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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Choo choo - All aboard the LEGO DUPLO Number Train!

LEGO DUPLO Number Train

Jack was lucky to be sent a LEGO DUPLO Number Train to test and review. He had lots of fun building his very own toy train, then turning it into a cool number tower. He was very proud when he had finished and loved counting along each of the carriages; recognising each of the numbers.


A very proud Jack!
Watch out; Here comes the Number Train!

There are bright colourful bricks to make up the train carriages, with selected bricks featuring numbers from 1-10 to help develop basic counting skills during play. What better way to introduce children to numbers? The additional bricks will stimulate young imaginations, so why not make a number tower, station or a platform? Plus, every train needs a driver, so guide the train with the driver and let his dog guard over the station.

Odd numbers one side; even numbers the other.
1, 2, 3!
Bright blocks full of numbers!

Offering so many different ways to play, LEGO DUPLO is perfect for stimulating creativity and encouraging learning through role play amongst pre-schoolers ages 2-5 years. Designed for small hands and big imaginations, the colourful bricks are the ideal introduction to creative play and building, enabling a different adventure every day.


Monday, July 22, 2013

The Photo Lottery

The instructions are:

1. Open the first (oldest) photo folder in your computer library 
2. Scoll to the 10th photo 
3. Post the photo and the story behind it

 

This was our first photo-shoot together. I think jack was around 4/5 months old! Such a cute photo; I wish my fringe was clipped back so you could see my face but I love Jack's facial expression!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Battling with weight

I have always been a large & curvy girl. I would classify myself as an emotional eater. I eat when I am sad, happy, excited or even worried.

Back in 2006/2007 while at university, I started The Cambridge Diet and within 6 months I had reached my goal weight of 10 stone with a BMI of 24; I was full of self confidence and even took up a bit of modelling! It was great not being classified as OBESE.

During the last few weeks of my first year at university my hair became thin and I thought I had alopecia. I went along to my doctors and she said she would need to rule out pregnancy. I laughed and said "Ok, but there is no chance as I am on the pill". Within minutes of doing a test it turned positive. The doctor seems shocked and carried out another just to be certain. Again, this turned positive! I couldn't believe it. She felt my stomach and said I couldn't have been any more than a few weeks as I was not showing. She booked me in for a scan the following week.

I could not get my head around being pregnant. I didn't know what to tell my family. What would they think? I had just completed my first year at university; I didn't want to let them down. So, I said nothing until I had the scan. In my mind I would have an abortion if I was under 6 weeks.

Scan day came around quickly; as soon as the ultrasound wand touched my tummy, I looked at the screen and saw a perfect little baby with arms, legs and a strong heart beat. The technician confirmed I was around 18 weeks pregnant. I couldn't believe it. There was no way after seeing the little baby on the screen I could go through with an abortion. I had NO bump, I was STILL taking the pill and I had been out drinking over the easter bank holiday weekend.

I knew I would have to tell my Mum soon as I wasn't sure how long it would be before I started showing. I remember telling my Mum while standing at the top of the stairs; her reaction was totally unexpected. She was pleased to be a Nanny!

After I had Jack in December 2008 I was determined to loose the "baby weight" which I had gained. I wanted to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. But thats when I was diagnosed with postnatal depression. I was lucky to have the support of my Mum and my Health Visitor. But thats when the weight started creeping on. The more weight I put on, the less motivated I was to do anything about it. My relationship with food had become a tasty habit which needed to stop. 

I started to become more and more depressed. I'd stay in the house all the time and I turned down many social invitations. I didn't want to be seen. I felt like everyone was staring and judging me over my weight.

I have tried many different popular diets; but the weight still was creeping on. I felt embarrassed being weighed in front of a group of strangers, and I was always the girl with the most to lose. A lot has been going on with my life and it wasn't until today that I realised I NEED to do something about my weight. I am no longer happy & confident with myself.

Today, I feel I have taken the right steps and I am going to loose this weight.
I am back on The Cambridge diet. I am not doing this for anyone but myself; it's my choice and I truly want to be successful.