Breastfeeding Support in Edinburgh & The Lothians.

It's one of the simplest things you could need, yet so many women still aren't receiving it. Support in Breastfeeding. Be it help in actually getting things established, or simply listening to you as you winge about being engorged again - support is always key. I've decided to keep things local today and list the support available for those of us in Edinburgh & The Lothians.

• • •

Midwives. They're a bit like Marmite - you love them or you hate them! If you're lucky enough to get a good one, grab hold of her from your first pregnancy appointment & don't let her go! I was lucky in that I had the best couple of midwives you could imagine. From answering the phone for the billionth time when John wouldn't latch, to being behind me 100% when I said I planned to tandem breastfeed. In fact, we had such a great relationship when it came to breastfeeding that they even invited me to speak at an antenatal class when John was a few months old.

That being said, my midwives were also the lactation specialists and ran the Breastfeeding Clinic for our area so they were very knowledgeable. If you don't feel like your midwife is much help, ask to be referred on to someone who is. Even if they don't seem clued up on breastfeeding, they'll have the contacts to those who are.

Breastfeeding Clinics. There are Breastfeeding Clinics throughout Edinburgh & The Lothians which are run by the NHS in various hospitals & health centres. Given how great my midwives were, I never had to attend one, however I've heard fantastic things about them. You can ask to be referred by your midwife, health visitor or GP, or you can just drop in. The Breastfeeding Clinics take time to help with the average appointment time being 2 hours, during which they'll take a history of your issues, watch your wee one feed, then identify the issues & work on a plan of action.

For a full list of Breastfeeding Clinics & when they're on, click here.

La Leche League. I was late in discovering the La Leche League [LLL] (when I was pregnant with David) but I'm glad I found them in the end. La Leche League (pronounced la lay-chay) is an international charitable organisation founded to give information and encouragement, mainly through mother-to-mother support, to all women who want to breastfeed their babies. I absolutely love going to the LLL meetings as there's no where else that you'll come across as many women who're happy to breastfeed their children without hesitation & eager to support each other in any way possible. It's the perfect place to not only gain support & advice in any breastfeeding issues but it's also fab for just talking to like-minded Mum's. Plus their meetings have a library of breastfeeding related books that you can borrow out too.

La Leche League Edinburgh meet twice a month for both a Baby Meeting & Toddler Meeting, but I've been welcomed at both with a baby & toddler in tow. And the great thing about LLL is that they have a 24 hour helpline and their group leaders are happy to be contacted between meetings too. The LLL Edinburgh also have a Facebook Group which is brilliant for those times between the groups when you need some moral support or just fancy talking boobs!

Psst! We also featured in the LLL magazine, Breastfeeding Matters in November/December 2013. Click here to see.

Feed Good Factor. There's a lot to be said for the NHS, especially here in Scotland (mine is positive, by the way!) but one thing I personally think they've done extremely well in is their breastfeeding support website, The Feed Good Factor. Not only does it explain the basics, like how to breastfeed, it also has a Myth Buster feature, a Troubleshooter help tool and a postcode search for local support groups a little closer to home. Plus their poster campaigns never fail to get a giggle from me. I highly recommend having a nosey is you're considering or planning to breastfeed, already facing problems or hoping to help some who is looking to breastfeed.

Friends & Family. It may seem like an obvious one but not everyone does get support from their loved ones. The important thing to remember is that generally, people mean well (& if they don't, well, you don't really need me to tell you do not need that negativity in your life!) and it pays to take any advice you're unsure of with a pinch of salt. It may help to make your wishes to breastfeed known before your wee one comes along and ask in advance that they support you in anyway you think will help. These could include, keeping visits brief at first, bringing you easy to cook & eat meals, not asking "when will you be introducing a bottle/dummy"... And make sure you instruct your other half to get you a glass of water & a breakfast bar each time you sit down to feed - breastfeeding is thirst & hunger inducing business! Having the support of those who mean the most to you will always be a step in the right direction.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

See what these other lovely ladies have to say in the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt.

Attachment Feminism // My Thoughts On Things // Hex Mum // Circus Queen // Mummies Waiting

And for the ultimate in breastfeeding support, hop on over to TalkMum who have kindly donated a 3 Month Supply of Pregnacare Breastfeeding Support Supplements to the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt.

Wishing you a supportive breastfeeding journey,

On Kirstie Allsopp.

