The Importance of Reading to Babies and Toddlers

Aaron owns about 40 books, the majority of them bought by me.

I really want him to enjoy books as I always have done, and I fully understand that they will form the basis of his speech development providing a great source of learning and entertainment.

When we came back from Ireland, both nursery and the inlaws all commented on how Aaron's speech had developed and we were only away for 10 days.

It didn't happen by itself, it was the result of quality time like this.

That loud annoying voice that isn't Aaron's or my Mum's is me - sorry!

Here you go, if you fancy watching some reading time with a 2 year old (having turned two in June 2012).

Liska x

Fun on our holidays in Ireland

My blog is a little quiet as we (Aaron and I) are in Ireland (since Saturday 7th July).

Aaron is having a great time, to say the least.  He loves the open space and the sense of freedom.  I think country living suits him down to the ground.

I will insert a link to a Flickr account here, as there are too many photos to include.

We've been busy every day since we arrived.  Soft play, and swimming both really tire him out and as the excitement of being here means he won't nap, they are the only things to make him conk out...

I had hoped for a bit of a break, but the best chance I get for a break is when we are in the soft play area as my cousin Michelle goes in with Aaron and I get chance to hear my own thoughts, have a coffee, and now for the 1st time since I arrived, get on the internet, thanks to the loan of my Aunt's dongle.

God I have never used one and they are SUPER things.  Here I am at the coffee area of the soft play, with my laptop and the "3" wireless internet thingy beside me.  Loving it.  And soft play is on a bigger scale here as space isn't at such a premium as in London.

Aaron simply loves Michelle so they're having a great time :-)






I love the slide in this soft play - when we were here the day before yesterday I went on it a few times myself.

ONLY problem with this soft play area is that the lunch menu only consists of chips, nuggets and sausages... such a shame.

Bye for now.  Hopefully I will get on the internet again at some point.

Liska x

Weekend in Derby with Baby - long car journey with baby

Hi

I am writing this post in order to link up to:



I went to Derby for a long weekend 8th 9th and 10th July, with Aaron and the husband.

It was my husband's best-friend's girlfriend's 40th - do you follow? :-) Still with me?

She wanted to celebrate in style with a posh weekend away in a stately home type venue - I THINK it had 16 bedrooms, and I can't remember how many of us there were, but most people had kids.

Well getting ready caused arguments, as hubby didn't have any sense of hustle on, so I took it slow. Which he didn't object to, until it was time to leave and he got VERY angry that we left so late.

He responded to this by errrrr spending half an hour in Tesco without telling me he was doing so.

First stop was within 5 minutes of home to get petrol (he never ever does it the night before, or during the morning while I am packing - ggggrrr) and then he decides we need food for the journey, so goes to Tesco and doesn't tell me how long he'll be. So I am playing in the car with a baby and time is going on and on and on. Because Aaron can walk, when he came back, he said I shouldv'e taken him out to stretch his legs, but I didn't dare, as I thought he'd be quick and that he'd be cross if he had to wait while I loaded Aaron in again.

So it was late when we got on the M25.

We got to the venue in Derby either just before or just after midnight!

We'd been on the road for just over 6 hours......!

And to be fair, Aaron was an absolute angel. He loves the car. I know, I am lucky. We did stop at services about 2 or 3 times. If you are doing a car journey with a baby for the first time, do factor this in, because if you stop for 40 minutes like I do, your journey will be loooong, plus we experienced a bit of a tailback at one point. So a 2.5 hour journey took 6 hours........

Anyway when we got there, it was an amazing house, with an amazing kitchen, decor and grounds.

Used the Trunki for all of Aaron's non food stuff - love it!

Still baby wearing at what was nearly 13 months

Amazing kitchen we had there

The grounds were spectacular

Stunning venue we stayed at

Aaron loved the open space and being able to run around. He started walking a few days after his first birthday and is quite good on his feet now.

This is a little video of him enjoying the open space - he doesn't often fall onto his hands like that.

I want to share a video with you of us doing a bhangra workshop on the Saturday afternoon, me dancing (with everyone else) with Aaron in the Moby Wrap (sling), but it is 3 minutes and 37 seconds, so too long to upload.

I know I could put it on You Tube and imbed it but I cannot get my New Mum Online You Tube account to work.  Ben trying for about 6 weeks.

I'll leave you with a short (32 seconds) video of the Trunki, as I was well impressed with it.  Used it for all of Aaron's non food items.  When I went to Xmas in July (organised by UK Mums TV) our goodie bag was the Trunki! and it was full of freebies.... a real goodie bag!

Bye for now, Liska xxx