Jenson At 11 Months

I cannot believe that 4 weeks on Friday Jenson will celebrate his 1st birthday. I mean, seriously, where has that time gone?

He is standing up all the time when is able to and although he isn't walking yet he is cruising along the sofa, and can 'slide' his way across the floor. 

Neither of my two boys mastered the art of crawling, preferring instead to pull/drag themselves along the floor instead. I spoke to a HV about this and she said that this method of mobility is becoming more common in little ones with the addition of laminate and wooden floors in many homes nowadays.

He has a really good appetite and eats just about everything I pass his way except tomatoes and cumber which funnily enough Burton still won't eat!

And he definitely likes chocolate cake!!

He is mostly a happy little boy and pulls some very cheeky faces and likes to poke his tongue out to get me to smile at him. I have noticed that he does more of this when it is just him and I alone together without Burton being close by, probably because he is getting some attention all of his own on his own! His big brother does have a tendency to involve himself in everything that Jenson does! 

I am also pleased, but also a little afraid to mention incase I jinx it (!), that for the last week he has started sleeping through the night - yes through the night! He now goes to bed about 7.30 and more often then not sleeps for 12 hours! I am still in shock after more than 10 months of having to get up at least once every night, if not twice.

He is still very much a mummy's boy and doesn't like it if I leave him with someone else for too long - he is often off looking for me or crying for me to come back! He is yet to spend a few hours with one of his grandma's without me being there!

Of course it is Burton who makes him laugh the most and the two of them are so sweet together. 

Yes there is the occasional over exuberance by Burton where he plays a little too rough, but mostly his big brother is always wanting to hug and kiss him. Recently, he has taken to holding hands with Jenson in the car - awww it is just so sweet!

So now my mind is thinking about Jenson's first birthday: what kind of party I will throw and what cake to make!! Yikes it isn't long I must get focussed and make some arrangements because the way the last 11 months have flown by, this last month before he turns one will too.

Choosing The Right Baby Travel System

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I couldn't wait to start planning, choosing and buying all the gorgeous new things that having a new baby gives you the excuse to have. Having waited for what seemed like ages to have my wish come true and start a family, as soon as my 12 week scan had been given the all clear, allowing me to announce my pregnancy officially and make it public, I could barely contain my excitement at being able to look at baby wear, accessories, toys and nursery furniture. Plus of course plan what my baby would be seen in while we were out and about.

I remember picking up every catalogue I could lay my hands on whenever I visited a retailer which sold baby products, and would happily spend time browsing the internet to see what the 'in' and most stylish and practical baby pram/buggies were. Therefore, when the time came for my OH and I to actively go out one Saturday and choose the right 'travel system' ( I didn't even know this was the correct term until I was pregnant!) for our baby, I knew that I wanted one which would act as a pram aswell as a buggy so that my baby could lie down during its first few months, but as it got older it would be able to sit up and see where it was going once it was old enough to do so. 

However, what we weren't expecting were all the decisions we would need to make regarding the exact specifications our ideal baby travel system required! We were suddenly faced with a barrage of questions:  which make would meet our needs? What colour way did we prefer and did we want the co-ordinating parasol, changing bag, blanket and cocoon sleeping bag to keep baby warm? Did we want three wheels or four wheels? Did we want it suitable for off road terrains or inner city sophistication? Did we want a combination buggy, so that the car seat can be attached to it? Did we want it compact and light weight?  Would it fold down and fit into our boot easily? Was there space underneath for my shopping? (this was a question I asked - very important consideration I think!).

Oh the list went on and on. I never realised that picking out what you pushed your baby out and about in could be so complicated or have so many different gadgets and gizmos and accessories you could add on, all colour co-ordinating of course! It was exhausting and a bit mind boggling.

Its no wonder we didn't end up ordering ours until about two months prior to our baby's due date in the end- I think we both got a bit flummoxed by it all, and having so many - maybe too many - choices made available to us, we took a while to make our decision so that it was the right one for us and our baby. We just wanted to keep it simple like baby jogger : choose a comfortable travel system suitable from birth until toddlerhood in a colour which is unisex and at a competitive price. 

