tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690618679808781072024-03-19T04:53:01.201-07:00Yankee in EnglandYankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-16882147529586291992015-04-28T12:46:00.001-07:002015-04-28T12:46:29.819-07:00Around Here1. I am in some serious denial that my baby turns two in just over a week. Like I refuse to acknowledge it because then it won't happen right?<div><br></div><div>2. Joss informed me that if you need money you just go to the shops and buy something and then you get money back. I wish kid! But seriously seeing her try to make sense of the world and complex ideas like time and money is AMAZING. Please remind me of that the next time she has already asked what time it is or how long till x time 10 billion times before 8 am.</div><div><br></div><div>3. I have started to make myself go to bed at a decent time like between 9-9:30 every night in the hopes that I don't want to kill all of humanity when I wake up. We are only about a week and a half in but it's going well. I wake around 5:45 feeling amazing and filled with a love of life and for my fellow inhabitants of Earth. However I would rather that it was say 6:15 but I guess beggars can't be choosers and all that.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Oddly enough both of my children have decided to start sleeping through the night and till a decent time of the morning (and by decent time I mean any moment past 6am). The irony is not lost on me that I have finally found love for my fellow mankind at 5:45am and my children have finally learned to sleep past 6am. I have come to the conclusion 2 years old is when my children decide they have caused their mother as much sleep deprivation as is humanly possible and give up.</div><div><br></div><div>5. After a life changing trip to Paris colliding with the extra sleep and the now almost 2 year old and the glimpses of freedom that gives I have set myself the goal of doing my hair and makeup every morning before I leave the house. By make up I mean Moisturiser, Primer, Foundation, Powder, Brows, and Mascara. It's been a long time coming but it all clicked recently that Joss is going to demand my attention no matter what, there is never a moment where she says "oh hey look you just spent x amount of time really focused on me and my needs so guess what I feel whole and going to self entertain while you spend 15 minutes looking after your needs". So the best I can do right now is set boundaries and say "right now mummy is doing her hair and make up so you are going to need to wait". It kills me on SO many levels and plays right into my insecurities that I am doing enough for her or am selfish but at the same time I know that setting clear boundaries that sometimes parents need to do things for themselves is good. It's also making me really look at how many of her demands are genuinely needs and how many are just demand for my attention. On a side note 99% of the time Jasper only needs to know I am near so it does not seem to impact him. I don't know if it's because he is a boy, second child, just different, or it's an age thing. I have to say walking out the door for the school run put together feels really good.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Plans are swirling in my mind for a small potted herb garden and a couple of tomatillo plants. You can't get Salsa Verde in England, not even crap stuff and witnessing a fellow American expat's success last year I am jumping on the bandwagon.</div><div><br></div><div>So what's going on around yours?</div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-16284582597630467532014-08-09T09:39:00.000-07:002014-08-09T09:39:54.328-07:00Currently I'm. . . <b>Reading. . .</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Starts-Food-Discover-Whole30-Unexpected-ebook/dp/B008C20TDG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407592093&sr=8-1&keywords=whole+30">It Starts With Food</a><br />
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<b>Playing. . . </b> A whole lot of "Frozen" with Joss where one person is Elsa and one person is Anna and we recreate the "Do you want to build a snowman" song. I also like to unwind now and again with some Bejeweled Blitz on my phone.<br />
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<b>Watching. . . </b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3155320/"> Extant</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1553656/">Under The Dome</a> on Amazon Prime. I am finished with the first season of Under the Dome it is ok but not earth shattering. Extant is released one episode a week and I find it good but also a bit slow I would have thought by the fifth episode we would be further along but I feel there is a TON of character development and it just seems to weigh to whole thing down. Both are good for a bit of relaxing before bed.<br />
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<b>Trying. . . </b>Not to loose all my marbles over the summer holidays!<br />
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<b>Cooking. . . </b> a big miss I have fallen out of love with my cooking and baking and kitchen creating. I think part of it is having a picky 4 year old who will 99.9% of the time turn her noise up at what I cook turning me into what feels like a short order cook making 2-3 different meals for dinner to accommodate her and part of it is I have lost touch with food hence my reading selection above.<br />
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<b>Eating. . .</b> Crap Crap and more Crap hence the reading selection above.<br />
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<b>Drinking. . . </b>Pepsi Max oh my one true love! I have also found recently a can of Gin and Tonic with Pink Grapefruit Juice at one of the supermarkets and I am in LOVE with it when it comes to a grown up drink.<br />
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<b>Calling. . . </b>Daddy (Philip) every day around 3pm for Joss to say hi and again before bedtime for Joss to grill him on what he has eaten over the day and put in her order for breakfast. She also tells him all the "bad" things she has done that day (her idea not mine she just starts telling him about every tantrum she has thrown and why?!?!)<br />
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<b>Skype Messaging. . . </b>My 8 year old niece makes me feel old guess that "how they roll" these days<br />
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<b>Pinning. . . </b>Whole lotta Christmas craft ideas<br />
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<b>Crafting. . . </b>Mostly knitting but have also gotten into loom bands with my nieces and found <a href="http://artzycreations.com/make-rainbow-loom-bracelets-using-two-pencils/">this tutorial</a> on how to do it with two pencils which makes it easy enough for Joss to do it.<br />
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<b>Doing. . . </b>2 gym work outs a week with the kids in the creche. I tend to do a class as I like that I can't wimp out as easy if I was working out on my own.<br />
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<b>Going. . . </b>To the park ALL THE TIME pretty much 3-5 times a week we have found that 8am is a brilliant time for the park because no one else it there and Jasper can run around with out getting into trouble with bigger kids and I can spend some time focusing on Joss and helping her with stuff like learning to swing on her own.<br />
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<b>Loving. . . </b>Knitting it is my sanity and I love the knitting groups I go to on a Wednesday and Saturday. There is something powerful about women of all ages and back grounds coming together over craft. There is always a good amount of knatter and laughing.<br />
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<b>Hating. . .</b> The lack of routine over summer, I have tried to build as much routine in as possible with certain activities on certain days but there is still LOTS of time to fill and our day is broken up by Jasper's nap.<br />
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<b>Thinking. . .</b>about new school routines and how best to set up our time<br />
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<b>Feeling. . . </b>Nervous and Frustrated. On the cusp of so many things but just have to give it all time. Time that I know will fly by but the moments seem so long.<br />
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<b>Hoping. . . </b>For a smooth transition into school for Joss and all the new routines and changes it will bring.<br />
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<b>Listening to. . .</b> Frozen it is pretty much all we listen to in the car if Joss is with us and she pretty much always is, I also find myself getting to work realizing I have missed the opportunity for grown up radio as I have just let Frozen play the whole time. I have also really enjoyed listening to podcasts before bed as I wind down some of my favourites right now are<a href="https://answermethis.wordpress.com/category/podcasts/"> Answer Me This</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/no-such-thing-as-a-fish/id840986946?mt=2">No Such Thing as a Fish</a>, and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/timc">The Infinite Monkey Cage</a><br />
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<b>Celebrating. . . </b>Oh so many birthdays. That's what happens when you take a birth class with your first and stay close with all the parents 7 birthdays including Joss's from 28th of June to the 2nd of August!<br />
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<b>Considering. . . </b>a job change<br />
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<b>Finishing. . . </b>Knitting projects I have a jumper for Jasper I have been knitting for a while but have put down and picked up a number of times between different projects and need to finish it so he can enjoy it for the autumn.<br />
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<b>Starting. . . </b>Christmas craft projects<br />
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<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-53695009016251794802014-04-28T13:06:00.003-07:002014-04-28T13:06:37.370-07:00Spring Day in the Life 2014Joining up with <a href="http://navigatingthemothership.blogspot.co.uk/">Navigating the Mothership</a> and her quarterly Day in the Life post, this quarter it is being hosted by Mama Tully over at <a href="http://www.adventuresintullyland.com/">Adventures in Tullyland.</a><br />
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Tuesday 15th April 2104<br />
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Joss 3 years 9 months<br />
Jasper 11 months<br />
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Sometime after 3am and before 5am Jasper wakes and Philip deals with him<br />
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5.49am Philip gets up and heads to the shower<br />
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6.03 I chill out in my bed and check social media on my phone, amazed that both my children are still asleep<br />
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6.15 head downstairs grab a drink and chat with Philip with out kids, a rarity<br />
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6.30 Head up stairs to get dressed, hear Joss and extract her before she wakes Jasper (they share a room now)<br />
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Philip asks her if she slept well, she says she didn't Jasper kept her awake all night (he didn't), he gets her started on breakfast and then finishes getting ready for work.<br />
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6.45 Joss "waves dadda to the door" as she calls it. We now have to wait for him to get to the end of our road and turn the corner before we close the door and this particular morning it it a bit frosty and I wish I could just close the door. I get her back at the table eating breakfast.<br />
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I start my breakfast of eggs, beans, and toast<br />
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I try to flip my eggs for over easy but some one has been using metal utensils on the non stick pans and I have a small melt down and decide the best option is to flip them out sunnyside up (or down as it may be in the photo)<br />
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I hear Jasper on the monitor so I throw some toast in the toaster for him and run upstairs and am greeted by this<br />
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How can you not love that?<br />
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7.04 we are all downstairs and at the table for breakfast<br />
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7.10 Joss decides she is done with breakfast I tell her to go upstairs and get dressed, she walks out of the room and straight back in and says "but mama I don't know where my clothes are" I tell her they are in the same place they have been for the last year since we moved in and she proceeds to go upstairs while Jasper and I finish our breakfast. <br />
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This is what happens when you let a three year old get dressed on her own she comes down with her pants on backwards and inside out. A 10 minute negotiation that make Middle East peace talks look like a walk in the park happens and finally she agrees to let me help her put her pants on the correct way. <br />
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Jasper in happy snacking away in his high chair so I do a quick blitz of the kitchen wash my face and straighten my hair.<br />
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7.35 get Jasper out of the high chair and we head upstairs to do teeth brushing, face washing, and get Jasper dressed. Grab a load of laundry and throw that in the machine. Have the daily hair fight with Joss but finally get it done. <br />
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8.15 we are in the car to do a quick shop before Jasper's morning nap, usually I wouldn't bother trying to push this in the morning but we have a crazy afternoon and are running out of some basics. <br />
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First of the British strawberries have hit the shops which means we HAVE to buy them. Joss would eat a punnet a day if I allowed her and she is so excited that we are buying strawberries that she burst out into a monologue in the grocery story that goes something like this. " I LOVE strawberries, my daddy LOVES strawberries, you LOVE strawberries, Grandmas LOVES strawberries, daddy eats strawberries to grow big and strong if I eat strawberries I will grow big and strong like my daddy"<br />
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Joss has brought a book in with her to the shops and is standing in the cart "reading" it like it is the latest Dan Brown bestseller. Jasper is just not amused by the whole pushing a shopping trip before nap time. <br />
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Having an OMG moment as I buy our first batch of Whole Milk to start weaning Jasper on to cows milk. Insert some Fiddler on the Roof here<br />
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Hit up the crisp aisle to pick some Quavers for a picnic the next day and Joss see some Hula Hoops (a type of crisp not the toy) and shouts at the top of her lungs. MAMA WOO HOOS I LOVE WOO HOOS CAN I PLEASE WOO HOOS THEY ARE MY FAVOURITE. I buy her the Hula Hoops just to get her to stop shouting WOO HOO in the middle of a store filled with mainly over 65s. On a side note they are also baked and low in salt so not like I am getting the kid a king size pack of Doritos or anything.<br />
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9.00 We are home and I put Jasper down for his nap, put the groceries away, make a quick call for work, txt a mum we are meeting later for a play date, get Joss a snack, hang out laundry and put another load in (I keep thing one day I will do a DITL when I am not doing laundry then I laugh at myself and realise only if I am still doing DITL when I am living in a retirement home), and pack the changing bag for our lunch play date.<br />
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9.45 Resist the urge to let Joss watch TV so I can veg while Jasper naps and decide to pretend I am a good mum and grab her speech work and our pack of UNO cards. Joss does really good at her speech work but is not in a good mood to play UNO so after one game I give up. She plays with some toys while I dig through the toy box for Duplo blocks that have been put in there instead of the Duplo box and have a general clear out of all the toys that should be with their sets instead of in the toy box. <br />
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Joss is obsessed with birthdays and birthday cakes so she makes me a birthday cake out of stacking cups and has to sing me happy birthday while I blow out the candles a few times.<br />
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10.15 Joss is bored of playing with her toys so I go a head and let her watch some TV so I can have a few minutes peace and veg out. I tell myself its okay because she will be playing all afternoon with her friends.<br />
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11.00 Hang another load of laundry on the line and pack the last few bits for us to take to the lunch play date and txt the mum we are going to be late as Jasper is still sleeping.<br />
