Alphablocks Phonics First Steps DVD review

We were sent an Alphablocks DVD to review from Abbey Kids and I couldn't wait to receive it as I am a big fan of the show. We are a bit late with this review due to the distraction of the arrival of baby brother but my 3 year old has been enjoying this a lot over the last few weeks! It's provided a great distraction for my daughter for those inevitable moments when mummy has been a little bit busier than usual... and as she's learning while she's watching I am not left with the guilt factor!

If you haven't seen Alphablocks before, it is a fantastic learning cartoon which helps children learn phonics. The Alphablocks really make learning letter sounds fun and show children how to put sounds together to form words. It is all done in an entertaining way so kiddies don't even realise they are learning, which is the best way I think!

Each Alphablock character is a different letter and makes it own sound in clever ways, for example letter 'm' is a chef who likes to say "mmmmmmmmm" and 'd' loves to "d d d d d drum". The characters use a lot of aliteration when they talk to really hammer in their individual letter sounds. When the letters come together and hold hands they each make their sounds and the join them up to form the new word. My daughter will really happily sit and watch it and it really helped her pick up her letter sounds at a young age. She's 3 and a half now and is starting to put her sounds together (to mummy's amazement) to read simple words like dog, cat... and activities like this really help.

Phonics didn't exist when I was learning to read, so a lot of parents won't really know how to get their children started on it. I have an ex-primary school teacher mum who pointed out to me early on I was doing the sounds all wrong when teaching my daughter the alphabet! The DVD includes a Parents Guide which gives some helpful tips.

The DVD is fantastic and has episodes a plenty, you get a really long run time so you really won't feel short changed. The episodes are great fun and Squiggle would happily watch the whole thing in one go but I have been breaking it down into a few episodes at a time to help her take it all in. A couple of the episodes even had her laughing out loud, and she'll happily watch her favourites over and over.

The DVD also comes with a great poster which she has put up in her bedroom and is a great way to introduce little games and practice sounds away from the programme.

We will be getting a lot more use out of this DVD for a while but I will eventually be buying the next volume in the series to keep up the good work!

Welcome to the world

After everyone telling me there was no way my baby was coming out anytime soon, he decided he did want to meet us after all and was born the day before my due date! I am completely in love, he is such a lovely baby and totally gorgeous and totally scrummy!

The birth just felt completely surreal. On Friday morning I headed to my midwife check up, the head wasn't engaged yet and we chatted about inductions and she booked in a sweep for a weeks time. I left feeling reassured things were fine but with the sense she didn't expect a baby to appear any time soon. We spent the rest of the day visiting Granny and replying to texts to say no, no twinges or any sign of action yet!

After dinner that night about 10pm I got a real pressing down pain, I thought I'd eaten to much and the baby was pressing on my bowls. It kept happening and I had to keep standing up to shake off the pains. It slowly started to dawn on me that the cramps were coming every five minutes or so and then going away. I thought probably nothing but I started to note them down. An hour later I phoned the hospital and they said to have an hour long bath, if they didn't go away then they were contractions. The bath really helped and made them feel weaker but they were still there.

We laid down in bed and tried to sleep, every 7 minutes or so I was woken up and started my stopwatch! Nana came round to babysit and at 5 am we headed to hospital. I have no idea how I got from midnight to 5 just lying in my bed, was a bit of a haze. The contractions were still a bit far apart but lasting over a minute so I wanted to get checked out!

In the car they seemed to become more constant and the walk from the car to the ward was a struggle. I was embarrassed to be crying by the time I got up there. I started to stress that like my last birth they would say "2cm so off home with you" and my husband and I were totally shocked to find I was 7cm dilated! We struggled over to our room and I decided to get in the pool, hadn't really planned what I wanted but had that in the back of my mind. I intended to get in and see how I felt but no sooner was I in than the pushing started. I was so shocked I was shouting, "he's trying to come out!! What do I do??!" I thought something was wrong as it was happening so quickly. Go with it was the answer so I did my best and there he was born. It was completely amazing and my husband and I were completely she'll shocked. Just like that our perfect baby boy was with us.

