Mothers Day - Sunday 18th March

Mothers day for me this year was so special as it was my very first one as a new mother.  Phil and Olivia certainly made it a very special day for me.  The day started off perfectly with my husband and daughter waking me with me a card and a cup of tea.  The of course there was the present.

For a long time now, I wanted to buy a new camera so that we could take instant pictures of Olivia especially as she's growing up so fast.  The delay on our current Sony Cybershot was so long that we couldn't ever seem to capture Olivia smiling as she moves too quickly.  We'd been on the hunt for a while now to try and find a camera but we couldn't seem to find the right one.

Phil decided to take me shopping on Saturday to choose one.  He had picked out two that he thought I would like and this is the one that I went for, the Panasonic Lumix FZ48.  We bought it from my favourite department store, John Lewis as the customer service there is always excellent.  They didn't have the memory card we wanted, but we wanted to take pictures on the Saturday as Olivia had her first birthday party to go to and we also wanted to take pictures on Mothers Day.  John Lewis were great as they agreed to give us a memory card free of charge so that we could use the camera straight away.  Phil always says if you don't ask, you don't get, and in this instance he was right.

I don't know a lot about cameras.  I know enough to get by eg: how to use the settings etc, but I'm not a photographer by any means so I didn't need a really fancy one.  This one seemed to do everything I wanted, for example it takes instant shots, has a paparazzi setting, is fully HD, allows you to video, as well as having various scene settings for different effects.

It has a 24x optical zoom which allows you to take excellent close ups from across the room.

We even bought a really sturdy Lowepro protective case for it.

The only downside that I have come across so far is that the instruction manual is on a disk which is a bit of a pain especially if you want to look something up quickly.  There is a quick guide included but for some things it is a little too brief but it's enough to get you started so you can take pictures.  Also if you are not careful, you can sometimes catch your fingers when the zoom retracks automatically without warning, but I remembering that the more I use it.

My family mean the world to me and as it was Mothers Day it was really important for us to spend time as a family and for us to see my mum and Phil's mum.

It was also Phil's sisters birthday on the 19th March so I had a busy weekend making cupcakes for both our mums as well as for his sister's birthday.  This is the first time that I have made vanilla cupcakes with a vanilla butter cream and I really enjoyed making them and I can't wait to make more.  I've recently bought some excellent cook books for baking cakes and biscuits.  I have a feeling that this might start becoming a regular event in our house.  Although the dusting of icing sugar that seemed to coat the whole kitchen might become a little frustrating after a while.

How did you celebrate Mothers Day?  I really had a wonderful day and I wouldn't change anything about it.  At least Fathers Day isn't until June so it will give me plenty of time to plan something very special for Phil.

WW Update - Week 8

This is only going to be a quick post, but I wanted to start by saying that I'm sorry for not having a Weight Watchers update last week, but I wasn't feeling very well so I never went and got weighed. :(

This week I did go and I've managed to maintain my losing streak as I lost a further 2 1/2 lbs taking the grand total so far to 16 lbs.  As much as I'm pleased, I can't help but feel a little disappointed in myself as so far I haven't really been giving a hundred per cent.  Lately I've only been tracking my points mentally and at times I really haven't been sticking to the plan.  Really it's amazing that I've been losing weight at all considering, but it's frustrating to know that I could have lost so much more if I was following the diet properly and truly giving it my all.

Some days though when Olivia has been hard work to settle (she's usually so good, but every baby has their moments) the last thing I want to be thinking about is how many points certain foods are.  I therefore tend to grab something quick like a chocolate bar or cake to satisfy my hunger.  They might be the Weight Watchers versions but even still I should try and make the time to make myself have a proper breakfast and lunch.   Several times, I have even found myself guessing rather than weighing items which I know is wrong but it was just easier.

I feel that this week, I'm slowly trying to get my head around the Pro Points plan.  Phil and I are even having our grocery shopping delivered now so that it frees up more time on the weekend for us to spend together as a family.  It also means that I'm less likely to be lured into buying foods that I really shouldn't (especially those that are naughty).

