Me, The Man & The Baby: March 2010

Friday, 26 March 2010

How To Train Your Dragon

To celebrate the release of Activision's new game 'How To Train Your Dragon' we got invited to Colchester Zoo to learn 'How To Train A Dragon' ourselves.

Colchester Zoo is home to two Komodo dragons. Now these dragon's are not as cute as the one's in the the game or even the film 'How To Train Your Dragon' , they can grow up to three metres long and it is the largest surviving lizard in the world. They can also live up to fifty years.

Check out the video's to learn exactly 'How To Train Your Dragon'

How To Train Your Dragon - Part One

How To Train Your Dragon - Part Two

The game launches gamers into a third-person action-adventure as a Viking hero where they must embark upon an epic quest to become the ultimate dragon trainer. Gamers can play as characters “Hiccup” or Astrid” on the vast Island of Berk, which features expanded locales from the film including Vikings’ Village, Wild Zone, Training Zone and Fight Arena. In this truly larger-than-life adventure, players will train dragons, explore environments and battle in prestigious dragon tournaments as they battle for Viking victory. Plus, gamers can become the Dragon hero of their living room as they square-off with friends and family in endless head-to-head multi-player combat!

Key Features of the game

Create Your Very Own Dragon – The “Create Your Dragon” feature allows players to customize six different types of dragons, providing virtually unending combinations of ways to modify your dragon’s appearance.

Train your Dragon for Battle – “Level Up” your dragon’s speed, power, fire and other abilities through intense training to face the critical Viking challenge of becoming the ultimate dragon trainer. Then use your arsenal of trained dragons to battle friends in a variety of unique environments.

Pick up Where the Movie Left Off – Players enjoy an all-new post-movie adventure as they jump into battle as their favorite characters. Explore the picturesque Island of Berk as Hiccup or Astrid in Adventure Mode or experience fierce battle action in Arena Mode as you fight for your crown as ultimate dragon warrior.

Head-to-Head Multiplayer Mode – Arcade mode allows friends to select their dream team of four individually customized dragons or dragons chosen from the arcade roster, then jump in and battle against each other. In addition to Astrid and Hiccup, additional characters are playable in Multiplayer Mode including Tuffnut T., Ruffnut T., Fishlegs, and Snotlout.

Mini-Games – Mini games include Ice Sculpting, Looping Race, Flying Sheppard, Memory Torch, and Puzzle Dragon. Excelling in Mini-Games earns players experience points toward leveling up your dragon, winning gold and other items to help care for dragons.

Action shots from the game.

'How To Train Your Dragon' is available in the following formats : Playstation 3 , Xbox 360 , Wii and Nintendo DS.

เว็บสล็อตตรงไม่ผ่านเอเย่นต์ ที่เราแนะนำ

Now if anyone can just teach me how to train my little dragon...

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

He's got the giggles

Can you guess what Oli is giggling at?

It took us a while but we discovered that it was the windscreen wipers sending him into hysterics!

Friday, 19 March 2010

Imagine

*Warning - This Blog Post contains a tearjerker!

I'm guessing that most of us has watched Monday's Glee by now , and if you haven't - what are you waiting for you crazy woman/man!!

And if you've not heard of Glee , where have you been all this time?

And even worse - if you dislike Glee .. WHY!?

This week's episode saw the glee cast teaming up with kids from Haverbrook School of the Deaf to sing John Lennon's , Imagine. This is possible one of the best songs ever and one of my all time favorite's.

I couldn't find the video of them but I have found a video with just the singing , so sit back and enjoy (or cry flood of tears like I have done several times whilst listening!)

Thursday, 18 March 2010

What do you do really, really well?

Well want to know what I think I do really , really well?

It's this

and this

and even this

Yes , I think what I do well at is being a Mother to this gorgeous little boy and I am extremely proud to call myself his Mother.

Yes I've had my doubts in the past and I know I will still have them in the future , but for now I know I'm doing really well at it. It's a tough job , but it's a job I wouldn't trade for anything else in the whole wide world.

Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Strollometer

Your bike might have one so why not have one for your pram , it's used more then a bike (well I know I use my pram more then my bike as it is the shed gathering dust!) . Why not use it it to get back into shape after pregnancy - I know a year on I'm still carrying some baby weight!
What am I on about?

No , not some miracle cure to lose weight instantly but The Strollometer which was will help you to lose that weight just as fast.

What is it?

