Mothers Day Giveaway! Win a Gummigem Pendant!

Mothers Day is this Sunday and it is about time we got to treat ourselves right!?

Here is the chance to win a fabulous Gumigem Pepper Raindrop Pendant worth £14.45!

GUMIGEM® is a UK based family run business who produce silicone jewellery, aimed to provide mummy with a stylish accessory that baby can also entertain their hands with. With a variety of stylish designs, and a full range of colours to choose from, your certain to find a GUMIGEM ® to suit you in their online shop. The jewellery is made from silicone (like what you would find a dummy teat, teething toy or baby spood to be made of), so is soft and flexible. The silicone meets the required standards and is BPA, PVC, Lead, Latex and Phthalate free.

You can follow Gumigem on Twitter and Facebook.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What happens when you give your One year old an ice cream cone?

Leo's God-daddy's family run a very successful Pizzeria and Ice Cream Parlour in our local town. Saying it is good just does not do it enough justice, and Leo has discovered from a early age that home made ice cream is indeed...Very yummy! 

So yesterday on one of our visits, he was given his very own ice cream cone with a little bit of home made ice cream all of his own. He has been given these special treats in the past but usually smacks them around on the table before, ensuring all of the ice cream is suitably melted and all over the place. Finally proceeding to throw it to the floor in one splattered mess. 

This time however he proceeded to munch the whole lot. 

Thoroughly enjoying every little bit. 

So this is what happens when you give your One year old his own ice cream cone...

 As you can see Leo decided to use his ice cream cone to style his hair. Leo was one very sticky little man after indulging, but it was safe to say he had enjoyed himself.

 It was straight home for a bath and hair wash after his latest taste adventure!

Leo's First Shoes

On Monday I took Leo to get his feet measured. My reasoning for this was more out of curiosity, and I had a feeling deep down inside that Leo would soon be taking to his Two feet, and walking for the very first time. 

We visited Clarks and I sat Leo down on a little stool. He sat there as good as gold and watched the lady put his feet into the device that would determine what size his little feet were. As it turns out Leo does not have such little feet after all, and the lady was very quick to tell me that they had no shoes in his size in stock.

Leo is currently a 4H and despite my searching online, I could not locate a single size for him. There was obviously no rush as at this moment in time, Leo was still yet to actually take off. Two day's later though...On Wednesday 4th July - Leo's expected due date from back in 2011. He suddenly started walking and has not looked back.

I wanted Leo to have a pair of shoes, just a light pair that he could wear in order to get used to them. I have very rarely put anything on Leo's feet. He had a pair of crawling shoes in soft leather but the amount of times he has worn anything other than socks (or tights!) are very rare occasions. 

So yesterday I took Leo back to Clarks and explained our predicament, and I was greeted by a very helpful lady who went out to the stock room with a range of shoes I had picked out, to double check whether or not they did have any in Leo's size. She returned with a 4H in a pair of Doodles, and began to fit them to Leo's feet. 

Leo was so well behaved and just watched her every movement like a hawk. What was she doing? What were these alien objects being fitted to my feet? I was asked to stand him up so she could do them up more easily, and with this Leo started tapping his foot up and down, testing out his new shoes. Maybe sitting him down would have been the easier option...?

Once Leo had his shoes on, he began to parade them around the shop and really putting them to the test. He looked so pleased with himself, and I felt a really proud Mummy moment creeping up on me. 

The lady proceeded to get her camera and take a photo of Leo and his very first pair of shoes. 

Unfortunately there was a young girl running around the shop and as soon as she saw the lady trying to photograph Leo, she ran up right in front of the camera and asked if the lady would take her photo instead. We explained that this was Leo's very first pair of shoes and it was a very special photograph that we wanted as a keep sake, but the young girl persisted. 

It got to the point that Leo was trying his hardest to avoid her, and even hid behind my legs for the very first time!

We eventually manged to get a gorgeous photograph of just Leo walking around in his shoes. A photograph that I am going to treasure forever. 

Leo's first shoes are a pair of Doodles. They are lovely and soft on his feet and fit him perfectly. They can even be machine washed which is a added bonus!

I found the Clarks experience for Leo's first shoes brilliant. Not only did they take a photo of Leo's first shoe experience and place it in a special little wallet, but they also provided us with a lovely growth chart and little reminder for his next measurement in 6-8 weeks time.

When did you take your little one for their first shoes and what was your experience like?

Laura
xx

The Pitter Patter of Tiny Feet

It is a week to the day since Leo's very First Birthday, and today Leo has done what I have been praying he would before my inevitable return to work. 

Leo has put one foot in front of the other and taken his very first steps.

Over the past week his balance has been coming on in leaps and bounds, his confidence growing every day. Leo has been taking the odd step or Two, and this morning took Three big steps for the very first time. We spent the afternoon with friends today and it was there that he took a few more steps...and then a few more...before finally taking off and walking!

There was a decent size gap between the sofa and the kitchen stair gate, but off Leo set on his new found feet. He was admittedly wobbly but giving those very first steps his all. He was very triumphant as he reached his goal. The stair gate where he could spy Skye, the pup dog. 

I sat there watching my baby boy walking and could not have been any prouder. A big smile across my face for everyone to see, as I thanked my lucky stars to be here watching him taking those all important steps.

Leo knew he had done something amazing, and rejoiced in the claps and cheers that were all for him. A very special moment with special friends. I caught his second walking attempt on video, as the first time around I was far to un-prepared and too busy watching Leo move one foot and then the other...Walking all by himself.

I could not be any happier, and I immediately rang Luke to try and tell him the magical news. Of course...I could not get hold of him. Typical. When I finally did reach him, he was just as excited as I was and instantly asked me to send the video.

So now it is official...Leo is no longer a baby. 

Leo is a toddler...

So without further adieu, I present you with my baby boy...Sorry... Toddler!

Walking for the very first time!

Now I just need to get my head around this fact!

Well done baby boy!

Laura

xx

A day with Grandad

Wednesday was a busy day in our house. You see it was our little man's very first birthday. With all the coming's and going's throughout the day, everyone wanting to see our beautiful birthday boy, there was no chance to really go out anywhere for the day. 

It was decided that over the weekend we would make the very most of our time, and whether it rained or shined...We would do something for Leo. To help us celebrate we invited Luke's Dad along, Leo's Grandaddy. 

The weather was a confusing affair so it was decided that we would visit the Butterfly farm, where we could escape any potential rain and enjoy a vast array of different butterfly's!

This was Leo's second visit to the Butterfly Farm, and we first visited back in February. Leo loved every moment even back then, so we knew he could only love it that little bit more.  We all piled into my little 206 and off we went to Stratford...

Leo was even more curious this time around, wanting to touch anything and everything that came his way. Luke found what he thought to be a dead Butterfly and gently picked it up to show it to Leo. Unfortunately Leo was a little to quick with his hands and managed to make a swipe at the poor thing, which apparently was not quite as dead as Luke first thought...Judging by it quickly flying away from the swiping motion of Leo's hands.

The farm have recently added a few Iguanas to the 'flight' area, and I was very taken a back to see them roaming around completely free. They are not hard to miss and we found one having a good old munch on some leaves. There are many signs warning that these reptiles may be quick to snap...So it is safe to say that I steered very clear.

I even held a Snake on our adventure today, the only One out of Luke and Grandaddy to do so. Brownie points for Mummy on this occasion! 

Having got back around 7pm, both of my boy's are completely spark out. Even Luke is fast asleep and dreaming...You would think they had experienced a very busy day....

I will let the pictures do the talking of our exciting day!

How have your Saturday's been? Been on any adventures this weekend?