Birthday celebrations

I love birthdays!!

Whether it be mine, family members or friends.  They are a great time to celebrate that person.  I think they are much more important than Christmas as it's the day that person arrived in the world (I know some people who won't agree as they are Christmas mad!).

This year I turned 32.  After my 30th I haven't been as bothered by age, plus Mr M will always be just under 6 months older than me.

It was my first birthday as a mummy and I was really looking forward to spending the day with my 2 boys.  The perfect present!!!

I got lots of lovely cards but I adored the ones from Mr M and Baby M

I also got some lovely presents, I was a very lucky lady

We were at my folks caravan for the week so we decided to spend the day relaxing around the caravan.  This way I wouldn't have to drive (Mr M can't drive) and we could just chill out and spend time together.

My mum and dad arrived on the Friday and Mr M and I went out for a meal on the Saturday whilst they babysat, lovely.

When we got back the following weekend I arranged a night out with some friends.  I was a little worried that no-one would turn up.  However my good friends came and my sister-in-law came up from London.  It was great that she made the journey up, I feel we have definitely become closer in recent moths due to her visits to see Baby M.

We had a great night, lots of cocktails and Prosecco were consumed.  I had a shocking hangover the next day!!

Do love birthdays!

Visit from Auntie and BBQ

We had a lovely visit from Mr M's sister at the weekend and her dog Frankie. 

Frankie is a 11 month old Jug (Jack Russell/Pug) and Baby M loves him visiting

The weather was lovely so we went for a walk to stretch Frankie's legs after his car journey & also to get us moving.  My sister in law also has a FitBit so like me is keen to walk lots each day

We then came back to the house and enjoyed the sunny weather.  Mr M decided we should have a BBQ.  Impromtu BBQ's are always the best

It also gave Baby M a chance to spend some quality time with his Auntie. 

As I've said many times before it's hard living so far away from all our family

We look forward to the next visit from family :)

Family visits

Last week my brother was visiting for the whole week, it was brilliant to see him and spend some quality time with him and Baby M.

Prior to that Mr M's sister came to visit for a few days.  She hasn't seen Baby M so it was great she could visit for a few days.

We had our first experience of stranger anxiety.  Baby M became quite upset when given to his aunt to hold, which was quite upsetting for her and us as well as Baby M.  We encouraged lots of smiles, cuddles and she gave him his bottle and he changed, by the second day she was here there were smiles and giggles.

 By the time she was ready to leave they were best friends and I know Baby M will want to see his aunt again very soon.

Next we had the visit from my brother.  We didn't have any stranger anxiety this time, even though Baby M hasn't seen him physically since he was a month old we regularly Facetime so he sees his uncle every week.  The weather was brilliant throughout the week and we spent lots of time outside.  Baby M was given his bottle, fed his food and even had his nappy changed by his uncle.  All great things to build on their already strong bond. 

We live a distance from all our family members and that is something that is always at the back of our minds, we want Baby M to have a good relationship with all his family.

We have visits to Mr M's family, visits from my family and a family holiday to Ireland to look forward to - as well as many more visits we hope.

We look forward building many more happy memories with family, having lots of visits and giving Baby M lots of love

5 months old - where has the time gone??

Baby M is 5 months old!!!

I can't believe how fast those 5 months have gone.  I still feel like I don't have a clue what I'm doing too!!

Baby M is developing more and more into a little person, his personality is coming out more and more.

We have started our weaning journey.  He loves porridge and has had his first taste of sweet potato, which he also loved!

He sits in his highchair with us at mealtimes and loves watching us eat

His hand/eye coordination seems to be improving and he can pass things between his hands.  He hasn't quite mastered rolling over yet, he can get so far then he gets stuck.  Once I help him he's so pleased with himself.  When he has tummy time he kind of flounders around as if he wants to crawl but doesn't know how to so it.

