- Sarah 2 Comments

Living Arrows 13/52

It’s week 13 of the Living Arrows project. If you haven’t been to the I Heart Snapping blog then you really should go and have a look.

This week it’s another close-up shot of Toby – I just can’t get enough of this boy’s face! He actually had a little accident this week – he pulled the waste paper bin in the living room over and managed to smash it into his face. There is a bit of a bruise on the bridge of his nose but you can’t really see it in this photo and he was lucky to get away without getting black eyes!

13_52

living arrows
- Sarah 4 Comments

Me & Mine: A Family Portrait (March 2014)

I can’t believe it’s the end of another month already – this year is absolutely flying but March is over and it’s time for another family portrait. March seems to have been another busy month even though I am struggling to think what we have done.

The first weekend of March my friend Claire came over to babysit so Barry and I could go out for a much needed quiet meal on our own. We made a few plans while we were there which should hopefully improve our lives a little bit. The first was to buy a second car which will shorten Barry’s commute by up to two hours a day – we did that and picked up our Toyota Aygo on Saturday. Toby and I are very excited that daddy is going to be home an hour and a half earlier from now on!

I also started reclaiming a bit of me time this month – I’ve started going to a Metafit class and I’ve also gone back to the amateur musical group that I’ve been a member of for a while. I even managed to survive a three hour dance audition last weekend! I’m really pleased I decided to back for this year’s show, it wasn’t until I was there that I realised how much I’d missed it and all the people who are involved. I also had a bit of extended me time this week with my whistle stop trip to London.

And to this weekend – my mum and dad have come up today to visit for a few days and so we went out to our local Harvester pub for dinner. It was the first time we have taken Toby out to eat and he was an absolute star. He had a little bit of what we were eating and then polished off an apple pouch that we had taken with us. Even being an hour late for bedtime didn’t seem to bother him. We got my dad to take this month’s photo while we were out. I was trying to find one where we were all looking at the camera but this one just made me smile. Toby loves grabbing faces (and my glasses!) at the moment and so this photo really captures everyday life for us.

Family Portrait March

- Sarah 4 Comments

Getting into everything (The Ordinary Moments #20)

I know all I seem to talk about lately is how Toby is almost crawling (and he is still almost crawling), but it really is dominating our lives at the moment! He rolls around the floor to get where he wants and has now started commando crawling forwards as well and you literally can’t take your eyes off him for a minute because he is getting into everything!

He does have a few favourite things that he likes to get at though – first up, my handbag. It has tassels which are obviously fascinating to a baby but he mostly just likes to get the strap and try and wrap himself up in it.

Getting into everything - Handbag

Next there’s the coffee table, a whole treasure trove of things to grab and pull – look mummy’s old netbook, it’s black and shiny! And don’t think putting your leg in the way will stop me!

Getting into everything - Computer

And look what else I found up here – tissues, a whole world of fun!

Getting into everything - Tissues

I know this really means we need to have a big tidy up and try and move everything out of Toby’s reach but actually, as long as I’m there to keep an eye on him, I like watching Toby explore, seeing where he can get and what he can reach….and next week we’re getting a playpen delivered so at least I’ll be able to go to the loo with Toby getting himself into too much mischief!

Linking up with Katie at Mummy Daddy Me for another Ordinary Moment.

mummy daddy me
- Sarah 2 Comments

The best thing about being a mum is…

I was asked to write a guest post for the Relationships Scotland blog about the best thing about being a mum and I thought I’d share it with you here.

What is the best thing about being a mum?

Wow. This is actually a hard question to answer. There are so many great things about being a mum. But there are so many difficult things too.

I’m sure the best things about being a mum change as your child (or children) get older. On Mother’s Day this year my baby boy Toby will be eight and a half months old and it will be my first Mother’s Day as a mum myself. It’s never really been a day I’ve paid much attention to – I always send my mum a card and give her a ring on the day, and I seem to remember once sending her flowers when I was working in France, but I’ve never really bought my mum a present for Mother’s Day. And as my parents live 250 miles away I don’t usually see her either. Even as a mum myself I’m not that bothered about Mother’s Day. I know that in the UK it’s actually based on the Christian festival of Mothering Sunday but I tend to see it as another one of those ‘Hallmark Holidays’ that has been over commercialised to the point of taking any meaning away from it. Saying that I know I’ll be a bit miffed if I don’t get a card from Toby (although I think his dad might have to do a bit of the organisation on that one!) and I know my mum would be upset if I didn’t send her a card too.

