NEW NURSERY - BABY Number 2!

Hey Lovelies

I hope your well and welcome back to my blog. This week I am telling you all about our nursery and what we brought, re using, not planning to re use and why!

I have been blogging now since last august and for those that follow me, you will know from both my pregnancy journeys that we like the gender surprise so we have now done two nurseries up neutral and both are equally just as beautiful!

We did not want to re use use our first borns room as a nursery as to be honest this is now actually a little boys room! But originally we went for soft lemons and whites - I loved it as it was very peaceful which was the exact type of baby Harry was, very relaxed and chilled. Once Harry had arrived and I knew he was a boy, I started to add in Navy's and it worked really well. On my Instagram page you will see a photo of Harry's room and how its been easily converted into a ''Little Boy's'' room with out much fuss or cost!

So once decided we wasn't going to move Harry, we decided to start from scratch one the spare room and decided to go for Whites and Grey's! I wanted something different from yellow, and although I was left with cream to choose from, when we first bought our house my whole house was painted in cream and I literally never want to see cream EVER AGAIN! I will note the shade/brand of paints for the nursery and if there is anything I have missed then please just message me on email or over on Instagram - @thehappybalancemum

FURNITURE

Harry's 3 piece furniture set was from Mothercare and the cot purchased was a cot bed so we was able to take the sides off when he was ready so great value for money. The drawers came as a changing unit and once over the stage of changing bums we were able to take the sides off to create the look of just a normal chest of drawers. So as I was already pregnant at the time of moving him into a big boy bed, we decided actually to NOT take the sides off the cot and just buy him a new bed as I didn't want 2 cots, if that makes sense? So the cot moved into the spare room, and Harry's new toddler bed arrived :-) That then left us just the need for a new set of drawers and wardrobe for the nursery which both we decided to get from the Ikea kids/baby collection.. I am so pleased with them and they were half the price.

I didn't buy a nursing chair for Harry, I was tempted but so many people told me that I wouldn't use it as much as I thought and to put that money to something else, they do look adorable and amazing in nurseries but I took their advice and didn't bother so after I breast fed Harry for 7/8 months all over the house I of course wasn't going to then purchase one for the second nursery, I just didn't personally feel the need!

This gift above was from my lovely friend Zoe - It is full of baby grows, blankets, vests all wrapped up in roses. Its just to stunning to unravel at the moment but when I do I will give you all a sneak preview. 

CURTAINS AND COT LINEN

Curtains I searched high and low, I really struggled to find something that was fairly neutral and good in price and I ended up getting ours from Dunelm with discount off after Christmas, a saving of £15.00 and I think we ended up paying £44.99. They are the sweet dreams collection black out pencil pleat and I just adore them!!! I went for extra length as I wanted to ensure I get full coverage of the window just as I done with Harry's and he's always loved his sleep and gave me no problems so I am hoping for the same for the second baby! Lol!

Cot Linen I got ''The my first bed in bag'' linen set from mother care which is white and grey with sheep all over it, it came in a pack with a sheet, light weight cover, a fleece blanket and a coverlet. I have put the link here for you to go and view;

https://www.mothercare.com/bedding/my-first-bed-in-bag/243624.html?cgid=nursery_beddings#prefn1=collection&prefv1=My+First&start=1

I got the bumper bar protectors to stop baby banging their head or legs getting stuck from Dunelm and they were to match the curtains in the Sweet Dreams Collection.

ACCESSORIES 

I am an absolute sucker for accessories in bedrooms and lets be honest with baby nurseries you can really get carried away!

I featured in a past blog 2x bunnies we bought from the London Olympia Baby Show, which were grey and had a shabby wooden finish to them, they were the first 2 items we bought accessory wise for the nursery so we kept to the theme and they fitted in just great!

We have the gorgeous the Elephant fluffy soft rug from ''My 1st Years'' which is just adorable! I can't wait to get some snaps of the baby cosying up on it. Link below;

Door stopper - The Range

White hanging feathers - Country Interiors

White love hearts (scan photos) - The Range

PAINT 

Dulux - Matt Polished Pebble
Husband done the dada rail and painted white and gloss over.


https://www.my1styears.com/personalised-elephant-playmat-white.html

All of my boxes that contain socks, hats, booties, wipes, bubble bath, nappies etc are from a selection of home stores such as B and M, the range and HomeSense. I started getting these from last summer and have collected them to put out once nursery was finished. You can never have to many of these storage boxes/basket for things list above or some big ones for toys!

THINGS WE WONT BE USING A SECOND TIME

1) We will be using my angel care SOUND monitor, it was a god send and I highly recommend but we won't be using the heart rate monitor that fits in to the cot. We turned it off after 3 weeks of Harry being in his cot (he moved into his cot at 12 weeks old as he out grew his Moses basket so quickly) I won't lie initially I was anxious the thought of him being in this massive cot but after 2/3 nights I was fine and the best decision we made! We was so lucky to not have any transition issues. The heart rate monitor kept going off randomly and it was SO loud it was just a nightmare so we just didn't stick it out and feel the need for it.

