Bottle feeding

Bottle feeding mamas – I need your help!

As Austin is now over 12 months, I wanted to start the transition from bottles to sippy cups for his milk. He is fine drinking water out sippy cup / sports bottle.

He has been to the health visitor for his 12 month review and booster jabs and she mentioned that he needs to be off bottles as they are so bad for his teeth (which I knew anyway!) but said we probably won’t be able to get him off bed bottle...

He has 2 bottles of milk a day, one at 7am when he wakes up and one at 7pm just before bed.

This week I have started giving him his milk in a sippy cup (tommy tipee 4+months cup) but he is just not interested in drinking milk from it, he would rather paint my floor with the milk instead.

I have tried him in the Nuby sports bottle, but he just doesn’t seem interested in it unless it’s in a bottle!

I have resorted to feeding him his milk in his sippy cup so he can’t throw it everywhere, but I never wanted this kind of relationship with food or drink with him.

I have bought a new cup today to try in the morning – Munchkin 360 miracle cup 100% No Spills! Except that he has figured out how to sprinkle the water everywhere!

Does anyone have any advise, any bottles/sippy cups that you swear by.

Or kind words of “he’ll just get it in his own time.”

Maria

INSTA WEAN TEAM - Avocado

On Friday 10th April I was invite to take part in the Avocado #Instaweanteam challenge.

Avocado is a 'new' food for me, something I usually only have to hold my prawn cocktails, but once again, being a mummy has opened my eyes to something new.

Austin loves avocado, but I'd only spread it on toast or put it in a cream sandwich, time to freshen things up..

I went a little over the top with my prep, I wanted to create a full meal out of avocado, which lead me to:
Coconut chicken with avocado sauce, with a side of avocado fries:

recipe & method

coconut chicken 
1 packet of chicken breast strips
1 bowl of plain flour (enough to coat the chicken)
1 egg beaten in a bowl
1 bowl of desiccated coconut (enough to coat the chicken)
2 tbsp of coconut oil

• Dip the chicken in the flour, shake off the excess, dip into the egg, then dip into the coconut.
• Repeat for all chicken strips.
• Gently fry the chicken in the coconut oil, turning frequently until all sides are slightly browned.
• Place on a baking tray and cook for 20-25 mins 200 degrees until completely cooked, drizzle excess coconut oil on top for extra crunch.

avocado sauce
2 garlic cloves
handful of fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 avocado
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp cold water

• Blend all together in a food processor, serve immediately
  

avocado fries
1 avocado, cut into fingers
1 bowl of plain flour, enough to cover the avocado
1 egg beaten in a bowl
1 bowl of panko breadcrumbs, enough to cover the avocado
1 tbsp of unsalted butter

• one at a time, dip avocado finger into the flour, shake off excess
• dip in the egg, then the breadcrumbs
• repeat for all avocado fingers
• gently fry in butter until golden on all sides, turning frequently
• bake for 10 - 15 mins 200 degrees until evenly cooked, turning half way through

Enjoy! 

Salmon Fishcakes

Recipe - Salmon fishcakes   

Using left overs -  no waste!

1 portion of salmon
1 and half potatoes, mashed
1 tbsp of plain flour
1 egg beaten
1 bowl of breadcrumbs (I used Paxs golden breadcrumbs)
1 tbsp unsalted butter

Flake the salmon and mix with the mashed potatoes, add a little of the egg.
Flour your hands and form into rounds.
(I made 4 rounds)

Dip each round in the egg, then the breadcrumbs, repeat for all rounds.

Gently fry in the unsalted butter until golden, flip and fry the other side until golden.

I will reheat the next day for 15 - 20 mins 200degrees until warmed through.

Options:
Perfect dish to hide veggies in!
Add 1 tsp of herbs and a splash of lemon juice.

Silence is golden

Silence is golden, or is it?

So hubby is away on a (long!) stag weekend in Prague, I’m trying not to look at the pictures that are appearing on Instagram and Facebook, they’re not bad, if that’s what you’re thinking! I just want him to tell me about it (if he wants to) when he gets here, without me saying “yeah I saw that...”

I have major night out envy; luckily my dolls came to the rescue and suggested tapas and drinks. Perfect.

I now love tapas, being the picky eater that I once was, I remember the first time I went for tapas, with my narrow mind, thinking it was just olives and paella (which I also thought I didn’t like!) so I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it. How wrong was I!? It is delicious and the perfect way to try new foods, lots of little portions to share, so much fun! Before Austin was born we went for every family birthday, whenever we had a free night... the staff started to recognise us! I have missed going there.

Last night the sangria was flowing, the conversation was ridiculous with much laughter, until the waitress tried to take my food away when I hadn’t finished! I almost bit her hand off telling her no. ‘Joey doesn’t share food’ springs to mind!

