Project 365 – Week 1
I’ve come to this a bit late, but I think it’s a good way to stick my goal of being more consistent with my blogging. There’s been a lot of ‘Project 365’ coming up on my Twitter and Instagram feeds and I really enjoy seeing them, and I think this is the best way for me to keep you all updated too. So, instead of doing a daily blog post – I think I’m going to sum up weekly instead! The first full week seems like a better way to start, that way I won’t get confused, because I don’t think my baby brain can handle any more. It can be my Sunday evening reflection if you like..
Firstly, HAPPY (very belated) NEW YEAR! Did we all stay up until midnight and see lots of fireworks…? Sounds like a resounding ‘no’ to me. This year we did because we had guests and cooked, but last year we were in bed at 10pm and missed all of the fun! It seems as you get older, these things become completely overrated, and while everyone else is going to feel rubbish after a night out on the tiles, you’re fresh as a daisy on New Year’s Day and get to enjoy your roast dinner!
So.. what happened for us this week? Toby’s picked up a few new things over night.
- He’s worked out how to play his harmonica, rather than just putting it in his mouth and make a noise himself. It’s actually not that annoying.. yet.
- The teddies are finally feeling the love. They get a cuddle and a stroke before getting launched across the room.
- He’s working out, pretty quickly, that he can go down stairs unaided and has been practicing lots at Nanny and Pops house. Of course he is supervised at all times!
- My nursing chair is his new throne when we’re upstairs, and he loves that he can make it rock!
- Someone(!) thought it funny to teach Toby to blow raspberries on my tummy too.
In other news, we’ve finally got a date set for our kitchen to be ripped out from ceiling to floor! Work was due to start tomorrow, but as we’ve had to get some paperwork sorted, it’s been delayed. Roll on 19th January!
Secondly, we had a huge Spring clean of our clothes and shoes. I’ve been trying to sell lots of the more decent things, but we’ve also binned a lot too. I genuinely feel like there aren’t enough weeks in this pregnancy for us to complete everything I want doing before he makes his appearance. I’m very conscious that I need to make a list for a list for a list!
My plan this week is to make a list of things to get done while we’re moved out for 2 weeks while the kitchen is being done!
I’ll probably be having a breakdown by next Sunday, so best to keep checking on me!
J x
Toby reveals all..
Hi everyone, I’m Toby and I’m 16 months old. My Mummy thought it was best if I took care of this blog post, especially since I’m the one that’s going to be a big brother.
My Mummy and Daddy have been telling me all about a new baby coming, but I’m still not really sure what they’re on about. I just look at them and give them a big clap and a smile at the end of what they’re saying, and that seems to please them.
I’ve heard Mummy and Daddy talking about whether they’d need to sort and wash all of my old things, or whether they’d have to take advantage of the last of the sales. They’ve been talking about a nursery and names. Well, let me tell you.. the new baby is not having my cot, or my milkies.
So am I to have a little brother? Or a little sister? Well..
T x
‘Sophie La Girafe’ protection cream
During my last pregnancy I was really suffering with dryness at the sides of my mouth and no matter what I tried, I simply could not get it to shift. Everything from Vaseline to Chapstick to Carmex – nothing worked. Eventually I took myself to the doctors and after having my blood tested and the results sent through she immediately diagnosed me with something called ‘Angular Cheilitis’. It can be due to a number of things, however mine was due to my poor iron levels and, of course, the immunosuppression that happens during pregnancy.
When I got it again this time round, I knew exactly what it was. I skipped the doctor appointment and booked myself in for a blood test straight away. It came back negative, and so I assumed I was either getting a coldsore, or that the weather was playing havoc with my skin. Again, nothing worked – it maybe helped for a day or two, but then it’d come back with a vengeance.
Last week it had gotten so bad, that I just sat there and cried. You don’t always feel your best during pregnancy as it is, so to be lumbered with this as well, I just felt totally miserable. I was waking up 4 or 5 times a night to moisturise it, applying this and that just to try and get some relief. I didn’t want to kiss my other half, or my little boy because my lips were so wet with some sort of balm. I had 7 cracks on one side of my mouth and it had started spreading across my face. It even looked as though it was weeping where it was so swollen and red, like an angry red. I decided it was probably time to visit the doctor again.
After I came out of the appointment she had prescribed some creams, and had ordered a second blood test, but the said cream I could only apply twice a day at most and had to use a barrier on top, such a Vaseline, which I didn’t want to use.
