Broody.

I have two beautiful little children who are growing up so very, very fast. When Midge was 3 I was in the final weeks of my pregnancy with Little A and the age gap we have is a wonderful one in my opinion. It fitted us perfectly in terms of Little A arriving and Midge starting her new pre school, sleeping through at night and dropping her dummy!

I have seen so many tiny babies recently and each and every time I swear my womb slightly tightens and silently screams (only I can hear it you see, clever huh!?) who doesn't love tiny little babies? They're on my Twitter, they're wrapped in slings all small and cosy on their mums at school, placed in their buggies looking all snugly and irresistible. You'd have to be 100% sure you're done with babies for these gorgeous little bundles not to effect you..Or have a womb of steel, now there's an idea!

The thing is, when it comes to having more children both The Husband and I are really unsure. I feel like it's time for college or studying of some sort, but at the same time I've had 2 already, to go to work and then have my third seems odd to me, like I'm going backwards. I guess I'd like to see a future where I'm not pregnant, move on and concentrate on being a mother but also being me. With studying and then career. I think I'd be very reluctant to have a baby and return to work after what I've seen of my other two. Luckily I've not had to make those decisions and to be honest, I'm not sure I want to.

Pregnancy itself is a tough ride for me and my body. Perhaps if times were easier with Little A right now I'd consider going from 2 to 3. I do think how he'll be 4 next year and also in nursery. But it isn't the arrival that causes me problems, it's the stuff before that! My first two pregnancies were plagued by sickness. A lot of it and all the time, nausea and sickness, it was awful. Thank god it wasn't worse. On the outside I looked pretty good in both my 2nd and 3rd trimesters but inside I was feeling very ill and suffering some nasty pregnancy ailments. The fact this happened twice really doesn't make me feel a third pregnancy would be any different at all! I think I'd find a pregnancy now incredibly difficult if I had the same level of tiredness and problems as I have done previously.

The one question I went to sleep asking myself and actually awoke with though has had me questioning myself all day. As I smile at babies in pushchairs, get amazingly excited at my best friends new arrival due at the end of the year and feel amazingly warm and broody looking at cute little ones being cuddled at toddler group, I ask myself: Do I want a baby or a child? Two very different things when you really think about it. What do you think?

Cupcake Mumma

A Pot Of Gold.

This has nothing to do with me chasing rainbows I'm afraid. Not so. I was recently sent a rather lovely product to review called 'Pot Of Gold Baby Balm.' This baby balm isn't just for babies, but can be used for the whole family. What's so different I hear you ask?

Well, check out the ingredients: organic palm oil, coniferous tree sap extract, raw organic beeswax, vanilla essential oil.

Do you see anything remotely 'nasty' there? I certainly don't and that's just the first reason why I'd buy this product again in the future and why I'd highly recommend it to other parents and their children. 

I first used the Pot Of Gold Baby Balm on my son. He's 21 months so still in nappies and unfortunately lately he's been getting a bit of a sore bottom. I've been one to go to those bigger brands that may work but are full of all sorts of ingredients that really most of us (including me) ignore. I have given the balm a fair while to work, just to make sure it really was going to live up to its name! It really is my little pot of gold and I carry it everywhere with me! My sons bottom has never looked so clear and soft. It's usually always a bit red and takes a while for other baby creams to work. This Baby Balm worked much, MUCH quicker.

Not only is the Pot of Gold Baby Balm made for babies bottoms, but I was also told I could try it on cradle cap, eczema, stretch marks and also on my dry lips. My lips have been super soft in this horrid, chilly weather and my 4 year old, who had a VERY sore ear (which shampoos and creams even prescribed from the GP have not managed to clear up)is happy again because behind her ear is no longer sore or itchy. In fact it has COMPLETELY gone away!

Not the best photo (who wants their ears pulled!?) but the difference
is noticeable

I've used the balm on my stretchmarks when they itch and I have found it to be quite soothing. I imagine it would've been the same feeling my son had once I applied it to his bottom!

Pot of Gold Baby Balm really is an all over natural skin care product. It has a beeswax base which means you don't have to use a lot. It may be a little pricey for most parents at £8.20 for a 50g pot but trust me, it lasts far more longer then other chemical filled baby products and is just fabulous on the skin. You need the smallest amount on your finger tips, and if the temperature is a little cold, simply rub the balm between your fingers to warm it up. You'll soon see what I mean by a little goes a long way!