So fingers crossed for this coming week.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to stick to the diet a little better than I have so far.  But I guess only time will tell!

Clothing/Shoe Haul for Olivia

I can't believe how fast Olivia is growing, soon she will be out of her 0-3 months clothes and will be in her 3-6 month ones.  I was really lucky to have a girl as my sister (who has two girls) gave me lots of baby clothes so a part from a few items, I didn't have to buy a lot.  Before Olivia was born I went through all the clothes I was given and I divided them into ages and separated them into different boxes (this also kept me busy whilst I was on maternity leave).  There was enough clothes to fill three large plastic boxes which was amazing.  Recently I had forgotten what I had been given so I went through all the boxes and completed a checklist (like an inventory) of everything I had been given so that I knew how many dresses, trousers etc I had and what I still needed to get.

One thing you need to know is that all the following items (except one) were bought from Next.  I adore the children's clothes from Next and I often buy clothes for work from there too.  The clothes always wash really well and they last which is really important to me.  There might be other shops that you could buy cheaper clothes from but I don't think that the prices are extortionate and you can often pick up some brilliant bargains in their sales (which they always seem to have).

One thing that I didn't have was shoes.  I know you have to be careful about what you put on babies feet as they can damage the development of them but this is more important once they start walking.  I had bought lots of socks and had been given a couple of pairs of booties but it has been driving me mad that as soon as you put them on, Olivia manages to take them off.  I wanted a pair of soft pram shoes that would prevent socks from coming off and would stay on her feet.  This is what I found and I am over the moon.



Pram Shoes by Next £8.50

I think these shoes are so adorable.  They are made of soft leather with a soft padded bottom for the foot.  They have a strap which is attached by velcro which means that they are easy to put on as well as staying secure on the foot (no more losing booties - hooray!)  I decided to get two pairs as I thought the white would go with most outfits and I have quite a few pink outfits that the pink ones would go with also.  They are also so cute that I just couldn't help myself.  These are in 3-6 months but they also do them in sizes up to 18 months, and I thought they were quite reasonably priced.

Currently Olivia has been wearing a lot of leggings and tops which have proven to be extremely practical for during the day (as well as for changing her bottom in emergencies) and so I wanted to find some in the next size up.  The following pictures show two outfits (purchased as sets) which are both coral/pink and consist of leggings with a longer top and I thought they were both really pretty.  Olivia was also born with a lot of hair, which has been growing rapidly (she may need a haircut very soon) and I was able to buy matching hairbands which are fastened with velcro to wear with these outfits.

Two Piece Jersey Set £12 

Two Piece Jersey Set £12

Jersey Hairbands Two Pack £4.50

The following outfit is one that you don't need to wear a pair of shoes with and that's because the leggings have feet attached.  I really like pastel clothes and Mamas and Papas always seem to have a good range.  I thought this was a really pretty outfit and although the clothes are slightly more expensive than Nexts, they are still quite reasonable.



2 Piece Jersey Set - Approx £22

 The next dress was part of the Winter collection from Next so I'm not sure if you can get it any more but I thought it would be perfect for Sunday lunches out etc.  The dress is a corduroy material so it is quite warm, which is perfect for the cold weather we are having at the moment.  It also came with a long sleeve vest which is great as it means it can be mixed with other dresses and not just this one.

Cord Dress by Next Originally £18

Something that I don't think you can have enough of and that are sleep-suits or baby-grows.  Whatever you prefer to call them.  I already had a few of these (some which my sister gave me and a couple given as gifts) but I wanted to get some more.  Most places offer sets and I thought this pack of three suits were adorable.  Nexts current collection seems to consist of quite a lot of pinks/coral/orange colours which I happen to quite like but I know it's not for everyone.

Cat Sleepsuits Three Pack £14-£15

The final item that I bought was this dress from Next.  I bought it in the size 6-9 months as I thought it would be lovely for Olivia during the Summer months as it is a light weight cotton.  Plus it can be paired with a white cardigan if it slightly cooler.  

