CatBird Baby Slings

Just a quick one to say how much I am enjoying being able to carry my nearly 15 month old in a sling again. I was recently given a catbird baby sling (the pikkolo) by my sister-in-law, and it is brilliant! It is so comfortable, very easy to use (even single-handed) and has so many carrying options.
I had been looking for a new sling, as I wondered whether dog-walking might be a bit easier with one, and possibly going on the tube too, what with all the stairs at our local station. I made a trip to Born, in Bristol and tried a couple out, but my daughter was tired & hungry, so not the best time to try them. I was also aware that the toddler slings carry quite a price tag, compared to the one we had from birth, which was half price in boots. I thought that one which could carry her on the hip might be the best way forwards, as she is happy to be carried around.However, I have found that she is perfectly happy to be carried facing me, in the front carry position. Wish I had got one months ago!

Here is a link to their website.

Two little words...

GET. DOWN.

....geeeeetdowngetdowngetdooooown....

Hmmm, quite recently my daughter has picked up these two little words from somewhere, and now uses them nearly all day everyday. She only has one volume for then too, and that is loud & angry, even when she isn't that cross. It must be frustrating to have found such new freedom on your feet, and yet still have to be carried or strapped into highchairs, car seats and pushchairs. It doesn't half make you feel like other people think you must be torturing your child when they do it in public. I know she is partly saying it because it is something she knows, and partly because she doesn't want to sit still, but it sure feels like rejection when she says it if you pick her up. She said it non-stop for an hours dog walk at Crystal Palace Park today & I felt terrible. The ground was too muddy for her to walk on in her soft cruising shoes, and we wouldn't have given the dog enough exercise had we gone at her non-existent pace. I guess this is a changing point where we need to get used to her walking for herself. Shame it is so wet out, seems like we have moved to a very swampy part of the world here. Time to learn to walk in wellies?
I think I used to have quite low blood pressure...

New Year - new fruit!

Well, I am pleased to say that we have finally found another fruit that my daughter will eat (that doesn't give her nappy rash: Pineapple j'accuse). She has always eaten a bit of banana, but for a child who would be perfectly happy to eat cheese, cheese and only cheese I was getting a bit worried about her fruit & veg intake. My husband suggested we try pre-prepared packs of melon, as this would be a small enough portion to cover a couple of days, and that was going quite well, with a few pieces of melon consumed each day.
And then, I bought some melon with grapes...

Grapes!
Hurray for grapes! (seems so obvious now)

She can even say grape!
We have also expanded to fresh raspberries, the occasional strawberry (and, if she isn't looking, a blueberry).