To the next venue for more drinks, we had to get a taxi, someone (not me!) had ridiculous shoes on, which meant we couldn’t walk the 10 minute journey...

It was such a wonderful night, almost like we were abroad, sipping prosecco and gossiping about anything and everything.

Like all good things, the night came to an end.

I quickly logged into Facebook when I got in, and even more exciting news, the sneak peak pictures of Austin’s cake smash photo shoot had gone live! They are gorgeous, just absolutely perfect. I cannot wait for the full set of pictures and to start filling my house with them.

To bed, ready for the most epic lie in. This didn’t happen. Who wakes up at 7:15 when there is no baby waking you, me, that’s who!

The house is silent.

There is no baby babbling, playing, and being a mischief.

The house is silent.

There is no hubby.

I don’t like it; I don’t know what to do with myself.

Normally Richard and I go out together so he is normally here if Austin sleeps out.

I don’t remember what I used to do with myself before Austin was born, I probably slept, because I could and my body wasn’t conditioned to get up at ridiculous o’clock.

So far I have watched E! News, had a boiled water with lemon, had a bowl of cereal, now I’m flicking through the sky planner, counting down the hours until I get my baby back. I should probably do something more productive.

Well I’ve at least wrote this.

 

 

Dear Austin

So much has happened, my baby turned 1! I now have a 1 year, a perfect boy that I have shared a year with, and it has been an absolute pleasure.

It has been a very different and difficult at times, 12 months, but I have loved every second. Even the times when I saw 3 am a little more than I wanted to.

On 03/04/2014, I woke up, thinking it was just another day, I did the labour dance and went about my usual day, we watched ‘The Intern’ and laughed and laughed... real belly laughs.

The weather was nice, and we wanted to spruce the garden up (have I really just used the word ‘spruce’ !?) so we headed to B&Q after tea. We arrived and some pains started, I ignored them, thinking they were the Braxton hicks again, but they were getting stronger, especially when I was in the queue, the only thing to help was to rock back and forth, I might add that no one offered to let us go ahead of them!

On the drive home, I had a big show; the pains were still coming, so I rang the hospital, they asked me to come in for a check over, in all the excitement I hadn’t noticed if Austin was moving.

We got to the hospital at 10pm, the midwife confirmed all was fine, but did say I was in slow labour, she told me to go home, get myself comfortable because I was going to be in for a long night!

Things really stepped up a notch when we got back home, so I took her advice of a bath and took the time to shave my legs ready! I tried to have a paracetamol, more advice, it was cruched into jam on toast – this did not help.

Richard put TV on while I paced through my contractions, stomping through room to room, swaying, rocking, breathing... I ranged the hospital, they said it was still soon to go back in and asked me to wait until midnight and call back.

I didn’t make it to midnight, the same midwife answered the phone when I rang back, I didn’t even manage to say my name, but she knew, she told me to come in.

That car journey, to the hosptial, I watched the clock, knowing as the time passed what was coming. But also getting mad with myself because I knew much worse was coming, so I needed to toughen up!

Richard parked far away from the hospital, and since it was late, the main door was shut, far too much walking than I was capable of, but I managed it. I was unable to say my name to check in.

It was a long night, I was swinging from the roof on the ropes, demanding my back be massaged (poor Richard), pacing the room, asking to for the air and to go into the water – I got my wish, in I went.

I was in the pool for a long time, all I remember is the smell of cheese and onion crisps – Richard made his way through many packets...

It was time to push...

And push...

The head was out, I touched him, it was amazing, but terrifying, it was what I needed to get the rest of him out.

12:16 04/04/2014 – Austin was born.

The most amazing feeling, my son entered the world. I loved him, I knew I would love him, but I loved him a million times more than I thought I would. He was perfect, I just held him in arms, staring at him, feeling a million different emotions all in one go. I looked at husband and I felt so much more love for him, my family was complete.

Much more yukiness followed:

The delivery of the placenta - I needed the gas and air.

A few grazes - I needed stitches.

My baby needed feeding – I had no milk.

My baby needed feeding – he refused a bottle, I still had no milk.

I wanted to go home – I wasn’t allowed.

I finally discharged myself at 10 pm, much to the midwives disapproval, but I needed to go home. I needed to rest, but I was not going to get any rest. Not for the next 12 months...

It has been the most incredible, amazing year, watching him grow and learn. Seeing his first smile, hearing his first laugh, watching him roll for the first time, and scaring the bejeezus out of me when I saw him face down on the baby monitor! Watching him learn to crawl, learn to cruise, learn to walk, hearing him babbling. His sheer joy and excitement at everyday objects that we take for granted. He has opened my eyes to see the world again, through his eyes and I love him even more for that.

