So my Spiderman is now 6 years old and I, like many other parents, have no clue where the last six years went. Readers of this blog will know that I had Ieuan when I was 45 years old.
Baby Ieuan in 2009
Ieuan was born by elective caesarian at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff at 9:48 am. His sister, Caitlin was born by emergency caesarian when I was 43 and it was thought that this would be safer for Ieuan due to my age. I was given the option to deliver 'normally' but was too nervous to do so since Caitlin's cord was wrapped around her neck three times.
Ieuan's birth was relatively uneventful, save for the Husband passing out and having to be fed coffee and chocolate by the consultant whilst the rest of us waited patiently for his eyes to uncross. Never let your husband abstain from food and water in an act of 'solidarity' would be my tip. Unfortunately, at the moment he chose to blank out, the nurses were doing the ice block test to see if my spinal block had worked and I had to be returned to the trolley.
Ieuan at National Trust Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan
I have no truck, I should say at this point, with anyone who claims that real women do not give birth this way. I have read such rubbish since having my kids aimed at making women feel inferior because they did not 'push'. I'm assuming that these critics are part of the same group of breast-feeding nazis who decree that breast is best to the exclusion of all else, including common sense and empathy with new mothers.
Ieuan and his maternal grandfather, 'Taid'.
Ieuan has grown into a delightful, caring little boy who I've nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board" because when he's out and about (usually dressed as Spiderman) he addresses all and sundry, talks to anyone and flirts outrageously with any girl or woman he considers to be "foxy".
With Big Sister Caitlin outside the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
You may not believe in Astrology but Ieuan, being a Cancerian shows quite a few decidedly Cancerian traits ("Cancerians need a lot of attention due to their unpredictable character": They are intuitive, insightful and have an excellent memory"). Cancerians are loving and loyal, although they can be moody, cranky and,er, crabby. They are also supposed to love their food and luckily Ieuan is moving out of his "half boy, half peanut butter" phase to try a wider variety of foods and, occasionally, vegetables).
Tree climbing at National Trust Dyffryn Gardens
Ieuan's favourite things at this stage of his life (apart from any Marvel superhero) include Lego, swimming, wrestling with his father (it was a complete shock to me, never having had a brother, to find how rough boys are at play!) and, just recently, Harry Potter. I suspect he may be now be occasionally dressed as a wizard. He loves Cherry Bakewells and Quavers and has probably broken a Guinness Record for the consumption of pears and bananas. His squash has to be blackcurrant and his pasta requirement is for spaghetti or fusilli ('curly pasta') only. His current favourite phrase is "I'll do it tomorrow"!
His party this year was a superhero party at Hamleys in Cardiff (one of their many themed parties) and he had a wonderful time surrounded by Batman, Supergirl and Batgirl plus his superhero friends.
Hamley bear popped in to say hello and to dish out hugs.
Playing Superhero Statues with Batman
I can't believe Ieuan will be going into Year 2 in September. They grow up so fast, don't they?
This is a lovely little book and is the second in an on-going travel series for children. Author Anna Othitis, originally from Zimbabwe and now living in America, introduces us to her son, Captain Frankie of Angelic Airlines and the story sees him fly us around the World to visit our planet's "seven natural wonders".
These span all four continents and whilst I had heard of some of them (for example, Mount Everest in the Himalayas and Australia's Great Barrier Reef), others I had not (Paricutin Volcano in Mexico) or would not have thought of (The Grand Canyon in Colorado, USA).
Written as if Captain Frankie is talking to us over the plane's intercom, each wonder is introduced by a poem and then there is some age-appropriate factual information, together with a simple quiz for the children to do. At the end of the book Captain Frankie asks the children to name out loud the seven natural wonders they have just visited. There are also pictures of the countries' national flags at the beginning of the book and then again as a test at the end.
I have to say that I learned quite a bit. I did get my Geography 'O' Level (remember them?!) but aside from the fact that there were lots of orange groves in California and Ox bow lakes were quite easy to draw, I find my geographic knowledge is slightly sketchy! The Husband, of course, gets to fly around the World quite regularly (although he claims he only sees airport lounges and hotel rooms). We have not yet ventured abroad with the kids but they already have their suitcases packed in anticipation!