But appreciation isn’t why we become mums. Crikey, if it was I don’t think anyone would ever have kids! So why do we do it? What is the best thing about being a mum? I can’t think of just one so I’m going to tell you a few of the things I love about being a mum, even though I’ve only been one for eight months.

I love that between me and my husband we created a whole new human being, and every time I look at Toby it amazes me.

I love the grin he gives me when I go into his room in the morning.

I love that when he’s upset or grumpy then cuddles with me will always make him feel better.

I love watching him concentrate on a new toy, or when he’s working out how to do something.

I love seeing him learn new things every day.

I love that, for now, me and his daddy are his whole world; that we are the only people he needs.

I love watching him with his daddy and seeing how the two boys I love most in the world love each other too.

I love making him giggle just by making silly noises or pulling a face.

I love spending time with my baby every day…..and I love it when he sleeps and I get a few minutes to myself!

Being a mum is so much harder than I ever thought it would be but it is so rewarding too. The love you feel for your baby isn’t like anything you have ever felt before and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Being a mum

This post first appeared at http://www.relationships-scotland.org.uk/blog/mum

- Sarah Leave a comment

Giveaway: Win tickets to the Baby & Toddler Show at Bluewater [ENDED]

baby & toddler show

Since Toby was born there have been a few Baby & Toddler Shows and I’m always so jealous when I see people tweeting and blogging about them – they always sound like such a great place to visit with so many brands all under one roof. There is another Baby & Toddler show on 25-27 April at Bluewater in Kent, and although I can’t go to that one either the lovely people behind the show have offered me a pair of tickets to giveaway.

There are 150 exhibitors at the show, plus expert advice workshops on a whole host of baby related topics. Kids go free to the show and the whole thing is completely baby friendly so you don’t need to worry if you want to take your little ones along – there is a baby changing area, a feeding area and there is even a baby carrier library where you can leave your buggy in their secure area and try out a baby carrier whilst browsing the show.

To enter this giveaway just complete the Rafflecopter below.

The competition will close at 12am on 14th April 2014.

Tickets will be sent to the winner directly from The Baby & Toddler Show organisers.

In order for tickets to be sent in time for the show the winner must respond within 3 days of receiving the notification email or another winner will be drawn.

And if you don’t win the tickets then you can use discount code BWB31 to get 33% off tickets when you book online at http://babyandtoddlershow.co.uk/bluewater/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post in any way.
Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

- Sarah 2 Comments

I’m a Lindam Munchkin Blogger

Lindam-logo

 

Munchkin-logo

As you know I flew down to London on Wednesday night and after spending an evening catching up with my brother and sister-in-law, on Thursday morning I braved the Central Line at rush hour to head into the city for a very exciting event.

I was absolutely delighted when the lovely people at Lindam Munchkin asked me to be on their blogger panel a month or so ago. And I was even more delighted when I found out that meant I would get to go to London for a launch event to meet the people behind these fabulous brands, and the other bloggers on the panel! I had heard of both Lindam and Munchkin before – they are both leading brands in their areas and I was looking forward to seeing some more of their products in the flesh. I wasn’t disappointed. When we arrived at the venue there were loads of Munchkin’s colourful feeding, teething and bathing products to get our hands on, along with some of the home safety products which Lindam is so well known for.

We were treated to a delicious brunch (which had given rise to the #MunchBrunch hashtag on Twitter!), all served on Munchkin toddler plates and cutlery, while we got to know each other and find out a bit more about what we will be doing as part of this blogger panel. It really was a fantastic morning – as well as seeing all the great products (and getting a fabulous goodie bag to bring home!) it’s always lovely to meet people in person when you have only chatted to them online or read their blog before. (And I did manage a sneaky milkshake from Ed’s Easy Diner with Donna from Redhead Babyled after the event!)

