Goodbye 2009... Goodbye to the noughties!

Hello, hello! It's new year's eve night and I can barely believe it, the ups and downs of this year are many and I've certainly fitted a lot in but the year has gone very fast for me... Christmas was lovely, unfortunately the children were both poorly but the presents helped perk Lyra up; I will put up a couple of photo posts to summarise the whole of my busy December but will have to put the pictures on the pc first :o)

So a new decade... At the start of this decade I was in my final year of school so in the midst of a-levels. I went to plymouth uni in September of 2000, meeting the love of my life soon after though it was october 2001 when we started dating as I started the 2nd year of my degree.... In September 2002 we moved in together after a difficult year long-distance, I graduated with a 2:1 honours degree in psychology in 2003 and we moved to Bristol to look for jobs... And in 2004, a couple of months after David proposed (on a gondola in Venice! Who says romance is dead?!) we moved to Taunton... 2005 was the year that we married and bought out first house as soon as we returned from honeymoon. 2006 was one of ends and beginnings; my grandma passed away on mothers day and Lyra was conceived around our anniversary. My pregnancy was difficult and I spend more time throwing up than is fair, the birth was worse though and nearly finished me off.. However Lyra and I both survived her arrival in January 2007 though I found that year very hard I never neglected to notice how beautiful, sweet and clever my little girl was. In 2008 I started a new career when the bank I worked for neglected to have a job for me and made me change contract.. I began work as a healthcare assistant at the local hospital. We decided to try for another baby in the summer and Logan was conceived immediately just like Lyra had been. Logan arrived in march this year and 2009 has been a year of blissful motherhood, despite a few challenges and the anxiety of Lyra starting preschool!!

Every year has brought huge changes to my life and the lives of my little family. I do hope that the next 10 years is a little less testing but I am undeniably happy with my wonderful husband and beautiful children. I am in two minds about returning to work in march, I must admit I wish we could afford for me to stay at home with the children but I do love my job and it carries its own rewards.

As for resolutions? I would like to resolve to be more organised in 2010.. I hope to be able to fit in plenty of crochet and making things for my family and I am so busy that organisation can only help! Perhaps this will be something I can teach myself this year? I want to be more positive and try not to take things so personally too. I do tend to interpret things badly and assume people think the worst of me, which is silly really since it is me who is hard on myself... Finally; I intend to do more exercise and have a generally healthier lifestyle because my pelvis pain has meant that I have done much less than I want to in 2009....

HAPPY NEW YEAR! xxxx

Christmas Eve

Phew I've been busy! A few weeks ago I thought I was ever so organised
for Christmas then everyone here started getting poorly & the weather
became decidedly yucky... So naturally I've ended up running around
like a headless

10 days to go!

Goodness it HAS been a little while since I've blogged hasn't it! I've been rather caught up in Christmas preparations, childrens parties and the plague that always seems to abound at this time of year... Christmas is so close I can practically taste the turkey!!! Lyra is very excited (particularly about father Christmas) & I'd be lying if I said David and I aren't too. I'm almost bursting with Christmas spirit despite a head cold making me feel like I'm on a boat. I want to make some cranberry mincemeat tonight but have crocheted presents to make before I can appease the Nigella in me. I have made bunting, the childrens stockings, Logan's Christmas trousers (with braces!) & various presents but the unwellness has put a spanner in my works so I need to focus now! David only has 3 days left at work so I'll have some help soon at least..

My main news is that i'm feeling almost totally back to my blissfully happy self due to a rather unexpected turn of events. I had been continuously feeling very low and decided enough was enough. I went to the doctor to see if there was anything to be done, terrified of sinking into full-blown PND again. After a bit of to-ing & fro-ing I very suddenly felt a LOT better at the exact same time as developing a pain in my right breast... Back to my doctor then... It turns out I
had an infection on my right mammary glands for about 3 months that has almost certainly played merry hell with my hormones & has caused my dipping mood. This came to a head, developed into mastitis & I felt better because my body was finally fighting it off!! I've just
finished a course of uber strong antibiotics so that will hopefully put an end to that. Unfortunately this means I've been feeling yucky over my birthday but better than major outbursts! Hopefully normal service shall now be resumed.

PS Lyra has been so funny lately I have to share what she said to David yesterday when he got home from work ; "daddy, why are you like a small potato"
Hmmm!! No idea Lyra :)

Thankfulness...

I'm so thankful for my family who I
so much

I know I'm in the UK But I reckon it's great to be thankful for what you have.... OK right now I'm very thankful that the children are both asleep after a VERY trying day, that David is letting me sit quietly for a bit and that I have a nice big bottle of Baileys to dip into this evening. However I am mostly thankful for my wonderful family, despite the difficult days. Everyone has those and it makes us appreciate the good after all. We are all healthy, happy and really don't want for much at all. Except sleep. Oh yes that would be good....

I'm hoping Logan's teeth will finally break through soon as he is obviously in pain with them poor little lamb - poor me too as he screams a LOT at the moment & is usually such a happy wee boy. He does find playing peepo hysterical & laughs at his sister doing funny things so much. Baby laughs are so infectious!

Lyra has also been teething! her top and bottom 2nd molars on her left side are finally through (weren't 2 weeks ago) & hopefully the right ones will follow soon. all her teeth came through left side first. She has been very lovely & very trying in equal measures today. She is so good at emotional blackmail & sobs when I leave her at preschool only to stop the moment I leave almost in tears myself. She says "I love you sweetheart" to me so often & thanks me beautifully by saying "thank you for boughting me (XYZ) I love you honey" how heart-melting!

As for me; I saw my ward Sister today after physio (my boss) & have started the ball rolling for my return to work starting with one 12 hour night a week in March as I need to take my holiday first. she has referred me to Occupational Health. My hip is improving slightly. I've not had to use my crutch at all since tuesday. Still hurts a lot but not as bad as last week at least. at least my hands are OK so I can still crochet! I finally put up my pig pattern on Blog 2....

David is still obsessed with Stormtroopers & is off on a troop on 2nd December & he won't be home until 11pm - having left for work at 7.30am. rather sucks for me but he does enjoy it I suppose. I'm not sure about my feelings on the matter at present I must admit.... but i do love to see him so enthusiastic.

& it's not just my little nuclear family that I am thankful for; my lovely sisters who I love so much and appreciate hugely; my parents; the CAT even!! What would life be without such love? I'm a lucky mummy/wife/daughter/sister/friend....... How about you?