Pot of Gold is based on a family recipe which is now in its 6th generation and is made in New Zealand.  One of my favourite things about this product? If you're having a rather bad day, opening up a pot to use on your babies bottom and seeing this is going to make you feel even that little bit better!

CupcakeMumma

* I was sent a 50g 'Pot of Gold Baby Balm' for the purpose of this review and as always my words and opinions are all of my own*

When Your Baby Just Won't Stop Crying

If you're here looking for answers, for an amazing new product or some revolutionary piece of advice, then I'm sorry, but you're out of luck. However, if you're here because you've just had the night from hell then please, take a seat, have a cuppa and know you're not alone.

Last night my Little Man (who is 20 months old) cried and cried and cried. He cried from 9pm until 3am. We watched Charlie and Lola 3 different times. He was offered milk which he refused and offered it again later which he drank. He had calpol. Lots of hugs, 'shhh'ing and pacing was done both by myself and my Husband. Neither of us could settle him.

He wasn't wet and hadn't soiled his nappy. He is teething and he was over tired. Actually he was past over tired in all honesty and just wouldn't let himself go. His head touched the cot and he screamed.

We tried the ever controversial control crying. That was useless with my Midge who didn't sleep through the night until she was 2 and a half years old (I know, hold me) but it has worked with Little Man in the past when he was being a little bit cheeky with his sleep. This time he wasn't being cheeky, or stubborn. There was something wrong and something I couldn't do anything about.

We got to the stage where the crying was too much and of course the Husband and I started to feel the stress and had a few cross words. Let me tell you something. When people are tired they can say the most horrible things but you must try not to bite back. Usually I'm pretty bad when it comes to arguments but last night I bit my tongue and knew it was just the heat of the moment, the awful stress and the crying just going through the both of us.

In the end, after Little man had sat up with Daddy once and then a second time being pushed too and fro in the front room in his stroller (after this all options were exhausted) he fell asleep. He woke up again however headbanging (which we're no stranger to).

At about 3am Husband finally came to bed after insisting I grabbed a few hours because I had to get  up with Midge for the school run. It was at this hour he asked me for a hug and apologised for anything he said. Of course I accepted this apology and told him it was all okay. Luckily, Little Man stayed asleep from that moment until 10am. I did the washing up, made Midge's Harvest Festival costume and tidied a bit before Husband got up at 9.30am.

We managed to have a good day today which makes everything better. I am absolutely shattered but have managed to do the housework, homework, blogging and even cooked myself a decent dinner. No I don't want an award, I'm just surprised at myself.

Last night I felt like leaping out of my window and running away (if I could, what with the broken ankle I'd be sure to end up with!) I hate that feeling of intense desperation that engulfs me when I hit a point of exhausting all avenues. I felt awful that my baby was crying at me and yet I couldn't do a thing to make him better.
Ultimately I know these nights are few and far between (at least I hope!) after being there with Midge I really don't want to go back there with Little Man. Lack of sleep reduces you to a miserable, anti social wreck. I'd go as far to say that when I was in that phase with Midge, I didn't even want to be here anymore. Honest.

Hopefully tonight will be a better night. We are calpoled and Anbesoled up, we are warm and cosy and clean. We have Vicks on the radiator and have had a decent routine to our day with a bit of fresh air too. Sometimes there's just nothing you can do. I wouldn't have been able to get through last night without my Husband. He really is my rock.

If you're having trouble with a sleeping child I can really offer you my full sympathy! You are not alone in the slightest.

CupcakeMumma

A Little Catch up Wk2

I'm 2 days late on 'A Little Catch Up' but I've finally managed to sit down with a hot chocolate and some peace and quiet to write up my week with my 2 little babies.

It was a busy week last week for Little Miss. On Tuesday we had to be up at the school a little earlier for a taster session in her new classroom for September. Little Miss is really excited about joining reception after the summer holiday and has been dropping the subject in whenever she has a chance- it's lovely!
At the taster session Little Miss met her new teachers who are just wonderful. Very friendly, approachable and I believe she'll come on leaps and bounds over the next year which is a lovely feeling. The children played with various blocks layed out, pens and pencils for drawing there was even a giant pirate ship for some role play fun. By the end of the session, Little Miss was well settled in and very comfortable with her new surroundings finishing the morning with a story about Spot the Dog and his first day at school- A prefect story to end a perfect session!