You’ll be hearing plenty more from me about Munchkin and Lindam in the future, and we’ll be bringing you reviews of some of their innovative products. But in the meantime, here’s a picture of Toby enjoying his new teething toy for you all.

Munchkin teething toy

 

- Sarah 2 Comments

A baby-free night away

LONDON BABY!!

This afternoon I am flying to London for a very exciting blog-related thing tomorrow (more on that when I get back). This is my first ever night away without Toby, and quite frankly I’m looking forward to it! I’ll only be away just over 24 hours so I’ll be back in time for bed time tomorrow. I know Toby will be absolutely fine with his daddy (who has a comprehensive list of instructions to follow, meals already cooked, and a drawer full of clean nappies!). I do a lot all of the day to day organisation in our house and I think I do sometimes forget that Barry lived on his own for years before he met me and he is perfectly capable of looking after himself! And he’s looked after Toby on his own for plenty of full days before so I’m sure they’ll have a lovely boys day together. I know sometimes if mums usually does the putting to bed then they can worry that their baby won’t go to sleep if they aren’t there, but bed times are daddy time in our house so there’s no worry there.

Toby does have a bit of a habit of either being ill or teething when daddy has to look after him for the day but there doesn’t seem to be any sign of a cold or any other ailments, and his top teeth have cut through in the last few days so hopefully there won’t be any teething problems either. And if there is, well then Barry is just as capable of administering Calpol and cuddles as I am.

So, I’m going to do my best not to worry and I’m going to enjoy staying with my brother and sister-in-law who I haven’t seen since Christmas. And then tomorrow I’m going to meet Donna from Redhead Babyled which is very exciting, and I’m sure we’ll have a lovely morning at our blogging thing. And then I’m going to go and get a milkshake from Ed’s Easy Diner, because they are amazing (and there isn’t one in Scotland so I don’t get to go very often!), and then I’ll be back to the airport to fly home. I used to go to London a lot when I was single, in fact that’s where I met the hubby, but I actually can’t remember the last time I was there so I am really, really looking forward to it. I promise I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.

 

- Sarah 5 Comments

Living Arrows 12/52

We’re into week 12 of the Living Arrows project. If you haven’t been to the I Heart Snapping blog then I urge you to check it out. There are loads of great tips for improving your own photography as well as lots of inspirational photos to look at.

This week Toby is so close to properly crawling! I’ve said before he can get all over the place by rolling and wriggling.

Living Arrows 12/52

This week has definitely seen an improvement in his commando crawling – he can now go forwards as well as backwards. He has been getting up on his knees for a few weeks too but in the last day or so he started trying to move his legs. The funniest thing though has to be something I’ve only seen him do today – get up on his feet and hands. He looks like he’s practising his yoga poses…until he collapses in a heap on the floor!

Living Arrows 12/52

I’m sure it’s only a matter of days before he figures out what he needs to do with his arms and legs to really get moving. And then there’ll be no stopping him and we really will need to get a playpen!

- Sarah 5 Comments

Cuddles (The Ordinary Moments #19)

Apart from when he was a tiny baby Toby hasn’t been into cuddles very much. He’s so nosy and interested in everything that’s going on around him that if you try and give him a cuddle he’s always turning and squirming, trying to see what’s going on behind him. He’ll sometimes sit on my knee and rest against me while we’re watching TV but usually he’s just desperate to get away and explore.

The last few weeks though Toby seems to have started to realise that cuddles can actually be quite nice! When I go in to get him up in the morning or after his naps he is usually on his tummy, pushing up on his arms, craning to see me coming in. If I go and put my arm under him and give him a cuddle that way he has actually started cuddling my arm back – it’s so cute!

Baby cuddles

And then, when I’m settling him down to go to sleep I usually put him up on my shoulder and he’s started snuggling his head in and even sometimes giving my shoulder a bit of a squeeze. And sometimes he just uses me as a ladder and tries to climb up over my shoulder! But you can’t have everything…

Anyway, I love these new cuddles with my baby boy (although they are very hard to capture on camera so apologies for the rubbish picture!). It’s so sweet and I’m looking forward to him working out just how awesome cuddles can be and wanting them even more often.

mummy daddy me