Back for Good

Hello my fellow followers and how are we all?

I know you were all wondering where I had got to and the truth is I was abducted by aliens........  Ok so maybe that was just a rumour.

Life just seemed to take over during the front room renovation and things have pretty much just got back to normality.  So much for my 2 week absence! Anyway the stress and upset that it caused has now gone and our house is habitable again.  I promise to post some nice pics when I have a good tidy up and the last piece of furniture is installed (we still haven't found a suitable console table).

So in my absence Joe is now 9.5 months old and cruising around all over the place.  He's a right little chatterbox and teething is still ruining our sleep but the last of those damn little teeth are starting to appear so hopefully we will all get some better sleep soon.

On another note ITS NEARLY CHRISTMAS and for us its extra special this year as we will be spending it as a new family and it wont be as much of a dry occasion on my part as it was last year.  I tell you there is nothing worse than being tee total at Christmas but it was totally worth it for the end result which followed shortly after.  Although I am still breastfeeding; Joe only feeds in the evening until morning so a little tipple at lunchtime will be perfectly safe *insert happy dance here*

So what are you all up to?  Are you especially excited for this coming Christmas?  Id love to hear what you are all getting up to.

Stay cool for now

PB&J

xxx

So little time.....

Why is it when you seem to get a good routine going something happens to disrupt it?  I'll be very happy when all my front room renovations are over and I can get back to normal.  Living in the upstairs of a 2 up, 2 down terrace is very trying.

So that's my excuse for being absent from blogging again.  Everything is packed away and even nap times have been consumed by cleaning and just trying to keep on top of the mess.  With any luck it'll all be finished by next weekend.  We have tradesmen coming in all week so it will most likely be quiet on the blogging front until then.  I have to thank all my regular readers and followers for bearing with me but I promise I will make more of an effort to blog once we have some calm in the house again.

I have a fantastic blog article to share on my friends adoption baby shower.  I can't upload pictures at the moment though so it will be 'better late than never' but well worth a read.  Not only will it have some lovely ideas and tips but it will also give you an insight into the UK adoption process and what's involved.

I'll also be documenting our journey through 'Treasure Baskets'.  It's a course provided by our local children's centre and is aimed at creating a little basket of explority items to stimulate the senses of your child.  It's a 4 week course so ill report back at the end of the course and share our treasure basket with you all.

Now all the above is very exciting news and then I find myself on countdown for my return to work.  I can't believe how quick it has come around.  Joe will be starting his introduction sessions at the childminders and I don't know how I feel about that.  She's a lovely lady and all the children and parents rave about her but I guess it's just a natural feeling to be nervous about leaving your child in someone else's care.  I doubt he will be bothered though.  He's quite a chilled out little chappy and seems to enjoy a couple hrs away from mum from time to time.

So that's my week ahead.  If I can get a sneaky post in between now and the weekend i will.

Don't forget to wrap up warm, it looks like autumn is finally here!

PB & J xx

Autumn Harvest

I don't know if I mentioned before but Mr PB & J and I have an allotment which we use to grow our own produce.  We acquired our allotment in 2008 and as with any new venture we started out with great enthusiasm and did some really good work on improving our growing space and eventually chickens.  Sadly the recent growing season has seen very little happen on the allotment due to the little man arriving but that's when I'm thankful for  the good old perennial plants (that means comes back every year to any non gardeners).

From this....

To this.....

To this!!

So this morning we have picked our first harvest of apples and in an attempt to make something baby friendly I have hit a wall.  I mean I cant really make a traditional apple pie or crumble that's appropriate for an 8 month old can I? 

Yummy home grown apples!

I'm a right stickler about sugar and as soon as I started weaning with Joe I haven't added any sugar (or salt for that matter) to our cooking.  Actually apart from a bit of ice-cream and biscuit he hasn't had any sugar from me but that's not to say he hasn't been given it by other family members.

My recipe books are a little old (even the baby ones as they were given to me) so what can I make?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

PB & J xx

A Clingy Baby

Evening everyone I hope you've all had a better day than me today.  It seems something happens to these lovely contented babies when they turn 7 months.  They are still the sweetest little things until you try and detach them from your body and then they create like you've just done the worst thing imaginable.  So because of this I haven't really achieved much at all today apart from make some new twitter friends.

