A Little Lyrical

11Jul 2017

Pregnancy Week 20 – Baby number 3

by Lyric ⋅ 1 Comment

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.

06Jul 2017

We’ve been keeping a secret….shhhhh!

by Lyric ⋅ 3 Comments

It’s a secret we’d love to share.

With any post that starts with a headline like that I’m sure you’re going to guess instantly!

And you’d be right, we are looking forward to welcoming baby number three later this year.

New Baby!

Baby number three is our final edition to the family and we are over the moon to be so grateful to be having a healthy pregnancy so far.

Today I am 19 weeks pregnant.

We had a private scan at 16 weeks to find out the sex of the baby. It’s a third boy. People often ask me how I feel about this and if I wanted a girl. I’ll be honest, I would have loved a little girl HOWEVER we did not have a third baby for that reason. I have always seen myself with three babies and so I am over the moon to be having a third boy. I know boys. I sometimes imagine myself with a girl but it’s odd, not me, I’m so used to boys now that this little guy will be right at home with his two older brothers.

Financially it makes perfect sense, we already have many things that are boy oriented, clothes, bedding, toys. Not that I believe in gender stereotypes because I don’t. What we do have though, our boys have loved and chosen so I’m sure a third boy will too.

It’s funny having a third, because quite often I forget I’m pregnant, I think of things in the future like Christmas etc and don’t imagine us as a family of 5 I always see a 4.

When it’s your first baby the pregnancy is your sole focus, by baby number two you’re that busy that it goes quickly and you forget and I’m finding that number three is flying by! It doesn’t seem two minutes since we found out.

Looking Forward

I’ve seen a midwife a couple of times now and next week is the 20 weeks scan which I’m looking forward too. It’s the last time we’ll see baby until he arrives earth side.

I’m planning another home birth as I can’t imagine giving birth anywhere else. You can read about my last homebirth here. I’m also hoping to breastfeed as I have done with the other two boys.

As I know this baby is my last I’m also making endless list of things I’d like to buy. With the other two I didn’t really buy anything new, the pram, cot etc were all scouted from selling sites. Baby things are often so expensive. It’s hard to justify their cost when we have so many other household priorities. A girl can dream though and I’ll be writing about some of my wish lists between now and the baby arriving.

For now though I’m happy to accept advice from mummies (and daddies) or three or more! All advice and tips welcome!

08Jun 2017

Weekend adventures up in the trees – Tree Top Nets Manchester

by Lyric ⋅ 2 Comments

Tree Top Nets – Heaton Park, Manchester

I always like to try and get out and about to do something on the weekend at least for one of the days. This weekend was no exception as we were invited down to Heaton Park in Manchester to try out the newly opened Tree top nets adventure!

It really is what it says – Tree top nets!

Think a safe play space strung between trees which at points is 12m off the ground.

It’s hard to get a full picture because it’s hidden within the woodland area.

Theres 175m of walkways made from nets in the beautiful surroundings of Heaton Park Woodland. Don’t worry though about falling off the nets as you are always completely surrounded by high net sides so you don’t even need to wear a harness.

The lack of harness means that it’s suitable for most people age 3 and up.

If your children are aged 7-11 you are allowed to supervise up to 5 of them from the ground underneath the nets but I highly recommend taking part. It’s so much fun!

To me it seemed like you were walking on a soft trampoline base all the way around the nets. It’s almost like very slow bouncy running, an odd sensation but one you soon get used to.

What’s it like?

The nets are arranged in a large circle with ‘rooms’ off to the sides. Theres two areas with large inflatable balls which the boys really enjoyed. They joined in with other peoples games as they were rolling the balls to each other. They rolled over the balls, and enjoyed throwing them.

There is also an under 7 areas, which was great for the smaller people. As well as a little chill out area, which is a tree house. As a parent the chill out area was great to get your legs steady again and also to view all the nets and see what the children were up to! The session is also supervised by a qualified instructor who can often be found in the chill out area keeping an eye on everyone.

The session you pay for is 2 hours long which for young ones was quite a long time so we did come off before the session ended as the boys were getting exhausted. The slightly older children who took part will still very much tearing around though so it prob depends on their age and stamina!

Tree top nets prices and location can be found can be found online here.

The Best Part

I think Thomas would say the ‘funnest’ part was the rope slides. There are 4 slides made of rope which you need to use a sack to slide down.

I didn’t take part….I couldn’t…they looked pretty scary and made me nervous even watching. Being a 5 year old though it was a different story! There were lots and lots and lots of goes on the slides!

