How I Lost All of My Birthday Glitter...

Yesterday was my birthday. 

I had big plans for an exciting day out at Legoland but from the moment I woke up, 

to the time I finally got to bed... 

The day had it in for me.

With each passing moment, the day chipped away all of my birthday glitter.

The night before my big 24th,

Leo had become grotty, he was not himself.

That grotty-ness progressed and he ended up in bed with me.

By 4am I had decided to cancel my birthday trip and spend the day at home with Leo.

If only I had stuck to my guns.

If only I hadn't gone...

I was awoken to a smiley face,

as Leo tapped my head shouting 'Mumma' and I decided that Legoland 

was back on again in that mere moment. 

The bag was already packed, the pushchair was in the car. 

The wheels had been inflated especially for this exciting journey...

Arriving at the train station a very kind man helped me up and over the steps, 

but on the other side just as I was about to get on the train...

My front wheel popped.

Simply turning my pushchair around caused the wheel to go *BOOM*.

I stood there, with a very confused Leo.

My face must have mirrored his confusion, 

and a number of business men from first class rushed out of the train to help.

I had no choice but to take my poorly pushchair with me on my travels, 

as the train was set to leave.

Off we set on our latest adventure. 

With each turn of the train wheels,

 taking us further away from home.

Then disaster sets in...

Leo starts to cry.

Hysterically.

I told myself 'He will be fine when we get there'.

Almost trying to lull myself into a false sense of security,

knowing deep down that he was coming down with something.

He had been hot to the touch, burning up like a radiator.

I should have stayed at home..

Our journey involved a change.

A change with a poorly baby and a broken pushchair.

My heart was slowly sinking.

I decided the best option was to strap him back into the pushchair 

and see how far we got.

It became apparent very quickly that the only way to really push him, 

was to lift the pushchair up and roll him on the back wheels.

*Along comes Mr Know it all train conductor at Slough Station*

He told me in no un-certain way that this wasn't safe.

I should stop now.

When I had actually wanted to leave the pushchair somewhere 

at Slough station to pick up later, 

there was just no time with the connecting train to make the feesable.

So I stumbled on, loosing a little bit more of my birthday sparkle with each passing minute.

Legoland very kindly checked my pushchair in to keep for me.

But there were no pushchairs left for me to rent. 

I had a poorly toddler who just wanted cuddles and carrying around.

I had a heavy bag full of essentials for the busy fun day we were supposed to be having. 

But there wasn't much fun to be had.

Leo was getting progressively worse,

getting more clingy, more viral.

I began to notice a rash all over Leo's tummy and back.

Having only been there a few hours,

it was time to come home.

The few hours had given us chance to get on 2 rides,

The lines were horrific, but then what did I expect for a sunny day in the Summer holidays?

It would have been fine if Leo was his usual happy self.

But today Leo just needed snuggles with Mumma.

He needed to be at home.

I managed to leave the pushchair at Legoland,

One less problem for the way home on a busy train. 

Now however I need to try and get it home again...

On the transfer at Slough I ran into the same train conductor.

On this occasion we needed him to help us get my sister in law's pushchair onto the train.

I had Leo on one hip, and my bag on the other,

so I asked for his help.

I asked him to help us lift the pushchair onto the train.

His response?

'Sorry I can't, health and safety'.

Seriously!? 

Is this what the world has come to? 

Now you cannot even ask train staff to help you?

So I commented on the health and safety aspect, 

ironically it would be safer for me to assist and potentially drop my child? 

Or even drop the pushchair?

Yet earlier this very man had been cautioning me on the perils of child safety.

REALLY!?

Getting back home was not the end of my hellish day,

I was awake throughout the night with a poorly toddler.

A poorly boy who just wanted to watch Cars 2 on my iPad.

A poorly boy who was awoken bright and early by the road works right outside of our house.

And that is how I lost all of my birthday glitter.

Another Year Older...

Today is my birthday and I find it hard to believe that another year has come to a end, and yet another one is beginning. Time seems to fly these days, and it is apparent in many ways, shapes and forms. 

I booked the day out of work and decided the spend it with my little Leo. Leo's Granny invited us to the Cotswold Farm Park for a day out in the countryside, and we happily obliged. 

The initial part of my birthday morning was spent opening cards and checking my emails on my shiny new iPad (Thanks Luke!). Then it was time to take the short drive out into the countryside to see all sorts of animals. 

We have been to the farm park on two occasions prior to today's visit and it is safe to say that today, Leo has had the most out of his experience. He has toddled everywhere and touched everything he could possibly touch and taken in everything as he has made his way around.

For the first part of our day out we didn't even get the pushchair out of the car, we let Leo make his own way around and it was only after lunch when I thought he may be getting tired, that we got the pushchair out of the boot. He was not impressed by this and kept trying to get out.

We met baby Rabbits, Chicks, Ducklings, Lambs, Kids, Piglets and even Donkey's. Some of them we even managed to get up close and personal with. At certain times throughout the day they have staff members get the babies out of their enclosures and allow the general public to come and have a cuddle. I have never stroked a piglet before but it was amazing. The highlight of this experience for me was the member of staff gently patting the piglet up and down, after we have always told Leo to be gentle. He looked completely awe struck when the women patted the little piggy like a drum. After this he kept giving her the most cheeky smiles. I half expected Leo to have a go at patting the pig on the back...Luckily he did not catch on.

Leo and I even gave a lamb a bottle of milk. Leo thought it was great helping me hold the bottle and laughed when the lamb looked all around to find more milk. 

Leo played among the hay bales despite the 'Please do not play on the hay bale' sign. He had a great time, although he did flinch the first time he felt the rough straw against his soft skin. For a moment I thought this may put him off, but of course this did not happen.

We even had a little play on the play equipment, Leo having the time of his life going up and down on the see saw.

Now however, after a great day. Leo will not go to bed. You would have thought he would be completely tired and ready for bed. In my opinion he is now over tired and fighting sleep at every corner. Daddy and I just sat down to a yummy takeaway that we believed would be between just us two, Leo had other plans and sat with us scoffing prawn crackers. Leo is now back in bed and again.... Not sleeping.

Leo has just discovered that if he stands up in his cot and reaches out, he can hold the rocking chair, and then push it into his bedroom wall as hard as he possibly can. So hard that I have had all sorts flying off my shelf. Please join me in saying...

GO TO SLEEP LEO!