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Wake Jasper do the whole change and feed him thing.<br />
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11.50 out the door for our lunch/play date.<br />
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12.15-1.30 lunch date at Oasis with Susie and Jobe, I stupidly don't order anything for Jasper and not only does he eat all the snacks I brought for him but half my baked potato, really have to realise I need to start ordering him food as well.<br />
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1.30-3.15 back to Susie's for some fun in the back yard, on the walk back to Susie's Joss is "reading" her book again and we have to have a discussion about the fact that she can read it when walking but when we come to a road she has to look up and hold my hand while crossing the road. All three kids play really hard and have a fun time with the cars, side walk chalk and bubbles. Jasper is absolutely filthy from crawling around, but they are all really happy.<br />
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3.30 Home from Susie's and I put Jasper down for a nap. Joss has a snack while I wash and get bottles in the sanitiser and boil the kettle to cool.<br />
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3.45 Joss and I play some Uno again but she isn't in the mood and after one game is finished.<br />
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4-5pm Joss runs between the house and garden as I chill out and do some bit and bobs around the house. I wake Jasper from his nap and he is a bit cranky and wants lots of cuddles. Joss is very concerned that he is not happy so grabs him a toy and gives it to him. This makes him smile and she spends the rest of the night telling me what a big help she is and that she made Jasper happy by getting him a toy.<br />
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5.30 we sit down to dinner both kids are pretty worn out and not really in the mood for dinner so we head straight for bath. I am amazed at how much easier bath with the both of them is getting especially now that Jasper is able to sit on his own in the bath with out support. Jasper screams like I am ripping him limb for limb when I get him out of the bath and get him in his pjs. He is rubbing his eyes like crazy so I figure that even though he had a late nap I am going to give him a bottle and get him settled. Joss gets her pjs on while I am feed Jasper and heads downstairs as I get him settled in bed.<br />
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6.15 Jasper is out like a light bulb and I let Joss watch some programs on my iPad while I clean up the kitchen, bring the laundry in and do a massive laundry fold and organised so I can put it all away the next morning<br />
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7.00 Joss and I have a cuddle on the couch before I take her up to bed, Jasper wakes while I am in the room but do the whole make no eye contact trick and he settles again with out a problem I can hear both of them chatting for a few minutes but both are out by 7.15pm.<br />
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I decide to have a Homeland marathon and finish watching season two only to realise that season three is not available yet.<br />
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I have a quick bath and shut down the house for the night and realize it is going on 10.30 so head to bed for the night. <br />
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Sometime after 11pm Philip gets home from work I hear him come in and my brain completely switches off and I am out.<br />
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<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-18094629142156069482014-02-20T14:07:00.001-08:002014-02-20T14:13:54.167-08:00Half TermIt's Half Term aka school holidays this has been both fun and difficult. Monday was a pretty normal day as I work in the morning then we had our teenage babysitter over to spend the afternoon with Joss which was good since Jasper looked like this every time I tried to put him down<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEManFva67Q-f2X02e5GfVyj7who474zTuC_qtYgANDU9aKAv5pn8NcMaQmlxHBYBO3CTXyRo5cPYZnSZMTJ4yT8V94py5DIUrwKn5kIWv4B2_9lMd3aGc4etrVm0qpN-Cv_VrNTFHZGM/s640/blogger-image-1408182574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEManFva67Q-f2X02e5GfVyj7who474zTuC_qtYgANDU9aKAv5pn8NcMaQmlxHBYBO3CTXyRo5cPYZnSZMTJ4yT8V94py5DIUrwKn5kIWv4B2_9lMd3aGc4etrVm0qpN-Cv_VrNTFHZGM/s640/blogger-image-1408182574.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Teething and a cold are turning my normally chilled boy into a hot mess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tuesday I put my big girl knickers on and negotiated the train to London with two kids on my own as well as the Tube. It was a bit hairy on part of the Tube journey but all I can say is a huge thank you to all of the random strangers who helped me navigate stairs with the push chair and held doors and were just generally kind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We met up with a close friend who is a nanny and another of her nanny friends to do the Natural History Museum. There were 3 adults and 6 children so still a 2:1 ratio but it is so nice to have some one keep one kid while you take the other to the toilet or feed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joss went on and on about seeing dinosaurs all the way to the museum and then was kind of like oh no big deal when we did see them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-CU3OvKEX3-zat5eDej04ToFfJrhhbUcx_eV-vKsnWdEyDuYP6QtMYlYucrzIHhewBDmBAbtwY36IUWR4v1RzzXdrd2llIUNUvqei5YTFh04YBo7xsu8xXPFqYLjRTkWEkPhyphenhyphenYmvUP-_/s640/blogger-image--682586330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-CU3OvKEX3-zat5eDej04ToFfJrhhbUcx_eV-vKsnWdEyDuYP6QtMYlYucrzIHhewBDmBAbtwY36IUWR4v1RzzXdrd2llIUNUvqei5YTFh04YBo7xsu8xXPFqYLjRTkWEkPhyphenhyphenYmvUP-_/s640/blogger-image--682586330.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She loved all the stuffed animals though</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg780Am0BEMI2j2EEsnGgifRwodFWAqtJrRXL2brMyuRzq5qR-0szzt4feQrmSluAWoc2HJ7iag4gRRhY1SAif28F13xQVfJ2o0WgiHvI6QQiJHEM_vKnWy4-n065o2g9YF5T3e2tfyQdCV/s640/blogger-image-1571455924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg780Am0BEMI2j2EEsnGgifRwodFWAqtJrRXL2brMyuRzq5qR-0szzt4feQrmSluAWoc2HJ7iag4gRRhY1SAif28F13xQVfJ2o0WgiHvI6QQiJHEM_vKnWy4-n065o2g9YF5T3e2tfyQdCV/s640/blogger-image-1571455924.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Philip works not far from the museum so we met him for coffee afterwards then he walked us to a bus that went straight to our train station. So much easier than changing Tube lines with grotty children getting close to rush hour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The train journey home was not pleasant but could have been so much worse and the part I was dreading having to walk the long way around the station and under the train tracks as I couldn't use the stairs with the push chair was actually fine. I was worried Joss would be shattered and would whinge the whole way (it's a good ten minute walk up hill ) but she must have had a second wind as she skipped along recounting the day as we walked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wednesday in the morning we met up with some friends from our birth class so the little girl is just two weeks younger than Joss and they have a second 3 months younger than Jasper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The afternoon was unpleasant as Jasper had not napped properly and decided he was going to be grumpy but not take an afternoon nap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By the time I picked Philip up from the train station I was only too happy to hand the kids over and head to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today has been crazy busy but I put the effort in this morning to set us up well for the day. I hit the ground running and started split pea soup in the slow cooker, packed up lots of snacks for the day and made my lunch in advance. I also made sure everything was in place so Jasper could have a good morning nap which he did though I was sad to have to wake him to head to gymnastics even though he had done two hours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We headed out to gymnastics which is now proving quite difficult as the parent viewing area is so small and cramped with people not to mention a few weeks ago they installed flip up seats like at a movie which equals lots of danger for little man.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This afternoon Joss had her first speech session. It was interesting there was lots of testing boundaries from Joss but the speech therapist seems good and I think it will work well. She sent us home with some "homework" which I am nervous about but I think it will be okay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the way home we dropped Joss off for an evening with Auntie Pauline and Uncle Richard which included Play Doh, art, making cupcakes, playing with Auntie Pauline's new Buzz Lightyear, stories with Uncle Richard as well as dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It amazes me when it is just Jasper and I what a content little fellow he is. He is quite happy to play on his own and explore at his own pace. Joss always even at that age wanted interaction from others so it lovely to see Jasper's different personality shine through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tomorrow we have bowling with friends planned then a quiet afternoon and then back to "normal" on Monday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's funny how I dread the lack of routine over the school holidays as there are more through out the year here (shorter summer holidays) but each time it goes smoother than expected and it is always fun to fit in big activities we don't normally have time for.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-58449871845257699762014-02-01T13:00:00.001-08:002014-02-01T13:00:25.832-08:00Right Now1. I finally got my hair cut after 8 months of never having the time. It feels so good to have my short hair again.<div><br></div><div>2. Joss is obsessed with when it will be her "Happy Birthday Day" she runs through a long list of family birthdays before hers on a regular basis many times a day</div><div><br></div><div>3. My parents are coming over in March and I am way beyond excited. Probably just as excited as Joss is for her "Happy Birthday Day"</div><div><br></div><div>4. Joss has started to refer to Jasper as Jaspy sot sure where this has come from as even though she has some speech problems she has always said Jasper pretty clear. It makes me think of the fact that Joss had so many nick names but really we only refer to Jasper as Little Man and Trouble. I have come to the conclusion there are worse things than Jaspy.</div><div><br></div><div>5. I have come to the stage where Jasper is not so reliant on me which makes me yurn for some me time but am finding implementing it hard. I really want to get back to being more active at the gym but as I only really enjoy classes finding the time when they are running is proving difficult.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Jasper is cutting more teeth. We have two more on the bottom and two on the top are close. Teething is evil right up there with potty training.</div><div><br></div><div>7. I still have 7lbs to loose from Jasper and it driving me mad that I can't seem to get in the mind set to loose it. I really want to enjoy my summer clothes this year and know I need to loose it to feel comfortable.</div><div><br></div><div>8. I felt we did really well focusing on the moment over the summer and into the Autumn and then when I went back to work it fell apart. I did lots of fun things with the kids and we did lots of outings. I know part of it is that the weather has been so crap for the last 6 weeks and part of it was moving into an area that just does not have much to offer but I need to push myself harder.</div><div><br></div><div>9. I really want to shake up my make up routine but in the past I have always relied on really knowledgable friends to help me and at the moment I am struggling. Think I am just going to have to do some trial and error.</div><div><br></div><div>10. I am really struggling to find a way of documenting our life that works for me. In the past I have been an avid scrapbooker but this is not something I can commit my time and energy to at the moment. I did make a 2013 photo book using Photobox but really want to find a happy medium that allows me to do more altering and journaling to document more. I got Photoshop for our anniversary in Sept and I think I need to find some tutorials and maybe look at digital scrapbooking. </div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-8956579101108860192014-01-26T14:32:00.000-08:002014-01-26T14:32:27.908-08:00Winter Day in the Life 2014It is time again to join Laura over at <a href="http://navigatingthemothership.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/day-in-life-winter-2014.html">Navigating the Mothership</a> for a quarterly DITL post. You can find Summer 2013 <a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/day-in-life-summer-2013.html">HERE</a> and Autumn 2013<a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/day-in-life-autumn-2013.html"> HERE</a><br />
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January 24th 2014<br />
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Joss is 3 years 6 months<br />
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Jasper is 8 1/2 months<br />
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Sometime shortly after 12am Philip comes up to find me asleep with my earphones in attached to my iPad. He unplugs the earphone bit and moves the iPad over to the bedside table. <br />
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2.30ish Jasper is fussing I wake with earphones in my ears and pull them out. Jasper has been unsettled all night and figure he will need feeding to resettle so move him in the bed with Philip and realize no one brought a bottle up so head downstairs to grab a bottle. By the time I get back up they are both asleep taking up the majority of the bed so I throw my pillows to the bottom of the bed and decide to top and tail it.<br />
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Sometime after 3am Jasper is awake and this time he wants food. I sit up and manage to nudge Philip over enough to sit and feed Jasper. We both fall asleep in the process and I only wake when the empty bottle falls on my leg. I nudge Philip over some more and lay Jasper in the bed with us.<br />
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3.58 Jasper is awake again not sure how I get him back to sleep as I am so tired but apparently I do.<br />
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6.50 Philip gets up and heads for the shower<br />
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7.04 Jasper is up and in crawl all over mama mode so I put him in his cot with a bunch of toys and txt yes you read that right txt Philip to come and grab Jasper when he finishes with his shower as he is on a late and has said he will let me sleep in this morning. At some point he collects Jasper.<br />
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7.30ish I hear Joss calling to Philip from the top of the stairs but he grabs her quick before she comes in to me.<br />
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Just before 8 Joss gets impatient with Philip who is feeding Jasper and comes upstairs to get dressed on her own.<br />
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8am decide I am really awake and should get up but want to avoid the circus downstairs for as long as possible so sit in bed for 10 min sulking about a project at work that fell through yesterday after 3 long hard weeks of planning by me.<br />
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8.10 Stumble down stairs do the rounds of good mornings Philip is working on cleaning the kitchen, Jasper is working on killing himself (this is not a dig at Philip, Jasper actively tries to put his life in danger most of ever single day. I don't really believe in playpens but this one is so mobile at 8 months hello crawling and climbing up on furniture and pushing stuff over to help him climb on stuff that is too high. I don't make babies who sit and play with toys apparently) and Joss is watching some programs as she is completely ready for school. I mention to Philip they screwed up my January pay as there was a problem with one of my time cards that was fixed but not until the cut off date so I may need to transfer money from his account this month. I grab a bowl of shredded wheat then take Jasper upstairs to help me get dressed and sort some laundry. I start a load of laundry and try to get Jasper to finish his bottle. Philip talks to me about a job he is interested in and we discuss what it would mean for our long term goal of moving back to the US.<br />
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8.45 Philip get Joss finished and ready for Preschool I hear a melt down about shoes and jumpers he wins on shoes I tell him to wave the white flag on the jumper as she has long sleeves on and it is not that cold. She gets her own coat on.<br />
