Mummy & Baby Yoga Fit: COMPETITION!

 
Last Tuesday I donned my exercise gear for the first time since I found out that I was pregnant. For over a year now I have been in a state of perpetual tiredness: the exhaustion and sickness of my first trimester was replaced with hard work as I tried to get everything sorted in preparation for the baby's arrival in the second trimester, which in turn was replaced with broken sleep and an inability to move more than ten paces without stopping for a cuppa in the third. Then Sophia arrived and our lives were turned upside down and back to front, sleep became practically non-existent, and some days I barely had time to wash the baby sick out of my hair, let alone pull on my leggings and take myself down to the gym.

Isn't life ironic? Just when I could really do with an endorphin-boosting, stress-busting, mood-enhancing, health-kick the most, there was absolutely no way I could find the time or the energy to do it. Or was there? The perfect solution was presented to me over a coffee with my friend Hannah in the form of Mummy and Baby Yoga Fit. Hannah is a qualified Yogi, specialising in pre and post-natal yoga, and she has started to run private and individually personalised classes for busy new mums which aim to get them back into shape and to manage their stress levels, while bonding with their babies in the comfort of their own homes! For a frazzled mummy with no childcare, this sounded too good to be true and I didn't waste any time in signing myself up for a taster session.

The basic class structure was simple: Hannah started with a consultation to discuss the needs of both me (de-stressing, building core strength and toning up) and Sophia (wearing her out so that she might consider getting some sleep!), so that she could tailor the class accordingly, and then the yoga session began with some deep breathing techniques which promote mindfulness. By the end of this, I was already calmer than I had felt in months, although I was inwardly berating myself for not attempting something like this sooner!

Next came some warm-up stretches, followed by traditional yoga moves and balance poses which Hannah had adapted slightly to incorporate Sophia, to build strength and stability. Sophia was enthralled by the movements, and the sound of Hannah's calm voice as she talked me through each exercise, and particularly enjoyed connecting with me through 'Downward Facing Dog' and the round of Sun Salutations which were rhythmic and lulling.

 
Baby yoga followed, with some stretches for Sophia and fun songs and rhymes. I let go of my British reserve for a few minutes and enjoyed belting out a bit of 'Hickory Dickory Dock' as I lifted Sophia above my head in time to the song. After this, Hannah taught me a few stretches which could aid Sophia's digestion and aid comfort (and therefore good sleep), and I lapped it up!

 
Finally, the session ended with a warm down and some relaxation techniques for both of us together. As I lay in 'Savasana', utterly exhausted after a full-body work out with my unusually calm baby next to me, Hannah's deep relaxation music playing quietly as she read me a poem called 'Slow Down', I breathed out a year's worth of stress, worry and sleeplessness, and vowed that I would do this again soon. Even if it was on a day when I didn't have the time to wash the baby sick out of my hair.

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COMPETITION! I have collaborated with Pose, Pointe, Play to offer one of my readers one FREE Mummy & Baby Yoga Fit session in your home with the talented Hannah Varley.

To enter: 

- Head to Pose Pointe Play's Facebook page here
- Like the page
- Like the Mummy & Baby Yoga Fit competition post (pinned to the top of the page) and share it
- One winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on Sunday 4th September

Good luck!

If you are interested in enrolling in your own personalised at-home Mummy and Baby Yoga Fit classes, or would like to find out more, please contact Hannah at: hbutterill@gmail.com or head to her Facebook page

Sophia Molly: Four and Five Month Update

Wow, what a jam-packed couple of months it has been! Not only did we head to England for a second time, where we traveled the length and breadth of the country attempting to meet up with all the friends and family we could (sorry to those whom we didn't make it to this time around...we'll be back!), but these 8 weeks of Sophia's life were also jam-packed full of new developments and exciting milestone moments. I've been such a proud mummy and can't stop telling everyone about how advanced she is...is it just me or do we all end up like this eventually when it comes to our children?!

