Munchkin White Hot™ Inflatable Safety Duck Bath Review

Picture from Argos website

I always like to share products that I have found really useful on my blog. Parenting is such a minefield that anything that can make it easier is a blessing.

One item I have used daily since Archie was about 6 months old (old enough to sit up and not need his Angelcare Soft Touch Bath Support, which I reviewed here: http://becomingmamalucy.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/angelcare-soft-touch-bath-support-review.html) is the Munchkin White Hot™ Inflatable Safety Duck Bath.

I really love this product. It has made bath times a lot safer, well I feel it has for me and my baby. Archie has been pulling himself up to stand (and is now walking) for some time. Once he started doing that he wanted to try standing at bath time. Of course I discourage it because water, soap and bath = slippery baby and surfaces... but sometimes babies don't listen. :)

The Munchkin duck bath has meant I can wash him in a smaller, baby friendly bath environment. It is a smaller amount of water, the sides are supportive and the bottom is less slippery than a bath tub in a bathroom.

The inflatable sides also helped support him when he started to sit up. Meaning he would have a little support sitting if he needed it during the early stages of him sitting independently.

There is also a temperature sensitive dot on the bottom which tells you if the water is too hot.

It also saves on water as I don't have to fill up a whole bath tub for him and it has a plug in the bottom which you can drain the water from.

Another great aspect to this is that you can deflate and inflate as needed. We generally always keep it inflated at home (as we used it nightly) and then use the suction pad on it to hang it on the wall. But when we travel we deflate it and take it with us.

It has been so useful when staying places that only have a shower and when deflated it barely takes up any room in your luggage.

This is a great item to have for bath time and I continue to use it now, Archie is 13 months old. I would highly recommend it and it would also be great for holidays with babies and toddlers.

I did a quick search and it is currently on sale at Argos, at £9.99: Click Here

Something sweet...

I have become a real cafe junkie since becoming a Mum, due to my need for caffeine combined with a desperation to escape the house some days. This has led me to enjoy some great cafes around S11, including Eve's Kitchen... A beautiful little artisan kitchen and handmade doughnut shop. But these doughnuts are not your average doughnuts!

Eve's Kitchen makes doughnuts with amazing flavour combinations and the fluffiest dough I have ever tasted! (So light you could be forgiven for thinking it was healthy). With flavours such as matcha and white chocolate (this is my favourite at the moment!), lemon meringue and mango and passion fruit...

And when I heard that they make festive themed doughnuts at Christmas (for instance mince pie doughnut)... well I almost had a meltdown in excitement and anticipation. I know where I will be getting my lattes and sweet treats this winter.

While I wait for those coffee filled colder months they also offer iced teas for those rare sunny days. The other day I went in, needing a doughnut fix after a toddler-tantrum filled morning, and it was one of the very few sunny June days we have had. I was desperate for an iced tea. I had been dreaming of a delicious iced tea for a few days to be honest, and when I asked what cold drinks they offered I was silently pleading, please say iced tea. And they did!

The answer to my iced tea dreams were answered with this... (just wow)...

How can I not love a place that offers delicious doughnuts, pray answering iced tea and food that makes a blog look this beautiful!

I cant recommend this place highly enough.

Link to their website: http://www.evekitchen.co.uk/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Evekitchen-372212209645336/
And twitter: https://twitter.com/eve_kitchen

Vegetarian Lasagna: a dish for you and your baby

As Archie approaches his first "official number" in years, the big 1... I am feeling more confident about the foods he can have, and that he can have what we are eating.

In an attempt to cook a meal we could all eat, I made a massive vegetarian lasagna the other day and was really pleased with it. Veggie lasagna is a firm favourite of Archie's when I have given him baby food from a jar (I know some Mums will be horrified that I did such a thing but I frankly don't give a damn). Anyway, I wanted to try and reproduce a family version at home, cutting out any additional salt that I may have previously put in for flavour..

This does make a massive lasagna, which is perfect for feeding parents for 1 meal and then making several smaller portions/meals for your little one.

A couple of additional, but important notes, don't give this to young babies, I would suggest this is more suitable for 10 months plus. I also whizzed the portions for my son through a food processer so that they would be easier for him to chew and swallow. This made for a nice textured and tasty meal while reducing any choking risks.  

Ingredients (feel free to use whatever veg you want though).
Red sauce:
2 carrots
1 onion
3 gloves of garlic
3 sticks of celery
1 large pepper
1 courgette
Handful of olives
1 whole broccoli
500g of Pasata
1 tablespoon of tomato puree
1 teaspoon of pesto
Sprinkling of pepper
1 tablespoon of butter

White Sauce:
25g of butter
25g of plain flour
600ml of milk

Sheets of Lasagna
Handful of mature cheddar cheese.

