Friday, July 31, 2009

Woohoo PMM!

PMM = Proud Mummy Moment for anyone not in the know...

So anyway... Ollie stood today, not leaning on anything, all by himself! It was very surreal. He stood for a whole 6 or 7 seconds completly still with a serious/ slightly shocked look on his face and then he sat down and shot me the proudest, biggest grin ever.

I give it 2 weeks and he will be walking hehe. Clever boy.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

101 in 1001

Since I finished my project 365 in which I took a photo every day for the first year of Ollie's life, I have been on the lookout for a new project!

A girl I know via a forum I frequent just posted about "101 in 1001". On the website it says the following:

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie: no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie: represent some amount of effort on your part).

I am going to start it as soon as I have compiled my list and then I will be putting my list in a sidebar here on my blog! :)

For anyone who would like to join me, you can find information here and also links to other people's lists.

I think it is such a good way to motivate yourself into doing those things you have always wanted to do! My husband is going to write one too :)

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Learning and learning and learning!

Ollie is learning so so much at the minute. He just isn't a baby anymore! He is really growing up!

Ollie took his first steps with his vtech walker last week and it was awesome to see him looking so proud of himself and he is getting very good at cruising. He can get anywhere he wants to be. I'd say it will only be a matter of time before he is walking on his own.

James and I have also been wondering for some time about switching his night-time bottle to a cup of milk instead. His night-time bottle is the only bottle he has been getting as we switched the morning bottle to a cup months ago. Last night we gave it a go and it was a success.

I am currently trying to help him learn to feed himself. At feed times I give him and spoon to play with and I have a spoon also. He is already so good at getting the spoon to his mouth but is still working on getting food on the spoon! Were headed for a messy time until he knows how to do it well!

Also his first molar is almost fully broken through so I hope it bring him some well deserved relief!

After his "I'm independant, I don't need kisses and cuddles" phase he is back to his cuddly old self. He comes over to me when I am sitting on the couch and puts his head down beside me, not to mention that he lies down and cuddles any blanket, soft toy or pillow that is in his reach. Very cute.

Ollie on the move!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Play Cafe!


My friend Clare and I took Ollie and her daughter, Ruby to a place nearby that I had never heard of called The Play Cafe! It was fab and Ollie had a brilliant time. It was £4.50 entrancec which i thought was TINY bit expensive but when I went to pay the lady asked if Ollie was walking yet, I told her no and she said it was free of charge for him!

We all grabbed lunch (fries, fried bacon, sausage, fried egg and soad bread) and headed to the play area. The soft play area was divided into 2... one area for 1 - 4 year olds and an area for 4+. Ollie and Ruby loved it. Ollie was mesmerised by the ball pool and by the time we had to leave he was very brave and diving into the balls off the platform.

It really whiled away the hours of what would have been a very boring day!

Monday, July 20, 2009

I was creative today!!



I made a sock doll for Ollie! You may be thinking, what is a sock doll! It is exactly that. A doll made out of one sock! It does look a llittle bit strange but also very cute. I love it and so does Ollie and James has named it Rodger! I never sew, so I am very proud of this attempt :)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

I'll be getting newborn baby cuddles today or tomorrow! woohoo!

One of my BFs had her baby yesterday and she is gooooooooorgeous. Bex's waters broke on Thursday morning but baby Ivy was not born until yesterday evening at 5.42 weighing 8lbs 5. She has a whole head of dark brown hair. I'm so so excited to meet her and so proud of Bex.

Bex is the first of my friends to have a baby since I had Ollie and it is completly different to how I felt about my friends giving birth before I had Ollie. I'm sure this is because I now know exaqctly what she went through and the feelings you get when you get to hold your baby and see the look on hubbys face! As soon as I saw the pictures and little video I started welling up.

Because Bex is the first of my friends to have their first baby after I had Ollie, I'm looking forward to being able to help out with bits and pieces of advice. I can't wait to be asked questions about things... although Bex looks like she has taken so well she might not need to ask me baby advice! hehe!

She is also moving house, to just a couple of streets away from me! Ollie is excited about his new playmate!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Stupid rain ruining our plans!

There is a lovely park near our house called Lady Dixon Park. Every year for week in July they have Rose Week. I have never been so was really looking forward to going to see it today.

Things started to go downhill when Ollie's back molar, which is nearly through, started to bother him a lot. He was getting very upset. James announced he had a really bad headache and then my camera went missing! I really wanted to take photos of all the fabulous roses.... so I got grumpy.