For example, did you know that the Victoria Falls water drops 354 feet down? Or that the Paricutin Volcano stands at 1353 feet, which is higher than the Empire State Building in New York? What about that there are 1500 species of fish in the Great Barrier Reef or that the Grand Canyon is 18 miles wide?
I particularly liked the environmentally friendly emphasis - we are reminded to take care of our earth and the way that Anna's books can be used as teaching aids to encourage conversation between parents and children. Captain Frankie's light, friendly tone makes you feel as if he really is talking to you.
This is a great way to teach our kids about the wonders of the Earth in a fun and engaging way. I'll be checking out the rest of the series for Caitlin and Ieuan.
Scroll down for the author's giveaway - $50 Amazon.com giftcard or PayPal cash (winner's choice).
Follow Captain Frankie on his adventures...
Are you ready to take to the skies?
Then welcome to Angelic Airlines!
Come join the adventures of Captain Frankie and the Angelic Airlines flying angel as they travel across the world to the Seven Natural Wonders of the Earth. Captain Frankie is waiting for you to book your ticket, safely stow your bags, and open your eyes to the beautiful places created for all of us to visit in My First Travel Books.
This is Anna Othitis’s second trip with Captain Frankie and the crew. Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, her home port is now Wanaque, New Jersey, and she has flown across the world in her travels.
"My daughter and I enjoyed these books. We took a trip around the world without leaving the house! We saw things and places we will probably never see in real life." - review from Amazon
"Beautifully illustrated, amazing little 'first travel' adventure book for children. A great way to get children interested in the geography of the world and the delights of travel." - review from Amazon
"Another gem from this consistant author. She is making quite a name for herself. You will not be disapointed!!" - review from Goodreads
"This book is in its simplest form: fun, educational and informative, which plays an important part in connecting our children with our world. So come on and fly the skies with us on Angelic Airlines to some popular world destinations with your friendly Captain Frankie"
Check out the other My First Travel Books...
My First Travel Book (My First Travel Books) (Volume 1) Are you ready to take to the skies?
Captain Frankie welcomes you on board.
Come join the adventures of Captain Frankie and the Angelic Airlines flying angel as they travel across the world to some of the most popular, entertaining, and educational places in the world.
Captain Frankie is waiting for you to book your ticket, safely stow your bags, and open your eyes to the beautiful places created for all of us to visit in My First Travel Book.
The Seven Wonders of the World (My First Travel Books) (Volume 3)
Are you ready to take to the skies?
Then welcome to Angelic Airlines!
Come join the adventures of Captain Frankie and the Angelic Airlines flying angel as they travel across the world to the Seven Wonders of the World. Captain Frankie is waiting for you to book your ticket, safely stow your bags, and open your eyes to the beautiful places created for all of us to visit in My First Travel Books.
This is Anna Othitis’s third trip with Captain Frankie and the crew.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, her home port is now Wanaque, New Jersey, and she has flown across the world in her travels.
About the Author I lived and was raised in the beautiful land and country of Zimbabwe, Africa (home will always be home). We relocated to Wanaque, New Jersey, USA, our new home and where our younger son, Frankie, took up his “American Dream”.
My husband George, sons Johnny, Elia and Frankie encouraged me to write my first children’s book titled My First Travel Book, which was inspired by Frankie (Captain Frankie). Given a wonderful opportunity, he graduated in his Masters degree in Aeronautical Science, and is successful in his career as a professional pilot. My favorite saying is: “Be Bold Be Brave”.
My dream is to be given the opportunity for my book to reach each and every less fortunate child who will have the opportunity to fantasy travels through our book to see our lovely world destinations, and to one day to give back and assist the needy in Africa and beyond, to keep giving care and love to the less fortunate. Whilst in Zimbabwe I was involved with many charitable organizations and groups where my greatest passion and love was with the primitive, simple people of Zimbabwe, Africa and will still continue to reach out to the many beautiful children of the world.
Now living in the USA, after having traveled some short and some long journeys, to get to our final destination, we realize how small this world really is, yet is also so big and so beautiful in each and every corner. Still so much is untouched by humans, which will hopefully remain sacred in many areas. We have to cherish every and all beautiful things that our planet earth has to offer to us.
I'm having one of those grumpy mornings when all my gripes and moans are amplified by the kind of mood which makes you find even gamboling kittens rather irritating.
And nothing is worse during these times than a run-in with the terminally jolly.
