Organised 2015

So we are starting to slowly feel human in our house again and have ventured out today to the shops, turns out I have missed the sales.  Well there didn't seem to be much sale stock left in the shops we visited today ... never mind.  So trying to be more organised this year......

So far I have managed to buy a new winter coat for Little L literally before she would be heading back to preschool bursting out hulk style of her old coat.  It really was pretty tight on her.  Anyway come Tuesday morning she will be warm and snug and drowned obviously in her big new coat.

I also managed today to buy Little L new shoes just before she had to start attending preschool and anywhere else in her wellies or party shoes... I do like to leave things till the last minute but it does speed up the decision making process.

Plus I have been filling in a new calender and it has stickers. 

And I have also written endless pages of lists, mainly things to do to house/diy/decluttering.

So on day four of the New year and things are going well,  how do you organise yourself and your family, or do you just wing it and hope for the best???  

Thank goodness I don't have a job as well; I would then have to be super organised and probably get up at 5am.

Happy New Year

Christmas this year seems a bit of a blur and it was ages since.  No not due to huge amounts of alcohol and over indulgence. No we got the flu, well myself and Baby E got it full force, Little L was ill but didn't get a fever and P he had a cold. The dog was fine though ha ha.  

 

So today we ventured out after being too ill to move since Boxing day (no luxury for P he struggled on at work).  It was so nice to be out in the fresh air.  It was windy and cold but we went to a little wooded glen that was freezing but sheltered from the wind.  We went to Fairy Glen and saw lots of fairies (they looked like sticks but we were assured by a certain small person that they were fairies!). 

 

 

We walked whilst being told who we currently were being.  I am usually princess Anna, little L is Elsa and baby E and P are usually either the reindeer or Olaf.  To those without a Frozen obsessed child this means nothing.  We have watched this film a few times over the holidays.  And we also ate a few chocolate coins when energy levels were failing. 
Lovely to be out and about and hopefully we can shake off the bugs in time for back to school next week. 

First Day

Today was the first day in a very long time that I have looked at my blog.  I won't update you on everything that has happened since I last blogged because it would take such a long time and soo much has happened in four months.

Perhaps the reason why I looked at my blog was because I am sat here at 9.30am in a quiet house, baby E is asleep and Little L is not here......today was her first day at Preschool.  The thought of this day has hung over my head like a big grey cloud all year really but more so over the last few months and I have been dreading it.  I feel lost, for three years and 3 months she has been my constant companion.  I can count the number of days we have been apart on one hand and then she was always with close family.  She was happy this morning, she said she was excited as we walked to the school and she was fine when I left her.  We have prepared a lot for today, this year despite Baby E's arrival and her being a very demanding baby who screamed most of the time until she was 4/5 months old (Three-months-old) we have been to all the playgroups in the village, been trying different things, talking about school etc and so she was well prepared but all the same I'm not there with her.  

She will be fine, I know 

(two hours left till I can collect her.....maybe I should make her a cake)    

x

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone.  We have had a lovely day, we did some egg rolling this morning.  Yes I know my decorated eggs are amazing but limited time and crayons was all we had.

Plus a collection of eggs and rabbits (mostly for Little L and her Daddy, hopefully they will share)

Then a walk in the afternoon, cold but dry and we spotted some rabbits which Little L was very pleased about.

Tomorrow a football match and visitors and hopefully before that a decent nights sleep!

Easter biscuits

Last week I treated myself to a new mixer.  Aldi's Thursday offer was a bargain stand mixer in cream so I had to have it.  Yes a kitchenaid mixer would be nice but I really don't like baking or even eating cakes enough to warrant the price.  I also had a voucher so got the cute biscuit stamps for free.  

We had to try both last Thursday afternoon.  So obviously we would make biscuits.  I did a basic mix which was fine but I think the stamps would work better with a really dry mix and something that doesn't rise as this obliterates the writing.  Anyway with trial and error I am sure next times will be better.

So an hour or so later (I'm doing this with the help of an eager toddler so there's a lot of rolling, eating mix, squashing, starting again ....) a kitchen and child covered in flour and the biscuits were ready to go into the oven.  At that point (no sooner I swear) I remembered with horror that both me and the other half have given up biscuits for lent (I've given up crisps as well so roll on Sunday!).  

So a dilemma could Little L eat all those biscuits by herself and me not sample even one! I can't say what happened but there are no biscuits left.

Leave the cleaning for another day!

