35 weeks gone 5 weeks to go I am exhausted Emotional and envious I envy all the people I see Spending lazy afternoons reading books Watching Netflix While I chase round after Nearly four year old twins I hate myself … Continue reading
Throughout June as part of our role as Asobi Ambassadors we have been testing out some plastic figurines from Safari Ltd.
Safari Ltd – the internationally loved, American born brand that is passionate about bringing nature closer to tots. For over 30 years, Safari Ltd have been committed to teaching children the importance of the world around them and caring for nature through the joy of imaginative play. The endless collection of Safari figurines have been a popular choice amongst children for years and aim to celebrate the planet’s most fascinating creatures.
Safari has the biggest figurine offering in the world and have produced some fantastic products that are truly unique. Each figurine in the Safari collection is hand painted and is highly authentic. The brand is proud to be behind the largest dinosaur figurine collection in the world and are famous for their Carnegie collection, which has been authenticated by Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Not only does Safari Ltd promote imaginative play, the brand is passionate about teaching children the importance of conservation. A completely unique educational element to Safari Ltd is that each and every figurine has the name of the species on the side and on the tag, the name is printed in three different languages. The brand is consistently thinking of ways they can teach through imaginative play. As each figurine is incredibly realistic, the brand have ensured that children can really understand the differences of species. With other products including life cycles and bug jars, Safari have gone that extra mile to develop their range making it fun and interesting for every child. Safari Ltd also provide the perfect tools for school projects.
We were sent one Baby Sealife TOOB, Sea Turtle Life Cycle, a model T Rex, and a Good Luck Minis Fun Pack. We have had so much fun testing them out.
Safari is a brand that we are already familiar with and we use lots of their animal and science collections in our small world play. We love the quality of the figurines and the fact that they are so realistic. They enable true learning through play.
We have a woodland creatures TOOB which we used in our autumn explorations at the end of last year.
We also have a Space Toob which we have used lots in our space adventures, moon landings and starry, Matilda Mae, messy play.
And we have lots and lots of dinosaurs!
For this review we were sent a TOOB of baby sea creatures that included dolphins, sharks, whales, seals, walruses and more. Esther and William love sea creatures and thanks to Octonauts are able to confidently identify the different variations and describe some of their qualities. We used the sea creatures in small world play and water play.
We set up our sensory small world sea in a plastic lid. I used felt to create sand and sea and sparkly green paper to create seaweed and kelp. Esther and William added stones and shells to make the beach more habitable for their animals.
In the water table we added brown glass stones in the shallow area and green and blue glass stones for the deeper ocean.
Esther and William chose which creatures went into which part of the sea.
We combined this set with the Life Cycle of a Green Sea Turtle that we were also given for the purpose of this review.
The set includes a nest of turtle eggs, a hatchling, a juvenile turtle and an adult. Esther and William adore turtles, again because of Octonauts. They know that turtles swim hundreds of miles to lay their eggs on the shore. Returning to the beach where they themselves were born. They know that turtles lay over a hundred eggs. It is wonderful listening to Esther and William use these true facts in their imaginary play.
Esther was soon acting out a story about a family of green sea turtles while William was fishing for creatures that I asked him to find. He was able to pick out sword fish and dolphins, seals and walruses, hammer head sharks and Orcas.
He was also able to tell me some facts about the creatures, all knowledge gained from watching Octonauts.
Safari Ltd create and sell all kinds of creatures, real and fantasy, to be collected. They are great for creating small world habitats and for learning about different species, different places around the world. And out of this world! You can find a safari Ltd TOOB set for most habitats, fantasies and occasions including Christmas!
For the anniversary of Tilda’s death earlier in the year I bought a TOOB of In The Sky Miniatures that Esther and William used for imaginary play, imagining what it might be like to live up in the clouds and to see these things floating and flying by.