Being a first time mum I have never had to deal with this before but I think I was also a bit naïve (or stupid) in my expectations of being a parent.  I kept saying "I've looked after all my nieces and nephews, I know what its like to look after a baby".  Maybe so but add in sleep deprivation and no real rest or relaxation since giving birth and you have a recipe for a very grumpy mummy.  I'm not saying I am not enjoying it but there are days when I just want to have some peace and quiet and not have to worry about running around like a lunatic tidying up when Joe has a nap.  It sparks a lot of guilt some days because I start to feel bad about wanting my own time.   I know its a very normal feeling and every mum will feel like it at some point but I did think it would get easier but at the moment its getting harder.

Sadly I haven't yet found the solution to keeping Joe entertained for more than 10 minutes or so before he's asking to be picked up and I haven't even started on leaving the room without him.  I thought I would be a bit tougher but I don't like to hear him cry or make him feel like he's been abandoned.  I guess this is a very short phase given than in a few months time he will be exploring his independence and wont want to be picked up or be glued to me all the time.  So for now I guess I should suck it up and relish in all the contact and snuggles we do have.

In other news I have now figured out how to add Twitter and Instagram buttons so please give them a click and follow me.  I hope to have a Facebook page set up soon too.  I do have a personal page but I prefer to keep that to personal friends and family plus I would need an eternity to remove all the embarrassing photographs!

Please also check out my latest review on the Graco Symbio B pushchair.

Have a lovely evening

PB & J xx

Graco Symbio B Review

As soon as I found out I was expecting a baby, my first thoughts turned to what pram / pushchair / travel system was I going to have?  I mean where do you start? There are so many brands, styles, functions and not to mention the huge differences in price.  I had a fairly modest budget and knew that getting what I wanted was going to be a challenge.  So to make it easier for me I made a list of what was essential and what was desirable.  My essentials were;

1. It had to fit into the boot of my 3 door, 2004 ford fiesta (anyone with this car will know it has a pretty modest boot)
2. It had to be affordable
3. It had to be parent facing
4. It had to be light and easy to lift

Everything else in my eyes was a desirable feature.  So I started on my search for the right pram.  I did a lot of internet searches as well as a LOT of window shopping.  I kept finding myself returning to the same travel system, The Graco Symbio B.  I had seen the earlier model (Symbio) a year before in a shop and quite liked it so I was excited about seeing this newer model.

The Main Features
The Graco Symbio B stroller easily converts from a luxurious lie-flat pram to stroller, avoiding the need for a separate carrycot and reducing storage requirements. The unique reversible handle flips in an instant, with one hand, to change your child's position

• Comes complete with padded luxurious baby nest and fully removable padded mattress for ultimate comfort

• One-Click travel system allows you to team with the Logico S HP 0+ car seat

• Spring suspension and pneumatic tyres

• Includes raincover and footmuff 

• Reversible seat and handle

• Logico S HP ICS Adaptor

*The above description was taken from Graco's website

*click* I bought my pram!

A week or so later the Symbio B was delivered.  I have never been so excited!!  I purchased the stroller in urban but its also available in boysenberry (exclusive to BabiesRUs).  On arrival there was very little assembly involved, in fact the only assembly needed was putting the inserts into the baby nest to make it rigid.

And then the day came when I brought my baby home and put him in his pram for the first time.  The baby nest was well padded and suitably proportioned for a newborn baby.  However, this lovely environment became very snug in only 6 weeks.  I might add that Joe was a normal sized baby at 7lb 9.5oz but very quickly gained length and weight.  

Joe looking a little snug in the baby nest at 8 weeks

So from this point I was reluctantly using the stroller seat.  I was very nervous at having to harness Joe in but he seemed completely oblivious to the straps and they didn't appear to bother him.  The positive element of using this seat is that it has a full recline feature using a central pivot mechanism enabling Joe to remain flat as recommended for his age.  Still he did look very small to be in a stroller set-up but when its lying flat it doesn't look so bad.