Also last week it was the nursery's sports day. It took a while for myself, Grandma and Aunt Fiona to find them all tucked away at the bottom of the school play ground but we weren't late which was a bonus! The nursery staff laid out various games to play, racing, football skills, space hopper race and a bat and ball race (as opposed to egg and spoon race) the children were all fab. Little Miss was excellent and took part in every race.












The hopping race and then bouncing on the big space hoppers with her cousin were her favourite but watching her concentration whilst dribbling the football around the cones was brilliant. She came home with a little medal to commemorate the Olympics and remember her first sports day. I am one proud Mumma!

Little Man on the other hand is a right one at the moment. I seriously need cupboard locks for my food cupboards which have been totally trashed (yes more so than last week) I can't find anything quickly and until I find these locks I have zero inclination to re-organise my cupboards!
He's also taken up screeching at alarmingly high, ear splitting levels which as you can imagine is not much fun at all! I never experienced this with Little Miss so it's totally new (and annoying).

On a more positive note, Little Man explored the park last week for the first time and had so much fun running around taking in the new scenery in his new trainers. At first it was odd watching him walking about because he kept loosing his balance but he got the hang of this new feeling and was off before I knew it!
He's also taken to walking around with his Big Sister's dolls and it really is heart warming watching him walking about putting her dummy in and hugging her. He's been very attached to his blankets and his big cat that props the bedroom door open lately. I must get a snap of that!

Please let me know what your Little One's got up to last week and what they achieved!

CupcakeMumma

xx

Pinaddicts in February! A Different Kind of Cake

Woo, another month of crafting down! I had great fun making with February's project but had a hard time keeping it a secret and an even harder time making it perfect. My project has been made as a gift for my sister in law (to be) and my new niece. Okay so more the adorable bundle but I thought of everyone whilst making my creation!
Below I give you the original Pin that I found whilst lurking on Pinterest (probably at the deep, dark unknown hours of the night.)

So pretty and pretty fabulous you're thinking right? It's not too hard to make, not really. Except I wasn't going to do this nappy cake the usual way (i think it's messy-just my opinion) so I decided to follow the pin and do my nappy cake the same way (the awkward but very neat and professional way-again, just my opinion!) If I was braver I would've made a nappy pram but I figured I got in too deep anyway!

Here is what you need:

Plus patience, and time, and skin of frickin steel! (which, by the way I do not have) 

And here is what I came up out with!

The girl done good!

At it's destination!

Very happy, very pleased and it went down a treat which was the best bit. My niece is already just over a week old and this nappy cake still hasn't been broken into. Although at the rate this little bundle poops there will be some emergency break ins pretty soon I should think!

If you fancy making a nappy cake I would recommend doing it this way. Most tutorials (if needed) take you through wrapping the nappies, i chose to pin the nappies flat instead. I had some lovely comments from lots of people about this cake, some even said I should make them properly! It cost about £25 to make this craft with nappies in the sale and pound shop items. I was impressed but I couldn't feel my finger tips for a fair few days (i'm a bit clumsy....and nappies are not easy to pin can I just say!) so I think i'll give the business a miss!

Please check out everyone else's #pinaddicts posts over at Melksham Mum's blog, tweet if you can, post on Facebook and spread some blog (and Pinterest) love!

Cupcake Mumma

A New Addition

The gift has been sat on the table for just over a week. Little Miss has awoken every day with the same question. Facebook has been inundated with requests to know if 'it' has happened yet. Well, 'it' has.

At 11 o'clock last night my sister in law to be finally gave birth to her beautiful baby girl and the fourth addition to an already blooming gorgeous set of children. We have all been waiting on the edge of our seats when finally the call that Little One had arrived came.

She made up for all her waiting with a very quick birth.
 There are now lots of people waiting to stare and cuddle this bundle, including me. I can't wait to give my present that has taken me long enough to make. Every time I look at it I'm at risk of moving something, adding something, subtracting something but really I must not.

Of course, I wasn't prepared enough to get a card. I thought buying one early may be jinxing things and would perhaps some how add to the waiting game. I may as well have bought one though.
Just after 2 o'clock today we are heading over (sadly minus Other Half as he has overtime) to see Little One and we are all very excited.

