Saturday Is Caption Day - 30th June, 2012

Hello Sat Cappers!!
Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere *waves*
The one and only Mammasaurus is away sunning herself on her holiday, and has asked me to host Sat Cap this week - what an honour.
I have created a new badge for this week only too - please add it to your post if you are able to.
Hopefully the linky has worked.
Happy captioning :)

This is me with a fine looking chap at Gilbralter :)


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Breast Feeding : The Ups & Downs

I have been seeing a few breast feeding posts pop on my timeline this week (particularly from passionate breast feeding mummy Lauren)  to co-incide with it being National Breastfeeding Week. Even though I no longer breast feed now, it is still nice to see so many who do, and I really admire those who battle on despite painful experiences and difficulties.

I have mentioned before about my own breast feeding journey and I know for some who maybe had a bad experience with breast feeding, might see that I am writing about the subject again, and think "not another pro breast feeding post".  However, I am in no way anti formula. I firmly believe that you must do what YOU as a new mummy must to get nutrients in to your baby and do whatever it takes to keep you sane and most happiest. At the end of the day yours and your baby's health is the priority. I was lucky that I was able to feed both my children with my breasts and I also had some wonderful support. 

I breast fed both of my boys until they were about 9 months old, which I am very pleased and proud of myself for doing. Both boys weaned themselves off my milk, preferring the eating of food instead in the end. Although I think Jenson may have carried on purely for the comfort side of it, as he had me to himself which he thrived on and loves (still does being such a Mummy's boy! )

And do you know something? 

I am actually glad that I am no longer breast feeding. 

Don't get me wrong I loved it while I was doing it (asides from the occasional nip once teeth started appearing!). The fact that my milk was helping my boys to develop into big healthy babies, together with the cuddle time we shared. How amazing the whole process is seeing how in tune with my body each of my babies were, knowing how to make me produce as much or as little as their stomachs needed. My breast feeding journey with Burton was definitely more enjoyable than with Jenson, although he was much harder to establish a latch on than his younger brother.  I think that's because I had more free time to devote to Burton because at the time he was an only child. Whereas poor Jenson had me feeding him while playing or talking to Burton or having Toy Story or CBeebies on. I guess I always felt more rushed with Jenson, and maybe this is why I was glad when it all came to an end earlier this year. I always thought I would be really sad when my breast feeding days came ended, especially as I don't intend having any more babies, but I wasn't really. 

I was never one of those breast feeding mummy's who make it look so easy and natural either. I am in complete awe of mums who I see popping a discreet boob out in public and feed without batting an eyelid. That's not to say that inside they are not feeling self conscious, but if they are, you would never know. They look so serene, calm and relaxed. You don't get glimpses of nipple or boob and some even sit while eating or sipping their drinks and chatting to whoever they are sat with. 

*That* is the complete opposite to how I was whenever I had to feed in front of people indoors or outdoors (not that I did the latter very often, as I felt self conscious). I would get flustered, clammy and hot and I could never manage to get my boob out discreetly and latch my baby on with ease. I would always flash some part of my breast, my breast pad would fall to the ground or something, and I rarely successfully managed to feed without hoisting my top up!! I was rubbish! It didn't matter really, because at the end of the day my boys got their milk, but I didn't enjoy doing it front of people, I just felt uncomfortable. I lacked confidence. I was slightly more confident second time around, but I still didn't have the nerve to visit a coffee shop, for example, and whip my boobs out! I would usually time it so I would be home for their next feed instead. If I got caught out then I would seek a disabled toilet and sit on the toilet and ignore the knocks on the door by impatient people waiting to use it! (this was more the case with Burton as I could never have managed it with him as a toddler waiting for me to feed his brother).

