Been a while, thought I'd catch up!!

Well, not sure where to start! In 5 days time my little baby will be a fully fledged 18 month old and I have no idea where the time has been going! She's such a funny little character and most definitely has daddy wrapped right round her little finger. She is extremely affectionate at the moment, especially with her big brother which is just lovely.

Her speech is developing every day and she has learnt a couple of new signs but we kind of stick with the same ones. Her latest sign is "Sorry" which is very cute!

Still feeding as good as ever. She sometimes has her moments if her teeth are particularly bad but this little lady loves her food!! I can't believe what a tidy eater she is now too. She uses cutlery fantastically and seems to understand there's a lot less waste if she eats smaller spoonfulls so she is quite dainty! However watching her eat yoghurt is hilarious!! She eats it beautifully all the way until the last couple of spoons she hasn't a drop of it anywhere but her mouth. She struggles with the last bit so lobs the spoon and gets her hands in! very funny!!

We've even started to introduce tomato based meals again, like spag bol. Now she is tidier at eating less gets spread on her face and it doesn't flare her eczema anymore.

We made some christmas cards the other week and she got right into it! really concentrating. Can't believe christmas is so close now! Will make sure I post some more christmas dinner photos!! She LOVED it last year!!

Chatty Little Madam

Since BB's speech is coming along a bit I thought I'd list her words (well the ones I can remember!)

Daddy
Jake
Mumma
Hello
Hiya
Duck
Woof
Thank you
Poo
There it is
Peekaboo
Shoes

OK So now I have a blank moment so may have to edit with more :o)

Edit: I have remembered some more:

Teddy
All gone
Nanny
Manma (Grandma)
No
One, Two, Three
Choo choo
Uh Oh
Oops

More Meat

BB has never been overly interested in meat. However, recently I have noticed she eats it a lot more than she used. Thing is I couldn't tell you when she started eating more of it lol! She has had a lot of new teeth in the last couple of months and maybe this has coincided with the fact she will eat more meats, more often.

I guess this fits in well with the BLW theory of how babies will eat when they are physically, developmentally ready, maybe now she has more gnashers she can manage a roast chicken breast more.

She did used to moisten her lamb or pork for a bit in her mouth and then take it out and chew it again, I suppose sometimes this may have been too much effort when she was hungry!

Yesterday, she appeared to start to get bored of her dinner. She's very keen on using forks or spoons though and was trying. In the end we decided to break the chicken up smaller and then she was able to spear and eat it really easy. She wolfed it down. I think this time instead of going off the meat she was probably uncomfortable (teething again) so little bite sizes were easier for her.

Apples are the new Banana

Well BB has decided she'd rather have apples as her mid-mornign snack then bananas! It's so funny because she does actually tell me that she doesn't want what I have offered (ie the banana) and then signs "please" for me to try something else lol! Each time she settles on an apple.

Every so often she'll actually sign "raisins" which is very sweet. Also biscuit, but we're out of the organix ones until I do the shop so I have to tell her they're all gone!

Developing Taste Buds 1 year plus

Has anyone else noticed that their little ones have aquired tastes for spicer, stronger flavoured food as they've got older?

BB has hit 1 year and seems very keen to move onto tastier food. A lot of the first weaning is bland and what you see is what you get kind of thing. However I have noticed her enjoying more flavoured meals recently.

For example, I made chicken fajitas and seperated BB's chicken before adding the spice as it can be quite hot. She did enjoy her wrap and a bit of the chicken but I could see her looking longingly at mine!

I gave her a piece and she wolved it down with many "yam yam" noises and big smiles all round!

Growth Spurt?

I'm wondering if BB is having one as she seems to be hungry! and I mean wobbley, throw herself on the floor hungry!

Yesterday and today she has asked for something to eat sooner than normal after her breakfast and 1 banana isn't satisfying her as a mid morning snack! Today she had Raisin wheat for breakfast, banana and 2 organix biscuits then lunch was a marmite sandwich, half an apple, a babybel and a whole pear and it was earlier than normal! She just isn't stopping today! and now she is asking for more food!

OMG where did that month go???

Sorry just realised after my last post that it's 25th June. BB is now 13 months old, so scarey how quickly they grow up, and BigBB is 8 years old in 3 weeks!!

She has done so much in the last month too. She now signs "duck" "milk" "sleep" "all gone" and twinkle twinkle little star... she even sounds like she sings it, very cute!!

