Me and Mine {August 2015}

The first of September already!  I can't quite believe it.  August has been a good month on the whole: I've spent a lot of quality time with my two little boys, we've had a lot of days out and I feel we really made the most of the summer, despite the rather gloomy, rainy weather.  This month, the blog has taken a back seat while we just got on with having fun.  To be honest, the school holidays have worn me out to the extent where finding the energy to edit photos and write posts in the evenings has been beyond me!

I do feel that we've packed as much as I possibly could into this summer, which is exactly what I set out for us to do.  Just over a week to go and the school holidays will be over for us, and we will be entering a brand new routine as a family.  I'm looking forward to it, but also know that I will probably miss the more carefree, let's-not-worry-too-much-about-late-nights kinda days.

So, here's what we've all got up to in August.

I have:

*been enjoying the start of the Great British Bake-Off
*been catching up with some friends for playdates and much-needed school holiday morale support!

*enjoyed a day out at Carsington Water with the family, and a particularly beautiful sunset on the way home

*bought a lovely new yellow raincoat from Joules

*been having mixed feelings about the approach of school for M

*loved hearing M tell me he loves me so much
*loved taking some family shots at a lavender farm in the Cotswolds

Two Boy Daddy has:

*officially started in his new job, and has been enjoying getting paid!
*enjoyed going out for a steak at a new place in town

*had a night out with the lads (although he came home early as he was sleep-deprived!)

M has:

*loved his first sleepover at his Granddad's house

*started to practice his 'American' accent

*a new habit of saying 'Excuse me' before saying anything!

*had a great day out with friends at Drayton Manor Park

*tried pizza for the first time and loved it!

*been getting excited for the start of school

*loved our family movie night where we had sweets and watched 'Over the Hedge'

F has:

*enjoyed trying some new cereals for breakfast
*loved playing with a soft ball in the house
*started to listen more to stories, with 'Snuggle Bunny' being a particular favourite
*started to say 'No no no no!' and 'Mummumumum!'

*found a new place to explore - under the kitchen table

*enjoyed pushing cars along the carpet


Our photos for August were taken on the last weekend of the month, on a visit to Carsington Water where we met up with my mum and step-dad and my auntie and uncle, who had taken their caravans for a weekend away. We had a great day with lots of walking, messing about on the edges of the reservoir, and then topped off with a BBQ.  The boys both had a lovely time.  Here's our Me and Mine photo, followed by a couple of outtakes!

Me and Mine {July 2015}

I am more and more grateful for this lovely linky, for encouraging me to take regular portraits of our little family, as we grow and change throughout the year.  And I think my photography is all the better for having the regular practice. 

It seems incredible really that we are at the end of July already, and that we only have five more of these shots to go before this year's Me and Mine is complete.  This month has been my favourite of the year so far; lots of happy family days, and confirmation of a new job for G, which will give us a lot more financial security, although it will mean that we will need to make even better use of our weekends now that he will no longer be self-employed and able to take a day off a regular intervals. 

I'm making the most of the opportunity to go outside and get some photos in natural light, with some lovely backdrops.  July's photos were taken on a recent day out to a lavender farm in the Cotswolds, and it was the first time we've taken the tripod out with us.



This second photo is by no means technically great; my hair is flying over my face in the breeze, F is busy trying to grad a handful of it, and M is pulling a typically cheeky face, but it's so us somehow.  It captures the slight chaos that goes with taking two small boys out for the day.

In July, I have:

 

 

* been astonished that my little boy turned four!  Where on earth did my baby boy go?

* loved a night out at Miyako Teppynaki restaurant with my lovely family

*been so proud of G, as he was offered and accepted a great job

*bagged some fantastic Next bargains for the boys, even though I did have to queue at 4.30am!

*enjoyed the first of several weekly Mummy and M dates at Thinktank, Birmingham

*loved a day out to a lavender farm, and having a cream tea afterwards

*riding the log flume with M at Gulliver's Kingdom

 

G has:

 

*bagged a fantastic new job, with a company on the up

*begun work on transforming the part of the garden into a little boys' playground

*enjoyed his first taste of Japanese food in Birmingham

*grown an itchy beard but then decided to shave it all off

*spending time with his family at Gulliver's Kingdom

*had fun exploring Tamworth Castle with his two boys

 

M has:

 

*waved goodbye to pre-school, and begun to tell everyone about primary school

*loved spending two nights in Nanny S and Granddad B's caravan

*had a really exciting birthday weekend, with a day out, and two parties!