The strollometer which was made by parents for parents is the World's first computer/speedometer designed to fit on any pram.

How does it work?

Strap the console band around the handle bar of the pram

Slide the console onto that band

You place a adhesive magnetic strip (included) on to the wheel as directed in the instructions.

Then strap the sensor on to the pram leg and position the sensor over the magnet.

What does it do?

It has 8 functions :

Speed - You will always know how fast or slow you are walking/jogging/running.

Average Speed - See your average and then why not aim to increase it the next day?

Maximum Speed - It will display your max speed .. watch out for those speed camera's ;)

Trip Time - Find out exactly how long your journey took - I've discovered my baby group is only 11 minutes from my house!

Trip Distance - See how many miles you actually have done , it may actually surprise yourself with how many miles you cover on a journey into town.

Daily Mileage - Want to see how miles you have racked up in a day? Well you can at the push of a button!

Temperature - Find out exactly how warm/cold it is in that restaurant/shop that your going to be spending the next hour in - will baby need his coat/blanket on or off?

Real Clock Time - Why bother looking at your watch when the time is right in front of you!

Actual Size!

You say it will help lose weight?

Yes! Watching your speed/miles and wanting to increase them is going to spur you on to walk more and more. Which of course means your walking off more pounds!
And what do I make of it?

It's fantastic , I has some teething problems at first with setting it up on my pram but Melissa via was on hand to help. I enjoyed so much seeing how many miles I had walked with Oli in the pram , I'm not normally a fan of going out with pram but this made it interesting & enjoyable.
I dont normally have a watch so have to hunt for the mobile when I want the time so having a clock right in front of me came handy.
I was the envy of all the Mother's at the baby group who wanted to know what my new gadget was. The Other half can have his ipod gadgets but I've got a strollometer! :)

It's a must have accessory for every pram!
Anything Else?

Yes! The strollometer has it's own and on the fit4mum.com website you can find details of events and classes where you can meet up with other Mums & Dads to stroll with.
It comes with a bag so when your not using the strollometer you can just pop ti away until you next use it.

If your thinking of something different to buy a Mummy to be then why not treat them to a Strollometer.

To purchase your Strollometer head over to fit4mum.com

You can also find The Strollometer on &

Monday, 15 March 2010

Bouncy Jungle

Bouncy Jungle - The perfect book for my bouncy child

Oli's still in the phrase of picking up something , putting it in his mouth and dribbling on it for a while before appreciating what it actually is. I'm happy to say it withstood his dribble test and it just simply rubbed dry , we've had board books in the past which have just had to be chucked away as the dribble had soaked through.

To read the rest of this review please head on over to the Flying Start Mummy Bloggers Book Club.

Saturday, 13 March 2010

I Do Belong Here

I apologize for my lack of posts the couple of days , My blogging mojo had just disappeared along with my energy. I just didn't know what to say , I couldn't even think of a Wordless Wednesday entry!
I've started to feel insecure about my posts too , now there's more & more bloggers joining the community each day . I'm reading more & more fantastic posts and then I compare them to mine and I think to myself why would anyone want to read mine, when they have these great posts to read instead?

When I asked you about how do you find the time to visit each blog in your reader/comment the overall response was that it's the title that draws you in - if it has a great title and great first opening lines then it's something that you want to read.
I really don't know what has come over me , I've never been bothered by what I write . I've never been embarrassed about my blog til this week where I was sat in front of the computer and I just didn't know what to say - I didn't even have that urge of wanting to write something and post it like I normally do. Am I having a blogging breakdown?

I've also been struggling with a post that I started writing a few month's ago, it's about how I'm no longer in contact with my family and why. It's something I feel like I need to get off my chest and will give you more of a insight into my past. I was going to publish it in time for Mother's Day but then I decided that this weekend is a happy weekend . I may not be getting my Mother anything this year but this is my first Mother's Day and I look forward to spending it with my boys.

After I've finished writing this post , I'm going to switch the computer off and spend a quality day with the family. I'm also planning on spending some much needed time in the garden. I'm looking forward to doing this , it's the first garden that I have had to myself and get to do with it whatever I like. I got some carrot & pepper seeds to plant - so wish me luck! Gardening is as foreign to me as what cooking is!

