Making Food Fun with Organix Fun Plates

29.8.17

When weaning both Indiana and Parker we followed the baby led method. It was so much fun to watch them explore and discover new foods, and I will 100% put their 'good' eating down to this method.


I will admit though, once they started to eat proper meals I kind of gave up with trying to make their food look, and seem, exciting. Their snacks are pretty repetitive as I've just got into such a habit of handing them an apple, or some kiddy snacks.

So when Organix got in contact and asked if I wanted to try one of their fun plates, I of course jumped at the chance! Especially as my two are still huge fans of their yummy snacks (and I won't say no either if I'm offered). We were sent some Organix Goodies Gummies so we could try the fruit fish plate.



The plate was so easy to create, and all the fruit needed were ones we'd purchase in our weekly shop anyway. I will say I was skeptical about the kiwi, as Parker really isn't a fan of it at all. But he actually gave it a go, and despite not actually eating it, he did pick it up and try it which is a big step for him! The gummies weren't even first to go either, as grapes are a big favourite here.



Want to give it a go for yourself? Here's how:

Fruity Fish Fun Plate

You Will Need:

1/3 kiwi fruit cut into long triangles

2 round slices of orange cut into 3 semi-circles and 2 small triangles

4 green grapes, sliced into circles

5 Organix Strawberry & Apple Gummies

4 Organix Blackcurrant & Apple Stars


Step 1

Arrange the kiwi fruit triangles at the bottom of the plate for seaweed.

Step 2

Place two of the semi-circles of orange in the middle of the plate, pushed together to form a circle then add the third semi-circle to make the fish’s tail.

Step 3

Arrange the sliced grapes on top of the orange for the fishes scales, leaving one part of the orange clear for the face. Add the triangles of orange for the fish’s fins, then a one of the Strawberry & Apple Gummies for the fish’s eye.

Step 4

Finish the fun food plate off by scattering the Blackcurrant & Apple Stars among the kiwi seaweed for star fish and arrange the remaining Strawberry & Apple Gummies above the fish for bubbles.


Are you're little ones adventurous with their food?

We received the Organix snacks in exchange for this post. All opinions are honest and my own.

The Gruffalo Spotters Trail at Bedgebury Pinetum

28.8.17


Last September we headed to our local Forestry Commission Bedgebury Pinetum, where we completed the Stick Man trail. This year however, we headed back to Bedgebury in search of someone a little bit bigger... The Gruffalo!

There are 26 Forestry Commission trails across the UK, all of which work in unison with The Gruffalo Spotter App. All you need to do is download the free app (it's best to do this at home, as most locations have limited service), and then hunt for the marker posts along the trail.

You can even pick up a little Activity Pack* in the Visitor Centre for £3. This contains an evidence collection bag, 5 fact and activity cards, Gruffalo character stickers, a special magnifying glass, and a pencil - all of which will help your little ones with the activities along the trail. We did pick one up for Indie and Parker to share, but at 3 and 2 they were probably most interested in the stickers. 



Armed with our activity pack, we were on our way! The trail is really well signposted, and there's definitely no chance of missing it or getting lost. There was even a little surprise at the start of the trail, as we came across The Gruffalo's Child.

The trail itself is a continuous woodland trail, but the animals to spot are split into 4 sections. There are 3 different sign post clues to find, which then lead you to the footprint marker posts. These are where you use the app to find the animals!

Your little ones will have to guess who is in the magnifying glass, spin a little wheel which is hiding 3 images, and then look through the 'binoculars' for the final clue. The activity packs contains a little booklet where they can fill in this information, and then once they've found the animal they can add the correct sticker too.





You'll come across Mouse, Fox, Owl and Snake before ending the trail with The Gruffalo himself. Unfortunately for us we did have trouble with the app on a number of the posts. It took a long time for the animal to load up before it gave you the option to take a picture, (not so handy with little ones who don't stand still for a picture anyway). We couldn't get the Snake post to work at all so missed out on a picture with him completely.

We also chose to visit the trail on a Bank Holiday Sunday, so it was extremely busy. This meant we often had to wait at each of the activities, as there were so many people completing the trail at once. This did kind of ruin the experience for Jack and I, but it was probably our own fault for picking a bad time to go. I'd probably recommend visiting midweek or early / late in the day to avoid this happening.






Overall though, we had a lovely time completing The Guffalo Spotters Trail. The walk through the woodlands was lovely, and despite a few hills it was perfect for the littles to wander around. The highlight for them was probably find The Gruffalo at the end of the trail. A perfect photo opportunity so don't forget your camera!