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9.00 Philip is out the door with Joss and will be back for a ride to the train station. I make some phone calls in regard to the project that fell through at work and call to check the amount of a final payment we are making this month.<br />
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9.20 Philip is back and I drive him to the train station I jibe him about enjoying his last day in his thirties as tomorrow is his birthday and this gets us reminiscing about the fact we met 13 years ago.<br />
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9.30 drop Philip off at train station and head to the grocery store to buy the last bits I need for his birthday cake.<br />
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10.15 Home again I leave the groceries in the car as Jasper is desperate for a nap so do the whole nap routine and he settles on his own in his cot. I bring the groceries in and leave them on the counter while I weigh out and start the frosting for Philips cake on the stove as it will need to chill before I can finish it. Once that is going on the stove I put the groceries away. Decide I want to make egg salad sandwiches of lunch and have to go look up the timings for hard boiled eggs as it has been so long since I have made them and get those going. Frosting has all melted and I set that to the side to cool and eggs are finished. While that has been going on I have been checking some bits for work as I need to make some calls but can't remember who I need to call.<br />
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11.00 make some calls for work and catch up on some work e-mails. Weigh out the ingredients for the cake as the butter needs to soften. Make up the egg salad sandwiches but with Greek Yogurt instead of mayo and add some fresh dill. Super Yummy! Have a look at Facebook while I am eating lunch then I change over the laundry.<br />
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12.15 start making the cake wondering if I will make it through with out Jasper waking as it has been almost two hours which is super long for him.<br />
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12.40 cake is in the oven just as I close the door to the oven I hear Jasper stiring on the monitor<br />
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1.15 Jasper is fed and changed and cakes are out of the oven. I answer and urgent email then shut down work stuff probably till kids are in bed. I chill out with Jasper for a few minutes until the cakes are cool enough to take out of the tins.<br />
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1.40 Cakes are out of their tins, swapped another load of laundry and put away a load of dry laundry. Decide while Jasper is happy playing with some of his toys I will catch up on Instagram and blogs but as soon ans I sit down I realize that I haven't given Jasper any lunch as he was sleeping while I ate. I put him in his high chair with some veggie sticks and some fruit wedges and let him enjoy while I chat online with another woman who has the same role as me but in a different area. Good to know that she is facing the same issues as I am.<br />
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2.15 decide the weather is so nice that I will walk the school run so quickly get us organized and suited up.<br />
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2.30 leave house to pick up Joss<br />
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2.40 arrive at preschool and chat with mums while collecting all of Joss's bits<br />
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2.45 Joss is out of Preschool and is none to happy that I walked instead of drove as it has been a while since we have walked home from preschool (it has been raining since before Christmas, it rains in England instead of snow). The first 5 minutes of the walk home is solid whinging and then she is excited because she realizes she can carry Buzz Lightyear on her shoulders like daddy carries her. The walk home is an endless stream of chatter about everything from tomorrow being a Daddy's Happy Birthday day to how many more sleeps till gymnastics.<br />
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3.10 Home again I set Joss up with a snack and settle Jasper for a nap. I fold some laundry upstairs while I wait to make sure Jasper will settle on his own.<br />
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3.30 Decide to let Joss watch TV for a bit while I decide what to do for dinner, Jasper isn't settling so I go up to resettle him and realize he has had a blow out. I change him and lay him back down in hopes he will nap. I empty and reload the dishwasher. I get Joss set up to colour Philip's birthday card which she does for all of about 15 seconds. It is not going to be a good day for independent play today. Joss plays her game of "Big Jump" where she jumps off the step stool then demands a high five.<br />
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4.00 I give up on Jasper settling for nap and go up and feed him then sing songs with Joss and Jasper which is one of Joss's favorite things to do.<br />
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4.30 We make the daily daddy call followed by more singing and me refereeing them while I try to make dinner.<br />
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5.00 Dinner followed by cleaning up all the toys. Joss has announced she wants some yogurt with a crushed up biscuit(cookie) for desert and I bribe her by saying all the toys have to be picked up first.<br />
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5.30 Joss is in the bath while I get Jasper changed for bed and this is the face I get every night when we change into PJs, since he is already so angry I decide to wipe off all the dried snot on his nose making him even angrier if that is possible. I then help Joss get ready for bed and set her up with her episode of Max and Ruby so I can finish feeding Jasper and get him settled<br />
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6.00 Jasper is settled and while Joss finishes her program I run down stairs and finish off the frosting and start to frost and decorate the cake.<br />
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6.20 Joss keeps pushing buttons on the computer and so I turn it off and get her settled and lay down with her for a few minuted before saying good night.<br />
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I head down stairs and finish frosting and decorating the cake then upload the last photos to our 2013 photo book and add all the journaling that still needs to be done.<br />
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8.20 book is done I just want Philip to have a look before I order it so save it and head up for a bath<br />
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8.45-9.15 read some old blog post especially the DITL post and have a laugh at things I thought might never end and less than 6 months later we have moved on to bigger and better problems<br />
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9.15-9.45 work on blog post until my eyes start to go funny and decide it is time to head to bed<br />
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10.00 In bed catching up on social media<br />
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10.20 decide to head to bed but as I am drifting off remember that I left Joss's card to Philip out so run downstairs to grab it.<br />
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10.30 head to bed<br />
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11.45 Jasper decides he needs to be resettledYankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-50862028028210579862013-11-03T00:02:00.000-07:002013-11-03T00:02:43.977-07:00Colchester Zoo and Romney, Hythe, Dymchurch Light Railway<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The last two days have been a whirl wind of activity, on Friday I strapped on my big girl knicker and took both kids solo, well with another friend who has two young ones, to Colchester Zoo. On a whole I have left major outings till the weekend when I would have back up support from Daddy but the opportunity presented itself and I felt a little more adventurous knowing I would have our dear friend Fran's support even though she would have her own two to contend with.</div>
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I have to admit I am still finding it hard to have realistic expectations for Joss at three years old. She frankly does not care that it takes military precision to get two kids out the door with all the paraphernalia, around naps, and drive an hour to the zoo. Nor does she care that it cost £30 just to get in and not only should there be no whinging or melt downs but it should be pleasant and enjoyable for all and she should be having fun gosh darn it!</div>
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She did have fun there was just a lot of whinging and melt downs mixed in with it. I also just need to learn if she is required to walk more than 50 yards I had better bring the double push chair because no matter how slow I am prepared to walk if Jasper gets to ride in the pushchair then so should she.</div>
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Feeding the goats and seeing the pigs were probably the highlight of the Zoo trip. I missed the peak time for Jasper's nap driving home and spent over 30 minutes singing The Hokey Kokey with Joss on the drive home which oddly settled Jasper to sleep.</div>
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Today we set out for the Romney, Hyth and Dymchurch light railway in Kent about 90 minutes from where we live. Joss has been asking for weeks to ride on the train (we drop Philip off nearly every morning at the train station). It was a great call. We got on at Hyth and jumped off a few stops later at New Romney to visit the model railway museum. This turned out to be a huge hit with Joss she watched the trains go round the model tracks and got excited to push the buttons to start up different trains.</div>
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There was even a Postman Pat model train!</div>
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We then got back on the train to the end of the line at Dungenes which has amazing pebble beaches and Joss got her fill of throwing the pebbles back in the sea.</div>
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I have never seen star fish on the beach here and Joss had great fun picking them up and having a good look.</div>
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The day was tempered with it's fair share of whinging and melt downs but on a whole very enjoyable and definitely right up Joss's ally and Jasper sat in my arms mesmerised by the model trains reaching out to try and grab them each time they went past.</div>
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While the effort seems enormous to execute these days out seeing Joss's excitement and wonder at things really does make the effort seem worth while.</div>
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<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-79666679680656688242013-10-31T16:00:00.001-07:002013-10-31T16:00:50.323-07:00Oh Help! Oh No. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDdlUiB9bBOQ3q8XVE8FEijjUY5h1M5YCuUk4yBw19-ioZiIreesDdXs_ot6HwMZRsqM8Paj7aQvAgXcMFDcshBRZaIfg3JEdCfVP_B2J_Ci8S2pqXGpfsK6hD8xq2ttTZfC2nFnN94Hn/s640/blogger-image--1700854583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDdlUiB9bBOQ3q8XVE8FEijjUY5h1M5YCuUk4yBw19-ioZiIreesDdXs_ot6HwMZRsqM8Paj7aQvAgXcMFDcshBRZaIfg3JEdCfVP_B2J_Ci8S2pqXGpfsK6hD8xq2ttTZfC2nFnN94Hn/s640/blogger-image--1700854583.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's a Gruffalo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was our first year Trick or Treating though I have dressed Joss up in years past. I wasn't sure how it would go down but spent the day talking about Halloween and Trick or Treating with Joss. I choose her costume in as much as I picked it up around Easter time on sale for dressing up but it has never really gotten used as she as of yet is not really interested in dressing up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To be honest if we hadn't been meeting up with a friend pretty sure she wouldn't have put the costume on. It took some convincing that the only way she could go trick or treating was to have a costume on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaILADDKks7I_8zFfw5cGQLf4PvZZCyi3HhUN_TbwF3F1oiMG0UlEgcai0KJR0hPqfIuB6yadtuLHuJgkN7JKeLmhL060POcABgxRIAjA6DLCpt22c_FIgHuJpNIvQrTtaxffkRvwD0WDQ/s640/blogger-image--463406440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaILADDKks7I_8zFfw5cGQLf4PvZZCyi3HhUN_TbwF3F1oiMG0UlEgcai0KJR0hPqfIuB6yadtuLHuJgkN7JKeLmhL060POcABgxRIAjA6DLCpt22c_FIgHuJpNIvQrTtaxffkRvwD0WDQ/s640/blogger-image--463406440.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Once she had done the first house with her friend who is 3 years older she was gung-ho and had a brilliant time. We just hit about 5 houses on the street that we know well and she was pretty happy with her haul of candy. </span></div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-71878844192267910412013-10-29T13:39:00.002-07:002013-10-29T13:39:41.346-07:00While You Were Sleeping<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I have started to organize photos for the year to make a yearly photo book and in the process of uploading the photos from my phone I realize I have an insane amount of Joss sleeping so here are some of my favorites</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTcLR3HvrM1PgMd5fQKHjuvXZ2Sh8-_pQ0UTYDWVCgeumxtSmcty5ZLDM8rNgFpuJ7FVZcZQwnRHThqRpWMmaRqOaQYPyYtURLCopVs2XJsAdP7tJXwbb0niJuyR4ujVSZ-u2fr0LM2gv/s640/blogger-image--1755489942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTcLR3HvrM1PgMd5fQKHjuvXZ2Sh8-_pQ0UTYDWVCgeumxtSmcty5ZLDM8rNgFpuJ7FVZcZQwnRHThqRpWMmaRqOaQYPyYtURLCopVs2XJsAdP7tJXwbb0niJuyR4ujVSZ-u2fr0LM2gv/s640/blogger-image--1755489942.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Night in her Cot Bed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crashed out on the drive home from taking Grandma Traci to the Airport</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crashed out after about two hours of sleep while spending the weekend away</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same weekend away crashed out in the pushchair luckily we had the sling for Jasper</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The I didn't need a nap today but as soon as you put me in the push chair I am gone crash out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick nap on a day out to London so we can keep partying later </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hope you don't mind I hopped in your bed when you weren't looking</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oh year maybe it was too early to get up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Sleep as a two year old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First sleep as a three year old clutching the handbag that was a favorite present</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard won nap #1</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard won nap #2</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard won nap #3</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard won nap #4</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really I don't need a nap (she gave up naps about a month ago, she needs one but won't I gave up)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The you pushed my buttons so many times today I wasn't sure both of us or either of us would make it till bed time but seeing this almost makes it all right.</td></tr>
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<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-72152232535098317062013-10-25T12:11:00.000-07:002013-10-25T12:11:47.464-07:0010 Things Right Now - Jasper<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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1. You are so wiggly, no matter what we are doing you have to wiggle. You wiggle on the floor rolling all over kicking and flapping your arms. If someone stands you up you would think you have springs for legs you just bounce. Changing times have become interesting as you want to wiggle and flip all over. Getting you dressed is an extreme sport.<br />
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2. You have two bottom teeth but it feels like you top two teeth are making their way.<br />
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3. You love food so far you have had sugar snap peas, sweet potatoes, toast, pears, and we tried baby rice but you flicked the spoon at me and that was the end of spoon feeding, Baby Led Weaning all the way around here.<br />
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4. You have stopped sleeping through the night and it is killing me but you have settled into a dream feed around 10.30pm, another feed around 4.30am and then up between 7am and 8am.<br />
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5. You are such a chilled baby, you don't mind the vacuum and are happy to have it run right up to you and around you. You are happy to chat in the cot for a good length of time after you wake up and most naps I just put you in the cot and you chat away till you get tired and fall off to sleep.<br />
