Update #5

Hello,

Sorry it's been a long time no post! Currently not feeling my usual happy self, and got a lot of things going on.

Firstly we've got a pre-school for Ben to attend, he starts after half term, doing Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 9am-12pm. This will benefit us both so much, he'll be able to socialise with other children around his age, and learn to be apart from me more, and experience new things whilst there. And I can then get things done such as housework and blog related things whilst he's there.

I've been on a mission to complete my cross-stitch kit that's for my grandparents for Christmas and I still have quite a bit to do, with Ben around it's hard.

I also feel the need to get something of my chest! Steve doesn't want to have another child, and I am so so broody it's getting me down. I am trying to persuade him, but it's not working. Then there's also the fact that I feel like he doesn't want to speak to me, He comes home from work, I do dinner, then whilst I'm putting Ben to bed he starts playing Destiny, and then doesn't come to bed until midnight, by then I'm fast asleep. I tried talking to him about it on the phone whilst he was on his break, he doesn't seem to understand. Tonight I'm at work and have asked him to stop playing when I get home (he used to do this), so hopefully he will. He doesn't seem to understand how all this is getting me down. I have always said that I want 2 children! I just don't know what to do, I'm going to try and talk to him about it tonight, see if I get anywhere with either subject. He keeps coming up with excuses for not wanting another child, all of which are really silly. Like still needing to go on holiday, I said I'd quite happily go on holiday whilst pregnant, and not having enough room, when we live in a 3 bedroomed house!

If anyone has any advice for me I would be very grateful!

October Goals and an Update

Hello everyone, after my little break from blogging whilst we were in France, I am back. We had a lovely holiday, although a bit strange with us three and Steve's dad! The weather wasn't the best & we only visited one place, but it was nice to get away and go out for meals. Although Ben is really in the flow of the terrible twos now, and I didn't think he could get any worse! He seems to have developed a bit of a fear of the dark, which I think was down to being in a difference place to sleep. And he would wake up in the middle of the night and get in our bed! And is still doing this now we're back at home. I've finally ordered a safety gate for his bedroom door so he won't be able to get out of his bedroom. Although why they all say they're only suitable for use with up to 2 year olds is beyond me!

Since we've got home I've been trying to get all the washing done and the suitcases empty. I'm slowly getting there, we did come home with a suitcase full of clean clothes, but as I like Ben to have ironed clothes I now have a massive ironing pile - something to start on tomorrow.

Whenever I'm in France I always seem to get lots of ideas and inspirations for things! As it's so quite you can actually think, and maybe it's all the fresh air we get when we're there! So I thought I would do a few goals for the month of October. I would actually really like to make this a monthly thing. As it's the last day of September, it's the ideal time to post them.

- Buy all my Christmas cards
- Organise Ben's wardrobe
- Start organising Ben's toys in a better way
- Start sorting out my clothes
- Clean and tidy the top of my dressing table
- Sort out and clean and tidy the main kitchen food cupboard

Thanks for reading!

Update #4

I have totally been slacking on the blogging since I went on holiday! I've not really had any enthusiasm to blog, but I'm hoping that is back now.

We had a lovely holiday, and I will be doing blogposts on that soon.

Since we got back (and whilst we were away) Ben has been having sleep issues as well as attachment issues. I'm actually thinking it may be time to drop his nap, as I struggle every day to get him to have one, and then it's a struggle at night to get him to sleep. For example yesterday he finally dropped off just after 3PM, then woke up after an hour, then managed to fall asleep on me downstairs, of which I left him there till I needed the toilet, haha! But then he didn't fall asleep till 10PM, and still woke up at 7:30AM today. He is tired if he doesn't nap, but I figured he will get used to it eventually, and hopefully go down easier at night. I'm thinking about introducing quiet time instead, where I'll leave him in his bedroom for an hour on his own with some books and toys, so I can get things done like housework or blogging, or a workout if I'm really lucky (these have also gone out of the window due to lack of time).

To help me with my blogging I have purchased a laptop, so I can blog downstairs from the sofa if Ben is being a good boy and entertaining himself - we will see how this works out, when I get back into it fully next week.

Just as I actually want to blog we're off on another holiday in just under a month, back to France, so I will be taking a break then. And there is no internet access, as it's Steve's parents house, so will be nice to get away from the Internet for a while, sometimes you just need to switch off!

Now off to get Ben up, as he's obviously not going to nap today, he has always been one for not sleeping much.

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.

