Back to Slimming World – Week 2 Weigh in 2018

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Slimming World – – Week 2 Results

Well Tuesday rolled around rather quickly and it was time for slimming world again!

Have I been on plan all week? Not exactly. I’m trying to follow the basic principles. Trying to fill up on speed and free foods when I can. It’s a little harder when I haven’t been to the supermarket to get the right foods in. Husband has been doing mini shops here and there so I’ve been trying to add things to the list.

Things I love like the free yogurts to have with my oats and fruit in the morning.

I’ve been making a conscious effort to drink lots of water too which isn’t hard given I’m a thirsty breastfeeding mum at the moment. My main let down is being out of the house and not having water. I need to remember to take some with me.

I’ve done a little exercise but not a lot. It’s hard with 3 children and especially with one being so little still, I can’t really leave him with anyone as he needs me very often. I have however been on a few walks and I’ve done housework whilst I’ve been baby wearing him so I suppose that counts.

I really need to concentrate more this week. Knuckle down a bit and focus on what I’m doing. I find that if I don’t write things down I loose sight of whats going into my mouth so I will try and use the new book I’ve been given to make sure things get written down.

The thing I love most about Slimming World is that you can eat the free foods whenever you want. I can literally go to the fridge and pick whatever I want from the free food category (if its in there!) and just eat when I’m hungry.

So I’ve done another short vlog this week about my progress and how things are going. Also my results for this week are in there.

You can find week one by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

This is AWKWARD!

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My first vlog!

Ok, so new year new start and all that!

I have long been addicted to watching youtube. I love it. My most recent love being the many speed cleaning videos. They are so motivational for me.

However youtube has taught me lots. I’ve learnt how to tile a bathroom. Change brake pads on the car.  How to mend a big hole in the art ceiling. It really is my go to media for everything.

So in 2018 I thought I’d try starting some regular vlogs. I love watching other people’s everyday life.

first vlog

I know I had to start some where. I’m sure most people hate the sound of their own voice and watching themselves on camera. I am no exception to that.

I have however made my first vlog……I’m cringing just thinking about it.

But I figure if I don’t start somewhere I really will never get started.

So here it is!

Drum roll……………my first terrible vlog. Entitled “My first terrible vlog!”

It’s very short as I kinda have my hands full at the moment with a new born and two others and I hereby promise to do better.

Please be kind…….ekkkk

Babies First Christmas Gifts – My top picks this season

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Babies First Christmas Gifts

So as I’m now counting down the days to our babies first Christmas my thoughts are turning to gifts. I’ve got a few friends with new babies this year too so have a few bits to buy. Our baby will only be 3 and a half weeks on Christmas day so won’t remember anything about Christmas. I’d like to buy him something with sentimental value. Something that he can look back on in years to come and be reminded that it was his first Christmas gift.

I’ve put together a small list of items I’ve been thinking about buying for our little guy and for other babies that I have to buy for.

Of course Christmas isn’t just about the gifts, it’s about love and family and happiness and celebrating the birth of Jesus. To quote one of my favourite Christmas songs, “It’s true wherever you find love it feels like Christmas”

So in no particular order (as they say on I’m a celebrity!) this is my top picks this year!

Guess How Much I Love You Booties

We absolutely love this story in our home. Flixster has the hare from the story as his favourite toy that he takes to bed every night. So when I saw these I thought they’d be perfect for a gift to keep for years. As well as practical while the winter month are here to keep tiny tootsies warm!

find me a giftThey come in a beautiful keepsake box and are perfect for a girl or boy. You can find them here on the Find me a Gift website.

Wooden Car Transporter

For a friends almost 1-year-old baby I have chosen this Classic World car transporter that you can buy from the Hippychick website. I love wooden toys because they always last far longer than plastic counter parts. The car transporter is so well made and comes with 3 wooden cars to load onto it.

classic world hippychickChilds Farm – Baby Bedtime Set

We’ve used Childs Farm products for some time now at home so I’m often recommending them to friends. Especially when my mum or dad friends are worried about delicate little skin. I was recommended Childs Farm by a friend of mine who raved about it clearing up her dry skin, so even I use it now and love it. When I found out that Childs Farm sell a baby bedtime kit I thought it was a great introductory gift for a new mum or dad no matter what age the baby. The set contains full size bottles of Baby Wash, Baby Moisturiser and Baby bubbles. The products are all suitable for newborn upwards.