My darling 8-month-old

My beautiful boy Logan was 8 whole months old on Friday, & oh my
goodness I have no idea that time has gone! He is still a badly
teething toothless wonder but now crawls well & pulls himself to
sitting and standing easily so is a lot less frustrated than he was a
month ago. The clever boy responds to his name, waves bye bye & says a
lot of things that he obviously means (such a pity we can't quite
understand him yet). He can put the ball in the top of the vtech tree,
spin things & can roll cars along; it's lovely to watch him play now
he can do things himself. He LOVES the bath & gets very impatient
while I get him undressed.

Lyra is becoming such a grown-up young lady. She gets so upset at the
idea of leaving me that I still know she's my baby though. She comes
out with some very funny things just yesterday she kept saying "i
don't like it, i don't" apparently she doesn't like ants in her pants!
She also makes me lots of imaginary ice cream and food at the moment;
to make my hip feel better so she says. Her vocabulary is astounding
and her thoughtfulness very touching. I've spent the last week on and
off crutches due to my continuing SPD & PGP & am on some pretty strong
painkillers and she has been very concerned and actually pretty
helpful with her brother. Also Stroppy sometimes but she is 3!

I feel so blessed to have mylittle ones and simply can't wait for
Christmas, really I can't!

Counting down..

Last night we went to the town lights switch-on and firework
display... Both children loved the fireworks and lights, though the
loud bangs worried Logan & he cuddled up to me. The children were both
asleep by the time we got home so the change in routine has led to a
bad night of sleep for us all. However I am feeling buoyed up by the
feeling that it is now well and truly time to start counting down to
Christmas. & I am so excited already goodness knows how hyper I will
be by December, after all I have my birthday to look forward to with
anticipation too on the tenth.

Of course in a house with two children and a husband who loves
Christmas I am certainly not alone in my excitement. Lyra carried her
chocolate advent calendar around with her constantly for a week before
opening it and eating all of the chocolate over two days. The
chocolates all fell out of their moulds and gathered at the bottom so
it had to be opened really. We can use the moulds for chocolate making
though so that's ok

Last night I knocked up 1 1/2 Christmas stockings and the Christmas
present buying, making and wrapping is well and truly underway. I have
air-drying clay, card, paint and glitter by the ton for makng
Christmas tree decorations and cards, fabric bunting is the next
project as are a couple of secret makes I can't reveal until after the
big day itself. Oh I've also started organising a toddler & baby Xmas
party for mums & little ones we know.

So ho ho ho, bring on the Christmas cheer; I'm waiting with open arms!

Down came the rain...

It is bonfire weekend so of course the weather is particularly wet and miserable. This spider is clinging on & hoping she doesn't get washed out by it all as it's taken me a while to climb this water spout. Confused? Sorry!

I've had a rather emotionally draining couple of weeks and hope that I can spend some time tonight tucked up on the sofa with a film, a hot drink & of course David for some well needed relaxation therapy. The rain reflects my mood and compounds it, isn't it funny how the natural world still has such power over us despite the fact we pay it less heed than we should.

Autumn does have its beauty though. The other day Lyra said to genni & I while we were driving to my mum's "I love the trees, they are beautiful. They are a myriad of colours" a what? I ask. "a myriad" says my innocent/wise daughter. "they are red and orange and green and yellow and purple. And blue" the eyes of children really do capture the wonder if life don't they.

I so love my family, they are truly my sunshine :o)

at the seaside....

We went to Charmouth beach today with my mum, at first it was very chilly but then it brightened up.... Lyra splashed in the sea, threw stones & ran from the waves We had ice cream (Logan shared mine & Grandma's)...


As the ice cream was consumed before the sun came out we were all rather chilly!

Then it suddenly became a bit warmer & the sun came out fully!
This is a tortoise that Lyra made from stones by the way

a few days ago the head & neck of the largest Pleiosaur fossil ever found was unveiled & it was unearthed near to Charmouth so there were more than the usual number of grockels breaking rocks :)

PS. I finished Daisy the cow last night & via a voting system on Face Book have decided to make a little farmer to control the animals next!!

Today in pictures....

Today has been a Good Day - to start with the sun was shining and the weather was mild all day so after recycling was taken to the dump, the library and playgroup were visited and after lunch was eaten we headed out for a couple of hours to get some fresh air.....

I just love the beautiful colours of autumn....

Logan had his first experience of playing in dry leaves - & was partially buried by Lyra!

He seemed to rather like them!

There was time for plenty of kisses...

Lyra ran around in the damp grass at the park before going to the playground....

We baked chocolate cupcakes when we got home...

Logan played in his bouncer "aided" (i.e. harassed & swung about) by his sister....

& now the children are sleeping soundly in their beds I plan to sit & finish the cow for Logan's farmyard as David is out again.....

I like Good Days :o)

Hello there!

Wow it's almost NOVEMBER!! How on earth did that happen?!
Goodness I've been so lax about updating on here. It gets to a certain amount of time since the last post and it becomes even more work to post as an update on everything feels required!! I'll do my best with some brief snippets of the most important people to me....
Logan is now 7 months & 1 week & getting incredibly grown up. When nappy free ha is crawling a little, otherwise he is successfully bum-shuffling a reasonable distance and can pull himself up onto his knees. He will drag himself over to me & then start climbing up my leg sometimes when he wants me :o) He's also eating loads & growing loads too, he has a new highchair so he can sit at the table with us for meals and have finger foods/ try to chuck everything in arms reach on the floor. He's a typical male already; loves food, bashing things, being noisy, music & technology. At the moment he's not sleeping well & is being very clingy due to developing another cold after just recovering from croup and teething (still totally toothless). He has also learned to nod & finds it very funny as it's kind of a whole body nod and says lots of "words"; dada, mama, blabla, baba, & something that sounds a lot like "Lyra".


Lyra is doing very well too, she is not crying when I drop her off at preschool any more & is pretty good at helping with Logan too. As ever her speech is fantastic and she comes out with the funniest things. The other night she said to david "shh... listen. It's the winds of change" (which apparently go blurbleurble) If I say something she disagrees with I get a quick "no no no" in respionse (a mannerism directly pinched from me) & she will make up songs about Logan who she calls "Loganberry". She also loves making things and we make cakes a couple of times a week, is always on the go & has daytime naps almost never (except for when she is ill like now)

I've been busy with my crochet I've made 3 pigs, 1 chicken, a sheep, lamb and ram & all but legs of a fresian cow for Logan's crochet farmyard christmas present. I've also made Lyra a little princess doll and 1/2 simon's hat. I have plans for putting patterns & tutorials on my other blog as I'm very impressed with my little animals that I worked out all by myself....

