Let's Talk About Sex

The other night just as I was drifting off to sleep, my OH happened to say to me something along the lines of "don't forget if you want to make a move on me, feel free" to which I laughed and went to sleep.

However, there it is - it has been put out there by him he obviously thinks we should be getting our sex life back on track! Thing is, it is the last thing I feel like doing. I mean, I am tired, still carrying extra weight, quite often fail to shave my hairy areas due to a) lack of time and b) can't always be arsed! Also I am breast feeding, so the thought of getting jiggy with boobs full of milk is not appealing and besides which it often takes me ages to get Jenson to sleep now at bedtime (he is using my nipples as a soother due to teething) and to then go from feeding mode to sex mode is just not something I can contemplate! And Jenson sleeps right next to our bed - I don't think I would relax and get into the 'zone' hear him breathing next to his girrating parents!!

Besides which, it's been 12 months, and 13 days exactly since we last had sex (when Jenson was conceived) so things are bound to be a little 'resilient' down below, if you get my meaning! Having had stitches again after Jenson was born there is always that initial anxiety of how things will go anyway! Obviously, I know from having had Burton that I do heal, and sex can be resumed. But I remember when we did it for the first time after having him (about 6 months I think!) it took a few goes to get me relaxed, and to actually enjoy sex and not brace myself each time!! I found it hard to relax enough not just from possible 'entry' fears, but because I could hear Burton on the baby monitor and always worried he might wake up once we got going! I was surprised when I fell pregnant so quickly with Jenson, if I am honest, as we were only doing it about once a month which is why I suggested we started trying, as I thought it would take ages. Funnily, enough it took one attempt!

It just takes away any romance doesn't it, having babies in the house?
Or maybe just in my house then?
Or maybe it's just me?

I honestly don't know how people get back in the sack so quickly after having a baby. When I discover women getting pregnant accidentally so soon after just having one, I am gobsmacked! When the midwife and doctor had the contraception talk with me after each birth, I just smiled and told them that a baby is the best form of birth control in my house!

So I don't know how long my lack of 'making a move' will last before the topic is brought up again.

Honestly though, I really don't feel like taking him up on his offer (and what a romantic one it was, hey ladies?) for the foreseeable future, and I don't really know when I will feel differently. Possibly once I have stopped breast feeding? Once we can move Jenson into Burton's room? Hard to say really. The OH and I don't even kiss or cuddle really, so maybe that is where we should start? (hint hint if you are reading this OH)

Until then I will just resume my mummy duties and try to get some sleep and keep my hands to myself!!

Silent Sunday

Luminarium Review

So yesterday I travelled the 115 miles to Lyndey in Gloucestershire, to visit Taurus Crafts and behold the great Luminarium as discussed on my blog on Monday. It was also a tweet up as I was going to meet 'Me' and the 'boy' from TheBoyandMe and also WouldLikeToBeYummy and her two daughters for the first time. And guess what? 'Me' has an actual face and everything and doesn't actually look like a toy at all!

Taurus Crafts
*Is open all year round and enables people with learning disabilities and mental health problems an opportunity it to work within its busy and successful arts and crafts activities. Established in 1995 and created as a social enterprise the Taurus Crafts support community members who have special needs, in achieving qualifications at local colleges, as well as to offer them a programme of life skills training to help support them to gain relevant experience, greater interaction with the general public and work experience on site.
*Supports the local community by ensuring that the produce they sell is sourced locallly, eg, the coffee bought by the restaurant is purchased from a local supplier
*Offers a restaurant, craft units, a pottery, gallery, artists studio, organic food and wine shops and an organic vegetable garden (15 businesses in total)
*Also offers a programme of activities to co-incide with the school holidays - please check their website for current and future events.






The Luminarium
Being invited to attend this event meant that we were able to walk around the Luminarium before it was opened to the public, which seeing the size of the queue when we came out, I was very pleased about! From the outside the giant inflatable labyrinth certainly looks impressive






and as soon as Burton saw it he got very excited - he thought they looked a bit like the Haaa Hooos from In The Night Garden, bless!

