Bea at nearly 16 months old.

I haven’t done a Bea update in a long time, so I thought I’d share one now, seeing as she’s nearly 16 months old!!!

Where has the time gone?

She is turning into such a character.

We’re still breastfeeding, in fact, she still feeds like a newborn.

If I’m sat down most often than not she’ll be on me having a feed just because she can.

She hates her cot, so much so she’s never slept in it, and Jon is cursing the day I made him but such an expensive one! 

I’ve completely failed at setting up a routine with her, all the boys had such a strict one and all benefitted from it and I’ve no idea why I can’t seem to get my bum into gear and start a proper one with her.

I keep blaming the fact its because she is breastfed but I know that's not the real reason, it's just me being lazy in a way.

She still has contact naps so I don’t ever get a moment's peace as she’s always on me or with me, so if anyone could point me in the direction of a good how-to book with guild line’s on would be great. 

She is getting better with food and is now enjoying most things I give her. 

She loves apples, though even more, she loves biting into every apple in the fruit bowl just to find that perfect one! 

She loves being outside exploring and trying to make friends with the chickens.

She still hates being in the car.

She loves music and dancing around the kitchen.

She loves water play, any water she finds her hands are in it, her current favourite is playing in the dog and cat bowls when I'm not looking and then emptying them all over the floor. I really need to buy her a water table.

She doesn't really play with her toys, I don't think they are suitable for her or just don't appeal to her so I need to find some that she likes as currently, she won't really play like the others did at this age and would rather just sit on me and feed and occasionally go over to her toys and just chuck them about then come back to me,

Even if I show her, she doesn't tend to spend more than a minute before she knocks them over and moans for a feed.

 I think if I can get her into a decent routine, get her used to sleeping in her own bed without needing constant feeds throughout the night and get her to start using up all her energy in a good way by attending more groups, weekly swimming trips and play at home we'll both benefit from it.

She is a right little diva but we all still adore her funny little ways.

Any help with a routine or toy recommendations would be fab.

x

Introducing Cocoro

I wanted to share a little post about a lovely small business that has firmly become a favourite of mine.

Cocoro 

I have been following on Instagram for a while now as they are Montessori based and that is the route I am sort of taking with Bea.

 I love all Sarah's posts and I love that she offers out great advice for free, as well as having the option for a more personal 1to1 if that is what you are after.

Recently Sarah very kindly sent Bea her very first doll after talking to Sarah about how I wasn't sure which one to go for, being a boy mum at heart the doll thing is all very new for me and I wasn't quite sure where to start and if Bea was even ready for one.

Sarah talked me through the Minikane doll and told me how there is a diverse range suitable for all children of all different races and how they are all anatomically correct perfect for helping your little ones learn about body parts when they are a little older. 

They are usually aimed at children 3+ but we decided that Bea would be fine with her as there aren't any 

small parts that could come off.

I instantly fell for their charm, they are very cute and lifelike! 

Sarah let me choose which one I wanted and I went for 'Gabrielle' a cute little redhead, Bea has a reddish tinge to her hair and green eyes so I thought they would be perfectly matched.

Gabrielle was an instant hit with Bea, as soon as I had her out the box Bea was cuddling her and investigating her by touching her hair and face.

It was so sweet to watch, when she patted her back when she was cuddling her I couldn't help but melt.

Bea loves walking her around the garden in her little pushchair and it has become part of our daily routine now the weather is improving.

Sarah at Cocoro not only offers beautiful sourced items she also offers 1 to 1 support and workshops.

Sarah was so generous and even gifted us an outfit for Gabrielle and a very lovely book that has quickly turned into one of Bea's favourites!

Slow down on your doorstep, this book captures six mindful moments in nature through lyrical verse and delightful illustration.

Bea loves the pictures and even kisses the little chicks when we get to that page.

It's the one book she will let me read before she chucks another one in my lap.

Bea loves it so much that I have also recently bought another in the Slow Down series.

As well as showing you a little snippet of what is available over on Cocoro's website & Instagram page I wanted Sarah to have a little say and tell you all a little bit more about Cocoro and the passion behind it.

****

I started Cocoro in 2022. After the birth of our baby girl, I was searching for more flexibility, and for a way to balance family life & work. I wanted a new challenge alongside doing something I feel incredibly passionate about. 

I’ve worked for 20 years in early childhood education & parent support as a teacher, trainer & parent consultant. The thing I’m most passionate about is helping children’s emotional well-being & setting them up for a resilient future. 

I knew supporting parents would be a key part of Cocoro because it’s something I have always loved doing and believe is one way I can make a difference to families. 

In addition to the 1-1s that are fee-based, I also make sure I offer lots of free content on social media to make it accessible to everyone.

