Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you are all having a fantastic day. Eliza loved opening her presents this morning  and didn't get too over excited. Petes Parents came round to watch her open her presents and she is having her nap now. We are off to my Mums house later for Christmas dinner and more presents.
Enjoy the rest of your day xxx

Here she is playing with one of her presents 

And here she is doing what kids always do, ignoring the toys and playing with the packaging. 

Hipp Organic - Product Review

Back in October Eliza was given the chance to sample some products from Hipp Organic. It has taken us a while to get through all of the samples and recent family events have delayed this review but I’ve finally found time to sit down and write up our thoughts on the products we received.  

When I was weaning Eliza I often worried that she might not be getting enough of the correct nutrients. I tried to give her home prepared meals as often as I could but sometimes we were eating something that wasn’t suitable for her. This is where shop bought baby foods came in handy. I have always been pleased with the quality of the products we have used from Hipp Organic and feel confident when my daughter eats their foods because I know that she is getting the best of ingredients from a company who cares about their food and the environment.

Having spoken to many other parents, it appears that it is very common for us to worry about nutrition when we begin weaning our babies. Hipp Organinc have carried out a survey about motherhood and this is what they found:

“We discovered that mum’s biggest worry when it comes to weaning is whether they are getting the right nutrition, this is followed closely by worrying about whether they are eating enough. At HiPP we have our resident nutritionist Helen who is on hand to advise any of our HiPP Babyclub members should they have any questions or concerns, just visit hipp.co.uk to join or you can check out her very own blog at hipp.co.uk/blog. However, we also discovered that 67% of HiPP mums felt that weaning their baby was fun, exciting or delightful and, when talking about their relationship with their little one after they began weaning 54% said they had more fun together.”

Eliza is now 20 months old so we don’t use jars of bay food that often anymore however we found that they came in very handy when we went on holiday to Tenerife in November because we were able to take them on the plane with us and give her a quick meal when she became hungry.

We were very pleased to receive a box full of goodies from Hipp and Eliza thought it was great when the parcel arrived at our door. Heres what we thought of the items we received:

Stage 3 - Hearty Vegetable & Beef Casserole Tray Meal

I still buy tray meals for Eliza occasionally because I think they are handy to keep in the cupboard for days when i'm lacking in inspiration for what to give her for tea. These particular meals are great and hold more than enough to satisfy Eliza's appetite. They come in a great little heart shaped pot and are suitable for babies aged 1 to 3 years. I find that they are really good if I'm in a hurry because all I need to do is pop them in the microwave for about 50 seconds and they are ready to eat. The meal is nice and chunky and contains nice sized pieces of potato and other vegetables. Eliza seemed to really enjoy the meal and I must say i thought it was pretty tasty too. It reminded me of something I might prepare in my slow cooker and thought it would be lovely with a piece of crusty bread or some dumplings. 

There are many more meals in this range which can be found in most supermarkets for around £1.65. The only extra thing I would like to see on this product is a replaceable lid so that I have the option of taking it on a day out with us, that way if Eliza didn't finish the whole pot in one go I could pop it back in my bag for later on. In saying that though, I must add that Hipp Organic do have a Wholesome Pot range which have replaceable lids. 

 

 

Stage 4  - Pasta Twists With Courgette & Mozzarella Savoury jar

When buying baby food in the supermarket I had never really noticed that some companies make Stage 4 jars. After receiving this sample from Hipp Organic I had a closer look in my local supermarket and noticed that they do in fact have a small selection of stage 4 foods. This particular jar went down really well with Eliza and she wolfed down the whole lot. The texture was great for her as it was really lumpy and it tasted really nice. I could have eaten it myself to be honest, all it would have needed was a bit of salt and pepper but obviously the lack of salt is great for Eliza. Another advantage is that this meal is suitable for vegetarians and is made from the organic ingredients. As the texture is fairly thick and chunky, Hipp Organic recommends that it is only suitable for babies aged 15 months and over. I was pleased to find that there are more lumpy baby foods on the market because most that you find are too smooth for Eliza's needs and I feel its important to give her foods with lots of interesting textures and flavours in them.  This jar and others in its range can be found in supermarkets for around £1.20.

