Educational Toys: Helpful Learning Tool for Children

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ab15507572ea6ac4_800x800ar Children just love toys. Toys form a critical part of fun for children, as they enable them to engage their senses, spark their imagination, and encourages them to interact with others. As a result, buying your children different toys to play with, including educational toys may make a delightful difference. This is because the toys will help your children to learn, and at the same time have fun.

Toys come in all sizes and shapes, each with a unique attribute and purpose. Some are mechanical based, hence can be manipulated, and in the process promote the child’s physical development. Other types of toys such as puzzles mainly deal with problem-solving. These usually give the child the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understand some basic principles such as colors and shapes.

If you never thought of buying educational toys for your child before, here are a few reasons why you should:

1. Developing their creativity

Educational toys support creative and open-minded play. For example, a box of plastic inedible food can inspire a child to spend a lot of time pretending to run a restaurant, or simply cooking food. A set of Lego city blocks can be turned into a fort, tower, a road system, or even animals. The main aspect that makes games such as those from Lego city so captivating and timeless is that modeling has unlimited possibilities. The more time a child spends exploring all these, the more their power of imagination will be. This is will help the child to develop his or her creativity and help to find creative solutions to challenges they face in life.

2. Self-confidence

Playing allows your child to assert him or herself. Open-ended toys like musical instruments and dress-up props improve their imagination and self confidence through activities such as performing, acting, and singing in front of an audience. These toys may include fake microphones, a drum-kit, and more to enhance the experience.

3. Independence and socialization

By buying toys that enable the child to mimic real-life events or daily realities, the child may become more independent. The toys will enable the children to create and direct their own plays, hence promoting interaction and socialization in the process. Such toys include medical kits that include items such as stethoscopes and first-aid kits, while teaching kits that include items such as a chalkboard, chalks and more.

In conclusion, every parent should buy their children educational-toys to help to positively shape their child’s development.

Toddler bedroom makeover

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I’ve been wanting to write up BiP’s big girl bedroom makeover for months!

We moved her into her big girls’s room on her 2nd birthday – I had a very simple brief for her room. It had to be:

Child friendly (Montessori inspired) and fun
Done on a budget
Something she could grow into and easily modified

Find out how I went from THIS:

To THIS! ON a BUDGET!:

STORAGE SOLUTION: IKEA Expedit Bookcase

We’ve had this bookcase for years – it was all scratched and was gathering dust in the corner – flip it on it’s side and suddenly you have a toddler friendly shelving unit that’s perfect for fabric boxes (available in IKEA) which were less than €3/$4) each and very cute colours! The only issue was the colour of the scratched bookcase – it was too dark.

How to repaint an IKEA Expedit Bookcase

I didn’t know it was even possible to repaint IKEA furniture until I went to the local paint shop. STEP 1 – Lightly sand every surface (a bit of a pain but don’t miss this step) STEP 2 – Using a roller apply primer (in the case of this book case I needed 2 coats) repainting expedit bookcase primer STEP 3– Paint on any paint colour you desire! I chose hot pink for BiP!

Fabric boxes in Pink, Green and Black were very in this season!

I was stunned at the results and BiP LOVES it!

Other bits and pieces!

Repainting the IKEA TROFAST Storage unit

I did repaint BiP’s IKEA TROFAST Storage unit – initially I spray painted and the results were horrible. I then repeated the steps I did for the EXPEDIT bookcase and it was fine.

I did repaint the walls as they were dark dusty lavender and MATT paint (NOT advised for a child’s room). So I went for white satin paint which was washable. Note, this took 3 coats as the walls were so dark to start with:

I did eventually get to the ceiling!

For fun I decided to paint a blackboard on to BiP’s wall and use some old wall stickers to decorate it. The paint is also magnetic which is LOTS of fun!

I bought some cheap bits and pieces from IKEA that went with the colour scheme and VOILA! A new big girl’s room!

BIPS toddler room makeover

The most expensive stuff was the paint but obviously saved a lot by redoing the furniture we already had!

Thank you to Mum of All Trades who pushed me to write this up and link it up to her linky on organising toys (join in HERE)!

Image Credit IKEA – rest of the images are mine!

Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: HOLLAND

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Next up in the series of The Global Differences of Baby-Making I talk to Lynn who is American and had her first daughter in the US and her second in the Netherlands. Here is her story:

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old are your children and where did you have them?

