Babywearing

I love to carry C in a sling, it really Is lovely to have her so close, and safe and able to see the world at eye level. Our journey to slinging has been long though...

The Bjorne carrier we had for L in hindsight was useless. She was never comfortable and didn't sleep at all in it. I understand a bit more about carriers now and can see that it offered no support and was very uncomfortable to wear too.
 I hate to see little babies in these, facing out like they are on a roller coaster ride.
The beautiful elevill and didymos wraps that I now use to wrap little C in are so much nicer. Even at almost two she still asks for a backie cuddle, and usually ends up sleeping min there. It took a bit of mastering, and I started off with a moby stretchy wrap, but now we have moved on to wool and cotton wraps and it's so much easier. We also have a couple of tie up type carriers, they are fine, and lots of people love them, but I prefer woven type wraps here.

Now that she is getting older, and we mainly use a couple of size fives, Im reducing my stash....slowly as they become very precious to a mum!

Speaking of stashes, now that I find myself with real free time fir the first time in years our playroom is  becoming more of a craft room. This suits L too as she is such a prolific sewer, knitter and general maker. She would happily do it all day. So we have a little space to stash away yarn, threads, fabric, old jumpers, bits of felt and fleece. It's lovely, but now we rarely throw anything and the pile of things to up-cycle is starting to topple. I do find it so satisfying to place a lovely fat quarter in to the basket. The colours are so pretty and almost too nice to use

Maybe there is a midwife in me...

I've decided to get it finished! I still need to call my lecturer and sort out a time plan but as much as I want to stay with the kids, I need to think of the future. one day I'll need a job, maybe sooner than I think, and this will give me something on paper worth having I hope.
I'm still incredibly passionate about midwifery and helping women as much as I can. It's not always easy in a hospital setting to be a true advocate, but I need to accept the small things that I can offer to matter. Be it a fresh tea for a flagging father, or a hand hold when doctors need to intervene.

I do feel excited about it all really!

Trying a right now...

Some of the blogs i. Read do this, I think it's a great way to keep a little record of more simple little things, funny things the kids say etc...


:: it's piano night tonight so we have a simple tea. cod in tomato sauce, mixed veg and mash.
Cake and custard for pud at supper time.

:: little c used her pusher spoon again tonight and loves it. She is now having mummy milko for her pudding!

:: A is upset as he can't find his love hearts (?)

:: L is washing up, with cal giving her a lesson on how to do it well, he will not be able be able to teach her to drive!

:: Little c has now got up and is playing with my iPhone, they really are sponges at this age, she knows exactly how to unlock it!

:: we have a waitrose easy cook meal for tonight, with salad, it looks yum too. I might have a pimms.

:: the dog has ran off to see my uncle again, I need to walk over and get him soon

:: I big haired my hair this afternoon, it's nice and swishy:)

:: the washing basket is nearly empty, this is a rare thing considering we don't use a tumble drier!

:: we have Lego everywhere in the lounge, it's very tempting to vacuum the whole lot up.

:: I'm feeling very unsure what to do about university. It's now looking like I could finish my thrd year from September, if I don't then the five year limit set by the nmc will be up. This means now or never but I don't think I am ready to leave litte c again yet, as it made me so down last time. I need to decide tonight.

Miss Claudia is two!

Our gorgeous, funny, monkey loving little baby is two already.

This morning we all awoke to glorious sunshine beaming through the windows, just as it did on the day that she was born. On a thursday, weighing 9lb 4oz.

 I can't believe her wonderful birth, at home in our bedroom, in a warm pool happened two years ago. It seems like only yesterday that she made her way in to the world. We did it together, and i really felt every turn she made before she entered the world. She came quietly in to the water and i caught her myself. The midwives were fantastic, i was very fortunate to have chosen a midwife that i respected from my placement, and the second midwife was also good friend of a friend.

They knitted and chatted while i laboured and, when the time came, they game me the support i needed, allowing cal to have a big part too. It was perfect. 

