How many is too many? Baby clothes

I've been sorting through babies clothes for when she comes and I think I may have hit the "too many" mark!
After counting 30 vests and sleepsuits each for both newborn and 0-3 as well as a couple of outfits I think I've gone a bit overboard?!

Well I decided to ask around and see what everyone else thought was the ideal amount of vests and sleepsuits.

I had answers ranging from 7 of each to 50+ of each.
On average people were aiming around the 15-20 of each mark.

I think that is an average of 5 a day on a 2 day wash.

But how can you choose just 15 cute sleepsuits?

You don't have to be sorry Mummy

After a hard couple of days feeling like all I do is shout and stress, I came across this poem.

It is safe to say it brought me to tears.

Dear Mommy,

You don’t have to be sorry.

The other day, I heard you crying in the bathroom. That was the day that you just couldn’t take it anymore. My brother spilled a gallon of organic milk, which apparently “costs more than college,” and I had an accident on the floor. We both had been screaming and crying all day, and we wouldn’t leave you alone even though you asked for just five minutes.

You locked yourself in the bathroom, and you cried. When you came out, you hugged both of us, and you said you were sorry.

Mommy, you don’t have to be sorry.

Then there was that day that you were on your phone. A lot. You said there were some things you wanted to read and pictures you wanted to see. When you tucked me in at night, you told me you were sorry you were on the phone so much.

Mommy, you don’t have to be sorry.

I remember the day that I was following you around the house crying because I wanted to be held, but you had so much cleaning to do because Grandma was coming. Once all the cleaning was done, you picked me up and cuddled with me on the couch for a minute before I jumped off your lap. That one minute was all I needed, but I saw the look on your face. It’s the same look you make when you tell Daddy, “One day soon, they won’t want to be held at all.”

Mommy, you don’t have to be sorry.

Remember the day you yelled really loudly at me? So loud that it scared me and I started crying? And I was confused because I was scared and I usually want you when I’m scared, but you were the person who scared me, and I didn’t know what to do? Your face softened right away, and you picked me up and promised never to make that sound again.

Mommy, you don’t have to be sorry.

You don’t have to be sorry that you have bad days. I have bad days, too, and you always tell me that it’s OK to have a bad day.

You don’t have to be sorry that you didn’t make dinner. I love when you tell us that dinner is a picnic and we snack off a cheese plate that you put on a blanket on the floor.

You don’t have to be sorry that I didn’t get a bath last night because you were too tired, or that you didn’t want to read a third story, or that you got frustrated because I kept crawling out of bed.

Mommy, I see you. I may not always thank you, or tell you I love you, or do what you want me to do, but I do see you. On the days when you feel sorry, please remember the way my face lights up when you walk in the door, or how your kisses are somehow magic when I’m hurt.

You don’t have to be sorry. When no one else understands what I’m saying, you do. When no one else can comfort me, you can. When no one else could put up with my bad days, you do.

You may not be perfect, but you are the perfect mommy for me.

Love,

Your baby

I'm not sure if the original source but whoever wrote this, thank you. 

It is just what I needed to hear. 

If anyone is aware of the original source, please comment below as I would love to know! 

The Manchester Baby and Toddler Event Review

So today we went to EventCity Manchester Baby and Toddler event.

Overall, it was a bit overwhelming with quite a large selection of prams and a few smaller stalls.

On entrance we received a free NUK baby bottle which was nice and while walking around, received a Mam bottle and soother.

I was slightly disappointed that there weren't any cloth nappy stalls at the event as that would have been lovely to go over to and question however it wasn't just cloth nappies as there were no stalls promoting nappies at all.

We made a big purchase today though. We bought our double pram!
There were a few stalls that had double prams available out of all the pram stalls so we just focused on them (iCandy, Baby Jogger, Bugaboo, Oyster, Egg and ABC Design to name a few)
I had my heart set on a side by side pram. There were only 2 stalls that did these. Bugaboo and Baby Jogger.
After a very limited talk with the lady on Bugaboo, we went to visit the Baby Jogger stand to be greeted and shown a lovely demonstration by the staff. She spoke to us about packages and add ons and answered any question we could throw at her.

We parted with our money and have purchased a GORGEOUS purple Baby Jogger City Mini Double 2016.

Overall, the experience of going to the event was lovely as you get the glow of all the newborns and pregnant ladies around you but it could have had a wider selection of stalls and I do begrudge spending £3 for a bottle of Coca Cola!