Little Miss has made a total of 3 cards. One for her Aunt and Uncle, one for Little One and one for her 3 favourite cousins, just to say how much she can't wait to play with them all properly-including some rough and tumble with Little One and Little Man.

Of course, I also feel a little sad today. Little Man is One this Sunday which is always a birthday of mixed emotions for many parents. On the one hand you're super excited and planning a wonderful day (which we have) and on the other it feels like they're not babies anymore. To say the truth they're not babies anymore are they? They are entering the world of the toddler. Joy.

Also with a brand new, squidgy little bundle of joy it means my Little Man is no longer the baby of the family. Further conformation that he is growing up. Still, even when he's 18, and he'll cringe just as much as I do when  my Mum says it to me, he'll still be my baby boy.

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Conception and Pregnancy-One Born Every Minute

After the birth of my first child, Little Miss I swore to myself that I would never put myself through that again. I was sick for the first 3 months of my pregnancy, I felt low very often and I was young at 17 so of course my reaction would be 'No i'm not doing that again!' But after I had my daughter I got Post Natal Depression and this made me fearful of having another child in the future when I started to think about it seriously a few years later.

My partner and I decided after a month that we would like to have another child, a sibling for our daughter and to experience it all again. When we discussed it we had moved into our own flat and both of us felt like we were in a good position to extend our family. It was when our then landlord informed us that they were deciding to sell their property that our visions of extending our family had been temporarily cut short...or so we thought....

As it turned out over the 3 months we had been actively trying for number 2 we had been very lucky in conceiving. When I look back at my dates with my first I also conceived in round about the same time frame. Although it wasn't ideal, and the prospect of having to find a new home was a lot to take in while pregnant we were over the moon to be expecting our second in February 2011.

I was sick again for the first 4 months of my pregnancy, I had one thing after the other to visit the GP about and my hormones sent my anxiety into overdrive coupled with some outside problems. Over all though I had a problem free pregnancy and delivery on February 19th 2011 at 38 Weeks and 1 Day although my midwife looked at him and considered him to be at least a couple of weeks earlier than my dates would suggest. It was a wonderful day.

This post is for the Netmums and Channel 4's One Born Every Minute Blog prompt on Birth Stories. You can read more stories on the Netmums birth story boards or at Netmums Parent Bloggers Network

One Born Every Minute is on Channel 4 at 9pm Wednesday

Hannah x

A Mixed Bag

It's been one of those days today. I got up (minus Other Half) which is fine, only Little Man was awake with Little Miss turning up 20 minutes later to play with her new farm toys quietly. I got to catch up on a bit of Masterchef which I love but am still 1 episode behind and I haven't even started the new series yet.

Other Half was heckled (by me then by the kids) and I was told about his trapped wind situation followed by (no, no farting don't worry people) 'you can have a lay in tomorrow Hun i'm sorry it's only fair' aww back in the good books and he knows it!

My aunt was supposed to be arriving at half past 10, not one to induce total shock and actually keep to a time proposed she turned up not 10 minutes late, or half an hour late but ONE HOUR and 10 minutes late! That's just plain 'oh my goodness' stuff for me. My Mum can be like that and it really annoys me! Time keeping is an essential skill...And she's a midwife!! We had a nice morning anyway no matter how rushed it ended up. I taught her how to send attachments via e-mail, she ate all my chocolate covered raisins (with my consent) then left after my Mum arrived early (inducing shock) who had come to take over baby duty while me and the Other Half plodded off to catch our bus to the hospital.

And that's where it went into rather a 'mixed bag' kinda day for me. I saw my doctor and after faffing about with trouser legs and concentrating on not pulling down the curtains I sat to await the news that I thought was oh so simple. Except it wasn't all that simple. In fact a little more complex.
I spent the bus journey in a bit of a misery if i'm honest.
My doctor had discussed with me the legacy our children leave behind them...I couldn't help but think, as nice as he was (yes HE) that really wasn't helping. Don't you get annoyed when people tell you that 'nothing will ever be the same down there again' Nah no shit...

