Weaning Little Bubba

I was very lucky when I weaned Poppy onto solids.  It was an easy process and fun for both of us.  Like a true sucker for routines I followed Annabel Karmel to the T and it worked. (Except baby rice - seriously there was no way I was giving that!)

Of course I'm no saint and there were times when Poppy kicked off and decided there was no way she was going eat the slop on her spoon, but I truly believe it worked so well because I waited until she was ready and not because I wanted her to wean.  I've watched other mums pretty much forcing the spoon in their babies mouth when the baby is clearly not interested or struggling - leaving the poor mum in despair.  

So trying where possible to avoid this, at four months I decided to try three pieces of fruit with her over three days, she ate it all but I could tell she didn't understand what she was doing.  So I waited another month and started again.  Completely different and she gobbled it down, kicking her legs waiting for more.

Having weight problems of my own I was and am very keen for Poppy to have a head start to healthy eating.  Even now at 15 months she has only ever had home made healthy food with milk or water.  (Unless my husband is slipping some weekend treats in whilst I am away!)  To most parents this is very normal, but I've been very surprised how many mums I've met don't follow this (healthy cooking not the sneaky treats!).  I'm aware this probably makes me sound like one of those annoying mums I can't stand who think they are superior and high almighty about their parenting skills, which honestly I'd like to think I'm not.  I'm just very fussy about my child eats.

I thank my lucky stars that Poppy is a very good eater and generally quite clean. She wasn't the type of babe that liked waste so I didn't experience the food throwing on the floor, flying onto walls or even down herself.  I'm also not stupid and aware that things change.  But so far so good!

Me: Learning to cope with mess = Poppy: Loving it!

Fathers Day

So the big day is here.. and we are off to Church!  *Haha* I give a very small chuckle at the thought of this.  But it is the Christening of our lovely mini friend George, so - its a pleasure!

Upon our return and a three hour nap for Poppy having burned herself out at God's pleasure, then back at Laura's house running wild.  Time to put up the bunting and get the presents out.  (Serious bunting addiction going on here!)

The main gift was a Scrabble frame.  I bought a large selection of spare scrabble pieces from Ebay and stuck them down on a frame that I purchased from Ikea (my house is full of them all different shapes and sizes.  Love them!)  Very cheap idea, yet different.

Scrabble Frame

I bought the glass candle holder from Wilkinson for the grand price of £1, removed the wax and cleaned it up.  I had some left over tags from Christmas and filled up the glass with his favorite nuts.  Again quick and easy. 

All Daddys love the nuts

It was unlikely I could give a box of gifts without including a few beers.  So I printed out some free printables I found online to cover up the beer labels and cut out some wine bottle tags.  All keeping with the Fathers Day theme.  It looked that good, Chris thought that was how I purchased them so I was quite pleased!

Wine Bottle Tags

Free Printables

A few extra bits and pieces including a T-shirt for Poppy to wear (which unfortunately having been out all day in a posh outfit followed by the longest snooze in the world, it wasn't to be worn).  Also a novelty chocolate coin and of course a Fathers Day Bee footprint card.  (Seriously what else would he want!)  Happy Fathers Day to Chris! xx

Poppy's New T-Shirt

Fathers Day Footprint Card

Every Father Needs Chocolate in his Life!

The Finished Product

Photography Course

I've always really enjoyed taking photographs, now with Poppy in the world I am like the paparazzi.  I love taking portraits in particular.  Chris recently bought me a Canon Digital SLR camera with lots of pretty buttons.  So I went on a one day photography course to try and get to grips with how on earth you use the god damn thing.  Point and click is about as far as I go.

A hot sunny day on the Bristol harbourside and I'm sweating on the amphitheatre steps listening the to guy drone on about aperture, speed shutters, depth of field and optics and I'm nearly passing out from the sun.  This aside it was a good day and I now know a (little) bit more, but its all practice. 

It was nice to be outside and take photos of the beauty that is Bristol.  However upon return, my lack of decent photos to show Chris was disappointing.  So on with the show, I am now armed with a bit more knowledge and have my very own mini model at my disposal.  Watch this space!

Hi there!