KangaRue - SilverLinings

40/366 - Gumming

2012-02-09T21:23:00.000Z

Pickle started teething at 12 weeks of age. At five months his first bottom tooth cut through, and five days later his second bottom tooth followed. He is really biting down now, and his little toothy-pegs are a little sharp on my fingers!

40/366 - 9 Feb 2012

Remembering to take teething rings out and about with us is a little tricky, so being able to wear one, that is also beautiful to look at is a bonus. Gumigem necklaces fit the bill, and I had fabulous service from Mama Jewels who I discovered via Twitter.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

39/366 - Sitting Up

2012-02-09T20:50:00.002Z

Pickle has been sitting up on his own for about a week now. He was sitting up with a slow lean for a while before that! Here he is discovering his activity mat on a whole new level.

39/366 - 8 February 2012

Yes, that is a champagne cork from his sensory box, which is doing double duty as a teether.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

38/366 - Peacock

2012-02-07T21:14:00.000Z

Another shot from Maryon Wilson Park - this time of a regal peacock in the animal park - I love the contrast of his tail against the snow.

38/366 - 7 February 2012

Cheers, KangaRue :)

37/366 - Snow Angel

2012-02-06T20:18:00.000Z

I have my very own snow angel, isn't he adorable. Bundled in his snowsuit, we helped Pickle make his first snow angel in our back garden where the snow was still pristine.

37/366 - 6 Feb 2012

Cheers, KangaRue :)

36/366 - Silly Snowballs

2012-02-05T23:26:00.000Z

A raft of photos from our walk today, but I couldn't go past this one of BoyWonder. He's made an enormous snowball and is throwing it in the air waiting for it to explode when it lands. Between work, house renovations, the allotment, study and being a husband and Daddy, he doesn't get enough time to be silly - this was one of those rare occasions, and it was a delight to watch

36/366 - 5 Feb 2012

I'm a strong believer that silliness is a good thing, and extremely important for mental health.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

35/366 - Ride 'em Cowboy

2012-02-05T23:17:00.002Z

Pickle riding Lulah's rocking horse, while we had a fun, casual dinner with friends. He had a great time checking out every aspect of the horse as much as the rocking I think.

35/366 - 4 Feb 2012

Thanks for a great night Caroline! Looking forward to #SausageFest becoming an annual event.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

34/366 - New Tastes

2012-02-05T23:09:00.002Z

I am in stitches every time Pickle tries something new to eat. He screws up his little face and looks like he hates it, but keeps trying and starts enjoying it. He has done this with everything he has tried! He looks so cute, but I can't help feeling mean for laughing at him. He ended up wolfing down this piece of kiwi fruit and then some watermelon.

34/366 - 3 Feb 2012

I think he takes after BoyWonder, who to this day hates mushrooms, aubergine (eggplant for the Aussies) and goats' cheese, but will keep trying them, just in case! Because of his tenacity, we discovered that BoyWonder actually likes duck, just not the skin (more for me!).

Cheers, KangaRue :)

33/366 - Playtime

2012-02-05T22:58:00.001Z

A fun, carefree day. We had an impromptu meeting with my friend Caroline, and Pickle had a great time playing with Lulah and her toys. He's getting more and more active, rolling over and is now sitting up well on his own... though I'm still nearby if he starts to tip!

33/366 - 2 Feb 2012

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Bruce the Sudocrem Moose

2012-02-03T14:16:00.000Z

Last week, Pickle and I were lucky enough to be invited to a Sudocrem launch at the lovely Bill's Cafe in Covent Garden. Firstly, this shouldn't be confused with Sydney Bill Granger's new London restaurant which I visited earlier in the month. The cafe-deli-restaurant will definitely be getting a return visit though, as it looked lovely, and the staff were friendly and approachable; while busy and bustling, they couldn't have been more baby-friendly and pram accommodating, which I was somewhat amazed at for such a central venue. But back to the point...

Meet the Sudocrem Mousse
mascot: Bruce the Moose!

I'm a huge fan of the Sudocrem cream, and have a pot at both changing stations at home and a sample pot in the baby-bag. But the launch was for the two new Sudocrem mousses: a moisturiser and a 50-SPF sunscreen. Made especially for babies and children, the mousse format is quickly absorbed, and you only need the teensiest bit - a little goes a long way.

It's nasties-free, so no colour, scent or parabens, so I've been happy to use the moisturiser on Pickle both after his evening bath and before we go out in the cold and wind; with snow due any minute, it's protecting him, especially when I'm baby-wearing. He also gets dry skin on his legs, and the moisturising mousse is good at preventing eczema.