As soon as we stepped inside the Luminarium the colours really hit you - I don't think I expected them to be so bright and enough to make me squint slightly to begin with. It was beautiful - such a simple concept really but the effect was amazing














Walking through the sections in bare feet, it felt like walking over a semi deflated bouncy castle. All the children loved it and Burton didn't stay still - he was just off excitedly exploring as much as he could.







He even recognised the colour blue and said it to me without me asking him! Here are some more photos







Here is WouldLikeToBeYummy with her youngest daughter






Look it's 'Me' and the 'Boy' from TheBoyandMe!!






However, as much as we all really enjoyed exploring the Luminarium it was so hot
inside and I for one was pleased when we were told it was time to end our tour, so that we could get outside for some fresh air.

The Luminarium is available to visit until 30th July and if you get the chance to visit then it is worth doing because it is like nothing I have ever seen or experienced before, and the children really enjoyed themselves. I can see why those with autism and/or special needs would find the Luminarium beneficial because it is a very sensory experience and very calming.

It only costs £3 to enter which is think is excellent value for money. It was a great day out.

(a big thank you to Alison and Elizabeth and the Luminarium staff and organisers for their time and support yesterday)

Ultrasun - Protection In The Sun

I am very conscious about my children having too much exposure to the sun and whenever we venture out on a hot sunny day, I cover Burton in suncream and put a sun hat on him. So when I was asked to review UltraSun sun protection I was only too pleased to test this product on my toddler and 3 1/2 month old baby.

The great thing about Ultrasun 50+ is that it has been specially formulated for the delicate skins of children and because it is free from perfume, preservatives and emulsifiers it means that it reduces the risk of little ones being allergic to it, which is the last thing you want with a sun protection product. Ultrasun is technologically advanced enabling just ONE application on your child to provide long lasting and high level protection against exposure to the suns harmful ray all day! Ultrasun is also designed to bond with the skin cells to make it water resistant. Amazingly, one 150ml bottle of Ultrasun can last an adult up to two weeks and a child up to four! Plus it is suitable to use from birth, so even skin as delicate as a baby's can have Ultrasun applied to it.

Of course, when offering to review a sun protection product, in Britain, you have to hope we will get some dry and warm weather - when I first received my sample we had several wet days! However, luckily we have had a few sporadic sunny days meaning I could apply Ultrasun to Burton before we left the house for a walk to the park, knowing that I would not need to reapply any more while we were out I could leave the bottle at home. One less thing to have to carry!

The cream itself is easy to apply to the skin and absorbs quickly and easily. It does not feel sticky and is not messy because if a little bit gets onto clothes it doesn't stain! Now, I have to tell you that a couple of weeks prior to using ultrasun, I took Burton to the same park and applied a very well known brand of high factor suncream for children to his skin. Our local park had a sandpit which Burton loves playing in and on this particular day by the time we left to go home it wasn't a toddler I put back in the buggy but a little sand monster - there was sand stuck to his face, his arms and his legs! All the areas where I had applied the sun cream. However, the day we went to the park having applied Ultrasun, I was surprised (and pleased!) that hardly any sand was stuck to him! Great news because I know from having been to the beach myself in the past, there is nothing worse then having sand stuck to yourself after covering yourself with suntan lotion! So not only does this hard working product protect you from the harmful UVB and UVA rays all day, it also stops you from turning into a sand monster!! Brilliant!

Ultrasun offer a complete range of sun care products



Everything you need whatever your skin type. I was also sent a sample of the after sun product. I didn't use this on Burton because he didn't need it, so I tried it myself a couple of times after being in a hot shower. Having not burnt myself in the sun, I thought cooling my skin after a hot shower would give me an idea of how well it works ( my own idea I hasten to add, I am not saying a hot shower is the same as sun burn of course!). The after sun is actually a gel and it is not greasy at all which is great, and it rubbed into my skin very easily and it made my skin soft and supple. Again, a little goes a long way and would serve to cool down hot sun kissed skin several times.

These products are a little pricey when compared to the more well know sun protection available to buy (the 50+ Ultrasun costs £19 for 100ml), but because 1 application lasts all day I think it is excellent value for money and I would, and indeed will, definitely be spending that bit extra and be purchasing this product next time I need some suncream. Afterall, what price do you put on protecting your children from irreversible skin damage from the sun?

