Like Mother Like Son

As promised here's the video of Tom's first exploits in the kitchen, still can't believe he didn't try to eat it all as he went along.

Today, was a milestone day. He actually tried to speak today - yahoooooo! First of all when emptying the tin cupboard he repeated to me 'all gone' once it was empty. Then when our second set of viewers left the house, he stood at the doors in the kitchen and said 'bye' and then he repeated me saying 'that's not right' later on in the evening. I wonder if something is beginning to click with him? He certainly is very well at the moment - eating huge amounts (although still not that keen on meat) and as a result full of energy. It will certainly make life much more interesting if he could speak - it would be so good to get a window into his head, so we can begin to understand what he is thinking.

Downhill in a hurry

So, here we are in under a week since the last post - a record! Not much has happened, but we thought you would like to see this video of Tom's new stair manoeuvre. I think he has spent too much time in soft play areas and has picked this up from there, but it certainly is a quick way of going downstairs.



I spent most of this week making a Toy Story Cake, was very busy, but that is what the client requested. Think I have room for improvement with modelling, but I think you can recognise each character.

Yesterday we decided to go to Shrewsbury for a leisurely visit. Didn't quite go to plan, we got a phone call just as we arrived saying we had a viewing at 2pm, so we had to run round, had an early lunch and got back just in time for Tom to go to sleep and for us to clear up the house before they arrived.

Afternoon was spent on a retail park, I have been looking for 2 years for a pair of boots and failed miserably. A friend told me to go to Asda Living where they were selling some off at half price - got there, but as is usual, all the normal sizes had gone, so there was nothing left for me. The hunt continues.

Sunday we were going to go swimming but Martin called from Australia which was lovely - had a good long skype chat with him - everyone was looking well and suntanned - humpfh! By the time we had finished, it was too late, so we decided to go for a walk. We were going to walk along the Severn from Buildwas away from Ironbridge for a change, but we couldn't find anywhere to park. We ended up in Much Wenlock so went for a walk around the Olympic Trail and ended up playing in the park with Tom (he was in grizzly mood this morning and the park cheered him up)

We found ourselves a tea room for lunch but once settled in were told there was no lunch until 12.30, so we flounced out and went somewhere else - we were very glad. We ended up in 'The Old Smoothie' which specialises in smoothies, but also served fantastic sandwiches and the best sausage roll either of us has ever experienced, pork sausage with lumps of chicken and stuffing wrapped up in homemade pastry - fantastic. Found out that the place that makes them is in Oswestry. We have already contacted Jude to arrange a meet up there!

Came home, Tom had a nap, then I decided to initiate him in the kitchen, so we made chocolate rice krispy cakes together. We took a video, which will be put up as soon as Matt edits it. Very strange, I thought he would want to eat it all, but for some reason he didn't want the chocolate anywhere near his mouth - a result, he was more interested in putting the krispies in the muffin cases - an operation he was partially successful at. He did eat one for pudding, so I guess chocolate is good solid but bad liquid.

Oh, the second photo - my latest project from college - a pot of snowdrops - all made from sugar.

Painting is fun

Another week has gone by very fast and I am as usual playing catch up.

Nothing much exciting happened last week (not that I can remember anyway) Tom carried on trialling toddlers at nursery - he seemed to be happy and comfortable so I guess that's a good thing.

One thing I have changed with our routine is to try to have dinner at 5pm so we eat with Tom. This worked well, and we discovered a new 'favourite' food of Tom's - River Cobbler. Couldn't believe it - I gave him a small piece expecting him to view it suspiciously and toss aside as he does with any protein, BUT he ate it and demanded more. He ate loads and loads of it - so much so that Matt sped up his intake to make sure Tom wouldn't eat all of his. So, I think River Cobbler is going to become a regular menu item - until he gets bored of it anyway.

Thursday saw us in Jungleland in the morning and Pirate Playpit with Mae and Olly in the afternoon. He had a grizzly day which was unfortunate, but it was good to catch up with everyone.

Friday we were without car during the day so we hung around Donnington doing nothing that much interesting. Rachel came round to babysit in the evening. We were going to go to the cinema to see The King's Speech, but Matt wasn't well - so we went for curry instead.

Saturday Tom and I went shopping, I finally bought myself a cooling rack for my cakes (you would think I had one wouldn't you!). We left Matt at home as he had realised that he had forgotten to do a translation that was due Sunday evening - oops. We met up with him for lunch (which we had down our 'club' - The Golf Club - our local). I spent Saturday evening round Rachel's babysitting for her and doing my sugarcraft homework - Daffodils, Pussy Willow and Periwinkle.

Sunday we went up to Chirk to see Jude. Had a great time, Tom LOVED her cooking and ate and ate and ate. He also had a nap there with no problem and a good toddle around the canal - he even managed to throw some bread to the ducks (rather than eating it, which is what he has done on previous occasions)

Another new trick is that Tom now washes his face in the bath with a sponge - is so cute to wash, although, I think he does it so he can have a drink of bath water - naughty boy.

Oh, we had our first painting session at home today - I took a little video, not the best quality I'm afraid, but you get the idea.