Method:
We need to make the red sauce first...
Firstly peel, top and tail and cut the ends off any of the vegetables that you need to... i.e. peel the carrot and cut off the ends, cut the trunk off the broccoli, aka apply common sense ;)
I then put everything through my food processor using the slicing extension, so all the vegetables ended up being in thin slices. (Lazy, but quick).
Then put the butter into a large frying pan, along with all the veggies and cook for around 10 minutes. Until the vegetables have started to soften.
Now add in the pesto, pepper, pasata and tomato puree, mix well then leave to simmer for a further 10 minutes.



While that is simmering make the white sauce...
Firstly melt the butter in a pan then add the white flour. Mix with a whisk until the butter and flour bulk together like a yellowy, thick paste.
Now add the milk a bit at a time and whisk thoroughly between adding milk. You need to whisk on a low heat until the mixture begins to thicken. You are looking a for glue like consistency...

You can now build the lasagna. Layer it red sauce, white sauce, lasagna sheets and repeat. I found this made about 2 layers of each and then on top I had a layer of red sauce with white on top. I then topped it off with a handful of mature cheddar cheese.

Cook in the oven for 25 minutes on 190C.

It will be a perfect meal then, ready to be eaten by parents. Lovely with a spring salad. (It needs to cool down before baby can eat it).

I then saved the rest, which was over half. I portioned it off into baby sized portions. I have been mixing these portions in a food processor, then heating them in the microwave for 30 seconds. Mixing well, to distribute the heat, then feeding to Archie. (Always check the temperature of any food you feed to a baby).

I hope you and your family like this if you make it. :)

And lastly, please always be careful with any allergies, especially with babies and children. This does contain some allergens.

Cake Smash!!

I have booked my son in for a cake smash photo shoot this month, for hist 1st birthday.

I am excited to get some professional pictures taken and let Archie have a fun time smashing up a cake. I have no doubt my little man will look super cute covered in cake!

Deciding to go all domestic goddess I planned to make the cake for him. It didnt have to be perfect after all, he is only going to smash it up. But I wasnt expecting my first attempt to be this bad...

Luckily my second attempt has gone a lot better and I am more confident I can make something half decent for his cake smash...

 

If my final attempt is any good I will put a picture up and maybe a "how I made it" blog post. :)

Birth story

I recently had to stay up all night for something and it got me thinking of my last "all nighter", which was during my labour.

I know I have mentioned my labour being long a few times... I am sure I sound like a broken record. But it was one of the biggest events of my life, and of course the most recent so I am bound to mention it.

I actually thought it might be interesting to write about it on my blog. When I was pregnant I read several birth stories online, keen to know as much as possible. Unfortunately many are short and sweet, when I would have preferred in depth, lenghty and honest piece.

So in case any expectant Mums are keen to read an in depth birth account then here you go... Of course, my story is just one of all the different types you can expereince, I end up needing a C section.

Okay... so it was around 2am in the morning when I woke up. I wasnt sure straight away what had woken me up but I felt like something had. After a few minutes I experienced my first contraction (while awake). As I had never experienced labour before I was unsure about if this was really a contraction, it took experiencing a few more to convince me that this was the start of labour.

I woke up my Husband and we started to monitor the contractions, again being unsure about if I was in labour. Over the next hour we monitored the regularity of the contractions, using a handy contraction app we quickly downloaded. My Husband was very alert and from the word go was convinced we should be running off to hospital.

My contractions, though not strong in comparison to the ones I would have later, did feel strong and were coming an average of 2 every 10 minutes. With that being the case we did call the Maternity Ward but they said it was too early on, I should go in when they were 3 in 10 minutes and I could barely focus through a contraction?!

So began the wait... we tried to go back to bed but I just wasnt able to sleep through the contractions so we went downstairs and I whipped out the TENS machine and maternity ball. I spent the next 10 hours bouncing around and controlling the TENS machine.

I found the TENS machine great as it gave me something to focus on. I didnt like having it on constantly but putting it on as a contraction started made me feel in control of something. Throughout this period I was keen to get into hospital as soon as possible. Wanting to be hooked up to every monitoring device possible. But at the same time I was conscious of going in too early in labour and then just being sent home.

So I kept going at home until 3pm in the afternoon, at this time my husband felt my contractions were regular enough to go in. I was uncertain but he convinced me and he was right.