These two months Sophia has liked:

Meeting all of her family, as well as her two god mothers

Going on weekly play dates with other babies and mummies that live near us, and being very affectionate with her new friends (there's a lot of patting and face stroking!)

Laughing hysterically at funny noises mummy and daddy make

Her first exploration of grown up food - mainly grabbing bananas out of my hands before they reach my mouth! She's also had a bit of play time with some chunks of fruit in her high chair, but hasn't fathomed that she can eat it properly yet. All of the serious weaning fun and games start next month!

Reaching out to play with new toys and staring intently at them before putting them in her mouth

Bed times, especially long, warm bubble baths and reading books in bed afterwards

These two months Sophia has disliked:

What is supposed to come after her bed time routine. Sleep has not been high on her list of priorities this month

Doing one thing for too long, or going for too long without stimulation. This girl likes constant entertainment!

Having her first ever cold, which dragged on for a good couple of weeks. Who knew a tiny baby could produce so much snot?!

These two months' firsts:

First time rolling both ways and in both directions

First time making new babbling sounds, including consonants and a new, strange shrieky noise!

First time she has been really clingy to me, and upset when I have left the room

First real round the neck cuddles

First time sitting up!





Mr Sunshine and I celebrated our wedding anniversary in July, and a couple of weeks later, the anniversary of the day we found out I was pregnant. What an awful lot can happen in a year!

Authentic Thai Cuisine at Mango Tree, London

It was the hottest day of the year in London. We'd ambled for miles around the Royal Parks, sweating in the midday heat, but inside the entrance to Mango Tree in Belgravia, we were provided with a very welcome respite from the glaring sunshine. The contrast of the cool, dark interior of the restaurant and chic minimalist decor which looked as though it had had the full Feng-Shui treatment was exactly what we needed.

We had come to sample the menu, as well as the new Dim Sum menu, which I was rather excited about. The London branch used to have a sister restaurant in Doha, which closed shortly before we arrived, and we had heard so many good things about it from our friends.

But before we got stuck into the food, I really needed a drink. As if reading my mind, a member of staff welcomed us with a warm 'sawadee kah!' (hello) and showed us through to the bar.

It is one of those bars which reminds me of ones I used to frequent in my younger, care free pre-child days, with comfy seating, an extensive cocktail list and lots of strategically-placed uplighting. It was reassuring to see that even though it was lunchtime on a random Monday, there were still a few office workers inside, enjoying a rather leisurely post-lunch drink - they looked quite at home and had obviously made it their local.

One delicious and fruity mocktail later, and we were shown our table to peruse the extensive menu. The starters all looked delicious, and being the indecisive people that we are, Mr Sunshine and I went for the platter to share.

Chicken satay, Thai fishcakes, prawn spring rolls and duck spring rolls were brought out on a beautifully-presented slate. I loved that the chicken had been char-grilled, giving it that lovely barbecued taste, and the accompanying satay sauce was sweet and crunchy. The Thai fishcakes were perfectly seasoned, and both Spring Rolls, although a little greasy, had that deliciously crispy bite to them.

I'm a big sauce fan, and delighted in dunking everything in the satay, plum and sweet chili sauce, and then spooning more on top. Being married is great because Mr Sunshine knows and accepts this kind of behaviour. If I was on a first date, I'm not sure my date would want to take it any further!

We were also keen on trying the Dim Sum platter, but unfortunately two of the Dim Sum that made up the selection were not available, so we opted for the Tom Yum Chicken Siu Long Bao instead.

The waiter warned us that this Dim Sum was rather sloppy to eat, and he wasn't exaggerating! They weren't the firm little parcels that I was used to, and it was difficult to bite into them without juice dripping down your chin (once again, thank goodness I wasn't on a first date!). Still, the flavour was beautiful, and I wish that we had ordered more.

Our main dishes included a twist on the classic Pad Thai and Ped Makham - roast duck on a bed of Pak Choi with aromatic tamarind sauce.