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6. You LOVE your sister anytime she is around you give the biggest smiles and you try to keep up with her by rolling and commando crawling after her.<br />
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7. You have started doing this thing where you pass toys between your hands and feet it kills me you look like a little monkey doing it.<br />
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8. You now give cuddles you will rest you head on my shoulder and borrow in, you have also started giving kisses, I think, you will open your mouth and plant it on my face.<br />
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9. You are very vocal and I always hear jibber jabber and squaks from you and you love the sound of your own voice you almost wind yourself up with it.<br />
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10. You have absolutely no use for learning to sit no matter how hard I try to work with you it is always a mission to get you to bend in the middle and even if I do once I have you in a tripod you think it is a great place to launch yourself from to try and crawl.Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-17592095884025904912013-10-24T14:29:00.001-07:002013-10-24T15:05:13.996-07:0010 Things Right Now - JocelynneOne my <a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-autumn-bucket-listautumn-seasonal.html">Autumn Bucket List</a> items was to Document Life, I am still trying to find a good blend of that between electronic and physical hold in your hand methods. <a href="http://aliedwards.com/2013/10/10-things-right-now-anna-2.html">Ali Edwards does 10 Things Right Now Posts</a> at regular intervals for her two children and recently herself as well and I though it was a brilliant way to document what is happening in our life right now.<div><br></div><div><br>
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<br>1. You have been in Preschool for eight weeks now and you love it, in some ways I can't believe it has been 8 weeks already and in others it seem like you have always been going to preschool.<br>
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2. We have to use two different Lollipop Ladies (crossing guards) (yes there are Lollipop Men ours just happend to both be Ladies) on the walk to Preschool and you think they are the best things since sliced bread. You get so excited as we come up the the crossing and excitedly say good morning to them as we cross the road. If you are ever dawdling too much on the walk I can always say "help me find the next Lollipop Lady and you get excited and speed up. We don't normally walk home from Preschool but when we do you are always disappointed they are not there as they are actually for the two schools we pass and the finishing times don't match up with your Preschool.<br>
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3. You are obbsessed with the concept of Past, Present, and Future. We chat a lot about what you did yesterday, what we are going to do during the day and what the plans are for tommorrow and in the near future. Items we only do once a week we count sleeps till you do it again. So on a Monday if you ask me how long till Gymnastics I will tell you three sleeps. You seem to understand the future time line better than the past. Everything in the past is yesterday for the last few days or a long time ago for anything over a week or so.<br>
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4. You love Wheatabix for breakfast and would eat 6-8 of them if we let you but we have implemented a 2 Wheatabix rule as I worry about if that much fiber can be good for you. After that you can have a bowel of another cereal or toast or fruit.<br>
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5. Your favourite toys at the moment are your wooden dolls and doll furniture that have been gifts from both your Grandma Traci and Pa as well as your Grandpa Arnold. You also like your Postman Pat figurines and all the little bits that go with them<br>
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6. You love to bake with me or more often your father. You seem to think that you should try each ingredient and I have on occasion grabbed a spoon from you before you shove a big wad of butter or spoon of flour in you mouth. The moment you hear the beaters going you come running to claim it when I am done mixing. You find it hard to believe that there would be things you wouldn't want to lick of the beaters.<br>
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7. This morning while driving Jasper worked himself into a freenzy in the car and was screaming quite loud and you started screaming at the top of your lungs "IT'S ALL RIGHT LITTLE MAN DON'T CRY" "SWEET BOY I LOVE YOU THERE IS NO NEED TO CRY" "IT'S ALL RIGHT LITTLE MAN I AM RIGHT HERE BESIDE YOU" It almost brought tears to my eyes, I love the fact that you mimic the same things I say to Jasper to calm him down.<br>
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8. Every night when you go to bed you ask me to lay down by you and unfortunetly most of the time I can't as Jasper needs looking after at that point but when your daddy is home I secretly love doing it as I know I won't get the chance forever.<br>
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9. You are a stickler for rules and routine. Every night we set the timer after you get in the bath for when it is time to wash your hair which signals the end of the bath. Tonight you were really tired and asked to get out and I said okay lets wash your hair you responded "No mummy we can't the timer hasn't gone off"<br>
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10. You are ALL about asking questions, sometimes it seem a bit like the Spanish Inquisition especially in the morning as I am not a morning person and it takes about all of my brain power to get us out of the door on time. Most of the time it is the same questions you ask all the time and already know the answers to buy sometimes you come up with humdingers.<br>
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<br></div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-52199220280355813012013-10-19T13:56:00.000-07:002013-10-19T13:56:16.105-07:00Day in the Life Autumn 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am joining <a href="http://navigatingthemothership.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/a-day-in-life-fall-2013.html">Navigating the Mothership</a> again for her quarterly Day in the Life post </div>
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I chose this particular day as it had a bit of everything me as a mum, Joss at preschool, me at work. Somewhere in the day I got really angry, Jasper hasn't been sleeping well at night and it just happened to be a day that I DID NOT STOP, stuff needed to get done and the weekend was already packed. I was already feeling discontent with how our days were playing out but seeing it all in print and photos and notes really made me angry. So much so that I almost didn't write the post. It took me almost a week to process my feelings on the day and when I sat down to write it I found that the notes I had taken on my phone had deleted themselves (I upgraded to iOS7 in between doing DITL and getting around to posting it I blame that) I just about decided to walk away from it for this quarter but as documenting life has become really important to me and I believe in documenting the good with the bad I persevered. Unfortunately loosing my notes means I lost a lot of the timing and some of the little things but on a whole you see our life.</div>
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Friday 11th of October 2013</div>
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Joss 3 years old</div>
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Jasper 5 months old</div>
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Jasper wakes to feed he woke at 2.17 am as well, yes I know the exact time. I try to feed him and get him to go back to sleep</div>
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I give up on getting him to go back to sleep and stumble down the stairs put Jasper on the floor under his baby gym and stumble around for a bit I don't just wake up. Decide that I have time to wash my hair. Philip is in the shower, then gets Joss up. I did try to get her up when I came down but as I don't normally get up at this time and she knows she has to wait for Philip to come get her after his shower she looks on this with suspect like maybe I am trying to tempt her then punish her when she gives in. Philip starts breakfast with Joss and grabs Jasper to entertain him.</div>
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While both kids are entertained I quickly pack Joss's lunch, today's request was tuna on toast, strawberries, raisins, digestive biscuit (basically a graham cracker) and not pictured cranberry and raspberry yogurt.</div>
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Just before 7am kids are bundled up and thrown in the car to run Philip to the train station we get back around 7.20 and a round of teeth brushing, dressing Joss, and doing her hair (only combed no pony tails today) is completed.</div>
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7:45ish Jasper is fussy and needs a nap as he was up so early and I know there is no way I can drag him out till the school run so set Joss up with some programs on Netflix and go upstairs to nurse and settle Jasper. I come down and inform Joss that we are going to take the "vroom vroom" car to preschool today instead of walking as Jasper needs a nap. I expect a full blown meltdown but she is so excited to be watching programs on the computer that she just kind of mumbles yeah. I decide to use the time to finish some banking I need to do for work later in the day and to organize the shopping list</div>
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Philip has emailed me a recipe he wants to make so I go through the cupboard to see what we have and what we need.</div>
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8.55 Of course Jasper has to be woken to do the school run, something so wrong about waking a napping baby but needs must</div>
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we have started setting the timer for Joss when it is time for her to finish an activity or for things she does not want to do and on a whole it works really well.</div>
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This morning was the exception she did NOT want to stop watching programs and I realize that my computer wizz toddler has changed the program to DORA which makes my blood boil as I have managed to avoid this for going on 3 1/2 years (DORA'S voice really really irritates me)</div>
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I manage to get Joss settled down and coat on when she melts down because she does not have a ponytail in her hair even though she was very clear earlier in the morning she only wanted it brushed she didn't want it pulled up in and way. I leave Jasper on the hall way floor bundled up and quickly throw her hair up into a ponytail</div>
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9.05 we are all buckled in and manage to get off basically on time</div>
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Shortly before 9.15 We arrive at preschool Joss finds her name and adds it to the board<br />
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Hangs her coat and puts her back pack away.</div>
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9.15 they open the doors to the inner part of the hall and Joss gives me a kiss and heads in. During all this Jasper is in his car seat in a corner of the outer hall. We head straight off to my Weight Watchers meeting in route I realize I have forgotten the pushchair and will need it since I am doing my banking across the road from my meeting. Luckily I have to pass the house to get to the meeting so quickly pull up and throw the push chair in</div>
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Jasper falls asleep on the way and I am early so sit in the car checking e-mails, social media and sending a few txts.</div>
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Just after 10am I manage to get Jasper in still asleep in his car seat and get weighed, its a loss but it is coming off SO SLOW this time I am finding it hard with two to be as dedicated as I was after Joss. I also weigh less to begin so while I want to get back to what I was before I fell pregnant with Jasper I am not as unhappy with my weight like I was before and after Joss. I leave Jasper asleep in his car seat near some of the old ladies who love to love on him and grab myself a hot chocolate from the kitchen. He wakes while I am grabbing it.</div>
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Jasper is getting too fidgety to be happy in the car seat or push chair for very long if we are not on the move so I choose a seat on the aisle and lay out a few blankets and toys and he is happy the whole time which means I actually get to listen to the meeting talk.</div>
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11.00 meeting is over and I ask the ladies if I can leave Jasper with them for a minute while I swap the car seat out for the pushchair from the car. Of course they are happy and the love all over him while I am gone. I do a quick nappy change and get him bundled up and in the pushchair it amazes me how long everything take and by the time we are ready to head out it is 11.15</div>
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We pop across the road to do my banking for work then back in the car to head back towards home with a stop off at the grocery store.</div>
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12.15 What should have been a 20 minute drive to the grocery store takes 45 due to horrible traffic and Jasper falls asleep. I know I am really pushing it with how long he has gone between feeds so think I will pop into the cafe in shop and have lunch and feed him then do the grocery shop until I get into the cafe and realize the line is so long and they are so slow it would take longer than just doing the shop and Jasper is in good moods so I chance it. I manage to get the shopping done and him back in the car before he lets me know I have pushed the feeding boat too far luckily it is a two minute drive home.</div>
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1.15 throw little man on the bed so I can quickly put some freezer stuff away then head up to feed him.</div>
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1.30-1.45 heat myself some soup and let Jasper roll around in the living room with some toys while I have the soup and give into Skippo obsession on my iPhone. I quickly check Facebook and a work colleague has posted some sad news that I knew was the out come but seeing it in print from her really hits me and I take Jasper upstairs for a cuddle and a cry. I decide to keep busy as I have known this was the outcome for about a week and it has weighed so heavy on my heart that I don't want it to consume me.</div>
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1.45-2.30 Jasper helps me sort and put away some clean laundry and then we go through a bag of clothes a dear friend has given me for him and pull out all the clothes that are the right size and I go through his drawers and pull out everything that is too small.</div>
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2.30ish we are in the car to pick up Joss from preschool and I go through the routine of checking for projects. This weeks theme has been transport. and today they made oragami boats.</div>
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I check the notice board to see what they have been up to for the day, on Friday she does a double session the orange is morning activities and the red afternoon. She comes out at 2.45.</div>
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It has been raining all day but of course it was chucking it down when I picked up Joss and I got absolutely soaked getting everyone in and out of the car the glamours post school run in the rain selfie.</div>
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3.00-3.45 Joss has snack and we chill out and wind down from preschool Jasper fell asleep while I was waiting for Joss and I managed to get him in asleep in his carseat.</div>
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3.45 we head out to pick Philip up from the train station as Friday's he usually works an early, Jasper is still asleep and I manage to get him back in the car. </div>
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Joss is having a serious case of back seat driver and road rage. "Mummy your going the wrong way" (I am going the only way to the station) "MUMMY WHY ARE YOU STOPPED WE NEED TO BE GOING!" I try to explain that we have to wait for the kids to cross the street with the crossing guard. It is not a satisfactory explanation. "MUMMY YOU NEED TO BE GOING!" </div>
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We actually make it to the station a few minutes before Philip's train arrives and Joss notices her lunch box is still in the car and she knows that she didn't finish her lunch and wants it. I offer to hand her stuff back as I don't want her to have the tuna sandwich in the car but this is not a satisfactory offer to her and Philip arrives to full melt down. This pretty much last the whole way to home with some more road rage when we have to stop for a red light, Jasper wakes at some point on the drive home.</div>