Now I know I should not find happy, upbeat, positive people occasionally annoying. It's probably a heresy to say so but don't you sometimes suspect that it's all a bit of an act?
There are a myriad ways to shore up flakey self confidence and I don't doubt there's a lot of truth in the statement "fake it until you make it" but good God, please give the rest of us a break.
Actually, people who put a positive spin on everything run the risk of denying others the chance to experience their misery in glorious techicolour - which is often quite enjoyable, albeit for a short period of time. If you are insisting that everyone radiates sunshine, you force them to deny the storm clouds overhead and perhaps stop them from truly dealing with their problems.
I guess it's the difference between glass-half-full people (like the Husband) and glass-half-empty people like me. I've come to the conclusion that we are genetically programmed this way. Even in medieval times, doctors talked about 'the humours' and knew all about melancholia (possibly what we today know as depression).
If you happen to suffer from depression or anxiety (as I sometimes do), trust me when I say that you cannot whitewash your emotions by pretending to be happier than an Andrex puppy in a toilet roll factory.
You can change your state by changing your physiology - studies show if you smile you feel happier. We know that we can lift our mood by going for a walk or taking a nap. But these I think are temporary fixes and the source of our gloom still needs to be addressed and comprehensively dealt with.
Do us misery guts a favour and let us be who we are. If you must radiate sunshine and joie-de-vivre, could you do it quietly, and preferably without a witty slogan t-shirt and a selfie stick?
So no, I don't want to hear
"It'll all come out in the wash"
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that's why its called the present."
"Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.”
"Everything happens for a reason"
"Today is the first day of the rest of your life".
and any other phrase involving surviving. The only person qualified to talk to me about survival is Gloria Gaynor.
We married in late September at the fabulous St. David's Hotel & Spa in Cardiff. We knew we were taking a bit of a risk with the Great British weather but luckily we saw some sun. Nobody wants to shiver at the altar or need defrosting at their reception!
If you are planning an autumn or winter wedding, bridal wear specialists venusbridal.co.uk have given me their thoughts on wedding gowns suitable for the colder months.
From more budget-friendly prices to a better chance of getting the venue you want, there are many, many reasons to have a wedding in the autumn or winter months instead of a more typical spring or summer celebration. In fact in the world of weddings, autumn and winter could be seen as the new spring and summer.
But the best part of getting hitched in cooler months is definitely the wedding dresses, cover-ups and accessories an autumn or winter affair allows you to play around with. So after you’ve decided on the dress style that complements your body you can go wild with the colours of your wedding season.
Although a white wedding dress is perfect for any time of year, autumn and winter weddings give you a chance to be more adventurous with colour. A colourful gown will add drama to your wedding day look. But if you still prefer to be more traditional you can take elements of autumn and winter colours and add them to a white dress.
Autumn Colours
What about a dress that uses the hues of autumn – orange, deep rusty red, brown, olive and white gold? Or why not mix up the colours and go for a two tone wedding outfit.
Winter Colours
The colours associated with winter are stunning – red, gold and silver. Wintertime can provide a wedding with an entirely different feel by introducing more intensity and drama. Selecting a winter wedding dress can be a very different experience from any other time of the year and many winter brides wear bridal gowns with Christmas-themed colours and accents.
Fabrics
With the chillier weather, fabrics can be heavier and richer. You should think about using velvets, taffeta, satin, brocade and heavy silk. If you love lace choose a denser variety like Battenberg. Or you could create your own stylish, bespoke look - starting with a simple crêpe, satin or chiffon dress and layering everything from sequined overdresses and tiered skirts to washed silk sashes.
Staying warm and stylish
You don’t have to sacrifice style just because the weather is freezing. Keep cosy with some seasonal accessories such as a wedding dress cover up. It can be as simple as a light jacket, an angora cardigan or a cashmere wrap. Even a lace or satin bolero can add warmth. A capelet is another excellent cover-up option. Some may prefer a wedding dress with long sleeves; in fact, sleeved gowns are back in a big way. But you could also add to the drama of the event with a glamourous faux fur stole. Other popular choices include fur hand warmers and full-length coats in white.
Autumn and winter weddings allow you to bring out your playful side, from wedding bouquets that include berries and turning leaves to a winter wonderland venue. Let the cooler months bring colour to your special day.
With an almost endless choice, finding your wedding dress, whatever the season, is one of the most exciting parts about planning your big day.
