Sleeping bag

Get one. Now. Right now.

Honestly, they're a lifesaver. Before our Little One arrived, I dutifully bought some cellular blankets and I've been given a gazillion different blankets from friends and family. However, our little kicker hates them.

Granted, they're very handy for the car, but as for sleeping all night - the blankets are off in a matter of seconds.

After a couple of weeks of our Little One waking up cold at night, we tried a sleeping bag and she slept like an angel. Well, most of the time.

So, get one - now!

A few things to bear in mind when you're buying one.

1) Make sure you get the right tog rating. We're currently using a 2.5 tog sleeping bag, which keeps our Little One nice and toasty.

2) Don't buy light coloured ones - babies tend to dribble on the top bit - and no-one has time to wash them every morning!

3) Make sure you can open and close the zip without any hassle and that it doesn't have too may buttons. The first one we bought had a very awkward zip, and just as the Little One was dropping off and we put her in the sleeping bag, we spent so much time faffing with the zip, that she was waking up!

4) Get a sleeping bag that is big enough, especially if you have a little kicker!

Photos:
Blanket
Sleeping bag 1

Sleeping bag 2

Sleeping bag 3

Sleeping bag 4

Bibs!

Like most mums-to-be, before the arrival of our Little One, I looked at all the pretty babygros, the cute little cardigans and gorgeous miniature leggings. But no-one told me that even if I did buy all these beautiful clothes for my Baby Girl, no-one would actually see them.

Most newborns feed every 2-4 hours, and therefore, the potential for any spitting up/posseting/full on projectile vomiting is extremely high. And so, in order to save that gorgeous cardigan your Little One is wearing, you put a bib on her. A big bib.

And so no-one sees her cute outfit. Boo!

It's a shame then, that no-one sells beautiful, practical bibs.

We were given a lot of bibs as gifts, but they're either very pretty but too small to catch any sick/dribble, or very practical (i.e. large and of the pullover variety (have you ever tried taking a bib off a baby when she's asleep, only to find that it closes with velcro - every mother's worst nightmare!)).

After a bit of googling, the only pretty-ish and practical bibs I could find were DIY (I can't sew!)...

...or only sold in Australia.

So, if anyone knows where I can find beautiful bibs, please do let me know! I'm tired of hiding my Little One's pretty outfits, or winging it without a bib and finding her covered in God knows what!

Pink bib
Yellow bib
Heart bibs

New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone!

We've had an eventful 2015 here in Cardiff - we went to Thailand, we got engaged and we had a baby! Amazing!

Last year, I made 10 resolutions. Today, I thought I would have a look back to see if I managed to stick to them, and what my resolutions will be this year.


So, my 10 resolutions were:

1. Be Sian

I'm really unsure whether I've managed this year, as it's been a very different year. Being pregnant meant that I was unwell or extremely tired for most of the year, and then, since the Little One arrived, I've been even more tired. I'm still Sian, but I'm also Mummy now. I want to embrace this new role in 2016, but also still 'be me' and be there for the Other Half as well - he's just as important.

2. Drink less

Well, this one was pretty easy due to the human being growing inside me! But I have to admit, even though I can't really go out binge drinking any more, that cheeky glass of wine at the end of the day has become even more of a habit since having a baby - it's too tempting when I'm home all day on my own. However, new year, new me - let's do this! 

3. Watch less TV

I definitely didn't stick to this. In fact, I think I probably watched more TV this year than I've ever done before, again, due to being pregnant and then having a tiny screaming person in the house. TV is a good escape, and something you can do with minimal effort, one handed, with a tiny person sleeping on you. However, I really hope to use my time better this year, after getting into a routine with the Little One - I can still read, blog and do certain crafts while she sleeps on me.

4. Stop 'saving up' activities for the weekend

I really tried with this one, but didn't manage it unfortunately. I really wanted to look forward to my evening, not just the weekends. These days, I have no weekends. I have no idea what day of the week it is most of the time. Problem solved!

5. Do less chores

This one I stuck to. The Other Half helped out more when I was pregnant and it was so nice having him help around the house. Unfortunately, now that I'm home all the time, the chores have started being left to me again. However, I don't really have the time for them any more between feeding and nappy changing. I think this year I should concentrate on my Little One - I don't want to miss a smile or a laugh because I'm cleaning the bathroom.

6. Stop feeling guilty

I don't think I'll ever manage this one, it's in my nature. I tried letting my parents call me but it led to me not speaking to them for weeks and them being annoyed that I hadn't been in touch. Just not worth the hassle. I do feel less guilty now with a baby, as I have a great excuse (!), but I still feel guilty about minor, insignificant things, pretty often. I really need to try to get to grips with this, but I'm not holding my breath.

7. Stop procrastinating

I didn't really stick to this one either. I came up with ideas, wrote them down, but never got round to them. I must do better this year, especially as I'll be at home more. I want to get things done.

8. It doesn't have to be perfect

This relates to the previous point. I plan and plan, and then never get round to doing anything because the time isn't quite right. What am I waiting for? Just do it.

9. Eat better

I managed to lose around 20lbs last year, just before I went to Thailand. I looked and felt great and I was full of energy, then I got pregnant. I'm the heaviest I've ever been at the moment, but that's fine - I grew a human being - I rock! Mind you, as awesome as I think I am, I do need to eat better. Being at home all the time means that it's too easy to have a big fattening lunch, or snack on chocolate all day. I'm in no major rush to lose all my baby weight, but it'd be nice to lose a few pounds and feel better.

