A successful Easter Sunday

The mood that Baby B is in can truly make or break a day. Yesterday we went round to friends in Windsor for Easter lunch hoping that Baby B would be on good form. He has been ill all week with a bug but seemed to have finally made a recovery.

It was a lovely informal affair but in a beautifully formal house with endless glass ornaments which had ‘smash’ written all over them. Further, the very talented Max was making three delicious courses which as wonderful as that is for me and my irrepressible greed, it is not wonderful for Baby B, who tends to get restless after 20 minutes in a highchair.

Anyway, I write this post because all my fears and worries were unfounded as Baby B was on amazing form. Everything went our way yesterday and we had an awesome afternoon. The house was under a main flight path from Heathrow and for a little boy who is literally obsessed with aeroplanes, one plane passing over head every minute, more then kept him busy.

They also have a cat, Baby B has never actually come face to face with a cat before. He was amazingly gentle and respectful to the cat and the Alfie the cat and him spent some quality time together watching the planes go by.

Baby B was granted the key role of serving the delicious spaghetti dish that Max had prepared and enjoyed trying some himself at the table. He deemed it ‘de-lious’ – a big compliment to any chef! Nice one Max!

Baby B danced on demand, treated the audience to some beautiful, albeit slightly unique, renditions of ‘Old MacDonald’, ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’, ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ and ‘ABC’ before mopping their kitchen floor and rearranging the kitchen cupboard. All of this without one tantrum! Result!

We left just in the nick of time as the eye rubbing started and the he feel asleep in the car on the way home. So proud of my little man. If only all days were like this!

Thanks for having us over you lovely people – you know you are 🙂 xxx

Leaving on a jet plane……..(actually we are taking the train)

I’ve been writing this post in my head for the last couple of weeks. I can’t quite put my finger on why I haven’t actually put it into the blog until now, whether it’s because I feel guilty or because I’m worried about being judged. I hope that I’m doing what I always do – over analysing the whole situation and worrying about nothing.

I am a great worrier.

On Sunday, the other half and I are leaving Baby B with his Nonna – for a whole week. 7 whole nights.

This is MASSIVE.

Prior to parenthood a week was a week. They flew by, a week-long holiday frankly wasn’t long enough, but when you are a parent considering a week’s holiday without the children, suddenly a week seems too long. (I appreciate this might not be the same for everyone!)

Just to put you in the picture, a group of lovely people, including us, go on a winter holiday and have done for the last couple of years. Its amazing, great food, company and just all round gorgeous. Last year we took Baby B but it made it a very different holiday, he can’t enjoy the snow properly yet and did mean that we were still up at the crack of dawn. Therefore in agreement with the other parents going, we have all agreed to leave the children at home this year.

I am going through extreme emotions. One minute I am soo excited about a weeks uninterrupted sleep, lie ins, wine, restaurants with adults, freedom, relaxation, time to read a book, no poo to clean up and adult conversations – that I could cry with joy. The next minute the thought that I won’t be able to see, no matter kiss Baby B, for a week sends me into a very dramatic panic that he will simply forget who I am or at least never forgive me for abandoning him.

The thing is I know we are lucky. Lucky that his Nonna, is firstly willing to look after him for a week and secondly, that he loves being with her and visa versa.

Before we had Baby B, we travelled a lot and were always pretty spontaneous in our actions. This has been one of the things that I’ve struggled with since becoming a mum – not being able to just go somewhere at the drop of a hat. A trip to Sainsbury’s takes planning these days.

So there it is out – off my chest. I’m leaving him, for a week. The trip will be good for our souls, is really important time for us as a couple, I will get loads of work done and we will come back even better parents than when we left.

Would love to hear people’s thoughts on this. Have you left your little one before? They don’t forget you do they!!!

PS –  We have checked the trains and if we can’t cope we will be returning mid-week on an early train with fellow skier Mel, who is also near to having a breakdown about leaving her two.

xx

Do you ever forget just for a second…….that you have a child?!

Please don’t judge – I don’t mean as in do something to put the child in danger. I mean as in you think of something you would like to do, get excited about doing it, then realise that you can’t do it – because you have a child!

This happened to me and Baby B’s Daddy today.

The three of us were driving to the supermarket, and can see a big hill in the distance with loads of people sledging down it.

Daddy says to me – “Hey, that looks fun. We should get the snowboards out and go                                   boarding it would be good practice for you”  (I’m not very good)

Me – “Oh, that’s a good idea. Do you know where all our boarding stuff is?”

Daddy – “Yes, all in the garage, I could have it out in 5 minutes!”

Me – “Ok, lets do it”

Together – “Whooo Hooo”

Baby B who has been sitting quietly in the back of the car clutching his picture of Tree Foo Tom – “Dadda Mumma biscuit”

Both turn around to see Baby B smiling.

For that spilt second we entered into that childless world again. You remember, the world where you sort of did what you wanted, when you wanted (within reason!). Ahhh, well it was nice whilst it lasted, perhaps snowboarding will have to wait until he is at nursery!

A photo from a pre-baby winter holiday! Have since learnt that winter hoildays and babies don’t work at the moment!