Tag Archives: Gymboree

The Big 100!

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Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daaaaaaaaah…. whizz bang *sound of fireworks going off* – this post, this very post wot I is now writing (sic), marks my 100th blog post since I began the Richmond Mummy blog back in February this year.  I thank you, *takes a bow*.

Truly I can’t quite believe that I have made it this far and that this is my 100th post – 100th POST!!! I shall allow myself a celebratory pat on the back (I would have allowed myself a celebratory glass of wine, but I had quite enough of that last night – see exhibit A, photo blog of yesterday).  Ahem.

Anyway, I have been thinking about how to mark this momentous occasion and decided to write a post capturing the first 100 days of my beautiful baby girl’s life.  She is, after all, the inspiration for and reason behind me blogging, and so it seems fitting that to mark my big 100, this post looks at those first 100 days.  So, here we go…

Day 1:  Allegra Christina Cox born by c-section, Adele’s “Feel My Love” plays on the radio

Day 2: We’ve already fallen completely in love with our little bubba, who loves to snooze

Day 3: We’re still approaching nappy changes as a two person job, but gradually learning

Day 4: Discharged from hospital, once home we discover the joyous power of dummies

Day 5: We survive our first full day with bubba at home – success!

Day 6: Cousins Jo and Claire come to visit and fall in love with our little baby bug

Day 7: The Young Family visit and little Josh brings home-baked cakes, yum!

Day 8: Nonna (my mum) comes to visit and helps, helps, helps, helps, helps!

Day 9: We officially register Allegra’s birth, comedy… (see here). Aunty Chrissy visits

Day 10: We begin Gina Ford routine (ignoring advice like when to eat your breakfast)

Day 11: Granny & Grandad Cox visit and take many many many photographs!

Day 12: 9 nappy changes in 24 hours – this baby sure can poo and wee!!

Day 13: Our first night out, with baby, for cousin Claire’s graduation dinner – lovely!

Day 14: I start to just about get adjusted to what 4.30 in the morning looks like…

Day 15: Lovely NCT friend visits to talk about what it’s like being induced… I lie!

Day 16: Pancake Day at a neighbour’s house – I eat pancakes, baby sleeeeeeeeps

Day 17: Regroup with 2 NCT girls for first time post birth – swap notes on poo, wee, etc.

Day 18: Discharged by midwife as Richmond Baby now weighing in at 4450g

Day 19: My first time away from baby – 2 hours at the hairdressers – strange but needed!

Day 20: The ongoing cycle of feeding and nappy changing continues…

Day 21: What day is it?!?… the ongoing cycle of feeding and changing continues…

Day 22: Wee & poo, wee & poo, wee & poo, wee & poo, wee, wee, wee & poo, poo & wee

Day 23: More visiting from grandparents.  Lots more photo taking!

Day 24: First time at “the baby clinic” – Allegra wees on me, I have no change of clothes

Day 25: Aunty Susan visits…. lots of photos are taken!

Day 26: 3am, 7am, 10am, 1.40pm, 4.40pm, 6pm, 7.30pm, 11.30pm – she loves her milk!

Day 27: Allegra meets Andy & Siobhan.  Andy & Siobhan marvel at how big she is!

Day 28: Wee/poo/wee/poo/poo/wee/wee/wee/poo/wee

Day 29: More visiting from the grandparents.  More photo taking :-)

Day 30: Baby Annalie comes to play, she shows Allegra how to work the baby gym!

Day 31: More visiting from grandparents.  Lots of cuddles, lots of kisses, lots of photos!

Day 32: NCT group reunion at tutor’s house – comedy photo of babies lined up on sofa

Day 33: A spring walk in Richmond Park with bubba and fellow mummy friends

Day 34: NCT group reunion with mummies, daddies, and babies – chaos and cake!

Day 35: We fill in the Census,  logging details of baby’s residence in our household!

Day 36: Wee/poo/wee/wee/wee/wee/wee

Day 37: 3.30am, 6.30am, 10.30am, 2pm, 5pm, 5.50pm, 6.30pm, 11pm – milk, yum!