We've done really well with our christmas shopping already & have very little left to buy for the children (the big ones!) David bought me an iphone recently (another reason for my silence as cannot post from it!) so I'm LOVING that.

What with everyone's colds, new carpets meaning I have loads of sorting to do still (lovely new carpets though!) I'm just about treading water & feeling a bit low but hopefully acknowledging it will help me to do something about it. I must confess I'm scared of the idea of getting PND again, very scared that I already have it in fact. I really should phone my Health Visitor who is lovely but I don't want to admit defeat but I'm crying more than I should. Just 6 weeks ago I was the happiest I have ever been & I really want to be back there. Guess SAD doesn't help - very yucky weather at the moment.

David has been trooping again (& I didn't even tell you about his first troop!) & loved it again, I'm so torn as I miss him because I feel I hardly ever see him now but he loves it so much that he's happier & reacting to my lows better... I want him to be happy as that will ultimately be best for us both & of course because I love him.... & he does love his trooping :o)

OK I must find out how to update here on my iphone, that will lead to more regular updates I feel!!! until next time ttfn xxxxxxxxxxxx

October?!

Goodness me, it really is well & truly Autumn now... where did the summer go?! It's most definitely time for an update on us as it has been far too long, I just don't seem to have stopped!

Lyra has been at preschool for a month & is still crying when I leave her & begging me to take her with me but not for so long as at first so it's all progress. She does admit to really enjoying herself while she's there and it's just the moment of separation and the build up to it that upsets her so very much. It's absolutely heartwrenching for me though and pretty tough for her too. I often feel like crying too when I leave though! She is having fewer tantrums recently but is still definitely int he screetching & howling stage of her development, hard to handle when you have a 6-month old who is crying because he wants to be picked up too! She is wonderfully sweet in equal measures though, probably more than she is trying in fact... A couple of recent notable moments between my two lovely babies - Lyra crooning coftly to a crying Logan and saying "I'm here big little dude, I'm here" soothingly & just yesterday "Oh little boy don't cry, I will wipe your tears". She's so protective of him & has been known to chase other children away from him snarling "he's my baby brother!"
Logan is getting so big! Last tuesday at 6 months & a few days he weighed 19lb 1oz. I had been expecting him to have exceeded the 20lb mark though so responded "is that all?" in surprise! He's generally such a smiley little lad but has een a bit more demanding recently due to a nasty bout of croup, which has also seen him waking up coughing dreadfully 5 or 6 times a night. not fun! He's mostly recovered now though and the nice lady doctor that I took him to see was rather taken by him and he was flirting shamelessly with her & jumping up & doewn & asking for a cuddle! We visited her twice and the second visit she really noticed how he was even MORE bouncy & happy than the visit 5 days before as he was recovering. He is well and truly sitting without any help at all, rolls front to back more often now, tries to bum shuffle but gets carried away but can manouver himself a good few feet when he's lying down. He's eating loads & on the advice of my health visitor he's on 3 proper meals a day, lunch and dinner both full protein-based meals followed by pudding. I'm enjoying cooking for him though it's been harder to fit in with my own manic lifestyle!
I've been trying to get the house sorted so that it isn't in a perpetual state of chaos, the Ikea shelving units have arrived and been assembled the toys that are downstairs are in their new toy chest on wheels that hides under a bench, the new carpets will be fitted int he lounge, stairs & landing on monday so I've been trying to get everything together for that, the kitchen has been slightly rearranged and very much tidied, some christmas shopping has been done, I've sorted lots of Lyra's old clothes to sell at the Nearly New sale on saturday, David has been tinkering with his stormtrooper armour & spending time with our lovely new friends Ian and Sophie who are self-confessed StarWars nuts. (full summary to follow in due course!!) I've finally been to the doctor about my painful left hip (PGP still bothering me from pregnancy & getting worse) & I've been given a strong dose of ibuprofen (al i can have while breastfeeding) and been referred to physio pending an appointment, I've also crocheted a cardi for Logan (OK still umming & ahhhing over whether it's going to be a cardi or body warmer) & spent lots of time with my family. Genni has her first interview tomorrow - in London so argh! really hope she gets it as she's starting to feel a bit down because of the whole looking for jobs without feedback thing. Daniella has staerted Uni, had a meltdown & a panic attack & recovered & made friends & really sounds like she's enjoying it now..... Really appreciating my lovely sisters lately & will particularly miss Genni when she moves to London but we will definitely keep in touch..

Well that's a basic summary of some of our stuff, not much but plenty to be getting on with! Will try to keep updated more often but that's not really very likely until everything is a bit more together!!!
xxxxxx

50 life lessons..

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

I read this column by Regina Brett this evening & it made me smile - & in fact it made me light a couple of candles. We all need to take a step back and put our life in perspective sometimes. Appreciate the small things in life, f you let them they will make you happy all on their own...

xxxxxxxxxxxx

PS update on family & trooping to come soon, there are other priorities when your 6-month-old has croup!

quick update!

I've not updated here for almost 2 weeks now, how bad of me! I had been writing something every few days! We've been rather busy so i've had very little time to stop & type so here's a brief summary of what we've been up to....
Lyra started preschool last week and does love it while she is there but separation itself is heartbreaking - she cries and begs me to take her home with her when I leave. She stops crying pretty quickly now (been to 4 3-hour sessions) & has a lovely time but does get tearful when I come to pick her up saying "please can I come home with you now mummy". I'm finding it very difficult to tell you the truth, not only is this upsetting goodbye-bit happening but she is growing up so fast! At the moment she wants mummy a lot more than she has done but still wants daddy more!
Talking about daddy, David is in the midst of stormtrooper fever, his stormtrooper armour is almost completely ready to wear. Good thing really since he's off on his first "troop" tomorrow in Taunton! We've been having a lot of late nights with both of us working on it in a bid to get it ready & tomorrow is the day! That's all I'll say for now as this project really deserves a post all of its own after the event (with pictures...)
Logan has a cold at the moment (so does Lyra in fact, she was sick last night) so he's all snotty & not sleeping well. He is sitting treally well, rolling front to back occasionally now & burbling beautifully - on wednesday he started saying "dadada" a lot but we also have a lot opf "blurblelurblelurble" & almost words "Heeyaa" "yeah" & what sounds a lot like "hello Lyra". he's eating really well & now on 3 full meals a day - from today with a pudding afterwards as my health visitor suggested his being sick is because he needs more food & less breastmilk.... He's fantastic & so cheerful despite being so pukey, though I do wish he would sleep a little better! he's still settling himself at the start of the night though so I live in hope...
As for me... what can I say?? I've finished a crochet diplodocus for Daniella's starting-uni pressie (she's off to Portsmouth on Thursday!) have made a little cotton crocheted blanket for Logan & in the process of making a pure wool cardi (pics to follow) as Lyra has had most of the clothes I've made it's Logan's turn for the moment! I'm int eh process of organising the lounge STILL & we have one of the Ikea shelving units up. i think the other may have to wait for next weekend though as I've not had time to sort things enough to get that up (need to sort Lyra's room too you see as current TV cupboard will go up there as toy cupboard) we're getting new carpetsin a couple of weeks, I've spent a lot of time chatting to Genni (we loved that it was09.09 :09am on 09/09/09 recently) & discussing life the universe & everything. It's wonderful tobe so close to her now.....
Anyway this "quick" update was quite long really! I'm sure there's more to add - I'll be back & I shall add photos soon too.... adieu for now!!

hello!

