NaBloPoMo 30: a small month

Lydia was up a lot in the night, I think she must have had indigestion as she greeted me with a potty full of poo in the morning... 

She was fairly cheerful when she got dressed this morning, and let me cut her nails and tie her hair up in bunches. Once I was dressed, it was off to nursery through the mist and fog with a breadstick to munch on the way. She was very intrigued by the mist and wanted to know what is was. We even spotted a squirrel on the way.

A gentle walk back for me, then breakfast before a day of work. I managed to get away from my desk for a walk at lunch time to deliver some more flyers to Dee as Radio Solent have decided to only broadcast the Carols on the Doorstep on DAB and online, so the ones we'd added FM details to were useless. *head desk* I delivered a few flyers on the way home too.

Worked for the rest of the afternoon, until Lydia came back with Tom. He'd been out to get the groceries before picking her up, so I helped her get changed into her PJs and wash after nursery whilst he put the shopping away. We all had some snacks together in the living room whilst Lydia unwrapped a parcel my parents, well my mum, had sent her. It contained the very Glitter Granny selection of stars, tiny bears, felt animals, stickers and a grow your own elf from an egg you leave in water toy. We also had a video call with Dee and Sam as Lydia had been sad to miss them on our walk on Sunday.

Then off to bed for her whilst I caught up with some work. Mushroom and token beef scraps stroganoff for dinner, then more work and watching Star Trek Discovery. Tapping away on my laptop sat next to Tom gave me flashbacks to the early days of our relationship - pre smartphones - where we'd all be sat with our laptops watching TV of an evening in the Curry House.

So this is the end of NaBloPoMo for this month, a year like no other as all cliched media outlets have written. It has felt a small month, our world has shrunk enormously as we all stay home and try and do our bit to help reduce the risk of Coronavirus. I miss seeing my family and friends, and the prospect of winter outside socialising fills me with part fear, part excitement of yet another new challenge. I hope, friends, that you stay well.

NaBloPoMo 29: sunday

Tom got up with Lydia today and read her stories and then we swapped about 7.30am and I took her downstairs for breakfast. She asked for pancakes again, and carefully helped me mix together all the ingredients. Then asked me to make a bunny, a rectangle a circle one. Which I duly did and she was very pleased indeed. I also had to make a L for Lydia, M for mummy and D for daddy ones too.

Once breakfasted, we went upstairs again, having coaxed her with the promise of a shower together. Normally she hates the idea of a shower but was in to it today. Much too-ing and  fro-ing choosing her outfit for the day, she surprised me and chose a dress that had been my sister's, made by my mum. A traditional affair in tiny brown and peach sprig print on a white ground, smocked at the chest and with a ruffle collar. Worn over a t-shirt and with navy shorts and black tights with a heart motif for that 21st century toddler look.

She cowered in the corner of the shower, shrieking if the water hit her directly, but did wash her hair and the rest of herself in the drips from the run off from my hair. Then insisted on getting out before I'd finished, watching me forlornly through the cubicle in her too big towelling dressing gown whilst I washed my hair. Whilst I dressed, Lydia was pretending to be a tiger and I was phoning the zoo saying they'd lost a tiger and please could they come and pick it up whilst Tom 'hid' under the covers.

Once dressed, downstairs to watch Strictly and do jigsaw puzzles until to got to about 10am, and I took Tom's pancakes up to him. Then all off out for a walk to successfully drop off flyers for Carols on the Doorstep for Dee and unsuccessfully to pick up a poster for the Nativity trail. Lydia was very sad that Dee and Sam didn't answer their door as she 'wanted to see their faces!'

Home for lunch, vegetable sausage sandwiches today. Called my parents and had a long chat over lunch and into playtime. I went back out to successfully collect my poster again after that, and enjoyed seeing people putting together their Nativity trail displays. Tom and Lydia had been to the park and had brought me back some holly to make our advent wreath. So Lydia passed leaves to me between making smoothies in her toy kitchen whilst I put the wreath together.

