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St George’s day 2015

by with 2 Comments PersonalUncategorized
Rhys came out of school yesterday with a gold star sticker on his jumper.
His teacher prompted him to tell me why he had it by asking him “beth ydy dy enw di?”, to which he answered
“Rhys ydw i”.

Which left me feeling really proud of him and a little bit ashamed of myself because I realised that my not-quite 4 year old son now knows more Welsh than me!

I’ve lived in Swansea for nearly 15 years now and have picked up a few Welsh words, some expressions and a little bit of an accent. But I’m definitely still English.

I love the fact that my children are growing up in Wales and that they’ll have that sense of national identity. I’ll happily tick the ‘Welsh’ box on forms for them, rather than ‘British’. But I do think it’s important that they know that half of their family is English and that that side of their heritage is also celebrated!

Which is why every year on St George’s day I proudly display the card my parents send me and dress the children in the England tops they buy for them!

I’m certain my parents only send us these things out of a genuine desire to celebrate our national saints day.

Knowing it’ll wind my Welsh father-in-law up has nothing to do with it I’m sure!

Happy St George’s day everyone!
Mini egg chocolate bark

Easter mini egg chocolate bark

by with No Comment PersonalRecipesUncategorized
I would love to say that we had loads of leftover chocolate from Easter and that’s why I made this.  But that would just be a complete lie!  I went and bought chocolate and mini eggs specifically to make this bark.

But, it’s a great recipe to use if you do happen to have leftover chocolate that you want to do something fun with!

It’s so simple to make and is really tasty – it didn’t last long in my house (I’m glad I took the photos of it as soon as it was made!).

This is how I made it; but it’s really versatile so you can use pretty much whatever chocolate and toppings you fancy!  There are loads of bark recipes on the internet if you want some inspiration for what toppings you could use – I’ve gathered a few together on my Pinterest board if you don’t know where to start looking!

So, to make my mini egg bark, I took 300g of milk chocolate and melted it in a saucepan (no fancy bain marie for me!).  While it was melting I covered a baking tray in greaseproof paper, then when it was ready I poured the chocolate onto the paper and spread it out with a spatula.

Next, I took a bag of mini eggs and popped a few handfuls onto the melted chocolate and pressed them down slightly.

Then I took a handful of white chocolate buttons and melted those (in a bowl in the microwave this time!).  Once that was melted I drizzled it all over the bark, then put the whole thing into the fridge for a few hours to set.

Once it’s set, just cut or break it up into pieces and enjoy.

Simple!  And so yummy!

Do you have a favourite bark recipe?  I’d love it if you would share it with me, I think it’s one of my new favourite treats to make!

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Where did my little boy go?!

by with No Comment ParentingPersonalUncategorized

You know how sometimes, you put your baby down for a nap and could swear that they had grown while they were asleep?  Or that their facial features had shifted somehow and they just look different; older maybe.

Well last week I really had one of those moments where my son seemed to change and grow up before my very eyes!

About a week or so ago his hair seemed to suddenly grow to a point that it was almost in his eyes and just really needed to be cut.  So we went off on an adventure!  Nerys went off happily (almost too happily!) with Nana and Pops for a walk round the park and Rhys and I caught the bus into town to the hairdressers.

I’ve taken him to Tickled salon on Swansea high street twice now and have been really impressed with it both times.  The staff are really lovely and friendly, there are seats shaped like cars for Rhys to sit in and watch tv and the haircuts themselves have been great!

So Rhys sat in a car, watched a bit of Frozen and before I knew it a whole new child was sitting in front of me.  He just looks so different, so grown up!  It’s taking a bit of getting used to, I have to admit.  I said in a recent blog post that one of the hardest things about being a parent is letting your children grow up, letting them go.  And I really do think that’s true.  Accepting that my little boy is getting bigger, gearing up for full time school in September, is hard!  And now seeing him looking older is making it all the more ‘real’.

I have to remind myself that it’s all part of the adventure.  We can’t cling to the last stage (as much as I’d like to sometimes!).  Time for my little boy to start becoming a big boy.  He is nearly 4 after all!

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Coping with teething

by with 6 Comments ParentingPersonalUncategorized
I don’t remember Rhys suffering too badly with teething.  I know he used to get a runny nose with it and was a bit unsettled, but nothing too bad.  Maybe I’ve just blanked out the memory of how bad it was?  I’m convinced that happens, something in the Mummy brain gently softens the memories of the hard times.  Otherwise no one would have more than one baby I suppose!

At the moment though, there’s no getting away from it.  Nerys is cutting 4 molars at the same time and oh dear God is she suffering!  At first I thought it was just the bottom two that were coming through, until I rubbed some teething gel on her gums and realised the top ones were starting to poke through as well.  No wonder she’s been in such a state.

And she really has been in a state.  For a lot of the day she’ll seem ok, then it’ll all get too much and she’ll be beside herself.  She just doesn’t know what to do with herself (Ah great, now I’ve got this song stuck in my head!).

I’m hoping the teeth are nearly through and she’ll be back to her sunny self soon, but in the meantime here’s how we’re coping:

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Have a little patience
When Nerys herself doesn’t even know what she wants it’s really hard to know what to do to help her!  I’m trying my best to be as patient as I can through the times of “I want you to pick me up, No I don’t want you to pick me up, I want that, No I want THAT, No I want THAT so that I can throw it”

Medication (for her)
When we can see she’s in pain with her teeth we’ll tend to dose her up with some painkillers to try and take the edge off for her.  I read recently that ibuprofen is best for teething pain as it helps with the inflammation of the gums as well as the pain.

