PARENTHOOD: The Pros and Cons of a 2 Year Age Gap

This post is inspired by the lovely Kerry Conway, as she wrote a similar post all about the pros and cons of a three year age gap on her blog last year. It really got me thinking about the age gap we have between Isabella and Poppy - was it the 'right' age gap for our family and what are the challenges that come along with having a two year gap. I know it's not as easy as saying 'I want a two year age gap' and that actually coming to fruition; conceiving a baby is a journey in itself, but a lot of parents do have a desire to have a certain age gap between children. Looking back I don't think we had a certain age gap in mind and to be honest when I was pregnant with Isabella I hadn't really thought about the fact that it would be the start of our family. We were the first of our friends to have children and at 25 I was on the younger end of the scale these days, but what I hadn't considered is that if we wanted to have children relatively close together then I would be having our second child also pretty young. If that makes any sense?

PARENTHOOD: Preparing for Isabella and Poppy's Joint Birthday Party

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The words 'birthday party' will either send parents into a state of panic or a state of planning, preparing and relishing in the organisational side of throwing a party. I have to admit I am the latter of those two, however on the run up to Isabella and Poppy's birthday party this year I have been struggling with morning sickness as I'm pregnant with our third baby. It meant that I needed to keep things simple and as easy as possible because with a bedtime of 7.30pm there wasn't much time away from the girls. Thankfully, PoundToy has a wide array of birthday presents, party bag fillers and decorations that are all very affordable and their website is incredibly easy to navigate.

MOTHERHOOD: How will I know when to stop combination feeding?

Combination feeding has been a big part of my life for the past three years or so and still is to be honest. Back in 2015, when Isabella was born, we were hoping to be able to establish breastfeeding over the first few weeks and then move to combination feeding from around six weeks. I was incredibly lucky with my breastfeeding journey and only 20 minutes after being born Isabella was latched on and feeding away. Other than the usual aches and pains of those early weeks of breastfeeding, I had a very positive experience. That was until Isabella was three weeks old and going through a growth spurt; I simply felt like I couldn't keep up with breastfeeding alone. I was barely sleeping, feeding what felt like constantly and still Isabella wasn't satisfied. Seeing my struggles and anguish over the situation my husband suggested we gave her a small bottle of formula milk as a 'top up'. 

MOTHERHOOD: Slow Labour vs Quick Labour

In those final few weeks of pregnancy life is filled with excitement, anticipation and second guessing every twinge; it all becomes quite exhausting. Thoughts turn to labour, writing birth plans and how your little bundle of joy is going to enter the world. I don't know about you, but I found those thoughts terrifying as I just didn't know what to expect first time around. My image of labour had been from the films and One Born Every Minute up until we went to NCT classes. That was a shock. As our teacher told us all about what happens to our bodies during labour, the stretches and strains that happen were enough to make me nervous about what was to come that's for sure.

PARENTHOOD: My Top Hacks for Days when you are Solo Parenting Two Children

My experience of solo parenting is on the days during the week that I have my daughters and my husband is at work. They can be relentless, exhausting and tough, so I can only imagine what it would be like to be solo parenting all of the time. All of the single parents out there have my full and upmost respect; you are doing an incredible job of raising your little ones. As parents it can be easy to forget quite how influential we are to our children; that is until they start talking like you, reacting like you and being like you. Our job as a parent holds a lot of responsibility and that shouldn't be taken lightly. Our children will push our buttons, cause us to feel all kinds of emotions (mum guilt anyone?!) and make us feel like we're never quite doing enough, or at least that is my experience. These seem to be heightened during solo parenting periods; I guess because as a parent I'm even more stretched between my two children.

NURSERY: Ways to Support your Child to Settle in Quickly

Sending your little one off to nursery or any form of childcare can be a really scary and big step for parents, especially as it usually coincides with returning to work after maternity leave. Leaving your baby in someone else's care can be hard, but once you've found a nursery that you're happy with it can bring some level of reassurance. When we looked around at nurseries for Isabella we settled on two we liked in our local area and made enquires about her starting at both. Once we had access to all the relevant information (fees, holidays, policies, menus and structure of the day) we were then able to make a decision on which was best for us. We did in fact originally really want Isabella to go to a nursery a few villages away, but they didn't have the right days available so she ended up at a different nursery. It ended up being a blessing in disguise because she absolutely loves her nursery now, as do we. 

