The Ordinary Moments // My Cora Day

I love having a big family, I spend all week looking forward to the weekend and having all four of my babies at home with me, but I love my 'Cora day' too.  I never had much time with just Archie as Dylan was at home full time and as he started preschool, I started looking after a friend's son.  I try to spend some one on one time with them as much as I can though, and I have been lucky to have one day a week set aside for just Cora and I.

We usually meet our friends and go somewhere, either out for lunch, to the park or the beach or somewhere else.  All of the babies are the same age (there are only a few days between them) and I love that Cora has friends her own age.  Each of the boys has a set of friends outside their school or nursery (lots of them are siblings too) and I like the balance it gives them.  We still see the friends they all made as babies most week and I am happy that Cora has her own set of buddies.

As a parent, it means I have others to share the milestones and troubles with.  We all went through the weaning stage together, crawling and cruising and now planning first birthdays.  It means that I can talk about these moments as much as I want without people getting bored (I hope) and I am loving watching Cora start to interact with her friends.  

It gives me a bit of a break too, only having one to deal with, and one who isn't nearly as mobile as the others.  We get to go for walks together, to cuddle up close without being pulled in other directions and to take the day at our pace.  My Cora day is a special one.

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Ergo 360 Sophie la Girafe review

Ergo 360, ergo sophie la girafe, ergo baby carrier

As Finn has got bigger and more capable of walking, we have started being able to explore sometimes without a buggy.  We can never manage long and we  don't do it often, but being out without a pushchair feels so wonderful and free.  The three boys can explore and we are free to follow them without worrying about going off the beaten track, and Cora can cuddle up close and watch the world from my level.

She has always loved being in a sling or carrier as she gets the reassurance from me as we walk.  She loves being cuddled up and being able to watch the world go by, and she sleeps soundly with my familiar heartbeat in her ear, my warmth against her.  

The Ergo 360 is a wonderfully designed sling that adapts to the baby with the adjustable sides and head support.  I have the neck support folded down for Cora as she is still quite petite but as she gets bigger I will fold it up using the higher buttons to give her more support as we walk.  Tucked inside it is a hood which is perfect for when she snoozes as it keeps her head supported and is lovely and breathable.

One thing that really stood out for me with the Ergo 360 was the waistband.  It is thick and really secure with strong velcro and then a seperate clip over the top.  Even without the clip, the velcro feels secure enough and the thick band means it doesn't dig in like some others.  The lumbar support is great and my 19lb baby feels very light.

I love the design of this, it is a beautiful blue and the inside is covered in a delicate bunting print.  The carrier has a Sophie Girafe on the side as well as a seperate toy loop perfectly designed to hold the iconic teething toy (we have attached ours already for Cora to chew on).  

Cora is a petite 9 month old and this carrier feels a perfect fit for her.  I don't know how long it will fit her legs knee to knee for, but currently she has the perfect seat with her knees a little higher than her bottom.  

The Ergo 360 works in 4 positions so as well as the classic front carry, you can also carry a baby facing forward and the leg support adapts via hidden buttons to ensure the child is still supported in a seat like position.  As Cora gets bigger I can wear her on my back too, and I have already tried it out around the house this way and found it really comfy.  You can also use a hip carry which we still haven't tried, but it looks simple so I will give it a go and update the post.  For newborns, there is an insert cushion you can buy to keep their legs in the optimal position.

I am really enjoying using the Ergo 360 Sophie la Girafe carrier for Cora.  I find it really comfortable and I love the classic blue colour and the print.  It feels secure and well padded and she seems content and happy when she is in there.  The adjustments are all easy to make and this carrier is so flexible with the different carrying positions that it suits most parents.  The carrier can be used from birth/7lb (with a newborn insert) until 33lb (roughly age 3 to 4).

You can read more about this carrier over on the Ergo website

I was sent this carrier for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are completely my own

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Babywearing with an AmaWrap

I don't know how people have multiple children without a sling, it has to be one of my most used baby items and it really does make life with four easier.  Stretchy wraps are my favourite for carrying a newborn and we were sent an AmaWrap for Cora.