Stage 2  – Little Nibbles Carrot and Pumpkin Rice Cakes

This is the first thing that Eliza tried when she unpacked the box of samples. Initially I wasn't sure what she would think of them because she often has things like this and after a quick nibble she will usually leave them lying on the carpet in a soggy mess. However, these went down very well and she munched her way through the whole bag in just a few days. We found that they were a great snack to take out as we could just grab a handful before we went out and just keep them in a little storage pot. The rice cakes have a really nice flavouring on them which I was surprised about because in my experience this type of thing can often taste a little bit like cardboard. The only down side that I would have to say about these is that the colouring can stain light coloured clothes, although it did seem to come out after a couple of washes. 

There are two other flavours available in this range which are: Tomato & sweet red pepper rice cakes and Apple rice cakes. I'm pretty sure that Eliza would love both of these too. They are suitable for babies aged 7 months and over and are perfect for those tiny little hands to hold and are a great introduction to new flavours. You will usually find at least one of the flavours from this range in most supermarkets priced at around £1.10 per 40g bag. 

Stage 3 - Little nibbles Crispy Biscottes

When I opened our box of Crispy Biscottes I really wasn't sure what Eliza would make of them. My first thoughts were that she would find them too hard and crunchy. I decided that I would give them a go for her lunch one day and thought id serve them with a bit of peanut butter. Each biscotte is fairly small but very similar to melba toast.  I snapped each one in half to make them a little easier for Eliza to eat and she completely surprised me because she sat and crunched her way through 3 of them after which she asked for more. I think these are really good to keep in the cupboard for those days when you realise that you have nothing in for your kids lunch. They are also great to keep in your bag on those days out when you don't want to carry loads of food round in your bag. The biscottes are suitable for age 10 months and over, although I'm not sure Eliza would have managed to eat these before she got her molars. Each 100g box will cost you around £1.60 in the shops. 

Stage 3 - Little Nibbles  Elephant Biscuits

Out of everything we tried, I'd definitely say that these were our favourites. Each box contains 150g but we all enjoyed them so much that they didn't last us long. The biscuits are shaped like cute little elephants which appeals to kids and mummies alike. They tasted absolutely gorgeous and reminded us of shortbread. Those of you with allergies will be pleased to hear that they are egg free and nut free, they are also suitable for vegetarians. As the biscuits are slightly harder than some they are not suitable for babies under 10 months of age but I'm pretty sure that your toddler with love them. A 120g box of these little nibbles with cost you around £1.25. 

 Stage 1 - Little Nibbles Crumbly Rusks

These stage one rusks are suitable from 6 months of age. I didn't know that they were available when I first started weaning Eliza but if I had of known I'm certain that I would have bought them for her. They taste very similar to the Stage 3 Elephant Biscuits but I would say that they are a little softer and therefore much easier for gummy babies to eat. For younger babies who are in the early stages of weaning these rusks can also be crumbled and mixed with their usual warm milk to make a lovely first meal. I often gave these to Eliza as a pudding after her meal and she seemed to really enjoy them. Eliza is really funny because she always calls biscuits "crackers" and whenever she sees any of the Little Nibbles boxes she always asks me for a cracker. 

If you would like to find out more about Hipp Organic or buy their products you can find them online at http://www.hipp.co.uk/ you can also find them on facebook http://www.facebook.com/hippuk and on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hipporganic

                              

Slightly Obsessional

For some reason, every so often Eliza becomes completely obsessional over something. We had a few different things such as her cuddly cat, Big the reindeer teddy and In the night garden. Each obsession usually lasts about four weeks or so and if it's a cuddly toy it has to go everywhere with her and if it doesn't she won't stop shouting it's name until she gets it.
Currently we are having to contend with two obsessions at the same time, the first being a cuddly dog that she borrowed from a friend. Unfortunately she doesn't want to give it back. The second obsession is Mr Tumble from Something Special on Cbeebies. At the moment we are having to watch Mr Tumble about 10 times a day. Thankfully we have Virgin on demand so it's always available. She is always singing the opening song to herself and she loves shouting "Tumble" she was even saying it in her sleep the other night.
I wonder what the next obsession will be?