To my darling baby boy, I love you.

Happy first birthday xxx

 

The Laydees

I saw some blogs recently where the writers had written a letter to their 15 year old self. I loved them! Looking back, 15 was an amazing age and I wanted to jump on the band wagon, so I got my best friends together, who I met when I was 15, and we all wrote to ourselves...

Maria, 15, what an age, you were so worried about moving bands (classes) at school, worried you wouldn’t make new friends, well you needn’t be worried, because those girls that you met, they are the best friends you’ll ever have and dare I say it, you’ll never shake them off!

You fancy yourself as a bit of ring leader of this group that you will affectionately name ‘the laydees’ in a few years time. Wasting time in classes planning ‘the Laydees Street’ or drawing mushtashes on your face really isn’t cool! Stop it now! Pay a little more attention, stop giving your teachers attitude, although you really don’t need your GCSEs, it would be nice to get some decent grades.

You thought you were so cool, running around school swapping shoes with Lucie and wearing knee high socks, but I can tell you now, it’s really not a good look. But you didn’t care, you were so free spirited and arrogant at times.

Some of your happiest times will be with these girls, just sat at Mr C’s house making up dance routines to anything that came on MTV (hard to believe your really 15, right!?).

At 15 you re-connect with a boy from your past, who will become your first proper boy friend, you will end up spending 3 years of your life with him, I don’t want to tell you that you wasted your life with him, but things come to an end, it’s difficult to deal with and some days you think you won’t be able to move on. But trust me you do.

You go on to study fashion design, which you excel at, but you don’t take it any further, because you do meet the love of your life, the man you will marry and you will have a baby! In 13 years time who would have thought that you would be responsible for another person, an amazing little person who lights up your life.

There will be some really difficult dark days that will come up in the future, but I know you are strong enough to get through it.

Stay strong, stay amazing, stay funny, stay original, love yourself, you are pretty amazing, even if you don’t tell yourself enough.

Yours eternally, Maria, 27.

**********************************************************************************

Dear 15 year old Kenzie,

Heres some friendly notes on life from someone who loves you.

Don’t say that you hate yourself and try not to think it. I know that others have things you want or are taller/ prettier?!/ richer than you but you have a lot to be very happy about.

You have family all over that no matter how little you see them love you all the time. You have amazing friends that need you just as much as you need them and will still be around 10 or 20 years from now!

You have loads to look forward to, even things you never knew you wanted.

All you think about is bloody boys! Don’t think that you will fall in love and ride off into the sunset with whoever! Your love won’t run out and if someone brakes your heart it will mend by itself pretty fast. You can invest everything you have on someone who seems right but if they are not willing to invest everything they have on you, move along.

I’d go so far as to say forget about boys all together, at least until your about 25… They are still as clueless about feelings but know a lot more about sex :)

If you were to get some upsetting news, say for instance… you might not be able to have kids. Just research it you can answer your own questions by picking up a book. On that note read as much as possible, you love reading so should do it more than you do!

Don’t spend so much time worrying about your weight. Your happiness is so much more important. Get out more, eat less crap and drink more water.

See you soon.

Lots of love,

Kenzie x

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15 year old Lucie, where shall we start?

Lets start with school because lets face it, you absolutely HATE it and hate it even more when people tell you you'll regret not learning when you're older. Oh how you thought they were crazy! But let me tell you, you will completely regret it! So please try your best, you are capable of doing so much better.
I'll let you into a little secret, in 10 years time when the internet is apart of your every day life you'll see the 'brainy' ones aren't anymore brainy than you, so get your head down!!

Stop judging yourself so much. There are lots of people out there who like you. It might take 5,10 or even 20 years to find them, but you will.
Please don't feel you have to sleep with every single lad that shows you the tiniest bit of interest because let me tell you, it ends like you could never ever imagine and it is no fun at all. Do not cheat on the man you love and don't sleep with married men - neither end well.

You really need to try your best at not being shy and go out with friends even if you don't feel like it. You'll end up pushing them away and that could end up with you in counselling in the future. There's nothing to be ashamed of but you can so easily make that never happen.

One thing I am very proud of is how you don't feel pressured into 'fitting in'. You wear what you want, when you want, even if people mock and laugh at your outfit choice. God, remember when you wore boys boots and patterned tights with a skirt? Everyone laughed but a year later every lass was wearing them! Big fat lol ;)!
Remember how happy and care free you were when you and Maria wore odd trainers to walk to school in. I'm glad you've kept that fashion sense up.

Anyway, I better go, I'm working very hard on loving every bit about you and its exhausting, even confusing at times but I know I'll get there.

