Project 365 - Week 15/52

8th April 2018

9th April 2018

10th April 2018

11th April 2018

12th April 2018

13th April 2018

14th April 2018

Another week has flown by in the blink of an eye. Ava had her 1 year injections this week. My poor baby had four, two in each leg and she was so upset. Thankfully they didn't make her unwell and after the initial shock of them she's been fine.

We had a great week overall and I've decided to be brief to write a couple of highlights. The first being our weekly family day out to one of our favourite places, Bowland Wild Boar Park. Noah held chicks and both kids were in their element running around the open fields. Disney on Ice was another, both kids loved it. Ava was dancing and waving throughout and Noah was mesmerised by the Toy Story scenes. Tonight, Nick and I had a long overdue date night, a few hours without the kids. We went to Nando's, to the arcade and then to the cinema to see the film A Quiet Place. We really need to start making time for just the two of us, we loved it.

What have you been up to this week?

Honest Organic Kids Juice Drinks - Competition

Keep your children refreshed as they play, with new organic HONEST® Kids. HONEST® Kids combines organic fruit juices, water and natural flavourings to provide simple and great tasting drinks that your kids will love. Giving Mums and Dads peace of mind, HONEST® Kids contain no added sugar, are low-calorie and sweetened only with fruit juice. Available in three delicious flavours, Appley Ever After, Berry Berry Good and Twisted Tropical Punch, the organic HONEST® Kids range was inspired by parents diluting juice at home with water and therefore contains just fruit juices, filtered water and natural flavours to keep children’s playtime refreshing and fun.

Containing blackberries and blackcurrants, Berry Berry Good tastes like fresh berries picked on a family afternoon walk. The exotic flavours of Twisted Tropical Punch brings mangoes and oranges to life in a burst of fruity freshness. While Appley Ever After, made with organic apple juice, will bring back children’s fond memories of apple picking on a crisp autumn day.

Mums and Dads will love the handy sports caps which will prevent spillages whether the kids are playing in the garden or out in the playground. Perfect to pop in the kids’ lunchboxes or for Mum to slip into her handbag, the conveniently-sized 200ml bottles make it easy for parents to let kids enjoy an organic, thirst-quenching drink wherever they are.

The idea for HONEST® Kids, America’s number one organic kids juice drink, came from Seth and Barry’s kids, the founders of America’s favourite herbal tea brand HONEST®. Inspired by their parents’ creation, the kids wanted their own fruit juice drinks that they could enjoy while their parents drank their HONEST® teas. Adapted slightly for the British palate, the three HONEST® Kids flavours are all certified organic by the Soil Association and have a deliciously refreshing taste.

Noah really enjoyed trying these new drinks and says the apple flavour is his favourite. We've actually packed a couple to take on our picnic this afternoon. The HONEST® Kids range* of organic fruit drinks are now available in selected Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s stores nationwide. The Manufacturers suggested selling price for a 6 x 200 ml pack of HONEST® Kids is £3.29. You can check the website for more details.

Honest Organic Kids Drinks Hamper

Terms & Conditions.         
1. There will be 1 winner who will the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize sent directly by the PR. 
3. Competition ends 13/05/18.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only.

Ava - 12 & 13 Months Old

Ava is now 1 year old and I cannot believe it. Her birthday was 5 week ago but we've been so busy, and I guess I've been putting it off a little too. I'm in denial about her being one year old already, it's gone so fast. I thought everything went quick with Noah but it somehow manages to go even faster the second time around. I feel like I blinked and she went from this squidgy newborn to a fully fledged, walking toddler over night. It's so bittersweet.

March was such a busy month for us with our break to Center Parcs, Easter Bank Holiday, lots of days out and of course Ava's 1st birthday. It's been so busy that I'm only just getting chance to write this update. With her turning 13 months last week I decided to combine the two into a double post.

Character
Her character and personality grows so much every month. Family and friends always comment on what a little character she is and how they could watch her all day long. She has so much personality and wit, that you forget she's only a year old. She loves to make people smile and laugh, it's her calling. Perhaps she'll be a comedian when she's older, who knows! As well as being very funny she's also inquisitive, clever, quick thinking, observant, strong willed and independent. She's also very social, loving and caring.

Size
I weighed Ava this morning on our home scales and she was approximately 1st 9, which means she's 23lb! She wears 12-18 month clothing which I think shows she's where she should be when it comes to how big she is. She wears a size 3 shoe and size 5 nappies.

Health

At the moment she's cutting 4 molars at once, they look really sore but she seems to be handling it well. In total she has 12 teeth if you count those, she has so many! Health wise she's been okay. She's had the sniffles here and there but nothing else. I think she still gets some immunity from breastfeeding as she does seem to avoid lots of bugs. 

