Before you turn Three

It is crazy how much can change in such a short time and it is the time of year again that I read through old posts and wonder at quite how we have gotten to this place.  It was three years ago I went to bed clueless that you were on your way.  It was two years ago that I wrote you this and exactly 365 days ago since I kissed you as a one year old for the last time.  

Tomorrow you will wake up and be three and I can't quite believe it.  This year has been crazy, full and sweet.  Your little brother arrived soon after your birthday and the weeks that followed were stressful, fraught and I wasn't as present as you needed me to be.  He finally came home and we all had to adjust to a new way of life.  You became a big brother, and you are a great one.  This year you have changed from a toddler to a little boy.  I still cling on to the toddler label but really I see a small person in front of me with his own clear ideas, a wonderful way of communicating and a confidence that rarely wavers.

Your short sentences have become paragraphs and your ability to express yourself has grown exponentially.  You are articulate, capable and always have something to say.  You are the most loving child, you can't get enough cuddles and sometimes it feels like you are trying to get inside my skin.  You crave closeness and touch, you want to love with your whole body and I find your arms wrapped around my neck, your legs around my waist and your head buried in my neck several times a day.  

You want to experience everything with the whole of you still, something I saw in you early on that hasn't changed.  A puddle can't just be jumped in, you need to see how the water reacts to your fingers too.  You want to walk along every raised surface, touch every leaf and stop to listen to every sound.  You are physical in ways your brother isn't and I was amazed to watch you skiing last month on our holiday in France.  Not many two year olds can cope with lessons out on the snow, but you weren't going to let that stand in your way.

You are my wild one in so many ways, your hair being the first that people notice.  You don't want it cut and I gave up trying to persuade you.  People often think you are a girl, your blond locks have a life of their own, but we both know it doesn't really matter.  One day you will want it all cut off and that is fine, but for now you look perfect, wild hair and everything.

As you turn three I know our days together are numbered.  School is still a long way off, but preschool isn't and you are signed up to start in April.  Your one day of nursery at the moment is wonderful but I can see you need more and I know you will love the new routine.  I am dreading losing a piece of you though, not knowing so many things about your day and not spending every day with you.  I know it is a part of you growing up, but when you cuddle in to me or ask for magic kisses I remember how little you still are.

You are still little in some ways.  We haven't started potty training yet and you are still in your cot.  I think it is a second baby thing, wanting to keep you smaller for longer.  It doesn't mean you can't climb in and out of your cot quite skillfully, but I climb in every night to give you 'squeezy cuddles' and you are my baby.  

Everything changed the day you entered my world.  I became a different person because of you and you are still teaching me every single day.  You encourage me to be silly and take chances, to stop and watch the squirrels climbing the trees or admire the flowers.  You remind that we all have amazing imaginations even if as adults we don't use them often enough.

As you turn three my baby boy, please stay that, my baby.  You already seem so old sometimes as you constantly check on me, asking me if I am ok, am I happy, is the baby warm enough in there, do I need a cuddle.  Stay true to yourself Archie, as you are quite frankly a wonderful person to be.

Before you turn three, as I kiss you goodnight for the last time as my two year old, I just want you to know how truly loved you are

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Learning to Ski at 2 and 4

I was 26 when I first put on skis and wobbled around on snow.  I was nervous, worried and excited about learning to ski and it exceeded every expectation I had.  This year my biggest two boys had the chance to try it out themselves and if they were as nervous as I was then they were much better at hiding it.  Snowbizz offers lessons in their 'Totons' class for three and four year olds, but as Archie was so close to turning 3 they allowed him to give it a go, and it was agreed that if he couldn't manage then he would stay in the creche in the mornings with his youngest brother.

On our first afternoon we took them down to the hire shop and picked up some boots and skis for them and the next morning I dropped them at the creche dressed in their thermals and salopettes ready for their first lesson.  I watched nervously from the balcony at 10am as they ascended (in what I nicknamed The March of the Totons) and then had to peel myself away knowing I would only be a distraction.  I picked them up at lunch time desperate to hear tales of their day and it seems both of them took learning this new skill in their stride.

My cautious big boy loved his first lesson, talked a lot about the 'magic carpet' (a moving walkway on the snow that does the job of a chair lift on the nursery slopes) and declared that he went really fast.  My daredevil of a two year old told me that skiing was fun and that he was going to do it everyday.