There are so many companies making stretchy wraps now and whilst in some ways they are all ultimately the same -  a long piece of material - I definitely think there is a big difference between what is available.  What I loved about the Amawrap was that is was just the right amount of stretch for me.  I could tie it before I put Cora in and stretch it around to get her in the right position.  When it was on though, it didn't droop like many I have tried and she stayed in the perfect position for the whole time.

It feels really secure and I can comfortably wear her for hours in my Amawrap.  I use it on the school run, on days out and around the house.  With three big brothers sometimes Cora needs to be out the way and close to me and this is the perfect way to carry her - hands free. 

The Amawrap is easy to tie and wear, feels really secure and means I can carry Cora safely following the Ticks guidelines.  I can completely recommend this wrap and I can see it lasting us for many more months.  I wear it everyday so if you follow me on instagram or facebook you will probably see it popping up regularly.   It comes in a variety of colours and costs £39.99

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BabyMoov Physiological Carrier

My absolute essential item for surviving three under four is a sling or carrier.  Two toddlers are demanding enough, but when you add in a baby, you end up with more children than you have hands.  Having Finn in a sling has made getting out and about much easier, it has meant that life doesn't have to change as much for the big two, as I can still run around with them, and you can't beat having a tiny hot water bottle strapped to your front.

As part of our role as BabyMoov ambassadors, we were sent their physiological carrier, and I am really impressed.  I have used a variety of carriers before, but this offered something new, with an inbuild newborn insert, making it suitable from birth without paying for any extras, and a uv cover hidden away to keep baby protected in the summer sun.

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What's in my Changing Bag?

As a mother of two, my changing bag is never far from me.  It carries everything and quite often doubles up as my handbag too.  I have been through several bags over the two and a half years since Dylan was born, and I love the variety on offer, but at the moment, I am loving my new rucksack from Pink Lining.

Dylan is walking much more now and for short trips I often don't take the buggy for him.  In fact, sometimes I don't take a buggy at all, and choose to wear Archie in a sling and let Dylan walk, but this means that my traditional bag isn't so practical.  Being able to pop everything I need in a bag on my back is comfortable and keeps my hands free.  Here is what I usually keep in my changing bag:

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Baby Wearing with the Ergo Stowaway

I am a huge lover of babywearing and now that I have two under twos, I honestly don't know how people get anything done without a carrier! I have a variety of slings and carriers, but the Ergo Stowaway is perfect for me at the moment.  It is a soft-structured carrier suitable from birth up to 44lb toddlers and I have been wearing both my boys in it.  The handy part is, that it folds in to its pocket and it incredibly compact when not in use.

I usually take out a double pushchair, but Archie is not the biggest fan of buggies and he won't fall asleep on his back so I rely on a carrier when he gets tired.  The Ergo Stowaway fits easily under any pushchair, even with all the other bits I like to carry around and my baby boy is asleep within seconds as he cuddles into me.

The stowaway is comfortable for both parent and child and keeps baby in the best possible position for carrying, with their knees higher than their bottom and curved towards me.  Babies should ideally have knee to knee support to keep their hips in the ideal position and this carrier is suitable for babies with hip problems such as hip dysplasia  

Although Dylan is no longer knee to knee in this carrier, I find it incredibly supportive considering he is 35lb and he loves having a stroll on mummy's back.  I have carried him for two hours without having any issues or strains and he had no complaints either.  The beauty of this carrier is that whichever child wants to be picked up can fit and I don't need to carry two separate slings around with me.  He loves being able to see over my shoulder and as we walk we can see all the same things and chat as we go.

The carrier is softer than the regular Ergo carrier and although it doesn't come in the same variety of designs, I like the simple green and it is very dad-friendly so perfect for families where both parents baby-wear.  Unlike the standard Ergo, the stowaway doesn't have a storage pocket but I very rarely use the pocket on my Ergo so it wasn't something I missed.

It has a black sleep hood that can be tucked in during normal use, but when baby falls asleep, it attaches by poppers to your shoulders and stops their little head rolling back.  It is also perfect for encouraging sleep as Archie found it very calming and dark with the hood on.