When I arrived they measured my cervix, I was 5cm dilated which is when they say is a good time to be admitted into the maternity ward. Once it was confirmed I was 5cm dilated they "checked me in" and I was given my own labour room.

Between 3pm and 10pm it was a slow labour still. My contractions got progressively stronger and I stopped using the TENS machine and began using gas and air. I didnt find gas and air that helpful if I am honest, but again it was something to focus on. My labour notes did state that I wanted to have a water birth ideally and the midwives took this into account and said they would see if the pool would be available as my active labour came on.

It is worth noting that you will hear the sounds of other women in labour, try not to listen to it, it wont help if you are anxious.

The midwives were excellent throughout my entire birth but during the early bit they were really accomodating. They bought in nice music, made the lighting more relaxed, ran me baths with nice oils in it and bought cups of tea. My labour between 3pm and midnight was still slow. My contraction were very regular and building in strength but I wasnt dilating any further. The care of midwives made a very long labour bareable.

In fact, they were so accomodating my husband said it was like being in a nice hotel... :/ (men hey)

Anyway, past midnight it was apparent I was still not dilating past 5cm and despite all the bouncing around on a birthing ball my waters werent breaking.

The decision was made they would monitor me and my baby (who was very relaxed it seemed) and if my waters hadnt broken by 3pm they would break my waters for me.

It was the run up to the 24 hours in labour that I decided to consider an epidural. I mentioned it to the midwive and discussed it with my husband. I was tired at this point, 24 hours without sleep was taking it toll.

Around 3am I asked for an epidural and at 4am they broke my waters. I was still 5cm dilated...

As it was a busy ward it took some time to take me down to the consultant led part of the maternity ward so I could have an epidural.

Once my waters had broken labour my got stronger still and I found having the epidural while having strong contractions very hard. During an epidural you have to lean forward, your legs dangling off the side of the bed, hunched over a pillow.

During this time you will have contractions and due to the nature of an epidural you need to remain very still. It took several attempts and over 30 minutes to get an epidural successful administered. (Apparently I have a very boney back).

During the epidural being set up I found it physically exerted my body to remain so still during the procedure, while having strong contractions. I was sweating and shaking in pain, and my waters continued to break, I was leaking everywhere. I felt and looked like a mess.

After the epidural was set up and working I felt a million times better. It was now about 8am (29 hours in labour). Sadly though I was still only 5cm dilated so they had to administer a horomone to try and get my cervix to dilate further and move the labour along.

I asked what they would do if I still didnt dilate after this horomone, they said they would give it a few hours and if nothing happened they would explore the option of a C section.

During this conversation I just knew, could just tell, that I would end up having the C section. I just had this sense of knowing.

As we approached midday they checked me again and I still hadnt dilated past 5cms and my cervix was swelling under the pressure of the baby baring down. They decided to give me a C section. I felt a feeling of relief to know a decision had been made and my labour could finally move forward.

They get you to sign/fill out forms, they help you with this, and put on DVT socks on your feet. They will give you something to drink (it is meant to stop any complications with your digestive system I think, but I cant remember) and this did make me sick. Oh the fun!

They did rush through things quickly as they had a gap in the surgery times to slot me in before an elective C section was booked in. Once the decision was made it all happened very quickly, which was a relief. But around this time I suddenly realised I was about to have surgery, it may not sound very big. But when you are exhausted and pregnant (hormonal) it can suddenly feel overwhelming and a little scary.

My husband diligently got into scrubs and was very supportive. I think he was just as relieved that it was finally going to be finished. 

The took me into surgery and made sure the epidural was working, they check you cant feel anything below your upper chest. The whole process took about 30 minutes, and half way in we heard and saw our son for the first time. It was lovely but also I was still being operated on, so lying down and that happening made it harder to be as interactive with my son as I would have liked.

They showed him to us and then took him away to be checked over, he was all fine and they handed him to us all snuggled up. At which point my husband held him to my face so I could see him and kiss him.

This was lovely, but it was around this time that I felt like I couldnt breath properly. I could, but the epidural gets kicked up a notch during a C section and it means you cant feel your muscles around your chest very well. This made it feel like I couldnt breath and I had a massive weight on my chest. The nurses reassured me this was normal, my heart rate was increasing which again is normal. But it is only human to feel a bit worried, which I did. I had to ask my husband to move my son away for a second while I just focused on calming myself down.

I shouldnt have worried, I was soon stitched back up and taken out of the surgery room, I got to sit up in the bed and hold my son. At which point they encouraged me to immediately try breast feeding and I did.

