Sing-and-Sign

There has been a few articles in the national press about the benefits of baby signing recently. Research has shown that a baby that signs:

• Speak earlier than non-signers
  
• Experience less frustration
  
• Develop larger vocabularies
  
• Become better readers
  
• Have IQ's that are at least 10-12 points higher
  

We started attending baby signing classes when the little ones were about 3 months old. I did feel that maybe they were a bit too young to benefit from the classes at the time, but they seemed to enjoy it so we carried on going. Additionally, it was nice for us to get out of the house and meet other mums and babies.

The first sign that they learnt was milk. This sign they started using when they were around 6 months old. They did not sign back at all until then and one day they both just decided that they wanted to let me know that it was milk-time !

After seeing them starting to sign, there was no turning back. I sign to them as often I can in everyday conversation and they now frequently sign to me when they want their nappies changed, go to sleep, want a biscuit, bread, water etc. It is extraordinary that they can at this age communicate with us in a way that we understand !

For more information, check out www.singandsign.com.

If you are in Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Kensington, Primrose Hill, Islington or Marylebone, you can contact Vesna directly at vesna@singandsign.com

Riverford - Organic Food Delivered to Your Door

It's Saturday.

How exciting, it is food delivery day ! I always look forward to this day.

DH discovered Riverford a few months ago and now we get most of our groceries from them. Fantastic, no more pushing a double buggy whilst trying to carry the shopping basket and no more running out of food in the fridge, due to lack of time to go shopping AND it works out cheaper than buying from the local supermarket!

Riverford is an organic food delivery company that sources mostly from farms in Devon.

Occasionally, they do also include organic produce from fair trade farms in other countries, like today we received a delicious pineapple from Togo.

They have a rather extensive list of produce that you can pick from online or alternatively, you can just get one of their boxes (ie. fruit-box, meat-box or vegetable-box). We usually get one of each of these boxes every week plus some additional extras, like cheese, eggs etc every other week.

Since we started getting our food from Riverford, I have found cooking a lot more fun because I now have all these superb ingredients to be creative with. Each week, the boxes are different, which means that each week I get to try and invent new dishes. There is also a great newsletter containing relevant recipes each week that you can get inspired by.

Check out http://www.riverford.co.uk for their products and recipes. There is even a small section of recipes for babies and toddlers.

Waterbabies

In terms of getting the little ones contently tired, there really isn't anything better than a good swim in the pool (or ocean, if you are lucky enough to live in warmer climates). We went to a swimming class in Notting Hill this morning and the little ones have been napping now for over 2 hours and are still fast asleep !

We have been going to swimming classes since the little ones were just about 3 months old. They absolutely love it.

As we are now in the "advanced" class, we get to do quite a few underwater swims. The first time we had to go under, it was a bit scary but now we really enjoy it. It doesn't seem to bother them at all. Actually, I think generally the mums (and dads) seem more nervous than their babies. In fact, I was told that babies naturally hold their breath under water up until they are about 6 months old. That I find incredible.

Apart from just having fun in the water they also learn various helpful things like, how to find their way back to the handrail if they fall in, how to hold on and pull themselves up onto the rail etc.

You can find out more on www.waterbabies.co.uk

The journey begins...

Time flies when one is having fun ! The little people (ie. my twins) are already 14 months old and walking ! I remember when they were just born....

I guess, thinking back, we have actually done quite a few things in the past 14 months. Firstly, we survived the first couple of months together, then we went on a round-the-world trip for 3 months. Then when we got back, we went to start a new business.

About the traveling, it was truly amazing. Some people would tell us that we were nuts, going on such a long trip with young twins (they were 9 months old). To tell you the truth, it wasn't always easy but it was amazing and totally worth it ! We, the whole family, just had to learn to deal with situations as they arose and eventually we got "used to it". The bigger problem was being back home. My little "Monster and Munchkin" were now used to constant stimulation and eating exciting food at cool restaurants at every meal. So, I had to very quickly learn to find ways to keep them busy, as well as cooking meals that they/us all would enjoy eating.