HOW TO COPE WITH 2 KIDS UNDER 4!

2 UNDER 4!

If somebody told me 5 years ago, I would have 2 children by the time I was 26, I would literally tell them, they're crazy!
I was 20, in a new job, and well into the honeymoon phase with my boyfriend. 
Having Phoebe was a massive shock, and surprise. Seeing as Dave and I hadn't even been together very long. We are still yet to go on a holiday abroad together!!
I was still in a stage of my life, even at 20, of not knowing what my 'purpose' was. I was just working, and spending money, and there just felt like there was no point to any of it.
February 2012, that all changed, when we found out we were expecting. 

Now, this is what I was made to do. This was my purpose. To be a fun mum, relishing in my children and devoting everything to them. I finally felt like I was made for something. So ideally, Dave and I didn't want to wait too long to have another one. However, with most things in life, things happen, and it changes your plans and your route in your life. After Dave lost his Dad in 2013, we really took a step back, and we were struck with grief and trying to sort out everything of my father in laws (house, car etc) 

I also wasn't working either. I wanted to be working before I had another baby, 2014 came around and I finally got myself a little job, and before I knew it, I was pregnant in April 2015!! And oh how different it is having 2. 1 is easy! 2 feels like you have an army sometimes!.


So, here are just a few of my tips I tend to go by when it comes to the girls..and 2 under 4!


TIME

Hands down, without a doubt the top of the list....time! Allow more time. Much, much more time. I learnt this pretty early on with a 3 year old and a newborn. There just wasn't enough time to get it all done with 2, compared to having just the 1. Especially when you've been so used to the 3 year old not being so dependent on you, with being toilet trained etc.
Even now, with Phoebe being 4 and Ellie coming up to 11 months....Getting out of the house is just a stressful time. From making sure you have nappies, cream, wipes, drinks, spare clothes. Then making sure Phoebe has her lunch box for school, or even mummy has her purse (forgotten that a few times with 2 kids!!)
Definitely take a breather, think about everything that you need, and what I find best, is getting things ready the night before...

PLANNING AHEAD

A must with more then the one baby. If I don't pack Phoebe's lunch the night before, then it sets me back in the mornings, to where I am stressing! We don't want that in the morning. Start the day right and get it sorted the night before. This even goes for the girls' outfits for the day, and arranging Ellie's changing bag the night before.

OUT AND ABOUT

Another thing I clocked onto quite quickly, was to get out of the house, even if its just for a 30 minute walk around where you live. It keeps the kids entertained for the duration, and it also gives you your sanity back! Seeing other human beings then your children, and actual adults too! Definitely makes you feel a tonne better. 
If I am having a day where Im feeling a little snowed under...too many dishes, or too much washing...Even the kids driving me mad. Then I will instantly try to get out for some fresh air. Works a treat!

TIDY HOUSE, TIDY MIND

Ok, so my house is not at all spotless, show home style. But when I know I have done some housework, it literally makes me feel so much better. I know, I know. Like having 2 kids isn't enough?!...Get a cleaner! ;) As women, I think majority of us all have an element of OCD within us, and to have a tidy, organised household, it is so satisfying. Not only that, but when everything is done, take the laundry for instance, it makes your life easier when you know the kids have clean clothes in their draws,and its easy for you to pick an outfit for them. Less stress!

MAKE TIME FOR YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE

This is really important for parents. Even with just the 1 child, it can definitely be a struggle to remember where you began. My hubby and I have definitely had moments where we have forgotten, ''Hey, the girls are actually here BECAUSE we fell in love'' Its nice to remember that there was a reason you chose to have a family with one another. Lets not waste that and be drowned in nappies, and school work where you forget your best friend!

And finally..

ONE ON ONE

This was huge for me when I was pregnant with Ellie. I specifically remember even writing a list of ''how to not seclude your first born'' Stupid I know. But I think as most mums with more than 1 can relate too, when you're pregnant with you're 2nd (and 3rd, 4th,5th etc) You do have that tremendous feeling of guilt for your 1st born. This little person who had me all to herself for the first 3 years of her life. Does she realise what is about to happen?
Thankfully Phoebe and Ellie adore each other (for now!)
Phoebe and I have enjoyed plenty of quality time together so far. Splashing out a couple of times to go to the pictures to see a movie. And even with your everyday things. I make sure, whenever Ellie naps during the day, I always will do something with Phoebe. However small it is. The other day she assisted me in loading the washing machine and hanging the wet washing on the line. Then we sat down on the sofa, for the rest of Ellie's nap and we watched a movie with some popcorn. Those little things are what they need.
And for Ellie, at the moment she's lucky that Phoebe is in school most mornings, so she has me all to herself anyway. When she is older, I will do the same for her.


