Saturday 31 December 2016

Me and Mine December // Me and Mine 2017

Today is not only the last day of the month, but the last day of the year too.  I feel like December crept up on us out of nowhere and I am left wondering quite how we got here.  2016 has been both a great and terrible year.  Whilst in the wider world we saw many deaths, Brexit and Trump, in my smaller world we saw first, third and fifth birthdays, we welcomed a new baby girl, we celebrated as Finn learned to walk, run and climb, Archie started preschool and Dylan went into year one.  

This year has been busy, it has been chaotic at times, messy, disorganised but always wonderful.  We have all grown and learned alongside each other, we have developed new relationships, expanded existing ones and my little family is bigger and better than ever.

December has been a mixture of festivities and outdoor adventures as we have made the most of the milder winter weather.  Christmas was celebrated many times over with different parts of our families and we will be seeing the new year in surrounded by our friends.  

As I mentioned, the end of this month has crept up all too quickly so this post is both an end of the month and end of the year round up.  


This Month Mummy is loving buying Christmas presents, the look on the children's faces on Christmas morning, watching the sunset at the beach and starting running again

Daddy is loving Cora being more interactive, time off over Christmas, buying a new computer and getting back to the gym

Dylan is loving Christmas crafts, Christmas tree chocolates at Grandma's house, his new 'colour with mum' book and doing treasure hunts around the house

Archie is loving snuggling up in his dressing gown, his new haircut, his Hulk Smash hands and having his big brother around more.

Finn is loving being allowed chocolate now (the real stuff), dancing to everything and anything, pushing his new dolly and pushchair around and watching Blaze

Cora is loving her first tastes of food, bouncing in the jumperoo, sitting up to play and blowing raspberries on the back of her hand.


I have put all of our me and mine photos from the year together too - I love seeing how we have all changed and grown as my bump became a baby, as Finn found his feet, Archie lost his hair and Dylan learned to write.  


 I can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for us.  There is so much I want to do, so many places I would love to go, so many books I want to read and things I want to learn.  2017 will be the year Cora turns one, Finn starts to communicate more, Archie will start school and at the end of the next year we will be applying for Dylan's Junior school place!

Goodbye 2016, you have been wonderful.

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Friday 30 December 2016

The Week in the Middle

Christmas day has come and gone, the new year has yet to begin and we are stuck in a strange place, not quite here or there.  We have no concept of which day of the week it is, mornings and bedtimes are later than usual and biscuits are an acceptable meal.  I love this week, the one with no routine, no schedule or deadlines or school runs, the one where we make our own rules.  We eat when we are hungry which isn't always at the traditional mealtimes and we go out when we get bored indoors.  

The Christmas break is so short, not even two weeks for Dylan and in the midst of the mayhem this week feels unusually calm.  I love waking up in the morning with no real plans for the day, playing it by ear, enjoying lazy mornings in my dressing gown and watching the children play with their new toys, their imaginations taking them to new lands each day.  

The Christmas tree is still up, the sun sets so early, the weather is getting colder and no resolutions have yet been made.  The kitchen side is piled high with goodies and we are drinking more cups of tea than ever with the excuse that we really should get through those biscuits soon.  

Today we have had a lazy morning, a late lunch, a long play and a glow stick disco in the living room with just the twinkly tree lights and our flourescent sticks stopping us bumping in to each other.  The children got to stay up just a little longer and we are eating leftover pizza for dinner.

I took a few photos of the boys at the beach in their new Muddy Puddles coats, they loved the sand all piled up and we were surprised at how busy it was for a December afternoon.  The beach is our go-to place to waste an hour or two and it doesn't matter what season it is, they never get bored of it.




muddy puddles, baby waterproof suit



School and Preschool restart on Wednesday so we only have a few days of this limbo left to enjoy.  This week in the middle is definitely one of my favourites.
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Thursday 29 December 2016

Half a Year Baby Girl

Somewhere in the mayhem of Christmas and New Year, in between the mince pies and Prosecco, my baby girl turned six months old.  Her half-birthday was spent in a Christmas comedown, we were too busy finishing the boxes of chocolates and playing with new toys to really notice it, but like it or not, Cora is now six months old.


Six months old means the newborn days really are gone and we have replaced that tiny newborn with a baby that sits up and rolls around and shouts at us to get attention.  She chats away in her own little language, she chews everything in sight and her personality shows through more each day.  My little lady is a Mummy's girl and wants to be in my arms all day.  If I hand her to anyone else she needs to check constantly that I am still there, still within her sight and ready to take her when she lets us know she has had enough.  She still wants to sleep curled up next to me and I can't imagine her anywhere else.