Next up was putting away some clothes and some more puzzles before dinner, which we ate by candle light and fairy lights up to the dining room table today. Advent hymns on and looking at the first picture in my Art of Advent book. Felt very festive and calm which was lovely. No substitute for the usual candle lit advent service we'd normally go to, but restful. I loved watching Lydia watch the lights in the mirror.

Stories for Lydia before bed, and I did some church website admin, before joining Tom downstairs to write radio station info on my Carols on the Doorstep flyers. Bed time now!

NaBloPoMo 28: so so tired

Lydia woke up at 5.30am today and so took her to bed with me in the spare bed until 7.30am. Think she was chilly, and then the boiler woke her.

Handed her over to Tom and then went back to bed till 9am. Got up and went to a docs appointment.

Home at 11.30am, and read stories with Lydia until lunch time. Leftover Afghan takeaway for lunch then off for a walk in the New Forest.

Lydia enjoyed splashing in all the puddles and picking up leaves as we went around. It was nice to be in the fresh air and quiet. 

Home to some Sarah and Duck and baby ballet on YouTube for Lydia and a rest for me whilst Tom did dinner. Then playing with masking tape making rails for toy trains on the floor before bedtime. Whilst Tom did bedtime I sorted out some volunteering for the local nativity trail.

Now on a Zoom call with our friends.

NaBloPoMo 26 + 27: week werk

Yesterday was walk Lydia to nursery, sit at my desk all day on my bouncy ball and then play with Lydia before bed, and cut out Christmas masks whilst watching TV kind of day.

Today was much of the same. Lots and lots of video calls, then Friday night family disco night which was lovely. Who knew a colour change bath light would make a great disco light. Then I did bedtime to spend a bit of time with Lydia. Afghan takeaway for tea, a bit of mask making and our usual Friday Night Fun call.

Feeling weary, so early night.

NaBloPoMo 23 - 25: fail

 First fail of the year, not bad!

23 November, I was working from home whilst Tom looked after Lydia, bar a swap for a phone call in the afternoon. 

24 November, another working day for me whilst Lydia went back to nursery for the first time after her isolation. I love our little walks to nursery in the mornings. She and I talk about what we can see, and she sings pretty much all the songs she knows. Managed to break up work with a walk round the park with Dee, which was lovely. Stories and cuddles with me before bedtime. Dinner provided by church homegroup and a zoom call which was more chat that bible study and prayer but I'm ok with that.

25 November was my day at home with Lydia. Breakfast followed by a long bath for Lydia after which she said her fingers were all "ankly" - meaning wrinkly! Then bundled up and off to the park for a walk and a play as she's not been out anywhere for a while. We did the first playpark as it wasn't too busy, stopped for a banana and drink, then off to the second one before going to the bakers on the way home. Lovely to be out in the fresh air. Home for a baked potato lunch, happily provided by putting them in before we left and the oven timer. Then playing until it was time for a sneaky work call that I didn't want to miss, so Lydia had TV time, then crispy tofu stirfry for dinner with Lydia 'helping' us get it ready. Went on a quick walk round the block after dinner to try and tire Lydia out as she's been waking in the night a few nights. I love a walk in the dark, seeing in people's houses with the lights on. I know I'm nosy, but it feels all festive and pretty. Only one Christmas tree in the windows so far. Once home, Tom did bedtime, and I tidied up as the cleaner is coming today. Then knitting and Strictly catch up before bed.

NaBloPoMo 22: tired

Up again with Lydia as Tom out to work again. Decided to have a chilled out day, so breakfast in pijamas, then watched Strictly together and Lydia played with her teddies. Still loving Bill Bailey.

Back upstairs with clean washing to put away, got dressed, and tried watching a bit of Zoom Sunday School with Lydia whilst I put the clothes away, but she wasn't as interested this week. She kept wanting to show them Grandpa Bear and tell them it was his birthday today. Oh well.. Try again next time! 