2) Big baby bath - We purchased one of those baby bath's that go OVER the big bath but it was so heavy and large for storage it was a night mare, and I did wonder if I didn't have a natural birth and had a C section there was no way on earth I would of been able to lift that. So instead, the lovely team at angel care sent me the soft support baby bath support that the baby can comfortably lie back in and relax in the bath.  I am very much looking forward to using this, as Harry and baby can bath together. Its such a great size and easy to put away!

3) Steam Steriliser - I breast fed for 7 months so didn't need to sterilise much other than the odd bottle until I had weaned Harry off the breast completely, my steriliser is 2 years old so not old at all, but it needs descaling and it would leak occasionally which drove me round the bend. This time I aim to use the cold water sterilising method using Milton fluid or tablets and also the unit that you fill up with 5 litres of water. You can purchase the unit for £10.99 and all items stay sterile for 24 hours, you can put everything and anything in there from bottles, to expressing equipment, dummies, toys, tethers.

4) Cot canopy and cot bumper - I spent a fortune on the most gorgeous white canopy for Harry's cot that just looked soooo beautiful but the reality of it was actually just about the ''look'' and I was worried sick once he was in there he would pull it down and suffocate himself! Like wise with the bumpers, so off they came and off to the charity shop they went. As I said above I have decided to cover the bars with the velcro strips bumper bar strips as his legs used to occasionally get stuck in the bars, these should hopefully avoid that and they are no way as heavy as a cot bumper so much safer.

4) Our expensive fancy highchair - DONT go and purchase a fancy high chair like we did. They get covered and ruined in foods they go mouldy and end up leaving your chair looking other than nothing but rank! See below what high chair we have decided to use this this time round! :-)

THINGS WE ARE RE USING 


1) Moses basket - Harry always loved his Moses basket and although he wasn't in it long, it gave me breathing space day time and night time, as we he would often sleep for ages in there! I propped it up and would make it nice and cosy and snug and he was always fairly quite content in there, if he did have any tears or not want to be put down my biggest tip is to have a muslin cloth with some of your breast milk on there and leave that nearby their face so they think your close.

2) Clothes - Yes... Even though we don't know what we are having, we have tons of whites as I love the newborns in whites for the first few weeks, I think they look so angelic and lush. If baby comes out a boy hubs can get back up in the loft and I will wash each cello bag as baby grows as I have so much BLUE or if a girl, I will look forward to buying PINK Girly items! :-)

Some of Harry's neutral blankets, and his baby soft play toys!

3) Silver Cross infant car seat, good hoover out and wipe down.

4) Changing Mat but won't be re using a changing unit. I am going to include Harry in changing bum time so he feels a super happy big brother passing me the wipes and nappies. He also learnt to roll over fairly early and I was paranoid he would roll off onto the floor so I always ended up changing him on the floor!!!

PURCHASED NEW

1) NEW Chair Purchase - Is a 123 dream sheep sound and vibrating chair for the baby to sit in during the day time, I did have a chair with Harry but when he wasn't in his Moses basket he was in his chair so it is well and truly worn and used. So we decided to purchase baby their own nice new one :-)

2) IKEA High chair - You cannot beat the IKEA antilop high chair! Its plain white plastic, you can wipe it down so it looks clean and tidy! It comes with a tray so you have the option to take it out, its the best saving you will ever have!!!! Link below;

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/chairs-stools-benches/high-chairs/antilop-highchair-with-tray-white-silver-colour-spr-29067293/

3) Outfits - So as much I will re use some of Harry's items, of course I couldn't resist buying some new stuff too, I recently had my baby shower and was completely spoilt rotten with lots of lovely mummy gifts as well as new baby items. So far I have purchased from John Lewis clearance range, Magnetic Mouse Baby Grows they are amazing for speed, the magnetic poppers!!!! Go and check their Instagram page/website they have the cutest designs, & of course Next (I am a huge next fan)

4) Cot Mobile - This is from the ''Guess how much I love you'' range and I used to love putting Harry in his room when he was a new born familiarising himself with it listening to the lovely music, it was very relaxing and peaceful for him, so I definitely plan to do the same second time round.

Hope you've enjoyed the read 

Lots of Love x

My first born baby... I love you xxxxxxx

Whats in my hospital bag?