Their class had 9 children in as it was a busy week, but those nine children were accompanied by two ski instructors and two of the nannies from the creche.  I crept up and hid behind a hut to watch them on their second day and their last day and it was amazing to see how confident they all were.  The instructors gave them new challenges as they progressed and the nannies encouraged them, looked after the younger ones as they got tired towards the end of the lesson, helped put mittens on when they fell off and kept the lessons fun.

I think I was more surprised than anyone when on the final day Dylan didn't join the rest of his class.  Another boy and him had done so well on the nursery slopes that they went up the mountain with one of the instructors in a chair lift and skied down a green slope!   My baby boy, who really isn't all that sporty, was skiing down a mountain! It was more than I expected, he wasn't even four and a half and he was enjoying it so much.  He was so proud telling me how he skied down all the way from the top and he was delighted when his instructor brought out the sweets at the end of the lesson!  

Archie went progressively higher up the mountain and had to use his 'steering wheel' to make things more challenging as the week progressed.  At not yet three his stamina started to lag after three quarters of an hour but he did so well in all his lessons and he loved the experience.

We are desperate to go back again next winter, not just because I want to ski, but because the boys did so well and they really enjoyed the experience, it would be great to watch them progress.  By next winter Dylan will be 5 and joining the 'Junior ski school' and Archie will be nearly 4 and have the advantage of this year's learning as he skis with the Totons again.

Thank you to Snowbizz for inviting us back and giving the boys so much physical confidence.  Their lessons were fantastic and I still can't believe my 4 year old skied down the mountain!

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4 Months Pregnant

I am 4 months pregnant, or 18 weeks-ish.  I am considering 4 months to mean I have 5 months left until my due date.  I blogged fortnightly through my last two pregnancies and whilst I want to record this one just as well, I think monthly posts are the way forward this time.

I am four months pregnant with this fourth baby of mine and things seem to be speeding up.  The most overwhelming symptom this time around has been tiredness and unfortunately it isn't letting up much.  I seemed to get my energy back for around two weeks, but it is disappearing again and I am starting to get the feeling that this is the way the next 22-ish weeks are going to go.  I don't need to nap every day, so long as I get plenty of quiet time, don't walk too far or do too much and eat regularly.  Mostly I do need a lie down at some point in the day and the fact that the bloke works from home is making life much easier.  He is able to supervise the boys for a while whilst I get some rest.

My bump popped out very early and still changes shape dramatically across the course of the day.  There is very much a bump first thing in the morning, and it is pretty sizeable too, but by the end of the day I look far further along than I should.  My cravings change daily other than creme eggs which I eat by the carton.  I remember being the same with Archie, I think my body just likes sugar in pregnancy (and when I am not pregnant too to be honest!).  I am mourning the old style creme eggs with the lovely dairy milk chocolate, but the current ones will suffice for now.

I am struggling with blood pressure, or what I assume is blood pressure like I did with all the others.  I can go from feeling ok to being about to pass out pretty quickly and I have sat in the floor of a supermarket recently as I knew I would pass out if I didn't.  I have to carry sweet snacks with me as I can usually feel a faint spell coming and sugar helps a little.

My skin is still incredibly dry, especially on my forehead and I find myself using serums and oil on my face before bed every night and smothering it in moisturiser every morning to try and hide how dry and flaky it is.  I am not even close to that pregnancy glow I remember starting about now with the boys and I feel like my face looks grey and tired most of the time.

We had a private scan at 16 weeks where we found out our Britney bump is a little girl.  I am still waiting for this to be confirmed at our 20 week scan before I really do much shopping, but it is pretty exciting and terrifying knowing there may be a little lady joining our family this summer.  Whilst my heart told me this was a girl from the beginning, my head argued that another little boy was far more likely and I am still getting over the shock!

This month I have been doing a lot of thinking about my options for the birth and at the moment my heart is set on a homebirth - something I will write more about another time.  We have been discussing the sleeping arrangements too as whilst our house has plenty of living space, it is only three bedrooms and there will soon be six of us in here.  The boys are excited and understanding much more, although Finn is still oblivious and Archie hasn't got the memo about not climbing on me yet.

I am not yet half way and I am trying my hardest to savour this pregnancy as it is our last.  It is much harder when I feel so rough most of the time and I am not feeling the baby kicking yet either but I know I will still look back on this part and wish I had enjoyed it more.  I love having a bump and realising what amazing things our bodies are capable of.  I can't wait to meet this little person inside me who already has very long legs (Every single antenatal scan with every single child of mine the sonographer has opened with a line about how long baby's legs are!) and three big brothers to love her.  I can't wait to see her again at our anomoly scan and my shopping wist list is getting out of control!