When we went on holiday to Ullswater we took a Life Cycle of a Frog set with us and a range of different books about tadpoles and frogs. Next year we are going to try growing some of our own. There will be more about this in this week’s Minibeast Monday post.
The Safari Ltd Figurines are of great quality. They are accurate in their representation of nature and creatures, their fantasy figures are stunning and perfect for story making and telling.
As well as our TOOB and Life Cycle Set we were also sent an amazing TRex to play with a surprise pack of miniature figures including a teeny tiny ladybird that Esther fell in love with.
The Safari Ltd Good Luck Minis are tiny figures that would make a great gift for a birthday party or would be great to give to children to play with on a long journey. They come in a little paper envelope which would be also be perfect for a Christmas stocking or in place of a party bag at a children’s party. Perhaps at a Minibeast Ball?
We have loved playing with our Safari Ltd Figures, the ways to play with these toys are endless, limited only by the imagination of the child.
Want to see for yourself?
One lucky Edspire reader can win a Baby Sea Life TOOB, a Green Sea Turtle Life Cycle, a TRex Model and a Minis Fun Pack.
All you have to do is complete the Rafflecopter form below.
Good Luck!
And check my Minibeast Monday post tomorrow for a great discount code to use when buying Safari Ltd products through Kind Toys Online
It’s double the giggles and double the grins, and double the trouble if you’re blessed with twins.
Author Unknown
May I introduce you to Esther Grace and William Nairn
As June ends we start three very exciting count downs
First – counting sleeps until Esther and William turn four
Second – counting the days til Rainbow Baby is expected to make an appearance
Third – counting the sleeps until big school
Big school!
How is that even possible?
The last four years have flown by
In a blur of comedy and tragedy
In a flurry of love stories
Punctuated by pain, loss and fear
Highlighted with happiness, sunshine and rainbows
And through it all
These two have stuck to one another like glue
Through thick and thin
They love one another
Comfort one another
Amuse each other
Entertain
Encourage
Challenge
They are siblings
Best friends
Twins
I love the way they talk to each other
Decide together what they are going to do
Where they are going to go
What they are going to play
I love the way they negotiate with each other
They kiss each other better when they are hurt
They cuddle each other when they are feeling poor
They giggle, how they giggle, when they are up to no good
The bond is strengthening day by day
As they become more aware of how special it is to have a twin
I worry about Esther and William all the time
Esther is a real thinker
She is the quieter of the two
And she thinks about things a lot
She is also physically frailer than William
Our fragile little fairy
And what a scare she has given us
With her febrile convulsion this week
Esther loves to draw
She can write her name
She loves small world play
And making up stories with her toys
She has started showing a real interest in dolls
Perhaps because Rainbow Baby is on her way
Esther says I love you all the time
She talks about how she loves Baby Tilda
She is a quiet, fragile, loving little girl
She is also cheeky and naughty
In an impish kind of way
William is a worrier
He talks about Tilda more than Esther
He asks questions all the time
Last weekend we saw a friend of the family
Who had quite a new baby
William looked at the mummy holding the baby
And said, quite matter of factly
Will her baby stay?
And I said yes, I hope so
William said
Our baby did not stay
Will our new baby stay?
We were in the car
And on our journey home
We answered William’s questions
Why do babies die?
Why did Baby Tilda die?
Will our new baby die?
Why do people die?
This was all before he watched his twin sister collapse
And broke his heart while we rushed around him in a panic
Not knowing if another of his sister’s was going to live or die
What must have been going through his head?
When the ambulance was called
And Esther had come round
I wrapped my arms around him
And we sobbed together
As I reassured him, as best I could
That Esther was going to be all right
I worry about William
Though he does always seem to bounce back
He is very emotional
He cries at stories and programs on TV
He always asks for cuddles
He hates being left anywhere
You have to wait for him to go downstairs
Or to a different part of the garden
He hates being left alone
He loves trains
And Octonauts
He loves running
And racing on his bike
He loves numbers and counting
And investigating how things work
He is adorable
And he and Esther together
Are just a terrific little twosome
Our miracle twosome
Born at 27 weeks
Surviving and seeing all that they have
In their almost four years
Itching and eager and ready for school
So excited about turning four
Impatient to know when the baby is ‘coming out’
Ready to walk together
On the path of their journey together
Onwards and upwards together
Holding hands
Always holding hands
Not double trouble, but twice blessed.
