Update #3

As I haven't done an update post in a while, and am just in the mood for talking I thought I'd do one.

I'll start off with my job situation. I said in my last update post about my job no longer existing, so we all had a vigorous interview process to go through. I actually came 2nd out of those that applied for my department, meaning I got the job. However I decided not to accept the position as Team Manager and will be stepping down to a General Assistant come the beginning of June.

The main reason for this was because of Ben - he is my priority right now. I work because I have too, we can't survive on just Steve's wages and I like having a bit of money of my own. I also would love to have another baby, preferably sooner rather than later, but I have to work Steve around as at the minute he doesn't want another baby. But I am so so broody. So basically the new role would have included a LOT more paperwork than what I do now - which is basically nothing. And I would be expected to stay on and help on deep cleaning Sundays, and if I had to get some paperwork done, and hadn't managed it during the day I would have to stay. I don't want to go a whole day without seeing Ben, and I definitely would not have the energy to do that when and if I am pregnant again. So myself and the store and personnel managers had a good discussion and decided it would be for the best if I step down.

All I can think about right now is our holiday to Menorca, it's come around so fast and is now just 2 weeks away. The spare room is a mess with our suitcases and holiday stuff on the floor in there. But I will be packing at the end of the week, as I like to be organised, and then can focus on housework the week before. As I have to come back to a clean house after our holidays.

Something else I'm really excited about is a trip to Wembley a week today! I do support Norwich City, and cannot wait to go watch us in the play-off final against Middlesbrough. We did brilliant against Ipswich the past 2 Saturdays, Games that were more than just a Derby for both teams, thankfully we came out on top, and it was totally deserved we played better than them - also finished above them in the league, and have now beaten them 3 times and drawn once this season! I have just been and fished out my banner that I've had, as we've had many ups (and some downs) since I have been a supporter, so I've had this banner a while. My sister is sorting out confetti and inflatables. It is just going to be the most amazing day. My mum is babysitting Ben, as she's the only one available to, Steve's parents are off on holiday themselves on Friday.

The next few posts on here are going to be all holiday related, once they're done I won't be scheduling any more for when we are actually away, but when I'm back you can expect a few holiday posts of what we've done, probably some tips for travelling with a toddler on a plane, and a hotel review.

Update #2

I thought I would write a little update post today, it's actually Sunday night, and I've just put Ben down to sleep. And I'm writing this on my tablet, Steve's in the bath, so it's nice and quiet as I haven't got the TV on.

Firstly, we're going through a management restructure at work, and as I'm a supervisor I have to go through tests and an interview, to apply for a Team Leader role. I completed this about a week and a half ago, and am so glad it's all over and done with! As we've known about it coming for around a year, and has always been at the back of my mind, even though I tried to block it out. Because of this I'm also at risk of redundancy although I am hoping that it won't come to this if I don't get the Team Leader role. As we do have a lot of temp staff and people of temp contracts of working more hours, so right now I'm thinking positive, and Ill just step down to a general assistant. But we don't get told anything else until 16th March and I am actually on holiday that week, so won't know till the week after.

On a positive side of things we booked our first family holiday with just the 3 of us. Yes we have taken Ben to France twice, to stay in Steve's parents house, with them, but we really wanted to spend time away in a hotel, just the 3 of us, and Ben can have fun. We are going to Menorca in June for a couple of weeks, and I cannot wait! Now we've finally booked it, I can't stop thinking about it, and already thinking about packing! But packing involves a lot when you have a toddler, and also a night and morning of travelling. The hotel is totally child orientated, with a great looking splash pool, kids club, soft play area, and outside play area too. And the reviews are great, the restaurant even has it's own little child buffet. And the restaurant itself is actually meant to be getting refurbished ready for the Summer as well.

I'm also excited to go out with my mum and sisters, and Ben, to celebrate my mum's birthday, next Monday. And then my sister and I are taking Ben to a soft play centre the following day, hopefully I can get some photos of him there to share with you.

Happy New Year and 2015 Resolutions

I'm sitting typing this out on my tablet, hoping it comes out okay, as I haven't done it before.

