Candyfloss & Dreams

Author: Kat Candyfloss

Felix at 5 Months

These five months really are flying past! Not too much has changed since Felix’s last update at 4 months apart from him getting longer and heavier and now in his 6-9 month wardrobe. I need to start looking for summer clothes for him in 9-12 months as I imagine at this rate we will be needing to reach for those larger sizes around May.

We are also looking at what we need for weaning Felix at six months. We did try him on a few simple purees at 4 months because of his reflux as I was advised that it might make things better but it ended in a nasty bit of constipation so felt he just wasn’t ready. I am really excited about weaning though and hope to do a more baby lead weaning approach this time around as I didn’t with Evie.

We are on the lookout for a decent highchair, preferably one that we can adjust the height of and there are a few I have my eye on. I am also looking forward to introducing a cup with food for Felix to try drinking water with as I am hoping with the addition of tap water and food his reflux and constipation will be a lot less problematic.

We have the signs of his first tooth coming through and he’s had some really nasty teething spells but it hasn’t quite cut through yet. He has a really strong gummy grip and benefits from chowing down on something and teething gel seems to have a dramatic difference to his symptoms. He gets very red cheeked and the dribble is crazy!

He is constantly pulling himself up when sat on us to sit up and his back is much straighter when he’s sitting but he can not sit without support just yet. He also loves to use his legs and stand with support. He can hold himself up for a few moments when held and really pushes his feet down into the floor or a hard surface. When on his tummy he will do a sort of backwards baby plank with his legs but he hasn’t quite got it in him to get onto his arms. Felix will sometimes do a bit of a superman pose on his front and he is starting to sort of shuffle around a little on his tummy. He is still rotating around on his playmat and very frequently rolls onto his side and shuffles around that way. I really don’t think it will be long until he is rolling back and fourth a bit more regularly.

His routine still seems to be three-hourly during the day but he sometimes only naps for around ten minutes resulting in a very overtired baby. He finds it very hard to get comfortable and sleep if he’s constipated so we are doing lots of bicycle legs and gentle tummy massages to help – and it does help him a lot which is good. Feeding him only takes around 5 minutes now on a medium flow teat of 6oz. He finishes each bottle but we have found increasing to 7oz makes his reflux worse and he just seems to be overfeeding on that last ounce. He has started to hold his bottle himself.

It’s very clear when he’s unhappy as he makes a long “Ummm” sound which sounds very much like “Mum” so I hope that will turn into his first real word. Of course I know he doesn’t mean me, he just means “I AM VERY BORED AND UNHAPPY NOW PLEASE MOVE ME” He likes to laugh at mirror reflections of himself or of anyone laughing. It could be us or someone on the TV, he loves the sound of laughter but no one makes him laugh and smile like Evie does. It’s really incredible how much children tend to respond to other children actually even with an 8 year age gap!

He has his next Vaccinations coming up as he had to miss his last set due to having a bit of a cold – thanks to teething, and we all had colds. I’m glad this is his last set for a while.

March 6, 2019
Off The Hook Doll Review #AD

We received an Off The Hook Doll in exchange for a blog post review. All opinions remain my own. This post may contain affiliate or advertisement links.

Off The Hook Dolls are a new collectable fashion doll that Evie has been very impressed with. Just before half term she got her first Off The Hook Doll which has helped keep her entertained during February Half Term.

The dolls look cute and come in a fun box with two blind bags featuring a change of outfits. The outfits are quick and easy to change because of the ‘Hook’ feature which connects the pieces together and makes things easy to change. Evie likes being able to change her dolls up so this was a great fit for her.

There are several dolls to collect and several different fashion items for each doll. The toys are suitable for girls aged 5 and older. I love the punky look of our doll, particularly the boots and hair. Some of the fashions I’ve seen on the others is really on trend including a pretty cool Flamingo skirt which I want in my life.

Our Off The Hook Dolls feature two blind bags containing a changeable top and bottom which makes a complete outfit. You can really personalise each dolls look using the different hooks of clothing which is great and makes kids, I think, want to collectable.