You'll be able to find the Sudocrem
mousse at Boots and
independent pharmacies

We've got a trip to Australia planned in a couple of weeks to meet the Grandparentals, so the sunscreen will come in very handy! It's got the highest rating possible, which is so important to use as an adult, let alone on a baby, as most skin cancers are caused through damage done as a child. I've lost a good friend to melanoma, and as an Aussie I understand how important it is to slip-slop-slap. As the mousse is so quickly absorbed, we can go out straight after application, with no need to wait half an hour before exposure - I'm sure this will be beneficial with impatient kids excited to get outside to play!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Disclosure: I received complimentary moisturising mousse and sunscreen mousse in order to review the products, and Pickle received a moose toy, that he loves drooling over. All views are my own.

32/366 - Shadows

2012-02-01T22:39:00.000Z

A quick snap of Pickle and I today. The sun was shining, but it was cold outside. He was a bit grumpy today, and couldn't bare for me to be more than an arms length away from him. Not only did his first tooth break through, but 5 days later, the second bottom tooth decided to do the same - poor thing, no wonder he's out of sorts. And that's Lulu curled up in the crook of the chair in our shadow.

32/366 - 1 Feb 2012

I spent the day baby-wearing him, and in the afternoon went out to a new - to us - child centre for Bouncing Babies (sing and sign). He loved it, and it was a really nice atmosphere, and they also have a sensory room which Pickle enjoyed exploring. There were great opportunities for photos in there, but it was a little cramped with some other mummies and their babies also having a look (besides, Pickle wasn't really in the mood), so we'll be booking the room again soon for some photo opportunities!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

31/366 - First Library Book

2012-02-01T22:20:00.001Z

Borrowing his first library book, Pickle chose one with a different texture on each page. He is utterly fascinated by the different sensations he experiences (confirmed by the ongoing joy he finds within his sensory box).

31/366

What were your, or your children's, favourite books growing up?

Cheers, KangaRue :)

30/366 - Partners in Crime

2012-02-01T21:53:00.000Z

Pickle's best friend has got to be Hermes. He squeals with delight when Hermes comes up to him; in turn, Hermes head-butts Pickle's hand to pat him. I took loads of photos of the two of them playing, but one or the other (or both) were completely blurred. Here they are resting between bouts!

30/366

We have no doubt they will be in mischievous cahoots in the not too distant future!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

29/366 - Brunch with Friends

2012-01-30T21:07:00.000Z

My lovely friend Cathy (who I originally met through Twitter) came over from Sweden this weekend, on one of her regular trips to her beloved London. I was lucky enough to catch up with her over brunch with some other girlie friends at The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe - a surprisingly elegant venue with a tasty brunch. Pickle tagged along of course. But this photo isn't of Cathy and Pickle (he fell asleep before I thought to get a photo of the two of them together), instead it is of Pickle and Lulah enjoying their food. It's not the first time they've brunched together, but the first they've been seated together in high chairs, and it was a delight to watch.

29/366

Brunch was delicious - a perfectly executed Eggs Benedict for me, though I prefer creamed spinach as an addition. A great Virgin Mary though - loved that it was called a Bloody Shame! Pickle enjoyed some bread, spinach and ham. I would definitely go back here for brunch again, and the Sunday roast looked superb.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

28/366 - Watching Ducks

2012-01-30T14:34:00.000Z

I discovered the existence of Maryon Wilson Park by accident when I took Pickle to the playground last week. It's across the road from the playground, and is more of a wood than a park, though it has cleared areas that will be great for picnics when summer comes. But most importantly there are animals! Goats, sheep, peacocks, a pig, a herd of deer... and ducks. Quacking, flapping, swimming ducks!

28/366

Pickle slept through our first sojourn to the park, but on our second try, I strapped on the Moby, bundled us both under the wrap and jumped on the bus. I snapped this shot of us just as the ducks made a ruckus that grabbed Pickle's attention.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

27/366 - First Bites

2012-01-30T13:12:00.000Z

Pickle has been increasingly interested in trying food (i.e. he has a complete hissy-fit if I'm eating something and he doesn't get to try it). Technically, Baby-led Weaning is not supposed to start until 6 months, but we're only a couple of weeks away, and his cues are kind of obvious!

His first go was on a bit of rusk. No I didn't mush it down with milk (mine or formula), but gave him a hunk to gnaw on and he loved it. He's tried a green bean (not a fan first time around), broccoli (which he had great fun sucking the florets from then gnawing on to help his teething), crusts of bread (he loved the onion bread from our meal out), and while avocado and egg white were tried, they were a little slippery and promptly ended up on the floor. His favourite food so far is chicken, as you can see from his expression in this photo.

