Me and Mine 2015 - April

 

Here we are. Snuggled up on the settee, with duvet and pillows, at 4 in the morning. April has been the month of illness, so this picture is perfect. B had tonsillitis and was needing some paracetamol. I was feeding M, so woke the Hubby to deal with B; he sat up and promptly fell off the bed, attracting M's interest! And when he and B left the bedroom to go downstairs, M went hysterical, so seeing as everyone was awake, and there was little chance of getting anyone back to sleep, we all bundled downstairs to watch a film.

M was poorly the week before - teething and whatever virus B didn't manage to fight off - so it's been a pretty sleepless month. But, hey, we're still smiling!

There have been good times too. We had a great Easter with my family, and saw them all again, a few days later, when my niece and her mum came to stay with my parents. It was so lovely to see B and M running around and playing with their cousin, and amusing to listen to B and S - only 2 weeks between them - each complaining about how the other wouldn't share. 

I'm including this photo, because it's my extended Me and Mine - my parents, siblings and niece, all together for the first time in a very long time.

This month:

The Hubby has enjoyed...

Cuddles with the girls

The appearance of the sun

Seeing Easter through B's eyes

His new exercise regime

Having no back problems

I have enjoyed...

Seeing my niece

Getting out in the garden

Making a Teenage Mutant Nija Turtles Cake

Hearing all of M's new words

Discovering new a new (to us) National Trust location

B's drawings of us

B has enjoyed...

Egg and Spoon races over Easter

Eating chocolate star cereal

Gardening with Granddad

Painting a magical forest, a monkey and a butterfly 

Playing with her cousin

Reading Fantastic Mr Fox with Daddy

M has enjoyed...

Using a spoon

Talking

Watching The Gruffalo

Jumping on the trampoline 

Climbing things

Listening to our Colin Buchanan album

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52 Weeks of Memories | 17: Colour

My favourite colour is green. It's calming, it's fresh, and it's peaceful. I wore green shoes at our wedding. And our organic veg box this week was full of vibrant green produce, just begging to be turned into nutritious and tasty meals. So far we've had leek and potato soup, and I used half the asparagus in a risotto, while the rest was steamed and buttered to go with pork in a creamy mushroom sauce. It's been good to see both girls get their appetites back. And even better to see B choose to try a vegetable, and like it! Though I think her interest was piqued when she heard that it might turn her wee bright green!

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To My First Nursling

Little One, 

Today I realised that I don't remember the last time you nursed. I didn't savour it. Didn't take the time to reminisce our journey together. Did I rush you to finish? Did I stroke your hair?

Why didn't I notice you had stopped? After three and a half years, it was so everyday, so normal, I didn't even think. 

I was so excited to feed you

While I was having a hard time, nursing your teething sister, there you were, slowly growing up, without telling me.

We learnt breastfeeding together. We both fought for you to have my milk. I battled with ignorant doctors; you refused to give up nursing when there was so little milk there. We spent hours latching and relatching. You had your tongue tie snipped and fed for seven hours solid. You chose feeding from me over the easy meal from a bottle, weaning from those at eleven months. It wasn't an easy start, not by

52 Weeks of Memories | 16: Favourite

It's been a long week. M was poorly and teething, and then B got tonsillitis. We've not had much sleep, and we've not got much done in the house. My favourite moment of this week happened when I had managed to get both girls to settle in front of a film for a bit, so that I could get some washing done and make some food. I came back to the lounge to find this scene: M had her arm around a very poorly B. Such kindness.

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On Education

My Year 1 Class Photo

The reality of our decision to home educate hit me during the past few days, as I watched my Facebook feed fill up with posts about school places. We haven't even looked at schools near us, let alone found out when places needed to be applied for, so discovering that all that decision making had bypassed us was a bit of a surprise. If B was going to go to school, she would be starting in September, despite only being a few days over 4 years old. That was something I never wanted for her. Compulsory school starting age is the term after a child turns 5. That would be the following September for B, and yet, we would have had a fight on our hands to get the go ahead for her to start Reception at age 5.

Today I read this article entitled 8 reasons why summer babies face an uphill battle at school and in life.

