Me and Mine - August

Considering all the family events we have had this month, we should have managed a family photo, but the reality is that August has been manic and this was a last minute family selfie this afternoon on my phone.  August has seen Dylan turn 3, Archie celebrate his half birthday, my 27th Birthday and the announcement that we are pregnant with our third baby.  We have enjoyed time off together, day trips out and plenty of fun.  August has been an exciting and exhausting month.

Daddy is loving folk week, having some money in the bank, the start of the football season and Archie turning into a little chatterbox.

Mummy is loving showing off her expanding bump, going for walks with the children without a buggy, Salt and vinegar chipsticks and watching Bones.

Dylan is loving summer club at the nursery, a day out at the zoo with his Aunty NatNat, reading everywhere we go and wearing his wellies.

Archie is loving being out of the buggy more, shouting at people, talking all the time and books.

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The Babybeau Ellie

Rather than diminishing over the last three years, my love for changing bags appears to have grown and with another little person on the way, they are going to be a part of my life for the forseeable future.  We have been reviewing the Babybeau Ellie and I have had nothing but compliments about this luxury leather bag.

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Instant Ink

I love taking photos, especially of my family.  My phone and camera are full of captured memories, and sadly that is where they normally stay.  The photos on my walls are all at least six months old, dating back to the last time I got round to ordering some prints and those wonderful images that I have immortalised are left on a memory card.

Thanks to the lovely folk over at HP instant ink, that is no more.  They sent me a printer, which is pretty brilliant in itself (I think my last printer died midway through my dissertation and that was just a few years ago!) and a year's subscription to Instant Ink- a new service that allows forgetful people like myself to have ink cartridges delivered to their door rather than having to put it on the shopping list. 

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Thing 1, Thing 2 and Thing 3

"We are all a little weird, and life is a little weird and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love"

I found someone to share mutual weirdness with, and then we made our two little things.

Next year will see the arrival of Thing 3

Thing 3 is due early March 2015

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My Little Family in July

This year, I have been busy capturing our life as a family of four.  I have been taking part in the Me and Mine project, which sees us taking a family portrait every month, to record the little changes and get everyone in the frame.  I have loved taking part, and in an effort to really capture the essence of our family, we turned to a photographer last month to capture those candid shots when we are just being us.

I shared a few in the July Me and Mine post, but I wanted to share some more, just because.  My family means everything to me, and I am so proud to show them off.  (I apologise for the photo overload)

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Archie at 18 Months

A year and a half has passed since my littlest one entered the world and it is amazing how far the little dude has come.  From a helpless newborn to a walking talking toddler in what feels like the blink of an eye.  Archie has the cheekiest personality, and every single day he shows a little more.

From the smile that screws up his nose, to the way he tells you off right back if you say no to him, this boy is challenging and cute in equal measure.  He pushes every imaginable boundary, but does so with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. When we take him to the park, he no longer heads for the slide, but straight for the borders, where he searches for everything he shouldn't and brings me his finds.  Half empty cans of cider, cigarette butts and apple cores amongst other things.  He sees himself as either a litter picker or treasure hunter, I am not sure which.

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Play Day

I knew that the place I grew up would be the same place that I bring up my own babies.  I wanted to travel, to see the world, to experience different cities, but I had always known that when it came to starting a family, this place is home.

My family live here, and everywhere I look, I have memories of growing up.  There are so many beaches on our doorstep, so many parks, schools and small communities.  Sure it has its issues, there are bad parts of town as there always are, and it does boast an incredibly high teenage pregnancy rate, but this was my home, and this is my children's home.

Bringing them up here, we have spent a lot of time at the Children's Centres, from antenatal classes, breastfeeding support groups and the health visitor to messy rock'n'roll toddler groups and courses.  The Children's Centre organises a 'Play Day' every summer for the community, a completely free event for families, and this year's theme was healthy.

All children received free water and fruit, there was bouncy castles and characters to meet, information about local services and healthy start incentives and the chance to make a smoothie on a pedal bike.  The mobile farm was there, letting the children get close to the sheep and pigs and there were displays from local groups like Judo and majorettes. The weather was sadly not what was hoped for in early August, but it was only the parents stood under umbrellas, whilst the children ran free, reminding us that being outdoors whatever the weather is completely healthy.

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