Shoes glorious shoes

Sid is developing quite a collection of shoes…  

 He gets this from his mummy…his tidiness he gets from me 🙊

Food glorious food!!!

Sid is finally eating by himself!

  
So IKEA was blessed by Sid having his first kiddies mean there and eating by himself!

The joy parents feel when their child takes their first steps in all areas is immense. As crazy as the little man is, he even posed for the camera with his spoon stuffed nicely in his mouth, and it brought tears to my eyes to see him nourishing himself, when I still have the memories of me having to pick him up out of his Moses basket to give him to his mum to feed from. 

In 14 months ive seen him go from dependent feeder to independent feeder, and it’s a great feeling. 

So to the little man – well done, now don’t make a mess! 

Love you Sid. Good night, sweet dreams son xxx

Happy back to the future day all…!

So one of my favourite movies of the 80’s was BTTF (alongside The Goonies) and it’s safe to say that kids these days don’t know what they missed out on..

 

Sid loves Minions

 Sid is addicted to all things Minion, so much so that he calls out “Mummy, Daddy, Minni (minion)” in that order at about 4am every morning…

Kids films these days are nowhere near as adventurous as they were when I was a kid, I always imagined myself as “Data” from The Goonies with his mad inventions and contraptions, with his ever so health and safety conscious tricks, and “mild peril” as the censor boards insist on warning us about. 

As we celebrate all things back to the future today, what were your favourite movies growing up? If you could be any character from a childhood movie- what would you be? 

Fears…

  We found out we were expecting in the autumn of 2013 and as most parents, we were filled with both anxiousness, excitement, and nervousness for the coming 9 months. As time progressed, dealing with wifey’s hyperemesis, spd, and bump distracted us from the fears that lay dormant inside… 
But that said, as a son, soon to be a father, I had a cocktail of fears and concerns about becoming a father… The hangover of which, was immense. 

The biggest fear I had was..”Will I be able to provide and care for my son, and him love me back, not just as a baby, but as a growing toddler and so on…” 

Is this normal for all dads or dads to be? What were your fears or concerns? 

It’d be good to hear your thoughts…

The recipe for a poorly boy …

So the little man is poorly… And taking full advantage of it!!!  
So the most he’s eaten today is a lovely fresh chicken burger I made from scratch, and because he’s little and needs some vegetables too, I grated them into the mix before cooking…

 What you need..

Half a carrot

Half a potatoe

A couple of pieces of broccoli 

Some chicken mince

Seasoning

Breadcrumbs

Egg wash

How it’s made…

Grate the veg and micro for 3 mins to soften

Add to chicken mince and mix together

Divide into portions and dip into egg and coat in breadcrumbs 

Fry in a little veg oil on a medium heat until cooked through..

Apple bran flake muffins

Just what the doctor ordered …

So we made a delicious Autumn treat last week- and Sid seemed to love them.

Apples were grown in our garden and just picked so we though why not…

What you need…

1 and a quarter cup of crushed bran flakes

1 and a quarter cup of plain flour

1 and a quarter cup of apple juice

A third of a cup of dark brown sugar

A quarter cup of melted butter

A tbsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1tsp vanilla extract

2 apples cut, peeled and chopped into small pieces

How to make it …

Add all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and give the mixture a good old stir.

Pour out into a muffin tray and bake at 190c for about 30 minutes.

Cool and enjoy!!

Classic 10 ways to be a great dad.

