Goodbye my old friend. I hope you have now found peace.
Project 365 - Week 37 - 37/52
6th September - 12th September / Week 37
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On Sunday there was a Family Fun Day running at one of our local parks. Nick, Noah and I met up with Noah's Uncle, Auntie and Cousin for the occasion and had such a great day together. They went on the park, in a fire engine, danced with a brass band, had hotdogs, went on fairground rides, on the tombola! It really was a family day full of fun!
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On Monday I met up with one of my good friends who was up from down south. We went for a walk, out for lunch and had a catch up. It was nice to see her and her daughter as it had been a few months. The weather was glorious too so it was a lovely day.
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Just had to share this photo as Noah has a new habit of smearing all his food across his face! Strange boy!
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We did a spot of baking come Wednesday. We made jam tarts and Noah really enjoyed himself. I hadn't made them since I was a kid so they didn't turn out the best. Next time I need to roll a lot thinner and use better butter!
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On Thursday the lovely weather returned and Noah and I had a Mummy and son kinda day. We went out for a walk together, played out in the garden, shared a lunch, had ice cream. Days like this I am so fortunate that I didn't have to go back to work and get to spend every moment with him.
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Friday we didn't get to have a family afternoon out as our Grandparents came around in the afternoon and helped us put a fence up in our front garden. It was nice to spend time with them too and after it had been completed we took Noah to ASDA. By this photo you will be able to tell that he has us wrapped around his little finger, oops.
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On Saturday we paid a trip to Eureka. I hadn't been since I was in Primary School so I had totally forgotten what it was like. When we arrived I was amazed at how much there was to see and do and Noah had the time of his life. His favourite sections were the M&S shop where he was zooming round with his trolly filling it with food and he really enjoyed the play kitchen too. We are going to be going again in a few weeks time as so much fun was had by everyone.
My Summer Favourites
Can you believe that we are in September already? With Summer swiftly coming to an end I thought I would put a post together to show my favourite bits and pieces from the season, a sort of Summer round up.
If you know me at all you will know that candles are one of my absolute favourite things. I seem to have a new favourite candle every month but this scent has been my preferred choice for a while now. The sweet notes of Lavender is so subtle and calming and has been the ideal candle to burn in the evening when the toddler is in bed.
There is something about indulging in retro sweets which is just magical. Tucking into magic saucers and wham bars instantly take me back to me childhood and fill me with nostalgia. Sweets are a naughty treat to have now and again and also make perfect gifts, the personalised sweet jars in particular!
Pink Parcel
Pink Parcel is a new subscription box that I came across recently and I just had to mention it here! The concept behind it is that you receive a little pamper package when it's your time of month. I received a box lately and inside where sanitary products, chocolate, sweets, lipstick and bronzer. I think it's such a fantastic idea! Something that is great for teenagers and adults alike.
Skater Dresses
I'm always in a dress as I'm not a jeans or trousers sort of girl. My preferred style of dress at the moment is the skater dress because they are super flattering and comfortable at the same time. I also love how you can wear them during the day or glam them up in the evening with some heels and a smart jacket.
Mistresses
I am obsessed with American TV shows! I love to get sucked into a new show and watch a full series in a week. I've been watching Mistresses for a while now but I did just that with season 3 this week, watched it all. The series finished on such a cliffhanger that I don't know what to do with myself now! 
OPI Hawaii Collection
I don't paint my nails half as much as I used to but I recently won this mini set from OPI and it's reignited my love of nail polish. There are so many gorgeous shades in the set and I am wearing the pink hue as I type this! The perfect colours for Summer.
What have been your favourite things this Summer?
What have been your favourite things this Summer?
Noah - 21 Months Old
Character
This month Noah has certainly been testing his boundaries more. He's starting to have little tantrums here and there which so far I've been able to nip in the bud. It's usually when we have to come in from being outside or when we are leaving somewhere and he's not ready. I suppose it's just his frustrations and not knowing what to do when he doesn't get his own way. Other than that he's just his usual self. He's very funny, caring, silly, inquisitive, clumsy and very social.
Size
I think he's had a growth spurt lately as he seems taller to me. When standing next to children that are a good year older than him, he is taller. I think most people look at him and think he's about 2 and a half but he's still a baby. He seems a little stockier lately but he still has his gangly arms, haha. He wears mostly 18-24 months clothes but still fits in most 12-18 tops.
Health
Noah had a cold this month but it was a short one thankfully and only lasted a couple of days. He still has 12 teeth but all 4 canines are currently cutting through at the same time. He's managing it well but he has been a bit off his food because of it.
Feeding
As mentioned above he's been a bit hit and miss when it comes to his food this month which is unlike him. I think it's because of his teeth and hopefully he will eat as normal once they finally come through.