T did enjoy hiding under the tables at the eating area but the whole thing did completely tire her out!

Baby Name Struggle

Baby names.

Now that is the question everyone is asking. "Have you got any names in mind?" or "Guessing you've ran out of girls names with this being your third?"

I wrote a list of names I liked for my partner to read through the other day and he said no to every single one of them. Apparently they're all "weird" or spelt wrong.

We have a bit of a thing going on with our kids names. First and middle names both contain 4 letters each.

I'm struggling now to think of baby girls names that are 4 letters each and I like the sound of.

My list consisted of 

Eden, 

Cora, 

Rose, 

Ally, 

Edie, 

Casy/ Kacy, 

Cari, 

Hali (like Halle), 

Amie 

and Katy.

The struggle will continue for the next 4 month until we find our perfect name. Although, my choice would be Eden Rose... He'll just have to convince me of something nicer 

Anyone think of any nice 4 letter girls names?

6 Best Pregnancy Products!

So I've come to the conclusion that my body doesn't like working/ walking or anything which means I need to stand up for longer than 20 minutes at a time.

My first day back at work yesterday from my maternity leave with Lily (I will only be there for around 12 weeks before I go off again on maternity leave for bump) and my hips, bump and head did not like me standing for a good 6 hours constantly.

So I've been looking into bump bands as my SPD is starting to flair up again.

For anyone unaware what SPD is it stands for Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction and basically means it hurts to walk, stand, sit, bend or move anything around your public bone.
I'll post a more informative link here.

This got me thinking into what I would say the 6 best pregnancy products are.

I couldn't live without my maternity bra! It has been a life saver! Super comfortable and even doubles up as a nursing bra.
I would highly recommend this Jojomamanbebe Maternity Bra for the very affordable price of £13!

These maternity bump bands are also a must if you don't want to spend a fortune buying lots of new maternity tops! Stick to your old tops (or buy a bigger size) and pair them up with one of these so if your top rides up when you get a bigger bump... voila! No belly on show!
I have chosen this pack of 3 Newlook Bump Bands for £9.99!

I'm a skinny jeans kinda girl and these over the bump skinnies are amazing! Unlike some that I have tried, the band doesn't fall down over time, the knees stay exactly where they should and keeps bump all nice and snug!
These H&M Skinny Jeans are a nice price at £24.99 too! But watch out for sales as I picked mine up in the sale for £10!

Bio Oil is another of my favourite pregnancy products! Although not aimed specifically at pregnancy, massaging this into bump every night before bed is lovely, relaxing, helps prevent stretchmarks and smells amazing! 

Although it can be bought from many places I've linked to Boots, 200ml Bio Oil for £13.33

Next would be my pregnancy pillow! I sleep with it every night, even when I'm not pregnant! There are many different options on the market for this however I have found my favourite to be Kit for Kids cuddle me pregnancy pillow. It's super long, very comfortable and comes with a lovely designed pillow case.
I would recommend the Kit for Kids Cuddle Me Pregnancy Pillow from Argos for £39.99

Finally, my ALL TIME favourite pregnancy product has got to be my Peppermint Reviving Leg Gel from Bodyshop!
A little bit of this massaged into you calves, ankles and feet after a long day is something to look forward to! Especially in the later months of pregnancy when water retention or swelling can hit.
This is highly recommended by myself for anyone suffering with achy feet, legs or restless leg syndrome in pregnancy (or not even pregnant). It smells lovely and I don't think I would manage most nights without this!
The Bodyshop Peppermint Reviving Leg Gel has got to be my number 1 pregnancy product! Even more so for £7!

Snow Day

So yesterday we spent the day playing in the snow.
Today is sunny and you'd never have imagined the ground was white yesterday.

It was L's first ever experience with snow.
She wasn't too impressed. Thea on the other hand adored it!

Both L and T were wrapped up super warm!
L in her waterproof fleece lined snow suit, pop up vest and sleepsuit and Thea in her wellie boots, wellie socks, tights, leggings, vest, long sleeved top, coat, hat and mittens.


There is a perfect website here that can advise you how to keep your family safe in the snowy weather.

Our morning routine

Laid in bed thinking just exactly how lucky I am!

My girls go to bed at 8pm every night and wake up between 7am and 8am. Sometimes even 9am!