Statistically, summer born children do worse at school than their autumn born classmates. They're at a higher risk of ending up on SEN registers. They are more likely to lack confidence and be unhappy at school. This isn't because of the time of year that they were born, but due to the huge difference in development and ability between them and their classmates who are almost a year older than they are. A year's difference in age is 25% of a 4 year old's life. That's a big difference.

Siblings - April 2015

The past month has seen M make some big leaps in development, which in turn has deepened the relationship between her and B. M has started to say a few more words, and her pronunciation of "B" has become quite clear. It's a joy to hear her shout it out frequently through the day. Her little face lights up whenever her big sister walks into the room, and cuddles are no longer initiated only by B; M has become a big hugger and loves to snuggle with B. It's incredibly cute!

There is a huge amount of laughter now. So much that B does makes M laugh hysterically. It's very difficult not to join in. And M is beginning to work out how to make other people laugh. We're sure she's the funniest person we've met, and B certainly thinks so too. They play together as well. I sometimes find them sat quietly together, both interested in what the other is up to, happily sharing a toy like the dolls' house or the building blocks. Of course, more often there are shouts and tears of frustration when one or the other has snatched a toy away, but B is learning to offer trades of more interesting toys in order to get hers back. M, understandably, thinks that anything B is playing with must be super amazing and so she wants it. There are brilliant games of chasethat go on too. I hear the thud of their feet running from one room to another, with screams of excitement and laughter as they catch each other. My heart is in my mouth when I hear them running on the upstairs landing - neither seem to have any fear!

Both girls help each other too. B cleans M's face and hands after meals; M fetches B's shoes for her when it's time to go out. It really is beautiful to see how much they love each other. I pray they always will.

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52 Weeks of Memories | 15: Reading

M "reading" her menu - almost as big as she is - when we went out for dinner with family. She loves to copy the grownups. 

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What is Attachment Parenting?

I've been asked several times recently what Attachment Parenting is, having shared various articles on my Facebook page, and writing about aspects of it here.

So, if you're new to Attachment Parenting, or you want to know what the heck I'm talking about, or you're looking to find out more about different ways to bring up children, then hopefully I'll be able to help.

Safe bedsharing promotes bonding

Attachment Parenting is a way of raising children that focuses on fostering closeness between parent and child, through respectful feeding practices, bedding close to baby, nurturing touch, responsiveness and balancing the needs of all family members. Attachment Parents are baby-led, respecting a newborn's needs for proximity and near-constant touch. 

The term 'Attachment Parenting' was coined by Dr. Sears to describe the philosophy based upon Attachment Theory. 

The general elements of Attachment Parenting are:

52 Weeks of Memories | 14: Easter

My whole family were together to celebrate Easter. Mum's lamb & plum casserole, followed by chocolate cake and ice cream. Laughter. Wine. Chocolate. And egg & spoon races at the park. Soul food. 

Mother’s Passion

Feet I kissed

Tiny toes counted

Now it is lashes, falls, bones that are numbered

Feet pierced and bloodied

I held you
Carried you on my hip

Slept beside you at night

Our bodies curved to fit perfectly 

Nursed away teething pain

Spent long hours soothing, singing, swaying 

Now you are held by nails

No way for me to offer comfort or release

It is your lifeless form I shall hold against my breast

Willing my broken heart to raise you up

Long hours of pain, agony, searing loss

52 Weeks of Memories | 13: Sharing

Sharing

Granddad sharing his gardening knowledge with B, as Spring tries to poke her head out. The rain moved the gardening indoors though!

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Me and Mine 2015 - March

I can hardly believe that we're a quarter of the way through the year already! The girls are growing so quickly. M's hair has grown a ridiculous amount since last month's picture; she's getting curls, which I'm quite excited about, because it's something we can share. B is getting taller - her long legs come from my side of the family - and it's getting difficult to find clothes that fit her in the body without being too short in the arms and legs. I'm pretty sure I'll end up being the shortest in the family one day.

March has seen us trying out Forest School and Theatre Bugs, getting outside more often, celebrating various birthdays, some family days out and a trip to the Ideal Homes Show where we met up with my sister and an old friend. We've read Bible stories and had family prayers every night at bedtime. I've made several cakes and we've done some art. M did her first painting, which I've photographed to immortalise; B has got the paints out of her own accord, which is a new development; even the Hubby and I have joined, painting some Easter scenes.