Feeding
We are still breastfeeding but have recently introduced cows milk too. She enjoys both and takes a bottle no problem. I hope that this encourages her to self wean when she's ready. At the moment we still breastfeed at night and first thing in the morning. She has a bottle of full fat cows milk before her nap in the afternoon and one right before bed too. When it comes to solids she has three meals a day and numerous snacks. She also drinks water from a straw cup. Favourite foods are pasta, cheese, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, potato cakes, crisps, yogurts, fruit pouches, ham, cereal. She'll give anything a go, just like her brother.

Sleep

She's not sleeping through yet but she's a lot better than she has been. She usually goes straight to sleep after bottle or breast at around 8pm. She then wakes up during the night, usually once a night. I then breastfeed her back to sleep and she'll have a few more hours. She ends up in our bed every night, usually early morning but that's okay with me. I love the snuggles and this stage doesn't last very long. Her naps vary but she generally has one long nap before lunch. Ideally I'd prefer her to have a big nap after lunch but with Noah finishing nursery at 3pm during the week that isn't feasible really. She sometimes has a little cat nap after we've picked him up. 

Milestones & new tricks

* Ava is now confidently walking and has been for a few months. She now walks outside and can run too.
* She's added one more word to her usual; mama, dada, daddy, hiya, aww, cat, ta. That word is YEAH. It's so funny when she says it because she nods at the same time.
* She smacks her lips when she's excited to have a certain drink or food.* She nods for yes and shakes her head for no.
* She's always trying to dress herself, brush her hair or her teeth.* Understanding. She seems to understand so much now. For example when I tell her we are going to pick Noah up from nursery she will grab her coat and go to her pram.

* She tickles her own toes and makes a "tickle tickle" noise.

Likes and dislikes

She loves cats! She's obsessed with them and everything that moves is one! Mummy, Daddy and Noah. Her family in general. Talking and waving at strangers. Walking outside and enjoying the freedom. Playing with Noah and his toys. Eating! Singing and dancing. YouTube and nursery rhymes. Foo Fighters and headbanging. Going out for walks. Trees and birds. Books, especially lift flap ones. Animals. Blocks and balls. Rock music and guitars, especially when Daddy plays. The Xbox controller! Going to the park and swinging on the swings next to Noah. She doesn't like being in the car, having her nappy changed or her teeth brushed.

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Health Tips To Help You Through Pregnancy

So, you’ve found out that you’re pregnant and are starting to get ready for your new life as a parent. This is an exciting time that you will remember for the rest of your life as you prepare to bring a whole new life into the world. During this time, there are lots of things to think about for your baby, but you need to make sure you take care of yourself too as, after all, your body in your baby’s new home. In this article, you will learn some helpful tips for staying healthy and safe during your pregnancy so you can keep both you and your baby in tip-top condition.

Keeping healthy

Now that your body is also the home to your new child, you will need to make sure you are getting all the additional nutrients needed, and finding the right food to eat when you're pregnant is a must. Your body will need between 350 to 500 extra calories a day to take care of the two of you and you need to find a healthy and manageable way to do this. A food group you should really investigate is Legumes, which include foods like lentils and chickpeas. This food group gives you extra protein, fibre, and calcium which are essential to have when carrying your baby. Another food you should consider is sweet potatoes as these are packed with beta-carotene which turns into vitamin A in your body. A great way to get motivated is to look up what foods you need to eat and then find recipes that make them tasty treats.

How to get active when pregnant

When you are pregnant, it can be hard to exercise or stay active in general because the movement can become painful as your pregnancy progresses and the weight you are carrying gets heavier and more of a strain on you. There are, however, lots of ideas on how to work out while carrying your baby that won’t overwork you and can specifically target problem areas. For example, if you have shoulder and neck pain, an easy exercise is to do is a thoracic stretch and you can find many solutions to the pain problems of pregnancy online.

Don't ignore the small things

It's easy to forget about your own general health during pregnancy as everything is so baby-focused - the way it should be. I made sure I ate well, took all my prenatal vitamins but would often ignore slight niggles here and there.

Having a baby is one of the greatest things that can ever happen to you and now you know how to get through pregnancy, you can get on with planning your new life as a family.

- This is a collaborative post.

Diono Quantum Classic Premium Travel System - Review

I love a good pram, just as much as the next Mum. Being a mother of two and a blogger I've tried out and reviewed so many different prams and travel systems over the years. With dozens of brands on the market it can be quite overwhelming when it comes to deciding on which model to go for. There are so many different factors to take in, different things you are looking for and of course different budgets to adhere to. As you can imagine I was delighted when Diono offered to send out their new Quantum Classic Premium Travel System to review. I was very excited to give it a spin and to try out all it's wonderful features.

What’s included

Chassis, convertible seat, XL hood, XL Basket, rain cover, carriage liner, mattress for carry cot, apron, removable seat liner, leather bumper bar, infant car seat adaptors, Pump for wheels, drinks holder, security wrist strap.