Dress by Next £12

I am always on the look out for things for Olivia and I know that when the sales next come round I'll be buying a few things that she can wear for this time next year so that I can start stocking up on the basics.

As children grow out of clothing and shoes so quickly I know that it is important to not get carried away with buying everything I see but perhaps I can get just a few things - just don't tell the hubby!

If you would like to see more posts about hauls for Olivia, then please subscribe!

Dear Beauty... 3 Months Old

Dear Beauty,

Time is going by so fast.  I can't believe that you are 3 months old today.  It seems like it was only yesterday that I found out I was pregnant and that my life would change - for the better.  I love being a mum, and I never knew I could love someone so much (besides your daddy and our family of course).  You are my absolute world and I would do anything for you.

Olivia on the day she was born

On the 21st November at 9.56 am (after a rather long labour) you decided to enter into our lives weighing 8 lbs 10 oz.  Since that moment when I first held you in my arms, I have never wanted to protect someone so much, and I will continue to protect you every day for the rest of your life.  On that very first day, even though I had only just laid eyes on you, I knew you.  We have a special bond like no other, and we always will.

I'm sure every parent says this about their child, but Olivia, you truly are perfect.  You are such a happy and contented baby, your daddy and I couldn't wish for anything more.  Every time you smile at me my heart melts and I look forward to what every new day brings. 

I only have 4 months left before I have to go back to work full time.  It makes me sad to think about it, as I'm afraid of what I will miss out on when I am not around.  Luckily I go back to school for 3 weeks and then we break up for the summer holidays, so at least daddy and I will have 6 weeks off with you.  But I know that every day that I am away from you will be such a struggle.  To be honest I don't want any one to know you more than me.  I am your mummy and I should be the one that is there for you.  The only consolation is that at least Nanny and Grandma will be looking after you whilst I am at work, so I know that you will be in safe hands.  Plus know that every day that I am away from you, you will always be in my thoughts.

On a more positive note, at least I do still have 4 months off with you, some parents aren't as lucky.  Seeing just how much you have changed over the last 3 months, I can't wait to see how much you will develop over the next 3.  When will you start crawling, or start eating solids?  Will your eyes stay blue or turn brown like mine.  Who knows.  But I will enjoy every minute of you changing and discovering new things.

When you were born, I was so overcome with emotions.  Wondering whether or not I would be a good mother and how I would know what to do.  Some times I surprise myself when instinctively I know what to do, especially if you are crying.  As every day passes, it has become easier and being a mum has begun to feel more natural.  It's hard to imagine what my life was like before you were born and to be honest I wouldn't want my life any other way.  I feel as though you have always been with us and as everyday passes I feel so blessed that you are a part of my life.

To my beautiful baby girl, I love you with all my heart and always will.

...With Love x

What's in my handbag?

Whenever someone holds my bag they always ask what I have in it as it is so heavy.  I don't think that it's that heavy, but I do carry quite a lot with me as you never know what you might need.  That and the fact that I can never be bothered to have a good clear out.

Well, today was the day when I thought enough was enough and finally I would have a look at what I have been carrying around with me for so long.

So here it is...my handbag and it's contents!

Before people judge me for having a Louis Vuitton, I want to state that I do not have lots of designer things, in fact I had wanted a LV bag for a long time and this was a first year anniversary present from my husband.  I love this bag so much and it is my pride and joy.  It is a Speedy 30 (in Monogram Canvas) which is the perfect size for me, I found the next size up to be too big, especially to use on a daily basis, whilst this one is just the right size for everything I want to have with me.

 The following picture is an overview of the contents of my bag and as you can see I carry an awful lot of "stuff" around with me on a daily basis.  Before you see inside, let me just say that this was not planned and the contents below is a true reflection of what's in my bag - I did not remove or add any items  - what would be the point! 

 So this is what I'm currently carrying around with me - a tad too much I think - but if it fits, then why not!  Let's have a closer look.  I've broken the contents up so you can see the contents in more depth.

