Time for a little round up of what Little E has been enjoying during February...

Little E has been watching: Barbie: The Pearl Princess

A new release this DVD is the 27th animated Barbie movie and Little E's first encounter with CGI Barbie. Followers of the blog will know I think a Little E is a little young for Barbie but in this DVD she appears as a mermaid and wears appropriate mermaid attire at all times, so I figured it wouldn't hurt! In the movie Barbie plays Lumina, a mermaid who has the power to control pearls. Whilst on her way to a royal ball, she and her sidekick seahorse friend somehow wind up working in a hairdressers where she creates beautiful hairstyles using the pearls as decoration. (Spoiler alert!) She also manages to stop a dastardly plot to kill the king and in the process finds out she was stolen at birth and is actually a princess.

What did Little E think? Well she loves it. So much that we had to watch it through twice back to back at the first viewing to allow her to absorb as much Barbie/Lumina as possible. The film is incredibly pink, in fact I've never seen something so pink, but there are lots of fish and eels and under the sea type creatures to give it a Nemo-esque feel. I can definitely see an increase in her interest in all things hair related since she began watching this film and she will actually allow me to put clips in her hair which obviously makes me happy beyond belief as I've been wanting to do this since she finally grew some hair about a year ago.

Barbie: The Pearl Princess is available now on DVD

Little E has been wearing: Her 'Big Sister' t-shirt from Cheeky Baby Tees

Meeting her little sister was a very important day for Little E and she very proudly wore a 'Big Sister' Tshirt to the hospital for her first visit. She's been wearing it since with her jean skirt and pink tights or her leggings. The quality of the Tshirt is really nice - much thicker than standard Tshirts with clear, high quality printing. It has been washed a few times and it looks and good as new which is really important as so many crack up after washing. Here is a picture of Little E meeting her little sister - taken by me who was stuck flat on her back hence the dodgy camera angle!

Little E was sent this Tshirt by Cheeky Baby Tees. You can order your personalised Tshirt online at www.cheekybabytees.co.uk

Little E has been eating: Whitworths fruit snacks

All I hear at the moment is 'Mummy I want a snack/treat/chocolate' I try not to give in for most of the day but it seems just impossible to get through 24hours without a treat or two. So these little snacks are great because whilst they are still a bit naughty (the raisins are coated in chocolate, caramel or yogurt) I can kid myself I am giving her dried fruit! The high fruit buttons are a little more virtuous but still packed with (natural) sugars. They have been a lifesaver in the midwife office and traffic jams let me tell you!

What did a Little E think? Mixed reaction to these. She loved the fruit buttons but she seemed a little confused by the coated raisins. She has been trying to feed them to Little I on the sly...

Little E has been: Learning to ride

We first took Little E horse riding a year ago as our local stables are one of the few places insured from age two. She absolutely loved her 15minute ride around the paddock and we've back numerous times since to ride and feed the ponies carrots and Polos. Now she is turning three we decided it is time to progress to lessons. She just adores it and her favourite horse Chester. She is so focused on the ride she won't look at us or talk to us at all - eyes ahead, completely absorbed. Trotting is her latest skill and she shouts 'faster!' The child has no fear...

Some products in this post have been sent for review purposes but all opinions are mine/Little E's own

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Winter is coming... For nearly three years my life has been underlined by one constant narrative; A Song of Ice and Fire - The five book epic fantasy series by George R. R. Martin.

The books are set in the fictitious continents of Westeros and Essos and begin by following the story of nine central characters with each chapter taking the point of view of a different character. As the story develops the storylines become further intwinned until we have a whopping 31 main protagonists by the end of the fifth book. The story is complicated, too complicated to get into but the three main themes are the battle for the crown of Westeros between a number of rivalling families. The 'Winter' which is coming from the North in the form the supernatural Others and the rise of an exiled dragon Queen (yes, real dragons) in the East set to return to Westeros to reclaim her throne.

This month I finished the fifth book and I can honestly say I have enjoyed it more than any other series I have read. The first person perspective makes the characterisation fantastic, you feel like you are under their skin. I also like the fact that we see things from the other side, often getting perspectives from some of the more negative characters but there is a blurred line between the good and bad, so you end up liking or feeling sympathy for some despite their actions. It paints a realistic portrait of human nature (amongst the battles and dragons and supernatural elements!) The storyline is complex, picking up characters which we haven't heard from ages and plunging us back into their story like we have never been away. This switching from person to person, carrying the story across the two continents also keeps it very fresh, exciting and fast paced despite the length.

I should touch on the supernatural element to the books. Yes, dragons have hatched for the first time in centuries and yes, from time to time dark magic is used by a variety of different sorcerers, but the real supernatural force lies to the North in the form of the Others who take over the bodies of the dead. Starting with just a folk tale in the first book, this element grows along with the books until the threat is very real and imminent. These supernatural themes to the book whilst central to the overall plot, take a back seat to the characters and I wouldn't be put of by them if you usually stay away from supernatural fiction. They add an extra dimension to the world of Westeros and stop the books from feeling like historical fiction. You really do believe in the world created.

Book five ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, a huge gaping chasm has opened up in my life. It's like finishing Breaking Bad all over again... When I started the series I assumed the five book tome was complete but oh no, Mr Martin has two further books planned. Here's the problem - it took five years to write the fifth book so I could be in for a long wait to see what happens when Winter finally arrives. I just hope the adaptation to hit TV series spurs him in to write faster or HBO will be knocking on his door for the next script!

The only score I can give these books is the maximum 5/5

During February I have also started three books which I will catch you up on next month:

On my phone I am reading The Seven Stars by Simon Leighton-Porter

On my iPad I am reading Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell (Book club)

In paperback I am reading City of Glass the third book in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Welcome to the new diary! I found venting about the past 20 weeks of pregnancy cathartic so I've decided to continue with a baby diary documenting how I am coping with life as a mum to a toddler and a newbie.

