Open Letter to Jackson, July 19

Dear Jackson, 

I looked to see when the last time I wrote to you was and it was when you had not long started preschool. Now you are starting school in just 6 weeks! It's crazy how fast the last 4 & 1/2 years have gone. Everyone tells you it goes quickly, it really does. 

You are so excited about school. I told you today that it was coming up to the last day of preschool and your little face lit up and you said 'do I go to big school now?' I'm afraid you still have 6 weeks with me first though! 

We have bought your school uniform already and I know everyone says to wait until later but I got 5-6 year sizes so they all have room to grow into. I don't think that you will shoot up 2 years worth in the next 6 weeks (maybe I'll eat my words now, haha!!). 

You have so much confidence nowadays - on our holiday you would walk up to other children and just start chatting away. A family arrived at the caravan next to us the day before we left and hearing you talking to them was so lovely. You barely let them get a word in, chatting away about your holiday. 

Since my last letter, you have become a big brother again and it has been wonderful watching how you have been this time. You are so caring and protective and if I am busy with Florence or something else and Elliot cries, you are straight over trying to comfort him. Even Florence has started copying your behaviour and the 3 of you are so lovely together, which makes Dada and I so proud. 

This will be the first year that you will not be going to Greece since you were born. To be honest, it's only my 2nd ever year of not going - unfortunately it was not in our budget this year but I am going to try to make this summer the best ever anyway!!! The great thing is that Dada will be around more and we may get a few bonus days with him! We did have an amazing family holiday to France last month too, which should get us through the rest of the summer holidays without another trip! 

On Thursday mornings Florence has started going to preschool, which has meant that me and you (plus Elliot) have had some special bonding time and I have loved it. We have had time at home making your potion kits, been to the skate park on your scooter and had coffee mornings together. You have asked, on the odd occasion, if we could send Florence everyday and spend time as just the 2 of us all the time (I wont tell her you said that, haha) but it does make me happy in my decision to send her one morning a week. 

I am going to miss you so much when you go to school but I am going to make the most of the summer with you and treasure our weekends and school holidays even more in the future. 

Your Dada and I are so proud of you and love you so much. 

Love Mama xxx

Slimming World

After I had Florence, I joined Slimming World to lose the baby weight for my sister's wedding. Now, after Elliot has joined our family, I have done the same but this time with the knowledge that I will not be having any more babies! I started on the 6th May and I had put on the most that I have put on out of all of my pregnancies - a whole 2st more than my pre- Elliott weight. So far, I have managed to lose an amazing 1 stone and 7lbs, bringing me only 7lbs away from my 'target', which to be honest I might now move down another stone. 

I haven't found it too difficult so far as I am still breastfeeding so I am allowed more dairy, which is your 'Healthy extra A'. To be honest I am allowed so much of it that I don't keep count! 

Here is an example of my meals each day: 

Breakfast: Blueberry Wheats with extra blueberries and skimmed milk.
Mid-morning Snack: Banana. 
Lunch: Pasta with lots of veggies. 
Mid-afternoon Snack: Melon. 
Dinner: Tandoori kebabs, rice and salad.
Evening Snack: Yogurt, fibre one bars and berries. 

The biggest thing that I have changed is eating more regularly, so mid-afternoon the tiredness and hunger doesn't kick in, which is when I would usually head for the biscuit tin. 

I have been using a lot of the Pinch of Nom recipes - they are so easy to follow and full of flavour. 

One thing that I am really struggling with is trying to fit in exercise! I have started the Body Coach's 7 Day Challenge (only 15mins per day) but I as I write this I am only on day 3 and already struggling to walk, haha! 

Recipes that I have loved are: 

http://pinchofnom.com/recipes/syn-free-chicken-tandoori-kebabs-slimming-world/

https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/spaghetti-carbonara

I keep giving myself mini targets, this month's being to get to the next stone bracket, for which I have another 3 pounds to do in 2 weeks. The next one will be to get to target, even though I have already mentioned that I want to lower it, which makes it about 7 pounds in 4 weeks. I think that it will be harder now I am getting close to pre-pregnancy weight, plus now it is the school holidays but I will give it my best! 

Elliot's 5 Month Update

Dear Elliot, 

This month has had lots of family and friends time and most importantly we had your Dada's birthday, as well as your cousin's Christening. To top it all off, we have had the best weather too!!

It's crazy to think that next month we will start thinking about weaning you. Time needs to slow down!!! 

Milestones 

You rolled front to back, only a few times so far but you're getting there. 

Sleep is still not that great but luckily you are pretty darn cute! 

Your first tooth came through, which was horrible and I really felt for you. The second is on it's way but hopefully then you'll get a bit of a break!!!

Routine

We have started to get you into more of a routine this month:

6:00-7:00am - wake up. 
9:00am - nap. 
(The middle bit has no routine and you are fed on demand). 
5:30pm - bath with your brother and sister. 
7:00-8:30pm - we aim to get you to sleep (doesn't always work). 
10:00pm - dream feed.
For the rest of the night, you often wake a few times and in no particular pattern. 

Weight 

You now weigh 17lb 1oz! You fit into mostly 6-9 month clothes, still wearing a few 3-6 month outfits but I think they are going to be packed away soon. I have also got you out a few 9-12 month ones and even though they are giant, I have still put them on you. 
You're currently in between the 50th and 75th percentile. 

Love you so much,
Mama xxx