BB has been trying to use a fork solo but not all that great yet. She will eat it happily when Daddy or I spear something first. Although she does try to spear it herself she hasn't mastered it just yet!

She is really into her books now and I mean for a longer moment then say, erm... 30 seconds! She will sit and flick through pointing and "chatting" away to each picture and page. She "counts" in her counting book, points at each object and makes noises that are very close to 1,2,3 it's hilarious!

Rain Rain Go Away!

Getting most annoyed with the current weather situation! gggrrrr!

I really need to hang BB's nappies out in the sunshine they've been tumbledried so much recently but sunshine is good for the "baby stains" if you know what I mean!

That's it just a little rant from me! haha!

BB and I would like to have some more picnics in the park but at the moment it is a definite no, no.

I can't wait for the summer holidays when BB, BigBB and I can go on picnics and to the seaside! bring it on :o)

Play Theme - Bees, Butterflys & Bugs

On my birthboard a few of us mums decided to start a weekly play theme. Like the babies/toddlers that go to nursery each week we have a theme and then we all add some ideas of fun and activities to do related to the theme.

After swimming this morning I thought I'd have a bash at the handprint butterfly with BB... She loved it! I let her do some freehand splodges too and even managed to try and get some on the mini canvasses we've had since she was born!

We also read incy wincy spider that my best friend got her for her birthday. It has music and pop up pictures of incy and so is a supervised read, otherwise she'd rip it to shreds!

Need to dig out "the very hungry caterpillar"

I don't think my mass killing of ants this week is included pmsl!!

BB Signed!!!! She signed!!!

Oh it was so cute and she's been doing it since!

She can now ask me for milk... she knows the sign and is "milking" it (pun intended!)

She certainly drank more since but it's so cute how could I possibley not give her milk lol!

I am going to try and get a picture but I should imagine it's as easy as it was getting one of her first steps!

Some signing links for anyone interested:
Facebook Group
Baby Signing to Your Door
Tiny Talk Classes

How Tall is BB? Taller than I thought obviously.....

Well after the first half of the FA Cup Final, BB went upstairs for her nap. Daddy popped to the toilet shortly after and her her chatting away to herself quite happily.... what he didn't realise is what she was really up to!

Turns out she's had a growth spurt.....

Clever BB and Banana

Well we went to a birthday party yesterday and BB ate some party food and had lots of fun. I think she was distracted by the fun to eat much so she was hungry when we got home.

She was having a moan so I signed "eat" to her and she nodded and bounced (this is a yes) as it wasn't quite dinner time, I offered her a organix baby biscuit but she shook her head and moaned! I then pulled a banana out and she nodded again! It was so sweet! So she had a banana. It felt like a great achievement that we were able to communicate about what she wanted, she's so clever!

Proud Mummy :o)

Baby Signing... it's sinking in...

Well BB and I started signing but we've only had 2 sessions so far! However I have been really signing loads at home the words Milk, Drink, Eat, More just for the basics.

I knew BB understood when I actually said milk because she'd get all impatient and moan for it!I have been signing and saying "milk" for 3 weeks now and today I thought I'd do a little test and just signed it without saying it to see if she'd actually associated the two... and she did! She started bouncing (this is her yes for milk) and headed for the kitchen. I got her bottle and gave it to her smiling my head of!

I bought a fab book from Chelltune that BB loves and it's great for us to practice with. It also reminds me to sign as it's a big book and I can't miss it!

Can't wait for her to sign back to me!!

BB reading her signing book!! lol

Cheese! No thanks!

Well I think it is now apparent that BB may be allergic to cheese! I haven't given it to her for a couple of weeks. In fact the first week wasn't deliberate just needed to go shopping! So when I had gone shopping and gave her philly on toast her face flared right up. It was then obvious at this point that it was the cheese!

This would explain why it seemed like a constant battle! I thought we'd cracked it with tomato and then it started up again!

I haven't given her cheese since and it hasn't flared up on her face since. So that's another to add to our now growing list... Cat hair, washing powder, tomato and cheese!

Now I need to search out some soya stuff I think... Someone told me goats cheese is ok??? Looks like we need to see a dietician as well as a skin specialist really!

Oooooh been spending on Ebay!!

Well I had some cash in my paypal and I have come up with a fab idea (in theory) of something to make for BB!

Now I just need it all to arrive so I can see if it is possible and whether I can make it with my antuque sewing machine pmsl! Then I might tell you more but until then you can sit and wonder!

