Leo and his trip to A&E

Just yesterday I posted about Leo's new found love for the window. This morning upon one of Leo's routine crawls over to said window, my little Lion must of lost his balance and his head met the wall, an introduction that was obviously a little painfull for Leo judging by his sudden cry.

Those views from the lounge window can really be a headache.

Granny was watching Leo while I got changed and ready for the day ahead, but with Leo's new found speed...he quickly got over to the window and gave the wall a welcoming head butt. I quickly got downstairs to find out what had happened and gave Leo all the huggles and love that I could muster. It didn't take long to calm him down with my magic Mummy cuddles, but then a big red lump sprung up on his head.

The lump looked angry and sore so Granny and I decided that it was best to go and get him checked out at our local A&E. Leo was fine in himself and up to his usual mayhem minutes after his little bump, but for my own piece of mind I wanted to get him checked.

So all 3 of us piled into the car and off we went. Upon arrival I explained what had happend and answered all of the routine questions. There was about a 20 minute wait, which gave Leo plenty of time to find people sat around the waiting area to have a little flirt with.

I could see he was fine in himself but I just wanted the lump to be checked out and just to be told that it was nothing to worry about, upon Leo's check up that is exactly what I was told. The nurse felt the lump, checked Leo's eyes and ears...All of course were in good working order!

Leo made the nurse work hard in these checks, he was more interested in playing than having things shone in his eyes and poked into his ears. He was a brave little Lion and did not even flinch when his lump was poked and prodded. The actual check up was under 10 minutes long and then we were on our merry way again.

I think just being told that everything is ok, relaxes you and put's you instantly at ease. We do have to keep an eye on him but other than that Leo is his normal monstourus little self, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am hoping that this A&E visit is our first and last for a very long time!

When did you first have to take your little one to A&E and what for?

I have heard some horror stories about trips to casualty for the removal of lego from the nose....I only hope I don't ever have to deal with a situation like this!

Laura x

View From The Lounge Window

Now I have found my all four's, the living room is truly my oyster. I can crawl where I like, (If I am not to sleepy or hungry) when I like (When Mummy lets me).


Recently those big cut outs in the wall have really caught my attention...That's it... The windows.
When I am quick enough I can outsmart Mummy and make a bee line for the windows. I am getting rather fast now (If I do say so myself). If I am feeling strong enough I can now even begin to pull myself up on the little chair by the window....That really makes Mummy run...hehehe....


Through the window I can see my Aunt and Uncle playing in the garden. They kick around balls, chase each other and sometimes if they see me looking, they come right over to the window and pull some very funny faces. I have to admit that it always makes me giggle, but how I wish I could be outside playing too...


Mummy tells me how it won't be long before I can join in on all their fun and games...I am already biding my time. I am going to learn to walk and I am going to play! Hard! Summer time will not know what has hit it.


 I sit and stare until Mummy moves me away, but I always attempt to get back to the window...I would hate to think I was missing out on anything.

One day...I will be outside playing too....


Leo is now well and truly on the path to growing up. He is quickly putting his baby days behind him and I know it wont be long before I have a full fledged toddler on my hands. When did this happen!?

He loves to just sit and stare outside, willing his Aunt and Uncle to know that he is there staring hard at them with his big blue puppy dog eyes, that no-one can say no too.

I can't help feeling a little bad for Leo, but until the weather improves and the grass is dries for him to crawl around on, or he learns to walk, he will have to be content in Mummy's arms or...taking in the view from the lounge window.

Leo & His New Found Wave

Just tonight, completely out of the blue and so very un-unexpectedly, Leo waved his very first wave!

Leo and I were playing around on the living room floor, and as usual I had a very active 8 month old crawling circles around me. I often wave at Leo to encourage him to do it back, I even take his hand and gently wave it for him. This encouragement seems to have worked...as tonight when I waved at Leo, he un-mistakenly began to wave back!