This picture is from after dinner at 18 weeks, I haven't been great at remembering to take regular bump shots so this is all I have.

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What the Boys Wore - Muddy Puddles

At 2 years and 11 months old, the little things are often the biggest and the smallest pleasures are usually the most fun.  Everything is an adventure, anything can be climbed and the world is full of endless possibilities.

No puddle is too deep or too muddy and there is nothing you can't scoot through if you are in the right gear.  My little adventurer has energy that appears from nowhere when he spots water on the floor and we have found the perfect puddle spot in our local park - it is always the first to fill up and drains so slowly that we can almost guarantee some splashy fun most of the year.  Our favourite puddle (because I am sure everyone has a favourite puddle?) is about 5 metres long on a good day, not too deep that the water comes over your boots, but deep enough to make kicking, jumping and splashing pretty fun.

Muddy puddles sent Archie an amazing splash suit that is in two parts.  The waterproof outer layer that you can see which has an awesome pixie hood, and the fleece inner part that can be unpoppered and removed in spring and autumn (and worn seperately) or worn underneath in winter to make a full body coat.  His boots were also from Muddy Puddles and satisfy my love of all things clouds as well as looking bright and brilliant when covered in mud.

We popped to the park last week and had fun in our puddle, squelching through the mud and of course flinging our feet high in the swings.  Archie was lovely and warm with only basic clothing underneath and he stayed dry and cosy.  The lined hood doubled as a hat when the wind got going and I love the pointy top!

The suit is waterproof, windproof and machine washable at 30 degrees.  The fleece layer works perfectly as a onesie indoors or out and the versatility means this is something that will last all year round.  The bigger sizes have stirrups under the feet to stop them riding up and the smaller sizes have turnover hands and feet to really bundle the baby up - I will be looking for one next winter as it will be ideal for the new baby in the sling as she watches her brothers running round the park in the winter.

I am really impressed with the quality, durability and flexibility and the print is unisex, weather related and bright.  The 3 in one scamp suit is currently £59.99 and the wellies are £20.  

Are we the only ones with a favourite puddle?  Please tell me this is normal!

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Snacktime

When we were expecting boy number three I was warned that my cupboards would empty as quickly as I could fill them and now that Finn is well into weaning I can confirm they weren't wrong.  Not only do I have three little boys, I have three very hungry little boys.  Thankfully they eat most things and all three adore fruit which makes snack time easier.  I do seem to have a full fruit bowl at the beginning of the week and an empty one by Wednesday but this was something I was semi-prepared for.

We were sent some gorgeous plates from Sammy at Blue Brontide and they are perfect for dishing out snacktime.  The plates are solid wood, lovingly carved and each a little different.  The three sections make them perfect for lunches or snacks although I couldn't bring myself to cover up the cute faces today!  Dylan had no problem when he added a pair and a banana to his plate though.

Blue Brontide sells a selection of gorgeous wooden kids plates including car and bunny shapes and everything is organic, sustainable and eco-friendly.  Their range also includes tableware, teething necklaces and dummy clips, all beautifully handmade in Yorkshire.  Buying from them means supporting local manufacturers, choosing quality and filling your house with rather cute stuff!

As these plates are made from wood, they do need to be wiped down after use rather than soaked in water or placed in a dishwasher and it is best to avoid highly acidic foods.  They are perfect for picnic lunches and snacks.

Thank you to Blue Brontide for sending us these beautiful plates, the boys adore them and their lunches are going to look a lot more exciting from now on!

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Going on a Ski Holiday when Pregnant

So it may not be the first holiday you plan once you see those two blue lines, but it may be that you booked it before you knew you were pregnant or maybe you want to go on a family ski trip but don't actually fancy skiing yourself.   Either way a ski trip can be a wonderful week even with a bump, as I got to find out last month when the boys and I headed over to the alps with Snowbizz.

I knew a whole week of snow without being able to ski would be hard and I wasn't wrong, after having such an amazing experience two years ago I knew exactly what I was missing out on.  I looked up skiing pregnant, spoke to friends and my midwife, but for a beginner like me it just didn't feel worth the risk.  I hired a ski jacket and salloppetes as my expanding waistline meant nothing fit anymore and prepared for a week of fun.

