Here in the ESTWILL household we love our Bumbo seats! Esther and William have a Bumbo each that we use in so many different ways and in so many different places! A Bumbo makes a great first weaning chair. It … Continue reading
Bumbo Review
Category Archives: holiday
Sands Resort Review
This is not a review that I have been asked to complete, I am simply sharing with you a family holiday find. I hope that someone might find it useful. Last week David and I took Esther and William on … Continue reading
Listography – My Perfect Day
I am so thankful to have this to do today as I am having the worst few days ever with Esther and William, well William really. He is teething with a temperature and refusing to eat or sleep. I love him with all my heart but he is exhausting at the moment as he is often inconsolable. David works from home and is getting increasingly stressed that he is needed to help with the babies rather than focus all his attentions on his work. I think we are both nearing breaking point, so taking 5 minutes (albeit with William in my arms!) to ponder on what would be a perfect day for me right now is a really rather nice thing to do.
What would make my perfect day right now?
1 – I would wake up to a warm, sunny morning. The babies would wake smiling in their cot and we would go downstairs where I would put them down to play on the lawn whilst I got a breakfast of coffee, orange juice, fruit and croissants. I would sit in the warmth of the sun and watch my children playing happily together. It would be quiet apart from their beautiful coos and babbles. There would be periods of warm hazy silence.
2 – The postman would deliver a letter from my sister telling me that she is pregnant and that she is moving home from Australia not just to the UK but to Kent where we will be sisters, friends and neighbours and our children will grow up knowing each other like cousins should.
3 – I would have lunch in a cafe courtyard in the sun and enjoy drinking wine and eating finger foods with good adult conversation with a group of friends. We would laugh and joke and be playful. We would discuss and debate. We would not notice the sun beginning to set and day turning to night. It would be wonderful.
4 – I would go to a salon and have a relaxing back massage, facial with Indian head massage and have my hair cut and styled. I would take a lovely outfit with me to the salon and would dress there ready for an evening out.
5 – The evening would be with all my family and friends together at a function rather like a wedding reception with good music and good food. There would be dancing to cheesy music. There would be fun and frolicks and laughter. Lots of laughter. Everyone would be loving the company of everyone else. It would be riotous and yet so peaceful. Like being home!
And if there were just one impossible thing that I could make happen right now, I would like to go to 167 Grange Road for a cup of tea, a game of scrabble and a cuddle with my Nan. Because I miss her so much even now, everyday. That would be a perfect day.
Booked It, Packed It …
I am getting so excited about my summer holidays that I have been trying to plan ahead a little. I want our experiences to be memorable for the right reasons and not marred by the stresses of packing or travel.
This year we are going away 4 times
In April we are going to Cornwall for a few days, in June to Northumbria, July to Devon and in September to Spain. Each of these trips involve a long car journey for us from Kent and so I have been thinking about how we will cope with the travel. The packing and the travel!!
Just a couple of weeks ago we drove to the Peak District for my sister’s wedding and for that we seemed to take with us the entire contents of our house! It has taken me almost two weeks to unpack and get everything back into it’s rightful place at home.
So I am trying to compile a list of holiday essentials, the things that we will really need to take with us on each of our planned excursions. The list is LONG!
Something to sleep in – we had been using our bedside co-sleeper for this but the twins have grown out of it now and so we need suitable replacement. Any ideas? We have thought about taking a whole cot with us but I think that a travel cot or two would make our lives easier. Any ideas?
Fisher Price Newborn to Toddler Rockers
These are great. When Esther and William were tiny they used to nap in them in the bathroom whilst I had my morning shower. They vibrate which the babies both seem to love and find soothing. I used to sit E and W in these chairs to read them stories and to let them have some time sat facing each other. In rocking mode I was also able to lull them to sleep with singing and rocking. We still use them in this mode when either baby is unwell or unsettled. They work really well. The chairs in upright non rocking mode make good TV chairs. Esther and William watch 10 minutes of Baby Einstein a day through You Tube and they love it. They watch this whilst I prepare their tea. The chairs are then also used as secondary feeding chairs rather than moving them to their highchairs which are used for all other meals. This means that when we do go away the babies are used to using these seats for play, sleep and food. A great all round rescource that have definitely been worth the money that we spent on them and I am sure that we will continue to find new uses for them as the children grown and the seasons change. I can certainly see them moving outside for the summer as the covers are so easy to clean from any ice cream spillages!