I am American and my husband is Italian. We have two daughters, ages 3.5 and 1.5. We had our first daughter in San Francisco and then moved to Delft, Netherlands when she was two months old. Our second daughter was born here in Delft.

Why did you have your children abroad?

We had been living in the Netherlands for a year when I got pregnant with our second child. Thanks to my wonderful local mom’s group (DelftMaMa) I didn’t have any concerns about having a baby here and I never thought about going back to the US for the birth.

What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?

One of the great things about having a baby abroad is that it gives you the chance to question the status quo in your own country and think about what kind of care and support is important to you (versus what everyone tells you that you need). The medical staff in the Netherlands had a much more laid back approach that resulted in fewer tests and less invasive appointments. As a second time mother, I appreciated the hands-off attitude.

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?

Overall, I felt positive about my experience as an expat expectant mother. My main concern was that my requests for pain relief would not be honored. The Dutch have a history of denying requests for pain meds (although this is changing), and the midwife and doctors all told me that it might not be possible to get an epidural if the anesthesiologist was not available. That certainly added some stress to my pregnancy! I was lucky in the end to arrive at the hospital right before the anesthesiologist left for the evening…I hate to think about how my delivery would have gone had I shown up an hour later!

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting choices?

A major difference I encountered was opinions about how postnatal care should be handled. In the US I spent 3 days in the hospital and then went home. The medical staff encouraged me to get up and moving and I was back out walking around the neighborhood within a few days. The Dutch believe that mothers and babies should stay at home and do the minimum possible for at least the first week. Mother and baby are sent home as quickly as possible (as soon as a couple of hours after the birth) and once home, a special care nurse (kraamzorg) comes and helps you at home for the next week. The nurse handles all of the check-ups, appointment scheduling, cleaning and chores so that you can focus on yourself and your baby. While I loved having the kraamzorg nurse come to my house (every country should have this system), I did have a disagreement with her over whether or not I could leave the house. She did not even want me to walk one block to the grocery store. I had to get the midwife to give me medical permission to leave.

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?

I would suggest that mothers connect with a local mother’s group and get to know other women who have given birth in the area. They will help you get answers to all of your questions, give the best advice and support you (and your new baby) through every step of the way.

About Lynn and Nomad Parents:

Find out more about Lynn on her site Nomad Parents. You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Nomad Parents is the online community for expat families in the Netherlands. The site is full of helpful information, real stories and regular articles from experts relevant to parents with children ages 0-4. Come and visit us to find out what parenting in the Netherlands is all about.

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Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: ALBANIA

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Next up in the series of The Global Differences of Baby-Making I talk to Rachel who is American and had her first daughter in Albania. Here is her story:

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old are your children and where did you have them?

My name is Rachel and I am 28 years old. My husband, David, and I are from the United States. David’s work brought us to Tirana, Albania a year ago when I was 4 months pregnant. We have one precious little girl, Elena, who is 7 months old now. She was born in Tirana in a government-run hospital. Why did you have your children abroad? We chose to have our daughter abroad because we knew that my husband would not be able to leave work for an extended length of time. Besides that, we did not have insurance at the time and Albania has socialized medicine.

What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?

It has definitely proven to be a great relationship builder with the Albanians. When they find out we chose to have our daughter here they immediately call her an Albanian and suddenly we are “in” with people.

Being born and growing up overseas will give Elena (and our future children) opportunities to explore many new places and cultures that she wouldn’t have been able to see if we lived in the US. Elena will grow up speaking at least two languages (David speaks to her in Albanian because he is almost fluent in it) and she’s been to three countries already. She will know how to adapt and relate to different people from so many different places.

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?

Like any first-time expectant mother, I was excited, nervous, and scared. I think that was compounded by the fact that I was in a foreign country. I didn’t know what to expect both because I hadn’t delivered before and because I didn’t know what the Albanian hospitals and doctors would be like. It was difficult having my family and friends so far away during this time. Thankfully, my mom was able to come over for a month and was here when I gave birth.

I was also worried about the fact that I didn’t speak Albanian and wouldn’t know what the doctors or nurses were telling me during delivery. Since my husband speaks the language he was my translator the whole time. My doctor, who spoke English, chose most of the time to speak Albanian to us, so I was dependent upon David to explain what the doctor was saying both in our pre-delivery visits and in the delivery room. And I was especially nervous because I was told that Albanian nurses didn’t have the nicest bedside manners, but the nurse at my delivery was very sweet; even though she didn’t speak English, after each contraction she would pat my back and say, “Bravo”.

