Chessington World of Adventures with toddlers!

So yesterday was one of our close friends daughters 2nd Birthday so we all took the day off work/nursery and ventured to Chessington World of Adventures. Prior to this we had decided to go to Hop farm but as its a week day it turned out all the rides are closed so not a great deal to do there. So armed with these facts and the great deal of £18 for an adult and preschool child ticket for Chessington, Chessington it was!

 

We arrived pretty early and went straight in, only a few school classes and preschool children there really so was pretty empty. We went to the Adventurers Explorers desk and got our parent swap passes straight away, basically one parent queues to get on the ride whilst the other can take the toddler. Once on the ride the parent then gets the card stamped and a time put on the card so then the next parent can fast track onto the same ride before the time stated. As we went in a group this worked really well, although it was hardly busy but is a fantastic idea so that the kids and parents enjoy the day fully!

 

Miya loved the truckers ride and the carousel but both toddlers cried on the bubbleworks! Although child friendly it is a bit loud and I think this and the water fountains scared them. We took them around the zoo and sealife centre, although small both were lovely and enjoyed by everyone. The new Zufari ride was unfortunately closed due to technical issues, but we walked around and met a zebra and lots of ostriches! I would definitely recommend this place for children, a bit of everything and more than enough to keep the little ones (and big ones!) entertained x

Damn PCOS and broodiness!

Hi!

 

As you may know I have a little 2 year old daughter who is my whole world but as friends are getting pregnant with their second and others having cute bundles of joy for the first time I find myself getting broody!

 

I know that as I get older I need to get a move on but honestly money unfortunately is a massive factor, what with little one in nursery and both our mums working full time the cost of two in nursery would not be possible! So we have decided to start trying soon as when Miya turns three the Government will pay for 15 hours a week of nursery (which happens with every child either preschool mornings or in private day nurseries) which will cut the bill dramatically and then school the year after. I'm not saying it will be easy but it's more possible financially than right now.

 

So as you may or may not know I had a very difficult pregnancy. I was diagnosed at 24 with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, I wasn't ready for a family then so it wasn't until a year before our wedding that the doctors took me off Yasmin to get my body ready for a family. I ended up getting pregnant within two months! Surprised but happy I went through a normal pregnancy until the 29th week when I developed high blood pressure and was hospitalised for the next 5 weeks before developing severe pre-eclampsia and having an emergency c-section. I was very poorly and remained in the high dependency unit for the next few days while Miya was in the Special Care Baby Unit. After all that I said never again! But I desperatly want another baby and a sibling for Miya. Being one of 4 I don't want her to be an only child.

 

So off to the doctors I went and was perscribed Metformin, I am taking this as I diet and run but no weight is ever lost and I want to be in the best health I can be to try and ensure a) I get pregnant and b) that I have a healthy pregnancy this time. I know nothing can guarantee not getting pre-eclampsia but at least I can say I did my best. I am slightly terrified that I might go through it all again but I need to try. So begins my long journey to hopefully another baby and a healthy happy family :)

Nursery time...

Hi Lovelies,

My little one has been in nursery since she was 14 months old and although it took two weeks to settle she loves it. Since she turned two she has had to go up to the bumble bee room and cries every time I leave her which she never used to do, so it tugs at my heart strings and mummy guilt comes in to play! But there is no doubt that nursery has been amazingly good for her development. I really notice it when she is playing with another child the same age who stays at home or goes to a childminder, Miya talks more, has a lot more confidence and is very good with other people. I know this is partly because of her personality too but that just means nursery suits her!

Just like most things in life there are pros and cons for nursery too, she is a confident, happy little girl and has developed language and social skills quicker than a child not at nursery but she has also picked up bad behaviours and habits thanks to nursery. On Wednesday I picked her up after lunch so some of the children were still awake (not all nap at that age apparently!) and a couple of the older ones (Miya is now the youngest and smallest in the class) were throwing toys around and Miya was watching in awe! Nursery workers aren't allowed to say NO or use negative language, so a couple times they were told to not to throw etc, but of course to no avail. Now miya throws and even though we tell her off she still does it, same goes with food (?!) and pushing.

I love watching how quickly she develops at nursery but I do wish they could say No so that the naughty behaviours are dealt with consistently at home and at nursery. I pay a small fortune for her to go there and think that parents should have more of a say in how their child is disciplined whilst there. I know every parent is different and so is every child, and I think they need to listen to what each child needs at this age. Maybe a lot of working mum guilt goes into this though!

Until next time :)

Time goes by so fast!

My little one turned two a couple weeks ago and made me realise that I seriously had no concept of how quickly time flies until I had her. I guess now I see her growing up while I mistakenly believed I was staying forever young before having her has made me realise more than ever that we should be grateful for each and every day. Yes some days are a struggle but without those the good days wouldn't be worth as much as they are.

I have started a second blog about my baking exploits and have named it aptly after my daughter Miya, who not only loves cake, she loves to wake up in the middle of the night asking for cake (obviously that good she dreams about it!) but also has taught me so much about life and it's joys in her two years here so far! Hoping for many more years of joy and laughter with my cheeky munchkin and her little exploits! 

Back to normality!

Over a year since I last blogged! That's what motherhood does to you! In all fairness so much has happened and DD has grown up so quickly I wish I had made more of an effort to blog just to see how much has changed. My daughter is now a toddler who is hitting the terrible twos, oh the fun! She attends nursery two and half days a week while I work, the cost of childcare makes work hardly worth the effort but I refuse to sit at home twiddling my thumbs living on benefits, that's not me. So money is tight but my ambition and determination grows daily, I will have my own business and my daughter will have a decent role model mum to look up to, just watch this space!