William has a word that is just too cute, he calls a window a nunu! Oh I love it! His favourite song is and always has been Wind the Bobbin’ Up where he sings confidently, ‘Point to the ceiling, point to the floor, point to the nunu, point to the door!’ It melts my heart!

Another thing that melts my heart is seeing our beautiful Matilda Mae out and about in her Nunu!

Just before Matilda was born I became the very proud owner of a Chicco Nunu courtesy of the fabulous team at Azaria PR.

This is the pram that I had coveted for Matilda from almost as soon as she was conceived and certainly from as soon as we knew she was going to be a girl. This is such a great pram for a girl!

For a start it is not so much a pram as a pramette! It is very light and small and perfect for a Mummy who does not want to be lifting heavy weights in and out of her car.

It is very compact when folded up so if you have a small house, no storage or own multiple buggies then this little buggy will not take up much room.

This is a stylish pram. It is so pretty to look at and has wonderful girly embellishments such as the rosettes. I love that it ooozes femininity as I am mostly going to be using it when it is just Matilda and Me! Girls together round town!

This is the pram that I will be taking to Brit Mums Live as it is so comfortable for Matilda and so so easy for me. I have been amazed actually at just how easy it is after the struggle I have had testing other pushchairs particularly many of the doubles. I even struggled with our Easywalker at the start but the Nunu has been a breeze!

At the moment we use it in pram mode but it is a complete travel system and comes with it’s own equally elegant car seat. This makes getting out and about even easier for short trips as you can just click the car seat on to the chassis and away you go.

Newborns should ideally be lying flat in their prams, particularly when sleeping, and so I favour the carry cot mode. It is easy to assemble the pramette in this way and is one of my highlights of the Nunu that is so quick and easy to get in and out of the car. The carry cot is soft and Matilda always sleeps soundly when inside.

The Nunu looks great and I push it proudly round town when I go with Matilda and we have also taken it with the Easywalker on family days out. It is easy to push on smooth surfaces but has not yet been tested on rough terrain.

This is a long term review of the Chicco Nunu and so there will be regular posts coming up in the future about the different features of this timeless classic full of modern innovation and ideas including an indepth product review.

But also …

I will be taking the pramette to Brit Mums Live adorned with a Bundlebean and a Snoozeshade courtesy of my fabulous sponsors!!

I will write a special Brit Mums review of how the Nunu copes with life on public transport in and around London Town.

Next week we will be taking the Nunu to the zoo!

In August we will be taking the Nunu to Devon on holiday where it will be tested on moors and beaches and much more besides.

On Sunday the Nunu will be with us as we celebrate the Jubilee but it will not, I am afraid, be able to attend the olympics!

I will share with you our thoughts as we move from pramette mode to car seat mode and finally to forward facing buggy mode.

There are many roads yet untravelled for Matilda and her lovely Nunu and for William and his love of nunus!!

We were sent one Chicco Nunu Complete Travel System for the purposes of this review and the others in the ongoing series.

The first thing that I have to say is that I am totally in love with our new daughter. For much of her time with us so far she has been a dream to look after but now she is more awake and making her place in the family known.

Matilda Mae likes to have Mummy’s full time attention and as David is now back at work this is something that just cannot be done.

Today has been a particularly bad day or at least it felt that way at times but now looking back on it I know that it could have been so much worse.

Yesterday was a great day. I felt elated and in control. Today I felt I fumbled my way through the day and I had a lot of support from David.

I would like to tell you about our days and would welcome any comments, advice or thoughts.

When I say that David is back to work, I must ensure you realise that he works from home and so he is mostly here if I need him. But I have to try and not rely on that fact because he needs the time to work, especially as we are about to buy a house!

But anyway …

On Monday we woke up at the same time as Esther and William. David took them downstairs to get ready for breakfast whilst I fed Matilda and got her dressed. I also got myself dressed before going down for breakfast with David and the twins.