The trail and app are completely free (you just have to pay for the parking at your chosen location), so if you're looking for a fun family day the won't break the bank, it's definitely a great choice. Especially as Bedgebury has so many other activities such as cycling trails, Go Ape! and adventure play on offer too!



*We received expenses and products in exchange for our review. All opinions are honest and my own. Thank you to LittleLife for providing Parker's backpack, TU at Sainsbury’s for The Gruffalo wellies and John Lewis for the cuddly toy!

Parker's 2 Year Update

19.8.17

So our beautiful boy Parker is now two. A fact that I'm still completely in denial about (and probably will be for a loooong time). We celebrated his birthday with a trip to the London SEA LIFE Aquarium, and then had a family bbq at our house a few days later. Nothing overly fancy, but I know he would have been happy to play with his presents all day at home anyway!

I haven't had any official stats done on Parker in a very long time now - but I'm hoping to see where he's at when we have his 2 year check in a few months. He's in a combination of 1.5-2 and 2-3 year clothing (depending on the store) and is a size 6G in shoes. He's got 20 teeth, although we've had a few rough teething days with those last pesky molars recently. He's already had about 3 haircuts too which is mad. His hair is SO thick and grows fast, so I think he'll need another soon too.

Routine-wise nothing much has changed for the last few months. He wakes around 6.30/7am, has 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, naps around 1-3pm and bedtime is at 6.30/7pm. He still has a cup of milk at bedtime, and is very much attached to his muslins and dummy - although we try and keep these for nap / bedtime only now.



Development wise, this past month has seen Parker blossom completely. He can count to 10 and down from 5, can recognise a few colours and knows where all of his body parts are. He's still learning new words each day - some which take us by surprise sometimes. He's basically a little sponge of knowledge!

He's definitely more physically able compared to mentally though. He's been able to jump with both feet off of the ground for a few months now, and climbs with absolute ease. He's got a pretty good kick and throw on him too. It's amazing to see just how different he is to his big sister, who was (and still is) very much more into learning and sitting quietly with toys. He is getting better at playing, but being still is not his thing at all.



This month Parker has been loving Paw Patrol - he's absolutely obsessed! He can name all of the characters, has the toys and would happily sit for hours watching it. He still loves cars, trains and buses, and Blaze is another favourite TV character. We got him garden toys for his birthday which have been played with almost daily since. He's also enjoyed visiting the dinosaurs at our local shopping centre!

Turning two has definitely brought on the 'terrible twos' with a vengeance. P is cheeky, stroppy and oh so stubborn. He will fight for what he wants, and isn't scared to throw a tantrum wherever we are. Although this sometimes make days harder, I absolutely LOVE watching his little personality develop... just maybe with less of the attitude though please P?

I cannot believe this is the last monthly update I'm going to share about Parker. These two years have gone so quickly, and I've loved documenting his growth each month. I will definitely still be doing updates every 6 months / year like I now do with Indiana though. I don't want to forget a moment of him growing up!

18 Weeks Pregnant {Baby Number Three}

18.8.17

I am so glad I made the decision to write these pregnancy updates fortnightly, these weeks are just flying by. I'm almost half way through this third pregnancy already! I'm trying to enjoy every moment though, as I know this time it's definitely my last. 


HOW FAR ALONG?
18 weeks & 5 days

DUE DATE?
14th January 2018

GENDER?
If you haven't seen our announcement already, definitely pop over and watch our surprise confetti reveal! We are absolutely thrilled to be expecting another beautiful baby girl. A little sister for Indiana and Parker - which they are absolutely oven the moon with. Bring on the pink and florals!


HOW’S BABY DOING?
I use the Baby Centre App to check on baby's progress - This week, SHE (eek, still feels crazy writing that!) is about 14.2cm (almost the size of a pepper), and weighs up to 190g. Her ears have reached their final position on the sides of her head, and her tiny eyebrows are taking shape. Although saying that, neither of mine really had eyebrows as newborns.

WEIGHT CHANGE?
I definitely feel bigger this week. My bump has grown, and my goodness my boobs are MASSIVE - I didn't think they could grow anymore! I can feel my ribs expanding more too which isn't very pleasant.

SYMPTOMS?
I've been feeling generally well these past few weeks, and symptoms seemed to have tailed off a bit. Of course I'm still exhausted, and my sense of smell is off the chart, but I think they're just part of life now! I did have my 16 week midwife appointment last week, where I discovered I have low blood pressure. Probably the reason behind my breathlessness and dizzy spells!

SLEEP?
Apart from waking around 6am for the loo, I'm sleeping really well. I just hope it lasts!

CRAVINGS?
I'm back on to the 'I'm hungry, but there's nothing I want to eat' craving again... Is that a craving?