Author Unknown
All photographs are used with permission from Marie Donn Photography
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Having breastfed Esther and William for fifteen months
And Tilda for nine
Her whole life!
I am hoping that I will be able to feed Rainbow Baby too
One of the great things about breastfeeding
Is that you do not NEED any resources or equipment
But there are some things that it is nice to have
Here are some of the things that I have used when feeding my children so far
Some of the things that I feel made a difference to our breastfeeding journey
Tommee Tippee Breast Pads
There are so many different types of breast pads available and you will need to look at them and try a few out. For me I keep returning to Tommee Tippee. These disposable breast pads come twin wrapped so they can be kept in your change bag and stay clean. They are also adhesive so they stay where you need them to stay. The pads are thin and breathable and I have always found them to be comfortable to wear. I have mine at the ready for when Rainbow Baby comes.
Medela Breast Pump
With Esther and William I had a Medela Pump in Style Advance, a double electric pump. I used it a lot while Esther and William were in hospital and it was wonderful. Easy to use, easy to clean and efficient. Once the twins were home from hospital and feeding on demand I did not have time or need to pump anymore. We had a freezer full of milk from our hospital stay. Because of this lack of time with Esther and William, we gave the pump away and we did not buy another one when Tilda came along. Now though I really wish that I had. For two reasons. The first being that I suffered mastitis twice in my early feeding journey with Tilda and it would have been great to have a pump to relieve some of the pressure and make it easier for Tilda to feed. The second reason being as feeding established Tilda favoured my left breast and I ended up incredibly lopsided. Looking back I should have expressed the milk from my right side to address the balance and to use the milk when we started weaning. So now that we are expecting our Rainbow Baby along I am going to be prepared and we are going to buy a Medela Swing. I love Medela as a brand as I love their ethos and they way that they work so hard to provide a knowledge bank and a community for breastfeeding mummies. They also support parents of preemies which is a personal passion of mine.
Theraline Nursing Cushions
This weekend I have been away at Brit Mums Live. I missed my husband and my children so much. I also missed my Theraline Maternity and Nursing Pillow. I had one of these cushions throughout my pregnancy with Tilda and have one again for Rainbow. I sleep with it every night and now I am getting bigger and heavier I will use it more to support me during the day, and once Rainbow is here, I will use it to support us both through the early long days and nights of feeding. I also have a Theraline Wynnie Feeding Cushion ready to use, to support baby as she feeds and to lay her on, on my lap, to admire her. Just as we used to do with Tilda.
Chilling Out With Wynnie
Muslin cloths
Muslins have so many uses. Bibs, swaddles, cleaning cloths, playing games of Peekaboo, nursing cover, play mat, mopping up milk … The list goes on and on. There are so many different muslins around. I would recommend having a stash of plain, cheaper ones from somewhere like Asda and then some prettier ones from somewhere like Faye and Lou, or Aden and Anais. They are a practical, multi functional product that you will not want to be without.
Bravado and Carriwell Nursing Bras
I love both of these brands. I have worn them both throughout all my pregnancies and through feeding three children, soon (I hope) to be four.
At the moment I have the Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra in black, nude, pink and red. I wear them all the time as they are just so comfortable. This is what I said about them when I was pregnant with Matilda Mae.
This bra is the most comfortable item of clothing I currently own. The material is so soft and stretchy and seems to be growing perfectly with my ever changing chest size! The bra is gentle enough to be worn all day without leaving marks or causing any discomfort. It seems to caress tender breasts and keep them safe and supported right through the night. It is really very comfortable for sleeping in which is important when pregnant and breastfeeding when you often need that extra support.
