Happy 4th Birthday Little Z

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Happy Birthday!

And so it is, you turn the grand old age of four this week and I do what I do every year leading up to your birthday and reminisce about the week you were born. It had snowed really really heavily and I spent the last two weeks before you were born completely bored out of my head sat indoors watching too much TV, eating too much and sleeping for hours and hours. You finally came along after a very long 40 hour labour and emergency section and I was almost hyper with happiness whilst feeling like I’d been hit by several tonnes of bricks.

It feels like you’ve grown up a lot this last year. After a lot of bawling from me we potty trained you straight after your third birthday and it really wasn’t as bad as I expected. I’m not sure why I left it so long now but am very glad that’s all done and dusted. You started pre-school and that was like another massive milestone. You cried each time I dropped you off for an entire term. You did fall in love with all your keyworkers though, as did I, and a year on you love playing with your friends and causing mischief together. There are still plenty of days you say you don’t want to go and that you want to stay at home with me and there are times I let you and we skive off and do something instead. It’s your last year before full time education so we may as well make the most of it.

You now have an answer for absolutely everything and keep us on our toes every minute you’re awake. People tell us the 4s are a bit more challenging and interesting so that’s err…something to look forward to. With some luck you may even skip that phase but so far you’ve gone through every phase for every age so I guess we just need to suck it up. And occasionally maybe scream into a pillow.

I think you take after me as you’re always asking what we’re doing that day or when we’re going on holiday. I need to teach more you than the destination “Turkey”. I’m thinking “Northern lights” or maybe even “Florida”. I’m not really sure if the first is child friendly but it kinda sounds it, right? We only have till April so we best get a move on. Your Daddy stared at me when I suggested it. I am taking that as a yes!

We’ve been having a massive clear out of your old clothes and toys over the last few weeks and we told you about children who couldn’t always afford to have toys so asked which ones you’d like to give to them to play with to make them happy. You thought about it long and hard for a few seconds and then let out a wail of “I DONT WANT to give them my toys. Tell their mummy to get toys!”. Followed by a lot of sobbing and almost body guarding of your toy box. I think we need to still work on your sharing a bit next year.

We are in full party planning mode for next week and the week after. I think I may be more excited that you. Each year I tell myself I am definitely not doing one next year and each year I do and am glad I did. I am anticipating a lot of Olaf presents this year as that’s your favourite. You’ve already had a dry run last week with Grandma when you bought her a Frozen cake for her birthday then helped her blow out her candle. I think you’re going to be very pleased with your own snowman and minion themed cakes. A big Happy Birthday for tomorrow and lets hope the parties are a lot of fun!

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Loud n Proud

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Over in the Not My Year Off house we have been mostly pottering about over the last week amongst trying to get up off our bums and organise some big things. Like Little Z’s 4th birthday party. I have to confess, so far I have done pretty much zilch and time is ticking on. With his birthday being close to Christmas I need to get super organised and super fast especially if I want cakes from the bakery that I love to bits. They have a talented team of artists squirreled away on the first floor of their shop. You don’t really see them very much. All the amazing finished creations find themselves being transported to the ground floor shop which smells COMPLETELY of glorious cake.

In a week where we haven’t been overly productive I DID do one thing. I decided on the themes of his parties and have found (but not yet bought) party decorations and hats and banners and all manners of fun things. I have decided we are going to have one Minions themed party and one Olaf themed birthday. And I’m pretty proud of finally making the decision. So I just have to get a crack on now and get it all sorted!

SO now its your turn. Come link up all your posts about any proud moment you have. Have you been like me and done not so much (besides a highly important decision?) Or have you reached a milestone that you’d love to share?

Loud n Proud is a linky all about your little and big proud moments, whether its about you or your family. All new and old, small and big posts welcome. Just grab the badge and use the linky tools below. The linky is open till Sunday night.

Next week your friendly host will be Suzanne from 3 Children and It

Not My Year Off



Posted in: Toddler \ Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

No Parties!

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We decided whilst we were on holiday that we wouldn’t have a party for Zs birthday. We had two quite big, quite loud and quite fun parties for his first and decided that this year we’ll only have a very quiet thing. Just the 3 of us.

