7 surprising things you're not supposed to know about sunscreen and sunlight exposure

AMAZINGLY scary! But interesting too!
Please read!

http://www.naturalnews.com/032815_sunscreen_chemicals.html


R x

Myenglishgarden

...baby advice?...

As a parent..... I now have the right to preach! To say 'oh well I did it this way' 'my baby did this' but... I don't want to preach because I remember being that nervous first time parent last October (still am) and I didn't need a lot of mother earth 'do this do that' what I really needed was:- a) a list of must have item ideas and what your actually supposed to do with them...(receiving blanket what does that mean?) b) an idea of what it's like those first few weeks with a newborn...Nitty gritty c) a day in the life of...type of information Every pregnancy is different, no birth story is ever the same and I've never met two babies who behave the same way, and when a friend asked me to give her advice on breastfeeding I came up with a long list of ideas, but at the end of the day what worked for me won't necessarily work for you. So in the next few days I'll post what my pregnancy birth & the last months highs & lows & essential items we have found to make our lives easier, will they make your life easier who knows? No preaching here just my honest advice/ opinion please take with salt, when you have your baby, trust me you will find the things that work for you...your instinct will kick in it's amazing! R x

More dolls on the make

hee hee this one looks like the big marshmallow guy in ghostbusters!
And check out my boys!

Bed head

Oh my this kids already got serious bed head issues, from a nap!

...best traveling purchase...

I umd and ard about buying this 'gopod' I didn't know how much I'd use it!

But in the pre walking pre crawling stage it was a perfect distraction for her, and left my hands free from time to time, to wee, shower or drink a cup of tea

Best $10 spent tips

Best purchases....
I bought a version of these flannel wipes before Bailey was born!
24 (mine were yellow) reusable flannel wipes from http://www.etsy.com/people/PrettyPrinted?ref=ls_profile

I use 1/2 every day to wash her face, wipe her after food, bath her with, mop up spills, etc -could be used for diaper wipes too.
It's the best $10 spent and one of my top baby tips!

R x

Need to get more books!

As you can see bailey is a bookworm!
I'm putting it on my shopping list...'must buy more books' though I need a 'proper' book shop, I miss Borders, such a shame they no longer here!!

Starbucks with friends

These two! Ella & Bailey!
Born three weeks apart so cute together, not watching these grow up together (as we're moving back to the uk!)
Makes me cry!!
Jo has been my go to girl in Stapleton for pregnancy & baby related queries!!!!!

I make...

I started making dolls.....

Silly fun video

funny I hope this works?

Happy Birthday Bailey!

Bailey Rae
Age 1
Likes Daddy, chasing daddy, climbing on daddy & cuddling daddy & mummy, owl at bedtimes, Dolly, push along cow.
emptying the toy box is fun or the nappy draw...or my bag!
Eating blueberries, grapes, broccoli, Mac n cheese, spaghetti & yogurt.
Loves kiddies & dogs, dancing & walks around the neighborhood.
Says dadda, mama, ta & NO! (nowhe) shake and nods head, Stretches, high fives, waves, blows kisses, points, stretches arms up for goals, & claps!

Dislikes
Her face being washed, clothes put on, taken off!

Happy happy birthday to you!
Happy happy birthday to you!
You're good to grow, so count the candles and blow! Happy happy birthday to you! to you! to you!
Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!

Happy first birthday 7th October 2011! Sweet little Bailey Rae x

Mamma & dadda

Xx

Feeding the sparrows

Reading fun!

Hair clips

This was the one and only time she allowed me to clip her hair!
Now if I even get a clip out to show her she wants to inspect it, but if I try to clip her hair she throws herself on the floor!
Goodness! I had hopes of braiding her hair, many hairclips & pigtails, oh well!

Pregnancy etc!!!

I thought I'd jot a few things down as one side effect from pregnancy/ birth is you check your brain into the hospital but leave it there!

Hairbands over Jean buttons prolong life and wearing of gave jeans.

Belly bands are amazing get in black & white (elastic like boob tube but fit around/under bump- elongated tshirts also covers open jeans!)

Stop wearing underwire bras

Wear tank type bras in bed if you dont have anything already like this without wire invest in crossover nighttime feeding bra/tank that way you can wear after pregnancy for easy nighttime feeds

Put long pillow in your bed keeps hubby away from kneeing you in the night & you start to need it for support, I ended up with one either side of me.

Water water water drink it constantly, I got a special water bottle with a suck valve thing, it's amazing how screwing a lid off is annoying and you don't drink as much, sip sip sip!

Eat Apples - whenever I felt queasy, right amount of sugar in a good way!
Capri suns
Cliff choc brownie bars

I used bio oil, palmers cocoa butter and aveano 24hr moisturizer and mixed it up/ each day using something diff, as wasn't sure what worked!

Forget buying nursing bras before you deliver, no idea what feels good or what size you'll be!
Invest more in bf tanks with hidden support, small (I got one white one black to start with - but I wore a tank even when I wasn't pregnant or bfeeding- I'm just a tank kinda girl)

I didn't get maternity knickers til late on in my pregnancy, my next pregnancy I'll get them earlier, yes they're big and silly but boy are they comfortable (even now!!! I just wear them when steves out of town)

Pretty much forget pajamas for the hospital, who knows what's gonna happen, if you end up with a csection pjs will just irritate, I borrowed a friends maternity gear, and took to the hospital two nighties with cross over fronts, and two dressing gowns, I was in 5 nights and once I was able to get up and shower it was so nice to get into my own pretty cotton nighties!

