I can't believe 'our' beloved Meriva has gone. The last day spent with our car we went to our baby group and I found myself getting a bit upset on the drive into town knowing that the next day it would be back to normal, stuck at home in our tiny village. I was hoping that Vauxhall would forget they had given us the car and we would get to keep it, everytime the phone rang my heart sunk as I really didn't want a call telling me they were on their way. We have really fallen for the Meriva, even Rob is impressed and he works for Audi so he knows his cars (traitor). The first time I drove our old car I was like a learner all over again, I automatically put my foot on the clutch to turn on the ignition, I couldn't find the handbrake button, I put the car into reverse which is 1st gear in our car so nearly crashed into my aunts brand new SUV (Ooops). Our car now feels rubbish; I feel so low to the road and can't see anything out of our small windows. I'm also useless at reverse parking, something which was easy with the New Meriva and the parking sensors. I didn't think having a new car would make much difference but Vauxhall have really done their research on this one. Every single detail has been tailored to the needs of a family with young children. The flex-doors are genius, the parking ticket clip may be such a tiny detail but it shows the thought that has gone into the car. The panoramic roof is a great talking point, sat-nav is a god send, and storage is every woman's dream, mother or not.We are so greatful to Vauxhall and Gurgle for the opportunity to test this fantastic new car. Unfortunately I have now tasted the forbidden fruit and I like it, Daddy had better get himself a second Job (or a payrise) so baby and I can travel in style. View less

So it's chaos as usual in the Chaplin household and this week that means two babies, our 8 month old daughter and my 22 month old niece. It means so much more work for me but at least I have the Meriva so I can get out of the house and wear them both out. Getting out of the house to do anything with two in tow is like a military operation and I don't know how anybody does it on a permanent basis, we have two carseats to fit, twice the nappies/clothes/bottles and the big three wheel all singing all dancing pram. Luckily the Meriva is full of cubbyholes and hiding spaces to pack it all away. The centre console is really handy for holding extra bottles in this warm weather and the panoramic sunroof is a hit with my niece who cheers with an 'ohhh Wow!!!' every time the blind is retracted so she can look at the birds and the trees and the clouds. I loved the flex-doors from the first time we went out in the car but they are even more fantastic with my niece as she is in a forward facing car seat and can get straight out of the car, whereas I do find that if I can't find a mum and baby space free (like during this weeks supermarket saga) and the space is tight the flex doors aren't particularly any improvement on conventional doors with a rear facing car seat. It must be a lot more comfy than our huge old estate car as both babies fell asleep within 10 minutes so peaceful journeys all round. I have crammed my diary with at least one activity each day; Monday we went to our young parents group, Tuesday we went shopping (Seren needs a stairgate or 10 as she is into everything and this week she has learnt to climb the stairs). The assistant in Mothercare was very helpful and carried my shopping all the way back the car, she must have felt sorry for me with all my luggage in tow. The Meriva took it all in its stride and by the time we returned home on Tuesday we had two babies, a new stairgate, Seren's huge pram, the weekly shop, a new summer wardrobe for Seren and two nappy bags.... oh and me. Wednesday we went for lunch with my other sister and Thursday we attempted a trip to the cinema....BIG MISTAKE. i'm a girly girl and couldn't wait for the new Sex and the City film when I noticed a poster for a mum and baby group at the local picture house so Thursday at 11am I was ready and waiting, only to find out that the group only welcomes babies under 1, the silly cashier then had the cheek to ask if I still wanted to go in with my daughter, as if I was going to just leave my niece sat in the foyer. GRRRRRR!!!! So we had a picnic in Bury st Edmund's Abby Gardens instead. I can't believe how much I love having another car, even more so I love having the Meriva. It has given me so much freedom and getting out of the house everyday has worked wonders for Seren's sleep time, she slept through for the first time ever; not just once but four nights in a row! I really can't wait for our family day out to Thetford forest, but you'll just have to wait for my next blog! View less