I would also feel strange feeding in front of certain family members too. Yes I know, stupid but it's just how I am. I had no problem feeding in front of any female relatives of friends, and I was ok with my step dad or Jon's dad seeing me but I think this was only the case because my step dad had told me not to feel embarrassed in front of him as it didn't bother him, and with Jon's dad he had already seen Jon's brothers wife do it so I knew he didn't care either. BUT I felt really strange about feeding with my grandad, my dad or my brother or uncle in the same room and I would disappear to another room if they were visiting. However, with Jenson I did relent and feed in front of my Dad one time because I had no other option but I felt uncomfortable the whole time!

It is also nice to be able to wear non maternity bras again and not have to worry about wearing an outfit where I needed to have easy access to my bra. It's nice knowing I can now have a glass of wine if the inclination arises. It has also meant that I am more open to resuming a sexual relationship again with my partner with boobs that are not full of milk and therefore no longer have a purpose. This will sound stupid again I am sure, but while I was breast feeding there was no way I could contemplate having intimate moments because to me it felt odd because I was a feeding machine I guess and I couldn't handle the thought of my breasts being used in a non feeding manner ( there were also lots of other reasons why I didn't have sex for such a long time, which I wrote about here). To me while I was breast feeding they belonged to my boys and not me or my partner.

I am in no way complaining or being negative about breast feeding or my own experiences of it,  because I did enjoy it very much and I loved knowing my boys got off to the best possible chance in life thanks to me: my milk, produced by my amazing body and my brilliant breasts. I feel very strongly that if you are able to breast feed then you should. I just wanted to paint the other side of the picture of how breast feeding made me feel. I think this has more to do with me and my lack of confidence in myself which I have always had and will continue to do so. I did find it tough going at times and wish I had looked more at ease with it because I have (and indeed had) breast feeding envy of all of you who make it look so easy and natural. Those who don't get flustered or sweaty or red in the face. I take my 'bra' off to you because I wish I could have had the confidence you display.

Breast was best for me and my boys and I am so glad I did it, and if I were to have another (which I am not going to I hasten to add very quickly!), I would do it all over again too. It's such a special time and experience, and it seems odd now that I even did it, because it seems such a long time ago now, even though I only stopped at the start of January this year.

If you are thinking of breast feeding, I urge you to do so and get as much help and support as you can. BUT if it isn't for you or you have tried but cannot get along with it, please don't beat yourself up. I have found since the birth of my eldest, that motherhood is filled with feelings of guilt and worry and comparisons.

Just be true to yourself would be my advice, for what it is worth, and do what YOU feel is best for you and your baby.

The Gallery - Hands

I am linking this up to The Gallery where the theme is HANDS

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close DVD Review

When I was asked if I would like to review a DVD 

starring Tom Hanks I accepted without hesitation. 

I kind of feel that any film which he stars in or has some 

connection to is always a winner in my opinion. 

Ever since I saw him in Big I have been a .... 

well, 'big' fan!

Having now watched Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close 

I was not disappointed and Hanks did not let me down 

once again. The narrative is extremely compelling

 and unfolds through the clever and imaginative mind of eleven 

year old Oskar who finds a key hidden inside a blue vase in his 

late fathers closet. Immediately, the boy's

 mind goes into over drive as he starts to wonder
what the 

significance of the key is. 

Will it reveal details of his dad's life that will unravel some 

strange mystery? Where there is a key, there is a lock and Oskar decides 

that he needs to find it - he has to find it 

and sets about devising an ingenious method of tracking it down. 

He has a name - Black - which was written on the envelope containing 

the key so he searches the phone book and makes a list of all 

the 'Blacks' in New York and works out how long it will take 

to visit each one, which covers five boroughs of the city, 

using calculations he creates himself, which I couldn't 

possibly try to explain here!

Nevertheless, it is a very clever method and one which comes from the mind of a 

boy who possibly could be placed on the autistic spectrum did to his eccentricity and 

ability to retain random facts that he is able to recollect and relate in an instant. Asides 

from the usual reasons why any child would grieve the loss of a parent, Oskar misses 

his Dad more so because he helped him to overcome his fears and anxieties about the 

outside world and understood him and how his mind works.