Medication (for you)
Making sure I have a steady supply of chocolate and coffee helps keep me sane amidst all the screaming.  Ibuprofen for the screaming-induced headache helps also.

Alternative therapies
Lots of parents swear by Ashton and Parsons teething powder and it does seem to help calm Nerys down when she’s really suffering.  We also find Nelsons Teetha powder really good.
Nelsons teething gel has been a real help too; the combination of the magic power of the gel and the counter pressure on her gums seems to make her feel a bit better.

Something to chew on
This idea of counter pressure on the gums is also the main thinking behind this idea of giving them something to chew/bite on.  Suggestions from around the internet include giving them;

  • a stick of cucumber straight from the fridge
  • some ice wrapped in a muslin or flannel
  • a bagel that’s been in the fridge
  • specialist teething biscuits
  • a teething ring or other kind of teether – we foundthese were the best for Rhys

Nerys hasn’t really taken to any of these things, choosing instead to keep hold of the syringe after we give her some medicine and chewing on that!

Positive thinking!
I tell myself ‘this too shall pass’.  Over and over again.  As loud as I can, to try and drown out the screaming!

Does anyone have any other suggestions for how to cope with teething?  I’d love to hear if you have a miracle solution, or if you’re just suffering too, misery loves company and all that!

Let's Talk Mommy
open letter to my daughter end breastfeeding journey

A letter to my daughter at the end of our breastfeeding journey.

by with 12 Comments ParentingPersonal

Dear Nerys,

Tonight we stopped breastfeeding.

After 13 months and 7 days of my body providing you with nourishment and comfort, we quietly stopped.  No fuss, no upset.  This is the right time for this to happen.

And I knew it was coming.  Just a few short weeks ago you were feeding all through the night.  I had convinced myself that you needed the milk.  That you were growing and needed the calories.  That you were teething and poorly and needed the comfort.  That you needed ME.

But you didn’t really.  You wanted it because it was lovely and familiar and comforting in the dark of the night, but you didn’t need it any more.  What we really all needed was to get more sleep!

So we cut out those night feeds.  Within a day or two you stopped asking for milk in the nights.  You were perfectly happy to have a cuddle, or to cwtch in next to me in bed.

Soon enough we were down to just a feed at bedtime.  That cozy little routine we’d pretty much perfected over the last year.  Bathtime with Rhys and Daddy.  A little play all together on the bed.  Then into your sleepbag and settle down for a quiet feed.  Just you and me.

But over the last few days I’ve felt it coming.  The end of this stage in your life.  This stage in our lives.

I could tell my milk supply was dwindling.  That you weren’t really feeding any more.  I knew that one night soon would be the last night you would need me in that way.

That night turned out to be last night.  I didn’t know it then.  But when we went through our bedtime routine tonight you didn’t reach for me.  You didn’t point to the bed as you used to, instructing me to sit down and feed you.  Instead you pointed to the bottle I had brought up with us, and you sat next to me and drank that happily.

Then you snuggled in to me, allowed me to help you fall asleep in a new way.  I held you in my arms and sang Calon Lan, just like I used to with your brother.  And you drifted off to sleep.  Safe, comforted, loved.

There were no tears from you at the end of this stage in your life.  You’re ready for this.  Ready to stop being dependent solely on me, ready to take that first step away from me and towards independence.

I think I’m ready for this too.  I had a quiet cry tonight, as I held you and stared at your perfect sleeping face.  It hasn’t always been easy, but I have truly loved being able to feed you for this long.  It has amazed me that we made it this far and it’s a little bittersweet knowing that you don’t need me in the same way any more.  But it makes me so happy to see you go to Daddy for hugs and comfort now, and to see you explore Nana and Pops’ house with a new-found confidence.

You have changed and grown so much in the last few weeks.  My baby is almost gone and that does make me a little sad.  I’ve so loved this stage of your life, I don’t really want to let it go.

But that’s what I have to do.  Mamie always told me that your children are only lent to you.  The best thing I can do for you as your Mummy is to let you go, little by little.  Of course I’ll never fully let you go, you’ll always, always be my baby girl, but I have to let you grow up.  And this is the beginning of that.

I think I’m ready for this.  The baby stage has been wonderful, but oh the toddler stage is so much fun!  I’ll miss the special time with you that breastfeeding has given me, but it’s time for a new part of your life now.  It’s time for you to be the Daddy’s girl we always knew you would be!

I will always be here to give you love and comfort whenever you need it, but now that will come from hugs and kisses and gently spoken words in the dark of night.  You don’t need the milk any more; it’s done its work of helping you grow big and strong.  You have so much love around you, you will never be in want of comfort.

This is the right time for this.

Yes, we’re ready for this!

Love,
Mummy

letter to my daughter end of breastfeeding journey

Mummascribbles

Week in review – Sunday 5th April 2015

by with No Comment PersonalUncategorized
Thanks to a combination of a strange 12 hour tummy bug and a teething baby who didn’t want to settle to sleep last night, this didn’t get posted quite on time!  Oh well, these things happen!

A day late, here’s what we got up to last week:

  • We had a lovely time with my brother-in-law, his wife and their daughter who were visiting from the Isle of Man.

 

  • Rhys had a great time exploring the rocks with his Uncle at Caswell Bay.

 

  • We spent a fab afternoon catching up with family (and extended family) on Good Friday.

 

  • The sun came out on Saturday so I spent a very warm few hours in the park with a friend and our children.

 

  • I stopped breastfeeding Nerys; after a little over 13 months it seemed to be the right time for both of us for it to stop.  I think I’ll be writing more about this in another post!

 

  • Nerys started signing ‘thank you’, which makes me really happy!

 

I hope you all had a fab week and a lovely Easter weekend!