Day 38: My first “worried first time mum” visit to the GP with baby – she had sniffles…

Day 39: NCT girls movie afternoon – we talk all the way through – poo, wee, feeding, etc.

Day 40: I start Richmond Baby on the Infacol – wow, that creates some loud burps!

Day 41: My first proper night out – karaoke, with girlfriends – Daddy’s in charge at home

Day 42: My first Mother’s Day – a very special day spent with family and lots of love

Day 43: Tristanne and little Zach visit – Zach introduces Allegra to Toy Story’s Woody

Day 44: Poo and wee, poo and wee, wee, poo, wee, poo (lots), wee

Day 45: Poo, wee, wee, poo and wee, wee

Day 46: Kat from work visits, looking glamourous, but brings biscuits so I forgive her

Day 47: 6-week postnatal check up, GP: “fine to start exercising now” – ahem, yeah right!

Day 48: Efe and little Josh visit, Josh eats gravel in garden (note: start baby proofing)

Day 49: Lunch on sunny day with the Youngs & Bells – fight with baby re wearing sunhat

Day 50: Back to the baby clinic – 7 weeks old, weighing 11lbs 12oz, measuring 22 inches

Day 51: R. Daddy goes to Israel on business – my first experience home alone with bubba

Day 52: Weeeeeeee, poo, wee, poooooooo, wee, wee, wee

Day 53: Nonna babysits, I go out to dinner (fun but wishing I could use time to sleep!)

Day 54: Wee, poo, wee, wee, poo, poo, poo, wee

Day 55: The lovely Boon family visit and cook us lunch and do all the washing up! Bliss!

Day 56: Jenny and little Archie visit, Archie enjoys terrorising the cat hee hee

Day 57: Wee, wee, poo, wee, poo/wee, wee, wee

Day 58: 8 week jabs – heartbreaking :-( but made easier by lovely nurse at the surgery

Day 59: Allegra has hip scan, she’s given all clear and pees all over the examination bed

Day 60: I begin logging every poo, wee, feed, sleep on Baby Geek iPhone app (obsessive!)

Day 61: Jo & Fraser visit with beautiful dress for baby, we find excuse to drink Champers

Day 62: Not sure what happened this day, but probably lots of baby cuddling and kissing!

Day 63: Easter Sunday with the grandparents, we eat all baby’s Easter eggs for her (ahem)

Day 64: Richmond Daddy returns to the golf course…

Day 65: R. Daddy has a night out (I know, I’m too good to him – golf then a night out…)

Day 66: Baby Clinic again – bubba now 13lbs and in 91st percentile… what a chubber!

Day 67: Baby’s first train ride – we bring her in to my work and R. Daddy’s (showing off!)

Day 68: It’s the Royal Wedding! And baby’s first street party :-)

Day 69: Melissa comes to visit giving baby a little toy dog, toy dog is now a favourite

Day 70: Lunch at the Gaucho Grill with friends, Richmond Baby charms the waitresses

Day 71: Jenny & little Archie come to visit again (Pigalle the cat hides this time… :-) )

Day 72: Fun with the grandparents – lots of giggles, lots of cuddles, lots of photos!

Day 73: I brave the trip up to London with baby without R. Daddy for lunch with friend

Day 74: Take baby to Infant Massage Workshop; Allegra feeds throughout and misses it!

Day 75: Friday PM drinks, discover baby monitor works when we’re in next door’s lounge

Day 76: Nonna on babysitting duty again as I go on hen do – baby sleeps like a dream :-)

Day 77: Thankfully not too hung over to deal with baby waking at crack of dawn!

Day 78: We start Gymboree – so much fun, baby is slightly bemused and confused!

Day 79: I manage to lock myself out.. thankfully take refuge at NCT friend’s house!

Day 80: Check, check, and triple check I have my keys before leaving the house again…

Day 81: Attend Home Safety Workshop – start panicking re level of baby proofing needed

Day 82: Bring baby to the GP with a cold – GP: “she’s fine, it’s just a cold…” – hmmm…

Day 83: Move baby from moses basket into by-the-bed crib, she’s outgrown basket!