On Christmas day we started weaning and I have a feeling it will be a slow process.  2 days off of the recommended six months and we offered Cora carrots on her tray.  She picked them up, she licked them, she pulled a face of utter disgust and she left them alone.  We are following the principles of baby led weaning so I am confident when she is ready she will eat a little more.  I am quietly hoping it will improve her sleep (without holding out too much hope) as she has recently taken to feeding every hour.  She can sometimes do a 2-4 hour stretch when I first put her down, but after that she likes to wake and feed very frequently, sometimes just being awake for a few hours in the middle of the night.  


Cora is pretty average sized and we are starting to pack away some of the smallest of her 3-6 month clothes and bring out some of the smaller fitting 6-9 month bits.  I will be washing her stretchy wrap this week ready to pass on as she is so curious and heavy that I find her more comfortable in a more structured carrier.  We swapped the carrycot for the seat unit reclined on her pushchair about a week before she turned 6 months (although she was back in the carrycot tonight) and she loves being able to see a bit more of the world.  

The boys still adore their baby sister, they know how to make her laugh, and they are incredibly gentle at times.  Finn is desperate for her to join in with his games still and he is a lot less gentle, Cora adores him and I can already foresee the mischief they are going to be causing together once she is on the move.


I can't fathom how these six months have passed so quickly and I am desperately hoping that the next six are a little slower.



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Tuesday 27 December 2016

Our Christmas

There are people with their Pinterest perfect Christmasses - all colour schemes, co-ordinated place settings and beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree.  And then there is me, writing this sat next to a Christmas tree covered in a mismatch of baubles and after Finn has pulled the beads off for the hundreth time they have literally been thrown back at the tree.  The presents were in all sorts of paper, using up what we had last year (and the year before) and all four children had their own paper so that I didn't have to write labels for each gift.

Our Christmas is beautiful though, the excited faces, the wonder in their eyes, the beauty of generosity, the love of family and friends and the table stacked full of delicious food.  No matter how much or little is under our tree, my children have all they could ever need - Love, support, strength, people who love them, food, drink and a home.  They aren't yet at the age where the value of gifts matter, a colouring book can be as great as electrical toy, chocolate coins are the ultimate stocking filler and their wish list is short.  

Every year we spend Christmas morning at home, enjoying time as our little(ish) family of six, we open gifts, we eat breakfast, we pack our favourite toys and we head over to my Mum and Dad's for the day.  They cook lunch and dinner and we stay the night.  We put the boys down in the evening and stay up late playing cards and eating cheese boards.  On Boxing Day we see the Bloke's family for more food, family, gifts and fun and then we usually head back to my parent's house for a quiet evening together.  Family is the focus of our Christmas and we are lucky to have two great ones.

One of the best presents is that my Mum and Dad take the children in the morning when they wake and let us have a leisurely lie in - these things are worth more than money can buy!

This year was magical, it was Cora's first Christmas and she got her first tastes of food.  In typical baby style she was more interested in the wrapping paper than what was in it.  Finn got to have his first go at opening presents and he wasn't content to stick to only his own.  Archie was more aware of everything that was going on and insists that his best bit of Christmas is 'everything', and Dylan totally gets it all, he loved everything he recieved, he was excited and thankful.

I didn't take many photos this year, I was too busy enjoying the moments, but these are the ones I did take, little moments from our Christmas.


Dylan's favourite gift this year


Fourth baby life

We Facetimed my sister who is in France







 
I am sad it is all over and we have so many new toys to find homes for.  We also have a kitchen side stacked full of tins of posh biscuits though, so it isn't all bad!
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Tuesday 20 December 2016

What the Kids Wore // Geggamoja

Geggamoja is a brand that I hadn't heard of until very recently, but we have been won over by their gorgeous colours, simple styles and comfy pieces.  We were sent a few items from their newest collection and I just love this pink vest on Cora.

I was adamant in pregnancy that I wouldn't be dressing my little girl in pink, but it turns out she looks pretty cute in it, and I love this shade.  The vest is simple but beautifully made, soft and stretchy and a great fit.  It goes so well with so many of her clothes that it is quickly becoming one of her most worn items! 