Bye xxx

**************************************************************************************************

 

 

Curls my love,

If I could meet u now I would slap u in the face and give you a shake for the things you're gonna regret. However one thing that will always be there are the friends you've made. I know you worried and still worry about people moving on and just disappearing from your life. You will worry about what Becky will do when she finished school because you're scared to death of being left behind. Please believe in yourself more. Because in later years you will realise that three people believe in you. Those three people will truly touch your heart. Love like that never dies so you need to hold on to that. The people who disappear weren't worth it. Stop worrying about what irrelevant people think. The people around you.....the laydees.....they think you rock. Never did I see imagine finding three of the most amazing weirdos as Murg, Ken and Lulu.

It's ok to not know what u want to do. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. I swear to god if you carry in like this you will make me bald and the victim of a heart attack in my later years.
I want you to not be so naive. I don't want you to be taken for a ride. Stop seeing the best in everybody. You have the most amazing friends. You need to listen to them. You're gonna get taken for a ride which will in a way feel like your life is over. But when you've come to terms with it some other things are gonna happen. That will be like a slap in the face. You'll realise just how much a certain person loves you. You always knew you were friends and would always try and be there for each other but there's gonna be a shit storm in your later laydee years. Trust me this will happen for a reason. You will be a stronger person for it and it will lead to only happiness and positive things from then on. I know it's shit but I think it's what you needed. You'll have an epiphany trust me.

Apart from all the heartache. Please remember on the background those three weirdos will always be there. Maybe not over the road or in Morrison’s doing as little work as possible. But they are there. They are in your heart forever.

Haircuts........all I can say is my goodness. You're gonna go through all sorts of phases. Most of them are gonna involve you looking like a penis/man boy. But I can assure you after your 'epiphany' you find yourself. And the hairstyle most suited to you.

Basically all you need to remember is that he following are the most important things ever:

Always be true to yourself
Never put someone else's happiness first
Never doubt how much those three weirdos love you. They love the bones of you. And you love the bones of them. You would stop the making of tea and cheese for any of them
Tea and cheese and Chinese/burgers with any of the three weirdos make anything feel better

One more thing. You're gonna be one of theeee proudest people ever in many years to come when two midgets enter life.

Everything happens for a reason. Some things are fucking terrible but I pinky swear you will come out of that shit storm covered in glitter.

Grandma curls x

********************************************************************************

 

Thank you to my best friends for taking part and being so honest, I love you all more than you could ever imagine

 

 

Crying & Steps!

The day started with a trip to Mothercare, the pram has broken, I haven’t even been using it for a year yet, but I’ve certainly put it through its paces, crossing my fingers for a brand new one.

I have bought a nice new one anyway – that I love! Its a dream, so I could do with getting some money back on the broken one to cover the cost of the new one...

Then to the supermarket, which is just a pain some days, since hubby works there, is takes forever to get round if Austin is awake, with everyone cooing over him, which normally I love, but he needed a nap and was getting cranky.

Since we were all home together, the plan for today was to go to a play centre, hubby has never seen Austin with other children and I wanted him to see how amazingly Austin does in the play gyms, and with other children, plus the food is delicious!

So off we all trotted, it was a nice day and as little man hadn’t napped, he could sleep on the walk.

We got there and it was surprisingly quiet, I was so excited for us all to get in there!

Even though it was so quiet, a boy still managed to fall into Austin – crying, take 1.

He then slipped trying to climb up the slide, bit his lip, blood – crying, part 2.

I put him in the ball pool, the safe place, no ‘big kids’ allowed, but, a girl, decided to do a high dive into the pool, yep landed on Austin – crying, part 3

I found out a lot of info about this girl, she was 4 and liked Frozen; she was waiting for her friend to arrive. She took a shine to hubby, not to me and not to Austin once she found out he was a boy!  

It all just seemed too much today, not the glorious picture I usually paint it to be, so we decided to leave, at which point Austin was sick, and yep you guessed it, cried some more.

He fell asleep on the walk home, poor little sausage; it must have been a bit much for him.

But it really has been such a beautiful day; we took some toys and play mats to the garden to play in the sun.

Oh, so I haven’t mentioned it yet, I suppose I should – he walked yesterday, actual unaided steps, purposeful steps towards me. Amazing spontaneous steps, he got up let go and walked right to me. I was so proud I could have cried! I tried to capture it on video but I couldn’t on my own, I got some shaky footage that I forwarded to hubby, but he wanted to see it for himself.

So treating Austin like he is a performing monkey, we have tried to get him to walk all day. He is having none of it!? I’ve put it down to him having a difficult day in the play centre.

But after tea, after his bath, in his PJs we were playing in the kitchen, and he walked from daddy to me, from me to daddy, it was so amazing, like I was seeing it again for the first time. I am so proud of him.

What an amazing early birthday present, taking his first steps a week before his birthday. Well done my little man.