Dyson Attachment Toys

It's official, I'm a very irresponsible mum.  The wee man was playing with an attachment for the Dyson this morning and insisted on taking it in the car to nursery.  Played with it all the way home too.  I'm quite sure that pieces of vacuum cleaners are not the most sanitary of toys - especially as he must chew on everything like a puppy.
Still, I've always said that if he'd only sleep on sheeps poo then I'd have a flock of them living in the back garden!
I had a quick read of the newspaper this afternoon at work, (I was on my break - honest), and was a tad annoyed to see that Abbey Clancy is getting a hard time for allowing her baby to sleep on the sofa beside her dog whilst she was on a photo shoot.  For heavens sake, leave the girl alone.  I'm fed up of mums being judged - especially by other mums.  Nuff said!
I've been cutting up some of the wee mans old baby clothes.  Anything still wearable has been passed alomg to those who need it but I couldn't bear to throw out the stained stuff when there's so many memories attached.  Instead I've cut the unstained parts into squares and plan to make a very simple patchwork quilt.  As soon as we've moved house I'll do a step-by-step guide to making the quilt in case anyone out there fancies having a go.  I plan on doing lots of tutorials next year and posting more photos too....all this writing is rather too boring.
Here's a photo of the wee man for good measure!

Later Alligators xx

Back again!

What's that?  You didn't notice I'd been away?  Hadn't missed my ramblings about motherhood?

My gorgeous wee boy is now 11 months old - holy crapbags!  I've been back at work for about 3 months now and with none of that 'staged return' nonsense....I just plunged straight back into full time.  I posted a while back about my terror whilst even contemplating leaving the wee man with someone else and then I found the most AMAZING nursery.  It's like a state-of-the-art baby school.  As soon as I walked in (no appointment needed - big tick in the box) I knew that they could give him the sort of stimulation and education that I could only dream of doing at home.  The staff 'clock in' to happy mode at 7.30am whereas it was pushing midday at home before I felt organised enough to get anything done. 
The first few days he cried when I passed him over but then I randomly placed him on the floor one morning so he could crawl in himself.....we've never looked back and he doesn't even notice I've gone - he just legs it to the toys!
I have no idea about his stages of development...that is, I don't know what exactly an 11 month old 'should' be capable of.  I purposely steer clear of information telling me anything about babies!  I also detest people bragging about what their clever little creatures have achieved and frighteneing the bejesus out of the rest of us who's babies have not yet mastered fire-eating or driving the car.  All babies are different, as long as they're loved and having a marvellous time then nothing else matters really.
At least people have stopped saying "enjoy him while he's so small, he'll grow up so fast".  Actually, no.  It feels like he is 11 months old and that's because I have savoured and enjoyed every.single.minute. 
He's a cheeky wee bugger though, I can't deny it.  Is it wrong that I absolutely love it?  I love him being so self-assured that he's a bit cocky even at this age.  If you're not watching him open and close the kitchen drawers then he'll shout you.  Grinning.  His favourite 'game' is to offer you something and say 'ta' so you reach to get it.  At the last second he pulls it away and belly laughs at your stupidity.  I could play that game with him for hours!
Well, winter is gripping the nation and darkness rules most of our lives (glad I don't work shifts) at the minute.  I needed to find a way to keep the wee man toastie warm and i thought 'aaah, tights'.  Turns out they don't really have boys in mind when making tights.  I've hunted high and low and all I can find (that doesn't have bows or include a pink pair) are from Sainsburys.  Why on earth are tights only for girls?  They're perfect for the winter - especially if your wee one is a serial sock-remover like mine.
I'd best be moving on...have an old friend in tonight.....no, not a human friend -still not found any of those - but a bottle of wine....oh, how I have missed thy deliciousness!
Just before I skoot, for all you busy folks here in the UK there is a range of meals just out by Somebody Bigham...must be a famous chef but I canny remember his first name....not much use to you really.  Bighams.co.uk I think.  Had the Thai green chicken curry this evening.  It like an uncooked, pre-packed meal but full of flavour and goodness.  It's the sort of thing you could serve at a dinner party (not that I ever have those) where people would be convinced you made it yourself.  Anyway, it was scrumptious and only £4.50 in Sainsburys (serves 2).
Righto - wine and World of Warcraft now......classy bird me! xxx

So Much To Do....So Little Time.

