2007

So, it's all over for another year. Today we will start to dismantle the Christmas tree and decorations and return to normality (whatever that is).

The Princess has been sleeping terribly and last night we were up for a three stretch. We were all up, wide awake. There was a lot of crying (from more than one person) and lots of scary thoughts of a family of four being awake all night long in a few months time.

SO as of tonight we have to sort out this sleep issue. In my heart I think there a few issues, one being total overtiredness due to the festive fun and lack of naps and the other being an issue of control by the Princess, she wants to dictate our sleeping arrangements and as of today this WILL stop.

My back hurts, my belly is huge, I didn't get enough sleep and I wanted to start this year on a high!

On the positive side, I had a fab Christmas. I ate my (considerable) weight in chocolate, got some fabulous gifts and had the most special time with my family, so it's not all bad.

So forgive me for moaning about my tired state, but I am hoping this will be the last blog in the subject for a few months. I may be missing from the blogosphere for a while as the sleep thing will only get worse before it gets better but give me a week and I hope we will ALL be having beautiful dreamy nights.

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO.

Happy Christmas and a Groovy New Year

Hope your Christmas was as good as ours.

The Princess has had a ball and totally got into the whole spirit of things. I THINK we managed to do the whole Santa/Rudi thing and manage to teach her a little of the real reason for the season. We did lots of activities and reading on both subjects and the two didn't seem to get too blurred so I think a resounding success is to be claimed.

It has been the magical Christmas that we have dreamed of for 10+ years and was worth waiting for.

The Princess has been amazing, she ate everything in sight, slept amazingly (14 hours+ on Christmas night woohoo!!!) and behaved like the perfect princess. I couldn't have imagined that she would shout her thanks to Santa after every present opened and she asked to make thank you cards to send to everyone who sent her gifts (lots and lots of them). She really amazes me more every day.

Now we are heading towards the New Year - 2007 and what will that bring in the Princess' life? Well, we know that she will become a big sister, turn three and start pre-school but as to how she will change in the next 12 months - who knows, but I for one am very very excited about finding out and watching every minute it.

New Year Resolutions?

I don't think there is much point in me making these this year as I will be lucky just to get dressed each day and make it through the year with all my marbles, so I'll leave all the weight loss and self improvement stuff until 2008 and maybe then I will be able to think straight.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL, HOPE IT ROCKS FOR YOU.

Wake Up and Smell The Coffee

Hubby and I love coffee. We love the taste, the aroma and more than anything , if we are honest we love the ritual.

When Hubby retires, his dream is to open a cool coffee shop which battles valiantly against all those chain coffee shops out there. Some of the chains make pretty good coffee (Cafe Nero ranks up there as one of the best) but most of them lack character and a cool relaxed vibe. I know they try to but most fail.

We know all about how difficult it is to open a small business these days especially one which tries to compete against a huge corporation but we can dream.

Anyway, we found this little movie on youtube recently which perfectly demonstrates how some people have a passion for doing coffee and doing it well. Try clicking here, it's cool.

I'd like to see the 'baristas' in our local Starbucks do that!

How I Love Thee

If you haven't already discovered Montezuma's chocolate delights, go now and get some!!!

We bought their DOS Hot Chocolate earlier this year and it is amazing - Hot Chocolate with Chilli!!!! Sounds gross but tastes fab. Last weekend we bought TRES Hot Chocolate with nutmeg - nice!!! It's like drink liquid rice pudding - most comforting and yummy.

We have visited the Windsor shop and are lucky enough to live fairly close to the Chichester one and after a quick look around their website I see that there is now a shop in Winchester, so that will be next on the list.

Pregnancy cravings? Moi? Chocolate fiend? - Well maybe a little!!!!!

Hospitals, Dentists and Post Offices

Hopefully will only have to visit two of the above missing out the Dentist bit!

Today I plan to post all of our Christmas cards so will be joning the queue at the Post Office. I do have stamps at home but it seems that this year with the new sizing system and the fact that we have several cards for overseas, there is no choice but to join the queue. Oh well, at least I may get a laugh in the process. Our Post Master is eccentric and every on every visit he seems to introduce you to a new personality of his - odd!

Today we also have to visit the hospital for our 20 week scan of baby. We are hoping to find out the baby's gender but you never know if baby will be playing hard to get. He/she has been really active this morning and I am hoping he/she will be just as gymnastic when we have a peek.