Many of the pieces in their extensive collection are designed to mix and match, with common colours running through.  This hat mixes the pink with a brighter pink and you can buy matching trousers and tops too, as well as the same design in different colours (perfect for twinning siblings!).  I find the sizing pretty accurate - Cora is wearing age 3-6 months here at 5 months old.

Geggamoja, swedish kids clothing, kids fashion blogger

I was also sent a couple of items for Archie but so far I haven't managed to get any good shots of him - I will update when I do! Geggamoja make clothing for newborns up to age 12 and they also do a collection of home bits and accessories.  I was sent some gorgeous bunting perfect for a nursery, soft muslins and a toy for Cora which she has become quite attached to. The colourful teddy is perfect for a newborn to snuggle up with (and chew).

geggamoja, organic swedish clothing,

Geggamoja is one of the only GOTS (Organic) certified companies in Sweden.  Their clothes are designed to be worn and played hard in and the company are passionate about being sustainable and environmentally conscious.  Every season they bring out new designs and the SS17 is full of neons, pastels, zig zags and classic stripes with some brilliant prints on their hats.

Check out Uni and Jack, the UK stockist or the Geggamoja site for the full collection.


Keep an eye out for more photos soon!



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Sunday 18 December 2016

A Fourth First Christmas

This is my fourth time celebrating a first Christmas and the novelty has worn off a little.  I was so excited when we approached December 2011, Dylan had all the beautiful dress up onesies, I took him to playgroup parties and to see Santa and I lovingly wrapped a few gifts to put in his stocking.  Since then I have realised that Christmas just gets better the older they are, so instead of planning ways on remembering Cora's milestone, I am focusing on her big brothers, and making Christmas special for them.

Dylan and Archie are a wonderful age for it, they understand  more, they remember the excitement, they are learning the songs, watching the Christmas films and Dylan has been learning about the Christmas story at school.  They write lists to Santa, they discuss where they will hang their stockings and they want to send Christmas cards to everyone we know.

Cora meanwhile is pretty oblivious.  I am still her world, she wants milk and cuddles and she doesn't care much for toys or books just yet.  She will wake up on Christmas morning to gifts under the tree but I will be unwrapping the same presents I wrapped the night before, getting excited on her behalf and with three big brothers and all their toys, she will mostly be receiving clothes ready for her in the next size up.

Cora's first Christmas is still special though, it is still a first, it is still full of magic and joy and so I decided to dress her up and take some photos, because this is probably the only year she will sit still and I was a little excited about buying her a tutu (I bought it a size big so that she can actually wear it next year).  These photos are a 'just because' and I love them.






I bought her skirt from Florrie and Max, her vest from Le Petit Chiffon and her headband from Harper Jade
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Friday 16 December 2016

The Third Child // ToddleBike 2 Review

Being the third child means always wanting to keep up with your siblings.  Finn may have been placid as a newborn, but as a toddler he is raring to go, desperate to be as big as his brothers, convinced he can climb as high, run as fast and jump as high.  When we go to the park, the big two usually take their scooters, they whizz around and race down the paths and Finn has been desperate to join in.  He was recently sent a Toddlebike 2 and he absolutely loves it.

pre-balance bike, toddler bike, toddlebike 2

It is so incredibly lightweight (it weighs less than 1kg),  suitable from when a child is walking confidently and helps prepare them for a balance bike.  It is light enough to pop it in the basket of the buggy when we go out and it means Finn can race around with his brothers and feel like one of the 'big boys'.  At 21 months he is building up more speed, but he still sits on the crossbar rather than the seat.  

toddlebike, bike for toddlers, one year old on a bike,

If you are still looking for a Christmas gift for a 1-3 year old then this Toddlebike 2 is ideal.  Finn is building up the skills and balance ready to move up to the next stage of bike or scooter and he is so happy.  They are only £23.95 with free postage too and come in three colours - check out Toddlebike for more details

bike for one year old, toddlebike, pre-balance bike

Thanks to Toddlebike for sending Finn his first bike, he loves it!
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Thursday 15 December 2016

No sleep // Baby Boo

These babies of mine really don't like sleep.  I never appreciated how well Dylan slept until I had Archie, and I definitely didn't appreciate that Archie was actually pretty good until Finn arrived.  Sleep is no longer something I take for granted, it is not something I get enough of and it is the subject of many an argument that most new parents can relate to (he definitely gets more sleep than I do).