 

All the Childs Farm products, of which there are many can be seen on their website.

Babies First Christmas 2017 Set

I’m a sucker for anything with the year on it when it comes to Christmas. Each year we buy a bauble with the year on it somewhere. A tradition we started as a couple when we moved into our first home together. When our boys came along we also bought them their own baubles too with the year on. So when I saw this set in John Lewis I fell in love.

It comes with a photo album, a photo frame, a jelly cat toy and most importantly a first Christmas bauble to treasure.

London Bus Hat and Socks

If like me you have family and friends who live in other countries then you may be looking for small light gifts to send from the United Kingdom. I absolutely adore these items available from the Museum of London Shop. Don’t worry you don’t have to live in London to buy them either. They are available for mail order so you can wrap them up and send them to family abroad.

The designs are super cute and I love the iconic London bus.The socks have little rattles in them to keep baby amused while the hat is sure to keep little heads toastie in winter.

I’ve absolutely adore Christmas and really enjoy scouring the internet for more unusual gifts that not everyone thinks of. I hope my list gives you just  a little more inspiration if you too are stuck for baby gifts this Christmas.

I was not paid by anyone for this post, for some of the items I was sent a sample but I have chosen to feature all the items myself.

Easy Microwave Syrup Sponge Pudding – Current Pregnancy Craving

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I’m 35 weeks pregnant now and have a current craving for syrup sponge pudding! Now it’s hands down my all time favourite pudding so no surprise that it’s a craving. My love of syrup sponge has been long known about by most of my family. Even on my wedding day the hotel chef made it as a special off menu dessert for our wedding breakfast. I even had two helpings as one of my guests knew he didn’t like it and sent his portion to the head table for me! So when Panasonic approached me about their new Panasonic combination microwave range I couldn’t think of a better recipe to include in a post about microwave cooking!

microwave syrup sponge

So I give to you the recipe my wonderful hubby uses to make a quick and easy microwave syrup sponge pudding whenever the mood takes me! I lucky to have such an indulgent husband that he will make this on demand. He knows not to come between a pregnant women and her syrup sponge!

Ingredients you’ll need:

5 Tablespoons of self-raising flour

2 Tablespoons of caster sugar

1 large egg

3 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil

2 Tablespoons golden syrup (also extra for serving with if you are like me and like it to be very syrupy!)

Lemon zest (optional)

Custard to serve (or cream if you prefer)

microwave syrup sponge

How to make microwave Syrup Sponge Pudding

We use a 1 pint size microwaveable bowl to mix and cook in. Put the coconut oil into the bowl and microwave for 10 seconds to soften. Add the flour and the sugar into the bowl and mix together. Next add the milk and egg, lemon zest (if using) and mix again. Last add the golden syrup to the top of the mixture, this will not need mixing in as it will sink to the bottom of the bowl and make a delicious syrup topping when poured out.

microwave syrup sponge

Put the bowl into the microwave and cook on full power for approximately 3 minutes, during this time keep an eye on the pudding and stop the microwave if the pudding stops rising and springs back to the touch.

Allow to cool for a minute then carefully tip the pudding out onto a plate to serve. Split the pudding into portions in bowl and add some custard to serve with.

Ah voila! Syrup sponge in minutes whenever you fancy!

microwave syrup sponge

Panasonic sponsored this post but I have full editorial control over its content.

Christmas Stash Photographs – What are they really saying?

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I’ve been wanting to write a post for a while about ‘Christmas Stash’ photographs. As an avid social media fan I’m often found browsing Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. They are my go to social media. I don’t really get snapchat, maybe I’m too old. A few people have tried to teach me but I just don’t get it!