Just to update you on the whole 'dummy' situation - It's been over two weeks and he has not had that dummy once. I decided just to go cold turkey and take it away completely , I was advised that I could just give it at night but I wanted to go the full whack and get rid of it completely before he turned one.
I have noticed a big difference in him , He's cuddling me more - I'm not sure if that's because he's lost the comfort from sucking on his dummy but I enjoy this new affection of his!
He is babbling and trying to talk so much more then before , I'm so glad we've decided to give it up.
I still have his dummies at the bottom of his changing bag , after this week I think I may choose to put them at the bottom of the bin instead.

I've thrown myself into party planning , I know there's still a month until Oli is one but I've found it so much fun writing the guest list , the invitations and planning the food/entertainment.
Any tips on how to do a 1st birthday party (and survive it!) would be greatly appreciated!

Well I'm signing off now as the Mr wants a bacon sarnie , I promise that normal service will return soon.

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

How Do You Find The Time?

Now I know the other week I asked you how do you reply to comments , this week I want to juice your brain about how you read all the blogs in your reader?

My blog reader is choc full of wonderful blogs with some amazing posts being published what seems like ever minute! How am I meant to read each of them , leave comments and then find time to write my own blog posts?

Have you got some kind of system that you use? Am I just to read the ones with the most catchiest titles? Those that read/comment on my blog often? Those bloggers I now call friends? Or am I just to find the time and make sure I read every blog I follow/subscribe too?

If only there was a extra day in the week that I could dedicate to blog reading!!

Sunday, 7 March 2010

My First Vlog

Welcome to my Vlogging debut , it's rare enough to get a photo of me let alone a video so I really did overcome some shyness to record this. It did take several takes for us to do it , my supporting cast - The other half & Oli were not being very professional!

Why Am I Vlogging? Well the wonderful Karin @ Cafe Bebe & the lovely Heather @ Notes From Lapland have come up with the' Just Vlog It Challenge' and this month's theme is 'Teach Us Something'.

And what am I going to teach you? Well I'm going to show you how to make a Chocolate Cup - Cake (Literally!) in 5 minutes , I did make the mistake on saying in 3minutes on the video but what I was referring to was the 'cooking time' .
I also made the mistake of not whisking the mixture properly , so please look pass my mistakes and ENJOY! :)

Thursday, 4 March 2010

Breastfeeding

This was not the post that I was going post today but I just so angry and what better way at expressing that anger then via my blog.

The lovely Amy over at And 1 More Means Four twittered a daily mail article , which out of curiosity I read. Manager sprayed air freshener at me after I started breastfeeding in his charity shop.

Oh how I shouldn't, it really gets my blood boiling ready about these kinda stories, it was the only the other week a woman got kicked off a bus for breastfeeding . Well this week a Woman who choose to breastfeed her child in a charity shop gets sprayed with air freshener as apparently her milk smells and that she was not allowed to feed her child in store.

You would expect a charity shop to be more understanding and I think the fact this man poked his head round a changing cubicle where this woman was going to be trying on clothes is a criminal offense itself. Violating a woman's right to privacy whilst getting dressed and then violating her right to feed her hungry child. Just wrong. WRONG! Grrrhhh!

I've talked about bottle feeding/breastfeeding before and I explained how I couldn't/didn't breastfeed. But I will certainly try breastfeeding again when the next child comes along.

I dont know if your like me and like to read other people's view on these kinda stories and scroll to the bottom where you can see them. Of course there's people that see sense and are understanding and say say in there comments. But then there's those horrid comments, you click on that little tab worst voted and then your faced with some mean spirited people who obviously have nothing better to do then slate breastfeeding women...

Some women use 'breast-feeding' as an excuse, so that they can expose themselves in public.
Why can't they confine breast-feeding to their homes, and just give the kid bottled milk when they're out in shops, on buses, etc?

I know that they reckon that it's a 'natural' thing to do ... but there are a lot of 'natural things' that people aren't allowed to do in public, because of the likelihood of causing offense.

- Tall Paul, Liverpool, 3/3/2010 23:33

Dear Tall Paul

I'm pretty sure that most breastfeeding women would much rather not be exposing themselves in public and I'm sure like me they would rather milk just squirt out of there fingers to save the embarrassment and controversy that is surrounded by getting your boobs out to feed your hungry child.
Confine it to there homes ? just bottle feed when out & about? Cant we tell that your not a father. And I do feel for any Woman who does choose to have your child. I hope you can change your pig headed views on breastfeeding then.