GIVE AWAY

With the summer ready to commence, what better way to prepare yourself for those sunny days then to win some Ultrasun products. I can offer 3 lucky Mummy Mishaps readers an Ultrasun Protection duo set comprising of 1 Ultrasun 50+ and 1 Ultrasun aftersun.

For your chance to win all you need to do is:

*leave your name and twitter name (so I can contact you should you win) in the comments box below and RT on twitter mentioning @jennypaulin so I know you have done so.

* for an extra entry please like their facebook page

* for a third entry please follow them on twitter (@ultrasunuk)

Closing date is Wednesday 3rd August, 2011

Luminarium

When I was a child I had a kaleidoscope, and I used to love looking through it and twisting the end to make different patterns and see the colours illuminate before my eyes. Also, despite not being a regular church goer, whenever I have visited a church or cathedral on holiday as a tourist I have always found the best part to be seeing the stained glass windows light up and cast their rainbow shadows across the floor in from of me.
Being the big kid that I am, I am looking forward to attending an event later this week which I think will be like an enormous kaleidoscope and I cannot wait!



The Luminarium Levity is a gigantic inflatable walk in sculpture which creates a magical and very beautiful stained glass window effect when sunlight shines in through the specially constructed 'windows'. Only four colours of plastic are used to create the amazing display of coloured lights.




The luminarium comprises of an array of dazzling winding paths and escalating domes which rise up to 10 metres off the ground. I imagine it to be like a technicolour maze or labyrinth which I find exciting just thinking about and I cannot wait to explore with Burton and Jenson! Plus having been invited to attend this event, we will get to see the luminarium being inflated which takes 20 minutes and once completed will look something like this



It looks brilliant doesn't it?

Not only am I looking forward to walking through these multi coloured plastic chambers but I will be having a tweet up with two other lovely bloggers and their children (TheBoyandMe & WouldLikeToBe). I am almost as excited at the prospect at seeing what 'Me' from TheBoyandMe looks like as I am seeing the Luminarium lol

The Luminarium Levity is located at Taurus Crafts which is situated at The Old Park, Lydney in Gloucestershire from now until 31st July. If you fancy taking your children there then it costs £3 per person with a family ticket costing £10 (either 1 adult & 3 children or for 2 adults & 2 children). Aswell as the luminarium there will also be crafts and artists there to look at too. Opening times are as follows:

Monday- Friday 12.30pm to 19.30pm (last admission)
Saturday - 11am to 19.30pm (last admission)
Sunday - 11am to 17.30pm (last admission)


*This post was written of my own choice - I was not asked to write it but I wanted to as I think if you have the opportunity to visit the Luminarium Levity it may well be a fabulous light-tastic day out for you and your children*

Silent Sunday

Not A Chatty Boy

As many of you will know Burton turned two last week. He is a very confident and well rounded little boy and, asides from the odd tantrum (aaaaargh!) he is funny and happy most of the time. I think he is amazing (obviously, I am his Mummy!) and I feel he is quite advanced for his age in most areas and has been since he was very small.

However, one area that he lacks in is his speech development. I don't know if it is laziness or that he can't be bothered to really try, but his vocabulary for his age is really below average. Having looked on the Internet, it appears that most toddlers can say about 20 words when they are 18 months increasing to 50 words or more by the time they turn two. Upon reaching two years old children should start to make basic sentences as well. Ok so that's the average, and every child is different and develop at varying paces - I fully appreciate this fact.

My two year old can say the following

"mama" sometimes "mummy"

"rara" which is daddy (don't know why he says 'r' instead of 'd')

"Mamama" which is grandma

"haahoo" which is haahoo from In The Night Garden

"dacter" which is tractor

He can say "Jenson, Burton, blue, balloon, tree and grandad" when pushed. He prefers to use his own made up sign language and noises to communicate instead, and I have to say he is brilliant at doing this because he 'acts' everything out so well and most of the time we can understand what he is saying. If he wants me to sing The Grand Old Duke for example he marches up and down; if he wants a drink, he lifts his hand up to his mouth and slurps; if he has done a pooh he holds his nose and points to his bottom! There are so many actions he does it's quite staggering really. When we don't understand what he is trying to tell us, he gets frustrated and usually has a tantrum.