Sophie-Evelyn xoxo

A day in the life of a stay at home mummy of 2 - School time.

6.30am - This is when I first hear my littlest girl, Ellie. I tend to ignore her for half an hour, and let her play in her cot. (unless she's crying, which is very rare!) She’s quite a mellow little baby, and will just lay there until somebody goes in to say Hi!

7.00am - This is usually when daddy’s alarm goes off, which in turn seems to wake my biggest girl, Phoebe. She either comes into our bedroom, or 90% of the time she goes in to see her little sister :)

7.15am - Now I finally feel awake enough to get up and get ready for my day. I usually have my 3 year old pestering me for the ipad, or a drink. So whilst I deal with her, I immediately go to Ellie’s nursery, and get greeted by a gorgeous 7 month old, smiling away. At this time, Phoebe assists me with changing Ellie’s nappy, and opening all the curtains.

7.30am - Now that I have sorted my girls out, I quickly nab a wee!! I splash some water over my face, and bring both girls downstairs. At this point we say our goodbyes to daddy. Whilst the girls wave goodbye to Daddy, I prepare the living room. Put the tv on etc, and give Phoebe a morning drink.

7.45am - I sit down for a morning coffee whilst Phoebe chills out and watches a bit of Disney Junior.  At the same time I feed Ellie her morning bottle, of 7oz.

8am - At this point, Phoebe usually starts nagging me for some breakfast. This varies from day to day, but it usually consists of toast, or a cereal, with fruit on the side (grapes, strawberries or raspberries)

8.20am - Finished with breakfast, and morning bottle. Phoebe is very helpful lately, and were trying to inflict some minor chores for her. She helps clean up breakfast, and place all her dishes by the sink.

8.30am - We head upstairs to get ready. On a Pre School morning, I literally brush my hair, wash my face, and brush my teeth! I have my showers in the evenings, to save me more time. But also, I feel like a shower at night relaxes me more.

8.45am - I aim to get both girls ready by this time (It doesn't always happen!!)

8.50am - Shoes on, baby in the pushchair, bags and lunch box in tow. Were ready to walk to Pre-school. We only live around the corner from Pre-School, so its a nice walk every morning.

9.00am - Dropped the biggest one off to Pre School. Now to head home with my littlest.

9.15am - This is usually when I offer Ellie some sort of ‘breakfast’. She tends to have a porridge, 90% of the time. 

9.45am - After clearing away Ellie’s breakfast, she is ready for her morning nap. Ellie, on a good day sleep for up too 2 hours during a nap.

10.00am - After making myself another cuppa (coffee if Im really tired) I crack on with the breakfast dishes, make the beds and tidy up any mess made from the morning. It doesn't take me long and I’m usually sat down by 10.30am ready to eat a quick breakfast. Usually some fruit or breakfast bar. I use this nap to just sit and chill. I catch up with any social media, and literally just relax!!

11.45am - If Ellie isn't awake by this point (Which she usually is) then I go in and gently wake up my sleepy baby.

12.00pm - LUNCHTIME. I really don't eat much during the day. I know, I know, it’s so bad! I just don’t get hungry. But I try and eat to keep my metabolism up. I usually munch on some sort of sandwich! But for Ellie, she has her biggest meal. I make her puree’s, and I’m at a stage where I’m still introducing new foods, before I start mixing flavour. She has had all sorts so far, but this week were on butternut squash :)

12.45pm - Time to pick up the biggest!! Ellie and I usually leave literally the very last minute. We are literally next door to the Pre school. 

1.00pm - Were all home, and I normally have a grumpy, hungry 3 year old on my hands. I offer her a snack when we get in, with a drink. She usually has a banana, or an ‘oaty bar’. (This is a Goodie’s bar, but my daughter calls these oaty bars hehe!)

1.15pm - We chill out and Ellie and Phoebe usually play.

2.00pm - Second bottle of the day. Another 7oz bottle for Ellie, and she usually falls asleep on the bottle. Straight to bed, and this then allows me to spend some time with Phoebe.

2-4pm - Phoebe and I do some sort of activity. Colouring, reading, or watching a dvd. I also spend time in between, doing some laundry and tidying up as I go (If I don’t, then the place ends up in a tip!!!) I try and do 1-2 loads of washing a day, again, if I dont, then it builds up massively!

