February 2011 Archives - mocha beanie mummy

Boy Meets World

February 28, 2011 By mocha beanie mummy 11 Comments

Something is going to happen soon, and people have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to it.

Isaac has been for 2 nursery induction sessions recently. This morning his session was all morning, right up until nap time. Noah had already gone to school with D, so I bundled Isaac in the car after his breakfast, and took him in. One thing that was in my favour is that he’s seen the nursery and the staff plenty of times before because he’s with me when I’m dealing with Noah. So he was totally familiar with it.

So familiar in fact, that he was happy to run off ahead without so much as a look back.

When I went to collect him he was spark out on one of the mats in the corner, thumb in his mouth, no sign of his burpee. They woke him up, and he immediately started chatting to his carer, then to me when he saw me. No tears, all morning. In fact, they complimented me on his manners and how well behaved he was playing with the other children.

Now, I don’t know if I’m being selfish, or if I’m allowed this moment of glory, but I cannot WAIT for him to start. It’s pretty much been me and The Smalls intensively since day one, and considering the independence I had pre-babies, giving up that immense amount of freedom was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. And I’ve spent the time with them preparing them for a world of independence. They know I am always there for them, and heaven knows I get kisses and cuddles by the bucket load, every single day I am around them. I’ve spent my time working my ass off trying to ensure that my boys will do well, that they will succeed, but that they can always come back to me if their world falls apart.

Isaac Induction

Like most mothers, much of my life has been them.

Isaac starts nursery this Thursday, for 2 full days a week. 2 whole days of complete freedom and a chance to find myself again. The time to tinker and fine-tune my career and realign my path into photography. The time not be a mom; to have the closest thing to that “mom holiday” that I’ve craved for so very long. Many mums do this for longer than me. I am not many moms. I am me. And it’s important to remember that.

I am SO excited for my boy Isaac to take his first major step into his new surroundings. His next rung on the ladder. His launch into the world. Worried? Me? Nah.

I have every faith in me and him.

Filed Under: Isaac, nursery, parenting, School

Kids Toys, Technology and Peppa Pig “Polly Parrot” App Review (It’s the way forward, right?)

February 28, 2011 By mocha beanie mummy

REVIEW POST

Having recently reviewed technology and IT related apps and toys with Noah and Isaac, I’ve started to pay WAY more attention to what they actually play with. Both my boys are hooked on cars. Anything with wheels, in fact. Anything. However, I’m a bit precious about my Apple products, so they don’t get that much of a chance to indulge in technology. Despite this, when they do get to have a go, they’re frighteningly slick, pick up the idea insanely quickly and seem to know their way around incredibly well. And they love it.

Noah regularly asks to play games on my iPhone or iMac and Isaac can often be often be found trying to “swipe” my MacBook Pro screen. He’s only 22 months remember, he’s just a teeny bit behind in figuring it out… (I’m hoping for an iPad soon. That will confuse him.)

So after the Humf review, I had no problems with them reviewing a Peppa Pig “Polly Parrot” app. Especially since they both received a bazillion Peppa Pig DVDs for Christmas (God bless the swine).

Now, if I’m honest, Noah hasn’t taken much of an interest in this one. He’s played all the available games in there, all of which you can see in the vid at the end of this post. His favourite was easily Where’s Polly, where you tap various parts of different rooms to see if Polly Parrot is hiding underneath. Loved it, for all of 10 minutes. Of course the problem we face, is that he has is obvious favourites. And I don’t mean within the game, I mean on my iPhone in general. But I also start to wonder – are major companies trying too hard to rule all markets?

Both Noah and Isaac will happily sit and watch Peppa Pig on TV, but neither are particularly bothered by the app itself. The Talking Parrot game, where you can make Polly Parrot say a variety of silly phrases was way beyond 22 month old Isaac, and whilst Noah engaged in it for a minute or two (most of that time was spent just figuring out how it worked), again he too didn’t last long. I’m not entirely sure why.

Surprisingly, the least favourite was Sticker Book where you collect virtual stickers and decorate a ‘sticker book’ with many different items and characters. Noah sees stickers as rewards, whether at home or at school (and even as presented to him in a few other apps he adores), and as for “sticking for fun”, well, I think the fun for him seems to be in the actually stickiness of the sticker, as it were.

My view? I think some of the bigger names could be trying a little too hard. Well, in our house in any case. The boys love Peppa Pig. Love her to bits. But they have become a bit selective as to which niche they choose to enjoy her. The same is said for other characters. They both love their tv characters, but will not make a fuss of them in an electronic game.

On the flip side, both of them still pester me to play games on my iPhone and iMac. Interestingly, they always go for the ones that they wouldn’t normally see on tv. Are my kiddos just a wee bit odd? Wouldn’t surprise me. If kids and technology are the future, should we draw a line somewhere? Or will they draw it for us?