On the Dentist front, I have had a niggle around one of my teeth for a few days, it couldn't be described as pain but a niggle which couldn't be ignored. I know that dentistry is free whilst pregnant but I could really do without it right now. It seems to have gone away now but it did make me a little nervous as the thought of a Christmas break and me unable to take pain relief scares me. Anyway I will see how it goes over the next few days - fingers, toes and everything else crossed that I don't have to make that particular visit.

Talk Talk Talk

The Princess' language evolution is relentless. last night we were watching some video footage from a year ago, her language was restricted to simple one word object identification. Today it's a collection of thoughts, feelings, observations, consideration of consequences and mimicry.

It makes me proud and it completely blows my mind.

Being able to witness firsthand how a child develops is probably the most amazing thing I will ever do with my life. The fact that every single parent in the world has or is experiencing the same miracle doesn't diminish it for me at all.

I know have said it time and time again but she completes our lives and amazes us every day. We are going to have another baby in April and the thought of watching another person find their way in the world like the Princess is doing is really exciting - we are so lucky to be experiencing this and I try never to take a single moment for granted.

Speaking of the current pregnancy, something happened this week and I have grown enormous - really enormous. So much so that I was really scared of just how big I might actually get by the end. We looked back on the photos of my belly from the 2004 pregnancy though and it appears that I ballooned at 20 weeks then too, so this must be a big growth week - scared very scared.

Christmas is coming......

Starting to feel festive now. Probably helped by the fact that we couldn't find a parking space when shopping yesterday and we are knee deep in Christmas cards and tinsel.

Today we plan to get our Christmas tree, decorate it, go and see Santa (and his huskies!??) and generally immerse ourselves in sparkle and cheer.

I have always loved this time of year but it is especially special now that we have the Princess. Although there are less drunken Christmas parties (make that none) this is more than made up for my the magic seen through the Princess' eyes. It's just magical.

To change to subject slightly, this week I had my first online debate and dare I say got cyber stroppy! I regularly read and contribute to a forum which is for people who are/have experienced infertility in any of its forms. I am currently following boards which are full of people who are around the same stage of pregnancy as me following some kind of assisted conception. I couldn't beleive it when one person started a thread about festive drinking and how much she would be drinking over Christmas. Now, I normally say live and let live and if you want to give your baby a alcoholic drink, then that's your choice (it's a fact that alcohol that is consumed by you WILL be passed onto the baby you are carrying) but a debate started about units and I can't believe the ignorance out there.

Some people (admitted only a few) are using the ridiculous government guidlines of 2 units a week as the gospel and are drinking this amount regularly. What they fail to realise is that those units were based on a system devised 20 years ago and were worked on 8% alcohol in a 125ml glass - this measure and % is rarely available now - more likely 13% in a 175ml glass - this equates to 2.3 units in one glass - therefore two glasses on a night out equates to nearly 5 units.

When reading about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome it is hard to understand why anyone takes the risk. We aren't just talking about major disabilities but milder conditions such as behaviour problems and ADHD - I just can't take the risk and find it hard to understand those that find that a easy choice to make, especially those that have wanted a child and had to resort to assisted conception. I would do anything for my children and if means no champagne or mulled wine this Christmas then so be it - I know what I would prefer!!!!

Whinge over - back to the tinsel and mince pies........

Tears In The Night

This morning at 4am the Princess started to cry. Properly cry. We were close to going to her rescue when the crying stopped and we heaved a stereo sigh of relief and turned back to our dreams.

On waking this morning the Princess' first words were "I was crying in the night". Upon questioning she said that she had seen a TV programme in which a baby was crying and it had made her sad in her dreams. Now, I have no idea what programme this was as we watched very little TV yesterday but she is going to have to get used to baby crys.

She is talking about babies a lot now, maybe because my belly is getting so much bigger and more obvious. She seems to be slowly coming round to the fact that it might be a boy, but it still doesn't thrill her as 'boys don't like pink'!!!!

Speaking of my belly, after my last preganancy it took me two years to get back into a reasonable size/shape as I believed the propaganda which tells you that breastfeeding takes you back to your original size - c**p!

