5 Funny Little Things About Noah & Ava

My blog is my livelihood and my hobby but most importantly it's where I document as much as I can about my children. I blogged throughout pregnancy with both children and they both have monthly updates which I treasure so deeply. There's something so special about reading those posts back, it's like an instant time warp and it leaves me feeling so nostalgic.

I was recently tagged by my friend Cassie who blogs over at Lily's Little Learners in regards to this post and I had to take part because it's another one of those things which will be such a joy to look back at when they are older, to remember all their little quirks and funny moments.

I'm going to start with Noah because he's the eldest and he's such a character. I could honestly list 100 funny little things about him but here are my favourite five at the moment.

1. The Imperial March is his favourite song. Yes you know, the Darth Vader theme! He's often heard and seen marching around singing "DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUNNNN!" Even the nursery staff comment on it because they find it so funny.

2. He has to speak and say hello to everyone, even complete strangers and sometimes comes out with the most random and obscure things to them. A couple of weekends ago he told a man that he'd "lost his penny!" so the man ended up giving him 50p out his pocket. I was mortified but we all said thank you. Funny thing is, he didn't even have a penny to begin with! 

3. After Noah's finished his meal or whatever he's been eating he always shows me his muscles (because eating all your food makes you big and strong!) The only thing is that he thinks his elbows are his muscles and because they are bony he thinks they are really big and strong. Oh and he doesn't call his elbow an elbow, he thinks it's called an elmo!

4. When he wants something or has done something he shouldn't have he usually says "I love you Mummy...." Then I say, "Why what've you done now or what do you after" He does say it randomly too and always before bed but a lot of the time it's for those reasons. 

5. He has little nicknames for Ava. Midge, Midgey Moo, Davis, Ava Dava, Jellybean, Jeanie and even Yoda. Whenever she grabs him a little too hard, or kicks him like babies do he thinks she's being naughty and points his finger at her whilst counting to three! It's so funny.

Last but not least we have little Ava. Although she's only four months old she already has us giggling with the little things that she does. One of the best parts of parenting is watching your babies personality develop every single day.

1. As soon as she wakes up in the morning she gives me a huge gummy grin! She smiles so big that her whole face is actually just mouth and it's so contagious. 

2. Whenever we are eating she will stop whatever she is doing and focus all her attention on what you have in your hand. I've never seen her hone in on something as much as she does with food and she always makes me feel really guilty because she can't have any yet. 

3. She laughs at everything that Noah does. Everyone else has to work really hard to make her giggle (she's only just starting to laugh) but Noah only has to look at her and she's chuckling away.

4. This one isn't funny in a "haha" kind of way but a little quirk of hers. She can be going absolutely mental in the arms of someone else, crying the loudest and most heartbreaking cry you've ever heard but the second I take her she stops and smiles. She's a little monkey!

5. She's been fascinated with Nick's hair and beard since the day she was born and instead of cooing or looking at him she often has full blown baby conversations with his hair.  

So there you have it, 5 funny little things about Noah and Ava. They can both be quiet exhausting sometimes but every day is filled with so many laughs and giggles, they are both such characters. To pass the post on I'm tagging Rebecca from Mum of a Premature Baby, Lucy from Hello Beautiful Bear, Rebecca from Futures, Leslie from Messy Blog and Kate from Lesbemums. 

I'd love to read about the funny little things that your kids do and get up to! 

Review: Rascal Raccoon Grobag

As a first time Mummy I am always worrying about one thing or another when it comes to my baby and most of my worries seem to stem from bedtime. Is he warm enough? Is he cold? Is he hot? Has he kicked his covers off? Is he ok? Then when I go in to check on all these worries I then worry about waking him up too! There's one easy solution to eliminate most of these worries and that's by getting your hands on a Grobag! 

The Gro Company became a pioneering brand back in 2000 when they introduced the world to baby sleeping bags making sheets, bedding and blankets a thing of the past. Although Noah has used a sleeping bag since he was around 3 weeks old we had never actually invested in a Grobag and shamefully bought cheaper alternatives instead. With all this in mind you can understand my excitement when I was offered the chance to review a Grobag of our own. We were about to see what all the fuss was about.

