Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A poorly boy…

But still OH SO HANDSOME.


Little man became unwell today after we left toddler group.  We were on our way home and we had stopped at a shop to pick up something nice for lunch.  All of sudden I heard Ollie shriek from his pram “the juice is all over the pram mummy” and when I turned to look he had vomited all over the pram, his clothes and the shop floor.  Poor wee thing.

We came home and he was sick again, and again, I gave him a bath in which he was sick, and again.  He was being sick about every 20-30 minutes and we got through all the blankets and pjs in the house!
He was going through phases of being quite perky and then phases of being drowsy and sad.

Ollie has NEVER had a vomiting bug… in his almost 3 years of existence, so this is new to us!  It is so sad hearing him wretch and have nothing come up and it’s making his little tummy sore.

The Dr. said it is gastroenteritis and it should ease up for him tomorrow at some point.  I hope so.  He has fallen asleep on the sofa and I hope he gets a good and restful sleep tonight (it’s 7.45pm here)…as today has been horrid for him.

And here is hoping that neither James or I get it too!

Monday, March 28, 2011

A very lovely sunny weekend!

It looks like we are finally entering Spring!  This weekend was so bright and warm.  Unfortunately James had to go into work for the biggest part of Saturday but Ollie and I went to the play-park with our friends and then played in the sandpit at home.  It's so nice to be able to play outside!

James and I decided it would be a nice tradition to go to a park every Sunday morning before we go to either the in-laws or my mum's (we alternate Sundays).  There are so many parks and the weather is getting nicer now, it would be nice to go first thing every Sunday (on the days it is raining though, we will be going swimming!).

This weekend we went to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, which is just 5 minutes from my house.  They have a rose garden there but the roses aren't in bloom until June I think, they have a cafe, a massive play-park with a huge sandpit and lots of garden walks.




















As far as photography goes, I STILL have not ventured off auto on my new Canon D3100 but even without changing settings etc aren't the pictures TONS better than on my old point and shoot?  Setting myself a study regime so I can learn how to use my gorgeous camera PROPERLY :)  Wish me luck!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

How we spent Paddy’s Day (in photos)

 We spent St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin this year.  As you know we have been in Dublin for a few months but James’ project has now come to an end, so we took the opportunity to go down for a couple more nights, have some fun and see the parade and pack up all our stuff!

I desperately wanted to get Lucky Charms for Ollie for St. Patricks Day… but they don’t make them here in Ireland.  They used to, but don’t anymore and we know a store that imports them from America.  Unfortunately there had been a rush of people buying them and they were out of stock, so I bought him Fruit Loops instead.  They are rainbow coloured so still count I suppose.

We got Ollie dressed in his green hoody and I painted a little green shamrock onto each cheek.  After we were ready we had a look at what festivities would be taking place!  There were apparently some fairground rides in Merrion Square and the parade was due to start at 12.  My dad advised us that Dame Street would be the least busy place to watch the parade go past.

Ollie went on his first fairground ride!  He went on a kids teeny tiny rollercoaster.  It was only €3 so we gave him 2 rides.  The first ride he spent in a taxi cab and the second he rode the train.  He LOVED it.  It was so cute watching him go past again and again and to be honest it made me feel a little bit choked up… he was so big and independent!!

After his first go on a rollercoaster was over, we went on a ferris wheel together.  He loved it too!



When we got to Dame street we waited for about 1 1/2 hours for the parade to reach us.  Ollie got really fractious and bored (and who could blame him!) and we had to occupy him with more Fruit Loops!  There was a lovely old man and woman in front of us and the man chatted to him a bit.

I’m not sure I understood the theme of the parade at all.  To me it didn’t seem to have a lot to do with St. Patrick’s Day but it was apparently based on a story by Roddy Doyle.  It was so much fun to watch though.  There were bands from all over the world, youth groups joining in and some weird displays.

I love bands.  I especially love how loud the drums are.  Ollie preferred the random and strange things that passed instead.




Town was busy, though not quite as packed as I had anticipated.  We had a voucher for our lunch, so got paninis and drinks and ate them in the sun.

We passed a store we love and to our surprise they had Lucky Charms in stock.  Ollie got to have his first taste of lucky charms after all!

I think we will go to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day again.  There is a much more fun atmosphere there than up North… and so much more to do.  We didn’t get to do everything, there were storytellers and facepainters and lots of other events for families!

…and that’s Dublin over with now.  It’s strange to be saying goodbye.  We won’t have another opportunity to go because Ollie starts school in September.  Ollie was born in Dublin and we spent his first few months there so it holds a special little place in my memory.  We even passed the hospital he was born in and I told him and pointed it out, but I doubt he even knows what ‘birth’ or ‘you were born there’ means haha!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Recent Ollie-isms

Body slaaaaam (play wrestling with daddy.... though when you ask him how you be with girls he says "gently")

Nice to meet you mummy.... happy to meet you

I need your kisses mummy (he said this first thing in the morning when he dandered into our room)

I don't like stinky poos, I don't eat dem

You're not me, I'm me, you're you

Thanks for wiping my bum mummy (nice to be thanked isn't it!)