Anyway we packed a picnic and off we went to meet a couple of friends!

As soon as we put the blankets out on the ground the rain started but because we were sitting under trees we thought it would be ok, but the rain just got heavier and heavier until we all gave in and had to leave.

Boo.

We have no plans tonight so I think I will have a big bubble bath and then use the foot spa I got for my birthday to cheer myself up.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Photos from my brithday :)

The computer was running far too slow last night for me to upload any of my pictures so here they are!


Exploris Aquarium in portaferry, just across Strangford Lough.


Look at the creepy fish sneaking in at the top there... freaky... you can hardly see him because he looks like the rocks!


O0o0oh sharks!





Waiting to get the ferry back to the other side!



Oliver having fun driving daddy's car!



Ollie and I playing peek-a-boo in the car while waiting for the ferry!


I know I look sunburnt in this picture but I'm not... it is just bad lighting!


My yummy salt and chilli soft shell crab starter.


Sour Apple Martini - looks like phlegm.... tastes like heaven :)


My salt and lime sea bass... was delicious but I could have done without the rice. It came on salad leaves but thy were dressed in something that was gorgeous!

My wonderful watermelon cocktail... divine!

I had such a lovely birthday thanks to my gorgeous husband and angel child!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

It's my birthday!

Well actually, my birthday is nearly over as it is 10.10pm. I have had such a lovely lovely day. It all started by getting a lovely lie-in until 9.00am and then James made me french toast with nutella and banana (divine!). I got 2 new beads for my pandora bracelet - a dangly musical note from James (because he is my educator in what music to listen to) and a pearl birthstone pandora bead from Ollie because pearl is his birthstone. I also got an electric toothbrush which I'm thrilled about because I have wanted one for ages. My teeth look super sparkly! My mother in law got me a wonderful pedicure foot spa.

I found out that my very good friend's waters broke early this morning. She is expecting a little girl. I am very excited and was hoping she would arrive today and share my birthday with me but it looks like she is waiting until tomorrow!

We took Ollie to Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry, about 1 hour drive from my house, and he LOVED it. He was mesmerised by all the fish swimming past him and he kept reaching out to grab them. We had a lovely lunch in the Portaferry Hotel before getting the ferry back across the lough and driving home.

When we got home my sister in law called round with a present for me... a gorgeous teal coloured top and a necklace to go with it. My friend Clare called round with a Lush box set. I've always wanted one but noone has ever got me one before. So pleased :)

I didn't get to see my mum today because she has a migraine but my stepdad came over to mind Ollie so James and I could go out for dinner. My present from mum and Harry was rock band for the Wii!! I have it all set up now and can't wait to play. Unfortunately Ollie is in bed and our living room is under his room so I will have to wait to play it!

James and I went for dinner to a gorgeous thai/ japanese place. I had crab to start, salt and lime seabass for main and thai caramelised bananas for desert. I also had a sour apple martini and a watermelon martini... the watermelon one was quite possibly the best cocktail I have ever had in my life.

I have had a lovely day. Can't believe I am now 25... 1/4 of a century!

My birthdays normally last a few days and this year is no exception. Tomorrow my brother and his girlfriend are coming over. I have never met her so am looking forward to that. On Saturday we are going on a picnic with my friend, her husband and baby and on Sunday I get a party tea at my mum's house! James is going to bake cupcakes for me.

I will upload photos of everything tomorrow. The computer is running toooooo slow to do it tonight.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

First trip to the Dentist!


We just registered with a brand new dentist because my last dentist was HORRIBLE and because Ollie now has 8 teeth (with a 9th about to pop through) we decided to let him have his registration checkup! The dentist was pleased with how many teeth he has through but said he was slightly slower than other kids his age... I then asked her about my nephew! He is 14 months and still does not have a single tooth! She said he should go to the dentist.

I need no work done. My teeth are perfect but need a good polish... but James needs 6 fillings!! :( Poor James. It is so unfair. I am the one who drinks about a gallon of coca cola a day and he drinks water. I eat sweets and junk ALL THE TIME... he doesn't! But then he has not been to the dentist in 5 years!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Finger Painting Fun!