Of course our next dilemma was what to do with our brand spanking new travel system when it arrived a week or so before the due date at our house. So many people I came into contact with about its delivery to our abode, were like "oh its bad luck to have the pram/buggy in your home before the baby is born". Eeek!

Well, the buggy did enter our home and was set up ready for the imminent  arrival of our bundle of joy, and a few days later I gave birth to a healthy and perfect 8lb baby boy. 

This has been written by me as a 'guest post'. All the words and opinions are my own, as are the tales from my pregnancy that I mention.

Tales From Nursery - A Wall, A Kerb & A Trek!

Today was not a great day. In fact it has to be said it was a crap day.

I was woken up at 4.25am by Burton who, when I enquired what the matter was, told me that "me awake" ! After a little drink and a gingerbread man I said that he ought to be back to sleep because in a few hours he would be off to Ladybirds again. He replied with "me not want to go to Ladybirds. Me not like it. Me want to stay here with you". My heart sank but I said that he would feel differently when he got up later on...........but to be honest, I knew then that I would have trouble leaving him at nursery today.

Things got worse at breakfast. From the chat he had with Granma last week Daddy and I already knew that the reason he wouldn't go outside and play in the lovely playground, which he had enjoyed so much during his first session, was because he wanted to stay indoors and wait for mummy (awwww!). So Daddy was trying to persuade him to go out and play today but Burton kept saying "me stay indoors for mummy" in the end he got upset and started crying so nothing more was said on the matter.

When it was time to set off, he didn't want to go and kept saying "me stay home me not like Ladybirds" and he was getting teary. I was finding it hard not to lose control of my emotions myself, and I got him in the car but all the way there he was crying and I felt awful, even though I was telling him that he would have a fun time etc.... Once inside the nursery, he wouldn't leave my side so I took him off to the story corner and we found The Gruffalo's Child' which Tanita started reading. I did try to go during the story but he clung onto me very tightly. Once it finished, Tanita looked at me and I knew what her look meant so I nodded and I hugged and kissed him goodbye, and handed Burton to her and walked away while he screamed at me!! Outside I could still hear him. You can imagine how I felt.

So that was bad enough, but then I managed to make an already crappy start t the day even worse! Through crying eyes I reversed out of the car park and misjudged the width of the entrance and *bang!* I hit the wall!! I didn't stop to look what I had done, instead I drove the few miles home to investigate it there. Except, my crappy day that had just got worse became a ruddy terrible day because as I pulled up outside my house I scuffed the front left tyre against the kerb!! At the time I didn't think I had done anything so I looked at the rear lights and I had managed to shatter and break the plastic covering! Jon was already coming down the stairs as I entered the house, as he read my tweet saying how Burton had been crying when I left so loud I could hear him outside. He looked at me and I was crying and I said that I had crashed the back of the car into a wall, and he said that he had heard me pull up and  hit the kerb (he wasn't happy as he is always telling me to make sure I don't do that,which I never have until today) so off he went to investigate. 

His face said it all when he came in. Aswell as breaking the rear lights I had dented the bumper and ripped a small hole in the wheel rendering it undriveable! Oh and damage totalling about £600 *sighs* . He has barely said two words to me since it happened - I am in the doghouse BIG time! 

Of course being without a car meant I still had to collect Burton from Ladybirds which is about 2.5-3 miles from where we live. The bus only passes though once an hour each way and are no good as it means waiting 30 mins for Burton to finish and 40 mins once he does, and Landkey is a village so doesn't have a cafe we could wait in. So I had no choice but to walk it which is doable but half of the journey is on a country road with no pavements! Anyway, it took about 40 minutes to walk there and luckily Jenson slept so he didn't need entertaining while I was walking as fast as I could! 

Burton was fine when I arrived and he was so happy to see me. I had a really long hug and kiss and he held me really tightly. The staff told me that he calmed down about quarter of an hour after I left, but he wouldn't go outside to play! They also said that he is getting better each week and he is happy enough and loves to 'help' them clearing up!! 

