Hip Hip Horay!

There is much celebration in the Scruff household. Having been a little fickle with his night waking, the Boy has slept through for three nights on the trot (from his 10.30pm dream feed to 7am). That, in my book, is worthy of a carnival.

It's also exactly one year ago today that I started She Was Not At All Domestic. With the prospect of returning back to work looming I started this blog as a way of getting back into the swing of things. Practice my writing. I wrote it thinking just one person would read it - my dear friend Vagabondiana, whose thoughts I cherish.

But then you all started reading and commenting and before I knew it I was sharing my life with a bunch of strangers! And my jove is it lots of fun. Your company round my gaff has allowed me to log all sorts of memories to keep for ever. I thoroughly enjoy sharing snippets of my life, pouring you a cuppa tea and filling you in with all my gossip.

So a good night to the boy, a big birthday cheer to my blog and happy Halloween to you....

Sunday, lovely Sunday

I love sundays. Really love sundays.

I am sitting curled up on my sofa with a bit of a headache (the central heating is way too hot) but with such a feeling of contentment. You see no matter what happens during my week, I can always rely on sunday to make me smile.

It wasn't that long ago that my sundays went by in a blur of hangovers and lie ins. Now, Sunday in the Scruff household is always about us being together.  The day starts with the sound of the nespresso machine gurgling to create a fresh hit of coffee. I get the kids ready as Mr Scruff makes poached eggs on toast.

"Helping" with the decorating!

We put on our sunday best (that's anything other than my usual ensemble of baggy jeans and a cosy cardie). In church we can be sure that Little P will do something embarrassing. Past highlights include shouting 'Bum' during prayers and carrying a five foot teddybear up the aisle to the vicar. But despite such antics, It's the one time and place where I have Mr Scruff on hand to help...we are all in these 'red face' moments together!

The afternoon is spent muddling. Little P spends time with her daddy, picking apples in the garden or mowing the lawn. And after a trip to the park we all sit down for a roast dinner. Yum.

fun in the park

The days ends with telly and  cup of tea.

And that's it. Hardly exciting is it? But for this one day in the week routines, schedules, appointments and commutes don't exist. It's quite simply just 'us'.

Hello Kitty

I did the cruelest thing a wife can do to her husband.

Despite him having a force ten hangover from hell, I made Mr Scruff travel on the bus and tube to Covent Garden so Little P could meet Hello Kitty!

I take my hat of to him. He did it with barely a complaint. I was slightly concerned when he was holding the Boy on the bus and a woman started talking to him. One whiff of his booze breathe and all sorts of assumptions could be made!

Anyway we made it to the Artbox shop. Little P was fast asleep so I can only imagine what went through her head when we roused her and there standing in front of her was a seven foot moving, dancing, waving Kitty. Her idol.

Her reaction was typical of P. She smiled from ear to ear, pointed at Kitty and said "funny". With that she wondered off in the other direction.

Despite much coaxing from us, she wouldn't go and shake Kitty's hands. Instead she looked on from afar, pointing, laughing and admiring the enormous pink shoes Kitty was wearing.

Little P staring at the shoes!

I am so glad we made the effort  to venture into town. Despite living in London, we so rarely do, but we have vowed to get the kids more involved in their city and all it has to offer. Hopefully little jaunts like this will stay in Little P's mind and form memories that will last a lifetime .

(lack of) sleep update

Since my post on getting the Boy to sleep through the night he has since regressed. The next night it was 5am, the night after 4am and last night he woke for a feed at 3am. Never was a victory so short lived. Humpf.

My night icing buns

Last night I went to a cake decorating workshop. I have never been to a cake decorating event before. In fact I have never decorated a cake before. I am fairly new to the area and I thought it would be a good way to meet people.

I am a shy person at the best of times and I cannot remember the last time I left the house without a child or husband in tow, so my social skills are a little rusty. My confidence was not helped by the fact that the first person I was introduced to apologised for nearly knocking me down in the carpark "especially in your condition". That's one way to break the ice. So feeling a tad self conscious and sucking my tummy in I gulped a mouthful of Cava and concentrated on the cakes.

