16+3 - An Update...

So I realised I've literally written nothing at all about this pregnancy, and wanted to do a bit of an update. The main reason I've written nothing - nothing to report!

Baby is fine so far - I heard the heartbeat last week at the midwife. I'm 16 weeks now, and all went well at 12 week scan. Booked in for 20 week scan in a few weeks time to hopefully check all is okay and find out gender (if baby cooperates!)

I've not felt any movements for sure yet, although I might have felt a few - it's difficult to tell with running about. Would be nice to feel a few little kicks but I remember that the novelty wears off when you have bruised ribs!

To be honest - I've not had a lot of time to think about this baby and the time has just flown by so far. I often feel a little guilty, as I spent so much time thinking about baby things when pregnant with Alice, and I've hardly acknowledged that I'm pregnant this time! But I guess that's what happens with a second baby.

I've been really lucky so far, only had a little bit of sickness and no aches or pains yet - just been quite tired but even that seems to have lifted somewhat. I've definitely got a little bump now, but only put on about 4lb so far - I really want to try and limit my weight gain but we will see how that goes.

We literally haven't bought a thing for the baby, but I guess that will change if we find out gender etc. I've always tried to be a bit gender neutral with clothes, and all our big items (pushchairs etc.) are all neutral so nothing big to buy. All the cloth nappies are pink (mistake on my part!) but the baby will have to deal with that!

Name-wise we have picked a few girls names, and not even one boys name. We have never ever been able to decide on a boys name, so here's hoping it's a girl ;)

Bit of a boring post - but I like boring pregnancy! Hoping for another boring 5 months really!

With love and light xo

Dear Alice - 22/23 Months

Dear Alice,

In a few days you will be 23 months old. That is nearly 2 years old and that is terrifying!

You seem to have grown up all of a sudden in these past few weeks - you look taller and bigger and just less baby like. You've started wearing your hair in a bobble and I catch sight of you and just melt with how huge my little girl is!

You've started counting to 15 - sometimes 20. You count all the time; stairs, shoes, fingers, toes, animals, books. I tried counting backwards today and you counted 5-1 and added blast off at the end! You are adorable.

You can also sing all the alphabet, and the way you say "double-oo" is the cutest thing in the world.

You sing millions of songs - incy wincy, little miss muffet, grand old duke, humpty dumpty (or umpy tumpy as you call him), and about ten thousand more. You want to sing ALL THE TIME and hate being asked to be quiet. You also want me to join in - fine at home; less fine in the Tesco queue!

Along with singing you also love dancing and spinning - you are basically a huge drama queen who wants all the attention all the time. I have no idea where you get that from ;).

We went on holiday a few weeks ago and you had a brilliant time. We went with 15 adults and 3 kidlets, and you looooved the attention! You played nicely with Amelia for the first time, and loved stroking baby Abi's face (sometimes a little too much). You had lots of tasty firsts - first doughnut, first fish and chips at the seaside. Not surprisingly, you loved them all!


Since we went on holiday you now love hiding after playing a giant game of hide and seek. On more than one occasion I have completely lost you!

Since spending time with Amelia on holiday I've noticed your sentences have been a lot clearer too, and you've started stringing together whole sentences / questions / answers etc. It's made it a ton easier to understand what you want and avoid frustration on both parts.

You saw your baby brother or sister a few weeks ago on the scan - you gave them a little wave and then threw all your raisins on the floor in boredom. I'm trying to get you used to the idea of a new baby but currently you are mostly uninterested in the whole notion.

As always, we love you more than anything in the world.

With love and light xo

Dear Alice - 21 Months

Dear Alice,

You are 21 months old today, which feels like it's rapidly approaching your second birthday! I know I say this every month but I sometimes wish we could just hit a pause button or something?

Your words and mini sentences are coming on all the time now, and you're putting phrases together which can be easily understood - "upstairs mummy cat", or "snacks raisins more". You're picking up new words every day and sometimes I have to try and figure out what they mean first! You also say thank you to everything which is adorbz. You may have accidentally picked up a little Mansfield - this week you've been saying "slippy mummy int it?" and "a-up" to people we pass - you will fit right in!



Your colours are developing loads, along with your shapes. Mama drew some things for you and you quite happily told us it was a "blue triangle" and a "yellow star". Alice - you are badass.

You can also count to 15 when you can be bothered, but tend to get distracted around 4 and just skip straight to repeating the number 8 a few times.


You are also obsessed with singing, particularly the grand old duke of york. You kind of wander over demanding a cuddle, then when that person is trapped, you chant "duke" at them till you get your way. Very sneaky! Orrrr you stand in the middle of the room and start with "ohhhh the....." until someone carries on with the song. Sounds adorable - not quite so much after the first 30 times.

You are also a huge fan of dancing lately, which would be fine if it didn't involve me swinging you round the kitchen at any given point! One happy dancing baby = one tired mummy!

The past few weeks you've had your first play in the snow which you loved. We made a tiny baby snowman for you which you promptly demolished. We also took you out for a walk on the sledge which you either loved or were terrified by - it's quite difficult to tell.