His report said:

Burton soon settled this morning, after a couple of stories which he really enjoyed. this morning he enjoyed drawing a picture of his house and chatting about his family. He also joins in with a sponge painting. Burton has been playing q game about feelings and what makes us happy and sad. He as also been counting and practising his colours which he is fab at! He has been singing songs aswell. Burton has been playing with the animals and dinosaurs with his friends. 

I asked him on the long walk home what made him happy and sad, and he said that me playing with him made him happy and Daddy being upstairs and not playing made him sad (Daddy works from home). I would love to know the things he talks about when he is at Ladybirds and what he says about his family and other things! He also said that "me like Ladybirds" - fickle boy! 

So the moral to this story : don't cry and drive!

PS. a BIG thank you to those people on twitter today who were so kind and lovely about my crappy day :) 

My Week That Was - Pizza, Pancakes & Play

Monday

Was Burton's third visit to nursery and the hardest one yet for me to walk away from, as he really cried this week when it was time for me to say goodbye to him! still, when I returned four hours later to collect him he was happily playing with the other children and couldn't wait to show me his new coat hook with his name above it!

On the way home he couldn't wait to hold Jenson's hand and asked me to take a photo to show Daddy!! I love seeing them hold hands - melts my heart :)

Tuesday

Was Shrove Tuesday and I made pancakes for breakfast and Daddy and I had lemon and sugar as our filling of choice. Try as may we could not get Burton to try any but Jenson had a little piece and ate it!

After breakfast Burton lined all his bedtime 'friends' up to sit down and with some roadrunner cartoons! 

Later on we took a drive out to Croyde to take in the breath taking scenery of the coastline which Burton enjoyed looking at through the window while Jenson slept!

Burton went to his Granma and Grampy's late afternoon to stay the night which was a good thing given that our boiler decided to pack in again (it brook down last December!) and we have no hot water or heating!

Wednesday

Spent the day at Granma and Grampy's house and Burton and his cousin Ben, spent quite a bit of time watching the Loony Tunes cartoon that Burton had insisted on taking with him the night before!

Burton decided that he wanted to stay another night so Jenson and I bid him farewell and returned to our less warm and cosy house! Daddy and I bathed Jenson in the baby bath that we have only ever used once before! We had to boil the kettle a few times and heat some saucepans on the cooker but Jenson enjoyed himself and got the floor quite wet!

Thursday

Jenson and I went to collect Burton this morning and when we arrived at Granma and Grampy's he was making pizzas for our lunch! Burton used to eat homemade pizza when  he was much younger and then about a year or so again just went off them! Recently, I have been trying to get him to like them again as it would be a meal that we can make together and one the whole family could enjoy. Its been a bit hit and miss but today he ate a couple of small slices - which is progress indeed!

Jenson likes pizza thats for sure!

After our pizza I took the boys to see my Mum for a couple of hours and she and Burton made plans for him to stay with her and Grandad next weekend as he hasn't stayed with her for ages now. I just hope he will go as the last time he said he would (about 2 weeks ago), Mum drove here to collect him and he wouldn't go back with her!

Friday

I took the boys to my local library today. I feel terrible as its been about a year since I last visited with Burton and it has had a make over and has been modernised and now instead of librarians stamping the books that are to be borrowed, we do it ourselves on a touch screen scanning machine!!! How times have changed!! 

We went to the children's section to see if they had any copies of the Gruffalo and Gruffalo's Child (Burton is having a phase of watching these films now since his stay at Granma's earlier in the week - no more Loony Tunes at the moment!). The children's section has also had a little make over and Burton removed his shoes and made himself quite at home!! Eventually we found a selection of books to take home with us, and then I said we could hire a DVD and ended up renting three! Jenson especially enjoyed removing all the DVD boxes from the bottom shelf!

Of course Burton insisted on helping me to fathom out how the scanning machine worked, which resulted in me having to get help and then he kept touching the screen at the wrong time and the poor librarian had to show us again!! Monkey!