Hello, hello - goodness it's been a while since I've blogged (over a week!) We have been rather busy, visiting my parents then in Bristol with my lovely sister Genni (staying at our Godmother's) then rearranging/ organising the lounge & sorting the garage while David was off work last week. Normal service should resume from now on....

Our 3 days away in Bristol were lovely, we went to the city farm with my Godmother, popped into the city centre, met up with Jenny & her twins who are 3 days older than Logan (we met online on pregnancy messageboard & she was my texy buddy but we ended up being in hospital at the same time!) & lovely chats - though 3 nights of drinking wine int eh evening followed by very poor sleep due to Logan's teething left me feeling rather hanging by the time we came home (via Ikea!) on wednesday!! It was fantastic spending a decent amount of time with Genni & Jo & Rob, who are very lovely & more like our Aunt & Uncle than anyone else. It was a bit like therapy though & I felt pretty wrung out emotionally by the end as we talked a lot about my childhood - & it was a pretty hard childhood in many ways that I'm not going to elaborate on. Some bits Genni shared in but I think some of it was new to her but it was good to talk it through. I'm so glad that I'm so close to her now, she's like a best friend and a sister in one..

The lounge is looking much better - a large part of the change has been to move one of our large 3-seater sofas out into the garage pending imminent rehoming (we hope!) so it feels very spacious. We're getting new carpets int eh next 3 weeks or so & some storage units ordered from Ikea online so really can't wait for the end of this month in many ways as the house should hopefully feel a lot more together... We did take the children swimming yesterday (more successful than last time as Logan had a mini wetsuit to keep him warm) & I made a huge roast dinner. David went back to work today but we've kept very busy & went to the park this morning & to Hestercombe with Tina & Lindsay & their children. we weren't home until gone 5pm so Lyra was knackered & I had to organise food with 2 screaming children!!

In other news Daniella has sorted her house for Uni - she didn't quite make the grades for UCL so is going to Portsmouth instead so had to find a house as halls were full. She's made friends with a nice young man called Josh who she will be sharing a house with (and 4 other students!). David's sister Vicky has announced she is expecting a baby in May which was rather a surprise as a week before conception her husband had been expressing that he did not want any more children (their kids are 6 & 8), & most important of all to our little family Lyra is starting pre-school tomorrow for the first time!! This will be the first time someone outside of our family has looked after her (Isa & Tom count as family really) so very big step for us. I'm rather nervous but managing to hide it well in front of her!

special delivery.....

David has bought himself a present... can you guess what it is from this picture of Lyra trying out the contents of the package that arrived yesterday....

Yes he finally decided that now is the time to invest in a full set of stormtrooper armour.. obviously!!! Unfortunately there is a little work to be done on the ensemble before I can reveal him in all his glory, ready to annihilate any rebel forces that may happen our way. He still needs his blaster and boots before he's fully ready, but he is so excited by the prospect of actually being able to take part in the comic book event (where several stormtroopers will be making special guest appearances) on 19th September in Taunton that it makes up for any expense - well the amount he's spent anyway....

Logan is more interested in bouncing around in circles, rolling onto his tummy and chewing things...

& has been rather distracted by being a bit sick today - well very sick really any time he wriggles it seems to make him sick poor lamb. He's got a bit of a chesty cough so I think that's upset his tummy a little.

What with Logan's sickness and Lyra's tantrums today has been rather trying, with about 1hr 45mins worth of screaming tantrums from Lyra this afternoon while Logan wailed because his dinner wasn't quick enough because I was trying to prepare everyone else's food too while being distracted by Lyra's howls. I was impressed with myself for keeping calm... We have managed to make time for playing with toys and having afternoon tea from a real fine bone china tea set that I bought the other day for just £5 from a charity shop - bargain as it has 6 cups & saucers, sugar bowl & coffee pot with lid & is a nice Royal Standard set. No matching milk jug sadly, only real negative as I really want a coordinating set. & for that price it's not a worry bringing it out for afternoon tea with a 2 1/2 year old, even if I do ask her to be careful. One cup already hs it's handle broken off so I think we'll just have to make sure we always have it on a table rather than on the picnic blanket as yesterday's breakage has shown! I think it's a lovely tradition to start that she'll always remember.

In the same charity shop I also managed to find a wooden elephant that holds a certain significance for me - it is slightly bigger than but identical to one that I already have - inherited from my grandma who passed away 3 1/2 years ago aged 90. She received it and its 4 fellows in graduating sizes (each grandchild has one, I am the middle grandchild so I have the middle sized elephant) as a gift from my grandfather when he was away in India, carved in a little Indian village.... & I have managed to find an identical one in slightly different wood so perhaps from a different tree. OK the tusks are missing (as are those of the one I already have) and it is slightly damaged from time and poor repairwork on a chip but I'm so happy to have it.How lovely, really - & how meant-to-be....

our holiday in pictures....

Good morning, I hope you've had a good weekend? We came back from holiday on friday so here's a little summary of our week away......

A couple of days before we went Logan decided to start sitting up all by himself for several minutes (until he gets excited or carried away eating his toes!) just over 4 1/2 months, almost exactly the same age Lyra was...
We swam in the cold sea in our wetsuits, at high tide Lyra loved jumping fromthe low wall into the sea...

Lyra spent plenty of time undressing & lining up her teddies....

We spent a lot of the time on the beach... (I made the dress Lyra's wearing here!)

Logan dipped his toes in the sea for the first time... (not too impressed!)

We admired the views...

& built sandcastles perfect for sitting on (& a sand aeroplane!)...

& went to Newquay aquarium...

