Logan's first weekend away from home!

Packing for a baby has turned out to be a nerve wrecking nightmare! The length of the list of things I will need was a whole a4 piece of paper! 

Food? (Oh my gosh what if I can't make him lunch on time)

Bottles? (Oh no I won't have my bottle maker. Old fashioned way it is!)

Toys? (Can I fit his whole toy room into one bag!?( 

Baby monitor, bedding, (oh god I hope he goes to bed ok!) teddys books! 

The list was endless! 

When I used to pack my own suitcase. It was full to the brim. Including tons extra too! I needed all the different types of hair curlers right? Right now my contents are a few tops and some pants! There wasn't even room for my own clothes! It's all Logan's. Isnt it funny how your whole world changes down to what you pack to go on holiday? 

THE JOURNEY! 

Oh my life! God help me! 

We started the journey off and instantly Logan was winging. I bribed him with his sandwiches, cucumber, biscuits, crisps etc. No help. After an hour we stopped at a service station and we had a breather. 

We got back in and he was sick on himself so I cleaned him up and off we went! 

He moaned for about another hour before finally falling asleep. 

He has about a half an hour nap and woke up with some groaning. 

Oh fantastic he's doing a poo! 

"Dad is there a stop between here and the ferry" 

"No"

So for 25 minutes Logan screamed in his poo. Nothing at all I could do and I felt helpless. I gave him foot massages and rubbed his legs! (Which didn't help the next part of the story!) 

When we got to the ferry I went to change his bum and (euk) the poo was allllll the way down his legs to his feet! (Obviously helped there from my leg massage!) and somehow all up his belly and back!!! 

Stranded in the cubicle not prepared for this I text my mum for a bag and try wipe his entire body with wipes! Everytime I did one part another would get covered! Eventually he was clean and I got a sleepsuit on him and we were good to go! (Beside the weekend with a bag of pure poo on some clothes!) 

When we were on the ferry he didn't seem to really notice we wernt on land anymore! He looked out the window though and seemed to enjoy looking at the water and the boats! 

BEDTIME! 

Gosh I was so nervous about bedtime. The first time we attempted a sleepover away from home Logan screamed and screamed and screamed and we had to take him home. We were going to be out of routine and we never had a bath! (Logan got his first shower though!) 

(Clearly enjoyed it!) 

Fortunately this was different. I went to bed with him as we were sharing and it was almost 9pm! He got to sleep almost instantly. Unfortunately the rest of the family must have forgot there was a baby sleeping whilst they were all shoutinging, banging, letting the dogs bark and using the toilet right next to Logan sleeping instead of the one that wasn't attached to our room! But once everyone went to bed (finally) we managed a good night sleep! Logan slept all night and I did the usually 2 hour wait in the middle of the night waiting for him to wake up! Beside from that night 1 was a success! 

DAY ONE 

Day one has consisted of going to see the Donkey that Logan's Nana and Grandad adopted him for his christening present :) he loved it! He got so excited when stroking them and the one donkey that actually came over to us was Dennis the one he's addopted :) 

After seeing the donkeys we went to the sea side! Logan went on the beach for the first time and loved it! I took his wellies too so he could walk on the sand and he went in the sea too! It was amazing to watch his little face lighting up as he enjoyed it all! 

(Got to admit I got emotional when he paddled in the sea for the first time)

It was pretty cold though (it is February after all) But we enjoyed it and he had so much fun! 

DAY TWO

Day two consisted of a visit to the zoo and a birthday meal for me and my sister :)

It was pretty cold outside so there wernt many animals about but the animals that we did see Logan got so excited at them :) 

HOME TIME! 

Packing to go home is always depressing isn't it? Especially after a relaxing weekend (oh besides the clingy baby who won't even let you go to the toilet without screaming the place down) 

It was so nice to not have to live by a schedual of making lunch and tidying the house and making sure Lukes tea was done on time for him being home. We just went with the flow and I got to focus on Logan's schedual :) 

The journey home is when I am writing this and so far Logan has done nothing but scream and winge. Hopefully the rest of it is a bit easier or he falls asleep (I can hope) but that's all for now. After a frantic half an hour with the whole ferry looking for my missing phone that was somehow in the car I am exhausted and going to chill in the car before trying to be home in time to do Lukes tea! 

Xxxxx 

Logan's 10 month update!

This month I deffinately don't feel like I have a toddler anymore, I know I deffinately have one! 

Logan's milestones are no longer these mini things they used to be, his first smile, first giggle, sitting up!

They're all big things. Taking steps saying words following commands! 

This month Logan's vocabulary list is ever growing! Here's a list of words he knows what they mean 

If you ask him were something is, he will scan the room till he sees it, do a giggle and then go and fetch it. Kind of like a dog I suppose. 

Every morning we find "John" (the rabbit) and Logan has a carrot and when I say give John the carrot he will drop it in the cage, then I tell him to stroke him and he'll chase him trying to stroke him whilst John runs away as fast as possible. 

He hasn't quite perfected "go and put this in the bin" but well get there! (Clearly joking!) 