Back home after lunch while Jenson napped Burton and I read The Snail And The Whale which was one of the books we borrowed from the library - what a wonderful story it is! Afterwards, we did some drawings based on the illustrations from the book

Once Jenson awoke from his sleep, we all headed over to Funderzone for some soft play fun. We stayed for tea and they both enjoyed it......and some more pizza was eaten! More pizza eating progress - yay!

Saturday

We didn't do much this morning, but this afternoon we headed over to Woolacombe's Golden Sands resort where his cousin Casey was staying with his family and three school friends for the weekend for his 6th birthday. We went over along with other family members and the children played in a soft play zone  before going to the caravan where Burton's aunty and uncle and cousins were staying, for the birthday tea. 

On the way home I think it was evident that a busy afternoon had been had!

Sunday

We took the boys swimming this morning and then we head back across to Woolacombe as Casey and his fiends and family were still staying at the holiday village and when we were there yesterday, Burton was quite taken with the ten pin bowling alley. So his aunty invited us all back today to have a game as Burton has only ever played it on the iPad! 

He was sooooo excited and really loved it! The problem is he kept 'helping' everyone else with their go and so he got in the way a little bit really!! Bless him 

Afterwards we went to see Granma and Grampy and the boys held hands on the way and again Burton wanted me to take their photo!! Cute!

I am linking this up to MummyDaddyAndMeMakesThree 's

Saturday Caption 25/2/2012

Its Saturday again! 

How time flies when you look forward to making up with captions again!

Feel free to write one yourself for the photo  :)

Then check out what the other caption lovers are up to here

Triple Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

As regular readers of my blog may know I hate to see food go to waste and I always try to use things up someway and for some reason I alway seem to have bananas that have gone a little black, which are fine to use in desserts but off putting to toddlers for a snack!

So I have just whipped up a batch of triple chocolate chip banana muffins, and while I wait for them to cool down so I can enjoy sample one to ensure they taste good, I thought I may aswell blog the recipe in case any of you need an excuse to make cakes and use up some leftover bananas!

Triple Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

You will need:

250 g self raising flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

3 small bananas

100g white chocolate chips/chunks

100g milk chocolate chips/chunks

100g sugar

100ml olive oil

2 eggs, beaten

1 pot of a well known brand of fat free yogurt (I used toffee but could use vanilla or  banana)

1 tbsp cocoa powder

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 190oC/170oC fan

Sieve the flour, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda into a large mixing bowl

Add the banana, chocolate and sugar and stir

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well until combined but be careful not to over stir

Divide the batter into your paper cases - I did a mixture of large muffins and little cupcakes to suit

                           mummy, daddy and my children!

Cook for about 25 minutes or until cooked right through

Thats it - and lets face it they can't be all bad because they contain fruit!!

That Skirt - Flashback Friday

After a notable absence Flashback Friday is back and it is now being hosted but the lovely mum-to-be for the second time, Emma from A Matter Of Choice.  For those of you who don't know the format, its very simple: you simply post a photo from anytime in the past from a week to a month, to a year to a decade or longer and write about it. 

I found this photo while trawling through my computer tonight

It would have been taken during the summer of 1998 and I am sat in my not yet step-father's garden at Lifton which is near Lanceston in Cornwall.

Its funny because I lived in that skirt and those clog shoes that summer! Actually, thinking about it I pretty much lived in that skirt as it was my favourite one and I wore it so much and I think it lasted me a few years starting during my last year in uni (1996). My boyfriend at that time always said he remembers me walking past his flat whilst walking my dog, swishing past in that skirt and my denim jacket!

Look at my arms - no flabby bingo wings on them at all! My hair so full and thick (still is!)  - in the days before hair straighteners!  No need for me to have to colour it back then either! *sighs*

Mum says when she sees this photo it reminds her of her when she was the same age (I would have been about 24) as we look very similar at around the same age.

When I see this photo it reminds me that I had only left uni two years previously, I was with my then ex-surfer boyfriend, and working as a marketing assistant in Torrington (crap money though!) and I drove a blue escort car having not long passed my driving test. 