10. Make an effort with my friends

I failed with this one last year, mainly as I was pregnant and usually knackered or ill. However, surprisingly, having a baby has made me very very sociable, and I love it! I've been to a few classes and coffee mornings and met up with quite a few mums from work - it's been lovely getting out of the house and chatting with someone who's in the same position as I am. I definitely plan on keeping this up in 2016.

All in all, not bad I'd say. Being pregnant made some of the resolutions difficult, but helped with others.

This year I'd like to:

1. Appreciate every moment with the Little One.

2. Save up for our next home.

3. Let the little things go. 

4. Make time for me.

5. Make time for us, as in, me and the Other Half.


Let me know what your resolutions are for this year! x

Images:

Television

Guilt

Exercise

She's here!

So, 6 weeks after her arrival, here's a short post about the new addition to our family.

Our little girl, Lucy Lloyd, arrived at 03:10 on 17 November 2015, weighing a healthy 8lb 3oz.

Even though the birth didn't go quite according to plan, all that has faded from memory by now, and I'm loving motherhood.

The first couple of weeks were hard, trying to adjust to this new person in our lives. But now that the Other Half is back at work, we've got into a rhythm and I love seeing her change and develop every day. She's perfect in every way...even when she's filled her nappy or is screaming the house down for no reason whatsoever.

Welcome to our world Lucy Lloyd, I can't imagine life without you.

The baby list

Another big gap between posts I'm afraid!

Well, it's been a busy few months - pregnancy symptoms, trying to stay awake at work, ticking baby-related chores off a gazillion to-do lists and, of course, buying all the baby essentials, while trying to not get ripped off...easier said than done.

I trawled the internet for the ultimate baby list and finally settled on Mothercare's version, which seemed extensive (like them all!), but also with a pinch of common sense.

It's expensive, it's exhausting, but I'm finally done.

Here are a few of my main purchases...



The pram

It took me a loooong time to decide which pram to buy. It seemed like the biggest and most important decision. After reading a million reviews, asking parent friends what they thought, and a few trips to Mamas and Papas, we (ahem, I!) decided on the Sola 2. For some reason, the lime green version was half the price of the red or black version - I actually preferred this colour, so happy days!

The seat lies flat and is therefore suitable from birth, which means there's no need for a cumbersome carrycot. I was a little concerned about this as we're having a November baby. However, the carrycot was an extra £70, was very big, and I really believe that a foot muff will keep the little one cosy enough.

The pram arrived last weekend and I'm still trying to work it all out. But now it's here, it seems very very real.

The car seat

Another of the big and important purchases. I actually bought this with the pram at Mamas and Papas as there was an offer on at the time. The car seat can be extended as baby grows, so hopefully it'll last us a while. We took advantage of the car seat fitting service as well. The member of staff was so knowledgeable and friendly, and gave us a chance to try it out before we left. It's very simple to fit in the car, without the need for an (expensive!) isofix base. I loved the orange colour, but decided to go for the more baby-friendly black option.

The cot bed

Even though the Little One won't be sleeping in the cot bed for a while yet, my Dad wanted to get us something as a baby gift, and this seemed ideal. It's from Argos and was in the sale at the time. It's much bigger than I anticipated to be honest, but hopefully that just means it'll last longer. It seems very sturdy and I really like the simple but elegant style it has.

The moses basket

So, I've read on many a forum that these are a real waste of money as babies only use them for a few months. Therefore, in an effort to save a few pennies, I bought a second hand one from Gumtree. The basket hasn't been used, and the stand is in great condition. I paid £20 for both, and after a bit of research, I've found that the basket is actually from John Lewis (£35) and the stand is from Mamas and Papas (£30) - so a great save. I also found a (new!) mattress on ebay for £8.

All in all, it has been an expensive process, but I've also managed to grab a few bargains along the way. There are always sales around and it's definitely worth waiting for them, especially for the big purchases. Also, there's nothing wrong with second hand baby stuff. You might feel like you want to buy all new for your first born, but to be honest, mums generally take good care of everything they buy and you can get better things for the new member of your family, for less money - definitely worth it in my opinion.

Only 6 weeks to go now...!

The pram

The car seat
The cot bed
The moses basket

A Beautiful Mess - the app!

So I've been searching high and low for a cheap and easy to use programme to edit photos. And I've found one, at last.

I've been following A Beautiful Mess for a while on Instagram but I've never seen them advertise their awesome app. I bought it yesterday (79p (or just over a dollar) - bargain!) and I'm already hooked. I still need some time to play with it properly, but the first few photos came out pretty well, I think...

                                

                                        

                                         

Very basic at this point but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. Anyone else loving the app?

My favourite blogs

What really got me started with writing my own blog, was the sheer amount of good blogs already out there. And I'm constantly finding more. The list is growing and growing, and I'm doing less and less work. Ahem, even though I only read them in my lunch hour, of course.

So, here's a round up of a few of my favourites:


Florence Finds is a blog by new mum Rebecca. She talks about her beautiful baby girl, Bea, her home renovation projects and her capsule wardrobe.

A Cup of Jo is written by full time blogger Joanna Goddard who is a mum to two gorgeous and funny little boys. She blogs about everything and anything - easy supper recipes, fashion trends, cool NY apartments, and everything in between. She also posts very regularly, at least a couple of posts a day.

Seeds and Stitches is the combined effort of mums Davina and Hannah, two crafty and ethically minded women who blog about magazine shoots, craft events and family life in general.

A Baby on Board is a new find for me. Being pregnant meant that I couldn't resist googling popular pregnancy new mum blogs, and this came out top. And it's easy to see why. Gill, a mum of two, writes beautifully and funnily about the ups and downs of life. A definite favourite.

Have you got any blogs you'd recommend? I'm sure I could find time to read them...