All I Can Do Is Watch

Seems not so long ago that Layla joined our not so little family and made it complete. I am constantly on the search for that pause button just so I can stop and enjoy her as a baby for a little while longer because it is flying by.

With each thing she learns, she seems more grown up. People that visit make the comments like, isn't she getting big, she looks so much liker her sisters' now. It is scary to think that she is more like a toddler than she is a baby these days and all I can do is sit and watch as she turns into a little girl.

The past couple of weeks has seen another lot of first. She has started to try and talk rather than just random sounds and babbling. You know when they start making sounds you sit there thinking, did she just say what I think she did, you go round telling everyone what you think you heard and when others hear they think you were making it up!! Well you can't mistake the words she is saying now, definitely proud mummy moments.

She can now say :

mama

dada

nana

bye bye

night night

hiya

pooh bear

and my favourite
is it
because we are forever asking her what things are so whenever she spots something she says is it.

She is also trying to say to say her sisters' names but I don't think others would understand her yet, Freya sounds more like aya and Elise is just sssssss, she has yet to attempt Gracie.

Won't be too long and I will be able to have some mini conversations with her.

Can you remember what your children's first words were??

xxxx

The do's and dont's in pregnancy

I have been reading over the weekend about Stacey Soleman being pictured smoking whilst 7 months pregnant and it got me thinking about all these rules you are told to follow when pregnant, how many people really stick to them??

There are so many things when you are pregnant that you are told you can't or shouldn't eat, drink or touch and these guidelines seem to change on a yearly basis.

Now I tend to stick to most of them but mainly because most of the things we are told not to eat I don't eat when not pregnant anyway. One of the rules that has always confused me is not being able to eat peanuts. This is a prime example of things changing because recently rules have changed and they say it is alright to have nuts in pregnancy as long as there is not history or allergy, eczema, asthma etc in the family. Throughout my past three pregnancies I always avoided peanuts because there are a lot of skin conditions and asthma that runs in my family however all three of my daughters have developed eczema anyway so this time round I have decided to allow myself peanuts as I don't think it poses a danger to my unborn child. I must also admit I have eaten a runny egg :s

There are certain guidelines that I didn't know in my first pregnancy and even my second and third pregnancies I was still learning more. I never used to aware that you aren't supposed to have hot baths when pregnancy and I wasn't really aware about lowering your caffeine intake but my daughters were born absolutely healthy so it makes it difficult to know what to do for the best. 

I never drink alcohol in pregnancy and that's not to say I am against others having the occasional drink when pregnant it is just I can't shake the feeling that if I were to have a drink something might happen to my baby as there is no good research to show you the proper affects.

Do you think health professionals are over cautious or do you think what they say is right?? Do you stick to everything they say or do you use your own judgement for things??

xxxx

Feel so bad

Well this morning Freya decided she didn't want to go to play school. I was putting it down to fact that I was going Tesco shopping and for some strange reason she loves going so I thought she just felt left out.

Whilst walking to play school I asked her why it was that she didn't want to go to play school and she said "no one plays with me". My heart broke. You never want your child to feel upset or lonely.
I think half the problem is is that Freya likes to play with the older children but of course all of the older children have now started primary school so she is now one of the older children.

I didn't know what to say to her, what can you say?? In the end I gave in and let her have the day off play school because I felt so bad for her. We left it that tomorrow we would go in and have a chat with her teacher and see if we can sort the problem out.

Have any of you had any heart breaking moments with your children yet??

xxxx

What's for dinner today??

Does anyone else find that making something for dinner that pleases everyone difficult? What one child wants the other child suddenly decides that they no longer like that, then the husband also decides that they want something different as well. There is also the issue of cost as food these days doesn't come cheap. I am always on the look out for recipes or variations on things that I already make.
Today I think I actually managed to please the whole Hazelden household. I cooked homemade burgers consisting of beef mince, tomato puree and mixed herbs. Also helps when Elise says mum you are the best cook, I know I'm not but it is always nice to hear!!!!
So what about everyone else, any good recipes you would like to share??.......

xxxx

What is the secret????

Well after almost 6 years and three children I still haven't found the secret to keeping a clean and tidy house whilst entertaining a child, especially when the child happens to be teething.
Every day I start out with all the good intentions of getting the house work done but by the end of the day I always seem to have more to do than what I started out with.! This I feel is because of one word........ Mama.
How can I ignore that word, especially when I look at the little person of whom the word came out of.
Does the solution really exist or are all us parents out there destined to have half tidy houses until the kids get older?

xxxx