  

How do you know if you’re making it as a dad? One Is spending time with your kids. How you spend your time is a reflection of what’s important to you. If you value your kids, you’ll want to be with them. You don’t need to wait for the perfect time. It doesn’t have to be when you can take a vacation or an afternoon off from work. Instead, grab those small pockets of time as they present themselves throughout the day. Call your kids on your cell phone between appointments just to say, “Hi.” Send them an e-mail from work. Read to them at bedtime. Carve out a few minutes to help them with their homework. Go to breakfast and drop them off at school. Grab every moment you can get with your children.
Here is the full list of the 10 ways to be clear the daze

1. Love Your Wife

True love is not a feeling. It is a decision. It’s an act of the will to be patient, kind, humble, hopeful, giving, faithful and trusting. When you commit to loving your wife this way, your feelings for her, and hers for you, will follow. Actively loving your wife will radically strengthen your marriage and will also be incredibly beneficial to your children. The number one source of security for kids is to know that their dad loves their mother and is steadfastly committed to her well-being.
2. Spend Time With Your Kids

How you spend your time is a reflection of what’s important to you. If you value your kids, you’ll want to be with them. You don’t need to wait for the perfect time. It doesn’t have to be when you can take a vacation or an afternoon off from work. Instead, grab those small pockets of time as they present themselves throughout the day. Call your kids on your cell phone between appointments just to say “hi.” Send them an e-mail from work. Read to them at bedtime. Carve out a few minutes to help them with their homework. Go to breakfast and drop them off at school. Grab every moment you can get with your children.
3. Be a Role Model

It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of a father modeling the type of behavior he desires to see in his children. Role models don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk of an honorable man. A great place to start is consistency. Do you keep your word? Do you stand up for what is right even when it costs you? Are you trustworthy? Are you loyal in your relationships? Be what you want your children to be!

4. Understand and Enjoy Your Children

Like you, every child has unique DNA, unique fingerprints, and a unique personality. In order to be the best father you can be, you’ll need to understand your children as individuals. How do your kids think? What do they like or dislike? You’ll also want to know what each of your children need from you the most. One may need encouragement. Another responds better with affection. This crucial understanding can only come if you’re committed to really getting to know them. Remember, too, how fast your kids grow up, and just enjoy being with them. Don’t get tempted to wish for the next stage of their development. Have fun with them now, and make memories that last a lifetime.

5. Show Affection

Children long for a secure place in this fast-paced world. They find it most often in the warm embrace of a parent. As children grow, so does their need for acceptance and a sense of belonging. Such a need is met when a father offers a hug, or a kind word, and expresses his appreciation and love for his children. But showing affection doesn’t stop there. Make sure to say, “I love you” everyday.

6. Secure Your Family’s Financial Future

Financial stress is one of the leading factors that tears families apart. In order to put your family in a position of strength, you have to shore up your finances. First, hate debt. Do everything you can to get out of it as quickly as possible. Then, make sure you establish a budget that not only trims expenses, but also allows you to save and share with those in need. Have proper insurance. Finally, make sure you live and teach these frugal principles to your children as well.

7. Eat Together As a Family

Most children today don’t know the meaning of a family dinnertime. Yet the communication and unity built during this time is integral to a healthy family life. Sharing a meal together—breakfast, lunch or dinner—provides structure to an often hectic schedule. It also gives kids the opportunity to talk about their lives. This is a time for fathers to listen as well as give advice and encouragement. Most importantly, however, it is a time to be together on a daily basis.

8. Discipline with a Gentle Spirit

True discipline is a function of a father’s love for his children, which is why it should never be hard-nosed or harsh. Discipline’s role is not to intimidate or tear down, but to mold and to correct. Correcting your kids should be done in private, and you and your wife should be unified in how you discipline. Strive to be consistent.

9. Pray and Worship Together

Families that have a healthy prayer life and take worshipping God seriously help their children to understand that there is an ultimate authority in their lives—an authority who provides moral absolutes for them to live by. Every child needs to know that there is right and wrong, good and evil. Living under the authority of God will give them that knowledge.

10. Realize You’re a Father Forever

Someday every father must let go of the youthful activities that bond him with his children. As he allows his children their freedom to direct their own lives, a good father realizes that he doesn’t abandon them at a dorm room, a wedding altar, or the door of their first job. He continues to encourage, coach and convey his wisdom to his children forever