Treetop nets was great fun, and makes a great alternative to an indoor play area! Although it is a higher priced activity, you do get a longer session. I can testify that your legs will feel it the next day so it’s a great form of exercise too. Something the whole family can enjoy!

We’d like to thank the team at tree top nets for inviting us down to check it!

05Jun 2017

Geronimo 2017 – What we saw, did and enjoyed!

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

Geronimo 2017 is over! I can’t believe after all the build up and looking forward to it, that it’s already over for another year!

I don’t want this to be just another trip report post, I want to let the pictures do the talking.

Geronimo incase you don’t know its a family focused 3 day festival. This year it was in a new bigger and better venue Arley Hall in Cheshire. The festival site was well spread out which we loved. This year the organisers also introduced the option to camp at the event. Initially we were going to camp for the weekend but plans transpired against us and so instead we spent two full days there.

We managed to cram so much into two days we were left tired and happy festival goers by the end of the weekend. Next years date will be going in the calendar as soon as we know when it is!

Our Parenting Highlights

Enjoying being outside in massive field to run around in
Having time to sit down and watch the children free play with junk modelling
Watching the children laugh at the circus act

The Childrens’ Highlights

Professor Pumpernickel Science show
Cirque du Hilarious – they really laughed a lot!
Katy Ashworth on stage while we had our packed lunch
Monkey Do tree top nets
The fairground rides (these were an extra charge of £1 per ride)

What we thought might be improved for next year

The maps could have been a little more detailed
We’d really appreciate more hand washing stations near the porta-loos – we took our own hand foam but nothing beats hand washing
A list or rough guide of actives that need to be booked for a time slot so we could prioritise – theres just so much to do

But they were just minor points, we had THE most amazing two days at the festival, there was so much to see and do and we will definitely be back for next years. Geronimo just gets bigger and better each year! Thanks for the memories Geronimo 2017!

If theres one photo that sums up the whole festival besides the one above which my eldest adores I think its this one…..

21May 2017

My Sunday Photo – Bad windy hair day!

by Lyric ⋅ 5 Comments

My Sunday Photo – May 21st 2017

This week I picked a photo of my youngest. We were all having a family day at a local attraction, an ice cream farm. We were playing mini golf and he sat down for a rest. He has such long hair because I love long hair on boys (plus he doesn’t like getting it cut!). The wind caught it at just the moment hubby went to take his picture. His face is funny fighting against the wind, with his hair flying everywhere. I love the boys so much.

19May 2017

Fighting Anxiety – What triggered me this week

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

Fighting my Anxiety

I’ve written about what causes me massive worry before here. I have Emetophobia and it causes me to suffer from anxiety.

This week we had a letter home from school, and this is what it said.

In short it says that once again theres a sickness bug going around school. My absolute worst fear. This simple letter sent me into a bit of a panic.

My head was working overtime.

Did the boy look ill?

Was he showing any signs.

Has he washed his hands at school before eating and going to the toilet?

What would the next few days bring.

How would I cope.

What if we all got it.

What if it never stops?

I feel ill myself, wondering if it was starting.

I have a bit of a coping kit and routine. If I think the children are ill I need to set up a camp in the spare room to isolate them in (not alone of course, with one of us!).

I keep a bucket full of all the things we might need which includes:

Kitchen roll

Towels

Antiviral Hand Foam (its the only one that kills norovirus, alcohol gel doesn’t)

Clinell Wipes (again kills norovirus, I buy mine from Amazon)

Bottle of bleach

Black bags to put washing in so I can tie it up and move straight to the washing machine

Box of disposable gloves

This is my coping mechanism, knowing that at a moments notice I can be ready to fight my fear if I have to.

The last coping mechanism is my best friend and hubby, he is amazing when the children are ill and I sometimes wonder what I would do without him. I guess I’d have no choice but to cope but knowing he’s always with me helps my anxiety lessen. He knows how I feel about it and although to him it’s irrational he tries to be sympathetic to it.

For now thankfully after a sleepless night worrying we are thankfully free of anything nasty so far. I’ll keep using the hand foam before and after school and of course keeping up with hand washing at every opportunity.

16May 2017

Blog On Linky – My introduction – here’s my link up!

by Lyric ⋅ 6 Comments

This is my 4th Blog On and I’m just as nervous I think as the first! I’ve been blogging for almost 3 years and I still feel like an utter newbie. At the first blog on I felt so nervous that I drank way too much coffee and ended up with an almost panic attack! I learnt from that first one to stop with the coffee!!

So here it is – my Blog on linky answers!