As there was just a shower in the flat Lyra & Logan bathed on the balcony in the baby bath (notice how close the sea is behind them this was at high tide)

Logan had his first ever ice cream & loved it...

Lyra & I collected lots of sea glass & shells so that we can make a more personal souvenir than we could ever buy....

& this was the view we were greeted by every day from the balcony of the flat we were staying in...

We had a really lovely time, even though Lyra decided to whinge a ridiculous amount. She felt a little poorly & was in a strange place so ended up sleeping in the double bedroom with the rest of us as the first night saw her waking screaming a lot. Such a daddy's girl she made him sleep on the floor next to her half of most nights (pushover? absolutely!)

We spent most of our time on the beach as it was so close we only had to walk down a slope to get there... well you can see from the pictures. There were lots of shells and sea glass which I loved collecting with thoughts of making pretty things from them. We ate fish & chips, Lyra insisted on going to the pub "I need to go to the pub daddy, I want a pint" (hahaha!)

busy busy

Good evening! & it is indeed, nice & cool after a hot day & I'm sat here with a nice glass of wine & two children blissfully sleeping upstairs! We had a really lovely day today. I took Lyra and Logan over to play with Molly, Pippa, Celly, Maya and Dylan at Elaine & Molly's lovely house. The children had a great time running in the garden, playing doctor/ dentist (with a flowerpot ornament as a "light"!), sliding, bouncing on spacehoppers, blowing bubbles and eating peas straight from the pod. I had a lovely time chatting with the lovely mummies too - Lyra is a great conversationalist but regular adult conversation is a must for sanity purposes!! Jo and Pippa and Me, Lyra and Logan stayed for a picnic afterwards. Jo is about 30 weeks pregnant and still cycling! OK just for short distances but still rather impressive!

Yesterday we saw Isa, Tom and Jack for a brief visit with shameless kissing between Lyra and Jack (OK slight mummy encouragement there but the pictures are SO cute!!), Tuesday we spent a lot of time in the park & had a picnic (I got sunburn on my shoulders!) and on Monday we went over to see Stacey, Ollie & baby Thomas so we've been realy busy this week. Tomorrow Daniella will be here ready for holiday cat-sitting....

We're off on holiday in Cornwall on Saturday so I doubt I'll be updating my blog again until we get back, when I hope to write a nice long summary of Logan's first proper holiday! We're going to Portscatho in Cornwall (near Falmouth) and plan to go to The beach, Flambards, the beach.... well we shall see what the weather has in store for us. This week has been gorgeous so I'm really hoping for more of the same, fingers crossed!!

illness again!!

Good afternoon, I hope you had a good weekend? Poor David has had severe tonsilitis since wednesday, typically this weekend was gorgeous & sunny - the first in ages - and he was most definitely not feeling up to doing anything like going for a walk or similar that we would usually do on a nice weekend day. He even went to the doctor, which is unheard of for him, and has been dosing himself up with penicillin since friday. Obviously he was convinced it was swine flu at first because the symptoms were similar at first, thank goodness it wasn't!!


Logan is a bit grizzly at the moment, I think he must be teething as he's so chewy and dribbly. It's so unlike him to be grizzly and grumpy that I don't know what to do with him! If he's in a grizzly mood he likes to be carried around. It also means he's been waking more in the night - last night 10.30, 1am, 3am, 5.30am & he was awake then so avid brought him downstairs so I could get another half hour's sleep. Oh the joys of parenthood! Lyra is being very good, though she's determined to thwart my efforts to get rid of her dummy. David has suggested "forgetting" the dummy when we go on holiday next week so she has a whole week without it & with none scattered around. We must make sure we dispose of the ones around the house before we go!! Genni and Daniella are sharing responsibility for house & cassie-sitting while we're away



I've made a start on my first crochet blanket!! I ordered some patons washed haze aran yarn in 2 shades of pink, blue and lilac last week on ebay, which arrived on Saturday, and made a start on it on saturday evening. I'm making a smallish ripple blanket to start with but will probably make a little blanket for Logan too as I have some green cotton yarn that would go well with the blue. The cotton means it won't be at all scratchy and he'll be able to chew it! I've been making lots of other things too - Eric the zombie was finally completed last week and given to Genni on friday, I've made a skirt and a dress for Lyra and 3 bandana bibs for Logan (he's so dribbly at the mo!) feeling really pleased with myself as they are pretty productive hobbies & the results were pretty good :o)
& to finish - here are a few pictures. First my gorgeous litle ones having a cuddle as they often do ....

the start of my crochet blanket...

Eric the crochet zombie by my many tomato plants...

& inside....

Lyra's patchwork skirt....

drip drip drip.....

just a quick post today as Lyra & Logan are both asleep in the afternoon for once & that NEVER happens!! (actually Logan is awake but up in his cot wriggling happily so effectively the same.
Weather has left a lot to be desired this week, today is the first sunny day in ages & next door has been burning garden waste all morning so not been able to go out or do laundry - big issue with 2 little ones!!

My garden is benefitting from the wet weather though & is full of life & growth. The other day I actually bought some flowering perenials so we have a little colour in our garden - a blood red dahlia, a yellow & a pink coreopsis & a lilac budlea. It was about time I had some flowers in my garden really!! My tomatoes are doing amazingly, we have finished all of the potatoes from one potato plant but will leave the other for a while to let them get bigger, the carrots are becoming orange & recognisably carroty & the butternut squash has buds starting (that's the one I really can't wait for). The slugs ate all of the leaves on my runner beans & the peas were gobbled up as son as they sprouted but there are bound to be some casualties....

I've been making lots of different things recently - a patchwork skirt & replacement doll's pushchair seat for Lyra, a bandana bib for Logan, a crochet rabbit for my cousin's new baby, Genni's zombie is a continuing work in progress and I've started crocheting some granny-hexagons for a bright little blanket... I have ordered some aran weight cotton yarn in order to get started on a stripy crochet ripple blanket to have on the sofa ready for snuggling - I'm planning on a reasonable sized one so have ordered 1500g of patons cotton yarn in 3 colours, another ebay auction for 500g of another colour in the same yarn is finishing today so hopefully I'll win that as turquoisey blue, lilac, rose pink and dusky pink will go well together I feel... certainly keeping busy aren't I!

OK off to have a bit of a tidy while the small ones are sleeping (Logan has dropped off by himself now - yay!)

Happy SUNNY days...