In truth, I partly couldn’t be bothered post holiday and having not much time with going to work and having no more lead left. Soo…. no parties!

Then Z started singing his new favourite song on a daily basis…”Happy (birthday) TOOO YOOOUUU!!”. We decided a cake wouldn’t be pushing the boat out. And maybe telling his cousins we’re at home with cake that day if they’d like to just drop in.

Maybe a few more nibbles.

And some party plates…to make the little ones happy.

Of course we have to invite the grandparents. They have to be there. That’s a given.

And my brothers and sis in law of course. Just immediate family.

And maybe all my aunts and uncles too because they love playing with him.

And my cousins too.

…and maybe the odd friend as they’ll be up for Xmas.

That’s still keeping it small.

Oh we’ll need party games…and pass the parcel…can’t forget pass the parcels.

Pinatas? Maybe not. God, the mess last year! I was finding confetti in the strangest of places for weeks!

And two cakes..one for each side. Now who’ll do it for me at short notice?

Because we’ll need two parties.

Oh and avoid the nut allergies

…and egg allergies…

Wonder if that includes cake…hmmm

Ooh party bags!

Maybe not…they’ll be happy with cake right?

Ahh maybe just for the kids…

(and me!)

Not sure I can be bothered with party hats.

Helium balloons might be fun though.

And orders cakes for a couple of days before to avoid snow. Just in case…

Yep…just a very small thing this year.

Posted in: Baby Z, Birthday, Party \ Tagged: , , ,

Wedding Season

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Wedding season in my family is usually the start of organised mental chaos. Coming from an Indian background means all weddings last a multiple of days. The first of many such weddings starts next week. A 4 day event. Argghh! With a toddler in tow. Arrrrgh!

It’s my “cousin” that is getting married. We’re not actually related but they are still “family” and therefore that means we must attend all the days. He is my maternal aunt’s hubbies’ first cousins’ son. Actually, that means we are related after all. And you could even say we’re “close family”.

This will be the first time Baby Z will be going to a wedding as a toddler which is already filling me with dread. He has decided he no longer likes to be strapped into his car seat so if he isn’t trying to break out of it Houdini style, he is exercising his lungs at full volume in the hope that a full blown 10 minute tantrum will defeat me into pulling up and letting him out. I have to admit it’ll be mildly amusing watching my cousin, who is travelling down with us and, who has no experience of babies whatsoever, attempt to calm a frenzied Baby Z midst tantrum screaming. Tee hee (I know, I am evil).

I also had grand plans to get into shape for this wedding and have been trying to dutifully follow BodForTea’s excercise group. I started oh so well but Baby Z has discovered its fun to sit on my belly whilst I try to do sit ups and bounce up and down for maximum fun. On days where i don’t want to vomit I sometimes end up not doing sit ups.

He has also learnt the art of hairdressing. Deciding he doesn’t actually like my fringe anymore, he will regular scowl at me with all the concentration of a good hair stylist, lean over and then push my fringe out of my face. Whilst holding onto it. He might then let go. He might not. He might also decide to try to push it back to where it was. On the plus side I guess I don’t need to pay for a stylist if I decide I need one!

My one mission is to try to look presentable all 4 days. This means…

Not finding food anywhere on my self. Particularly my knee area, which has become Baby Zs personal mouth wiping place.

Not finding food stains on my shoulders or arms

Actually being able to get into my dresses whilst being able to breathe

Not arriving frazzled to one of the days on account of super “let me out of the car seat” tantrums

Not singing theme tune to Zingzillas unless I absolutely have to.

Not having my fringe pulled and re-styled mid party

Not having food chucked at me

Stopping Baby Z from trying to empty his bottle of milk onto people’s floors.

Keeping Baby Z clean-ish all 4 days

That’s do-able. Right?