He looks small but not lost

Joe in the stroller seat.  Shown sitting up for photo purposes

Making good use of the lie flat function

We also had the option to use the adapter for the car seat and this came in particularly useful when he was napping or I needed to make a quick journey.  The adapter just slides on and the car seat clips straight into it enabling me to push Joe around the shops without disturbing him.  A great feature and even better when the adapter is included in the price.
  As the weeks have passed Joe has filled out the stroller nicely and we enjoy many walks looking at each other and chatting away which makes good use of the parent facing option.  With a quick switch of the handle I can change his position however, I do feel that having the swivel wheels to the back makes for tricky steering.  I prefer to change the seat position instead of the handle so the swivel wheels are always at the front but I think that's more personal preference then a negative attribute. Having the larger wheels to the front actually proves useful when on the beach!


Joe at 7 months

Collapsing the Symbio B couldn't be easier.  After removing the seat unit you pull the use the numbered levers on the base so when baby brain kicks in you don't forget the sequence!  I use the shopping basket to store the rain cover and sometimes this gets in the way of the swivel wheels but a little wiggle of the wheels sorts that problem out and I must add that it collapses perfectly when the basket is empty.  The whole unit is very light to lift in and out of the car and most importantly IT FITS!!!!



It fits!!!!

I have experienced one mechanical problem with the pram and this was the brake on the handle.  I pulled the lever up one day and the brakes locked as expected but when I released the brake the wheels would still not move.  I called BabiesRUs and they offered to fix the problem but when Mr PB & J came home he had a fiddle and noticed that I just needed to push the entire lever unit down manually.  It seemed something had become loose or stretched and it prevented the brakes from automatically releasing.  I have chosen not to have this looked at for the moment as its not affecting the daily use of the stroller.  The only other problem I have had is a punctured tyre (damn hawthorns) but this was easily repaired and replacement inner tubes are available from most bike shop suppliers.  As with any item with inflatable tyres you need to expect that punctures do and will happen.

Other than those couple of hiccups the pram is still in good working order.  It has got a few scuffs here and there from bashing it through the front door or lying it on its side to put it in the boot but again this should be expected.  Another expectation is the size of the shopping basket.  I've seen a few reviews detail that the basket size is disappointing however, on viewing the Symbio B online or in person its very easy to see that the basket is very small.  I do think that the access points to the basket could be improved to allow larger items to be placed inside with ease.  This is a particular problem when the seat is in parent facing and the swivel wheels are to the front.

Small scuffs are expected

A very modest shopping basket

Overall I would say that I bought the PERFECT pram for me.  I get many compliments on its style and manoeuvrability.  Its light, affordable, easily cleaned (no discolouration or shrinking when washed) and has some fantastic features.  It's not the best pram for woodland walks but it negotiates cobbles and mild uneven surfaces easily.  If your looking for style without the price tag then this is the pram for you.

PB & J

Further information on the Symbio B and other Graco products can be found their website.

Disclaimer: I received no payment or incentive for writing this review.  All words are my own. 

Home Sweet Home

I cant tell you how excited I am about my new front room!  I've spent the last week or so living in absolute filth after we decided to knock all the plaster off the chimney breast.  However, it's uncovered a real gem of a fireplace dating back to when the house was first built.  This renovation project is partly responsible for my lack of posts recently and I think it will continue over the next few weeks until everything is back in order.

An original 1890's fire place

Its funny to think that Mr PB & J and I used to quite happily get stuck into home improvements before Joe came along but how things change when you have a baby!  The level of work that's involved means its just going to take too long to finish and with Joe edging closer to crawling every day; we've had to get the professionals in.  Cost-wise this has about doubled our budget but needs must and I'm a demanding girl when it comes to it!  Work is starting on Thursday and I'm going to keep a photo diary to share with you all when I'm back in the land of technology.  There will also be some exciting upcycle projects to share with you.

So what's coming up soon?  Well my review of the Graco Symbio B is almost finished and I will be writing a few posts on my breastfeeding and weaning journey so far.  My return to work is also creeping up so ill no doubt be looking for a comforting shoulder to cry on!