I then got the bags packed for the day ahead while David dressed Esther and William. David then went for his shower whilst I made towers with Esther and William and did some singing.

Matilda was asleep. I stupidly changed her nappy just as we left the house for our Monday morning music class which meant that she was awake and screaming as we went to the car.

David helped me get everyone to the car and then off we went.

I hate the sound of Matilda crying. It breaks my heart, shreds my nerves and makes my breasts feel like they may burst. Trying to drive with her crying was horrible. I completely forgot where we were going and sped off in completely the wrong direction. Thankfully I noticed before we had gone too far and adjusted our route accordingly.

As Matilda stopped crying Esther and William started their song requests. I am now a master of one handed Wind the Bobbin’ Up whilst driving the car!

When we arrived at our class there was a parking space available right by the door so it was easy to get Esther and William to walk into class whilst I carried Matilda in her carseat.

She slept peacefully through most of the class and after a breastfeed to the tune of ‘Six Little Ducks’ she slept peacefully all the way home. Esther and William loved their class and I am so glad that we made the effort to go. The fact that it went so smoothly will hopefully mean that I will have the confidence to take them all again next week.

We made it home without incident. Had some ‘hot toast’ and then Esther and William went to sleep leaving me time to feed myself and Matilda and enjoy a new baby snuggle.

When Esther and William got up again we had some lunch and read stories. We built more towers, did some shape sorting and stacking and sang lots of songs.

Matilda was finding it hard to get any sleep and so David wore her in a Hug a Bub for a couple of hours while he worked allowing her to sleep and me to remember how much I adore being with Esther and William.

I think having two weeks where my main focus was Matilda led me to forgetting how much fun I have with Esther and William and how much I love being with them. I was too full of fear of how I would cope with Matilda and them all together. I have no confidence in my own ability as a mother and always think the worst of a situation. Really I should be confident and say to myself that I can do this. Because of course I can. People do. And if others do then why can’t I?

Monday was a success. I felt empowered as a Mummy of three.

Monday night did not go well. Matilda fed every 90 minutes all night. It was also incredibly hot. Matilda and I woke up a sweaty, milky mess on Tuesday morning. So as is our routine David took Esther and William down to get ready for breakfast. I joined them for a quick bowl of Cheerios before showering myself and bathing Matilda Mae.

It is now Thursday lunch time and I could not finish this post as I cannot remember what happened on Tuesday but I know that it was not that bad a day and I also know that the reason I was struggling is that both Matilda and I were coming down with a stomach bug.

I was up all of Tuesday night being sick and suffering from stomach cramps and I lost all of Wednesday in a fever. I literally could not get out of bed. David was wonderful as always and had Esther and William so all I had to do was feed Matilda, often while simultaneously being sick. Yuck!

David has taken today off work too as I am still feeling weak and nauseous mostly because I cannot bring myself to eat anything though I have now eaten a handful of salty crisps.

Matilda has not been sick but yesterday she was very sleepy with awful nappies that continued all through last night. Today she is the opposite and is really restless and seems unable to settle even on me.

I was worried that my milk supply may have been affected but I don’t think so as when she is not feeding fully I am still leaking milk.

I think that a sickness and fever on top of breastfeeding just three weeks post partum has really knocked my recovey from the birth, mentally and emotionally as well as physically.

It does mean that Esther and William have had a few extra days with Daddy which they have loved. I feel like I have not been a proper Mummy to them for weeks now. That is not a good feeling to have.

On a positive note it would seem that David and I have bought ourselves a house so that is something to look forward to as we are in desperate need of more space. It also means that we can start looking for a pre school for Esther and William ready for September. They seem to have grown up so much in the last few weeks and are more than ready for some time away from Mummy and with other children. This will also ensure that Matilda gets the time that she needs.

So not the best beginning what with jaundice and cracked nipples, then one by one each member of our family of five being struck down with the dreaded bug, but now we have something to look forward to and the sun is shining so hopefully our road will be smoother from here on in.

