Category: TRYING TO BE A YUMMY MUMMY

I AM TIRED ! 💤💤💤💤

MY BABY EXPERIENCE

I knew that by becoming a mum I will join the groups of people who are constantly tired and cannot function without coffee. 

 When I became a full time working Mum I knew that I will become even more tired and I was prepared for it. The key was to get very organized so everything runs smoothly and you don’t try and get everything done at the same time. 

… But I was not prepared for the level of tiredness which swamped me once I became pregnant again. I AM CONSTANTLY TIRED/ EXHAUSTED ! I go to sleep exhausted and I get up in the morning tired !!! The thing is that you still need to go to work and be on your best form; make sure that after work you have quality time with your baby who you missed so terribly for the whole day, cook dinner, bath you child and put to sleep, tidy up the house and then collapse on the sofa and try to have some quality time with you husband while trying not to fall asleep 💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤

 I love being pregnant and I know that this tiny tiny baby inside me will be worth it …. But I AM EXHAUSTED !!!!! 

I was always against having a cleaner but at this point of my life I don’t care I am getting one so I can try and relax a bit more over the weekend ….

BABY ON BOARD ! And why that made me go so quiet.

MY BABY EXPERIENCE

  As you know from the previous post I am expecting my second baby!!! The new addition to the family should arrive on the 2/10/2016. I am so so so happy!!! 

 Normally this wouldn’t be a reason to stop writing the blog … Unless your pregnancy is one of the challenging ones, the challenge being the morning or in my case evening sickness. 

 When I was pregnant with Chloe I was blossoming! Except few little exceptions in the begging of the pregnancy I loved the whole 9 months ! What has shocked me this time is how much this pregnancy is different from the first one ?! (And no it doesn’t mean that I am having a boy, I checked with the doctor and there is no link between the two 😊). From week 6 I have been feeling unwell every single evening. Like clockwork, as soon as 4pm struck, I would start feeling nauseous. On a good day I would just feel nauseous and horrible, on a bad one I would be sick… a lot. Every day by 7pm I would be like a zombie laying on the sofa having have no energy to talk or move. And what was heart breaking for me is that I couldnt play with Chloe after work as I used to and give her as much attention as she deserves.

 I was determinated to handle it until the 3rd month of the pregnancy (didn’t want to take medicines because of the baby blah blah blah) … As that’s when the sickness is supposed to end ??!!! Not in my case ! When we went past the 3 month mark without the symptoms disappearing or easing off, I decided that I cannot live like that any longer and I need some medicines to help me. It got to the point that I didn’t enjoy my pregnancy at all and that’s not a nice way to feel. Oh and just before you ask I did try all of the natural ways of preventing morning/evening sickness: eating ginger, grapes, drinking mint tea, not eating fruits or fried food etc., eating toast and crackers, trying pressure bands on my wrists …. Nothing helped !!!! 

  I use to write most of my blog posts in the evening: after work, and after all of the house chores has been done and Chloe was put to sleep. As you can see that this was pretty much impossible to do recently… But I am back!!! Tablets have been working their magic and I can enjoy my evenings now and hopefully find some energy to write a bit more (yes the lack of energy by 8pm might be an issue here 😁). 

 Are any of you currently pregnant ??? If so how is your pregnancy going ??? 

And I must say I do admire all of the girls out there who suffer with sickness even more than I did ! You are incredible to handle it !!!!! 

Meningitis B Vaccination … Yes or No? 

BABY ADVICE

 It has been very loud recently about the Meningitis B vaccination. As you all heard (or not) in UK from the 1st of September 2015 all babies are receiving the Meningitis B vaccination. UK is the first country to roll it out to all babies being born. This news is great but what about all of the babies born after 1st of May 2015 who are not entitled to it ? 

 If you don’t know much about Meningitis B this is some general information available on NHS website:

Meningococcal group B bacteria is a serious cause of life-threatening infections, including meningitis and blood poisoning, worldwide and the leading infectious killer of babies and young children in the UK.

There are 12 known groups of meningococcal bacteria, and group B (Men B) is responsible for about 90% of meningococcal infections in the UK.