Share a recent picture of you – this was me on a recent child free work night out after I’d had all my hair chopped off and changed to blonde! (I used to have really long brown hair)
Describe yourself in three words – Tall, friendly, chatty (when I’m not nervous!)
How long have you been blogging and what made you start? – 3 years, inspired and encouraged by my good friend Jenny Taylor (Lets Talk Mommy)
What was the inspiration behind your blog name? – I’ve always loved the word Lyric it was what my online name used to be so it kind of made sense to call it ‘A Little Lyrical’ as it meant talking about stuff
What is the best thing to come from your blog so far? – My memories that I have forever of the children for them to read

Your most remembered thing from your childhood – How much my mum loved me and always tried her hardest to provide for us
Something interesting you might not know about me is – I really love singing and wish I’d done more with music in my younger years
Which social media platform best describes your personality and why? – Instagram, although I don’t use it as much as I should I love how visual it is
What is your happy song? – Amazed by Lonestar, it’s mine and hubbys song and reminds me of all our amazing times together
What is your favourite alcoholic drink – Baileys!

What is your favourite cake? – Syrup sponge pudding and custard
What is your favourite takeaway dish? – I love anything from the starters, so nibble bits, popadoms, dips etc
Where is your dream holiday destination and why? – Walt Disney World, its addictive, I absolutely love the place
What would your superhero name be? – I’m not sure maybe Super Jane (boring!!)
If you had a magical power, would you want to have and why? – To help genuinely poor people, especially children living in poverty

What one weapon would help you survive a zombie apocalypse? – A nuclear bunker with a lock – I hate zombies
If you could send something into space, what would it be? – Homework for the kids
What would you have on your gravestone? – Nothing I’m being cremated to fly in the wind
You make headline news around the world in 2 years time… but for what reason? – I marry Prince Harry
If an EMP wiped out all mechanical forms of transport, how would you get to BlogOn? – Bike, I don’t live super far away thankfully or is that mechanical, oh well I’d walk then!

I’m really looking forward to Blog On again this year but still I’m nervous, if you see me please say hi, I’m not good with introducing myself outside of work situations!

24Apr 2017

National Stationery Week 24th-30th April 2017 -How to get involved!

by Lyric ⋅ Leave a Comment

National Stationery Week

When I found out it was national stationery week I was very excited. To me holding a week to celebrate all things stationery is to many the same as ‘Eat as much chocolate as you can week’. My mum has always said I was born with a pen in my hand. From the moment I could draw I would. I’ve always loved writing from an early age.

I remember one of the jobs at school was to tidy the stationery cupboard, my hand couldn’t go up quick enough. I was in my element getting close to lots and lots of stationery! There something special about the smell of a fresh box or pencils or a pad of paper.

Since growing up and being able to afford my own little luxuries I can often be found online browsing youtube videos of pens and other items. Things I can add to wish lists for when birthdays come around.

Bullet Journal

In the last couple of years I have discovered something called Bullet Journal. If you don’t know what it is then just google it, or look on youtube. Its a paper way of keeping your life organised. I now always carry with me a dotted notebook and keep my whole life in it. List, lists lists! Lists help to keep me organised. I’ve yet to find an app as good a a pen and paper. To me a list or plan on pen and paper is real. An app can easily be closed and ignored. Once pen hits paper it almost becomes more real. My bullet journal is decorated on the outside with wash tape and stickers.

My worst habit it probably buying notepads. I have a whole shelf at home on the bookcase dedicated to notepads. I put myself on a self imposed ban for a while. One person can not possibly need so many notepads…can they?

In the fantastic package I was sent to celebrate National Stationary Week there were lots of fun things including this beautiful dog page markers which I adore!

Favourite Pen

The thing that I really wanted to try was the fountain pen, I’ve not used a fountain pen in many years. Probably since I was at school.

Theres something very special about pushing an ink into the end of a fountain pen, hearing the click as it pops the end so the ink can flow through down to the nib. The shiney nib with its tiny rounded end.

The way it flows on the paper as the ink comes out, its something I’ve fallen in love with all over again.

The Week Ahead

Each day during national stationary week theres a different theme:

Monday 24th April – Pen and Pencil day

Tuesday 25th April – Get Crafty

Wednesday 26th April – World Stationery Day

Thursday 27th April – Thank you Thursday

Friday 28th April – Fountain Pen Friday

Saturday 29th April – Signature Saturday

Sunday 30th April – Write a letter day

All the information about National Stationery week can be found on the website. There’s loads of ideas of how you can get involved and get children involved too. My eldest needs lots of encouragement when it comes to writing. Its not his strongest subject at school but with all the fun things in our package I don’t think it will take him long join in when he’s using rainbow pencils!

Finally why not join in by showing everyone your stationery love or ideas, use the hashtag #NatStatWeek to share!