Absolutely everything will go on his head if you tell him to do so. The soaking wet sponge was a classic! 

I'm not determined to make Logan walk yet but I kind of am. I love him learning new things and walking seems to be the next step for him. He walks along everything he walks holding one hand and he can climb up almost anything. So this last week we've been encouraging him to walk. He takes two steps and sits down. But that's ok. He's only 10 months old and I'm under no pressure to get him walking as he does enough for his age already. 

After saying ta everytime he passes me something or I pass him something he's finally figured out that's what you have to say. 

FACT: it didn't cost me ANY money to teach him how to say ta. Therefore. Point proven that manors cost NOTHING :) 

This month Logan bonded with a tortoise :) he's met him before but never really got up close and personal! 

Logan's new favourite toy is his Toy Story ride along. By favourite I mean he is completely obsessed! Iv actually hidden it at the moment (bad mum points) but he wants to go on it as soon as he sees it and will not come off without a fight and a lot of screaming. 

I even had to push him to the canal! (Back ache. - ouch!!) 

I cannot wait to see what this next month has in store for us. I have a feeling by the time I do my next update I could have a walker :) 

How are your babies doing? Comment below :) 

Celebrating Winter Wolfe!

Today's blog is featuring a special story from such an inspirational lady. Nicola and her partner had a gorgeous little boy who didn't get to stay with them on earth. 

Here is her story 

This is such a heart breaking story, when Nicola puts a post up, my heart breaks and I cry everytime. To be honest I think she could just post a photo with no words and I could cry. She has such a way with words and really makes people appreciate what they have. She celebrates Winters life daily. Of course she has her down days, what mother wouldn't? Seeing all these babies on your Instagram, flashbacks to being pregnant, remembering what you felt inside you all them months ago, the baby's room you set up that's still waiting to be used. 

Being a mum is hard work. So many times it can get on top of you, it's hard to look at a screaming baby and think about how lucky you are, so next time your baby sleeps, or smiles, or laughs just think about how fortunate you are! We take it for granted. A lot of people struggle to get pregnant, or struggle to keep a pregnancy, or for some reason their babies get taken from them so soon! None is more heart breaking than the other, they all have love and loss. 

This photo shows Nicola and winter. Sadly he was with the Angels. 

I look at this and the lump in my throat grows, the tears come down. Then I stop and really look at this photo. What is going through a mothers mind who has just lost her baby? Tears stream again. 

Nicola lost winter, but she also had Winter. She got to hold him, love him, kiss him and take photos to cherish forever. She got to meet her son who she's now living his memory and sharing his memory with the world. She manages to look on the bright side of events thanks to her relationship with Buddha and it's amazing to watch her on that journey! 

Winter would be so proud of her and her partner. 

Sometimes I think being a parent is hard. There's good and bad. But I would take a million bad days just to have my boy here on earth. Take a moment and think how fortunate we all are and head over to Nicolas just giving page and show your support to her and her charity. 

Nicola set up a just giving page to raise money for the neonatal department that tried their hardest to save winter and managed to give them a whole day with their baby before he flew to heaven. 

I ask for every single one of you to head over to her page and donate! 

www.justgiving.com/winterwolfe 

Why not go over to her Instagram and show some love and support too! 

What is a "real mum"

So lately Iv been so angry at things Iv seen or comments Iv heard about being a "real mum" or a "good mum" or a "perfect mum" 

I'm sorry but what does this mean? 

• One person said a "real mum" is one who doesn't wear makeup and actually looks like a mum, not like these "fake mums" who put makeup on everyday. The "real mum" spends that extra ten minutes a day that the "fake mum" misses out on because she's putting makeup on, making memory's with their children.

To me the ten minutes a day I use to put on makeup is actually one of the funniest parts of my day as a mum, Logan sits and grabs everything I pick up and puts it on his head, then he'll sit on my lap and we'll play peek a boo in the mirror as I'm trying to powder my face. He tries numerous times to eat my foundation sponge and ends up jumping on my back like a loony to see himself in the mirror. 

That ten minutes I spend a day putting on my makeup make me feel  like I can face the world, I can bare to pop out if i need to and I don't have to stay in the house because I look ugly. Some mums aren't just mums but they are humans that have confidence issues and are constantly being labelled. Does the "real mum" get labelled a tramp because she goes out looking a mess because she didn't want to spend ten minutes making an effort? No. So does this give her the right to call mums who want to make an effort "fake mums"? 

In life I know some mums that are gorgeous and their makeup is always on point. They are also amazing mums, they have so much fun with their babies and they don't have to feel conscious people are judging them because they look fab, their makeup is beautiful and most importantly they have an amazing smile because of the fun they're having which makes their "fake mum" makeup looks even more pretty!!! 

• Another fellow mum thinks being a "good mum" is not having the tv on when the kids are about. 

Before I had Logan I said constantly, "I'll never have the tv on, he's not watching kids shows, he's not having an iPad (which omg I stand by!!!!) but now he's here reality is much different. You need the tv sometimes, wether it be for background noise, which it mainly is now, or to occupy them whilst you do a wee (which doesn't happen now he just follows me!) but when Logan couldn't move you put peppa pig on and he would be happy long enough for me to do a wee! Last night Luke and Logan say and watched some peppa before bed. It was the first time Logan's really sat still with him and watched tv, this made Luke so happy to have special time with Logan, if the tv wasn't on Logan would be moving about winging because he was bored, so for them two this was such a good bonding activity! 