The media has been going mad over Kristie Allsopp this week. If you aren't aware, I urge you to actually read the interview in which she's been slandered over - because as always, a lot of what's been said has been taken out of context.

“I don’t have a girl, but if I did I’d be saying 'Darling, do you know what? Don’t go to university. Start work straight after school, stay at home, save up your deposit – I’ll help you, let’s get you into a flat. And then we can find you a nice boyfriend and you can have a baby by the time you’re 27.” - Kirstie Allsopp.

Now, for my thoughts on the matter. Kirstie Allsopp; if I didn't love you already (which I did anyway) I do now!

Over the years, I've had many amazing plans for life-long careers - from optometry to tattooist, from animator to firefighter, from seamstress to midwife...and everything in between! There was always one thing that remained throughout all these dreams and that was to be a mother. I always knew that whether I was tattooing people for a living or becoming the next Walt Disney, that I'd always have children to come home to. Family has always been a hugely important part of my life and I've always been the mothering type ("hello, little baby bird that's fallen out the nest, do you want to come home with me?") so even when I left school with no idea where life would take me, I knew I'd have kids within a matter of years. In fact, my life plan was to be married by 22 and have two kids by 25. The marriage is unfortunately out of my hands but the kids have happened as I'd always imagined.

Iain and I had been together for 2 years when the topic of kids first came up. I'd already had the realisation that this was the man I wanted to be the father of my children but I knew it wasn't something on the agenda just yet. It was when Iain became an Uncle that we first started talking about starting a family. I was a couple of months off turning 20 and we said it'd be something we'd consider a few months down the line as thanks to stereotypes, I didn't want to be what society saw a stereotypical 'teen-Mum'. I was 20 when we found out I was pregnant with John & 21 by the time he was born. Biologically speaking, I was the perfect age to have babies. Given this, Kirstie is completely justified in her opinion on when 'best' to start a family.

Of course, not everyone is emotionally ready, nor in the situation to allow them to start a family in their early 20s, but if they are and they know that it's what they want (as I did) then it's surely within their biological interest to consider starting a family sooner rather than later? Even at 20, I remember being devastated those first months we tried (& failed) for a baby, already wondering if there was something wrong with my fertility. We only waited for two months before managing to actually conceive John and that was heart-breaking enough. I can't even begin to imagine how heart-wrenching it must be to suffer real fertility issues, of which age is a main culprit. Why should society dictate when we should start a family, purely based on age & the right order of how to live your life?

"Some of the greatest pain that I have seen among friends is the struggle to have a child. It wasn’t all people who couldn’t start early enough because they hadn’t met the right person." - Kirstie Allsopp.

Then there's the university side of things. Oh uni, how we have a bad relationship. I've never been to university. I never wanted to go to university. Which when you are in a High School where the only option they can see for anyone after graduating is to go to university, can be pretty frustrating. Careers advisor's, teachers & fellow students...all making out like you'll have no life if you don't go, which can do great things in making you hate universities.

I left school with little qualifications. I hated school for various reasons, resulting in a bit of self-sabotage, and could not have been happier when it was all over. The last thing I wanted to do was continue sitting in a classroom for another 4 years just for, as Kirstie oh-so-perfectly put it, "the 'experience'". I can 100% understand wanting to go to university when you know what career or even what area you want to work in, but to go because it's 'the thing to do' just makes no sense to me. Why waste 4 years of your life getting into debt for a 'experience'? As far as I can see, university is there for learning, for laying the paves to a lifelong career. Of course, things don't always go to plan, but instead of being pressured & pushed into going to university because society says it's the thing to do, why aren't teenagers being told to jump straight into the working world? To make a life for themselves before deciding what they want to do for the rest of their lives? Why are we so set on the 'school, university, career, married, house then kids' rigmarole? Especially when in the big picture, kids are only an option for a short time.

"If everyone started having children when they were 20, they’d be free as a bird by the time they were 45. But how many 45-year-olds do you know who are bogged down?" - Kirstie Allsopp.