And even on the worst of days I just have to look at our beautiful children and know that they are worth all of this and more.

Even though I seem to have had a run of bad luck I think that I am actually the luckiest mummy alive!

In her very short time with us Matilda has caused us some concerns with her feeding and I have so far turned to Twitter and Facebook for advice. Getting out to breastfeeding groups with three children under two is just not always possible.

So when Bump PR sent me this I was very excited and knew I would promote the iniative through my blog as well as taking part.

The breast of partnerships to support mums

Medela are delighted to announce that they have teamed up with babyworld.co.uk to launch the Breastfeeding Café, a monthly web chat to provide mums with a fun and interactive support forum.

Once a month mums are invited to join the live café session, to share their breastfeeding stories and tips, as well as ask questions and get advice from the experts. These monthly events are a unique opportunity for mums to get support from Medela’s lactation consultant and babyworld’s independent midwife.

As the country’s leading parenting website, babyworld.co.uk provides a trusted place for mums to meet, and find the information they need.

The site gives mums support in all aspects of parenting, but this new partnership with Medela certainly marks their commitment to becoming a respected forum for breastfeeding mums.

With more than 20 years of experience working with breastfeeding mothers Medela’s lactation expert, Sioned Hilton, is able to guide mums through every breastfeeding hurdle. She’ll be helping with specific issues and advising on general breastfeeding concerns, the advice will be friendly and practical with the latest in research based finding and peer-to-peer tips sitting happily alongside each other. The partnership has created a unique platform for those seeking support and information. Thanks to the Breastfeeding Café, mums have the chance to engage with experts on a personal level without having to leave the comfort of their own home. Babyworld.co.uk and Medela hope these sessions will provide a space for general discussion, sharing advice and for mums to realise they are never alone.

As well as responding to individual concerns, each month there will be expert advice posted on topics relevant to both expectant and breastfeeding mums therefore allowing mums to browse the site in their own time to pick up other top tips. Topics will cover everything from how the body changes during pregnancy through to breastfeeding for working mothers.

The Breastfeeding Café will be held once a month on a Wednesday and in order to reach as many mums as possible, Sioned and babyworld’s advisors will run two separate sessions throughout the day – at lunch and in the evening – each lasting one hour. Not only is the café set to provide great support it is ensuring it is accessible to as many mums as possible.

Speaking about the new service, Debbie Bird, Editor of babyworld.co.uk ‘said ‘Working with Medela allows us to provide great support to our members and on a personal level. We hope the café will be a great success and mums will feel they can come to Babyworld.co.uk with their queries and concerns.’

Sioned added:’ The Breastfeeding Café is a brilliant platform to connect with mums all across the country, I hope they really enjoy the regular events and benefit from logging in each month.’

As part of this campaign mums are also being encouraged to organise their own café sessions so they can enjoy the benefits of support from fellow mums. Each month there will great prizes up for grabs, to help mums set up their own café.

The first breastfeeding café will take place on 23rd May, and is set to be very popular!

I, for one,will definitely be there and would love to chat to you x

Matilda on Mummy

Aaaarrrrrggghhhhhh!!

Can We Keep Her?

On Friday I was feeling bright and confident. I told my best friend I was ready to take back the reins from Daddy and be alone each working day with all our children. I really was feeling positive and certain I could do it.

Then Friday night Daddy started to feel ill. Saturday night and Esther was ill. Sunday morning William. A stomach bug it would seem as entered our house and ripped my positive thinking to shreds. I only hope that I am not next in line to get it. And I am praying for it not to reach Matilda.

Matilda Mae x

Now instead of feeling refreshed and relaxed and raring to go, I feel exhausted and emotional. Instead of feeling organised and ready for the day, I just feel terrified.