Good evening & I hope you've had a lovely day? I'm sitting down taking the opportunity to update here after a really lovely day. My best friend from Uni Isa (aka Liz to anyone else!), her husband Tom & gorgeous little boy of just over 2 Jack popped by en route from their home "up North" to Padstow where they will be having a couple of weeks holiday. It's been over a year since we've seen them as they used to live in Bristol but moved to lancashire last July & oh how I've missed her! The weather seemed to reflect my happiness at seeing them and after a brief and violent shower in the morning stayed sunny, bright and breezy all afternoon. Lyra and Jack had a lovely time playing in the park, running up and down the grassy slopes and kicking Lyra's Peppa Pig ball, holding hands, rolling and tumbling down the hill, jumping, swinging, laughing - glowing with the exuberant happiness of little children that is just so achingly irreplaceable... It was fantastic to have a catch up & a hug with my lovely Isa, but far too brief after such a long time apart. I really feel we must make more effort to meet up regularly, really must.

David had an interview this afternoon but unfortunately didn't get the job despite working very hard ont he presentation required. They said other candidates had a stronger statistical background, which I really feel isn't fair as they shouldn't have offered an interview if they didnt' think he had enough experience in a key area... so the job hunt continues, it's definitely Time For A Change as he will have been in this job, with only theinflation payrise everyone receives each year, for 5 years this November. They haven't even given him the payrise & review they promised after 6 months, very naughty, & have just taken away his flexible working hours due to "changes in the business structure" Bullsh*t! the only flexibility they gave him was that he had to make up his hours & had to be in between 10am & 3pm every day. minimal flexibility in my opinion.. I'm starting to get a pang of fear every time I think of going back to work in February... 6 1/2 months... it isn't really that long and I don't want to be away from my babies now there are two of them to miss.

We've had a great week really; on Saturday we went to the Maypole Inn for a big joint birthday party for the group of mummies & toddlers we know (& several we don't know so well) which was fantastic & we even had nice weather & no rain until the afternoon. What a lovely idea, the lovely Jo H initiated it, Jo L runs the pub & organised it & Elaine baked a fab cake - there was a little bouncy castle, a pinata, ice cream, pass the parcel & presents & lots of children (though Lyra played with daddy mostly, she loves him best of all) - perfect & wonderful to see everyone as we all seem to have separated now. Tuesday over to visit Tina & Tom & Lily in their lovely new house, playgroup & library yeaterday & friendss over until late today... can't remember what we did monday (park & baking I think). I must make sure I keep us busy over the next few weeks, must make sure I phone people & arrange things. The problem is I'm not at all as confident as people think & unless I'm in the right mood I'll think people won't want me bugging them to meet up... isn't that silly from a grown woman?! I was discussing it with Isa today, how I often get left to my own devices because I don't come across as needing looking after, even immediately postnatally I've been left to it by family both times. Thank goodness I've been OK this time as PND was a very bad place to be after Lyra's traumatic birth and I don't want to go there again..... must try harder!

In order to not finish on a melancholy note - We started Logan on "solids" (i.e. mush) a week ago and he's loving his proper food!! We waited until her was 18 weeks old and though I really wanted to wait longer it just wan't possible with our hungry boy - he wasn't happy and was constantly hungry, what was I meant to do?!

Isa is on the way to becoming a professional photographer & has taken some fabulous shots of my family today but in the meantime here's some pics by me....

Both of my gorgeous little ones all dressed up.....

Logan's first taste of food.....

Lyra's first picture of a "man" with body & limbs....

Lyra & Jack.....

I've been absent from blog-land for this week because the plague descentded upon our house this week - that's right, Logan demonstrated his generous and sharing nature by sharing his sickness bug with us. I started puking on monday evening, david during the night & Lyra first thing int he morning. Looking after 2 children & a sick husband when unwell yourself is NOT fun I can tell you! I'm pretty certainit's NOT been swine flu because none of us had a fever & it passed so quickly... We're all mostly better now but have felt really achey and washed out ove the past couple of days. David had it worst as he has such a delicate tummy, I felt the most drained though due to breastfeeding and looking after everyone else.... all fun and games!!!

Yesterday my mum & lovely sisters came to entertain Lyra for us, whcih was great. Did somehow mean more housework though as David and I are a lot more strict about tidying up after Lyra has been playing with things so by bedtime Lyra's room was a real state and took a while to tidy. It DID mean that we didn't have to put up with Lyra's constant demands and leaping all over us though and we were able to do things like change the bedding and do laundry, which we weren't at all up to earlier int he week. After mum and Daniella had gone and Lyra and Logan were in bed I also got to have a lovely long chat with Genni, something that's always nicest face to face isnt' it...

Off to make a nice cup of tea now while Lyra watches Balamory and Logan has a nap!

Poor poorly boy...

Logan has spent half of the day projectile vomiting, poor little lamb, so we haven't gone out today, he's just settled down in bed & I think David & Lyra are both asleep in Lyra's room too!!! He really hasn't been himself & all grizzly instead of chatty and smiley - though he had continued chatting a reasonable amount it hasn't been constant like it usually is. he blows raspberries a LOT at the moment though so guess I may have missed some "chat" because it's replaced by that! I'm feeling a bit better now, partly because I've been a bit busier I think....

Wednesday evening I ordered some more yarn from ebay - I really do need it as I don't have the colours I want to start work on a nice big crochet blanket & I needed to order some special yarn for a "cloak" (poncho really but she says cloak) for Lyra. pretty sparkly Rowan "romance" chunky yarn in pretty shades of pink & purple, 26% mohair it is then... about 75% complete already!. On thursday mum, Genni & Daniella came over en route to the station so we looked through G&D's Japan pictures then went on to the park. On friday it was the playgroup trip to the fun farm & OMG it was the wettest day in aaages! Lyra had a fab time anyway and totally loved the indoor play area, sharing nicely too. She wasn't so sure about feeding the lambs though as they were very big & boistrous & the one we were feeding almost knocked the bottle out of my hand & somehow managed to scratch my knuckle... yesterday I baked millionaires shortbread & did laundry while david prepared for an interview he has on 30th July!!!! It's in town so much closer, keep fingers crossed please! xx

PS Lyra hasn't had an accident for 11 days now & only that one in over 2 weeks, we're soo proud of her!

Nothing really exciting to say today -

Yesterday we went shoping then headed off to the park and Lyra climbed and ran and slid and balanced happily... she walked all around the top[ of the high wall in the basketball court with me walking next to her while Logan slept in the buggy. On the way home we picked some ripe plums from the plum tree we pass, Lyra loved them and I will hopefully take her to get some more tomorrow (and take a pic) as there's nothing quite like fresh from the tree/plant fruit is there. My tomatoes (all 8 plants have tiny green fruit!) and potatoes are doing fantastically - I may even have some decent carrots this year too. No flowers ont he butternut squash yet but there's still time, slugs have killed my runner beans but never mind.... I really wish I could have a huge garden with space for plenty of vegetables rather than the few I have!