I had so many things I still wanted to do........I can't even remember what they all were now but I wonder what myself then would make of myself now? I know that the 'me' now writing this is quite envious of the young woman in that photo, who still has another 14 years of living to reach where I am now.

Would I change what happened during those last 14 years?
Hmmmm.....probably not, after all I now have my boys :) 

What were you doing in 1998? 

The Gallery: Local Landscape

I live in a very beautiful part of the country which is rich in rural splendour and rugged coastlines. I don't have to travel very far to witness some amazing and stunningly beautiful landscapes, and its not until I remember this fact that I feel lucky to bring my boys up here. Ok so we may not always get the gorgeous weather to complement it like other countries do, but when you see views like this, why would you need to travel anywhere else?

I am linking this up to this weeks The Gallery

Sudocrem Moisturising Mousse & Sunscreen Mousse

Jenson has recently developed dry red patches on his skin which when I checked with the health clinic the other week, has turned out to be eczema. 
Some precautions we had been advised to follow included not using bubble bath or the body wash we were using previously, as the well known brand we have always used for him and his brother can apparently aggravate this skin condition. The other product that was suggested was a well known skin cream, which can help calm the skin and reduce the patches and make the skin look less irritated.

I had been following these precautionary measures, when I was asked to try out some new products being launched by one of the leading children's skincare specialists Sudocrem, 

One of which happens to be a Moisturising Mousse which claims dry skin relief on the outer packaging. This was perfect timing as it meant it was a product which would be suitable for Jenson's skin in particular, aswell as his brother who was very interested in the can format ("me can press it mummy"!)

The moisturising mousse contains Proderm Technology which has been specifically formulated by Sudocrem to be suitable for the delicate and sensitive skin that babies have.
What is this newfangled Proderm Technology you may be asking yourself?
Well let me tell you. It allows the mousse to cleverly imitates the composition of the skin to enable it to protect and moisturise the skin's outer layer whilst caring for it at the same time.  It creates a semi permeable membrane to allow the skin to breathe whilst at the same time, keeping  the natural moisturising balancing properties of skin to provide a soothing and effective relief. 

Sounds pretty impressive doesn't it? 
As I mentioned at the start I have been using a well known banded dry skin relief cream on Jenson's legs for the past few weeks so I was keen to see how this moisturising mousse compared. Especially as it claims to have been tested by dermatologists against a "leading dry skin relief brand" and it was shown to have" superior moisturising effect over 12 hours"

The mousse disperses very easily and does not feel greasy at all infact it is surprisingly dry to the touch for a wet mouse which moisturises! It rubs into the skin quickly and again does not leave any residue behind and both Jenson's and my skin felt supple after each application. It has been really easy to use and I haven't had to rub lots of excess cream into his skin as it is absorbed so fast! 

Priced at  £8.99 for 150ml I think this is a brilliant product that really works and does what it says on the can! Jenson seemed to like it too!

I was also sent a sample of the Sudocrem Sunscreen Mousse which has a factor 50 and four star UVA protection rating aswell as the unique Proderm Technology formulation. It is hypoallergenic and free from perfumes, colours and parabens and is suitable for use even on babies. It is also meant to be more resistant to towell drying and the water in comparison to other more conventional sunscreens.

Now given that it is not exactly sunbathing weather at the moment I haven't been able to carry out a proper review of this product in the sunshine! However, I have rubbed the mousse into my skin and again as with the moisturising mousse it is absorbed quickly and without any greasy residue. This products has a RRP of £14.99 for 150ml which I feel is competitive within the sun protection products that I am familiar with. 

GIVE AWAY

I have been lucky enough to have been given a set of these products to give away to one lucky Mummy Mishaps reader - yes one person can win a Sudocrem Moisturising Mousse and Sunscreen Mousse with a prize value of almost £23!

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is complete the following. 

Give away ends at midnight on 3rd March 2012.

Tales From Nursery - Tears, Coat Hook & A Mystery Solved!