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4.15 we are home and I grab Jasper to feed him, he feeds a bit but is too excited which is unnerving since I need to leave soon for a work meeting. I get myself ready for the meeting while Philip does dinner for Joss.</div>
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5.00 Jasper decides he is ready to eat of course I am already in my dress for the meeting so it leads to an interesting feed.</div>
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5.15 ready to head out the door for work meeting, I know I will probably be early but can never tell with traffic. As I get closer to the venue I stop for a dinner of champions of Quavers (cheese puffs) and a Pepsi Max</div>
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6.00-7.45 Work Meeting, little bummed that it is basically rehashing a bunch of stuff we have already done and I am missing out being with hubby but a night off dinner and bed time routine is nice as well.</div>
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7.45 head straight off from work meeting to get a friend to sign my naturalization paper work but she has unfortunately forgotten and is out for the evening. I call Philip to ask if he wants anything from the shops an quickly pop in and grab a few bits as well as a pack of vegetable sushi as I am starving and know there won't be any dinner left</div>
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8.30 arrive home and Philip is working on the recipe he wants to try so I sit down at the dining room table and chat with him and generally catch up. I am still really upset about the work colleagues news and generally frustrated with the whole transition back to work with two kids. Some of it just has to sort itself out and some of it I need to look at and see how we can simplify our lives as I have a tendency to pack to much in till I break and then have a mini melt down</div>
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At some point Jasper wakes and I feed him then come back down and Philip and I discuss more how to change routines and schedules as well and chat about Joss and her current laughable moments and how to better deal with morning routine.</div>
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I head up and try to move Jasper into the cot but he wakes in the process so I feed him again but then am wide awake so listen to a podcast on my phone and fall asleep to that.</div>
<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-79787117405296494592013-10-10T12:19:00.000-07:002013-10-10T12:19:31.662-07:00Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My Dearest Jasper,<br />
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You might one day have a look at this blog and notice that the first couple of years of Joss's life (and even my pregnancy) I blogged about at great length. I haven't for you, I just want to explain a bit. From the moment I found out you were to be a part of our life I was selfish, you were mine and I didn't want to share you. We didn't share the news of my pregnancy for a long time and then only with a few people for a very long time. It was a hard pregnancy because of the gallstones and there was a point we were not sure if we were going to have to decide to have surgery while I was pregnant with you. It was scary, really scary. Once the decision had been made to not have surgery and to see how far we could get with you before intervention was needed it was still scary but there was peace. You brought me so much peace the whole time. Every gallstone attack I had as the pain subsided and I would feel you kick it brought me peace. When I ended up in hospital to be monitored for liver numbers that were off the chart due to gallstone issue and they monitored your heart rate the sounds of it brought me peace. Each week that passed and we got closer to full term I breathed a little sigh of relief. While it all happened I didn't have the strength to write about it and share it. I didn't want photos every week, I was so worried I might not hold you in my arms one day that I didn't want photos of the whole process just in case.<br />
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So many other things were happening and it was not the happiest time in our lives and yet through it all I always had you. Your name was chosen long before you were born (I had already chosen it long before daddy agreed) and knowing it was such a lovely thing.<br />
<br />
Then you came and you brought me so much peace, your labour and birth with no complications or intervention healed me from the small things of your sisters birth I questioned. Your chilled and relaxed attitude to life showed me that so many of the things I worried that I did wrong with Joss I hadn't she was just a different baby.<br />
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You fit right into our family<br />
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Still I found it hard to share you with the rest of the world, not because I love you more than Joss, or the other way around I loved Joss more so shared more about her.<br />
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I don't believe what you do for one child you have to do for your others, but I do believe that you should do you best to meet you individual child's needs to the best of your ability. I hope that your needs will always be met.<br />
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It was probably wrong you won't have something to look back on one day when I am gone and for that I am sorry I hope you will understand. Your milestones have been no less celebrated.<br />
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I love you with all of my heart.<br />
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MummyYankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-11941656434313927232013-10-04T02:52:00.001-07:002013-10-04T02:52:22.060-07:00Teething<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCztsCnA1okGcIJFxTpCK3FIuZMiveRk5z8OQw3NqlFRIbLp6xpmIxFf7jpng6IxFgXGlv-aOooUBvKzCHZ99U9EPb1XJMjPpdWodNfREfcZAWutQIrRFp8I5WB40zi0SYf_BiqvAc6-W/s640/blogger-image-1829724137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCztsCnA1okGcIJFxTpCK3FIuZMiveRk5z8OQw3NqlFRIbLp6xpmIxFf7jpng6IxFgXGlv-aOooUBvKzCHZ99U9EPb1XJMjPpdWodNfREfcZAWutQIrRFp8I5WB40zi0SYf_BiqvAc6-W/s640/blogger-image-1829724137.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Dear Mum,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I cut my first bottom tooth last night ( you may have noticed when you sliced your finger on it rubbing Bonjela on my gums) the second one is not far behind and my top gums are swollen as well. I am six months in just over four weeks and I am thinking steak as my first weaning food.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sincerely,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jasper</div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-61407011666563650612013-09-27T12:02:00.001-07:002013-09-27T12:02:30.025-07:00The Autumn Bucket List/Autumn Seasonal Food ListWe really enjoyed the <a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/summer-bucket-list.html">Summer Bucket List</a> as a family and it was a great place to refer to as we planned our weeks and looked for last minute activities to do. We didn't manage to accomplish all the tasks on the list but to be honest this was never my intention in making a bucket list. My intention was to communicate as a family (mostly Philip and I at the moment but Joss is becoming more and more involved in this process) what activities and experiences we wanted to be involved in over a specific season. I am trying much harder to parent with fore thought I have to say that the majority of Joss's first 2-2/12 years Philip and I were kind of flying by the seat of our pants. Some of this was just not knowing exactly what parenting and having a child involved, some of it was just hanging on to pre-child days where we could literally decide we wanted to do something and be out the door five minutes later. As Joss grows and as I realize that at least for me understanding age appropriate activities and choosing activities is not something I can just wing I have a desire as well as a need to put more thought into how we choose to celebrate seasons and document our life as family.<br />
<br />
For that reason we have decided to write an Autumn Bucket List and this season we also really wanted to put a lot of focus on using seasonal foods and recipes. I have divide them into two lists for that reason. Again it is not all about crossing everything off but about the thought process and having a place to draw ideas from instead of starting with a blank canvas.<br />
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Autumn Bucket List<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>First Day of Preschool Photo with </li>
<li>Interview Joss about her life</li>
<li>attend a Farmer's Market</li>
<li>Trick or Treat with Joss and Jasper</li>
<li>Leaf Prints with Joss</li>
<li>Try the White Lion (this is a carry over from the Summer Bucket List)</li>
<li>Eat at the Cherry Tree</li>
<li>Document Life (this deserves it's own post)</li>
</ul>
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<div>
Autumn Food Bucket List:</div>
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Game:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Rabbit </li>
<li>Pigeon</li>
</ul>
Squash:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Squash Rissoto</li>
<li><a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/09/thai-curry-butternut-squash-soup/">Thai Curry Butternut Squash Soup</a></li>
<li><a href="http://threemanycooks.com/recipes/meaty-mains/pappardelle-with-roasted-butternut-squash-and-ricotta/">Pappardell with Roasted Squash and Ricotta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://witandvinegar.com/2013/09/butternut-squash-chorizo-shells.html">Butternut Squash and Chorizo Shells</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Corn:</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/08/roasted-corn-caesar-salads-with-parmesan-greek-yogurt-caesar-dressing/">Roasted Corn Cesar Salad</a> ( I have already made this recipe, to the wise it has too much garlic in the dressing and this come from someone who LOVES garlic who find reasons to add garlic to recipes. I would at least halve the amount of garlic and or roast the garlic before hand)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/buffalo-chicken-corn-chowder-with-blue-cheese-gougeres/">Buffalo Chicken Corn Chowder</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Pumpkin:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/09/psl-syrup.html">Pumpkin Spiced Latte Syrup</a></li>
<li><a href="http://naturallyella.com/2013/01/02/roasted-pumpkin-and-goat-cheese-frittata-with-arugula-salad-giveaway/">Roasted Pumpkin and Goats Cheese Frittata with Arugula Salad</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Pumpkin-Cake-Roll-4">Pumpkin Cake Roll</a> (My mum use to make this it is GOOD!)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sugarhero.com/2012/11/pumpkin-praline-bread-pudding/">Pumpkin Praline Bread Pudding</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Random:</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/137993176055783298/">Zucchini Fritters</a></li>
<li><a href="http://naturallyella.com/2013/01/18/sweet-potato-and-quinoa-salad-with-soft-boiled-eggs/">Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad with Soft Boiled Eggs</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/09/spicy-chipotle-sweet-potato-soup.html">Spicy Chipolte Sweet Potato Soup</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2011/10/homemade-oatmeal-9-ways.html">Baked Oatmeal</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
Again this is just a wish list I know that due to two small children a number of these recipes will not be made over the coming month. To be honest some nights I just end up having corn flakes for dinner but I love having a list to come back to and get ideas from.</div>
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<div>
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<div>
What are your favorite Autumn activities and recipes?</div>
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<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-31801136802132059202013-09-09T05:37:00.001-07:002013-09-19T06:47:35.564-07:00First Day of Preschool<span id="goog_1267088178"></span><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdmQQA55gm91evDhYbfQMmcC-PIZJmEJj4Pef-9_veYV5Y7KOwcoe2eXfhbtopWBF80fTPH_g55jTt5oRpODN2iQMp26_RkIVVHZg3o-er8kWT622Ymtw6bw_ykpt3tZWDb3y4CeZCAeF/s640/blogger-image-1795855583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdmQQA55gm91evDhYbfQMmcC-PIZJmEJj4Pef-9_veYV5Y7KOwcoe2eXfhbtopWBF80fTPH_g55jTt5oRpODN2iQMp26_RkIVVHZg3o-er8kWT622Ymtw6bw_ykpt3tZWDb3y4CeZCAeF/s640/blogger-image-1795855583.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Only two and a half weeks latter and 20 degrees cooler than it was on that day finally sharing what a cutie Joss was on her first day of Preschool on September 2nd.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She loved it and ran right in after a quick kiss for mum and dad and hasn't looked back since.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelwZwhciK9-xgP5zV11WtPZulsBwbF5scdWoQoEnoggeQ42_LGipHIQ05W7CB1Ne7CieU3U5etqQQU03sE33nktOSZmzQAv-0eGKjF_qiUYD1K1birL4pTnOQtNt6zGBHPeuhnxm6oXBC/s640/blogger-image-1194835823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelwZwhciK9-xgP5zV11WtPZulsBwbF5scdWoQoEnoggeQ42_LGipHIQ05W7CB1Ne7CieU3U5etqQQU03sE33nktOSZmzQAv-0eGKjF_qiUYD1K1birL4pTnOQtNt6zGBHPeuhnxm6oXBC/s640/blogger-image-1194835823.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She carried the sign all the way there. Love this sweet girl!</div><br></div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-26252213904504945412013-08-29T12:47:00.002-07:002013-08-29T12:47:39.345-07:00August in Bullet PointsAugust has been crazy, it has been for the last three years as Philip's boss takes about three weeks off in August leaving him to run the show. He has been pretty absent the last three weeks between the hours of 7am and 11.30pm Monday through Friday not leaving me much free time but we do make the most of weekends and the occasional "early" or him getting home around 4.30pm. Our days have been full though.<br />
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<ul>
<li>This little man became an American he pretty much slept through the whole 8 hour journey and process and then proceeded not to sleep too well for two week ha!</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">We took Joss to her first Fun Fair at Chalkwell Park crossing that off our<a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/summer-bucket-list.html"> Summer Bucket List</a>. Man that girl has no fear the only thing that held her back was her height!</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>We enjoyed a trip to our favorite park in Maldon, sand castle construction was heavily supervised by Joss so that she could stomp on them once they were built</li>
</ul>
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<li>Much ice cream was consumed</li>
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<li>But don't worry we practice good dental hygiene and mummy got choked up when Joss moved up into the next tooth paste age group.</li>
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<li>Joss got her pasting skills on</li>
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<li>Mummy got her canning skills on, making <a href="http://canninggranny.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/canning-homemade-ro-tel.html">homemade Rotel</a> checking off another item on our <a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/summer-bucket-list.html">Summer Bucket List</a></li>
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<li>This little man continued to fight sleep</li>
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<li>Then after some tweaks to his routine finally realized that yeah sleep was good</li>
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<li>Enjoyed some time at our local beach in Old Leigh</li>
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<li>Enjoyed the bouncy castle fun day at our local park every week</li>
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<li>Found a new favorite toy at the park which Joss can do herself which is a relief for me cause to be honest I was getting bored of pushing her on the swings for the whole time.</li>
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<li>Joss decided to set the table herself one night and damn that kid is not bad for three years old</li>
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<li>We headed of to London for what was suppose to be a trip to London Aquarium to check that off our bucket list but when we got there and found out the queue just to get tickets was 90 minutes we decided to just enjoy a walk around Covent Garden and a fabulous lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant <a href="http://www.wahaca.co.uk/flash/main.html">Wahaca</a>, the food was amazing as usual. Joss had her fill of jumping in puddles and riding on buses and trains.</li>