I have just finished a 5 week baby massage course with Baby E.  We have really enjoyed it and it has been nice to do something just the two of us (don't worry Little L has been with her Daddy doing fun things).  At the end of each session the instructor has read a poem.  This one stuck with me and I'm sure resonates with lots of new mums ..... so step away from the sink and leave the hoovering for another day!

Babies Don’t Keep

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

xx

A Little Break

A much needed break was had last week (just three nights altogether).  Much too short but we didn't dare go for any longer than one night with Baby E and her screaming etc.  My Mum did offer to look after her but I couldn't leave her behind.

Little L loved it, staying in a hotel, eating out, doing different things she loves anything like that.  And she is so easy to take anywhere, she will eat anything, sleep anywhere so we are very lucky on that front.  We had a day in York.  

First stop the Railway Museum, I hadn't been for years and in fact I once had a swanky conference dinner in amongst the carriages (I'd forgotten about that).  Little L and her Daddy loved looking at all the trains.  Me and baby E liked it too but after a while they all start to look the same.  

After that we headed into town to look at the minster, up and down the little streets and in the quirky shops, a lazy lunch, some more exploring and then when we were all exhausted we headed off for the day.

The night went quite well Baby E slept reasonably and didn't scream,  Little L loved it and slept in her spotty sleeping bag in a big girls bed.  

We were up and out much earlier than I would have wanted but this was the reason for our trip.  Daddy driving a fast car (he will never drive our old cars with the same affection as before).  He loved it, I'm not much of a car person but he drove a Ferrari F430 very fast and it was black.  Me and the girls were watching nearby but I'm not sure if Little L really believed that it was Daddy driving but he really loved it. 

(he was driving the car not the tank in the background)

This took all morning and we nearly froze (we were outside on an old airfield).  After that an afternoon warming up and then a look around Harrogate.  Another lovely town, a bit easier than York to look around with a pram.  

This week we have the delights of a Health visitor visit, seeing the doctor again, swimming lesson, no playgroups or library as it is the Easter holidays and hopefully a few days out too.

This and that

So in between looking after my two girls I have been busy with a few other things:

A new cook book, already tried several recipes and they are great.  Very few ingredients, quick, healthyish and budget friendly

Lots of crafting, painting, drawing generally trying to keep a toddler happy

Watching my garden grow, I am itching to get some things planted, I have bought bedding plants but haven't had time to put them in yet.

Having the occasional cup of tea outside in the sunshine .... bliss

And sorting out preschool for Little L in September ... my little girl is growing up

And this week a little trip away in a hotel, I hope the room has thick walls as Baby E is pretty loud.  

Bye for now x

Three months old

Where did the time go??  Baby E is three months old well nearly 14 weeks.  She is doing well.  But I can't say it has been an easy three months.  She has screamed a lot since she was born really and I had mentioned this to the various midwives, doctors and health visitors that I encountered but was usually looked at and told in a patronising way "all babies are different" or "she is only young" blah blah blah.  Having had a screamer first time around I knew Baby E's screaming was different.  Little L had colic and she screamed at the same time virtually every day and got some relief from the various colic treatments ranging from massage and special bottles to infacol.  And when we hit that magic three month mark she improved a great deal.  

Though Baby E has been different, no pattern to the screaming but she has always seemed to be suffering with chronic stomach ache.  Anyway they ran a test and she is lactose intolerant.  She has been on special lactose free milk for a couple of weeks and has improved in that she doesn't scream as much and is starting to put weight on.   

When she isn't suffering with her tummy she is an absolute delight, very smiley and chatty.  She adores Little L and her face lights up when her sister stops what she is doing to talk to her.  She loves looking at her arm with amazement and the fire as well.  Anyway I must go Baby E is currently exercising her lungs!?

Thieving S#@#@#@s!

Last Thursday we had a day out in Liverpool.  Me and Little L left baby E with her Daddy and headed out with my sister and niece.  The occasion was my niece's birthday this week.  We were having a great time. Over lunch we chatted about how nice Liverpool is now for shopping with Liverpool One and a big variety of shops.  Then later we were in a shop all looking at slightly different things.  Me and Little L were looking at rather expensive dresses for a summer wedding (I want to get the girls matching dresses ....so cute), anyway these were out of my price range really and I was just pointing them out to my niece when I looked down and my handbag had gone.   

