~Things for a new baby~
Baby Sleep Tactic #1001 - the one with 100% Strike Rate!
You learn a LOT of lessons on-the-job as a first time mother. You have to. It is an ironic fact of life that to gain a drivers license you need to pass a written and practical exam, demonstrate 100+ hours of driving practice with a responsible adult, keep a log book and all-but get a letter of recommendation from the queen.
But to get your credentials as a mother? You just need a working pudendal and a willing rooster.
Ok ok that's a bit crude... but you get my drift.
It is one of life's greatest tragedies that babies do not come with user manuals. Even a curling wand comes with a user manual, dammit! No, the moment your vernix-covered, puffy-faced, screaming piece of perfection arrives into this world you are on.your.own.
But fear not, first-time mothers-to-be! I am here to impart my most precious piece of wisdom, until this moment guarded like a crown jewel. And it's about getting your newborn to sleep!
I've talked about sleep previously. Here, for example. But that was then. Way back-when. I've learnt a lot since then about newborns and the way they tick and what I am about to share with you may well transform your world! Well, maybe not quite that dramatic.
Ok, we all know the Eat-Activity-Sleep-You (EASY) adage, right? Except, I ignored this completely the first time around and fed Fern to sleep. If that didn't work I rocked, patted, stroked, bounced, sung, played music to or went for a drive in the car. I kept her with me constantly. And the consequence was a baby completely dependant on me for sleep. Im still paying the consequence!
This time around, I'm doing things a little differently. You might call me a radical. I:
- Feed my baby and
- give him a little activity (like cuddles or tummy time) and then
- put my baby into his bed when he starts yawning.
waaaay too simple. But it turns out it works! Who knew?! ... but here's the clincher. Most of the time, the above is pretty much all I need to do to encourage my little one to get some shut-eye between feeds in the daytime. He's a keeper, is my Elliott.
But on those occasions he is not so keen and I don't want to (or physically can't because Fern is literally tugging at my ankles or screaming for attention) go through my old adage of rocking etc as listed above, I have one other slightly unorthodox but oh-so-effective method for getting Elliott to sleep WITHOUT TEARS. I ----
--- turn the Dyson on outside his bedroom.
Yes folks, it is sleep to the lullaby of the vacuum cleaner. And it has a 100% strike rate! It only takes 5 minutes - max - and Elliott is happily sound asleep without any intervention from me. I can't believe I didn't know about this sooner! Yes, you can buy a CD of white noise... but why would you when you have free 'white noise' right at your fingertips! And he LOVES it!
The only slight concern is my vision of packing Elliott off to boarding school at 16 with a suitcase... and the Dyson. But hey, I'll worry about that later!
What unorthodox methods have YOU used to great success to encourage sleep for your baby??
Read More...
But to get your credentials as a mother? You just need a working pudendal and a willing rooster.
Ok ok that's a bit crude... but you get my drift.
It is one of life's greatest tragedies that babies do not come with user manuals. Even a curling wand comes with a user manual, dammit! No, the moment your vernix-covered, puffy-faced, screaming piece of perfection arrives into this world you are on.your.own.
But fear not, first-time mothers-to-be! I am here to impart my most precious piece of wisdom, until this moment guarded like a crown jewel. And it's about getting your newborn to sleep!
I've talked about sleep previously. Here, for example. But that was then. Way back-when. I've learnt a lot since then about newborns and the way they tick and what I am about to share with you may well transform your world! Well, maybe not quite that dramatic.
Ok, we all know the Eat-Activity-Sleep-You (EASY) adage, right? Except, I ignored this completely the first time around and fed Fern to sleep. If that didn't work I rocked, patted, stroked, bounced, sung, played music to or went for a drive in the car. I kept her with me constantly. And the consequence was a baby completely dependant on me for sleep. Im still paying the consequence!
This time around, I'm doing things a little differently. You might call me a radical. I:
- Feed my baby and
- give him a little activity (like cuddles or tummy time) and then
- put my baby into his bed when he starts yawning.
waaaay too simple. But it turns out it works! Who knew?! ... but here's the clincher. Most of the time, the above is pretty much all I need to do to encourage my little one to get some shut-eye between feeds in the daytime. He's a keeper, is my Elliott.
But on those occasions he is not so keen and I don't want to (or physically can't because Fern is literally tugging at my ankles or screaming for attention) go through my old adage of rocking etc as listed above, I have one other slightly unorthodox but oh-so-effective method for getting Elliott to sleep WITHOUT TEARS. I ----
--- turn the Dyson on outside his bedroom.
 |
| ok ok, my vacuum may not have been emptied in 2 yrs... |
The only slight concern is my vision of packing Elliott off to boarding school at 16 with a suitcase... and the Dyson. But hey, I'll worry about that later!
What unorthodox methods have YOU used to great success to encourage sleep for your baby??
wordless Wednesday
please add your wordless blog link post to the list below
& enjoy your Wednesday where ever you are in this amazing world we live in
There's a storm coming...
Things at work are pressured lately. There's a major restructure happening which means that our large advertising and marketing team of 100 will merge into different areas of the biz. Many of us will be made redundant or asked to apply for new roles elsewhere in the company. Some of us will stay where we are and take on a different sort of role.