Ben's 24/25 Month Update

I was planing on doing Ben's next update around his 2nd birthday, just never got around to it. And today he is 25 months old! I seriously cannot believe it!

It's still really hard to take photos of Ben, so I got some whilst he was snacking yesterday, and the rest I took today telling him to get in his car! Which I am so glad he is now willing to do.

I believe I said in my last post that he gets upset and scared in new places or places he doesn't recognise. He is a lot better with this now!

We went to an 80th birthday party on Saturday, and as it didn't start till 7PM, he hadn't napped all day and it was somewhere new I was a bit apprehensive as to what he would be like. At the beginning he asked to go back outside, but other than that and a little crying he was great! So thankfully that is improving, next we have to tackle our holiday journey and then the hotel.

His talking is going amazing, he puts together so many sentences now, and says new words every day. Either copying what Steve and I say or what he here's on the TV. He loves his numbers, and counting!

He's started pulling the books and DVDs off the shelves again, he did this a while ago, and when he stopped we were so happy. Hopefully he'll stop soon! He's also started bending books. And he has ripped a couple of his, but after a stern telling off he hasn't done this since.

Still on going with potty training. We had a good go last week, but he would go on the floor, and this is after we've just had a few minutes of sitting on the potty as well. So I'm just waiting till after our holiday now.

He is so cheeky! I'll ask him to come downstairs, take him to the top of the stairs and start going down so he can follow, he then runs off into the spare room laughing!

We've also had a few paddies one was when we were shopping last weekend, he just started crying for no real reason, but I know this is to be expected in the terrible two's.

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.

Ben's 19 Month Update

Once again another month has zoomed by! I just swear they go by quicker and quicker.

His talking is still improving, definitely what his little body is improving on right now! He actually puts words or phrases together now. He will was 'Dada no home', and 'Pea all gone'. He'll answer questions, like if I ask him what he wants for breakfast - Ready Brek or Weetabix, or for lunch. Which I think is pretty amazing considering his age.

He finally seems to have stopped putting things in his mouth, and hasn't eaten his crayons in a while. And will actually draw with them now, where as before he would just put them in his mouth mostly.

Food wise, I've given up with bread for the time being, and now give him snack type of lunches, with crackers, cheese, toddler crisps, fruit, mini sausages or sausage rolls. His favourite foods right now seem to be crackers, cheese, pasta, sweetcorn and yogurts.

We're gradually changing over to size 18-24 month clothing. I'm trying to get a last few wears out of his smaller 12-18 month items before putting them away. I had to give him a major haircut this month, but think it will soon be time for a trip to the Barbour with daddy for a proper haircut.

No major teething this month, had a few days with read cheeks but I've only had to give him Calpol once. And he also co-operates a lot more when we brush his teeth.

We have had some sleep issues this month, with the clocks changing. And then my mum babysat which didn't seem to go down to well, and Ben was still awake when I got home at nearly 10PM. But it seems to be getting better now. He was taking a while to fall asleep at his nap time, and the past 3 days I have put him in his sleeping bag for them and it has made the world of difference. He now falls asleep quicker (although still not straight away - he never has done) and sleeps for longer. So he's a lot happier.

One major thing is we seem to be hitting the terrible two's already. Ben's having little paddies multiple times a day now, over tiny little things, or if he doesn't get his own way. This was bound to happen sooner or later, thankfully we haven't had any big major one's although he did have a little feet stamp moment last night, which I found funny! Haha!

Ben's 16 month update

I can't believe it's time for Bens 16 month update, these come round so fast!

Sleep
Sleeps still going great, Ben even managed to sleep through a couple of thunderstorms, that managed to wake me up. He mostly sleeps on his tummy, and still spends a few minutes playing in his cot before falling asleep.

Diet
Pretty good, had a little while when he wouldn't eat chicken though, but I know it's normal for toddlers to like foods one week and not the next. And he went and ate a chicken roast on Sunday. His favourite foods are sausages, Ready Brek and Petit Filous.

Routine
Still the same as what is was last month, naps are getting more regular though. But if he does something new this seems to unsettle him and it's harder for him to take a nap. Now I normally give him his lunch when he's showing he's hungry, then take him up stairs straight after read him a couple of stories and put him down in his cot to nap. Sometimes he sits and plays for an hour, but very rarely cries.

Health
Still no new teeth, he's been teething a little bit though. Otherwise he's been perfectly fine.

Clothes
Still in mostly 12-18 month clothes. But he's still fitting in 9-12 month trousers.