Esther was so sick on Saturday night. Our house is full of wet washing and we have no spare bedding left. William has just pooed through his last pair of pyjamas and so is asleep in an old pair of Esther’s. There is nothing clean and dry left so I am hoping beyond hope that no one is ill tonight.

Daddy ended up sleeping downstairs with Esther last night so he could be there for her when she was sick. Consequently he did not get much sleep for himself.

I was up every two hours with Matilda, feeding and changing her nappies.

Today Matilda cannot settle unless she is suckling. I think that her tummy may be hurting too.

Esther and William have been very emotional since Matilda came. They have had their Daddy’s undivided attention for the last two weeks and still their days have been filled with tears and tantrums. How on earth are they going to cope with the times it is just them and me, and I am dividing my attentions between three?

Tomorrow the plan is this

Daddy will get up with Esther and William, give them their breakfast and get them dressed. I have already laid out their clothes for the day.

I will use this time to get myself and Matilda ready, sort the washing, get the twins cots ready for nap time, eat my breakfast, prepare the twins lunch and pack the change bag for the day.

At 9.45 Daddy will help me load all the babies into the car and we will go to our music class which is from 10.30 – 11.15.

We will get home at 12.00 when we will have lunch and then watch something short on TV before Esther and William go down for their nap. They usually nap for between an hour and 90 minutes.

At 13.30 we will have a drink and a little snack.

At 14.30 we will go out for a walk or play in the garden as it is going to be sunny. I think we will probably play in the garden as I am yet to go out walking on my own with all three of them.

At 17.00 Daddy will come and play for a bit with Esther and William. I will prepare their tea which they will eat with Daddy whilst I get everything ready for bedtime and sort more washing, tidy up and sort out everyone’s clothes for the next day.

Daddy will give the twins their bath before we all have a snuggle before bedtime.

Sounds so easy when you write it down but that has not included any feeding of Matilda or what we will actually do in the afternoon.

It does not convey times like this evening where Matilda has basically fed non stop from 5pm to 8.30pm and I have not been able to help with toddler tea or very much of bedtime. What do I do tomorrow? Not feed the baby? Ignore the toddlers for 3 hours? How am I supposed to make this work?

Before Matilda was born I was convinced that these early days would be easy. Now I am not so sure.

Duing her first two weeks I thought she was going to be easy to slot in to our already established routines now I know that my assumption was wrong.

Being a house of sickness has totally taken the wind from my sails and I am not certain I know how to get going again.

Any words of advice or just of encouragement before the new day dawns would be very much appreciated.

And I will let you know tomorrow if we all survive!!

We Three!

When you hold your beautiful new baby in your arms you are in awe of what you have created, you drink in her fresh, sweet scent and fall in love through the depths of her eyes. You caress her warm, soft skin and revel in the wonder of what you have done.

Babies are precious, they are gifts, they are a part of us that is better than us. So innocent, so pure.

As a parent you want to protect them and nourish them, provide only the very best for them, for they are the one (or sometimes the two!) that make your life worth living. They are your son or daughter and they mean the world to you.

Because we want only the best for our babies I have no hesitation in recommending to you the beautiful newborn clothing from The Essential One.

The Essential One is a company specialising in essential clothing items for babies aged 0 – 12 months.

At The Essential One we focus our ranges around new baby clothes which are essential to you, making life much simpler and shopping and baby changing stress free! We will guide you through essential new born baby wear so that you are only buying what you truly need.

When Matilda Mae was born The Essential One asked if they could send a few items for her to try. How could I refuse such a kind and generous offer. Since my own email I have discovered that The Essential One have been sending gifts to lots of new mummies and mummies to be. I think that this is wonderful of them and though I know it is promotion for their company what a fabulously friendly way to go about it.

For Matilda Mae The Essential One sent two sleepsuits for her to try and three short sleeve bodysuits. Each of these items came from the pink range. The pink used in this range is a muted pink that is not too girly and reminds me of lovely sweet things like marshmallows, strawberry ice cream and candy floss. This soft colour suits Matilda perfectly and she looked adorable in her special clothes.

