No, no, no!

Having had my repertoire of activities I do with the kids almost completely axed for the next few months (ok 6ish) we have been finding it a little difficult being confined to an appartment with no real outdoor area. Keeping the kids entertained and not going stir crazy has been a challenge. We are still able to do our have to activities like kindy, tennis and until its becomes too sore playgroup, it just all the other stuff like zoo, park and aquarium visits that have been kyboshed. I am having to think very carefully about each thing we do and weigh up how necessary it really is. My list of "no" activities involves anything that requires walking, using steps, lifting or even crossing my legs. I know that if I keep doing these things too often the pain Im getting will only get worse and ultimately make this pregnancy and my post birth recovery extremely hard, but its hard to feel as tough I'm letting the kids down and not giving them the activity they need. So I have busted out my sewing machine with the intention of making some new things for us to use in our play at home. I can after all sew sitting down and therefore its an ok activity for me, though if they could invent a way for me to sew lying down it would be preferable in my therapists eyes.

Sorry for to blurry pic but light was bad and Miss Boo never stopped moving!

To start with I finally made a new cover for the dolls buggy. Our poor buggy has been without a seat for about 6 maybe 7 months and therefore been stashed in the back of the cupboard. Not much fun. Last night I made a new cover for it, it was quick and it doesn't have my usual neat finish but it works and best of all I changed the strap for elastic making it much easier to use. Today its been in use almost all day. All the dolls and teddies have been given zooming rides up and down the hall and round the bedroom. Tomorrow to fit in with our letter I'm planning to make a kangaroo tail for Monkeys dress-ups.

It even has teeth!!!!!

Last night I also managed to do Monkeys dinosaur shirt. I think it came out quite well and was so quick to do, I have some others planned already so stay posted.....

Parenting

How do we become the parent we want to be? There are so many influences out there pushing and pulling us in various directions telling us this is how to have a happy child, a confident child or a calm child. Just when you think you have an idea of which way you want to go something else crops up to show you another better way.
Today was our maternal health nurse 12 month check up ( I know a month late - but we got there in the end) and while waiting for our appointment I decided to have a look in the library for some toddler and baby game inspiration as well as the obligatory stack of books for bedtime.
While looking for these I found book after book telling me the best way to raise a child, how to have the perfect child. It got me thinking about what has influenced the way I want to parent and if I am living up to my expectations or if I'm falling back onto old habits. When we began this journey we had some ideas, but not very defined ideas of how we wanted to parent. Initially I found that what my gut was telling me didn't always fit in with what others around me were doing. It took me a while to realise that this is ok and probably how a lot of others were feeling (we're all just faking it after all - aren't we??). Since then I have read books and spoken to various people finding what I instinctively agreed with and what I don't. It hasn't always been easy to parent in the way He-Man and I want but it seems that whenever I find my self moving in a direction that doesn't feel right, or i start to get lazy something comes along to re-inspire me. My parenting style will adapt to the changes in our lives but our core beliefs are now set. I realise we may not get it right all the time and some days maybe not even most of the time but we are getting there and I am proud of the people our children are becoming.

Now about the check up. Miss Boo is doing great surprising the nurse by "running" (her version) and just about climbing up everything she could find all the while babbling to us about it. It is nice to see her so comfortable around strangers, she even put her head forward to have it measured. Too cute. She's a bit above average for both height and weight (more so for weight, so I think we are in a store to grow phase). Overall it was a great visit.. now I  just have to get her immunisations done and all will be good - though she might not agree.

Showing off her tennis skills...

Raspberries on mummys face after a mouthful of milk is a favorite way to end the night for one Miss Boo. There is something about those milky lips that I just love. PFFFFFFTTTTTT!!!! and on that note "Goodnight and sleeptight!"

Party Time.....

Well it may be a month late but we have finally been able to have Miss Boo's party. And it was great fun. We had a couple of close friends and the kids had a ball. As usual I totally over catered but better that way then the other. The theme was lady bugs starting with invitations for which I gained inspiration from here.   

 I dont really feel games are necessary at this stage so instead had and activity for the kids to do when they got here. I had a bunch of foam mats and shapes for the kids to make pictures with. Really easy to set up and fairly easy to tidy up at the end as it was all contained on the mat (pretty much).

  I love making all sorts of things for a party. spending hours burning fingers putting feelers and eyes on bags is right up my alley. I made thank you boys bags and girls bags. They both had a lady bug chocolate, party blower, box of smarties, and a box of homemade strawberry smelling playdough. The only difference was that the boys bags had a Thomas magic facecloth in and the girls had a ladybug hair clip I made from this tutorial.

To help make the place more festive we got a disposable helium tank and balloon set from Spotlight. It was almost the same price as having the balloons done for you but there wasn't the hassle of He-man having to walk back from the shops holding 30- 40 balloons and trying to get them into the lift.  Would have been funny to watch though.

 Miss Boo looked the part in her beautiful dress from Aunty D. It was great for dancing in.

 The balloons were definitely a big hit with everybody. There is something magical about the colors and ribbons waiting to be pulled and dragged around the house. They make everybody smile.

It still amazes me that I have a little 1 year old, I think I blinked. She has such a beautiful and happy personality. I love watching her grow.