lambandbear, Author at Lamb & Bear

May 6, 2015 by lambandbear 10 Comments

I’m going to Brit Mums Live!

Time is ticking and it’s almost time for Brit Mums Live! (She says while sweating nervously). This is my first time at a blogging event. I was way too new last year, to be honest, I had no idea about blogging events! But this year I’m raring to go. So for those of you who might want to be my blogging buddy for the day, and please, somebody take the role (although Emma from Me, the Man and the Baby promised she would, and I haven’t forgot! 😉 ) here’s a little bit about me.

Name: Alex
Blog: Lamb & Bear
Twitter ID: @Lambandbear
Height: I’m going with 5’4″ (but i’m probably 5’3.5″!)
Hair: Long, blonde and probably in a bun.
Eyes: Blue
Is this your first blogging conference? Sure is
Are you attending both days? Of course
What are you most looking forward to at BritMums Live 2015? Learning. I’m ready to take the next step with my blog. Oh, and the alcohol, I heard there’s quite a bit?
What are you wearing? (Want inspiration? Check out our What I’m wearing to BritMums Live Pinterest board): You don’t expect me to know that this early do you?! I still won’t know on the morning of Brit Mums.
What do you hope to gain from BritMums Live 2015? Friends and lots of blogging knowledge!
Do you have any tips to pass on to others who may not have been before? If you enjoy the blogging community from behind your computer screen, then you’ll enjoy it in person too.

May 4, 2015 by lambandbear Leave a Comment

#FamilyTested 04.05.15

I’ve got some exciting news… this week I’m co-hosting the Family Tested Linky with The Giggles Family. A new name and a new host!

Knowing which family products work the best, last well or are new on the scene can help families select their new purchase correctly and with reassurance. With the new name change you can come and link up any review you have suitable for the whole family. We believe the best testers are parents AND their kids!

So if you’re a blogger who’s reviewed a new product and your family liked it, (or it benefited someone), feel free to add it below. It can be anything from a useful toy, kids bedroom accessory, or children’s clothing, to a recipe, household product, or beauty product that made you feel ready to get on with being a fun mum or dad.

Both The Giggles Family and Lamb & Bear have linked our reviews below. Please pop over to comment on them as a thank you for hosting, along with two others in the linkup. The more you share the love the more you shall receive.

If you tweet @thegigglesblog and/or @Lambandbear with the #FamilyTested hashtag, we will retweet it to our combined 5000+ followers.

A BIG PS The Giggles Family are also looking for new guest hosters over the year for the linky. If you would like to co-host for a week, please get in touch with them!

(Disclaimer: The Giggles Family and all cohosts cannot be held responsible for the content of other peoples websites or the reliability of their reviews)

Don’t forget to grab the badge below to add to your post or write the link in your post clearly so people can find your review easily.

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<a href="http://www.thegigglesfamily.com" title="The Giggles Family" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g456/cutesyglam/KidTested%20Badge-01.png" alt="The Giggles Family" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
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An InLinkz Link-up

May 3, 2015 by lambandbear 8 Comments

Leap Frog Musical Table Review

Earlier this year we were sent a Leap Frog Musical Table to try and review.

Lamb had a similar table when he was younger and went through phases of playing with it, so it has been stored away because we thought he was bored of it.

When the Leap Frog Learn & Groove Bilingual Musical Table arrived he seemed really excited. He helped me put it together and started playing with it immediately.

A little bit about the table…

“The award-winning Learn & Groove Musical Table engages and entertains with more than 70 learning songs, tunes and learning responses, sparkling lights and lots to spin, slide, push, pull, open and close. In Learning mode, babies and toddlers can explore letters, numbers from 1 to 10, colours and opposites – in either English or French. Flip the page to Music mode and your child can move and groove to songs and melodies, including nursery rhymes, real instrument sounds and upbeat dance tunes. Remove the legs for baby to play and explore on the floor, and then attach them for standing play. The detachable legs also allow for easy travel and storage.”

With a recommended age of 6-36 months, you could easily buy this product for your child’s first Christmas or Birthday, however personally I would wait until they are around 18 months. Lamb got his previous one for his first Christmas (he was 9 months) and it was just too early. He wasn’t interested.

However receiving the Leap Frog table when Lamb was around 20 months, I noticed how much more he wanted to play with the table. He understood the stapes, colours and sounds much more than before. Every time he sees the table he asks me to get it out for him to play with.

I was really impressed to find this table is bilingual and can be set in either English or French mode, meaning Lamb can start learning French from a very young age!

Lamb (who is now 2) loves shapes and colours, so loves telling us what colours he can see on the piano, or which shape button he is pressing. He’s also a big fan of books, so loves turning the page. If I was to give this musical table one criticism it would be there aren’t enough pages! He always seems pretty disappointed when he realised there’s only one page to turn.

Overall, I would recommend this product if you’re looking for something of it’s kind, however I wouldn’t buy this for a 6 month old. Although, knowing you can remove the legs, means the younger babies can explore the buttons and sounds on the floor. Obviously this wasn’t something I could test out, but I’m sure Lamb would have enjoyed it when he was a baby.

April 30, 2015 by lambandbear 11 Comments

Dear Lamb, thank you for being you

I know, I know, I’m supposed to be on holiday and I’m going to get a big slap on the wrists from Mummy Bear, but this is something I felt the urge to write.

Lamb is 2. So that means we’re at the terrible twos stage, right?

Well, we’re not. Not in my eyes.

You probably won’t remember, but I wrote this post last year and mentioned I thought Lamb was going through the terrible twos when he turned one, because of the tantrums we were dealing with.

Maybe I was right?

Today, in fact this whole holiday, has opened my eyes to what a lovely little boy I have.

We got home from a lovely albeit long day out. Lamb was tired and a little grumpy, but we decided to take him swimming for the last hour it was open.

This instantly cheered him up. Into the changing rooms, clothes off, swimming stuff on.

When it came to getting out he was a little reluctant, and in my head I was thinking “please don’t have a tantrum”.

Well, he didn’t. He was perfect.

He sat on the baby changing table happily playing with the staps that prevent them from rolling off, while Joe and I got dressed.

He didn’t make a sound.

Around us we could hear screaming babies and children. All ages.

Lamb was perfectly well behaved.

Ok, I know this doesn’t happen every time, but it happened this time and it made me very proud of my little boy.

As parents we all focus on when our children misbehave and let it get to us.

But what about the times when they are little angels?

Today opened my eyes. Today made me realise I need to stop letting the tantrums and crying bother me.

From now on I will look at times like today, when he is a pleasure to be around, and think how lucky I am to have such a beautiful boy.

Yes, one day Lamb will be the one screaming in the changing rooms, and there will be another mother listening on with a sympathetic ear.

But let’s just remember, our children are who they are. They may be prone to tantrums, never listen or point blank refuse to do as they are told. But I guarantee they will also be the ones who give the best cuddles, tell you they love you and say please and thank you.

Today, I was filled with so much love for Lamb. He’s my Little Lamb and I love him just the way he is.