes”. She was thrilled. I considered telling Father Christmas to eBay the rest of her gifts, but thought he might not approve. Continue reading »

Our Christmas

23 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by in Family, Seasonal

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Christmas, for us, is about traditions. We’re not religious, so a visit to church for Midnight Mass or a crib service doesn’t feature. Instead, our focus is on family and love and togetherness. I guess these are all pretty much running themes in any religious festival really.

Three years ago I was just over three months pregnant with our baby, Frog. That year, the (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine and I decided to “do Christmas” ourselves. Being the fierce family types that we were, the thought of either of us ditching one of our family’s in favour of the other’s just didn’t feel right. So we made a pact to spend our first Christmas just the two of us, visit our beloved families together afterwards and to spend our time alone creating our own traditions.

Some of these traditions were taken from our own childhoods and some were from things that we both liked to do (mainly eating and drinking related). Continue reading »

Toddler-led weaning, or “let her eat what she wants”

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Weaning and eating

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This time last year we were up and rolling on the whole Baby-led Weaning ride.

With a baby with a history of refusing to let anyone put anything in her mouth (seriously, no Calpol unless she was holding the spoon – and certainly no bottle) I dreaded the thought of weaning.

Baby-led weaning sounded like a far more fun – if messy – approach. One that wouldn’t see me suffer a nervous breakdown anyway.

I was very enthusiastic. I saw my baby eat cool stuff. Proper food. It was a bit weird and that was why I loved it. I wrote articles about it. I interviewed the Baby-led Weaning gurus on more than one occasion. I was a total convert.

And here I am, with a two year old child who has fads. Continue reading »

An eco-savvy plate. Yes, really.

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Uncategorized

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Behold. The latest for environmentally conscious parents.

The Beco feeding set, from Beco Things.

I’d never heard of this brand until they got in touch to introduce themselves. I have to say, I was a bit sceptical at first. I mean, I know it’s trendy to be environmentally aware and all, but aren’t eco potties and plates taking it a bit far? Continue reading »

T is for Turkey

02 Wednesday Nov 2011

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It’s 10 o’clock at night and we’ve just landed in Turkey. It’s our first family holiday with our baby, who is 9 months old. Despite my concerns about the flight, she slept through the entire journey. Easy.

Fast forward two hours and we still haven’t found our villa. Between the four adults on this trip, not one of us has remembered to bring the directions.

Another hour in and still no sign of the villa. We’re driving down a deserted dirt track with no idea where we’re heading. I look at my sleeping baby, in her rickety Turkish carseat and feel sick. Continue reading »

Why a baby is better than Laurence Llewelyn Bowen

22 Friday Jul 2011

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We’ve taken a fresh approach to interior design this week.

Gone are the old, boring, white walls. Hidden are the original timber beams. And camouflaged are the dull beige carpet and cream rug. In their place are spots of tomato sauce, layered with smudges of mashed potato, accompanied with a fine dusting of rice crispies and crusty sausage.

Frog has taken to decorating like a true pro. She’s really gunning for Laurence Llewelyn Bowen’s job. Continue reading »

Weekendvy

07 Monday Mar 2011

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I’m never one to dutifully swallow PR-speak, but I think this time they might have a point.

I had an email today telling me all about this new phenomenon that’s (supposedly) sweeping the nation. It’s called “Weekendvy” and, apparently, lots of us have it.

Yeah, right.

“Weekendvy” is pretty simple: we have very dull lives so decide to lie about. It works like this, come Monday morning you boast to your work-mates / mum-mates / anyone who is willing to listen, that you spent your weekend taking the kids to the zoo, having a romantic meal out with your other half and shopping for clothes in that amazing new boutique down the road. When, actually, you spent Saturday trailing round the supermarket and Sunday sitting around in your pants watching Countryfile. Get it?

Errr…

Now, call me competitive (I know, I know, at it again, can’t help myself) but when I hear on a Monday morning about the amazing weekends other mums at baby and toddler group had, I just can’t help myself. They went to the farm, or to soft-play, or had a romantic weekend break with the man, or had a night out with the girls. They most certainly didn’t sit around in their pants watching Countryfile. I panic  - why am I so rubbish at doing weekends – and cook up something about a family trip swimming and a meal out with the (self proclaimed) Northern Love Machine.  Phew – got away with it this time…

But all this has got to stop. I really must stop bending the truth about my weekends. So hands up, I admit it: I do enjoy a spot of Countryfile in my pants on a Sunday. And in the last eight months I have only been out for one meal with the (self proclaimed) NLM. He is so romantic he took me to an All-You-Can-Eat Chinese.

Ah, that feels better, what a load off my mind. Right, I’m off to clean the boat. We’re going yachting this weekend don’t you know…