*learnt to count to 100

*had an exciting day out on the train with Mummy to Thinktank, Birmingham

*learnt to say 'excuse me' when adults are talking

*had a few bad dreams and disturbed nights

*liked exploring the lavender fields

 

F has:

 

*enjoyed sitting with the other children at his big brother's birthday party

*loved the freedom that crawling has given him

*become obsessed with Ozzy the cat

* loved his new garden swing

*tried lots of new finger foods at family mealtimes

*learnt how to clap, wave, cruise, and cut his first two teeth

 



Me and Mine {June 2015}

I'm a little late for the monthly family portrait project this time round, but better late than never.  Our photo for June was taken by a kind German tourist who was sitting on the adjacent table to ours at a lovely little courtyard restaurant in Lazise, Lake Garda.

Time seems to be passing so fast, especially since the summer has arrived. It's a bit scary, really.  I can't believe that we are more than half way through 2015 already.  Joining in with this project really makes me stop and think, and try to live in the present and grab onto the moment while my boys are so little.

In June:

 

I have:

 

*loved the long days and light evenings

*enjoyed witnessing M's excitement about his Italian holiday

*loved sampling Italian gelato
*enjoyed my holiday but found it exhausting!
*been planning for M's 4th birthday
*survived a weekend looking after the boys on my own!

 

 

Two Boy Daddy has:

 

*enjoyed his trip to Amsterdam with the lads

*planned the building of a new climbing frame for the boys

*enjoyed spending some time at home and not work
*enjoyed lots of pizza and pasta after having a break from the 5:2 diet for his holiday
*been dunking M in the swimming pool

  

The First Boy has:

 

*finally learnt how to pedal his bike

*started to resist going to bed on time

*enjoyed his settling in sessions at his new primary school

*got the hang of the game 'I Spy'

*loved staying up late for BBQ's with Mummy and Daddy on holiday
*enjoyed his aeroplane flight and sleeping in his bunkbed on holiday
*discovered a penchant for Nineties dance music, particularly the track, 'Playing with Knives'

 

The Second Boy has:

 

*started to not want to sit down at all, preferring to be on his feet

*loved licking everyone's ice cream in Italy

*had his first tastes of pizza

*enjoyed bouncing up and down to music

*become increasingly excited by our cat, Ozzie

 

Me and Mine {April 2015}

We have a last minute family portrait of the four of us this month.  Blogging has definitely been on the backburner!

In April:

 

I have:

 

*loved having some warm sunshine so that the boys and I could play in the garden

*enjoyed indulging in two new Boden dresses for summer

*relished spending Easter Sunday with my family

*been glad to make the decision to go a bit blonder for the summer

*had fun meeting up with the NCT gang for a picnic and walk in the forest
*not enjoyed having the flu in the first part of the month

 

Two Boy Daddy has:

 

*enjoyed the chance to see a Saturday afternoon football match again

*been doing well on the 5:2 diet

*enjoyed watching 'Banished' on the TV
*had a rare night out with the lads

 

 

The First Boy has:

 

*become a little obsessed with Shaun the Sheep episodes!

*learnt a new word: 'Magnificent!'

*been enjoying junk modelling at pre-school

*loved feeding the goats and sheep at Ash End Farm

*sat on a pony for the first time

*decided that he will eat burgers, meatballs and salmon

*learnt how to twist spaghetti round his fork

*developed a real love of cleaning (especially using spray polish and kitchen spray cleaner)

 

The Second Boy has:

 

*learnt how to sit up independently

*started to put out his hands to be picked up

*started to eat lots of different foods, with pureed fruit as his favourite

*sat on the grass for the first time

*loved Mummy singing 'Tickly Rain' to him


 

 

 

Me and Mine {March 2015}

Oh dear!

This is a bit late!  Somehow, I've had a month off blogging. I don't really know why, other than that I've just been too exhausted, once the boys are in bed, to even think about writing anything or editing photos.  I am annoyed with myself as I wanted to keep up with at least the photo projects I've started, and the longer the hiatus has gone on the more difficult it has seemed to get back into it.

But here I am tonight.  Two Boy Daddy has gone out for the evening so it's just me and my laptop. And I want to do a bit of catching up before it becomes insurmountable.

So, March.  It seems quite a while ago now, but we did have a pretty nice month. We went on our first holiday as a foursome, and the weather got nicer, meaning it felt like we'd been let out of the house for the first time since October.

Here's our Me and Mine family photo for March. It was taken when we met up with some friends in Cornwall on Mawgan Porth beach.  I think we look really happy.

