You've started nursery...

.... And Mummy is wracked with guilt. Your only doing one afternoon and one morning per week, and in actual fact, I take you late and pick you up early so it doesn't even officially equate to 1 full day, but still I feel so ridiculously guilty. Everyone keeps informing me of how good it'll be for you, interacting with other children and learning new things... But I just can't shift the question of if I'm a bad mother, that I'm choosing to put you in nursery rather than it being a necessity of work? I've not done it selfishly, I can assure you, in fact I spend the hours that your there missing you incredibly and wondering what to do with myself. So much so, that yesterday (your first official morning) I blitzed the house so thoroughly that today I fear if I clean another inch I may risk rubbing away kitchen surfaces or the enamel on the bath. I call a million times to check your okay, and am always assured that you are, when I collect you you always seem relaxed and I'm told of how you played with this and that, how you ate all your lunch and loved playing outside... Surely they don't make all this up??
Yesterday afternoon, after collecting you, we played in the garden, baked cakes, did some painting, walked into the village and had a bubble bath, subconsciously i think i was trying to show you how much i do love you and in some strange way seeking your forgiveness for 4 hours, which in actual fact, you more than likely, thoroughly enjoyed.
Is this an affliction of all mothers, I wonder? An extension of asking to have a shower or use the bathroom when Daddy is around, even though Daddys just go about their daily routine as though it's their right to continue as they please, just jumping in the shower whenever the need takes them, not needing to check that baby will be watched by their other half... Anyway, I digress, but all the Mums reading this will know what I'm talking about.
Yesterday, when I called my Mummy (Grandma), in a rather emotionally vulnerable state having just left you there for the first time, her words of wisdom in response to my feeble "do you think, she'll think I've left her there, Do you think she'll hate me???"
"well I left you at nursery, and you didn't hate me, did you?"

Oh God, I can't remember I might have done??



- love Mummy x

First birthday, first shoes!

Today, on your 1st birthday, Mummy and Daddy (and Grandma too actually) took you on a little shopping trip and bought you your first pair of shoes, size 3 1/2 G! You were your usual entertaining self, and had the Clarks staff coo-ing over you and your antics within minutes. Other staff members were emerging from the stock room to see the little performer with such a beautiful name. Waving, boo-ing and prancing up and down, lifting you feet adorned with pretty new shoes dramatically high even for a teetering toddler in a tutu, made you hard to resist. You then spent the rest of the afternoon, lifting your feet high in your pram to inspect the new prettiness your feet were fashioning!!


- love Mummy x

Cake smash!

Today you did a "cake smash" photo shoot with a giant cupcake! It was so much fun, and you really took after Mummy and were a proper little actress in front of the camera.... Anyway, the above is the aftermath of said shoot!

- love Mummy x

366 days old!

Wow!

I can't believe that my baby is one year old! It seems like only a heartbeat ago that I said "hi princess" for the very first time as you were placed in my arms. So much has happened in those 366 days, and you and I have grown and changed so much. You've taught me so much about the world and myself, and I've found peace and appreciation in the smallest things, that previously would have sped by without me noticing.

I'm not going to lie and say its been an easy road, the last month has definately been the hardest of my life, but it has been worth it, you are worth it. You've suffered with a terrible stomach virus for weeks, and at some point we've all caught it too. It's not been our best month, and most of it we've spent covered in vomit or poo, but thankfully that's all over now and we can start your 2nd year healthy and happy.

The last 366 days have been a wonderful journey, (in spite of the most recent poo covered and earlier sleep deprived bits) and I'm so excited to continue discovering the world through your eyes!


- love Mummy x

306 days old!!

At 10 months you are THE most wonderful little character.  Your squeals of delight at the simplest of things, your constant chattering and one second cuddles, make you more adorable than I could ever imagine.

You give big lip smacking kisses, complete with sound, and enjoy nothing more than a day filled with opening and closing doors, mountaineering backwards and forth over mummy's legs and a good game of peekaboo, all with constant babbling narration.

Your persistence over the last couple of months to pick up every spec or crumb from any floor or surface, and therefore my need to chase you round stating "DIRTY!" in my nicest but firmest mummy voice, before the umpteenth grain of god knows what is ingested that day, has now resulted in your first word!!! (well that other than Mamma or Dada)

"DURTEEEEE!" which I must confess you say with some conviction, as you hold up in the air for all to view, the evidence that mummy has not vacuumed once again!!!

Your crawling at quite a pace these days and get yourself to standing upon any solid surface, including up walls, and even the mirrored fridge (which leaves quite an artistic smear of little handprints for mummy to admire until she finally gets round to cleaning it)

You take after Mummy in the fashion loving, bursting wardrobe stakes and never fail to squeal and point at your array of beautiful outfits when we open your wardrobe for selection each morning.... Mummy has nearly the same level of enthusiasm, although the ironing of said garments is rather a chore (tiny clothes are quite awkward).

Your such a little water baby, and can now swim underwater for a good 2 seconds, you have learnt the commands and now close your eyes tight and hold your breath just before you go under, but the best bit is that when you emerge from the swim, you give yourself a little round of applause! I swear you'd take a bow if you could!!  You get so excited waiting on the side of the pool for the little class to finish, (little class, ha, your in the big class at 10 months old!!) squealing and pointing, you'll be jumping in as soon as you can walk over yourself!

