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| Happiness = running free in the park! |
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Monday, 29 August 2011
Battersea Park Children's Zoo
Last weekend we took the boy to Battersea Park Children's Zoo. I hadn't been there for about 5 years and it was better then remembered. Before the boy was born we used to live in Battersea and I really missed it when we first moved, going back was bittersweet, it still feels like home, I lived there for seven years, but also we've moved on so much and our current home has so many lovely memories of Charlie growing up in it.
The one definite change was the price, it used to be around £4, so I was a little taken aback at paying £8.50 per adult. C was free but will be £6.50 once he's over 2!
We had lots of fun looking at the animals, it's basically like London zoo but without the big beasts. So we saw tons of monkeys, meerkats, otters (soo cute) and exotic birds and also farm animals - goats, donkeys, pigs etc.
And the one major change since I was last there was the children's play area. It was Amazing, the best I've seen in London because there were so many parts to it. Lots of swings, slides, climbing frames, a whole fire engine (!) and a v. cute caterpillar tunnel that C loved. There was also a fantastic sand pit play area (we accidentally went there first and there were tears when we tried to move on).
And T took this film of the otters - so cute, when he stands up he's looking at the meerkats nextdoor!
So would I go back, yes definitely before C is two. If I still lived in the area I would buy a year pass and we'd go every week.
The one definite change was the price, it used to be around £4, so I was a little taken aback at paying £8.50 per adult. C was free but will be £6.50 once he's over 2!
We had lots of fun looking at the animals, it's basically like London zoo but without the big beasts. So we saw tons of monkeys, meerkats, otters (soo cute) and exotic birds and also farm animals - goats, donkeys, pigs etc.
And the one major change since I was last there was the children's play area. It was Amazing, the best I've seen in London because there were so many parts to it. Lots of swings, slides, climbing frames, a whole fire engine (!) and a v. cute caterpillar tunnel that C loved. There was also a fantastic sand pit play area (we accidentally went there first and there were tears when we tried to move on).
And T took this film of the otters - so cute, when he stands up he's looking at the meerkats nextdoor!
So would I go back, yes definitely before C is two. If I still lived in the area I would buy a year pass and we'd go every week.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
An August Update
I feel like I haven't been blogging properly this month. So much has been going on and I've found I've had less time to write all down. So in quick, catch-up bullets:
* We've set a date for our wedding (Feb 2012) and have booked the venue - an Eighteenth Century barn that looks like this:
And is surrounded by these:
* I've got 6 months to lose my "baby weight" eek, so have joined a gym. It's not an expensive, scary one, more of a cheap, we know we're not first class but we'll help you lose weight, one. I'm scheduling in 3 30 min sessions a week which will hopefully see me drop that couple (well maybe 3) dress sizes.
*I'm still debating about diets. I did Slimfast for 5 weeks, but it's not sustainable and then holidays got in the way and I'm back to my old, unplanned, so therefore quick and filling, unhealthy ways.
*Charlie is growing fast. He runs around everywhere, loves going out on his reins (I've learnt to spell it the proper way instead of reigns) and copies words all the time. I wrote down a list of all the words he knows and it's currently at 20. I read somewhere that babies understand 10x the amount of words they can say, so that's amazing.
* Wedding is taking priority at the moment. My mind is a whirl with invite designs, booking of photographer, DJ, florist and Mum and I are going to make the cake together.
* I've started doing 'Gimme 5' posts (did you notice?) I've actually found the only time I have to myself to think about post writing is on the 3 trains I get to work. So I've bought a mini notebook and on my first train I write down ideas for posts(train 2 I read the paper and train 3 I read my book). Because I have to be quick, the 5 points came along and I like the idea so much I've written down tons. Now just to post them on here!
*It's a Bank Holiday this weekend, so extra time to spend with my boys. We're going to take C out somewhere but haven't decided where yet. Last week we took him to The Battersea Park Children's Zoo which was fantastic, when I've uploaded the photos I'll tell you more!
* We've set a date for our wedding (Feb 2012) and have booked the venue - an Eighteenth Century barn that looks like this:
And is surrounded by these:
* I've got 6 months to lose my "baby weight" eek, so have joined a gym. It's not an expensive, scary one, more of a cheap, we know we're not first class but we'll help you lose weight, one. I'm scheduling in 3 30 min sessions a week which will hopefully see me drop that couple (well maybe 3) dress sizes.
*I'm still debating about diets. I did Slimfast for 5 weeks, but it's not sustainable and then holidays got in the way and I'm back to my old, unplanned, so therefore quick and filling, unhealthy ways.
*Charlie is growing fast. He runs around everywhere, loves going out on his reins (I've learnt to spell it the proper way instead of reigns) and copies words all the time. I wrote down a list of all the words he knows and it's currently at 20. I read somewhere that babies understand 10x the amount of words they can say, so that's amazing.