It’s not always easy to source beautiful toys, activities & books that support children’s well-being and development, and during workshops and 1-1s, parents are often asking for my suggestions…and so the Cocoro store was born. 

I choose everything in the store very carefully to make sure it supports children’s development - but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun! 

Fun is a key part of well-being, so we have toys and activities to cover it all…fun, adventure, relaxation, mindful living, big feelings - and we’ve just added a special under 2s section too. It’s also really important to me to make sure diversity is woven through the toys and activities we offer.

I’m so proud to run a small, independent, female-led business, and I make sure the store supports other independent & female-led brands. I love the feedback from people who’ve bought from the store & are so excited to receive their parcel. I also love getting messages from people who are following along for my free content & DM me to let me know it’s making a difference to their own and their family’s well-being. 

I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to make Cocoro a reality, and for everyone who is joining me on the journey. 

Their love & support means the world.

***

If you do anything today, please check out Cocoro!

Even give them a cheeky follow on Insta I promise you won't be disappointed.

Review // Getting Personal With In The Book

I love reading with the boys, but they are slowly getting too old for bedtime stories and only really read now for school, so now thankfully I can push my love of reading on to Bea!

I was recently contacted by In the Book which is a lovely personalised online book shop to see if I wanted to review a book for them, I obviously jumped at the chance after seeing all that was on offer.

I eventually settled on a Beatrix Potter book to personalise for my very own Beatrix, as being named after the famous author it made sense!

There are lots of options to pick from, such as books suitable for babies, toddlers, girls or boys they even have books for grown ups!

Having a personalised book makes story time 10 times better, the boys always loved a book that had them as characters, and they all treasure their books even now when they have decided reading isn't as cool as it once was.

It was super easy to personalise the book, once you've picked your story, you just fill in the box options and ta-da it's done!

With In the book, you can add a personalised message at the front and with some of their books you can even add a photo of the special character!

They make lovely gifts and with Christmas just around the corner i really recommend having a look.

I love how Bea's book came in a special presentation box, great for keeping the book as a lovely keepsake and would also be a great baby present.

'In The Book put magic into every single one of their books by personalising and creating them especially for each child! From popular Disney classics to their own self-published stories, your little one will love flicking through each page and spotting their name, as well as their photo on the back page!'

I really love reading to Bea as I love watching her face take in everything I'm saying to her, she is so expressive and I can tell she loves listening, I am slowly introducing bedtime reading with her, so that after her bath she is nice and relaxed and ready for her night time feeds, it definitely makes that last feed a much more relaxed one.

Hopping into Life will make many treasured moments for me and her and will hopefully be a book that Bea treasures for a very long time.

 

6 months of baby Bea

6 months, half a year old!!

I can't quite believe it.

It feels as though these 6 months have raced up to us and I'm not sure I'm ready for Bea to be six months old yet!

An ever-growing baby needs a constant supply of new clothes!

Bea is definitely my most smiley baby, she smiles at everyone, she very rarely cries, the only time she does is when I hand her over for someone else to hold whilst I pop to the loo or need to do something for the boys and she isn't quite ready to let me go!

Bea's favourites;

Boob milk,

Banana,

Cuddles, 

Being outdoors,

Baths,

Sweet Potato,

Her Jellycat bumblebee.

Her eyes are slightly turning green,

Her hair is blonde/auburn depending on what light you look at it in.

She is trying very hard to get up into the crawling position.

We have officially started weaning, I tried a little BLW as that was how I weaned the boys but Bea chokes when she gets a lump of food. So it's safer and less stressful to do purees with her at the moment.

She is really enjoying discovering new tastes.

I bought a fruit dummy, which I can give different types of fruits in without her choking on them.

She really loves melon, strawberries, apricots but her favourite is definitely banana.

She's also a big fan of hummus. 

I need to get her some nice weaning accessories, as currently, I am just using an old little bowl I can find in my parents' cupboards.

I am now 6 months postpartum and Im now looking at losing all the extra baby weight/lockdown weight I put on.

I am making sure I do 10,000 steps a day and have replaced my dinner with a green super smoothie, which is made with avocado, basil, apple and spinach. So far I have lost 5lb.

I still find myself staring at her in awe and thanking my lucky stars for her.

She really has completed our family!

 

How to Raise an Inquisitive Child

 Why is raising an inquisitive child important? 

Simply put, because the more questions a child asks, the faster they learn. 

We all know that child who says “why?” to every statement don’t we? 

That’s a good trait! It might be a bit tiresome sometimes but it’s definitely a sign that the child is inquisitive. 

Always try to answer those “why” questions – the child is showing that they’re keen to learn.

 

Keeping their curiosity as they grow

 

It’s important to help your child retain their naturally curious nature as they grow. All toddlers and small children have a natural capacity for learning but that can fade as they grow.