Day 84: R. Daddy goes back to the golf course.  Aunty Chrissy visits for kisses and cuddles

Day 85: More Gymboree fun – Richmond Baby gets fond of the maracas!

Day 86: We send off Allegra’s passport application – with the cutest photo ever!

Day 87: 12 week jabs – a brave little girl, but still lots of tears…. :-(

Day 88: Attend weaning workshop, to swot up in advance – panic at thought of mess

Day 89: Bring R. Baby to Uncle Cy’s 70th Birthday party, she sleeps through festivities!

Day 90: Saturday afternoon stroll on the Green, with snoozing boo in buggy

Day 91: A day in the park, with alfresco nappy changing – a new experience…

Day 92: Hooray, it’s a Gymboree-day… R. Baby discovers the joys of ball pools

Day 93: Lunch with NCT girlies and babies – lots of cake, lots of baby talk, more photos!

Day 94: @The Pottery Cafe – painting a Father’s Day mug for R. Daddy with baby’s feet

Day 95: Think about starting to plan the Christening. Put it off for another day…

Day 96: Think about researching baby-friendly holiday.  Put it off for another day…

Day 97: Go to hairdresser, discover they serve you wine while you have hair done – result!

Day 98: Christening planning phase one – start going to mass again…!

Day 99: R. Daddy accompanies us to Gymboree – gets stuck in to the singing/dancing… :-)

Day 100: Start Mother & Baby Yoga – baby is bemused, mummy is seriously decrepit!

So there you have it.  The first 100 days of life with Richmond Baby, to mark the 100th post on Richmond Mummy.  Good times.

This week I’m loving…

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Week Four.

How can it possibly be Monday again so soon? – well, it is, there’s no denying it, and it’s that time again folks, time for my Monday feature and so, this week I’m loving…

The Hermès Colouring Book

Ludicrous, yes.  Extravagant, most certainly.  Slightly ridiculous (and yet highly desirable…), for sure.  But since my lovely friend @damyantipatel  pointed it out to me – she’s a demon like that – I must confess, I can’t stop thinking about it!  The Hermès Les 4 Mondes colouring book is a snip insanely pricey at £95 for all delicious a mere 12 pages; it certainly must be the most expensive colouring book on the planet, but it is undeniably tempting.

Couture Colouring

Couture colouring in, you gotta love that surely?!  I bet Harper Seven Beckham has one, humpf!  I bet Suri Cruise has one too…

Richmond Park

In contrast to my above mentioned object of desire, I am naming Richmond Park as one of the things I’m loving this week: you see, sometimes it is indeed true, that the best things in life are free (and not wrapped in beautiful orange boxes!).

Last week, Richmond Baby and I enjoyed a gorgeous morning in the park with Not Yet A Yummy Mummy and Mummy And The Beastie, their little ones, who are gorgeous, and friends, also gorgeous.  We had all gathered together to celebrate National Play Day,

 

supported by Savlon, and spending some time there on the grass, under a shady tree, enjoying the scenery and watching the little ones play, reminded me of just how lucky I am to have such a beautiful space on my doorstep.  I must make more effort to spend more time there and I can’t wait to introduce Richmond Baby to the resident deer (when the time is right!).  Thank you to Donna for organising a great day.

Bright Red Jeans

I don’t profess to be up on the latest fashions, in governing what I wear these days the rule of thumb is (a) can I fit into it, (b) is it something other than my pyjamas, (c) does it have no fewer than 2-3 sick/or other possibly unidentified marks on it.  If it ticks all those boxes then I throw it on and hope for the best!  But, in the last couple of days, following a momumental chuck everything out that I haven’t worn in the last year and am too depressed to even look at anymore wardrobe springclean, I popped off to the shops and fell in love with a pair of bright red jeans from Gap.

Scarlet jeans – loving them right now

I’m not entirely sure if I’ve made a mistake here, they’re from the “Always Skinny” range at Gap and believe me, that’s a description that doesn’t apply to me, no way no how, but despite that, I felt compelled to buy them for all their cheery red appleness.  The fabric also feels nice and soft too, not stiff like some denims can feel, so hopefully I’ll be able to prance around at Gymboree easily in them without them splitting. Ahem.