Oh dear, I really need to learn to tidy up after myself!

The organisers had made a huge selection of naked cupcakes ready for dressing. There were pots of glitter, edible balls, chocolate sprinkles, little stars, coloured icing, cutters, rolling pins, whipped cream, piping bags and the most gorgeous collection of cup cake books for inspiration. It was a sugar coated explosion of accessories.

I set to work trying a lady bird design first - Little P's favourite (such a shame she cannot eat it with all her allergies). I quickly discovered the art to successful cake decoration is to be a tidy worker. I am a messy person and within minutes all my rolled icing was covered in corn flour. Never mind, I was enjoying myself. In fact I was surprised at just how creative and fun it is. You can create just about any design with a bit of imagination (and a steady hand).

My six designs. I don't think I will be publishing a cook book just yet!

I managed six cakes, trying various different techniques. For a first attempt I am really proud of my designs but best of all I really think I could get into this. Its Little P's birthday in December and I am inspired to do a bee and ladybird theme party and find a recipe for an allergy free cake to decorate for her. Make room people, there's a new cup cake queen in the making!

my bug buddies!

A few tips I picked up:
-coat the top of the cake with syrup before starting
-dust a small amount of corn flour on your board before rolling
-try not to get corn flour on the top side of the icing. 
-work with small sections of icing at a time
-wipe cutters clean between colours
-use water to in between icing layers to make it stick

Time for a haircut?

Every morning when I go into Little P's room, I am not greeted by my little angel saying hello. No. I am faced with Cousin It.

Clock watching in the night.

Yes son, we are all tired

Last night we had a break through. I didn't feed the Boy until 6.09am...yes, read it my friends and cheer. 6.09am.

The last couple of weeks I have been trying all sorts of tricks to try and encourage the Boy to sleep longer through the night. You see for ages he was waking at 2am and 5am. I'd hear him snuffle awake next to me, I'd sit up and look at the clock holding my breath in the vain hope it would be a bit later. No such luck. I'd put him on my boob and then he'd nod off without even taking a drop. Humpf. At 5am he'd have a quick snack but then when it came to feeding him in the morning, he wasn't a bit interested. Bad habits had formed. He's also a whopper, so I knew he was capable of going for longer between night feeds.

So, one night I gave him cooled boiled water when he woke between 2am and 3am. He played about but took about 2ounces before nodding off. He then woke at 5am and I fed him.

After a couple of nights, he started waking between 3am and 4am. Progress. Except suddenly he didn't want water. I tried a dummy. Well low and behold he loved it and within seconds had nodded off again. I'd like to note that Boy isn't a bit interested in a dummy any other time. I'd go so far as to say he actually turns his nose up when I tempt him with one.

After a couple of nights of this I suddenly panicked that he was getting into a bad habit. Waking just for me to give him his dummy. I had visions of me traipsing in to his room in the middle of the night just to pop it in his mouth. So I held back. He grizzled. Even let out a bit of a cry, but within minutes he was back snuffling like a little piglet.

A few nights ago he woke. I looked at the clock. It was between 4am and 5am. I silently punched the air, before feeding him.

The next night when I looked at the clock it was gone 5am. I did a silent wiggle and whoop.

And then last night, or should I smugly say this morning, he made it to 6.09am!

Now, I'm not entirely new to this game so I know that tonight could be a whole different ball game and he will wake up at whatever time pleases him, be it 6am or heaven forbid 2am again, and he will demand what ever he wants - water, dummy, boob. And yes I will give it to him. But until then, I am allowing myself a small and silent victory dance.

LAMB CHOPS AND BUTTERFLIES: damn you cold snap, you're playing silly buggers with my skin...

I'm cold. The little hairs on my arms are standing to attention. I want to get into bed early and not get out of it in the morning. I crave a whiskey and my mums shepherds pie. I am using my baby as a hot water bottle.

