In case You Didn’t Know…
Days Out – Scotney Castle
Whilst we were in Tunbridge Wells for T’s Photoshoot, we decided to make the most out of our National Trust membership and visit a local attraction.
Shamefully, we don’t know much about our country’s history apart from the well known periods of time; which is one of the reasons we took the membership out, not to mention being able to visit new beauty hotspots.
So when we saw that Scotney Castle was just down the road we decided to go there.
Scotney Castle is a stunning period property that only got taken over by the NT in the 1950’s. A small, albeit ruined, castle is also situated within the 700+ acres and is surrounded by a stunning lake and moat.
During our visit we walked around the house, the green spaces around the property, and then the castle. I decided to wear T although apart from the house, it was extremely buggy friendly if I hadn’t worn him. Despite not visiting the property before, it was easy to see that it’s seen best within the autumnal colours – it’s a photographers paradise!
Before leaving, we squeezed in a visit to the cafe (something we need to try and avoid if we’re going to be visiting NT sites weekly!) and the gift shop.
Off to a good start already with our National Trust membership, we hope to visit a NT site every weekend, if not every fortnight, to encourage us to go out and visit somewhere new.
Have you got a NT membership? Where have you been recently? Where do you recommend?
K
We were given no compensation for the purpose of this post – we just love our National Trust membership!
Weaning: 1 Month On.
I’m not sure what I expected when we started weaning T a month ago. I had no idea whether he’d like the tastes or the textures, whether he’d like the same foods as me, even whether there’d be spitting out, or even choking! I guess I told myself to take each day as it came, and that I did.
I’ve very quickly learnt that one day can be so different from the previous, and that’s no different when it comes to weaning. Some days he ate everything on his tray, other days he played with the food (even if he’d had that exact meal a week or so ago!). There was no obvious explanation so it was pointless trying to work it out.
Here’s what else I’ve learnt:
There WILL be mess. Face, hands, highchair, the floor, the dog, ME! Pretty much after the third time T dropped/chucked his banana on the floor I went to my local hardware shop and bought a plastic table cover. At least this way im not getting food on the carpet, and he can have it back if it’s been dropped (until it becomes a game!).
There WILL be wastage. Similar to above, what misses the mat completely, ends up in the compost bin (or my mouth if it’s not covered in fluff). This can get frustrating as you’re torn between doing smaller meals so that there’s no wastage, but once it’s gone, it’s gone and T has nothing to eat.
You WILL end up finishing off the odd bowl or plate of something. Which isn’t so bad if he’s eating veggies. Banana pancakes? Toast? Not so much.
Poop WILL change almost immediately. It took a few days for the poop to really change but when it came, it came, and it wasn’t long before I started missing the breastmilk poops. It is cool, however, to see what’s been going down. Literally.
Going down the baby-led weaning route means you don’t really have to prepare much as they’re eating what you’re eating. So if I’m having a cheese salad, he’ll have that as well. The only times I have to prepare him something different is when I’m not having a baby friendly meal like Ryvita, or if I don’t want to give him toast for breakfast for a second day in a row because I am. I still have a few stable bits in the freezer like banana pancakes, mashed potato, pin wheels, etc. but these are generally used for days when he needs a bit more to his meal or a bit of variety.
At the moment, he’s only having breakfast and lunch as I’m finding it hard to find the time to offer a dinner once he’s had another feed after lunch, a nap, and then another feed as it’s then time for a bath and then bed. I could try and fit it in around 5pm but he’s sometimes mentally getting ready to settle down by then. When he does get round to having a dinner/supper though, he’ll likely be having dinner on his own, which I don’t like the thought of, as S gets home so late and I’d rather eat with her, and I don’t want two meals, but then that factor isn’t as important right now.
I was/am quite nervous of choking, so I’m still reluctant to offer things like red meat but watching him at the moment devoir tougher things like red pepper is starting to gain me more confidence.
Of all the things to come out of taking a baby led weaning approach, eating out is one of them! It makes it so much easier! All we have to do is share our plate or get a side of veggies for him.
It’s been a fun month, albeit stressful. It’s exciting watching him try all these new flavours – I’m looking forward to him trying his first Christmas dinner!
K
Days Out – Our Puddleducks Photoshoot
T has been going swimming with Puddle Ducks for a few months and is now quite the swimmer. It’s not yet actual swimming like you and I would do, it’s swimming baby-style, meaning that he knows how to behave in the water. He knows how to spit water and kick following a prompt, as well as lay on his back with minimal assistance. He can also reach out whilst kicking meaning he’s getting the swimming basics. On top of this, he is also confident when “swimming” underwater which is amazing, albeit daunting, to watch when he’s kicking to reach the surface of the water And succeeding! I don’t know how the Puddle Ducks program works, but whatever they do it works as T is now very confident (and happy) in water.