Me and Mine {February 2015}

I'm all for not wishing your life away, but I am pretty glad that we've now reached the end of February, and the end of Winter.

It's been a pretty testing winter for us as a family really. We've had cold after cold after cough after ear infection after . . . well, you get the drift.  It's been quite hard to think up things to do on those cold, wet days when we really can't face the park.  So, I'm really looking forward to milder days and the promise of sunshine.

This month, these are the things we've enjoyed:

 

Me:

Getting Gelish manicures

Beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day

Updating my wardrobe for spring

Having lots of family time during half term

Ordering some lovely baby clothes

 

Hubby:

WBA getting though to the FA Cup semi-finals

Planning our kitchen extension
Free chocolate from Cadbury World
New jeans

 

M:

Watching Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep episodes

Going to the cinema to watch Shaun the Sheep

Going ten-pin bowling for the first time

Having the pre-school bear stay over half-term

His new Angry Birds tops

The Cadabra ride at Cadbury World

 

F:

Trying to get his Lamaze Giraffe toy into his mouth

Trying to roll over
Watching us eat at mealtimes

Seeing some real sunshine for the first time

Putting some weight on his feet

Playing in his new Jumperoo

 

My Me and Mine picture this month was taken during a lovely afternoon at Rosliston Forestry Centre.  We had a nice time exploring all of the different wooden sculptures and getting a bit of fresh air.

 

 

 

 

Me and Mine {January 2015}

I'm very late!  But here's my 'Me and Mine' for January 2015. I'm very grateful that the linky is still open so I can join in!

I'd planned to get a lovely shot of the four of us on a regular weekend visit to my mum and step-dad's. But, as happens with children, on the day, M was not having any of it, and refused to sit on the sofa with us for the shot.

So we got a few candid shots taken instead, and I think this one sums up a typical January weekend for us.  A visit to my mum's, down on the floor playing a game together.

Here's the shot we were aiming for, without M!

What we've been loving this January:

Mummy:
Finishing off the Christmas chocolates

My new Lavender Yankee Candle

Going on a relaxing spa day with my mum and sister
Spending more time together as a family because Daddy has been at home more
Having our evenings back!
My new leather skirt
 

Daddy:

Being at home with his family more
Booking our 2015 holidays
Making plans for our kitchen extension
Wearing his new leather bracelet engraved with the boys' names

 

The First Boy:

Watching endless re-runs of 'The Furchester Hotel' from CBeebies
Talking to 'Zig and Zag' (Daddy's sock puppet inventions)
Making up strange words

Crafting
Fruit Corners
 

The Second Boy:
Chatting to anyone who will listen
Kicking and splashing in the bath
Sitting in his new his vibrating chair
Lots of cuddles

 

Me and Mine {December 2014}

I have two photos of the four of us to share this month, both of them unashamedly Christmassy and both of them in which we don't look our best.  But they sum up our Christmas and New Year, and I'm delighted just to be able to be part of this little family.

Taken on Christmas Day morning amidst all the wrapping paper

What we've been loving this December:

Mummy:

Christmas chocolates opened too early

Jack Daniels Honey and the occasional Bailey's

The smell of pine indoors

Making the house look all Christmassy
My new Pandora ring and bangle
Christmas morning excitement
Ice skating night out with Daddy
More lie-ins

 

Daddy:

Having a rare night out with the lads
WBA finally winning some matches
Terry's Chocolate Orange eaten in one go
More lie-ins
Our Christmas Eve feast once the boys were asleep

 

The First Boy:

Going indoor sledging and tubing for the first time

The Magical Journey

Sleepovers at grandparents' houses

Opening advent calendars

Singing songs from the pre-school nativity play
Opening presents
Playing Wii Fit Plus 

 

The Second Boy:
practising his goofy grins
sleeping on mummy and daddy
 learning how to coo
his vibrating baby rocker
staring at family photos

Taken on New Year's Eve with the selfie stick!

 

Me and Mine {November 2014}

November flew by so fast that I didn't get time to update my blog much or to post my 'Me and Mine' entry in time for the end of the month. But better late than never! Although our family photo was taken last minute, just before the First Boy's bedtime, I like it as it sums us up at the moment: tired, always behind on everything, but essentially, happy.

 

We've had a lot to deal with this month: as well as all the usual hard work and sleeplessness you get with a newborn, we've also had frequent trips to the paediatrician to check the Second Boy's elevated calcium levels, and a nasty cold has affected both boys and then manifested in us as sore throats and coughs. But, overall, it has been a good month, and one in which we all began to gel as a family of four.  Things are still full-on, but we are getting into more of a routine.