He still loves standing and can pull himself up from sitting by holding our hands.  He can also sit on his own for short spells

He is getting more interested in the cat, he has stroked her a few times and the smile on his face is huge!! He slightly pulled her fur once and I was worried she might lash out at him but she didn't flinch.  The cat is slightly wary of him still but will go up to him and sniff.  Hopefully their friendship with continue to develop

A friend gave us a walker, we have put him in it twice but his feet just miss the floor.  I'm a bit wary of putting him in it too often for too long as I have read that it can cause problems with hips and walking.

He is also sleeping longer, no longer waking at 5, now can sleep until 7 - those extra 2 hours are amazing & make such a difference to how shattered I feel!!

I really hope that his teeth come through soon.  They have been causing him so much discomfort and he has been such a grumpy and frustrated little boy at times.  I wish there was something I could do to make him feel better!!

Bank Holiday Shopping with Morrisons

I was one of the lucky mums & dads who was selected to take part in Britmums and Morrisons #Morrisonsmum

Morrisons have launched their I'm cheaper campaign.

We used to shop at Morrisons as it is at the back of our house but we started shopping at Asda due to it being cheaper.  We would still go to Morrisons for items if we ran out as we could just walk round.

I was interested to see whether this new campaign would make our weekly shop cheaper.

When we arrived at the store it was decorated with big posters and balloons promoting the campaign

There were lots of signs around the store to let you know which items were cheaper

We managed to find most things we needed, there were a few items they didn't have.  As we went on a Friday afternoon before school finished the store wasn't too busy and our whole shopping experience took about 40 minutes.

Our total spend was £139.47 however we bought some offers which took the total to £134.75.  As I said before we didn't get everything we needed.  Was this cheaper than our usual weekly shop???  No I have to say it wasn't.



We love risotto.  It's a great meal to make when you have visitors too as it makes a lot and it isn't that difficult to make.

The price per serving (for 4 people) at Morrisons worked out at £2.36 each.

Every time I make risotto I make it slightly different.  There is a basic recipe that I stick to but one of the things I love about risotto is you can put anything in it, depending on what you have in the cupboard.  No one risotto is ever the same!

We always have king prawns and chorizo in our risotto.  This might be one of the reasons the price per serving is a little higher than you might expect.

Fry onions in a little oil

Add peppers and your sliced chorizo

Add king prawns and vegetables

Add the risotto or paella rice

Add 1000ml of boiled water with 2 stock cubes (I used 1 chicken and 1 vegetable).  Add spinach

Continue to stir until 80% of the water has been absorbed.  Add 2 handfuls of grated cheese.  Mature cheese is the best as it as a good taste.  Adding cheese adds a lovely gloss and creamy texture to your risotto

Serve!!

Including preparation it takes about 30minutes to make your risotto.  It is such a hearty meal.  You can add a lovely crusty bread on the side if you so wish.



I really enjoyed being a #MorrisonsMum.

Has this experience made me change where I carry out my weekly shop??  No it hasn't.

Whilst there were some good deals the total wasn't as cheap as my usual weekly shop.  As I am still on maternity leave money is tight and we have to consider how much we spend on everything.  Also I am lactose intolerant and the dairy free selection at my local Morrisons isn't as good as other supermarkets.

I will continue to go to Morrisons for items we need during the week such as bread if we run out.  


Disclaimer: I was given £80 of Morrisons vouchers to carry out a family food shop.  Views are my own. 

Daddy is back to work

Today Daddy goes back to work

I'm so pleased that he is feeling much better.

It was a night of broken sleep last night due to his anxiety about going back but I reassured him that is completely normal.  We all have Sunday night blues/worries normally so it's only natural he will feel anxious after a long time away from work.

He's on a phased return so we will be seeing him back at home by lunchtime each day this week.

Baby M & I will now be on our own during the day.

This week we are meeting some friends for coffee/lunch on top of swimming and baby group.  We only really have Thursday as a day we have nothing on - I think we will have a mummy & baby day that day.