For me, it made more sense to skip university or college & studying something I only half cared about, just for the the 'experience' and to end up in thousands of pounds worth of debt for the pleasure. Instead, at 18 I started working full time, I moved out of my parents & started living my own life, having my own 'experience'. And I'll tell you what - it's paid off. Every year a new person starts at my work; someone who has just graduated after studying for 4 years, yet here they are - doing the same job as me, although earning less due to not having the same experience, and often back at home living with their parents or at least in considerable debt. What I'm trying to say is, by all means go to university if it's going to lead you where you want to be. However, if you don't know what you want and/or are just going for the 'experience' why not skip the university bit and have your own experience without having to worry about lectures, exams & debt?

Whilst all my school peers were spending 4 years of their life on a £20,000 education (...or experience...), I chose to start living independently, working full time & raising my first child. And sure, I do have my own debts, we're not married (yet...) and our home is rented. But you know the best bit? I'm 23. Both my kids will be in school before I'm even 30. There's still so much time for me to decide whether sewing or fighting fires is what I'm best at. And by that time, I'll have my family to support me, I'll have a secure home, & a job that pays. I can save for university in advance, thus avoiding the unnecessary debt that goes hand in hand. Then there's the life experience - as isn't that what employers go in favour of when selecting canidates for careers these days? It's a win-win, no?

So, Kirstie Allsopp, I raise my glass to you. Not everything in life should be about university & careers. And I praise you for bringing this point to the world's attention. Isn't it time we came to realise that skipping that in favour of kids doesn't mean your life is over? In fact, my life has only just begun.

Thanks for reading,

Reflecting.

When John was around 7 months old, I returned to education. At school, I was a nightmare student. I hated school and made it my aim to everyone show that. As a result, I came away with little qualifications. So in 2012, I decided to start an evening class in Higher English to try and pass one of the (many) exams I failed whilst at school. It was hard work but I loved it - it was something just for me. Unfortunately, when I became pregnant with David and endured a HG pregnancy, I had to drop out weeks before the final exams.

However, part of the course was to write a Reflective Essay on a personal experience of significance. I wrote about our first night home with John. And seeing as it never made it into a final portfolio for a Higher English Qualification, and it seems a shame for it just to remain saved to my hard drive, I thought I'd share it here...

Hyperemesis Gravidarum Awareness Day 2014.

This time last year I was in the grips of Hypermesis Gravidarum (HG). The crippling nausea, relentless sickness, overbearing exhaustion and oppressive dehydration.

I look back on Diddle Diddle Dumpling & my Instagram feed at this time last year and they're pretty empty. Before then, I would blog on Tumblr on a daily basis but like everything in life when HG is present, it had to take a back seat. I did however, write this:

Kill me. Honest to god, kill me now. 

Never have I felt so ill. Never have I felt like I’ve been poisoned. The sickness is awful but the meds can help that. 

The exhaustion though? Nothing helps it. No amount if rest, sleep or anything helps. I’ve slept more in the past week than I’ve been awake and still I can’t function. Still I can’t keep my eyes open. Still I can’t play with, lift or even provide a decent meal for my son. 

I’m now on a second type of anti-sickness meds after cyclizine (the meds I had for morning sickness with John) did nothing. I’m now on prochlorperazine - meds used to help chemotherapy patients with nausea, no less. 

I haven’t eaten a proper meal since last week. I can’t. I can’t even entertain the idea. 

I haven’t showered since Friday. There’s no way I could even stand in the shower long enough (before needing to lie down again) to be wet, never mind actually wash myself. 

And my poor boy. My poor, sweet John. He doesn’t understand. He doesn’t know why Mummy can’t play with him. He doesn’t understand why breakfast is a banana & lunch is a tin of pasta again. At least he’s young enough to take comfort in the fact he won’t remember this. I just hope it doesn’t change our relationship. 

One thing is for sure: this will be my last pregnancy. Regardless. It’s still early days (7 weeks) but I can’t do this again to myself, to Iain, to John or to the rest of my family.

 I can still remember the nausea, the sickness & the exhaustion. I can still remember the guilt, the heart break & the longing for it to end. Thankfully, I came across great care from Health Care Professionals and had my family to support & care for me throughout.

However, not everyone is as lucky. All too often women are passed off as having "morning sickness" and told to try ginger & crackers (don't get me started!). Faced with ill-educated Health Care Professionals, employees that don't understand and family that are unable to offer the support they need, HG can be an incredibly lonely journey. Today is Hyperemesis Gravidarum Awareness Day and the perfect opportunity to educate yourself & others on what HG is and what you can do to help those currently suffering. For more info, head on over to the Pregnancy Sickness Support Facebook Page & have a gander at their video below (warning: have your tissues at the ready!).