4.00pm - Ellie is awake. I change her nappy, open her curtains and have a little cuddle with her. Phoebe is usually glued to my hip, so Ellie is always very happy to see us both.

4.15pm - We all head downstairs, and I offer Ellie some water, as she can be a bit dry. She usually has 2oz.

4.30pm - Tea gets prepared and placed in the oven. The girls at this point will be playing with each other. Either in the lounge or Phoebe out in the garden.

5.00pm - Daddy is hooooooome!!! And if has all gone to plan, Tea is on the table.

5.30pm - All done with tea. Let the clean up commence, and again the girls chill out and play.

6.00pm - Bathtime. We bath the girls every night. Some nights Phoebe will prefer to have a shower, but Ellie always has a little bath. Daddy runs the bath, and as he is doing that, the girls are in Phoebe’s room, playing and being silly. (mainly Phoebe!) Whilst they're all doing that, I am running around closing curtains, getting nappies, pyjamas and creams ready for the girls.

Daddy is then handed Ellie to bath first. She has a little splash around whilst I am spending some time with Phoebe. Once Ellie is out, we swap and Phoebe is in. Whilst daddy baths Phoebe, I am drying, and moisturising Ellie. Daddy then takes Phoebe out, and wraps her in a towel. Phoebe usually spends a long time in the bath, so when she is out, Ellie is all snug in her pyjamas.

Daddy then drys and moisturises Phoebe, and gets her into her pyjamas.

6.45pm - I dry Phoebe’s hair whilst Daddy gives Ellie her 7oz bottle before bed.

6.50pm - I brush Phoebe’s teeth, she jumps in bed whilst I grab 2 stories to read. 

7.00pm - Ellie falls asleep on the bottle and Daddy places her in her cot. She goes down very quickly, and Daddy comes in to me and Phoebe to give Phoebe a kiss goodnight.

7.10pm - All being well, I am usually downstairs by this time, to clean up tea.

7.30pm - Mummy and Daddy have finished cleaning and are now ready to chill for the night!!!! Zzzz. 

10.00pm Ellie’s last feed, ‘dream feed’. Again, 7oz. She guzzles it and she's straight back to sleep until she wakes up at 6.30am.

10.30pm  - Dave and I jump into bed, and we chill out some more.

11.00pm - Were asleep!!!!!!

So there you have it. That is as close as what our daily routine can be like. Obviously this varies if were out for the day, or I have work in the evenings. But this is how it is majority of the time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sophie-Evelyn xoxo

Returning to work after maternity leave.

Well, the time has come. It's finally time for me to return to work. On one hand I am so, so excited, and on the other I'm so nervous, and so, so not ready to leave my baby!

I have tremendous guilt, as with Phoebe I wasn't working until I got this job when she was nearly turning 2. So I completely relished in her first 2 years of life, and I was with her every step of the way.
Ellie is only 8 months old, and Im returning to work :( I do only work evenings, so it makes it a lot easier. I start work at 5pm and finish at 9pm. I'm very lucky that my children are basically in bed whilst I am at work. But, that still doesn't make my mummy guilt any easier!!

It's so difficult trying to juggle everything. You're trying to be the best mummy you can, but at the same time be the best partner/wife. If I had it my way, I would win the lottery and never work again, whilst completely enjoying my life with my children (who wouldn't though ey?)

I keep jumping back and forth from, 'Yes, I am so ready to go back to work, and I've really made the most of my time off', too 'Nope! Nope! So not ready for this at all!!!'

I'm sure once my first shift is over with, I will just be thinking, 'well that was easy!' (minus the sore feet hehe)
But this mummy has to go out and make a life for herself, and get successful in her career.

So wish me luck, and lets hope I survive my first week back at work. My uniform is washed, and ironed all ready. And I've even treated myself to some new work shoes. Hehe.


Sophie-Evelyn xoxo

MANAGING ECZEMA IN MY FAMILY

Since I was a young girl, all I can remember is suffering from eczema. I remember it the most and the worst on the inside of my legs. I specifically remember the smell of the steroid cream my mum would apply after every bath, and anytime visiting the seaside, the seawater would sting like you wouldn't believe!!

That was as worse as it got for a long, long time. Until I was pregnant with my eldest daughter, Phoebe. Its crazy what pregnancy hormones can do to you. But as soon as I knew I had this little person growing inside of me, my skin just reacted badly. From acne, to eczema in places I had never had it before in my life. 

