To My Second Child,

I’ve been wanting to write this since your birth, wanting to find the words, to explain how I feel. But something has been stopping me; I wasn’t sure exactly what it was that I needed to say to you and I haven’t been sure how to put into words the way I have felt since you arrived. But I’ll try.

My second child, you are so very different to my first. You are calm, quiet, easy to make smile. You are the very definition of an ‘easy baby’, although I hate to use that term for how it implies your sister was something else. Your laid back nature and currently simple needs mean it is very easy to leave you to one side, to put you on a play mat while I focus on your sister. Her needs are so much more complex than yours and her toddler ways take up so much of my time. I give you what time I have left, but it never feels like enough. It pales in comparison to the twenty four hour care and attention that I was able to give to your sister, my first child. (more…)

Being a parent can be stressful, I don’t think anyone would deny that. Raising kids is a full time occupation in itself and as they grow and develop there are always new challenges to face and phases to get through. Being a parent forces you to make huge, important decisions about how you want to raise your children which is why it is important to learn to let go of some of the small stuff. If you’re stressing over big decisions and also allowing little everyday things to add to your stress levels, then chances are that before too long, you will explode. And no one wants that. I’ve always been a very relaxed and calm person but having children took even my stress levels up a notch. I’ve made several conscious decisions and changes to my mindset to help retain my sanity and I thought I would share them with you all, in case they can be useful to you too. (more…)

I don’t know about you, but as soon as the weather turns cooler and the evenings get darker, I start pining for hearty stews, casseroles and soups. There’s just something so comforting about cosying up in the warmth at home and enjoying a proper home cooked meal. I absolutely love cooking but having a toddler means I often find myself in an endless routine of nuggets, fish fingers and sausages. When I actually cook a hearty and healthy meal that the whole family enjoy it is such a wonderful feeling! I’m on a bit of a mission to try to get Darcie to eat a wider variety of foods and this time of year just feels like the perfect time to do that.

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Now don’t get me wrong, I am very much a ‘all you really need to breastfeed is a boob’ kinda gal. However, I do often get asked about my tips for breastfeeding so I thought this post would be a good place to start. I was also inspired after reading this list of breastfeeding essentials from Smart Cells, to share my own. Expectant mums just love a list of things to buy, it helps us to feel prepared for the new baby. Breastfeeding is often a big scary unknown for a first time mum and so feeling prepared for it can really help you to feel less daunted by it all. I also want to say at this point, please don’t feel daunted or scared at the thought of breastfeeding! Yes, it can be a minefield but there is a lot of good support and advice out there so don’t be afraid to hunt it down. I’m currently three months into breastfeeding my second baby and I breastfed my first for sixteen months, so it ‘s fair to say I’ve been around the breastfeeding block. I’ve tried a lot of products throughout that time and these are my one hundred percent honest and unbiased recommendations for you.

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