This month:

The Hubby has enjoyed...

M's increasing independence

Family days out

Taking some holiday

His parents getting back from New Zealand

The weather starting to warm up
Reading Mockingjay

I have enjoyed...

The Ideal Homes Show

Making a carrot cake look like sushi for my mum's birthday

The Hubby having some days off
Stroking an elephant
M making us all laugh
Reading and watching The Hunger Games

B has enjoyed...

Going to Ikea with Grandma

Theatre Bugs

Crossing her eyes

The eclipse
Pointing out the letter 'B' everywhere she sees it 

M has enjoyed...

Walking backwards

Swings

Learning to climb the steps to the slide
Stroking some dogs
Singing

Deliberately falling over

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Thankful Thursday - Myself

Self praise is difficult for me. I struggle -  as many do - with my self esteem. So, it's about time that I thought about myself and what about me I am grateful for. It has taken a lot of thought, but I've managed to select 5 things about myself that make me thankful.

1: My body conceived, grew and birthed two beautiful little girls. If I'd had to write this 5 years ago, I would have been unable to be feel grateful for my body. I hated it. Passionately. I considered myself ugly and my body to be a failure. Becoming a mother gave me a whole new view. How could my body be worthless when it could produce such marvels? When it could stretch and mould and contract in such amazing ways? When it could accomodate a growing baby and then push it out into the world? Women become mothers every day. It's hardly a rarity. I'm not unique. And yet, the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth was - for me - not just the new lives blossoming, but the realisation that, despite appearances to the contrary, I really am "fearfully and wonderfully made!"

2: I am organised. I like knowing what's happening, when and where, and this desire enables us to be much less stressed. There isn't so much running around at the last minute as there would be if I wasn't so good at organising. Oh, there's always some panic as we try to get out of the house, but we have two children now - they're not organised. Yet!

3: I get passionate about things I believe are important. I'm thankful for my passion and eagerness because there are changes that need to be made in the world. We are called to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves," and that's a gift I have in abundance. My passion has helped a good number of people. Friends and aquaintances have thanked me for articles I've shared and advice I've given; others have asked me for help for themselves or their friends, because they know my passions have led to knowledge that can assist. I'm so grateful that I can be passionate, because I'm making a difference, even if it's only in my tiny corner of the world.

4: I make really delicious cakes. Seriously. I'm my own worst critic, and my decoration is never at the high standard I aim for, but the cakes? They taste amazing. I can't even eat shop bought cakes now, because my own are a million times tastier. Shop bought cakes taste bland to me, with artificial flavours and strange textures. I'm proud of my ability to make great tasting cakes, even if people are running away from sugar these days. I'm hoping that my delicious cakes will be a great way of keeping my kids and their friends hanging around our house!

5: I have a way with language. I'm capable of being straight to the point and diplomatic at the same time. I know how to use big words correctly. I have always been a big reader, and that has given me a large vocabulary. I love that I can influence others with what I can say and write. I love writing letters to my MP, writing blogposts, holding my own in discussions, being able to give clear explanations. I'm so grateful for the opportunities my language skills have given me.

There. Not my easiest post ever. But a necessary and important one. It's so hard to think well of myself at times. And I know I'm not the only person in the world who struggles in this way. So it has been hard, yet rewarding, to really look at myself and pick out the things that I grateful for, that make me who I am.

What do you love about yourself?

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52 Weeks of Memories | 12: Playing

Oh, I know! It's a dreadful photo. A picture is supposed to paint a thousand words, but this one needs some explaining. The Hubby and I have designated Thursday evenings as Games Night. This is a shot of the 24 DVD Board Game that we are trying to complete. Some friends gave it to us as a gift before B was born, and we've only just got around to playing it - she's 3 and a half! It's great fun to be doing something other than watching TV though, and besides, why should the kids get to do all the playing? Thursday nights it's our turn to play.

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52 Weeks of Memories | 11: Hug

My parents snuggled up with B and M, reading The Gruffalo's Child. It warms my heart to see the love my daughters have for my mum and dad, and how comfortable they all are together. 