Hello, and welcome to my latest blog 37 (+3) weeks and hospital bag, as I had started typing this blog the weather WAS looking very bleak outside, the weather where you don't want to leave the house but as the day as gone on it has brightened up and the sunshine is peeping through - Hooray! So how are you mummies feeling who are at the same stage as me? My back ache hasn't been too bad recently but trying to get out of bed I am like a huge turtle struggling, and I am back to feeling knackered by 3pm! I am sure I sound a huge moany Margaret but Hun's I can honestly say being pregnant the second time round is no where near as dreamy as the first!!

Anyway's with only 2 and a bit weeks to go, I am feeling mixed emotions happy, excited, nervous, and strangely a little teary emotional as I have a realised that our Harry will no longer be the only small little person in the house, but a lovely girl I follow on Instagram told me something soooooooo lovely and true which was ''you are giving him the best thing in life, and that is a sibling!'' and that made me smile because how true is that? (I am an only child by the way)

So the nursery is finally fully completed whooooo! I say completed because I keep finding other little bits and bobs to add, my hubby has done an amazing job - I am sooo pleased!!! I will feature on my next blog and show you my fave buys for interior ideas. So along with the nursery finally complete, so is my hospital bag yay!!!!

I never got the most of my hospital bag last time because i gave birth and I was home 4 hours later so  other than getting Harry's outfit out and a fresh set of clothing, I didn't use anything else in there that I had packed - Below are where I found the best buy's and all so so affordable to throw out after if they ruined!

Whats in my bag?

BABY

• Coming home outfit
• Car seat
• Vests
• Baby grows
• Nappies - Pampers newborn size
• Hat (Pink or Blue - Or if like us having a surprise we have packed white!)
• Blanket
• Booties
• Muslin cloths
• Teddy bear
• Present from baby to give to Harry when he arrives to meet him or her. 

Why haven't I packed - Dummies or Bottles. I breast fed Harry so I am hoping to do the same this time round so I have MAM bottles at home for a back up should not all go to plan but I don't plan on bringing to the hospital and Harry didn't have a dummy either so I am just planning to go with what i done the first time round, but back up's are there if need be.

MUMMY STUFF

• Nursing bra's (Mine are from H&M and Primark)
• Bikini top (if like me wanting to have a water birth)
• Towel large and small 
• Hair bubbles (Pack from Primark!)
• Dry shampoo
• Deodorant 
• Hair brush (Primark do an amazing small travel size!)
• Cleanser and Face cream (Environ skincare!)
• Bar of soap
• Lip balm (mac cosmetics)
• Clear mascara so you can feel a little human!
• Nursing cover up if you want s (Some privacy in the beginning (Ebay!)
• Comfy super large undies (Primark 2 sizes up from my usual size!)
• Pjs or large night dress
• I have packed nursing tops (H&M) and then large pj bottoms (Primark!) as feeding in a nighty in front of family isnt ideally what I feel comfortable to do! Especially after just giving birth!
• Slippers or Flip flops (I got light weight slip ons as I was pre warned hospitals are super hot - Primark!)
• Going home out fit, I have packed a large plain v neck tshirt and also some H and M maternity leggings.
• Eau Thermale facial spray from Boots is amazing! Its a facial cooling spray to keep cool during labour and birth - Get your partners to spray you through out if need be. 
• Tooth brush and tooth paste (Cosmetics travel section from Primark!)
• Camera and charger for phone and camera 
• Sanitary towels - Large (Always ultra with wings from Superdrug!)
• Breast pads (Lasinoh - Bought a big value pack)

BEST PLACES TO BUY FOR AFFORDABILITY AND SIZES!

I was amazed ladies by Primarks ever growing range of beauty and beauty miniatures! I got pretty much of my toiletries from there for such a bargain price of £1 or £2 per item and for my all time favorite products (Environ skin care items and Clarins mattifying lotion) for my own home comforts I got some empty bottles and have filled them up. My friend got me some lovely soap bars for Christmas so I will be taking those in. I have also taken dry shampoo as it is a life saver for me, I do have thick hair so I am lucky I don't have to wash mine every day.

I will add although I haven't packed I recently bought some nursing bra's from marks and spencer due to the shape and amazing support they give. The Primark bra's for value and a quick clip down to feed you can't complain but if going out for the day or lunch etc they don't give me personally the best fit/shape, I found the M&S much nicer to wear. 

Lots of Love x

BIRTH PREP AND HEALTHY PREGNANCY POST

So as it stands, I am currently 8 months pregnant and naturally it has dawned on me that I will be giving birth in 4 weeks time!!!! I am feeling mixed emotions, excitement at the thought of welcoming another baby into the world and seeing Harry become a big brother! Nervous because I know what's coming as in terms of pain, and although I had a quick and fairly good birth and labour with Harry no 2 birth stories are never usually the same. 

