So another dry wake up.... This is fantastic! We have no accidents all morning, and easy success in getting to the bathroom every time - we moved the potty back into the bathroom.
Had to go out today, and everything was quite rushed and we had long train trips - so I put a pull up on him. He made one wee in his pull up, and then we went to the 'big toilet' and he was okay with that! On the train ride home, he needed to wee again, and told me.
We got home, and put underpants on - and he went to his potty. Followed by three accidents (number two's) in undies. I feel like everything has fallen apart. I had a little cry, as I feel like I ruined it by putting him in pull ups for a few hours!!!!! Ahhhhhhh.... We had a bit of success this evening, but will have to almost start over again tomorrow...
Let's see how that goes!!! ;(
x
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Potty Training Day 3!
Okay, so we woke up to another dry nappy - and 12 hours sleep, which was fantastic!!! I feel like a new person, with such a clever child. Definitely feeling very proud and pretty chuffed.
He had no accidents today, and we even had a 2 hour nap without a nappy. He was perfect, and woke up and went straight to the potty. Really think all the annoying nagging is starting to pay off.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY! I think it makes SUCH a difference when you wait until kids are ready to potty train!
Yay, let's see how tomorrow goes!!!
x
He had no accidents today, and we even had a 2 hour nap without a nappy. He was perfect, and woke up and went straight to the potty. Really think all the annoying nagging is starting to pay off.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL DAY! I think it makes SUCH a difference when you wait until kids are ready to potty train!
Yay, let's see how tomorrow goes!!!
x
Potty Training Day 2!
We woke up to a dry nappy. Which was fantastic... We didn't have to remind him at all about going to the potty- before the words even escaped my lips, he was on the potty quite happily. And then he'd jump up and down once he was finished, screaming 'mommy, i did all by self!!!!'
We had one accident, which was fantastic - and tons of success! SUCH A VERY PROUD MOMMY!
Let's see how tomorrow goes.
x
We had one accident, which was fantastic - and tons of success! SUCH A VERY PROUD MOMMY!
Let's see how tomorrow goes.
x
Sunday 22 January 2012
Potty Training Day 1!
So we decided yesterday that we would try to potty train our 33 month old son. They say boys take longer to be ready, and I was very despondent when my friends (they all have daughters) had started potty training between 24 and 30 months!
Firstly, you will need to be able to stay in for a few days to get this down. When h wakes up, we put his cool new underpants on (I think buying them cool undies is a great way for making them want to be a 'big kid'). We tell him that if he needs to use the potty, he needs to tell us. We also ask him about every 5 minutes, if he needs the toilet. And put him on the potty every hour or so. I know this is annoying and time consuming, but it is so worthwhile.
First accident: I put him on the potty, because he said he needed it. About a minute later, he said he was finished. Two minutes later he wets himself. We say 'don't worry, next time let's try to get it into the potty' and change his underpants. You have to positively reinforce them, if you shout they will just become afraid, and won't want to train any more.
About an hour later we have another accident. And then another little one, we sit him on the potty and he makes his first big proper wee. We have a few more wee's, lunch and then it's nap time. For nap times, and sleeping - only because potty training is new - we put him in nappies. But he wakes up from his nap-time with a dry nappy.
For the rest of the day and evening - we have one more small accident and a whole lot of success, with him even pulling his underpants down all by himself, and telling us when he needs to go! We even get a number two in the potty, which some children don't do easily.
You need to really make a big thing of them going in the potty... And if you can, call granny and grampa to add to the celebration. It really encourages them that they are fantastic.
What an easy day 1! Mommy, daddy and clever little toddler are feeling very happy about a successful day!
Let's hope tomorrow is as good!
x
Firstly, you will need to be able to stay in for a few days to get this down. When h wakes up, we put his cool new underpants on (I think buying them cool undies is a great way for making them want to be a 'big kid'). We tell him that if he needs to use the potty, he needs to tell us. We also ask him about every 5 minutes, if he needs the toilet. And put him on the potty every hour or so. I know this is annoying and time consuming, but it is so worthwhile.