So, after being very lucky to be sent some ‘Sophie La Girafe’ protection cream (and having been reminded so), which I had accidentally put in the recycling bin, I decided if it was good enough for babies, it was good enough for me. Let me tell you – miracle stuff! I hadn’t even known they did a cosmetic range, I had only known about their Sophie teether, which Toby was very much a fan of!
This little tube of loveliness has been everywhere with me for the best part of 48 hours and I’ve been applying it when I feel I need it to the side of my mouth. Here’s what I love about it:
- Completely non sticky. You don’t even remember you’re wearing it!
- Unlike Vaseline, it doesn’t make the affected area look shiny, so it doesn’t draw attention to the side of my mouth (which was a big thing for me; I was completely paranoid everyone was staring – quite like when you’ve got a huge spot)
- You don’t need a lot – a little really does go a long way
- It smells so good. I really like skin products that are organic and have a purity about them, which this does, and it’s not overpowering at all.
- Not only does it soothe the skin, it allows it to breathe as well. This won’t clog your skin up, or make you feel like you’re wearing a thick layer of it unlike some other lotions and potions.
- This is obviously a baby product, so I’ve been trying it out on Toby too. He has a bit of dry skin at the tops of his arms and this, even in the lastday, has made a huge improvement.
There’s so many things this product does, and this is just one of the ways it helped me. I will definitely be making sure we don’t runout of this stuff!
If you want to try it out yourself, Sophie La Giraffe products are widely available in Boots stores. You can also visit their websites at www.sophielagirafecosmetics.com or http://www.sophielagirafe.co.uk!
J x
What my 15 month old REALLY wants..
With Christmas no sooner than 6 days, or 5 sleeps, away, I am still thinking of things I could possibly get our 15 month old son for Christmas. We haven’t got him much purely on the basis that everyone else is going to be getting him lots of toys, clothes, books and probably money! I don’t really want to get lots of things because I don’t want anything to be duplicated and he already had so many lovely presents for his birthday at the end of August!
But, what does my 15 month old want? Behind those beautiful blue eyes, what does he really want?
The rocks in our fireplace. They appear to be good enough to suck on and have a gnaw at – delicious. They’re rather chalky, so maybe he likes that sort of thing. There’s been more than one occasion where I’ve left the room for a minute or two, to come back and find him with one of these nuggets of yumminess between his teeth and the white chalky stuff around his mouth. Thankfully for us, the whole fireplace is going.. going.. gone! early next year.
Our iPhones, iPads or the remote control. Firstly they’re our phones, secondly they’re a bashing device and thirdly a teether. This is probably our own fault. I often, still, give him my phone, or the remote control, to keep him from wriggling away during a nappy change. We literally can not leave any device any where in this house, not even behind a cushion, because he knows. How does he know it’s behind there? How does he manage to get his favourite program on the TV? Kids just know.
My kitchen cupboards and their contents. BANG. BANG. BANG. The sweet sound of our cupboards being opened and shut normally gives him away, though there have been times when he’s walked in to the living room with something or other. Since we don’t have locks on any of cupboards, it’s pretty easy for him. I’m pretty sure his favourite drawer is the one with the saucepans. Specifically the glass saucepan lids seem to be a hit! His second favourite would have to be the drink cupboard. It wasn’t that long ago he went and helped himself to a bottle of, unopened, wine and managed to drop it. And there it was. All over my kitchen floor. A bottle of red wine.
What is the fascination with plug sockets and the switches? We’ve got socket protectors in all the ones he can reach, and even though he’s stopped poking around in the holes, he still likes to flick them on and off. Especially when I’m hoovering. It’s not annoying at all when you’ve got a hoover half way up the stairs and you have to tell him to turn it back on, or risk going up and down the stairs with the hoover about 50 times to do 12 stairs!!
Nanny and Pop’s bucket of kindling and basket of logs. He loves bashing two of the smaller kindling sticks together to make music, something he does at his Tuesday toddler group with more ‘toddler friendly’ instruments. Creative indeed. It doesn’t matter that these logs are pretty heavy either, he seems to have this unknown strength (don’t they all?) and can pick one up anyway. All he wants for Christmas is a splinter.
But the ultimate, ULTIMATE, Toby must have is the recycling bin. Bits of cardboard, ripped up junk mail, a toilet roll insert and the empty milk bottle! He loves to shake it, try and fit it in his mouth, kick it around and bash it on any surface possible. He’s happy to chew a hole in the empty cardboard egg box, or throw all of my junk mail over the floor. Even when he was in his walker he used to lean over and grab anything within reach. He’s even been known to dip his hand into our regular bin! Boys!
What do your children really want for Christmas?