Posted in: Baby Z, Family \ Tagged: , ,

Things I Have Learned in 2011

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ShowOff Showcase

As 2011 ends people tend to ponder how their year has been. Mind has been mostly about being a new mummy to a new baby. The year has flown by so quickly and has been filled with extreme highs and lows that seems to come part and parcel with becoming a new mum. These are some of the things that I’ve learned this year…

1. Boy Babies will wee all over you the minute you take their nappy off/take their nappy off.

2. You can be as meticulous as you like when bathing a baby and carefully prepare everything before you put the baby in the bath. As you take baby back out of the bath you will realise the towel is at the other side of the room.

3. How not to wean a baby.

4. The first few months with a newborn make you cry. A lot. At random things.

5. Being a new mum bring out the inner tigress in you. The saying should actually be “Hell hath no fury like a new mum scorned”.

6. Baby sick doesn’t bother you after your baby has thrown up on you for the 102747th time. If it doesn’t smell and the wipe gets it out then that is perfectly acceptable attire.

7. You can spend all evening admiring your little one and being amazed at how they can place one cup into another.

8. If you’re short, like me, it’s bloody hard to put a sleeping baby into the cot!

9. Planning two parties for a first birthday party is stressful. Men don’t seem to get *it* and will offer such helpful words of comfort such as “why do we need to have a party” and “I didn’t tell you to plan it, why are you taking it out on me”. A helium tank and balloons will get said man to come running to help like a little excited boy.

10. It’s not advisable to glare at the little Damian replica (straight from the Omen movies) at your child’s party. His mum is most likely watching you watching him.

11. Having a pull string piñata is no less violent than having one that you hit with a stick. Little people will still run around like mental lunatics.

12. Despite all the stress, during the moment of lighting the candle and singing the Birthday song, your precious boy has turned one, nothing else matters and people are genuinely happy for you. Bedlam recommences as soon as the candle is blown out.

13. Blogging has helped me capture a lot of baby memories and I love looking back over my baby posts.

Happy New Year everyone!!

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An Almost 1 Year Old

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Hello My Almost 12 month old!

I won’t keep saying that I can’t believe it (but, you know, I *can’t* believe it!), you are almost a 12 month old. I am going to a mummy to a 1 year old little baby boy. Whilst I wander around in my disbelief I’m trying to organise two big parties for the next two weekends. That’s why I look a bit frazzled sometimes. You’re really enjoying touching all the decorations and diving into boxes all over the place though!

You’ve also discovered new teething toys. My iPhone is your absolute favourite and that grating noise while you try to chew my phone usually has me screaming “noooooo baby!”. I have to say your daddy is a lot smarter in that aspect and never leaves his phone lying around.

Your other favourite teething toy are human knees. You crawl over all smiley and coy, stand up all innocent, then dig your gums fully around my knee cap. The neighbours must be wondering what all the yelping is about! I’m starting to get use to having you attached to my leg trying to bite through my jeans whilst I do the dishes though. It seems your top two teeth are making their way out, I wouldn’t mind if they hurried up!

You’ve also started toddling (a bit!). Actually it may be more accurate to say you’re teetering and taking a couple of steps unaided. The funniest is when you cruise across one sofa and, in an attempt to get to the other sofa, throw yourself to it with your arms outstretched. You would make a killing as a stunt baby. Do they have stuff like that?

I think the next few days are going to be interesting. It’s going to be filled with balloons for you to play with and a LOT of new party food that you’ll no doubt want to try (and then probably spit out and wipe your mouth on my shoulder!). We’ll probably spend the day filled up with helium and singing a lot. Don’t be scared baby, that’s just the magic of helium!

Oh, and one more thing. I’ll probably look really wide eyed and flappy on Sunday for Party number 1. I’ll be much more relaxed for Party number 2. Honest!

Until next time… Mwah!!

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Party Planning x 2

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As Baby Boy is fast approaching 11 months I really should planning for his first Birthday. Which means I really need to get a crack on and start thinking about what kind of party baby might like.

I actually need to plan for two quite big things. One for my family and one for the hubby’s family. As both families don’t get on (loooong story. Maybe I will blog about it one day!) I need to have two “proper” parties. Which means two proper birthday cakes, candles, Happy Birthday singing, party hats… The lot! There is a part of me that knows I will be ultra stressed and running around like a mad mother of one, juggling all the guests (42 at party number 1 and 20 at party number 2) and trying to make sure there is enough food to go around.