Cute and Cuddly Designs

The clothing from The Essential One comes in cute designs with small details such as motifs and buttons. The clothes are made from 100% supersoft cotton that feels gentle against the skin. The clothes are well made with babies in mind.

Super Soft for Snuggling

The sleepsuits

are fully poppered including all the way down each leg for ease of changing and have integral scratch mittens which can be turned back to cover baby’s hands.

Changing made easy with poppers

The Essential One sells all the items you will need with a newborn. You can purchase items individually or buy one of their essential packs.

An outstanding pack with all you need to welcome your baby into this world. Our 3 pack of sleepsuits with turn back scratchmitt cuffs for day or nightwear with full popper opening for easy changing , a pack of 5 bodysuits with envelope neck for ease of popping over baby’s head, a 2 pack of hats to mix and match and a pack of 4 mittens to complete the head to toe outfit. Made from 100% superfine cotton, these are so soft against baby’s skin. All items come with a complimentary jersey bag- ideal for nappies / cotton wool or any other essential items. Ideal to take to hospital or to form the basis of your baby’s first wardrobe.

New Baby Essentials

The clothes that we were sent came in a beautiful cotton bag which we now use for keeping Matilda’s spare clothes in when we are out and about. The bag is made with the supersoft cotton as the clothes and makes a really very special gift.

Warm and Comfy for Sleeping

The other thing that makes packages from The Essential One a true treat is their exclusive new baby scent that fills a room as soon as you open your parcel. It really makes receiving practical items a special sensory gift.

Marshmallows and Candyfloss

The Essential One provides an excellent range of clothing and accessories for new babies (I love their blankets!). Their attention to detail and customer service is outstanding. Their clothes just perfect for that special new arrival in your world.

The Essential One!

Please check out their website, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. The Essential One not to be without when you or someone you know is expecting!

We were sent two sleepsuits and three bodysuits for the purposes of this review.

I am Jennie and I am 35 years old. I am a brand new mummy of three having 22 month old twins and a 2 week old baby girl.

Esther, William and Matilda Mae together with their Daddy are my life, my world and they make every single moment of every single day worthwhile.

My blog is called Edspire. It originated as Edspire: Welcome to the World Esther and William, it became Edspire: Parenting Premature Twins and is about to be Edspire: And Then There Were Three! The blog is growing and changing alongside our family. It is something I am incredibly proud of and writing for it is how I like to spend my rare moments of me time.

Then There Were Three!!

Brit Mums Live 2012 will be my first blogging conference. I attended the MAD Blog Awards Ceremony last September as a finalist and got my first real life taste of the wonder of the blogging community. It definitely left me wanting more.

When I heard about Brit Mums Live 2012 I knew that I had to be there. I also knew that I wanted to go hand in hand with a baby business that I believed in. Imagine my joy then when I secured sponsorship from not one but two family focused businesses with products that I love and am passionate about promoting. One of the things I love about Edspire is that I can use it to connect with and work with people, companies and charities that I believe in.

My wonderful sponsors are Snoozeshade and BundleBean.

Because of the lovely ladies who own these companies I am able to attend both days of the blogging conference and enjoy a night in a hotel with my beautiful daughter, Matilda Mae. I am looking forward to some guilt free bonding time with her as much as I am looking forward to the conference itself.

At the conference I am looking forward to meeting other mummy bloggers especially The Boy and Me and Multiple Mummy and also the other finalists in the MAD Blog Awards Pregnancy category. I hope that some or all of them will be there? There are other lovely bloggers who have supported me through my pregnancy and early days with Baby who I hope will be there. I am feeling very nervous about the whole thing as I do not find talking to people I don’t know easy. I am hoping Matilda Mae will be an ice breaker.