Baby food, plates, bowls, snacks, bibs and eating implements – surely this equipment gets a box or suitcase all of it’s own? At home I make a lot of my own food for the babies but we also use pots and pouches, again to ensure that Esther and William are familiar with them and will not refuse them when we are away. We have practised eating them warm and cold, in case of emergencies. We currently use coverall bibs from Mothercare which we have to wash after a single use as the babies are so messy. I wonder if there are other recommended products that are more effective and time efficent to use, something for tiny babies that is wipe clean?
Toys
As I have mentioned before we love Lamaze toys and have a whole range of them that are easy to pack and transport. As the babies were in NICU all of last summer however what we have no knowledge of are summer toys. The Lamaze toys we have are plush and colourful but would not last long I feel in the garden or on the beach. Perhaps it is not toys we need but ideas for outdoor activities with under ones? Ideas require no packing and are very easy to carry.
Clothes
For my sister’s wedding we were away for two day and two nights. We took enough clothes to last at least a week and to my surprise we used most of it! Esther had to change dresses three times during the wedding alone such was the rate of her dribble!! So I am thinking that for a week away at least two weeks worth of clothing will be required and that is before we think of specialist items such as wetsuits, sunsuits, swimming costumes, all of which I know nothing about!
You begin to see why I need to think about all of this so early on.
Transportation
We have a giant double buggy and people keep suggesting that for trips away we buy two small single buggies? We also have slings and baby carriers in various formats, will we need these aswell? Our giant buggy is convenient as can be used in parent facing car seat mode as well as outward facing buggy. But it does take up our entire boot space in our very large Honda estate.
I think that this covers the essentials apart from needing a tool box with a medical kit and who knows what I need to put in there?! Nappies to begin with, wipes, cotton wool, vaseline, Savlon?, plasters, Calpol? What would you or do you have in such a box for you travels?
These are my wonderings for today. My puzzlement that I am working on now to avoid holiday trauma later. Any help and advice would be warmly appreciated.
And I actually have some advice to share in return about travel.
Below is an article from Dr Lin Day, founder of nationwide baby development classes, Baby Sensory with some top tips for travelling with children.
Top Travel Tips
Keeping small children seated, quiet and entertained on a car or plane trip is a frightening prospect for most parents. But, with a little planning, travelling can be a fun experience for children and a relaxing one for parents. Here are some ideas on how to prepare for the journey and how to keep your child busy and happy on the way.
Planning your trip
Have everything from the entertainment to nappies, wet wipes, medicine, spare clothes and the first aid kit prepared in advance and stored within easy reach. Rubbish bags are essential to keep the car clean and they may be useful if your child suffers from motion sickness. Take enough finger food and bottled water to last the journey, and any unexpected delays, but avoid sugary snacks since these will increase energy levels. High protein foods such as slices of fruit, cucumber and cheese will fill your child up and make them drowsy.
Start your trip an hour or so before your child’s normal nap time. Allow them to run about and let off steam before getting in the car. The chances are that they will amuse themselves for the first part of the journey and then fall asleep for the rest of it. An extra rear-view mirror will allow you to keep an eye on your child without having to turn around.
If you are on the road, frequent stops will make the journey more bearable. Your child will enjoy stretching their legs, getting some fresh air and having a change of scenery.
Being comfortable is all-important on a long trip. Clothes made from natural fibres are more comfortable than synthetic ones. Snuggle your child up in a soft blanket or use it as a pillow. If your child is potty-training, put a training pad or small towel on the car seat so any accidents will be contained. You may be unable to stop for a toilet break on demand.
If you are catching a plane, get to the airport early. There is nothing worse than struggling through check-in when you are late. If your stress levels are high, your child will pick up on your mood, which will only make matters worse.
A pull-along suitcase will keep your child entertained and serve as a resting place when they get tired. If you are travelling with a baby put them in a metal-free sling, so that they can sleep without being disturbed during the security check-in.
