13 October 2015

Meal Planning Monday #3

Hello Lovelies!


Hey look it's Tuesday again and I've not posted - that's what no sleep and a UTI will do for you! No fun at all!!

Still, I managed to do a meal plan and get the shopping in - trying to use up freezer stuff but we bought a load of reduced meat on Sunday so there's that to use now as well.

Monday: Herby chicken tray bake
Tuesday: Pork stir fry
Wednesday: Beef and Mushroom stroganoff
Thursday: Pork and Cabbage hot-pot
Friday: Butternut and Spinach cannelloni
Saturday: Chilli and rice 
Sunday: Roast pork/chicken with veg and yorkies 

This is my first time doing cannelloni. What do you like to put in yours?

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6 October 2015

Meal Planning Monday #2

Hello Lovelies!


Wow! Week 2 and I'm already a day late posting my meal plan! Argh!

I'm currently doing Slimming World (more on that on Wednesday) so am trying to stick to healthy meals, but we are also on a pretty tight budget as I'm now on statutory maternity pay only - which isn't very much at all! So a lot of using up what's in the freezer and cupboards as well as seeing what's in the reduced section of the shops and re-planning! That's why I pop the meals onto post-it's so that they can be moved around.

Actually I was supposed to be doing the pizza ripped chicken on Monday but forgot to get the chicken out to defrost! So I switched Monday and Tuesday around. Simples!


Monday: Tomato pasta bake
Tuesday: Pizza topped chicken with chips
Wednesday: Pork chops (or similar from freezer) with mash and veg
Thursday: Herby chicken tray bake
Friday: Butternut squash risotto
Saturday: Chilli and rice 
Sunday: Roast beef with veg and yorkies 

What's your go-to healthy meal? Any of you doing Slimming World too?

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1 October 2015

Happy Birthday Miffy!!

Hello Lovelies!

If you haven't already spotted on other blogs and on Twitter, there is a brand new Miffy cartoon starting this Friday evening on Tiny Pop. And I am so over the top excited about this!!


Ever since I was a little girl I have lived Miffy the little white bunny and all of her friends. Over the years I have acquired books, DVDs, socks, pyjamas, other clothes, bedding, a lamp, a mouse mat, various stationery, and much more that I can't even remember right now. I have about 8 different stuffed toys as well, tiny little ones and one massive one - I'm not even kidding it's the same size as Zoe!!

I'm thrilled that Zoe loves Miffy as much as I do - in fact the Miffy DVD is at the top of Zoe's request list at the moment and doesn't really leave the player! We love to read the Miffy books together that I had when I was a little girl - we recently re-read 'Miffy and the New Baby' before Emily arrived to help Zoe understand about her new little sister.

Hmm I've gone off on a bit of a ramble there, sorry!!


This year sees Miffy's 60th anniversary - in 1955 Dick Bruna was on holiday with his son and to entertain him started to draw a little bunny - and so Miffy was born! She's been in many books along with her friends and this Friday 2 October  they will all be staring in a new TV programme - Miffy's Adventures Big and Small - on pre-school channel Tiny Pop.

The show is airing at 7pm which is the perfect time for us to have a cuddle on the sofa and wind down on an evening ready for bed. There are 52 episodes to be broadcast each 7 minutes long so perfect for Zoe's short attention span. It's actually a CGI animated sequel to Miffy and Friends, the initial stop motion series, which is the ones we have on DVD.



If all that isn't exciting enough, to celebrate the launch of Miffy's new TV show, Tiny Pop has organised a 'surprise' Twitter party for Miffy, complete with party games, goodie bags and cake too! Join Miffy on her Twitter at http://twitter.com/miffy_uk this Friday at 1pm to celebrate!

Do you remember Miffy from your childhood? What was your favourite book?

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30 September 2015

Emily's 5 month update

Hello lovelies!


I thought that I would try to start doing monthly updates for Emily. She is five months old today (happy 5 month birthday!) and she is changing every single day. I can't quite believe that in a month I'll be writing her 6 month update - half a year! How has that happened?! In one way it feels as though she's only been here a few weeks but then it also feels like she's been a part of our little family forever!!