I had it over the handle of my pram and it wasn't there, such an awful sickening feeling that I wouldn't wish on anyone.  I initially ran over to the previous card shop I had been in and the security guards started looking through the CCTV to check whether I had the bag going into and coming out of the shop.  My sister stayed in the shop we were in and their security guard was looking through the store CCTV.  I ran to the bank to cancel my card, we went to the phone shop to try to track my phone.  By this time we realised I would never see my beloved fossil bag again, my purse, my phone with photos of my girls all gone.  My things that I bought with my hard earned money gone.  Then some 30 minutes into the saga one of the security guards got a message that they had found my bag in the original clothes shop we were in.  I went down to the shop with a security guard fully prepared for an empty bag but no my phone and my purse were still there.  My bag had been hung on a hanger with a babies outfit and stashed in the centre of a rack full of ladies clothes.

I will never be that lucky again.  The thief perhaps panicked with all the security guards etc, or maybe intended to return for it later when things had died down.  But one thing is for sure I was being watched and whoever it was lifted that bag so quickly as my hand hardly ever leaves the pram handle.  I can only think it was when I was reaching up to a rail of dresses.

So a happy ending for me this time.  I have since cleared out my purse (I don't need all my bank account cards and other cards in my purse) and I have bought these from Ebay to secure my changing bag onto the pram handle.  

I see other people with prams who have there changing bag or handbag over the handle like me and whilst I thought I was vigilant it only takes these scumbags people seconds to lift your bag so please be aware.  

Edited:  the above purchase from Ebay proved unsuitable so I bought this, a bargain and perfect for the job.

Six weeks old today

How time flies.  These last six weeks have flown by in a complete blur and our beautiful baby E is now six weeks old.  I miss my sleep, my bed and those eight hours of mainly uninterrupted sleep that I had every night before baby E arrived but took for granted.  Though despite longing for sleep, a routine and some order back into our lives I want to press pause because baby E is growing so fast.

I have made progress on Baby E's new pink cardigan but I still have the sleeves to do.

There are lots of projects in my head but they will have to stay put for now as I have no time for anything other than looking after my two perfect girls.
Bye for now x

Three weeks old today

I can't believe that our beautiful baby girl is three weeks old.  And that only recently we were a family of three and now we are four (well five if I include the dog who is currently holidaying with my parents) it seems that baby E has been here forever and to say we are blissfully happy is an understatement.  Yes we are tired and this little one is spending a fair few hours awake during the night but we are so lucky to have two perfect daughters.  Little L continues to behave well, she seems to have adjusted really well and provided she still gets her meals and bedtimes at the right time she is happy.  We have been venturing out to playgroups, swimming, the seaside, the park etc so Little L is kept busy.

This is baby E in the first cardigan I knit for her whilst I was pregnant.

I managed to knit a quick bobble hat in pink of course.

And I am currently knitting this cardigan but it is slow going in a very thin DK I should have gone for aran.

Bye for now

Our new arrival has finally arrived

So Christmas day came and there were still no real signs of the baby arriving any time soon but things moved along pretty quickly during Christmas Day night.  And over a week late we finally welcomed our new baby on boxing day morning.  A beautiful baby girl safe, perfect and tiny.  We are all delighted and Little L is loving being a big sister.  

The best Christmas present in the world has been the safe arrival of our new daughter and the happy reaction of her big sister.

Happy 2013!

Christmas Day

After a very hard slog of working almost solidly through December my other half managed to get home on Christmas Eve in time to help Little L prep for the big visit.  We had to put mince pies and milk out for Father Christmas and a carrot and some water for the reindeer.  We put the socks out on the landing ready to be filled (fingers crossed) and watched the snowman and snow dog (well heavily pregnant mummy watched it) Little L just wanted to play with Daddy.

Christmas Day was very relaxed no travelling or visiting for us this year.  So we opened presents, well Little L opened her presents and any others for Mummy and Daddy.  These are some of my favourites!

 I cooked a lovely lunch that everyone enjoyed and ate.  Followed by a little sleep for Little L and some visitors.  A very relaxed Christmas, no visiting or rushing about and yes we spent christmas day still waiting!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. 

Waiting ..............

So this week me and Little L have nearly managed to get rid of our colds.

We have made a Christmas wreath, made and frozen mince pies, finished last minute gift buying,

wrapped all the presents, caught up with friends, written and posted cards, the cupboards, fridge and freezer are full of food, the house is reasonably clean, Christmas party attended, Christmas decorations up ......... and we now just need baby to make an appearance.
I'm not very good at waiting

Making the most of the heat you have

I bought curtains for our front door in the summer.  Yes I was going to make them myself but I found end of line lined curtains at Argos for £15 so there was no point.  Plus I bought the curtain rail but alas they sat untouched for months.  Once I had finished making the blinds for the kitchen my momentum just carried on and I set to attaching the track to the wall.  I had to attach a wooden batten first otherwise the track would have been really difficult to put up plus the curtains would have been too close to the wall.  That done and appeared to be straight onto the curtains.   Had to take a couple of inches off the length and then hand stitch.  With the leftover fabric I made a tie back which was really easy.  I just traced around another tie back to get the shape and used some D rings from old tie backs.