Airport regulations permit up to 100ml in the way of milk and drinks, although exceptions may be made for the under-twos. If your baby is bottle-fed, take powdered formula milk and buy bottled water in the secure area. Ask the cabin crew to top it up with boiled water during the flight.
Changes in air pressure can make little ears pop. Sucking and swallowing helps to relieve air pressure in the middle ear, so keep drinks or pacifiers available for takeoffs and landings.
Strap children in on long-haul flights. If you fall asleep, they may wander off. Seat straps will also keep them safe during air turbulence or in the event of an emergency.
Best travel toys
The best travel toys are quiet and compact and don’t break easily. Toys with small, moving parts are bound to end up under the seat. Favourite soft toys and books are essential, but have some new toys to provide interest and excitement. Wrap these up in paper to keep little hands busy. Offer one thing at a time, such as a plastic food container. When the novelty wears off, give your child the lid to maintain interest.
Babies
Containers that fit together are fun to play with. They can be stacked, nested or used as hiding places for toys. A fabric scarf offers endless play and learning opportunities from hand-eye coordination to peek-a-boo, tickling and texture exploration. A rattle is a must, but keep it in reserve for a difficult moment. It could save the day!
Sophie the Giraffe, a phthalate-free rubber toy that can be gripped, squeezed or mouthed is a popular baby toy. A familiar book can be comforting and your baby will enjoy turning the pages to find her favourite characters. Texture books that contain hidden surprises also provide entertainment and amusement. If you are on the road, put on a nursery rhyme CD or sing a song. A Baby Sensory baby will be instantly calmed by ‘Say Hello to the Sun’.
Toddlers
A reusable sticker book will keep little hands busy. Stickers can be stuck on the window or the seat without any harm being done. A toy catalogue is great fun to look at and toddlers can colour in the things they would like to have. Activity books, which include dot-to-dot, mazes and patterns, will provide entertainment and distraction. If crayons are a problem, try an ‘Etch A Sketch’. Simply draw on the wipe off mat with the magic pencil and start again without having to change the paper.
Chunky pipe cleaners that can be transformed into fascinating shapes will provide amusement. Attach them together to make animals, bracelets and necklaces. Small strips of masking tape stuck to your toddlers’ legs and arms will provide endless fun. It can be removed easily (unlike a plaster) and gives a pleasant sensation. An interesting way to entertain your toddler is to provide a straw and a drinking cup filled with ice cubes. The straw can be flicked, bent and twisted in a number of different ways and the melting ice will promote the development of many scientific concepts.
Older children
Older children may sit quietly listening to their favourite music on an MP3 player with headphones. A favourite book will keep them entranced for some time, but avoid books with small print in the car or you could end up with a sick child. Books about the geography, history, customs, animal and plant life of your destination will also keep them busy. A map and compass is great fun for children who want to help navigate the route.
Classic travel games such as connect the dots, hangman, tic-tac-toe and magnetic games such as checkers, chess and snakes and ladders can make the journey zoom by. Scrabble is an ideal game for two players, but children can invent their own crossword puzzles too. Electronic games are very popular, but make sure that they are turned off during take-off and landing or they may interfere with the aircraft’s navigational system.
Try some of these tips on your next trip and you and your family may get to your destination in a more relaxed and happy frame of mind!
I know that I will be trying some of these but first I need to research and shop before we can begin to think about packing and travelling! Where to start?
I plan to review all my purchases on this blog so please do keep coming back to see how we are getting along.
I Was, I Am, I Will Be …
I stumbled across this post today http://thesyders.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-was-i-am-i-will-be.html and decided to use it as inspiration for a post of my own. I love the idea of thinking where I have been, where I am and where I am going to. I have been many things in my time and so choosing the three most significant is quite difficult to do, particularly where the past is concerned. I have been many things, not all as good as I would like. For the purposes of this blog about parenting though I think that I should tell you about how I was a Nan and Granddad’s Girl, how I am a Mummy and I will be a wonderful wife!