AND, finally after a lot of talk, we finally put the house on the market today:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-17946171.html

The Weather in Devon is rubbish!

My word, have I got behind with this blog, there just don't seem to enough hours in the day at the moment to get everything done. Oh hum.

Anyway, Tom and I disappeared off to Devon on Wednesday - we didn't see Mum and Dad over Christmas and thought they would like a visit, also, Matt was away for the weekend, so I could do with the company.

I picked up Tom from nursery, from the Toddler room again as he was trialling with them. He apparently was quite happy there, but didn't eat much of his savoury dinner, but was happy to woof down his pudding.

The plan was for him to sleep for a good chunk of the journey down and then stop for a break and a run around before heading further south. He decided he knew best and slept for only 20 minutes! He did keep himself amused though until we got to Exeter, so can't really complain. We got out for a run around there and then back in the car. Tom wasn't too happy to be back in his car seat, but I discovered that if I sang to him he was ok, so I spent an hour, yes AN HOUR singing nursery rhymes to him, oh joy, at least he was the only one to hear me! Anyway we made good time.

Almost forgot, Tom discovered that he could open the car door on the way down. We were on the motorway when suddenly all the interior car lights came on and I could hear wind noise, took me a while to realise that his car door was open. Had to stop on the hard shoulder, put the child lock on and close the door - it had never occurred to me that he would be capable of doing that!

Tom had a good play and sat with us for dinner (although he didn't eat much - due to over indulgence with snacks in the car I think) and then went to bed without a bath. I followed him shortly afterwards. I took all our alarms off to see if we could lie in. We could! I woke up with a start at 8.30 and found Tom in his cot, awake and happy playing with his toys - what a love. In fact we lay in most days, it was luxury, definitely going to turn the alarms off at the weekends now, as even if he didn't get up till late, he still went to bed at the usual time and only woke up in the middle of the night once in the time we were away.

Thursday dawned grey, rainy and miserable so Mum and Dad suggested we went down to the old Military base (not sure what it is called) where there is a nice coffee shop with baby toys. It was a lovely place, such a shame the weather was so bad as there were lots of boats to see nearby, but it was driving rain so we hurried back to the car. Will go back to explore another time.

Friday was another drab, rainy, windy day so we headed off to Endsleigh Garden Centre - huge massive place for Tom to have a run around - somehow managed to buy a whole load of cakey things.

Saturday - guess what it was grey, rainy and windy, so we headed off to The Range for another retail experience (yup, I got some more cakey stuff) and then to Mountbatten for a pub lunch - where Tom ate his lunch and half mine (I got a sausage sandwich, thinking he might want some, not realising he would want most of it!)

Sunday - oh yes, another grey miserable day. I had developed a cold in the time I was down and Mum and Dad were beginning to look like they were beginning to suffer, so I took Tom off to a soft play area in Plymouth to give them a break. He had a good time, there was an area with Little Tykes cars which the kids can move around with their feet (Flintstone style). Tom loved them, but just sitting in them, not moving them, typical!

We came home on Monday, Tom slept for 20 minutes again, hated being in Cribbs Causeway for a break and then I had to sing to him for 30 minutes on the second leg. He was absolutely shattered when we got back, he couldn't eat and cried, so we put him straight to bed.

Tuesday and Wednesday he carried on trialling the toddler room at nursery, he goes there full time next week.

I like walking - oh and can I have some 'chee'

We have had a good weekend, quite the reverse from last weekend. We think that something has definitely clicked with him and he is a happier boy for it.

First of all, he has suddenly decided that walking is OK. We took him out walking on Saturday and Sunday. Haughmond Hill on Saturday (his second visit - he went there for the first time when he was a week old!). There were loads and loads of dogs for him to watch (most of which were spaniels of one form or another). This meant that he got distracted a lot, but he did manage to walk quite a long way before we put him in the rucksack and helped him to the viewpoint.

Today we went down to Ironbridge to do a favourite walk - along the old railway line. We couldn't believe it, we parked at Maws Craft Centre, and he walked along the road up and down the icy road (stopping to stomp in every puddle and watch every car / jogger / cyclist) and then quite a long way along the old track before asking to be put in the rucksack. He then got out again to walk over the Ironbridge (bridges are good). We decided to try out the new coffee shop in Ironbridge (Darby's), wasn't very good: overpriced and slow service, Ironbridge really is bereft of good coffee shops / tea rooms. After quite a poor lunch he then walked a significant way back. Matt looked up how far he walked today and reckons it was getting on for 2 miles which is fantastic, he has only got little legs after all.

Another fantastic development is that it looks like he is finally beginning to talk. We were in the new cafe in Haughmond Hill, I gave Tom a babybel, he pointed at it and said 'chee', Matt and I looked at each other, couldn't quite believe what we were hearing, so asked him to repeat it and he did 'chee', 'chee', 'chee' - fantastic, who would have thought one of his first words would be cheese - I'm very proud! As he was in an amiable mood, we pointed out some of the animals on the mural and he did try to say them 'ba' for bat, 'dee' for deer. So, so happy.