Quite excited, how sad am i!!!!!

Had to order some more purepotions skin salvation for BB today as the little pot I got ot test out is all gone! think daddy gets a bit slap happy with it. Anyway he used doublebase on her instead until it arrives and her skin has gone horrendous again!!! what do you do? poor little mite! :o(

Thinking of Little Maddy

It is so sad and my sisters and I had a good cry yesterday about poor missing little maddy on her birthday.

We watched the news and people tying yellow ribbons all over the place and it made me sad for her and her family. But what can we do to help? nothing. Nothing I can do will help. I just wish Portugal would up the publicity of it all to make it more in every ones faces. The press over here have covered it massively but why isn't it the same over there? where the girl actually got snatched?

I really do hope she is found alive and well very very soon!

BB "helping" Mummy

Being the lazy so and so I have been today there was a load of freshly washed and tumble-dried (t'is raining outside) nappies on the sofa, sat waiting for me to stuff them and then put them away.
BB decided to "help" and did so for about 20 minutes!! (it's not a 20 minute clip though lol)

Yummy Breaky and Friends for Lunch!

Well this morning I spotted daddy chopping up dried apricots and adding them to her cereal! Did make me chuckle! BB seemed to enjoy it lots though and was through it in minutes

I had friends over for a play date with the babies and we had a good old play and laugh! It's funny seeing them all sat round the dinner table for lunch! Two in totseats and one in a highchair.

I put on a lovely spread of crackers and cheese and we all had a good nibble!

I have noticed BB's face has gone a bit red since this morning though so now i'm wondering if it's cheese! ficious bloody circle trying to find out what irritates her face! She enjoyed it all the same and I have just applied some of my purepotions skin salvation to her face. Seems to be the best thing for her skin yet! However I did catch the little minx rubbing her chin on a cushion while I wasn't looking! Must be so itchy poor little mite!

Here is a cute picture of her today!... she is growing up so fast!

Appointment to see the Skin Specialist

Well I've not written for a while as have been having lots of problems with Erin's eczema which has gone from bad to worse.

She definitely had a reaction to washing powder but her face is also still reacting to food. I have been keeping a food diary but somedays she'll eat something and it will be fine and then other days it won't so I'm left very confused!

Anyway I went to the doctors and asked for a referral and an allergy test. He pretty much said no to the allergy test as it's like finding a needle in a hay stack!

The annoying thing is in desperation I gave Erin some piriton as her skin was so bad. By the time I got to the doctors on the monday it was 10 x better so as per usual the doctor thinks I'm an overprotective mother gggrrrrrr! Anyway I had to push him for the referal and am now seeing the skin specialist on 13th June which to me is no where near soon enough!
I'm not keeping my hopes up but really do just need someone to help me with some preventative measure rather than just giving me cream.... which incidently doesn't bloody work! I have eventually found some that does off my own back and from help from friends on here. This has calmed it down a lot.

The doctor told me to continue with the piriton at night as it will stop her scratching and give her skin a chance to heal. Trouble is I have been giving it for about 2 or 3 weeks now and on the nights I don't she wakes up screaming and scratching. I really thought after a week or so it would be ok to stop giving it.

It's so heartbreaking and I guess that's why I haven't been about much as people ask you how your baby is and you just want to cry! Dry skin aside Erin looks like a self harmer from her scratching it's awful. I am keeping her nails so short yet she still manages to do it. I tried socks on her hands one night and she went crazy! I think it's made worse byt the lack of support from the health professionals I have received.

So for now I have been sticking to much more basic food. She crys at me when I tell her not to scratch. I just wish my baby's skin was like baby's skin again.

Yummy Pear!!

This weekend I though I'd just give BB a pear as it was.

Not sure what made me feel like it but I did and she loved it. We'd had a BBQ and some friends round and all the kids saw BB enjoying her pear so much that they all wanted one! it was funny!

The pear was nice and ripe and it kept her entertained for ages!

the best thing is they don't have a massive core so it didn't matter that she ate from the bottom up. No more chopping up pears in this house!

Need to Catch up!

Well I have a lot of catching up to do! Been manic and had a few problems with BB to sort out etc so unfortunately the blog took a back burner.

The Art of Eating - Our Clever Babies

Not sure if anyone else has noticed this but thought I'd share!