A Christmas Letter

I heard a lovely story yesterday and thought I'd share it with you. It went like this...
It was coming up to Christmas and a man working at the post office was given the job of sorting through all the mail with incorrect addresses or postcodes on them. He was working away when he came across a particular letter, all it said on the envelope was "To God". The man was intrigued by the letter and decided he should open it to see what it was all about. The letter read: "Dear God, please help me I don't know who else to turn to. I am an 83 year old woman living on my own with only my old age pension to survive on. Yesterday I was in town and my purse was stolen from me, it had £100 pounds inside which is all the money I had. I have invited 2 dear friends to spend Christmas day with me and now I have no money to buy Christmas dinner. I have no family to help me out and don't know what to do. I hope you can help, best wishes Mavis"
The postal worker was saddened by what he read and told his colleagues about it. They all dug deep in to their pockets and between them managed to collect £96. They popped it in an envelope and posted it to the old lady.
A week or so had passed and the postal workers all had a warm feeling inside knowing that they had helped the old lady enjoy her Christmas. Then one day another letter appeared with only "To God" written on the envelope, the postal workers all gathered round and opened the letter together. It read: "Dear God, Thank you so much for helping me out over Christmas, my friends and I had a wonderful Christmas dinner and without you it wouldn't have been possible. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you enough. Best wishes, Mavis. P.S. The envelope was £4 short I think it was those Bastards at the Post Office."

Tommee Tippee Explora Active Sport - Product Review

Just before we went on holiday Eliza was given the chance to review a cup for Tommee Tippee. She was sent the Explora Active Sport cup and was thrilled to bits when I let her open the parcel. This is the first time that we have reviewed a product so it was quite exciting for us both. As we were going on holiday it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take the cup along and try it out.

First Impressions:

Eliza seemed to be instantly impressed with her new cup and wanted to drink from it before it even had any liquid in it. The one we have been sent is pink with little butterflies on it so it’s nice and girly. They also do a blue version that has dolphins on it, I’m sure Eliza would have loved this too. 

Who its aimed at:

This particular cup is designed for children aged 18 months and up so it is perfect for Eliza as she is now 19 months old. It also incorporates the advance-flo technology which ensures that the cup is completely non spill. I can completely vouch for this and even if the cup is tipped upside down and shaken not a single drop of liquid escapes. The cup is quite easy to drink from, all you need to do it suck on the spout a little and the liquid comes out. The only down side I have found with the cup is that it sometimes makes a strange noise when you drink form it. Eliza actually finds this noise highly amusing but it can get a bit irritating after a while. 

The cup is also BPA free so I feel confident that it completely safe for my daughter to use. 

What its like to use:

At first Eliza found this cup a little difficult to use. I don't think this was down to the cup itself, rather the fact that Eliza has always been a bit fussy when it comes to drinking. It took her a little while to figure out that she needed to tilt the cup in order to get liquid out of the spout. In the past Eliza has been used to using the Tomme Tippee Active Straw Cup so she never needed to tilt it before. After a few tries and me telling her to "Tip the Cup" a million times she seemed to figure it out and has enjoyed using it ever since. 

In terms of cleaning the cup I have found it really easy to take apart and reassemble. Another plus side is that it is dishwasher safe and after putting it in my dishwasher several times I have found that it cleans well. 

When we went on holiday, the cup also came in really useful as a container whilst we were on the aeroplane. As you are not supposed to take liquids onto the plane we decided to fill the cup with snacks for Eliza and it held loads.  So even though its not really designed with that use in mind we thought it was a good idea and it did the job perfectly. 

How much does it cost:

The RRP for this particular cup is £3.99 and it can be found in most supermarkets and baby supply shops. Personally I think this is a very reasonable price as the cup should last for a long time and I can even see her using it when she is much older as it is very similar to other sports cups with the added bonus of being spill proof. 

Overall we have been really impressed with the cup and on the odd occasion I even take a little drink form it myself. 

