After a hard few weeks during which I had to complete a technical paper for university, whilst dealing with dad being back at work leaving me alone with the two kids, I had had just about enough! So we packed up the car, left Roisin with my mam and took Trent to Cheshire for a few days. First stop was Chester Zoo. We wanted to make a fuss of him and because he loves animals this was a brilliant way to do it.

We arrived and had dinner in one of the restaurants, it was really nice but Trent could only eat chicken nuggets as I don’t like giving him chips, and the sandwich packs were full of sweet stuff. Our dinner was lovely though. It was quite expensive but we were on holiday so there was no way I was going to mess about making packed lunches – I wanted a break!

The zoo was just brilliant and Trent thought it was great. His little face lit up at the sight of all the different animals. We would have liked to go on the monorail, and into the new red ape centre, but due to it being summer holidays the queues were enormous and it didn’t seem fair to make Trent sit still for all of that time.

Once we had seen everything about four times we made our way to Ellesmere Port where we had booked into the Holiday Inn. I wasn’t expecting much as it was inexpensive and had been a last minute thing, but we were all pleasantly surprised. There was a leisure centre and the hotel itself was situated at the side of a canal. We had a lovely tea in the hotel. The staff prepared fish fingers and mash especially for Trent, but by the time it had arrived he was fast asleep in his high chair. Despite this, when it came to bedtime, Trent did not want to go to sleep. He’s just not used to sleeping in the same room as me and dad anymore. He finally dropped off at about eleven and then wanted to get up again at half past five. At least it meant we were up, fed and checked out by nine and on our way to Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet where I got to indulge in some much deserved retail therapy after being pregnant for the past eighteen months.

It was a great break and we will definitely do it again next year with both kids. The only downside was that I really missed Roisin – it was the first time I had been away from her.

The animals

Trent and Dad spend some quality time together

At the end of an exhausting day

Last week it was my birthday so dad decided as we wouldn’t be going on a big holiday abroad this year, we should go away for a break. I am growing by the day, and with only 10 weeks to go I didn’t relish the thought of planning and organising a trip away with Trent, but I was pleasantly surprised. We decided on a long weekend and I think that was just right. The destination was Centre Parcs at Penrith, Cumbria. It is just over an hour from home, but felt like a different world once we were there.

Planning

Luckily I have a brilliant mam who came and helped me to pack and organise before we left so that wasn’t too strenuous for me. I kept asking dad all week what he wanted to take and he never told me, so on Thursday night he grabbed a few things from his wardrobe, declaring he didn’t need loads of clothes (great – more room for my clothes). Centre Parcs certainly know how to make life easy… We received lots of information beforehand about facilities and activities available, so we knew that we didn’t have to take a highchair or cot, just the cot linen. They also provide free Hipp Organic baby food at their restaurants and eating-places, meaning I didn’t have to take bags of food. We could also register our party online, meaning we didn’t have to wait in a queue at arrivals for ages.

The accommodation

The wooden lodge we stayed in was brilliant. It was all open-plan which made it easy for me to keep an eye on Trent whilst I was in the kitchen or other areas. There was a patio, which led right into the forest. Trent thought it highly amusing that he could wave at the birds, pheasants and rabbits from his seat on the patio. He also enjoyed watching dad attempting a barbeque one night. Although it isn’t exactly summer we got into the spirit of things and lit the wood fire so that after cooking outside, we could come back inside and eat it in the warm.

The activities

It’s fair to say I thought there wouldn’t be much for Trent to do as he is still only 10 months old, but I was wrong. The highlight had to be the subtropical paradise, where we spent the whole of one day. The temperature was perfect and there was something for kids of all ages, from different areas for babies and smaller children, right up to water slides and a wave machine for the older children. The family change rooms were brilliant and allowed dad to help me getting Trent ready, as opposed to one of us struggling with him on our own. I also took Trent to a pantomime and sat on the floor at the front with him so we could join in – he absolutely loved it.

Overall I was quite sad when we had to come home as it was great being away and spending some quality time together. It was also wonderful to be able to make a fuss of Trent before the new baby comes along.