She breastfed very quickly, and i did not need repairs either this time. How different to L's traumatic instrumental delivery, and A's slightly easier but in low risk hospital birth.

Having such a nice final birth experience ( assuming she is the last as planned!), is wonderful, following L's birth, each birthday i had looked back to that terrifying day woefully. C's birth has changed that, and it all seems much more positive now. It maybe that i'm just happy to have achieved what i wanted so much. Anyhow, to the celebrations......

                                                      Her birthday chair and crown

The celebration ring

A simple cake.

She really had a lovely time, and the beautiful sunshine made it feel like spring.

We had pancakes for breakfast before cuddles and presents. L had lovingly made her a knitted chicken, and a finger knitted neclace and ring. A, kindly wrapped an old cuddly of his for her. From daddy and i she received, Emily and Daisy book, a wooden blunt knife to help me prep veg, a badger figure as she loves them, and a red riding hood cape that i made a few days ago. Cal is planning to make a playframe for her too, hopefully this week.

We had a little teaparty later, just close family, but as this includes six childen, plus mine, it was not a totally calm affair. They played well together though, the young and old, for ages in the garden kitchen. We all had a picnic tea outside by the fire pit, before playing pass the parcel.

She then opened gifts from the others, lovely playsilks and a nana made jacket. A vintage silver spoon and pusher from greatgrandad.Cant wait to try that. A fantastic sock monkey from auntie izz and fairy wings and a puppet from the cousins. Her favourite thing , however, was the tin heart tea set that my sister bought. She knew exactly how to use it and quickly made us all a brew!

We then watched the stunning disk of wedding photographs that my sister had brought to share.

There was a little pimms drank too. ;)

back home.

Well we are all unpacked, and have had the usual return home from hoilday treat of a takeaway supper, tonight fish and chips.
Everyone loved centerparcs, and although we have been a few times, it seems to still tick all the boxes and nobody was bored. We swam lots, its inclusive of the price afterall. We did not do any racquet sports or the high ropes as little c is too young to take part, but old enough to have a strop if she can do the same as the others!
  However, A loved the rollerskating disco, and they both enjoyed the paint pottery workshop, as well as lots of cycling about with little C in her 'bike house' as she called the trailer. Im so tired now though, the packing for swimming and drying everthing out has taken it out of me, with a bloody heavy cold too, im happy to not swim again now until summer.

              The little jug that i painted,  i need to get a picture of L's lovely fairy and A's plane.

 Little C's birthday is now upon us, so i have a teaparty to arrange, cakes to make, quiche for the grown ups, and cal is hopefully going to make her a little playframe  to go with the lovely playsilks i've ordered from a mama on the greenparent forum. Her birthday crown is finished, i'm pleased with it although it's a bit small so will not fit next year, will post pictures on the day of her wearing it.

Swimming with sniffles

Little C and I are well and truly sniffly. She is coping very well with it, despite the hideous green slugs she has running down her face. I am less happy, I hate colds so have been taking hep sulphur remedy to try and improve it. I may resort to lemsip and vicks soon!

We arrived here at centerparcs mid morning, collected our bikes and to a nice, albeit chilly, ride down to the sports bar. The kids had a play, we all had hot chocolate before heading back to find our little house.
cal needs to work this week, so we had to have wifi, this meant an executive lodge, and it's lovely. I even have a jacuzzi bath and super rainforest type huge shower head. The lasagne that I'd made yesterday, unfortunately was dropped by A, so had to be scraped of a layer to ensure no bits of pyrex dish were eaten. It was fine though and as everyone was very hungry after a good session at the pool, it didn't last long.

The kids are asleep,at half seven, so not bad. Little c has a cot in with us, I'm not sure how she will take to it, having only slept with us, but the bed here is not big enough for the three of us really so we will see how she goes tonight.

We listened to audio cd of the witches on the way here, it's a few hours long but the kids just loved it, and it was nice to hear it with some different voices too, I'm a boring reader apparently.