Would just like to say Happy New Year to you, and hope you all have a great evening and day tomorrow. I've put Ben to bed, although he is still awake as I type, so am just relaxing and finishing off my cider and also going to have some left over chocolate tort that my mum gave us.

Now on to my resolutions.

1. Be more organised, I've ordered my diary from amazon, just waiting for it to arrive, it's  an A5 day per page so I can write a nice long list of everything to do that day.

2. Keep up with my blog, as I think I've been quite good this year, but want to grow more, and branch my posts out a bit.

3. Bake more, I've loved the baking I've done in the lead up to Christmas, and want to do more throughout the year.

4. Eat healthier and cook more, I ordered a slowcooker today, and also a recipe book to use with it.

5. Work out, I think this is going to be in the form of youtube videos, I may also buy some DVDs. I really want to tone up, and lose a little bit of weight as well.

6. Be a good mum, I had this last year as well, but Ben is basically my life, and I love seeing him becoming a little boy, and teaching him new things. Although I in visage that this will be a tough year with the terrible twos, potty training and transferring to a bed.

7. Sort out the spare room and keep it tidy. It is a mess and basically has a load of junk in it. I get it tidy and then it all piles up again.

I'm off to watch James Bond Golden Eye now, the next posts will be our Christmas presents we recieved, sale shopping and a baking post.

Ben's First Time in a Paddling Pool

Whilst we were setting up for Mum and Dads surprise party Ben got to go in his new paddling pool (my sister bought it from Asda for £3), supervised by his Daddy. It didn't take very long for him to sit down (probably because it was really hot that day). He had great fun splashing around and got soaked!

His swimming costume and his matching jelly shoes are from Boots Mini Club.

Life Update #1

I hope you're all enjoying my sudden increase in posts, I totally had a spur to post more, and aim to try and get 2 posts up a week. Every now and again I'd also like to just write little update posts on what is going on in my life, and a little look at things to come on my blog.

So yesterday, I wrote down loads of blog posts titles, as they all just jumped into my head. I'm trying to do some beauty, fashion, baby/toddler and life related posts. As you know if you've read my previous posts we are going on holiday, and I have a list of posts focused around that too. And I'm hoping to still be able to upload scheduled posts whilst away.

We are going to the South of France again with Steve's parents, his nan and her friend. Exactly like last year, we both can't wait just to get away. And by then we'd have worked 3 and a half months without any time off work. And Ben should be able to take more in this year. I'm already planning what to take even though we don't go until September.

All 3 of us went out for a meal to celebrate my parents 30th Wedding Anniversary nearly two weeks ago now, We went to a restaurant called The Belgian Monk, I chose a chicken kebab (which was massive) and it came beautifully presented. And then for dessert I had a trio of chocolate puddings. Ben also shared with me, and had some of his Great Grandmas bread roll as well.

My sister had a great idea of doing a surprise party celebration as well, so more family could celebrate, this is actually taking place today! I will try and take lots of photos so I can do a post about it. So both my sisters and I have arranged this. It's been a bit harder for me to purchase items as I don't know what my sisters have bought already. Yesterday my sister came over and we spent the day getting a few more things sorted, bought and made.

On Wednesday we're off out for another meal, this time at The Trafford Arms, as my Aunty who lives in Singapore is back for a few days, and it will be good to have a proper catch up. She only comes back once, or twice a year.

Thank you for reading x

Happy New Year 2014

Happy new year everyone, hope you all had a great year, and have an evnen better 2014.

I have been reading a lot of yearly reviews on other peoples blogs, I got the need to write one myself.