For more info on my Hyperemesis Journey, have a read of the following posts.

My Hyperemesis Diaries: Diagnosis.

My Hyperemesis Diaries: Treatment & Hospital.

My Hyperemesis Diaries: Recovery.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum Survival Guide.

Facebook • Twitter • Bloglovin' • Instagram

David's Birth Story.

Pre-read warning!! This is a birth story, so not only will it be loooong but it will also feature plenty of TMIs. Proceed with caution...

SPD had been playing havoc on my pelvis for months now and the past couple of weeks had been particularly bad with not being able to lay in bed or even move without withering in pain. So when I was woken by a shooting pain at 1am on the 12th of November, I simply thought it was due to my failing pelvis being in an uncomfortable position. I dosed on & off for the next few hours when at 4am it hit me - this wasn't just my pelvis, these were contractions. I started to time when and was surprised to find they were 5 minutes apart and about 40 seconds long. Having regretted not resting in early labour with John, I decided to try and sleep as much as I could.

At 7am we were up with John. I was still getting irregular contractions but the length between them had increased again. I told Iain to go to work as normal and that I'd call him if there was any change. John & I went about our day as normal but I did notice John was particularly cuddly, which was lovely. And I soon lost track of the amount of times we read "Mummy Mummy, What's In Your Tummy".

Before I knew it, it was 7pm and Johns bedtime. Throughout the day my contractions had came and went - getting stronger & closer together, then shorter & further apart. Iain got in at 8pm by which point my contractions were at their strongest and quickly becoming more regular. We decided to order pizza for tea and whilst we waited on it arriving, I called Triage. Much to my surprise, they told us to come in ASAP. I had assumed they'd hear I'd been having irregular contractions all day and tell me to come in when things had progressed further, but since this was my second baby, they said things tend to happen quicker and I'd be better off there.

Sleep #2.

Following on from my first post on sleep, here's the first infographic from the results of the Kiddicare Sleep Diaries. Pregnancy was an awful time for me in regards to sleep. First, there was the Hyperemesis Gravidarum, then the SPD, a baby wanting to party at 2am, and of course the constant need to pee. It's quite frankly hilarious that you're advised to rest during pregnancy, yet sleep is so far from possible that you laugh & cry simultaneously from just being deliriously tried 99% of the time (that & a little bit of hormones to blame too). But I must say, these are some great tips for getting some much needed sleep, particularly when it's 3am and you've already meticulously planned the murder of your other half for being able to dose off so easily & then smugly snoring beside you...even if you do end up being woken by a swift kick in the bladder right as you doze off.

Tandem Nursing - Our Story So Far.

tandem nursing
adjective
Tandem nursing is when a mother is breastfeeding two different-aged children (siblings).

Tandem nursing wasn't something I set out to do, it just kind of happened. Even extended breastfeeding John wasn't on the agenda when he was first born but after months of struggling to establish breastfeeding, I wasn't prepared to pack it in without good reason. And, well, a good reason never really came along. Then I was pregnant with David and suffering Hyperemesis Gravidarum - the last thing on my mind was going through the stress of weaning a toddler when I could barely get out of bed! Finally there was the "we've made it this far, lets get right up to 2 years, as recommended by WHO" attitude that I'd now adopted.

By the time David was ready to make his début, John was (& still is) only breastfeeding twice a day - at nap time & bed time. Given that I'd be breastfeeding David 24/7 in those early days anyway, what was a couple more feeds thrown in? Besides, there was also the fear that if we packed it in with John before David was born, that we'd face the same problems establishing breastfeeding all over again. Not something I wanted to risk!

It made sense to give tandem nursing a go. And so far, it's been easy as pie. My biggest concern when we started was that John wouldn't want to share or that he'd increase his feeds, but it turned out my worries were inane. Aside from the usual obstacles faced in establishing breastfeeding (a little pain, constant feeding, engorgment...) it's been an easy transition to adapt to. John was even a god send in those early days of engrogment, saving me the trouble of having to express so David could latch on to feed. And my supply has kept up beautifully - I've even got enough milk to spare & will be donating to our local Milk Bank soon (more on that later).