My amazing Dad

Its been quite a while since I last posted but the past month has been pretty awful to be honest so I haven't really felt like sitting at the computer.
On the 19th November I lost the most amazing Dad in the world. He had been in ill health for many years but the last year had really taken its toll on him and after a short stay in hospital he passed away with my Mum, Grandma, Me and our Methodist Minister at his side.

I have so many happy memories of my Dad and they will stay with me forever. I am so thankful for every minute that I spent with him and luckily since having Eliza I saw him almost every day. I will miss him more than I could ever put in to words but I find comfort in the thought that he is now in a better place.

Christopher James Pickerill

31st August 1951 - 19th November 2010

My Dad was born on the 31 August 1951 in  Newcastle under Lyme. His background was very working class but he managed to get into Grammar school which his parents were very proud of.  As he progressed through the school, he developed his social conscience and was politically active even in school.  He and his good friend Pete were remembered for being far more interested in the betterment of the world than their studies. As a teenager, he would try to get to the letterbox before his dad in order to collect his socialist magazines so that his dad wouldn’t throw them away before he could read them.  He was active in going to demonstrations even as a teenager and his causes included Anti-Apartheid, Anti-Vietnam war, and  also the CND.  


In his early twenties my Dad trained as a nurse at North Staffs Royal Infirmary where he met my Mum on Ward 10.  Eventually they married and they have been together for 34 years. Later, he trained in learning disabilities and worked at Stallington Hospital.  He then became a Nurse Tutor and received a Masters degree in Learning disabilities. He showed great compassion for his patients, by organising parties and buying Christmas presents. He could tell a good story and had many a tale to tell particularly about his time at Stallington. He was greatly respected by his students but retired early and devoted his time to his family and home, and his special loves, his garden and his music. 


One of my Dads greatest loves was his music, he saved up for months to buy his first guitar which he taught himself by slowing down records in order to learn the chords.  He had an incredible memory for songs and became as knowledgeable as nearly anyone about folk music.  He had hundreds of songs in his head.  At one stage, he was part of  a group of folk musicians called “The Higglers”  and he always remembered it warmly. He wrote many of his own songs which were full of his characteristic sense of humour.  He played music on the local folk scene which he had been part of since his youth and in recent years he attended many festivals and developed much more music.  In particular, with my Mum and the banjo he bought her as a surprise.  There was barely an evening in the last 3 years that they haven’t played music together. 


He was a character who was known and loved by so many people, there were over a hundred people at the funeral despite the heavy snow that was falling. He was a man who touched many people’s hearts and enjoyed a good joke, even joking with the nurses on his last day.  My Dad always said that when he died, all that he wanted was for people to have a drink and a sing song because he knew he was going to a better place.  So, as a tribute to my Dad we held a celebration at his home following the funeral and gave him an amazing send off. It was a completely magical evening with singing, beer, lots of friends and family, a Tipi, camp fire and lots and lots of snow. It was so lovely to see so many people who cared about my dad and I think we will always remember the day with fond memories. We gathered everyone in the Tipi and sat around the log fire to sing songs and celebrate his life. One song that we sang was 'Log Cabin in the Sky' which I will always remember my dad singing. I have included the Lyrics to this song below because I thought they seemed so fitting.

All around this wide country the winter it has now begun

Now is the time to slip away from the California sun

To a place where a man can be free as the wind

As wild as the huskies' cry

Now winter is nigh let us fly to my log cabin in the sky

With snow piling all round the door

And many a log on the stove

Where the chickadee's singing a comforting song

I'll show you it's you that I love

O let the wolves howl, they won't find us here

By a soft oil lamp we will lie

Now there comes a time to every man

When he must turn his back on the crowd

When the glare of the lights gets much too bright

And the music plays too loud

When a man must run from the deeds he has done

Recalling those days with a sigh. 

Above all my Dad was a family man.  Loving husband to my Mum, amazing Dad to my Sister and I, and great father-in-law to Pete.  He was also a very proud Grandad to Nazca, Benedict and Eliza Mae who he thought the absolute world of. We will always Love you Dad and will never forget you xxx