You have 4 teeth, the front bottom two came first and now your matching top pair have appeared, and if at all possible they make your little smile even cuter!  And your hair is GROWING... I mean I can't quite get it in bunches, or even fashion a slide just yet, but it is definitely growing!!

So many wonderful developments and memories in just 306 little days, tomorrow is going to be magical.

- love Mummy x

Your Christening - 4th December 2011

The 4th of December 2011 was your Christening day, and what a love filled, happy day it was.

Grandma had waited 30 years for this event, and had lovingly kept my Christening gown for you to wear, and how perfect you looked in it.  You took the whole day in your stride, and didn't even cry when you had the water poured on your head.  In fact i think you quite fancied getting in for a swim!!

You even managed to show the congregation your emerging personality by blowing a rather vocal raspberry at the vicar, right at a pivotal moment, thankfully he saw the humorous side.

Your cake was delicious, and not a piece was left by the end of the celebrations.  It was in fact the bottom tier of Mummy and Daddy's wedding cake, re-soaked in sherry and re-iced, after spending the last 2 1/2 years safely taking up half the freezer!!  I have to say it was worth it though - YUM YUM!

"reading" your first magazine.

You were quite intrigued by the pretty, glossy booklet of papers that mummy was staring at over her morning coffee, in fact you were far more interested in Mummy's magazine than you were, your room full of toys, so after I'd finished (actually I hadn't quite finished with the magazine, but I hadn't bet on it coming back to me in quite an unreadable state) you decided to have a little flick through!!

It had all been going reasonably well, until you discovered the magical crumpling and tearing noises that you could make with the pretty, colourful pages... future reading of which became somewhat unrealistic.

NOTE TO SELF: read Vogue in hiding!

what a sunny Saturday!

What a beautiful day it's been, we've spent the whole day out in the garden concluding with a little barbeque (you just had milk, which wasn't done on the barbeque, but you soaked in the atmosphere whilst drinking it!)

Swings, swimming and a doggy!

You've had a very busy week, with lots of firsts.  The most fun of which being your first time at the park, although judging by these photos, you were rather underwhelmed by the whole event, and Mummy and Daddy had rather more fun than you did...I'm sure inside you were filled with laughter however, and you were merely trying to act all nonchalant, in a "oh yeah, I've been to the park loads of times" kinda way!

We also went round to Grandma's house, (which isn't technically a first) but this was the first time you've been at all interested in Grandma's doggy.  I might add, that here you did not act at all nonchalant, and in fact there were squeals of delight as the Doggy panted, wagged his tail and generally did lots of doggy things with gusto.  Now if the Doggy could be slightly less enthusiastic about your arrival, we could go and visit him much more frequently.

And finally, your latest achievement at your Aquababies class, which mummy was incredibly proud of.... we sound like chickens and "kick, kick, kick!" across the width of the mini pool (i am of course holding you, I'm not completely bonkers), and upon reaching the side, with a little prompting from Mummy you "hold on!".  Your face was an absolute picture of achievement when your 2 chubby little hands reached up out of the water and grabbed onto the side of the pool.

"I can do it Mummy, I can hold on - Look at me!" (is what you would have been saying, if you could indeed talk)

Yummy Mummy Style!

Today it's all about vintage baby clothes!! This adorable tunic top has been lovingly kept by Ocean's Grandma for 30 years.... It used to be mine and I think it looks just as stylish today as it must have done back then. Aside from the enviromentally friendly feel good factor of this, it actually makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to think Ocean is wearing something I wore. (I'm sure this won't be the same feeling when she's 14 and nicking my clothes)

Grandma also kept all my terry towelling nappies, washed I might add, not sure I'm so keen on re-using those though.... I'm green but that's pushing it!!!

- love Mummy x

Yummy Mummy Style.

This week its all about "bows on your toes". I'm loving these gorgeous socks so much that i've re-ordered in the additional colourway. In fact, these are now the ONLY socks that Ocean wears, (im personally not a fan of pre-walking babies in shoes) and I think they are on the same prettiness scale as frilly bummed tights! (which incidentally are as pretty as pretty gets) They stay on reasonably well, as long as little feet aren't being thrashed about too much, and come in 0-12 month (baby) and 12-24 months (toddler) sizes. Just in case you dont fancy putting bows on your little boys toes (although they are sooooo cute that you very well may be tempted - just dont let Daddies see) there are some super stylish options for boys too, including cowboy boots!!

Yey for Trumpette socks!

Yummy mummy style!

This week it's all about baby tutus. Ocean is loving hers, which is good as she has one in baby pink, cerise pink and letter box red! There are loads of variations about, but I love the Next ones as they have a pretty satin bow at the waist. There also a good investment (ha ha), as I've bought them in 9-12 months, when Ocean only wears 3-6 months and due to the elastcated waist they fit lovely now, but will still fit in several months time! On slightly older girls, I love to see tutus funked up a little with a pair of converse, but on babies, they look adorable with a simple vest.

I had Ocean's hung above her changing table, and she was fascinated by the unusual texture of them, and they kept her entertained for quite a few nappy changes, similarily, when I dress her in one, she loves touching it and watching her hands disappear in the ruffles!!

- Posted whilst out & about