My son was born at 12.36pm, so I was in labour for about 35 hours. It was long and tiring, but it is true what they say. You mostly forget about what it is like. I dont want expecting Mums to read this and be scared, it is more about providing a detailed experience. Showing you what one instance of a birth can be like. I have heard so many different birth stories now, but the lasting impression I get is that we would do it all again for our babies!

Furthermore, the moral of my story is that your labour wont always go as you planned in your birth plan (I wanted a natural, pool birth but that obviously didnt happen). Going into labour with an open mind always helps.

What the first 24 hours of motherhood are like...

Congratulations, you have just given birth to the most precious thing you will ever make, own, love...

You have battled through 9 months pregnancy; morning sickness, backache and hormones. Then you laboured through birth so you could hold your baby for the first time... Its totally magical.

Thus begins parenthood and the first 24 hours are just as intense as everything that came before. I am going to be candid during this post as I think it is important. The first 24 hours as a parent are really intense!

This isn't meant to scare but to be honest about what it is like, so you can feel prepared going into this amazing, but crazy time.


Here are a few things that happen in those first 24 hours that I didn't expect...

Firstly, be aware that you are going to be emotional. Having just given birth your body is adjusting by releasing hormones and stopping other pregnancy hormones. This is like having PMS times 100. You will cry with joy when you meet your little miracle, but you will also cry for no reason. I found that I cried in the evening, once my husband had to leave (as visiting hours were over) and I was on my own. It felt like I was crying because I loved my son so much, not a bad reason to cry but not necessarily the reason of a sane person. This does continue too, for the first week. I found that I would cry about 7pm every night for no reason what so ever. This is normal, it is hormones but if it continues after a week do speak to your midwife or doctor about it.

You aren't going to sleep. Despite being in labour for 35 hours without sleep I still didn't sleep the night after my son was born. I just watched him all night. This is due to a mixture of love and genuine fear that something might happen. It is highly unlikely anything bad is going to happen but being a new Mum you are suddenly consumed with worry for your baby, this is natural. In fact, I didn't sleep the 2nd night either (after we came home), I just watched him to make sure he was breathing.

This all leads into that: oh my goodness moment! Usually when you get home and it really sinks in that you are now responsible for a life other than your own. Again, this is totally normal to feel a bit overwhelmed but don't forget you have your partner, family and friends to support you through this period of adjustment.

You will probably disagree with your partner, over something trivial like how to put on the nappy properly or where the poppers go. This is normal, you are both overwhelmed and trying to get a handle on things.

The mirror is not your friend! I would generally avoid looking in a full length mirror on the first day. Just keep it to your face upwards because your body can be like a stranger to you. I really expected my pregnancy tummy to go down a lot quicker than it did. Most women do look at least 6 months pregnant after the baby is no longer in the tummy. If you are one of the women that is instantly skinny again then you are very lucky!

They will do several checks on your baby. These include checking his reflexes, hearing, a full body examination and generally monitoring him. Don't be worried if they aren't able to get a clear read on some of the results of the tests, this can happen. There is plenty of midwives around for you to speak with if you have any concerns.

In the case of my son, they weren't able to get a positive result on the hearing test they do on your baby while they are in hospital. They said it was probably due to him being a C Section baby which can mean that the mucus in the ears, from being inside, hadn't cleared properly. This is normal and we just had to take him back a week or 2 later to have it checked again, we did and he was all fine.

Getting released out of the hospital can take time. I was ready to go (having had all my checks and my son having had all his) the morning after I gave birth, but because they are so busy I didn't get released until 8pm that evening. If you want to leave the hospital that day (feeling fit and well of course) then tell the midwives as soon as possible so they can start the process. Also, be aware that the wards are busy. You will go from a private room during birth to a ward (in most cases) were you will be sharing a room with a few other Mums and babies. However, don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. You are recovering from a big strain on your body, they don't call it labour for no reason.

The reality of taking them home and your first few hour at home is probably not what you will imagine. It wasn't for me anyway. I had visions of dressing him a cute outfit and booties for his journey home followed by a beautiful few hours at home relaxing. The reality was I didn't put him in his specially selected going home outfit as I was exhausted and just put him in the closest outfit to hand. Still cute but not what I had picked. You will probably be sore from giving birth (even more so if you had a C section or episiotomy) and just walking to the car to go home will be a bit painful.

Also, when I got home neither me or my husband could face cooking so we got a take away, hardly the domesticated bliss I had expected.

Lastly, you will never know love like it. I know it is very soppy to say and such a cliche, but holding your baby in your arms for the first time is wonderful. No matter what happens during the first few hours, days and weeks you just need to cuddle with your baby and life is good.

