Just So Festival 2010

It's taken a week, but today I've finally Henry hoovered up the last of the festival mud from the hall. It made me smile thinking back to last weekend and how the mud got there. 

It came from the Just So Festival, held at a Scout camp ground by Rudyard Reservoir just outside of Leek. It's a truly magical setting with little glades containing different themed areas all offering different activities (e.g.: lantern making, small cinema, traditional games (croquet, cricket, hoopla etc), sand pit, face painting, circus skills, story time, bands etc). It was the first time the festival was put on and I have to say that the guys organising (Sarah & Rowan) did a sterling job. The camping glades were dotted around the site and were all named after animals from Rudyard Kipling's (whose parents named him after the reservoir) Just So Stories (it all makes sense now). We were pretty lucky to be in the Elephant glade which was relatively close to everything. I guess it's because we had quite small children with little legs. 200 families camped and an additional 300 families came in on day tickets each day of the festival (Saturday & Sunday). It was beautifully organised with coloured lights strung along the paths, baubles in the bushes and bunting galore. There was even a bush with brown labels for you to write your festival memories.

We arrived on Friday afternoon & managed to get the tent up just in time for a rain shower. It's the first time we've used our new bell tent and we absolutely LOVE IT! It looks pretty small in the picture, but it's 5 metres of massive. I can't imagine using any other kind of tent again. The only downside was that the inner we purchased broke. 3 times. Imagine, if you will, the centre pole of a bell tent. About 2/3rds of the way up said pole is a hook on which one can hang various items such as a tea light chandelier or, in our case, an inner. We chose to use an inner as the children are still small and feel the cold, plus it separates the sleeping area making it easier to keep clean! Anyhoo. The order of the inner, from the hook, goes - hook, ring, fabric loop, inner. The loop of fabric at the top of the inner can't have been stitched very well to the inner because it snapped on one side, so I fixed it, then the other, so I fixed that too. Then the ring snapped into 3 pieces. So I fixed that too. How? I took a sewing kit with me. I have no idea why I packed it, but I did & good job too! I used a canvas strip that was used to tie the tent in its bag to replace the ring & it held fine for the duration. I can't believe I took a sewing kit to a festival and had to use it. 

That was the worst bit really. The rain was intermittent, but enough to be annoying. however because the site was established it had proper paths and so we didn't end up swimming in mud like you can do at some festivals. The toilets were a festival goers dream! Loo roll, soap, paper towels and lights! Quite magnificent...for a loo. I hope it hasn't spoiled the girls for future festivals - Aoife's quite particular about loos! The food was wonderful and we all ate very well while we were there. There was a baby deli serving home cooked food for the youngest visitors. We chose not to use it because there wasn't any finger food on the menu & Isaac still isn't big on being spoon fed apart from breakfast, which we took with us. To both mine & Simon's delight there was a Pie Minister stall selling the Heidi Pie. Sold. Relief in the form of a pie!

The activities were great, the ones that we did. I think next year we really do need to plan what we want to do & do it. The rain meant that we didn't do as much as we've liked and Isaac being so small still meant I couldn't do as much as I'd have liked (he's very clingy to me at the moment). I felt very jealous of all the beautiful lanterns I saw waiting to be collected. The baby sensory tent looked lovely, but a bit soggy as it was at the bottom of a slope and the rain had leaked in & wet the rattan type flooring, which was a shame. The was a lot for babies, all in the Peekaboo glade.

There were some adventure playgrounds which the girls loved. One was for under 8s & the other for over 8s. Unfortunately, parents weren't monitoring this so by Sunday morning there was a marshal monitoring it. Much to Aoife's annoyance.

We went on a wildlife trail & made dragonflies & masks with the RSPB. The girls  practised their circus skills, listened to stories, made sandcastles and watched Punch & Judy. We painted their faces and rocked them gently in hammocks. Simon & the girls watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the Silver Screen glade while Isaac and I napped.  Isaac took it all in from his carrier. He watched his first live band sporting some borrowed baby ear defenders. He also practised kneeling against the tent pole (I'm not sure if I should be pleased or bemused by this!) I'm very excited about when he's bigger and can do things like the den building, campfire building and foraging activites. I want to do them!!