Likes
Throwing toys around, pulling CDs/DVDs/books off shelves, going in his kitchen cupboard, baths, his sleeping bag, eating, flash cards, walking, playing with stones, The Very Hungry Caterpillar book

Dislikes
Being told off, and not being allowed to do what he wants, being put back in his buggy when we're out after walking

Milestones
He's saying new words - ga (grass), te (tree), bin, gone, all gone, shoe, cot, more.

I got out Ben's pad of paper and wax crayons this week, the first thing he did was bit the top off a crayon! Still hasn't quite caught on with the drawing yet, will just keep trying.

He does love his flashcards that I bought for him though, so far we've done the alphabet and shapes. I've also bought him a couple of books, one of the alphabet and one of numbers to take out with us. He seems to like this a lot too, but we haven't looked at them too much.

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

Ben's 15 month update

It's time for Ben's 15 month update. Now I'm back into blogging again, these will be every month. This will be one massive post, as I haven't done an update for a while.

Weight
I honestly have no idea! He hasn't been weighed since 28th Jan, and then he was 18lb, 6 and a half oz. So I'm guessing he's around 21lb? He's not the biggest of toddlers.

Sleep
At night, sleep is great, he normally gets at least 11 hours, the other day he slept for 12 and a half. He normally sleeps through the night and if he wakes he puts himself back to sleep. We no longer co-sleep, and put him down awake at bedtime. Nap time is a different story, we went through about 2 weeks of not napping. Now I manage to get him to sleep, but either in my arms, his rocker or he will fall asleep in his buggy if we're out.

Diet
He eats 3 meals a day, and 1 or 2 snacks a day. I am aiming to start cooking more, so Ben can have what we have. The only issue with this is Steve and I working, there's 3 nights a week when we eat separately. Ben's also off breast milk completely, and now drinks full fat cows milk with every meal and his snacks. We have a straw cup of water on the floor most of the time for him to help himself too, and sometimes he has both milk and water with some of his meals.

Routine
Our routine is pretty good I would say, Ben wakes up normally at around 8PM, sometimes earlier  the odd time later. I normally let him sit in his cot for a while, whilst I wake up properly as he doesn't cry or anything. Once we're both downstairs, I give Ben his first drink of milk, I have a cup of tea, and then it's breakfast time, then some play time, before he sits in his rocker whilst I shower. When I get dressed etc. I put Ben in his bedroom to play. Once we're both up and dressed I let Ben play with his toys downstairs whilst I do the washing up. Then we play together. Lunch is around 12pm. Naptime is all over the place, the past couple of days he's napped in the morning, he'll only have been awake for around 2 hours. Other times he won't nap till the afternoon though. Dinner's around 6-7pm, bathtime is normally at 7:30pm, followed by lotion, teeth cleaning, hair brushing, reading him his bedtime stories, then I put him in his sleeping bag, give him lots of cuddles, and then put him down to bed. He mostly falls asleep around 8:30pm now.

Health
He seems to be doing pretty well health wise. He's got 8 teeth, 4 top 4 bottom. He's been teething quite a bit, and his first double teeth are slowly coming in, but haven't cut yet. Sometimes he'll just randomly cry out in pain and put his hand in his mouth, so we know that his teeth caused him to cry out. We use Calpol and Teetha granules to help ease the pain.
Ben also has had quite a bit of dry skin. He went through a faze of dribbling his drinks out of his mouth, so he got dry skin under his chin, and as it's and easy place for him to reach and scratch it's taken a while to sort out. Slowly getting better though, Just had to moisturise constantly!

Clothes
Ben still fits in some 9-12 month clothes, and most of his 12-18 seem to drown him. He's short like his mummy and daddy, so all his shorts seem to come down to his ankles, and that's if they even fit him round the waste.

Likes
Stacking cups, bath time, grapes, cheese, getting into his own cupboard in the kitchen, throwing toys, music, dancing, cuddles, walking, talking, pulling books/DVDs/CDs off shelves, bathtime, his sleeping bag

Dislikes
Napping, teething, having his teeth brushed, having his face wiped

Milestones
Ben took his first few steps at 11 months of age, but we didn't push him into it, and still crawls places now at 15 months old. He can crouch down and stand up again. But hasn't learnt how to stand up on his own yet, and still stands up with help from furniture or the walls. He makes lots of noises, and says some words, like Mumma, Da (Daddy), cat, cup, car, pea and duck. He loves to point at everything, and seems to understand a lot, and knows what things are even if he can't say it.


I can't believe Ben is now 15 months old, where has the time gone? Love my little man so much!

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!

Update

Source

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.