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting choices?

Definitely! My delivery experience was full of cultural differences. For one thing, we had to get special permission for my husband and mom to be in the delivery room with me. Here in Albania, women are usually alone with the nurses and doctors. Also, since they have socialized medicine here everything is free, but in order to get good service from doctors or nurses you pay bribes. We chose our doctor because we knew that he refused to take bribes and because we heard he is the best obstetrician in the country. Albanians are very concerned about babies getting sick from air-conditioners so there was no a/c in my delivery room in mid-July.

In the States we might go overboard with our equipment, but there was no ultrasound machine to monitor my contractions, my heartbeat, or Elena’s heartbeat. Instead they monitored her heartbeat with a pinard horn (a kind of stethoscope that looks like a horn; one end goes on the mother’s belly and the other end to your ear in order to hear the baby’s heartbeat.) Though there were many differences, I knew these ladies had delivered a lot of babies and knew what they were doing, with or without equipment.

Thankfully I had a good, uncomplicated delivery.

One thing I love about parenting in Albania is that Albanians love children and pay a lot of attention to them. Everywhere I go with Elena her cheeks are pinched and she is adored and played with. I’ve already been warned that when we go back to the US for a visit I need to remember that not everyone is going to stop what they are doing to give their full attention to my child! In the US there are many different parenting styles, but here in Albania they all seem to parent the same way. It happens to be a bit different than how we have chosen to raise Elena. Well-meaning Albanian ladies often stop me in the street to correct something they see that they don’t approve of. For instance, I have been told that I need to put more clothes on Elena, that her nose is cold, that she needs to eat every hour, that I need to rush home if she is crying, and that she needs to be wearing shoes, even though she isn’t walking!

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?

While you are pregnant it is important to research and get as much information as you can beforehand. Ask other ex-pats who’ve delivered in that country what advice they would give you based on their experiences. Have in mind what you want and find a doctor and hospital that best fits that need – but be flexible with it. Things will probably go differently than you planned, so remember that your doctor has delivered hundreds if not thousands of babies. He has a lot of experience under his belt to help him out! I am learning to be gracious while raising my child overseas. When strangers give you unsolicited advice just say thank you and keep walking. Don’t let them frustrate you or get under your skin. Adapt a bit to their culture as well. Don’t be so rigid in your parenting style that you can’t learn from the locals.

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Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: EGYPT

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Next up in the series of The Global Differences of Baby-Making I talk to Nancy who is Canadian and had her first daughter in the USA, and her second in Egypt. Here is her story:

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old are your children and where did you have them?

I was born and raised in Canada but met and married my husband in the United States. We have two children and one on the way. Our oldest daughter was born in the United States, our second daughter was born in Egypt. It looks like we’ll have our third child in the States since that’s where we’re living now.

Why did you have your children abroad?

My husband was attending graduate school at the American University in Cairo when I became pregnant with our second baby. Since we were living in Egypt that’s where our little one was born. Our other two children were born in the States also for the simple reason that we happened to live there when they were due.

What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?

I think cost is a huge factor—having a baby in Egypt was far cheaper than having a baby in the United States. We knew all of our costs up front and even chose our hospital room based on how much we wanted to pay. We were completely unsurprised by the total when we received our bill. I think in the United States a lot of new parents are shocked when they get their bill in the mail, whether they have insurance or not. It was nice to not have to worry about whether we’d be able to afford to have our child.

We’ll also always feel so connected to our children’s birth places, including Egypt where we don’t have citizenship, because the birth of a baby is such a momentous milestone—almost like the ultimate souvenir.

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?

I was nervous at first because in Egypt we were so far away from our family but I was friends with one woman who had given birth in Egypt and she introduced me to several others and all of a sudden I had a full circle of friends giving me advice and courage and strength. I did feel a little conspicuous walking around with my big, pregnant belly toward the end of my pregnancy because not a lot of Egyptian women seem to leave their house when they’re pregnant—there are so many children running around and so many babies being carried in baskets and on shoulders but I rarely saw any pregnant
women.

I think that wherever you have your first baby kind of becomes the norm for what you expect with future pregnancies. I had an American friend who had her first baby in Egypt and her second in the States and she felt that her experience in the States was weird compared to her experience in Egypt. I think I felt the opposite way because I had my first baby in the States so I noticed what they did differently in Egypt.