Take a pretty blanket into the hospital to take photos with, I loved Aden & Anais muslin blankets as I swaddled (still do at 7 months! From under arms down as she likes her arms out)

In hospital they gave me a peri bottle ahhh the cool stream of water on my doodah (I had cesarean) but even so my bits were sore and this little bottle was my friend, made me feel clean & gave some relief too I used it a couple of weeks when I was home too makes you fresh as your wearing a pad for a while! Approx 4-6 weeks?

Once breastfeeding warm showers stand facing spray on boobies a few minutes everyday, or every shower
Don't wear underwire bras

Get dressed, shower you'll feel more human, honestly, also gives you a few minutes to yourself!

What partner can do.....Honestly let him know these things beforehand and he'll know he's got a job to do, otherwise you will do everything because he doesn't know, won't necessarily know how to ask.

After birth
Change nappies, honestly this was the best thing Steve did, and still does now, he doesn't even need prompting now, but in the beginning I'd just ask if I needed him, we changed her first few days together as I couldn't get up off bed so we'd put her on my knee I'd hold her while he sorted it all out, he was great! And now ALWAYS wipes, puts cream on etc v methodical whereas sometimes I miss out the cream if she doesn't need it.

Fend off visitors, if your not up for visitors, go upstairs send him to door to deal
Be the bad cop, he should be the one who makes visitors, take off shoes, and wash hands before holding/touching baby! You won't feel up to making people do it! Steve was a germaphobe so this came quite easily to him!

Get drinks if ness, or tell people to help themselves - DO NOT wait on anyone! Even if they are holding your baby! Friend/family won't expect it and if they do they need to take a hike!

He could also make sure you are fed & given regular drinks, honestly you will forget and this will make you feel worse (get a water-bottle fill it constantly one with a supping spout not a lid as opening a lid with one hand isn't easy but you should drink even more water now your nursing) also if you use it regularly he will see it's running low & fill it (well mine did)

If people say can I help beforehand say yes please and have some idea of jobs, (help you do bulk shop beforehand, help you clean part of house before or after, iron hubbies shirts, my friends out here delivered food for the first week, honestly it was amazing, especially the first night we got back, they didn't even come in just left bag on porch or we left door unlocked as we slept & they delivered it inside, suggest something plain and easy to reheat, shep pie? Chunky soup nice bread? (nothing spicy as baby will have everything you have and may upset a new babes tummy) don't forget pudding!
Our first meal was Mac n cheese, cabbage salad & home made applesauce (we mixed it with yogurt) it tasted heavenly while we sat opposite each other at the table while Bailey slept in her basinet, I remember feeling shell shocked & kinda empty with tiredness inside and could've quite easily gone to bed with no food and that would've been bad for me & baby!
Breastfeeding makes you hungry hungry hungry I could've ate horses!!

Shop BIG before baby arrives, toilet roll (put shedloads in all bathrooms, not in your normal storage place, have it all on hand you'll be amazed how little chores like that are taxing on you, also if you run out when guests arrive you will have to go get!)
Kitchen roll, dishwasher tablets & rince aid
Juice boxes/ Capri suns - very easy to grab one esp if thirsty and you forgot to put dishwasher on and have no clean glasses! Think you won't forget...you will!)
Your cereals
Bread (put some in freezer)
Cheese
Canned stuff for quick meals soups, beans,

I also stocked up on
Face wipes and stashed them by bed, by sofa, in downstairs bathroom as fresh face felt nice but actually getting to the sink was a problem!

By my seat on the sofa.....
Breastfeeding log sheets (can download from Internet just type bf log sheets- log pee/poop breeding times, duration & which side you started on last time & later on which boob she last took)
Face wipes
Hand sanitizer
Hand moisturizer
Baby nail clippers
A nailfile
Burpcloths
Box of tissues
Note pad and pen
Couple of cartons of juice or bottles of water

Use a nightlight in your room, when she falls asleep now we switch it off, and just open the bathroom door a crack for light, saves her getting use to a light at night.

Changing. I set up a changing 'station' before she was born used it maybe three times!
I found having a few changing mats (the thin travel kind) around the house is better, as when she poops all down herself/ yourself it better to have all on hand!
So we have a box down in the lounge and a box in the bedroom containing:-
Nappies
Wipes
Change of onsie (no legs babygrow)
Sometimes babygrows
Butt Cream
Hand sanitizer
Nappy bags if you use them

Products I LOVED & why...
Aden & Anais muslin swaddle blankets
Nature babycare nappies & wipes and especially there biodegradable nappy bags
Nosefrida
Alameda breast gel pads
Mommy's bliss gripe water
Avent soothies dummies no nipple confusion

Apps to download
Baby monitor
Bf log (though I think writing down better)

The don't buys....
Coats, raincoats - babies hardly wear coats in their carseats (dangerous)
And they don't stand up!!!
Save for when walking!
Dresses/ skirts- again not great til 8-9 months? Need tights or leggings underneath anyway - obv get some just limit! Little tunic style cute over jeans or leggings
Baby shoes! Again til Walking She's 7 months and still haven't found pair that fit or stay on!
Mittens, scratch mitts, we never ended up using, I kept nail clippers in pot by sofa and just clipped her nails regularly when she slept (get ones with extra handle for easy manoevarability)
Padded car seat liners (bundle me's)
Vv dangerous to line car seat with anything, also baby shouldn't be in padded jacket or snowsuit in carseat ie nothing should pad out space between back of carseat and baby.
Crib sets that include duvet or bumper- just buy sheets & blankets (we layer up Aden & anais muslin blankets as they a little stretchy and we can tuck them in well (Also swaddle with one of them & tuck end under bottom of mattress to keep her put)

Chip on my shoulder?

No it's only sophie! 

Happy Easter

Wow this is last years Easter, we were moving (the first of many since then!)

We have now moved countries & had 4 houses since this house...and as our US shipment of furniture arrived this week I'm surrounded by boxes again as per this picture! 

Happy Easter! 

R x