A little family time

My mum and I took the children to Wells, Norfolk for a mini holiday. Much needed mummy time for the older two - they love their new sister but I think the demands a baby can make are beginning to hit them. So, we've been climbing, jumping, swinging and shouting in the woods and we also had a little craft and puzzle session. Baby has been marvellously cooperative, smiling for everyone and happily sleeping away the evening in her moses basket (leaving mum and nan free to yawn their way through a couple of games of Scrabble!).

Just photos of my lovelies

Aaaargh!

I am soooooo ticked off! I have sold a few of my maternity clothes on eBay, just the barely worn ones in good condition. I have a no questions asked refund policy. And yet I have negative feedback from a buyer who didn't contact me to say 'I don't like my top, give me my money back'. It makes me so angry. I was just beginning to make new party bags to sell on eBay and I really value my reputation as an honest seller. Grrrrrrr!

Saturday

At 7.30 this morning, I was cuddled up in bed with baby snuggling on one arm, my boy laying on top of me and my eldest girl hugging me on one side and her dad on the other. We watched the wind ruffling the leaves in the tree outside the window and talked about our plans for the day. Absolutely the best start to a Saturday morning.

We live in a large cul de sac with a park in the middle (how lucky are we?!) so we played in the park this afternoon.


We played football, jumped through the hoola hoop and pretended to be monsters (tickle monsters, obviously).

Not so funny faces

He might be smiling here, but this young man threw the mother of all tantrums this morning.

It started because we had run out of brown (bran) flakes. That was at a quarter to seven. He finally ran out of steam at half past nine. We had tried ignoring it, cuddling him (how do you cuddle a bundle of kicks?), talking calmly, saying 'that's enough', leaving him on his own... I had to eat a big chunk of chocolate by the time it was all over!

We eventually made it to toddler group for a messy play session and after he'd painted quietly for a bit, he came over and we had a proper hug together, then he sat on my lap and ate his sandwiches. I love my boy, but some days are tough.

Beach babes and funny faces

My little lovey usually won't sleep unless she's cuddled up to someone, preferably mummy (although we did fool her by wrapping her in a sheet that smelt of me, but I digress) but here she is on the beach, snoozing away. Worn out from all that sea air.


And here's my best boy, in the middle of a funny face session. This was his interpretation of cross.

Five go to the seaside!

We're back from our lovely holiday in Wells, Norfolk. We had a couple of lovely days on the beach (we splurged on a gorgeous beach hut so we could have cuppas and sausage sandwiches whenever we liked!).


The beach is amazing, with sand dunes and the lovely pinewoods all around the edge. And lots of waves to jump.

You just have to watch out for strange creatures living in sand holes...

Criminal cuddling

I'll have to write this quickly, because the baby police will be here any minute to arrest me. My crimes? There are so many... my charge sheet will probably list the following: cuddling baby too often for too long; not putting the baby down when she's asleep; picking the baby up whenever she cries; picking the baby up when she's not crying; letting the baby get used to being carried when I'm doing housework - I could go on.

Why must I not let her 'get used' to being cuddled lots? I didn't have her to spend all my time 'teaching' her to be by herself, preferably quietly. I had her to spend all my time cuddling her. And I will carry on cuddling her, no matter how many well-intentioned people advise against it. My baby needs love and I need to give it to her!

A little shopping

I am just about to buy this gorgeous brooch from Big Blue Bed over at Folksy... just right for brightening up my very basic wardrobe for the summer.

Sleep deprivation

I didn't think I was that tired, or feeling the effects of nursing a month old baby around the clock too badly, until I bought the same turquoise vest top twice!

Today I am eating...

Chilli with bread and butter, yummy. And (rather too much) accidental tiffin. What is accidental tiffin? I made a recipe for something called sunshine bars, a delicious kind of rice crispie bar that also has oats and coconut and is (meant to be) held together with a treacly, buttery, sugary syrup. I made it with a supermarket treacle, not Tate & Lyle, and it didn't set. Was still quite yummy in a spoonable way! Anyway, I rescued it with half a packet of smashed up dark chocolate digestives and lots of melted milk chocolate. Even more delicious and incredibly moreish.

