LivingwithKids

I put on four and a half stone when I was pregnant. This was partly because I was so ill for the first five months  I actually lost weight. Then when I was able to eat again, I seemed to be hungry all the time. But as it turned out No 1 Son was born weighing 10lb 13 and a half oz, and he wasn’t fat, he was long.

My mum never tires of telling me how she was put on a diet when she was pregnant (it was the late Sixties) – ‘only grilled fish and salad’, which is why she weighed under 7st after giving birth. I think you’ll agree that couldn’t possibly have been healthy.

Now women are being told they shouldn’t be eating for two . It’s a shame that in 2010 we’re still being told what to eat for a healthy pregnancy. I wish they'd give us more credit. We do know what we should and shouldn't be eating. Don't we?

And while I understand it’s not healthy to put on too much weight when they’re pregnant, there is also a risk of some women not eating enough. I’ve interviewed a few women with pregnancy and post-pregnancy anorexia over the years – that’s the other extreme, but it does happen.

So, how much weight did you put on when you were pregnant - and do you think doctors should stop telling us what to eat? I’d love to hear your views.

Now I’ll be really honest and admit I was never really a fan of the A-Team. I liked Dirk Benedict when he was on Celebrity Big Brother, and of course I remember everyone walking round saying ‘I pity the fool.’ But the phenomenon itself sort of passed me by (maybe it was a boy thing?)

So I wasn’t sure at all about seeing the new movie remake  . But it's actually very entertaining. Plenty of macho action, of course, ridiculous scenarios and sharp wit, and a neat cameo by Dirk himself. There are hints of Bourne and Bond, but of course it’s much more tongue-in-cheek than either. The kids loved it. I can see their point. Good one to put on your summer holiday movie list – as long as you don’t take it too seriously.

*The A-Team opens today 

A few years ago on a trip to Australia we met some kangaroos. They were so gentle and docile we were able to sit down with No 1 Son right next to them and stroke their fur, which is incredibly soft. 

*Adopts Rolf Harris voice* I met this little fella (right) on my recent trip to Florida. He was fast asleep in his 'pouch' - basically a shoulder bag - but we were still able to stroke him.

Last week I saw a report on the news about how Kangaroo meat is becoming more popular Down Under. I know some will argue that they need culling, there are too many of them, we eat beef so why not kangaroo? But it's not something I could ever feel comfortable with. And you know what? They. Were. There. First. They also release practically no methane, which is kind of important, when you think about it.

*This is my entry to the Gallery - the theme this week is Nature.

Yesterday I took No 1 Son to see The Railway Children at the Welcome to Yorkshire Theatre, London Waterloo. Which sounds slightly bizarre, but they’ve actually converted one of the old Eurostar platforms into a theatre.

We weren’t sure what to expect, especially when the actors started talking to the audience and asking us to do a Mexican wave. But as soon as the play started we both became caught up with the lives of Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis.

One of the highlights of the play is when a real steam train pulls into the middle of the stage.  That’s pretty special. I’d forgotten how moving the story is, though, and actually it’s surprisingly modern, particularly as it deals with a family living in reduced circumstances and learning they can have ‘butter or jam, but not both’.

We quickly became caught up in the drama, including the landslide and Mother’s decision to give shelter to a Russian refugee. I even cried a few times, although there are plenty of laughs too. All of the cast are brilliant and there are a few familiar faces, including the fantastic  Marshall Lancaster (Chris in Ashes to Ashes) as Mr Perks.

I would definitely recommend The Railway Children for a family outing – it’s the kind of theatrical experience that stays with you long after you’ve left  the auditorium. Magical.

*The Railway Children has been made possible with the support of Welcome To Yorkshire (and it certainly made me want to go there). It runs until 4 September and is selling out fast. Lastminute.com also has some ticket availability.
 

Over 1000 of you have entered your beautiful children into the KidStart Smile Factor competition. Entries close at noon today, and you have until the 30th July to ask your friends and family to vote before the 10 entries with the most votes go through to the judging stage.

I’m thrilled to announce that the judge is Viv Darlington, owner of Chilli Kids, one of the UK’s most respected children’s modelling and casting agencies, representing child models, actors and extras throughout the UK for opportunities in photographic work, film, TV, theatre, commercials and more. 'I'm delighted to have been asked to judge the KidStart Smile Factor competition,' Viv says. 'Here at Chilli Kids we're always on the lookout for child models.'

Meanwhile, here are the prizes for the three winners:

*The winner of the youngest category will win a framed print, £50 into your Kiddybank, plus A Rocco Rocking Horse from Tippitoes. Not only will Rocco Rocking Horse bring fun and joy to your tot, it will help your toddler to develop invaluable skills such as balance and movement. It makes the ideal gift to pass on from generation to generation and its classic and simple rocking horse design will perfectly suit the décor of any nursery.

The winner of the 3 to 5 category will win a framed print, £50 into your Kiddybank, plus A brand new Apollo bike* from Halfords. One in three bikes sold in the UK are Apollo bikes from Halfords. They combine excellent value for money with quality bikes and are available for all ages. For more info on the great range of bikes available click here.

And A Train and Play Puppy™. Just like a real puppy, with realistic features, Train and Play Puppy™ can sit, stand and walk. You can even teach your clever pup new tricks including, sitting up and begging, and then reward your top dog with a treat. After eating his yummy treat your puppy will even poop! For more info on the puppy click here.