That’s it for this week.

Now tell me, what is it you’re loving this week?

Then and now…

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Richmond Baby is 4-months old now. 4-months!! Heck, how did that happen?! Time has flown and yet it feels like a lifetime ago since Richmond Daddy and I were home that first night from the hospital, feeling full of panic and overwhelmed at the prospect of keeping this little one alive and well all by ourselves (well, I was panicked and overwhelmed, he was surprisingly calm actually).

I have been reflecting these past few days on my pre-Mummyness vs. my now Mummyness and considering some of the ways in which I/things have changed.  Reflecting on the who I was then (pre baby, pre pregnancy days) and the who I am now.  And my observations are as follows….

  • Then:  usually to be found toting gorgeous, timeless, black leather Prada handbag in crook of left arm, with blackberry in right hand typing furiously and one handedly
  • Now:  usually to be found with purse shoved into changing bag (mind you, it is a flowery Cath Kidson number, so not all bad) hanging off buggy, with muslin in one hand for mopping up drool/puke
  • Then:  tea drinker, for calming soothing effect in the midst of work-related stress
  • Now:  coffee drinker, for periodic caffeine hits required to keep me going through the day long enough to take care of baby, wash and sterilize bottles, tidy house, get laundry on, hang/fold/put away laundry, load/unload dishwasher, tidy house again, make bed, play baby games, attend baby/mummy social activities, cook dinner, tidy house again, do shopping, write blog* etc. etc. etc.
  • Then:  feet hurt by Saturday morning from all the high-heel wearing of the week and/or excessive and enthusiastic dance moves performed the night before at ”I’ll only stay for one” after work drinks
  • Now: back hurts pretty much constantly from all the bending and lifting associated with picking baby up, putting her down, bathing baby, changing baby, feeding baby: all of which seem to require you to contort yourself into unnatural positions and unless you have Herculean strength mean you’re doomed to a lifetime of clutching your lower back and exclaiming “ooh me back” at least 43 times a day
  • Then: you enjoy lunch/dinner/snack at a fairly slow pace, savouring each mouthful and considering the flavours Jilly Goolden style that you’re experiencing with each bite
  • Now:  you shovel food in quick as you can while you have both hands free (often one-handed shovelling is required, I am now adept at this) or before you are called upon to conduct one or other of the “to dos” on your list, see above*.  In fact I find I eat super fast now whether or not I am actually with Richmond Baby – she could be being looked after by Richmond Daddy or my mum for example, and I’ll still try to eat at 100mph, just in case…!
  • Then:  I got excited when there was a sale on at Selfridges, Whistles, Theory, Reiss, Russell & Bromley….
  • Now:  I get excited when there’s a sale on at Mothercare, Petit Bateau, or The Gro-Store…
  • Then:  I’d never heard of brands like Medela or Lansinoh
  • Now:  I know them only too well…
  • Then:  “poo” used to mean Champagne i.e. Champagne… Shampoo… “poo”
  • Now:  it just means poo
  • Then:  “treating myself” meant Friday evenings at The Sanctuary in Covent Garden after a hard week’s work; a haircut that cost the same as the Greek national debt; or indulging in back to back episodes of Grey’s Anatomy/SATC/True Blood etc. anytime the mood took me (and I could persuade Richmond Daddy to V-plus the golf/cricket/rugby/football/darts etc etc.)
  • Now: it means spending more that 5 seconds on the loo
  • Then:  I waxed frequently at Aveda
  • Now:  no time for waxing, I’m out with the razor… although this has created a velcro like effect between my legs and any material they come into contact with, which is not good.  May need to start making time for waxing again…
  • Then:  Monday mornings were for team meetings and action lists to align the troops and plan how to tackle the challenges of the week ahead
  • Now:  Monday mornings are for Baby Play at Gymboree and having fun playing in the ball pool and popping bubbles (for the record, Monday mornings are preferable this way any time!)

The list goes on, but I must not… of course it goes without saying that I wouldn’t change any of this for all the world, I’m loving pretty much every minute, even the poo filled ones!