 

A good way to ensure the curiosity keeps coming is to expose your children to as many different experiences as possible. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to achieve this either. There are many free activities that you can engage in and then discuss later with your child:

 

·      National Trust Gardens – these are usually free to enter and often contain many historical features and a wide variety of plants and trees

·      Local museums – again, usually free and showing items of local interest

·      Art galleries – usually free or donation only, art galleries are fun, educational and many hold free or low-cost workshops in the holidays

·      Local parks – full of learning opportunities, nature, play and social events

 

Keep your eye on the local news for workshops and clubs which your child can attend. Good schools like this independent school in London will also provide excellent opportunities such as debating clubs where children can learn even more about the world around them.

 

Engage your child in discussion and debate

 

There are many news outlets which specialise in the news for children – age-appropriate discussion can really open up your child’s world. Don’t be afraid to talk to your child about the big issues such as climate change, animal welfare, food and health. 

Children and teenagers are often very interested in hot topics and will enjoy discussing them with you.

*sponsored post

Pretty flowers, swimming and lazy days

School is officially over for the summer and we're still homeless.

We have been staying at Jon's parents whilst the boys were still at school but now we have ventured down to London to stay with my parents until we can move into the new house, which hopefully will be in a couple of weeks.

In the run-up to the holidays, I had to do a bit of running around getting bits of the information to the estate agents and whilst doing so I found the cutest little sweet shop in Downham market called Mabels, so I treated us all to a couple of bags of pick a mix.

Bea also had her first dip in the swimming pool which she really enjoyed, but I couldn't keep her in for too long as the sun was too hot and I didn't have her UV suit as that's packed away, I have since managed to buy one from Sainsbury's, so once we're back at the in-laws ill be able to use it. 

Bea also had a little playdate with my friends and one of their younger sons.

She wasn't too fussed, but it was nice to get out of the in-laws and see some of my friends.

Just before we headed to my mums I went and had my hair cut and coloured.

I can't really rave about my haircut experience as it wasn't all that great, my hair looks nice enough and all the dead ends are gone but just wasn't what I really wanted, but I did get some nice bumble & bumble treats to use.

The boys have all started doing martial arts on a Saturday rather than twice throughout the week due to the move, so Jon and I get two hours with Bea to do as we please, so last week we went for coffee at the Norfolk Deli Cafe and we were really impressed with their new flower wall.

I've been buying some nice little bits for the new house, I really can't wait to do Bea's room!

There are just so many nice bits on Etsy, I've had to put my card away to stop me from buying it all.

We took the boys to Sculthorpe nature reserve last Sunday for a stroll and it was lovely, it was nice getting some fresh air and seeing the boys off their consoles and looking at nature.

Unfortunately we couldn't peel Noah away so he stayed with Jon's parents.

                                                                                                   

I'm hoping to do a few trips into London whilst we're here, it's just a case of planning it and making sure I have someone around to lend a hand as Jon is still in Norfolk working.

 

4 months of loving Bea

 4 whole months of loving Bea!

I can't believe it, it feels like she's been part of our lives forever but then like she only entered the world yesterday.

She is our little ray of sunshine, she has brightened up all our lives since she arrived.

Bea has finally met her great granny! My Gran has been desperate for me to have a girl and was over the moon when I told her. In one year she has gained two great-granddaughters! She is feeling very blessed.

Bea has mastered rolling over and can now move around her playmat in a sort of push and pull motion.

We've just had to buy her a new playmat as her one is now much too small for her.

We also got her and all the boys baptised last weekend, and she was a little star and enjoyed the whole day.

She has also found her voice and likes to share her daily shouts with the world.

She also learned to giggle, though she doesn't do it much right now it is the best sound, and all the boys love trying to make her laugh. It has become a daily competition to see who can make her laugh first.

She is also starting to take notice of the four-legged furry ones.

She never really paid much attention to them before, but now if one of the pets walks past her she will follow them until they are out of her eyesight.

Sleep....she is sleeping but sometimes it'll be on me, sometimes it'll be beside me and when it was really hot she actually slept in her crib beside my bed.

However she does it, she does it. She'll still have night feeds and to be fair I can't see them stopping anytime soon but I don't mind as she goes right back to sleep afterwards.

Bea is also teething now, my mum bought her an amber necklace as all the boys had one and I swore they helped.

She also enjoys munching down on her Sophie la girafe.

I'm excited for her to get her teeth but worried for me at the same time, I haven't breastfed a baby with teeth before!

Now she's on the move slightly and is able to hold things, I'm starting to look for toys to keep her entertained.

If anyone has any recommendations for some good sensory or developmental toys please let me know!

xxx

Review // Myrtle & Maude Breastfeeding Bundle

I was recently sent this lovely breastfeeding bundle from Myrtle & Maude.