  



• Hall Soothers Throat Sweets in Cherry flavour (not my favourite but I had a sore throat recently and I was desperate), plus a wrapper
• Car key
• 10p in change - not sure why this was loose in my bag
• Freedent chewing gum - only one left
• House keys - also has a mini torch and a Disney key ring
• iPhone 3GS (looking rather dirty) and phone case
• Dior mirror (inside pouch)
• Weight Watchers Gold Membership card

• Mac Makeup bag (Graphic Garden collection, bought in San Francisco) - contents to be shown in a future post
• Kleenex Balm tissues - my favourite as they don't hurt your nose
• Old shopping list
• Receipt
• One of Olivia's toy rattles - just in case she wants to play
• Muslin cloth - for those sick moments
• Sainsburys coupon
• Hair clip
• Mac zip purse  (Graphic Garden collection) - contents in a picture below

• Curtain hooks - we're putting up blackout curtains in Olivia's room
• Olivia's booties - they never stay on her feet
• Weight Watchers Eat Out guide - so I can try and keep to my diet if I eat out
• Louis Vuitton purse - Zippy Wallet in Monogram Canvas
• Receipt - JoJo Maman Bebe
• Compact hairbrush/mirror
• Glasses & case
• Little Brown Bag zip purse - contents below

• 3 pens - don't know why
• Weight Watchers Strawberry Hearts and Mint Humbugs (2 points for the whole box)
• Antiseptic throat spray - I've had a sore throat
• Glasses - cheap pair from Accessorize
• Weight Watchers points calculator
• Prescription ticket
• Mini Nivea deodorant

• Contains car key for our other car and loyalty cards for Tesco and Sainsburys
• Keys for my parents house

• 2 pairs of spare contact lenses
• Saline drops
• Kirby grips
• Hair clips

The picture below shows the layout inside my Louis Vuitton Zippy purse (this was a birthday present from Phil).  I love this purse as it can hold so much.  It can hold 12 cards although I tend to double mine up in places.  It has an additional sections behind these on both side as well as a zipped compartment for coins in the middle and another section where you can put notes.  It can also hold my iPhone, so you can use the purse as a clutch on nights out - which is one of the reasons why I wanted this one.  It has the same Monogram Canvas pattern to match my bag.

So that is the contents of my bag.  Like I have already mentioned, nothing was added or removed so this is a true reflection of what I carry around with me on a daily basis.  There is a lot of items I know, but I always like to be prepared just in case I might need something.  I would like to reduce the amount of things I carry, especially as Olivia is getting heavier to carry, this bag isn't really ideal.  But I see this bag as an investment and something that I will have for a very long time.

The Comforter...to be or not to be?

Every baby needs a comforter don't they?  Well, I certainly think they do but perhaps that's because I had one as a child and I loved how it calmed me and helped me to sleep.  There are so many different kinds of comforters on the market today but I thought I'd share the two that Olivia loves.



Comforter Soft Toy £10.50 from Mamas & Papas
Pacifier £1.99 for a pack of 2 from Boots

 The Soft Toy:

Olivia is quite young at the moment to really hold this but we place Crumble (a comforter from Mamas and Papas) either next to her or under her right arm whenever she goes to sleep (day or night) as well as when she is in her car seat or in the pram and it seems to help to calm her.  This could be purely down to routine as it is something that we have done since birth and so now that she is 10 weeks old she may expect it.  We were bought several soft toys to be used as comforters but I have to admit that this is my favourite.  I like that it is made of several different textures which she can hold on to or rub as well as being a finger puppet which can be used during play time.

One piece of advice I was given with regards to comforters was to always have a back-up.  This was very true when I was a child as my first comforter (a pink material doll from Fisher Price) disappeared.  I think that it was in fact thrown in the bin as it had disintegrated quite a lot and was even held together with a safety pin.  Luckily my parents had the exact same one (brand new of course) which I too began to disintegrate over time.  I wanted the same for Olivia.  This was also proved right earlier on this week when Ben (my In-Laws dog decided to chew the nose off Crumble leaving him in a very sorry state - they quickly went to purchase a replacement, so no harm done - just proves that back-ups are so important.

