Bearhunt Sensory Walk

I'm extremely lucky to have and work in a job that I love, not many people can say that. I work for a disabled and special educational needs centre, very closely within the Pre-School sessions and team. Although I'm currently on Maternity leave, I'm actually looking forward to going back to work for a few hours a day, as much as ill miss my son like mad, I think it will do us both good - and give me more pennies to spend on him!!
 

I've decided to post about last year's Sensory "BearHunt" Book Day - it took a lot of planning and was an overall total success! The children thoroughly enjoyed the day!
 

(The full board of images can be found via Pinterest here: https://www.pinterest.com/aimeeejayneee/parc-book-day-going-on-a-bear-hunt/)
 

Practically everyone knows the story - a group of children go on a bear hunt, over
various obstacles which included grass, a cold river, mud, a forest and finally a snowstorm.

We started off with "The Long Wavy Grass". I simply shredded various colours of green paper and threw them all into a big pile inbetween our two green sponge chairs. The aim was to get the children to crawl underneath the "long grass". The children had so much more fun chucking it around the room tho! If they were enjoying a pile of shredded paper, wait  they saw what else lied in store!!

 

Long Wavy Grass!

 

Next we progressed onto the "deep cold river" which was a tuft spot layered with blue tissue paper, water and blue glitter.  I also added some laminated coloured in fish with little magnets on the back, and provided "fishing rods" which were bamboo sticks also with magnets attached to "hook" onto the fish. Most of the children were wearing wellies so they jumped straight in and had a splash about in the water! There was also a bubble machine running In the background around this area, and the children also really enjoyed going mega hyper and chasing the bubbles about! Next up, was the "thick, oozy mud!"

 

 

The Deep Cold River!

 

Bubble Fun!

 

The mud was simply cornflour and water mixed together with orangey brown paint. It was loaded onto a dinner lap tray and spoons and utensils provided for the children to experiment with. Total also highly recommended here as it gets quite messy!!

 

Thick Oozy Mud!

 

Now it was onto the "big dark forest". For this, we placed a semi awing tent up and over to create a darker spot underneath. I also placed a few christmas trees either side to give it a forest feel! 

Big Dark Forest!

 

Inside the "big dark forest" was a sensory table, which included a few simple sensory items - laminated coloured autumn leaves, pine cones of various sizes which all smelt gorgeous, felt leaves which were cut out, dried autumn leaves, sticks and a few soggy wet leaves too! It was fun comparing al the different textures!

Forest Sensory Table

 

Lastly, before the "Bear Cave" we were met with the "Swirly Whirly Snowstorm!" Which was a snow machine ladled with bubble mixture which gave us an awesome thick bubbly snow effect. This was the best bit as the children ran from one area to the other and couldn't understand why it was "snowing" in one particular area!

 

 

 Children having fun in the "swirly whirly snowstorm!

 

 

The "Snow!"

 

The children were then lead to the Bear Cave, where they tiptoes quiet as mice to finaly meet... THE BEAR!! Unfortunately, I cannot place photos of the Bear in his cave, for confidentiality reasons as too many childrens faces are visable. We persuaded one of the lovely (and very tall!) play workers to dress in a Teddy Bear Mascot costume, which he willingly said yes to (as much of a big kid as I am and the children!) He sat and waited in our "Bear Cave" waiting for the children. Our bear wasn't a scary bear tho! He was armed with cuddles and cookies for the children, to which they became very excited for - unsure if it was due to the cuddle from the bear, or the cookies.... Most likely the cookies....

 

Overall the whole experience and scenario was a lovely day, the children thoroughly enjoyed it, and was fantastic to bring a story to live and have the children physically "be-a-part-of-it". Fantastic day had by all. Big thanks to all my lovely helpers who made it possible, and of course, the children.

 

 

Invite from "First Treasures"

Eeep! Today, Aiden and I will be heading out to see a lovely lady called Laura, who runs a company called "First Treasures", who are based in Bicknacre, Essex.

First Treasures specialise in hand and foot castings, which capture every small detail if your child's hand or foot in 3D. They use non toxic materials to cast and sculpt a impression of the hand or foot, which is followed by several hours of craftsmanship and high quality attention to detail which result in these perfect, keepsakes that look absolutly beautiful! 