I have a few times but after dinner at FIL's last night he had a bit of a panic when she shoved a massive peice of lamb in her mouth. Basically what she does is pop it in to slobber on it and moisten it, then she takes it out again to chew once it's softer!

When you think about it, it's really bloody clever for a baby! They're such amazing little things aren't they. Baby Led Weaning has given her this opportunity to learn to eat properly from 6 months and the more she eats the more clever she becomes. She does this with apricots too and has done for as long as I can remember (obviously she didn't to start with)

The whole pincer thing and learning to open their hands to eat whats left of veg stick. She also picks up raisins or sweetcorn with her hand and if she isn't satisfied that she has enough in her hand she holds them in a fist but with her pointer finger and thumb still free to grab another shoves them all in! porker!

My Text Book Baby

Well I finally managed to get BB weighed at the clinic today. I haven't dare take her since we started Baby Led Weaning as wasn't sure what they'd make of it and didn't want them asking me about weaning until I got into it. Well then I just got out of the habit of going! lol!

Now at 10.5 months I go and get her weighed. TBH I was all geared up and ready to chat baby led weaning with them and it was empty so thought I had my opportunity. However just as I undressed BB some others arrived and started talking. Funnily enough about weaning and I was gonna try help but she looked like she'd deck me if I spoke! lol! She was saying her lo wouldn't even eat mashed up baked beans so I left without a word lol!

Anyway BB is now 21lb 9.5oz still following the 75th perfectly! I was suprised a bit as thought with all her walking and activity she may have dipped a little! no not our BB. They did her length too and she again is following her height just under the 75th perfectly at 73cm. All in proportion then :o)

It did make me realise though how stickler for weight HV's are as because they then titled her "text book" they didn't ask me any other questions, not about how well she feeds/sleeps or anything not even about her eczma until I pointed it out. hmmm oh well. They let me put a business card up on the pin board though. Think I am going to go again next week and chat to them about baby led weaning.

Baby Led Weaning Al Fresco Styleeeeeee

Well I am currently looking after my nephew and my son is also on school holidays so in a bid for some peace and quiet we went to Abington Park! Such a lovely park - t'is one of my favourites!

I actually didn't pack a picnic because I am a wee bit rubbish especially with 2x Hyper 7 year olds!

We stopped in tesco express near the park and I picked up some fruit and sandwiches etc.

BB shared my chicken wrap and had a banana and some babybel. She loved sitting on the blanket with the big boys and it was a lovely day!

I love the fact now it doesn't matter if I haven't packed my baby food, bowls and so on... She can literally eat what we eat! Although trying to get a banana into my 7 year old nephew proved impossible!

BB did try and eat some twigs while we were there but I insisted that they wouldn't taste all that good lol

Converted to Cloth!

I bought BB some cloth nappies while I was pg off ebay. They were naff and I never used them. After chatting lots to my friends on Cloth Nappy Tree I decided I should just sell the ones I didn't like and buy some new ones! Okay was a little miffed that I bought them off ebay and they now don't let you sell them!!! I didn't know this and listed them. I had about 12 watchers and 1 day to go and then I go the email saying they were taken off! Someone suggested selling them on The Nappy Lady so going to look into that instead.

Anyway my Fuzzi Bunz (from KipsKabin) arrived today and I have washed them and tumble dried and road tested the lavender one! Of course I had to put a matching slide in her hair and take lots of pictures! She wouldn't sit still for a second hence the "lots" of pictures... although she did seem to enjoy it! lol! Now I need to look into some washable wipes for her little tooshie!

Clever BB and her spoon!

Ready Made or Processed "easy food"

Ok so it is sinful, bad, naughty stuff but sometimes you can't always cook from scratch... or it's the end of the month so you have nothing else left til payday!

I spend many a moments stood in tesco reading the content of salt and sugar in any foods I think I may want to give to BB. My top tip if you want to give Malt Loaf is not tesco finest, nor is it soreen and the worst offender was the organic!! The best of all was the tesco value! Would you adam and eve it!

Anyway I don't give her processed food mood or readymade but there are times when needs must so my way of making sure she has as little salt as possible is by checking and comparing labels!

I stumbled across this on netmums today and though you may find it interesting!

Also a link I have on my Babycentre blog re salt and the food standards agency will also help you :o)

Only 2 bottles of Milk yesterday!

Well we had a hectic day. We went swimming in the morning all four of us, we were there for ages as it took BB a while to settle into it and then when they were both having fun felt mean to leave!