Here goes …
As a young girl there was nothing I loved more than being with my Nanny and Granddad Jock, my Dad’s parents. For my very early childhood they lived just up the road from us at 167 Grange Road, we lived at 205. I would often spend time with them in their house and garden, and in my Granddad’s shed. My Granddad was good at making things out of wood. He made my sister and I a wonderful dolls’ house and he made us hobby horses too. He also made a money box for all the cousins in which he used to save up money for us to spend on our holidays. As an extended family we used to go to Haven or Pontins and we all had a wonderful time. My Nan made wonderful soup and dumplings which I loved. Every Sunday we used to go to their house for a roast dinner, the whole family and it was just great. On Saturdays people would come to our house for tea and cards. I remember that my Granddad used to talk to anyone and everyone whenever we were out and about. I remember, correctly or incorrectly, that he used to take me to the high street and buy me shoes. I remember as I got older not saying that I liked things when out with Granddad because often what I said I liked he would buy. When we moved to Cyprus and left my Grandparents behind I was devastated. They came to visit us at least twice a year though and they always brought pic n mix sweets that you could not buy outside of the UK. I loved their cuddles and as I got older I adored their company. Especially my Nan. After Cyprus we lived again in England for a short while and I spent so much time at my Nan and Granddad’s house. I used to play swingball in their garden and dig for treasure that Granddad had buried near the runner beans. I used to love the smells in the shed and the greenhouse. I can still smell them now. After eighteen months we moved away again to Germany and again left Nan and Granddad behind. Again though they visited us often and I cherished the time that we had. When I was 13 my Granddad died. I found him, in the extension, after he collapsed with his heart. He died after or during an operation I am not sure which. I remember being so angry with my parents because they had not let me see him in the hospital before he had died. We stayed in England after he died until the funeral. In my Nan’s house. I spent all my time doing school work as I was worried about missing so much school. I sat on a pouffe that Nan and Granddad had brought home from Cyprus. I own that pouffe now. It is split and losing all its stuffing but I will not throw it out. I love it as it reminds me of them. I also have the foldaway coffee table from their house that I did my school work on and played scrabble with my Nan on whilst eating maltesers. Nan loved maltesers. My Granddad died and I missed him so much. At that time I wrote a diary and for months afterward I addressed it each day to my Granddad. Dear Granddad Jock, it would say. Losing my Granddad made me even closer to my Nan. Neither of us went to his funeral. I sat in her lap at Aunty Barbara’s house, I remember to this day. She had been so good to me when my Mum’s Dad had died and held me while my parents were at his funeral, I wanted to hold her through Granddad’s too. I used to love coming home from Germany to Nan. We would watch Countdown and Home and Away together. We would play scrabble and cards. We would go up the corner shop to buy scratch cards. My Nan loved her scratch cards! I loved my Nan so much. I remember that I used to devour her Mills and Boons books as a teenager and I remember how over the years the text size got larger and larger as she began to lose her sight. Nan had a stroke before she died. I remember her getting older and smaller and funny with her awkward ways. But she was always wonderful to me and me to her. I have never had a bad word to say about her and never could have. I idolised my Nan and was heart broken when she died. I still think about her all the time and I miss her everyday. I miss them both and wish with all my heart that they could see me now that I am a mother of children of my own. I know that they would be so proud. I was and always will be a Grandparents’ Girl.
I am a mother myself now. I cannot believe it actually but it is true, and true twice over as I am a very lucky mother of twins. If you know me or read this blog regularly then you will know that I find being Mummy to twins hard sometimes but I would not change it for the world and when I look at my beautiful children my heart fills with love a-new every single time. One of the things I am most proud of is that I have breastfed Esther and William for almost 7 months now, and I have no plans to stop anytime soon. It is one of the most precious things that I do as a Mother but it is also the one thing that means I get no time at all to be anything apart from a Mummy. When I am tired and grumpy David will remind me that I chose to breastfeed and so really chose to be so tied to the twins, which is true but I had hoped by now that I would be able to get out long enough to pop to the gym or the shops or just have some time to get reacquainted with me. It is a tricky situation; that one of the things that I love the most about being Mum is also the thing that exhausts me the most and can lead to me having difficult times. I do wonder how other women feel. I find breastfeeding very easy. Both babies latch on well and feed efficiently, I have plenty of milk that flows freely. With all of this going for me I still find it hard and so to have any of these things not working as it should it must make breastfeeding nigh on impossible, especially with two. I would encourage Mummy’s to try breastfeeding as it is a wonderful experience but I would also say to not be too downhearted if it does not work for you as there are so many other magical mummy moments coming your way. The smiles, the giggles, the firsts, the farts … Everything and anything will be noted as a milestone or occasion of some sort as you celebrate this life that you have made and share and celebrate. I am a Mummy and it is a wonderful thing!