I love the fact that the bra has a low back so that when I am nursing Matilda through the summer months I can wear it with some lovely vest tops and summer dresses, and not have to sacrifice style for the practicalities of breastfeeding.
I find this bra to be very supportive of my ever enlarging shape and it also makes a great shape under my clothes.
It comes with extra padding if you feel you need a bit of oomph or nipple discretion! The pouch where the pad fits could also be used for securing a breastfeeding pad.
If you buy one of these bras I am certain that it will see you through maternity, nursing and beyond. It can be converted into a non nursing bra by removing the clips but to be honest I have not even noticed that any clips are there. This is a very well designed and made bra with great practical features for every mummy and mummy to be.
The Carriwell Maternity and Nursing range is also excellent. Pretty and practical through pregnancy and beyond. The bras are stretchy and so can grow with your changing shape but they also give great support. They are soft enough to wear day and night and come in a range of pretty styles and colours. I love the Seamless Nursing Bras and they were the bras I chose for my hospital bag with Matilda Mae. The styling of these bras is pretty enough that it does not matter if they show beneath a dress of vest top. They are lovely maternity wear and perfect for easy feeding.
Mama Jewels Breastfeeding Bracelet
Life with a new baby is busy, add other children into the mix and your days become a haze of activity. One of the things you will want to keep track of is baby’s feeds.
When Tilda was born and I had three children under two I found a breastfeeding bracelet an invaluable tool. It was pretty too. The bracelet reminded me what side Tilda needed to feed from next. When she took to only feeding from one side Tilda took the bracelet for her own and now it is in her memory box as she loved it so much. Mama Jewels has some beautiful feeding bracelets and you can also use your Count The Kicks wristband for the same purpose.
Feeding Vests
On their own or under shirts, tops and dresses a feeding vest is an essential I would say for breastfeeding. They allow you to feed discreetly without showing your belly. There are some wonderful vests around from a range of sellers including The Essential One and Babes with Babies. One of my favourites with Tilda was the Emma Jane Deluxe Feeding Vest
.
Bibee Dress
The Bibee dress is a great dress for days out and evening dos. It is a gorgeous dress with interchanging bibs so that you can change your look or swap your top if there is an accident or spillage. The dress makes a flowing flattering maternity silhouette and gives new mummies great confidence when feeding out and about. I adore my Bibee Dress and wore it all the time with Matilda Mae. I also wore it often earlier in this pregnancy. For a full review of the Bibee Dress you can go to my post here.
Activities for Toddlers
Over the next few weeks I am going to be collating ideas for preschooler busy bags. Little activities for Esther and William to tackle independently whilst I am giving Rainbow her feeds. Esther and William were so young when Tilda was born it was hard to do but this time they enjoy activities that are a challenge for them to attempt together or alone without an adult. If you search Pinterest for toddler busy bags you will find many, many wonderful ideas. Or stop back here in a few weeks time when I will be starting to share mine!
Coca Cola and Mars Bars
Ideally you will be eating a very healthy diet and drinking plenty of water but once in a while it is nice to sit down for a feed with something a little bit naughty that you really fancy. For me it was always Coca Cola and chocolate, often a Mars Bar or chocolate raisins. A little bit of what you fancy does you good and if you are happy and relaxed chances are your baby will be too. My coke and chocolate routine started when Esther and William were in NICU and is something of a tradition now. I hope one that I will get to repeat soon enough with Rainbow.
So, these are some of the bits I think will help you get the best from breastfeeding.
What would your top tips be?
For more breastfeeding tips and stories you can have a look here
Mummies Waiting
Diddle Diddle Dumpling
Mummy is a Gadget Geek
The Mummy Adventure
A Mixed Bag
In less than seven weeks our Rainbow will be here In all her glorious colours she will be here I hope that she will be healthy and well And we will be able to bring her home I am looking … Continue reading