Milestones:
  • Emily has been able to roll over for a month or so now, she prefers to for front to back over on her right side - she can go other ways but this is her fave!!
  • She's almost sitting up on her own now, she needs a bit of support but it won't be long now! 
  • I'm pretty sure she has her first tooth coming through, but she doesn't want me to see it!! 


Sleeping:
Emily is a better sleeper than Zoe was at this age, she usually goes down after a bottle on our bed about 7.00pm but wakes again at least once soon after that for a bit more food! Once she's settled I pop her into her crib (which is in our room) and she usually goes to around 2.30am before she wakes for a feed. I bring her into bed with me and she stays there, helping herself to boob if she wants to, until she wakes up anywhere between 6.00am and 8.00am.


Feeding:
Ah feeding. I have really struggled this time - it was so easy with Zoe I think I was prepared for problems with Emily!! I introduced a bedtime bottle of formula when Emily was about 3 months old, hoping that it would help her to settle better at night - which it did. However Emily soon learned that getting milk from a bottle was waaay easier than getting it out of a boob so I have ended up combination feeding. Emily has 2-3 3oz bottles of formula throughout the day as well as boob as and when she wants it. She also has a 6oz bottle at bedtime (that she rarely finishes) followed by boob an hour later. She only has boob through the night usually, although a few times she likes to have a 2am party which ends with me giving her a bottle at 5am just to get some sleep!! I'm planning to start weaning at 6 months - more on that in another post soon!

Routine:
By no means do we have a strict routine through the day! Emily has around 3 naps a day - one about 9am, one about lunchtime and one mid-afternoon. Sometimes more though depending on the length of the naps. She can sometimes have a 2 hour nap, but usually it's 30-45 minutes.


Weight and size:
I last had Emily weighted on 17 September and she was 7.62kg (16lb 12oz). We have been measuring her against the wall at G&D's house so next time we're there I'll measure her!


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Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.comSuper Busy Mum   

28 September 2015

Meal Planning Monday #1

Hello Lovelies

Welcome to my very first Meal Planning Monday post!



Martin and my Mum were both ripping me about my meal planning the other day but I find it so much easier to plan the week ahead, the shopping, the family budget, and my diet so much better when I have a plan for the week.

At the weekend I have a look in the fridge, freezer and cupboards to see what we have and what needs used up. Then I use my planner and post it notes to allocate meals for the week ahead. We tend to have the same meals regularly so using the post its means that I don't have to keep writing the same meals out again and again but it also means that I can move the meals around. So if Martin doesn't fancy pasta one night I can swap it for another meal that I have planned.

I would like to do a more in depth post about my meal planning so I'll leave it like this for now. Here is the plan for this week:

Monday: Roast dinner (we didn't have enough time to have this yesterday!)
Tuesday: Pizza topped chicken/KFC chicken with chips
Wednesday: Chicken and chorizo paella 
Thursday: Baked fish and vegetables
Friday: Out for dinner - it's my Mum's 60th birthday!
Saturday: Chilli
Sunday: Roast dinner with meat from the freezer

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21 September 2015

Good things are happening here

Hello Lovelies!

Well it's been a busy time in the Robinson house! Emily is 4 and a half months old now and Zoe had her 3rd birthday last month. We also celebrated our second wedding anniversary in August and managed to fit in a short break in Yorkshire.

Now that things are starting to settle into a bit of a routine I'm hoping to get back to blogging again - I have missed this! I have been keeping up with the blogs that I follow on Bloglovin (follow me here if you want to - plug!!) - helped by breastfeeding and having a Velcro baby that will only nap on me through the day!

Here's a few snaps of what we've been up to and hopefully I'll be back very soon with more posts!


Top L-R: a walk up Binsey - Zoe's first solo ascent and Emily's first assisted ascent!! || Zoe's birthday party- complete with flashing Elsa dress and tiara || a walk up Halin fell - Zoe's second ascent

Middle L-R: Daddy and Zoe on the merry go round || Building a bridge with Grandad || Fairy Day at the Manor - Zoe got dressed up as a fairy!