* Wedding is taking priority at the moment. My mind is a whirl with invite designs, booking of photographer, DJ, florist and Mum and I are going to make the cake together.
* I've started doing 'Gimme 5' posts (did you notice?) I've actually found the only time I have to myself to think about post writing is on the 3 trains I get to work. So I've bought a mini notebook and on my first train I write down ideas for posts(train 2 I read the paper and train 3 I read my book). Because I have to be quick, the 5 points came along and I like the idea so much I've written down tons. Now just to post them on here!
*It's a Bank Holiday this weekend, so extra time to spend with my boys. We're going to take C out somewhere but haven't decided where yet. Last week we took him to The Battersea Park Children's Zoo which was fantastic, when I've uploaded the photos I'll tell you more!
Friday, 26 August 2011
Retro photos
One of my favourite blogs is by Allie at It's a Wonderful Life. Henry is a few months older then Charlie and I've been following for over a year now. It's lovely seeing a little boy grow up so many miles away from where I live, but what I also love about the blog is that Allie is so honest. And in her latest post she highlighted this great photo editing site - so simple, retro photos in an instant! So if you're looking for a twist to your usual photo editing, check out pixlr.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Gimme Five - Signs of Autumn
It's only the last week of August but this year already there's a hint of autumn in the air - which I love. Autumn is my favorite season and here's my reasons why.
1. CRISP - The crisp, cool air in the morning. It's the time when gone is the muggy heat of summer (when you had all the windows open but still the flat felt like an oven) but we've not yet got the freezing mornings of winter (when you're constantly changing the temperature on the radiators to make sure baby isn't too cold or overheating!)
2. CLOTHES - I'm much more comfortable in cost autumnal layers. I don't need to worry about the flabby bits at the top of my arms or if my Mummy Tummy is looking too saggy in that summer dress. I can embrace jeans and long sleeved floaty tops with cardis.
3. BOOTS - Oh how I love leather knee length boots. Once it's turned cold enough to wear them I won't take them off until spring! My current ones are going into their 3rd autumn. I got them when I was pregnant, they're black, flat and comfy and look great over jeans.
4. SUN CREAM - No more fighting with the boy to plaster sunscreen all over him :)
5. LEAVES - Those perfect autumn mornings when the sky is pure brilliant blue and the trees are every shade of red, yellow, brown and orange imaginable.
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| Dinosaur in Crystal Palace Park |
2. CLOTHES - I'm much more comfortable in cost autumnal layers. I don't need to worry about the flabby bits at the top of my arms or if my Mummy Tummy is looking too saggy in that summer dress. I can embrace jeans and long sleeved floaty tops with cardis.
3. BOOTS - Oh how I love leather knee length boots. Once it's turned cold enough to wear them I won't take them off until spring! My current ones are going into their 3rd autumn. I got them when I was pregnant, they're black, flat and comfy and look great over jeans.
4. SUN CREAM - No more fighting with the boy to plaster sunscreen all over him :)
5. LEAVES - Those perfect autumn mornings when the sky is pure brilliant blue and the trees are every shade of red, yellow, brown and orange imaginable.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Gimme Five - Toddler Must Haves
Having a toddler is so different to having a baby. For one, if you're like me, you don't plan for it. You plan for a baby and WHAM suddenly they're a little person in their own right and have an opinion on EVERYTHING. So here's 5 must haves I couldn't live without in my 15 month old's world.
1. REIGNS - We use these whenever we go anywhere now. C-bear loves toddling around and prefers to be out of the buggy then in, plus it's a great way to tire him out before nap time! To save my back and give some peace of mind to make sure he's not always falling over, reigns are something I can no longer live without. Ours were Winnie-the-Pooh hand-me-downs from my half-aunt, but if we were buying new, I'd get these Goldbug Monkey Reigns.
2. SMALL PERSON CUTLERY - we had Mama sized weaning spoons at 6 months when C first started to eat, but once he started wanting to feed himself we switched to baby size ones - perfect for him to hone his feeding technique. We got ours from Mothercare and John Lewis.
3. DRINKING CUP - we used to use rubber teated sippy cups, but because these are bad for causing tooth decay (baby spends a long time sucking on the spout) and C is now big enough to suck through a straw, we got him a Tommee Tippee Explora Active Straw Cup. C loves the flip out straw, and it holds more drink then a sippy cup! But he's only learnt how to flip the straw back in and isn't quite big enough to press the button to bring it back out - until he's big enough it's Mama's job to constantly open the straw for him!