First accident: I put him on the potty, because he said he needed it. About a minute later, he said he was finished. Two minutes later he wets himself. We say 'don't worry, next time let's try to get it into the potty' and change his underpants. You have to positively reinforce them, if you shout they will just become afraid, and won't want to train any more.
About an hour later we have another accident. And then another little one, we sit him on the potty and he makes his first big proper wee. We have a few more wee's, lunch and then it's nap time. For nap times, and sleeping - only because potty training is new - we put him in nappies. But he wakes up from his nap-time with a dry nappy.
For the rest of the day and evening - we have one more small accident and a whole lot of success, with him even pulling his underpants down all by himself, and telling us when he needs to go! We even get a number two in the potty, which some children don't do easily.
You need to really make a big thing of them going in the potty... And if you can, call granny and grampa to add to the celebration. It really encourages them that they are fantastic.
What an easy day 1! Mommy, daddy and clever little toddler are feeling very happy about a successful day!
Let's hope tomorrow is as good!
x
Friday 20 January 2012
Baby Food
Simple, easy and super healthy. Home made baby food is way simpler than you expect, and you don't need that much time or fancy equipment.
What you need:
a few ice trays
cling film
fruit and veggies
a blender/ food processor
With a 6 month old baby (/a baby that has just started weaning), the idea is that you start them off slowly. You can start with one or more fruit/veggie at a time, and change every week to give them a variety of different tastes and textures. Obviously some they will like and some they won't.
So here is an idea of how I started out. In the beginning I started with about two 'ice blocks' for meals and then add more as his hunger increased. I puréed carrots and peas, for one weeks veggie tray; and apple and pear for the week's fruit tray. Then for the next week, it was carrots and potatoes and pumpkin for veggie tray; and apple, mango, and pear for the fruit tray. Slowly adding different vegetables and fruits. Try everything. My little guy loved asparagus, even though we didn't.
When they are a little older, shred some chicken, fish and meat into the weekly vegetable trays. And add some yoghurt in the fruit trays. And don't purée so finely. This is how you can experiment with textures and tastes.
The best thing about putting the purée into ice block holders, is that you pop out how ever many cubes you need, warm them up (preferably on the stove) and it's ready.
So how you actually prepare the purée: Boil chopped veggies/ fruit - you can season, if you like. Remember your child is used to tastes that you like, they ate what you did for nine months. Once the fruit and vegetables are soft, strain them and blend until they are the desired texture. Then teaspoon into ice trays, allow to cool and cover with cling wrap. Put in the freezer.
This is also a great thing to have in your fridge when you have a toddler, you can pop puréed vegetables into their dinner without them knowing. Or they have 'yoggie pops' in the fridge when it's hot. Or if they bump their mouth, they have a yummy ice pack!
Hope this helps!
x
What you need:
a few ice trays
cling film
fruit and veggies
a blender/ food processor
With a 6 month old baby (/a baby that has just started weaning), the idea is that you start them off slowly. You can start with one or more fruit/veggie at a time, and change every week to give them a variety of different tastes and textures. Obviously some they will like and some they won't.
So here is an idea of how I started out. In the beginning I started with about two 'ice blocks' for meals and then add more as his hunger increased. I puréed carrots and peas, for one weeks veggie tray; and apple and pear for the week's fruit tray. Then for the next week, it was carrots and potatoes and pumpkin for veggie tray; and apple, mango, and pear for the fruit tray. Slowly adding different vegetables and fruits. Try everything. My little guy loved asparagus, even though we didn't.
When they are a little older, shred some chicken, fish and meat into the weekly vegetable trays. And add some yoghurt in the fruit trays. And don't purée so finely. This is how you can experiment with textures and tastes.
The best thing about putting the purée into ice block holders, is that you pop out how ever many cubes you need, warm them up (preferably on the stove) and it's ready.