I’m in lots of different facebook groups. I have lots of varied interests so it really is a wide range of groups. Around this time of year my feed starts to fill up with other parents ‘Christmas stash’ photos. If you’ve never seen one, let me explain. It’s usually a photograph or photographs of a pile unwrapped of toys/gifts for a child (sometimes children). The photos are always accompanied by an explanation and often a question. The question is usually “Is this enough?” or “What else can I get?”.

This is what I just don’t understand. Why are people posting pictures of piles of presents and then asking if it’s enough or what else they can get?

Surely if its ‘enough’ is an individual decision. What some families might consider enough may be way over the top for others or visa versa.

Surely the amount or quantity of presents is an individual decision. I’m often left wondering if the photographs are just to show off? Is it that the person posting the photograph wants people to say that its way to much to make them feel better?

Is the poster feeling better about themselves by proving how much they can give their own child?

Do they do it to make other people feel inadequate?

I just don’t get it, to me it seems like showing off.

I honestly doesn’t bother me how much other parents by their own children.

What does bother me though is that these kind of photographs maybe making the parents feel upset, sad or inadequate.

If it’s your families tradition to buy 100 presents at Christmas then so be it. If you just get one per child then thats cool too. It’s ok to be proud of working hard and being able to afford to buy gifts.

It’s sad that in todays society there are so many people struggling with money, and many can’t afford to buy gifts for children at Christmas. Many can’t even afford food year round not to mention at Christmas.

I don’t even know what the purpose of this post is. Maybe if it makes one person think before posting a picture with the words “What else can I get?” or “Is this enough?”.

Enough is what you personally think is enough.

Enough is what you can afford to give at Christmas.

No two families are the same.

Children remember the love they feel and have felt in years to come not the gifts they receive.

 

 

 

 

Does 3 children tip the balance too far? – Thoughts at 30 weeks pregnant

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3 Children – My thoughts

If you haven’t read my blog before then the first thing you should know about our family is that we have two boys age 6 and 3. Our third little boy is due to join us at the end of November this year.

new baby

Growing up I always saw myself with 3 children if I was to be blessed with any. I like odd numbers. I know some people don’t but to me odd is good. The age gap will be pretty even between them all. They are all boys too which I think is nice. I won’t lie I have always loved the thought of a girl but it wasn’t meant to be and I’m ok with that. I’m head over heels in love with my boys now and I already feel a connection to the one I’m growing inside me.

I do worry though that three is two many for me to cope with! I know millions of mums have done it before me. Lots of families now have three or more children. They all seem to cope fine. With this one being a boy we do already have a lot of things suitable for him. Which is obviously a finiancial saving. We will of course have to pay for him to go to nursery and having already spent an eye watering amount on childcare throughout the boys short lives this is a part I’m not looking forward too. But after this one is born and I’m lucky enough to have had my maternity leave then I will want to go back to work.

I’m not the sort of person suited to staying at home all day, as much as I’d love a job I could work from home, I’m far to easily distracted by the other household jobs, cleaning, washing, tidying etc! Plus after this baby I want to focus on me and my career. I want to try as hard as I can to be the best I can be at work. I want to feel like I’m doing a good job and making a difference.

But how will we juggle three? Two will be in school so thats a single drop off and pick up at breakfast club and after school club. The youngest will be in nursery so thats another drop off. We’ve managed two drop offs before, we can do it again!

What about when we’re walking to school though, I only have two hand, to hold when crossing the road. Will my eldest be ok to hold a younger brothers hand? It’s the small things I’m worried about. What if he starts walking into the road and I can’t grab him back in time as I don’t have his hand?

Being emtophobic I can’t bypass the elephant in my head either, what if they are all ill at the same time? How will I cope? What if we all come down with d&v? The rational part of my head says of course I will cope but the anxious part says how?