Yesterday was another Monday and another day at Ladybirds nursery for Burton. For those of you who have been following our little nursery journey (for this who haven't here is part 1 and part 2)  you will know that last week he didn't want to stay and got upset at me leaving him, which as some of you will know from first hand experience, or can imagine, was not nice for either of us and left me feeling very guilty. However, the good news is that after an hour or so he did settle in and enjoyed his time there in the end. You will also recall that we have a little mystery in the guise of his 'friend' Jordan who daddy and I are not sure is real or imaginary.

So, knowing how upset he got last week everyday since all the family has been 'bigging' nursery up again and everytime we asked him what we were doing that day he has replied 'ladybirds', so we know he wants to go and is excited about returning. So on the drive over yesterday I was talking to him about what he might get up to and he was chatting about it with me and seemed fine with having to go. That is until we stepped out of the car......his key worker Catherine waved too him and he went all shy and refused to walk into the building with me. So I had to carry him in and once inside he wouldn't leave my side and go off with any of the members of staff. I got him to show me the 'Gruffalo' collage on the wall and started playing a shopping game with him and everyone I started to say goodbye he got teary and said "no mummy". After three attempts I said I was going and he began to follow me so one of the staff picked him up and he was really crying and calling me and I turned and walked out fast because I got upset this time! 

Anyway, four hours later when I retuned to collect him he was happily playing with a group of children in the messy playroom and was smiling and enjoying himself. I watched him for a couple of minutes before he spied me! His report this week read as follows:

Burton had an unsettled first hour today but cheered up a lot during a group activity in the quiet room, talking about 'our weekends'. He was telling a little girl that she needed to out her shoes on to play outside, and he chatted about having to wear his coat to play outside with mummy. 

He seemed to love the Duplo trains an chose to stay inside with Tanita (who works there) after lunch and had fun helping her to sweep the floor!

I can just imagine that Tanita didn't have much choice in letting Burton 'help' her sweep up! Echoes of "me can do it" can be heard in my head!!
I also find it strange that he doesn't want to go outside and play because he loves playing outdoors. Mind you I overheard him telling Granma today that he stayed inside where he could "wait for my mummy" awww!

Before we left he showed me his new coat hook in the cloakroom :)

Appropriately he is part of the 'monkey' group!!

On the way home in the car it was really sweet as he insisted on holding Jenson's hand all the way

Right so I know that you are all dying to hear about Jordan!!

Well, its funny really and I feel stupid having to admit this on my blog but following last weeks nursery post Paula from MummyVsWork commented saying that her daughter also had a 'friend' called 'Jordan' when she started nursery and as soon as I read that I thought to myself now thats a strange co-incidence! Paula went on to explain that it was actually children !! 

So armed with this vital information, the next morning I asked Burton to say the word 'children' to me and surprise surprise it came out as 'Dawden' (which I had taken to mean Jordan!). Yes, ok you can stop yourselves from laughing now! I have had plenty of that from friends and family. What makes me laugh though, is that Burton went along with his friend 'Jordan' and gave us a description of his eyes and hair colour and how tall he was  and kept telling us he was HIS friend!! Funny boy. 

Hooray For Boobies - A Breastfeeding Meme

I was tagged by the lovely and fellow SW Mummy blogger Carolin  from MummyAlarm in a meme about breast feeding. I did breast feed BUT this isn't an all singing and all dancing post designed to put people who didn't off from reading it. I too found it hard and didn't think I was going to manage it successfully. 

1. Why did you choose boob over bottle?

Jenson

For me I never contemplated using a bottle, I always wanted to try breast feeding and I don't even remember deciding. I think I just 'knew' it was for me and what I wanted to do for my baby. Having seen friends around me unable to successfully achieve breast feeding I was aware that I might not be able to when it came down to it BUT I was determined to try. I know that my mum breast fed my brother and I and my nan did her and my uncle so maybe thats why subconsciously I wanted to?

Personally, I feel that it is the best start you can give your baby IF you are able to do it of course as I am fully aware that it is not achievable for everyone.