So how you actually prepare the purée: Boil chopped veggies/ fruit - you can season, if you like. Remember your child is used to tastes that you like, they ate what you did for nine months. Once the fruit and vegetables are soft, strain them and blend until they are the desired texture. Then teaspoon into ice trays, allow to cool and cover with cling wrap. Put in the freezer.
This is also a great thing to have in your fridge when you have a toddler, you can pop puréed vegetables into their dinner without them knowing. Or they have 'yoggie pops' in the fridge when it's hot. Or if they bump their mouth, they have a yummy ice pack!
Hope this helps!
x
Spaghetti Bolognese
This is always a HUGE hit, and by adding this one secret recipe, it is packed with healthy veggies too!
Ingredients:
250g minced meat
onion
garlic
veggie purée
chopped tomato tin/ tomato passata (if you don't like lumps)
olive oil
salt and pepper, and mixed herbs (if you like)
spaghetti/ linguine (as much as you would eat)
mild curry powder
Directions:
For the veggie purée, you are basically making baby food - boil some yummy vegetables, add stock if you like. Strain and blend. Use the purée in all sauces for an extra kick of goodness. You can freeze it for about 3 months, so make a lot, and then just add to pan (frozen) when needed.
Fry the onions and garlic till browned, add mince. I then add about a tsp of curry powder as it really brings out the flavours of the meat. Once cooked, add tomato sauce and veggie purée, season and cook for about 10min.
For the pasta, make sure the water is boiling. Hold the pasta in a bunch at the centre of the pot, twist and let go. The pasta should fall evenly in the water. That is how you ensure that the pasta is all cooked the same. After about 8-10 min the pasta should be cooked, but check first. Strain, top with sauce and some parmigiana/ regular cheddar and serve!
You can use short pasta too, and then you could pop it in the oven so the cheese gets crispy - a Pasta Bake!
Buon appetito!
x
Ingredients:
250g minced meat
onion
garlic
veggie purée
chopped tomato tin/ tomato passata (if you don't like lumps)
olive oil
salt and pepper, and mixed herbs (if you like)
spaghetti/ linguine (as much as you would eat)
mild curry powder
Directions:
For the veggie purée, you are basically making baby food - boil some yummy vegetables, add stock if you like. Strain and blend. Use the purée in all sauces for an extra kick of goodness. You can freeze it for about 3 months, so make a lot, and then just add to pan (frozen) when needed.
Fry the onions and garlic till browned, add mince. I then add about a tsp of curry powder as it really brings out the flavours of the meat. Once cooked, add tomato sauce and veggie purée, season and cook for about 10min.
For the pasta, make sure the water is boiling. Hold the pasta in a bunch at the centre of the pot, twist and let go. The pasta should fall evenly in the water. That is how you ensure that the pasta is all cooked the same. After about 8-10 min the pasta should be cooked, but check first. Strain, top with sauce and some parmigiana/ regular cheddar and serve!
You can use short pasta too, and then you could pop it in the oven so the cheese gets crispy - a Pasta Bake!
Buon appetito!
x
Thursday 19 January 2012
Cleaning with a Toddler
The most difficult thing in the world to do, is cleaning with a toddler around. So I have found this routine one of the easiest, when cleaning.
Bathroom: Before I get into the shower, I spray the shower door with window cleaner and I spray the bath and sink with bathroom cleaner. Before getting out I quickly clean all the surfaces.
Surfaces and windows: While my little one has an afternoon nap, I do all the yucky work - dusting, cleaning windows, cleaning the toilets, making beds, etc..
Hoovering: I ask my son to help clean up all his toys, otherwise the hoover might suck them up. He quickly obliges, and then helps me hoover. We dance and sing, while cleaning the floors together.
Dishes: I put cartoons on, while I make dinner - and while I am cooking, I try to wash the dishes. Otherwise I clean them just after cooking.
Washing: We do it together. Talking through every item of clothing, while we put them in the washing machine. He helps pass pegs to me, while we hang the washing. It keeps him busy during my chores, plus it makes him feel important because he is helping!