I’ve had a baby and a toddler together at the same time but what if this time its different? What if I’m trying to feed baby and the middle one needs the toilet while we are out and about? That’s without adding the eldest into the mix! A sling will probably be my best friend again. I remember writing last time about how I cope with a baby and a toddler at the same time. You can read that post here.

baby sling

Learning to Cope

I’m sure I’ll manage some how but sometimes it just feels like I’m wobbling just a little bit. Of course I don’t regret the decision to have 3. In fact I’m pretty damn excited to be doing it all one last time. I’ve been given one last chance to have and hold my very own newborn. I know how quickly time will pass with a baby so need to make sure I enjoy every single second. Including enjoying the last few weeks of pregnancy. But sometimes, just sometimes the wobble happens and I need to give my own head a wobble to stop worrying. Things will work out, it will be ok.

At 30 weeks time is passing very quickly, it’s now roughly 10 weeks until he joins us and I become a new mum for the very last time.

new mum

Blog On Christmas Linky 2017 – I’m joining in!

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 BlogOn Christmas 2017

I’ve been to quite a few BlogOn conferences (I think it’s 4 now?) but I still get nervous going. I don’t really feel like I fit in very well. I have no idea why, everyone has seemed very friendly! In my full time job I am confident in walking into a new room full of people I don’t know and just making networking. With blogging for me it’s very different, I still get very nervous. I love to join in with the link up though as I feel like I get to know something about other people going and that I’m not the only nervous one! So here goes…

BlogOnXmasJumper@2x.png

1. Please share your favourite photo of you.

Ekk do I have to? I’m like most people I don’t like photos of me but I suppose this one is ok. I’m the one in the middle taking the photo, it just makes me laugh when I see this photo. I love the make-up artists style, she was so cool!

BlogOn

2. If you could choose a band to play in your garden for your birthday, who would you pick?

Easy – Take That, I have always been a TT fan but imagine them in the garden, now that would be awesome!

3. What do you take with you for long visits to the toilet?

I’m shy, I don’t use the toilet……

4. What word can’t you spell?

I actually can’t think of that, not because I’m perfect (far from it!) but because by the time I’ve typed things and looked back up the Mac has autocorrected for me!

5. What’s the most unusual job you’ve ever had?

Not had that many different jobs but I suppose driving a tractor on a farm when I was a teenager was pretty unusual?

6. Knitting, sewing or crotchet?

Sewing – I would love to crochet but I have tried several times and I’m pretty rubbish so I’ve given up 🙁

7. Without looking it up, what is a jerkinhead?

I have no idea, at a guess some kind of pickle or maybe a beer?

8. If you could have as much of one food as you wanted forever, what would it be?

Mango – I love mango

9. What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Lived through a sickness bug as I have emetophobia (phobia of vomit and vomiting) so to me its the scariest!

10. If you needed a getaway driver, who would you choose?

My brother, he drives like a maniac but so far touch wood hasn’t hurt himself so I think he could get me away!

11. Would you rather live in Narnia or at Hogwarts?

Hogwarts, the people of Narnia seem to cry a lot and its very very cold!

12. What snack food says ‘Christmas’ to you?

Mince pies – is that technically a snack?

13. Is there life on Mars?

Yes I think so

14. Which Christmas movie would you be a character in, and who would play you?

Jovie in Elf, it’s my all time favourite Christmas film and I’d love to be her singing in the shower with Elf!

15. What are you proudest of?

My children, I’m so proud that I made them and so far have kept them mostly safe growing up!

I’m really looking forward to BlogOn Christmas as it’s my absolutely favourite time of year. I can never have too much Christmas. This time at blog on I’ll be the heavily pregnant one, looking tired and worn out! Can’t wait to see everyone there, please say hi to me it would make my day! I’ll make an effort to say hi to everyone else too without feeling nervous or awkward!

Blog ON Conference

Baby Wish List – Newborn 2017

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Baby Wish List 2017

I’ve thought about writing this baby wish list post for a while now. Whilst thinking about it I have managed to be able to buy some of the things on the list. As it’s baby number three for us you’d think I’d already know what I’d like. Or have most things. It’s true we did keep some things from the other two boys. Some things on the list are things I’ve always wanted and some are dream things.