I think one of the biggest factors for me right now are my pregnancy cravings. I seem to always want things that I can’t have—for example, I’ve been craving dill pickle chips but they don’t have those where we live, though they are very popular in Canada. In Egypt I aways wanted peanut butter and that’s hard to come by there!

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting
choices?

I was handed a pamphlet about breast-feeding by a friend and inside it recommended that, if you veil, you should take a vitamin D
supplement. I had never thought about that before because I don’t veil but I thought it was a good point. I think the biggest thing that I noticed was that everyone around me was always very concerned about the temperature of my children—whether they were too hot or too cold. They would scold me for not having socks on my infant when it was boiling hot outside. My
pediatrician though was very understanding of Western traditions and never criticized my parenting techniques, which was nice of him.

The whole delivery went much differently than I expected as well. The nurses kept trying to get me to lie down, which I didn’t find comfortable, but having me sit up was making them uncomfortable. It ended up being a fine experience but the cultural differences were very frustrating at the time. My birth story can be found on my blog.

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?

If you’re far away from family, or even if you’re not, make an effort to connect with other young mothers in your area who can recommend doctors and midwives and hospitals. I got so much good advice and made some wonderful friendships that I don’t think I would have made otherwise. It was so nice to have a support group of women who were going through the same thing that I was—raising children is difficult no matter where you are in the world.

You can find out more about Nancy on her blog

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Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: USA

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old are your children and where did you have them?

My name is Danielle, I’m 34, and Canadian. I married Matthew, an American, while we were both studying in Canada, and that’s where I gave birth to our first daughter, Alyce. Matthew was offered a job in Delaware and we moved there when Alyce was 8 months old. We were still living there when I became pregnant with my second daughter, Shira. We have now all returned to Canada where we hope to make our home. Alyce is now 4 and Shira is almost 2.

Why did you have your children abroad? What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?

If I’m being honest, I don’t think I would have ever said that I wanted to give birth in the U.S.A. As a Canadian I grew up feeling very proud of our universal health care, and I just didn’t know what to expect with the American system (I had never even seen a medical bill before). Fortunately we had insurance and were required to pay for only a few small services during my pregnancy. We found an birth centre with outstanding midwives, where I was able to have a water birth. Shira was born an American in May 2010!

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?

I think things would have been different if had been my first pregnancy, but since it was my second, I was able to relax a bit more about the entire thing. Without this experience I think I would have worried a bit more about being so far away from my family. The one real concern for us was not having family close by to offer support around the time of Shira’s birth. It was difficult finding people who could look after Alyce during the birth, and this caused me a lot of stress. We tried to coordinate visits from Canada around when we thought I’d give birth, but of course those plans never work! I was eight days past my due date when I finally went into labour, the day after my mum had to fly home. And it was a bit lonely at first, after her birth, not having anyone around to celebrate her arrival. We had lots of visitors a couple of weeks later, but it was isolating at first.

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting choices?

In Canada I had a midwife-assisted birth in a hospital with Alyce, but this time around we had wanted a home birth. It turns out that home birth was not available in Delaware, so we were completely out of luck. We found a great birth centre and things worked out in the end. I called the midwives when I was four weeks pregnant, hoping they’d take me on as a client, because in Canada women are used to being turned down because they are too busy. This was not the case in Delaware! My American midwives were also more hands-on than I was used to in Canada. I was given more tests and had more routine examinations than I ever did when I was pregnant with Alyce. And breastfeeding–that was different! When I first arrived in Delaware, still nursing my 8 month old baby, I didn’t see another nursing mother for miles. I would nurse everywhere and anywhere (including Target). Once Shira was born I was starting to see more nursing mothers.

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?

Work hard at building a community, because it makes all the difference. I didn’t have family, but I did end up joining a mother’s group at my birth centre and it made all the difference. I met wonderful women who, among many other things, could help explain some of the details of the American health care system!

You can find out more about Danielle on her blog Most Days I Win and on Twitter

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Keep Your Kids Safe this Summer with These Safety Tips

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1205771_82308001 During the summer months, it’s important to be vigilant when it comes to staying safe in the summer sun, and this year in particular as it’s been a scorcher. Having small children, especially, should make you extra concerned as they are the most vulnerable to the summer heat and sun. Only a few serious sunburns in life can cause skin cancer. Whether playing poolside, frolicking on the beach, or romping outdoors on extremely sunny days, children are bound to get too much sun, so they require the most protection from its harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. When it comes to your children’s summertime fun, err on the side of caution and reinforce summer sun safety rules whenever your children are outdoors.