Hope this helps!
x
Bathroom: Before I get into the shower, I spray the shower door with window cleaner and I spray the bath and sink with bathroom cleaner. Before getting out I quickly clean all the surfaces.
Surfaces and windows: While my little one has an afternoon nap, I do all the yucky work - dusting, cleaning windows, cleaning the toilets, making beds, etc..
Hoovering: I ask my son to help clean up all his toys, otherwise the hoover might suck them up. He quickly obliges, and then helps me hoover. We dance and sing, while cleaning the floors together.
Dishes: I put cartoons on, while I make dinner - and while I am cooking, I try to wash the dishes. Otherwise I clean them just after cooking.
Washing: We do it together. Talking through every item of clothing, while we put them in the washing machine. He helps pass pegs to me, while we hang the washing. It keeps him busy during my chores, plus it makes him feel important because he is helping!
Hope this helps!
x
Discipline
Modern day parenting has changed many 'olden-day' perceptions. These days, parents don't agree with corporal punishment, hidings and harsher treatment of children. And fair enough, you don't want your child to believe that being violent solves problems.
Here are some techniques that I have found really help, in discipling my child, without using hidings or any violent behaviour.
Naughty Corner: Find one part of the house that you use as the naughty corner/ step/ chair. This area needs to be away from TV, toys and anything that would entertain/ stimulate them. Whenever your child is naughty, you warn them that they will be placed in the naughty area. If they continue to disobey you, you place them there until they apologise, and hopefully give you cuddles.
Counting: This one is all down to the tone in which you count. You need to be stern and you definitely cannot laugh. They need to believe that once you get to three it will be the END OF THE WORLD! You count slowly to three, and hopefully be that time they will have listened. Otherwise there will have to be a repercussion, no hidings!!!!
Bribing: As horrible as this one is, you can use it OCCASIONALLY! For example, if you have to leave the park - and you do not want to deal with a tantrum. You can say 'we need to go to the shop, and we can get a little treat' or 'we need to go home, and you can have some time playing with bubbles before your nap' etc..
Star/Behaviour chart: Draw up a chart, with blocks for days of the week and a total block. Buy some awesome stickers and some little treats. Every time your child goes to bed without fighting, every time they eat all their veggies, every night they sleep in their own bed, etc. they get a sticker. By the end of the week, if they have 7 stickers they get a little treat.
Walking away: I found this one particularly helpful, as my little one is quite a mommy's boy. Whenever we are out in public, and he throws a tantrum - I just tell him 'Do you want to stay here by yourself. Okay, I am going now. Goodbye.' And then I start walking off. He always follows.
Remember - parents need to support each other in all disciplinary choices, and need to be a team.
Hope this helps!
x
Here are some techniques that I have found really help, in discipling my child, without using hidings or any violent behaviour.
Naughty Corner: Find one part of the house that you use as the naughty corner/ step/ chair. This area needs to be away from TV, toys and anything that would entertain/ stimulate them. Whenever your child is naughty, you warn them that they will be placed in the naughty area. If they continue to disobey you, you place them there until they apologise, and hopefully give you cuddles.
Counting: This one is all down to the tone in which you count. You need to be stern and you definitely cannot laugh. They need to believe that once you get to three it will be the END OF THE WORLD! You count slowly to three, and hopefully be that time they will have listened. Otherwise there will have to be a repercussion, no hidings!!!!
Bribing: As horrible as this one is, you can use it OCCASIONALLY! For example, if you have to leave the park - and you do not want to deal with a tantrum. You can say 'we need to go to the shop, and we can get a little treat' or 'we need to go home, and you can have some time playing with bubbles before your nap' etc..
Star/Behaviour chart: Draw up a chart, with blocks for days of the week and a total block. Buy some awesome stickers and some little treats. Every time your child goes to bed without fighting, every time they eat all their veggies, every night they sleep in their own bed, etc. they get a sticker. By the end of the week, if they have 7 stickers they get a little treat.