The last 9 months as a whole aside from the back ache and bad headaches, I have been lucky to have a good pregnancy but I wont lie in saying I am looking forward to getting back to normal. There was definitely no ''I LOVED BEING PREGNANT!'' like I did the first time round time and that simply is because I am a busy working mummy who admittedly tries to fit a millions things in within a short period of time. So with that in mind, I am very intune with my body and how I feel and I know how much energy and sleep I need to be able to do what I need to do day to day. 

Since working in the skin and beauty industry I have been lucky enough to meet people from all area's of education as in terms of skin, some of these will be doctors, nurses, beauty therapists, nutritionists, skin aesthetician's and also sat in many seminars allowing me to have the knowledge that I do about healthy skin and what it needs on a daily basis. The first thing one needs to do is feed their skin from within, and by this we mean from the dermis layer, the deepest layer of your skin where all your living skin cells live and I do this by taking a range called ''The Advanced Nutrition Programme'' the ANP (for short) range is a skin specific natural nutrition range that combats and fights against the effects of stress, hormone in balances, medication, poor diet and so on. All of these have a huge effect on how our skin functions, looks and how it feels, so it is vital all is working as should be to achieve the reflection you want in the mirror. If you havent noticed already all of these are coming from within, therefore NO skin care product is going to fight against these because skin care products only work topically, there is still a need for those, dont get me wrong but they combat other area's that can also have a negative effect on how our skin looks. 

Not only does the ANP range fight against what I have listed, it also works to put back into the skin what we are not getting from our diet and I will be the first to put my hand up and say I do not get all of my 5 a day of fruit and veg EVERY DAY, or do I eat amount of fish that is recommend on a weekly basis, it just doesnt happen in todays busy working world. I am fairly good with my water content and the amount that I drink a day but there is definitely room for improvement where my diet is concerned and more so that I am consistent with it, for me it is far easier to take a supplement that is relevant to my skin and wellbeing goals and know I am getting maximum benefits due the advanced nutrition programmes high quality level of ingredients, so I actually see a difference and change in how I look and feel.

So what have I been taking you wonder? 

Within the range I have been supplementing ''Skin Omega's'' which contains omegas 3 and 6, studies show these are amazing at boosting brain development, moisture levels within the skin, oh my goodness that pregnancy itch in the beginning drove me insane in my first pregnancy! Hydrates and purifies the skin, I do not have to spend all morning and evening moisturizing my whole body as taking 2 of these a day will reach every single layer from head to toe of my body, and who even has time to do that with a toddler running about? Take the supplement instead! Goodbye dry flaky skin.

I have also been adding ''Probiotics'' to my daily routine. Probiotics comes in a powder formula that you can either sprinkle over your foods or add to your drinks. There are a number of benefits of probiotics even aside from being pregnant but for me in particular I have found it amazing for going to the toilet more regular, it promotes a healthy digestive track and this time round before I had been taking it, I had not been going as frequent as usual in this pregnancy, so its been a godsend for bowel movements!!! Some say it also creates a healthy birth canal ready for giving birth - I'll take that for sure.

I also take every day a multi vitamin, at the moment as you can see in my photo I am currently taking the pregnacare multi vitamin as I will take their breast feeding range after I have had the baby but I  usually take Skin vitality 1 which is from the advanced nutrition programme, both of these brands are amazing at brightening the skin, boosting energy levels for me, promoting a stronger nail and also most importantly as it takes a bashing in pregnancy... my hair is sooo much glossier! My hair was horrendous in the beginning and with out taking a multi vitamin I would of had no hope what so ever, I also remember loosing so much after I had Harry, all mums do right? I am hoping by continuing taking the multi vitamin it will reduce the amount that may come out after the hormones have calmed down.

Raspberry leaf tea is a bit of a myth from what I can work out online as I read there is no actual proof it works but for me personally I do believe it works from my past experience. I started drinking raspberry leaf tea around 36 weeks with Harry's pregnancy as I had read it works on softening your cervix and promotes a quicker labour, I don't believe it brings it on because I had been drinking it for well over a month before things started to move. BUT I do believe it it makes things easier, or I was just super lucky! Harry was only 2 day's late, and I dilated fairly quite quickly, I started to get mild contractions around 7am, stayed at home all day, went to hospital at 4pm where it was confirmed I was 4cm dilated, I got in the birthing pool at 6pm and he was delivered and out by 21.02pm. I had started pushing around 8pm which wasn't bad going at all for a first time birth and I only used gas and air through out the duration at my time at hospital so I feel that was fairly good going, I am really hoping its a smooth run the second time round and I get the pool again! I would of loved a home birth but the husband was not having any of it. 