HOW I’M FEELING?
Happy. Oh so happy! We are making exciting plans for baby buys, and thanks to my sister we're nearly already prepared clothes-wise for the first few months. I'm full embracing my pregnancy this time too, showing off and talking about bump as much as possible.

MISS ANYTHING?
Clothes. I'm already tired of my wardrobe and I'm not even half way yet! I was lucky to receive money for my birthday this week though, so I've done some serious maternity shopping to cheer myself up!

FAVOURITE RECENT OUTFIT?
It's all about layering at the moment, and a vest top and shirt seems to be my go-to outfit. 

BEST MOMENT THIS FORTNIGHT?
Apart from my midwife appointment where we got to listen to baby girl's heartbeat again, I would definitely say my birthday baby moon! Jack surprised me with a couple of nights away in the New Forest - just the two of us. It was so lovely to spend some quality time together, where we could both just switch off and relax. It was bliss!


LOOKING FORWARD TO?
Our 20 week scan, although we still have another 2 weeks to wait! I cannot wait to see our little bump on the screen again.

You can see how this pregnancy compares to Parker's (my second) here.

How to Survive the Cinema with a 2 Year Old

15.8.17

Last week I made the absolutely crazy decision to join my sister and her little ones at the cinema. Not just me though. Me and my two. The cinema with a 3 year old and just turned 2 year old. 

I was mad right?

But much to my relief, it was actually rather successful! Armed with all the popcorn, comforters and even more snacks, we made it through the whole of Sing (a 108 minute long film), with two year old Parker only getting restless in the last 20ish minutes.


So what would my tips be for cinema-ing with toddlers? 

  • Look out for specific children's movie screenings. Our local cinema is an Odeon, and during the holidays and at the weekends they show 'Odeon Kids' films in the mornings. And the best thing about them is that tickets cost just £2.50 each - including adults!

  • TAKE ALL THE SNACKS. Okay, so Parker pretty much resembled a piece of popcorn by the time the film ended, but the cinema is a treat right? 

  • If your little one has a comforter / dummy make sure it's packed! Parker always snuggles up when he has his dummy and muzzie, so it was a great help in keeping him in his seat. 

  • Go with friends / family! Parker spent a lot of time snuggling on my sister's lap, and it made the whole experience a whole lot easier as I wasn't completely on my own!


I also asked my fellow bloggers for their top tips, and as always they came up with some brilliant ones! I especially agree with the one about the toilet.. we ended up missing the end of the film as I had to take both littles to the loo.

  • I always try and arrive after the adverts have finished as they last so long and usually by the time the film starts, my kids are fidgety. If I get there when the film starts they are still captivated - Kerry

  • Trial at home first! If they sit through a movie at home, they will LOVE the cinema - Alex

  • We sat at the end of an aisle so we could escape if needed - Lisa

  • Sit where it's easy to nip to the loo! No matter how many times you ask before hand, they will still get fidgety and want to go! - Jodie

  • We took lots of drinks and snacks and sat near the back so if he was fidgety or stood up it wouldn't bother anyone - Lindsay

Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'll be heading to the cinema every week with them. But it's definitely given me the confidence that it is manageable. And actually, it quite fun too!

Have you taken your toddler to the cinema? Any top tips?

The Siblings Project | August 2017

14.8.17

I am soo glad the sun finally made a return these last few weeks. Indiana and Parker are definitely happier when out and about, and it's made the summer holidays much more enjoyable. We've had some lovely days out and plenty of snuggly days at home too. They are still as thick as thieves, and I even got asked if they were twins this month! Although if it wasn't for the height difference, I could totally see it.

We celebrated Parker's birthday this month, which means these two have been siblings for a whole two years now... crazy! I remember bringing Parker home from the hospital, wondering how Indie was going to react to her new baby brother.




And now here they are two years on. Sitting together playing, giggling away when they should be going to sleep and most definitely working together to see how much they can wind their dad and I up. Monkeys.

They're also just a few months away from welcoming a third into their duo. And I think as the weeks go on, I become more worried about how the dynamics are going to change. Of course right now they're smothering my bump in kisses, and constantly talking about their baby sister. Ooh yes, it's another girly if you haven't seen our announcement! But are they ready to let another in? I hope so!

There's just a few more weeks of the holidays left, and then Indie's back to preschool three days a week. I know she most definitely needs the routine back, and I could do with the break too! I just hope that their relationship doesn't take a step back when she's not home everyday. I think Parker's really going to miss her.