Meningococcal infections tend to come in bursts. In the past 20 years, between 500 and 1,700 people every year, mainly babies and young children, have suffered from Men B disease, with around 1 in 10 dying from the infection. Many of those who survive suffer terrible permanent disability, such as amputation, brain damage and epilepsy.

  Once I found out that Chloe won’t qualify to get the vaccination on NHS me and my husband decided that we will do it privately. Somehow though life got in the way … We tried to book an appointment and were placed on a waiting list… Then when we finally managed to get one we had to cancel it due to holidays …. And then with busy lives we forgot about it…

 Untill recently when a very sad story came out about a 2 year old little girl called Faye Burdett who lost her battle with Meningitis (rest in peace little angel). This story has shocked everyone and sent parents in to a panic to get their kids vaccinated. I was one of those parents, I just couldn’t risk it even if the chances of getting this awful disease are small. I must say that after the story has broken out it became almost impossible to get the vaccination ! There is a national shortage of the vaccination and most of the clinics have a very long waiting list with no date of when the vaccine will be awailable (hopefully in the summer). We were lucky to get it but it was expensive. What is very sad to see is all of the private clinics making a fortune from petrified parents. The vaccination costs £75 but most private clinics charge now £200 upwards!!!! This makes my blood boil!!!

 So what is your opinion dear parent? Would you pay for the Vaccination though in theory the chances of your child getting it are 4 in 100,000? Or do you think that we all got in to a silly panic after the case of poor little Feya? 

 There is right now a big debate going in parliament about introducing this vaccination to older children after a petition to the government was signed by over 800,000 people and became the most signed petition ever …. Let’s see what will be the outcome of it. 
You can reed more about Meningitis B on http://www.meningitis.org/menb-vaccine 
 

Bilingual babies ! When and how to introduce more than one language ? 

BABY ADVICE

Bilingual babies …. 

I am polish mum living in UK with my English husband. It was very important to me to make sure that my baby girl speaks polish as well as she does english. I was researching a lot about the best way to bring up a child in bilingual family.

 There are two very different opinions when it comes to when and how to teach your child second language. 

 1. You shouldn’t introduce second language until your child is 3 years old. It believes that doing it any earlier confuses the child and delays their speech development. 

2. That you should introduce both (or more) languages from the very beginning.

 Me and my husband have chosen to listen to the second method. From the first day that Chloe was born I have spoken to her in Polish and my Husband in English. 

 I must say that I am glad that we decided to do this. At 16 months Chloe understands pretty much everything that you ask her to do … both in Polish and English. Chloe can say lots of words in both of the languages as well. We can clearly see that she says much more English words  around 20 compared to only 10 in polish; this is due to the fact that she is surrounded 70% of the time by english language (at the nursery, when she is being looked after by grandparents and when her dad talks to her). This doesn’t bother me at all… 

  I find it incredible that she can say so many words let alone being able to say it in two languages and being able to clearly understands English and Polish !!!! 

 We have had an amazing example of kids being bilingual at a very young age. Our friends have a 3 years old daughter who speaks 3 languages!!!! No they are not one of the pushy parents 😁 Mum is from Colubmia so she speaks Spanish, Dad is from  Holland and speaks dutch, they communicate between each other in English and obviously they live in England so theirs daughter goes to the nursery in here. It’s amazing how at only 3 years old she knows who to speak to in which language and can switch between them easily in a split second ! 

 Key is to make sure that you speak to your child in this same language at all the time (that’s why I speak to Chloe only in Polish and my husband in English). You need to talk, sing, play and reed in this language as each of those actions helps your child develop their speach in different ways. 

 If you have any experience or opinion please share ! 

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MUM’S !!!

MY BABY EXPERIENCE

Being a mum is the most wonderful, amazing, rewarding, tiring, something frustrating, incredible thing in the whole world !!!

  
 I was very lucy to have the most incredible woman as my Mum! She was so incredible and amazing that I know that I will never be able to match her …. But if my daughter one day thinks that I did half as good job as my mum did then I am going to be very happy ! 

 Happy Monthere day to all of you ! Remember that you are doing an amazing job of being a mum every day … even if things are not perfect and on some days the house is a tip, or you leave the house with greasy hair … You are still an amazing mum !!!! 

