Happy 1st Birthday

Proud Mum and Dad

My first cuddle with him

It's my baby boy's 1st Birthday today! A year ago today at 13.24 he arrived into the world, ready to shake our lives up a bit. As I am sure you already know, we are in Florida at the moment but we fly back today (or technically tomorrow for me). So he will be celebrating his special day with a Ponderosa breakfast, cake at lunch and a 9 hour flight home to Scotland.

I'm full of mixed emotion because I am so happy to be celebrating the first year of his life but I am also a bit sad that it has gone so fast and that I will be returning to work in one weeks time.

I wrote him a little poem for his birthday card and I thought I would share it with you. I am not much of a poet and I hated poetry at school so I am well aware that it isn't great but it's the sentiment that counts . . .

This last year has been a whirlwind with tears and laughter too

The good times have been many and they were all because of you

The first six months were tricky and it’s hard for me to say

But I spent most of them crying and trying hard to pray

I hoped to find a cure for colic and take your pain away

But the agony inside you was determined to stay

We gave you the name ‘Grumpinator’ as you were always in a mood

And the only thing the cheered you up was the sight and smell of food

The day we started weaning, the grumping became less

But then along came teething to put my patience to the test

But now you are so happy and it’s so nice to see

That a happier and cheerier boy, there could never be

It’s as though someone scooped out all the pain and replaced it all with joy

You truly are amazing, my sweet adorable boy

Your beautiful smile melts my heart as it stands out from the crowd

To know I helped create you makes me feel so very proud

So as we celebrate your first birthday I just wanted you to know

Just how glad I am to know you and that I love you so.

Happy birthday my wee darling!

Safari Fun at Busch Gardens

Having loads of laughs is what we do best! 

Supersize Me

It's the second week of our holiday in Florida and I am already several inches wider than I was when I got here. It really isn't difficult to gain weight here. Obviously you treat yourself more when you are on holiday but that isn't the only problem. The thing about Florida that I have found is the abundance of good bad food and the lack of good good food.

I will explain . . .

We have been to several restaurants this week and although I haven't been overly conscious of my 'bad' food intake I do try and make sure that JC gets his 5 a day and doesn't eat too much junk. There really isn't much choice for a main meal beyond hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken tenders and pizza. All of which I am sure have enough salt in them to make you float.

The funny moment comes when I ask the waiter if I can have a fruit salad for JC. It's not on the menu but I don't see it as a huge ask. They look at me like I have just asked them for rare oysters with a side of candy floss but as they are so helpful in the U S of A the waiter offers to pop out to the local shop to get some for me! This wasn't a one off and I am extremely surprised by the lack of healthy options available for kids as well as adults.

I saw a little girl about 3 years old today who was shopping with her very overweight mother. I smiled at her then my eyes were drawn to her legs. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor wee soul who could barely walk as her legs were covered in thick rolls of fat. Her feet couldn't fit in her shoes properly and were bulging over the top. It was a hot day and she looked so uncomfortable. I can totally understand why people are overweight living here as the portions are enormous, the food deliciously unhealthy and the access to food is 24hours a day. However, you don't need to eat it all, you don't need to accept what is on the menu, the more people who demand healthier options the more available it will become. Sometimes I feel like the UK is a bit OTT when it comes to healthy eating but I'd rather have that than the supersize mentality that seems to be the norm here.

*disclaimer - this is based on my limited experience of Florida and the restaurants I have visited so I am generalising. There will, I'm sure, be healthier restaurants and not all American children are obese. I did visit a lovely restaurant tonight called Bahama Breeze who served JC with yummy broccoli and fruit salad (alongside some greasy chicken tenders but we will turn a blind eye to that!)

Check out the other weight loss related posts over at Liska's wonderful blog

Florida - It was a slow start!

I'm still in Florida and it's day 5. I was full of the big 'I'll take my laptop and blog everyday' but I maybe underestimated how the heat and jetlag would effect me. It's taken me a while to get sorted but as I am apartment bound today while JC takes an airconditioned nap and hubby goes off to play golf, I thought I would pop by and let you all know how it's going.

It was an extremely slow start. When we arrived at Glasgow airport at 9am Saturday to be told that the flight was delayed until 9.20pm. I had taken almost half a bottle of rescue remedy so I think I handled the news quite well. It was shock followed by anger followed by acceptance and with a call to the taxi driver who dropped us off, we were on our way back home for the day. My in laws stayed at the airport to keep us updated and we came back later on after tea. We did meet an 'infamous' pop duo at the airport! JC wasn't impressed! 

I had been worried about the flight but it went smoothly with JC sleeping the first 5 hours and playing the last 3. We arrived in Flordia on Sunday morning about 1am. It was 4.30am before we got to the villa we are staying in. JC had napped in his buggy and in the car so woke refreshed at 4.30am ready to go. Caitlin (Hubby's cousin) and I walked barefoot around the complex until 8 am and we were eaten by mossies and shattered by the time we eventually came back to the villa for breakfast. At least it gave everyone else a chance to sleep. The first day was spent just round the pool and the resort. 

The second day we went and did a bit a shopping. I got these really cool sandals called 'Switch Flops'. They are flip flops/sandals that have a velcro decorative top that you can change so that your shoes can always match your outfit. I was sold! They are by Lindsay Philips but I have never seen them before.

On the Tuesday we headed to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon which was a brilliant day. Lots of fun slides and fountains. JC's favourite was the Lazy River and of course any random steps in the park that he could go up and down. 

Yesterday Steven and I took JC to Seaworld. The in-laws have been before and weren't fussy to go back so we went ourselves. It was a great day but the heat got to us a bit. It was just too hot. My highlight of the day was feeding the dolphins. Check me out .  .  .

So I will hopefully get a chance to pop by again and update what we have been up to. I had planned on video blogging everyday but to be honest, I just can't be bothered! I have videoed a lot and taken plenty pics but I don't have the time or energy to sit around editing. 

Anyway, I'm off to have a Mountain Dew and and glazed doughnut! When in Rome . . . 

Reasons 2B Cheerful

I was feeling a little bit grumpy today. I think that I am getting annoyed with myself at the moment because I seem to be searching for something but I don't know what I am looking for. I am in a bit of a state of flux. I was having a bit of a moan about it on twitter today when Michelle from Mummy from the Heart reminded me of her fabulous link up. So here I am with my reasons to be cheerful this week.

                                                                                    1. Fate

We got a reasonable offer on the house today. It's only been on the market for 2 weeks! It's a bit of a miracle that the only viewer that we have had appears to be the right person for the house!

2. Holidays 

My hubby is now off for the summer until the schools go back (and me to work!) in August. We are going to my Dad's in the Czech Republic for a week on Sunday. When we get back, we will have a fortnight at home then we are off to Florida for 2 weeks. The Florida holiday has been planned for a long time (pre- JC). Hubby's parents own a timeshare and we are going with them, hubby's sister and cousin so there will be plenty of us to occupy JC on the flight!

3. Books

I am getting that fire in my belly to read again. Since I got my Kindle for my birthday I have read about 6 books. It's difficult to find the time and I really must try to go to bed earlier! I love lots of different genres but vampire and supernatural fiction is one of my favourites. A fellow blogger and vamp fiction lover over at SusanKMann has recommended some fab books to keep me going until my next Twilight instalment.

Right, I am feeling a bit better about things now. Thanks for the reminder Michelle!

Check out Michelle's other entries here . . .