Must dash before Joe wakes up from his nap.

PB & J xx

Managing on Maternity Pay

Happy Friday everyone!  Today I've been thinking about my time off on maternity and the impact of taking a large cut to my salary aka maternity pay.  If you had asked me how you thought I would cope several months ago I would have probably dropped to my knees and cried for help however, now I have lived through it I must say that it hasn't been that difficult.

Ok just to put things into perspective, we had a joint household income that fell into the £40k - £50k bracket. We own our home, we receive no benefits and we have no existing children.  A pretty average situation for first time parents. Although I class myself as having a fairly good job in the private sector, my company only offered statutory maternity pay.  It was the level of pay I was going to receive that was the big worry as it was a significant reduction in my earnings.  Anyway here I am seven months on still alive, well fed, nothing cut off and my house hasn't been repossessed!  So how have I managed?

Well firstly we were lucky enough to plan our pregnancy around better financial times for us both (although I will say there is never a perfect time and we all know little 'surprises' happen). We sat down together in early pregnancy and decided where we could make savings.  One of the first things to go was Sky TV.  We were paying almost £80 a month for hundreds of channels we just didn't watch.  We also looked into reducing tariffs on phone contracts and energy bills.  We switched our main supermarket shop to Aldi and tried to reduce luxuries such as takeaways.

Once Joe arrived it was apparent that we didn't need a great deal of money in the first few weeks anyway.  It was cold and horrible outside so we spent most of the days indoors having lovely squishy baby cuddles.  I had also stocked up on plenty of nappies and wipes so I didn't have to buy any for a good few weeks.  We also received a lot of gifts of clothing and products (so of which I'm still using now) so it has come in very handy.

However, I will say that spending money is a mindset.  I find I can be very lavish with spending at times but then I can also be very good with my spending.  When it came to maternity I just accepted that a lack of money was going to be temporary (well maybe not THAT temporary, I do have a child now.....) and things have been fine.  I can live without those regular treats and luxuries and when I do get a treat i appreciate it more.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing how I manage my money when my salary increases again after going back to work.  Maybe I will find myself with some good savings and a nice holiday?

Thanks for reading.

PB & J xx

Easy Like Sunday Morning?

Good morning everyone and how are we all?  Well the dreaded lurgy has finally left us after what has been a rough week for the whole PB & J family.  It's not only been rough from a health point of view but from an emotional one too. 

Almost 8 years ago my dad passed away after a heart attack and it was his birthday on Thursday (he would have been 68).  We took Joe and some flowers to his grave and said happy birthday but times like these make me very sad; not only for the fact that he's not here anymore but also that Joe will never get to meet his Granddad who he looks so much like.  I guess we will have to keep his memory alive by re-telling some stories and believe me there are a few. My dad was certainly a character!

Anyway before I make this into a morbid post I just wanted to give a big apology for my blogging absence this week. I'm hoping now everyone is better I can get back to my daily posts.

I'm very much looking forward to the next few weeks as we are beginning renovations on our front room.  I live in a very old Victorian house and the front room has been in need of a bit of TLC so we made the brave decision to knock seven bells out of it and get it 'right'.  Its costing a little bit of money but the end result will be fantastic.  Ill be sure to keep you all updated with a photo diary and all being well I have an exciting upcycle project to run alongside.

So on that wonderful piece of news I must dash and start packing away the contents of my front room ready for 'operation chimney breast'. I guess today isn't so 'easy like Sunday morning' but I'm quite looking forward to it.

I also have a fantastic review of the Hauck Up 'n Down Highchair to follow to be sure to have a read.

Lots of Love

PB & J

xx

National Cupcake Week

Yes you read that correctly.  ITS NATIONAL CUPCAKE WEEK!!!!!!  If there ever was a god given right to stuff yourself with cake then now is the time and excuse to do it.  Check out what's happening on the Website.

As an avid baker myself I am known to throw a few cupcakes together now and again and I would love to share them with you (virtually of course).  I bake for fun, for friends, for parties etc.  You name it and I find a cake, cupcake or cake pop to celebrate with.  There's nothing more satisfying than baking a batch of scrummy cakes and watching everyone tuck in and tell you how nice they are.