TOUR DE TRIKE: Exploring University of Leicester Botanic Gardens

Exploring the outdoors is one of our favourite things to do as a family because it keeps everyone happy. Isabella loves the freedom, Poppy enjoys watching the world go by and we are happy that the children are happy; that's life as a parent for you. Poppy has recently been trying a whole new mode of transport...the Perfect Fit 4-in-1 Trike from Little Tikes* (£89.99) for our family adventures. It's perfect for letting her see the world, while there are many practical features that make it a breeze to use from a parent's point of view. There's something so much more fun and novel about being pushed around in a Trike rather than a pushchair, which has therefore helped Poppy stay entertained during days out. Little Tikes have an impressive range of Tikes, so it is easy to find one that suits your needs, budget and child's age.

CHILDREN: The Ultimate List of Fun Garden Activities to do this Summer

Summer is well and truly here, which I for one am so thankful for! Parenting two children while being stuck indoors thanks to the rain is hard work, so we are truly making the most of being able to be outdoors all day long. As the UK summer holidays are quickly approaching I thought I'd put together some of our favourite garden activities that will keep children of all ages busy for hours and hours. There are activities for children that love being creative, sporty and/or imaginative, so hopefully something for everyone. 

BABY #2: Our Sleep Training Approach with Results after just Two Days

Sleep and babies must be the most searched terms on google for parents, as so many of us search for answers and techniques to help support our baby in sleeping through the night. When my return to work after maternity leave started to approach we decided that something had to be done about Poppy's (our second daughters) sleep habits. I'll start with a bit of a back story when it comes to Poppy's sleep; she was a really good sleeper as a newborn baby with her first 'full nights sleep' being at 8 weeks old. It was a rare occasion when this happened, but compared to our eldest daughter we felt positively refreshed. Sleep with a newborn baby is always going to be sparse and being a second time parent you know that all too well, but on the whole we felt that Poppy was a good little sleeper.

INTRODUCING: Bambo Nature and their First Ever Press Event

A few weeks ago we headed to the Bambo Nature Press Event at the stunning Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens. I had come across Bambo Nature a while ago and was excited to find out more about the ethos behind the brand and their range of products. As we arrived at the event venue we were greeted by the lovely ladies behind Bambo Nature and their PR team. The room was beautifully decorated with lots of fun activities for the children to take part in. Isabella headed straight for the craft table, which was set up with a variety of environmentally friendly craft activities. Before I could even put my bag down Isabella was threading beads and pieces of bamboo onto garden wire, ready to create an eco-friendly room decoration! Luckily the lady running the activities was so helpful and guided Isabella through the steps, so I had a chance to look around at the Bambo Nature products and listen to the talk about the brand.

WEANING: Favourite Meals, Tips and Products

When it comes to weaning it can be an exciting journey for parents or one that is completely intimidating. I remember being so worried when it came to weaning Isabella because all the advice I read seemed to conflict each other, the risk of choking was scary and there were so many weaning products out there I didn't know where to begin. We started weaning Isabella just before she was six months, starting with purees and quickly moving onto finger food then lumpy food. Despite my nerves it ended up being so much fun and I learnt that the mess one baby can make is impressive. When it came to the time we should be weaning Poppy I was surprised to feel those nerves come back, as an 'experienced' mummy I thought I'd know what to do this time. 

FAMILY DAY OUT: Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens with a Spring Wardrobe from Little Green Radicals

We're finally in spring and it won't be long before summer makes an appearance too, so it's the perfect time to prepare Isabella and Poppy's wardrobe in time for the warm weather. During the recent stretch of beautiful warm weather we made the most of it and headed to Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens in Northamptonshire. Kelmarsh Hall is a Grade I listed country house built in 1732, set in the most stunning gardens. The Gardens include a beautiful array of flowers, tress and shrubbery all set in a large walled garden, as well as around the Estate. It is the perfect day out as a family because there is plenty of space to run around and most of the gardens are pushchair friendly too (aside from a few steps to get down to the gardens).

MOTHERHOOD: Pushing My Daughter Away

Around one year ago I was saying my goodbyes to everyone at work, washing teeny tiny baby clothes in readiness for our new arrival and then waiting very patiently for the birth our of second daughter. After keeping us waiting for 12 days after her due date I was finally induced on the Wednesday and gave birth a matter of hours later. It was magical, empowering and fast (we hadn't even got the baby bag out of the car!), which was then followed with the blur of those early newborn days. Fast forward to now and after a full year of maternity leave I'm preparing for my impending return to work. My return isn't for long (you can read all about my plans for returning to work here), though that doesn't mean I'm not intimidated and anxious about it all. Any change can be scary and this one will impact on our whole family. 