Washing put away and fully dressed, back downstairs for a snack and some more playing whilst I pottered tidying up a bit. Rang Tom's mum whilst Lydia ate her pomegranate, and then made pizza dough for tea time all on the video call - like being our very own cookery show!

Left over cauliflower cheese for lunch, followed by some baby ballet on Youtube for Lydia until Tom came home.

I went upstairs for a nap at this point, as Lydia had woken us up in the night and woke really early. Fully intending to only sleep for 30 mins, Tom woke me an hour and half later. When I came down, they had made a huge train track around the living room with her Brio.

Got Tom and Lydia to help me clear up the kitchen and made pizza for tea. Dough was a no knead recipe new to me and came out really well. Needed to flour more and roll out thinner to get a better crispy base next time. We had chicken, olives, pepper and onions, and the grownups had nduja too. Very nice!

Rang Jo and Sarah over tea, and Lydia played with them over the phone for a bit until she decided she wanted to go hunt for something in the dark with her torch, so I went out to do that with her for a bit. She was all wrapped up in an old Clothkits coat from when I was little and the elf hat and little neckerchief scarf I've made for her, and looked adorable. 

She only wanted to play outside for 30 mins mercifully, so we were back inside for bedtime. Tom got her to bed whilst I did a little tidy up of the toy crap around the trains. Need to have a think about Toy storage. I hate mess, but I am really bad about tidying up. Really need to work on that. We have too much stuff and not enough homes for it. I need to Marie Kondo a bit at a time really. But I struggle to do it on my own and Tom hates it too, and you can't do it with a kid around. Guess I'll be using some of my leave to do it then...

It's a bit like gardening, I love a pretty garden but I hate weeding.

Once Lydia was in bed, watched a couple of episodes of the Crown with Tom and knitted some more of Dee's shawl. He went up to bed early to have a bath, and I watched the Strictly results show. Lydia up a few times throughout the evening and night, think she was having a bad dreams. 

NaBloPoMo 21: solo

 Tom off out extremely early for work, so I was flying solo for most of the day.

Planted bulbs with Lydia and ran around the garden for a bit, then yoga and ballet classes on YouTube for her whilst I got lunch together.

Lots of Duplo in the afternoon, and a long phone call with my mum at Lydia's request, showing her all her toys. 

Watched the rest of Wall-E together whilst I did some knitting.

Tom back in time to watch Lydia whilst I made cauliflower cheese for tea. Phone call with Ellie during tea that became an all family call. Sorted the returns of the autumn socks for Tom that didn't fit, then went for a walk to post them and some letters whilst Tom did bedtime.

Back for a video call with Jess and Andy before bed.

NaBloPoMo 20: belated

Lay in for a little bit whilst Tom got Lydia dressed, until she came in to jump on me saying "I love you so much mummy". Sometimes she melts your heart. Insisted I wear a matching hairclip like hers today, so that will have looked fun on the video calls.

Fixed her breakfast of a tiny amount of all the cereal, a crumpet and a slice on peanut butter toast, and made my own whilst Tom did a work call, then a swap as it was my day to work today. Lots of phone calls as I've not been working day times this week 

Listened in to the Culture Geek conference between calls, will need to listen again to catch up what I missed. A few interesting headlines for sure. Digital interpretation is something I find really fascinating so hoping I can still lead for that in my new role.

Lunch of bread and soup, the Morrisons Broccoli and Stilton was a bust, way too stiltony. Then a quick walk to the chemist and bakers to get some air.

More work in the afternoon, knocked off at 430pm as I could hear Tom and Lydia gradually losing more of their cool. Freezer sausage and mash for her for tea, and I played a bit and danced a bit with her as Tom needed some time on his own, which I completely understand. We swapped our autumn socks a day late and Lydia was very pleased with hers!