The Siblings Project - Dear Beautiful

Parker's Second Birthday at SEA LIFE London Aquarium

8.8.17


Last week our beautiful boy Parker turned TWO (can you tell I'm still in denial?). To celebrate we decided to hop on the train to London, and visit the fantastic SEA LIFE London Aquarium. Both littles absolutely love animals, so I knew it was going to be a hit.

Located in the heart of London along the Embankment (right next to the London Eye, Dungeons and Shrek's Adventure), the Aquarium is really easy to find and travel to.  The Aquarium itself is spread over three floors and houses 500 species of aquatic life from all over the world. From tropical fish and seahorses, to sharks, turtles and even penguins. There's SO much to see - and I know that I've definitely not seen everything despite visiting a number of times now!


We arrived at the Aquarium around 1.30pm as we thought it would be quieter, however it was probably still just as busy! We did find it hard at times to find areas at the big tanks (such as the sharks and penguins) to see anything. Adults wouldn't move for little ones, and there were times we were waiting and people would just push in front of us. Obviously this is nothing that London Aquarium can help (London is a very busy place!), but it does kind of ruin the experience a little bit.

I can't say if had any affect on the littles experience though. They were SO excited throughout our visit, running from tank to tank with glee. They were just as fascinated with the pregnant seahorses, as they were with the "very scary" sharks. The highlight of our visit though, was definitely the new Ocean Invaders section - the UK's largest jellyfish experience. It's so immersive and definitely a brilliant end to the Aquarium!





SEA LIFE London was definitely a perfect place for a second birthday visit. There's so much to see, and although crowd levels can be high, there's no rush to get through as quickly as possible. The whole of the Aquarium is buggy accessible too, which is a definite bonus! I know we'll be back for sure.

Prices start from £26 for adults, and £21 for children aged 3-15, children under the age of 3 are free (on the day prices).




We were lucky enough to work with 365 Tickets, who kindly provided our tickets to the Aquarium. They offer global attraction tickets at great rates - definitely check them out!

16 Weeks Pregnant {Baby Number Three}

5.8.17

When you read this post I'll actually be 17 weeks pregnant, but with so much going on this week it's been hard to find time to sit down, let alone blog! I'm absolutely loving this pregnancy so far, although it's already going far too fast for my liking.


HOW FAR ALONG?
16 weeks & 6 days

DUE DATE?
14th January 2018

GENDER?
We had our Gender Scan today, eek! We asked the sonographer to pop the gender in an envelope though, so we'll be finding out tomorrow (which is today for you!). I'm 100% sure we're having a little boy, but according to all of the gender tests we did, we're expecting a girl. Any last minute guesses?

HOW’S BABY DOING?
I use the Baby Centre App to check on baby's progress - he or she is now the size of an avocado at 11.6cm and weighing about 100grams. Baby's neck muscles and back bones are now stronger, meaning his or her head is more upright, and their body is straighter! 

WEIGHT CHANGE?
I don't feel as much has changed this last few weeks, which is good I think. Although baby is apparently meant to have a growth spurt over the next 3 weeks, so there's still plenty of time!

SYMPTOMS?
I am so, so breathless already, which is something that has really surprised me. I know from my gender scan that everything is already pretty high up, so I think that's the reason. I'm absolutely covered in spots, my hair is constantly greasy and I could sleep for a week. But apart from that... I'm feeling pretty good!

SLEEP?
I'm still waking in the early hours to use the loo - and whenever I wake up I'm ridiculously thirsty too, so it's a vicious cycle. Thankfully still on my tummy to sleep though!

CRAVINGS?
ALL. THE. SALT. AND. CARBS. Seriously, this baby just wants me to eat junk! I'm completely off of chocolate though, which is a big change for me. I miss it!

HOW I’M FEELING?
Excited! I cannot wait to find out whether baby is a boy or a girl tomorrow alongside our families. I'm also relieved that all is going well with baby - it was lovely to see them wriggling away on the scan.

MISS ANYTHING?
Being able to walk up the stairs without feeling like I've run a marathon!

FAVOURITE RECENT OUTFIT?
Stripes! I'm pretty sure every store's maternity range only consists of them.

BEST MOMENT THIS FORTNIGHT?
Feeling baby's first movements! I thought I was going crazy when I felt those felt wriggles at 15 weeks - but I've been reassured it's normal with subsequent babies (I also know I have a posterior placenta which helps). I cannot wait until they're really regular and big enough for Jack and the littles to feel.

LOOKING FORWARD TO?
I have my 16 week midwife appointment on Monday, so it will be lovely to hopefully listen to baby's heartbeat. Of course finding out the gender of baby too!

You can see how this pregnancy compares to Parker's (my second) here.