The Confident You Campaign is something that all mums can relate to, whether it’s your first baby or your fifth! Having a baby changes the dynamics in your life in lots of different ways, some you are prepared for and some can come as a complete surprise.

Mamas and Papas recently completed a national survey of roughly around 2000 new mums about their health and fitness attitudes. Based on previous research, they found that their target audience of mums who are 25-34, are worried about their personal appearance and weight. They are inclined to do activities to stay fit, but find it hard to manage their time around family life and as a result, they often skip meals or eat unhealthy. Their research found some interesting results, which shows that actually the new generation of mums are very active in the diets and exercise – post pregnancy. See what Mamas and Papas found with the Confident You survey.

Since becoming a mum myself, I can relate to a lot of the findings. On a personal level, I know that I have at times struggled with my appearance, what I should and shouldn’t be eating, while at the same time trying to look after children. My kids pretty much always trump my needs but that’s the sacrifice I am happy to make while they are still fairly small. I’m still trying to find the elusive balance, however, I don’t let that defeat me and I’m always striving to keep us healthy as a family.

Having children definitely makes you look at your own diet. Not only do you want them to have nutritious food but you also have an example to set as well as having the energy to keep up with them. I also feel that despite not actually doing any proper exercise *cough* I’m fitter than pre-children , simply as I’m running around after them. My life was much more sedentary before!

I’m a week late, but this little girly has turned six months. Half a year already having this little ray of sunshine in our lives. Although each stage in a baby’s development is special, she’s at the point where things are really starting to become a little more interesting for her and also for us.

She’s started the weaning journey now, which really marks the end of an era for me. As demanding as it can be exclusively breastfeeding, it’s always been a time that I have cherished with all my babies. As we’re still in the early stages of weaning, there hasn’t really been any marked change in taking milk and like with both my boys, I hope to continue until about the one year mark.

She’s not yet sitting up by herself but she’s sturdy none the less. I’m in no hurry for her to rush and reach her milestones, after all she’ll grow up at some point and these baby months will be over in a blink of an eye. She’ll probably surprise us all one day and be one of these babies that skips stages or does something a little different to her brothers, like bum shuffling!

Getting a photo of her with the milestone card was pretty challenging. Once she had her eye on it, she was stopping at nothing until she got it. She went to great lengths to swipe it which shows what a determined little girl she is becoming.

She really is such a smiley baby but as luck would have it, I don’t always manage to capture it on camera. She’s clued up already, as when the camera comes out, her face changes. I think she’s getting used to me snapping away and using her as my latest muse but it won’t be long until things will be very much on her terms.

I just love her little expressions that she’s making now. My husband and I always joke that it makes a change to have a baby with expressions. Simply because both the boys had such fair eyebrows, you could hardly detect that they had any! So they always looked more surprised than anything. The way she furrows her brow in an inquisitive way is just so cute.

She’s definitely got us all wrapped around her little finger and in particular her biggest brother. He completely dotes on her and it’s so lovely to see.

As hard work as having three children can be, we still pinch ourselves that we decided to try for one last baby that turned out to be a girl. Six months later and it still feels surreal to say I have a daughter and yet it’s like she’s always been part of our family now.

It doesn’t take much for me to be quiet on my blog lately. Life can be pretty hectic most days and I do struggle to find a happy medium where I can do all I need to and set time aside for the blog. In a nutshell, I managed blogging with more ease with only one Beastie!

Anyway one of the main reasons I have been finding life busy is the fact we have moved. It all happened rather fast and it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. We made the decision to move in with my husbands family while we rent out our flat. This way we hope to save lots of pennies to one day buy that house (and garden!) we have been dreaming of.

So big changes all round and not least for the boys. What I am loving is the fact they now have a bigger bedroom to share which also doubles up as a playroom for them. Their old bedroom was so crammed to the rafters with their beds and cots and chest of drawers that they had no room to actually play and have their toys in there. Beastie also found it very hard to settle at night in there and just didn’t enjoy it like a child should with their ‘own’ room.

This is where their new room is going to be different. We have given them as much floor space as possible by putting their beds in one corner, one big boy bed and one cotbed. My husband was keen to take down the cot sides for Baby Beastie but I didn’t feel the need to do this yet. He hasn’t made another bid for freedom for quite a while and the longer I can keep him contained in his cot the better. When Beastie was set loose, we ended up with him in our bed for another year and I am keen to prevent history repeating itself. As the cotbed is still up then the baby monitor will stay in place. He has a movement sensor mat under his mattress and unlike his brother, he doesn’t set it off all of the time. It’s piece of mind for me and as long as he stays put in his bed, it shall stay put.

It also means his big brother can get in to keep him company and look after him from time to time. That’s what big brothers are for…

So what makes the perfect holiday? It can be any number of factors that makes a holiday truly amazing and unforgettable. Yet fundamentally it starts with being together and getting away from it all.