In my no. 1 parenting of the week, you are utterly transfixed by the iPad, and can easily locate it; unlock it; navigate to your folder; open Youtube; open the history; browse all your favourite cartoons and select one. It's quite odd seeing a 1 year old search for Peppa, only to settle for the Mandarin version because it was closer. You've also took a shining to Barney - who likes the weird purple dinosaur?!

Finally, we are also having another baby! You keep pointing to my belly and saying "sister", however when I asked you if you wanted a brother or sister, you replied "horsey". Then thought about it for a minute, and added "or buttons". Easy done.

Alice - you are beautiful. You will always be my baby.

With love and light xo

Exciting News...

I'm pregnant! I just want to shout it from the rooftops - how exciting is that?

And also completely terrifying at the same time. How on earth did I think I would ever be able to cope with two when I can sometimes barely cope with one?!

How am I ever going to love anyone the same as I love Alice? Is there a finite amount of love?

Will Alice miss out? Will I be a worse mother? Will I ever shower again??

But mostly we are ridiculously excited. We are so lucky to have such a brilliant little girl, who will make the best big sister.

From what I can work out, I'm due late August / Early September. So far I've been feeling sick, tired, and a little achy - but I think that's mostly from running round a lot over Christmas. The sickness hasn't hit properly yet, so hoping that will keep away until after Amsterdam.

We've told all grandparents, and decided not to keep it a secret until 12 weeks this time, so just tell people when we see them. However I'm not going to put anything online for a few weeks, I'll write stuff then post it all later. Sorry blog!

Mitch is calling the baby Odin. Not. A. Chance.

The best Christmas present ever! :)

With love and light xo

Christmas

Yesterday was Christmas! Obviously last Christmas Alice had no clue at all what was happening, so this year was so much more fun. She still had no concept of Santa etc, but got very into shouting "PRESENTS" and being given toys. Happy days!

Alice has been thoroughly spoiled and is loving her presents, especially an amazing wooden kitchen, the bubble machine (best £3 ever!), and her big new stack of books. She's spent all day today fetching people cakes and tarts with her new tea set, but then taking them away before they can eat them.



I literally cannot remember how Christmas could even have been 1/100th as special without Alice running around being ridiculous.

Just a brief blog really to add a few photos, as tomorrow we're going to Amsterdam! Well, without Alice anyway. I bought it as a surprise present for Mitch and we're just going away for a few days. With the exciting news we've just had, a little break away will be lovely :).











With love and light xo

Dear Alice - 19/20 Months

Dear Alice,

You are now 19, nearly 20 months old!

One of the biggest changes in you over the past month or so has been your development with words. It would be impossible to list all the words you know - every day you surprise us! You are also starting to put mini sentences together to let us know what you want. I would guess at maybe 100+, with some of my favourite new phrases being "silly sauage" and "it's raining"!

It's brilliant being able to communicate with you more - you also have impeccable comedy timing!

Along with the word development, you have also started becoming much clearer with your numbers, and can count to 10 with a bit of help. You can also identify colours - red, yellow, green, blue, pink, orange, silver, black and purple. However you will only do this when not directly asked!

You love singing songs, which means I am pretty much constantly singing nursery rhymes at you - you love Twinkle Twinkle the most. A few nights ago I put you down to sleep and you sung it to yourself for 15 minutes and I nearly spent all night crying with how adorable you are.

You also love Old Macdonald, however he only ever seems to have ducks and cats...


You have become obsessed with Mickey Mouse and Peppa Pig. You alternate between which one, and sometimes you want both at the same time.

Yesterday we discovered that you love piggy backs, and I have also now discovered that you are VERY HEAVY! We weighed you on the scales and you are over 2 stone.


Your hair is the most beautiful thing in the entire world. It curls into the most beautiful ringlets and I could stroke it all day. However you do not approve, and would rather spend the entire day looking like a mad scientist.

You have still been pushing your look with tantrums and throwing things, but you are also incredibly adorable, and know fully well how to use that to your advantage. You flirt shamelessly with strangers, singing them twinkle twinkle and blowing kisses.

We moved house last month, after spending months getting the new house ready. I hope you will be very happy here, and we will have lots of fun times. You seem to like it so far - but your room is the best in the house!

We are nearly at Christmas, and I can't wait to have a first Christmas with you where you understand a little more of what's going on. We bought you an advent calender but it ended badly - lots of tantrums and you demanding "more chocolate!". Perhaps next year!


Every month I think I couldn't love you anymore, and every month I do! You are incredible Alice.

With love and light xo

Dear Alice - 17 Months

Dear Alice,

You are now 17 months old! Again, I'm sorry that I've missed a month out but time always seems to just slip through my fingers.

These past few months I've noticed such a distinct change in you, from being my tiny little baby girl, to my little toddler. It's been a strange adjustment to you no longer being a baby! You are also quite big for your age, and we've had to move into 2-3 for a lot of your clothes and vests.