*The winner of the 6 to 12 category will win a framed print, £50 into your Kiddybank, plus A brand new Apollo bike* from Halfords. Cycling is a great way for your kids to keep fit and healthy, and have fun ourdoors and your child will be able to choose a bike in their favourite colour and a style to suit.

*Please note that vouchers will be given for the winners to choose their bikes from Halfords.

Good luck everyone!

When I was about 10 my primary school went for their weekly visit to the library and I chose a small hardback which I immediately fell in love with. The book was Little Women, and it was originally published in 1868.

Did the fact that I didn't have a clue what popovers are or that I had no direct experience of living through the Civil War make any difference to my enjoyment of the book? Of course not. If anything, it enhanced it, because I loved the fact that Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy belonged to a different time.

I was never a fan of the Famous Five - No 1 Son hasn't read a single book - but I did like Mallory Towers and St Clare's when I was a child. So I'm despairing of the news that Enid Blyton's books are being 'updated' with language that is considered more 2010 than 1940s.

For goodness sake, give kids some credit. They're perfectly capable of coping with 'classics'. What are we to expect next - The Lord of the Rings reissued in Noughties slang? 'Yo Legolas, where's da ring at?'

Give me strength.

I love Emma Bridgewater Pottery (that's Emma below, in case you were wondering) – her colourful practical designs bring a touch of style to any home.

The company, which is based in the Potteries, makes all its products by hand and the fact it’s microwave and dishwasher safe as well makes it ideal for busy families.

Q: What birthday is Emma Bridgewater Pottery celebrating this year?

Good luck!

Last week I went to interview the lovely Melanie C, who is the Pampers Village Parenting Panel Celebrity Mum. Apart from serious envy over her flat stomach (her daughter, Scarlet, is 17 months) I found her warm, down to earth and very easy to talk to.

But one of the things I hadn’t expected her to tell me was that, like so many of us, she gets The Fear.

‘When you’re a new mum and you’ve got this tiny fragile little baby that needs taking care of 24 hours a day... I did feel that was a big weight at the time,’ she told me. ‘And there’s always something new to worry about, whether it’s illness, or immunisation, and  the choices we have all have to make. Even things like what schools am I going to send her to.’

It’s funny, you have an idea that celeb mums don’t have the same pressures as the rest of us, but motherhood is a great leveller. And as Melanie said, ‘I think as you grow as a mum and as your baby becomes more robust... I can cope now with that worry and concern. I feel more confident now.’

Meanwhile, to celebrate the launch of New Baby with Dry Max, Pampers play and development expert Dr Maggie Redshaw has come up with some brilliant tips for helping a new baby adapt to their world:

*Choose warm and soft colours, rather than the bold primary colours often found in nurseries - create a feeling of warmth and relaxation for you and your baby (parents need to relax too)
 
 *Think about the sights and sounds around you. Is your baby calm? Is he or she distracted or bothered by particular things? Try and create a soothing atmosphere with a CD of lullabies or familiar quiet music. Babies appreciate the predictable and so familiar sounds or music are a good thing as far as they are concerned.
 
 *At night, familiarise her with the comfort of being in the womb using blackout blinds so the nursery is relatively dark while your baby sleeps during the day or in the early summer mornings.
 
 *Undressing and changing your baby quite quickly, without too much fuss, into a comfortable nappy will enable your baby to relax and feel secure, whether she is getting up, going to sleep or just about to have a day-time nap. Remember your changing station should have everything on it, so you can keep one hand on your baby and one hand on the nappies.

Great tips – what would you add?

So here's my entry for this week's Gallery. The theme is book titles, and there's absolutely no point in my trying to make you guess what it is, because it's so blooming obvious creative:

That's right, The Tiger Who Came To Tea, one of my favourite children's books of all time, and one of the many 'again, again' books in this house.

The eagle-eyed among you will spot that the tiger (No 1 Son's favourite soft toy when he was little) is eating his tea from a Cath Kidston plate. Well, I did tell you I was a fan. And yes I did polish off that eclair after taking this photo. I'm not even sorry. 

As you might expect, because it really is a fantastic family film, there are heaps of brilliant Toy Story toys around. Here are my top buys:

Buzz Lightyear. The all-talking deluxe film replica is hands down still one of the best children’s toys EVER. Those of us with longish memories will recall the hysteria surrounding the release of the first Toy Story – and that Buzz sold out, leaving many disappointed little faces, particularly on Christmas Day. OK, so it’s only five months away, but my advice is to Get Yours Early. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. (Suitable from age 4. Available from Woolworths, £50.)

The VTech Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Star Command Laptop is absolutely brilliant. It will help teach your child basic keyboard skills, letters and phonics, how to use a mouse, maths, Spanish, logic and memory.  Could do with one myself. (For ages 4-7. RRP £34.99, available from Argos.)

Lego Toy Story toys. As you know we simply cannot get enough of Lego in this house, and there’s a fantastic range of Toy Story toys to make and inspire, including the Pizza Planet Truck Rescue (suitable for ages 6-12, £42) and Buzz’s Star Command Spaceship (suitable for ages 7-14, £36), both available from Littlewoods.

To infinity, etc, etc.