24 Week Pregnancy Update

Here is my 24 week pregnancy update....

Symptoms: This week, I am getting more numbness and a bit of pain near my C-Section scar. I have spoken to the midwife about it, at our last appointment, and she just said to keep an eye on it and if the pain gets really bad (which it's not at the moment) to then go and see a doctor. Apart from that, I have just had a lovely week - we have been on holiday so Chris has been around, which does massively help when looking after Jackson! 

Food Cravings: Nothing much this week. 

Movement: Lots of movements this week, Chris has felt the Bubba quite often as well. 

Sleep: I have been dreaming loads this week and have also been waking up quite early, which is a bit pants, especially when your boys are sleeping in!!! 

Things I am missing: Wine again this week, I think that's mainly because of being away and having that holiday feeling! 

Best Moment: Going on our last family holiday as a family of 3!!!!

Worst Moment: Nothing this week as it has been an amazing week!!! Shame we need money to live as it would be lovely to have Chris around more! Was so much fun.

Love Sophia xxx

Must haves for Center Parcs

We LOVED our holiday to Center Parcs and we will be re-booking for next year very soon. Below are a few things that I will be taking with me next time, some of which I did take this year and also some that I realised, whilst away this time, that would have been useful. Here they are... 

A friend had mentioned to me to take with us:

• Toilet roll - you can buy more at the shop there but it is quite expensive.
• Dishwasher tablets - again, you are provided with some but not enough for the week and it is cheaper to bring some from home than to buy in the on-site shop.
• Towels for swimming

Next time, I would also bring:

• Washing up liquid - none was provided at the cabin
• Kitchen Roll
• Coffee machine - we actually did take this with us this time, which was an absolute treat (we do like our coffee)!!!
• Bird/Animal feed - there are so many birds and animals around the cabins; we gave them some bread but if you bring proper bird feed, I am sure you would be able to see loads more.
• If you are going with a toddler/child and you have to stay in in the evenings, a few DVD's and blankets would be lovely (also wine if you are able to drink!!!).
• You spend so much time outside because of the different activities so I would have definitely packed so many more layers given the chance again. When walking at night I was generally fine but when on the bike I was freezing! 
• The kitchen was a little basic so one thing that I brought was a Lasagne that I had made at home and which just needed heating up. I would have brought more meals like this as it was so much easier (eating out with a toddler is just not as relaxing as eating at home!).

Let me know if you have any other suggestions on what we should take next time!

Love Sophia xxx

Center Parcs - Part One

I have split our week at Center Parcs into two parts, otherwise it would have been over 30 minutes of video and no one wants to watch that much of me in one go, hehe!

Enjoy...

Love Sophia xxx

Weekly Meal Plan #2

Last month, my meal plan was the most popular blog that I published, so I thought that I would do another one (I am so nosey and love reading these type of blogs myself)! If this month's also proves to be a popular one, I may start it to make it a weekly thing, as I hope that it not only gives some of you recipe ideas but it also ensures that I plan our meals for each week! 

Like last time, I haven't put the days for each recipe, as I like to pick which one we are having on the actual day. Three out of the five recipes are from Joe Wicks' books, and I also tend to make some of the meals so that there is enough for 4 people and freeze half of them, either for the weekend or for the following week. Here is our menu for this week...

• Happiness Pasta; Sweet Tomato, Aubergine and Ricotta 
• Thai Green Curry - I will make more and freeze half of this
• Teriyaki Salmon with Courgette Noodles 
• Turkey Meatballs with Feta - I will make more and freeze half of this
• Joe's Chicken Pie - I will make more and freeze half of this

Let me know of any new recipes that you have found this week. 

Love Sophia xxx

A Week on Jackson's Dinner Plate

I have shared Jackson's breakfasts and lunches before, so thought that I would write about his dinners too...

Jackson normally eats the same dinners as we do, so you also get a sneak peak into what we eat. For most days, I actually forgot to photograph the puddings, mainly because I tend to wait and see how well Jackson has eaten his main meal before deciding what to give him for dessert!

Day one: Sausage and Lentil Casserole with hidden peppers and courgettes (I think this is my favourite home cooked meal!!!), plus some carrots on the side. He also had a yogurt for pudding. 

Day two: Chilli Con Carne pasta bake. Again, he had a yogurt for pudding. 

Day Three:  We had a very poorly baby on this day; he had a sore throat so we gave him a classic sickness dinner - Tomato soup with bread and butter. We also struggled to get water in him that day, so we gave him watermelon for pudding. Sorry, no picture for this one but you all know what it looks like! 

Day Four: I made Pork Stir Fry with green beans, peppers and onions, served with rice. I have to admit, this did not go down too well! He didn't eat any of the vegetables and found the pork a bit too chewy. He had grapes, rice cakes and a yogurt as well, to make sure that his tummy was full. 

Day Five: It was a nice and easy dinner tonight! This is one of Gigi's recipes that I try to copy but with tinned tomato instead of the gorgeous, fresh tomatoes we normally have in Greece. I also put in eggs, feta, spring onions and a little chorizo. He also had a piece of toast on the side (which he had already had a quarter if when i took this photo!). For pudding, he had some blueberries. 

Day Six: Today I feel that it's not a very toddler friendly dinner but Jackson seemed to love it. He had Lamb Cutlet, couscous with veggies thrown in, broccoli and some humous for dipping. For pudding, he had chopped up apple and a teaspoon of peanut butter. 

Day Seven: Tonight on the menu is fish fingers, mash and carrots - something nice and easy. It's a meal that I know he will eat and every now and again it's not the end of the world that he has it.

I hope this has given you all some ideas for some yummy dinners!

Love Sophia xxx

23 Week Pregnancy Update

Here is my 23 week pregnancy update....

Symptoms: At the beginning of this week, the baby was soooooo low down, basically sitting in my hips. The bubba has now moved a bit higher which is making it so much easier to bend down and also to pick up Jackson. Again, heartburn has been bad this week unfortunately. 

Food Cravings: Avocado and Feta!!!!

Movement: They baby seems to be falling into a little routine, still not a really set one but I am noticing a bit of a pattern. Chris also managed to feel the bubba again but a lot higher up this time!

Sleep: Totally normal this week. 

Things I am missing: Really not much this week. I was starting to miss the ability to bend over but now that the little one has moved up, that's not longer such an issue. 

Best Moment: Jackson hasn't been unwell this week, but as much as I have hated being in all the time, it has been lovely spending time just as Mama and Jackson. We also had a midwife appointment, so we got to hear the heartbeat again, which is always lovely and reassuring. 

Worst Moment: My little J being poorly!! 

Love Sophia xxx

Packing for Center Parcs

Holiday time!!!! We are going away to Centre Parcs this week for 5 days - Monday to Friday. Neither myself or Chris have ever been before, so slightly unsure of what to expect. As usual, I have probably over-packed but hey, it's better to be over-organised rather than under, especially with a toddler!

I have made a list of what I am going to pack for Jackson and below I have also included the video of what I have actually packed... 

Packing list: 

7 x Outfits

5 x PJ's

Trainers

Wellies

Rain Coat

Body Warmer

Swimming Costume x 2

Swimming Towels x 2

Swimming Nappies x 8

Bath Towel

Bubble Bath

Sudocream

Cream

Nappies x 25

Pack of wipes

Sleepingbag

'Ellie'

Big Muslin

Musical Toy

Trunki

Toys x 4

Scuttle Bug

Here is my packing video, enjoy!

If anyone has got any advice on anything else I should bring, please let me know!

Love Sophia xxx