Lately, I have been having some issues with thinking that my milk supply is a bit naff, so I was quite excited to try their Milk Flow tea, which helps aid lactation due to the special blend of herbs.

What's in the bundle?

- Two bags of Milk Flow tea (30 tea bags)

- One Muslin square

- 6 bamboo washable breast pads and 1 little breast pad pouch.

RRP £19.99

The milk flow tea is organic, caffeine-free, certified vegan friendly and in biodegradable tea bags!

About their ingredients...

• Fenugreek seeds are a strengthening post-birth tonic stabilising emotions, soothing nerves, helping to replenish energy levels, and promoting the production of breast milk.
• Aniseed, beneficial for promoting lactation and encouraging healthy breastfeeding.
• Fennel seed is a renowned breast milk enhancer and in addition to cumin, an excellent digestive herb.
• Nettles and alfalfa leaves have been used since the times of the druids as a nourishing mineral-rich tonic and to improve the quality and quantity of breast milk.
• Caraway, have the property to stimulate lactation in nursing women.
• Chamomile to relax and soothe the nervous and digestive system, our lactation tea is a power-packed post-birth blend to support and nourish and all in a delicious cup of tea.

Since having Bea I have completely gone off coffee and have replaced my daily cups of coffee for cups of fennel seed teas, as I knew fennel was good for milk production, so anything to help I was up for. I have become quite a fan of the taste.

I was a bit sceptical about a tea that is meant to help increase your milk, but I do feel pretty confident in the fact it has helped me feel more confident about my supply.

***Though I do feel I need to stress that the number one way to increase your milk supply is to feed feed feed or pump pump pump, and if you are having troubles with a low supply speaking to a specialist will definitely help.***

Myrtle & Maude's milk flow tea has become part of my daily routine, I have a cup in the morning and another in the afternoon if I can catch a spare moment.

It tastes lovely and I'm pretty sure it is helping with my milk production, my breasts definitely feel fuller and Bea seems to be more settled after a feed.

I will be buying myself more once I have run out.

I'm a bit rubbish with using breast pads, lucky I don't seem to leak that much.

 I used them religiously when Bea was first born but since then I haven't really needed to, especially with lockdown in place, but now places are opening back up and things are starting to return to normal, it's nice to have these for when we go out just in case I do leak.

They are super soft and the handy bag is great for popping into the changing bag.

This breastfeeding bundle would make a great little gift for a new mum planning on breastfeeding.

The guys over at Myrtle & Maude have given me a special 10% discount for my readers, so if you are planning on buying this or any of their other natural products -  they have a great range covering everything from conception through to labour and breastfeeding, make sure you use it at the checkout.

- hannahshaw10 -

xxx

 

Sunshine, haircuts and new houses

Well helloooooo sunshine!!!

How nice is the weather at the moment?

I know it will probably disappear as quickly as it arrived, but we are definitely making the most of it.

We finally got the twins and Ru hair appointments much to their disappointment, they wanted their hair cut but they also wanted to carry on growing it. After a pep talk from Jon, they were more than happy to go and have it all chopped off for the summer, They probably grow it back when the weather gets colder again.

Ru is always wanting his hair cut so he practically ran all the way to the barbers.

Last week we went to view the new house again and get some measurements so we can get prepared for moving in.

It was nice going back, as everything seemed bigger and more exciting, we took Noah along with us as he was off from school due to feeling under the weather and he has been on the fence about moving but once he saw the house he fell in love with it just like we did.

We also took a virtual tour of the new school we are hoping he gets into and he really liked the look of it.

Over the Bank holiday weekend, we went over to Jon's parents' house and the boys all got to splash around in the pool and Bea had her first hot tub experience.

She loved it, which wasn't a surprise as she is a big bath fan.

I was a bit apprehensive about getting into a swimming costume, but once in the hot tub and seeing Bea smile I completely forgot about my insecurities. 

Also in the last few weeks, we have cracked the laying down to feed position, which means we are getting more sleep coming nighttime! I'm also finding that I'm waking up before Bea and being able to get dressed and get the boys breakfast before she wakes, which is really helpful during the week when getting ready for the school run.

Jon turned 35 last week and me and the boys got him a little cake and popped some bunting up whilst he was at work, he usually doesn't get much fuss on his birthday so he was pleasantly surprised when he came home.

I dug out Ru's Oscha ring sling to get a snap of Bea in it, as I have a photo of Ru in it just like this, which I shared over on my insta 

Other than that we haven't really been up to much.

Just the usual and now it's the half term we will probably have a few park trips and hang out in the garden.

My new favourite Lucy & Yak dungarees.

I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone and try more things, also trying to get my head around my weight gain is a slow process but I think I'm on the right road. 

xxx