At the moment Olivia hasn't become too attached to her comforter so it wouldn't be the end of the world if she lost it, however when she's older I didn't want her to be upset if her comforter became lost or disintegrated especially if she is still very young so I have purchased another one just in case.  As you can see from the picture, this is the spare one as it still has the tags on.   I will also get her used to having other comforters as well for example a muslin cloth (I have so many that she wouldn't know which is hers and they can all be washed) so that she always has something that can soothe her.

The Pacifier:

Some people agree with giving a dummy to an infant whist others are strongly against it.  I was always a thumb sucker (and as a result had to have a brace on my top row of teeth for a year) however I was very open minded about waiting to see what Olivia would want.  Very early on we gave her a dummy to help to calm her especially when she was overtired.  Whether or not you agree with this is up to you, but for us it was the right decision at the time.  We tried various kinds of dummies including ones that are suppose to be good for her teeth (when they arrive) but finally settled on the Cherry type soothers, mainly because these were the ones she liked. 

Does every child take to a dummy?  The answer is simply no, just as the same would be for children who suck their thumbs.  I have several friends who wanted their child to take to a dummy but they just didn't and no one knows why and the last thing you want to do is to force them to take one.

Does she have the dummy all the time?  Again the answer is no.  Usually we give Olivia a dummy after she has eaten and to help with wind, and as she is going to sleep to help to soothe her.  Most often she spits the dummy out of her mouth once she has had enough and if she does this then we leave her. 

How long will she have a dummy for?  I don't know the answer to that one.  There are pros and cons to both sucking a thumb and using a dummy.  She tries to suck her fingers and hands but at the moment they are so small that they just don't soothe her enough.  Also she hasn't quite mastered the co-ordination to keep her hand in place for very long.  I guess only time will tell.  At the moment she still sleeps in our room so it isn't a problem putting the dummy back in her mouth if she becomes unsettled during the night.  This will of course become a lot more problematic once she goes into her own room.  Maybe then I might have to re-think the whole dummy situation and try to encourage her to find her thumb but I don't know.  Also it's easier to ween her off a dummy than a thumb. 

It's a big decision for any new mum to decide whether or not to give their child a comforter of any kind, all I do know is that at this moment in time she seems to like her dummy and if Olivia is happy and content then that's all that matters.

My Weekend

This weekend we didn't really do that much which surprisingly was really nice.  Saturday consisted of us all having a lie in which was most needed.  Then whilst Phil was keeping Olivia occupied I was able to have a nice long shower, wash my hair and slowly get myself ready.  With my parents, Grandpa and In-laws we all decided to meet at our local country pub for lunch (something that we haven't done in a while) and it was really nice for everyone to be together.  We are very lucky as our local are not opposed to children being present which is great for us, but Olivia was such a good girl that no one really noticed she was there.  They even helped us to prepare her bottle (unlike other places that wouldn't even give us hot water - instead we had to buy a cup of tea and ask for the T-bag on the side just so we could heat her bottle).  

After a couple of hours with Phil trying to watch part of the rugby (Italy v Scotland I think - I have no idea what the final score was) we took a quick stroll back home as it was freezing.  The rest of the afternoon consisted of my sister-in-law and her boyfriend looking after Olivia whilst Phil and I went food shopping (oh the joys of married life).  The weather forecast heavy snow over the weekend and it was so busy in Salisbury's that people were acting as though the world was going to end with so many people panic buying.  The same thing happens every year when they forecast snow...suddenly the country can't cope and everything goes into shut down mode. 

Once home, we all curled up on the sofa and watched the film "Just Go With It" staring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston.  Surprisingly it was a really good film, although it was more of a watch or TV rather than pay to go to the cinema sort of film but it certainly made us all have those laugh out loud moments which was great especially as there isn't normally anything good to watch on Saturday evenings.  We must sound like such a boring couple - staying in on a Saturday night, but that's the reality of having a child as you can't go out as much or you just don't want to.  I don't mind, with the weather being so cold at the moment I'm more than happy to stay wrapped up in the warm, plus I know it won't be forever.  Once Olivia reaches half term (which is only next week - woo hoo!) we are going to start putting her in her own room plus arrange for a couple of nights out and the Grandparents are going to babysit - this should then allow us a little more freedom - we shall see!