The film is also set against the backdrop of how Oskar's dad died which is referred

 to throughout the film as 'The Worse Day'. This 'day' being September 11th. 

Through a series of flashbacks we learn of the build up to his death due to six 

telephone messages he left on an answer machine which only Oskar has heard. 

The scenes near the end of the narrative as we learn about the last answer phone

 message and how it made and indeed still does make Oskar feel are very emotive 

and I did well up at this point.

As our protagonist hunts down the elusive lock he meets so many people from 

different walks of life, who are all connected not merely by having the same 

surname but because they are all survivors. Not only have they survived 

personal issues like illness, relationship troubles, parenting troubles etc but

 as with all New Yorkers they survived 9/11.
Oskar needs to solve the mystery 

of the key so that he can move on and lay the ghost of his deceased father to 

rest and build a relationship with his Mum (played by Sandra Bullock) now

 instead.

I found Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close to be a very moving and emotive film 

and very intriguing too. Thomas Horn who plays Oskar is a brilliant young actor 

who engages the audience very well and makes the complex yet amazing 

character of Oskar very believable. This is a wonderful film about loss, relationships, 

determination and survival and I really enjoyed it. It isn't the happiest of films, 

although it is amusing in places but it is so compelling and having 9/11 in the 

background of its plot makes it very poignant and feel very real.

The film is available to buy on DVD now

I was sent a copy of this DVD for the purposes of this review. 

All opinions expressed are my own.

Meal Planning Monday #6

This week we will be Daddy-less from Thursday morning
 as he is away until Sunday so I will have my main meal at lunchtime with the boys during those days.
I am also realising that i am coking a lot of similar meals and maybe I ought to try some new flavours on my family, as I see so many meal plans featuring exciting flavours. Therefore, I am going to try to cook at least one new meal idea each week. This week I will try a sticky sausage noodle stir fry.

Monday

Burton is at Ladybirds

Lunch

Fish pie (Jenson)
JP & beans (me)
Beans on toast (OH)

Dinner

Slow cooker roast chicken, homemade wedges and salad

Tuesday


Lunch
we may be at my Mums for lunch if not then i will make a cheese & tomato pasta bake


Dinner

Sticky sausage noodle stir fry

Wednesday

Lunch

Shepherds Pie (boys) - already made & in freezer

Jacket Potato & Tuna Mayo with salad

Dinner

Chicken fajitas (using chicken left from Monday)

Thursday

Lunch

Italian style turkey cottage pie 

Dinner

Stuffed pepper & salad

Friday

Lunch
Homemade Fishcakes

                                                               

Dinner

Jacket Potato & Beans

Saturday

Lunch

Homemade Meatballs & pasta

Dinner

not sure yet!!

Sunday

Lunch
leave open as not sure what time OH home & we may be at my mums again

I am linking this up to Mrs M's Meal Planning Monday

My Week That Was - Birthday & Britmums Live

I am sat here writing this up feeling tired, but still elated from my fab Britmums Live experience, where I met so many amazing people. I am still in awe and on a high from it!

Anyway, before I attended the event, I still had a week that was and here is what happened.

Monday

Burton was very reluctant to go to Ladybirds today and cried which he hasn't done for several weeks now. I still think its because he missed two sessions when he was ill and it is taking him a while to settle back in. The staff said he had been quiet today when I collected him.

Asides from Ladybirds, we didn't do much today.

Burton wasn't very well this afternoon/this evening and had a high temperature which explains why he was quiet at Ladybirds now! Having had a two hour nap on the sofa at tea time he did wake up looking a lot better, but as a result he didn't go to sleep in bed until 9.30pm!

Tuesday

We visited my Mum today and had a nice day playing and this afternoon as the sun decided to make an appearance, we popped across the road to the nearby park which both boys enjoyed.