It's a lovely feeling hearing T shout from the top of the stairs "mummy, I'm awake now!" As she then informs me every morning that her baby gate is closed and she's "stuck".

L usually wakes once or twice in the night still for a feed. Usually around 1am and then again around 6am. I'm starting to feel the effects of this as my sciatic pain flares up and walking up the stairs to her nursery (we have a 4 storey house) become a daunting task, but she is my baby and I could never blame her! However baby will be on this floor with us for a LONG LONG time!

I'm sat up in bed writing this while T watches Thomas the tank engine on DVD and L has decided on another snooze!

My head hurts, I'm tired, my body hurts but this is a perfect moment and I would never change it!

 

Struggling with gender disappointment

My previous pregnancies have been nothing like this one, which convinced me that my growing bump contained a little boy.
That wasn't the case when it came to our anomaly scan!

They say girls take your beauty, boys make you bloom.
They say girls give you sickness, boys don't.
They say you carry on your front for a girl and around the sides for a boy.

All of these pointed in the direction of boy for me. All of these told me girl for my previous two.

Unfortunately, I would be lying if I didn't say I didn't want a boy. I would also be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed when they told me my little baby was another girl.
As much as she was a beautiful, healthy baby girl this still shattered me!

You see, my partner and myself have both agreed this will be our last baby. That means that I'll never have a son. That means I'll only ever have daughters.

After searching the Internet, I found out this wasn't an uncommon feeling. Gender disappointment was very much real, very common but also not very talked about. I didn't feel as ashamed at this feeling. I didn't feel as alone with it.

After talking it through with my partner, I have come to accept that 3 daughters will be a blessing! Especially with their close age gaps!
I can only imagine how hard it'll be when they hit teenage years and there's hormones flying around the house left, right and centre. Even so, I can also imagine the closeness they'll have; the bond they'll share between them.

And that thought is what will keep me going through all the tough times ahead.

Things to help a teething baby

So this morning has been a nightmare. Early start and screaming from the beginning.
Lily's second tooth is on its way through and it's coming with a vengeance!

Anyone who has had teething babies will understand the stress and upset teething can have on both mummy and baby.
We're currently crying in the highchair because the teether doesn't want to stay in her hands, the teething granules are wearing off and the paracetamol hasn't kicked in yet.

There are plenty of things you can do to try and ease the pain for your baby.

Distraction is a brilliant technique but may only last so long.
Playing with toys or making them laugh and comforting them should take their mind off the pain temporarily. I've found this is a good start.

Rubbing my finger across her swollen gums also helps. By applying pressure it seems to help quite a bit but yet again, there's only so long you can do it before baby gets bored of your finger in their mouth and screams again.

Teething rings are another good thing to have about. They're made nice and soft for baby to chew on and sometimes that's just the thing they need.

Infant paracetamol helps a lot but does take time to start working and the 20 minutes it roughly takes to kick in can feel like 2 hours!

That's where herbal powders or teething gels come in. They're a quick fix which should tide you over the 20 minutes until the paracetamol works.

If you're not a big fan of medicinal treatments, offering frozen or cooled food or drink may be the other alternative. Breast milk Popsicles are an amazing invention but do need pre planning.

After tiring out all these options, my final piece of advice would be to just persist and keep trying.
Teething only lasts a year or so. Don't forget to cherish all baby years as they're soon over and gone.

25 books to read to your toddler

I've recently stumbled across a list of 25 books to read your 2 year old and decided to write my own version.

My 2 year old loves being read to. Especially at bedtime. She'd get you to read 10 books a night if she could. This is contains some of my favourite age appropriate books that both Thea and myself enjoy reading together. 

Hope you enjoy my selection. 

1. Goldilocks and the three bears
2. The secret garden 
3. Little red riding hood
4. Cinderella
5. The princess and the pea
6. Curious George goes to hospital
7. Goodnight moon 
8. The Gruffalo
9. The very hungry caterpillar
10. The three little pigs
11. The gingerbread man
12. The goose that laid the golden egg
13. The boy who cried wolf
14. The ugly duckling
15. The owl and the pussycat
16. Sleeping beauty
17. The frog prince
18. The emperors new clothes
19. Tom Thumb
20. The wizard of Oz
21. Thumbelina
22. The little mermaid
23. Hansel and Gretel
24. The firebird
25. The enormous turnip

Everyone has different taste in books, but you can never go wrong with a classic!