Trent enjoying a meal out

Little swimmer

Out and about

Me and my little one

Trent with his Dad making music in the chalet.

Dad and I have been considering taking Trent to an animal park for a while, but kept deciding against it as we thought he was still a bit young, and wouldn’t understand or be interested. But then we saw an advertisement for Ducky’s Park Farm at Flookborough, which was advertised as a working farm with the opportunity to see and feed the animals, and a large indoor play area. So as per usual on a Sunday we packed up the car and off we went!

As it was at Flookborough, which is fairly local and quite small, we didn’t take any directions. This turned out to be a mistake when we realised we didn’t have a clue where it was, luckily Trent is still at the stage where he sleeps in the car, or sits really quietly looking out the window. After dad had stopped and asked at least three different people for directions we noticed the big direction signs along the road –typical!

To my surprise it had really good facilities for children, so dad and I had a hot meal and Trent had his dinner all in comfortable surroundings. Next to the café area was a huge indoor soft play area, which the children obviously loved. Trent wanted to go on it and play but I was a bit nervous of letting him as he looked so small compared to all the other rough looking toddlers. I promised him we would go again when he is old enough to play!

After we had eaten we set off on the sign-posted farm trail. We didn’t have any great expectations of what Trent’s reaction would be, so when he did get to see the animals and was obviously really excited and amazed, it was great to watch. He had no fear whatsoever, even of the larger animals such as the lamas and donkeys, and would have been quite happy for me and dad to have left him there.

Trent’s favourite part of the day seemed to be meeting the big floppy eared rabbit roaming freely around the farm. He was so friendly and sat still while Trent inspected every inch of him. Trent and Dad also enjoyed riding around on the toy tractors (I think Dad more so than Trent).

I learnt that I shouldn’t have underestimated how intelligent Trent is as he was clearly in his element with all the different animals. We will be doing things like this more often, especially in the summer as I imagine that Ducky's Park Farm will be a really pleasant place to be at that time of year.

Trent and his new friend

What a weekend! We’ve just returned from our first trip away with baby Trent. After finding out I’d been short-listed as one of Tixylix’s Five Fab mums we were invited to spend a weekend in Wiltshire with the others who had made it this far – a massive achievement in itself.

The drive down was five and a half hours so we had a couple of stops on the way. Trent slept most of the journey which was good at the time as mam and dad were too busy arguing over the directions to entertain a six-month-old baby, but it wasn’t so good when he thought it was time to get up at 3 the next morning as he had had so much sleep… you live and learn!!!!

The next lesson of the trip was that I shouldn’t have assumed that the hotel staff would be inexperienced with children and wouldn’t have everything I needed there (my tip for new mums on their first trip away with little ones is to phone ahead to the hotel and check what they can provide). It turns out the hotel had everything and more, including an Ofsted registered nursery. daddy wasn’t too impressed that, under my orders, he had loaded the car up with everything apart from the kitchen sink.

The weekend was brilliant and the fact we won was just the icing on the cake. Trent had so much fun and was totally oblivious to the fact that mam and dad were in competition with other parents from all over the country. One of the nicest things was seeing Trent so comfortable around other children, it was as if he had known them for ages. When he was born one of my biggest fears was that he would be a lonely child, something I can sympathise with as an only child and one of the reasons I am now 15 weeks pregnant with my second baby! I love seeing him in nurseries like this one as he seems to really come out of himself and the benefits are obvious. That’s not to say that I didn’t panic the first time I had to leave him, especially as I had breast fed him and was used to having him with me all the time – but as you hear people say the first time at anything is always the worst. I had to stop being stubborn and let him go as his enjoyment, and more importantly development, are what matters.

Needless to say Trent’s routine went right out of the window whilst we were away but now we’re back home and business as usual. I’m enjoying my last week with Trent before I go back to work full time. I’ve got a feeling next week’s blog will be an interesting read; I found it difficult enough to get out of bed and go to work before I was pregnant, or had a baby, so I think I might struggle!