It's a pretty scary place to be, as you can imagine. We are all facing a massive life change and things will never be the same again. Everyone deals with change so differently and there is sadness, anger, depression and bewilderment. Seeded amongst the understandable despair there are the annoyingly cheerful people that you just want to slap for being so bloody optimistic.
Oh colleagues, I apologise wholeheartedly, but I just can't help myself.
I'm a Pollyanna well practiced in the art of denial. My heart says 'I'm worried and scared and anxious... what if?', but my head answers 'you can't worry about something you have no control over'. You just have to wait for the verdict and then plan your attack. No point coming up with answers to scenarios that may never happen. Save your energy and spirit and just get on with things, treat yourself and others kindly and reassess your options when you really know what's going on.
So, I won't worry until I know what I need to worry about... that's, ah, why I can't sleep a wink and the suspense is eating me for breakfast...
Are you a born worrier or a born optimist? How do you manage big changes that are beyond your control?
[Artwork 'The Premonition' is by the Flickerees]
Gluten-free chocolate strawberry tart
I was recently approached by Hotel Chocolat, one of my favourite purveyors of all things chocolate, about reviewing one of their recipes. I jumped at the chance!
Hotel Chocolat is a British-owned company founded by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris over 15 years ago. With one goal in mind, "to make a better type of chocolate available to UK consumers bored by the mediocrity of that available in supermarkets and on the high street". They started as a catalogue-based business with an award-winning website and in 2004 opened their first uber-stylish store. Since then they have gone from strength to strength and their gorgeous stores can be found up and down the country.
With Christmas just around the corner their selection of Christmas presents will please even the die hard chocolate fans! I have got my eye on the Tiddly Milk Chocolate Reindeer, to fit in with my Winter Woodland Christmas.
Oh, and don't forget to get your loved ones their chocolate advent calendar ready for the 1st of December. They have a large selection, from the cute Childrens novelty shaped chocolate ones to the Luxury Truffles to Share advent calendar, which is perfect for you and your partner as there are two luscious truffles behind each window!
From their yummy selection of recipes, including Rocky Road Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate Coffee Cups and Chocolate Soup. I chose to make the Chocolate Strawberry Tart, but altered the recipe ever so slightly so it is gluten-free.
Chocolate Strawberry Tart (serves 10) - recipe adapted from Hotel Chocolat
Pastry
Ingredients
250g (4.5 ounces) gluten-free plain white flour
1/2 tsp Xantham Gum
100g icing sugar (5.2 ounces powdered sugar)
1 pinch of salt
1 tbsp Hotel Chocolat organic cocoa powder
200g butter
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten with 1 tbsp water
Cooking instructions
- Place all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, add butter and rub in with the fingertips until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Or use a food processor to save a bit of time!
- Make a well in the centre of your dry ingredients and add the egg yolk and water mix.
- Combine mixture with a wooden spoon, then knead by hand to form a ball of dough.
- Cover with cling film and place in a refrigerator for at least an hour before continuing.
- Lightly grease an 11-inch flan tin.
- Roll out the pastry so it is about 2mm thick.
- Now line the baking tray with pastry.
- Cover the pastry with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans or chickpeas.
- Cook in pre-heated oven for 15-20 mins
- Leave to cool and remove the greaseproof paper and beans/peas.
Chocolate Praline Filling
Ingredients
50g Hotel Chocolat Classic Liquid Chocolat
200g Hotel Chocolat Smudge
200ml whipped cream
Instructions
- Bring cream to the boil in a pan on the hob or in a microwave proof bowl in the microwave and pour it over chocolate and smudge.
- Stir well and spread over pastry.
- Leave to cool.
Topping
Ingredients
150g sliced strawberries
100g strawberry jam
Instructions
- Add slices of strawberries.
- Heat jam until it becomes a runny glaze consistency, this can be done in a pan over the hob or in a microwave proof bowl in the microwave.
- Arrange strawberries on top of the praline filling.
- Spread jam over the strawberries.
- Allow jam to set in fridge and serve.
Below are pics of the delicious chocolate ingredients I was sent.
The recipe was easy to follow and simple to make. It's worth bearing in mind that although each section of the tart is made in short bursts, there are lengthy times in between to allow each layer to set properly. In other words, start well before you want to serve the tart. The portion sizes are perfect for a small slice of indulgent strawberry melt-in-the-mouth chocolate goodness! I would love to make mini single portion versions so I will definitely be making this gorgeous dessert again!
Next month I will be reviewing their The Sleekster Exuberantly Fruity™ Selection of chocolates filled with naturally zingy explosions of raspberry, cherry and mandarin, blueberry, blackcurrant and more. What a lucky girl I am! Even better, though, Hotel Chocolat are giving me a second box to giveaway to you, one of my lucky readers!
Have a sweet day!
two days ago
 |
| we jumped in the car |
& went for a walk
through a national park
where we discovered an abundance of tea tree
& wild flowers
while strolling along the path
& stopping to capture the beauty
enjoying the fresh air
time as a family
& the most amazing spot
to stop & just be
come back tomorrow to see the view
these 2 little ones are admiring
I promise it is worth it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)