From other post's in regards to Leo's First's and Milestones, you will realise that with each new step forward, I always think that my imagination is seeing things that aren't really happening. However Leo is now most certainly waving!

His Great Grandfather witnessed his very first wave and not long after his Uncle paid us a visit. As soon as Leo's uncle entered the room...Leo put on a mass waving extravaganza!

This is such a proud Mummy moment for me. I have taken a little footage of his wave. You can't see but Leo's Aunt, Uncles, Grandad and Great Grandad are all sat on the sofa waving like there is no tomorrow at him. This is Leo's response...

Well done Leo, you make me so proud!

Happy 8 months birthday for tomorrow! (27th February 2012)

Mummy and Daddy xx

Leo & The Butterfly Farm

I hope you have all enjoyed your weekends in the lovely sunshine. Did you make the most of the beautiful weather by going out and about?

We did!

Just yesterday we decided to head over to Stratford Upon Avon. Yes we are lucky enough to live not far from this picturesque town and all that is around the local area. Which is brilliant on a Summer's day, even if you just intend to take a stroll by the river...Or if you are feeling adventurous - Renting a boat!

Luke and I decided that Leo was around the right age to appreciate a trip to the Butterfly Farm. Leo takes in all the detail in his surroundings and loves our trips to feed the ducks, so I was very excited at showing him the hundreds of Butterfly's that inhabited the farm.

I have to admit, I am not a bug person. At All! So the thought of hundreds of Butterfly's (Beautiful as they are) that could potentially land on me, did not appeal to me at all.

Who can be scared of Butterfly's I hear you ask!? Yes I admit it. I am a rare being... but anything creepy crawly just gives me the jitters, I put the fear to one side and stepped into the very busy Butterfly Flight Area.

As soon as the 3 of us walked through the doors I was awe struck. They were everywhere, all different colours and sizes, to say the least there were some very BIG Butterfly's but they were all just stunning and so very gracefull. You could even compare them to Fairies.

Leo was looking all around, his head darting here and there trying to see where these winged creatures were heading. There were just so many to capture Leo's attention, that he just did not know where to look next.

The surroundings for the Butterfly's is lush greenary and bright colourful flowers. Plenty of hiding places for the Butterfly's, but as suspected they did not think twice about landing on passers by.

Luckily I was not one of the chosen few...Luke on the other hand attracted quite a bit of attention from the Butterfly's. Part of me was hoping Leo would have one land on his head...(Typical me....thinking of the potential photo oppurtunity) this however did not come about...and if the chance had arrisen I think Leo may have tried to give the Butterfly a loving touch, which of course...wouldn't have been in said Butterfly's best interests!

There are 4 areas to visit within the Butterfly Farm:

- The Flight Area

- The Caterpillar Room

- Insect City

- Arachnoland

Luke was very taken with Insect City where Cutting Ants are hard at work serving their Queen. The exhibit has been set up so the Ants come out of the very busy nest, up the rope and right over your heads!

It is rather spectacular. The Ants travel across the rope that expands to high rise platforms at each end of the room. They travel a rather long way to get what they need, and then all the way back again. In the end I did have to prise Luke away so we could carry on through...

Arachnoland of course has some rather big Tarrantula's (That can actually eat a Bird!) which of course I really dislike..I was just happy that they were locked securely away in their enclosures....It was all very interesting while also making my skin crawl. This section for Leo was not very benefitial...So we quickly made our way back to the Flight Area so he could see some more Butterfly's.

After a lovely stroll around the Butterfly Farm, we had all worked up an appetite. We took the oppurtinty to go and find some lunch before heading home.

It is safe to say we all enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend, and I am very much looking forward to the warmer weather that will soon be upon us for Summer. I forsee many a picnic by the river and many more family days out....But where will we go next?

Laura xx

Shhh...Who Knows About You're Blog?