   Well ladies I've done it....I've joined the gym. In the last two weeks i've lost an impressive 5lbs (so i'm down 18lbs from the day after giving birth) and i'm sorry to say girls there is no secret it's down to good old fashioned healthy eating and exercise (I haven't touched Chocolate at all this year OMG) I must admit i feel so much better and Seren is definetly enjoying it too, she is getting plenty of fresh air on our long country walks around our beautiful village, and she absolutely loves swimming.   I've also gone and done the unthinkable... just 16 weeks after giving birth to my little star i raided my pre pregnancy/ pre weight gain wardrobe. It is indeed a beautiful wardrobe full of glam party dresses, sexy lingerie, tight jeans, mini skirts, bright colours, sequins, sparkle and frills... I come over all Carrie Bradshaw just thinking about it. Well one day last week i opened said wardrobe for the first time in well over a year and out of it i pulled a pair of size 10 jeans. goodness knows what i was thinking but as i pulled them over my thighs i started to smile, i did the usual wiggle every woman does when they pull jeans over their bottom and guess what??? they buttoned up. I was so excited i let out a little squeel and got straight on the phone to Rob (unfortunatly he didn't particularly share my excitement...Men!!!)   I must have still been on my size 10 high when I agreed to set myself a fitness challange for 2010. On 25th July this year i shall be taking part in the London to Cambridge bike ride in aid of cancer research... it is a gruelling 57 miles!!!! Aggghhhh. The pressure is on as Rob completed it last year in 2 hours 27 minutes ( I will beat him- even if it kills me : D)   So not only have i got another stone to lose to make full use of my clothing collection but I now have to go into some serious training. 'Training' started yesturday and after a half hearted attempt I managed 10km in 20 minutes, which although not bad, is not good enough. So girls, if you see a crazy woman cycling around the Cambridgeshire countryside with a poor confused baby strapped to the back, just give me a wave : P View less

... well it's 30/10/2009 and Seren is just over a month old. i never really had weight issues when i was younger and always had such a flat tummy so the aftermath of childbirth has hit me quite hard. About 18 months ago i was a slim size 10 and weighed around 9 1/2 stone and i was very happy with the way i looked, Rob and i then moved in together and that's when it changed. Rob is blessed with good genes and can eat all day long and still look like the cover of Men's health. my portiens became man size and home cooked food like shepherd's pie took over i was still eating lots of fruit and veg but take aways and chocolate got the better of me and by christmas 2008 my weight had escalated to 11 stone.I got pregnant in late December and i suffered from morning noon and night sickness almost straight away the only food i could keep down was jacket potatoes. by 20 weeks the sickness had calmed down and my appertite came back with avengance, i was eating 4 big meals a day and i finally started getting a bump. i thought to myself that this is the one time in life where i could put on weight and no-one would care i could quite easily eat 4 snickers in a day while sat at my desk. By 7 months there was no room left my stomach was so squashed i could only manage a few spoonfuls at a time and the weight gain settled. At 11 days overdue there was still no sign of baby so i was taken to hospital to be induced that morning i weighed 13stone 4lbs. when i got back from hospital i had gone down to an impressive 11 stone 10lbs. in the month that Seren has been in the world i have lost a further 8lbs thanks to breastfeeding because it certainly isn't the diet of chocolate digestives.lol. at 11stone 2 lbs my weight is just classed as in the healthy range at 5foot 6 it makes my BMI 24.9.after being pregnant for so long it's time to reclaim my body back, i am proud of what it has acheived and i see the stretch marks as my war scars but i don't just want to be Seren's mum i want to be Kayleigh too. i want to be able to fit in my old size 8-10 clothes and wear a bikini when i take the little princess swimming and more importantly i want to look amazing in a lovely white dress when we can finally afford to get married. I know it's going to take a bit of time and effort (i'm not one for silly crash diets and maniac exercise regimes) but i'm so excited to be back to me i can't wait to get started. View less