As you can see the outfits seem to fit the ‘personality’ of the doll which is great and makes you want to try another doll and see what types of fashion they’re into. For ours with her punky look and coloured hair she has a real ‘rock chick’ look about her which I love. This is the type of fashion I (tried, hard) to pull off in my teenage years. I particularly love the boots which remind me of my patent leather Doc Martens.

February 27, 2019
How To Change Junior School Mid Year

This is how to change junior schools mid year when your child is unhappy at their current place of education. Evangeline started Junior School in September 2018 and nothing has made her more miserable. It was a tough start to the school year with me being heavily pregnant, having Felix and then recovering from a more complicated c-section than everyone expected.

I thought Junior School would be a little more challenging than Infant School but I was not prepared for an incredibly insensitive teacher, harder behaviour from Evangeline herself and the ridiculous amount of homework she was coming home with. Nor was I prepared for the anxiety and fear of school that she developed, the tears at apparently having no friends, the constant fear of being reprimanded and losing out on play time. It was time to move schools and I am so pleased to say that for the last two weeks she has been settling into a new environment really well.

How to Change Junior School Mid Year

I first contacted the school I wanted her to go to to see what the process of transfer was to be told they were full and that she would have to go on the waiting list. So that is what I did. Continue reading to find out how to change junior school mid year.

How Do You Add Your Child To A Junior School Waiting List?

I recommend calling the school to find out there process. I also recommend speaking with the current school to see if the situation could be met in partnership. I met with the deputy head but nothing changed. I spoke to fellow parents who had had a negative experience with this particular teacher and after talking with Evie we felt it was the best decision to change.

I then applied through our county council school application process clicking through to the Change School Mid Year application rather than a new Junior school place. In hindsight I wish I had put her new school down as our first choice as she may have started Junior School where she is now but I thought we’ve put up with it this long and hoped for the best when she was in Year 2.

About a week later I received a letter from the new school saying that unfortunately the school was at capacity for Year 3 and Evangeline would be placed on the waiting list. What I didn’t know was that her new school only has two classes per year group so is much smaller and only has 64 children per year. Her old school had 96 children over three classes so was quite a lot bigger. She was also already in her catchment school which was an hour round walk at 8am and 2.45pm every day. Her new school is much closer but we are right on the border for catchment which is why she didn’t get in originally when I applied for Reception.

I applied in November and we were thankfully offered a place in the middle of January so the process of moving up the waiting list happened very quickly which really surprised me. I was seriously contemplating removing her from her old school and homeschooling until she had a new place. Thankfully it didn’t come to that.

What Happens When You Are Offered A New School Place?

When we were offered a place at the new Junior School we were offered a chance for Evangeline to come and have a look around and to ask any questions. We met with one of the assistant head teachers who talked passionately about the school’s curriculum, how they are using current funding to really drive forward a child’s learning and the extra activities the school offers. Not that I care that much about Ofsted but the new Junior School was rated Outstanding opposed to her old school which was lower and do you know what you could really tell why.

Once we had a look around we were handed some paperwork and had ten days to respond to the offer letter. I accepted verbally over the phone and brought in the paperwork the next day, alongside a birth certificate for Evie and two forms for proof of address. This was on the Friday were Evie got a chance to meet her new year three teacher after another hard day at her old school. She was very ready to leave after meeting her new teacher so we actually started a week ahead of schedule and she started on Monday. The process can go really very quickly if you’re prepared for it to.

Evangeline started her new school on 28th January 2019 and the change has been dramatic. We are starting to see the best of her again.

February 25, 2019
Seperating From Your Child During School Holidays

One thing I think a lot of parents feel awkward after deciding to end the relationship is the split for the school holidays. On one hand if you are confidently co-paring and in partnership with your ex partner they can be managed really well, particularly if you’re both working parents as neither one should have to take all of their holiday or foot the bill for holiday childcare (in theory). You may have an agreement more similar to mine though where you’re not really co-parenting for many reasons due to the nature of the previous relationship or distance. For me, it’s both.

I moved back to my home town with Evangeline when I became a single parent which is around 100 miles away from her dad. So when it comes to the day to day it’s down to me to do everything, with the help of Adam of course, but before Felix came along I was clearly the parent and Adam the partner. Evie would dance off to her dads with glee at all the presents she would be given, all the sweets and sugar and fun days out. I am, as my friend Jade at The Parenting Jungle said the everyday mummy.