*smoosh*


*squish*


*not so tasty*

My boy is an angel


...and I am not exaggerating. I don't know what we have done to deserve such a well behaved and placid little man! Unless he is in pain with teething, or very very tired, there is hardly a noise out of him (except for contented babble). I seem to be able to get a lot more done around the house these days because he will happily sit and entertain himself for a half hour while I get a shower and throw a load of laundry in! I wonder what he thinks about while he is entertaining himself.

I hope this doesn't mean that the next child we have will be a little terror! Maybe Ollie will teach any future children we have, to be super super nice and well behaved.

I know this seems like a boastful post... *shrugs shoulders*

A trip to Seaford Butterfly Farm


Today James, Ollie and I went to Seaford Butterfly Farm with Granny and Grandpa. I was gorgeous! Ollie had a lovely time and was totally entertained! There were lots of peacocks running about, a maze, a park, a tropical butterfly house and lovely gardens!


Ollie loved seeing the gorgeous peacocks, but everytime he went near them they ran away. I don't blame them! He is getting so so steady on his feet. I noticed a massive difference today and I gave him lots of opportunities to walk about. He won't let go of my hand yet though!


Spot the butterfly!



Me and my gorgeous boy and Granny and Grandpa sitting in the background.


Snuggling up to daddy when he got sleepy!


It took us a few attempts but we finally made it to the centre of the maze. Granny and Grandpa gave up after just one attempt!


The peacock showing off his lovely feathers was hilarious. He swooshed them out and did a funny little dance. It was almost as if he was showing us his feathers because he knew he was having his photo taken!


Ollie slept the whole way home! It is great having James off work for a whole week.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Friday, July 10, 2009

Got a lovely week ahead planned!

As it is the 12th this weekend, James has a bank holiday on Monday and day in lieu on Tuesday (woohoo!) and he is taking the rest of the week off just for fun.

Tonight I am going to the cinema with my friend Bex and her fiancee because it is her birthday.
On Sunday we are going to James mum's house for dinner (were having duck! Yum!).
On Monday we are having a family dentist visit, so long as I can change the appointment to then, and we will be watching the parades.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we are going to Antrim to watch the Highland Games.
Thursday is my birthday and we are going to the aquarium, and then James is taking me out for Japanese.
On Friday we are going to Rose Week at Lady Dixon Park, not sure what were doing Saturday, and were having dinner at my mum's on Sunday!

It is going to be great having James home for a whole week! I'm dead excited!

Look what I can do mum!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

My little boy is a dream!

A number of weeks ago... I think when we had just moved into this house, Ollie became unbelievably difficult to settle at naptime and nighttime and then would proceed to wake up at 5.30 or 6 in the morning.

I don't know what has happened since then but it seems like a lovely sleep fairy has been to see him and taught him how to go to sleep properly.

Now he is going down for his naps fantastically (I just put him down and there was not a single sound out of him, where previously he would have grizzled for at least 10 minutes), goes to bed wonderfully and wakes up somewhere between 7 and 8!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Has anyone ever told you you looked pregnant but you weren't?

Today, while I was on the bus into town, an elderly lady was sitting beside a rather big girl just behind me and I heard her ask, "when are you due... do you know what your having yet?" to which the girl replied "I'm not pregnant!". This was at the start of the 25 minute journey. Not a single other word was said by either of the ladies.

The weekend of Ollie's party my brother told me I looked pregnant and when I told him I was not, he said to my mum, "Mum look, doesn't Emma look pregnant?", to which my mum said that I didn't and told him not to be so rude. I was a little taken aback and upset by this because I have tried to lose weight... but it is sooooooooo hard.

I don't think I would ever say to someone about whether or not they looked pregnant until they said something about pregnancy first... I would never want to make the mistake the lady on the bus made. I remember when I was about 14 weeks pregnant, meeting James and his work collegues after work for a drink. One of the ladies there was whipering to the person beside her and pointing at me. I over heard them saying, "she definitely is..." and "it's not just fat". The lady then got my attention and told me congratulations. How brave of her!?

Ollie's new room!

I finally finished his room yesterday and this morning I tidied it and here is the result of our hard work. He seems to like it.


Here is Ollie standing in his cot while I take photos! I had to put his big leaf canopy up high because he just grabs it otherwise!


In the above photo you can see his little table and chairs I got from Ikea for the bargain price of £12.99!





Above, the Ikea shelves and below, the fun at the zoo border.




Ollie's jungly zoo themed ball pool/ paddling pool.