So how can you protect your little ones when they’re playing outdoors this summer sun? Here are a few tips for ensuring the safety of your children when they’re outside and exposed to the sun’s harmful rays.

Lather on the Sunscreen

634041_33364364 As parents, we must be attentive when it comes to arming ourselves with sunscreen when we are outdoors with our children, and not just on extremely sunny days. Remember to reapply often, especially if your children go for a swim or are actively playing, as sunscreen lotions often wear off in water or when you sweat, and although there are a number of waterproof sunscreen products available, waterproof and water-resistant sunscreen should still be applied as much as those that aren’t. Naturally, you should mind the SPF, UVA, and UVB protection levels –make sure the sunscreen you use has at least SPF 15 and UVA and UVB protection. New mums should pay special attention to the directions on the label of all sun care products you intend to use on babies six months and under because some ingredients in these products can cause a bad reaction on your child’s skin. If you are unsure about what sunscreen is chemically safe to use on your children, consult with their pediatrician.
The best way to guard against your baby being burned by the sun’s violent rays is to avoid going out on extremely sunny days or remaining covered and in the shade.

Cover Your Wee Ones from Head to Toe

723019_26520282 Dressing your children properly for sunny days is key to ensuring your children’s protection from getting burned by the sun and keeping them safe from its UV rays. Along with sunscreen, outfit your children in tops, long shorts, or beach dresses, all available from a variety of children’s retailers, including M&S, when you intend to spend long periods of time outdoors. Although you may think that long-sleeved shirts and long trousers are the best options for your children on extra sunny days; however, these garments can cause your children to become overheated and uncomfortable, particularly when they are engaged in active play. Also, remember to cover your children’s heads, especially if they are babies, with hats that shade their heads, ears, and necks. Big, floppy hats work best because they provide the most sun protection for your energetic, on-the-go little one.

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Author Bio:
Caitlyn Duggen is a mum of 3 and avid writer. She contributes to numerous blogs, sharing her experiences and advice for parenting. She is an advocate for healthy lifestyle choices and enjoys spending time with her family outdoors.

All images provided by the author

Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: FRANCE

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Next up in the series of The Global Differences of Baby-Making I talk to Carrieanne who is American and had her daughter in France. Here is her story:

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old is your daughter and where did you have her?

I am a 29-year-old American writer. I was born in Connecticut, but raised on the sunny beaches of Florida. I spent my days as the head of a multimillion-dollar corporation and nights dreaming of living overseas. I met my future husband while on vacation in France. He moved to the USA and followed me to Montreal. Eventually, I gave up life in the fast lane and followed him back to France. Our little French American girl was born in Bayeux, France last year.

Why did you have your daughter abroad?

We decided to start our family in France because we both preferred life here. I entertained the idea of going back to the USA, but there were many obstacles.

If we moved to the USA, it takes months to recieve a spouse Visa. My husband would have to wait in France while I prepare the application in the USA. I did not want to be separated from him for that long.

Also, we are self-employed so health insurance would be expensive. I do not think insurers cover pregnancies if the applicant is already pregnant. In France, our mutual (private health insurance) costs 70 euros per month and we are 100% covered. Last year I broke a finger and was pregnant – we paid nothing out-of-pocket. Healthcare in the USA is so expensive that it would not make financial sense for us to have a baby there.

What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?

I like that everyone in France gets standard care. It does not matter which doctor you see, you know when you will have your ultrasounds, which blood tests will be done, and when your next appointment will be. In the USA, each doctor handles pregnancies very differently. Even though care for pregnancies is standard in France, doctors are not limited. If they think additional tests or ultrasounds are needed, they can prescribe them.

Besides free healthcare, another incredible benefit was qualifying for maternity leave. I am self-employed, yet I received about 6,500 euros for taking time off work. We also received about 900 euros from social security when I was 7 months pregnant, and 150 euros from our mutual as a gift. Now, we receive money for her each month and will recieve 9 hours of in-home daycare for free each month. I could not imagine getting all this in the USA.

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?

I was scared and anxious at the beginning of my pregnancy. I had no idea what to expect. I could not find the information I needed online and did not have the vocabulary to communicate efficiently with doctors. I was frustrated because I felt out of control. As I gained more information and my French became better, I felt more at ease with the situation.

Blogging about my pregnancy in France helped me relax. It felt great to provide others with information that I could not find online. I received encouragement and support from my readers, which kept me going whenever I felt frustrated.

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting choices?