Click image to zoom (a bit)

The time flew and before too long it was time to pack up the tent. We decided to cut the weekend short and leave at about half past two on the Sunday. We were all shattered after a broken nights sleep on Saturday & we hadn't managed to book in for some of the activities we wanted to (apparently next year there will be more room in the activity groups). I felt for the day crowd because most activities got booked up on Friday evening. So, no Moomin Tea Party for us! Boo!

We had lots of fun and are all (those of us that can voice opinion, that is) eager to go back next year. I think nearly everyone that went is though, so we'll have to book our tickets soon!

Thank you Rowan & Sarah for a fabulous experience!

Grandad's latest visit and some firsts to boot!

My Pa (Grandad) came to visit last week. Despite his grumbling back he did a sterling job of stripping down and repainting an old rocking chair that I was given by a lady on Freegle. The chair was thought to be pine underneath the white paint, but turned out to be beech & beech ply (?) so we weren't able to strip it & varnish it as we'd hoped. We settled instead for a warm beige colour paint, which ties in quite well with Isaac's nursery. I think it looks fab - thank you Dad!

We went into town one day and stopped for an impromptu cup of tea and Isaac's dinner at Derby Quad (the same trip that set me onto Ikea high chairs). Isaac had his first jacket potato and baked beans. Which went down very well! He just kept eating...and eating...and eating! I think it had something to do with being outside & seeing lots of new things which distracted him from what his mouth is doing because he always eats well  in public. He's such a show off: "Look at me! I'm eating!"

Isaac also had his first time in shopping trolley seat, the folding one rather than the plastic-leaning-back one. It was very exciting AND he didn't fall over! Wooh!

Unfortunately I was using my phone camera, hence the car behind is in focus, not my Little Man. Gah.

The weather was (and still is!) warm. I baked cookies and we talked & listened to old soul records. Splendid.

All in all it was a lovely week and Dad even stayed on longer to finish the chair. We love you Grandad! Come back soon!

Bye-bye Bumbo, hello high-chair!

Until now Isaac has been table top in his Bumbo. This has been great because he wasn't the fastest sitter-upper and we needed uprightness for feeding solids. Having had a relatively cramped meal with the girls this weekend (Simon, me, Aoife, Roisin and my Dad all round the table) we decided it was time for a high chair for our Little Man. I'd been lusting after the (nearly £200 - ouch!) Brother Max high chair for some time, but (after a recent trip to Derby Quad for some food with my Pa and actually successfully using a high chair for the first time) I decided to get the same one they use there which happens to be the rather modestly priced (£10.99) Ikea Antilop. Why? Because it does what it needs to, it's super easy to clean and Isaac stays upright in it.

We think he likes it :-)

Finally!

After a few weeks of dadadadadadadaDADADADADADA...(you get the idea) I heard the long awaited mumumumumumumuma! My eyes prickled and my heart swelled. I know they're just sounds for now, but I was truly bowled over by how it made me feel and was reminded that one day my baby boy really will be calling me Mummy :-D

3 months today!

Well...at 11.42pm at least.

My GAHD! Where does the time go? I looked at the calendar yesterday and it's December?? During the last 3 months we have been officially travelling at Warp 8, fcuk Impulse! (No disrespect J-L.P.).

I think the 3 month mark is the magic moment for us. I finally have a firmer grip on life with Isaac. It's all been a bit of an ordeal so far, but the past 5 days or so have seen the return of Sarah as she was known, pre-Isaac. She isn't mentally 100% as she seems to have lost some brain power, and now seems to be referring to herself in the 3rd person. Hmm.

So anyway, back to Little Man. Breastfeeding/milk is now definitely established & there's less frustrated screaming because it doesn't let down quick enough. Although he did feed every 2 hours today - 3 month growth spurt methinks? Would also explain the feeding every 2 hours on the dot. Bless him. Still haven't got into expressing. Might wait until this growth spurt is over & then give it a go as it shouldn't upset supply & demand then.

I put him in his door bouncer for the first time proper the other day. His feet now reach the floor. He doesn't bounce as such, but spins it round while he surveys his kingdom (and has stare downs with the dog).