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<li>We visited the <a href="http://www.earm.co.uk/">East Anglia Railway Museum </a>which happened to be having a "Day out with Thomas" which didn't mean much to Joss as she isn't familiar with the Thomas characters but she loved being able to ride Thomas and the other characters from the series.</li>
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<li>To cap the month off this little man at not even four months mastered the back to belly roll and now tummy time does not seem such a chore. Not sure I am ready for him to be as mobile as he is but looks like this one is going to hit his milestone on the early side, who can blame him when he has a crazy sister he wants to try and keep up with!</li>
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Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-14789797354600594222013-08-11T13:37:00.001-07:002013-08-11T13:40:02.260-07:0011 things I am loving on the 11th<i>This was originally meant to be a post about ten things I was loving on the tenth of the month but after melt down days on Friday and Saturday it never quite got finished. I realized while winding down this evening that I am am loving dusk as well so guess we are going with eleven things I love on the eleventh. Work with what your given!</i><br />
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<b>1. <a href="http://www.newmansown.co.uk/products/dressing/tex-mex-dressing.html">Newman's Own Tex Mex</a></b> salad dressing. OH MY GOD so good. I know that for all my American readers you can pick of your choice of southwest ranch at any grocery store but Tex Mex is not big here in the UK and I have spent the last year trying a million different recipes for a good chipolte type ranch since having an amazing southwest salad at a little diner near my parents. Some of the recipes turned out good but none were quite right. I saw this last week on the shelves of our local grocery store and got super excited and it didn't let me down. I have had and embarrassing amount of salad in the last week so we could use it. We are on our second bottle in a week, just to be clear Philip is using it too so its not like I have gone through almost two bottles on my own but am doing a good job of using it up!<br />
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<b>2. Good Morning Smiles</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheeky Good Morning Smiles</td></tr>
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I get some variation of this EVERY morning who wouldn't want to grab this baby and smother him with kisses, or more likely what he is looking for feed him!<br />
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<b>3. Swinging</b><br />
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Somewhere towards the end of my pregnancy Joss rekindled her love with the swing and to be honest I was SO glad, nothing like trying to run after a dare devil almost three year old at the park when you are the size of a double wide. I really thought her desire to sit and be pushed in the swing the whole time we were at the park would wear off quickly but over three months later it is still 95% of how we spend out time at the park.</div>
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<b>4. Dream Feeding</b></div>
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I missed the memo on dream feeding with Joss and by the time I found out about it when she was around six months old she was such a crappy sleeper there was no way I was going to take the chance on waking her up in the process of doing a dream feed. I don't know if it is the fact that I get so little one on one time with Jasper but I love that dream feed, having him snuggled into me the milk drunk expression on his face when he finishes, and not having to put him down and run off after Joss the moment I am done.</div>
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<b>5. Meringue Nests</b> </div>
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At some point middle of July I decided I need homemade meringue nests with passion fruit. My MIL had been buying store bought ones and Joss had discovered the joy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_mess">Eton Mess</a> but I am a stickler for meringue and I need mine to be chewy in the middle and the store bought ones were not. Luckily I have a chef for a husband and my food wish is his command and less than 24 hours after I mentioned it viola. Multiple batches have been made and I have since discovered a local grocery store that makes them fresh daily and theirs are chewy in the middle. It has to say the least become the summer of meringue. Joss loves them as much as I do and round here were use "special yogurt" or Creme Fraiche with ours and any yummy fruit or berry that takes our fancy when doing the weekly shop.</div>
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<b>6. Matching Toe Nails </b></div>
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I am not a girly girl and neither is Joss though that is probably as much nurture as nature, but man I love a good pedicure and turns out Joss does as well. I had mixed feelings on even introducing nail polish as I want Joss to grow knowing she is beautiful with out a scrap of make up and that make up does not the woman make. However after much thought and discussion with Philip and the need to fill a rainy afternoon out came the nail polish. She always chooses the colour that I am wearing at the time this particular time it was "blue like you mama"</div>
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<b>7. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/green-sprouts-Pack-Muslin-Wipe/dp/B005UMYD7Y">Green Spouts Muslin Wash Cloths</a></b> </div>
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I am pretty minimalistic when it comes to baby supplies and for the most part if I can use something we have or can buy the same product that is not "baby" such as wash clothes I tend to buy the cheaper option but these were a gift when Jasper was born and I have to say I love the bright colours and the fact that they are lighter and easy to ring out with one hand. It makes cleaning up dirty faces and bath time fun.</div>
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<b>8. <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/monster-cookies-recipe/index.html">Monster Cookies</a></b></div>
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I made these on a whim after seeing someone post a photo on Instagram and they are amazingly yummy and delicious, I am always game for cookies that have peanut butter, oatmeal, and m&ms. I left the raisins out due to my deep seated belief that raisins should never appear in cookies. I also found due to a melt down day that the dough works better if refrigerated then cooked straight from the refrigerator.</div>
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<b>9. A relaxed approach to summer planning</b></div>
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As I mentioned in my post about our <a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/summer-bucket-list.html">Summer Bucket</a> list I didn't know how life with two would go so kept our summer pretty free form. I have signed Joss up in August for a few activities through the English equivalent of Parks and Rec but on a whole just kind of faced the days as they came or only a few days in advance. On a whole I have loved this approach but can definitely tell next summer is going to need to be planned more in advanced with some research into activities in the area. I also want to give much more thought and planning to our Summer Bucket List next year and include more recipes and eating out experiences.</div>
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<b>10. Quiet time</b></div>
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We got rid of Joss's naps not long after Jasper was born as she wasn't settling until 8.30-9pm but was still up bang on 6am every morning. On a whole it was a good decision as she went back to easily settling around 7pm and sleeping till between 6-7am most mornings. The one downside was with no nap time it was all toddler all day and as Joss still really does not play on her own this was full on especially with a small baby. <a href="http://aliedwards.com/">Ali Edwards</a> mentioned quiet time in <a href="http://aliedwards.com/2013/07/summer-schedules-and-activities-kiwi-crate.html">this post</a> and after reading some online resources I felt it was something Joss would benefit from and would give me either some time with Jasper or a few minutes to do tasks during the day that did not suit a 3 year old like make business calls and such. Joss actually transitioned well into quiet time we started slow with me only expecting 5-10 minutes and have worked up to 30 minutes. We do it in her room and I read her two stories and then make sure she is set up with her potty and water and explain I will be back when the timer goes off (I don't actually set a timer so if needs be I can pop up if she is not doing well and say the timer has gone off or if she has fallen asleep the timer does not wake her) sometimes this lead to nap time and if we have had a busy day or a bad night the night before I let her nap for up to an hour then wake her gently. If not I go up after 30 minutes to let her know quiet time is over. It has been a welcome break and gives me the time to focus and redirect my attention to afternoon activities. I have also seen a huge improvement on Joss playing on her own in this time. Listening to her on the monitor and hearing what games she is playing or her imaginary play is brilliant.</div>
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<b>11. Dusk</b></div>
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I am loving sitting out in the garden after thing one and thing two are asleep for a few minutes as the light changes. It is so peaceful to hear the rest of the world shut down for the night as well. The quiet only gently interrupted as the neighbors seem to enjoy dusk with me.</div>
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Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-14557975014323079522013-07-31T03:58:00.000-07:002013-07-31T03:58:30.561-07:00Day in the Life Summer 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have wanted to do a day in the life post for a long time probably since Joss was small but everytime I tried something came up or halfway through the day everything collapsed. So when I saw that <a href="http://navigatingthemothership.blogspot.co.uk/">Navigating the Mothership</a> was doing her <a href="http://navigatingthemothership.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/summer-day-in-life-heads-up.html">summer DITL </a>post and inviting her readers to join in and link up I jumped on the band wagon. It has been a great process and really allowed me to look from the outside at how we spend our days and to also look at what I like and what I would like to change. I know a lot of days Philip will ask what have you guys done with your day and I just stare at him with a blank look shrug and say "kept two kids alive" and while that is how it feels it is good to actually be able to see the day as a whole. So here goes the good, the bad, and the ugly:</div>
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As I hear Jasper stir I grab my phone to check the time, as it light so early I have been guilty of at times getting up to start the day at the slightest noise. As Jasper nurses I check social media and read blogs on my iPhone (seriously what did women do while they were nursing before smart phones?).<br />
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While I am doing this Philip is showering then gets Joss from her room where she has been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for him to finish so they can go down and do her breakfast. I can hear her non stop chatter as she helps him make her breakfast and I doze off as Jasper finishes feeding.<br />
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6.50 Philip comes up to say good bye to Jasper and I. I get up and go to change Jasper before heading down to get Joss to finish her breakfast. On this particular morning she decides to come up while I am changing Jasper so I go ahead and get her dressed for the day. She knows it is Thursday so it is "Seb Gym Day" (she does Gymnastics with her best friend Seb and some how over the last six months it has come to be know as "Seb Gym Day") as she gets dressed she goes through the days of the week which goes something like this."First Wednesday then Tuesday then Wednesday then Tuesday then Wednesday then Thursday which is Seb Gym Day" Yes our whole week rotates around "Seb Gym Day" and on Friday she will ask "When is Seb Gym Day" and I start a week of going though the days of the week till "Seb Gym Day". I figure at least she is learning her days of the week.<br />
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She knows she has to have a pony tail for Gymnastics and decides on the day she wants "Two Pony Tails" or piggy tails. As I start the process of parting her hair she changes her mind and decides she wants one pony tail I confirm her choice at which point she decides no it is a two pony tail day. She does not want to sit still while I try to part her hair and we end up with a small melt down but pony tails are finally in place. Jasper chills on the bed while I watch her get dressed and do her hair for her.<br />
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7.15 Jasper goes on his play mat and I turn the TV on to Joss' TV programs while I quickly eat and do my hair.<br />
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7.40 Jasper is getting tired so I set up Joss with her water and the potty in the living room and let her know that if she gets hungry her toast is still at the table and I am going up to get Jasper settled for nap. I get up to the bedroom with Jasper and can tell he is going to settle easily and almost give a sigh of relief as I hear Joss at the bottom of the stairs "Mummy I have done a wee in my knickers" This is Joss' new thing when she is upset I am spending time with Jasper. I set Jasper in his Moses basket with fingers crossed as he has that drowsy look, grab a change of clothes for Joss, and head down to have her change herself. I get the mess cleaned up and her reset up and let her know I am going to finish settling Jasper. I peek in and while he is not asleep yet he is heavy eyed and almost there. I start a bath as it is early and with Jasper easily settled I will have time. I tidy Joss' room and grab a load of laundry to throw in while I wait to make sure Jasper is going to fall asleep on his own.<br />
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8.15 After starting a load of laundry I quickly jump in the bath leaving the door open so Joss can come in if she wants. I actually get a bath and get dressed before she wanders in while I am brushing my teeth and joins me.<br />
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8.30 I quickly grab the laptop and pay the bills that don't come out direct debit as it is payday for me and switch loads of laundry. As the weather looks iffy and we are heading out soon I hang it on the racks indoors seriously there is ALWAYS laundry in the machine, drying, and in baskets waiting to be put away.</div>
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As Joss' is happy playing I quickly jot down a grocery list thinking if all the planets align this afternoon and there is a good time between nursing and Joss is in good spirits I MIGHT hit the shops (it never happened)</div>
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8.55 Hear Jasper stiring on the monitor and know he will be ready for a feed so tell Joss that it is time to feed Jasper which elicites squeals of delight as she knows that it means she gets to play her games on my phone.</div>
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9.02 realize I didn't close the notes I had been making for DITL and Joss has deleted them in the process of trying to get into her game as she won't allow me to do it any more this girl is all about "do it myself". Take a few deep breaths.</div>
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9.20 Jasper is fed and dressed and I get Joss into our going out routine of sitting on the potty and getting her shoes and her hand bag which keeps her sunglasses and what ever small toys she can shove in it. At the moment it is play food ham, bread, and knife so she can make ham sandwiches.</div>
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Putting her shoes on is all a bit much for my little drama queen</div>
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Poor Jasper gets roped into carrying the tax disc I realize I need to put in the car</div>
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We are actually out the door earlier than I thought so on top of picking up nappies because I am down to one, and I know if I risk going out with only one Jasper will have a run of blow outs, I decide we have time to stop and get diesel as well at the petrol station which is right next to the grocery store.</div>
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With two small kids there is no such thing as popping into a shop for nappies and in true fashion there is a melt down at the check out when I tell Joss no to getting a Bob the Builder magazine. </div>
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10.00 On the road for Seb Gym which is actually in two parts the first is an optional Parent and Toddler session which is open to anyone and as Joss is enrolled in the lessons after we can attend for free. Jasper has fallen asleep in his car seat and our favorite coach Debbie offers to keep an eye on him so I don't have to risk waking him when tranfering him to his Mai Thai sling.</div>