 

 

We've ben extremely lucky to be invited down to participate in a foot casting this afternoon, which I shall be snappy happy with my camera, and blog about the process in general on here too.

SO excited! Can't wait!!

Time for a brew or two...

I am, as some may say, a tea-a-holic. I love a cup of the ol' gypsy rose lee, which is surprisingly strange as pre-pregnancy i couldn't stand the stuff, it was one thing that made me contemplate my pregnancy as one morning (before i found out i was pregnant) i just fancied a cup of tea and a biccie. I remember my partner raising eyebrows at me and questioning my asking for a cuppa, thinking he misheard me he made me a cup of coffee and the smell totally put me off!! Even now that my son is 14 weeks old the smell of coffee is partially nauseating and i have a strong preference to tea.

Anyway! I recently applied to an advert for people who wanted a healthy kick start to their mornings, and willing to try a new brand of tea that had been launched by an well known company. In between emails "Miranda" mentioned that the tea in uestion was a form of green tea. I actually replied to her then and there that i wasnt interested as i HATED green tea, but she was pretty persistant and suggested i give it a go, it may change my outlook on Green Tea.

3 days after my inital contact with "Miranda" i were sent these 2 boxes in the post. I was quite glad to notice these wernt just green teas, they were fruit flavored green teas - perhaps these would change my mind and thoughts after all. By then i hadn't actually had my morning cup of tea by then, and i was "oooh arrrring" over weather or not i should have a mug of this green tea or stick to my usual one.... So i went for a cup of the "Tetley SUPER Boost Green Tea" in Berry Burst.

My palate hasnt really tried Fruit Teas, I love Iced Tea in the summer but its not really the same thing. The box contains 20 tea bags, so for me if i was to totally replace my tea drinking habits, would last 3 days. Currently on sale at Asda for £1 a box - bargain! The box states that the Boost Tea contains Vitamin B6 which helps reduce tiredness and fatigue.  

The packet had clear instructions as to how to make it, exactly like a usual cuppa, just minus the milk (I was SO close to adding milk tho! usual instinct kicked in!). I did add 1 tea spoon of sugar to it tho as i have a slight sweet tooth and dislike sweetner (whats the point of it?!). i let it brew for 2 minutes, and i still made it in my favourite Bodum Glass Mug so i watched the teabag infuse the water and change colour (sad i know!). It was finally ready to drink.... so i took a sip....

and....

It was surprisingly delicious. Now i dont know if its psychological or not, but after drinking the Berry Burst Boost Tea i felt surprisingly a little bit more perkier. The flavor in general wasn't too strong, I assume if i wanted it to taste stronger id leave the bag in for longer type thing, but it had a slight zing and twang compared to normal tea. I were instantly met with the taste of strawberries, closly followed by blackberries and whatever other berries were included in there - but those two were a definite pick up. Id decided to give the other flavor a go as well at mid morning as i felt if i tried the two teas in a similar time period the flavors would get muddled.

I then tried the Mango & Passion-fruit tea at lunchtime, id been on my feet all morning sorting out Aiden and tidying the house, i had actually skipped breakfast and not noticed (coincidence to the boost qualitys of the tea? who knows!) So after Aiden went down for his afternoon nap i made myself another brew.I love exotic flavors and fruits so mango and passion-fruit sounded perfect to me. As the tea was brewing, all i could smell was Mangos. I found this one tasted slightly better (my own preference). Your instantly hit with the taste of the fruity mango's, but then shortly followed by the crisp sharp tang of passion-fruit. I did find that this one left a strange aftertaste in my mouth - not really unpleasant as such but i did drink a glass of water after to help.

Im actually now on my 3rd box of each flavor, ive replaced my first morning cuppa with a cup of the Berry Blast flavored Boost Tea, closely followed by at lunch a mug of the Mango and Passion-fruit and lastly at night before bed a cup of one i havent review on here yer, Peach & Apricot. I now actually prefer fruity green teas, or fruit tea to usual tea! Especially with a small dab of honey replacing sugar. Yummmmm!

Tetley Green-Teas can be purchased through all major superstores, and some express stores.

To find out more visit

http://www.tetley.co.uk/

"Sunday" Morning Tatoes

Super yummy and quick, one tray/dish Sunday morning breakfast potatoes - that I cooked on a Monday. ...