2. How long did you breastfeed or are you planning to breastfeed?

I never gave myself a target with either Burton or Jenson, I just decided to take each day, week or month as it passed. As it happens they both ended their breast feeding journeys with me at near enough the same age! Around 9 months and they both weaned themselves off me which I feel was the best way for it to stop. My breasts will never feed another baby now - its kind of weird writing that down but at the same time its nice to have them back and in nice pretty bras again!

3. What is the best thing about breastfeeding?

Burton

Knowing that I am providing all the goodness and nutrients both my babies needed  to  allow them to grow and develop during the first 5-6 months of their little lives. I actually find the way my boobs can (well, did!)  produce milk amazing; how my baby can make me produce more milk whenever a growth spurt occurred. I loved how my boobs and my baby were so in-tune with one another. 

The other thing I love about breast feeding (well again, I did!) is the bond and the closeness you get with your baby. I am not saying that mums who bottle feed don't get this either - because every mother forms a special and unique bond with their baby. However, once successful latch on has been established and as long as your nipples are not sore, feeling your baby's mouth on your breast is such a wonderful feeling and experience. Unless you have breastfed I don't think you can explain how it feels. 

I found it to be such a positive and fulfilling experience and I feel extremely privileged and lucky to have breastfed twice.  

4. Did you have to overcome challenges on your breastfeeding journey?

Jenson's 1st latch on

Yes! I found it very hard to achieve successful latch on with Burton. I was only in hospital for 12 hours after he was born and I wasn't allowed to leave until successful latch on had been established. Well I was so keen to get out and get home and allow my family to meet him, that I may have told a little white lie and told the hospital staff that it had happened. So of course I arrived home and an hour later Burton is screaming for his milk and I have family downstairs and I cannot get him to latch on. He is screaming louder and louder, I am tired and getting hot and bothered and a bit teary, which of course he is picking up on and which is making him more irritable. I ended up sending Jon out to buy some formula milk  because I was panicking that I couldn't breast feed him and Jon gave him a bottle of it and I don't think he actually took very much. 
Thats the one and only time formula milk was fed to him because thankfully Jon's mum came to the rescue and showed me how to get Burton to latch on and at last he got his feed!
However, after she left I still couldn't do it very well and bless her but she came out and saw me everyday for the first week and helped me to get Burton to latch on. I have to say if it hadn't been for her (and Emma, my SIL if I were married) I don't know if I would have been able to continue breast feeding because it was so hard. 
Thankfully, breastfeeding Jenson was so much easier even though I remember worrying that I would forget how to do it once  my baby was born. Maybe its because I was more relaxed the second time round  or Jenson was a better feeder I have no idea - but it was better.

5. Who supported you the most with breastfeeding?

As I mentioned above it was my OH's Mum who was amazing and such a BIG help and Emma was too - I think it definitely helps if you have support because it can be so stressful.

6. How did you feel when you first breastfed in public?

Burton

Uncomfortable! I didn't like doing it because I would get all hot and bothered! If I was ever out in town and knew it was getting near feeding time I would hurry home. If I ever did have to feed him while I was out and about then I would go and hide myself away in a  disabled toilet in my local M & S!! Awful really as I would have to sit on the actual toilet (fully dressed of course -  but they never have seats!) for about 20 minutes while people would try the door handle! 
There is a coffee shop in town which openly welcomes breast feeding mums and I know you are allowed to breast feed in public but I never had the confidence to do it alone. 

7. Have you been questioned for breastfeeding?

No because I would always do it away from people!

8. Has breastfeeding made you feel different about your body?

Well if I am honest, before I breast fed my nipples were very sensitive and I enjoyed this fact when I was intimate with my boyfriend (s), but now they are de-sensitised. Also, I would not have felt comfortable having sex whilst still breast feeding because to me that would have seemed weird because while I was feeding my boys, my boobs were not for any other purpose than producing milk and not as 'fun bags' !!  

9. What do you wish you had known before making the decision to breastfeed your baby?
How hard it was being to be and that Mothercare has a room for changing and feeding your baby!

Now I am going to tag


Lauren from TheRealHouswifeOfSuffolkCounty
Lindsey from DoSnailsNeedDoulas
Emma from MummyMusings


If any other breast feeders reading this would like to join in then please do and remember to link back up to Carolin by clicking on the above badge.