Tomorrow is pancake day, and considering there is a pancake house here we may have to give it a go, other than that it's cycling, more swimming and slides and a roller disco in the evening. Happy days!

Spring in the air..

                                                    pancakes with maple syrup and cream, and a little star pattern that i found and had to try, id use a stronger glue next time, but i think its very cheerful.

I've been reading blogs and forums for ideas for the spring equinox, we don't really celebrate the seasons enough here, so I hope to plan something a bit special to see in spring this year.

We managed to get out into the garden again this morning, following a hugely unhealthy pancake breakfast for the kids and muffins with chorizo and poached eggs for us!
The sun was shining, and although chilly, I grabbed the hammer and a few old bits of wood, and nailed together a sort of play kitchen for little c. I think L was amazed to see mum doing a dad job too. They all played out there for ages, with an old camping kettle and pan, sand and some spoons!

Cal cleared the drive of leaves, and I hope will find time to clear out our filthy car too, before we head off to centerparcs tomorrow, He has started cooking roast chicken now though, and told me to relax in the bath whilst C has her nap, so the car may have to wait.
I need to find a quicker way of uploading pics to here as they take forever at the moment, and work out links too, there are so many inspiring things online that I'd like to share here too.

Yesterday, L had a lovely afternoon, she made us barley bread to have with soup then finished her Egyptian tapestry and drew the most wonderful Egyptian god, Ra, and pyramid. Then the unthinkable happened, I managed to clear it away with the pile of baby scribbles in to the bin! If that wasn't bed enough, Cal decided the paper should be burned so by the time we looked for it in the bin, it was on the fire! She was devastated. It really was the best independently drawn thing she has ever done. She ranted and hurled abuse at everyone, eventually getting sent to her room. today, she has attempted to draw it again, it's not as good, so she is unhappy again. C has now scribbled on the new version too, that's going to really finish her off.


This evening s to do list..

Iron today's wash
Pack everything for everyone
Work out how to fix bike carrier to car
Make lasagne for Monday eve. ( bolognaise already made)
Finish claudia's birthday crown,as she is two next Sunday!!
Pack craft bits to make her a card and knit dolly dress whilst away.
Wash and big dry my hair
Shave legs ready for pool at cp, find cossie too.

I will do what I can, but a pimms and grazebox will be consumed during call the midwife first!

Good buys from aldi!

I'm sure I've mentioned this already, but I'm trying hard to reduce our food costs, and aldi seems to be very good at helping me to do so.
The large free range chickens, at £4.99 are fab, and British too. Today I thought I'd give their make up a go and I'm not disappointed! The poster in store said that their brand of under eye concealer is better than touché éclat, as tested by which guide. It is lovely, and works too, without smelling like cheap make up often does. It was around £3. The eye shadow and moisturizer is good too, so I'm a happy bunny indeed!

All is quiet here this after noon, we have played outside, made paper birds with wings on branches with my little niece and enjoys sausage plait for lunch from our local WI market ladies. Yum. little C is sleeping and the biggies are doing snakes and ladders, with some quarrelling too! We are off out for dinner tonight, with great gran, to our local. This will hopefully give me chance to pak for later tonight, and maybe even make lasagne for the first night. Little C is still full of chatter about a monkey for her birthday, and a frog in the garden that is going to get her leg?? A funny girl.

I've not been crafting or reading much lately, with a birthday in a week, and the two knitting gifts barely started, I hope to find time when we are away to do some, the chances of that happening are slim, very slim indeed!

A little rhythm.

                                              Valetines cookies

 Nearly finished!

Im finding it hard to achieve this really. we are decorating the kitchen, dining and entrance area, it's a mess, stuff and dust everywhere. Washing is mounting as I can't get to the machine easily and half term is looming...stress not rhythm!