05Apr 2017

Geronimo Festival 2017 Tickets Competition

by Lyric ⋅ 38 Comments

Geronimo 2017

As winter has now turned into Spring the year is already whizzing away. If you are already looking forward to the longer days and lighter evening s you might be planning ahead for the bank holiday weekends. I might just be able to help with settling some plans. I have been given the chance to offer a fantastic competition prize for one lucky family to Geronimo 2017. The prizes consists of one family day pass to either Sunday 28th May or Monday 29th May.

Headliners at this years festival Geronimo 2017 include Justin Fletcher, Katy Ashworth, Mr Bloom, Andy Day, Cook and Line, Amazing Arabella and Alex Winters. TIf you haven’t been to Geronimo before then you’ll be surprised at how many live shows and spectacles there are to see. Expect hands on activities including a live circus tent, donkey rides, mobile caving and archery.

Geronimo Festival 2017 moves this year to a new home at Arley Hall. As well as a new home there are also opportunites for onsite camping.

If you fancy winning a family day pass then enter the competition below and keep your fingers crossed!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

But don’t worry if you don’t win you can still buy tickets from the Geronimo website here so you don’t miss out on the fun.

Ticket Prices: Day tickets start for £25pp/ A two day pass is £39pp/ A three-day pass is £55pp/ A weekend camping pass with ticket to the festival is £60pp
T&C’s: The competition closes on 19/04/17. We have one family one day pass to giveaway. Each pass admits 4 people, one person in the group must be aged over 18 (NB children under the age of 2 years do not require a ticket). The winning family can attend either 28th May or 29th May. Travel and accommodation are not included. The prize is non-refundable and no cash alternative will be offered. The prize is non transferable and ID will be required at time of collecting the ticket wristband upon arrival. Prize includes all events included with a standard ticket at Geronimo but not food and drink from any stalls or bar. Winner chosen at random using rafflecopter and contacted within 48 hours of competition close via email. If winner does not contact myself within 72 hours of winning email being sent then the competition will be redrawn and new winner identified.

04Apr 2017

Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester – Launch Night

by Lyric ⋅ 2 Comments

Now you might be wondering why Legoland Discovery Centre is having a launch. If you live in the Northwest area you’ll probably realise that Legoland Discovery Centre has been there for many years already. Even a fantastic place like Legoland Discovery Centre needs a facelift every so often!

This week we were kindly invited down to a VIP launch night for Legoland Discovery Centre. Keen showcase it fabulous attractions including the new Lego Ninjago City adventure.

As existing Merlin Annual Pass holders, we have been regulars visitors to the Legoland Discovery Centre. We live quite close so are lucky that we can pop in frequently. The Legoland Discovery Centre can be found at Barton Square (part of the Trafford Centre).

You may think that the attraction being based at a shopping centre wouldn’t be that big but you’d be wrong. You initially enter via the ground floor but are quickly directed upstairs and through the Lego factory tour where Professor Brick explains all about how lego is made. This is possibly my eldest favourite part, he knows it word for word he’s been through that many times. He still always wants to watch though. I won’t describe the whole process as I don’t want to spoil it for your first visit!

Once through the factory the first thing you will come across is the Lego Ride. It’s a good idea to ride it at this point. Although you can go back once inside the main area the children probably won’t want to leave!

What’s New?

This is the first time we’ve been back to Legoland Discovery Centre since the fantastic refurb and the boys were impressed. A whole new soft play area. The previous one was looking tired and a change is always great. It’s now Ninjago themed with a great ballpool area.

We were also surprised to see a moving climbing wall has been installed too, this looks like great fun.

The other thing thats been updated is the cafe. Previously the cafe offered a range of sandwiches, sweet treats and drinks. With an eating area just adjacent to the cafe.

Theres a new seating area too which looks much nicer than the older picnic bench style seating.

We were very glad to see that old favourites were still there, the go kart ride and the wizard ride as well as the build and race area.

And one of the boys favourite the 4D cinema!

New attractions alongside the new play area also include a Creative Workshop and a Circus area. We didn’t get chance to do either on the launch night as we ran out of time. The play area really did keep their attention for quite a while!

Of course any day out wouldn’t be complete with a visit to the gift shop and as you’d expect the Legoland Discovery Centre shop is floor to ceiling lego. With something for every budget you’re sure to find so the right thing to come home with to remember your trip.

Thanks to Legoland Discovery Centre for inviting us down to see the new attractions, we’ll be back soon!

The Legoland Discovery Centre does get busy at weekends and school holidays so I’d advise you to book online to guarantee entry. Prices start from just £11 per child and £15 per adult when purchased in advance online. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre website.