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Siblings - March 2015

The kisses and cuddles have decreased a little, with hitting and shouting filling the gap. There's still a great deal of laughter, but I find myself having to intervene and entertain and facilitate more often. As M's confidence grows, so does B's frustration. Where she's been able to be the boss of the toybox, she's now finding that sharing isn't so much picking out a toy for M as it is having a toy snatched out of her hand. It's not all theft and violence though. They do play together and watch TV together and egg each other on. M still finds much of what B does to be hilarious; she follows her around and wants to copy her, though M's increasing independence doesn't sit well with B's desire to have her do what she's told! The Hubby and I are doing what we can to face the challenge of making sure these two stay friends.

 

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52 Weeks of Memories | 10: Outside

M's first trip to the park near our house since she learned to walk. 

She loved every minute of it!

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Thankful Thursday - World Book Day

I love reading. There is nothing quite like getting lost in the pages of a book. I get so engrossed in the action and feelings expressed, that I can feel quite disappointed to be dragged back to reality! I don't get to read as often as I used to. There was a time when I could get through a few novels a week, but I am attempting to read one a month this year - not including the books I read to the girls.

I am so grateful to parents for instilling in me a love of reading. Being able to read well at an early age opened up an amazing number of worlds for me to escape into. I hope I am able to instill that same love into my children.

So, in honour of World Book Day, here are five books that I am most grateful for:

Red Sky in the Morning by Elizabeth Laird

This is the first book I can remember making me cry. I am in awe of authors who can weave words together in such a way as to cause my emotions to overflow. I recall lying in bed, reading this, and my dad coming in to turn off my light and seeing that I was crying. I must have been no more than 10. 

52 Weeks of Memories | 9: Fun

We had fun in the forest: getting muddy, making new friends, exploring, and swinging in hammocks at Forest School. This was organised by a group of Home Educaters, and was a great way for us to get to know some other families who already home educate. Just one way in which B and M will socialise in the future is by mixing with other children - of all ages - who learn at home instead of in school.

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Wishes for 2015 - Update 2

How have my New Year Wishes been panning out? I'm quite pleased with myself so far.

1) Blog more - Look back through the last few weeks and see for yourselves :)
2) Bible study - Not as good as it could be. Prayers for means, motivation and opportunities are most welcome.
3) Meal planning - It's been a struggle this month, but I've managed to use more of the ingredients already in our cupboards, which is encouraging.
4) Date nights - We've enjoyed some great films together. And we've got plans to go to the theatre this month.
5) Read - I read Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. Recommended by my dad, who led me to believe it was going to be a tad more lighthearted than it was! An extremely dark book. Worth reading if you like murder mysteries and the supernatural. It was compelling. Despite scaring me a bit and making me feel quite sad in parts, I wanted to know what was going to happen and had to keep reading. If you want a slightly less dark version, watch the film.
6) Walk more - We've enjoyed more fresh air this month, though still not quite as many walks as I had hoped. Now that M is walking, she is keen to practice, so going for walks is much slower! 

7) Declutter - We've fallen behind this month, but are picking it up again.
8) Create an app - The Hubby has found a series of YouTube videos for us to watch together, to learn the skills needed for this.

Me and Mine 2015 - February

 

It's been a short, but busy month. We've packed a lot in, including celebrating my Granddad's 80th birthday, and meeting my youngest cousin for the first time. We've been for walks and enjoyed some sunshine. And we were able to go to mass together to acknowledge the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. B and I had some one to one time at the cinema, which was great, though I wish we could have had longer together. It's so long since we've had time just the two of us and I miss her!

Here we are after Ash Wednesday mass - ashes on our foreheads and ready to go forwards, 

trying to be the best people we can be.

This Month:

The Hubby enjoyed...

Brighter mornings and sunshine

A faster phone after doing a restore

The start of Lent

Growing his beard

Yoga

Buying Lush products

I enjoyed...

Taking B to the cinema, just the two of us

Dancing at my Granddad's 80th birthday party

Listening to CDs in my car

Hanging out with my cousins

M walking

B enjoyed...

Splashing in puddles

Meeting my cousins at her Great Granddad's party

Spot the Difference activities

Joining the dots to write her name

Colouring

Watching birds in the garden

M enjoyed...

Walking

Communicating more through baby sign language

Pointing out all dogs and cats that she sees

Slides

Mr Tumble

Thankful Thursday - Three People

Today there are three people for whom I would like to express gratitude.