Ingredients:
1/2 bag new potatoes
1 table spoon melted butter (measure first then melt)
12 rashers bacon or 8 extra thick rashers
1/4 block of cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

If your feeling really really lazy, you can swap the new potatoes for a bag of frozen potato cubes, usually available in supermarket near the frozen chip section. I prefer new potatoes myself as more flavour.

Method:

Preheat oven gas mark 200.

1. If using new potatoes, soak in warm water and scrub off the skins using a clean scourer sponge, if being lazy and using prepared potato cubes, cook as directed on the packet, but to start with, only cook HALF the suggested time.

2. Cut the new potatoes in half and part boil for about 10 minutes.

(*part boiled potatoes*)

3. Whilst the potatoes are boiling, remove and keep aside 2 rashers of bacon from you packet and dice the rest. Grate your cheese and sprinkle a bit in the bottom of an ovenproof dish. I like to use cheddar, it give sit more strong flavour.

(*Cheeeeeeeeeeeeese!*)

4. Chop up the remaining bacon from the packet and also add a small amount to the cheese in the bottom of the dish. Smoked bacon tastes best, lot more flavour.

(*Chopped bacon*)

5. Drain the part boiled potatoes and transfer to the dish, on top of part of the cheese and bacon. Spoon part of the butter over the potatoes, then add the remaining cheese and bacon, before giving a good mix, adding salt and pepper to taste. I use onion salt as it crisps the potatoes nicer and gives it a bit more flavour.

(*added cheese*)

(*sprinkled bacon*)

(*mix it all together. ..*)

6. Place the remaining 2 rashers of bacon on top of the potato mix, and place into the oven for15mins. You will notice the top rashers of bacon will turn crispy, but the fat and juices will drip onto the potato's underneath giving more flavour. After 15mins remove from oven and give a mix again, otherwise the cheese burns on the bottom, then cook for a further 15mins 

Remove from the oven and serve! I usually cook with sausages, extra bacon and beans. I also made some bubble and squeak disks from Sundays Mothers Day vegetable leftovers. Yummmmmmmmmmy!!

CheekyBots Nappies

So, I phoned the Mr last night on his way home from work to see if he could stop off and grab a can of formula and some nappies for Aiden from the supermarket.

I've a preference to Tescos own brand nappies - the "Loves Baby" range. They are super soft, thick and absorbant, so we usually just buy those in bulk.

However, last night he arrived home with these:

196 nappies - a months supply of a brand we've never used before, that usually retail at £30 a box (which work out cheaper than 196 Pampers nappies...)

 My first instinct was to grab him by the collar and shake him whilst screaming "AAAAAARGH!! You idiot!! You don't bulk buy an item if you've never used it or know nothing about it, it might be total and utter crap!" But he saw the not-so-happy-or-convinced look in my eyes and before I had a chance to say anything, he told me they were a "bargain" at £12 (were half price at £15 but we also had £3 worth of club card vouchers to use.) 

So it was £12 for 196 nappies. That's good. Thats pretty bloody good... Considering we usually spend £5 for 50 of the Loves Baby nappies, and Aiden goes through so many a day!

Still a bit hesitant I decided to take a look. The nappies were separated into 4 packs of 49 nappies. Why 49? Why not add a extra 1 and round up to 50? Give a total of 200 nappies? (My OCD kicking in there. I'm the same with volumes on TV etc, has to be a even number or rounded up)

Each nappy has this weird kinda creepy frog? crocodile? lizard? (Ive no idea, so i'm going with frog) - It has this frogs big ol eyes on the front, and a bug of some sort for the design. 

Each nappy is totally plain white, which is good for wearing under light clothing. It also has a different coloured band too, with 7 different colours and the creepy eyes combined with 7 different types of bug (My favourite is the pink strip with the itsy teeny weeny lasybird, but im a girl and I like girly things...). 