Walking away: I found this one particularly helpful, as my little one is quite a mommy's boy. Whenever we are out in public, and he throws a tantrum - I just tell him 'Do you want to stay here by yourself. Okay, I am going now. Goodbye.' And then I start walking off. He always follows.
Remember - parents need to support each other in all disciplinary choices, and need to be a team.
Hope this helps!
x
Simple Potato Wedges
Tonight we had Chicken Kiev (a la supermarket) and so I decided to make home made potato wedges:
Ingredients:
potatoes (chopped into about 8 pieces)
olive oil - not too much!!
salt and pepper
fresh chopped chives
Directions:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Put potatoes into a bowl, toss with olive oil and seasonings. Spread them out evenly on a baking tray, and place in the oven. Turn after about 10- 15 min, sprinkle chives on top and continue to bake until crispy.
Chop up some baby tomatoes, avo, and cucumber - for a light side salad!
Buon appetito!
x
Ingredients:
potatoes (chopped into about 8 pieces)
olive oil - not too much!!
salt and pepper
fresh chopped chives
Directions:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Put potatoes into a bowl, toss with olive oil and seasonings. Spread them out evenly on a baking tray, and place in the oven. Turn after about 10- 15 min, sprinkle chives on top and continue to bake until crispy.
Chop up some baby tomatoes, avo, and cucumber - for a light side salad!
Buon appetito!
x
Sloppy Joe Lasagne
So my husband named this the Sloppy Joe Lasagne, he loved it (and he is Italian, born and raised)!
Ingredients:
250g mince
white beans
a tin of tomato passata (you can get the one with basil, or garlic, or onion if you like)
bescamel/ white sauce (flour, milk and butter)
lasagne sheets
grated cheddar/ feta
garlic and/or onion
olive oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Fry the garlic and/or onion - add mince and beans, and then add tomato passata. For the bescamel/ white sauce - you can either buy it or make it from scratch. For a simple bescamel sauce: put a blob of butter in a pot, add milk, sieve in flour and mix well - add more milk for runnier sauce, or add more flour to make it stiffer. Put a little olive oil in the bottom of an oven dish, cover the bottom of the oven dish in a light layer of bescamel sauce. Place lasagne sheets, layer with meaty sauce, then bescamel, then more lasagne, etc.. Put cheese on top. Bake!
Buon appetito!
x
Ingredients:
250g mince
white beans
a tin of tomato passata (you can get the one with basil, or garlic, or onion if you like)
bescamel/ white sauce (flour, milk and butter)
lasagne sheets
grated cheddar/ feta
garlic and/or onion
olive oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Fry the garlic and/or onion - add mince and beans, and then add tomato passata. For the bescamel/ white sauce - you can either buy it or make it from scratch. For a simple bescamel sauce: put a blob of butter in a pot, add milk, sieve in flour and mix well - add more milk for runnier sauce, or add more flour to make it stiffer. Put a little olive oil in the bottom of an oven dish, cover the bottom of the oven dish in a light layer of bescamel sauce. Place lasagne sheets, layer with meaty sauce, then bescamel, then more lasagne, etc.. Put cheese on top. Bake!
Buon appetito!
x
Savoury Rice Leftovers
So we made so much Savoury Rice that it lasted us two more dinners. We made Stuffed Peppers and Mushrooms and we made a type of Fried Rice.
For the Mushrooms and Peppers:
Ingredients:
4 mushrooms
2 red/ yellow or orange peppers - they are the sweetest
savoury rice
feta and grated cheddar
Directions:
Remove the stem and skin of the mushrooms, and cut the pepper in half and clean. Boil the peppers and mushrooms in shallow water. Stuff peppers and mushrooms with rice and top with the cheeses, and put in the oven until the cheese has melted.
For the Fried Rice:
Ingredients:
fried rice
soy sauce (as much as you like)
olive oil
Directions:
Fry rice in a little olive oil and soy sauce. Serve with a delicious grilled fish - we had salmon! YUM!
