Redemption

I have succeeded in purchasing a winter coat, gloves and scarf for Una, thus completing her winter outerwear wardrobe and redeeming myself as a responsible parent. We walked to the Brompton Road Gap (where I finally managed to get the right coat, after an unsuccessful trip to the High Street Ken store where they had the wrong one on hold). 12 kilometers there and back, with a coffee break for me in Pret and a milk break for Una in Hyde Park. Pretty autumn colours and fallen leaves all around, I tried my best to live in the moment but obviously the phone had to come and a few photos were snapped. Products of our time and all that....

Una, full of milk

Our view in Hyde Park

Coldy baby

Una has cold and is constanly coughing and sniffling with a runny nose. We had to skip playgroup yesterday and Rookie Rockers today so she doesn't pass it on to the other babies and has a chance to rest. She woke up at 6.50 this morning but once we were up and she was having her morning bottle on the couch she fell back asleep for another 2 and half hours. Poor thing must be feeling ropey. I was really looking forward to playgroup, but there is always next week. I'd really like to find some more activities for Una, I am getting a bit bored sitting around the house. When we are at home it's too hard to relax, I just see things that need to doing and end up doing housework instead of spending the time with Una.

The sun is shining outside and we have just had our breakfast after Una's long nap. I am going to give her a bath and get myself ready before taking her out. We'll go to the swings for a bit on our way to High Street Kensington, where I have a jacket on hold in Baby Gap. Yes, that's right. I have finally found a jacket for Una! I also need to give the flat a good clean and do some cooking for Una. My photos arrived yesterday as well, so no excuses not to start her photo album as well. She has been very unsettled in the evenings recently, which makes it hard to get anything done. Last night I ended up just picking her up and taking her in to the front room so she could sleep in my arms. I think it's the cold that is bothering her, hopefully it will pass in a few days.

Busy social life

It's gloriously sunny outside and when Una wakes from her nap we will go for a long walk to Scandi Kitchen to meet my sister for fika. Una has had a few late nights this week, with the dinner at Aga and Steve's on Monday and then on Thursday we were back at their house, this time with James. We went to books for cooks for lunch during the day and there we bumped in to Aga and Steve (great minds think alike!). They we're going to an event at their local butchers, Ginger Pig that evening and invited us to join them. We ended up staying late drinking cocktails at their place. Una slept happily in my arms as I sipped a Gin & Tonic. It's time like those when I am so happy that we didn't end up going down the strict Gina Ford routine route. Una is so chilled out and flexible and we can still enjoy socialising and keeping some spontaneity in our lives. Obviously not at Una's expense, if she seems unhappy or fussy we make our excuses and leave. But as long as she is happy and contented there is no reason why we have to adhere to someone else's rules.
Last night my sister invited us over for dinner, she cooked a gourgeous mushroom "risotto" made with orzo pasta and we had a delicious bean dip with crudites to start. Yum.

In other news, I STILL have not got Una a winter coat. Bad, bad parent... We have however managed to get her a winter hat, so at least her ears aren't cold. 

Food, glorious food

Today we've spent most of the day indoors. It's been windy and stormy outside and we only left the house to go to the baby clinic to have Una weighed.

The health visitor was mildly concerned about her weight curve dropping slightly. She is still in the same percentile she has been in for the last 3 months, but she is in the lower part of the line. She started off in the 75th as a newborn, but is now on the bottom of the 25th. If she goes any lower she will be in the 9th. The health visitor gave me some advice about weaning and upping her calorie intake to get her weight up. I am not overly worried and definitely don't want to get in to a pattern of fussing over her eating and creating a problem. She is not a big eater and she never has been, but I will think of ways to boost her calorie intake, such as adding cream and butter to her food. I have also been giving her oat porridge for breakfast, which I know is very filling. I might start giving her greek yoghurt instead, she should more calories in that way. I was also advised to cut back her afternoon bottle (she normally drinks 8 ounces) so she might eat more at dinner time. in any case, I am not worried. She is very alert and active and I have no reason to believe that she is malnourished. We musn't forget that these guidelines are, well, guidelines. They are not set in stone and I know my daughter better than a health visitor and a chart in a red book. Enough about that.

One thing I finally got done today was ordering some photo prints online. I want to make Una a photo album and also frame some baby pictures. We only have one picture of her framed so far (dis-organised, as usual!). They should be delivered in a couple of days, very exciting. I miss the days when photos were physical things you could frame and flick through in actual photo albums, rather than facebook ones.

Now Una is in bed and I am going to make myself some dinner and hang the washing. James gets back from a week in Ireland tonight so I'll be staying up late to wait for him to come home.

Dinner and breakfast

We are about to head out to playgroup this morning and have just enjoyed out breakfast together. Una had blueberry porridge, I had a boiled egg and blueberry yoghurt. We are almost on time this morning, I just need to make my face look decent and then we will head out in the sunshine. I am going to attempt to walk sloooowly, to prevent me being so flustered and soaked in sweat (yuk) when I get there.

Yesterday we met up with Aga for lunch at Westfield. I got Una a few tops in H&M but am no nearer to finding her some winter clothes. Too stressful. I'll try again another day.
We had lunch in Wagamama. Cheap and predictable (in a good way). Una had cuddles with Aga.
 
Afterwards we caught the bus back to Aga's to have coffee. We ended up having such a lovely afternoon and she invited me to stay for dinner. Steve, her food and drinks enthusiast boyfriend, rustled us up a pre-dinner french martini before cooking us a delicious sausage and bean cassoulet. Steve has a  very interesting cocktail website, check it out! It's full of boozy news and recipes. Una was a delight as usual, sleeping in my arms by the end of the evening, before we headed home at around 9.30. It was such a great!

Halloween dinner

Friday night my sister and my friends Kathi and Ema came over for dinner. Ema is gluten intolerant and Kathi and Sabina are vegetarians, so I had a challenge in creating the menu! I decided to make a few different dishes that everyone could pick at. I love buffet style food. I could make it all in advance so I was able to relax and enjoy the evening, rather than being stuck in the kitchen.

Feta, spinach and pine nut quiche, with an almond and sesame seed crust.
Wheat free crepes with a creamy mushroom and tarragon filling, topped with parmesan.
Warm puy lentil, halloumi and cherry tomato salad.

Dessert - Chocolate mousse.
Cheese board


We had a brilliant evening. The conversation flowed really well, in fact we were all fighting to get a word in!



As the night wore on and the bottles of wine were emptied, one by one, we got more and more silly.
Ema had brought a pumpkin that she tried her best to carve in to a lantern. She didn't do a bad job, though it doesn't have a lid and looks a bit on the happy side. Good effort nonetheless. It was a fantastic night and such a great way to celebrate Halloween, much better than running around some nightclub in a silly costumes.

Winter wear confusion

God morning! Today Una and I are going to Westfield to get her some winter clothes. The weather has really turned cold in the last few days and I haven't even got Una a winter coat or gloves yet (disorganised as usual). I only just got a footmuff for the pram a couple of weeks ago.... I

am totally confused about what to get though. If I lived in sweden I would obviously get her a warm and cosy snowsuit. I'm not sure if that is necessary here in London or if I should just get her a little coat? Will her little legs be warm enough with just the footmuff? Confused. I'm hoping I'll have some sort of epiphany at the shops. I definitely need to get her some little mittens and a good hat.

We might also meet for coffee with a friend who lives in the area. I better get off my ass and get myself ready for the day while Una naps.