me and mine {april}

32

and the love just grows...

When you are expecting your second baby,

you worry about love.

You worry about having enough love to go around.

You worry that you won't love your new baby

as much as you love the one you already have.

Somewhere deep down you know that you will,

everyone tells you that you will,

but much like trying to understand the concept of a never-ending universe,

it's just not something you can quite grasp.

I know I couldn't.

10

{our beautiful story} week seventeen

sunday 21st april

she's fallen in love with the swings

monday 22nd april

I've been getting crafty

tuesday 23rd april

lying in the middle of her brother's chaos

wednesday 24th april

we had the park all to ourselves

thursday 25th april

a little woodland fairy

friday 26th april

morning snuggles in bed with mummy

saturday 27th april

playing together at bath time

4

thirty-one weeks new

We were having more and more adventures with you now.

2

the park

We're so lucky to have a lovely little park

that is super close to where we live.

I've been eagerly awaiting the lighter afternoons and evenings,

so that we can go to the park each day after nap time and before dinner.

And that time has finally arrived. YAY!

We went most days last Spring and Summer and love it.

And this year we have a little sister to bring along for the fun.

I think it's fair to say she likes the park too.

This blog has made the shortlist for the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging awards.
I'm so thrilled to have been recognised in the Photo category.
So if you love my photography and have a vote to spare
then I'd love you vote.

4

the whole truth

As a parent there is no greater compliment

that a compliment on your children.

People telling me that they think my children are polite,

or good natured,

or cute or happy,

absolutely makes my heart sing.

Because I helped make them

and I'm helping raise them,

and so that compliment is half mine, right?

25

another generation

Lots of surprising feelings come out of having children.

I expected to adore my babies with everything I have,

and I knew that their daddy would too.

But I really didn't expect the way that I somehow managed to love him more

as a result of seeing him become a father,

seeing him love and treasure our children.

But that wasn't the only surprise.

10

a midsummer day out

I love a day out.

I love shopping.

I especially love shopping for arty, unique, vintage goods.

0

the tough life of a toddler

My son is definitely more of a 'little boy' these days.

More of a 'proper toddler'

with some of the associated craziness

that being a toddler brings.

He has these things called 'opinions' now,

and he likes to share his opinions. . . a lot.

But he hasn't worked out that everyone else has an opinion too

and that they might differ from his.

15

{our beautiful story} week sixteen

sunday 14th april

my beautiful boys watching the wind

monday 15th april

chilling with a drink and a good book

tuesday 16th april

cheeky girl loves her toes

wednesday 17th april

bath buddies

thursday 18th april

hot tub smiles

friday 19th april

just love her tufty hair and chubby arms

saturday 20th april

helping daddy in the kitchen

1

thirty weeks new

All of a sudden you were really starting to get active.

3

{our beautiful story} week fifteen

sunday 7th april

a self portrait because we matched

monday 8th april

playing with your friends is really hard work

tuesday 9th april

fromage frais was a big hit

wednesday 10th april

my gorgeous cheeky girly

thursday 11th april

so tired she crashed on daddy

friday 12th april

marmite chops

saturday 13th april

her current favourite pass time

4

opportunities

Life throws things at you sometimes

and you have to decide whether to catch them

or let them pass you buy.

Blogging has opened up opportunites to me

that I could never have imagined.

I've been to places I wouldn't have thought I'd go to,

reviewed items we have loved,

been in a glossy magazine,

made real life friends,

attended brilliant events,

been nominated for awards

and been in the local newspaper.

And the latest exciting opportunity to come my way

was an interview on BBC Essex radio.

12

twenty-nine weeks new

You were really getting a taste for weaning now.

4

never again...

jen hatmaker

9

pink lining laptop bag review

I am a big fan of Pink Lining bags.

I had one of their Mama et Bebe bags with the little man,

and when I was pregnant with the little miss

I was treated by my lovely hubby

to one of their Twice as Nice bags

as double the children would mean double the stuff to carry around.

Both these changing bags are used all the time.

3

a second birth story - part fourteen

In my second birth story so far;

My water broke at 11.30pm,

I booked into hospital as high risk

with meconium present in the waters.

At 4cm just before 3.30am I got an epidural,

only to be fully dilated just after 4am.

After a break to let the baby descend and the epidural wear off a bit,

I pushed my baby into the world at 6:05am.

7

our little individuals

It makes my heart stupidly happy

to get to parent a boy and a girl.

I love that my husband and I have the opportunity

to learn about raising boys and raising girls.

But it is already clear to me

that however much I might want to try to be fair and equal,

we will not be raising our children the same.

13

one day

music credit: Dreams by Brandi Carlile


If there is one thing that being a parent has taught me

it's that life goes in a flash once you have children.

It seems barely last week that we were newlyweds

moving into our first home

and bringing home our fluffy babies to play house.

And I sometimes look at our life

with our two beautiful children 

and wonder how on earth we got here.

Life with two children is a series of "pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming" moments

but it's also about just that; life.

And life looks different in each family.

Life also looks different from one month to the next when your children are tiny.

And like most parents

I am desperate to keep a hold of these baby days

and to remember every detail

because I know how fleeting childhood is.

So this video is an attempt at recording a day.

One day.

A family day.

With an adventure to the farm,

but also with all the normal bits that make up our every days.
Because making these memories is important.

21

your twenty-sixth month

You were becoming more amazing all the time.

8

{our beautiful story} week fourteen

sunday 31st march

checking out our easter egg hunt loot

monday 1st april

the boys flying high

tuesday 2nd april

some sibling sharing

wednesday 3rd april

bright and shiny girl

thursday 4th april

chocolate chops

friday 5th april

a special message for an extra special person

saturday 6th april

off for some adventures at soft play

6

twenty-eight weeks new

You were such an incredibly happy baby.

9