Bottom L-R: A walk up Latrigg - Zoe's third ascent - complete with new walking boots || I've caught the baby-wearing bug - this wrap was on loan but I have my own now! I'm in love!! || the start of our holiday- a visit to St Mary's lighthouse at Whitley Bay

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30 May 2015

A (very late) birth announcement!

Hello lovelies! 

This post is well overdue - a month ago today, on 30 April we welcomed into the world Emily Victoria. 


I had an elective c-section at 38 weeks due to gestational diabetes. Emily arrived at 10.01 am weighing in at 8 pounds exactly. 

She is settling in well, Zoe thinks that she's the bees knees, and I'm pretty sure that Emily feels the same about her big sister! 



My recovery seems to be taking longer than with Zoe, I don't know if that's because I haven't been able to rest up as much with a mini tornado toddler to chase around! But I'm getting there! I'm looking forward to being able to drive again too! 

Thanks for reading!
A x

12 March 2015

Pregnancy: Week 31 update

Hello Lovelies!

Wow I can't believe I'm 31 weeks already! Time is going so quickly! Only a few more weeks at work then I'm freeee!!! It's been a fun week (as you may have already read here) so let's go!



Size

Sprout is now about 17 inches from head to heel and weight about 4 pounds. This is the equivalent of a pineapple, apparently. As long as Sprout doesn't come out covered in spikes!! Ouch!!

Due date 

Still 14 May. I have an appointment with the consultant on 26 March to discuss the elective c-section so this date may change if they decide to take me in earlier.

How far along 

31 weeks and 2 days.

Gender 

No idea, it's going to be a surprise! I feel like it's a boy though!

Stretch marks 

I don't know what's happened this week but my tummy feels really tight and stretched, so have been slathering on more of my fave Lush Dream Cream to my tummy every night! Zoe came and gave the bump a cuddle after I''d put it on and said 'Urgh! It make my chin wet!'

Belly button 

Only just still an 'innie' - it's sort of flat now! And it randomly pops if I cough! Martin thinks this is hilarious of course!!

Sleep 

I don't seem to be as tired this week, event though it's been quite stressful (see my last post) and busy so far!  I had a little nap on Sunday which was nice! I've been able to get back to sleep a bit easier as well when I wake though the night. Zoe has been quite good this week - when she's come in with us she's gone back to sleep pretty much straight away instead of wiggling and faffing about.

Cravings 

Oh my word I am getting through 2 pints of milk a day I think - that's just me, not including Zoe! Strawberry milkshakes are the bomb!

Symptoms 

Still getting the bad heartburn, and the pain in my back and hips is getting worse - last night I could barely move! Also have pain in my ribs now, I think Sprout like to sit up under my right-hand-side ribs because they ache pretty much all the time. Woe is me!

Movements 

Sprout has been a super wiggly thing this week! We had a little fight the other day, I would push his foot back into my tummy from where it had been poking me,and he pushed it back out somewhere else - I spent about 5 minutes chasing his foot around! I ended up giggling to myself - not a good look in the doctor's waiting room though! Sitting poking my belly and laughing to myself!

What I'm missing 

Being able to eat spicy food without getting heartburn. With Zoe I couldn't get enough hotness in my food. This time even a really mild chilli sets me off!

What I'm looking forward to 

Hopefully getting a new car this weekend! Baby-related I'm at the midwife on Tuesday so am looking forward to hearing Sprout and being able to ask lots of questions! Poor midwife!

Best moment this week

The nurse when I went to get my whooping cough vaccine telling me I looked big for 31 weeks was awesome. Thanks nurse! (can you detect the sarcasm?!). I think Zoe asking me if Sprout is getting bigger, then telling me that my feet are bigger. What?!?! It made me laugh!

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10 March 2015

TWTWC #3 - The Car is on F***ing FIRE!!!

Hello Lovelies!!

Welcome to the week that was captured #3! I was at work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week - boo!!! But I had Tuesday afternoon off so yay!!

Once again I'm linking up with Hannah at Make, Do and Push, as well as with Aby at You Baby, Me Mummy.

During the week I did a bit of baking - I'd been to the Spa one day and they had FREE brown bananas, so of course I grabbed a bag! I made a banana loaf cake and there was enough mix left over to make 6 muffins too. Martin and Zoe didn't like them but I did, as did my colleagues at work - I was very popular!!