4. PAJAMAS - until he was 14 months C always slept in a sleep suit. So snugly in winter and cute short sleeves in summer. We followed the advise in a Baby Sleeping book that said sleep suits are better than PJs when starting a bedtime routine as they don't ride up. However he's now well into his sleep routine and PJs are more practical for playing around in the evening, they don't have all-in-one feet to get in the way and they make him look so grown up :)
5. SCHOOL BAG - we used to use a carrier bag to take C's things to nursery, but it was a little embarrassing when all the other kids had proper bags, so when I spotted this little bag in Paperchase I just had to have it. C-bear LOVES his bag, when we get ready for nursery he'll grab his bag and wait by the door, on the way there, he'll clutch it on his lap and point out the animals or make the noises when I ask him for them. When we're on long car journeys, we fill the bag with little toys to entertain him on the way.
1. REIGNS - We use these whenever we go anywhere now. C-bear loves toddling around and prefers to be out of the buggy then in, plus it's a great way to tire him out before nap time! To save my back and give some peace of mind to make sure he's not always falling over, reigns are something I can no longer live without. Ours were Winnie-the-Pooh hand-me-downs from my half-aunt, but if we were buying new, I'd get these Goldbug Monkey Reigns. 
4. PAJAMAS - until he was 14 months C always slept in a sleep suit. So snugly in winter and cute short sleeves in summer. We followed the advise in a Baby Sleeping book that said sleep suits are better than PJs when starting a bedtime routine as they don't ride up. However he's now well into his sleep routine and PJs are more practical for playing around in the evening, they don't have all-in-one feet to get in the way and they make him look so grown up :)
5. SCHOOL BAG - we used to use a carrier bag to take C's things to nursery, but it was a little embarrassing when all the other kids had proper bags, so when I spotted this little bag in Paperchase I just had to have it. C-bear LOVES his bag, when we get ready for nursery he'll grab his bag and wait by the door, on the way there, he'll clutch it on his lap and point out the animals or make the noises when I ask him for them. When we're on long car journeys, we fill the bag with little toys to entertain him on the way.Sunday, 21 August 2011
Gorgeous, Giggly film
My boys playing together on holiday. I love it when C starts giggling half way through!
Friday, 12 August 2011
"Done. No More"
This was Charlie's first ever sentence! While we were on holiday last week C's vocabulary grew loads and he quickly made the link from saying 'More' when he wants more food, to 'No More' when he's had enough. He also says 'Done' a lot, which he's picked up from me, whether we're eating, bathing, changing, reading etc. when we're finished I say "Done" to let him know that's it. So a couple of nights ago I was cleaning his teeth (which he begrudgingly lets me do each night) but we had only just started when the cheeky monkey said "Done, no more". I wasn't sure whether to be happy that he strung 3 words together or sad that he's now able to boss me around!
He's not repeated it since but it was such a wonderful experience to have my little boy using speech to tell me what he wanted.
He's not repeated it since but it was such a wonderful experience to have my little boy using speech to tell me what he wanted.
Subtitles stop play
I quite often write my posts when the little guy is tucked up in bed and T and I have a DVD playing. I'm one of those people who like to be juggling tasks, doing more than one thing at once and the same applies to work as well as free time. So why no posts recently? I've become addicted to our latest DVD and it's subtitled. Suddenly I can no longer browse the Internet, write my posts or even eat Chinese with chopsticks. I HAVE to watch the screen every second, because even if you look down for a moment, you miss a line and the plot moves on so quickly, missing a line means we have to keep on rewinding the episode!
The programme I'm talking about? The original Danish version of The Killing (not the American remake, though I'm sure we'll look this out when we finish this version). We're a bit behind the times, it was made in 2007, but it's so good! If you like crime drama, look it up.
The programme I'm talking about? The original Danish version of The Killing (not the American remake, though I'm sure we'll look this out when we finish this version). We're a bit behind the times, it was made in 2007, but it's so good! If you like crime drama, look it up.
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Sunday, 7 August 2011
Seaside holiday
We got back from Charlie's second ever holiday on Friday. We spent a week next to the sea in Selsey, West Sussex. Charlie was happy to spend every day with Mama and Daddy, Nana and Grandad and Uncle Andy, Aunty Em and 4 month old cousin Max.
We also visited Arundel Castle, the Spinnaker Tower, Blue Reef Aquarium and Hayling Island.
C is at an age where he just learns sooo much every day. On holiday he learnt to say:
Shark
Night Night
No more
Max
Juice
Drink
Toot Toot
Rah (lion says)
And probably loads more I can't remember! He can also follow simple instructions, pointing to his mouth, ears, nose and toes and going to fetch things 'Where's your ball/cat/book etc'.
We spent every morning and evening on the beach.
It was so nice just to have a whole week of real family time. We crammed loads in and the week just went way too quickly. Already we're planning where to go next year, but I'm pretty sure it will be another Staycation, I love the English seaside and as Charlie isn't old enough to appreciate a holiday abroad just yet, we're happy with our local attractions.
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