The restaurant's signature egg nest made the presentation of the noodles instantly Instagrammable, but it was the taste which really made me smile. The signature sauce was sweet and oh-so moreish, and it was like no Pad Thai I had tasted before. I also liked that various elements of the dish had been deconstructed, so you could stir in as many peanuts or bean sprouts as you desired. The duck was something which I wouldn't usually choose on a menu, as I think it's incredibly difficult to get right, but it landed on our table perfectly cooked, with just a touch of pink, and the sweet and sour Tamarind sauce tied the whole dish together beautifully.

Now I rarely order dessert on hot summer days, as it usually makes me crave an afternoon nap, but the rest of the food had been so good that when I was handed the dessert menu, I couldn't resist. In fact, we both agreed that if we were doing this properly, we probably should go the whole hog, and ended up ordering the dessert platter.

The chocolate tart, layered banana pudding and matcha ice cream were all perfectly executed and indulgent without being overly sweet or overpowering. But the real winner in the selection was the mango Crème Brûlée, which tasted heavenly. I hoovered up most of this before Mr Sunshine had even had a look in. Sorry hubby, I couldn't help myself, desserts this good weren't made to be shared!

With quality such as this, it didn't surprise me when we were told that a Mango Tree had opened in the world famous Harrods food hall, as well as another restaurant in the Mango Tree empire, Pan Chai.

With kind service, deliciously authentic Thai food and a beautiful ambience, this is one Belgravia restaurant not to be missed. Even Sophia was content throughout the entire meal, looking around at the pretty vases of flowers and dozing on and off in the serene atmosphere. And that, for me, is a real win.

Mr Sunshine says:  
"Really liked this restaurant. Good food and drinks in an effortlessly cool environment. Was a little underwhelmed by the starters and I did think the Dim Sum was a little sloppy but the main courses more than made up for it. Look forward to trying the deserts next time we go as I didn't get a look in this time round!!"

Mango Tree London | 46 Grosvenor Place SW1X 7EQ | 0207 823 1888

We were guests of Mango Tree on this occasion, but as always all views are my own.

How To Travel With A Baby

Travel. You used to take it for granted didn't you? Those long-haul flights curled up watching back-to-back movies, a glass of champagne in hand. Hopping on and off trains, packing in all of the attractions that a place has to offer. Lazing by a hotel swimming pool all day, only popping inside for your 3pm massage appointment with bronzed Lorenzo in the spa. Maybe knocking back a few cocktails with him into the early hours. OK, I might be getting a bit carried away now, but admit it, when it came to travel, you thought of  yourself as a kind of Michael Palin - Jack Kerouac - Beyoncé hybrid didn't you?

But then you had a baby.

Mr Sunshine and I (wrongly) assumed that as expats and seasoned travelers, heading to foreign lands with a baby would be a doddle. Besides the extra little package (and all of her associated paraphernalia) that we now had to lug around with us, not much would change right? Wrong! But somehow we have managed nonetheless. Now, with four long haul and two short haul flights under her belt, our four and a half month old has wracked up more air miles than many achieve in a lifetime. She's stayed in more than one luxury five star hotel, been to an overseas wedding and battled with cold, rainy beach walks and humid lagoon strolls alike. So, what coping strategies did we put in place to make it work for us? Here's what we've learned (sometimes the hard way) about traveling with a baby.

Travel lightly

Mr S always despairs at the number of bags and cases I rock up to the front door with before a trip. I'm one of those "if I am away and realise I NEED that dress and don't have it to hand, it might ruin my holiday" kind of people (spoiler: it never does), so I end up packing for every eventuality. Add a baby into the mix and suddenly the number of plausible situations that you might find yourself in which require extra clothes/blankets/medicines/toiletries quadruples, and with it so does your baggage.

But trust me, after lumping prams, changing bags, suitcases and handbags around a country for a fortnight, you'll consider spontaneously dumping one of them in the nearest bin to lighten your load. Remember that there are very few countries these days where it is impossible to buy supplies if you find there is something that you've forgotten or run out of. Save yourself some hassle and pack as few items as your OCD will let you.