I also had a lovely surprise at work on Thursday - we had a team meeting and at the start I was handed a card and a present - a lovely congratulations on completing my NVQ gift. It was so sweet and so unexpected, I may have shed a little tear - I blame the hormones!!



Friday

I had a super duper productive Friday this week! I basically let Zoe pull out all of her toys from her shelves and cupboard in her bedroom while I cleaned and tidied our bedroom and the spare room. She had loads of fun finding lots of old toys that have been in boxes for months! I'm trying to make some headway on getting bedrooms moved around, I cleaned and dusted our bedroom and sorted out the 'messy corner' as well.

We had a rest at 11 to go to Rhyme Time, where we saw lots of our friends, and found out that another of my mummy friends has a bump! How exciting!! Back home for lunch, then a bit of a tidy in the spare room before cracking out the new (replacement) vacuum cleaner and giving the whole of the first floor a super good hoover!! Zoe was all worn out after all the cleaning so she had a nap and then Daddy was home! I made Nigella's chicken and chorizo bake for tea, which went down quite well!

Saturday

Zoe and I popped into town early to meet Grandma for a coffee and a play in Tullie House. We had a bit of time before story time so headed up to W H Smiths, where Grandma treated Zoe to the Frozen DVD! Martin would have been in Scotland all weekend so it was more to entertain Zoe so I could have a rest I think!! Off we went to story time, and last week I'd said how much Zoe likes trains, so they had picked the noisy train, especially for Zoe! She was so excited, and got to press the buttons to make the train sounds!

On the way home we popped to the shops to get some bits and bobs, home for lunch and a nap, then I went upstairs and ended up falling asleep for an hour and a half - thanks Martin!!



Martin made his chilli for tea, then when I put Zoe to bed he headed off to Scotland. He'd planned to go up Saturday night, sleep in the car up near Fort William, then set off walking the next morning. He booked Monday and Tuesday off work to knock off some more Monros (3,000 ft peaks in Scotland). 

But this is where all his plans went awry!!

At 9pm I got a phone call from Martin: "I've broken down, can you phone the breakdown people cos I don't have the number.....and the car is on f***ing Fire!!!" Needless to say this was an unexpected turn of events! Martin phoned the fire brigade, who sent 4 engines (quiet night in Lockerbie then!) as well as the police.

Martin had been driving along when the engine management light came on and the car started losing power. He pulled over and got out the car to phone me (as you should if you break down on the Motorway - get out as soon as you can and go up the embankment in case another car hits you!!). As he phoned me he noticed flames coming out of the bonnet!

Unfortunately the car was pretty much engulfed within minutes, so the car is probably a write-off and all of Martin's walking and camping stuff is cinders and ashes. The car was sent off to a garage and Martin was dropped off at a local services where his Dad picked him up from - he got back home about 1am. So an eventful Saturday night!!

Sunday

We spent Sunday in the house, part of the day was spent on the phone to the insurance people, the other half to clearing out the 'car boot' cupboard. I stuck a post on freecycle early Sunday morning and someone came within about an hour and basically emptied the cupboard into their car!

Oh and my Dad and step-mum popped round at lunchtime too with my little niece, which certainly cheered me up - she's such a cutie! Zoe loved having her to play with too!

So quite an eventful weekend really, but productive too!

What did you do this weekend? Anything set on fire?!?!


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5 March 2015

Pregnancy: Week 30 update

Hello Lovelies!

I feel huuuuge this week!! Only 10 weeks to go though - eek, how exciting! Can't believe how fast it's gone this time around, maybe having a toddler to look after makes time pass by faster - who knows?! Please excuse the grainy photo/messy bedroom below!



Size

Sprout is as big as a cabbage this week! He weights about 3 pounds and he measures about 40cm from head to toe.

Due date 

Still 14 May!

How far along 

30 weeks and 2 days.

Gender 

No idea, it's going to be a surprise! I feel like it's a boy though!

Stretch marks 

I found a few more since last week so have been liberally applying Lush Dream Cream to my tummy every night!

Belly button 

Only just still an 'innie' - it's sort of flat now!

