Fortunately the very busy Mammasaurus has posted a link to Saturday is Caption Day early this week as she is off to Blog Camp. As we are off, to hopefully sunny but might be soggy, Southbourne I thought I would miss it, but hooray! Here is my entry! Captured as small boy was having a snack.

"Wishing and waiting and thinking and praying"

I remember at my 6 week check, after I had both my boys, the GP said "so let's have a chat about contraception". I almost fell off my seat! She had to be joking surely, whilst I was finally able to sit down without wincing, (I had forceps with big boy and it was a car crash down there for a long time) the need for contraception was absolutely the last thing on my mind. I have heard the stories of people who have a 9 month and a few weeks gap due to relying on the fact that breastfeeding is meant to act as a natural contraceptive but I am always astonished that people are already to be at it again, just a handful of weeks into parenthood, breastfeeding or no breastfeeding!

Small boy was 5 months old when I finally got round to visiting the GP for the "contraception post baby" discussion. Well, I hadn't specifically booked the appointment for that, I just tacked it onto the end of a visit for the third round of conjunctivitis in as many months.

While my husband is adamant our family is complete, his fear of needles combined with the fact that a vasectomy is a voluntary operation on his misters, has meant that he will not be booking in for the snip any time soon. I have thought about the coil and mentioned to the GP that this was probably a good option. That in five years, we will know 100% for sure that we will not be extending our family as the opportunity and my broodiness will probably have passed by then.

But I had no idea that "having a coil" involved 2 consultations, a number of intimate tests and then a final appointment to have it fitted. Obviously I knew it wouldn't be a "fit it while you wait" scenario and on reflection it is great that the GP devotes that amount of time to each woman.

But I came out wondering when I will have the time for 4 separate visits, as I really wouldn't want to have the boys with me and have to explain to a curious toddler what the Doctor was doing down there! The GP suggested I pick up a leaflet from the receptionist on my way out and then book in at my leisure.

Although I am a grown woman and mother of two, the last thing I was going to do was ask in a crowded Doctor's waiting room for a leaflet advising me on contraception. Announce to the world I might have sex! How embarrassing! Ridiculous I know!

So back to google for now. I found this great, all you need to know article on baby centre, a site I used religiously through both my pregnancies. For now, I'm sure much to my husband's dismay, I'm suggesting abstinence! Well at least until I wake up and don't feel tired as soon as I open my eyes!

We are off to Southbourne this weekend, to our family flat on the sea front, just along from Bournemouth, that my grandparents bought over 30 years ago. All my childhood holidays, that I can remember were down at Southbourne, and both me, my big and small boys have had their first holidays on this little bit of English sea side.

I couldn't imagine ever not keeping the flat within the family. It's the only place you are allowed to walk up the zig zag path from the sea side, with no shoes on, even if you bring sandy feet into the flat!

My grandparents bought a beach hut too, all those years ago, and we have had brilliant bbq's down there, come rain or shine!

I will take lots of photos to share with you on Monday, as the only downside is there is not a scrap of service and no internet connection so it will be a twitter free weekend. Yikes! I might get withdrawal symptoms!

I have been telling big boy all week we are going and that my sister and her husband are coming too. He adores them and can't wait for Uncle to spin him round on the beach, "doing dizzy whizzy" as he affectionately calls their little ritual.

He decided this afternoon that he needed to pack his suitcase, all by himself. He disappeared upstairs and came down all packed and ready to go! Bless his heart, as we are not leaving until 7pm so they can have their normal bath and milk routine, then sleep in the car!

This is what he packed:

7 pairs of new shorts (still with tags as for this summer!)

2 pairs of swimming trunks (brave considering I imagine the sea will be fairly nippy!)

1 pair of summer pyjamas, but at least he picked a matching pair!

And 2 new t-shirts that I bought for this time next year and hid in the back of the wardrobe, because they were on sale.

Oh and the trumpet wouldn't fit but apparently that is coming with us to!

So he clearly thinks we are off to sunny climes for a weekend of swimming and trumpet playing!

He even said he had to lie on it to shut it! Just like we do when we have over packed!

Might have to secretly repack in a minute!

P.S His suitcase was from Cath Kidston 3 years ago, so not on the website anymore, but they have a gorgeous soldier one now!