*The Peppa Pig “Polly Parrot” app was sent to us for free on the proviso that we review it and post it on this blog.

Filed Under: Isaac, Noah, Reviewing and reviews and stuff

Silent Sunday

February 27, 2011 By mocha beanie mummy 55 Comments

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

Filed Under: photography, Silent Sunday

Dear So and So…What We Did This Week Edition

February 25, 2011 By mocha beanie mummy 5 Comments

Dear FRIGGING AWESOME LADY KAT, creator of Dear So and So!

It was your birthday yesterday, innit? I hope you had the BEST day EVAR!! Of course, I know it was pretty awesome because not only did you secure your Cybermummy ’11 ticket but you also got an iPad. I am not insanely jealous.* I’m also hoping you got cheesecake. If I ever get paid this year, you’ll also get £10. Life is sweet, eh? ;o)

Fucking HUGE love lady, jay xxx

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

Dear Music Career

Goodbye. It’s been fun. But now I’m busy with my photography career. BOO-YAH!

No regrets, Janet Lindsay

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

Dear Photography Career

Ok, 2 days in officially as a photographer with no relation to music at all, and you land me 4 new bookings on my plate? TWO DAYS? I bloody love you. I really, really do.

Thanks for being my spring board.

Full of passion, Jay Mountford

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

Dear Harry Head of Production, James Mr MD Big Boss Person and Other People from Made In Me

I love you. A lot. And I think The Smalls love you too. A whole lot. You may have just about helped me avoid various crime scenes this half term. Just saying.

Yours, an avid fan, mom of 2 insanely lively Small People xx

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

Dear Half Term

If you and I are to meet again, you need to do better. And that includes reminding me to keep an eye on Isaac when he has pens and crayons. And also to pay attention to when Noah has the Play-Doh and announces he’s making coffee granules (seriously, you do NOT want to ignore things like that). I’m watching you, half term. I’m watching you. Alllwaaaays waaaatchiiiing.

Yours with hair mostly still in tact, mom of 2 insanely sly Small People

~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~≈~

Dear People of Teh Interwebs

It’s your turn now, innit? Go on, got get your link-on. And please make sure you wish Miss Kat a belated happy birthday, yes?

YES.

*Of COURSE I’m bloody jealous. Uh, hello? It’s an iPAD. Goddammit.

Filed Under: birthday, Dear So and So, Isaac, Musician, Noah, parenting, photography

“The Land of Me” Review (Vlog, featuring The Smalls)

February 24, 2011 By mocha beanie mummy 10 Comments

I’ve been reluctant to do reviews lately; PR companies are still getting in touch, but I’m going with “if it doesn’t interest/apply to me or The Smalls, or prove you haven’t read my blog by starting your email with ‘Dear Mocah Bean Mommy’ then you can bet I’m going to say no.”

Out of the blue, the very lovely Harry Jones got in touch with an email that started off “Hi Jay, I love your blog! I have been reading lots of parenting/kids blogs recently and found yours one of the most honest and humorous out there. Watching you, Noah and Isaac reviewing the Zingzilla’s album was hilarious!” Well, I couldn’t say no, could I?

Harry was offering the opportunity to review something called “The Land of Me”, an interactive, digital story book which you play with kids from 2 years old on a mac or PC. On downloading it to my MacBook Pro, my first reaction? Absolutely BRILLIANT. Remember those books you had as a kid where you could literally create your own story by choosing options as you went along? Well this is very much like that. Only a million times better and suitable for tiddlers up to as old as you dare push it. Literally like stepping in to a whole new world where the child has control, there’s so much interactive fun to be had.

One thing that struck me straight away was how this was helping Noah’s speech improve, and how (since doing the vlog) he was starting to recognise more words. Anything that can do that is a WIN in my book. Geeze, I could rave on about this for MONTHS.

But instead? Best just watch the vlog.

Interested? (You SHOULD be…) Here’s the info:

It is an interactive, digital story book which you play with young children on a mac or PC. It inspires creativity, conversation, fun and learning. There are six chapters to go adventuring in, covering subjects like Shape, Size and Colour, Rhythm & Dance and Story Time.

You can also discover over 100 free printable activities like masks to make, puzzles to complete and games to play. Unlike any other computer game for children, The Land of Me combines traditional illustration and animation with cutting edge technology to bring you an interactive, captivating learning experience that’s a lot of fun too!

The best thing to do is to check out the video on our homepage and just click ‘watch video’. The first chapter is free to download from our website. We also publish activity books and sell all 6 chapters as a DVD Rom for £29.95.

**This product was sent to me for free on the proviso it was to be reviewed and shown on this blog. And I’m glad I did, because me and The Smalls think it’s awesome.