• your only a "real mum" if you breast feed. 

This one gets me in fits of laughter. The lengths mums will go to just to make bottle feeding mums feel bad about their choice. You see breast feeding mums groups at baby Centers, or online. One mum I know breast fed then her baby wasn't putting weight on so she had to bottle feed, she didn't want to, but the breast feeding "club" she went to then kicked her out! 

Some mums bottle feed by choice, good on them! Some bottle feed because they have to. If they want to share feeding duties, if they want to be able to sleep without a baby on their boob, if their nipples are too small for the baby to latch on to, if they have cancer, blood disorders, heart problem. 

Should these women be judged? When you see a mum in Asda putting a bottle in her babies mouth do you judge her? Do you know her story? Do you know if she has an illness? Or do you know that maybe she's adopted that baby or maybe she's just doing what's best for that baby 

Are the baby's being fed?! Surely fed is best??? 

Yes breast feeding is amazing! And when I see a mum breast feeding I'm mentally clapping my hands saying bravo! Well done! Go you! But at the same time is she judging me? Probably!! Does she know my story? No! 

Bottle feeders don't judge breast feeders so we expect the same! 

• "real mums" cook fresh organic salt and sugar free food 

I aim to cook Logan fresh food every day. Is it organic? No. Is it all sugar free or salt free? No! Is it nutritious? Yes! 

I find too many mums asking what they should be feeding their babies as people post these amazing organic expensive meals. But the truth is you need to feed them what you want to. What makes you and your baby happy. Yes frozen food isn't the ideal choice. But if I'm in a rush Logan loves waffles and frozen veg! Is it harming him? No! He's probably happy for the change. 

There's no law on what to feed your children. It's not up to other mums, it's not up to health visitors, it's up to you!!! 

"Real mums" feed their babies. That's all there is to it! 

9 month olds favourite toys!

Logan's favourite toys 

I thought I would do a post on Logan's favourite toys for him at 9 months! 

Christmas was only a month ago and most of the presents he had he was scared of at the time! But less than a month later and he loves them and deffinately has his favourites! 

A few toys were presents so I'm not sure we're all of them were from. But I will try and find out as many as possible!

Logan's activity cube is one of his favourite toys! He will play with it for ages and will crawl or walk around it to play with all the different bits. He is getting so so clever on how it all works and what he has to do with them! This stays in our lounge rather than his play room as he loves playing with it all the time! 

£30(ish) Toys R Us 

Activity Ride Along! 

This was a present for Logan from his Nanny. It has three parts to it. 

Stage 1 were the steering wheel can lie on the floor for younger babies doing tummy time or just sitting up. 

Stage 2 were it turns into a rocking bike. We used this function straight away as he loves to sit on things and be pushed around so I thought he would like this and he does, he loves it and can rock it back and forth himself. He steers his steering wheel too and thinks he is super clever! (Which, he is!) 

Stage 3 is were you turn the wheels around and it goes from being a rocking bike to a ride along were he can push himself around. We have just changed it to this recently. Logan can't reach the floor yet but he loves for us to push him around and he is actually loving using this as a walker! 

Please note. The mans voice is very annoying and wierd 🙈 but Logan likes his singing 

£35 Asda 

Activity house! I'm not sure what the actual name for this is as it was a present and I don't know we're it's from! But I'm sure Google can help! 

Logan LOVES this toy so much! He climbs in it himself and plays with it so well. 

Inside there is a window which has a tunnel around it for him to put balls in and they fall down. Logan can do this now and bloomin loves it! On the back is a section to make noise! He can turn dials, roll balls and other noisy things! The next section is a door which his bum usually opens! And above it is a shape sorter and something which I don't know what it's called 🙈 (I shall insert a photo) 

On the outside at the back is a telephone which he has only discovered over the last few days! 

BALL POOL!!! 

Of course this has to be Logan's favourite toy! Balls are everywere and he loves it!!! It has a tent either side and a tunnel to go from one to the other. Logan will crawl constantly from one side to the either by himself and you just hear him laughing as he does!! There's not much to say on this one. It's a ball pit and that's about it! 

£25 Aldi 

The trampoline! 

The amount of fun that has been had on this trampoline I'm suprised it's not worn away already! If I go to the toilet (which is in his toy room!) he'll be waiting at the trampoline for me to help him on! 

£45 Argos 

Toy Story Ride along 

This wasn't AS big of a hit as I thought it would be. I think he is still a bit too young for this. He loves being pushed around on it and thinks it's hilarious but the buttons are a bit complicated to press! Hopefully he'll get the hang of it so he can enjoy it more 

His absolute favourite toys are things that make a noise. Bells, merraccas, noisy balls, cake toppings!! You name it. If it makes a noise he is there. Also any balls or cars that he can roll or push around and he is happy! :)