It’s so hard to switch off from work mode when at home and concentrate on spending time with the kids. It’s not always easy to find the time to properly play with them, actually listen to what they have to say and respond with genuine interest. Yet it’s so important to nurture their little personalities and let them grow.

For me, it’s always been about sunny holidays. Nothing quite beats that feeling of the sun on my face and body. When I lie on a sun lounger and feel the warm breeze around me, I instantly relax. I’ll open my eyes and squint up to the vast expanse of blue sky and think to myself, ‘this is what life is all about’. If only I could bottle this feeling and sprinkle it around on rainy days…

Of course now I have a family, my sun lounging days are few and far between, but do you know what? Holidays are also a lot more fun now children are involved. They give you more of a reason to get out there and enjoy yourself and we can always learn a lot from kids.

Our holidays are now about seeking adventures with three little people in tow. Three little people that only want to enjoy themselves to the max and only see the world through innocent eyes. We want their adventures to be ones that they always remember and shape the memories from their childhood. Memories that we make together as a family and will always be cherished. The kind you reminisce about for the rest of your life and aspire to recreate. The carefree days.

Last summer we were still a family of four and a bump and we were limited in what we could do on holiday.

Now we have a little lady who has joined the ranks and it’s exciting that our children’s adventures will now be as a threesome. This summer, she will be big enough to enjoy her first holiday and she has two big brothers who can’t wait to go swimming with her.

Being in a position to sit by the poolside and just wile the time away having a little chat. Nothing is standing in your way of spending quality time just hanging out together. No pressing schedules or workloads, apart from what activity might be next or what time you plan to get ready to go out and get something to eat.

It’s also essential to look the part on holiday. Holiday accessories are key.

Sometimes it’s nice to feel the sun on your back while you dip your toes in the water. Just hanging out together, appreciating each others company.

Sunshine, pools and water jets are a pretty cool combination. However, there’s always the initial shock of that first plunge…

When it all gets a bit too much, cuddles wrapped up in a towel can make everything better.

When it’s summertime, you can dance around in your pants if you want to.

And walk around without a care in the world…also in your pants if you want to.

You can wear big cheesy grins.

It’s also a time to let your imagination run wild. Don’t you just love the magic of make believe?

It’s perfect for learning new skills in the sun…

And it’s about simply having the time to wind down after an exhausting day outdoors…

So as a family we’re more than ready for some new adventures and challenges. The boys are at the stage where they really want to try new activities and the fearless attitude is still very much present. Something I now envy!

We want to soak up the sun on an amazing beach resort while trying out exciting pursuits on the sea. Or wrap up warm on the ski slopes and get to grips with an entirely new skill. A chance to experience what the resorts have to offer for the whole of the family, while getting some much needed time as a couple. It’s the best of both worlds.

Also, we’re crucially overdue a proper family photograph too. This is the only snap of the five of us and no one really wants Christmas thrust in their face right now, do they? I’m thinking of one with sunkissed skin and a nice sunset as a backdrop.

We love to tell a story through photos and video and our adventures on a holiday of our dreams would be no less. In fact we’re intrigued with what we could come up with…

Our holidays might not be perfect, but it’s all about being together. Having nothing that gets in the way of being silly, laughing, smiling and doing what we want to do everyday. Falling into bed everynight after a day spent doing what makes our hearts happy. That pretty much sounds like bliss.

I’ve always talk to people these days how much I feel I have changed as a driver since my children arrived. As a parent you become more aware of your own mortality and the risks that you may have once taken are no longer an option. I worry myself too much sometimes thinking about the unthinkable which is not being around for my boys when they are growing up. As a result I drive much more sensibly now and am always thinking of the dangers that may lie ahead – even when I don’t have my precious cargo onboard.

I seem to have a greater awareness of what other drivers are doing and in much less of a hurry than I once used to be. I do still get mild road rage (obviously not violent!) and will always have that side to me. My little back seat driver also notices when someone has ‘annoyed Mummy’. Oops…but I’m generally much calmer and have mellowed over time. I guess age may be a factor here too.

Still my main priority is the safety of the boys followed closely by keeping myself safe. We recently upgraded our car to a larger one and one that I feel is much safer to be driving with a family. There is much more room for car seats and ample leg room for swinging legs. Buying suitable car seats that are secured properly is paramount to their safety.

I’ve seen some cases lately where cheaper car seats have caused children injuries during accidents, rather than preventing them and it’s always a good idea to get advice after a road accident. It can be scary enough being involved in an accident but knowing that the very seat that is designed to protect them has failed, is very worrying indeed. I personally can’t believe that equipment that is sub-standard is available to buy and pass safety tests. You can’t put a price on the safety of your family.