I'm so proud of James and I because this is the first FULL room we have ever decorated together and also the first room to be finished in our new house. We have about 3 other rooms in the stages of decorating, now just to get those finished also!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

I think Ollie loves his new room!

I will post pictures first thing tomorrow morning when I take some (when I have tidied it)! My mum helped me put the border up when she left him home today and it looks really really great. we also got one of those big leaf canopys from Ikea.

...and in other exciting news, Ollie is cutting his very first molar. I would say it will be up in the next 2 days or so. Were in for a rough 48 hours!

Wife Swap Makes Me Mad!!


I don't know if Wife Swap is shown everywhere but here in the UK it is a show where the mums/ wives of 2 families swap with each other for a week. For the first half of the week they run the house as it is normally run and the second half of the week they run it to their won rules...

Tonight James and I were watching and there was a WAG wannabe who didn't spend very much time with her children... her excuse being they will leave her someday... WTF? She also sent her 2 older kids and the baby all to bed at 7pm because she wanted to spend quality time each night with her 'dream man' (not the kids real dad...)... it really made me feel sad! Why go through the hard work of making a baby and giving birth to it, to just never spend time with it...

The other week we saw an episode where one of the wives stayed in bed everyday until 1.00pm... the hubby got up early for work and on his way out the door stopped in at his daughters room to drop off 2 bottles of milk and a bag of crisps! The baby then stayed put until the mummy got up to get her. I hope someone important from social services was watching because i thought it was disgusting! 1pm is the latter half of lunchtime and almost half a whole day!

Gah! Why do these people go on the show? They just seem awful!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Up to my elbows in bright green paint!


The name of the paint is Grasshopper and it is pretty bright.

Ollie is away staying at his granny's today and tonight so that James and I could finish decorating his room. We have done it in a zoo theme, with bright green and blue and yellow and red :) He will have a matching border, quilt, pillow, lampshade, blanket and laundry bag! I can't wait to put up the border which is the last thing needing done.

My mum is going to help me put the border up tomorrow when she brings Ollie home.

I'm dead chuffed with how it looks so far... I hope he likes it :)

Friday, July 3, 2009

Our new house!

James and I took the HUGE step, that is buying a house, in May. So scary!

Our new house is lovely. It is perfect for us in everyway... even though it needs a little bit of attention and TLC to get it up to scratch. We can see the potential in it definately! It has 3 bedrooms - 2 very large double rooms and one smaller but good sized room which we have made into an office... the bathroom is bigger than our last house, we have 2 reception rooms, a garden out front and back that need tended.... and we just fitted a brand new kitchen.

Ollie loves it. We made the whole of the downstairs child friendly so he can crawl about as he pleases. We have started decorating his room but have not quite finished... and we had wood floors put down in our bedroom and the office :) It is slowly but surely coming along.

Even though we have a massive mortgage which all needs paid back eventually, it feels pretty damn good to be on the property ladder and have a house that is ours.

I will post pictures when I tidy!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

WAHD - Work at Home Dad!

Tomorrow James is working from home... I think eventually he wants to work at home every Friday, he just has to pull some strings. It will be lovely. He keeps reminding me that he won't be home to entertain Ollie and me, but he will be home doing work... but I don't care. He said tomorrow, as a treat, he will get up with Ollie, feed and dress him and let me have a bit of a lie in! Lovely!

The First Post!

I'm no stranger to blogging... I have been blogging for the last couple of years over at Bump, Baby and Beyond. Over there I documented my pregnancy and the whole first year of Ollie's life. Now that he is one (and because I hate wordpress) I thought about starting a toddler blog. Unforunately there is no way to import wordpress posts to this blog. Boo.

So anyway... Ollie, now one, has grown into the most energetic and exciteable little toddler I have ever seen. He makes me smile and he makes my heart melt and sometimes he drives me insane.

Since turning one he seems to have transformed from being a little baby into a little boy.

He has been learning quite a lot recently… last week he crawled to his dad’s shoes, sat down and tried to put them on his feet… and now whenever i go to put his shoes on he lifts his foot up for me…

a few days ago I had the baby wipes lying on the ground while he was having a naked crawl about but he came over and sat down, grabbed a wipe and started wiping his *bits* himself!

He will pick up any cup and put it to his mouth to drink from…

…and last night he was holding his bottle and spotted the lid, grabbed it and tried to put it on top..

It is so so amazing seeing how everything is starting to make sense to him.