But be prepared

Speaking of OCD, if you're packing lightly it's important to consider which items you need to have close at hand at any point in time. While I was back in the UK last month, I purchased an extra large changing bag, which I used to rotate items into and out of according to the needs of the day. On traveling days with long train journeys, spare clothes and blankets were displaced in favour of extra toys and fun things to distract Sophia with, for example. One friend mentioned that they buy a few small surprises which they keep in their changing bag, such as a new toy, app download or favourite snack, which they bring out at regular intervals throughout a long journey to keep their little one entertained.

Your changing bag should never EVER be short of spare nappies or wipes however, or a portable changing mat. Sophia had one of the worst poo explosions we have ever had to deal with in a first class train carriage between London and Stroud the other week, and although we ended up having to change her nappy and clothes on one of the tables in the carriage (I'm not proud) and throw the sodden changing mat in the bin afterwards, I was so relieved that everything that we needed was easily accessible.

Choose some key baby products which make your life easy

Apart from my new, snazzy changing bag (blog post to follow on this in due course), there are three items that I could not be without on our travels.

Firstly, our Bugaboo Cameleon with Cybex car seat attachment, which meant that we could hop into and out of taxis, keeping Sophia safe in her seat while folding the chassis of the pram away neatly in the boot. The car seat also doubles up as a really handy rocker for your baby when you aren't on the move and you need to be hands free.

Secondly, I could not have dealt with all of the hassles of airport check-ins and passport control without my Boba wrap. Although we've taken our Bugaboo right up to the gate on every occasion that we've flown, there were certain times that popping Sophia into this stretchy wrap was the only option - when she was being clingy but I needed my hands free to locate our passports, for walking up and down plane aisles trying to hush her to sleep, and for the long walk to the luggage carousel before we were reunited with the pram once more. We also loved our Ergobaby Cool Air for longer walks around busy cities, across beaches and through fields.

The final product which kept us sane on numerous occasions was our Sleepyhead. It's a portable baby pod which is small enough to fit inside a large suitcase, or light enough to be carried separately as the 10kg extra piece of checked luggage you receive with most airlines for traveling with a baby. Where hotels or family members weren't able to provide cots, or Sophia simply didn't want to sleep in one which she wasn't used to, we put her down in her Sleepyhead for the night, either on the floor or between us in bed. As she is used to sleeping in it during nap times at home, it also provided an extra bit of home comfort which allowed her to settle much more quickly, giving us a handful of long, peaceful nights. Bliss!

Don't panic

Before we boarded our first plane with Sophia, I was super nervous. It was a very long, overnight flight and I was terrified that we were going to be one of "those" couples who couldn't shut their screaming child up and kept everyone awake for seven hours straight. I was pleasantly surprised when our usually nocturnal baby slept for the entire duration of the flight, and some more at the other end!

We immediately relaxed into the flight by trusting our instincts. Almost everyone that we consulted before we flew told us that if we were able to persuade her to suck on something (most likely my boob) as the plane took off and landed, then that would not only help to balance the pressure in her ears and prevent any pain, but also soothe her to sleep at the right times. I tried it and it worked. But they also said that we could not go without a baby bassinet which hooks onto the wall in front of the extra legroom seats, but our daughter downright refused to sleep in hers. I kept her on my knee for seven hours instead, where she fell asleep immediately in my arms.

Basically, traveling is just like anything else with a baby: you need to take some advice, and disregard others. Trust that you as parents know what's best for your baby. But don't, whatever you do, panic!

Besides, if all of the recommendations above fail (and let's face it, babies are never predictable, so they might), there is always something to fall back on according to a friend of mine. "Calpol and wine" was her immediate retort when I asked for her tips following a 24 hour flight to New Zealand and back with her baby. Now that is the type of advice I can (literally) get onboard with.

I am posting this as part of the monthly travel link-up with Angie, Jessi, Emma and guest Nano. This month's all about lessons learned while traveling. Pop your post up on any of the blogs above before the 7th!