MAD Pregnancy Blog Finalist

I am looking forward to seeing Ruby Wax and Sarah Brown talk. I am also looking forward to the workshops which will enable me to learn from and connect with other bloggers. I am looking forward to finding out more about working with charities and brands and taking my blog forward to another level. I am excited about the possibilities that attending Brit Mums Live may bring.

I will not be wearing branded clothing but will have with me my Snoozeshade and my Bundlebean, these will of course be Baby’s accessories rather than my own. She is a very lucky little lady!

Using our BundleBean as a tummy time mat

I am planning to wear clothes that are easy and discrete to breastfeed in. I have my eye in a few items at Babes with Babies should finances allow. It has been a long while since I felt happy with my appearance so I want to make a real effort for this weekend. I wll not however be changing in the toilets for the BiB awards ceremony, not myself anyway, but I am sure Baby will put some special PJs on!!!

The Essential One

From Brit Mums Live I hope to gain some ideas and inspiration for Edspire, some confidence about myself and my abilities within the world of blogging and the chance to unashamedly show off my daughter knowing that my other children will be having a special weekend with Daddy. I hope to network with bloggers, brands and charities and learn how to begin making my blog my career so that I can take some time out of our busy family life to blog guilt free knowing that I am doing something to improve our lives and that of others. There is so much I feel that I could be doing with this blog I hope that I might find someone who can help me find my way and point me in the right direction.

I will definitely be looking to network with brands at the conference particularly those directly related to babies and toddlers.

Knowing that this is a time for Edspire but also a time for mummy and Matilda bonding I will not be joining in the early morning bloggercise! Instead I will be having a leisurely breakfast with my beautiful girl. I can’t wait! We are staying at The Hoxton on the Friday night and will have a lovely night of snuggles!

I am really excited about the workshops at Brit Mums Live and am writing a separate post about which ones I will be attending and why.

Please do say hello if you see me at Brit Mums Live I will be mostly feeding Matilda Mae in a quiet corner somewhere hoping that you will x

5 weeks to go!

Having twins on Smart Trikes prepared me for admiring looks and lots of comments and compliments.

Nothing though quite prepared me for the gushing compliments given to a proud mummy of a beautiful baby framed by the prettiest car seat cover I have ever seen. And so very girly, perfect for our daughter, Baby Matilda Mae.

Matilda, Ruby and Ginger!

Matilda will be two weeks old tomorrow and she is already a well travelled little girl and every time we go out and about we cover her up with this gorgeous Ruby and Ginger cover.

Pretty as a Picture!

Everyone we meet makes a comment about how gorgeous the fabric is, what a great idea the cover is and how comfy and snug she looks.

One of the nurses at the hospital thought she might like an adult sized one to wear when watching TV in the winter so she can be all snug and warm but stick her head out for viewing and snacks.

All Covered Up with Ruby and Ginger

This gorgeous cosy car seat cover comes from Ruby and Ginger and costs just £25.

Snug as a bug….but as safe as possible

…isn’t that what parents want for their little ones?

Tog rated at 3+, the original Cosy Car Seat Cover keeps baby warm and protected from wind and other elements whilst also providing protection for baby’s head and face. Its elasticated fitting allows the Cosy Cover to slip easily on and off the car seat without disturbing baby and can be used whilst travelling in the car, or out and about on your travel system.

The design ensures baby’s safety harnesses can be tightened correctly, that you can always have a secure grip on the handle, whilst the V window allows you to see baby easily.

It has been widely reported that wearing bulky padded clothing whilst travelling in car seats increases the risk of injury should there be an accident, and our cosy cover provides a safe solution whilst maintaining comfort and warmth.

Fitting all standard group 0 car seats including Maxi Cosi, Gracco and Britax.

The Cosy Cover can be used in conjunction with most car seat rain covers and comes with a practical cotton storage bag.
Protecting baby with style!

We actually use our cotton bag as a ‘snack sack’ which Esther and William both love to carry when we are out as it is full of little treats for them to have whilst we are out and about.