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Joss seems all about the balance beam today which is out of character for her, usually she wants to spend the whole 45 minutes swinging on the rings or waiting for turns on the trampoline. I am so amazed at how much she has grown since starting gymnastics she has never been one to be afraid of trying things and is quite the dare devil so no fear of heights or swinging around, but her ability to sit and wait her turn and follow direction has gotten so much better even at the parent and toddler session. As soon as she walks into the gym she knows "the rules".</div>
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10.45 There is a 15 minute break from the parent and toddler session and the stuctured lessons so Joss and I set up chairs for Seb, his mother Fran, and another mother who we have made friends with and Joss has snack. As soon as Seb arrives they are off running around like crazy loons.</div>
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11.00 Joss goes in for lessons, I love the fact that in a few short months Joss has gone from being shy and not sure she even wanted to go in to standing in the queue and waiting for her name to be ticked off the role as she goes in all by herself.</div>
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While Joss is in lessons I feed Jasper while chatting with Fran and the other mother we each have two children ranging in age from four years down to Jasper at 2 1/2 months and it is so nice to chat about how the kids are doing and to share milestones and also chat about challenges and realize that actually our kids aren't so bad, other kids throw tantrums in the middle of the grocery store and refuse to put their shoes on.</div>
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12.00 Joss comes out and I chat with her about what she did in lesson while I help her with her shoes. We start the journey to the car park which is huge and busy and I always have a heart in my throat moment as I worry she will run off and get hit by a car as she is so excited by walking out with Seb.</div>
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One hot sweaty mama after running after Joss with Jasper in his car seat but two kids safe and buckled into the car. </div>
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12.15 Joss decides about two miles from home that she HAS to wee and she can't make it home. Luckily I have a potty in the trunk of the car and whip into the nearest parking lot.</div>
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12.00 Home again, on Thursdays after gymnastics I always feel like I have put a full day in by the time we get home but it is so worth it for all the skills Joss is picking up.</div>
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Jasper has fallen asleep in the carseat so I carry him in and leave him in the hall where it is quiet and quickly throw together sandwiches for Joss and I.</div>
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Ham and cheese oh yeah we are gormet around here!</div>
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I make the mistake of thinking that I can open the mail while Joss and I eat only to find out that a bill we changed last month is no longer coming out direct debit and I have the final notice and that when we changed car insurance that our old insurance did not forward on some of the details and if we don't update the information we will loose our good rate. </div>
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I make the second mistake of thinking I can multitask and deal with paying the bill over the phone, who ever invented voice automated systems did not take into consideration having a three year old in the back ground yelling that she wants to talk on the phone. </div>
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I txt Philip as I am unsure of where the car insurance details are and thus begin a crazy hour of Joss not doing quiet time after lunch as usual, Jasper waking and wanting to be fed right as Philip is trying to ring me an give me the info for the car insuranc,e and having my phone die as it is out of battery, while the cat pukes. I didn't take a photo of the cat puke you can thank me later.</div>
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2.00 Joss finally goes in her room for quiet time favourite story choice at the moment is Daisy the Donut Fairy. I try not to whip through it in record time as this is the 967th time I have read it this week.</div>
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Jasper finishes nursing and a small amount of order is resumed.</div>
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2.45-3.00 Jasper settles for nap, again he is quite happy to go in his Moses basket drowsy and settle himself. I am greatful for such a chilled baby but on Thursdays especially I feel like he get forgotten and just has to "get on with it". Joss comes off quiet time about 2.45.</div>
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3.11 Mama collapses on the couch to try and chill for a few minutes while Joss is playing but as usual this happens</div>
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3.30 Afternoon snack of strawberries from our <a href="http://www.elapsm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/summer-bucket-list-picking-strawberries.html">Strawberry Picking Adventure </a>the day before</div>
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4.00 Jasper is up from nap and Joss and I head up to play with him on out bed. All starts out nice until Joss decides that the flannel I have given him to play with in his hands as I can't find his taggi is hers (techniquly it is but she never uses it). After a small fit Joss grabs my Lola's Cupcake cookbook from the side of the bed and decides to read Jasper and I a story. It goes something like this "Here is a yummy cupcake *turns the page* and another yummy cupcake *turns the page* look mummy a yummy cupcake".</div>
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4.30 We all head downstairs so I can start Joss' dinner and I manage to quickly sweep the kitchen floor. At some point here Jasper has gone down for another nap.</div>
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4.45 Joss sits down to eat while I chat with her the chosen topic is how everyone gets to work. Daddy rides a push bike to the train, Uncle Richard rides a push bike to work, Grandma drives her vroom vroom car. I unload and reload the dishwasher as we chat.</div>
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5.05 Joss gets in the bath while I nurse Jasper, joy of joy he does a deadly nursing poo that requires a wardrobe change for the both of us. Luckily the upstairs is set up so I can see the bath from Jasper's changing table and I grab a new pair of pants from the pile in a basket in the hall for me.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am gosh darn cute even if I poo all over you!</td></tr>
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5.45 Jasper chills on Joss' bed while I help her get her PJs on and comb her hair. Then start the bedtime ritual of "Two Pat" or the two episodes of Postman Pat.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How else would one watch TV?</td></tr>
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6.20 Good Night call to Daddy and Joss places her breakfast order of toast with Marmite for the following day. Good night kisses from Mama and Jasper. I take Jasper into our room to "whisper sweet nothings" to him and enjoy a few precious minutes with just him.</div>
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6.35 Joss is passed out and I get Jasper in his PJs as he is sleepy</div>
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6.45 Call with Philip to chat about the day and discuss details of our flat that is finally in the process of being sold. Jasper falls asleep while we are chatting an I transfer him to his Moses basket.</div>
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7-7.25 willfully waste time looking at blogs, Facebook, and instagram.</div>
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7.25-7.40 Take advantage of the fact MIL is on vacation I was able to park on the drive and attack mess in car and repack the changing bag for our Friday morning activities</div>
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I know I have two small children but it amazes me that it get so bad so quick</div>
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7.40 Jasper stirs and it is time for a feed</div>
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8.00 Jasper in Moses basket drowsy from feed fingers crossed he will drift off.</div>
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8.00-9.00 My mad house cleaning hour. I deep clean the kitchen and wash all the hand wash items that can't go in the dishwasher, wipe down the counters, organize a cupboard that always spills it's contents as soon as you open it. I grab all the dry clothes off the racks and do a marathon folding and organizing session so that I can quickly put it away in the morning.</div>
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9.00-9.30 look up recipe for refrigerator oatmeal and make a batch for the morning, general shut down of the house windows and blinds closed last quick tidy up while I obsessively check Skype to see if my mom is on.</div>
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9.45-10.15 ME TIME! A bath in which I get to shave and exfoliate followed by putting on lotion oh to the small pleasures!</div>
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10.15 Dream feed</div>
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My work here is done because *in whispered voice* Jasper has been sleeping through the night for almost three weeks. I am almost afraid to type it out after Joss not going longer than 4 hours until she was almost 9 months.</div>
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11.15 somewhat drowsy and almost asleep I hear the garage door as Philip puts his bike away and I feel secure enough to fall asleep.</div>
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Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-15925121228948533992013-07-29T10:14:00.001-07:002013-07-29T12:24:08.665-07:00Special Ice Cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuP4ULEryYOhgXedz3xhdFkaU9wy9gfeNN-tM5yw-gGYg14YE1VTU1ipt6rbtY4L15LOd94pUYV8sZCUpY9Mm7PmA9xO1G5P6xQVUSUCMJz_FWZf7Vw1E4tv10Pz0iN-fWjOxdZTB_Ank/s640/blogger-image-1783178163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuP4ULEryYOhgXedz3xhdFkaU9wy9gfeNN-tM5yw-gGYg14YE1VTU1ipt6rbtY4L15LOd94pUYV8sZCUpY9Mm7PmA9xO1G5P6xQVUSUCMJz_FWZf7Vw1E4tv10Pz0iN-fWjOxdZTB_Ank/s640/blogger-image-1783178163.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">December time last year mainly driven by the fact that I was SO over diapers I set about potty training Joss. We'd had a potty for her for a while and as any mother knows she usually followed me into the bathroom and we had been talking about how mommies and daddies do wee wee and poo poo in the potty. I had read a few books but nothing really fit us completely so took what I like from the books and in true Emma style decided to informatively wing it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While we had great success as long as I sat her on the potty at regular intervals she never asked to use it and if I didn't regularly insist on her sitting on the potty an accident was a sure bet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The combination of a stressful pregnancy, impending move, and knowing potty training with the arrival of a new baby is a bad idea I stepped back. While I knew that it was unlikely that she would be the five year old still not potty trained there is certainly lots of pressure from others and self pressure when it comes to potty training. Well meaning grandparents who recount the fact that their children were potty trained at 18 months (congratulations here's your trophy) to the play group mothers who proudly announce their little Einstein potty trained in two days and before their second birthday as your child shouts from across the room "mom I did a poo in my diaper"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In my head I figured if by August Joss was showing no interest we would broach the subject again but in the mean time I needed to survive the first crazy month or two of a newborn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The middle of June Joss started talking about how Jasper did his wee and poo in his nappy but (insert every adult she knew) did their wee wee and poo poo in the potty. She would even occasionally ask to use the the toilet usually at the most awkward moments like in the grocery store as far away from the toilets as possible or at the play ground where the toilets are across a huge field. While I fulfilled all request to use the toilet they were few and far between and with a small baby I didn't push to move the process along.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The last week of June we spent a Saturday night at friends who have two girls one six and one a few months older than Joss. The younger one had just recently potty trained and Joss was amazed watching her go use the toilet on her own and commented on her big girl knickers. We spent the night there and after a horrible night of about two hours of sleep Joss was up and marched to their bathroom and in true Jocelynne style announced she needed a wee and she was doing it ALL BY HERSELF. My somewhat snarky sleep deprived response was fine but leave the door open so if you fall in the toilet I can come get you out. The rest of the day she asked to use the potty at regular intervals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Monday morning after a bad night with Jasper and completely sleep deprived knowing daddy was off to work I made a really tough decision to capitalising on Joss' interest in Amelia's big girl knickers and pulled hers out from our earlier foray into potty training. I will be honest it was HARD not because I was pushing Joss to do something she wasn't ready for but more due to a not yet six week old baby to contend with as well but Joss was more than ready and willing. There were many times when Jasper had to fuss for a few minutes before getting settled for a nap or a feed as Joss' need to go potty eerily almost alway coincided with Jasper's need for attending to, Jasper had more than his share of nursing sessions with me sitting on the bathroom floor. The learning curve was quick with few random accidents after the first couple of days. Joss however remembered that treats were offed for wees and poos and insisted after her first success. She was easily weaned off of treats for wees but not so for poos. After about a week of success in both categories I pulled out the big guns and offered an even more tempting offer than chocolate buttons of "special ice cream" for a whole day with out accidents. On a whole it works well and Joss knows that after diner we will make the slow walk up to the corner shop to pick up her treat and if the stars all align it tends to be the right time to wind Jasper down for the night and the push chair ride is just the right length of time to get him to drowsy and transfer him into the cot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There is still the odd accident when mummy gets pre occupied or when Joss gets too engrossed or is afraid she will miss out. There is also still the need for mummy to help if I am attending to Jasper when all other times she wants to DO IT HERSELF. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As with EVERYTHING else in her short three years Jocelynne did it her way but this mama is breathing a sigh of relief that she won't be turning up to the preschool gates in September with her eldest still in diapers</div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-577490299726595712013-07-24T07:08:00.001-07:002013-07-24T07:08:44.817-07:00Summer Bucket List - Picking Strawberries<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiImuYK1udaIWioldwPai2IgpAopoGVmYKR6BNiHjtbczrZ8m-PGV8PAqfIV_TOYXbwgxlNwHq29ITPu_dRrBzJsS1pX5uw0GBnTMVvvOreEYyfKurM-KcoHAv9E2bo_SC1SnipcxcXXc9/s640/blogger-image--1208627896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiImuYK1udaIWioldwPai2IgpAopoGVmYKR6BNiHjtbczrZ8m-PGV8PAqfIV_TOYXbwgxlNwHq29ITPu_dRrBzJsS1pX5uw0GBnTMVvvOreEYyfKurM-KcoHAv9E2bo_SC1SnipcxcXXc9/s640/blogger-image--1208627896.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Strawberries were late to ripen this year due to a long cold spring followed by weeks of rain. When I first added strawberry picking to our Summer Bucket List I thought is was something we could do the end of June but each time I would check the website for an update the opening date was pushed farther and farther back. As we moved into into July our days and especially our weekends became busy with birthday parties and inset days for preschool and the idea moved out of the my mind. A friend mentioned it on Monday and I quickly asked my mother in law if she would join us on Tuesday. We woke to violent thunderstorms early in the morning that continued until lunch time on and off. As I was afraid it was a two adult activity and mother in law was back to work today and then on holiday and our weekend planned I decided to write it off for the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVp5G-_mjSkneb8QHdSn-wr1QxXmLDzWnQor5xhhfUKejR99tjE3OkbnMhwDxW0YkSwMyGS8Y1q8W2kctmVXDVqG1RkhQQwaI3gdTHGYJCpOrhuwNslfBZ6PS-8gLbig1RPWXuQaxA0WT/s640/blogger-image-485366520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVp5G-_mjSkneb8QHdSn-wr1QxXmLDzWnQor5xhhfUKejR99tjE3OkbnMhwDxW0YkSwMyGS8Y1q8W2kctmVXDVqG1RkhQQwaI3gdTHGYJCpOrhuwNslfBZ6PS-8gLbig1RPWXuQaxA0WT/s640/blogger-image-485366520.