This baby is our last baby so I’m really trying to enjoy every single second of my last pregnancy.Therefore I also want to enjoy every single moment of the newborn days. I want to enjoy every sleepless night. Every cry that I’m called to. Each nappy change. Every pointless walk to try to get baby to sleep in the pram.

Transport

The first thing on my baby wish list was a new pram. I’ve always loved prams, ever since I was a little girl. I’ve had quite a few with the boys (as my hubby will tell you!) The one I’ve always wanted though is a Bugaboo. The one I’d really like is a Bugaboo Buffalo as I do a lot of walking. Most of my walks involve not so smooth paths and some off-road tracks the buffalo seems perfect for that. Plus I like the height of the handle. Being a 6ft lady I need a high handled pram and the Bugaboo Buffalo really fits the bill with this. I also like the ability to choose a variety if colours for the hood and the accessories available.

The one I’ve been looking at is available many places but I love John Lewis customer service so will probably buy it from there. Just to mention I have no affiliation with John Lewis they have not asked me to link to them, I just genuinely like shopping there and the customer service they offered.

Car Seat

For the boys I had a pretty standard car seat and I borrowed a base from a friend which made getting in and out of the car with a baby and a toddler far easier! This time I’ve looked at a lot of car seat systems and I’ve decided I’d really like a Cyber Cloud Q. I really like that it lies flat when not in the car to make sure baby is in the best possible position. It’s compatible with the Bugaboo Buffalo too which is ideal. It comes in loads of colours and although I currently can’t choose a favourite I do like the dark blue one!

baby wish list 2017

Sleeping

Both boys were breastfed and so wanted to be fed little and often on demand throughout the night. I’m hoping if all goes well I can once again breastfeed this little one. So I expect to be feeding in the night lots and so I want to keep baby close to me. Safe sleep guidelines by UNICEF recommend baby being in their parents room for at least the first 6 months of life. My second baby and I coslept for almost a year. We always followed the golden rules of bed sharing which are:

  • Baby was born full term
  • I did not drink alcohol or use any illegal drugs or legal drugs that would make me drowsy
  • I’m a non-smoker
  • I kept blankets and pillows away from baby (I did not even use a blanket I just dressed appropriately)
  • My hair was tied back and there were no loose cords etc
  • The mattress was a firm flat one not memory foam, we NEVER slept on a sofa or chair, always the bed
  • My husband didn’t stay in the bed with us, this was a choice we made together
  • Baby was not over dressed for the room temperate

I have no idea what this baby will be like in terms of sleep. I would like him to be able to have his own space at night and so would really like a small bed for baby beside our bed. I’ve looked around and have my eye on a Chicco Next to Me Crib to add to the baby wish list. I really like how close it can be to my bed and as space in the bedroom is limited it looks like an ideal solution.

baby wish list

I love this grey one with the white cloud design. I’ve used grey and white to decorate the nursery so I think it’s colours I’m drawn too. Again I’d most likely be buying it from John Lewis as well.

Changing Bag

As this is a baby wish list and not my shopping list I have found my dream changing bag. I doubt I’ll be able to afford it since I’m due to go on maternity leave soon but it doesn’t hurt to look!

With the boys I had a Pacapod changing bag. I used cloth nappies with them both and so found the organisation of a pacapod bag ideal. It as the name suggests has several ‘pods’ to store things and keep organised. Since I bought my first pacapod in 2011 things have come on quite a lot with them and they now produce some amazingly beautiful bags. When I saw this Pacapod Firenze bag in the shop I was immediately drawn to its beautiful looks. I didn’t realise at first it was a Pacapod changing bag. It really does look stunning.

baby wish list

Stunning Pacapod Firenze changing bag

Inside the bag are Pacapods signature pods to keep yourself organised.This really is the stuff my changing bag dreams are made of! I’ve fallen in love with a changing bag!