A delicious chocolate feast!

One of my latest crazes is giant cupcakes.  I treated myself to a silicone mould and thought id give it a go.  Well apart from one disaster (too much mix and too low oven temp) I have produced some pretty lovely cakes if I do say so myself.  The latest yummy creation was a chocolate feast for the mother in laws birthday.  I even hid a caramel core so it oozed out when it was cut open. All together now MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm.
Ok enough of the cake talk and onto other recent matters.

We are all still feeling very under the weather with the whole PB & J family suffering at the hands of the common cold.  Couple that with a teething baby and you have a recipe for a sleepless night *yawn*.  However, amidst the illness we have had an exciting event with the arrival of my baby niece.  I have two brothers and a sister and up until Thursday we all had children apart from one of my brothers, so it was a very special day for him (and us of course).

Yummy sandwich!

In other news, despite being ill, Joe ate more than he ever has today whilst BLW (baby-led weaning).  He was given a cheese sandwich and today he must have eaten about half and smushed the other half into everything else as usual.  I'm not a 100% BLW mum as I do worry about the actual level of food he is getting so we do a mix of puree's and BLW.  Its working for us and Joe is happily reducing his milk levels on his own.  I do promise to write a weaning post soon as I find it fascinating and I think there's a lot of taboo and unknowns around the subject.  If I manage to help one mum from my post then I will feel my job has been done.



Right you lovely lot I have a poorly baby to get back to so keep warm and eat cake!!

PB & J

xx

Afternoon Tea at Rockliffe Hall

Well after a thoroughly rough night on Thursday with the little man; I was able to enjoy a few hrs off and indulge in a spot of afternoon tea with one of my besties. We decided to give the 5 star Rockliffe Hall a whirl and I must say we were not disappointed. The place is absolutely stunning and the service second to none.

On arrival we were directed to the orangery which was light and bright and looked out onto the patio and landscaping beyond.  We were offered a choice of afternoon tea options and we were even able to swap and change the menu to suit tastes and allergies.  The coffee & tea was also 'bottomless' and included in the price.

We decided to have the standard afternoon tea and when it arrived it just looked positively scrummy. Everything I tasted and tried was divine but my particular favourite was the panacotta in a very dainty little jar with a tangy jelly on top.

So 3 pots of coffee, 1 pot of tea, 2 jugs of milk, 8 finger sandwiches, 2 gourmet sausage rolls, 2 scones with jam and clotted cream, numerous sweet treats and 2.5hrs later; we finally finished our feast.  If I had to sum it up in one sentence I'd say it was "a 5 star experience".  My thighs might disagree but they are used to regular cake abuse so I'm sure they will get over it soon......

If you fancy popping down to try the delicious menu, have a round of golf or relax in the spa; you can find all the details on the website.

PB & J xx

Disclaimer: No payment or incentive was received to write this review and all words are my own.

Technical Problems

Hi Everyone

I have to apologise for the lateness but I'm having huge technical issues trying to post photographs using an iPhone and iPad. My PC should be back up and running by the end of the weekend and hopefully I can post some lovely colourful photographs and get my reviews going too.

Today has been a very mixed day. I had a lovely afternoon tea at a fabulous 5 star hotel which gave me a rare couple of hrs off.  Ill post a review as soon as im back in the PC world.  Meanwhile Joe was having fun at his grandmas although he hasn't spent much time away from me since birth and he did get upset when he realised I was gone. He's also becoming very aware of strangers and isn't so outgoing as he used to be.

Since collecting him today it's all been a bit downhill.  Joe has been sick on himself around the supermarket and is currently fighting sleep. Daddy is sorting him out whilst I'm having a rare bubble bath and taking some time to relax. I hope we have a better night tonight!

Thanks for bearing with me on the technical front.

PB & J

Xx

The House that Caught the Lurgy

Morning All

I just wanted to pop a quick post on to say please bear with me today.  I have an exciting afternoon planned and ill be telling you all about it later on but at the moment my little man is feeling a little under the weather after having me up every hour from 2am.  Mr PB & J has gone to work feeling awful and mother nature can quite frankly do one!