Week 1 has mainly been about C section recovery. Compared to my previous forceps theatre delivery I can say, overall, it has been a far more positive experience. The first three days were really hard and super painful but now the pain is easing and I am far more mobile. I'm off painkillers apart from the occasional ibuprofen. I took pain killers daily for over three months after Little E's birth so this is a major improvement!

We've also been focused on establishing breastfeeding. Due to the Caesarian I've had to adopt the rugby ball hold with baby tucked under my arm, legs wrapped around my back. It took a while to adjust to after spending nine months feeding Little E the standard, across body way but we seem to be getting there now. My milk came in at the weekend and, as expected, I have far too much - poor Little I can barely latch on they are so inflated and I've been resorting to expressing before feeds to relieve the pressure. There is so much milk I have great big lumps under my armpits - milk reservoirs!

After three nights of little to no sleep, we seem to have got into a routine of 3-4hour blocks during the night but I am up for at least an hour in between feeding. Little I likes to suckle for comfort during the night so my new iPad mini (push present!) is coming in handy for reading one handed. Little E doesn't seem disturbed by the noise in the night which is a huge relief. If anything Little I is bothered more by the lack of noise than it's presence.

Little I is a little jaundice (or as we like to call it 'spray tanned') and is the spitting image of a Little E as a newborn. It is like having my baby back again. The only difference is Little E had a forceps induced cone shaped head and was a lot longer, like a gazelle. Little E is more compact. So maybe she will take after me more than 6ft 4'' Husband.

No doubt it'll all change again soon but for now we are all doing ok!

This post is linked to #PoCoLo weekly linky over on twitter. Join in the fun each week at vevivos.com

For her birthday Little E received some fab arts and crafts materials and yesterday we cracked open the craft paper and colour changing felt tips. Little E wasn't interested in turning the paper into any of the creatures on the box. Instead she wanted to freestyle it sticking and layering the papers. The colour changing pens were a big hit and kept her amused for ages. Her hands were a disaster area! Three baths later and she still has green fingers!

This post is linked to the #letkidsbekids and #minicreations linkys on twitter

Today my little baby turns three. How did that happen!?! I think back to the day I became a mummy with mixed emotions because it was simultaneously the best and worst day of my life. After a horrific, exhausting induced labour lasting nearly two days baby got stuck. We were rushed to theatre for an emergency forceps delivery. I've never been so scared in my life, not for myself but for the little baby I had not yet met but loved so much.

Three years later and every day I love her a little bit more. I was worried about what happens when you have another baby. Does it affect the love for your first child? Now Little I is here I see how the love doesn't divide, it multiplies. Like growing another heart.

Little E has so many people who love her and this weekend we have had to split her birthday celebrations in half to accommodate the vast numbers of family and friends who want to celebrate with her. Two birthday tea parties, two cakes and a new little sister means we have one overwhelmed and exhausted little lady on our hands. So little yet so grown up. Happy Birthday Little E.

Special 3rd birthday delivery for Little E!

A new member of the household has arrived! Previously known as Bump, Little I entered the world yesterday weighing 7lb 3oz. She is absolutely perfect :-)

This week has been a bit if a black hole and certainly the low point of this pregnancy. My latent labour symptoms have increased to the point where I have barely slept. Intense backache has plagued my days and nights. I've spent most of my time wandering around the house or getting a numb bumb in a high backed chair. So much for snuggling on the sofa with Little E for our last week of twosomeness.

What have we been up to... Not a lot! Sleep deprivation and shocking weather has meant we have been stuck inside but we did make it to Little E's Jo Jingles class and a last minute trip to the shops to buy the all important post C section big knickers. Lots of movies have been watched whilst the slow cooker bubbles away with yet another casserole for the freezer. The nesting frenzy has continued and you can't fit a fishfinger in there now for labelled Tupperware - anyone would think armageddon is coming not a baby! I've also been preparing for Little E's birthday on Sunday wrapping her presents and trying to find hiding places. Oh how I miss the spare room!

Waking up at 5am this morning means I have actually made it. Today I am 39+6 wks and it is the day of my C section (and also, importantly, Husband's 30th birthday) actually managed 5 hours sleep last night which is a record for this week. Now it is here I am excited but I feel a little anxious about saying goodbye to Little E in an hours time knowing when I see her next everything will have changed. But changed for the better with a new little person to share our life.

My next post will be about Bump who will actually have a name. Exciting stuff!

When I was a little girl I was a chatterbox. My parents said I was only quiet when asleep or eating. My younger brother was the complete opposite, he didn't speak at all. My worried parents took him to a speech therapist who after some monitoring declared there was nothing wrong with his speech, he simply didn't feel the need to talk as his big sister did it all for him...

Little E seems to have inherited my genes. She is officially a chatterbox. I can't understand half of what she is saying but she gets lost in deep conversations with me, gesticulating madly as she tells me about her day at nursery (which usually involves someone biting someone and eating three sandwiches), the latest adventure of a wolf with big teeth or acting out what Bump is up to inside my tummy. All she needs from me is the odd nod of encouragement and she's off into another rant of which I can make out about the last three words.

I love it. Her big personality has a huge voice now and as she screws up her nose whilst telling me how she doesn't like the look of that boy in the queue because his shoes are red, I have images of sitting in a Starbucks 20 years from now listening to her rant about the latest boyfriend/best-friend/job and remembering these ordinary days when she found her voice.

This post is linked to The Ordinary Moments linky over at http://www.mummydaddyandmemakesthree.co.uk