This is my story as I stumble my way through family life

With one toddler and another new arrival on the way, this blog shares with you some of the things I see and think and also hopefully gives newer dads and dads to be some ideas based on what I did (or often, did not...) learn

Thursday 30 September 2010

When do kids get what xmas is about?

Last night I got home just in time to do Ollie's bedtime story. We had a little chat before he settled down and he asked me where his present was!
It turns out mummy and he had been having a chat during the day about Christmas, what it was all about and of course, his little ears remembered that Santa, among others, would be bringing him presents.

Unfortunately, two year olds have no concept of time so he felt a few hours was long enough to wait for xmas. This could be a long three months......

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Birthing leaflets- the funniest thing you will ever read!

Victoria brought home a birthing advice leaflet from her ante natal yoga class last night (lesson one- always take an immediate interest in these things and treat it as though it is the sports pages of the newspaper) and you can't help but laugh at what is written on it.

There were a couple of golden nuggets though:

1. That she should take things like breath spray and perfume with her as it is nice to feel fresh during labour?! What is more, they advise that the birth partner also uses these; as if she will even notice whether I have a fragrant aroma or not.... "hang on love, I know you are at a vital stage but I need to grab a shower so I am at my best for you so if you could just stop pushing for a few minutes..."

2. That although the contractions are hard work, when it comes to the pushing, the mother feels an "altogether more pleasant feeling". I have asked Victoria and she was unable to confirm that the pushing was a lovely time first time around......

Who writes this stuff? Classic

Monday 27 September 2010

Seriously- think ahead when buying a pushchair; save yourself ££££'s

My last post talked about thinking a bit more long term when buying a new pushchair. Having now sold our first one at a 70% loss on what we paid just two and a half years ago I thought I needed to write again as I hope I can save you the pain I am currently feeling in my wallet!!!


If the Phil 't & Teds isn't for you the n I have posted up a few more options below.


I have to say though that for me there are a couple of big wins with the Phil & Teds:
1. It isn't that big and is absolutely fine to use when you just have one kid (as we currently do)
2. It is really easy to fold up. A squeeze of a clip either side and there you go, job done and in the boot!


Jane have just introduced a new twin model:
http://www.lullabys.co.uk/shop/jane-twin-two-pushchair-4915-0.html


Graco have a nice looking model and ebay is always a great place to source pushchairs:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GRACO-%22QUATTRO-TOUR-DUO%22-2-SEATER-PUSHCHAIR-SYSTEM-NEW_W0QQitemZ220583382730QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=146324760115&rvr_id=146324760115&cguid=c6ff5e7012a0a0aad4d5efd5ff0e6f66


Mothercare have a great range that caters for all needa and taste
http://www.mothercare.com/b/42804041/276-5213567-6956044?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_r=0VE06J1MGKMS9GQJSDK9&pf_rd_m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=42768041&pf_rd_p=222674291&pf_rd_s=left-nav-3


Have a look at the MyChild on the Mothercare site at great price of £199 and only available on the web:
http://www.mothercare.com/My-Child-Sienta-Tandem-Stroller/dp/B003YM58XU/sr=1-24/qid=1285616516/ref=sr_1_24/276-5213567-6956044?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42804041&mcb=core


Still confused, Tesco have a great little advice guide to help:
http://direct.tesco.com/buyersguide/pushchair.aspx


If you want the real low down on what pitfalls to avoid, Which (the consumer advice people) have a quick 5 minute guide of what to watch out for:
http://www.which.co.uk/baby-and-child/baby-transport/reviews/pushchairs/?source_code=610CQJ&CMP=KNC-GOOGLE&_$ja=kw:pushchair|cgn:BABYC-BTRAN-PUCHS%2bBROAD-GENRC%2bPushchair|cgid:1186456340|tsid:21629|cn:BABYC-BTRAN-SPART-Baby+Transport|cid:34422320|lid:25559581|mt:Broad|nw:search|crid:2575142840


Or there are loads of product videos on You Tube; here are a few:


http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=which+pushchair&aq=f

Thursday 23 September 2010

I must buy a climbing frame

Got home for the first time this week to see Ollie

After the fastest cuddle in history Ollie proceeded to spend the next fed minutes climbing up me like I was a tree. That is surely not what Dads are for!

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Phil & Teds Sport Buggy & Double Kit - Kiddicare

So here is what I learnt about buying a pushchair

When we were expecting Ollie a couple of years ago, we looked into every possible pushchair on the market. there are loads of options and plusses and minusses for all of them. You could one from any of the brands below (and more I have missed):


http://www.bugaboo.com/
http://www.maxi-cosi.com/
http://www.quinny.com/
www.graco.co.uk
www.chicco.co.uk
www.cossato.com


Everyone looks at a travel system so that the car seat and pram all work together and hopefully saves a bit of money by buying it altogether.


If you are planning to have two kids though, this plan quickly falls apart as if the first is still young and still using a pram, you need something to carry both kids.


We have just had to sell our lovely first pram as this is our very situation and had to buy a Phil & Teds- if only we had thought, I would have done this first time around!


The moral is think ahead- it may save you money in the long run plus you will still end up with a great pram!


http://www.philandteds.com/

Attention dads to be- don't miss my big tip on buying a pram later today!