I left Mums a bit later than normal as we had enjoyed out outside time so much so she gave them tea before we left. Having managed to keep both of them awake the whole hour journey home, I thought putting them to bed would be easy.

WRONG!!!

Burton decided to have a tantrum because he couldn't be his tee shirt off so I helped him and he had wanted to do it himself (even though I had given him 5 minutes to try!). He got himself really worked up almost hyper ventilating, and n doing so made Jenson over tired as he couldn't sleep while all the commotion was going on! Daddy was out so it was just me which is typical!

Anyway, I eventually managed to calm Burton down and he told me he was hungry, as the silly boy hasn't eaten much at Grandma's! So I told him to go downstairs and I would make him a sandwich. Of course then Jenson started screaming because he wanted to get up as well, which he couldn't. In the end, I had to leave Burton watching The Gruffalo while he ate his snack, while I ended up laying on the floor next to the cot to calm Jenson down. It took him half an hour to go to sleep! By now it was almost 9pm and when I went downstairs to see to Burton I found this!

Wednesday

The boys and I went to Granma's for our usual Wednesday play date with the boy's cousin. They enjoyed playing together as usual and as the weather was lovely, after lunch we visited a nearby park, which we have never visited but every time we pass it Burton always asks if we can! So now we have - huzzah!

Thursday

While Jenson napped late morning, Burton and I made a chocolate sponge cake for my birthday which is tomorrow. However, because I will be away at Britmums Live, I have told Burton that my birthday is actually on Sunday when I will be home. I feel like the queen having two!! So I thought that if I made the sponges today and freeze then Sunday I just need to defrost them and sandwich them with buttercream and decorate and voila a birthday cake for me!

My Mum turned up just as we were getting the sponges out of the oven and once Jenson woke up we had lunch. Afterwards, Mum watched Burton while I took Jenson for his MMR jabs which have been cancelled twice due to illness! He was very brave although he did cry a little after the third needle went in.

After the boys tea, Daddy took them to his Mums for the night while my Mum drove me to Taunton train station to catch the train to London as I am staying with my brother tonight as I don't see him very often. He met me at Paddington at 9.30pm and we travelled to Tooting, where he lives, where we at a chicken burger and drank some wine with his girlfriend Jana.

(*Please note for the record, that I only had 2 glasses, although it was late and I didn't get to bed until almost 2am*).

Friday

OMG! I was woken up at 7.30am by Nick who had to be himself ready for work. I felt soooooo rough and after he left an hour later I was sick - I only brought up some water I had just drank but it happened 4 times! No joke, I thought I was never going to be able to drag myself out of bed and get in the shower! Luckily, by 10am when I HAD to get up I felt a little better although I still couldn't keep a glass of water down!

My brother had very kindly arranged for me to have my hair washed and straightened so I would look nice for Britmums Live, and bless him he paid for me to have this done too! He met me after as he wanted to take me out of lunch, but due to still feeling a little 'delicate' I ordered a mug of tea! Afterwards, he bought me some PJ's as a present as I didn't eat any lunch!

Then I made my way to The Brewery for *fanfare noise made with my pursed lips* Britmums Live yaaaaaay!!!

I won't go on about it too much here as I wrote about it here
but the first day was brilliant and I enjoyed a lovely evening too.

Saturday

Having shared a room at the Travel Lodge last night with another lovely blogger (who you will know if you read the Britmums Live post), and not getting to sleep until almost 2am again (!) I felt remarkably perky this morning when I woke up at 7.30am compared to yesterday ha ha! Helen and I met Mammasaurus and Actually Mummy in the lobby and then we headed off for day two, via a nearby Starbucks.

It was another fantastic day

 and the only thing which marred it, was missing my last coach back to Barnstaple!!