The first is a friend called Katy. She made the most beautiful bouquet for me when we got married, charging us only for the price of the flowers. I am so grateful that she gifted me her time and her skills to make our wedding day special. I still have my bouquet, dried and stored safely. Whenever I see it, I remember the day I became a Mrs, but I also remember the kindness and generosity of my friend.

Second is a lady called Ruth. I began following Ruth's blog, Mixed Bag of Allsorts, back in 2012 when I first took part in the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt. I read her posts and it was like reading my own story. She too suffers from IGT (insufficient glandular tissue) and had blogged about her journey supplementing her son whilst maintaining a breastfeeding relationship. It was such a relief to discover that I wasn't the only woman in the world whose body had failed her baby. Ruth patiently answered all my questions, guiding me and encouraging me. And when she wrote about supplementing and nursing her second child, whilst continuing to feed her eldest, I was so grateful that I had her going ahead of me to show me the way before M was born. Ruth's instructions on how to use the SNS were so helpful too. I will always be so thankful for this wonderful lady, who having never met me in real life, was so willing to help me feed my babies.

The third is another lady. A friend of my mum's, Anat. She lives in Israel, but when I was younger, she lived near us and was a part of my mum's La Leche League group. One year Anat invited us to join her and her family in celebrating Hannukah. It was amazing! My first taste of potato latkes; spinning the dreidl; the music and the prayers and the candles - it was beautiful and tasty and moving, and it inspired in me a love and strong interest in Judaism. I am so grateful for Anat's generosity in sharing her faith and traditions with us, as the experience led me to discover the richness of the Jewish culture, which in turn has allowed me to enrich my own faith in the Jewish Jesus.

In writing this, I have thought of so many more people I am grateful for, but for now these three lovely ladies will have to suffice.

52 Weeks of Memories | 8: On the Floor

M making the most of a tidy floor to practice her modelling poses!

Thankful Thursday - A Friend

I have a beautiful friend. Her name is Suzanne. I don't think she knows how wonderful she is, but I am incredibly grateful for her. She has an enormously generous heart. When B was tiny, and I hardly knew anyone here, I had thrush in my breasts. My lovely friend - who I hadn't even met in person - brought round probiotic powder for B. She asked nothing for it, and had a 3 month old baby herself at the time. I have never forgotten that act of generosity from a stranger who has become a friend. Since then she has given me so many generous gifts - meals, a fruit basket, her time. She even came round several times when M was a little baby and played with B. I'm so thankful for those times. I worried about B feeling left out after M was born, but my wonderful friend made her feel special. 

I pray that I can be as good for my friend as she has been for me over the last 3 years. I pray that she will be truly blessed with joy and peace. Thank you, my wonderful friend. 

52 Weeks of Memories | 7: Watching

B and I had a trip to the cinema to watch The Book of Life. A good film, and a lovely time with just my big girl. It's be such a long time since we've had some one to one time, and I really hope we can do it again soon. I've missed being just the two of us since M came along, despite the wonder that she is!

Siblings - February 2015

The past month has seen M start walking properly and saying a few words. Unsurprisingly, one of her first words was B's name! It's incredibly cute to see her pride when she says a word, and B thinks it's wonderful that her name is coming out of M's mouth. We love listening to them together. B tells M all sorts of things; she likes explaining what's going on, and I've heard her telling M that "things get better when you can walk and talk" - very wise words from the elder sister! M, in turn, babbles away, an earnest look on her face and real seriousness in her voice, despite no one understanding just what she's going on about.

It's not just during the day that these two are great friends; at night they cuddle together.

Thankful Thursday - The City I Live In

Ten Reasons I'm Grateful for Bedford...