This guest post was written by Venus Bridal, bridal gown designers and manufacturers who provide timeless, glamorous and diverse wedding gowns to stockists throughout the whole of the UK.
Recovering from Britmums Live 2015 and still marvelling at the sheer volume of mummy bloggers, their chutzpah, their confidence and their blogging prowess, I am sat in my 'writing chair' (mine in the day, the Husband's in the evening) trying to 'inspire, educate, entertain' and many of the other goals discussed over the weekend.
Except I can't.
Nope. It's an inset day and Caitlin and Ieuan are out playing in the garden whilst I sit here and feel what can best be termed as "extreme blogger guilt". The Husband is in the loft working from home today before flying off to Europe on business tomorrow. There is a kind of irony in that fact. He is being paid and therefore has no qualms in focusing solely on his job. He will appear as referee and sounding board for both the kids and I if need be, but he has none of the accompanying guilt I feel.
I, on the other hand, am somewhat confused about what I should be focusing on.
If you are a 'stay at home mother', even if you work from home (or are trying to create a new job role for yourself), it feels as if your 'job' is to focus entirely on the children.
Don't get me wrong. I chose this. And yes, I'm bloody lucky.
But the boundaries are all mixed up. I watch the kids play from the french doors' window and think "I should be out there with them. I am missing valuable moments of their childhood which I will never have again"
The blogger in me says "yes, but you are not just a mum. It is OK for you to try to re-establish yourself in the World, to create a niche, make the most of your education and help your husband to secure your kids' future (and, alright, to have some blogging-related fun times along the way).
It is not that wall-to-wall childcare is difficult in terms of 'technical ability' but the occasional mundanity and the sheer repetition can really grind you down - particularly if you have just had a (rare) two day break away from your kids and can just about still remember what it was like to have nobody to answer to but yourself, nobody else to worry about and nobody else's expectations to dash apart from your own!
The Husband has not had to make this choice and I'm not sure he altogether understands how vast a choice it feels like I have made sometimes.
Organisation is the key, I suppose. A timetable which allows me to focus on time with the kids and time blogging. The solutions are there - practicality should be my watchword.
But even then, I'm not sure it will heal the rift I feel between me as a mother and me as the professional working woman I once was.
As you get older your skincare preparations need to be a whole lot gentler. In fact, I think those of us over 40 have as big a job finding skincare products which truly suit us as teenagers fighting the blight of spots and blemishes (which I still occasionally get!).
For years I have viewed oils with a degree of suspicion. All those years of removing oil from my face (especially my nose) and now I'm supposed to start putting it back on?
51 and I still get hurty, angry skin
But, I have started experiementing with oil based products (for example L'Oreal's Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil and Sanctuary's Ultimate Cleaning Facial Oil) and my nervousness is definitely starting to abate.
I recently came across DermaEraze Miracle Oil - created by skin repair expert Lorena Öberg - CEO & Founder of 'Lorena Öberg Skincare'. Clinics in Harley Street & Surrey. An all purpose oil that helps heal the skin, it can be used as a moisturiser for dry skin, preventing and treating stretch marks (especially caused during pregnancy), after sun-care, bruises or chapped lips. It contains a combination of oils including olive, avocado and almond oils which, says Lorena, will help stimulate healing and helps prevent skin imperfections if used daily.
To use DermaEraze Miracle Oil as part of your cleansing routine, after using your usual cleanser, simply apply a couple of dabs or tiny drops to each side of your face, then apply warm water on your hands and very gently massage the oil over your face (including any problem areas) then allow to settle. The oil has a thin to medium consistency - it is not heavy or gloopy and I found that it is quickly absorbed.
The idea is that the oils will not only act as an essential conditioner for your skin but also provide a layer of protection and I certainly found my skin felt smoother and had benefited from the massaging. The dry patch to the side of my mouth was less flaky, albeit slightly redder from the massaging.
After applying DermaEraze Oil
It is obviously too early days to say how long it will take for DermaEraze Miracle Oil to get rid of my dry flaky patch, but it is certainly a gentler way of treating my skin than harsh exfoliation. The oil is multi-purpose too. You can also use the oil in the bath and on your hair and the Husband can use it to shave.
Available at: www.lorenaoberg.co.uk/contact/shop/, DermaEraze Miracle Oil retails at £15 for 50ml with larger sizes available and a flat £5 shipping fee within the UK.