Sleep 

I would like more please!! I had a nap this weekend with Zoe, which was lovely and I felt really refreshed afterwards, but I can't usually nap through the day unfortunately! Night times are getting pretty bad, if I wake up in the night it takes me aaages to get back off to sleep, especially if Zoe is in bed with us being a wiggle bum!

Cravings 

I'm still loving milk and milkshakes - soooo yummy and seem to help with heartburn too! I've been craving the taste of Red Bull but haven't given in due to amount of sugar and caffeine in them!

Symptoms 

Still getting the bad heartburn, and the pain in my back and hips is getting worse - last night I could barely move! Any advice?

Movements 

Sprout had a quiet day the other day which set me off on a spiral of worry, but is back to his usual wiggly self! He moves a lot more on an evening, just after tea and then again when I get into bed. he moves more if I lie in bed on my left side too.

What I'm missing 

Red Bull this week, I'm craving that really chemically taste! I'm missing being able to put my socks on without a lot of grunting. Oh and I miss lying on my tummy too!

What I'm looking forward to 

Martin's going away this weekend to Scotland if the weather is nice, so although I'm not looking forward to him leaving us all alone for the weekend (sob!) I usually end up at my Dad's for tea, which is always yummy!  Thanks Dad!!

Best moment this week

Quite a few people have said that I look really well, one person even used the work 'glowing' so while I don't feel that amazing, at least other people think I look it!!


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2 March 2015

TWTWC #2 - Date night, Hair-Dos and Drive-Thrus!

Hello Lovelies!!

Welcome to the week that was captured #2! I was at work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, it's getting very busy as I only have a few weeks left so trying to get everything done before I finish on 31 March - eek! This week I'm linking up with Hannah at Make, Do and Push, as well as with Aby at You Baby, Me Mummy.



Thursday

I had a day off work on Thursday (woo!) so I went and got myself a haircut and had my eyebrows tidied up a bit, all ready for our date night on Friday! It was lovely to sit and be pampered and not have to worry about Zoe (who was at nursery). I found it very relaxing!

I then popped into Sainsbury's to do a bit of food shopping - again, lovely doing shopping without Zoe 'helping' and I treated myself to some new slippers before treating myself (again) to a Maccy D's - yay for payday!! When I got home, Martin's Dad was there putting up our new shelves in the sitting room, so I gave him a hand with those, then we went to pick Zoe up from nursery - she was very excited to see Grandad at the window and demanded that he sit in the back of the car with her! Martin's Dad stayed for tea as well on Thursday. Oh, and I trimmed Zoe's fringe as well! She looks like Joan of Arc now!


Friday 

We had a bit of a lazy Friday this week. We went up to Rhyme Time at the Manor and saw a few friends we hadn't seen for a while which was lovely! I like Rhyme Time as it wears Zoe out! After lunch of quiche and chips we had a little nap (well, Zoe had a nap and I watched the final episode of Broadchurch - eeee!!). Zoe was staying over at Grandma's house on Friday night so that Mummy and Daddy could have date night! Grandma came and picked Zoe up about half-five, then Martin and I went out to Nando's for a lot of chicken and then on to Moo Bar which is a real-ale bar in Carlisle. If only they had some non-alcoholic ales for me!!

Saturday 

I had hoped for a sleep in on Saturday morning without my little Zoe-shaped alarm clock, but I was awake at about 7 anyway! I had my breakfast in bed, then we went to get Zoe from Grandma's house - where she had slept all night in her bed! Off into town for Story Time - this week it was Norman the Slug with a Silly Shell. Zoe made a silly snail after the story then we did a bit of shopping and went for burger and chips for lunch. Back home for a nap - this time for me and for Zoe! I was worn out!

Sunday  

We were at home all day on Sunday, trying to get the house in some sort of order ready for Sprout's arrival! Martin moved all of the 'big' books downstairs and installed them on our new shelves - but we still need to make more room! I'll do a blog post at some point about the plans for the nursery/our bedroom move - remind me OK?! We got quite a bit of moving things around done and sorting out of things, there's still LOADS to do though!

Well that was our week! Back to work today, but I have tomorrow afternoon off for no reason really! Hopefully I'll get some blog-related stuff done!

What did you do this weekend?


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