My love of a cosy cardigan is being embraced. The stress of hunting out the ultimate pair of boots has commenced.  A Marks and Spencer crew neck jumper in an oatmeal shade will be purchased.

But before I start fussing over my fashion, I need to address my skin. You see it doesn't like change. Hates it. It gets all stroppy. It starts flaring up. It sulks; giving me a sullen, gray glare. I need to show it some love.

What I want is a cream that will make me feel better just by opening the lid. I want it to look like whipped little peaks. I want to be able to slap it on in the morning and not worry about a billion other 'layers'. I want it to protect yet pamper. I want it all and I want it now.

These may not be brand spanking new, but they are tried and tested favourites. A serving of any one of these everyday and your skin will show its appreciation.

Jack Frost and all your skin demons - pah, on ya bike.

Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream. This is such a great anti aging cream and is loved by lots of my beauty editor buddies. It gives skin that cushion feeling that I crave and leaves it with a sheen that screams "I'm hydrated whoop whoop". Its pricey but when I use this I don't feel the need to use a serum.

Yes I do believe all the hype. Its a good price and it does what it says it will do. What more can I ask for, eh?

Ah Ole Henrikson. A very very lovely man indeed who is fabulous for a bit of Hollywood gossip. He regularly pampers Katy Perry and the scrumptious Charlize Theron. I love that this has a SPF and that it imparts a lovely glowy radiance. I rate this. A Lot.
 

This parenting lark has turned me soft....

Ask me who is number one in the charts and I'll look at you blankly. I haven't got the foggiest. In fact I couldn't name one person or band that is in the charts at all. I mean I could hazard a guess and say Lady Gaga? And um, um, ummmmmmmm.......

Yet ask me what the lyrics are to the CBeebies Autumn Ditty and I will burst in to song. I know because I googled them.

One, two, one, two, three, four.
Season of bliss and mellow fruitfulness,
Ripe and sun kissed in golden happiness.
Picking and storing,
Whilst summer is snoring,
Autumn has come.
Season of bliss and mellow fruitfulness,
Ripe and sun kissed in golden happiness.
Picking and storing,
Whilst summer is snoring,
Autumn has come.
Season of bliss and mellow fruitfulness,
Season of bliss and mellow fruitfulness,
Season of bliss and mellow fruitfulness.
(Brown leaves are falling down, down, down onto the ground)

8 week jabs...boo hoo

Poor Boy. Yesturday I posted about what a little smiler he was, well since then he's lost his mojo.

He had his eight week jabs. His immediate reaction was good. He screamed but was quickly comforted by a mummy cuddle. But an hour or so later he was still grizzling and despite it being no where near is feed time, he fed like he'd never been fed before, gulping the milk down frantically.

He went down well at bedtime, but when I went to him for his dream feed at 10.30pm, he was so distressed. It was so hard for Mr Scruff and I as Boy so rarely cries, and certainly not like this. He didn't want milk, we burped him, cuddled him and rocked him, yet the screams continued.

In the end we reached for the Calpol. I didn't like giving it to him as he is only two months today but if he was in pain I wanted it to go away for him. I then held him high on my shoulder and slowly jogged on the spot, doing a little dance (a trick I discovered when Little P suffered with colic). I patted my hand on his back like a heart beat and eventually he drifted off. He slept till 4.30am when I fed him and then through to 7.30 this morning.

Today he seems happy. He is still a bit more quiet than usual but I have had a couple of his sunny smiles.

I've got to book the appointment for the next lot in a months time. Not looking forward to that day.

Smile!

My Boy smiles. He smiles a lot. Whatever the hour, whoever the person cooing at him, he beams from ear to ear. When I hold him in my arms his eyes are so wide and full of love a look of pure contentment spreads across his face. As for me, my heart leaps out of my body, cartwheels and cheers with pom poms.