As a child, with it being on the inside of my legs, I was always able to hide it, and nobody knew that I had eczema. Now I suffer from it quite bad on my hands. My right hand being aggressively worse. Don't ask me why!

With it being that eczema can be known to be hereditary, it was only a matter of time before we noticed a skin sensitivity in both Phoebe and Ellie. 

Phoebe has always been the worst. Since she was a newborn, I always remember how sensitive her skin was, and her skin was so delicate and flaky at the beginning. (More then a normal newborns)

With my experience of eczema, I have tried anything and everything to 'tame' it. 

My hands can get very, very sore. They can end up cracking, and I have scars on my fingers from this.  :(

As with the girls, its been trial and error in terms of what works best for their skin. The things we like to use the most are specifically things organic and as natural as you can find. We stay clear away from perfumed soaps, and moisturisers.

I've spent so long shopping around, trying to find the best product for us all. But everybody's skin is different. What could work great for Phoebe, could do the opposite to me and vice versa.

Ellie's skin isn't so sensitive, but we still are very careful with what products we use. I like to stick with natural products, like I said. And Ellie is smothered in the Burt's Bee's lotions and bath soaps. These are very popular in our household. As well as this we like to use the Simple baby range. I just find that its a lot more sensitive to my babies skin.

With Phoebe, we literally have to bath her in just warm water sometimes. Her backs of her legs get very, very sore with eczema. I make sure I moisturise both girls every single night after their baths, and this helps massively. 

One cream I have heard lots of high praise about lately is the Kokoso baby range. I have just purchased this cream, and I'm excited to see if it is as good as people have said it is.

I purchased this cream in Boots and I paid £6 for it. Which, compared to some creams I have purchased, this was a bargain!!

I am excited to try it, as it smell delicious, and I will be sure to keep you posted :)

Sophie-Evelyn xox0

Spring/Summer Baby Girl Wishlist

Now that the days are beginning to get brighter...(slowly but surely at least!!) It's time for me as a Mummy, to get all excited about all the lovely summery days out, and activities I want to do with my girlies. 

This year is our first year as a family of four, and I'm so so excited to do family days out with our completed family. Come July/August (which is when we do most of our summer days out), Ellie will be around 8-9 months old. And I think this is the perfect age for her to get involved and enjoy where she lives. Living in Devon, we as a family are very fortunate to be surrounded by beaches and perfect summer locations. I have grown up here, and I remember as a child spending my summers at the beaches, visiting Paignton Zoo, and Crealy Adventure Park. These places are all fairly local to us. And we're very lucky to have them on our doorstep.

Having these summery locations on our doorstep, only entices me to shop shop shop!! Now, I live for buying my girlies clothes. It's a terrible habit, as I seem to always look like a troll, whilst they're decked out looking lovely all the time. 

Picking out the girls' summer wardrobe is absolutely essential, so I tend to stick with the stores that I can always rely on for the girls. And I do occasionally pick up some bits from the local supermarkets, like Sainsburys, Tesco, and Asda.

So here it is. My Wishlist of things I MUST  get for Baby Ellie!!

NEXT 

ZARA

GAP

MARKS AND SPENCER

As you can see... It's a lot!! And I probably won't get it all, but hey, a girl can dream!! 

Thanks for reading!

Sophie-Evelyn 

Xoxo

Our Weekly Meal Plan

So here's the thing, even though I would much rather binge on dominoes pizza every night this week... I have a tiny little 3 year old that depends on me to cook relatively healthy meals... 

So here it goes, 

MONDAY - Our favourite go too meal... Spag Bol with garlic bread. Always a winner in my house! 

TUESDAY - Chicken stir fry with egg fried rice.

WEDNESDAY - Sweet potato cottage pie with a side of veg. (My fave!!)

THURSDAY - Spaghetti carbonara. 

FRIDAY - Pizza with garlic doughballs.

So there you have it... Not the most healthiest, but it feeds my brood! 

What are you all having for dinner this week? 

Sophie-Evelyn 

xoxo

Shall I start vlogging?.....

So here's the thing... Being on maternity leave, and having a lot of spare time on my hands I thought it would be time for me to set up my youtube channel.

Ive always wanted to do it, even before I had Ellie. Ive just never had the confidence to do it I guess.
Well, now I just want to take my chance and get going with it, and see where it takes me.

Im forever taking pictures and filming little videos of my two girls anyway, and I figured it would be like that....but better?? haha.

So, give me some time to get it all together, and I would love to share some of my ideas with you, and bring you along even more into my mummy life!!


Sophie-Evelyn
xoxo