Wibble Wobble

Jelly on a plate

Jelly on a plate

Wibble Wobble 

Wibble Wobble

Jelly on a plate

Jelly on my spoon

Jelly on my spoon

Wibble Wobble

Wibble Wobble

Jelly on my spoon

Jelly in my tummy

Jelly in my tummy

Wibble Wobble

Wibble Wobble

Jelly in my tummy

This is a rhyme I learnt at Tiny Talk when I used to take my little chunky monkey for baby signing. It's what my belly is like at the moment and should go My belly is like jelly, My belly is like jelly, Wibble Wobble Wibble Wobble, My belly is like jelly.

Of course, I have no time (or inclination if I'm being brutally honest) to exercise and I love my food too much. So, I've decided to just pay attention like mentioned in French Kids Don't Throw Food. I've also been drinking raw apple cider vinegar and lemon juice mixed in water before every meal. Let's see if that works.

French Children Don't Throw Food

Much as I love reading books, I don't like writing book reviews. I enjoy reading them, I just don't write them. And so, this is not a book review as such. I saw this book by Pamela Druckerman in Tesco a while back and was taken in by the title.

It then sat on my shelf amongst a pile of other books waiting to be read. I finally picked it up about two weeks ago and somehow, despite having two kids and a million other things I have to do, managed to finish it in under a week (which is pretty fast for me now). I have to say I really enjoyed it. I wish it had been written four years ago - there are some parenting tip gems in there, from the Pause to get your little one to teach themselves to sleep; great eating tips (3 times a day plus a gouter with no snacking in between) to paying attention to what you eat. Oh, and not feeling guilty about having me time.

Of course, there are some things in there that I don't always agree with but that goes with every book written about parenting. You just take the good and discard all the rest.

My favourite baby products

Here are some of my favourite baby buys:

1. Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter: It's amazing stuff. It keeps my baby's bottom nice and rash free, it smells gorgeous AND it became a hit with other mummies as an inexpensive face-cream.

2. Waitrose Baby Solid Coconut Massage Oil : I started using this when my son was a baby after he had his bath. He's four now and I still use it on him. It's got a subtle smell of vanilla and coconuts and really moisturises his skin. Some coconut scents can be very overpowering. 

3. Halos and Horns bath products: Not only do these smell divine, they are also SLS and paraben free and do not irritate sensitive skin. 

4. Huggies Pure wipes: I don't like scented wipes. Apart from the fact that I like baby products to be as "organic" as possible, scented wipes give me a headache! These work a treat! I usually use cotton balls and warm water at home when changing baby. The wipes are for when we're out and about. Plus, they are good at cleaning up just about everything from spilt drinks to dirty faces. 

5. Vital Baby Breast Pads: I have used many different types of breast pads and these are by far my favourites. They don't leak, they stay in place even when I don't use the sticky adhesive backs and they are big but slim - i.e have more coverage. I've only just discovered these.

6. Naty Disposable Nappy bags: Unscented, compostable nappy bags. Need i say more?

7. Kiddylicious Apple Crisps: Ok, so these are not baby products per se but these snacks are to oh so yummy. I have to stop myself from nicking my son's apple crisps. I think I just have to buy myself some next time. 

8. And while we're on the subject of food, this book has been indispensable.

Hmm, my tummy's rumbling and it's almost midnight. Midnight snack is in order...

Baby stuff

With my first child, I ended up buying a lot of things I thought I needed but then found no use for at all.  I used to go to those baby and toddler shows and get sucked in by things like leather bibs and expensive cots by Stokke (always wanted one but didn't buy one). Some people have realised what a huge market there is in marketing baby equipment you feel you must get for your little one. And what parent doesn't want the best for their child?

With my second, I have been much wiser. Other than the breastfeeding butterfly, I have not succumbed to buying anything though the temptation is always there. I even have my little girl wearing her brother's baby grows and onesies. The doctor even said, "Let's check your manhood" because she was wearing a blue onesie to her 8 week check up!!!

Changing bags are so expensive! They can range from £40 for a reasonably nice one to about £100! Much as I wanted a nice one, I made do with the free one you get when you join the Boots parenting club. Used it for my son and am using it for my daughter now. I also never got a changing unit. I didn't see the point. Once baby can start rolling over it becomes a dangerous place to put the baby. The moses basket, sofa, bed have all worked out just as well with a changing mat underneath baby. Those nappy bins, in my opinion, also a waste of money. I just put the nappies into a nappy sack and throw it out straight away (I also have a little bin in my bedroom for night time changes just for nappies).

Things I did buy which I found useful are:

* a moses basket (you can take it from room to room)
* a play gym from Asda during their baby even so it only cost £16 (those things can cost upto £60)
* a baby monitor
* an extra car seat (again from Asda for £25) so I didn't have to keep taking it out of one car to put in the other
* the Annabel Karmel book on for recipes for baby food
* a Lansinoh breast pump

Not enough hours in the day...

...and my maternity leave is fast coming to an end. What's even more depressing is that two colleagues who went on maternity leave before me are coming back after I do. *sigh*

Even with all the help I get from my mum, I still don't manage to find time to do everything that I want to do. I'm definitely not a yummy mummy, nor can I juggle looking after two kids and do all my crocheting/scrapbooking/reading books/housework (notice how I put "me-time" first) and be all done up everyday. Most days I only just make it out of my PJs and into my jeans and that's only because I have to go pick up the Boogster, now known as EKhan, from nursery.

Anyhow, I did manage to make my little marshmallow a crochet headband. Pictures to follow. And was complimented on it at Baby Sensory class last week. She did look very cute with it on. She also did the mother of all poos whilst there - the kind that goes up the back of the nappy and requires a change of clothes! Now to finish the three other projects I've got going.

The Guilt Trip

I started back at work full time last week. The Boogster, though he stays at home with his Lola and daddy, hasn't taken too kindly to my leaving him. He'll give me the hugest toothless grin he can muster when I get back home and then he transforms from a happy baby to a whiney, whingey one in a bid to give me a guilt trip for abandoning him.

And it works. The little so and so. He has done this without fail for an entire week!