At the moment, Finn wakes up once a night and Cora wakes up several times.  They are both put to bed at 7pm, but I have usually gone up to feed and settle Cora by 9pm and again before I crawl into bed around midnight.  She then wakes roughly every hour wanting milk and to cuddle up before waking for the day looking significantly fresher than I do.  Finn and Cora wake up smiling and bright eyed, I wake up feeling exhausted and walking in a zombie like manner towards the kettle.  They play with each other happily whilst I drink coffee and hope that my eyes will soon stop stinging.

sleeping bags with arms, babyboo

When I was pregnant with Cora, the bloke and I agreed that when it came to night times, she would be my baby and Finn would be his.  Cora is exclusively breastfed so nobody else can settle her at night and if I am feeding her then I can't get up to sort out Finn.  BabyBoo sent us some sleeping bags for the babies and now I know they won't be waking up because they are cold!  These bags have detachable arms making them even snugglier and they are lovely and padded for this cold weather.  Cora's is a generous 0-6 months and Finn's is a ginormous 18-48 months (I could easily fit Archie in there it really is giant!).  I do think these are better suited to babies Cora's age upwards as the neck opening is quite wide, but both my babies look and feel snug and safe in theirs.  



Cora is sleeping in with me as it is the only place she will settle and she feeds so often.  The sleeping bag is ideal as she can sleep on top of our duvet but still stay snuggly.  Finn is in his own room and has this as his only covers.  I can't say that it has made a huge difference to their sleep, I have a feeling they are just not great sleepers, but I don't have to worry about them getting cold anymore.



BabyBoo also make bibs and Cora has been sent some lovely ones which you will see popping up on social media.  They are great for dribbly tots as they are fleece backed.


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Wednesday 14 December 2016

What the Kids Wore // Little Green Radicals

I love finding companies that make brilliant and bright unisex clothing and Little Green Radicals capture childhood wonder in a collection that is perfect for little boys and girls.  Their clothes are always full of colour and character but the autumn winter is collection is one of my favourites so far.  The rich shades are playful and the patterns are fun. Cora and Finn were both sent an outfit from this season.

brother and sister, little green radicals LGR aw16, 16 month age gap

Cora's vest is a beautiful shade of purple with detailing on the front that means it works well with trousers or under dungarees.  The dungarees are soft and stretchy and match perfectly with the vest.  The little owls are adorable and the shades are very wintery.


Finn's outfit is colourful and playful and we love the rainbow striped trousers.  Everything is well cut for cloth nappies and washes wonderfully - something I need with a little adventurer like Finn.  When his outfit is outgrown it will definitely be kept for Cora !

LGR, Little green radicals

One thing I really love about the collection is how each print works on different items too.  You can buy dresses to match Finn's top, trousers and tops to match Cora's dungarees and you can co-ordinate siblings perfectly (a guilty pleasure of mine). Check out their stunning snowsuits if you haven't already bought one, they are so snuggly and soft!

Little green radicals, sibling style, 16 month age gap

Thank you to Little Green Radicals for sending us these outfits. 
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Tuesday 13 December 2016

A Little Winter Sunshine

The ordinary moments are often the most precious, the everyday things are worth remembering and recording and that is exactly what this blog post is - little moments from an ordinary day.   The park is a big part of our life, we go there to blow off steam, to learn new skills, to be close to nature, to climb and swing, to picnic, to meet friends and to breathe some fresh air into a lazy December weekend.



The weather was mild at the weekend and the boys were restless so we popped down to the park after lunch (Finn is on nap strike) to run around.  The sun sets so early that we knew we didn't have long, but there was long enough to play and they love the freedom to explore.




The big two boys don't seem to notice I am there, they become wrapped up in their own little world, playing make believe, racing, driving the pirate ship and escaping from sharks.  They get on so well, and with the freedom and space of the park there are fewer reasons to squabble.  Finn doesn't like to be confined in any way so he goes in and out of the park gates asserting his independence but staying close.  We took his little Toddlebike and he mostly zoomed around shouting 'bike'.



The biggest two boys had these Little Bird gilets when they were small and I have been buying other sizes when they comes up on selling sites as they are perfect for brightening up a cold day and for keeping an eye on them in a crowd (Cora has one too but she wasn't wearing it here). 


And of course Cora came with us, she started off in the sling, but I popped her in the buggy so that I could run around with the boys a bit easier and she could watch on.  She loves being outside and she looked pretty snuggly wrapped up in the footmuff.  


I hope these babies of mine always love to run and climb and explore, that the park continues to capture their imagination (and wear them out) and that they look back on these photos remembering the fun they had on a warmer than usual December Sunday.




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