I did bedtime too, and Tom had to go in later as she'd climbed on some furniture and got hold of her baby monitor phone. 

Tom is worried about the amount of cake and lack of exercise in our lock down diet, so we did a Joe Wickes video which was infinitely less annoying than the American videos we've done in the past. That little bit of exercise perked us both up, and we ordered a sensible amount of sushi for our Friday night takeaway rather than all the takeaway. So I feel virtuous.

Then a bit of the Crown with our dinner, and our usual Friday night video call and knitting. Tom working this weekend and needs to leave early so I'll be on Lydia duty the next couple of days. We've got bulbs to plant, fairy doors to paint and some new sticker books to do.

NaBloPoMo 19: Not today

Feeling really low today. My world feels very small, and every day feels the same. I can't wait till we can go outside with Lydia again. I am so bored of our house and garden.

I got up with Lydia today, crumpets and potato farls and melon for breakfast. Playing whilst I did some housework, then TV for her whilst I did my work call. Work call the highlight of my day, so nice to talk to adults. Had to string up her mobile whilst on the call as she was desperate to see it hanging up.

Lunch of left over tofu and picky bits, then video call with Martin. Lots of playing with dolls for Lydia then a cuddle and some of Wall E watched on my phone in our bed as I am knackered and couldn't be doing with anything else.

Snack of the rest of the melon and a biscuit for her after, then painting whilst I tried to do some washing up and rewaterproof my waterproof coats. Inevitably meant lots of paint everywhere, but thanks to Verity, had new washable paints that were easy to clean up.

Feeling very touched out today, so made Lydia's tea of fishfingers and chips and peas and left Tom to it when he got back. Did an hours work, half my pilates class and now back to work whilst Tom does bedtime. Want to be in a good place before my day of calls tomorrow. Might try and go for a walk around the block too.

4 more days until family walks!

NaBloPoMo 18: home again

My non working day with Lydia today. Made brownies in the morning, some for us and some for the friends with the new baby. Then went for a run around in the garden until it rained and got too cold for me to bear. Lots of pushing Lydia in her cosy coupe and hide and seek.

Soup for lunch, then painting the mobile that Jess and Andy sent us. 

Tom came home at 2.30pm and I caught up with work email until 4.30pm. Caname downstairs to them making crispy fried smoked tofu for tea with stirfried veg and noodles, Lydia's favourite. 

Quick bath for Lydia after tea with disco lights in the bath, submersible ones bought for a Christmas Nativity display I'm doing. More work for me, and a video call with my sisters to sing Happy Birthday to my dad.

Out to Sainsbury's to buy goodies for the family with the new baby after Lydia had gone to bed. First time I've left the house in a while. Wine, cheese, pate, bread and grapes for the grownups, a toddler ready meal, fruit pouch and snacks and a comic for the big sister, and my knitted cardigan for the baby. Bought some cakes to drop to my sister's house as she wanted cakes on our video call, and on to hers to pick up a book I'd had delivered there by accident.

Home to knit and watch the Crown for an hour before bed.

NaBloPoMo 17: challenge

Got to sleep in a bit this morning as Tom didn't need to leave bright and early. He got Lydia her breakfast whilst I caught up with work emails.

Drawing, writing letters to grannies, stickers and toy picnics this morning. Soup for lunch, then lots of TV for Lydia whilst I had some work calls. Internet is down today, so was running my mobile phone as a hotspot, but it packed up mid call this afternoon which was helpful. Lydia ended up watching her videos on one phone whilst I rang in to calls rather than using video conferencing. I don't think companies realise quite how much staff are multitasking whilst people are working from home around children. I hope they're making allowances for us all being so distracted.

Had an email today that Lydia's nursery is closing completely until next week due to Covid related staff shortages, so we'll be getting a refund for those days which is helpful for us, but hard for them.