27/366

Eating food isn't about nutrition for Pickle at this stage, instead it's about experiencing tastes and textures. He's still getting Mummy-Milk, so it's not important how much ends up on the floor!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

26/366 - Mussels

2012-01-29T22:54:00.000Z

BoyWonder and I had a lovely meal out at the Tudor Barn. My foie gras parfait was light and fluffy, and BoyWonder's mussels were a success unlike the last couple of times he'd eaten them. For mains, we had steaks which were perfectly cooked. Pickle enjoyed some of the onion bread that came with the mussels, as well as some of the broccoli that we had as a side with our mains!

26/366

As a member of their VIP club, I received a bottle of bubbles to celebrate my birthday, but the glass each of South African Riebeek Shiraz Reserve was a full-flavoured delight when paired with our steaks. Wines are available in three sizes of glasses as well as by the bottle, and are priced as a percentage of the bottle, with no additional mark-up, which was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately - and surprisingly for me - none of the desserts particularly appealed. Service was relaxed, and the Tudor Barn exceeded our expectations, especially being a local restaurant.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

25/366 - Swinging

2012-01-25T23:18:00.003Z

On the way to meeting a friend for lunch today, Pickle and I stopped at the playground. It was a cold day, and the slippery-dip was a bit wet, but Pickle loves the swings, and I could resist taking dozens of photos. He was giggling away, which was an absolute delight to watch.

25/366

He also saw his first horse today!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

Update:
This is my favourite picture this week because of the happiness and excitement in Pickle's face, though it was a tough call between this and his self portrait. Take a look at all my other Project365 posts. Each Sunday you can link up to the weekly favourites at TheBoyandMe's blog by clicking on this button below:

24/366 - Pickle: Self Portrait

2012-01-24T22:17:00.002Z

Pickle and I had a duvet day*. Well, my version of a duvet day any how, which means I slob around in my favourite Gap track pants. So we weren't going to get any amazing shots. Pickle was flipping back and forth quite a bit today, and doing his caterpillar wiggle. So I got down on the floor with him to play, and grabbed my phone to take some photos. He grabbed the phone from me, and between him trying to eat it, I managed to press the shutter button. So it's not the most technically competent, his hand and arm are blocking part of his face, but I love his big blue eye and THOSE LIPS! *mwah*

24/366

* does anyone actually really do a duvet day? I put away two loads of laundry, folded and re-packed our washed swimming gear, soaked BoyWonder's shirts, did three loads of washing, unpacked then re-stacked the dishwasher, did the washing up, watered the indoor plants and bathed Pickle, along with the usual playing, feeding and resultant nappy changes of course. *phew*

Cheers, KangaRue :)

23/366 - A Ramble Through Greenwich

2012-01-23T23:35:00.000Z

I decided to go for a bit of a wander with Pickle today, with the intention of eventually ending up at the National Maritime Museum, but neither heading there directly nor with any planned route. So I jumped off the train a stop early at Maze Hill, a station I'd never been to before. On entering Greenwich Park from a side I'd never come from before, I discovered a completely different park - much more open and less inhabited. We headed straight up the hill, towards the North West and then into the centre of the park, up and down quite steep slopes.

Heading up the first hill, I realised that 9 or 10 months ago, I would have struggled to walk up that hill with my SPD even without pushing Pickle in the pram. In fact, even 3 or 4 months ago, I would have found it painful... but I was doing fine. Pickle was getting tired and a bit bored in the pram, so I bundled on the Moby wrap for some baby-wearing time, which we both love. Sure, I'm a bit sore now, but hopefully after a good night's sleep (fingers crossed!), I'll be fine tomorrow.

23/366

We got all the way across to the Observatory, which is the subject of today's picture; I took it as I was heading back down the hill towards the museum, where I grabbed a bite to eat and wandered around. There are some fantastic photo opportunities inside, and since it seems to be my latest "hang", no doubt there will be some further photos featured from here soon.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

22/366 - Pickle's First Swim

2012-01-22T21:07:00.001Z

We managed to take Pickle for his first swim today (a little later in the day than we'd planned). He seemed to enjoy it for the most part - it was a little noisy, with lots of older kids splashing about, but he liked being pulled and bounced through the water. He didn't go underwater this time - we'll see how he goes next week for that.

22/366

This photo was taken in the change room after his swim, and I think he looks adorable.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

21/366 - Stacked Up

2012-01-22T20:18:00.003Z

My photo of the day has got to be the sweetcorn fritters I had at An Aussie Brunch. Not only because I like the composition and colours of the food, and also the out of focus plate in the distance... but most of all, because I was there with some of my favourite people in the world: BoyWonder and Pickle*, my friend and fellow yummy-mummy Caroline, her husband Dave, and their lovely daughter Lulah*.