These are what I’d call my ‘big buys’ the things that will likely cost the most of all the things I’d love for baby. Despite being my third baby it’s taken me a while to make my final choices. I’ve looking at whats out there to buy, things change so quickly in a few short years since my other two were babies.

Now to start working on a wish list for the smaller items and the nursery decorations. I can’t believe there’s only 12 weeks to due date. Where has the time gone?

 

 

Reflections of our Summer – Back to school and back to routine

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brothers

Goodbye Summer…Hello Autumn..

Well that’s it the summer holidays are over for another year! Where has the time gone?

We haven’t been away this year, partly because I’m pregnant, partly because we’re saving for our holidays next year.

At the start of the summer holidays the first few days seemed to drag. How was I going to keep them entertained for 6 and a half weeks?

The youngest is still at nursery 3 days a week over the summer holidays. So for some of the time it was just going to be the boy and I. I am lucky that I am able to take some annual leave from work over the holidays too. Not the whole 6 weeks and not a whole week at a time. Thankfully it meant that between hubby and I the boy didn’t need to go to a holiday club this year.

The summer started well. I somehow survived the first week and was soon hurtling towards weeks two. Although I have to admit the first day was long. I think it always is when you don’t have a purpose for the day or somewhere to go!


In the second week I am very lucky and grateful to have been offered help with he boy by my mum. She let him stay at her house for the 3 days that I had to work and the youngest was still at nursery. His holiday started with a carpet picnic. Is there anything better on a rainy day than a carpet picnic on the floor? We picked all the foods and enjoyed a last dinner together before it was time to leave him there. I don’t really get upset when I leave him at mums for a few nights because I know he’s safe and having a ball with Grandma!

They got up to all sorts, went to a model village, went to the beach, played board games, visited a hall and gardens. I get lots of regular updates from my mum and by all accounts he had a fab time!

blackpool model village

Birthday Week

The next week involved a certain persons 6th birthday! How did my first baby get to 6 years old? He’s made a modest birthday list and we were quite happy to help him obtain his dreams! At first he’d been asking for a Nintendo Switch which is pretty costly at around £300 so we persuaded him to change his mind and he did. He asked for stationary bits (he loves stationary despite not being keen on writing) a microscope, a cricket set, and a nerf gun.

I always like to take a photo of the present set up so that in years to come the boys will be able to remember special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. It was a good job I did take a photo on this occasion as that lovely number 6 balloon didn’t last very long and was sadly popped not long after they got up by littlest person in the family, I was so sad.

For his birthday daddy took the day off work so we could go out on a day trip, sadly the weather didn’t look great so we changed our plans from Alton Towers to Blackpool attractions as they are more indoor based. So we headed off to Blackpool Tower.

Blackpool Tower

I’m trying to take more pictures of myself with the babies these days. I don’t like pictures of me but I know they will want to look back on them in years to come and I don’t want them asking where I was all the time.

After lunch at Pizza Express we headed up the tower to the very top. The boy loved looking out over the town. Not long after we started to come down the rain also started to come down! We were right to chose and indoor day out. The tower also has a children soft play area, so despite my dislike of those places we let them play there for a while too. Followed by a trip to the circus inside the tower. The circus in the tower dates back to 1894. The boys had a great time, laughing at the slapstick comedy and watching in awe at the amazing acts of skill on display.

In the evening although we got back quite late we made time for birthday carrot cake (as requested by the birthday boy) and candles (compulsory on birthdays!).

On the Saturday after his birthday we held a mini birthday party for him with just a couple of close friends. With a party lunch and nerf guns everyone enjoyed themselves I hope!

Birthday party

Summer Illness

The holidays were all going so well then disaster struck! I think it originated from the youngest after he was sick in the night but then I was ill. Really ill with vomiting and diarrhoea. If you’ve read my blog before you may know that I have emetophobia (fear of vomiting) so this to me is my worst fear! But I coped, with the help of my amazing husband I got through it. Thankfully I was able to hide out in the bedroom as we have an ensuite, lock the world out and just get through it. For 3 days I stayed in there, trying to recover, it hit me hard. Maybe because I’m pregnant it seemed worse?