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I woke this morning with no set plans and a dry sunny but cool day forecast I quickly decided that if I could get everything to fall into place I would give it a go. Jasper settled well for a long early morning nap allowing me to organise everything quickly to set off right after he woke and nursed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am slowly learning to have no set expectations on how activities "should" turn out and just roll with it and it seems to be much better at the moment than setting unrealistic expectations. I am also learning to find a balance between telling Joss what our plans for the day are so she can feel secure in our routine and being a bit vauge so not to have to deal with her disappointment. So once Jasper was awake and fed I only told her we were going bye bye so we could start the routine of getting out the door.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OjMhOyWHzu0fQkbdvg_kZR9RJmZ1k6cXcLfrJwHBz6KdI2cHkknaRkoGKiZunx7pBRxIkHp4TTWq_QtFU4GAPG5gBLRsUFZf61TLxTWgWIxfGb7ZIP6RnD7tM8-NP7E7rdRGKE2Cvt2P/s640/blogger-image-322255878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OjMhOyWHzu0fQkbdvg_kZR9RJmZ1k6cXcLfrJwHBz6KdI2cHkknaRkoGKiZunx7pBRxIkHp4TTWq_QtFU4GAPG5gBLRsUFZf61TLxTWgWIxfGb7ZIP6RnD7tM8-NP7E7rdRGKE2Cvt2P/s640/blogger-image-322255878.jpg"></a></div></div>The drive was long enough to for Jasper to fall asleep in the car and then be tranfered into his push chair. This allowed me to focus on Joss and pointing out which strawberries were ready for her to pick.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qMEikvUk9pxxjmdpxmxrcMnceKUWAmmrk4LTK0-YwX7-uRc-ZycX8t6X6FHlmZ0mouwnkh4PV6Q2hvO5QCxMU15zP8GId8y7Tox9Yiak5IO-5uPxwoLaPYOG_Ni3oJGe-weFeBAMsWua/s640/blogger-image-1868598297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qMEikvUk9pxxjmdpxmxrcMnceKUWAmmrk4LTK0-YwX7-uRc-ZycX8t6X6FHlmZ0mouwnkh4PV6Q2hvO5QCxMU15zP8GId8y7Tox9Yiak5IO-5uPxwoLaPYOG_Ni3oJGe-weFeBAMsWua/s640/blogger-image-1868598297.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Her attention span was short, I had hoped to get more than two punnets but as mentioned above I am trying to realign my expectations and learn not to push an issue to melt down point. In the end it worked out well as it meant we had been out a short enough period I didn't have to try and entertain her while nursing Jasper in public which can sometimes become a hurculean feat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now if I can just manage to keep her from eating them all before Daddy and Grandma Kay get home from work! </div></div>Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-6144794796284306582013-07-10T13:40:00.000-07:002013-07-10T13:40:46.330-07:00This time around-weight lossThis time around the weight loss has not been so easy. I know it has only been 9 weeks since Jasper was born but with Jocelynne I was pre pregnancy weight with in a few week of giving birth granted I was 50lbs over a healthy BMI. This time around 9 weeks after birth I am 20ish lbs heavier than I was when I fell pregnant and I was sitting right at the top end of my healthy BMI then. I am back to attending regular Weight Watchers meetings and following the plan which allows for nursing mothers. I have to say it is HARD this time around.<br />
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Planning meals and finding time to cook especially as Joss has become some what of a picky eater take a lot of fore thought. I will not lie most nights when Philip is working I tend to have a ready meal for dinner. Also living with my mother in law means that there is stuff in the house that I just wouldn't buy and having to think about her likes and dislikes when we cook as a family. While she is not a picky eater she tends towards the meat and potato and two veg style of eating where Philip and I very much enjoy ethnic food and we like a lot of spice which isn't her thing. While she would never complain and would be happy to cook her own food if we were having something she dislike I find food a social experience and feel that when at all possible all should be included in the meal.<br />
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Fitness has also been really hard for me, I was quite active at the gym before I fell pregnant with Jasper and while the pregnancy came as a surprise it was my initial intention to carry on while my normal classes and work outs as long as I was comfortable and augmenting them as and where needed to continue for as long as possible. Unfortunately dealing with gallstones during the pregnancy took a lot of my physical energy and would take 3-5 days to recover from an attack and in the beginning I had 6 attacks in 8 weeks and then further attacks at spaced out intervals. By the time I attack free around 28 weeks I felt I had missed to much of my normal gym routine to jump right back in so used walking as my main source of exercise. So I feel like I am pretty much starting at square one again as far as fitness levels. <br />
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I don't know if it was the fact that I was back to pre pregnancy weight so quickly after Joss that I didn't really suffer with body image issue but this time around it is hard to see my flabby tummy as a badge of honour and a sign of the beautiful children I have made and carried for 9 months. Being in this in between time as I again try and build my fitness levels has been a lesson in self love and patience truly giving into the "season of life" I am in right now and acknowledging that I can't just pop out to the gym every night (not that I would have the energy at the moment). I have started a Pilate's class on Saturday morning, am trying to fit in as much walking as possible and thanks to a supportive husband this means 2-4 long walks each week either on my own or with just Jasper in the push chair (we do have a Phil and Ted's Vibe which easily converts from single to double but after a few attempt I have leaned that while it is good for getting around to run errands it is too heavy for me to do major walks with both in it). <br />
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Fear is also playing a huge part in setting me back, I don't want to be that person in the back of the class who can't keep up and to be honest I am still unsure how and when to incorporate ab exercises back into my work out which makes me shy away from the normal aerobics classes I use to enjoy.<br />
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I am grateful for such a supportive husband who knows that the key to me being a more content person which means a better mother is to be able to get to the gym and do the long walks. He also thinks outside the box and suggests ways to fit in exercise when I don't. A huge key to getting back at it quicker this time is the fact that Jasper will take a bottle meaning I have time to get to and from the gym and do my work out with out worrying that I have an unhappy baby at home. I have also realised that if I want to be able to leave Jasper in the creche at the gym I have to start early as I waited till Joss was over a year old and she never settled and after a few disastrous attempt I gave up. At the moment I am leaving Jasper for one one hour session a week while I take Joss swimming and once Joss starts preschool in the fall I will use that to do a class and may up it to two sessions a week.<br />
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I did it after Joss and to be honest that was harder because I didn't know I could do it I had been over weight all my life and afraid of the gym and by the time I fell pregnant with Jasper two years later I was a healthy weight and felt good about my shape and my fitness levels. I just have to remember I was not there 9 weeks after she was born and that the greatest gift I can give myself is kindness and acceptance of where I am at the moment.Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-85045228750864742662013-07-04T12:55:00.001-07:002013-07-04T12:55:56.496-07:00My PeopleTonight I wrapped 7 gifts and wrote out 7 birthday cards. The end of May through the the first of August is busy on the birthday front for us. These 10 weeks we celebrate the birthdays of the babies born in our <a href="http://www.nct.org.uk/">NCT</a> birth class. This year we mark our children's third year and it amazes me that just over 3 1/2 years ago 8 woman who when we met had nothing in common other than due dates from the end of June the end of July have grown into good friends. Since then we have celebrated the births of our first children, second children and soon to be third children in some cases, we have offered comfort after miscarriages. We have celebrated milestones, shared concerns, given support, laughed together, cried together, shared wine and food. <br />
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We have chosen very different ways to parent our children some have breast fed, some have bottle fed, some have chosen child led methods, some have introduced routines and schedules. I would hope we have not judged each other for our choices as I can honestly say that while we have all made different choices on how to raise our children I know these women well and know that each decision has been based on what each mother has thought best for her child.<br />
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Some I see weekly some I see monthly and some just once or twice a year but conversation is always easy and while we had very little in common 3 1/2 years ago now we share the badge of motherhood and beautiful 3 year old children. <br />
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These are my people the ones I want to txt first when Joss does something amazing, the ones I ring when I hit a parenting brick wall. I know that some of us will grow apart but I look forward to many more birthdays, to sleep overs, to wedding invitations in many years.<br />
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Happiest of 3rd birthday to 8 of the most amazing kids I have the joy of knowing!<br />
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<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-13875013010079094362013-06-28T14:13:00.000-07:002013-06-28T14:13:13.428-07:00Summer Bucket ListIn an effort to enjoy and make the most of the summer this year Philip and I have sat down and made a Summer Bucket List. It is not a to do list but rather a guide for things we would like to accomplish this summer. It is so easy to to get to September and realize all those "we should do this over the summer have gone undone" So the list will be typed up and laminated and stuck to the wall above the changing table (hey where else am I guaranteed to see it a good number times a day!).<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Moore Family Summer Bucket List</span><br />
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Make Homemade Rotel- I love Rotel and have about a million recipes pinned on Pinterest that use it but can't get it in the UK but I have found a recipe and going to give it a go.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thewhitehorseramsdenheath.co.uk/gallery-play-area.php">Try the White Horse Pub</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.eapples.co.uk/">Go Strawberry Picking</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.bekonscot.co.uk/">Take Big J to Bekonscot Model Village</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.adventureisland.co.uk/">Adventure Island</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.colchester-zoo.com/">Colchester Zoo</a><br />
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Fun Fair Chalkwell Park<br />
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<a href="http://www.visitsealife.com/London/">London Aquarium</a><br />
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The list is deliberately short as it had to take into consideration a small baby but I think it is a fun and do able list for us and I hope it means we can make some great memories this summer.<br />
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<br />Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269061867980878107.post-1122102247930146732013-06-26T12:59:00.003-07:002013-06-26T12:59:58.015-07:00This Time Around-Labour and Birth<div class="MsoNormal">
This time around is so much different than with Joss and
before it all melts away I want to jot down some thoughts on the differences
and similarities of the first little bit of time with both of my amazing babies
starting with their births.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>This time around I laboured at home till about 90 minutes
before Jasper was born: </b>This was totally different than with Joss who was
induced over 2 ½ days. I was where I
wanted to be it was just me at home with Joss and even then I flipped the TV on
so I was pretty much on my own and it was a good place to be I stood just
outside the back door so I could hear Joss if I needed to and really
appreciated that “this was it”. Even when we got to hospital once with the
exception of about 20 minutes it took to asses me and the 10 minutes at the end
we were walking the hallways on our own.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time around there was no epidural: There was some
screaming and yelling about 30 seconds before I started pushing because I wanted
one and it was too late but I didn’t really want one it was just transition
talking and after everything was said and done it was so much nicer that I hadn’t
had one. Once Jasper and I had bonded
had skin to skin contact and he had his first nurse I was able to get up and
have a shower and move around and didn’t feel as out of it as I did after
Joss. It was so nice to have a shower
right away and not just a sponge bath until the epidural wore off. By the time the epidural wore off with Joss,
Philip had gone home and I was afraid to leave Joss to shower so it was the
next morning before I got a proper shower.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>This time around I was upright and moving for all of labour
except the pushing (with the exception of about half an hour I purposely laid
down to slow the contractions as I was seriously worried Philip was not going
to make it home from work they were coming so fast and hard):</b> If I had not been
coaxed onto the bed to be checked I also would have probably pushed on all
fours on the floor but they got me on the bed and then wouldn’t let me turn
over to push this will forever go in my gripe book. With Joss they put me on
the monitor when my contractions started as I had been induced and they wanted
to make sure Joss was coping and then left me on there for almost three hours
and I was too stupid to ask them to let me off.
I was in so much pain it was insane.
By the time they let me off I was not sure what to do with myself and
when they came to “check me” and broke my water and attached a head monitor on
Joss restricting my movement I gave in and asked for an epidural.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>This time around my water broke spontaneously:</b> They broke my
waters with Joss and I don’t remember feeling anything but it may have just
been a small leak. This was an all-out
gush while I was standing at the nurses’ station wearing jeans that I then had
to waddle and drip back to my room in, but oh it felt so good to have the
pressure released.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time around I swore like a sailor at the top of my
lungs: I wasn’t exactly sweet with Joss
but I was afraid to truly let go, this time not a problem ask the two midwives
who attended my birth I said so pretty horrible things. At one point the midwife told me I was going
to have to stop screaming and listen to what she was saying. I informed her I could scream and listen to
what she was saying at the same time. Also ask anyone on the second floor of
Southend Hospital as I was screaming at the top of my lungs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>This time around Jasper crowned and didn’t just pop out in
one push:</b> Okay I pushed for seven
minutes and it only took 3 pushes one for him to come down one for him to crown
and one for his shoulders but considering it only took 3 pushes with Joss and
probably would have only taken one or two if I had started out pushing
correctly with her. I have to say not
having the epidural made it SO much easier to push (says the woman who only
pushes three times a baby).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>This time around I walked out of the hospital four hours
after Jasper was born and less than six hour after we arrived instead of 48
hours after Joss was born and 5 days after I arrived:</b> This was the closest thing to a home birth I
was allowed to have and it was so nice to be tucked up in my bed at home and to
be able to sneak in and kiss Joss good night when we got home.<o:p></o:p></div>
Yankee in Englandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12801047649293188238noreply@blogger.com1