After a hard few months you are now going to sleep loads better in the daytime, and most days having between an hour and 2 in the afternoon. You (most of the time) go to sleep on your own without us having to do anything which is a lot easier than singing or rocking you to sleep!

You have really come on leaps and bounds with your words - every single day you seem to be coming out with new words and sounds. You're also able to say most of them without prompting, and you completely understand what the word means. Just a few of the words you now say - cracker, banana, mummy, daddy, mama, nanny, slide, kitty, pussy, cat, robot, seesaw, swing, slide, park, teeth, shoes, socks, toast, iggle, duck, quack, ball, kick, no, nice, kiss, book, sun, light, nose, eyes, mouth, colour, clock and sorry!


You're understanding of words and phrases has also come on a lot. If I say "bedtime" you will get your teddy and sit at the bottom of the stairs. Or if I say "breakfast" you will go and try and get in your high chair. Or if I say "kisses" you will run off giggling and shaking your head no!

You are constantly walking, running, playing and giggling. From 6am to 7pm you are pretty much none stop wanting to play! The first thing you ask for in the morning is "colour" and you love drawing pictures and swirls. You love to go to the park and burn some energy off, and if it was up to you we would be there every day.


You love dancing and singing to music, but have specific tastes. Sometimes you will love a song, then something else will come on and you will shake your head and say no! Maybe I'll keep an eye n your budding music taste incase you spend too much time with daddy...

Alongside all the lovely things, you are also developing a mardy streak! Especially if you've been forced into your pram when you'd rather be running round and making a mess. It's made going out anywhere none child friendly a million times harder! I have my first ridiculously mardy / screamy child in Tesco experience last week. You slammed your head on the trolley to get my attention, and when I got you out for a cuddle you ran off half crying / half giggling.


You will have complete tantrums and melt downs if I take something off you, or won't give you what you want. Today you only wanted to eat carrots, and if I tried to get you something else you just cried about it.

However, mostly you are incredibly funny and sweet. You love spending time with people and being the centre of attention, making them laugh and playing silly games. It takes me forever to get anywhere as I have to stop and talk to people you have pointed at or sung to!

You are challenging and difficult, but amazing and incredible. Every day I learn more about being a mum, and every day you make me laugh.

With love and light xo

Dear Alice - 15/16 Months

Dear Alice,

I'm sorry I missed out your 15 month update - butttt, better late than never right?

You are now 15 months old - and an awful lot has changed round here! We've had a very busy few months and have barely had time to breathe, let alone write on this blog.



You are now walking like a champ! You started about 6 weeks ago with a few tentative steps, and from that you have launched straight into running round like a complete maniac. It took you a few weeks to find your footing (literally), but you now don't crawl at all and love to chase the cat round. Poor kitty.

Speaking of kitty, you are now talking - but only saying 4 words! We have... kitty, daddy, shoes, and nose. Obviously the important things in life ;). I'm still waiting for mummy, which we say occasionally but I think mostly by accident!


We also got married!! You were a flower girl at our wedding on the 16th June, and you were absolutely perfect. You danced and cuddled and were just lovely. Your cousin Amelia was also a flower girl and you both looked perfect. I'm so glad that we all now have the same surname and I very much love our little family.

You have also had 2 holidays in the last month - lucky duck! We took you to Center Parcs for our honeymoon and you loved the ducks, bunnies and squirrels. We took you swimming every day and we all had an amazing time. You also had your first overnight stays with grandparents which was very strange for us, but you were an absolute angel!


For the other holiday we went with your nanny, granddad, and aunty Dayna to Devon for a week. We had such an amazing time as a big family!! You went to The Big Sheep which was brilliant, and you got to stroke lambs, feed the sheep, and bet on sheep racing! We also went to Exmoor Zoo and your favourite animals were the lemurs, the meerkats, or anything remotely "kitty" related! We went swimming loads and you're really getting the hang of your arm bands. You loved having time to spend with everyone and all the attention you received!

In Devon you also developed a new love of parks - slides and swings especially. This made everyone exercise by chasing you round the dangerous park of death! But the smile on your face when you come down a slide is absolutely worth it.

You're developing so much every day - you now do the signs to songs with no prompting, and try and get dressed yourself / put your shoes on every morning. You recognise more words than you can say, as you sometimes (when you want to!) fetch the item I've asked for.


You will also play happily with people or on your own sometimes, however we have also now developed the infamous toddler tantrum. I have no idea where it came from, but we now have arched back and screaming if I ever dare to try and make you do something you don't want.

This can be anything from "stop playing with the screwdriver" to "don't walk that way". It's a cross between frustrating, annoying, embarassing, and funny. I am not looking forward to this getting worse!


But, you are one amazing little girl. You are so lovely and I love spending time with you. I can't wait to watch you grow some more.

Love you more than anything in the world.

With love and light xo

Instagram - May 2012

My life lately according to my iPhone! Follow me on Instagram @evenstarx :)

 

  With love and light xo