Originally blogged last year, I thought this was well worth re-blogging due to friends mentioning how intense those first few days are!

My top 5 things from April...

April has been a funny month, we celebrated Easter already in March. The children's holidays were at funny times as a consequence, and the weather has been really unreliable. With snow one minute and sunshine the next.

It has made for an odd month and I feel a bit blergh... To cheer myself up I am doing a top 5 things I have liked in April.

Barts Bobble Hat

Firstly, I just love my son's new hat. It was a bitterly cold day and I went out without a hat for him. The sun was shining, it was deceptive. A wind born in the arctic was blowing. He has grown out of his winter hats now, and I didn't think I would need them any more (as it was approaching May!) so I packed them away.

Anyway, I popped into B.Biscuit in Sheffield, a respite from the cold and begged for a winter hat. Ironically the manager had also put away the winter hats but she kindly bought them out and I found this beautiful bobble hat by Barts.

It may not last Archie until next winter, he will surely outgrow it, but it will be saved for other family member's little ones. It is just so beautiful and now I am on a mission to buy out Barts' entire boys bobble hat collection for next winter...

Vital Baby Food Pouch Spoons

I have also come across these handy attachments for baby food pouches. Found in Boots, as a freebie if you bought 7 Ella's kitchen pouches. They aren't great for the lumpier (10 month plus) pouches, but are great for runnier pouches.
(Picture source and link to purchase these on eBay, Click Here)

Knitting

Random one but I am currently knitting my son a blanket for next winter. Bare in mind knitting is new to me, the blanket does have a few bad stitches and a small hole I don't know how I mangled to create... But it is a labour of love rather than perfection...

Cake smash!!!

I have booked my son in for a birthday cake smash photo shoot. Although it hasn't happened yet I found and booked the special offer in April. I am very excited about it... I am off to Hobby Craft today to buy a load of accessories for the photo shoot.
I also have ideas of making the cake for him myself, I have done a few attempts which are slowly getting better, but the first attempt was shockingly bad...

Obviously mine is on the left, the one on the right was what I was aiming for. #nailedit!
Image on right is from Pinterest.

Gardening

Despite the shockingly bad weather at times I have managed to get some gardening done.

It has been lovely, on the sunnier days, to sit in the garden with Archie. He usually chills in his pram watching me while I plant things.

I also love my new Elho garden planter in lime green. Super bright and colourful, adding some sunshine to my little garden. I planted one with some delicious herbs for summer salads and meals.



Lets hope we get some nicer weather in May. I am optimistic it will be a good month, after all Archie turns 1, which will be a big event for our little family. 

He isnt a tiny baby anymore...

I bavent been the sentimental type when it comes to Archie moving away from "baby stage", so far anyway. I donated and gave away most of Archie's baby clothes with a ruthlessness that may shock most Mums (we just don't have the space to keep/store them all). I didn't get misty eyed over the 6 month mark, or that I had stopped counting in weeks.

However, what has made me emotional over my little boy growing up was cutting his hair. And not just because I had to do it and did a bad job, (it looks a bit jagged in some places). A hairdresser I am not.

I just couldn't believe the change in how he looked. Pre hair cut he looked like a pudgy baby with overgrown baby fluff/hair. But now he looks like a little boy rather than a baby!

His hair seems more adult now too, coarser rather than baby soft and fluffy. It is no longer that bit too long and, and to me it has made such a difference.

I looked at my handiwork, ignoring the severe edges around his ears, and realised for the first time he wasn't really a tiny baby anymore. It made me want to do something crazy like glue the hair back on. Of course I wouldn't.

But the change was done, it was permanent and I was forced to realise I had said goodbye to my small baby.

I actually wanted to cry when I realised the difference.

I know this means many more exciting things are on the horizon but it was a sad moment as a Mummy to say good bye to those days of a small baby.

Nursery Decipher

Butter wouldn't melt...

My son has been going to nursery since he was 4 months old, it has done him the world of good and the staff are amazing with him.

However, they are barely ever negative about him. If I took what they said at face value it seems he is all sweetness and light for them, which I am not sure I believe. (As he is not that at home).

I think they may be sugar coating things. So I have created my "nursery decipher" - taking what they say and putting into "real" feedback.

What they say: He is very independent!
What they really mean: He wouldn't do a damn thing he was told to do and I am so glad he is going home.

What they say: He has really interacted with the other babies today.
What they really mean: He hit several other children with a toy/brick/book and we had to put him in baby prison (aka baby walker) to save the other kids.

What they say: He really enjoyed the sensory area today.
What they really mean: He destroyed the sensory area!