So in these last almost seven years the split of the school holidays has been both hard and a relief. It’s been hard because it’s more than the every other weekend which has provided me with a chance to shop in peace or go out without the need for a babysitter with Adam. It’s been hard knowing that my daughter is having fun without me and doing things that I can not provide her with as frequently. It’s knowing that every six weeks or so she has an extended break from me, from everyday mummy, from routine which means when she is home there’s another adjustment period. It’s been a relief because it’s been a bit of respite for me, it’s been a chance for me to have private time with Adam which has helped our relationship grow into the loving and strong partnership it is today. It’s given us time to get to know each other as individuals not parents. It’s given me the break that mums want from time to time to catch their breathe whilst knowing their child is being well looked after.

Things feel different now that we have another child in the home. Evangeline and Felix are really developing a bond and whilst of course I don’t want her to miss out on time with her Dad and his family, I also don’t want her to feel like she’s missing out on the things we will be doing here as a family too now that our cinema dates are going to be swapped for baby bedtime routines and soft play once again.

Our plan over the term time holidays is quite simple really. For one week half terms Evangeline is away for four nights and five days. When it comes to Christmas Evangeline either goes the day she finishes school until Boxing Day or Boxing Day until New Years Day. For the Easter break she has six nights with her dad and then amongst her weekends away over the summer holiday she also spends two weeks of the six weeks with him. In comparison, especially over the summer holidays, she is still with us the majority of the time which can be quite tough as like most parents we can’t afford to do something fun and exciting every day. We have a summer holiday booked and I’m sure we will make a few day trips but mostly Adam we will still be working, doing the usual trips to the park, seeing family and having PJ Days.

Being the ordinary parent, the basic parent, the one that meets the day to day needs, the school runs, the constant battle to tidy her room, take your plate out please, put your rubbish in the bin kind of mum I don’t really know if Evangeline enjoys her break time with me. It certainly feels like she prefers her time with her dad which is more exciting as it’s not the ordinary, the routine and the mundane. It makes seperating from her during the holidays harder because amongst missing her I feel jealous that I can’t give her more. I just hope that as she gets older she appreciates that we are doing the best we can to give her a fun, enjoyable and balanced childhood.

February 20, 2019
We’ve Booked A Holiday

Yet again we are returning to the Isle of Wight for our summer holiday and our first as a family of four. I’m very excited. We’ve had great holidays at Park Dean Resorts Landguard Holiday Park on Eastern side of the Island but this time we are changing things up and staying North at Thorness Bay.

We’ve booked an extra wide caravan for this trip because we need the space with a pushchair, cot and highchair clogging up the space. As well as the need for more clothes, nappies and all the extra’s that an, at the time, eight month old baby will need. It was a great price thanks to the recent January sale and a low deposit so we were able to secure it nice and quickly. I’m really excited. Ideally I wanted one of the beautiful lodges with a hot tub however we’ve had to choose our dates carefully with Adam’s work so that he can take minimal time off. It’s also during term time because it was hundreds of £’s cheaper but still in July where kids are mostly doing things like sports day and it happens to fall on a week Evie has an inset day which helps avoid her missing too much actual learning.

We’ve not had a chance to visit the north side of the island before so I’m looking forward to going to the Alpaca farm and pizzeria. We will be closer to Newport which has a big soft play area and hopefully Adam will be driving so we can have access to a car rather than relying on the train, ferry and taxi’s for our trip. It also means we can do our self catering shop at Aldi rather than the on site shop which is usually quite expensive.

We are trying to keep it a secret from Evangeline so that we can surprise her as she will be getting a week from school. We are hoping to get there a little earlier even if our caravan isn’t ready so we can start using the facilities and entertainment earlier than we usually would. Hopefully we will be swimming every day, getting down to the little private bay area and making the most of the local attractions too. If we do have a car sorted by then and Adam has passed his driving test we’re hoping to drive down to the South of the island too as it will be much easier than doing the route by bus.

February 18, 2019