INDIE BAKING WITH HER DADDY

Lately to have some one on one time with her Daddy, Indie has been doing some baking. Usually they would go out to the park or do something outdoorsy but as it's been raining and cold lately and both of the kids have been a bit poorly they've started baking and it has been lovely.

The first time they made a loaf of bread and it was delicious. Indie was pretty proud.



Next they baked some Flapjack (daddy let her lick the golden syrup off the spoon, eek) and also they made some Chocolate Chip Cookies. Needless to say they didn't last long in this house.




This weekend I think they're going to be baking some Scones. I can't wait to eat them. Must'nt forget to buy jam and clotted cream!

HARRY AT TEN MONTHS

It's been a while since I've posted so I didn't actually do an update for Harry at 9 months. The past couple months have been filled with poorly kids, a teething Harry and an exhasted mummy hence the blog silence. 

Anyway, I feel that Harry has come on in leaps and bounds, quite literally. At the begining of January at 9 months old Harry learnt to walk! He started with a few steps here and there and within a week he was walking everywhere he went. It amazes me how much these clever little humans can learn in such a short space of time. 



He really is growing so fast. He's quite big for his age and always has been but it does seem like his growth is starting to slow down a bit now thankfully. We went and had his feet measured last week and he is a size 5. We were told to come back in a few weeks for shoes as his feet are still quite chunky and they said within a few more weeks of walking they should flatten out a little. I can't wait to get his first shoes.


In terms of eating Harry is well and truly not fussy. He will eat anything but his favourite snacks are blueberries and small oranges. He also has a bit of a thing for Pork & Apple Casserole, he usually polishes off two portions. 

He has mastered sleeping now thankfully and after 8 months of sleepless nights he is a pro. He goes to bed every night at 6pm and sleeps until 6-7am. He tends to have a short nap at 8am and another after his lunch which usually lasts around an hour. Sometimes he will also have a nap late afternoon depending on the length of his first two naps.


He has recently started playing peekaboo behind objects and is very clever at demanding attention. If he realises mummy is busy and not looking at him he will let it be known that he wants some attention. He likes to sneak into the cupboard and stack tins of baked beans on top of one another and since he's teething really badly at the moment I've been letting him do it. He is a cheeky little monkey. 



At the end of next month my little man turns 1 and I have no idea where the time has gone!

NEXT HAUL - BEAUTIFUL NEW IN TODDLER GIRLS

It's been a while since I last shared what I've bought so I thought I'd share a few bits I received this morning from a late night Next order. Since their new collection arrived I'd held off placing an order but Indie needed a few new bits and I loved the look of some pieces so bit the bullet before it all went out of stock.

First up is my favourite item. It's not the usual colour I go for for Indie but the ruffles had me sold. Indie loves anything floaty or floral (she thinks it's princess-like) and I wish they sold it in my size. 





Next I picked up a three pack of leggings. I tried to keep everything within the same colour scheme (green & navy) and I thought these would be useful to make more outfits out of the pieces I bought.



I ended up picking this gorgeous Broderie Blouse in two different colours because I loved it so much.



 It's so pretty and dainty but I think paired with a little cardigan and leggings it'll also make a really comfy outfit. With this in mind I picked up this Navy cardigan and plan on pairing it with a pair of the leggings from the 3 pack I've previously mentioned.



I needed to pick up a new jumper for Indie as all of hers were Christmas themed. She has a dress and t-shirt already in this gorgeous floral print and she says its her favourite because of the flowers so when I saw this jumper I had to get it for her.





Aswell as the items already shown I also picked up a Khaki Tunic Dress and a few other basics that I hope to mix and match to make a good few outfits. As I said before I tried to stay to a bit of a colour theme so the items can all be worn together. 


Have you picked up anything nice lately?

OUR CHRISTMAS 2016



Opening her stocking on Mummy & Daddys bed whilst Harry slept in until 8am (first time he's ever slept past 6am).


When Harry finally woke up...









I hope you had a lovely Christmas, ours was one to remember.


OUR DECEMBER

Our December was full of fun, smiles and firsts. 





We were writing out Christmas cards when I turnt around and saw that Indie had wrote her own name alone for the first time. It might just look like squiggles to some of you, but to me this is amazing! 

i n d i e




A right of passage. Indie watching 'The Snowman' for the first time with her Daddy, and she loved it.


