Mini Masterminds

And we’re back! Sorry about the absence, life got in the way (it does that sometimes).

So, what’s happened since we’ve been gone? I swear Indy has grown like a foot taller, he is looking huge and so grown up. The tantrums are also getting impressive; we’re getting a lot of screaming into the floor and growls. He’s been upgraded to a bigger bedroom now as well. Partially because his toys were beginning to take over the living room, and partially because we felt it was time he had a proper space to call his own.

We’ve popped into our favourite bookshop a couple of times in the last few weeks, Books & Pontyclun. Most recently we picked up a DVD called ‘Mini Masterminds – Animals’, because at the moment Indy is obsessed with farm yards and the things that live there. We didn’t know what to expect from the DVD, but it was reasonably priced. Back home, we popped it on and we were pleasantly surprised. It features a backing track of Mozart pieces, made a bit more child friendly and lullaby-like, and a soothing montage of animal pictures and videos. Mozart is renowned for aiding concentration and encourages well-balanced behavioral patterns. We found it ideal to have on in the background whilst Indy was playing. It’s not at all obtrusive or distracting, so Indy isn’t gawping open mouthed at the screen.

It’s something nice and relaxing to have on the television, another bonus if it’s naptime. All in all I’d say it was a worthwhile purchase, and it’s one that Indy keeps picking up  and asking to watch.

I plan to take Indy to a real-life farm soon, we had planned to go in half term but the weather simply wasn’t on our side. Nothing beats experiencing the sounds and smells of a real farm yard!

Next blog post I’ll be reviewing a potty training book I received, how exciting!

The rest of this week!

Looking back this week, considering we haven't been out much we've still managed to cram loads in.

I made Indy a little book nook! (Complete with his DVDs) Indy is a proper little book-worm, he loves nothing more than snuggling up and 'reading'. He reads out loud to himself in his own little language, it's amazing how they pick up the tone of spoken word.

We also tried some colouring again, but this mostly involved Indy attempting to eat crayons (everything. Everything in his mouth.) so didn't last for very long.

We had a really lovely day today, we spent the morning together, and then met up with Indy's friend Sioned and her mum Jo for a coffee at a lovely coffee house around the corner from me. They obviously had missed each other and spent a while shouting 'hiyaa!' and giving each other slobbery kisses.

After biscuits had been eaten, we strolled over to the charity shop a few doors down. I am in love with this charity shop, it's run by the community for the community, so we try to support it every way we can (this normally involves us coming home with piles of books and DVDs and tablecloths and records etc). Today was a real winner, we found a wooden train, a Stephen King book (for me), and a toy shopping basket complete with contents, still in it's wrapping! I think Indy is still a little young to understand it though, as he kept handing me the cardboard boxes asking for food.

We also popped into possibly the best bookshop I've ever been in (but I may be biased). They'd posted on Facebook earlier saying they had a cardboard box and a load of brown packaging paper going free, so naturally I jumped on it and had ideas flooding through my head already. Whilst we were there we also picked up a Thomas the Tank Engine book, as Indy is choo-chooing constantly.

I think we'll have a play with the packaging paper this weekend, I have visions of making nests and Indy has to discover the eggs inside, or possibly using it as mud in a farmyard, I'll be sure to show you what we get up to with it!

Introduction

Hello, and thank you for wandering over to my little blog :) Before I dive in, let me first introduce myself and my little family.

My name is Rebecca, I'm 26 on Monday (eep!) and I'm a stay-at-home mum. I have a degree in Art & Drama, and have had a few jobs relevant to that in the past. I've worked as an area manager for a company that delivered interactive science lessons to primary school kids, I was also a presenter and did classes myself. I then moved on to being a domiciliary carer for the elderly. This was certainly an eye opening experience - you name it, I've seen it. But it also helped develop my patience and understanding of people. I'd like to think I've learnt from every job role I have, whether it's been a positive or a negative. Most recently, I made cloth nappies and baby clothes, as well as reusable sanitary products. I lost the love though, and felt like I needed to do more, and involve my toddler more. So, Indy-Plays was made!

I'm due to get married to Jon. He's all sorts of awesome and is the most supportive person I could have asked for. He works from home, upstairs in his office, so although he's in the house, I don't get to see him very often. He works long hours in a stressful job, so our evenings normally consist of attempting to relax, either by playing Call of Duty or watching Fringe... He's also a crazy talented musician in a covers band called Duck'n'Cover, I'll link their music when it's online :)

Together, we made an incredible little human being. It still astonishes me now that we actually made something. And that thing is an adorable perma-dirty super adventurous 18 month old boy called Indiana. I know. Awesome name. Indy is so funny and clever, I honestly couldn't be prouder. I love spending time with him, and watching him learn and grow and develop into the man he's going to be. I want to facilitate that, I want to join in with him. I want to encompass all the senses possible, to engage him, to do it with things around the house or things I can easily obtain, I want to think outside the box and watch him learn outside the box. Why? Because I love it when Indy-Plays.