Although I have a son, I think these are quite boyish, I dont think they are very nice for a girl - practicality yeah, they are just a nappy, but surely you want you little petals petal covered in something a bit more prettier than bulbus frog eyes and bugs...? Sounding very gender stereotypical here admittedly. But I did have a  look incase they sold boxes of these seperate for boys and girls but they dont. So this design is neutral, aparantly... *Its boyish. AHEM*

 The actual nappies themselves feel really quite thin. Not what im used to at all, the ones we usually use are thicker and more padded, and if im honest, during the night, a total pain in the arse to get my son into, especially when he does his monkey frog legs to the chest type movements. I had a quick feel, as Baby Boy started to stir, and needed changing, and surprisingly they are very soft, soft and squidgy. I thought they looked a bit thin and cheap, but they did surprise me with how soft they were. Upon having a quick look i noticed they have the double frill layer around the leg band, so brilliant for holding in any nasty poo explosions (and it actually worked, it did hold in a nasty poo explosion!)

My boy (whos 9 weeks) wore one of these over night after his bottle before bed and for the first time EVER last he slept from 8.30pm-4am not waking for a bottle or due to the fact his nappy was full. When I did change him at 4am and do the early feed, his nappy was wet , but i reckon if he hadn't woken when he did and wanted another feed, and had slept through till say 7am, the nappy would probably have been ok and not leaked.

Ill continue to use these nappies until they are all gone, all 196 of them (providing he doesnt suffer from a reaction to them, ive read online about nappies causing rashes etc, so hence my hesitation to use a different type to what im used to.) but so far so good. Any changes, and ill post on here....

Mother & Baby Magazine Reviews

Eeek!! Eeeek!! EEEEEEEEEK!!!

In case y'all hadn't noticed, in like pretty much new to all this reviewing and blogging stuff. It seems a majority prefer to Vlog, but if I'm honest, that's my idea of hell - mumbling pointless crap whilst looking akward on camera....

Anyway! I applied to review some car seats after I saw an advert on Facebook asking for testers to try out 0+ carseats, and send over what we look for when purchasing a carseat. Originally I had no Idea. A car seat is a car seat, right? We brought one before our son was born and it adapted to our travel system frame, and thought that was all we really needed, as well as obviously fitting into the car and being safe. However, after testing the 6 new seats, what we actually need in a  car seat is vastly different to what I thought we needed...

For starters, a car seat needs to be practical. I prefer the infant carrier style car seats, especially those that work on a travel system frame – its quick and convenient for local trips to town and popping to the shops without having to unbuckle and transfer a snug sleeping baby, which results in an awake, alert and usually crying from being rudely awoken from his sleep.

We are a two car family, and so do swap the car seat that we currently have from one vehicle to the other, as well as the isofix base which when the seat is placed on becomes and extra piece of security. Therefore the seat, for me, needs to be lightweight and easy to install and remove from the car without feeling like your breaking your back. Also preferable to fit onto a general isofix base.

It also needs to be comfortable for my son to, as s we often travel on long journeys to visit family in Wales. I get leg cramp and back ache myself, so I cant imagine how uncomfortable it must be for a baby to be squished in a car seat for the best part of 6+ hours (although we do stop at service stations to stretch our legs).

I've been asked to specifically test 6 of the best up and coming car seats, suitable from birth - 1.5 years, including the UK's first fully reclineable carseat that works whilst on a journey - which really appeals to me, as having a 8 week old baby who adores his moses basket and sleeping in it. Combined with family based in Wales - for those long distance trips it would and could be perfect.

So far it's been narrowed down to the following 6:

* The Cosatto Hold

* Cybex Cloud Q Aton

* Jane Matrix Light 2

* Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus

* The Concord

* The Casualplay SONO

All have been tried and tested by myself and my son in our MPV and also in our small KA. Due to publishing rights of the magazine, i cant post my own reviews until they have been published in the magazine, so watch this space for my Good, Bad & The Ugly reviews of the above, of which snippets will be included in June's edition of Mother & Baby Magazine. 

Naming Your Child

Did anyone else REALLY struggle choosing names when the time came to it? Or have lots of names, but none for the sex of your child?!

In my head I had several names that I adored, and had always liked - but then I also had names I hated, just through association of others. I guess its harder when you work with children too, as you hear a name and instantly associate it to a child, usually for the worst reasons.

I found girl names SO much easier, but I don't know if that was psychological as I knew I was having a boy, therefore girl names just seemed nicer. I couldn't exactly have a son and call him "Sarah". That would just be odd, although unique, it would be odd.