I can see us getting a lot of use out of this carrier as it is perfect for quick trips and I have also done full days with only a single pushchair and the sling for Archie.  I have actually found myself reaching for this carrier more than any other as it is incredibly comfortable and unbelievably practical.  I would recommend it to both experienced baby wearers and new ones as you really can't get it wrong!

Disclaimer:  I was sent this carrier free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts,

 pictures and opinions are completely my own.

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JJ Cole Changing Bag Review

With a double pushchair not always being practical, my love of babywearing has grown and I often take a single pushchair and alternate between Archie in a sling and Dylan walking.  As Dylan can go further and further on foot, we occasionally venture out hands free and it feels quite liberating to not have a pushchair with me.  

It does mean I have nowhere to hang the bags though and finding a bag that is compatible with babywearing is not always easy.  I have recently been sent the JJ Cole Mode bag to review and it is the perfect answer.  

It comes with 3 options, a long cross body strap, two clips to attach onto the pushchair (an option I love for single handle buggies as the bag doesn't slide down), and two long shoulder straps, that are significantly longer than other handbags I have used.  These longer straps are perfect for babywearing as you don't end up with the bag uncomfortably tight under your shoulder.

The bag has plenty of compartments for all your needs (12 in fact), and a changing mat and is made of a very handy wipe-clean canvas material.  As well as being incredibly practical, it also looks fantastic and comes in a gorgeous grey woodland design.

I highly recommend this changing bag as it looks and feels high quality and has enough pockets to stay organised even with two little ones in nappies!  The bag retails at £45 and you can buy it here.

Disclaimer:  I was provided with this bag for the purpose of a review but all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

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Baby Wearing and Pregnancy

With this week being International Babywearing Week, I thought I would write about my recent struggle.  Although never a full-time baby wearer, I have always loved to take Dylan out in a carrier or sling and sometimes the convenience is unbeatable.  When I found out I was pregnant I made the most of those first few 'bump-less' weeks and found the Ergo got more use than the pushchair as I enjoyed our cosy cuddles.  It wasn't long until little Mr Squish started to get in the way though and I believed my baby wearing days were over until baby decided to make an appearance.

After 10 weeks without a sling, I decided to give it another go. I researched how best to carry without tying round your waist  ( As I have no idea where my waist is hiding nowadays! ) and discovered a double hammock carry which is tied all above the bump ( I used this video as a guide ) .  Although my body was not used to his weight,  I decided we would give it a go and I managed to get Dylan comfortably on my back quite easily.  We set out on a little stroll to test it and after 45 minutes, I was still finding him comfortable, with no strains on my back or tummy.

He may have been a little distracted by the shower curtain

It is wonderful to discover that I can still share that closeness with him even though there is another little person determined to get in the way and as we walk we have a little chat, pointing at and naming everything we see.  Wearing him on my back means his head is next to mine so I don't need to shout to be heard and we can have our own little private conversation and singsong.  

I know that it is only going to get more difficult as both of us are growing and I need to be careful of my back as my front gets bigger, but all the time it feels comfortable and is safe, Dylan and I will enjoy our little walks without the pushchair.  My favourite thing about it at the moment, is that I can manage to hold an umbrella and keep us both dry - something I struggle with when pushing a buggy!

I love having the option to carry Dylan or take him out in the pushchair and it is lovely to know that pregnancy does not have to get in the way.  Have you worn your baby whilst pregnant, or do you intend to? Do you have any tips for me?

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ERGO Carrier Review

I have been asking around about the best way to carry my son.  At eleven months he is a chunk at 27lb and the stretchy wrap we had for those early days is tending to droop now with his weight.  Everyone had different recommendations as there are so many choices out there but the idea of the ERGO carrier stood out.

A soft structured carrier, the ERGO carrier is more dad friendly than a wrap and more comfortable for baby than many other structured carriers.  The carrier consists of a soft panel, padded waist and shoulder straps and a handy sleep hood to stop little heads from rolling back.  It can be worn on your front, back or hip and there is a seperate newborn insert which can be purchased making the carrier suitable from 7lb to 44lb!