January and February were spent house hunting, around working. We found a houe we like, but had 2 offers turned down, so continued looking, which turned out to be a blessing,  as we found a much nicer house, and had a bid excepted below what they were asking. I also started my maternity leave at the end of February. March was spent sorting and waiting for our house to go through and for our baby to arrive. April arrived, with no signs of labour or house buying completion date. Then on the Tuesday after my due date I had my nesting session, and on Wednesday starting having signs thst labour was imminent. Finally went into established labour on late Saturday night, and gave birth to my beautiful baby boy on Sunday 14th April at 17:40. So the next few weeks were spent getting sleepless nights and looking after my son. The house sale finally went through as well. And we moved in, in July. In September we went on our first family holiday to France with Steve's parents, his nan and her friend. The weather wasn't the best, but sometimes it's just nice to get away. October I spent relaxing and Christmas shopping, as in November I returned to work after my maternity leave. December was spent finishing the Christmas shopping, for Ben's first Christmas. He won't remember it but mummy and daddy will.

A massive year with the birth of our first baby and buying our first house. Hoping 2014 will be s good year too.

To look back on my aims for the year, some I accomplished,  buying our first house, being a good mum, losing my baby weight (I never put that much on in the end). The being more organised I feel like I half accomplished.

So my aims for this coming year:

1. Continue being a good parent to Ben.

2. Organise a good 1st birthday party for him.

3. Help Ben to continue to learn.

4. Organise my life and the house better.

5. Expand my blog, write more posts

Ben's 6 month update

Long time no post, I'm sorry about that. Ben has kept me very busy! Plus we've been on holiday. So I thought my first post back would be Ben's 6 month update - I'm hoping to do these regularly from now on, every month. Well we'll see if I do.

Ben is actually 7 and a half months old now - his 7 month post is in the works.. I don't know how much he weighs or how long he is. As haven't had any need to take him to the doctors, but you can tell he's growing. And isn't a chubby baby, perfectly proportioned I would say.

I'm still breast feeding which is going well, the next mission in that department is being able to pump enough for when I go back to work - which shouldn't be that hard, as I should need 4 bottles a week, 5 if there's a football game. I have started him on solids, a bit earlier than the 6 month mark because every time we would sit down to eat, he would be all whiney and grouchy, because he wasn't getting any (even though I'd just fed him). He was constantly biting things & watching us eat. I started of with just baby rice. He got all excited of the first aspect of food, kicking his legs & smiling. I kept him on one meal a day for 2 weeks - which I gave him at lunchtime. He is now on 3 meals a day, having porridge for breakfast, then normally fruit or veg for lunch and dinner. He has had all fresh puree's made by me. I don't want to give him jar food as it's not meant to taste good & I wouldn't want to eat them myself so don't want Ben to. I purchased Annabel Karmel's New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner, I'm just using it for the recipe's and information not for the planners. He likes everything he has tried so far.

He currently has one tooth, slowly creeping up out of his gums (it seems to be taking ages - don't know if this is normal). It took ages to actually poke out of his gums too, he has been teething since he was about 3 months! The week before it appeared he was super grouchy & really clingy. Every time I put him down he would cry.

He rolls over like crazy! All over the lounge. He's not crawling yet, but will kick his legs when lying down and then get annoyed because he doesn't move. So I can't see it being that long till he is. He can sit up by himself for a few seconds at a time, he is definitely doing it for longer periods than to begin with though. And now knows where his balance point is, and will stop himself from going too far backwards sometimes.

He loves to stand & bounce, which can get tiring on the arms, as we didn't buy a bouncer or anything similar. He also loves being thrown up in the air (obviously not literally but you know what I mean). I can drop him from a small height on to the bed & he'll giggle away. Think he's going to love rollercoasters when he's older, just like his daddy (I hate them!).

1 month old

Hello everyone,

As you probably gathered I have given birth to my beautiful baby boy, called Benjamin David. He was born on April 14th at 5:40pm weighing 7lb 8.6oz. Exactly one week overdue. I will be doing a labour and delivery post, so I won't go into details.

He has changed so much already, and the past month has gone so fast. But both Steve and I love him so much. Steve looks forward to finishing work and coming home to us so much. I would say he's rather a good baby, although does have his grouchy moments. He doesn't really cry just moans, when he has wind or is hungry. He'll quite happily lay there with a dirty nappy (can't understand why!).