Catch up with you all soon but meanwhile please feel free to share The Amazing Adventure of PB & J amongst your friends.

See you all later.

PB & J

Xx

A Whole New World

*Yawn* ugh what a night.  This teething malarkey will be the end of me!

Ok back to today's post. Have you ever lived somewhere for many years and never known anyone?  I moved into my village 6 years ago and prior to having Joe I didn't know anyone apart from a couple of fellow allotment holders and my next door neighbours.  I don't know if it was a combination of not having any friends here and having a full time job that prevented me from socialising but its amazing what having a baby actually does for your social calendar.  I have met so many new people through playgroups, supports groups, forums and just out and about.  I think having a very happy smiley baby has helped initiate conversation with new people.  I quite often find complete strangers grinning away at me and then i realise its not me they are smiling at; its Joe!  We have a very busy schedule now which goes a little something like this.....

Monday - Swimming
Tuesday - Playgroup
Wednesday - Day Off (usually housework and play at home)
Thursday - Playgroup
Friday - Breastfeeding Support Group
Saturday - Varies (visiting family / friends, shopping, housework, playing)
Sunday - Family Day

I thought I would be quite bored at home with a baby but how wrong was I?.  I might point out that although I have housework scheduled in for twice a week I am not in any way bound by that agreement.  I never inherited the cleaning gene and there's more to life than a gleaming house.

So according to my schedule we have Playgroup this afternoon which Joe and I both enjoy.  There's lots of toys to play with and a hot cup of tea and adult conversation for me.  I highly recommend getting out and about with your kiddies because there is just so much to do.

So until tomorrow peeps

PB & J

P.S. I have a date at the amazing 5 star Rockcliffe Hall Hotel for afternoon tea tomorrow. I've been itching to go for ages so I can't tell you how excited I am!  I might even post some lovely pictures of scrummy cakes and scones so be prepared!

Hello & Welcome

Wow!  I can't believe I'm writing my first blog post.......

So where to start? Well I'd highly recommend having a read of the 'About Me' page which should bring you up to speed with who I am and what this blog is all about.  Is it strange that I had high expectations of a bright sunny day, a hot latte in hand and a huge fanfare to welcome me into the world of blogging? Instead it's dull and raining, my cup of tea is lukewarm and the only fanfare I'm getting is from Joe filling his nappy for the third time today.  I used to rush upstairs as soon as he had finished to make sure he had a clean nappy on but experience has taught me to wait 5-10 minutes as usually there's a last little 'surprise' to follow.  Yes my mummy and daddy friends we all know how glamorous parenthood is!

I was actually thinking about the perception of glamorous mums and the term 'yummy mummy'.  I imagined myself being a 'yummy mummy' in my gorgeous heels and about 3st lighter from all that breast feeding......  Keep dreaming Paula!! Nowadays I'm lucky to get a wash and make it out of the house without any bodily fluid or scrap food stuck to me.  I'm painting a great picture of parenthood here eh? But honestly if that's all I've got to worry about I think I'm pretty lucky in the grand scheme of things.  Sadly I am seeing some of my other mummy friends going through some tough times with their little ones and I have to thank my lucky stars that Joe has been in good health.  I was adamant I wanted to give Joe the best possible start in life and that's why I decided to breastfeed.  Whilst I'm not against formula feeding in any way I do have a strong view that unless circumstances prove otherwise; every mum should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed their child.  7 months on and we are still going strong although we have now introduced solid food and that's an adventure all on its own.

Now what to expect from me these coming weeks?  Well apart from the day to day stuff I have quite a few product reviews to publish including the Graco Symbio b, the Fisherprice Jumperoo and the Hauck up and down highchair to name a few.  There will no doubt be a fair few baking posts and Ill also be documenting our weaning journey and our sleep routine as this seems to be a difficult hurdle for a breastfeeding mum. Ill be welcoming your thoughts and comments on the sleeping as I'm finding this particularly difficult.

Finally I just want to pay my respects to all those people who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington.  My thoughts are with their friends & families.

Stay cool peeps and look after those munchkins!

PB & J