Being big for his age he often gets people ask him his name when we are out and about, but of course he ignores them, leaving me to explain that he can't talk yet. I sometimes think people wonder if he has learning difficulties because he just babbles to them. I know he finds it hard when he is in the company of other children to make them understand what he wants - he points and pushes them and says "ai" and some children think he is trying to push them over! I can see the look of bewilderment on Burton's face when he clearly cannot understand why they don't know what he is 'saying'.

He isn't stupid - he knows what animal is what, he can differentiate between colours and vehicles and can learn how to do a wooden puzzle after one go! He understands what you ask him and is a quick learner. I thought that once he learnt how to 'speak' a word he would use that word all the time but he only does so when asked - with the exception of those words I mentioned earlier. It isn't like I haven't encouraged him to talk either - when he was only a few weeks old I read to him constantly, and pointed things out and told him what they were. Television has only been more of a feature in his daily routine since he was about a year old, as before then we only ever watched In The Night Garden and Timmy Time once or twice a day to allow me time to drink my cup of tea!!

So I really don't know why he doesn't talk! Oh and I know people say that boys tend to be more lazy at talking - but most of Burton's peers who are boys say far more.

But how long do I keep telling myself that it's nothing to worry about and soon he will talking so much I will be wishing he was quieter! Should I be worried or is this "normal" for some children? Has anyone else had similar experiences? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you x

Flashback Friday - July 2004

Having just seen a flashback from the lovely SAHMandlovingit regarding poodles, I thought I would use this photo as I look a bit like one myself!





Yes that's me dressed in 80's style wig and clothes! It was an 80's style hen night which I organised for my friend Gina. I hired the local rugby club social club and laid on lots of alcohol and party food by getting everyone who attended to contribute £10 each I think.

I couldn't afford a DJ so I knew someones grandad who hired out disco equipment and I sweet talked him so well that I managed to blag the decks, speakers, lights and CD's for FREE as I said that I would be the DJ! Ha ha haaaa! oh it was such fun - playing music from my youth and being able to waffle on through a microphone. Of course the more drunk I got the louder I got and I started singing along to the songs in my *ahem* brilliant singing voice (not!).

I also had arranged for a bouncy castle outside and party games like musical vodka swigging chairs!! It was such a brilliant night and everyone said how much they enjoyed it, and how funny I was! It wasn't so funny having to be back up the rugby club the next morning to clear up, I can tell you :(

Now check out the other Flashbacks over at

Burton's 2nd Birthday

FRIDAY

So last Friday, 15th July, Burton turned two! He hadn't been very well the week leading up to his birthday as he had suffered with a really nasty tummy bug and was not eating anything really, and I wasn't sure if we would be able to do all the things I had planned to celebrate it. Thankfully, the day before he seemed to perk up and eat a bit more so I was very relieved!

For his birthday we gave him a balance bike and a little wooden kitchen as he likes 'helping' me in the kitchen and plays with the play one at his paternal grandparents a LOT! 

As soon as he came downstairs he wanted to play with the balloons of course! But he soon discovered the other presents

Much to my OH's frustration Burton ignored the bike to start it and just played the kitchen for most of the morning - lol!! I think it's because he just didn't know what a bike was as has never played with one before. I think my OH was worried he preferred a more *ahem* domestic type toy and not a boyish bike ha ha! My Mum gave him a Toy Story birthday card which had a photo of him on the front with his cowboy hat on and holding Woody. As soon as he saw it he went off to his cupboard and found those items and pointed to himself and to himself in the card

On his birthday itself we just had a drop in day when anyone could pop in if they wished, as his main party was to be held on Friday. He received some fab presents: a fish tank, an easel with paints, chalks and crayons and colouring books, a little desk and chair, lots of Toy Story and Cars related tee shirts and books!

I made a cake for today (the main one being on Sunday at his party with his friends)

SATURDAY

On Saturday we had arranged to take him to see the In The Night Garden Live show in Cardiff. There was one moment when I didn't think we were going to make it as the night before my OH did a Nav Run (a mini local rally) in our car and managed to punchture two of the tyres!! As he owns an Audi the tyres cannot just be replaced as they have to be ordered - hence we had no car! He told me this at 2am when he got into bed Saturday morning! I was NOT impressed. Luckily we were able to hire a car and at 10.50am we headed for Cardiff - bearing in mind the show started at 1pm! Needless to say we missed the first 15 minutes of the show and I missed most of it as I had to feed Jenson! Hey ho! (On the way home, I 'drew a line' over the car fiasco as I had moaned about it almost all morning!!).