Once Tom came home, he heated up the food kindly provided by our homegroup, and I spent some time trying to get hold of our ISP/mobile phone provider. Looks like the work on the mobile phone mast is complete, which is good, as they've given us unlimited data whilst we have broadband issues. Now trying to catch up with work again whilst Tom does bedtime. He's working all weekend so trying not to feel guilty about not helping as I'll be flying solo all weekend.

Thanks to Jess for sending us a lovely care package with nice biscuits and toys for Lydia. So greatly appreciated as gives us something new to look at.

NaBloPoMo 16: weary

Lydia woke up at midnight and needed a cuddle, then at 2am, our friend rang asking me to come and watch their daughter as they needed to go to hospital as the home birth hadn't gone as planned. I'd said ages ago that I was happy to do this, so it wasn't a total bolt from the blue.

I arrived at 2.15am with a make shift mask made from my woolly scarf as I'd  forgotten to bring one from home in my sleep addled haze, just as they were getting mum in the ambulance. I knitted a bit and tidied up some of the blankets, whilst midwives did paperwork, until granny arrived to take over, only 45 mins later. The baby had arrived in the ambulance outside before they'd been able to set off and all was well!

I was home by 3:30am and then couldn't settle again until Tom got up for work at 5:30am, due to the adrenaline. Lydia slept in for a bit which was a mercy. 

Made pancakes for breakfast to fill the time, Lydia more of a hindrance than a help with the mixing but think she enjoyed, then had a go at potato printing cards. That lasted about 10mins until she was bored and covered in paint. Did some yoga on YouTube,  and then playing until time for my work calls, when she watched Mr Tumble.

Sandwiches for lunch and lots of stickers and dancing in the afternoon. Made butternut squash, beetroot and nduja pasta for tea, using up what we had as Tom was doing the shopping on his way home from work. Long phone call with my mum before Lydia bedtime. She went to bed easily today,  and I then cracked on with work until Tom got back about 930pm. Filled the dishwasher whilst he unpacked the shopping then off to bed,  absolutely shattered.

NaBloPoMo 15: rain

My turn to get up with Lydia whilst Tom had a lie in. She requested cold porridge with blueberries and pomegranate for breakfast, then Marmite toast, and jam toast for me.

I'm feeling pretty miserable today, so I let myself watch the rest of Strictly on catch up and knitted whilst Lydia played around me. Then when I thought I better look like I'd done something useful, I put washing on, hung washing up and did some washing up and tidying in the kitchen whilst Lydia played with playdough and her toy kitchen. Lots of picnics for cuddlies today.

Once Tom was up, suggested he took Lydia out in the garden whilst I made lunch, cauliflower cheese, carrots and cabbage today. Had a hard time convincing Lydia to eat but we got there in the end.

After lunch, I went on a long walk in a big loop, through Portswood, Bevois Valley, Newtown and back down through Northam and Bitterne Manor and home. I stopped in the Polish supermarket to buy potatoes for tomorrow's Christmas Card printing. They had the most gorgeous retro style glass Christmas tree baubles, the kind with the indentations, so I might have to go back.

Found Tom and Lydia drawing and playing with puzzles in front of the family room fire, having got soaked on my walk. Hung my trousers up to dry on the fireguard like something out a Shirley Hughes illustration and changed into my pijama bottoms. I struggle to keep a tidy house, so Shirley Hughes illustrations always make me feel better about our unruly messy family home 

I curled up and alternated between knitting and Lydia demanding cuddles whilst she chatted on a video call with Tom's mum. She had picky bits for tea and a quick bath before bed. She was a bit unsettled going to bed today, but I had no patience for it. Tom ended up settling her in the end 

I had a little fight with our old laptop as the screen has stopped working. Got it to boot once, but think it's a goner. Will need to try and extract the data somehow and think about a new one.

Left over Korean food for dinner and more knitting whilst we watched the Strictly results and the first two episodes of the Crown season 4. Bedtime now!