What a ruddy nightmare, to say I sobbed was an understatement. The taxi driver dropped me off on the wrong side of the road and sent me off to a shopping centre instead of the coach station! By the time I realised I was in the wrong place, and headed over to the correct side of the road, my coach was pulling off and I couldn't get on! Luckily, after collecting my thoughts and I had stopped crying, I swapped my ticket for one to Bristol and thankfully caught a train to Tiverton from Bristol were Jon was able to meet me after his Mum very kindly came over and watched the boys. What a relief to be home!

Sunday

I went in to see my boys at 6.30am when they woke up and I had the best cuddles and hugs! Burton then asked me if me being home meant it was now my birthday, so I said yes! He was very excited because this means that his birthday is next!

We opened my cards and he looked though the Britmums Live swag bags! Jenson as really clingy to me all day and wouldn't leave me even for a nap! It's tiring when he is that clingy.

After lunch, I decorated my 'birthday' cake and we all enjoyed a slice over at Granma and Grampy's house.

And Finally .......

While I was away it was the first time that Daddy has been left in charge with our boys for so long (I think three hours is longest before!). Of course he managed very well ("I don't know what you complain about, it's easy" ) and here are some photos that Daddy took to show me of their day together.

And that was my week that was!!

mummydaddyandmemakesthree

Britmums Live 2012

I have just got home from the most fantastic two days attending the Britmums Live event. It was an honour and a privilege to meet so many amazing, inspiring and truly wonderful like minded people and everyone was genuinely lovely and friendly.

I would imagine meeting bloggers and fellow tweeters is a bit like online dating: you meet them on line, you chat often and get along, you find out so much about them and their families and ways and then then you arrange to meet! Instead of wearing a red rose in our lapels, we wore printed name/blog name badges pinned to our bosoms (or chests or belts in the case of daddy bloggers), and you spend your time checking out faces and badges to help identify those you have been having an online relationship with for so long.

Anyway, this is what I discovered about Britmums Live 2012

What I have learnt

I am a 'strawberry' - who knew? (although with smaller bust - indeed much smaller!) and all this time I thought I was a 'pear shaped' kinda gal when I wasn't! No wonder I haven't always got it right in the wardrobe department

Remember why you started blogging. Use this to get yourself back on track if you find yourself in a blogging rut or have lost your blogging mojo

Incorporate great photos into your posts (when relevant)

Dont get hung up on stats

 

Cherry Healey used to be a dancer and could break dance!

Ruby Wax is funnier and more amazing in real life

 

Blog for happiness

Be true to yourself, your blog and your readers

Don't drink two glasses of wine after midnight when you have to be up early the next morning

Don't let Helen (The Crazy Kitchen) drink her cup of tea sat on the bed when very merry as a wet tea patch will form on the bed sheet!

Don't try catching a taxi to Victoria bus station via Euston train station, it's too far!

Highlights

In case you missed this snippet of news, I celebrated my birthday

Had my name mentioned in the opening speech by Jenny and Susanna re: my birthday

Buff waiters

Birthday cake made by Helen

Cherry Healey, Sarah Brown & Ruby Wax speaking

Meeting so many lovely bloggers - too many to mention but :

From Mum To Fun is as lovely as I imagined and her gorgeous Miss G chose me a cute animal birthday card

Karen is such a yummy mummy to be and wore such pretty dresses

 

Kate is just gorgeous and funny!

I know, I know I met so many others and you were all fabulous :)

Doing it for Aleyna - hearing her keynote speech on her cancer post

Sharing a taxi with Actually Mummy and Mammasaurus (so funny)

Swag bags

(Burton opening some 'swag' bag goodies')

Yummy food, great company and cool looking bar at Al Volo Friday night

 

Mammasaurus saying bit about how we speak to people from all walks of life who we wouldn't normally as we may not mix in those social circles eg. Film directors, teachers, SAHM's, Writers, Journalists, solicitors etc...

I read a book -an entire book - something I haven't done in over three years (!) Con the train!