In November, I loved:

 

Being smiled at for the first time by the Second Boy

Planning what to give our boys for Christmas

Trips to the shops and cafes to meet with friends

Watching 'The Fall' and 'The Missing' on TV
Dressing the Second Boy in his lovely new outfits

 

Daddy loved:

 

Getting back into the routine of work after paternity leave

Coming home from work to his family

(Tiredness induced amnesia has meant his list is short this month!)

 

The First Boy loved:

Making new friendships and coming home from pre-school talking about the other children who's names he'd learnt

Individual raspberry trifles

Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows

Fireworks

Singing along to his nursery rhymes CD in the car

 

The Second Boy loved:

 

Being cuddled all the time

Milk and lots of it

Staring at his big brother

Learning how to smile

Me and Mine {October 2014}

I'm delighted to be joining in for the second time with the Me and Mine linky. I have two special photos this month.

October has been a momentous month for our family: we made the gigantic leap from being a family of three to becoming a foursome on 12th October when our beautiful second son was born.  My first family portrait for this month is the very first photograph of all four of us together, taken in the hospital.  It's just a phone shot, and I look terrible in it, but it means the world to me.

The second of my family portraits was taken ten days later on my husband's birthday, complete with a Colin the Caterpillar Cake. I love the way the candlelight is catching our faces.

It seems so weird that at the beginning of October I was 35 weeks pregnant, just started maternity leave and ready to get some much needed rest before the arrival of our second child.  And now, at the end of the month, I am mummy to two little boys.

October has been so busy; the second half of the month has gone by in a complete blur.  We have experienced such joy, yet such terror.  We now have the most beautiful second little boy to love, but we went through such anguish when he was admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis at 5 days old, something which I will be blogging about in the next few days, when these crazy newborn days give me some more time. 

We also celebrated G's 43rd birthday, and took the Second Boy on his first family outing to pick a pumpkin.

This month, I have loved:

* Kissing my baby's velvety little head over and over again
* Being able to reach to fasten my shoes at last
* Not having to go to work
* Watching my First Boy cuddle my newborn
* Having so much support from G on paternity leave
* Taking photos of my two boys
* tiny baby outfits filling the house with the scent of baby washing powder

G has loved:

* Celebrating his birthday with his two boys
* Terry's Chocolate Orange
* Cuddling the Second Boy on his chest
* feeling proud of his First Boy's reaction to his new brother
* Family Autumn days out

The First Boy has loved:

* Being introduced to playing games on the Wii
* Baby brother being out ('I didn't like him when he was in your tummy, Mummy, but I like him now he's out.')
* Getting his very own box of Guylian chocolates as a present from his new brother
* Learning new songs at pre-school ('I had  a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim')
* Beans with Sausages on toast
*Stroking his baby brother's head

The Second Boy has loved:

* Mummy's milk
* Doing lots and lots of sleeping
* His comfy Moses basket
* Listening to the sounds of his Daddy's voice
* Being snuggled up tight
* Looking at his black and white baby books

I am really looking forward to life slowing down a little bit and to getting into more of a routine.  October has been amazing for our family but also so stressful.


 

Me and mine {September}

I love the idea of summing up our past month as a family in connection with the Me and Mine linky.  I'm a couple of days later than the last day of the month, but look forward to joining in anyway.

For us, September has been a sad month, as the family all come to terms with the loss of my granddad, who passed away on 1st September.

 

But it's also been a month of milestones, with the First Boy starting at pre-school and me beginning my maternity leave. It feels like our little family of three is on the cusp of a brand new chapter. 

Here are the three of us, getting to grips with the timer setting on my camera. This took quite a few takes!  We are in beautiful East Devon, on our last holiday as a family of three.  We had a lovely afternoon out at Pecorama, with steam trains to ride and beautiful gardens to explore.

In September, I am loving the invention of leggings (comfort is key at 8 months pregnant!), new Autumn drama on the TV, starting maternity leave (yay!), Strictly Come Dancing, my new pearl jewellery, being very spoilt for my birthday.

 

G is loving school reunions, having more evening meals together as a family, building Marble Run with the First Boy, steak dinners, WBA making a good start to the football season.

 

The First Boy is loving watching Team Umizoomi on YouTube, doing things 'all by myself', Marble Run, baking cakes, caravan holidays, walking in the Autumn leaves, reading all the road signs, lots of cuddles, starting pre-school.