And finally my Nutri Bullet; I am no food diet fanatic and to be honest I dont want to be, I love my food far to much and through out the first 6 months of my pregnancies, although I didn't really have any cravings, I have ate pretty much what I have wanted and that has included MacDonalds, Pizza's, Chocolates till my hearts content because it was what I fancied, there was no way after being at work all day, looking after a toddler, running a house, being a wife I was not going to have a bit of what I fancied especially with raging hormones and feel like I had been hit by a truck in the first few months BUT what I have done as I did the first time round, once I reach my 3rd trimester, I do all that I can to make a conscious effort in choosing more of my energy boosting foods because I know I am prepping for labour and a newborn joining our family. I will still have those naughty foods if I fancy them but I will make sure I will have 2 smoothies a day and include super foods and seeds such as spinach, chia seeds, flax seeds, kale, banana's, raspberries, blueberries, frozen blackberries and what ever else I have lurking in the fridge because the reality of is I am almost at the finish line and I want to help myself in having a healthy mind and being the best mummy I can!

34 week pregnancy update

Welcome to this weeks blog

Well lovelies now Christmas is completely over and routine has resumed, harry back at nursery and house back to normal, the 34 week marked has crept up on me! But I thought I would give you all an update on how my pregnancy has been since my last pregnancy milestone - I haven't been blogging each milestone as per say and just going with the flow, but 34 weeks has been a huge leap since my last update - How are you all feeling?

Baby is now the size of a pineapple/cantaloupe and weighing over 4lbs and I have really suffered with my back the last 3 weeks, I am not sure if the baby is laying on certain nerves, or in fact I am just over doing it and lifting my toddler too much when actually I should be bending my knees, and as my midwife advised ''getting down to his level'' But lets be honest, her advice isn't realistic, our 2 year old (and 5 months) generally will walk most places, but there are days he will want me to carry him, areas he isn't overly familiar with or actually its just general day to day life such as lifting him in and out of the car or the trolley when food shopping - Its sooooo hard to not lift them! Any how what ever the reason is my back definitely has felt it this time round; some tips that have helped are bending the knees, especially when going to pick toys up, hoovering/washing etc this past week in particular I have made a conscious effort to ensure I am bending down correctly because I was starting to worry I was going to have to deal with this back pain for the remainder of my pregnancy it was becoming unbearable! So making that conscious effort has made a difference. 

Hot baths took the edge off, even though I feel like a whale in the bath tub with not much room to move! 

Planning my week, so now that I am all finished from work for annual leave and maternity, I will do my best to ensure I am not out all day, and just half the day. So I either go into town or food shopping, play groups, etc in the morning or the afternoon - Not both! If I am out all day at this stage in my pregnancy, I really feel it the next day with back pain, I feel such a moany Maggie but it is a true fact I am afraid. 

So enough of the back talk, my boobs are still growing like no tomorrow! Before I had Harry I was a 32/34 DD and after breast feeding I learnt to live with smaller boobs, and went down to a B cup. There is no doubt in saying the moment I saw the positive line come up on the test my boobs started growing over night - no joke! I am now in a 34E cup so before my milk has even come in I have gone up 3 cup sizes already. I have recently purchased Bras from New Look, Primark and Mothercare all ready for nursing as I do aim to breast feed my second baby. If you are wondering why I just didn't keep my older bras I actually threw them because I felt like I lived in them the whole time I fed, well I did and just wanted rid and to wear a proper bra once I had finished feeding! Lol So they were gone and binned off :) 

In fact a lot of my maternity wardrobe is new as my first pregnancy was a spring/summer (July baby) and this is a autumn/winter (February due date) so I haven't really recycled much at all because I simply haven't been able to wear the cotton dresses in this cold cold weather!!!!

I have recently been watching videos on you tube regarding feeding in public as until I had completely got to grips with breast feeding I would not feed anywhere other than a feeding room, so I just wanted to remind/refresh my self how to cover up quickly if baby needed a feed and your not in the most private place, I am all for breast feeding in public and do not think us mummies have any reason to feel we aren't allowed but I am the first to put my hand up that in the beginning I wasn't 100% confident in doing so, once over the 4-6 week cluster feed stage its an absolute breeze and you can read your babies signs to find some where that you are comfortable. I would often feed any where with my muslin cloth or breast feeding cape discretely covering Harry. I would definitely advise to go and watch Emily Norris and also Cloud Mom their video's were great. I will link below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spa8SECSneI&t=270s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcHiLQslLQw

I will be uploading my own personal tips for breast feeding once my little one arrives, as no baby is ever the same so I am not expecting he/she to feed as my son did so it will be good to do a comparison and give you mummies some tips. 

34 WEEK MIDWIFE UPDATE

Yesterday I saw my lovely midwife, I haven't seen her since November which feels forever! I noticed on this appointment she had a good proper feel of my tummy, which strangely felt a bit uncomfortable but this could be because I feel I dont have much room left in there! Lol! She said baby isn't engaged yet but heading that, she said they aim for 36 week mark for head to be engaged so still a little time, I have been on my bouncing ball this past week or so and have found that helps get me a little more comfortable which moving baby about. Heart rate was 148bpm - Old midwives tale says you can determine the gender of baby depending at the rate of heart beat, is this true?