Receiving presents from TheBoyAndMe, The Crazy Kitchen, From Fun To Mum

Lowlights

Hung over Friday morning

Missing my bus Saturday

Turned another year older

Missed my boys

Thank you to everyone who made me feel so welcome and part of such a wonderful, kind and friendly blogging community.

In Conclusion

Bloggers rock and rule!

Britmums (and Dads) are brilliant and amazing!

Britmums Live was fantastic!

I cannot wait until next years event!!

What were your highlights?

Saturday Is Caption Day - 23rd June

Its Saturday and its caption fun time In honour of Mammasaurus winning her BIB award today here is my photo for this week



Congratulations Annie :)
 Then pop over and share the satcap love

Cooking With My Toddler #1 : Cookies

I wanted to make some cookies with Burton so that we could link up to Helen's linky. Knowing that it would probably only be me who ended up eating them afterwards, I didn't want to make a large batch so if you wanted to make more than 6 just double or triple the quantities to make the amount you require.

You will need

25g caster sugar

25g butter, softened

1/2 beaten egg

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

50g plain flour

25g chocolate chips

Then simply

Preheat the oven to 190oC/170oC fan

Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and creamy

Stir in the egg and flour

Add the vanilla essence and chocolate chips and stir well to form a dough

Place dollops the size of a tsp on a baking tray (or tbsp if you want large cookies)

Put in the oven for about 15 minutes

Allow to cool completely before tasting!

I am linking this up to

Sistema & National Picnic Week

I to love have a picnic. 

I have fond memories from my childhood of going out with my grandparents and my Nan would have packed up an ice box with some sandwiches, walkers crisps (prawn cocktail for my childhood self) and some fruit. More often than not it would rain and we would end up sat in the car in a car park playing 'I Spy' and eating our in-car picnic!

Owing to the unpredictable British weather, I haven't managed to have many outdoor picnics with my boys, so we often end up having indoor teddy bear ones instead! Well when I say teddy bear, I should say penguin, Gruffallo, Chilly, Shadow, Santa Paws, Monkey, Little Monkey and Bear picnic!

Well to celebrate eating in the wet great outdoors, it is National Picnic Week at the moment (running from 18th-25th June). To avoid getting your sandwiches soggy, Sistema's To Go Range has an innovative range of products to suit all ages, food types and weathers!

I was recently sent a few products to review which will prove to be very handy for a picnic outdoors and Burton was very excited when the box arrived and he saw what was inside - "wow!" were his exact words.

from left to right

330ml squeeze

450ml squeeze

sandwich box coloured

lunch cube coloured

fold up lunch cooler

We decided to have an indoor picnic this afternoon because despite being lovely all day it chose to rain  as the boys teatime approached! The lunch cube contains 3 separate compartments which are encased cleverly so that whatever food you have inside can be kept separate - as you can see from Burton's snacks of choice for his tea today

He enjoyed opening the cube to reveal his food bounty!

and drinking his apple juice and water from his 'special' bottle!

I think the Sistema To Go Range is perfect for keeping your lunches and snacks in for when you and your family are on the go. the area durable and compact; easy to clean and come in some fab colours and keep food and drink fresh, and are ideal for picnics.

Its just a shame our weather cannot be so reliable for eating al fresco!

GIVE AWAY

I have a fold up lunch cooler to give away to a Mummy Mishaps reader. 

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning one, is to do the following:

Leave your name and twitter name in the comments box below

**please tweet the following message:

I want to win a Sistema Lunch Cooler Bag with Mummy Mishaps @JennyPaulin

Closing date is 12:02am Saturday 30th June, 2012

Good luck!

I was sent these product for the purpose of this review. all opinions expressed are my own

The Gallery - We Are Family

We were 'one'

We were 'two'

We were 'pregnant'

We were three 

We are four

They are brothers

We are parents

We are family :)

I am linking this up to The Gallery where the theme is FAMILY