It's quite hard to find time to do things, but it has got easier since he got older. He likes his rocker chair to sit/lay in, he love that it vibrates! The past few days he's started looking up at the window, and he'll look at lights as well, which must be because he's eyes are developing. Still can't figure out what colour eyes he'll end up with though. Mine are blue and Steve's are brown, at the moment they look like a mixture of the two.

We're still living in the flat, completion date for the house buying is next Thursday, so we'll be moving sometime in June and I can't wait. The only thing that is annoying me right now is having no space and the flat being a mess! I know when we move the house will never be totally tidy, but it will be a lot better than our flat now!

What I'm Looking Forward to in April

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1. Meeting my son
2. Completing the purchase of our first house
3. The weather warming up & being able to wear Spring clothes (finally)
4. Looking after my son (what an amazing feeling that will be)
5. Our families meeting our little boy
6. Taking lots of photos of our son ready for his scrapbook & photo albums
7. Being able to wear things other than tunics, leggings & maternity clothes (well hopefully - I have some size 12 jeans & was a size 10 before getting pregnant)

Update

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So sorry, long time no update. This post is just basically an update of what is going on in my life at the moment.

Firstly, pregnancy. It's all going fine, got a month till my due date, which is kind of scary, but on the other hand I can't wait to meet my little boy and actually feel comfortable again. It is so hard to get comfortable whether I am sitting down or laying in bed at night trying to get to sleep. My boyfriend Steve told me last night I had started to waddle - which is meant to be a sign that your baby is engaged. But I'll see what my midwife says on Monday morning when I next see her. I am now on maternity leave, and basically living in leggings and my yoga pants from Matalan which are so comfortable.

So what have I been doing since I finished work? Basically cleaning, housework, laundry, watching youtube videos, reading blogs and cross-stitching. I view the flat as a complete mess though, because of all the baby things around the place. And I have my clothes sitting on the floor so my little boys clothes can be away in a drawer. So we've bought some more baby stuff. I have put away my breast pump, bottles and steriliser in a kitchen cupboard. Steve and I have also been looking at houses, which brings me on to my next subject.

We have had a bid accepted on a 3 bedroom house! It's lovely, basically we're able to move into it straight away there's only one thing we want to do before we move in, which is perfect, as we don't want the hassle of having to sort things out with our little one due so soon. So we (or shall I say Steve) has been ringing up Solicitors, I did arrange an appointment with our mortgage consultant, and she has found a really good mortgage for us. Just got to get some paper work together to drop into her before she can actually sort out the mortgage for us. I would definitely recommend getting a mortgage consultant. There's so many mortgages about & they have a database that accesses all of them. So things are moving forward at a rapid rate. Good job too, because I'm getting rather fed up in this flat, as it's only one bedroom & pretty small really. And we are limited with storage space.

Right, I think that's all for now. Hope everyone is well & achieving what you all want to achieve.

Happy New Year!

I spent New Years Eve working, then because I'm always so tired, I was in bed watching a DVD by 9PM. So I didn't see the New Year in. Today Steve and I are off to his parents for another lovely roast dinner, with more friends & family. Then back to work tomorrow.

Everyone's doing Resolution posts at the minute, I don't really like to make any, but as this is a big year for us I want to just have some aims, that will be on-going not just for this year.

Be a good mum - with our boy due in April, we both want him to have a good up bringing, not be too spoilt etc. We're already talking about teaching him things from books for when he gets older.

Be more organised - I've bought a massive diary for this year, so I can organise my life. It's mostly for when our little boy gets here, to help me with getting the housework done & fitting in a bit of 'me time' as well. I also need to organise all our paperwork (bills, receipts etc.)

Save up for an ipad - everyone has these & I really want one, so it will take a lot of saving.

Buy our own house - Steve and I are looking at houses, we haven't actually viewed any yet, but our plan is to own our own house by the Summer.

Lose my baby weight - Now I haven't actually put on that much, but everyone has their belly to lose after giving birth. My plan for this is breast feeding, walking & playing on my Xbox Kinect.

I hope everyone had a wonderful night last night & a lovely day today. Happy New Year!!