Our Week That Was - A Week Of Cake!!

So last week was quite a busy week and I seem to have a lot of photos from it! It was also a week full of eating cake - just my kind of week then!

Monday

Was Burton's second session at Ladybirds nursery and unfortunately he didn't want to stay! It was so horrid having to walk away from him getting upset but thankfully after an hour or so he did settle in and enjoy himself. The mystery of his friend - real or imaginary we are not sure- called Jordan continues too! 

Tuesday

Was Valentine Day.......well maybe in some homes but in ours it was just like any other day! Hmmmmph! Still, I did receive a couple of packages through the post from a secret admirer......... Uhm oh no actually I don't have one of those! The parcels were from Warner Brothers who sent me, among other things, a romantic chick flick set of movies which I have yet to watch but am looking forward to an excuse to do so!

Burton and I made a rainbow marble sponge cake with chocolate buttercream - he likes making cakes with mummy!  

Then my friend Elaine and her two children, Erin and Megan, came round for lunch - we made homemade pizzas - and to play for a few hours which Burton loved.

Wednesday 

Is the day of the week that we go to Granma and Grampy's house as Burton's cousin goes there on a Wednesday too. Granma had been bust baking so we had chocolate cupcakes to eat and Burton enjoyed cleaning up the crumbs! 

In the afternoon the children went outside to feed the chickens which is always a fun thing to do! 

Thursday

We didn't have a car as daddy was away on a business trip so my mum collected us and took us to her house for the day, allowing daddy to pick us up on his way home. Today was a no cake day (well unless you include a couple of Jaffa cakes!?) and after spending most of the day playing and watching Toy Story 3 we went out from a walk with Shadow (grandma's dog) which meant wrapping up in warm clothing as it was dry but cold.

Friday

We stayed  in for much of the day and Burton drew a snake and himself!

Earlier in the week I had received a second package from Warner Brothers this time containing lots of cartoons and so we introduced Burton to loony tunes cartoons for the first time, and he was quite taken by Roadrunner - beep beep!

Afterwards, we went to his cousin Ben's house as it was his third birthday today and so there was a chocolate birthday cake - yum! 

Saturday

Was Ben's birthday party at Funderzone, out local soft play centre, this morning so all the cousins (of which there are 7) had a great time  and even Jenson who wasn't able to run around with his cousins had a fun time in the baby and toddler area.

After lunch, which involved......yes another slice of birthday cake Wooo hoo! - the four of us went to view a house in a village called Landkey which is where Burton attends nursery. We are hoping to move later in the year and Landkey would make an ideal place to move to as we hope to send Burton to its primary school, as its OFFsted report is the best in our immediate area. 
Then after that we went to Granma and Grampy's house for a cuppa and a play about. Burton thought it hilarious to remove his trousers and pants and run around semi naked jumping and dancing around their living room!! Then he found two balloon and started doing some funny dance routine - how we all laughed!

Sunday

had a lazy start to the day and we stayed in and watched more Loony Tunes cartoons (Tweety Pie This time!)  and did jigsaw puzzles. After a lovely lunch made by me which Burton wouldn't eat (!) we headed out to the park as it was a lovely sunny day, although very cold. I thought the fresh air would do us all good and boy was it fresh! I think Burton was very tired today as he complained about going out and refused to put his coat and shoes on, then once we were out he complained about holding daddy's hand then he sat down on the ground! 

Anyway we eventually got to the park, which is only a 10 minute walk away, and the boys enjoyed the swings.....eventually as Burton looked a little miffed to start with! He also went on the slide and then when I said we would go and feed the ducks, that didnt go down very well either because he wanted to stay in the playground! 

Anyway, we headed home after we fed the ducks and grumpy and grumpier - I mean Burton and Daddy- went off ahead of Jenson and I as Burton refused to walk so he was carried all the way home which didn't go down well with daddy!! 

Don't you just love suggesting you go out and get some fresh air?? Lol 

I am linking this up to MummyDaddyAndMeMakesThree 's