 

Doggy Stare Down

We've been to Cine Babies at the Quad for the past 2 months. Only 9 more of those :-( It's such a good idea, mainly because it doesn't matter if your baby screams because there will be other babies screaming too & everyone expects it! Hurrah! Next month: Me & Orson Welles.

I've taken him swimming twice. That one is tricky because the swimming class I went to is at 11.15am which is when he usually wants to be asleep. I've found another one which is MUCH closer (within walking distance rather than 20 minute drive) in the hospital hydrotherapy pool. Have emailed the woman so will see what comes of that. Took him into the teaching pool with Simon & the girls today. I don't think he was that impressed with the actual in-the-water bit, but there was minimal crying & only a bit of whimpering, until back in the changing room when I unwrapped his towel & took off his baby snug. Even then it was OK because he went straight into another dry towel followed closely by clothses. I think he was tired. Which leads nicely into my next topic.

Sleep.

The Little Man won't sleep until he's the-most-tired-ever.com. During the day that is. At night he sleeps from about 6.30pm-7pm for between 5 & 7 hours, wakes for a feed/nappy change & then goes back to sleep for between 2& 3 hours. This was great when his last wake up was 6am, but it's been 4.30am of late. This does not go down well in the Turner house, for Ma or Pa. It's difficult to keep him up until 7/7.30pm though because he's so tired and grumpy. I think it's time to re-evaluate his nap schedule. He still naps best in't sling. He does sleep in his pram basket for about an hour, but only after 10 minutes of grizzling. Balls to HV. I'm sticking to my guns about baby wearing. He also doesn't settle properlyuntil he's had some comfort sucking on me. I've tried to slip my nipple out of his mouth & replace it with a soother to no avail. The boy ain't stupid. He knows what he wants & that's real live boob. People say it'll develop bad habits, but I dunno. He's a little tiny baby who wants his Mamma, who am I to deny him that?

We're looking to get a new carrier in the New Year as the Hug-a-Bub is great while he's still relatively small, but as he grows it's going to become  impractical. The H-a-B is supposed to be worn with the loose bits tied around ones hips. Having a waist smaller than my hips makes this difficult because it rides up & then loosens the rest of the sling meaning he's all flopping everywhere & his head falls back at some weird ass angle. So. We're going to get an Ergo carrier. I've spent hours, literally hours, pouring over different types of soft carrier wondering which would be best.  Should we get a mei tai type (which I very nearly did) or a clip fastening type? I saw a lady the first time we went to Cine Babies with a backpack style carrier & when we went again I asked her what it was. I had a look at it & it seems great! If you can be bothered there's LOADS of information on their website all about baby wearing, its benefits, why it won't wreck your back (HVs new tactic to discourage). It has a sleep hood which is very important for us as Isaac loves to sleep in the sling. It can be worn front, back & hip. Sold. Galaxy grey to the lady with the tattoos.

Something that reassures me in my baby wearing ways is the reading I've done about how humans are parent clingers, i.e.: not meant to be left in nests like birds/mice etc - makes sense as we're descended from apes (sorry Mrs Palin) whose young are carried constantly during the early part of their lives. Research shows that baby wearing doesn't make clingy, spoiled children; it reassures them and creates emotionally balanced and secure individuals. So, we're meant to be carried around all of the time until we want to walk on our own? Yes! Sucks for people who don't really like their kids!

Little Man smiles lots of the time now. He's such a charmer :-) I think I even heard a silvery peal of laughter the other day! His hair is getting thicker and his legs longer. However, longer legs = unable to tuck up in the sling anymore so feeties get cold! OH NO! Fear not! I've just found these brilliant things. Extra long merino wool booties :-) From the rather awesomely named site, Fanny Fanackapants! Back on track. He likes singing & being jiggled about on his changing mat so I think we're going to start going to rhyme time and maybe even TinyTalk in the new year. We just weren't ready before. I've even discovered how to tie my scarf so that he's not suffocated by it while in-sling. I did have a picture, but I've lost it :-( Soz.

So now it's time for me to go to bed, at the rock n roll hour of 10pm - here's hoping tomorrow doesn't start at 4.30am!