NaBloPoMo 14: escape

My day for a lie in today, then escaped down the road to buy bread and post my autumn socks parcels to the godchildren. Quite the queue at the bakers, pleased people are using them as I want them to stay open as their bread is lovely. Feel like I should spend more than £2.00 when I'm there, so always end up buying cakes. Their cakes are of the traditional bread with some sweet stuff on top rather than fancy patisserie but I love them for it. My usual order is a sprinkles donut for Tom, a Belgian bun for me and a Chelsea bun for Lydia.

Once home, I heated up soup for lunch and buttered bread, and after lunch, I read stories to Lydia and played with dolls, before calling Ellie and Andy. Ellie did jungle Cosmic Kids yoga with Lydia down the phone and Andy read her a story. Tom got to go out for his daily exercise whilst all this was going on, a very rainy bike ride.

Tom cooked mushroom risotto for tea whilst Lydia and I played 'find the hidden snail toy in the dark garden in the rain' until I was too cold and wet.

Once Lydia in bed, family Taskmaster over Zoom for my dad's birthday, very well put together by Ellie and Andy and very funny. Lots more knitting bobbles on Dee's shawl.

NaBloPoMo 13: dance party

Working this morning, then on childcare this afternoon.

Played picnics outside with Lydia and with her dollies inside, had some stories and watched some TV together. Picky bits for lunch, and made her sausage pasta for tea, which she ate whilst chatting to my mum on a video call. Managed to do some knitting outside with a cup of tea whilst Lydia played

After bedtime it was time for the Friday night family disco. Best disco playlist on Spotify on, lights down low, much terrible dancing from the grownups, cocktail in hand, whilst Lydia jumped around. My absolute highlight of every week.

Fairly easy bedtime from Lydia done by Tom whilst I caught up with some work. Then Korean takeaway for tea, and sorting out some social media for the local community group's nativity trail and Santa postboxes.

Played a Cards Against Humanity rip off app game, Evil Apples with our friends on our Friday Night Fun call. Think I needed to have drunk a bit more plum wine...

My day for a lie in tomorrow!

NaBloPoMo 12: werk

Mainly working today with short breakfast and lunch breaks with Tom and Lydia to say hello. 

Short Pilates class after dinner and helped settle Lydia to sleep. Today's bedtime tantrum was over wanting to wear jeans as pjs. She fell asleep on the floor whilst shouting about it, and woke up when I tried to transfer her to her bed. She's just woken asking for some water, hoping she goes back to sleep.

Wrapped the autumn socks to send to my godchildren and siblings song with some Christmas presents, and tidied the kitchen this evening. Watched some Star Trek with Tom whilst catching up with work ahead of a half day for childcare tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone who's sent goodies for Lydia in the post, will definitely help with when I need to work and keep her occupied and she loves getting post.

Got assigned my topic for the local nativity trail today too. I'm going to be doing Frankincense, which is a bit of a challenge. I'm thinking of making a light up treasure chest with fake Frankincense inside along with the word in big letters wrapped in fairy lights and propping it in our hedge some how. Needs to go up on 18 Dec.

NaBloPoMo 11: inside

First day of isolation at home with Lydia. Got up with her at 7.30 for breakfast, went down in our PJs to avoid too much stress. She had cereal, blueberries and pomegranate, I had porridge. She had great fun describing all the different aspects of the pomegranate arils to me, crunchy, juicy, shiny etc...

Then upstairs to get dressed, and she then played with her stacking blocks on our bed whilst I put washing away. When her patience waned we went back downstairs to do some toddler yoga and  bake biscuits. Really getting the hang of the yoga now. She's a fiend for eating all the ingredients as we go along, but we got there, despite her chucking herself off the stepstool a couple of times in the process reaching for things she shouldn't have been touching. 