Anyway this meant she had no morning nap at all! She was asleep when we got back and slept for about an hour and woke up hungry for her lunch. Hummus on toast which she couldn't be bothered to eat and so I gave her a banana (nice and easy) she was just still sooooo tired. After she polished that off she was very grumpy so I ended up putting her back to bed... Where she stayed asleep for 3 hours! This meant she completely missed her 3pm bottle.

To be honest I have been noticing a drop in milk and she is 10 months old today. I was wondering if it would mean she'd be up in the night but she slept right through. Thought she was ready to start dropping the middle bottle (she has 3) I know she was asleep so I shall offer it still if she wants it... she's just growing up boohoo!

She took quite a few steps again... her confidence is gradually building up! very sweet x

Baby & Toddler Groups???

I only go to one group on a tuesday morning. It's Music Time and BB loves it!

I'm starting to feel the need to do more though. I'm sat at home quite a lot and until the weather gets nicer I can't see me venturing outside much. I tend to hibernate in winter!

Anyway I thought it'd be nice to meet some more mums and then when summer does get here we could go for picnics in the park.... or is that a bit ambitious? Are they really as cliquey as I've heard or is it just being shy that makes people think that?

I have been onto Netmums and got a list of the local groups (very good for local info!)

I have a shortlist of 5 though! 2 are on at the same time on a weds and the other 3 are tues, thurs and fri. I might just do a week of all of them and see what i like best! I may even join 2. Is there a baby group etiquette I should know about?

Gillian McKeith here again... We're talking Poo!

I know, I know, I am obsessed with my daughters bowel movements but they do seem to fascinate me! (especially the multi coloured rainbow ones!)

The last couple of days BB has done a couple of proper logs! I do pity her little bum and her poo face is just excellent! However I'm wondering if it's because she's dropped her milk intake rather a lot recently??

She was having 3 x 8oz bottles then with her teething that dropped to 6oz sometimes as little as 4oz. Then she drank the full 8oz a few times last week (and was sleeping more in the day so i think a growth spurt) but now she has dropped again between 4 and 6oz 3x a day.

She does drink water with meals although a lot is dribbled down her chin. Maybe she's just hitting an age now where she does proper poo?!?!

Crohn Disease linked to early weaning...

Just thought I'd share some info that I have been discussing on a few forums today.

I "met" one lady that had crohn disease and when she was diagnosed she researched it lots (as you would) it is linked to early weaning. She was weaned at 3 weeks by her mum. Ok I know it is excessively early but this is the second time I've heard of the link in the space of a week.

The thing that has now become apparent to me is even when people can say "My 4 year old was weaned at 12 weeks and he's ok" don't really have that as an arguement. This lady actually wasn't diagnosed until her late 20's.

Crohn disease, food allergies and intolerences have become alot more prevalent in the past 50-60 years. This correlates with the timescale that babies have been weaned early. Before the second world war purreed baby foods were impossible to obtain, children could not be weaned until they were old enough to handle chewing.

What really pees me off is the big baby food giants such as heinz are still free to reign on labelling their products "from 4 months" in essence this is covered by the fact it says "from" so it doesn't actually suggest you must wean at 4 months but does in fact give the impression it is fine.

The facts remain that yes not all babies are the same and some MAY be ready to wean at 4 months (but absolutely no way sooner) but for the sake of 8 weeks and the future health of your child are you willing to take the risk and wean early? I know I wasn't so I held out.

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against mothers that do wean early ONLY if they make an informed decision. I can't bare the fact that some take it on the basis that their Mother's, mother's, uncle's brother was weaned at 10 weeks and he's ok... It's an uneducated, defensive response in my opinion. But that's just me! so shoot me!

Would be interested in others views? I didn't know about crohn disease link until 4 months into weaning but the more I read the more I'm glad I waited.

Baby Banana's on the move!

Well today my little lady has been walking a fair bit! Ok so it's only been a few steps and max 5 or 6 at a time.

However after recording her wetting herself laughing at her big brother she stood solo turned completely unaided and took a couple of steps!

HOW LONG!!!!

It's taken me about 2 months to figure out what password and or username I had for this account ggggrrrrr!

Finally back in business! Obviously I still have the website but I like this blog too! lol!

Hoorah!

New site!

I have just started a new site, to see more of BB and Baby Led Weaning as well as reviews on baby products, recipes and soon a shop on cool new products, visit www.babybanana.biz

lokk forward to seeing you there :o)