The topic of naming our future child became a bit of an argument between myself and my partner. Traditionally on his side of the family, the eldest son or first born son's middle name is "John". Where as on my side of the family it was "Robert". I really wanted to include the name Robert in somewhere, as my dad didn't have any sons, only daughters, and so the tradition of carrying on the name pretty much died there.

I adored the name Bobby, and considered calling my son it. This was in homage to my late granddad who I was extremely close to, and adored. My partner wasn't too keen on the name. He liked the sentimental value, but the name was a iffy one, it wasn't a name he said "NO!" to, but it wasn't one he jumped at either. He did also point out that his initials would be "BJ" and coming from a girl who went to school with a "BJ" I could sympathise with the future taunting. I wanted to call him Robert instead of Bobby tho, as its more traditional and "proper". It would look better on a Qualification certificate when he gradated University as a Doctor (high expectations here!!), but we wernt too keen on the name Robert John, as we both had uncles who had this name, and it was as if we were naming him after them... Robert and Bobby were out of the equasion as a first name, and we were not very fond of double barrelled middle names - our son having 3 names in total...

I also liked the name Thomas. This was actually influenced by my time working at a nursery. There was an adorable child named Thomas who I had a real soft spot for. I just associated the name with the cute little lamb I used to look after. My partner disliked Thomas. He said something about it was his dads nickname at school - how this is/was possible ill never know as his dad's name is Stephen.... Anyway, I thought he was just being difficult, and so Thomas then ceased to exist.

I also liked the name "Jack" which too was a name we both liked, and also was in relation to my cousin who sadly passed away a few years ago. One problem tho. We had a dog called Jack. Not our choice of naming - hes a working dog and the name was given to him before we were given him. I couldn't exactly shout "JACK GET OFF THE SOFA OR ILL GIVE YOU A KICK UP THE BUM!!" The neighbours would think I was a horrid mum! And so Jack was swiftly knocked off the menu.

By now my 3 main names were all pretty much void, and every name my partner came up with I just wanted to beat him up over, or rip his head off with. He started suggestion names (no offence here) which I HATED - Leo, Leon and Levi being the 3 main ones.

I liked traditional strong names and so threw a few of those into the mix - Harry, William, George (George being scribbled off due to William & Kates son being named George earlier that year). I liked Teddy, but it was now too common. Where as Adam liked modern and different names - Zac, Chase, Henley, Hunter... All again which I just shook my head no to.

Why was this so difficult?! I scoured name books, googled baby boy names, downloaded apps on my phone (I must have spent a fortune!) and found nothing.

One evening, Adam arrived home from work, a few weeks away from my due date and as per usual over dinner I nagged him again for names. We weren't going to call our child a name yet, I wanted to see and meet him to decide what he would be called, but I at least wanted a few names in the lineup. That's when he dropped the "A" bombshell. Aiden. Aiden?. Aiden.

It was the only name he suggested that I didn't instantly poo-poo and say no to. I ran it through my head a few times, before through a mouthful of pizza, tell him it was a possible name.

Over the next few weeks that name stuck in my head, along with Bobby and Thomas. Although we had said no to them, they crept back in and stayed in the line up, along with the name Aiden. Once evening I were laying on the sofa watching TV when he began to kick. I placed my Doppler on and had a listen to him having a whoosh about before falling quiet again, I used to talk to him quite a bit, and told him of a few names we were considering, and repeated them over and over.... Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. Nothing. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby. Nothing. Aiden. Aiden. Aiden. Aiden. He let out a mighty kick. I tried it again, Thomas. Nothing. Bobby. Nothing. Aiden. Kick. Each time I said Aiden, I received a little kick. Had he personally chosen his name?!

I told my partner that night, and he just laughed. There was no way our unborn child had chosen his name already. We had several names lined up - Thomas, Bobby and Aiden. It was a waiting game to see which one would suit him best once he arrived.

I cant see how people pick names for their children before they are born, I think you need to see and get to know your little person before you decide on a name which will be set in stone for their future. Now that our son is born, and we have called him Aiden, when I look at him, I cant vision him being called anything else. He doesn't have a look of "Thomas" or "Robert/Bobby" to him. He really is an Aiden.