Sleep
Sleep wise he's been fine, his usual. He usually sleeps 8-8 or 8-9 and has a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. He now sleeps with a duvet and pillow but is still in his cot as he's still comfortable in there. No rush to convert into toddler bed while he's still happy.
Speech
He has learnt lots of new words this month; bear, ball, park, moon, bubble to name a few. I find it interesting to see which he's interested in learning and which he isn't. He hasn't put two words together yet but we did think he said "Dada car car" the other day, not to sure though.
Milestones and new tricks
He attempts to say so many more words now.
Noah now says "nee naw nee naw" when he spots a police car, ambulance or fire engine.
He now sleeps with a duvet.
When he see's dancing on TV he now tries to copy the actions.
Favourite things this month
Tractors, fire engines, ambulances, lorries, vehicles! The park. Stickers, books, magazines. Babies and other children. Playgroup! Dancing, jumping, running really fast! Baking, arts and crafts, play doh. Hide and seek. Cbeebies. Teddy and Baby.
Sleep issues during pregnancy
We all know that being pregnant is one of the biggest life changes that we can face. It's an incredibly exciting and interesting part of life, and although it's an entirely natural part of being human, it can still pose a few tricky issues to get used to.
Sleep in particular is something that I found to be one of the most troublesome areas of being pregnant. And whilst getting a good night's sleep is hard enough at the best of times, when you're pregnant it can become much harder.
What to expect
It's the first few months of pregnancy that can prove hardest when adapting to your new condition. During the initial twelve week period, I felt exhausted and irritable as my body's hormones made it hard for me to relax. And with occasional bouts of nausea, it felt like sleep was a very distant concept!
However, as my pregnancy continued, I became more used to the condition, although the extra weight that I was carrying meant that I had to find new ways of lying down to avoid too much discomfort.
How much sleep
Whilst there is no precise figure as to how much sleep you should expect to be getting whilst pregnant, it's expected that in the first three months you'll be wanting to sleep a lot more than normal.
Much of this extra sleep can be found by taking naps during the day, as you may find that your normal night-time sleeping patterns become disrupted.
Sleeping solutions
Like in other times of life, sleep can be aided by making sure that you have a healthy diet and a fixed bedroom routine. A little bit of exercise such as a relaxing walk or even yoga can do a lot in helping relieve the stresses of pregnancy.
Looking at your sleeping arrangements can also help you find a better way to achieve a bump-friendly sleeping position. If you're finding that your bed isn't providing you with an adequate level of support, then there's a wide range of different types of beds and mattresses at the Bedstar site that can help you research your perfect sleeping solution.
What to avoid
Obviously if you can avoid caffeine and fatty foods, your chances of getting a good night's sleep can be much improved. If you're feeling stressed or have been having nightmares, then it can also be a good idea to share your concerns with a friend or family-member as stress is one of the main factors in preventing a good night's sleep.
And finally, if there's anything in particular that you feel is hindering your sleeping patterns during pregnancy, then seeking advice at one of your antenatal classes can give you peace of mind to enjoy this amazing time in your life.
Choosing the Right Bed for Your Growing Child
Moving your toddler from a cot or cot bed to their first junior or single bed is an exciting transition. With a wide selection of cheap cabin beds, toddler beds and single beds out there, how do you decide which to buy?
When to Make the Transition?
There’s no right and wrong answer here, and you should take the lead from your child. If they are sleeping well through the night, you could make the transition earlier. If your child is bigger than average, you may need to make the transition early on if necessity. Sleep experts tend to agree, however, that by 36 months children should have a proper bed and mattress.
Which Bed Type?
Kids grow, as we all know, but if yours is a particularly fast grower, it may make sense to skip the toddler-sized bed and go straight for a single or cabin bed. The benefit of a toddler bed is that it’s close to the floor, so if your child wakes a lot it’s a safer option, although any bed can be fitted with a safety guard. If you have a second or third baby on the way, then a toddler bed might be a great idea, as it can be used for the next child, saving you money in the future.
Sometimes it’s about looking at the space you have; small bedrooms are well served by cheap cabin beds which provide play and storage room underneath. Cabin beds are also ideal for kids that need to be ‘sold’ when it comes to bedtime; exciting features such as play tents, tunnels and slides can transform a bed to a faraway adventureland. You don’t need to pay a fortune for a bed, and online retailers can often pass on the savings. However, invest your money in a decent mattress; a good night’s sleep can be dependent on it.
Involve Your Child
A good idea is to involve your child, making the transition easier. Once you’ve done some research into what is the right sort of bed, show your child some that are within your budget. That way they’ll feel as if they’ve chosen, but in fact you’ve pre-approved them all. Don’t stop at the bed either; let them choose some new sheets, a new bedtime toy and a lamp. Take the lead from your child and look at the space you have and your bed needs over the next few years. Then involve your child in the decision-making process as much as you, and make a big fuss about the grown-up bed, resulting in a happy transition for everyone. Ready to make the transition?
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