Bedtime

Every night at bedtime, baby has a cuddle with her brother and sister while I sing a lullaby to them. It's brilliant seeing her turn and relax into their bodies and sometimes even close her eyes and go to sleep.

She puts up with quite a lot of kissing, especially from big brother!

I hope they carry on loving each other like this as they grow up.

Baby's first quilts

My aunt has made baby's first quilts. She made a cot quilt, and then I cheekily asked if she had enough fabric left to make a smaller one for the stroller because it's so lovely. It's not that I don't like pink, because I love colours (like these reds and greens) that are less obviously girly.

The quilt is a simple pattern with appliqued hearts and blanket stitch quilting.

My mum and I love to make quilts, too. For a while it was a bit of a family obsession (with quilts being given away to anyone who would accept them, we made so many!) but recently mum has been knitting instead and I seem to fall asleep every time I get a spare minute.

Blogs I love #1

Having decided that I am officially on maternity leave from my bag making, I thought I might do a little dressmaking this summer instead - I can't remember when I last made a girly frock for The Girl Wonder or a flirty skirt for myself. To get myself in the mood and find some inspiration, I googled 'blog dressmaking' and found this quirky gem: A dress a day. I love the pattern stories but, even without the humour, I could spend hours just looking at the old patterns, like this one. The secret lives of dresses are fun, too.

Bargain hunting

Iwas so sick when I was pregnant that I am now a size smaller than I was before - so I need new clothes. Not much in the kitty, so I've been bargain hunting on eBay. I'm trying to bag some things from Monsoon and Fat Face, fingers crossed I get lucky. Here's my first bargain.

Warning - seriously cute photos...

So here she is, my latest (and last!) bundle of joy, with her adoring big sister and brother.

She's here!

My little bundle of joy finally arrived at Easter, all 9 pounds 6 ounces of her! (Apologies to those of you who understand kilograms - I'm afraid I still work imperial, whether it's babies or baking.) My 6 year old girl and 3 old boy have been kissing their new sister constantly since we arrived home, which is probably why she has her first cold at just over three weeks old, poor thing.

Labour and delivery were straightforward and fast and because I was so sick through the pregnancy, I am now a size smaller than I was - bonus!

Photos will be uploaded soon, I promise.

Distraction

Spending time looking at post-pregnancy clothes online - oh how I look forward to wearing something more me again. I will be checking out abibansaldesign on Etsy/Folksy as soon as her new collection is ready. I coveted her linen tops before I got pregnant and now I have the image in my mind as a reward when all the babymaking is over.

I'm booked in to be induced next Friday, so the end is in sight...

Not quite labouring

So, I've been having uncomfortable contractions for about 3 weeks now, but since Tuesday they've been keeping me awake at night and making me catch my breath... good news, you'd think. Nope. A visit to the labour ward revealed I'm 1-2cms dilated and not in what they call 'established' labour. Back home to wait for an indefinite period of time, with conflicting advice about whether to walk, rest or what. Babies!

Pregnant pause

How long since I last blogged?????! Disgraceful, my only excuse is a not so straightforward pregnancy. Baby is fine but has blighted me with everything from extreme sickness (at 8 months I'm still taking anti-vomit pills) to excessive amniotic fluid (makes you look even huger!). I can't wait to have it so that I can drink tea again and put my socks on without the help of my little girl.

As I just seem to be waiting now (waiting and knitting - this child will struggle to wear the enormous number of cardigans piled up for it), I am going to try very hard to blog a bit more. The sewing machine is too uncomfortable to sit out, so I'm starting my maternity leave. I shall eat up some of my time reading all those other great crafty blogs out there, so get blogging - entertain me in limbo state!

Vicky x