The cosy car seat cover can be bought on its own or as part of a set called ‘Everything’s Covered!‘

Our ‘Everything’s Covered’ set is a tick list of essentials for a trip out. The matching Cosy Car Seat Cover, Nappy Purse, Travel Change Mat and Toy Tie are perfect for parents on the go and also make a thoughtful and practical new baby gift.

The Nappy Purse, Travel Change Mat and refillable wipes case provides parents on the go with a compact and convenient way to carry everything they need for changing. It can be discreetly slipped into a handbag or pocket, removing the need for the larger changing bags…

…the simple yet clever adjustable Toy Tie ensures favourite toys are safely secured to the stroller, avoiding the inevitable tears if lost.

Nappy Purse with mini change mat from Ruby and Ginger

The nappy purse is great for when Matilda and I go out alone and I don’t want to take a massive bag. It is also handy for keeping essential bits together in the house and for keeping Matilda’s necessaries separate from the twins’ in our family change bag. The nappy purse comes in a range of gorgeous fabrics just like all Ruby and Ginger products.

The mini change mat fits perfectly inside the purse along with the wipes holder and a couple of nappies. I also tend to keep a couple of breats pads in there for me. It is a very handy, multi purpose purse.

The ‘Everything’s Covered’ Set has certainly made things easier for Matilda and I in our early trips out, definitely less stressful for me. So many people have been impressed with the concept and this stunning range of baby accessories. I would just love for Ruby and Ginger to now make a matching breastfeeding cover and my yummy mummy look would be complete!

If you are looking for practical but pretty gifts for stylish mummies or mummies to be then you need look no further than Ruby and Ginger who also stock coordinating toddler or sibling gifts including this fabulous backpack. Esther in particular loves the bag and we will have a full review coming soon.

We have loved using our Ruby and Ginger baby products and have captured the attention of many admirers on our trips out. Fabulous products from a lovely and friendly company.

Ruby and Ginger provided me with one Everything’s Covered Set for the purposes of this review.

New parents dream of their child’s first day at the school gate, graduation and even their grown up children’s wedding but the most important thoughts should be of making a Will to ensure a secure future for their family.

What happens if you don’t make a Will?

If you die without making a Will no one will know exactly how you would like your children to be cared for when you are no longer here. Your children’s future could be decided by a court and the state.

Why do I need to appoint a legal guardian in a Will?

The most important aspect of making a Will is to nominate a legal guardian who you know and trust to make the right decisions for your children’s welfare if you and your partner die.

What will happen to my property and money if I die without making a Will?

A Will is important to ensure that your money is used to care for all your children in the best way possible. If you don’t make a Will it will be the state which decides how to distribute your assets. If there are no children from a previous marriage the majority of your money would go to your spouse, or children, if he or she had already died. But it will be more complex if you already have children before marrying your current spouse.

If there are stepchildren in the family you must make a Will to ensure everyone is looked after according to your wishes.

You have to think carefully about how your assets should be divided. If you wanted to leave half of your estate to a child from a previous relationship and half to your spouse and children you could make a discretionary trust Will. This means you could put up to £325,000 into a trust and your spouse and children can continue to live in the family home. Later when your spouse dies the child from the first relationship would benefit from the trust and the money would be secure.

There is an alternative to this type of Will.

Instead you could make a mutual Will and this time you and your spouse agree to name the same beneficiaries to be left agreed sums of money when the second spouse dies. Each Will would contain a clause to say that neither of you can change the terms of the Will without the others consent. Your spouse would have access to all your money in his or her lifetime.

For more information on making a will, or if you wish to complete a Will online visit www.mylawyer.co.uk

I received a £30 Mothercare voucher for publishing this post.

The Future is in Your Hands!

Too Cute!

Today Matilda Mae is 11 days old.

Today we have been discharged from the Midwife as our clever little girl has gained so much weight.