Anyway I was handed my choices and I've gone with: Do a little experiment for 3 or so months as discussed with said doctor, see my GP to have a little chat about this that and the other and could I have that operation that Doctor mentioned?
Well yes I could but it would be ideal to not have anymore children and as it is i'm not sure it would really go in your favour...I'm 22 and i'm pretty sure that maybe, just maybe i am not done yet. No matter how much I hate being pregnant with all the crap that comes with it I'm sure there's number 3 in my future. Call me greedy if you like I just know. More to the point if surgery isn't going to go in my favour i'm not sure I want to put my lady garden through that!

I do feel a little brighter this evening though. Even better now that I have got it all out. Not the usual thing to blog about I know but hey, i think I've handled it well!
The only other downside today is I did give in to some comfort eating by having a bag of chips for my dinner *sighs* and I haven't exercised in 3 days *sighs massively* I don't think many people would exercise though with their Other Half and brother playing Call Of Duty in their front room no?

Hannah
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One Born Every Minute- Pain

Pain. It effects everyone differently doesn't it? If there's one type of pain that will set everyone a part it's the pain of going through childbirth. For some it's a positive experience from start to finish where each contraction is breathed through where as for others a contraction needs to be screamed through whilest sucking in every bit of gas and air you can get!

With my daughter I had no idea what to expect. I didn't go to any classes as I couldn't get there. I read books and spoke to people on Mums forums about what to expect. Nothing can prepare you however for childbirth...
It was 16th January at 11pm that I started getting stronger contractions. I'm used to having quite strong period pains and this was what I was experiencing perhaps with a little more on top. I knew it was getting though when I asked Other Half to run a bath.

Within ten minutes of moving around knowing that things really were happening we called the midwife. Typical that when the midwife wants to see how you go through a contraction it seems to all calm down...only to pick up the minute you hang up. I was told 'call back when things felt more intense' needless to say this was again another ten minutes later.

My mother in law took me to the birthing unit with Other half where I was examined without too much discomfort at all to find I was already 4cm dilated and ready for my pain relief: the Birthing Pool. I was open minded about my pain relief options so wrote down that gas and air was worth a try. I couldn't stand the stuff! I had one go, felt dizzy then grossly sick. I made my mind up not to bother with this any longer and concentrate on breathing and holding on to Other Half who had climbed in the pool.

I remember the 2nd stage being painful, I cursed a few times then i had a very odd feeling indeed..I got up to go to the loo and quickly proceeded to the bed where I began pushing. And Oh My Goodness me..The most vocal of my whole labour was when my daughters head was crowing. No one told me about that intense pain..Surly I was having a baby, not giving birth to a batch of razor blades? After the initial pain everything faded when she was born on 17th January 2008 at 8.33am weighing 6Ibs 4oz.

The second most painful part of childbirth for me was, strangely enough when it was all over. Having stitches was awful (I hate needles but having needles in your perineum is a whole different ball game! )I was sore for days and after pains hurt like hell...

*********************************

Then I had my son. The whole process was, I believe a lot quicker. He was born on February 19th 2011 at 7.52pm weighing 6Ibs 11.5oz. The labour may have been quicker but it was definitely more painful. I decided once again to give birth at my local Birthing Unit using the birthing pool as my only form of pain relief. The only difference was that this time I wanted to give birth in the pool as well.
For anyone thinking they may like to give birth in a midwife led unit I highly recommend it but you must keep in mind that usually your only forms of pain relief are natural (moving about, birthing pool, birthing ball etc) gas and air or pethidine injection.

I had several internals this time around which were pure agony and then a sweep to really get things going. How I didn't scream I don't know, my poor midwife felt awful but she had to what she had to do! The sweep soon got things moving and soon became just another part and parcel of the birthing process.

I was a lot more vocal during my sons birth and I don't recall feeling the pains I experienced with him with my daughter so it was a little shocking to the system! I didn't have time to feel as much pain when his head was crowning as everything happened so fast, of course I was most concerned with the state of my lady garden and was surprised (and over the moon) to learn no one was coming near me with any needles this time!
The after pains were far worse the second time around and I suspect they'll be agony if I decide to have another child.
Anyway, as they say 'It's all worth in the end' and it was indeed.

This post was written as part of Channel 4s/Netmums One Born Every Minute. Why not link up and share your story of labour and pain? OBEM is on channel 4, Wednesdays at 9.00pm

Hannah

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Reasons To Be Cheerful!