I will be a loyal and loving wife. In less than 7 months! I will be a Henley and I just cannot wait. Over the last four years I have come to know David and love him with all my heart. I have fallen in love with him over and over again in the time that I have been fortunate enough to know him. He is amazing and I am so so lucky that he is mine. He is funny and clever, he is strong and kind, he is ambitious but homely, a loving father and my bestest friend. I would follow him to the the ends of the earth and I would trust him with each and every one of my dreams. He is my life and I want to be everything I can for him when I become his wife. Mrs Jennie Henley I will be, and I cannot wait!!!
And everything I am, was, will be and can be has been leading to this one moment, the most important moment of my life when our family circle is complete.
I was, I am and I will be me, in all my guises, for all my many ways, and I know that it is as it should be and I dream of what we will go on to become x
Blog Gems – A Holiday Yet to Be from the Archives!
This post from the archives is all about mine and David’s first proper, family holiday that we have yet to go on.
We are going in June, to Northumberland, and I cannot wait.
Please read the old post here to find out more.
To read other people’s Blog Gems please visit the linky at the King and Eye
Something you’re looking forward to this year.
There are lots of things to look forward to this year – babies, weddings, honeymoons and holidays amongst others.
I have chosen to blog about mine and David’s first proper holiday together which will also be our first as a family of 4.
In the four years I have known David we have been away each year with his family to Ullswater, Wales, Brittany or Devon and we always have a lovely time. We have also been out to Spain together to stay with my family. We have had a few weekends away with friends and even a couple of short breaks together to Cornwall. What we have never done is go away on what I would call a proper holiday together, and this year we will be doing that twice. Once an activity holiday in the UK and once for a week of relaxation in the sun.
As we have not yet planned our week in the sun (recommendations for all inclusive destinations with twinfants very much welcomed!) I thought I would share the details of the holiday I am planning for us in the North of England.
First we will drive to Skipton where we are going to stay over night in a B&B. The following day we are going to go for a walk in the dales and do some wild swimming. I bought David two wild swimming books for Christmas a couple of years ago, one coastal and one fresh water and we are going to use them as starting points for family holidays over the years as we both love the water and hope that our children will love it too.
The place we will visit on this day is Grassington Weir and Ghaistrill’s Strid. We will have a picnic lunch and play in the water.
In the afternoon we will drive on to our holiday cottage near Alnwick, Northumbria where we will be spending the next 7 nights.
During our 7 days we are going to explore the local beaches and castles. We are going to go on a boat trip to see seals, dolphins and puffins. We are going to do sandboarding on the massive dunes and David I am sure will be out on his wave canoe most days. We are going to visit the island of Lindisfarne and have lunch at a place with ‘Goats on the Roof!’ I am really looking forward to our holiday and spending some quality time together as a family. This was my Christmas present from David, William and Esther and it really is a wonderful one. I think I have enjoyed planning the week almost as much as I will enjoy being there and doing it!
I am also looking forward to all the firsts that this holiday will hold for all of us but mostly for Esther and William. What a wonderful experience for them in their first year!
And best of all, we get to go to Hogwarts!!
Alnwick Castle was used for exterior shots of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films so we are going to see it. It was also the castle used for Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. I can’t wait to see it and I am also looking forward to seeing what David thinks of Harry Potter when he reads it for the first time this year!
I am the luckiest of all the ducks with all of this to look forward to.
It’s a wonderful life!
ps – This holiday is now just 2 weeks away as I repost this article for Show Off Show Case!