The V&A – A Museum of Childhood – Highly recommended day out in London 

MY BABY EXPERIENCE

 Are you trying to find fun things to do with your toddler ? You must visit the V&A’s Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, East London. 

 I was so pleased and surprised by how well organised the museum is and how much it caters to kid’s needs. 

 As you come in you have lots of space to leave you pram which allows you to move more freely. 

There are 3 floors :

 Ground Floor on which you have situated coffee shop and shops. 

Mezzanine : 

1. Creativity section – this section is divided into four sections – Imagine, Be Inspired, Explore and Make it Happen. It has a Sensory Pod and Build it Up and Knock it Down (building blocks) interactivities. Art Classes also take place every day from 14.00-16.00.

2. Moving Toys section – Moving toys section shows ranges from rocking horses and pull-along toys to more complex clockwork and battery-operated toys. Gallery has a wide variety of interactives for children to engage with, including rocking horses, Robbie the Robot, a train set, a peep show and zoetrope. Touchscreen interactives featuring moving toys games and quizzes are also situated throughout the gallery.

First floors :

1. The Childhood Galleries – are arranged into the following themes: Babies, Home, What We Wear, Who Will I Be? and Good Times. You can find here another set of interactive exciting things to do like a sandpit for kids to play in, puppet box so you can make your own show, kitchen and under 3’s area. 

2. Temporary Exhibition Space which right now shows a heartbreaking exhibition telling the stories of Britain’s child migrants who were sent to Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth countries between 1869 and 1970.

 On first impression I thought what have we done? Chloe is way too small for it at 15 months …but I was wrong. 

 As you walk around the museum looking at the toys there is lots of kids activities scattered around. Everything from sensory pod, sand pit, to kitchen and doll houses that kids are allowed to play with. Every time we thought that Chloe couldn’t get any more excited she would. 

 If you come at the right time there is a puppet show, which kids can enjoy for free. There is lots of free drop-in activities taking place during term time, including arts and crafts, tours, trails and storytelling (for list visit the website).

 Another added bonus is a lovely coffeeshop/restaurant which does lovely freshly made food. What is very handy is that they do a big selection of kids food with everyone being able to find something for the fussy eaters. 

 And if you all still have some energy left afterwards head to the lovely park just next door ! 

 This is  a great place for a family day out and I will recommend it to everyone ! 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/

   
    
 

  

Nursery facing closure over photos to reassure parents ….???!!!

MY BABY EXPERIENCE

This is a story from Good Morning Britain. I would love to hear what is your opinion abut it Mums ???

A nursery school in Kent is facing closure after it was sending photos of children to their worried parents to show that they are happy after they leave.
Cindy Fox, owner of Cherubs nursery in Linton, says she simply wanted to reassure concerned parents but she has been told by education watchdog Ofsted that the pictures jeopardise the safety of children – and as a result the school has been stripped of its outstanding rating and branded inadequate instead…..

 What is your opinion abut it ? 

If I asked for a photo when  I was leaving my child then I cannot see anything bad about it… But is there a thin line between photos which you ask for and photos that you didn’t know of ? …. 

DAY FROM A LIFE OF A WORKING MUM…

MY BABY EXPERIENCE

2 months ago I have written a post about my heartbreak of having to go back to work. How I didn’t want to do it, and I couldn’t imagine how I will cope with leaving Chloe. I must say that as all of you advised; it wasn’t that bad. 

 Don’t get me wrong, first week was hard!!! Evening before going back to work I was a mess !On the first day I cried all the time, and I didnt enjoy being back at work. By the end of week two it felt as if I had never been away on maternity leave. 😊

 I am lucky to have a job which I am passionate about and which keeps me so busy that the day just flies by.

 It’s not easy being a working mum (especially living with the guilt of leaving your child all the time) but if you get organised its not that hard at all. The key is to rest once everything is done; not the other way around 😂😂😂 That way you are tired  but you have everything under control. This is an example of a day of a working mum:
4:15 am – Alarm goes off , it’s time to start the day ! On a good night I will sleep undisturbed for a whole night , on a bad one I will be lucky to get 2 hours all together! (a teething baby is worse than having a new born baby!!!!!) Get ready for work creeping around the house so that I don’t wake up Hubby or Chloe is the norm, (I even worry that my bones are making too much noise). 