CHILDRENS PARTY: Having Fun with Messy Senses

When I started planning Isabella and Poppy's joint birthday party I wanted to concentrate on finding the perfect entertainment that would appeal to both of them. Last year, for Isabella's second birthday party, we hired a bouncy castle and I really wanted to think of something a bit different this time. After researching what was available in our area, from parties at restaurants to soft play centres, it became evident that there wasn't anything suitable for both a 10 month old and three year old. I know that Poppy wouldn't really mind what we were doing, but as it was a joint party it only seemed fair to find something they'd both love.

CELEBRATIONS: Ice-Cream Themed Joint 1st and 3rd Birthday Party

When it came to choosing a party theme for Isabella and Poppy's joint birthday party I knew it had to be Ice-Cream. It's Isabella's favourite treat and such a fun theme for getting in the mood for summer. We did originally plan to have the party nearer to the end of May, so it would be more in the middle of their birthdays but to ensure most of Isabella's little friends could come we had to bring it forward. This did make it harder to find ice-cream themed items in the shops and online, as a lot of retailers hadn't brought out their summer ranges yet. If we'd gone for a Bunny theme again, like we did last year, then it would have been a dream with all of the Easter ranges available! That's one of my biggest tips when it comes to party planning - think about your theme in relation to the time of year and party ranges that are easily available.

MOTHERHOOD: The Struggle of Staying Social as a Second Time Parent

Life as a second time parent is different from the moment you find out your pregnant or at least it was for me. First time pregnancy was filled with shopping trips for tiny baby clothes, choosing paint for the nursery, a baby shower, spending hours packing and unpacking my hospital bag just to make sure I had everything we could possibly need, having long baths to ease back ache, going to weekly NCT classes to learn all about what was ahead of us and perhaps most importantly sharing our excitement with our friends and family. When we found out we were pregnant for the second time I naively entered into it expecting the same five star treatment and excitement levels from those around us.

PARENTHOOD: Taking Charge of your own Happiness

I'm there, a new mummy to two children, very few friends in a similar position and now don't have my usual arsenal of days out to entertain Isabella. I felt lost and lonely. This time it just isn't as easy to even meet up with other mummies, let alone go to baby groups or classes. Finding friends that have both a toddler and baby is hard, but if there is even a slight difference in ages then it makes it even trickier. What babies/crawling babies/toddlers/older toddlers etc. want to do is so different at each of those stages. It has therefore been hard to know where to go or what to do if we do meet up. But I've felt determined not to be beaten by the fact I now have two children.

PHOTOGRAPHY: How I Prepare and Capture a Photoshoot at Home with my Children

If you've ever tried to take photos of your children, whether you're a blogger or not, then you'll probably know how difficult it can be. Anything from babies being sick, toddlers having tantrums, blurry shots, snotty noses, poor lighting...the list could go on. As someone who takes a lot of photos of my children I have dealt with these challenges on many occasions, but I've also learnt some ways to capture that much wanted shot with relative ease. Now, I'm certainly no photography expert, in fact I'd say I was a complete novice but that doesn't take away from how much I love capturing candid moments and setting up beautiful scenes. Since starting blogging photography has become one of my passions, so getting my first DSLR camera at Christmas was an absolute dream come true. I was lucky enough to receive the Canon EOS 200D, which is compact, easy to use and versatile.

SPRING/SUMMER: JoJo Maman Bébé 2018 Collection

As I look outside my window today all I can see is raindrops falling off rather sad looking tree branches, everything is a shade of either brown or green and it's wet underfoot. However, spring is coming and it won't be long before the birds are tweeting, colourful flowers are popping up everywhere and we can all get back outside in the fresh air. There are already subtle hints of spring arriving, with snowdrops peeking through the damp ground and even the odd daffodil adding a splash of yellow to the landscape. I am so ready for winter to be over with now and for our weekends to be filled with family adventures in the sunshine!

BABY: The Multi-Use Feeding Pillow from Love2Sleep

The humble feeding pillow. It is probably one of the most underrated baby items because, despite its name, it is so much more than just a feeding pillow. After having Isabella and beginning the breastfeeding journey I quickly realised how important having a feeding pillow was. They help achieve a better position for feeding, saving you from leaning over all the time. But as time goes on they also act as the perfect support for babies learning to sit up and as protection from sharp corners/fireplaces when rolling or crawling.