Since starting my Blog a year ago, I have joined Twitter and also created a Facebook account for 'The Life and Times of The Working Mum'. I never used to use Twitter...Believe it or not this Twitter addict never used to understand it! My oh my, that has all changed now! I actually very much enjoy Twitter and I have loved getting to know other Mummy Blogger's along the way.

On the Twitter front however, I do not have any personal acquaintances. These people I have come to know online and some of them have offered a great deal of support and advice. I don't however know anyone really, in the walks of day to day life.

Scratching your head? Wondering why? Keep reading...

I have always used Facebook. Until recently it was just my personal account, but the need to create a separate account for my Blog came about to have a separate space, away from any prying eyes. Yes there are some people I don't want to read my Blog.

Why? I think some things should just remain unknown. I wouldn't want friends and family to read as I feel this is MY hobby, my space and as much as I want to make my Blog a success....I really don't want to put it out there for general gossip.

I know that may sound silly, as I promote my Blog on Twitter and Facebook...but I am careful to not bring it all too close to home. That is just me though and they are my feelings.

I write about my personal opinions and there are some thing's that could maybe offend or maybe even shock them, and despite it being live on the web, I like to know that there is a little bit of control on my part. I know there is a small chance that they may by chance find it someday by inputting the right 'key words' into Google...But I will cross that bridge if and when it arises.

Until recently, I had not even told Luke about my Blog.....

I have been blogging for a year, and it was only on Valentines Day over a lovely meal with Luke, that I told him all about the Blog. To be honest I was not sure how he would re-act knowing that his face was the first thing my readers saw as they visited the site. Luke didn't seem too surprised and was actually quite impressed, especially when he realised that people actually read my ramblings!

As far as I am aware he has not had a proper look yet, he said he didn't actually want to read it as he felt it was personal to me and it would be as though he was reading my diary. I am more than happy for Luke to read my ramblings now he knows and think it may give him a little in-sight into what goes on while he is at work and out at the gym.

I think the biggest shock for Luke was that I - Laura....The little Blondie that I am... had managed to buy a domain name and actually link it to go directly here to 'The Life and Times of The Working Mum' - I am not going to lie...It took me all morning to do. But I did it!

I thought Luke may be angry that I had shared so much detail into our day to day life without consulting him first, that I had posted photos of Leo and even video footage. Luke just seemed to get why I was doing it, how my Blog gives me not only a time line of Leo's development but also how it has become a hobby of mine.

I like that even though I am currently not at work I have something to work towards, and watching my Blog grow from nothing has been amazing. I find the whole experiance of writing a Blog rather theraputic and maybe even like a cheap therapy session! So for me, that is why I don't want certain people to read.

I have to ask, as I am dying to know!

Who knows about your Blog? Friends? Family? Work Colleges?

If not, then why not?

Do you share my reasoning behind writing and keeping a Blog secret from all those people?

If you are open with everyone about your Blog, what were their reactions like when you told them?

Are they now faithful readers? Or do people know, but not have the the direct link to have a little read?

I would LOVE to hear all your stories about the In's and Out's about who knows and who doesn't.

Shhhh....Who Knows about you're Blog?????

Saving as a family

Today we have a Guest Post all about how to save money as a family. I am alway's looking for new and innovative ideas to do fun and exciting things with Leo, but trying not to break the bank at the same time... sometimes this is easier said than done.

Our Guest Poster is Danny Ambrose and in his article he has some great ideas on how to save money and still have fun as a family unit!

Saving as a family

1. Use a Price Comparison Website　
In an effort to save money, do what you can to check out price comparison websites. These sites exist to help consumers find the lowest price for something that they want. Whether they wish to　find the best life insurance quote　or the cheapest price for a DVD, a price comparison website can help them. If you take a few moments to look at one of these websites, you will save a lot of money in the long run. You can　find the cheapest quotes　without paying too much, among other things.　