There has of course been a few negatives in tandem nursing, although insignificant. I've actually only breastfed both boys simultaneously on several occasions and let me tell you, it's awkward! Breastfeeding John on his own can often resemble a scene from Cirque Du Soleil as it is but when I've got to ensure he's not kicking or climbing on David (whilst also twisting my nipple - ouch!), it makes for a slightly more stressful experience all round. We'll stick to separate nursing sessions for now! Plus there was the poops. John's poops to be specific. When David was first born and I was producing colostrum, John's poops showed it - the nutrition-rich, slightly-laxative milk, not only helped David in the digestive department but John too. But obviously, I was too busy feeding David so Daddy got the pleasure of those nappies! Thankfully though, John showed no real interest in increasing feeds which I believe in very common at the beginning of a tandem breastfeeding relationship.

For every negative though, there's a positive. Right from before David was even born tandem nursing helped me in early labour at home - both regulating my contractions & easing the pain. Isn't oxytocin great stuff? Not to mention how easy & natural breastfeeding was when David did arrive. Unlike with John, the pain was bearable (although still there - boo!) and my supply only took a week or two to settle down, which again was a nice change given the oversupply issues I had with John - seriously, I think I'm meant to be a wet nurse to an orphanage! There's also the fact that John's not been properly ill since David arrived, which again I can only speculate on, as it could be as much down to the fact his immune system has turned a corner after a year of attending nursery, but it could also be down to the immune boosting milk that's tailored to David which he too is benefiting from.

And then there's the emotional side of things, including the final step of John's bedtime routine, when we cuddle up after a story and settle him down for the night - even when David was a newborn needing my attention 24/7, I made a point of keeping this moment of calm between John & I. On even the toughest of days with two under 2, our last breastfeed of the day helps me remember that John's not such a monster after all! He's still just leaving babyhood himself & needs that comfort & closeness from his Mummy, just as much as David, albeit not as often. And it's impossible to know for sure (as obviously I've no comparison) but I do think tandem nursing has brought the boys closer together and taught John to share with his little brother. He's been very accepting that David only has milk so needs to have it lots & there's been no real jealousy or objection - my boobs are even referred to as "Dayday's mocks" (ie. David's milk) these days!

So where do we go from here? Well John's now 2 so we've made it to WHO's recommendation in regards to breastfeeding him and I plan to let him continue for the foreseeable future. Self-weaning is definitely on the agenda but if he's still going strong towards the end of 2014, I may encourage him to start stopping as to ease a little pressure from myself in preparation of returning to work. And as for David, I'd obviously like to continue down the same path as John and do at least 2 years, again followed by self-weaning. But as always with breastfeeding, we'll take it a day at a time.

I think it's fairly obvious I'm passionate about breastfeeding & I can only hope that our breastfeeding journey continues to hold such positive experiences in future. Hooray for boobies!

2013 In Review.

My... How he's grown!

2013 - what a year! It's had its lows, a whole lot of lows. But it's also had its highs, which have trumped all of the lows along the way. It's certainly been one of the toughest years of my life, particularly health-wise but now things are looking better and we're looking to 2014 with the hopes of a healthier year all round!

January. John turned ONE! We celebrated with an In The Night Garden themed party with close family & friends.

March. My Granny was admitted to hospital with a suspected stroke. Also revealing how my Papas memory had deteriorated (& after months of ups & downs he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's). On the same day I found out we were expecting David.

April. The HG started. The first of two months being bed ridden, a helpless mother to John and permanently nauseous. I was also signed off work for a total of 9 weeks.

May. I was admitted to hospital for 4 days with dehydration associated with HG. A week later we were back at the same hospital where we saw David for the first time at our 12 week scan.

It also marked 5 years since Iain & I met.

June. We went to the Royal Highland Show which was a great day out as a family.

July. We found out David was a boy!

I turned 23. Really, it was just another day but we did go for a lovely birthday dinner at Hard Rock Cafe a few days later.

September. My Dad retired from the Fire Brigade after 32 years of service.
I was diagnosed with SPD and received physio to help - it didn't.

October. I started Maternity Leave.

I was admitted to hospital once more with shortness of breath. Thankfully it was nothing serious.

John dressed up for the first time on Halloween. He was a spider!

November. David was born!

December. My sister was sent to hospital after a routine blood test & diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

David was rushed to the Sick Kids with a temperature of 40.1°c. He spent 5 days there with a virus called parechovirus.
We spent our first Christmas together as a family of 4!