What they say: He loved reading time.
What they really mean: He wouldn't sit still, he tried to steal/eat the book before hitting another baby with it.

What they say: He has made you a biscuit/cake today.
What they really mean: He made you a biscuit today... dont eat it, all the babies made it together and it contains enough dribble and snot to sink a battle ship!

What they say: He has been so active today.
What they really mean: I have chased him around all day while he rampages and destroys the entire nursery, he could make Attila the Hun look like a fairy!

What they say: He really is active, even during a nappy change.
What they really mean: We have to get three staff to hold him down while we change his nappy/clothes because he wriggles so much. We are investing in a nappy changing unit with straps!

What they say: He loved playing in the ball pit.
What they really mean: He refused to get out at the end of the play session and had a tantrum when we had to remove him. He head butted the nursery manager in his tantrum rage and she has a black eye.

If they do ever say...

"He has been a handful today, was grumpy or difficult..." well... send the staff flowers because I dread to think how bad it really was.

(He hasn't really head butted the nursery manager of course... yet...)

Liebster Award: Discover New Blogs!

I love the blogging community, they always show you in unexpected ways that this is a real community... (and I especially love parent bloggers, they are on the same crazy journey). I was really surprised and appreciative to be nominated for The Liebster Award by MummyBlueBlog. The Liebster Award is something meant to welcome and promote great new blogs into the community. 

Its a classic Q&A, you answer your nominator’s questions then post your own to the other bloggers you nominate.

These are the rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you and link back to his/her blog
• Copy and paste the Liebster Award badge to your post
• Answer ten questions you’ve been asked
• Nominate 5 new bloggers that you want to share with the world
• Then create ten new questions for the bloggers you are nominating
• Notify the bloggers that you have nominated

My nominations for the 5 blogs I would like to share:

mumtomorethanachild

Deep In The Cornish Countryside

A Mum Track Mind

Craft, Love, Learn

SCABECOMINGMUM

My questions to my 5 nominated bloggers are:

• What is your favourite family moment/memory?
• If you could rule the world what would you change?
• Favourite holiday destination?
• Do you own a pet? (If so, what is it?)
• What was your favourite school subject?
• What was the last book you read?
• What is your favourite season and why?
• What do you love most about blogging?
• What is your favourite phone App?
• Who inspires you the most?

My answers to  questions:
If you could be invisible for the day, what would you do?
Sneak onto a plane to the Maldives!

What made you start blogging?
I needed an outlet for the hard days of late pregnancy and being a new Mum! Plus, wanting to review places/baby things I have. I think sharing knowledge as a parent is important.

Marmite…love it or hate it?
Love it! Yum!

If you won the lottery..what would you buy first?
Give some to my close family!

Country or town to live?
Country - I desperately want chickens!

What best describes you in 3 words?
Contrary, Competitive, Caring

If you could be anything…what would it be?
Travel writer... I want to see the world!

What is your guilty pleasure?
Trashy sci-fi romance novels.

Grow old gracefully or hair dye?
Hair dye until I am all grey then I am gonna rock grey!

The best moment in your life so far?

Marrying my husband (I know I should say the birth of my son, but the birth was pretty long and ended in a stressful c-section, so I don't feel I would be being honest if I said that. That doesn't mean I dont treasure my son, I love that chubby lil' man!)

Thank you again Mummy Blue for my nomination!

Love,

Mama Lucy xx

Honey & Mustard Chicken Recipe

I put together a quick and simple Honey & Mustard Chicken dish the other day and was pretty pleased with how it turned out.

So naturally I snapped some pictures of its deliciousness before wolfing it down.


If anyone else wants to recreate this then the recipe is below.

 







Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, diced up
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 can of new potatoes, cut up into quarters
1 carrot, diced/small cubes
1 courgette, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons of mustard (I think wholegrain mustard is best for this recipe)
2 tablespoons of creme fraiche
3 tablespoons of runny honey
Handful of mushrooms sliced up
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Method

First of all, fry of onion and garlic in a pan, with the vegetable oil. Then add in the chicken, season to taste and cook... until the chicken goes from fleshy pink to white, you now, so you can eat it ;)
Then add in the carrot, mushrooms, potatoes, courgette, cook for about 5 minutes before adding the honey and mustard. Mix these in well, so everything gets an even coating of the mustard and honey.
I usually add about 2 tablespoons of water at this stage just to avoid things sticking to the pan and loosen any flavours from the pan.
Once the carrot is soft turn the heat down on the pan and add the creme fraiche. Mix everything together well for a couple of minutes and then serve.

