Telly for babies?

Mumsnet blogger's network has asked our views on telly watching for babies. There seems to be two distinct standpoints on this subject, rounded off by a consensus of everything in moderation.

The two standpoints are both broadly on one side of the fence - the "no telly for my child do you think I'm a lazy consumerist parent?" side and the "gives me a chance to have a shower/feed my newborn/drink tea slightly defensive parent". Both standpoints reflect the notion that telly is inherently a BAD IDEA.

But every now and then someone pipes up that their child is a better talker or knows their numbers, colours or suchlike because they do get to see some child's programming. And it makes you wonder.. And then I get to thinking that a more informed viewpoint might be a good idea.

So maybe I will actually delve into the world of children's tv at some point soon (not quite yet you know, baby steps..) and see what I can find. But where do I start? Please help!

What to do Wednesdays

I love our time at home, I love not being at work, and I love waking up every morning with the ability to choose how I'm going to spend my days. Every day I'm grateful I don't have to rush to work; and every night I'm grateful for my time with my family and what Rosie has achieved.

And by Wednesday we have always done a lot. Tuesdays are busy days where we go swimming and then meet up with Nct friends. Swimming was great yesterday - Rosie achieved her first little ducklings badge. She had to swim for a toy and jump off the side all the way underwater. She had a bit of help from me but she is brilliant at swimming now and always shuts her eyes ready for the underwater bit as soon as she is sitting on the side. I'm so pleased I started taking her as she is so excited as soon as we get to the pool every week. I must remember that we can swim all week for free as part of our membership - it would even be a good Rosie / daddy event.

Nct follows swimming and we always have a great afternoon chattering and giggling and someone's house; watching the babies play, eat and interact. Tuesday night always has a big sleep!

But then we wake up Wednesday and the day is just ours; Phil works at home Thursday and Friday usually which puts some shape around the day, but today we have about 9 hours of just us. So what's on the list today? We need to take out about half that time for eating and sleeping, and put aside some time for reading and playing with toys. I think today might be the day we try out a playgroup just around the corner. It's at 1pm so a perfect time between aforementioned eats and sleeps, and it's literally 500yds away, so if it's good, it will be good! I'll let you know!

We're a little bit potty!

Part of our new routine is a sit down on the potty of a morning. She likes it, but doesn't know why she's doing it yet. Some babies get it from a young age; and we will let Rosie think about it too..

Edited to add: just after I took this picture she dived off head first.  Luckily I caught her!

A walk up the mountain

Today we went for a walk at the Waseley Hills Country Park which is just down the road from our home. I've never been there before and it was a perfect day for the occasion. We went with a few buddies from church and someone else had done the hard work of planning the route - all we had to do was enjoy the beautiful sunshine and crisp autumn air; stamp in the muddy puddles and admire the views. Here is a snap of Rosie enjoying a bite to eat afterwards - wearing her daddy's hat!

Fear not, we're not still on the bus!

And, much as I enjoyed it, I don't really want to be!

It was a good adventure and all I hoped it would be. We had sun and rain, the pretty and the ugly (places not people..), the rowdy and the quiet. Phil was worried we'd be stabbed, Rosie snoozed away in the sling, and we all enjoyed a picnic.


My next adventure is to take the tram to Wolverhampton. The excitement of Birmingham holds no bounds!

Our third sling is here.. And its beautiful!

Nuff said!

It's Our Anniversary. And I'm surprised!!

Well, to be honest, its not quite our anniversary, that day is actually tomorrow, but as I busily filled up my week, my husband eyed the calendar despairingly as he tried to shoehorn some secret plans in.  NCT girls coming round tomorrow, so risotto making in the offing;  toddlers on Thursday and baby cinema and sling meet on Friday.  He can't do Wednesday, so today it has to be.  And thought he'd succeeded until 7pm last night, when I arranged for a friend to come over with her new baby...

So he came to me, hands wringing, worried look on his face (which makes me think I've done something very very bad) and spilled.  Day booked off.  And an outing planned.  Something I've been wanting to do since I moved to Birmingham in 2008.  Something we have tried to do a number of times but never quite got to, through illness or last minute new plans.  But today is the day.  We are getting changed and wrapped up ready.

We are going on the number 11 bus - all around the city and back home.  

Must dash. Bus to catch!