I am currently measuring one week behind, which I did with my first pregnancy anyways so I am not concerned, Harry was only 2 days late which I don't think was bad going for a first baby. She also said she thinks I am having a girl from the size/shape of the baby??? Whatever that means Lol -  She said baby felt petite,  but not small were her words. But again my boy was only 7lbs so not overly big - Time will soon tell! eeekkk we are getting so excited. 

Next plan is to do my hospital bag over the weekend!

Please go and give me a follow on Instagram @thehappybalancemum or 

Email - thehappybalancemum@gmail.com to share your pregnancy/baby journey!

Love

DECLEOR MUM TO BE TREATMENT

Hey Lovelies and thank you for logging on to my latest blog.

Its December and Christmas is only 5 sleeps away!! I am currently 32 weeks pregnant, I can't believe I have only 8 weeks left! This weeks blog I am featuring and telling you all about my recent beauty treatment at alwalton hall called the Radiant Mum to Be treatment using the gorgeous spa products Decleor. 

This wasn't the first time I had, had the treatment. I had it the same time in my pregnancy at one of the Aqua Sana Spa's with my son Harry and it is pure luxury for any expecting mummy to be!

The treatment lasts 75 minutes which is spread out across different areas of the body. All mummies will lay on their side with a pillow in between their legs, the therapist will work on a back massage using aromatherapy decleor oils. The pressure isn't overly strong understandably but you can feel tension release in the shoulders and lower back so great if having back pain.

Once she has covered that section which I would say is around 20 minutes, the therapist moves to your legs, working from the thigh down to your ankles using massage techniques to completely relax and relieve tension in each leg. Once legs are done she moves up to your tummy, massaging your tummy area using products to help sooth your bump, hydrate your skin and generally promote a healthier tummy area. A mask is applied and left on, the therapist will cover this with a cling film type material to help the penetration the product into the skin. 

Whilst your mask is on the tummy your therapist will work on a cleanse tone, mask and hydrate facial with some slight massage techniques. Whilst your facial mask if left on, she will remove your tummy mask and finish by applying a cooling energising gel to your arms and legs - You are literally hydrated from head to toe and on cloud 9!

I am definitely hoping to have another treatment before baby number 2 arrives, it is pure heaven for those achy legs, swollen ankles, heavy tummy or just a general mummy to be pamper!

I have also started using with my current regime their ultimate body pack which contains the energising gel which delivers that up lifting, cooling and hydrating feeling a woman wants on her skin when she's pregnant! I am going to feature in my next blog all my other beauty essentials and supplements when pregnant so stay tuned, I can't wait to share it with you. 

4D Baby Bond Scan - 28 weeks!

Hey Huns..

Hope your all well; Mid way through November so I've finally made a start on my Xmas shopping and feeling good as I really don't know how I'm going to feel closer to the time being in my third trimester.

I'm now 28 weeks pregnant and we had our 4D baby bond scan on Monday; it was amazing! We had it with our first baby at the same stage of my pregnancy so knew we would more than likely get a good clear image on the baby. We stuck to our original plans of staying team yellow, for those that have been reading my blogs will know how much we love the surprise and why we opted to go for it again a second time round so for us we just couldn't wait to see the baby again on screen and 4D gives a peak of their beautiful little features and face up close. We loved it! 

Baby looked just harry from what we could see and when we compared images it confirmed it... Same lips and nose! Superrrr cute. 

If you haven't had a 4D before and thinking about it I highly recommend. It is such a beautiful moment to experience seeing your baby close up on screen and I imagine if struggling with your pregnancy due to sickness or generally finding it hard then I honestly think the scan will give any mummy to be a boost and lift in that final trimester - It did me, I have found second time much more tiring.

What to expect?

On booking your private 4D baby bond scan you'll be given options of a suitable date and time (that will last usually around 15 minutes!) You'll be on count down till that day arrives with excitement regardless whether your finding out the gender or not. It is named a bonding scan for a reason so it isn't just about finding out about the gender, there is so much more too it so if like us do not worry if you want to have a surprise!

We arrived and you'll be asked to lay down on the couch where the sonographer will ask for your due date and whether you wish to find out boy or girl. She'll place Gel on your tummy just like your NHS scans and if not finding out like us because she doesn't know the placement of the baby you'll be asked to look away in case anything appears giving it all away!

Once found placement of baby she'll tell you how baby is sitting/laying what he or she's placement is within your tummy and at the moment our little one was laying horizontal across my tummy so no wonder I had been feeling a bit uncomfortable the last few days! I'm not overly concerned I have 12 weeks to go till baby engages and gets where he or she should be. 