We had this with rice and buttered baguette. It was YUMMMM...

Enjoy if you make it! :)

Cornwall is calling...

About a month ago my husband, baby and I all drove down to Cornwall for a long weekend. We went with the objective of a family break and a chance to see family there.

I could go on about all the things we did but the real highlight of our trip was the place we stayed.

It.was.just.amazing.

It wasnt that it was 5 star luxury, it was more that it was perfect for our small family. We stayed with Avallon Lodges in Launceston, who rent out 6 Norwegian eco lodges in a beautiful rural setting (a 200 acre farm) via Hoseasons.

I feel like I have to share this place on the blog because it is just perfect for families.

On arrival we got a bit lost but a quick call got us through to the friendly Ross, who pointed us in the right direction and greeted us on arrival. He also had the adorable and incredibly friendly retired sheep dog, Wilf with him. (Wilf was a massive hit, even my husband wanted to dognap him, and take him home, and he isnt a massive fan of dogs).

The lodge was one of their 2 bedroom options, with a hot tub outside. The bedrooms are small but have all the space you need to rest your head and store your luggage/clothes. We rented a travel cot for my son (Archie), rather than take up more boot space with it, because we had a lot of stuff (just for a long weekend!). Naturally it everything you need for baby.

You can also rent a highchair with them, via your Hoseason's booking.

The living room has seating enough for everyone and the cabin has an open plan space for the living room, small kitchen and dining room. It is adorably compact and has everything you need. It has a TV and DVD for lazy days too.

Of course, a real highlight was the hot tub. It eased away the aches and pains of parenting and stressful jobs. The deserving parents managed to steal some time in the hot tub in the evenings, once Archie was asleep. We snuck out with the baby monitor and a bottle of Prosecco, relaxing in the cold evening in a deliciously warm, bubbling hot tub.

As well as the cabins being ideal for families, the farm is set in beautiful Cornish countryside. They have a lake you can walk up to (take wellies/walking boots) and you will have the friendly sheepdog, Wilf as a guide. It was also lambing season while we were there so we managed to sneak a peek at some excitable little lambs... Archie wasn't quite sure what to make of them.

The local area is full of family friendly activities, not least the beaches to explore. Nothing blows away citylife cobwebs better than a salty breeze! Also, Dartmoor Zoo is about an hour away and I highly recommend a visit. This family run zoo, which the film "We Bought a Zoo" is based on, is a great way to spend a day with children of all ages.

So, if anyone is looking for a family holiday I can't recommend Avallon Lodges enough! I can see how charming this place is for families with children of all ages, but I really felt that it was a great first holiday as a family with a baby.

Avallon Lodges have their own website: http://www.avallonlodges.co.uk

But to book you need to go via Hoseasons: http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/lodges/avallon-lodges-aval

7 signs your a Mama!

The tiny dictator in my life!

I managed to sneak in a nice, long hot shower today while my son was napping. It was awesome!

I even managed to shave my legs! When your husband complains that your hairy legs are prickling him in bed then you know you have got to make some "me" time!

While I was lather, rinse, repeating in the shower I was thinking about how I am such a "Mum" type these days! All those kind of funny, kind of frustrating things that mean you have a tiny person dictating your life. Here are my top 7 signs of motherhood!

One: The sexiest words your husband can say to you in bed are "I will get him/her" (meaning he will go and sort the crying baby in the middle of the night, so you get to continue sleeping). Those words can make any Mum weak at the knees!

Two: When you go shopping for clothes you never get anything for yourself! I spent 4 hours in town the other day and bought nothing for me, but my son is going to look like a fashion victim this summer!

Three: You no longer get designer bag envy, that is replaced by pram envy... That woman has the new Cosatto limited edition Wonder... Bitch!
 
Four: You have "the" hair cut. One day you will cave, you will go to your hairdresser and beg for a easy to maintain and quick to blow dry Mummy cut. It will happen, I caved just last month. 

Five: You clean your whole house with baby wipes! I think it is because there is literally a pack of baby wipes in every corner of my house (but typically never any when you have a nappy explosion to deal with).

Six: Your laundry basket develops magically powers. No matter how many washes a day you to, it never goes down!

Seven: You have nothing to talk about (if it isn't about babies). Before I was a parent, I couldn't understand those parents that had nothing to talk about besides children/their kids. But I am one! I cant help it though. I was sat having my Mummy haircut the other day and I couldn't think of any conversation starters (that weren't about kids). I just sat there for 20 minutes trying to think of something witty to say... and I had nothing!

Why I plan on giving my son a vaccine "for girls"...