• Last year, Bedford was declared the most generous place in the UK. (BBC News, August 2014)
• There is a fantastic Attachment Parenting Group here. We have over 150 members and it's a really helpful and supportive group that I couldn't have done without over the last three years.
• My husband grew up here!
• It's not far from my parents.
• We don't have to drive far before we're in the countryside.
• Woburn Safari Park is really close. I have memories of going there as a child, and it's wonderful to be able to take my own children easily.
• The train only takes half an hour to get to London, so the Hubby can get to work quickly, and we can have easy day trips.
• There's a good network of Home Educating families, so we are going to be well supported if we stay around here.
• Bedford is really ethnically diverse. We have a large Italian population, and a great number of Polish people, as well as many other nationalities. This also means there are lots of shops selling interesting varieties of foods. Who needs Lidl's Polish week, when you can just pop to one of the Polish supermarkets in town? And there are shops selling great value rice, pulses and spices too.
• There are some beautiful areas nearby - the river and the embankment; little villages; Marston Vale; Harrold Odell Country Park. It's so good to have lovely green spaces to walk, play and feed ducks in.

What do you love about the area you live in?

52 Weeks of Memories | 6: Feet

How fortuitous that this week's topic is feet, when M is finally walking - at a whole two weeks younger than B was! - and I've been thinking about her tiny feet and the shoes that will soon cover them. 

I couldn't resist posting two photos this week. M is walking. These soft little feet will soon gain the toughness of sole that comes from transporting a body through life. And they won't be so tiny and cute for much longer. Every few months they'll be measured and I'll shed a little tear as they increase in size - partly from watching my baby grow, partly at the price of children's shoes!

Raising Children in a Digital Age - Review and Giveaway

According to a BBC Learning Poll, "More than half of children in the UK (57%) have done something "risky" or anti-social online." (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-31311927) 

We are living in the Digital Age. It's nigh on impossible to avoid the Internet nowadays, and our children will grow up never having known a world without it. I find it amazing to see how easily my daughters use iPhones, when some of my older friends and family need a great deal of guidance with them. But that is also frightening. In all likelihood, they will grow up knowing how to use all manner of technologies quicker and more easily than we will. There will be parts of their online life that might not make sense to me. I fear that I won't be able to keep them safe. There's no escaping the Internet, but as parents, teachers, youth workers and others involved in the care and upbringing of children, we can equip ourselves to ensure that we and our children are able to enjoy digital media safely. The Hubby works in the technology field, so we'll certainly be able to keep abreast of new developments, but there are many out there who aren't in our fortunate position. There is a great deal of fear and mistrust of the Internet. There are many people who don't understand how social networking works. 

Bex Lewis's 'Raising Children in a Digital Age' is a fantastic guide and tool

Thankful Thursday - Something Someone Gave Me

Today I am thankful for the beautiful flowers my friend gave me at the weekend. They have just decided to burst into flower and, combined with the glimpse of sunlight shining through the clouds, they serve as a reminder that spring is on its way. The gloomy darkness is on the wane and we will soon be able to bask in daylight and warm, spring sunshine. 

I struggle with winter. The dark nights and dark mornings make me feel tired. The gloomy days make me feel sad. The occasional crisp, cold day touched with frosted sunlight helps to lift my mood, but those days are few and far between. Christmas and its excitement seems long gone. So a burst of spring on my windowsill is very welcome. It lights a spark in my soul. Spring will return; darkness will vanish; and I will feel happier again. God provides an antidote to the gloom. 

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." 

(Luke 12:27 NIV)

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52 Weeks of Memories | 5: Bedtime

Bedtime. At the moment, I long for bedtime. M is still getting me up incredibly early, so by lunchtime I'm ready to drop. Neither girls have naps in the afternoon - B has no naps at all. As much as I love them, bedtime is most welcome. A chance to cuddle them both in bed, whilst lying down! An opportunity for a sneaky nap before I head back downstairs to be a grownup for an hour or two. And they're so beautiful when they're asleep, cuddling each other or holding hands, or even wiggling around until they're lying top to toe. 

I didn't want to risk waking them with the flash, so I had to take a picture of bedtime prep. Pyjamas lain out on the bed, while Daddy does bathtime and I get 15 minutes to myself. Bliss. 

What does bedtime look like in your house?

Wishes for 2015 - Update

How have my New Year Wishes been panning out? I'm quite pleased with myself so far.