J
Mummy-to-be must haves – Trimester #1
Everyone knows that the first trimester in pregnancy can be one of the trickiest. If you’re not talking to the porcelain Gods, you’re sleeping and hoping you won’t feel so exhausted. If you’re not sleeping, you’re debating whether you want something to eat. You tend to feel awfully rotten and parent your other kids from the sofa! So what can you do to make yourself feel better? Quite honestly, zilch. I tried everything to help with my nausea, but it hardly ever caved.
This time round it was quite different to my first pregnancy. During the last one, if I felt sick, I normally ended up being sick and would get a bit of relief from it, and it lasted between weeks 8-14. This time, I had it almost a week after I first found out, around 4 weeks, right up until 13 weeks or so. It literally got to point where I thought I’d be better off feeling as though I was dying because it was beginning to get unbearable. Now I’m fine and dandy and in week 16.
Here are some of my top must haves to keep you going!
- Plenty to drink. I am absolutely terrible for my water intake, but found that drinking little and often really helped. I usually kept something a bit more sugary around too. When I don’t feel well, I find the fizz of a nice cold cherry Coke felt lovely against the back of my throat!
- Sleep. Wherever and whenever you can! Catch a cat nap, zonk out in your lunch hour at the desk or get an early night because the first trimester can drain you down to the last of your stores. Not only will you be the mother of all bitches when you’re tired and you’ll have a zero tolerance approach to everyone. Send out a warning to all partners early so they know not to take it personally!
- Take folic acid and vitamin D (or an all round pregnancy supplement that contains them). They’re not absolutely mandatory, but both come highly recommended by most healthcare professionals. Folic acid to protect against the chances of a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida and vitamin D to regulate the calcium and phosphate in your body, for healthy bones and teeth! In turn, your baby will have those super duper pearly whites when they finally pop through. Can’t be bad, right?
- Food. Whatever, whenever, within reason! Don’t go completely stuffing your face, but if you can ever pull your head out of the loo and face it, then have something to eat. Don’t worry too much about dieting right now, just get it in. I had to have whatever I fancied, but whatever I fancied had to be quick, otherwise I’d already feel sick again. This time round, my body has led me to the eating little and often route. As soon as I’d eaten, I’d feel better almost instantly.
- Lip balm and Lansinoh. My absolute God send. In both pregnancies I’ve suffered with ‘angular cheilitis’ – an inflammation of one or more sides of the mouth. Mine tend to go very dry, and this is mostly due to an iron deficiency, although my iron levels this time round are pretty balanced. I’ve tried everything from Vaseline to Chapstick, none of which has worked. It only stops them from getting too dry and cracking. Needless to say I’ll be visiting the loft on Thursday to find out that tube of Lansinoh. Nothing wrong with a bit of nipple cream round your mouth.
- Apps. I had so many pregnancy apps last time round, but have managed to only have two this time. My favourite one has to be ‘Pregnancy+’. Admittedly I started out with the free version, but soon upgraded to the full version. Not only do you get a daily and weekly update on what your baby can now do, you get partner’s info too which is something you don’t find a lot of. Men are often left to kind of ‘deal’ with stuff, so it’s a great way for us to connect. I usually read it out to him in bed every night.
- The number to your midwife. Just because anything can happen in the first twelve weeks. Lots of which could just be you panicking, but also something which could be equally serious. Even if you just need some reassurance, there’s nothing like being able to phone up the midwife for her to tell you it’s normal!
What are your must haves in the first trimester of pregnancy? Did you really suffer with morning sickness, or were you a lucky one who sailed easily?
J
My Babydino guest posts
Ready for round two!
We had a pretty short conversation about more children once we’d found out we were pregnant with Toby. Since he was a wonderful accident, we decided we’d quite like to plan the next one and get them all in with a relatively close age gap. We agreed to start trying again when Toby was around 6 months old. However, if you’ve read some of my other posts you’d probably know that this didn’t go to plan following the birth.
I made the decision that I would like to be “back to normal” before we started trying for another baby. But, since the NHS are so bloody slow, it got to a month or two before Toby’s 1st birthday and we decided to give it a go anyway. If it happens then it happens. If it doesn’t, then I get some more time to get back to me. We hadn’t been using contraception anyway, purely because my body didn’t take to it very well after giving birth.
We got our big fat positive on 25th September! You know when you just know you’re pregnant? I had only missed my period by a few hours. And there it was, in a matter of seconds and clear as day..
PREGNANT. 2-3 WEEKS.