Image Source: http://vaccines.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005206

The other day I was discussing with a family member who is a Doctor about the meningitis vaccine as it has been in the news lately.

I have been lucky as my son fell into the catch up programme when he was a few months old, and has already had his first vaccine. However, I knew that you can buy the vaccine and if he hadnt have fallen into the age group I would have done this. I wouldnt have known that this was an option if someone hadnt told me, and I wonder if other parents knew... I dont know if there are any restrictions on this vaccine (ages etc.) but it made me ask the Doctor "is there any other vaccinations you would recommend I pay for my son to have?"

The answer I got was unexpected.

He said he had had his 2 sons vaccinated when they were younger with the "cervical cancer" vaccine... To which I immediately thought "what"?!

I have always known the vaccine that girls now have (between 11 and 14) as the cervical cancer vaccine. I am too old to have had it so my knowledge is limited. However, the Doctor went onto to tell me that it is actually a vaccine againt HPV. Many of you may know about this, especially due to coverage over the past few years because it causes cancers such as throat cancer (something we all seem more aware of these days, due to celebrities having being diagnosed with it) as well as cervical cancers.

When I had a look into it myself I was surprised to find that HPV can cause many different types of cancers including the following in males:

• Penile Cancer
• Anal Cancer
• Mouth & Throat Cancer

(For source click here)

When I read this, as a mother to a boy, it concerns me that this vaccine isnt being offered to boys as well. I am not quite sure why the NHS feel that only girls should be getting this vaccine? It may help prevent the spread of HPV virus one way or the other, but until HPV isnt a threat I dont feel that boys shouldnt also be vaccinated. On an emotional level it feels like my son's life has somehow been deemed less important than a girls. (Now dont get me wrong, I feel every one is important, no matter gender, age etc. But I am struggling to understand this decision). I appreciate, as a woman, how big an issue cervical cancer is, but I dont feel it should become more important than a man's cancer of the penis!

Either way, without becoming too political and delving into issues that I am not completely read up on, I wanted to blog about this for any Mum's with boys. I know that when my son turns 11/12 I will be paying to get him vaccinated with the "cervical cancer" vaccine. I just wanted to put this on here in case anyone else wasnt aware and would want to know about it.

Some more information: http://www.cdc.gov/features/hpvvaccineboys/

Hello again...

It has been a very loooong time since I posted, for anyone who likes to read my blog regularly I am sorry... I hope there is someone who does... :)

I could go through the long list of reasons I haven't posted in a while: sinus infections, flu, baby not sleeping, baby teething, working lots, a house move and a new job... the list can go on. But the basic reason is just being so busy and not feeling very inspired lately.

However, I am hoping I will now have a new lease of life into my blogging.

I feel like I should share something of my December and Christmas... Because that is where I last left this blog, and despite all that businsess I didnt managed to do half the things I had hoped. I had the typical visions of being a domestic goddess, earth Mother type with a Christmas that had Santa envious. Where I would be blissfully baking organic, refined sugarfree mince pies with a festive apron on and a lovely cooing baby sitting watching patiently in his highchair.

Typically I set myself up for a massive fail. Not foreseeing a house move mid December and the active nature of a 7 month old beginning to crawl. Seriously, how did he go from a snail pace shuffle to racing car fast in the space of a week? Any why oh why does he think the other side of the room is amazing mid nappy change?

Nothing gets you moving like chasing down a crawling baby with a dirty nappy half hanging off their cheeky bum!

I got no baking done, despite promising family lots of goodies. I feel bad about this! I have promised to make the festive treats next year instead... am I setting myself up for failure yet again? Probably.

Christmas Eve and Day was not quite what I imagined either. I bought my baby the "Santa is coming to Sheffield" book, which is really lovely. I had imagined reading it to him on Christmas Eve, naturally he would be all serene. Maybe looking at me lovingly while I began a Christmas Eve tradition. Did it go like that? Hell no! He wiggled and wormed around on my lap, desperate to get away. It was a battle of wills, at one point my husband told me to give it up. But I was determined to finish the darn book... I finished the lovely story about Santa coming to Sheffield, but I wouldnt class it as a magical moment or parental "win".

Naturally my son barely slept the 2 nights leading up to Christmas and after being up until midnight putting up a trike on Christmas Eve I was exhausted. I was less earth mother, and mother of all zombies! I ended up cooking the worst roast I have ever done and forgot to have even one glass of festive tipple!

I just want to share my Christmas catastrophe, I feel like I need to warn other parents. It isnt all fairy lights and magical moments. The (parental) struggle is real, even over the festive season!