I'd recommend the pool, the pain felt more manageable and the birth felt really natural. I had been scared about my second labour but just like that it was over and so so worth it. For anyone else still waiting and worrying, don't! You really can do it. I was so lucky I didn't need stitches and was allowed home that morning.

Now comes the really scary bit - taking care of our gorgeous baby boy who is completely relying on us. You'll be hearing more about this little heartbreaker along the way. Probably at 4 in the morning as he doesn't seem to be a huge fan of sleeping at night!! X

Competition time – Happy Mum-To-Be Day from Cussons Mum & Me

I'm really exited to be running another competition and the chance to win a lovely Mum to be prize from Cussons. My baby is actually due on Mother's Day so it could be a big one this year, and I am feeling in need of some pampering! This set looks very appealing to me. The competition ends Friday 8th of March so get those entries in and best of luck! 

Entry is via the rafflecopter, check out the gorgeous prize details below...

There’s nothing better than becoming a mum, and Mother’s Day is the perfect chance to celebrate what a good job mums do.  But what about Mums-to-be?

If you’re pregnant, Mother’s Day may be a day to think about the journey ahead, and take some time to relax while you still can! The Cussons Mum & Me Gift Pack is the perfect present for mums-to-be to pamper themselves before their little bundle of joy arrives.

The Bump Gift Pack includes:

Smooth & Glow Pregnancy Shampoo

• Containing Almond Oil and Pro Vitamin B5 to keep hair nourished and easy to manage. The perfect item to keep mum-to-be looking her very best for Mother's Day.

Soothe & Nourish Body Lotion

• With a blend of Avocado, Almond & Grapeseed oils, this product will leave mum-to-be feeling hydrated and moisturised. A great choice during the cold chilly months when your skin can be extra prone to damage. Plus it contains Allantoin that can help to relieve itchy skin, especially over mum’s bump.

Relax & Unwind Bath Soak

• This product contains Camomile which is known for its relaxing properties. The ideal gift for mum-to-be to get some “me time” this Mother's Day.

Relax & Unwind Sleep Mist

• With Lavender and Camomile this sleep mist will have mum-to-be unwinding in no time at all. Its relaxing aromas will let her gently drift off to sleep so she can dream about all Mother's Days to come.

With an RRP of £15.99 the Bump Gift Pack includes every essential mums-to-be will need to enjoy a little me time on their day.

Cussons Mum & Me is a new range of products designed to help with the amazing realities of becoming a mum. The range addresses three keys needs of mum and baby – sleep, skin and hair and has been designed to help with every stage of the journey – from bump to new mum to baby.

All Cussons Mum & Me products are available from major retailers including Tescos, Boots and Sainsbury’s. For more information see:  www.mumandme.com

Go go go – enter here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find me a gift of relaxation this Mother's Day

It is finally March which also means that Mother's Day is fast approaching. I have been on the lookout for little trinkets (on my little budget) that just show mum I care and this Bomb Cosmetics candle sent to me from Find Me A Gift is a great find.

I just love the name of it – any mums out there in need of Blissful Rest? Yep, thought so and although us mums might not completely achieve full rest and relaxation this Mother's Day this candle will certainly help!

It comes in a really pretty pot which is nice to have sat out in your home and is even prettier when you open it. Beneath the lid the actual candle is very sweet, decorated with pretty little white hearts.

The candle is handcrafted and a blend of essential oils – handmade with lavender and clary sage. It gives off a really nice light and subtle, almost citrus smell which really lifts the room and relaxes you instantly. It will last a good while too with a 30-35 hours of burn time.

Every night this week, once Squiggle is tucked in bed, my feet are up and bump is in a comfy position, I've had mine lit and indeed it has been........ BLISS!