Monday 20 September 2010

The art of negotiation

I am ironing babygro's whilst watching the cricket.

For once victoria has no leg to stand on in tv remote ownership wrangling

Sunday 19 September 2010

Bad nights sleep-only one thing to do:TIRE HIM OUT

The unexplainable has happened again and for the last two nights, Ol has spent at least two hours awake and in and out of our room.

This happens every so often and there is never an obvious reason: he isn't I'll, his routine has not changed, nothing has upset him so what causes this to happen?....

Today we did the only thing you can and that is to try and give him do much to do and so much fresh air that all he can do is sleep soundly tonight (fingers crossed)

so swimming this morning, play in the garden after and then a long walk feeding the ducks and a good play in the park to finish

I'll let you tomorrow if it works...

Friday 17 September 2010

Don't they grow up fast?

Got home last night after a couple of days away with work. Am convinced Ollie has grown about six months in that time!

It is amazing how they change so fast- you don't really notice how much more assured their movement becomes, how their vocabulary at that age expands every single day

Tell me I am not the only one that thinks this?

I am sure that as he grows I am going the other way!!!

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Kids say the funniest things

I think the funniest thing about a two year old is as they learn to speak.

Apparently last night Ol wasn't too keen on the dinner Victoria had cooked him and felt he should express his displeasure:
"I don't think I like this and you are not being nice giving it to me. I think that you should cook me something better"

Can't imagine the response if I had said that but I am guessing I would have been wearing the meal....

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Tupperware party

Is this a bloke's worst nightmare- tonight my house has been invaded by a load of women for a Tupperware party my wife has decided to host

If she is going to do this sort of thing she could have at least chosen Ann Summers?....

Instead I am banished from my tv with sky on a champions league tonight and left to try and get Ollie to sleep amidst a cacophany from my lounge...living the dream....

Monday 13 September 2010

Change bag

Day off today so we went out. Both of us thought the other had brought the change bag, neither had. Inevitable happens, panic ensues...

Sunday 12 September 2010

Took Ol for a haircut today. Why did the hairdresser put him in a gown and not me when he is sitting on my lap?

Unsurprising result-all of his wet cut off hair stuck to me requiring total change of clothes....

Taking a two year old to church

We have started to go to our local church over the last few months. Both Victoria and I have always planned to take our kids to Sunday school to help them learn and puck up the right values in life but not quite this early.
In order to get Ollie into our local school, we stand a much better chance if the vicar recommends us so we now attend the family service. Today we went to a Eucharist- not quite so much fun for Ol and as a result his attention span saw him and Victoria in the crèche and me in church.



I have got to say though, the people there could not be more welcoming and properly nice- no wonder the place was packed!

Thursday 9 September 2010

The nightmare of choosing baby's name...

Seven weeks and counting to the arrival of our second baby and I am feeling the pressure of choosing his name. Victoria keeps throwing names at me, most of which I don't like apart from two and from them she has pretty much chosen one.
I can't help feeling challenged to find another but have you ever looked at a list; they are huge!

I find myself absent mindedly assessing people's names as I meet them or as I watch a game on telly but as the clock ticks, I've got nothing....

Wednesday 8 September 2010

I really need to watch what I say

Got a telling off from my mum today: ollie spent the day with his grandparents and mum is very disappointed because not only does ollie mimic words he has heard me use which I ought not to around him BUT now he is using those words absolutely in context.

I think it is time I reined it in before he starts at his church run nursery school!

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Oh no, internet shopping at two years old....

What is my wife doing? Get home tonight to be told Ollie has been eying up the present HD wants his brand new baby brother to bring him when he is born in October.
A two year old choosing his toys online seems like a slippery slope to me.... Seems as well as inheriting my live of football, Ollie has his mum's main hobby as one of his two!

Monday 6 September 2010

Great tip: getting a toddler to wake when you want

We bought this brilliant Thomas the Tank Engine alarm clock. You set the time you want Thomas to wake up and push a button. Thomas closes his eyes and gives off a gentle light until your specified morning wake up. Ol might only be two but he understands not to get up until Thomas wakes up


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THOMAS-TANK-ENGINE-GO-GLOW-TIME-TRAINER-ALARM-CLOCK

Sunday 5 September 2010

Good idea, badly executed....

Tesco have an offer on where you can trade clubcard vouchers for double their value. Victoria decides to use these to get cracking on Xmas presents for the masses of kids we buy for- great idea considering what we spent last year.

Not such a good idea is spending them on the last day of the offer- horrendous queues at store customer service desks while the website seems to be on strike

Makes you wonder if it was really worth the hassle.....

Saturday 4 September 2010

Bought blue fabric softener tonight. Got home to barrage as apparently blue is unacceptable. See what happens when you try and help....

Thursday 2 September 2010

Be careful what you say

Got home tonight just in time for bedtime and told Ollie I am on going on a plane tomorrow

After a bit of a chat, I said I would take him on a plane again soon and asked him where he wanted to go- he said Grandads

After a couple of minutes this became his idea that he is flying to Grandads tomorrow......

I'll be out before he gets up so good luck Mummy explaining that one!

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Snoring dog

The fourth member of our family is our 10 year old King Charles- he was snoring so loud last night we couldn't hear the tv and had to wake him up- have a listen!