And this clever little boy took his first steps on Boxing Day.




Lego building with little princess..






LONG TIME NO SEE

Hello, long time no see. It's been a while since I last posted, or at least it feels that way. Christmas has been and gone and we're three days into the New Year already. I had so many posts I had planned to write over the Christmas period whilst hubby was home from work but both Harry and Indie were ill the week before Christmas and I was too. We all started to feel better the day before Christmas Eve but then on Christmas Day I ended up needing to go up the hospital to be treated for a Kidney Infection. I was in agony to say the least but put on a bit of a brave face because I didn't want to ruin everyones Christmas. I've only got one kidney so it was a bit of a necessity to get it checked out asap but thankfully I wasn't up there for too long. I really am so thankful for the NHS. We so often take it for granted, but to have that care available whenever it is needed, and for free, is something I'm truly grateful for. 



Anyway we ended up having a lovely Christmas. Indie was so much more aware this year and it was lovely to see the excitement on her face. Harry loved climbing all over the new toys and seemed to enjoy the abundance of food that was around. As I said I had so many posts I wanted to write; Reflecting on 2016, Plans for 2017 and a bit of an update on the kids and my mental health, but to be honest it can all be summarised in just a few sentences so here it goes.

2016. The year that saw my little girl become a big sister as we welcomed little Harry to our family. It's been bittersweet as we've made some beautiful memories but also my mental health has been at it's lowest. That being said, we've made it! Harry's birth was one of the happiest memories of my life and whilst the early days were a bit of a haze, I've got to watch my little toddler blossom into the best big sister. I'm sticking my fingers up to a New Years Resolution this year, no promises, just one intention, to try. 

LIFE LATELY

Well I don't know where the second half of this year has gone but it has flown by. It seems like I've blinked and now Christmas is just twelve days away. It's all getting a bit festive 'round here. The tree is up and Harry is donning a new Christmas jumper daily. Indie prances around wearing reindeer ears daily and she is so excited for Santa to arrive. To a little one her age of course the presents and fuss is as much as she knows, but I'm getting great pleasure out of introducing her to all that comes with the festive season. She loves Christmas trees, fairy lights, the chocolate from her Advent Calender though to be honest the idea of Daddy being home for a good few weeks is probably what she's happiest about. 




Alongside the happiness and joy that the festive period is bringing us we've also had a teething, grouching little monkey on our hands. Harry's top two teeth are giving him a bit of trouble and he is so clingy, but we're getting there. Indie is also testing her boundaries alot too which has been interesting to say the least. It's amazing how much a developmental leap can temporarily change a little ones personality. It's all ups and downs but they're so worth it. 

In terms of how I've been feeling I feel like I'm doing pretty well. Having a toddler and a baby is hard in itself and has the potential to push you to your limits, let alone throwing Post Natal Depression into the mix. I am now off all medication and doing really well. I still have my down days but I don't feel like they're unmanagebale anymore. My CBT (Cognitive Behavour Therapy) is going really well and I'm learning quite alot about myself and ways to help my mental health. Things I'm finding specifically helpful are learning to 'live in the present' and I'm learning that alot of my thoughts, feeling and behaviours are linked and so I can help one by changing the other. It makes sense to me but I suppose as an outsider it may seem a bit odd. regardless I believe it's helping me. It's actually making me take some time to realise what is causing alot of my negative thoughts. Obviously depression in itself is the cause a lot of the time but I've also discovered that sometimes that has triggers; situations, negative thoughts etc. Anyway it's going to take time but I'm getting there. I'm facing a bit of a struggle with anxiety but being so aware of it is really helping me. I write EVERY feeling down now, the bad and the good, and it's helping me to discover issues that I didn't even realise were there and has given me the ability to deal with them before they spiral.




Hubby is working right up until the day before Christmas Eve this year so we haven't got too many festive plans before Christmas but we're looking forward to the time as a family. We're hoping to get on a few winter walks to let Indie run off some of her energy and whilst at first we considered it, we think we're going to leave meeting Santa until next year. Indie's a little shy of meeting new people, especially men for some reason so we'll see the big man another time. 

What are you doing in the run up to Christmas?