Here's to a happy & healthy 2014. From our family to yours, Happy New Year!

38 Weeks Bump.

I think it's fair to say, I'm a rubbish blogger when it comes to bump updates. I could throw a number of excuses at you but the real reason I've not taken any of late is simple - I feel like a whale. And as beautiful as whales can be, I don't feel like a particularly attractive one. Definitely not one who wants to be dressed most days, never mind have her photo taken.

To say this pregnancy has been different to that of John is an understatement. Between Hyperemesis Gravidarum, crippling SPD & a bigger-than-before bump, I think it's fair to admit that no two pregnancies - regardless of past experience - are the same. Not to mention my belly looking like a road-map despite being relativity stretch mark free with John (...do those lotions & potions I religiously used last time actually work? Perhaps it's not all nonsense after all). But we're now down from counting the months & weeks to counting the days, as now we're past 37 weeks, Baby Boy could make his début any day now.

So I could moan & moan about pregnancy until the cows come home, but instead I think I'm better throwing myself into baby preparations. Nesting is finally kicking in but SPD is restricting my ability to actually do what needs done (finish painting the kitchen, paint the bedroom, clean the carpets...) so instead I've been packing my hospital bags, trying to keep on top of the small jobs around the house, starting Christmas shopping(!!) and doing a bit of crafting.

Now the wondering begins - when will Baby Boy actually arrive? What will he look like? How will we cope?!

Don't forget - you can vote every 24 hours!

Hospital Visit #3

Ladies, a word from the wise. Just because you've had one pleasurable experience with pregnancy, this is by no means an indication as to how consecutive pregnancies will be.

When I was pregnant with John, aside from some bearable morning sickness at the beginning, it was a wonderful experience. Some would even say I "bloomed".  Second time around? I couldn't be further away from blooming! Between Hyperemsis, SPD and now major shortness of breath, I've become the reason some woman swear against ever choosing to be pregnant.

As our Instagram followers will know, on Tuesday night, just as I was getting settled for bed, I suddenly couldn't catch my breath. Every time I lay down to sleep I found myself gasping & coughing for air. My first thought was that with the combination of a growing baby & a big dinner, my lungs were simply running out of room. But by the morning, having barely slept a wink, I was starting to get a bit concerned.

I headed to my GP at 10am only to end up being referred to the hospital. The concern? A blood clot in my lungs. Grrrrreat. Having already attended the hospital twice previously due to Hyperemesis, I knew my plans for the day were well and truly over, so I packed a sandwich in my handbag, grabbed my maternity notes and headed to Triage. Thankfully Iain was able to get away from work to watch John so I found myself hooked up to fetal heart rate monitors (labour flashback inducing!), in a pokey wee room by myself, with only the midwife and doctors who occasionally popped in to talk to.

To cut a long day short; after ECGs, X-rays, blood tests & various other tests that I'm not really 100% were for, the decision was made that it was unlikely my shortness of breath was caused by a blood clot. The most likely cause being the start of an infection (although not yet obvious in blood results) or simply my organs being squished by baby. I was given the option of stay over night (now nearly 5pm) and be checked by the doctors in the morning, or go home and visit my GP to have my chest checked again by them. I chose home.

So, after a much more comfortable nights sleep, this morning I headed back to my GP. And after even more checks, it was decided that infection was also an unlikely cause and that my chest was sounding pretty clear. One thing my GP did find though was that my iron levels were that of anaemic, which in itself can cause shortness of breath. The prognosis? Start iron tablets, take it easy and come back if things worsen.

I'm now 34 weeks pregnant and my latest goal in life is to avoid hospital for the next 6 weeks, until it's time for labour. Do-able, right? Here's hoping!

September Instagram Round-up.

One more month gone by. Is it just me or is 2013 flying before our eyes? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating John's 1st Birthday and now we're getting ready to welcome his little brother into the world! And before we know it, it'll also be Christmas and time to start preparing for 2nd Birthday celebrations.

This month on Instagram has been full of many, many photos of John. From getting to grips with his new potty, to being Mr Grumpy Gills when Mummy tries to take a nice photo. My favourites this month though have to be John pointing at the tractors on the Promenade and discovering the banana tree at Butterfly World.

Are you on Instagram too? Leave your username below and I'll be sure to look you up!