On to Sunday and what a beautiful morning to wake up and see SNOW.

Not a great picture I know but this was taken at 6.30 am on my camera phone.  As predicted we received about 5-10cm of snow which made everything look as though it had been sprinkled with icing.  Unfortunately we didn't have any more throughout the day and we didn't really want to take Olivia out in it (can't wait for next year when she'll be able to play in it and build snowmen) so we battled down the hatches and stayed in doors.  Usually this would make us feel some what claustrophobic not being able to go out (especially Phil) but it was actually nice.   Phil has a lie-in and I completed my exercise DVD which made me feel really energised (but I'm certainly feeling it today, although I'm not as bad as I was the last time I completed it).  I made a large ratatouille for dinner with chicken and rice and we spent quality time together as a family whilst watching "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" (the first Pirates is my favourite though but this one was still good).

So that was my weekend.  I wish the snow had come last night as Phil might have been able to have the day off work but unfortunately his school is open as normal today so he had to go in.  Olivia is currently asleep and I'm about to wake her up and get her washed and dressed.  I'm off to Weight Watchers tonight so I'll up date how I have done tomorrow.  Until then!

WW Update + Sleep

I went to Weight Watchers last night to have my first weigh-in to see how much I had lost.  I'm pleased to say that I managed to lose 5 1/2 lbs.  I was so pleased as I had been really good over the last week and made sure that I tracked everything that I ate.  I know some people might find that quite tedious having to write everything down but for me it allows me to see how much I'm eating and ensure that I stay on track and not exceed my points allowance.  I was surprised that I managed to cope with planning out what I was eating, especially as Olivia's routine isn't quite settled just yet but each day I made sure that I knew what I was having so that I didn't just raid the cupboards and snack as I had been doing.  Instead I made sure that I was eating proper meals especially at lunch time.

Overall the whole class did really well loosing collectively over 8 stone in weight in just one week which is amazing.  One gentlemen even lost an outstanding 13 lbs in his first week.  I'm not deluded though - as I have been to Weight Watchers before I know that the you usually lose the most during your first week and then the weight loss settles down to anything from 1/2 lb to 2 or even 3 lbs.  Although it might take longer to lose the weight this way, I do know that it will stay off in the long run and at the end of the day that's what I want.

So I'm extremely positive about the week ahead of me and hope that over the next few weeks I really will be on the way to a slimmer me.

SLEEP UPDATE:  A quick update on how Olivia is doing during the nights.  Well, I wasn't able to repeat the 5.30 am wake up but she did get close a few times by waking at around 4 am.  Last night however she was back to waking at 2.30 am and in the end I fed her at about 3.20 am and then she went straight back off to sleep until 7 am this morning.  Yesterday she definitely seemed a lot more tired during the day and tended to nap for longer and I think this was probably why she woke up earlier during the night.  Over the weekend my husband and I tried to keep her up more during the day and although this meant that she did sleep better at night, she was quite grouchy and overtired at times during the day.  So at the moment I'm not really sure what to do for the best.  She was so tired yesterday (probably as a result of the weekend) that I let her sleep as she's growing and needs it, so I think I'm going to take it from her lead and let her sleep if she wants to. 

At the end of the day as a first time mum it really is trial and error and I think that waking once in the night isn't bad at all and she is such a happy and contented baby that I must be doing something right!

A lighter side of me

I have to admit that I've always been conscious of my weight and when I was pregnant I wasn't prepared for how I would feel about my changing body.  That being said in the early months of pregnancy before I had established a "bump" I found the changes to my body increasingly hard to deal with and often felt "fat".  It didn't matter how many people said to me "you are not fat, you're pregnant", I couldn't shift the negative feelings about my body.  I have always been happy with the upper part of my body but I was very conscious of having a larger bum and hips (unfortunately something that runs in my family) and I often felt out of proportion.  It wasn't until I had developed a proper bump at around 7 or 8 months that I started to enjoy my body, and stopped wondering whether other people thought I was fat or pregnant.  Also at this time I could feel Olivia kick and move on a regular basis, and realising that I was soon to go on maternity leave and meet my baby girl I began to feel comfortable in my body and enjoy being pregnant.