I was very brave at playgroup this morning (LOL! how daft does that sound!) and asked another mother "please could you not swear in front of the children" (she had said f***ing 3 times by this point, at snack time with all the children together around her). She turned around and had a go at ME for daring to confront her, saying "I wasn't even talking to you, I can talk to you in a minute if you want. you saw I covered my mouth after" well yes you did, and then you said it again. foolish woman with your bottle blonde hair, bad tattoo and son of 4 with a pierced ear!

She and her similarly chavvy friend then sat sniggering and bitching about me in the corner - how childish! I am NOT going to sit and alow my daughter, who was behaving beautifully and eating her snack so nicely I wasn't about to take her to another table, to be exposed to foul language simply becuase this woman didn't have enough brains to us other words to express herself. They had previously been muttering together & smirking about the fact I was wearing logan in a sling (lovely ring sling made by mum) "Would you ever wear one of them" "no"*sneer smink sneer* "me neither. I understand the idea though, to save your arms...." kind of got it there, A* for effort though if you'd ever worn one you might really understand why I love it so.

My lovely friend Vicky cheered me up by just generally chatting & saying how lovely & happy Logan looked in the sling. And agreeing with the general opinion I expressed about "those women" too! I did feel rather on edge and shakey for a while afterwards, I do so hate confrontation and they were scary women!

When we got home we had lunch and then made some oaty bath bags, Logan had some funny tummy time...

(sweet isn't it! he likes to be able to see, which he can't so well during floor tummy time) did some dancing, watched monsters inc... & I was very impressed with Lyra's reflection of my opinion of what should & should not be said when one character called another "stupid".... Lyra "we don't say stupid, naughty monsters inc" well hear hear little lady, I totally agree!

Lyra is still doing incredibly well toilet training and it has now been an entire week since she has had an accident - & she's only had one accident since day 3 of toilet training! I'm now backing off a bit and letting her decide when she needs to "go" except for just before we go out & if she's busy doing things as she's more likely to forget then. So very proud of her! Logan is now settling himself to sleep alone in hiis cot every night after his bath/massage/milk routine I kiss him and put him in his cot - he doesn't even grumble as long as he hasn't got any trapped wind and isn't still hungry!

I really, really need to get some organisation going in this house, wish I had the time! I've been feeling a bit down lately, I'm pretty certain due to my coil, and the general chaos in the house doesn't help this. I've felt a bit better today and yesterday though I have ordered some more yarn from ebay (pretty sparkly Rowan yarn that was on sale - on SALE!) and am worried my stash is becoming too huge!! I intend to crochet a bag from the yarn I have to keep the yarn I will doubtless get before too long... Making things is so lovely & therapeutic I'm so glad I have discovered this glorious set of hobbies!

more babies!

My cousin Tony and his wife Catherine had a baby boy last night - Alexander Charles - who arrived 7.13pm weighing 8lb 7oz. what a respectable time of day to be born! both of my children were awkward arriving at 11.06pm (Lyra - followed by PPH & emergency trip to theatre so was up ALL night) & 2.52am (also followed by a PPH and stitches so no sleep all night then either.)
I must confess to being rather broody for another baby with allt hese babies (my lovely friend Tina has just announced she's expecting too), Logan is such a wonderful smiley, easygoing child that I would love another one - well 2 as would have to be even number. However NO SPACE is all I can really say to that so until we have at least 3 bedrooms, ideally 4, it's not an option. I think that next time(!) I want both Lyra & Logan to be in school so I can have some chillout time with the littlest, Lyra has been particularly time consuming & I constantly worry Logan is missing out.

I've actually been feeling a bit down today, I think it's a combination of several things - I'm a bit hormonal from having the merina (progesterone) coil fitted 2 weeks ago, my pelvis is hurting (my PGP & SPD from pregnancy flared up due to hormones, lots of walking & climbing at kids activity centre over weekend) & I'm just recovering from a cold. I think I should get my wii fit out & do some exercise to try to boost my endorphin levels tonight. I suffered from severe PND after Lyra was born - for over a year I was totally out of it really - so am determined not to get stuck in a rut this time. I'm very lucky to have lovely friends that care about me but I find it really difficult to ask for help. Don't worry I'm not depressed, just kind of hormonal & a little low for no real reason! i may crochet lots of little flowers tonight as a form of therapy.

Logan is currently settling himself off to sleep upstairs - in fact think he IS asleep now - while Lyra demands daddy's presence until she drops off. I don't know if it's our treatment of her when she was small or her personality or both that have caused this problem for us but ARGH!!! Oh well one day she will be good I'm sure! It's weird being able to leave my baby to go to sleep by himself at night after Lyra who screamed until she was hysterical if i tried. During the day he usually wants booby or cuddles to drop off but since I LOVE giving him both that's fine, I'm still babywearing a lot & loving carrying him, though he's in a 6-12 month sleepsuit tonight for the second night in a row so getting quite big it's not really a problem at all. I have been known to carry Lyra at the same time!

"my daddy is a stormtrooper..."

Well Lyra & Logan's daddy would dearly love to be anyway! over the past 2 days David has been lusting after stormtrooper outfits, especially as there is someone who lives near to us that actually makes them.. At first David said they were £450 so I said if they were that much I'd pay half as his Christmas present... turns out it was actually £800 & there's no way he's justified in spending that much on a fancy dress costume! (albeit a very cool, realistic one)

Coralie..