Today has been better though, I'm still feeling a bit down and lacking direction since leaving my course. I know I should be enjoying the quality time with the kids, after such a busy few years, and not being with them enough. Today was milder so we got out into the garden and cleared all the little sticks and leaves that have fallen from the huge trees that hang in to the garden. I lit the fire pit and A and little C had great fun throwing more on and playing in the old leaves. They bounced on the trampoline and charged around with sticks, playing imaginative games. We made a wobble walk with old lengths of wood, resting on the big chunks of trunk that we use as stools in the summer. They loved it, more so for me being with them.
we then went for bread at the next village community shop, I must make more effort to support this really as it's great.The kids had a quick play in the park next to it before a lunch request of poached eggs, beans and spelt toast!
L had a fab day at the museum, and was full of it tonight, raving about the Rosetta stone, and using the tube. Amazingly her back stood up to carrying the enormous lunch I had packed for her!.
I have my niece tomorrow morning, so hopefully we can have some rhythm to the day, Wi market first thing, then soup chopping, flap jacks and some sort of craft. I'll take a look in the children's year book for something good.
We all enjoyed vegi cottage pie for dinner, with individual fruit jellies and ice-cream for the kids pud...yum!

I have booked a few cheapish things to do at cp next week, and am starting a 'to take" list....it's growing! I'm going to try an be low gl all day too.

winterwonderland dream wedding!

An Amazing day, beautiful location and stunning bride!

My sister called for me on friday morning, to shop for thankyou flowers and it was the start of the weekend. Flowers bought, last minute erands run, we headed to the hotel to meet the co-ordinator and run through the whole day for a last time.
Once checked in we started on the port and lemonade, then enjoyed a nice char with ro's mother in law. on skype in Australia! (unfortunately they could not make the wedding).
We watched the film bridesmaids, did nails, ate mini eggs and other yummy stuff and generally enjoyed a final evening together before she bacame a married woman! (it seems mad, that my little sister, although already a mother, is now a grown up wife too, will he ever be good enough for her, i hope so!)

The morning was beautiful, absolutely magical and narnia like, the brightest sunshine and blue sky on fresh snow, perfect for a valentine wedding. The day flew by, supurb food and speaches, beautiful bridesmaids, if i do say so myself. The children were so well behaved and lasted all day, until midnight, dancing together and enjoying the sweetie stall, and cupcake stands.

 We have my neice here tonight, the new mr and mrs clements are enjoying a night away. The kids are so tired they slept right after their baths, and have not stirred. Little C, enjoyed herself so much, she laughed, danced and generally entertained everybody in the way that only a one year old can!
Call the midwife is on now....a sneak preview, the photographer was amazing!

My Stunning sister, Rosie

Im on the right...love the navy hunters!

Two sleeps!

Until the wedding..eek, everyone is getting excited now!

parents evening was last night, a good chance for everyone to get together, waldorf style, and chat about what's happening in class and any issues.
L is very lucky, her class is a lovely group and they get along very well. It was nice to discuss things that we did not get a chance to do in her old school, such as appropriate books, pocket money levels and ideas for their trip.

She is very excited about going to London next week, with school, to learn more about life in ancient Egypt, we are all enjoying hearing about this main lesson. her lesson books are so nice to see too, the standard has improved so much since she started, and she is more confident with an ink pen now too. It is lovely to see her so settled, I hope that A settles in as well to his new class after half term.

Tonight L has been making crafty gifts for the wedding couple, A has painted a fantastic drawing of a big cat eating a deer, with lots of blood too. I'll put a pic here soon, it's quite shocking, and he had no help or guidance whatsoever!
little c has been requesting stories all evening, and did her second wee in a potty, after asking to gomand removing her tights, very proud of her I am too!

Cal is working so it's an early night and a new chick lit from the library to start. I did also get two waldorf education books from there too, in an attempt to better understand it
all.

We also started reading the witches again yesterday, I read to them, and then L reads the last page of each chapter to us. she had a great piano lesson this week and tells me that she feels she is taking to it well and finds it easy? I'm not sure if this is good or not but she is keen, so Im happy.