Next week my sister in law is visiting for a few days then the week after my brother is down for a week.  It's great for Baby M to have visitors, especially with everyone living so far away, he changes so quickly

I'm a little worried how I will manage on my own, I'm so used to having Mr M by my side.  But I think it will be positive for both Baby M & myself, we can develop our confidence & independence together. 

I am sure we will all be fine!!

Daddy is feeling much better

Daddy is feeling much better.

So much so that he is going back to work.

I am so happy that he is working along his path of recovery and now feels like he can return to work. 

I do worry about how I will manage on my own with Baby M as we've had daddy with us all this time.  Part of me is also really excited about having time with Baby M on my own and have mummy/baby time.

Baby M is 4 months old now and I feel a lot more confident in my parenting ability than I did at the start.  Out of the 2 of us I am happy to put Baby M in his chair or playmat so I can get things done whereas Daddy likes to have him in his arms - I'm not sure if some of that is because of how he was feeling though.  Everyone loves cuddles!

Mr M has done so well and I am so proud of him. 

We have tried to work as a team throughout, although I think it helps I work in the mental health field.  Whilst Mr M has been waiting for counseling/CBT from services we have already been doing some of the work.  When he feels anxious or has a worrying thought we talk about it.  I challenge him about what he thinks will happen - what is the worse case scenario and what is the best?  How likely is it that what he is worrying about will happen?  What will he do if it does?  What can he do to reduce these worries?  How can he distract himself?  There are lots of self help websites and books out there and some of them are helpful but I think you need someone to talk through alongside them.

Mr M has found the constant questioning of when he is going back to work and when will he feel better slightly detrimental to his recovery.  I know people are trying to be helpful and showing concern but mental health issues aren't the same as breaking your leg or having a bug.  You can't just wear a cast or take some antibiotics and you're fine.  There is no quick fix!! There's no magic pill!! I can't tell you how many times in my professional life I have wished I had a magic wand that I could wave and make everything ok for people.

Mr M is still working hard to walk along his path of recovery but he is doing really well and I am so proud of him. 


If you're affected by any mental health issues please don't feel you have to suffer in silence, the best thing you can do is talk.  Whether it be to your GP, a friend, a family member or one of the various charities out there - you are not alone

Searching for Shipwrecks

My mum has been visiting for the weekend and as the weather has been nice we decided to go for a walk with Baby M.

The Fylde Coast has become a little bit of a ship graveyard - the first shipwreck was the Travers in 1755 and the last was the MS Riverdance in 2008. 

The beach where we live is beautiful and clear.  Great for families

Further along the beach there is a memorial to all the ships that have run a ground along the coast.  As you can see here is a long list!

Down the side of the memorial is a list which is easier to read

When you peer through the hole in the memorial and the tide is out you can see the shipwreck of the Abana.

The Abana was a Norwegian ship that in 1894 was traveling from Liverpool to Florida when it got caught in the storm.  The ship thought the recently built Blackpool Tower was a lighthouse and wrecked on the beach.

The shipwreck can be seen in the distance.

I've walked past this lots of times but I didn't know the story behind the wreck.  I remember the MS Riverdance ferry running a ground and being on the news - I hadn't moved to the area at that time.  I also didn't realise there had been so many shipwrecks in such a small area! Nowadays the only ships you really see are the Heysham-Isle of Man ferry. 

I want Baby M to know there is a lot of history and interest in the area.


I've linked this post with Coombe Mill #CountryKids, please go and check out other posts about great days out!

23snaps - useful app & website

As I have mentioned before we don't live near any of our family.

When I was pregnant we were looking for a way to share photos of my bump with family so they could see how much I was growing.  We also wanted a way to share photos of Baby M once he was born. 

I am not a huge fan of putting photos of Baby M on Facebook, yes we have put a few photos on but I could count them on one hand.  Plus not all of our family are on Facebook.