She really zoomed in on the face where we got to see the baby yawning, and drinking, smiling, arms up in the air and crossed in one photo which my hubby was delighted as he is a hammers fan!!! Lol.  

We could see the shape of the babies lips and eyes, it was soooo cute. 

It is recommended to scan at 28 weeks for a good clear view bonding scan as if baby isn't in a good placement you can come back within that 2 week window taking you to a max of 30 weeks. Any later than that there isn't much room left for baby so view isn't always that great and any earlier than 26 weeks features aren't as prominent, so my advice would be to follow as recommended and stick to the 28 week mark!

If lucky enough to get some moving images on USB depending what package you pick they are included; they're fab for a keep sake to link up to your tv and watch with family and friends and you'll also get some prints to take home. We got around 8-9 and all of them were brilliant.

Highly recommend the baby bond scan for any expecting parents! It's a real treat in that last trimester and we are even more excited to welcome baby brown number 2!!! 

toddlers snacks and dinner ideas

Hey Lovelies,

I hope your well and thank you for logging on to my latest blog. This weeks is all about my top snacks for any toddlers who if anything like mine; snackers, grazers, basically one who eats little and often!

Snacks through out the day for Harry will vary from;

Philadelphia on ryvita plain cracker bread

Babybels 

Dairylea dunkers

Cucumber sticks

Chicken pieces from the chilled fresh meat section in supermarkets

Chopped pieces of fruits such a peaches, nectarines, or plums

Apples and blueberries are always a favourite

Yogurts

Organix carrot wafers

Kiddylicious smoothie melts he still loves at 2 years old!

I always have to make sure I have plenty of the above in the list in the cupboards as he is a big snacker and I do my best to keep it varied and not complete rubbish!

Quick Dinner Meals!

Fresh fish or Chicken from the supermarkets, packet of bread crumbs once they have been dipped into some egg, and pop in the oven!

Alternatively we do buy boxed fish fingers but I will always check the % on the back of the box to ensure it does contain a high amount of fish or meat for protein benefits.

Pre made mash, with fish from the fish counter, steamed broccoli (10 mins in the steamer) once all cooked put together with a sprinkle of cheese and you have a home made fish pie!

Uncle bens rice 2 minute microwave rice, with grilled chicken pieces and Little Dish have launched their new sauce pots for little ones, these have been a big hit for Harry for Pasta dishes or a chicken curry with rice!

Sausage and Baked Bean Casserole, add in onions, carrots and a some cheese!

Bolognese is always a good one to bulk cook and freeze, include chopped onions, mushrooms etc we just cook the pasta fresh! 

Jacket potato and beans

After a long day at work I can always count on Harry eating the meals from the Little Dish Range! They are £2.50 a go BUT for speed, and that I know he will eat them, they are super handy for us on days when you cannot be bothered to prep or cook. 

Little Dish ones in particular that are his faves are the Chicken and Risotto, the Chicken Curry and Rice, Chilli beef and Rice and also the fish pie. 

I am not going to lie, meal times for me as a parent have always been up and down. Harry eats like a king for his breakfast, and still loves his milk before bed time but lunch time and dinner time can be really hit and miss!! The above are what we know he will eat so we try our best to keep a variety going and will change it up but I will also admit I take the easiest option and stick to what he knows because I just want him to eat!!

 I have some mummy friends who their kids eat everything and anything and I have others than eat far from their 3 meals a day.. You are not alone. I have come to the conclusion kids are kids, and the fact is some adults don't even eat 3 meals a day so rather then get stressed over meal times, I now just go with the flow. 

I have never followed the if you don't eat your dinner you won't have dessert because I don't want meal times or food to associated in being an unhappy time, if Harry eats what he can then thats good enough for us! I also thought I would share that it isn't so much about what a child eats in one meal sitting its what they have had in a 24 hour period so do NOT beat yourself up over them missing a meal! Some day's Harry eats better than others. 

If your little one has been poorly recently and they have point blank refused food all together head over to my other blog ''WinterBlues'' to see what we find works for us when Harry has been under the weather.

I can't not include Puddings in this blog as I am a massive pudding lover!!! So it just wouldnt right not include!!! 

Pudding shopping list

Fresh fruit

Ambrosia Mini Custards

Ambrosia Mini Rice Pudding 

Yogurt with a drizzle of honey

Jelly 

Strawberry chocolate chop small mufins 

Frozen yogurt banana bites

Hope you found the read helpful and any tips from other mummies comment or message me on Instagram - @thehappybalancemum - Would love to hear from you!

And remember you can also email subscribe for all my future blogs 

Lots of Love x

MAM - EASY START ANTI COLIC BABY BOTTLES

Hey lovely people 

Well this weeks blog is a super duper exciting one! I recently received a lovely delivery from MAM UK which contained the NEW design for their Easy Start Anti Colic Bottles and I am delighted to be doing a collaboration with MAMUK as these were fab for my first baby so I can't wait to use them again a second time round!