The only mistake was the man looking into the changing room. This breast feeding in public be it in a charity shop, on a bus or anywhere else should simply not be allowed. If a woman revealed her breasts in public under normal circumstances she would likely as not be arrested for indecent behaviour. There is no difference between the 2. Political correctness yet again raises its ugly head.

- Pip Waller, North Yorkshire, 4/3/2010 8:31

Dear Pip

Firstly , Then man made TWO MISTAKES. (Being a peeping tom & a being total dick towards a breastfeeding woman) and secondly YES IT IS ALLOWED.
There certainly is a big difference between the two , Yes I agree with you - a woman getting her assets out in public for NO REASON is wrong and yes may result in being arrested for indecent behavior. But when a Woman gets them out to FEED her child , there is no offense in it at all. You must have your own issues if you get offended by a woman giving her child vital nutrients and goodness.

Well it does have an unpleasant smell for sure. For goodness sake young mums plan your day better - why choose to exhibit yourselves in public ?

- Michael , Oxford , 3/3/2010 23:34

- Michael, Oxford, 3/3/2010 23:34

Dear Michael

I have sat next to lots of breastfeeding Woman , and I can tell you it doesn't smell. But so what if it did? Surely people can overlook that and see what the Woman is doing for her child? If you Micheal were to be sat next to me on the bus/train and smelt highly of B.O , I would be a nice person and just put up with it (unless I was to see you everyday for a long period of time and then words would just have to be had!).
Young Mums I hear you say? Just had to chuck that in.. And the difference between young Mums and breastfeeding? NOTHING .. apart from young mums do breastfeed , so why chuck that in? Why dont you go and join Jan Moir's little group, your get on well with her.
P.S The Mother talked about in this story is 32 so I'm still confused where the young mum bit comes into play?!

I could carry on all day replying to these selfless mean people. Why cant they just accept that breastfeeding is NORMAL , it is NATURAL , it is GOOD for the baby/child and it certainly ISN'T WRONG!!!

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Spring has hit my garden

Signs that Spring is upon us , things I spotted in my garden...

Buds are appearing!

Spring Flowers

Daffodils

It's staying light for longer - This photo was taken at 6pm!

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

SnoozeShade

You know those inventions that we just couldn't live without now that they have been discovered and used? Like the tin-opener , my specialty beans on toast wouldn't be possible without it , what about computers/laptops or even the internet? We wouldn't be able to feed our twitter addictions or stare at pictures of Johnny Depp (ok... it may be just me that does that!) .

By there's a new invention for us Mummy's that has been designed to make our lives easier. It's like the tin-opener for my pram. It's just what I needed and I wonder how I've made it through the last 11 month's without it!!

What is this? I hear you asking me out of curiosity and the need to own this wonderful product yourself!!

The SnoozeShade

My babygroup was a hour earlier then usual, which conflicted with Oli's nap. Not wanting to miss out on socializing , I still went . But had a rather grumpy baby who needed his morning nap.
I spent what seemed like most of the session trying to rock Oli to sleep. I even left him screaming in his pram , hoping he would just go off.

Then I remembered I had the SnoozeShade underneath the pram in its storage bag, why I didn't think of it straight away is beyond me and I'm still beating myself up about that now.
So I popped it out and over Oli, it was like a instant drink , ready in seconds - Oli was asleep in seconds! The darkness and the shield from distraction helped Oli think he was in his room and in his cot.

He then slept longer then what he usually would, which was great for me as being able to shop in peace was pure bliss! :)

If only I had this when Oli was first born then I wouldn't of had to hunt for muslins/blankets to cover him whilst he was sleeping or when I was trying to get him to sleep!

The SnoozeShade fitted perfectly on to my Britax Strider and as you can see from the SnoozeShades website and it can fit on to most other prams.

It's so simple to use , the velcro straps (which are hi-viz!) just go round any handles/bars you have and there's a zip at the front so you can take a peep at baby to check if he/she's ok.
I was concerned at first when I saw it online - I thought it was crazy to be able to just cover up the pram like this , but as soon as you see/feel the material you know it's perfectly safe . It's well ventilated and perfectly safe for baby.

I also used the SnoozeShade on my way to The Baby Show in London , This is one time where the SnoozeShade is literally your best friend - A train full of people, noise , distraction and a rather tired baby that is screaming because he needs some shut eye!

Thank You SnoozeShade!

There's a full list of stockists on the SnoozeShade website where you can purchase the SnoozeShade.

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