Today would have been my older sister Coralie's 30th birthday if she hadn'tl eft us at the age of 6 following a long battle with brutal kidney cancer, which spread to her lungs. despite chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery which eventually made her a shadow of her former self physically my sister was still a sweet little girl with a wicked giggle. still Coralie. Stupid cancer. I can't help thinking that she should be here - today should have been the start of a big party weekend for her and the family she might have had.. I should have been able to make her a cake. I should have organised a party along with her friends/husband(?) to surprise her with - Logan and Lyra would have made a special card for her with their hand and footprints in bright-coloured paint... I can't help thinking what she would have thought of them and how they would have loved her. Would they have had cousins who were her children? My family should not have had to carry this grief with us for the past 23 1/2 years.
Our experiences shape our lives and our selves. I was so young when this tragedy happened that I am very much marked by it, if she had lived I wonder what I would have been like. I am so happy in my life right now with my children and my wonderful David, would my life have followed a similar path? Would I walk past the man who is my husband in ths life without knowing him because my life had followed a different course? I couldn't wish my life was different now. Inside there will always be a small part of the little girl whose wish when she blew out the candles on her cake every birthday or if she saw a shooting star was "I wish Coralie had not died". Even as a child I knew this was impossible, if you believe in fairies clap your hands.... I desperately wanted there to be some magic that could undo the past. Now her ashes rest n a box in my parents bedroom, they can't really let their little girl go after all of these years. You never get over grief, you just get used to it.
Happy birthday Coralie. I hope and pray that you are happy where you are now. Even if there isn't a heaven and this life is all that we have you will always live and be very much loved in my heart xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Logan had his second immunisations yesterday & I was relieved that he reacted a bit less hysterically than for his first jabs - of course he cried but then calmed down again rather than screaming for 10 minutes! David had stayed home so that I could concentrate on just Logan so we went swimming in the morning - Logan's first time. It was a bit too chilly really so Logan couldn't properly enjoy it but he didn't mind it. Tuesday mornings are baby splashabout sessions so that's a handy thing to know! Lyra stilkl dong really well with ehr swimming, we're so proud of her at the moment (just wish she would settle to sleep better at night!)
Lyra has been doing fantastically with her toilet training & has had 5 days in a row now with no accidents whatsoever. Of course we're still having to remind her regularly but she also asks for teh potty/toilet when she needs a wee so I'm really hoping accidents are few and far between now...
I'm in the process of making a crocheted Zombie for Genni as as graduation present (braaaains) & am hoping that I'll be able to make Daniella a pachycaphalosaurus for completing her A level & (hopefully!) getting into UCL to study Paleobiology.... I've only just got into crochet & I made a mushroom before this so perhaps slightlyambitious, we shall see though since the zombie is going well!

potty training update...

Well what can I say, Lyra has amazed us all. On wednesday & thursday (days 2 & 3) we had accident after accident & I became pretty disheartened about the whole toilet training thing... then on friday she agreed to use the potty in the park (!) for both a wee and a poo, loved my reaction & was so proud of herself that there were no accidents that day... & in the afternoon when David came home we heard the toilet flush upstairs. Lyra had been for a wee on the toilet & flushed without any prompting! well to cut a long story short we've not had an "accident" since thursday & she has usually been willing to sit on both potty & toilet. She's pretty well aware of when she needs to go & can hold it for ags. She is more resistant when we suggest going unless she fancies doing it for the novelty but we're getting tthere & I;m so proud!

finally have a washing machine...

Our poor new washing machine has done 6 loads of washing today & think there are aout 4 more left to do! thank goodness it's such lovely weather so it can dry without needing to use the dryer!
Potty training day 2 & we're on our 4th pair of knickers & only 1 proper wee in the potty, however Lyra IS wearing knickers & is keen to sit on the potty now so that's a start. She so rebellious that she won't sit & "perform" when i aske her to & ends up holding it until she's bursting!
It's so hot Logan & I just had a shower to cool off as he's been pretty hot & irritable today. teaching myself to crochet granny squares & may make a cool cotton blanket in that style for this sort of weather.....

Potty training!!

Today has been a real breakthrough day for Lyra in terms of toilet training. After weeks of resisting the idea of even having no nappy on she agreed to have knickers on (sparkly bright pink winnie the pook ones to be precise). First wee was on the floor outside BUT second wee was in the potty with NO prompting at the time & she pulled her knigckers down herself. Another (tiny!) wee folloowed later and then the piece de resistence - a poo in the potty just before daddy arrived home (again with no prompting - I walked int he lounge to find her sat on her potty doing a poo). She's been so proud of herself & it's been wonderful to have a chance to really really praise her for this without too much stress. Zero to potty trainedin one day! ok it's just day 1 but we shall see how it goes for the rest of the week. I also managed to get her into pull up nappies (aka "special night time pants") for bedtime, which is something she has always refused so I'm hoping nappies will now be out of the picture. Not looking forward to having to carry a potty with me at all times but hey that stage will pass soon enough & I'm so incredibly proud of her.
In other news, I had my progesterone coil fitted yesterday afternoon & was very nervous but it didn't hurt a bit & I've only had a tiny bit of spotting. Could something in the downstairs department really be straightforward for me?! who'd have thought it? Logan is being gorgeous & lovely as ever, thought he heatwave we're suffering at the moment is making him a bit restless & he's not slept much today. Fingers crossed for a good night's sleep then! Our new washer dryer arrived this afternoon -after 10 days with no washing machine I can't wait to have clean clothes & some order to the house again! it's so quiet night time laundry is an option too so may even make some headway tonight.
What a good day it's been!

With playgroups & general mumminess t's been a pretty busy week so I've not had much of a chance to update on here... The washing machine finally packed in terminally last sunday, an hour or so after we had ordered a new one to be ordered this coming Tuesday so the dirty laundry is currently reaching critical mass. Fortunately there are only 2 days before our new washer-dryer (wit 5-year guarantee!) arrives & this week is meant to be a nice one weather wise so we should be able to get through the laundry on Wednesday & Thursday.
Logan is becoming more and more strong, he can now roll back-to-front and loves kicking & batting toys on his play arch, row-row-row your boat & of course his favourite kissing game! he's such a good little boy, though 6pm is now becoming his sleepy time & he has a problem making it through to bath time. Usually he has one big morning nap, a big-ish afternoon nap & a few cat naps in between. Not been in cloth nappies this week due to washing machine situation!! Really can't wait to get his nice nappies out again.
Lyra has really been in the wars. After her head injury a week last friday she now has a black eye from knocing her cheek on the guard of the bed the other day & a bruise on her forehead from falling over with Rebecca & bashing her head against a radiator... Oh & on Tuesday she had washing powder on her hands & rubbed it into her eyes. poor little thing, it makes me want to cry to look at her. People will think we beat her! On a more positive note she went swimming with David this morning in her new wetsuit & it kept her warm enough to stay int he pool for over an hour - she had a brilliant time and even swam by herself (with float jacket & armbands) without getting too worried & really loved it. Then she had a great time playing with Rebecca and Toby this afternoon (while Logan dozed on Uncle Peter).
It's my mum's 60th Birthday on Wednesday. I already gave her her present of a wii fit & wii console but am so glad I spent a bit extra as she, dad and Daniella have used it loads - mum & dad have each used it more in about 4 weeks than I've used mine in over 2 months. They are all very competitive about it and dad is getting more gentle exercise than he's been able to in years. the balance board is out on the floor most of the time!