So when we got an email a few weeks ago advising us that there would be an opportunity to have an underwater Photoshoot we couldn’t resist. T is amazing with submersions so we wanted to capture that once in a lifetime moment on camera. Unlike other water classes for babies, the Photoshoot wasn’t included in the cost of our lessons. I personally like this idea as I know from going to the classes that not every baby likes going under water, so having a Photoshoot included in the price of your lessons is then, sadly, wasted.
We had to drive to Tunbridge Wells for the shoot as the next opportunity in Brighton wouldn’t be until T would be a year and we wouldn’t be sure whether he’d be agreeable to submersions so we went with this option.
The site where the Photoshoot was based for the day was stunning, which made it even more enjoyable.
Puddle Ducks have always been very lucky with their locations, and little did I know that they have DOZENS of sites across the South not to mention the north and Midlands. Their instructors are also extremely dedicated and often travel to various locations for their lessons during one week.
As we entered the warm log cabin where the pool was, T began to get very excited. Although there was no chlorine smell, he knew what was going on. I immediately saw all the equipment set up for the shoot and also began to get excited.
After getting changed and coming back poolside it was simply a case of waiting for our allotted slot.
Once in the pool, we were given a detailed run down of how the photoshoots work and what will happen. Puddle Ducks had arrange for a professional submersion expert to come down for the day to assist with the shoots. For me, this was reassuring as I was concerned I would mess up and either a) not grab T in time or worse b) mess the photos up! Up until now, T has been submerged plenty of times so I wasn’t at all nervous with someone else doing it – however it can still be daunting for parents to watch someone else submerge their child.
Whilst the shoots were happening we went through a mini class at the same time to keep the babies calm and focussed, this was nice as I was able to experience another instructor from our usual one.
In total, we had three separate shoots of T and one shoot with me and T underwater if I wanted to (of course I did!). Then, it was just a case of waiting for the photos to be put online that evening within a secure page that required a password.
What I liked about the day was that there was never any selling or pressure to buy. I’ve known plenty of studios in the past to invite people along to a “casual” or free Photoshoot only to be pressured into buying something later. With his photoshoot, you’re invited to view that days photos and pick what you’d like.
When it comes to buying, you have several choices and packages ranging from printed photos to USB sticks and canvasses.
We chose to get 5 of our photos put onto a USB stick for future printing. This then came with a free printed photo.
It really was a lovely day. T even seemed to enjoy himself as well!
K
We received no compensation for the purpose of this post/review.
7 Month Update.
T is now 7 months old!
This month emphasises why I should have started our milestones photos on our bed rather than the moses basket!
This month really has flown by, which I think is down to weaning as it’s made my days even busier than they were before! In addition to the usual jobs around the house, days when I’m out, boobing or playing with him, I’m now having to think about meals. Once one meal is done and cleaned up, I’m off to the next one once he’s boobed and (sometimes) napped in between.
I’m also having to prepare bits for the freezer every few days. Not because he’s eating it all, but because I just want some stable bits stored so I don’t have to make it fresh; whether it’s mashed potato or banana pancakes.
I’ve tried doing large batch cooking but it’s not often long before he needs another feed, or just some company, so I can’t get involved in too much, and I try and avoid “mum stuff” (if that makes sense) at weekends as I want to do family stuff!
Milestones wise, T quite happily sits unaided now. He rarely topples, but when he does it’s because he’s overreaching for something or the dog has barged past and knocked him over.
T still has no interest in rolling or moving at all which, I know, is a godsend as he stays where I put him, but at the same time this means he gets frustrated easily when he wants something. I’m not overly worried (yet) as he’s sitting up and his legs are incredibly strong when I stand him up on my legs. Knowing my luck he’ll just get up and walk one day.
Things are going suprisingly well sleep-wise. As mentioned last month, we introduced him to the cot in his room. The first night he woke 3 times every 3 hours, the next; twice every 5, and the next he slept through! We still every now and again get hiccups where he’ll wake shortly after being put down or really early like 4am, but after a quick plug of the dummy or a boob he’s then back off until 7am. I’m really impressed and genuinely didn’t think he would settle but, so far, it’s been alright!
These past few weeks have, by far, been my favourite time. He engages a lot more with the things you put infront of him; clearly trying to work it out, he communicates a lot better; albeit babbles, but now they’re not just screams. He no longer seems to be this “vulnerable” baby. Sure, you can’t leave him alone for more than 30 seconds but you can play a lot rougher now; not in the chinese burn kind of rough, but the (gently) throw up in the air game rough, or the rolling up and down in your arms game rough.
Although I’ll always miss it, I’m slowly dealing with the fact that our newborn baby is no longer here and, if anything, I’m starting to feel excited about what the next 6 months are going to bring (especially Christmas!). I just don’t want to look back one day and remember how I constantly felt sad about T growing up because he was no longer this or that. I actually want to look back and remember all the new and exciting things we experienced together, and how happy that made us. It really is a once in a lifetime experience, and I should enjoy it!
K
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