During my pregnancy I didn't want to feel stressed about putting on weight so I made sure that the bathroom scales were hidden away.  I wanted to eat what I wanted and focus on the health of the baby and not about my weight.

Fast forward to 7 weeks post partum and I now have new body issues to contend with, the prominent one being do I still look pregnant to others and how can I lose the weight I've gained.  I know I shouldn't care about what other people think but unfortunately I do and I can't help it.  Like I've said I've always been conscious about my weight and perhaps I will delve into this in the future in a different post. 

Before I got married in 2009 I wanted to lose about 1 stone which I did by joining Weight Watchers.  I actually lost about 1 1/2 stone and managed to reach my goal weight and became a Gold member.  I knew that Weight Watchers worked for me and helped me to lose weight sensibly and healthily so this Monday I went to re-join.  I was very nervous about being weighed as I hadn't even gone near any scales in over 9 months but as soon as I saw my weight on the monitor I knew that I'd made the right decision as I had put on just over 2 stone.  With a holiday booked in July (it will be Olivia's first and I can't wait) I want to ensure that I can wear a bikini with confidence and get back into all my summer clothes as I really don't want to have to buy a new wardrobe even though I'd like to.  The best thing about my re-joining was discovering that as I am a Gold member and as I have just had a baby, I don't have to pay for 6 months which is another incentive to lose the baby weight as I can get the help and support I need for free.

Usually I wouldn't stay for the meetings but Weight Watchers has changed with the introduction of the new Pro Points system and as this was new to me I wanted to make sure that I knew what I was doing.  Plus now that I'm on maternity leave it was nice to see and meet new people.  I also bought the Deluxe Starter kit for £19.95 which includes a calculator which you can use to work out the Pro Points of any foods (very convenient) as well as an Eat Out guide, Shop book, Journal, highlighter pen, money off vouchers and a shopping list pad.  I also bought a pedometer (although I've yet to try this out but I thought it would be useful when I go on my walks with Olivia) and some food menu cards which contain 20 recipes.  Some might say I'd gone a tad overboard but when I'm determined to do something, having things to help are always handy.

So, I have 6 months in which I am going to try and get as close to my goal weight as possible.  I'm not quite brave enough to post my actual weight but I will post as to whether or not I have lost any weight at my weekly weigh-ins and how much.  Wish me luck as I know I'll need it!

Sleep...Oh how I've missed thee!

One of my favourite things to do is sleep.  There's nothing better than having a hot bubble bath followed by getting into a bed with freshly washed sheets and curling up under the duvet.  However this seems like a distant memory since having my baby girl just 7 weeks ago.  Even when I was pregnant (during the 3rd trimester especially) I wasn't able to sleep properly and I would often wake up between 12 and 3 am and not be able to get back to sleep. 

I love my daughter and woudn't change a thing, but I do look forward to the time when she is able to sleep through the night and for me to not wake up on hearing every sound that she makes.  I know when she goes into her own room this will help but at the moment i'm too scared as she seems so little to be on her own. 

I have to admit that Olivia is a very good sleeper...everyone keeps telling me "she's such a good baby" and she truly is.  From approximately 2 weeks old Olivia was able to go to sleep at 10 pm and only wake once during the night to be fed before getting up to be fed at 7am.  However last night my dream came true and she slept from 10.30pm until 5.30am when she started to get unsettled but her eyes were still shut and she didn't feed until 7am. 

My question now is, was this a fluke or is she on the right path now to sleeping through the night?  If only I could ask her and she could tell me if there was anything I did that helped her to sleep better.  Perhaps it was the way she was swaddled or the fact that she didn't sleep too much during the day.  I guess I will never know.  All that's left to say is fingers crossed that she will sleep through tonight!