The Quantum's features

Convertible 3-in-1 smart seatThe innovative design of the Quantum allows the carry cot to be transformed to a toddler seat by simply connecting 4 clips at the back of the seat. It's so quick and easy to do and it's great to have the option to have one seat which does both jobs. It's a nightmare trying to store both seat and carry cot so this is a huge plus for me. We skipped the carrycot setting due to Ava's age but with it only taking seconds to convert from carry cot to seat I took pictures of both modes just to show you how impressive it is. The toddler seat is fantastic, it can be parent or forward facing. It has a padded liner for comfort and a 5 point harness for safety.

XL eclipse hood

Another fantastic feature is the four tier, eclipse canopy. It's the perfect way to protect against the elements, whether it be sun, (it offers SPF50+ protection) winds or light rain. There's also a peek-a-boo window, ventilation panel, pull down sun visor and a rain cover included. This has got to be one of my favourite features, something that I always look for in a pram.

One-step brake & air filled wheels
The break on the Diono Quantum Classic is another new feature for me and is unlike anything else I've seen. The break is quite a big section of the lower bar, a simple step on, step off movement is all that’s needed. Pushing a brake on a pram has never been an easier. I'm also a fan of proper wheels on prams so I was delighted to see air filled ones on the Quantum, included is a pump so you can add more air if you feel like they've deflated at all.

Co-ordinated touch points
The pram features textured and colour co-ordinated buttons which make for easy identification and operation. This is perfect for when friends or grandparents borrow the stroller and are a little unsure how to use it.

Car seat ready
The Quantum is car seat friendly and the adaptors are actually included which I think is amazing as usually you need to buy these separately at an additional cost. The adaptors work with numerous car seats and there's even a safe place to store them in the XL basket.

XL basket

When it comes to pushchair shopping baskets, bigger really is better. The extra-large basket is accessible in any mode, with space for a cabin-sized luggage bag! You'd be surprised by the amount of stuff I like to carry under my pram so the XL basket is a god send for me. 

One-hand fold

Another great feature is the one hand fold. The unique geared operation works in two steps and features an automatic lock clip to make sure thing easy when transporting the stroller with a little one in tow.

Overall thoughts
I love the Diono Quantum and I can't think of any negatives or things which I would improve. It did however take me a little while to get used to the steering as it's quite a bulky pram but that's only because it's so much different to the one I was using previously. The handlebar was something else that I had to get used to as it's quite square in shape but the fact that it can extend is ideal for tall parents like Nick and I.

My overall favourite feature has got to be the seat unit itself. Not only can it transform from carry cot to seat unit which is amazing in itself, but it can also forward or parent face. We are parent facing at the moment and Ava always looks well supported, comfortable and happy. The recline settings and XL hood are ideal for when she's due a nap.

It's plain to see that this travel system was designed with both infant and parent in mind. So many of it's thoughtful and clever features will make my life so much easier and I wish I had it back when Ava was a newborn baby. Not only is this pram innovative, practical and fit for purpose but it's also chic and stylish looking too. The Diono Quantum Classic Premium Travel System retails at £675 and is available to buy now.

- We were sent this product for the purpose of this review however all opinions are my own.

How Do My Child's Lifestyle Choices Affect their Education?

 AD - This is a PR collaboration.

Studies show that introducing a healthier lifestyle can help children to become better learners. Parents should encourage their children to eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep and take part in plenty of exercise. To help your family improve their lifestyle, here are some great tips from a boarding school in Wiltshire.

Make time for breakfast

Did you know that skipping breakfast can affect your child’s concentration and energy levels at school? This is why it is really important for parents to ensure their child has enough time in the morning to eat a healthy breakfast. Make it part of your morning routine and your child will feel the benefits, both mentally and physically. Try to include foods that are rich in fibre and protein to give your child energy, and also include omega-3 to help boost their brainpower!

Encourage daily exercise

Regular exercise will not only help your child to maintain a healthy weight and fight off germs, but research suggests that children who are physically fit also perform better academically. Be a good role model for your child and demonstrate a healthy lifestyle of your own. Make healthy choices including regular exercise. Walk to school instead of driving and introduce more physical activity into your child’s weekly routine, such as a football club or gymnastics lesson. Drink plenty of water

Water is not only essential to your child’s health, but it is also an important factor when it comes to learning. Even the mildest form of dehydration can affect your child’s brainpower and mood. Encourage your child to stay hydrated, both at home and at school, by giving them their own refillable water bottle. If your child dislikes the plain taste of water, you could try adding some sliced fruit to give it more flavour.

Get enough sleep

Your child may think that staying up late to revise before exams will increase their chances of success; however, it is more likely to hinder their results. Sleep improves your memory and aids your concentration levels. During sleep your brain absorbs the information you learnt while you were awake, so the more sleep you get the longer your brain has to process all of this information. Encourage your child to go to bed at a sensible time each night, in order to improve their performance at school.