When I was pregnant, it felt like my gynecologist was not taking me seriously when I requested a natural birth. I watched a story on the news a few nights ago and think that attitudes here are changing. Many French women are beginning to demand a less medicalized approach to giving birth.

After my daughter was born, I was almost forced to bottlefeed while in the hospital. The puericultrice and midwives took my husband aside and convinced him that I was endangering our daughter by breastfeeding. It was very emotional and difficult for me to stand my ground, especially without the full support of my husband. We later figured out that my daughter was not latching properly, and then she gained weight quickly. If I was in the USA, I could have left the hospital after she was born, met with a lactation consultant, and avoided all this stress.

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?

Relax and learn French. It is important for you to be able to communicate efficiently with the doctors and midwives. If you usually count on your husband or significant other for translations, understand that there will be times when he will not be there. My husband is an English to French translator, but there were pregnancy-related terminologies that even he could not translate.

If you find yourself pregnant in France, I wrote a book specifically for you – French Mamma’s: Pregnant in France. I provide details of what to expect, including the standard medical schedule, emergency contact information, and sample ultrasound results. All chapters are in English and French, with important pregnancy-related vocabulary words that you should know. At the end of each chapter are practice sentences to help you learn the vocabulary words, as well as an answer key. You can download the first two chapters for free on my website.

You can read more about being pregnant in France on my French Mamma blog, or follow me onTwitter or Facebook.

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Paleo French Cooking: Paleo Pancakes

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Paleo Pancakes don’t sound very French but pancakes are very popular here!

These little pancakes are yummy, nutritious and 100% Paleo.

Don’t be fooled by their size, these little pancakes are SUPER filling!

They can also be used as Blini’s for Smoked Salmon!

Paleo French Cooking Presents:

Paleo Pancakes

Preparation time: 2 mins Cooking time: 3 mins per pancake (you can make 3 at a time).

Ingredients (makes 10 small pancakes – serves 4)

3 level tablespoons of desiccated/shredded coconut
3 level tablespoons of ground almonds
2 bio free range eggs
200 ml unsweetened coconut milk
Dash of cinnamon or vanilla straight from the pod(optional)
1 spoonful of coconut oil

Method:

Put desiccated/shredded coconut and ground almonds in a bowl.
Add cinnamon/vanilla if desired.
Add eggs
Pour half the coconut milk in
MIX with a spoon until you get the desired consistency (should be like thick pancake mix)
Add more coconut milk if needed
Heat the coconut oil in the frying pan.
Take a spoon and put mixture in one spoon at a time (one spoonful makes 1 pancake)
Cook on a medium to low heat for a couple of minutes and then turn carefully (they are quite fragile)!
Serve with fresh berries and a drizzle of coconut milk!
Or you can serve with smoked salmon!

Bon Appétit!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

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BiP just celebrated her 2nd birthday.

I can’t believe it’s been 2 years since she arrived and changed our lives forever.

To celebrate I’ve decided to write her a letter, daddy did it last year!

In a few years she’ll be able to read it for herself.

To my darling BiP!

Happy 2nd birthday darling!

I had no idea you’d change my life so much. You are my shining light. You are truly my proudest achievement!

You are a little girl now. No longer a baby.

And what a character you have! You are really cheeky monkey. You are fearless and agile, you clearly get that from your Daddy.

You speak more now, mostly in French which means I have to get up to speed with my own French. You understand both English and French perfectly which is astounding how you are bilingual already!

Your smile is infectious – your chipped front tooth horrified me at first, but now it suits you. In a few years it will fall out and I hope you take better care of your new tooth 🙂

You still have barely any hair – it looks like it will be really curly. I blame myself because I saw a 2 year old with the same amount of hair when I was pregnant with you and commented that it was a bit odd. LOL!

Over the last few months you decided you no longer wanted to wear diapers – I guess all the Elimination Communication paid off as you made the decision to only wear “pantpies”.

You are a serious foodie like your parents – perhaps it’s thanks to Baby-Led Weaning. The more spiced up the better for you even if you demand “burger’ and ‘baby-pasta” all the time.

To the horror of a few you are still breastfeeding. You decided on your 2nd birthday that you prefered a book over a cuddle and feed with Mummy. That’s ok, you are growing up. I am delighted that a year on that we can still say that we will wean when WE want to. Although I think you will probably decide before I’m ready. When that day comes I am ready.

Happy 2nd Birthday BiP!

We love you more than words can ever describe.

Mummy xxx