2. Use Local Playgrounds, Parks and Nature Trails　
Although some people may not believe that walking through the woods or feeding the ducks is a fun activity, it should still be considered. A family of any size can find something that works for them; getting rid of stress at the end of a long day is always possible when a playground or park is involved. Children can learn more about nature and have a lot of room to run and play. Parents or other adults can sit and talk or simply take in the activity around them. This can be done for free or at a very low cost.　

3. Eat Most Meals At Home　
Although one meal enjoyed at a restaurant may not set a family on a tight budget back too much, if it is done often it could start to cause problems. If you want to save your funds for something else, consider eating your meals at home. You can make it fun by giving every day of the week a certain theme. For example, one day could be devoted to Mexican food, while another could focus on Chinese food. In the end, it is up to you.　

4. Make saving Money a Game　
Turn the idea of saving money into some kind of competition. If you have children, ask them to come up with creative ways to save money. The first child that comes up with a suitable and good idea can get some kind of prize, such as extra dessert. Create a chart and place it in a room with a lot of traffic. This chart will showcase how much money has been saved, and how much more can be saved. When you keep everybody happy and motivated, saving money can become less of a chore and more of an adventure.　

5. Look for Local Events　
If you are willing, make sure that you look at your local newspaper on a frequent basis. When you do this you will be able to find out about upcoming events. If there will be an ice sculpture festival or a cooking contest, you can learn about it before it is too late to take part. Many community events are free to attend or take part in; you can have fun and learn more about the area that you live in at the same time. You may also make new friends and discover new places of interest.　

I will most certainly be taking some of these ideas away and applying them to our day to day adventures. We have already today been out to feed the ducks...but then we also ate out for lunch....(Bad Mummy). I hope you can all find some of these tips useful.

Little Fingers, Little Toes

Just last week I posted about those special moments in time and how to capture them before they pass you by. I have taken Leo's hand and foot prints at any chance I get, but getting a newborn baby to relinquish their tight grip and count on their support is actually much harder than I ever thought possible.

I didn't succeed in getting Leo to co-operate in the hand print department until he was 18 weeks old, which I think is ashame as it would have been so lovely to have those newborn prints from those very early days at home.

These days though Leo is cheekier and more determined than ever, (I have no idea where he gets that from!?) I attempted to get some up to date prints in Salt Dough. Getting the dough ready was by far the easy bit! I even rolled it all out and cut a perfect circle into it. Then the hard bit....Getting Leo to firmly and neatly place his hand into the dough (with my help of course) to get the prints I so desired.

I ended up rolling the dough out again and again, as with each attempt at getting Leo's hand print he managed to scrunch up his fingers, and put them straight through the bottom of the dough. So on the fifth attempt I finally got the desired print! Then it was just a case of getting his foot print along side.

Surprisingly this bit went very smoothly. So that should of been it right. Done. No...I had vowed to make prints for some of the grandparents! Sometimes there is no better gift. So I rolled the dough out again and repeated the process all over again. Twice.

With my finished pieces in the oven, I had no idea it was going to take all day to cook my 3 creations.

Salt Dough has to be cooked on a low heat for a LONG time. Failing that you can just leave it to dry naturally. My advice if you plan to bake your finished goodies, is to poke some holes with a pin through the dough. This will stop it ballooning where there are air pockets...If only I had this advice. Two of my creations ballooned up, but it made the prints look great!

I have to say though that my finished prints do look pretty good. They were definitely worth all the effort and time it took to make them. Now Leo's prints can be packed away into his memory box.

Why not have a go at creating your own Salt Dough Prints with this easy recipe?

2 cups of Plain Flour
1 cup of table salt
1 cup of water

Another way at getting your little one's prints is on a canvas with paints. This can get quite messy (trust me...) but the finished result is great! We have Leo's pride of place on Leo's bedroom wall.

Do you have any further ideas on how to capture your little one's prints? Or any other ways of capturing those special moments?

Laura xx