We discovered 23snaps.  We use it as an app on our phones but you can also log into the website.

You invite who you want to be able to view you photos, so you know who can see them.  They can either download the app or sign into the website.  They will get a notification email every time you add a photo.  you can add family members so I have Baby M as a member, this allows me to add information like his weight and height so our family have access to that information too.

When you add a photo you can put a description if you like.  Your friends and family can then add comments or like/love/smile at the photo.

We love using the app as it's a great way for us to share Baby M growing with everyone.  Plus when he does funny things we can share them instantly with everyone.

I'd definitely recommend 23snaps.

Disclaimer: Views are my own, this post is not sponsored by 23snaps

Family time

Family time means not only time for the 3 of us to be together but also time with our families.

Baby M is still young, our family time at the moment involves lots of walks, playing with toys and trying to stimulate him as much as we can.

As he grows we are planning to visit lots of different places, hopefully the weather will begin to improve and we can go to the park more.  It's not fun in the rain and wind.

Family time is also about spending time with our families.  As neither of our families live locally it's important to us to have them be in Baby M's life as much as possible and finding ways of getting around the distance issue.  My mum and dad only live 2 hours away so are planning to visit as often as their jobs will allow them.  We are also going to Ireland with my folks and brother later in the year which will be great family time!

My mum already has a great relationship with Baby M as she has been helping us out alot since he was born.  My mum and brother also FaceTime regularly (at least weekly) so that they can see Baby M and he can see them. My brother has been to visit already and has more visits planned for the year ahead.

Mr M's family live 4-5 hours away, his sister lives south and the rest of his family live north.  Whilst his sister has yet to visit the other family members have been, once after he was born and again at the weekend just passed.  The distance is an issue and I hope that it won't effect their relationship with Baby M.

I hope that Baby M grows up knowing that he is part of a wonderful family network and also how important our little family within that is.  I want him to grow up with a relationship with us like I have with my parents.  Now I am older they are not only my parents but my friends and I know they are always there for me

New Year Resolutions

I'm not usually big on New Year Resolutions - mainly because I generally break them by the end of January!! This year however with baby M's arrival I have some aims and hopes for 2014

Health
I want to lose my baby weight, I didn't put much weight on during my pregnancy (thankfully my bump was mainly at the front) but my belly is now flabby & I feel like my bum and hips are huge!! Due to having a section I have to wait a little long then if I'd had a vaginal birth to make sure all my muscles are as they should be and everything has healed before I can do exercise.  As we live near the sea my plan is to go on daily walks with baby M to start with then once I can do proper exercise again I will be getting out on my bike (which I bought last year then didn't use as I found out I was pregnant not long after & I was petrified I'd fall off & hurt the baby).  I will also start running again, I had signed up for a half marathon last September (which at 6 months pregnant I didn't compete in).  Whilst I won't be fit enough to do that this year I think I will aim to do a 10k with the view of doing a half marathon next year.  I also have a post natal yoga DVD which I plan to do when baby M is sleeping after 12 weeks post section, this will help build and strengthen my core.

Family
This will be my main focus of 2014.  I want to spend lots of time finding new things with baby M, living where we do there is a lot of touristy things for kids which we will take him to and also groups such as bounce & rhyme, baby massage & baby group.  I also want to go on trips away, we have a friend in the lakes who we will have to visit - the lakes are about an hour away from us and gorgeous. My folks caravan in Northumberland will be frequently visited this year I think, there are lots of things for us to see and do in the area.  We will hopefully visit both our parents, although due to Mr M's family living 4-5hrs away we won't be visiting them until baby M is a little older as the journey will be a lot for him

Money
My maternity pay is rubbish so money will be tight this year.  I want to find out more ways which we can save money as a family.  I would also love to buy our own house, we have some savings but not enough for a deposit yet.  Maybe we can win the lottery!!!