The curtains do clash with the green walls in the hallway but that was the choice of the old owners.  I did think about decorating the hallway before baby arrives but was told "No Way" by the other half spoilsport!  Hopefully next year some time I will paint the hallway beige/cream and the curtains will then match.

Not sure whether they make much difference heat wise as it's not been that cold yet.  But it does get very cold in the hallway so hopefully they will help a bit.

Another thing off the "To do" list and in a quest to spread the heat was drilling a 2 inch holes between the chimney recess above the fire into the kitchen which my dad kindly did for us.  The idea is that some of the heat that rises above the stove now goes into the kitchen.  It does work but hasn't made a vast difference.

And finally we bought ourselves a stove top fan,  we didn't get the original "Ecofan" as these were upwards of £100 but we got one from Ebay which works exactly the same way and was half the price.  This definitely works, it spreads the heat around the room and helps the washing dry quicker.  I would certainly recommend.

Been another busy week with groups and Little L's nativity play (that girl is a star and sooo cute in her costume). Plus I got the lurgy so we have both been ill all week. It's sad but at the moment my post birth craving/want is a lemsip.

Getting things done - Roman blinds

These last few weeks have been very productive if not a bit exhausting.  The mammoth "Things To do before baby arrives" list has been slowly shrinking and I have done some of the jobs on there that I had been putting off.

Top of the most put off was new blinds for the kitchen.  Now I did make new blinds back in March when I redecorated the kitchen but due to the bulk of the material and the rubbishness of the fittings they would never shut which isn't a problem in the summer but as we have one window that looks out at the front of the house I wanted that one at least to be able to shut during the winter when people walking past can spy into the kitchen.  So over the summer I had been collecting together the bits needed to make the roman blinds mainly from wilkinsons, diy shops and abakhan.  But still I couldn't faced doing them until about six weeks ago when the clocks changed.

Firstly I had to take down and carefully unpick the blinds as I wanted/had to re-use the fabric.

Then I had to make the linings, sew channels in them, sew them to the outer fabric.  Making sure that everything was straight and central.  Hand stitched the side seams.  Attached velcro and hemmed the top.  And hemmed the bottom by hand.  Then all the little rings had to be stitched in place.

Then onto the window fittings, using L shaped brackets I attached the wooden batten to the window.  Put velcro on it and screwed in the eyelets that would guide the cord.  

Then lots of ironing and trying to get them to hang straight followed.  And that was one blind made!  the day after I made the bigger blind, same idea but more difficult and I had to be even more careful to keep checking it would hang straight.  I am pleased with the result.  The small one is shut every night and is standing up fine.  The big one never gets shut really as we aren't overlooked.  Glad I made them myself, much cheaper and I got to have the fabric that I liked.  Then I moved on to hanging curtains but that post will have to wait.  

Do excuse the lack of blogging at the moment but I am counting down the days till baby is due and trying to get things ready for Christmas.  Plus attending all the usual playgroups, swimming lessons and appointments plus Little L has come down with a stinker of a cold hhhmmm great timing. 

Bye for now.  

Granny Stripe Pram Blanket

Today I should be in Harrogate at the Knitting and Stitching Show but alas after lost of thinking about it the last couple of days I decided with just over three weeks till due date it wasn't the best of ideas.  It is so busy there and with a pram as well, last year I spent most of the day waiting for people to let me through spaces so I thought I'd give it a miss this year.  Hopefully next year I will be able to go.  So after shopping and library crafts with Little L this morning I finally got round to finishing off this little blanket when she had her sleep.  

I worked in granny stripes and used a 5mm hook and James C Brett Aran with wool in cream and red (to match the new pram and they are unisex colours too).  I made the border up and probably should have done less stitches down the sides because the pattern is a bit bunched up.  I did block it but no amount of stretching could smooth those scallops.  

I stitched the ends in  at the end and yes there were lots of them.  I could have worked over them as I went which I did a few but half were the wrong colour to work in as you go so they had to be sewn in at the end.  The blanket is big enough for in the pram folded in half or for the car seat, or neither if I have a sicky baby!