I have to admit I was playing 'spot the postman' for a couple of days when I knew the Grobag was on it's way and it was like Christmas morning for me when it arrived. The Grobag was packaged in it's signature brown card carrier with all the vital temperature tips and a free room thermometer. 

We were sent the 2.5 tog Rascal Raccoon Grobag in a size 6-18 months and my initial thought on opening the package was simply "wow!" Having used other sleeping bag brands for the past 11 months I automatically noted how superior the quality of the Grobag is in comparison. The 100% woven cotton material is luxuriously soft and the fleece lining is heavenly. I have to say I am rather jealous of Noah and I echo the "they should make them in adult size" sentiment that I am continuously hearing! 

With Noah being 11 months old and half way through the 6-18 month sizing I was a little worried that we wouldn't have that much space to grow into but I didn't need to worry cause the sizing is extremely generous on both length and width. 

The Grobag is very easy to put on and remove which is always a plus when you have a wriggly worm of a son. It simply zips up the size and has poppers at the shoulders and underneath the arm. It literally takes seconds to put on and remove. 

I love the cute animal character design as it's bright, fun and a little quirky. Another plus when it comes to their designs is that they come in such a different array of colours, patterns and themes. No matter what your taste I can bet there is a Grobag for you. 

Most importantly Noah must of agreed with everything I have said because the first night wearing his Rascal Raccoon sleeping bag he slept as snug as a bug in a rug Grobag! 

- We were sent this product for the purpose of this review. However all opinions are my own. 

My Mummy Confessions

Whilst Noah napped earlier on today I started thinking about my "Mummy confessions" and thought it would be nice to blog about it. Being a first time Mum with no much experience with babies I had everything to learn once I gave birth to Noah. There have been many things that I did that could of been seen as wrong, choice's I've made that could of been better but that is the world of parenting for you.

I didn't have a clue - Before having Noah my experience with babies was minimal. Of course when I found out I was pregnant I read the books, I googled everything and I asked for tips and advice from everyone. I could of researched until the cows came home but nothing really prepared me for my newborn. 

Once he arrived I felt totally overwhelmed and out of my depth. I questioned and second guessed everything I did and handled him like a porcelain doll. I felt I had a natural maternal instinct but I would often doubt myself and I shouldn't of. I felt like I had to do what you are supposed to do and not what I felt was right. 

I changed his nappy every time he had a wee - Yes when Noah was a newborn I changed his nappy every single time he had a wee! We had bought the newborn Huggies nappies which change colour when your baby wee's. So every time that strip went slightly yellow it was all "OMG he's had a wee, change his nappy, quick!" Looking back now this is hilarious and I can't help but smirk. 

I couldn't sleep unless he was on me - We had issue's trying to settle Noah in his moses basket at first. When we finally cracked it (with the tilted mattress and loop blanket trick) I couldn't handle it. I would lay awake all night watching him sleep in his moses basket making sure he was breathing and often brought him back into bed with me. Needy baby? Nope, needy Mummy! 

We were terrified of bathing him - We have always bathed Noah every other night and in those early days bath time would frightened the life out of us. It felt like a huge mission to get the bath ready, the baby undressed, the baby washed, the baby dried, the baby dressed all while he was screaming the house down! I think he picked up on us panicking too and it made things so much harder work. 

Co sleeping was more for me - Noah and I have co slept on and off since he was a newborn but for the past 4 months we have exclusively co slept. When we moved in to the inlaws house while our house was being renovated it really set Noah's sleep off kilter as he point blank refused to sleep in the travel cot. Not that I needed one but I did enjoy having that excuse when people often shared their two cents on the whole co sleeping situation.

"He will never sleep in his own bed you know.." 

"He will be sleeping in your bed when he's 16.." 

Oh how wrong you all where! To all those that worried so much about me snuggling up to my son at night. The parenting police, the mothers of the year and random facebook acquaintance's, don't worry I haven't spoilt my baby! Much to your relief he now sleeps through the night in his own cot, in his own room. Although some nights I do will him to wake up so I can go in and bring him into bed with me! Needy Mummy strikes again! 

Oh I could probably go on and on as parents we have so many confessions! Do you have any that you would like to share with me?!