Anyway........

We did pay the extra money to meet Iggle Piggle afterwards and Burton was most concerned that he did not have his blanket with him! I didn't think he would go near him to begin with, buy he soon gave him a cuddle and then wouldn't let go!

SUNDAY

Today we held Burton's party at a local soft play centre and it was great fun! I am so glad I didn't have all the preparation and clearing up to do :) plus it rained so my outdoor party which I was going to do would have been a wash out!

My Mum and I made his cake together  - I baked the cake and Mum decorated it.

It was a great three days, but I was shattered by the end of it I must admit! :)

Buggy Tug - A Review

I was recently asked to try out the Buggy Tug, the UK's first branded buggy wrist strap which has been designed to secure your hold on your buggy so that should you remove your hands from it, it won't roll away from you.

I own a double tandem buggy, so I was very interested to see how well it would work with such a large and heavy (especially when filled with two children!) buggy. The Buggy Tug is very easy to attach to your wrist and your buggy - yes even with my addled baby brain I worked it out by myself lol - and being made from neoprene it is very comfy and does not rub on your skin. Being short in length means that the Buggy Tug can not get tangled up either which prevents any tripping up scenarios (see photo at top of page).

As soon as I get the buggy outside my house we are on a slight decline and normally I apply the break while I lock the front door. However, with the Buggy Tug on I wanted to see how strong it was should my buggy start to roll down the road slightly, so on this one occasion, and purely for review purposes as I don't condone leaving the break off obviously, I didnt apply the brake. As I started to lock up, the buggy did start to roll slightly and by wearing the Buggy Tug not only was I alerted to this fact because I felt it pull on my wrist, but it couldn't roll very far either! Thus allowing me to step forward and grasp the buggy with both hands and apply the brake while I finished locking up.

At only £3.99 these simple and cheap wrist straps are excellent value and having under gone rigorous safety testing you can trust the Buggy Tug when out with your precious buggy cargo. It's so small once attached to your buggy or pram that you can keep it there all the time as it doesn't get in the way if yours is a collapsable one. I take mine everywhere my buggy goes now because it is great to have an added safety precaution on it when out with my children.









I highly recommend the Buggy Tug - it's such a simple but effective safety idea. Maybe the range could be expanded to include some different colours enabling them to co-ordinate with your buggy or pram? mine is black so co-ordinates well with my black Buggy Tug, but there are so many funky coloured buggies available that matching wrist straps could prove to be popular.

Buggy Tugs are available to buy from www.buggytug.com direct or if you visit their website you can find stockist information too.

Silent Sunday

Happy 2nd Birthday Burton!

Dear Burton,

Happy Birthday my gorgeous boy!

So you are two today! Officially a member of the 'terrible two's club' (oh no!!!). I still can't believe that two years have passed since I first held you in my arms







This time last year as we celebrated your first birthday you looked like this







You couldn't walk back then or crawl - you used to drag yourself along the floor instead! You couldn't talk either but you still made us laugh with your funny expressions and mannerisms.

How much has changed in a year! Now you are walking and jumping and running and falling over a lot too (sorry, you get your clumsiness from me!). You can swim now with your armbands on, and you still love the water as much as you did a year ago. You are still not talking that much but you can say a few words now - you still prefer to show us what you want via impressions and gestures- it's quite amazing how well you make yourself understood! You throw the most outrageous tantrums, which Mummy does not enjoy being a part of, but when you are being rational you are a pleasure to have around.

You have adapted to your role as a big brother to Jenson brilliantly, and you are so sweet with him, if still a little over zealous! I can see that you love him as much as you love me and Daddy, it melts my heart when you 'chatter' to him and kiss him.






I hope when he is bigger you both get on and enjoy each others company.

So, here are your best bits from the last year, in photos month by month






August, 2010




September 2010







October 2010




November 2010





December 2010







January 2011







February 2011







March 2011








April 2011






May 2011







June 2011







July 2011


Happy 2nd Birthday my funny boy. I love you very much.

Lots of love

Mummy
Xxx