Today, he saw lots of dogs again and pointed at them and said something very close to doggie. He is also pointing to lots of things asking us what the word for them are, especially at meal times. He has also started to growl whenever he sees an animal??!!

Needless to say today, we had to wake him up after 2 hours of napping and he was very happy to go back to bed.

Oh, almost forgot to mention that Matt and I managed a night out on Saturday. Rachel came round to babysit (I babysat for her on Friday) and we went off to Lilleshall for a game of squash (both of us were out of shape and played badly - definitely need more practise) and then we went for a meal at The Fox. Didn't get back until 10.30!

I love my cousins

So where were we? So much has happened.

First of all, I would like to report that Tom's eating has improved considerably over the last week or so. In fact, I can't seem to get enough into him. He is having fully balanced meals as well. He has graduated to proper adult sausages (will eat a whole one in one sitting), and fish fingers, both of which he will eat with potatoes, carrots (current favourite vegetable) and broccoli. He has had 3rds of lunch both days at nursery (as well as 2nds for breakfast) and continues to eat and eat and eat, today he even managed to eat a child's meal at Jungleland (he needed a little help with his sandwich, but he ate most of it himself). As a result he has boundless energy and is a very happy boy. Friends who know him well have commented on how changed he is (might also have something to do with the haircut I gave him earlier this week). He really is a delight, and wants to walk and run everywhere - he even managed to run to and from Asda the other day - first time I've ever got him to do that - normally I have to carry him half / all the way.

Right then where were we? The day after we got back from Chester we had a 'normal day'. Matt worked and I spent the day with Tom after handing over my latest cake (a Portsmouth FC cake and cupcakes). We were supposed to go over to the Gouge's to see the New Year in, but Matt fell asleep on the sofa, so I left the boys at home and went over on my own.

Saturday saw us in Haddenham at last to see Simon, Clare, Jake and Amber. The traffic was amazing, for whole stretches of the journey we didn't see another car, needless to say we got there in good time. We both had good cuddles with Amber who was quite happy to fall asleep on both of us - she is 4 weeks old, but still quite scrunched up and very small with a very floppy head.

Jake was a little wary of Tom to start with (who can blame him - Tom settled in straight away playing with all of Jake's toys). After a good roast lunch (Tom ate a huge lunch - couldn't get enough in him), we took them for a walk and they played with each other really well. Jake ran for miles as he had to keep going back to Tom to 'get him' as he was lagging behind. Unfortunately it rained on us so we went back to the house, after all we had lots more Christmas presents to unwrap (correction - Tom had lots more presents to unwrap!).
This did take quite a while, Tom had a stocking full of gifts as well as a huge Fire Engine which Tom loves and many other bits and pieces too numerous to mention. Before we knew it, it was 4pm and time to say goodbye and make our way home. It was a good day, thanks Simon and Clare.

Sunday we decided to do the last of the Ironbridge Walks from the Greenwood Centre, was a really good walk, but Tom didn't think so and refused to walk and then grizzled for a lot it. (Although he did stop for a while after we took his Welly Boots off). Will do it again when it is warmer as it included an arboretum, a meadow and a stream, all of which Tom will enjoy when in the right mood. Once finished we headed off to a pub for lunch and then back home so Tom could nap and we could carry on fixing bits of the house.

On Monday we decided to walk up the Wrekin (our local mountain). This was a mistake! Tom hated it and grizzled all the way up. For the last 15 minutes he was full on crying. Not sure why, he was wrapped up warm and in his rucksack carrier. It took a good 20 minutes to calm him down at the top and then I had to carry him in my arms back down. I figure it was just too cold for him. Once we had returned to the car we went to Telford Town Centre to do a spot of shopping and have lunch. He cheered up no end and really enjoyed himself as well as eating up for lunch.

Tuesday we were back to the usual routine, so Tom went to nursery whilst I caught up with cakey admin and then took an order for a cake needed on Saturday, so stopped the admin and started getting creative.

Today we were back at Jungleland for Breastfeeding Group (lots turned up today). Tom had his first ever child's meal in between running up and down the building. He had a nap and then we went to another soft play area to meet up with Olly, Mae and the two Rachel's, where once again he ran his little heart out. Came home, he ate well, had a bath and went to bed. He must sleep well tonight. I'm exhausted and he ran further than me!

Cakes, cakes, cakes

Hi there, will do a post on this weekend - we finally got to meet our new niece yesterday and had Christmas mark II, but in the meantime, here are a selection of cakes I've made recently. The Iggle Piggle one was made for one of Tom's little friends. Wow! It was difficult and fiddly to do, but when Jane (Daisy's mum) saw it, she gulped - a good gulp, even offered to pay me more for it. So, I guess that was a success.

The second cake was for a Portsmouth FC supporter turning 40. Once again a success as the lady who came to collect it, gave me a £7.50 tip and told me to put it in Tom's money box - how sweet - maybe I am under pricing these cakes still?!

The daisy cupcakes were for Daisy's birthday party (I think this time for the adults) and the Christmas ones went to nursery with Tom as a thank you. I 'borrowed' the idea of the Christmas trees made from buttercream from some I saw on the internet, works well don't you think?