I was still dubious about how comfortable it would be considering the size of Dylan but decided to jump straight in and wear it for a day out at Wingham Wildlife Park.   That meant four hours of baby on my front or back (haven't attempted a hip carry yet) but that is what I want from a sling - the comfort to wear it all day.  Luckily it didn't dissapoint.  I wore him comfortably and at the end of the day could still have carried on for longer.  The straps spread his weight throughout my body making him feel so much lighter than usual!

He loved being carried on my back as he could see everything I could.  He had no problems seeing into all the enclosures whereas in the buggy he may not have seen over the fences.  When he got sleepy I had him on my front as I did find putting the sleep hood on from behind a little tricky.  It kept his head comfy and sheltered and he happily napped cuddling me!

I was really impressed with the carrier and have been putting it to the test rather a lot lately!  I find it so much easier to pop him on my back for a short trip or going to the beach than to pack up and strap him into a pushchair and we can chat as we walk.  I point out cars, flowers and people to him and we can have our own private conversation as his head is up by mine.  

I am absolutely loving my ERGO carrier and would recommend them to anyone who wants to carry their baby or toddler.  Suitable from birth to 4 years they are perfect for both long or short journeys and really distribute the weight well.  So much better for your posture than carrying a child on your hip for long periods of time and 'daddy friendly too'.  They come in a range of gorgeous designs although my favourite is still the galaxy grey that we have tested, make sure you purchase them from an approved supplier though. They retail for around £90 which I think is great value as they last for a several years and hold a high resale value.




Disclaimer:  We were sent an ERGO carrier for the purpose of this review but all thoughts, words and photos are my own.

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You make me smile Week 1

I have decided to start a new linky with the intention of improving my photography and helping me to appreciate the great things in my life.  I will post it up every tuesday and you can join in anytime during the week.  The idea is you post three photos of things that are making you smile this week, whether they are a lie in, a piece of delicious cake or your babies first steps. You can add as much or as little explanation as you like.

Here are mine for the week:





Getting a new sling for Dylan.  He has sadly outgrown his stretchy wrap and I love baby wearing so I am really emjoyimg having a nice woven wrap to carry him in.










The upcoming  britmums live is getting me really excited and fulfilling my desire to write lists (insert picture of list of lists to write)
















The warm weather on Sunday really made me smile as we had a lovely afternoon down the beach.













If you want to join in then write your post and please back to this one so your readers can check out some more great bloggers.  here is a badge you can add to your post just copy and paste the html code.  When you add your link please leave a comment and try and visit some of the other blogs. I hope to see some fabulous entries!

 insert code</<a href="http://themummyadventure.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p482/mummyadventure/th_smilelinky.jpg" border="0" alt="You make me smile" /></a>>

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Babasling Review

As much as I love my pushchairs, I also love a good sling.  I have lots of friends living so close that it doesn't seem worth loading up a pushchair, when I can pop the baby in a sling and be out.  With the great British weather that we have, I find it a lot easier to hold an umbrella with Dylan in a sling than push the buggy one handed, and protect myself from the rain with the other.

The Babasling is one of the simplest baby slings to use.  I adjusted it to the right settings for me on the first use, and now I only have to pop it over my shoulder and it is ready to go.  No fiddling around tying it up while it drags on the floor, and no fiddly clips to do up. It also folds down really small and comes with a matching bag to pop it into, perfect to fit in a larger handbag or under the buggy for those occasions when the baby will only be happy being carried.

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A Semi- Crunchy Mum

I heard the phrase 'crunchy mums' for the first time only last week and it has really got me thinking. ( If it was about parents liking the golden chocolaty goodness that is Cadbury's crunchie bars then I am one of those! ) Google searching comes up with the ever wonderful Urban dictionary's description

Mother who supports homebirth, breastfeeding, baby wearing, cloth diapering, co-sleeping, gentle discipline, etc. One who questions established medical authority; tends to be vegetarian and/or prepare all-organic foods.

I think that another way to describe a 'crunchy mum' therefore is one who attains to a natural, holisitc, organic, environmentally friendly eco life.  A modern day hippy mum.  

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