Buon appetito!
x
For the Mushrooms and Peppers:
Ingredients:
4 mushrooms
2 red/ yellow or orange peppers - they are the sweetest
savoury rice
feta and grated cheddar
Directions:
Remove the stem and skin of the mushrooms, and cut the pepper in half and clean. Boil the peppers and mushrooms in shallow water. Stuff peppers and mushrooms with rice and top with the cheeses, and put in the oven until the cheese has melted.
For the Fried Rice:
Ingredients:
fried rice
soy sauce (as much as you like)
olive oil
Directions:
Fry rice in a little olive oil and soy sauce. Serve with a delicious grilled fish - we had salmon! YUM!
Buon appetito!
x
Friday 13 January 2012
Corn Fritters
Best thing ever created, if you have kids that won't eat veggies... They look just like mini pancakes, but are packed with yummy veggie goodness! Plus you could use any other vegetable, or a few even. One of my absolute FAVOURITES is butternut fritters - hmmmmm yumness!
Ingredients:
300g tin of corn
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
tsp baking powder
1/4 cup grated cheese
some oil or butter
salt and pepper
Directions:
Drain the corn, and discard the liquid. Mix eggs, salt and pepper; then add flour and baking powder. Add corn and grated cheese. Heat a pan, add a bit of butter or oil, and cook the fritters. (Don't use too much oil!) When they start bubbling, or can be moved easily, flip them over and make sure they are cooked through. Put them on absorbent paper, and serve with dinner.
Buon appetito!
x
Ingredients:
300g tin of corn
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
tsp baking powder
1/4 cup grated cheese
some oil or butter
salt and pepper
Directions:
Drain the corn, and discard the liquid. Mix eggs, salt and pepper; then add flour and baking powder. Add corn and grated cheese. Heat a pan, add a bit of butter or oil, and cook the fritters. (Don't use too much oil!) When they start bubbling, or can be moved easily, flip them over and make sure they are cooked through. Put them on absorbent paper, and serve with dinner.
Buon appetito!
x
Thursday 12 January 2012
Savoury Rice
My little one has been sick lately, and has not been very keen on eating - so we decided we'd try some new recipes that incorporate everything - he loved it and ate two bowls.
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
onion, chopped
1 tin of chopped tomato (you can get passata, if you don't like chunky tomato)
about 4 cups of cooked rice
about 2 cups of fresh. tinned or frozen veggies
a splash of oil
salt, pepper and mixed herbs, to taste
a pinch of sugar
tsp of mild curry powder
feta or cheddar
chicken or tuna or bacon or tofu
tsp stock
Directions:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C, and grease oven proof dish. Fry onion, then add tomato, curry powder, salt, pepper, herbs, sugar and chicken stock.
Mix rice and finely chopped veggies, and choice of meat/fish/poultry/tofu and place in oven proof dish, add tomato sauce. Grate cheese or crumb feta over rice and bake for 30min.
Buon appetito!
x
Delicious Broccoli Soup
I love making easy dinners, that are healthy, easy and quick - and it warms you up on a cold winters night! And, even my husband enjoyed it (and he CANNOT STAND broccoli)...
head of broccoli
about 750ml chicken stock
onion, chopped
a knob of butter
garlic (if you like)
about 2 carrots, sliced
about 70ml cream/ milk for a lighter option
salt, pepper and spices
a few tablespoons flour
bacon and feta, to garnish
Put knob of butter in pan, and gently fry onion and garlic - don't allow to brown. Add carrots, broccoli and flour; and make sure everything is coated. Add chicken stock and allow to boil, until broccoli is cooked (approximately 15min). Add cream or milk. Put in food processor and blend. Add more cream/milk or more flour, depending on the consistency you like.
Sprinkle with feta and bacon bits, if you like.
I also made lovely crispy bread to go with it.
Preheat oven to 180 degree C. Cut up a baguette, sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper and some chilli flakes (if you like) and bake for about 10min!
Buon appetito!
x
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