10/29/2017

The One Handed Parenting Challenge | Just Add Ginger


Just Add Ginger blog

Becoming a parent has hands down got to be one of the most empowering things that could have ever happened to me. It has not only shown me how strong I am but also taught me so much about myself

In the months leading up to Baby Ginger's arrival I was full of trepidation when it came to thinking about just how I was going to parent. Even the most simplest of tasks seemed daunting, and with there being so few resources, my confidence was instantly low. However, never having been the type to shy away from a challenge I tackled everything head on. Sure it was intimidating at times, but now, nearly seven months in, there isn't anything that scares me anymore. 

The idea of a one handed parenting challenge came when I realised that you can't really make the outside world understand what something is like to live with until you make them step into your shoes. So this is what I want to try and do. To try and get people to understand what not just parenting one handed is like, but to appreciate just exactly what time, patience and sheer skill goes into it

Ryan was the first "volunteer" but I'm hoping that if friends and family see this video they will be keen to sign up too. It's a fun little video but one that carries an important message with it. One that helps get people talking, sharing and ultimately understanding that just because somebody does things a little differently it doesn't mean they are not done just as well. 

Disability should not be a taboo subject nor is it something that should be looked down upon. There needs to be equality, and when it comes to this, support is seriously lacking. And if this challenge or indeed any of my videos help highlight that and one day puts wheels in motion for change, then that is all I could ever hope for.



10/15/2017

The Watch List - Sept/Oct | Just Add Ginger


Just Add Ginger blog

The Hills | DVD 

There are some TV series that every now and again I get the urge to watch. It's like a craving. And The Hills is one of those shows. Even after all these years I still get completely swept up in watching the everyday dramas of these twenty-something year olds. It's the perfect background entertainment for times where I do need to have something I can dip in and out of in between being a mum, and for some bizarre reason, whenever I watch it I want to get up and do housework, which is an utterly strange, but positive bonus.

The Great British Bake Off | All4

Even though I missed Mary Berry's final series last year, I have always been quite a Bake Off fan. So knowing it had changed hands, and had been given a bit of a Channel 4 makeover with new hosts and potentially a new structure, I went into watching it this time round with my sceptical hat on. 

At first I really wasn't sure. The dynamic between Noel and Sandi just wasn't the same as the banter that Mel and Sue had and it was something I quite missed. Now however, catching up with GBBO has become one of our weekly rituals and I'm finding myself rather warmed to the new lineup. 

As for favourite contestants, I'd really like to see Liam win this year. He's been a bit of an underdog throughout the competition but week-by-week he's started to come into his own. 

The Apprentice | BBC One

Just like Bake Off, The Apprentice is something I watch religiously every week. It's reappearance on  TV is the signal to me that Christmas is coming, and it just instantly makes me have that warm fuzzy feeling inside. 

The first few weeks always make me cringe and I spend most of the time wincing and hiding behind a cushion, but once all the contestants find their feet out comes this passionate, opinionated woman from within me who shouts at the screen, utterly convinced she could do things better (even though I would be utterly pants if I were on the show).

I try not to have a favourite contestant because every year without fail it is those who leave the show. It's like a curse. There hasn't been one year where any of my top picks have made it to the final rounds. So this year I'm keeping my thoughts to myself and hopefully I'll have finally backed a winner.

Don't Tell The Bride | All4

I have been a fan of this show for so long. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, and it makes me swear like a trooper at the TV screen. As fantastic as it is frustrating, now that all the past series plus current episodes are on All4 I quite regularly find myself binge-watching show after show when Eric is asleep or it is a sleepy Saturday morning. 

When we were engaged there was a part of me that thought it would've been quite fun to apply to Don't Tell The Bride, but Ryan and I were on the same page so much I think we would've made pretty boring contestants. For couples who claim to know each other so well it's sometimes difficult to believe that some of the weddings you see take place. Unless the whole point has been to put ideas forward that are intended to provoke their other halves purely for the entertainment factor, in which case it's a bit of a farce. 

But perhaps that's just me being cynical...


10/09/2017

Eric At Six Months | Just Add Ginger


baby update - just add ginger blog

Sometimes I have to take a step back and remind myself that I have only been a mother for six months. Since Eric arrived time has just flown by in an excited whirlwind and it only seems like yesterday I was bouncing on my birthing ball willing myself into labour.

Although my little Baby Ginger features a lot on my channel, I very rarely talk a lot about him. Naturally my Insta Stories are full of videos, photos and anecdotes that track his day-to-day antics, but as soon as he hit the six month mark I realised it was about time for a proper update. 

On The Daily

Usually Eric is a good little sleeper. He will go down in between 9 and 10pm and wake up in between 7 and 8am. I change his nappy upstairs, say hello to the baby in the mirror (he loves that game) then bring him downstairs to get him dressed and give him breakfast. 

He's not quite yet in a structured routine but will go down for 2-3 naps during the day - once in the morning and two in the afternoon. And he is a baby who needs his sleep. He is on the go all the time and if you're not careful it can all get a bit too much and he is an absolute nightmare, not wanting to play, not wanting to sleep, and generally getting himself into a pickle. 

We do not bath Eric everyday because his skin is really sensetive and susceptible to becoming really dry. So for us, a bedtime routine consists of "pyjama time" at about 7pm, followed by soft lighting, snuggles and a calm atmosphere. He won't go to sleep until about 9-10pm and then he will sleep through (most of the time). 

Weaning 

Weaning is going really well for us so far. Starting off on purees, we are now starting to introdue more variety, slipping in some finger foods and different textures. I try to stick to a definite breakfast-lunch-dinner routine so that Eric learns when to expect more food and to get him used to three meals a day. 

Activities

I try to do something or take Eric somewhere everyday, always working around his nap times as much as possible. On a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday we go to a class, and then on Fridays we take a walk down to the canal to feed the ducks. Mondays are a bit crazy as it's usually my time to get the house back to normal after the weekend, catch up on chores, and write. Thursdays are a bit of an odd one because in the afternoon I have my CBT session so we tend to just take it easy so things don't get too rushed. 

For toys, Baby Ginger loves lights, sounds and books. He will happily enterain himself for a while, and is currently obsessed with rolling around all over the place. His concentration span is increasing and at classes he is starting to get more confident and notice other babies around him.

Bonding 

Right from the start we just passed Baby Ginger round to everyone. And now he is perfectly content around family, friends and strangers too. We haven't experienced any clingyness yet (thank goodness) but of course this may change. When it comes to Ryan and I, Eric definitely prefers to cuddle and sit with daddy, or be in the kitchen with him while he cooks, and with me he would rather play. He will look and seek reassurance from me but will only seek out cuddles when he is really tired or upset. I don't mind though - I'm sure the hugs will come in time. 

If you want to find out more about Eric - or Baby Ginger - I share a lot more details in his 6 month update video.