I always said that if I was ever pregnant again, I would never let myself get as big and I would be one of those yummy mummies who stay their normal size with just a bump bolted onto the front - it's not happening. Some people obviously just get fat when preggo and I am one of them. I am not over eating and am much more active this time but the weight is piling on. I hate to think how I will look by the end.

Oh well, by the time I am 40 I might be skinny, sexy and getting some sleep!!!!

New Layout

I have lost some of my stuff in the move to this new layout and right now I can't be bothered to get my html head on and start putting links etc back on - so I hope there is nothing missing that you loved and relied on me to link to.

I like the template though so will leave it like this for a while.

The Fog Is Clearing

Thank goodness.

The past few months have been awful, I have had loads to worry about and things have been pretty tough emotionally, but things are looking up...

We had a scan last week and baby is looking great, in fact it is a week ahead in size and the lovely consultant has offered us another scan in December for piece of mind.

The princess has been sick all week with raging temperatures and yesterday that finally lifted and we were able to leave the house. She also ate a meal (tiny though it was) for the first time since last Saturday.

The princess also went to see Santa in his gingerbread house yesterday and after her inital reluctance she loved seeing him and chatted away telling him that she would be leaving him a mince pie and some carrots for Rudolph.

Another big thing yesterday was the Princess moving to her new PINK big girls bedroom. She loves it and actually asked to go to bed last night. She slept brilliantly and didn't get up until 8am - what a girl.

So things are brighter, just a couple of things to sort out and life might run smoothly for a while.

Another Bad Night..

Therefore too much time to think about curious things.

The Princess has another cold (I may have mentioned this 10,000 times already). My glorious, happy, smiling little princess is a inconsolable, feverish, snotty ball of misery and I am not happy either.

I am annoyed for two reasons. One: She gets colds too often and where other kids seem to shake them off we have to cope with fevers and this is incredibly scary when you have a child who has had fits caused by fever and usually ends up in hospital. Two: Why does she get soooo ill when she was exclusively breastfed?

I have done loads of reading on the subject and there is no doubting that all evidence points to the fact that breast is best and apart from producing intelligent, kind, perfectly rounded human beings (or something like that) AND their immune systems should be fantastic.

So why can't the princess cope with even a cold without descending into full out illness? She picks up every bug going and suffers more than most other kids.

When bambino 2 arrives I fully intend to breastfeed, as I found the whole experience of feeding the princess not only gratifying personally (nothing like knowing that YOU are making this little person grow) but a totally grounding and beautiful experience - but am I going to do it to build up immunity? No! as it seems that this has absolutely no bearing on how the princess has ended up.

Anyway, enough of my moaning for one day. Lets hope we can get over this one soon and then I think I may lock her in the house away from all germs until May! (joke)

Coughs and Sneezes.....

You know the rest!

Yup, The Princess has another fever brought on by a cold. She is currently visting the doctor with Daddy to see whats up.

Our major concern is that because her throat hurts so much, she just won't take any medicine therefore her temperature is shooting through the roof. We have been helpfully tod to hold her down and get it in (as if we hadn't thought of that!!) but this just results in vomit and a really upset girly.

Looks like another day on the sofa for us!

Aargggghhhhh!!!!

My Brain

Those who know me, know that I am a constant quest to fill my head with knowledge, on a very long journey to spiritual enlightenment and generally improve my mind and soul.

Saying that I am also almost scarily interested in all things related to pop culture, celeb and fashion and I have discovered something which satisfies all of these in some small way.....

Celebrity Scissorhands on BBC3 is great.

It does have Steve Strange in the mix which who of course I love to watch. It must be hard for young viewers of the show to understand that that jittery old fella is infact responsible for the how the british club scene developed not only in the 80's but was also integral in the trance movement. If only there were people in pop now who were half as interesting and colourful.......

It must be said that I also have a teeny weeny little crush on Lee Stafford too, so that helps.

Dear Father Christmas.....

How are you? Busy I expect, it's getting close to *whisper* 'that time of year' ....

I thought I would send you my letter nice and early as I have quite a few requests this year.

If possible I would like....

1. An extra 2 hours in bed every night

2. Self waxing legs, eyebrows etc etc

3. A fool proof weight loss solution ready for action in approx May 2007

4. Perfect health for my children (always)

5. A villa near Puerto Banus

6. World Peace

Thanks very much.

p.s if none of these are possible some nice bubble bath would do just fine.