21/366

*not their real names... these are their online pseudonyms - I'm asked if I really named my son Pickle at least once a week. Well, I suppose Gwenyth Paltrow did name her son Apple, but I'm not an international star!

Cheers, KangaRue :)

An Aussie Brunch

2012-01-22T19:10:00.000Z

Bill Granger's restaurants are a Sydney institution, so I was excited to learn he was opening a restaurant in London. Particularly well-known for brunch, it wasn't hard to decide what time of day to visit Granger & Co. We arrived around 9:30am on Saturday, to a crowded, yet airy room. I think we timed it well, as a six-seated table had just become available - I was brunching with BoyWonder, my darling friend Caroline and her husband Dave, and our babies Pickle & Lulah; it was popular venue for other parents as well, as there were a large number of other prams and carriers in sight.

We started with juices - a freshly squeezed orange juice, an elderflower cordial and a homemade lemonade were well received. While delicious, BoyWonder's sunrise smoothie was a little on the small side, and at £3.50, I would have expected it to be at least twice its size.

I struggled to decide between two dishes for my meal, but eventually, I couldn't go past Bill's famous sweetcorn fritters. Served with fresh baby spinach, a lightly cooked tomato and a slice of bacon, it was well-seasoned and delicious. This dish could be improved by a bit more generosity of bacon, as it only comes with one slice.

An unfortunate theme, as the boys discovered with their Full Aussie breakfasts. An enormous portion of creamy scrambled eggs is accompanied by delicious sourdough toast, mushrooms and tomato, but only three chipolata sausages and another single slice of bacon. A third less egg with one extra slice of bacon and two more teeny sausages would have seen them far happier. Unfortunately, BoyWonder discovered a bone-shard in one of his chipolatas. The first waiter he brought this to the attention of was, quite frankly, useless - he said "oh, OK" and wandered off. The service up to this point had been relaxed, if a little slow - but it was a weekend brunch, so we weren't in a rush. But that was a little too relaxed. So he requested to see the manager. She apologised, spoke to the chef and returned saying they'd bring it to their supplier's attention. He was then offered a complimentary coffee in apology. We suggested dessert would be more appropriate (but more on that in a bit, as it was our SilverLining).

The soft boiled eggs with sour dough toast was enjoyed, but as it does what it says on the box, there's not much more I can say here.

BoyWonder decided to get a coffee. Now in past posts, I've detailed that he is, shall we say, particular about his coffee. He wasn't disappointed with his long black - it was rich, intense and full of flavour. None of the dreaded burn. Aussies know how to make coffee.

For dessert, we agreed to indulge (sensibly by sharing) the ricotta pancakes with honeycomb butter, banana and maple syrup. And, oh my! They were delicious - definitely the hit of the day. The ricotta lends a creaminess that balances the sweetness brilliantly; the honeycomb butter is a delight. I would definitely order this as my main dish next time, with a side of bacon (hopefully more than one slice!). So yes, why there were some issues, I will be back, and would recommend popping over to Notting Hill for breakfast or brunch soon.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

20/366 - My Other Babies

2012-01-20T20:15:00.001Z

Meet Lulu and Hermes, my other babies. Lulu is the blue Burmese on the left, and Hermes is the chocolate Burmese on the right. When they're not chasing each other like loons around the house, or up and down their cat scratching-post/tree, they are often found cuddled up together, often on a lap.

20/366

They were named after handbags, as I love accessories (see my earlier 17/366 post: Indulgence II); I adore Lulu Guinness handbags, and while I own quite a few, I can only aspire to a Hermes Kelly bag.

Aren't the just so snuggly.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

19/366 - Cheeky Grins

2012-01-19T21:44:00.000Z

I expected to get photos of Pickle at his first Bouncing Babies (sing & sign) class today... except he fell asleep about a minute before the afternoon class! So it's just as well I took some photos after his morning nap. I rotate Pickle's toys, and offer him a few things each day - whichever he reacts most to are the ones we take with us that day. Today was a definite Peter Rabbit and Sophie the Giraffe day.

19/366

He was having great fun playing with Peter Rabbit, and was giggling away, so I quickly grabbed my camera for some quick shots. A lovely way to start the day he turned 5-months old.

Cheers, KangaRue :)

18/366 - Bounce

2012-01-18T22:50:00.001Z

Pickle loves his door bouncer. While he figured out he could turn around quickly, it took him a little longer to work out he could jump himself. He hasn't looked back since!

18/366

I loved the action shot where he was bouncing around, but love his cheeky grin in the other shot. I finally figured out how to do a collage, so was able to have the best of both worlds. I think he looks a little like me in the first photo (for a change!).

Cheers, KangaRue :)