It's my first time joining in with RTBC with Mummy From The Heart and her lovely meme. Some times are going to be harder searching for these cheerful reasons i have no doubt but ultimately I hope they come so very easy to me.

1. I have a busy year ahead and this always makes me happy. My Little Miss turns 4 in 2 weeks, my Little Man turns 1 in Feb, Other Halves birthday is also this month (mmmm lots of cake) I get married this August (hurrah!) and maybe even a small family holiday!
2. I have had confirmations already of much loved family members attending my wedding (officially as in all booked!!) this makes me very happy!
3. I am always cheerful (or thankful- either way I'm happy about it) to have my family, my blog and the small community built around it, my home and many, many essentials that we so often take for granted.
4. My niece is due soon and I'm very excited D-Day is so very near. Hurry up! Your poor Mother is not very comfy anymore!

I think that's enough for now, obviously this is one of the easy times to find reasons to be cheerful. Yey for that.
You can join in the fun and thoughtfulness by clicking the badge below.
Hannah
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One Born Every Minute-Dads

There are 2 names that go onto my birth plan when I have to sit down and think about writing the ever so short and to-the-point list, and that's Mum and Jason.


I could not imagine going into labour without Jason, my partner of nearly 5 years. I'll be the first to admit that during the second stage of labour it is my Mum who I turn to the most, I think that's because she's 'been there done that' but when I'm at the stage to bring my newborn into the world his words of encouragement are all I hear.

It's true that many fathers feel absolutely useless. I know I would too. For me, Jason just waited to be called upon. If i needed a laugh he was there with a joke. A sip of water, he was there with a cup. If I needed a small boost of encouragement he'd take my head in his hands and kiss me on the forehead, tell me how well I'm doing before I scooted back to my Mum to huff and puff my way through the next contraction.

Then it's all over. He stares in wonder at our newborn, holds back tears of joy while cutting the cord and watching me bring our wonderful new child onto my chest for those precious seconds of love.

Then he's there to check I'm okay in the shower, help me get dressed and hold my hold through the after pains even at 2am. I really don't know what I would have done without Jason at my side when I was in labour. I am truly thankful. In his words:

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

This post is part of Chanel 4's/Netmums One Born Every Minute linky which is currently running on the Netmums Blog. Both would love for you to get involved so head on over and check it out. One Born Every Minute is back on your screens from Wednesday 4th January, Chanel 4, 9pm.

Hannah

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Market Day!

I have not enjoyed going to my local market for so long and today I nearly wasn't going to go due to just feeling it was part of some boring, mundane routine I carry around with me every week. I am so glad that today though we went up there because boy, did we find some bargains!

Oh I know, more bargains to brag about, I may just be a little pleased with my finds (only a tiny bit-I promise!) Well, first we came across a lady selling all manner of things baby so naturally I was drawn to this pitch. I picked up a pair of Peppa Pig shoes for 50p which I think are going to be perfect for nursery (pretty shiny shoes just don't survive my daughter and the sandpit!) Then I happened to see one of those great seats which your child sits in and you tie it to a chair so they can sit at the table with you..this was £3 but I also had my eye on a little inflatable bath for Little Man to try as he seems to be quite terrified of the bath at the moment. Anything is worth a try in my house.

Anyway this was £2. I decided to take a long time debating which item I should pick up (knowing the booster seat was my best option but annoyingly drawn to the damn pool) when the lady looked up, saw I was still there and offered me both for £3. Yippee!!! I thought.

I picked up a non chocolate Christmas calender for the upcoming event for £1 inside the market, which is all lovely and glittery, Little Miss doesn't seem to be put off by the fact there are stickers inside instead of chocolate which is nice. We always grew up with both a choccy calender and also a very old (still going through) non choccy calender which we equally all enjoyed taking in turns to open.

We had lunch in Tesco and I got some good pics to share. I think the best bargain however was this 4 man tent from Tesco which was £30...reduced to....£7.50. I think I need a new blog title no?

Me and my Little Man having fun in the tent

Tomorrow I think I might bake something, cook a roast and maybe transform some recyclable objects into robots and Halloween decorations..I think Little Miss will like that. And dearest can finally sort the rooms!
Have a good Sunday

There are those teeth I was talking about!

Tucking In!

Cupcake Mumma x