It's freezing, minus five, at the moment, with snow forecast. I hope the hills remain passable and the wedding guests can all get there safely!

Call the midwife.

I'm loving this new seris, and think it's been really well done. I first read the book whilst applying to university, it filled me with awe and excitement about such a fantastic vocation. This programme has brought it all back, in a good way. applying was horrendous, really, truly terrible.
We lived in Cheshire at the time so I applied to several uni's in the north aswel as one nearer to my family in the south. I read erased read, everything, 'practising midwife mag, journals, student midwife.net etc etc. It paid off and against all odds, ie 700 applicants, for 50 places, I got in!

Nearly five years later, with lots more experience, I can say that midwifey is not in any way similar this programme. It is, however, very much like the channel four version, one born every minute! And endless paperwork to boot.

I'll write more another time about inspirational women centred midwifery, but wanted to mention this great program.

Diet wise, not that good again, salmon and veg for dinner, but a delicious lemony curdy pud with cream and quedasilla for supper, ruined things.
Lucily there is no chocolate in the house.

we had a quiet day here, a bit of knitting for me and L, lots of books read to/with/by little C, and a nice warm fire to keep us cozy.

snowy Saturday

It was so beautiful and light this morning, the sun shone in likle springtime through our curtains, but its minus four out side! We did an early swap back after last nights sleepover, then dropped L at her old schoolfriends for the morning, before heading home.
 I very very rarely buy soup, its so easy and cheap to make after all, and my mum installed a love of soup making in to me from an early age. Today ,however, running a bit late and not having much veg in, i called in to the shop to buy some. I went for covent gardens brand, pepper and plum, and tomato and basil, to have with the nice spelt loaf we get on a friday.
How very dissapointing! im sure the stuff in tins tastes better. I kept quiet as the smaller two didn't seem too bothered, but oh my it was terrible. Not edible at all. Lucily there was a bit of quiche lurking in the fridge so i didnt starve! There must be a market for REAL premium soup, if that brand is the best out there then somebody should sell frozen quality, preservative free soup. I'd buy it!
The heavens opened later on and we are now white over, living on a hill 800ft up, we usually get a good share of snow, and the kids are desperate to sledge tomorrow. I'm happy by my fire, knitting, but will probaby make an effort for them.
Here is a pic of the woodland tree house hubby made for christmas, its a bit of a copy of the myriad one, but cheaper, and has had so much use already.

I have finished the table place setting display for next weeks wedding at last, just goodie bags for the children to do and then i can look forward to friday nights sleepover, my sister and I with her little girl and little C. And chocolates, fizzy, nail varnish, and bridesmaids to watch.

Knitting

My mum is a wonderful knitter, and she has just finished a nice sleeveless cardigan for me, and a matching tunic for C. They are lovely, so soft and multi coloured patterned. I'm knitting a tunic for C's birthday in feb, I hope it's as nice.

Tonight our little knitting group met at a friends, we do this every other week, sometimes at the pub. It's lovely to knit a bit, chat and catch up with everyone. We all have kids a similar age, and like to have walks, trips to the beach and camping together when we can.

A worked hard this morning, we wrote about our story, did some number work with the hundred square and button jar. He is learning his 2 and 5 times table at the moment. We then went to nanny's for lunch, then a walk. It was under -2 degrees today, with a bitter wind, and snow forecast! Roll on spring, I need some sunshine.

Food wise today, I've had a slice of spelt bread with German ham and cheese, mushroom soup for lunch and a chicken and veg curry with rice for dinner. Two oatcakes as snacks and lots of water. Not too bad really. Tomorrow L has a friend coming after school, they finish at 1pm on Fridays, so they are having high tea, with little sandwiches, fairy cakes and scones with jam and cream and tea in a pot, with teacups! Mr A will be with his grandad, so it's girly time here, then a cousin is coming for a sleepover later too.

A quiet weekend afterwards I think!