Roshambo not got a willy.....has got a wendy (he noticed his teddy had no willy....)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We're in Dublin today staying in the apartment here one last time (and to collect our stuff)...

Today we are off to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin City Centre. It looks like so much fun and is apparently a HUGE parade lasting almost 1 1/2 - 2 hours! Ollie is going to love it. There are other things happening in the City Centre also.... facepainters, storytellers, a FERRIS WHEEL!! We also have a €20 voucher for lunch and the skies look clear :) It should be a good day! I've brought Ollie's green hoody to wear and will be painting a little green shamrock on his cheek. Earlier he said "I don't want green hair!"... so that's out of the question hehe.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

So... my new camera!

I got myself a Nikon D3100!  I am so excited!

I have wanted a DSLR for such a long time now and finally have one.  I got a good deal on a Nikon D3100 complete with 2 lenses, a bag, filters and memory card!

So far I love it, but feel limited at the moment for a couple of reasons: 1. There are much much better lenses I would like to get in the near future that would allow me to do what I want to do... and 2. I can not yet shoot on manual.  I hate to use auto, when I see other peoples fab photos and know there is no-way they took it on auto.  I want pretty photos like that, so am teaching myself slowly but surely.  I'll be updating my progress on this blog.

Here are some photos I have taken so far!  Even though I do not have extensive knowledge of my camera, without changing a single settling, the photos are still A TON better than the average photo I would take on my compact!!

I can't WAIT to have learn!  Any tips and advice would be very very welcome!





Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I'm so proud of the boy...

The last time I updated on Ollie... he was about 28 months I think.

Now Ollie is 33 months..... with less than 3 months to go until he turns 3!  Time just seems to be going FAR too fast.  I don't feel like I have been a mummy for almost 3 years.  It is hard to explain what I mean.... I mean the time that has passed doesn't FEEL like 3 years and I feel a bit robbed! Hehe.  Everyone told me the time goes by so fast, but I didn't believe them.

I have never been one to get emotional though, the older they get.  I love it!  Every new stage/ milestone that Ollie reaches is so much more exciting than the last.

So what can I tell you about Ollie these days....?

OH!  In just under 4 weeks we find out which school he got accepted in to!  We applied to 4 schools and are desperately hoping he gets into one of our first 2 choices.  I'm so excited for him to start.  If you ask him where is he going in September he replies "I'm going to school".... if I ask what is he going to do at school he says "Going to play cars.  The boys want to play cars with me."

He is fully potty trained (daytime....) and doesn't have accidents anymore.  He is able to go on a toilet too rather than just his potty and balances himself!  I'm surprised by how well he took to potty training.  I think I was quite lucky and that he was completely ready when I tried.  He is dry almost every naptime and has been dry on the occasional morning, I guess that just comes naturally though!

Ollie can use an iPad independently.... haha.

Ollie still can not dress himself, but he can put socks and trousers on.... and has no trouble taking all of his clothes off.  He is able to pull his pants and trousers up and down himself when going to the toilet.

He still naps!! 2 hours every day between 1 and 3!  This is when I get the main bulk of housework completed/ relax, depending on the day I have had!  For instance.... today has been rubbishy so far, so I'm chilling out, catching up on missed tv shows and snacking on junk food.

Some rhymes Ollie knows and can say all by himself include Twinkle Twinkle, I Had a Little Turtle and Row Row Row Your Boat.  He claps for himself when he is finished...

His drawing skills are developing really fast though I don't have a picture here right now (will post on Wednesday).  Last week I had paper and colours out for him and I asked him what he wanted to draw.  He told me he wanted to draw Daddy, so I told him he should draw a nice, round head first.  He then did little dots and a line for a mouth and then 4 lines which resembled arms and legs.  I was so proud and so taken aback by it!

When it comes to colours and shapes, Ollie knows most of them, but he can't count yet.  He counts "1, 2, 4, 8, 9" hehe.  I'm sure that will come soon though.

Isn't it incredible the rate at which they learn?  And in less than 6 months he will be away to nursery school and will be learning even more!

OH! I tried to teach him his address recently and let's just say that he does NOT live at 17 Morning Present.... hehe!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

What I'm Loving Wednesday


This week I am loving:

♥  That the weather is brightening up!
♥  Gateau Breton (Thanks Nigella!) and baking in general recently
♥  My new Canon D3100....
♥  Learning how to use it!
♥  Cuddles from Ollie (I'm getting more at the moment because he is unwell)
♥  Meal planning :)
♥  Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo..... YUM
♥  Lipton Morocco Tea
♥  De-cluttering


Wordless Wednesday



My boy is sicky... I hate that he is not well, but love that he needs lots of cuddles from me.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Oooooh look!



Eeeek! Look what just arrived! Yep. A Nikon D3100. More on this later :)