First birthday gifts!

So our little Freddie Bear turn one four weeks today, so I thought I would do a little post on what we have bought him!

With his birthday being so close to Christmas it's been really difficult to decide what to buy him for his birthday and what to give him for Christmas! Plus with him being the second child and second boy things we would have got him we already have from James!

So for his birthday, this is what we have actually got him:

Vtech Singing Alfie. 

We purchased this from Argos, Their website says "The VTech Little Singing Alfie is an adorable cuddly bear with fun and educational interactive features. This soft polyester toy features 3 chunky, coloured light-up buttons for your child to discover. It promotes recognition and accelerates learning through fun phrases, sound effects and sing-a-long songs"

Fisher price Chatter Telephone 

Again we purchased this from Argos, as both items were in the two for £15 offer. Their website says "This classic baby toy has been dialing up fun since 1961. The Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone is a pull along toy with a friendly face, spinning dial and fun ringing-phone sounds. It introduces role play when baby chats on the phone and dials numbers. 

A new look to this classic pull toy 2 ways for baby to play: sit & play and stand & pull.

Fun ringing sounds & eyes that move up & down when phone is pulled along. 

Dial introduces numbers 0-9. Receiver and dial encourage early role play. 

Pulling the phone along helps strengthen gross motor skills. 

Helps stimulate baby's visual & auditory senses."

I especially like the telephone as I had one when I was a child, and it's been relaunched since James was born so sadly we were not able to get him one, so I have a feeling he may be stealing this from Freddie.

Beatbo 

I have heard a lot of fantastic things about it, so Im really happy we managed to get this! We had been shopping around on the Internet and had found it for £30, days before we ordered it we popped to our local Tesco and they had it for  £28.49! Needless to say we bought it there and then!   

The Tesco website says "Get baby moving with Fisher-Price Dance & Move BeatBo! Colourful and cute with a friendly face and rainbow-coloured light-up tummy, this futuristic dancing buddy will have your little one jigging along to cheerful tunes as they learn the alphabet, colours and much more. 

Press Beatbo's tummy or the buttons on his feet to activate 3 fun modes - Dance & Move, Learning & Games and Record & Remix. Also a customizable function lets parents or children record a phrase or song for Beatbo to remix into an original melody. This mode is particularly useful for growing children who are learning to be more independent and interactive, making Beatbo an entertaining companion for years to come.

Designed to be fun and educational, Fisher-Price Dance & Move Beatbo helps to develop gross motor skills as well as increasing curiosity and discovery."

If you can suggest anything else please do as I'm totally stumped!

The first week of school

So the first week of reception class is over, James has been in half days this week 9-1130 and he's really surprised me, we have had no tears on drop off, he's been going in happy and smiling! He was a little clingy on the first day but as soon as he got into his classroom and saw his friends he soon cheered up and went and sat down!

Day two he came home with his first reading book, his reading record and his first set of words to learn. I was pretty shocked at these coming home on day two! I thought they would maybe give them a couple of weeks to settle down, but I can see they want to get the kids started on their learning straight away.

Day three and we got our first accident form! Yep James and one of his little friends managed to run into each other outside and bang heads! They had also baked some biscuits which they then decorated and brought home on Friday! 

There has only been half a class in each morning, with the other half in on the afternoons. Week two however all the children will be in each morning till half past one, meaning James will get his first experience of school meals. Last year in nursery, they stayed and had a Christmas lunch at school, which James seemed to like, so I'm hoping seeing his friends having school meals might help his fussy eating.

James has been coming home shattered every afternoon and he's been in bed and asleep by half seven most nights. I know this week he will be exhausted due to the extra time hey are in.

He has not been very interested in his reading book or looking at his words, I'm putting this down to him being so young compared to rest of the class. Some of his friends were the age he is now when they started nursery last year. So if anyone has any tips on helping him learn to read please share them! I have already picked up some fab advice from fellow bloggers! 

The night before school

As I'm writing this, both my boys are tucked up in their beds, but it's a different feeling tonight, the clothes are all laid out for tomorrow and the alarm is set!

It's been six weeks since I needed to set an alarm, but tomorrow we will do the familiar walk to the local school and go through the same door but instead of entering nursery we will go next door to reception.

Four years ago you were a tiny baby sleeping in your carrycot, now you are four a bright and intelligent, friendly little boy. And you do know your own mind. If your not happy you let everyone know about it.

This is the start of your full time education James. We are so lucky you are in a school system where you will only change once. So two schools between now and you leaving at eighteen! 

Work hard my little dude, but remember mummy, daddy and Freddie are proud of you know matter what xxx

This mummy is feeling very emotional tonight. It's hard to believe my first born starts school tomorrow not even two weeks after he turned four! 

Moving update

So we are currently in the middle of buying our first family home.

We have been renting since we got together almost seven years ago and are currently in our fifth rented property together but our first house.

Seeing as our tenancy is up before we have completed on the house. All our furniture is going into the local safe store inNewcastle, while we go and temporary camp out at my mum and dads while waiting on the sale completing.

We made a start on packing up the house a few weeks ago and our dining room is currently piled high with boxes.

James seems to be taking it ok. We have been talking to him for a while about his new house, his new bedroom and his new garden. 

We started packing up stuff in his bedroom today and he was taking it pretty well. Most of his teddies been put into black bags apart from his favourites - Baby Tad, Mr Panda, Mr Moussey Supermarket & of course CB who will be coming with us to nana and gaga's house.

There's not much left to do, we are hoping to get our beds collapsed next weekend then it's all systems go for leaving the house and handing back the keys on 20th April.