1) Blog more - I've set myself a schedule to get myself blogging more frequently. That is working. I've published at least two posts a week, but I haven't yet hit upon that post that's going to go viral! ;)
2) Bible study - Better than last year, but this is still an area requiring much improvement. 
3) Meal planning - Yes! I've been planning our meals every Friday when our Abel & Cole box arrives. It's so much less stressful when I know what I need to do in advance. No panics that I don't have what I need; no sending the Hubby out to buy something quick because I've got no inspiration.
4) Date nights - We haven't had a specific date night, but we've scheduled in some activities other than watching TV together when the kids are in bed. We're currently working on a 1000 piece puzzle together. 
5) Read - I read A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was compelling, though I wouldn't say enjoyable. I loved taking 10 minutes each day to read, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the girls were happy to let me be for that time.
6) Walk more - It's been very cold and we've been poorly at various times, and so we haven't been for as many walks as I would have liked. Here's to a more active February!

7) Declutter - This has been our most successful venture into the world of decluttering. We've been focusing on the kitchen and it's starting to look really good. My father-in-law came and put up some shelves and now we have almost clear work surfaces, which is amazing. The Hubby is doing a fantastic job of keeping everything clean and clear when I'm getting the girls to sleep. 
8) Create an app - Hahaha! Nowhere near!

Me and Mine 2015 - January

  

And so begins another year of joining in with the Me and Mine project hosted by Lucy at Dear Beautiful. 

Some days you just have to put on the dressing up accessories your 3 year old hands you, and pose for some group shots with the Hubby's selfie stick!

January has gone incredibly quickly, despite being a month of sniffles and colds. We had a brief smattering of snow, but it was gone by lunchtime. The girls were excited to watch the snowflakes coming down. M can walk, and say 'biscuit' and B's name. She's suddenly started to sign much more and it's lovely to see her communicating with us. We've had some visits from old uni friends, which has been lots of fun.

This month...

The Hubby has enjoyed:

Seeing M walk

Deciding to stay in his job

Keeping the kitchen clean and clutter-free

Getting new running shoes

Hot pod yoga

Getting some decent clippers for his beard

Making up a new bedtime story for B

I have enjoyed:

Reading a book

Catching up on the last series of Call the Midwife

Decluttering

Doing a jigsaw puzzle with the Hubby

Hearing M say some words

Catching up with old friends 

B has enjoyed:

Doing puzzles

Colouring inside the lines

Dressing up

Going to the supermarket dressed as Merida

Singing

Listening to Daddy's bedtime stories and getting excited about the next instalment.

M has enjoyed:

Learning to walk

Using more signs

Saying words

Mr Tumble

Putting things into boxes

Thankful Thursday - A Member of My Family

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 

(2 Timothy 1:5 NIVUK)

My Nana and me

My Nana passed away nearly 12 years ago. She was a feisty woman. Strong, tenacious, awe-inspiring. A real Catholic Matriarch. And I was quite scared of her! She cared deeply about all her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren - of which there are many! She made horrendous porridge, but she had a great collection of musicals on video. I first saw The King and I sat on Nana's lounge floor. And we loved discovering glow in the dark rosaries in the bedrooms. She had a 3D picture of the Pope, which I loved to look at. 

But most importantly to me, she was a woman of great faith. I am so grateful for the things I've learnt through her. I believe she covered the whole family in a great deal of prayer - something that is missing - to an extent - from our lives now. I pray one day that I will be as powerful a prayer warrior as she was. At her funeral I found out stories about Nana that have had a great influence on me since...

52 Weeks of Memories | 4:Together

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)

Not the greatest of photographs, but this represents our Bible study time together. The hubby and I are exploring Catholicism more deeply - interesting for me to learn more about my own faith, and helpful for him to learn where I'm coming from. Through this I pray we will be able to encourage and support each other better. 

Thankful Thursday - My Family

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. Desmond Tutu

I am one of four children. I have 31 first cousins, and I don't even know how many second and third cousins. I love being a part of a big family, and I pray that one day my children will know the pleasure of having loads of cousins to play with. They currently have one cousin - a lovely little girl, just two weeks younger than B. 

I'm so grateful for my parents. They have been a great help over the past few years: Mum has guided and supported my breastfeeding journeys, hoovered our stairs and cleaned toilets, and rung me often to check how I'm doing; Dad has entertained the children, done gardening, and come to stay over when the Hubby's been away on business. 

I'm thankful for my siblings too. We have our share of conflict - unavoidable with the stubborn genes we've all inherited! - but we are able to get over that when it counts.