Lots of love

K x

Parenting Styles - who knew?

I enjoy being a Mummy.

I enjoy spending time with my Princess and enjoy seeing an amazing human being developing and growing.

My parenting style has changes dramatically over the past two years, obviously as she grows and new challenges present themselves, new tactics and skills are required from me! The other big change has been that I am now so much more relaxed. I started off as a manic mother and I hope I have eased off A LOT.

Maybe I am lucky or maybe I have done a good job parenting but the Princess is so good and a joy to be around.

Just lately I have noticed that my way of parenting has been quite zero tolerance compared to others but this seems to have paid off and we now have a princess who rarely needs telling off and if she does - it's all over in five minutes. Of course it is still early days and it could all go horribly wrong but right now - she's great.

Some parents don't share my opinion and believe that their little angels couldn't possibly be told off, they believe that a bit of push and shove is all part of learning to socialise and develop independence and confidence (Rubbish! It's just that fact that your child is a bully and you don't want to take any action about it incase little 'trevor' doesn't like you)and some think its character building (oooh, he knows what he wants! - Don't we all but we don't smash others in the face to get it!!!!)

I am also learning that in comparison to many middle class parents, I am a stern downright hard mum but this side of me rarely has to come to the front as the Princess is an angel (99% of the time).

My point with all of this waffle is really me wondering if it is the brilliance of my parenting that has created such an intelligent, well behaved, kind, generous child or has it been luck? Maybe I will get a huge shock with the next bambino and all of my 'skills' will be proved inadequate, shoddy and downright ineffective - baby two could be a beast who screams all day long and smashes other children out of the way.

All I say is, I am new at this and am making it up as I go along but with a lot of love and tons of attention I think children thrive and so that is the way I will continue - am I right? OF COURSE I ALWAYS AM!!!!

Georgie Baby

Tonight I will be watching the documentary about Boy George. I have heard that it harks back to the old days a little too much but a fix of George is all I need!!!!

Hello - I'm Back

I have been very poor at blogging recently but now that the morning sickness has subsided I am beginning to feel slightly human again - so to those that didn't know - yes I am with child!!!!

Life is good.

The princess is gorgeous and fills our life with love and laughter so the thought of another little person is just so exciting - how much fun can one house hold????

Today the princess and I visited the hairdressers and she was so well behaved. She now can't stop looking in mirrors at herself - so not like her mum.

Hopefully I will be back to full bloggage in the very near future - it all feels a bit rusty at the moment.

Build a post

Rain sunny visitors tired good girl sleep Big Brother rubbish poo pants rubbish food good husband busy august weather what Fimbles fall claimsdirect loaded holidays happy nearly Christmas

Hot Topics...Hot Topics...Hot Topics....

Mmmmm is it only me who was very very suspicious of BB Pete's talk of his dead friend and his belief in Heaven last night? I have always hoped he would win but just recently have found him to be putting on too much of a performance. All this 'romance' with Nikki....obviously, my first reaction was that she is using him to get her heat/OK magazine 'couple' deal but now I am beginning to think that both sides appear to be playing the same game. After all it is a game!!!!

I actually prefer Aislynne (sp?)at the moment and although she is rather over dramatic at least she is not using peoples emotions in an effort to win.

Just my thoughts!

Mini Update

Hi

Haven't been around much lately. Busy busy busy .......

The Princess has changed enourmously recently and is becoming just so grown up and has left behind all her baby/toddler ways.

We have just confirmed her place at our local pre-school, which she starts in Feb next year. What the heck am I going to do with two mornings a week??? Probably curl up in a ball and weep for four hours. She is going to love it - Me? not so much!

Her language is developing so fast it scares me.

She is also a bit ( a lot) of a character only today she came out with these crackers....

We had a salesman here today to talk about garage conversions and replacement facias etc. As usual with salesmen he couldn't sense when to draw it to an end and read the body language that we were done with him - that is until the Princess said in her clearest and loudest voice "When is that man going to stop talking". He got the hint and after laughing he soon packed up his "excellent finance package" and headed for the door.

Her second quote of the day was this, said in a very grown up way...
Me.. "Would you like to go to the toilet before you go out?"
Her.. "Not yet I am a little bit busy at the moment!"

She is now potty trained and uses the big toilet. She is a star and she makes her Mummy and Daddy so very very proud.