One of the best things about my week away was the peace.  As a mother to three under fives I don't get a whole lot of time to myself.  I have the children every day and I work most evenings.  Whilst we were away I would drop the three boys at the creche every morning at nine and soon after the bloke would head out for his lesson.  The first day it felt strange, I felt a little lost but it didn't take long to start making the most of my quiet mornings and I took my book down to one of the cafe's on the snow's edge, enjoyed some syrup or a hot chocolate, watched the world go by and managed to read a whole book in the first three days.  After a really tough first trimester it was exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries, and despite having three small dependent people and a bump I came away from the holiday feeling rested (not something I have said for a long time!).

When we booked to go back, I was really excited about the outdoor pool and I loved going for a swim again this year.  The pool was open in the afternoons (3-7) and I felt like I needed a swim after all the cheesy French food I was consuming.  The pool is outdoors, but the water is wonderfully warm and you get in and out of the pool inside.  I could float around, swim lengths and feel weightless even when I am getting heavier by the minute on dry land.  There seems something so luxurious about being outside in a bikini when it is -7 degrees outside and you are surrounded by snow and I would defintiely recommend you take a dip!

Let's be honest and admit that one of the most enjoyable things you can do when pregnant is eat and the French do food well.  From freshly bakes croissants in the morning that are hands down better than any I have ever tasted in the UK to cheese fondue, raclette, creme brulee and my favourite tartiflette (a mixture of potato, onion, bacon, cheese and cream).  I may have over indulged just a little but you have the excuse of wanting to keep warm and of course, what baby wants . . .   

Getting to watch the children learn to ski was an amazing experience.  I hid behind pillars so that they wouldn't spot me and get distracted but twice during the week I crept up to the nursery slopes during their lesson and watched them skiing.  Archie is not yet three and Dylan is naturally a cautious and not a particularly physical child and I couldn't believe how well they took to the snow, how supportive their instructors and the nannies that accompanied them were and that they were actually skiing.  They loved the lessons and I know that had I been skiing myself I would have had to rely on their reports of the day.  This way I got to see it all and I couldn't have been prouder of my big little guys.

The March of the Totons

Snowbizz is a small and cosy resort and I met so many wonderful families, bonded with other parents and we marvelled together at how well our children were doing on the slopes.  I went for walks, I went up in the chairlift as a 'walker' to take in the views from higher up the mountain and to dine at the restaraunt set in the middle of the snow.  I took the children out of the creche to build snowmen and to go sledging and on occassion so that we could all curl up back in the apartment and have a cuddle and a film (and a snooze) as the week was rather busy and exhausting for them.  I got to experience the wonders of a family holiday alongside rest, relaxation and plenty of cheese.

For a busy mama like me, this holiday was exactly what I needed to recharge, enjoy and indulge, but I am desperate to get back on my skis next time!

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What the Boys Wore - Muddy Puddles Ski Wear

We have recently returned from an amazing week in France with Snowbizz and Dylan learnt to ski for the very first time.  Muddy Puddles kindly sent him some snow gear and it was absolutely perfect for our trip.  Not only did he look great, but he stayed warm, dry and protected even though the temperatures were well below zero even in the middle of the day.

Dylan was sent a jacket, salopettes and snow boots and all three were worn every day.  His jacket had everything you need for a ski coat with it being windproof, waterproof and snowproof.  It had poppers to form a barrier at the bottom, plenty of pockets including one in the arm for a lift pass and a cosy hood.  Dylan wore it every day and now that we are back in a rather snow-less country it has become his winter coat, perfect for the school playground.

The salopettes were simple and blue but protected him from falls and kept him warm and dry even when we were making snow angels.  We did find the waistband was a little tight on these but Dylan didn't find it uncomfortable at all.

The boots were chunky and warm with great grip for the snow and they were easy for him to do himself with one main zip and then velcro panels over the top.  We had taken other shoes for when he wasn't in the snow as much but he was happy to just live in his comfy boots.

I was really impressed with the quality of everything we were sent, especially considering it is all in the sale and the jacket is down to only £23!  I am rather tempted to buy the next size for next year as it is an amazing coat.  I love the brightness of the jacket and the print really suited Dylan, was easy to spot in the snow and goes well with his everyday clothes for when we are at home.  I would say that the clothing is very true to size as are the boots, we chose his normal sizes and it had space for layers underneath and should fit over the whole winter.

I am struggling to fault any of the pieces we were sent and having tried a few ski brands on the children I will definitely be going back to Muddy Puddles for both the quality and price.

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