It's midday, my 7 month old baby has finally given in to sleep and having a nap.  Might last 10 minutes or I may get an hour of blissful quiet and precious freedom.  I'm half dressed.  That is, I've managed clean underwear and a pair of jeans but still wearing the t-shirt I slept in which has now been decorated by my baby with some sort of unidentifiable foodstuff.  Time ticks by, slowly.
I've found the lonliness such a shock.  Yes, you go places, see people and have plenty to fill the days with but motherhood seems very isolating.  Lack of sleep and the need to constantly devote your attention to being a mum is relentless.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not depressed or unhappy in any way and I'll soldier on as usual but it's still hard.
My partner has returned to work after 2 weeks off and I'm still trying to catch up with myself not realising how much easier it is with two people.
Tomato soup is calling my name and my tummy is responding with a low growl.  It's little wonder I've lost 2 stone in the last 3 months!
I am here, just need to get my blogging groove back again :)

I'm Still Here!

Wow, it's been over a month since I posted.  Doesn't feel like that long at all but you know when life just takes over and you go into auto-pilot! 
Bubba is 21 weeks old now and has gone from being a wee baby that would play happily on his mat to being a small person who needs a lot of attention.  It's amazing to watch him grow and see his skills developing.  He was eating two meals per day...usually baby porridge mixed with Ella's Kitchen pouches...but started to wake again during the night for an extra feed.  Not good!  Thankfully, the inclusion of a third meal during the day has allowed him to sleep right through again and I feel much less zombie-like.  How on earth do people cope with a baby that still doesn't sleep all night, must be absolute torture.  I'm very lucky.  The sleeping routine was nothing to do with me, Bubba decided that 8pm was his bedtime and that was that.
Bathtime has developed into a monster that I don't like facing alone.  Up until now I've been using a plastic baby bath in the front room but Bubba has learned how to kick and splash....I don't mean just a little bit, I mean half-the-water-out-of-the-bath type splashing and I declared defeat....no more baby bath.  No, I don't mean I'm not bathing him any more!  It's off to the big bath we go and I'm a little terrified of handling a slippery, writhing eel-baby in that big bath.  Today is my first attempt so wish me luck!
Well, we're off to Scotland in the morning to visit my family.  My mum and step-dad haven't seen Bubba since he was 6 weeks old and I can't wait for them to be amazed at how much he's changed.  I love to show him off, he's an awesome wee man.
Well, got a pile of washing to do ready for our trip so I best skoot.  It's 9.30am and I'm not even showered!!  No posts from me over the long weekend but I'll be back to daily posting....I promise (sort of)!

Have a wonderful long weekend everyone xxx

Are You an Art Tart?

To celebrate the launch of the new Art Tart website, I'm very honoured to have been given a unique discount code giving all of my readers, friends and family a whopping 10% discount, (Code BB03).

This site is usually for members only but I have a sneaky little guest login that everyone can use:  NUMB22.

The site is a custom design gallery for both artists and art-lovers alike.  I spent most of last night browsing the hundreds of images and awesome artwork until my shopping cart was overflowing!  The thing is, these images, (starting at a mere £4.99), make the perfect pressies and there's a bit of something for everyone.

You can also make custom prints using your own images.  I wonder what my partner will think if he comes home to find a massive multi-panelled print of our gorgeous bubba adorning the living room wall!  It would look amazing though!
For those of you out there who are a dab hand at producing your own images then get in touch through their website, you could be selling your own work and earning a nice little commission too :)

Go on, have a nosey round the site and don't forget to claim 10% off your orders using code BB03 at the checkout.

I'll leave a link on my blog so that you, your friends and all the lovely bloggers in blogland can benefit.

Sun is shining and the zoo is calling!  Happy shopping xxx

Baby Walker, Dresses and a Massive Ruddy Coldsore!

That about sums up my weekend.
Firstly, my partner was mooching around in the garage and happened upon the baby walker my sister gave me yonks ago.  I had totally forgotten it was there!
Here is the wee man having his first ever taste of independent mobility:

He's made me a little sad this morning due to excessive face scratching again....drawn blood on his nose and it's horrid.  He practically lives in mittens or those baby grows with the attached flappy thing but he must have sneaked out a thumb or something.  I hope he grows out of this soon.

I've managed to fit in a bit of sewing and completed 2 dresses so far for the Dress A Girl Around the World campaign.  It's just a bugger finding the time, or when I do have the time I can't do anything noisy without waking up Bubba.

And finally, I have a big, fat, stinking cold sore.  Not even on my lip but between my lip and nose.  I don't know where it appeared from but I shall mostly be hiding my distorted mutant face from the world today!!

The Contents of My Fridge!

I was tagged a couple of days ago over at the fabulous QWERTY Mum blog to post a photo of my fridge.  The inside that is, the outside would just be boring!
So, here it is in all it's unhealthy and untidy glory.  We only have a wee fridge built in to our kitchen units but it still holds a lot of cider....see Exhibit A:

Thankfully the cider is tucked away behind the cheese so not that easy to spot.  There's a distinct lack of greens in there as the lizards eat it all!  Just count yourselves lucky that it's not snake feeding day so no dead mice!!  I'm serious.
Off to rethink my unhealthy lifestyle!!