I’ve since had my booking in appointment with the midwife and two scans. We wanted the nuchal translucency test but as the baby was doing a headstand, and wouldn’t move from that very comfortable position, the sonographer couldn’t get the measurements and we had to go back a week later; not that I’m complaining because we got to see our wriggler on the screen again. I was also convinced I was having twins, which we now know I’m not. It started as a hunch and came on very suddenly, then I kept going over things that seemed as though they were “signs”. I was a little bit relieved that we wouldn’t have three children under the age of 2, but a little disappointed that my instincts were completely wrong.
Say hello to baby number two, due at the end of May! We’ll be finding out in the New Year whether we’re having a little brother or sister for Toby.
J
My blogging break
Not literally. Just from blogging; a nice 6 months.
I don’t really have a reason other than I suppose I felt like I didn’t have much to write about anymore. It was really beginning to stress me out and that’s not what I wanted. I didn’t want to write content just for the sake of it and not really have any sort of passion behind it.
I was aware I would probably lose my, rather intimate, audience. Yes, I could’ve asked people to do guest posts for a month, maybe two, but then my blog may have been taken over by them and lost its way. And it turned into 6 months anyway. However, that’s not to say guest posts aren’t great. They’re a brilliant way to get other peoples’ perspectives, build a community and give yourself a bit of R&R.
I guess I’ve had a good chance to gather my thoughts and reflect on where I want my blog to go, and what I would like to get out of it too. Though I wasn’t blogging for that long before I took my unscheduled break, I really felt like I needed to catch my breath and gather some inspiration.
Lots has happened in 6 months. We had our first family holiday to Morocco, more hospital appointments and disappointments and I’m pregnant again! Of course we’ve had some lovely days out too.
I’ll try not to drop off the face of the Earth again so soon and so suddenly. Now.. what shall I post about first?
Have you ever taken a break from blogging, intentional or not?
J
Fill ‘n’ Squeeze -Review-
They say it’s “baby food made squeezee”, so I decided to give it a go.
Toby has always loved the pouches of food that he’s had, except I’d never actually bought him any. I’d always used vouchers, or had lots of free samples, so when it actually came to buying them, I realised just how expensive pouches could be. I was actually really disappointed, because the ingredients really don’t cost that much to buy, so really you’re just paying someone else to put it in a pouch for you. Pretty lazy really.
I’d been toying around with the idea of buying ‘Fill ‘n’ Squeeze’ ever since I saw their demonstration at The Baby Show in May 2012, when I was 6 months pregnant. We didn’t buy one there and then, purely because we didn’t know if we’d ever actually use it and we didn’t want it to sit there and be forgotten about. However, I made the decision to buy one a few weeks ago and start using it. I figured they’d be handy to use now Toby was having regular desserts and is starting to learn to feed himself, so we ordered the starter pack.
You can basically make everything from purees to yoghurts for the babies, and use them for smoothies for the big kids. This is a genuinely genius product with no age limit attached. You could even use one yourself if you really wanted to.
I first used it to make apple and mango puree, and I have to say I made the mistake of not cooking the apple enough and ended up with apple and mango all over my worktop, my floor and my top! I can not stress enough that you need to cook until you can squish it with the masher. Alternatively, I’ve found that for chunkier foods (such as our leftover spaghetti bolognese) we pop it in the food processor and then pop it in the container for squeezing in the pouches.
The pouches themselves are very robust and appear to be very durable, although only time will tell. I find that 5 is quite enough for us at the moment, but you are able to order more separately from the product. These are easily cleaned (yes, they’re reusable) with some washing up liquid and some water (you may even be able to get a tiny bottle brush in there), although one thing I noticed is that sometimes it takes a bit of effort to clean around the spout if the food is mushed in there well enough; I just pulled a couple of bits out with a sharp knife. They’re just the right size and have measurements on the side if you want to keep track of just how much your baby is eating.
When actually filling the pouches, you need to apply just the right amount of pressure to the food going in, if not, once you remove the pouch to attach the next one or put the stopper in, it just comes spewing out and you end up having to tilt it. It’s one of these products that you get better at using, the more familiar you become with it. Either that, or I am just completely useless when it comes to these things!
The pouches can be stored in the fridge or the freezer, heated up in warm water (if you wish to serve the food warm), and babies can easily grab hold of them. Once they work out what happens when they squeeze, they’ll be feeding themselves in no time. I also found it was really good when differentiating between milk feeds and food feeds, because they’re coming from a different spout/teat. It’s also really good for squeezing food onto a spoon if you don’t want the baby getting too messy, or you’re out and about.
This is one of my mummy must haves – baby food made squeezee (and convenient) indeed!
J
Raising the Rings 