My fabulous husband left me a care package outside the room which really helped.

d & vThe salted pretzels really were the turning point I think. Thankfully the timing of the illness worked out well as hubby was on annual leave from work that week to look after the boys. So I was able to recover in peace and quiet while he took care of everything else. I’m most proud of myself though because I got through my greatest fear and came out the other side, I made it!

Just as I was starting to feel better by day 5 the boy was struck down too. If theres anything worse than being ill yourself it’s when your babies are poorly. So I took him into our bedroom. That I had only just finished bleaching and steam cleaning and looked after him to keep him away from hubby.

d & vThankfully just like his brother he only had vomiting symptoms and luckily they only last for about 12 hours before he was much better. Another long day of washing everything that wasn’t glued down on a very hot wash. Bleaching the whole bathroom and I think we were finally on the mend. Not what we wanted for the holidays but I suppose the timing fit in well. I have to look on the bright side for that one!

The Final Weeks

Time was flying. A week written off to illness and there were only a couple of weeks left until school started. I tried to arrange some fun things to do but again the weather hadn’t been great. For the rest of the post I’ll use photos for the memories.

Playing in the sand at a food festival Movie night watching Trolls for the first time now that it’s come onto Now TV Afternoon tea at Brookholes Nature Reserve

brockholes

Playing in the park (with wellies and raincoats!) Donut treat with his Auntie Legoland discovery centre Manchester Sunday lunch on another rainy day!

Walking back hand in hand from the kite festival at Lytham St Annes (in the rain!)

lytham proms

Last night of the Lytham Proms –  the wettest I have ever been from rain! (was just mum and I but had to slip in the memory)

summer holidaysCinema trip to watch the new Disney Cars movie

I hope we made the most of the holidays. I hope the boys will carry some of the memories with them of how much we got up to. Despite not going on a holiday away from home.

I loved writing this post because it reminded me actually how much we did manage to do. We managed to do it all on a small budget. Whilst trying to fit it all in while still working.

Next years summer holiday may be a little bit different with me trying to juggle the 3 of them! Maybe I should start planning now!

Pregnancy Week 20 – Baby number 3

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Pregnancy Update

So I’m already entering week 20 of pregnancy, I can’t believe the time is going so quickly. This for me is baby number 3, the third and final addition to our family. So I thought it would be nice to do a pregnancy update. That way I can look back and remember what it was like.

You’d think by now I’d remember what being pregnant is like but I didn’t. Thankfully my other two pregnancies were very simple with no complications. This pregnancy so far is also thankfully uncomplicated. I have been given a low risk status and I’m hoping for a home birth. You can read my previous birth story here.

At 20 weeks I don’t really have a bump. I can’t remember if I did with the other two by now.My regular trousers don’t fit anymore so I know something is happening but not a soild bump yet. I think things are just moving up and a little out so far. Still pretty flabby on my tummy.

So far my main complaint would be heart burn. With the previous two boys I had heartburn from very early on. I hate it. It hurts, it makes me feel sick. My early cure seems to be to just keep grazing through the day but this does not help my waistline! I put on quite a bit of weight in the early weeks. So I now take Omeprazole daily and that really really helps. I still sometime have breakthrough symptoms of heartburn and usually this is in the early evening. To help with that I take a liquid solution. Usually a generic heartburn liquid.

I’ve rejoined slimming world at 14 weeks pregnant and in the last 6 weeks I’ve only put on 1lb I’m ok with that, although I really could do with loosing some weight. My goal is to stay the same weight now throughout pregnancy because in theory I will be slowly loosing as baby is growing.

We recently had a night out just the two of us to watch Elbow at a concert in the forest. We don’t go in the evening try often as couple as we don’t really have anyone to babysit. My mum kindly offered but I’m sure when theres 3 of them nobody will be that keen! So instead of a none existent bump picture I have added a snap of us at the concert as our 20 week memory.