Matilda now weighs 7lb 12oz putting on 8oz in 6 days!!! She is no longer jaundiced and we have both been declared fit and well.

Now we have 7 more days with Daddy’s help before me and our three go it alone!!!

This week is going to be all about trying things out and gaining confidence for getting about with three children under two. There are varying combinations that I am keen to try:

Sling and double buggy
Sling and reins
Pram and reins
Double buggy and reins

Will all be good fun until we find what works best for us in different circumstances.

We have also found that Esther and William now really enjoy art and craft activities so I am going to build them in after lunch each day. I am going to be reading the MAD Blog Awards Craft Finalists for ideas and inspiration. All the night feeding gives me some quality reading time!

I'm a Big Sister!

I'm a Big Brother!

This week will also be making the most of having Daddy full time to make sure I get some rest and really bond with Matilda.

On Wednesday I am taking her to NCT Bumps and Babes to meet some of my friends and on Thursday I am taking her to London for a press event! I need to get out and about with her to remember what being out with a baby is like, I will then add the twins to the mix from there.

Out and About with Ruby and Ginger

I have only driven my car once since the birth and that was to Sainsburys with Matilda Mae. We got there and back safely but I did not buy any of the things that we went for. I had to send David out after me.

So you see I need practise before I am allowed out alone; plus three!!!!

Also this week I would like to get my eyebrows shaped and Esther and William REALLY need a haircut!

The other wonderful thing that has happened today is that we think we may have found a house!!

We have been searching for a house to buy for a few months now but have not found anything that suits our wants and needs. However, today we may just have found it!

A house at the end of a lane
A house in a village with a shop and a cafe and a park
Near lots of good schools
A house with open spaces for children to run and play
A space for David to work
A garden for adventures
A house full of potential and possibilities
A family home for years to come!

Today we went to explore the area and I had a definite buzz of excitement in my tummy. We have not even been inside the house yet, tomorrow is the day for that.

These first 11 days as a family of five have been a real rollercoaster of emotions for all of us as we get to grips with something so precious and so very very new.

Matilda Mae in particular has found these first 11 days exhausting!

Sssshhh!

Day 9

Yesterday for the first time in Matilda Mae’s life we saw the sun.

Sun Shower!

We decided to make the most of the weather by going to Leeds Castle together, for the first time as a family of five. We also had an extra pair of hands in my best friend, Michele.

Shell!

It really was a lovely afternoon and Leeds Castle is definitely one of my favourite places to be. It is a favourite of many local mummies actually as it is so baby friendly and safe for toddlers to run around. Esther and William love it there too.

Hello Peacock!

We loaded up the double buggy and tried Matilda out in her Chicco Nunu. More about that to follow!

NuNu!

With everything we needed for all of us it looked much like we were going away for a weekend not having a two hour stroll round a park.

Easy Rider!

But anyway …

We had a wonderful time.

Esther and William loved being able to walk around the castle grounds. They were both very keen to push the baby!

Pushing with Pink Lining!

They tried out their new wellies and were very disappointed to discover that all the puddles had dried up!

Snap Snap!

They were feeding bread to the ducks and the geese for the very first time.

Feed the Birds!

Up until now they have always watched me do it but this time they did the feeding themselves. They were so brave and they absolutely loved it. William got pecked by a goose and it did not phase him at all.

Goose

It was lovely to be out in the sunshine and to take big, deep breaths of fresh country air. I have missed being outside.

Welly Throwing!

We stopped at the castle cafe for a drink and a snack before going to the play park for a swing and a slide. David and Michele were helping Esther and William while my attentions were focused on Matilda.

Esther

William

It was a peaceful afternoon with three adults to three children I am not at all sure how I am supposed to manage such an excursion on my own?!?!

Esther and William love being outside and this is how I imagined us spending our summer but it is going to be difficult on our own. But I am sure it will get easier, as we get to know each other, and find ways to make it work as a family.

This was a good day.