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Many moms will say "If only I'd known" and having had two children, there are lots of things I wish I had known before the birth of both of my daughters. So whilst reading that LittleStuff had teamed up with Aptaclub, who have launched a brilliant new ‘Preparing for Birth’ app to support Mums through the last trimester of pregnancy, I thought it was a good chance to share my own thoughts and "knowledge" to support other mums on the run up to labour! (disclaimer : running in heels whilst 9 months pregnant is not advisable ... trust me!)

* Your body is totally designed to do this. Allow it to do its thing.

* If you continue to tense your body, it will hurt .... more! Try and relax (I am going to ignore the hoards of women laughing across the country at this point)

* If you tense your muscles throughout labour, it is highly likely that your body will feel like you have run a marathon the day after. (My first labour was a testament to this).

* Your birth plan may not go to plan, don't get hung up on it. 

* Whilst enjoying the relief of having no periods for 9 months, you may want to prepare yourself for the aftermath of having a baby. Invest in maternity sanitary towels. You will need them (NO-ONE told me this!!)

* Sleep is for the weak .... but it is okay to be weak, grab it when you can. Take no prisoners. Sleep!

* When people offer to help. Accept the help. You will not get a medal for making sure every tiny babygrow is ironed. If someone offers to take a basket of ironing or run the vacuum round let them (and go to sleep while they do it).

* In the early months, its advisable not to wear dry clean clothes, mainly due to the amount of baby vomit that your clothes have to endure. Unless of course, you get a deal at your local dry cleaners.

* Babies are an exhausting, engaging, entertaining and beautiful miracle. Take lots of photos. You will forget the labour but photos will mean you never have to forget a single moment.

This post is Little Lilypad Co's entry into the Aptaclub ‘If Only I’d Known…’ competition”

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If the amount of washing I have done after this weekend is anything to go by, it is a good job we have a decent washing machine. Let's be honest, when it comes to buying white goods (or silver or black these days), it may not be the most glamorous or exciting task, so we are therefore delighted to share this sponsored post on the top things to consider when choosing a household appliance.

There's such a range of different manufacturers and models these days that choosing a new household appliance of any type can be a bewildering process. Some people just browse online or visit a shop and fall instantly in love with a product. Others are more methodical, researching functionality and value before coming to a decision. There's certainly nothing wrong with buying an item you simply like the look of, but if its destination is a family home, there are probably a few other considerations to bear in mind. 

Durability

In any family with kids, durability can be a huge asset in an appliance. Even if you have children that are too young to use that brand new gleaming microwave, they'll be hungry teenagers one day (and hopefully, you'll have bought an appliance that lasts).

Consider exterior surfaces and how likely they are to scratch or otherwise get damaged. Is the product generally robust, including movable parts, such as doors? Finally, how complicated is it to use? Many families find they prefer relatively simple appliances, rather than ones with a host of functions they'll never use. For others, the more all-singing and all-dancing, the better!

Size

Depending on the type of appliance and the size of the family, you should also consider capacity. This can apply whether you are looking for a new fridge freezer, a washing machine, dishwasher, or any other appliance that services your family's needs. Larger families usually eat a lot of food and generate a lot of mess that has to be cleaned.

Efficiency

At the same time, you may also want to keep your eyes on the electricity bill. Larger appliances can cost more to run than smaller ones, but you'll still need appliances that fit the family's needs. Running one large wash in a high load capacity washing machine will generally cost less than running two cycles in a smaller machine. Most appliances in the UK now have an energy efficiency rating, but with a lot of new products rated A or above (A+ or A++), it can still be difficult to differentiate between different makes and models. New energy labels make this clearer, showing each appliance's annual energy consumption in kWh. 

Know where to shop

Of course, there are a number of other points to consider before making a decision. Some appliances represent major purchases, but the Co-operative Electrical Shop has a wide range of products that mix form and function, allowing you to choose the appliance that's perfect for you and your family. 

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I have taken a little break recently, a break from the blog, from social media ...... from the laptop and had time to actually appreciate the little things around me. This post maybe a little self indulgent but having time with great family and friends reminded me that I should be thankful for :

1. Having two beautiful, happy, healthy girls.

2. Having a fabulous, supportive man .... who lets me have a lie in when I am tired.

3. Having brilliant friends who understand that a toddler may wake them at silly oclock on holiday.

4. Being very proud that my girls are confident and excited in the swimming pool (thank you Water Babies).

5. Being able to survive a 7 hour car journey without wanting to throttle any member of my family.

6. Having great neighbours who will look after our crazy cat (!!)

7. Sunshine ..... when we were expecting artic conditions.

8. Manners ..... they cost nothing but mean a lot (and makes me proud when I hear my daughter using them!)

9. Delicious food (and thrown together snacks)

10. Happiness .... why wouldn't you be thankful for that?

 

What makes you proud or thankful?

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I have unintentionally taken a little break from blogging over the last week mainly due to the house being full of poorly people. It wasn't just the little ones either, in fact I seemed to be the only "semi" normal one amongst us. I cannot tell you how many loads of washing I have done or how many times I have bleached everything to try and rid us of this horrid virus that has gripped my little family. Thankfully we seem to be out of the other side and whilst waking repeatedly in the night time, sleeping on my youngest daughter's bedroom floor and being permanently attached to one of my children wasn't how I pictured my weekend panning out but my mum reminded me that it was just a moment in time.

This is one of my mums favourite sayings but seeing a poem on Facebook today reminded me once again. The author is unknown but I wanted to share it:

I won't always cry, Mummy,

when you leave the room,

and my supermarket tantrums,

will end too soon,

I won't always wake, Daddy,

for cuddles in the night,

and one day you will miss,

having a chocolate face to wipe,

You won't always wake to find my foot

is kicking you out of bed,

or find me sideways on your pillow,

where you want to lay your head,

You won't always have to carry me

in asleep from the car,

or piggy back me down the road,

when my little legs can't walk that far.

So cherish every cuddle,

remember them all,

Because one day Mummy,

I won't be this small.