We called my granny to say hello. Lydia amusingly confused by the concept of an audio only call. Then lunch of picky bits out the fridge then playing whilst I messaged colleagues. Had the bittersweet news today that I was successful in the assessment for the remaining roles at my level, and so won't be made redundant. I feel relieved, but dreadful for the talented and passionate colleagues who's roles are being made redundant. I hope the redeployment register comes up trumps for them as they bring so much.

Will need to try to not be on my phone as much on Friday afternoon when I'm next in childcare. 

After that, made some cornflour oobleck with different colour food colouring in for Lydia to play with, and took that outside with utensils, a big bowl of soapy water and some Playmobil animals and a tray, thinking she could pretend it was mud them then wash them clean. She liked dribbling the different colours in each other and pouring the mixture around. 

After a quick swing and go in the cosy coupe car, we went back inside for some TV time until I had to start dinner. Lydia's favourite crispy smoked tofu bites with stir-fry veg and noodles. A few stories after dinner, Tom did bed time, and I washed up. He then went out for a walk and I tidied the toys away. When we got back, cut his hair and went to knit more bloody bobbles and watch Strictly. Was supposed to go out on a walk myself, or so some kind of exercise but didn't feel like it. Will try tomorrow. 

NaBloPoMo 10: oh dear

I had another day off today - woke up early, took Lydia to nursery, came back and breakfasted and enjoyed a few hours of bobble knitting and watching TV. I took a stroll to the bakers and bought bread and cakes, and did some tidying. Then we got the phone call from nursery saying there's been a Covid case, and we need to come and pick up Lydia.

So roll on two weeks at home with a toddler. 

Once home, she and I shared a cake and she watched Mr. Tumble whilst I compared work diaries with Tom to work out how we're going to share the childcare. Then a bath and playing with the toy vehicles on the mat whilst I made dinner of Cuban beef with olives.

After dinner, more playing before bedtime. I got her sorted for bed today and she went pretty happily today, reading stories to herself. I changed the sheets and am now watching a bit more TV.

Need to think about what activities I'm going to do with Lydia whilst she isolates. We've stocked up on sticker comics for her for when we need to make work phone calls. So far I'm thinking, more for my reference than yours:

1. Cornflour, food colouring and toys
2. Christmas baking last weekend in Dec
3. Make Christmas cards
4. Masking tape games
5. Pin the tail on the....
6. Will it float or sink?
7. Bike ride in the garden
8. Find it in the dark....
9. Finger paints in empty bath
10. Family disco on Friday nights
11. Real food in the toy kitchen 
12. Bike ride in garden
13. Tea party for teddies
14. Magnetic letters
15. Throwing and catching the ball
16. Doctors and nurses with the teddies
17. Messy art
18. Baking biscuits
19. Making pikelets
20. Dinosaur Water painting
21. Brio train in the garden
22. Watering the plants
23. Planting bulbs
24. Play dough with cookie cutters and little rolling pin from toy kitchen
25. Big bubble bath with/out you kitchen stuff
26. Naked finger paints in the bath
27. Bake bread
28. Make chocolate crispy cakes
29. Make a den out of chairs and blankets
30. Make a boat on the floor out of blankets
31. Chalks on the patio
32. Collect leaves in garden and make picture
33. Collect stones in garden and make picture
34. Dress up in dressing up clothes and make believe play
35. Pretend to be on an aeroplane, bus, train, car
36. Put lots of rice or pasta in a roasting dish and dig it up with the toy diggers
37. Put lots of rice or pasta in a roasting dish and use the toy kitchen equipment to scoop it up
38. Pretend to be animals/dinosaurs
39. Play bedtimes with the toys
40. Sort the toys by colour or size
41. Play with the brio trains
42. Play with the bricks
43. go and look at the pictures at our house and talk about whats in the pictures
44. Make silly faces in the mirror
45. Read a different book
46. Look and talk about the pictures in a magazine or newspaper or catalogue
47. Blow bubbles
48. Get all the coloured scarves out
49. Play hide and seek
50. Put real water/food in the toy kitchen
51. Play run away run together
52. Play flying
53. Play copy me

Any other suggestions welcome!