4:50am- make sure that everything is ready for my parents in law to look after Chloe (notes, food etc) or that Chloe has everything packed for the nursery.

5:00 am – out of the house to get a train, then a tube … and another tube … This also is my breakfast time, and that’s when my caffeine deprivation starts to kick in … It’s 5 am and I had only one coffee !!!!!!   

6:00 am – start work and keep dreaming about coffee until around 10am – that’s my next caffeine fix 😁. Once I get to work I don’t have time for anything, it’s full on from 6am until 3pm. This is great as I don’t have the time to miss Chloe (or eat). I make one quick phonecall to make sure that Chloe is ok and to hear that she is doing amazingly well and isn’t  missing her mummy at all (which is great but also a little bit upsetting… How can you not miss your mummy ?!) 

3:00pm – finish work (or should have finished but its very rare that I get out in time) and run home as fast as I can to see my baby.

 4:00pm – 5:30pm is the precious time I get to spend with my daughter! Sometimes I get home to an amazing welcome with happy screams, hugs and kisses. Sometimes to Chloe screaming with excitement at the sound of the door then seeing that it’s me, saying Heeyyyaaa and going back to play …( Eehh thanks for that… I haven’t been missing you all day at all…)

 This is the precious time that I have with Chloe to play and have quality time with her.  I leave my phone and don’t look at it (95% of the time😁), I dont tidy, I don’t cook I just enjoy her.  It is by far the best time of the day.

 5:30pm -6:00pm prepare dinner for me, my husband and Chloe. You see I don’t cook in the week I prepare all of my meals over the weekend and just finish them off on the day or just reheat them. Chloe’s precious 2 hour nap in the afternoon is a 2 hour cooking session for me. I tend to cook one meal and prepare another one for the evening. 

6:00pm Daddy comes back home (at best but it can be much later dependent on his work) and we have a family dinner. 

6:30pm bath and bed time story. 

7:00pm Chloe is alsleep and us (Chloes little servants😂) get to work with preparing food for Chloe for the next day, writing notes for grandparents, preparing Chloe’s clothes, etc. 

7:30pm -8:00pm tidy up all of the toys and then we can sit down with a glass of wine,  relax and have some grown up time. 

10:00pm – ZZZZzzzzzzzz

 It is a very full on day, and you don’t stop until you collapse on the sofa in the evening. But if you are organised it’s not hard at all (just a little bit tiring) 

BABY DEVELOPMENT APP

BABY STUFF - DO WE NEED ALL OF IT ?

As our baby grows and develops so has to our imagination to create great games. It’s natural to want to check that our precious baby develops “right”, does the “right” thing at the right time (I must stress in here that each child develops at its own pace and does things at its own time!!! ; Look at Chloe walking at 9 months but still only 2 teeth at 14 months😂) 

 When Chloe was around 6 months old I started looking for help/inspiration on how I should play with her. We had our games but there is just so much you can play the same repertoire over and over again! I wanted our games to be fun but also to support Chloe’s development. 

 I came across an App called Baby Sparks and I have been using it ever since! I love this app and would recommend it to everyone. 

  
What I love about it?

– It has a month-by-month Baby development guide. This has helped me to understand baby development and what I should expect to happen in the near future. 

– Daily program. This is full of activities for the day. Those change constantly so your play time is never boring. What is great is that all of the activities are divided in to groups : 

* Gross motor skills

* Fine motor skills

* Cognitive

* Speech 

* Sensory

* Self Care

* Emotional 

  
 You can choose what part of your child development you want to concentrate on and practise that day. 

 Main purpose is to help your child develop but it’s done in a very fun way! It keeps your days versatile and your play time interesting. 

–  Another great feature is the ability to brows the activities by: Category, Place, Milestone.  You don’t have to stick to the daily plan you can just freestyle 😊

 You can also mark activities as: Completed, Favorite and Archive. 

 The App is available for different ages. It’s not a free app but it’s not expensive; at £3.99 in my opinion it is worth every penny! 

Photos of few examples of the exercises in the app. Each of the exercises also has a video showing how to do it.