This isn't what babies do. Well not my babies. Little P was not a happy baby. From day one she was tense, insecure and seemed to have a black cloud hovering over head. She had a terribly traumatic entry into the world, I was not in a happy place for the first couple of months and she was riddled with allergies and eczema. (Thankfully by the age of six months she blossomed into the bubble of fun and delight she is now). In stark contrast, the Boy had a great birth, I am in good spirits and he is thriving on mummys milk. I'm guessing that's why he is so happy.

Every day I wake up and think today he will realise that he is supposed to make himself heard. But until that day comes I will savour every smile.

Retail (I need) therapy...

Pah! Where have I been?

Not in the shops, that's for sure.

Shopping was once my favourite hobby. And I am quite the pro. You want to know which day of the week each shop receives new stock? Ask me. Is there a sale on? My nose would be pressed against the window. I love rummaging through rails unearthing new gems. I love the thrill of spotting a must buy. I love tapping in my PIN and skipping off with a bag swinging by my side. I admit, I rarely keep any of my purchases. I am just as keen to refund and enjoy the money returning into my account. Since the last three years all I seem to have been is pregnant, my purchases are mostly for under threes, but that hasn't spoiled my fun. No, the downpour on my parade comes courtesy of Little P.

Entering a shop with her is like waving a red cloak at a bull. Her impatience and overwhelming disdain of shops is evident instantly. A mere five minutes in any retail establishment with P and I emerge shaking. Her reactions vary from temper tantrums to eyeing the china department in John Lewis as the best playground EVER.

So long Brent X, au revoir Oxford Circus, you've lost a loyal friend. I'm now shopping on line.

Gap, Zara and Hennes have, at last, joined the online shopping ranks. Never have I had to type my password  so much. The soreness of my fingertips soothed by the excitement of signing for a parcel.

So just what has been ripped open over my lounge floor....

ZARA

Mini Boden

H&M

 Gap

Little P's allergy update!

Little P had an appointment at the hospital yesturday for her allergy skin prick tests. I have been dreading this day. The last time we went, she was so frightened and reacted so awfully to the tests that the hospital shook with the sound of her screams (and my sobs).

This time I roped Mr Scruff into coming with me. I needed help to get the two monkeys to Waterloo on the tube during rush hour, a bit of moral support but also to help hold Little P down when they did the tests (gulp).

So off the Scruff family trotted to St Thomas's. Little P was so excited to be going on a train and despite a few glaring glances from commuters who seemed to feel we didn't have a right to be there with a pushchair, we had a good journey in!

When Little P's name was called my heart sank. I let Mr Scruff take her in so I would be a new face to see when she came out. I waited outside bracing myself to hear the crying, but there was nothing! She emerged in Mr Scruffs arms looking a little shell shocked but happy. The amazing nurse who had done the tests had pretended each prick was a bubble popping. It worked!

Also, unlike before, this time she was able to cope with the reaction Despite the urge to itch her arms, she was easily distracted by all the toys and books the hospital had set up. Phew.

The results are that she is still highly allergic to cows milk, eggs, nuts, sesame seeds, wheat, soya and  a few random fruits and veg BUT for the first time, she came up negative for banana. We are going to introduce it very carefully at home. I will smear a tiny amount over half her lip, wait 24hours to see if there is a reaction and then give her a bit to eat. Fingers crossed it will be another food to add to her 'yes' list.

Because she is now 21 months and likely to grab food off plates and be exposed to foods at parties and nursery she has been given an epipen. The very idea of having to use it is scary but if we stay as vigilant as we have been hopefully we'll never have to.

We have also been referred to a dermatologist to look at her eczema. Although her extreme flare ups are under control her arms and cheeks are always ruddy and dry - it looks a bit like she is sun burned. Fingers crossed this can be treated so her skin is as peachy soft as it should be.

The dietician has given me lots of new recipes to try and I will post up how I get on with them, and most importantly how Little P likes them! I am even going to attempt to make my own bread using buckwheat!!

I think Little P is doing brilliantly. It's tough that she cannot enjoy treats and her diet is so restricted but she is thriving. And what a brave little adventurer she is too!