NaBloPoMo 9: walk

Tom took Lydia to nursery today. She had to wear something spotty for Children in Need. Stripes tomorrow, off socks on Thursday, pjs on Friday. Must remember to send money in! We'd picked out her outfit last night so she put it in without much fuss. Trying the same tomorrow.

Whilst Tom got her ready, I started packing lunch for our walk today. We both had the day off, and we'd decided to go for a long walk. I packed left over carrot soup, cheese, bread and butter and apples. Had my breakfast whilst he was out, and got my waterproofs together.

Once he got back, we set off down to Riverside Park to walk the Itchen Navigation a way. Tom had walked it before, but I had not.

The first part of the walk takes you through the park and out under the motorway. You have to zigzag around a bit as there's only one crossing under the M27, and the first section isn't so pretty, going past the Eastleigh sewage works and so on.

But soon we were on quaint little riverside paths or old towpath, breathing mists and watching raindrops splash in the river. The gold and orange leaves reflecting missing sunshine in the water.

As we walked we talked. About everything near enough. It was delightful to spend a good solid chunk of time with Tom.

We ate our lunch sat on the riverbank on the company of a greedy robin, and decided to press on further. We made it to Shawford by 1.30pm, but then my hip was giving way, so we caught the train home. The trains were busier than I thought they'd be, mainly sixth form students I think.

Once home again, it was time for a cup of tea or two, and Tom went out to get the groceries and I to pick up Lydia. We had a good walk home in the dark, counting the houses that had lights on. I love walking Lydia home when she's in a chatty mood like today, hearing all about her nursery adventures 

When we got in, we played with her toy rabbits and hares, wrapping them in muslin swaddles and reading them stories and it felt good to be focused on playing together like that. She was very tired, and after a few stories from Tom and I, rolled over and went to sleep without much protest at all.

Bream, grains and romanesco for dinner, then we watched Red Joan on Netflix, and I knitted a few more rows on Dee's shawl. I think I'm supposed to be knitting mindfully and purposefully, but mainly I'm just cursing the bobbles! 🤣

NaBloPoMo 8: a Sunday

Got up with Lydia this morning so Tom could have his lie in. She was happy playing in her room till 8 ish so it wasn't too early. Got dressed again without too many issues and put away a tidy breakfast of cereal, toast and a jam pikelet for Lydia and Marmite toast for me. Think she must be having a growth spurt given the amount she eats at the moment! Took breakfast up to Tom about 9ish.

We did some drawing with Lydia to my Advent playlist. Too early but I love it. Then signed in to Zoom Sunday School for the first time. Lydia was quite into it. They did a missing item on a tray game, watched a couple of videos and did a craft together. We signed out early when her attention waned after about an hour. The craft was make tissue paper mosaic leaves for a Thanksgiving Tree. Lydia said she was thankful for ducks because they made hey happy. 😊

Once Tom was up, they played together for a long time, making new masking tape roads and shapes for the dollies to walk on. Tom made carrot soup for lunch. And I embarrassed him by emailing in a request on his honour on Scala Radio. He was amusingly freaked out by it. Not one for public displays of affection Tom.

After lunch we went for a walk to our local woods and Lydia spent a good long time playing on the climbing frame and slide. It was a perfect misty autumn day, like a painting of autumn.

When we got back, Lydia helped me stick the numbers on our new advent calendar. I settled down to knit and watch Strictly whilst she played with various toys and helped Tom make pie for today's dinner and jelly for tomorrow.

Chicken, leek and ham pie for tea, and lots of stories for Lydia before bed.

Housework for Tom and I after her bedtime, and now knitting and Red Dwarf before bed. Finished a baby cardigan and started a shawl...