From attending some recent family dinner parties I fully expect the following:

    There will be that one family that simply can’t turn up at a reasonable time. Even if I lie and tell them a fake time.
    There will be the two people that don’t like each other and will spend their entire time muttering under their breath and watching the other with the scowl of an eagle eyed hawk.
    Similarly, there will be the two much younger cousins that can’t stand each other and will whine “Muuuuum!” for a while before, inevitably, one of them will go one step too far and it will end in tears.
    There will be at least one poor cousin that gets regularly lectured through the course of the day about “isn’t it time you settled down with someone nice / got married / had children”. Said cousin will spend remainder of time grumbling about interfering aunts and that you can’t buy husbands in the shops!
    There will be at least one stressed husband (mine) that goes around trying to keep his gadgets / speakers / playstation from being knocked over / touched / destroyed. This will usually end by him collapsing in a heap at the end of the day proclaiming it has been a really stressful day. Complete with wide eyes and a shake of his head for emphasis.
    There will be at least one uncle that will dance the evening away. He will be applauded for his effort and, frankly, very cool-for-uncle dance moves!
    There will be at least one couple that genuinely don’t want to be there and will act visibly uncomfortable / stare at their iPhone all day and try to make a swift exit as soon as the cake is cut.
    There will be at least one bubbly birthday baby that will love all the attention and hopefully smack his fist into the cake with utter excitement (it’s ok, we have two!) and enjoy scoffing it.
    There will be at least one birthday boy’s mummy that will plead with people not to feed the baby too much cake as he’ll only be bouncing off the walls in he evening. No-one will listen.
    There will be at least two utterly shattered parents at the end of the day that will more than likely sod the cleaning and crawl into bed at the end of a very long day. They’ll probably giggle about all of the above and admit it was a good day.
    There will at least one set of parents (probably the same one as above) that vows never to do it again and that maybe next time it’ll be a nice idea to go abroad.

Let the party planning commence!

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Dearest 10 Month Old. Where The Heck Are Your Teeth!

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Well hello there! So what’s the deal? How are you able to poo for the whole of England and still have NOT ONE tooth come through! I don’t get it, most babies I know have about 6 already. And the bloody baby down the road “has ALL of his teeth and eats absolutely everything! He’s even on cows milk!”. Wow, hurrah for him. Naf off.

To be fair, your dentist aunt did point out it can take up to 18 months (oh my god) for teeth to come through so I guess we still have a while before worry should set in. Your nanny actually told me that my teeth didn’t come through till I was 13 months old. So I guess, for now, I shall enjoy your gummy smiles a bit longer. It seems lack of teeth doesn’t stop you from biting my cardigan and shoulder. Ouch baby!!

This month I get the feeling you might have descended from evil kenieval. The way you quite willingly throw yourself off furniture and anything with a bit of height has my heart permanently in my mouth. And I know you know you’re doing it! You laugh cheekily and toss yourself back, looking a lot like you’re about to body surf. If you could not do that so much then that would be great!

And sleeping? I think we might be going backwards this month. One night was just pure awful and everything was going wrong. It started when I thought it would be a good idea to update my iPhone. 5 HOURS later at 1am it finished but not without wiping out 3 months worth of your pictures from my phone. The rest of that night went like this

    Lots of sulking over lost pics
    Trying to google way to get pics back
    Discovering big wee leak resulting from a dodgy nappy fastening by daddy
    Changing baby fully
    Settling baby back down after feed
    Collapsing into bed thinking sleep at last
    Waking an hour later by, fully awake, bouncing baby ready to start the day!

Suffice to say I spent most of that day in a zombie like state. It reminded me very much of the book Peace at last. I’ve now bought it for you.

Right about now I need to start thinking about your first birthday party. Now that’s going to be interesting, considering your mum and dads families don’t talk to each other. Do we have one party, invite everyone and stress the hell out of myself? Or have two separate parties and two cakes? Two cakes. I think that decides it doesn’t it? I should start organising but it’s not till mid December. We have aaaaages yet!

Until next time baby! Mwah!!

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