MAM bottles were great for me and my baby as I breast fed my little boy for the first 7 months so once he was onto solids at 6 months I started to slowly transition to formula. Harry took expressed milk and formula from the easy start bottles with no fuss or upset. Initially when we first gave him expressed milk I didn't realise the temp of the breast milk was too cool, so my husband suggested we warm it up and since then he was a dream to feed via the bottle, it also allowed daddy to have some feeding time too as I done a mixture of breast and bottle from 8 weeks old, it goes by no surprise MAM have a 94% teat acceptance*! I have always been honest since I have started blogging and bottles was an area I was dreading and worrying about as I had heard stories and experienced with my own family members babies not taking the bottle and completely refusing which was stressful for all parties, with the skin soft teats and simple self sterilising in 3 easy steps I am so glad I found MAM.

MAM Easy Start Anti Colic Bottles have a unique vented base which has a range of different effects;

80% of mums said their babies had less colic

relaxed drinking, as the base allows baby to drink at their own pace

reduction of wind 

I absolutely LOVE the new designs especially as we haven't found out the gender of the baby! As you an see from the photos featured, the grey and soft lemon is just adorable for newborns and the perfect start for any new born baby.

Happy Baby - Happy Mummy!

You can purchase MAM products from 

http://www.mamonlineshop.com

Harry can't wait to help mummy and daddy feed his new baby brother or sister!

With Love

The Happy Balance Mum x

If you like what your reading remember you email subscribe to be kept to date with all my blogs & follow me on Instagram - @thehappybalancemum

how to get through the winter blues - Infant snuffles

Evening all,

I hope your well and thank for you logging onto my latest blog. For those that don't know me I am a mummy of one boy Harry who is two years old, and currently expecting with baby number 2 which is due in February! I am wife to Chris and a working mummy, so if you like what your reading please. subscribe with your email to follow my blogs and top tips for my motherhood journey so far!

I blog all things beauty, baby and motherhood, and I am a mummy of one boy who's 2 and also currently expecting baby number 2 in February. 

This weeks blog is all about those horrible winter blues and all the germs our littles ones end up facing :( snotty noses, and chesty coughs!

My top tips to comfort your little ones are below!

Calpol Plug In's

Oh my good these are amazing for stuffy noses and general congestion nose or chest. I have used them with my little one in his first winter and have recently purchased the re fills for this winter season as well as he picked up a horrible cough from nursery. Initially you purchase the plug and it comes with 2x refills, from there you then just purchase the refills which I think come in  a box of 5x. They last 8 hours, and can be left on over night if need be. 

The product itself its based around aromatherapy oils, chamomile, menthol and allows your little one to breathe easier for a more peaceful sleep - They make such a difference and are a life saver for parents wanting a good nights sleep. They are safety tested and sold in all high stores such as Tesco, Asda, Boots etc 

We usually turned on 1 hour before Harry's bed time and depending how congested he is, we will turn off once he is in bed or leave it on over night but will leave the door open slightly and do not put directly near the cot. 

Steamy Showers

Turn your showers on, leave them on and hot enough for the room to steam up, once at this stage, take your little one into the shower room for 10-15 minutes as this will really help loosen up any mucus or stuffy noses.

Foods

Soft foods such a pears, bananas, peaches to keep them hydrated and soft for them to eat. Lots of water or milk, and do not stress if they aren't wanting to eat their meals. As long as their passing urine, and drinking that's what is important. 

Yogurts, Ice Cream and rices cake for him to just snack on are always popular for our little one when he been under the weather. 

Fresh Air

Do not feel if your little one in under the weather you shouldn't  leave the house, we recently attended a family festival for a couple of hours to get some fresh air for Harry. He wasn't himself but he was in fairly good spirits and it was good for him to get some fresh air.

Staying indoors won't necessarily make babies/children get better quicker, its good to even have a walk round the block. Please know I am not encouraging attending children play area's or soft plays I am encouraging a walk round the block :-) 

Spoonful of Honey

It may be one of your Nans tales but I honestly feel it makes a difference in keeping cough's at bay at bedtime which helps improve sleep. Its a natural alternative instead of cough medicine and there has been studies carried out to on children over the age of 2 who had upper respiratory infections and it showed to be just as effective as over the counter medication!

Comfort and encourage sleep 

Bring their favourites bears, pillow and quilt down stairs onto your sofa. Let them rest else where away from their bed room. Our toddler would not be prepared to sit in his bed all day after just sleeping in there, but will happily chill on the sofa with his favourite tv programme on. Every now and again he would doze off and wake up again which really allowed his body to rest. 

Hope the above helps all you mummy and daddies this winter

Love the happy balance mum

 x