Opinions please

I'm thinking of buying some art work and I've been looking at this guys gallery on ebay. What do you think?

Bad things happen in 3's

First someone runs into the back of my car (3 times in 6 years). I'm still waiting to hear if it has been written off. Next my brand new t-shirt and white underwear have been dyed yellow as the infamous yellow duster got in the washing again! So hey what's it gonna be next?

Phew!

Sorry been busy this week (ha)!

Yesterday I cleaned the house from top to bottom (cleaned all the windows inside and out whilst testing some "new" products, hoovered, dusted, ironed, washing and drying)picked up some toys and books for free from a fellow freecycler, did lots of shopping (which included a chocolate fountain, some clothes and lots of food for our forthcoming BBQ on the 7th July). Is it any wonder I was in bed fast asleep by 8.30 that night?

Freecycling is slowly becoming my friend, I've recently picked up some new baby toys and books from fellow freecyclers and it's been great:

Emily playing with her new stash of toys

It was quite a bundle of toys and books!

I also visited Lisa, Paul, Jack and Mia this week. She is such a beautiful baby that she made me broody. I'm was also really pleased to hear that the pool worked for Lisa and seemed to speed up the whole labour process. Mia was also born in the pool and it was a very calm and serene birth. In fact Lisa's birth story sounds exactly the same as mine!

Anyway I've gotta go, got some beaver pinatas to make :)

She's here (at last!)

Congratulations to Lisa and Paul, their beautiful daughter Mia arrived this morning!

I can't wait to hear the full birth story. Lisa your a star - you've been in pre-labour for 3 days! Also chuffed to say that Mia was born in the birthing pool that we had our daughter Emily in. May the good luck continue as we will pass the pool onto someone else in the future.

Thrills, spills and bellyaches

After a lot of reasearch of hotels and theme parks I've finally got round to booking a hotel for our trip to Alton Towers. We asked Phoebe (last year) where she would like to go for a treat weekend away and she wanted to visit Alton Towers. So using the power of our much saved Tesco Clubcards and having some bellyaches about how to book all these things seperately I've finally got the hotel booked, purchased Alton Tower tickets and some tickets for Cadbury World (well that one is kinda my treat). Once the Tesco vouchers have arrived I should be able to confirm all the details and then look forward to giving Phoebe an exciting weekend of staying in a 4* hotel , the thrills of Alton Towers, and finally a bellyache full choclate at Cadbury World.

As one enters another leaves

Today we headed to Kiddicare in Peterborough to buy a new mattress for Emily's bed, but on the way back we were unfortunate to witness a crash scene where paramadics were battling to save a motorcyclists life. As we sped past I caught a glimpse of the paramedic performing chest compressions and it hit me that this guy was dying as we drove by. I can still remember the paramedic furiously pumping away and I remember thinking gosh that that is what it would be really like to give someone CPR. Not this fake stuff you see on Casualty. And I think to myself would I be able to do this for real? Would I be able to stay calm and perform CPR on someone? I like to think that my previous First Aid training would stand me in good stead but I don't think it would prepare me, or anyone else, for a scene of an accident like that. I have to ask myself that question as I'm seriously considering joining CamSAR, Cambridge Search and Rescue, as a search technician. But that's another story for another day.

On a happier note Lisa is just entering pre-labour (heck I didn't know this existed!). We're all sending happy, positive and pain-free labour thoughts out into the universe for her and her family. I wish Beanie a safe journey, oh and to turn round and face the back, that part's important! xxx

Are we there yet, are we there yet?

At the moment I want to run around my living room shouting "Is she here yet? Is she here yet" for the next few hours - as from the sounds of it from Lisa's blog she has just broken her waters (was that on purpose?). Anyway it's very exciting news and I'm putting all those positive and pain free thoughts out into the universe, because pretty soon whether it's today or tomorrow there is going to be another little angel on this planet. If it's tomorrow that's going to be one fab present for Fathers Day!

Some other news Emily's top 2 teeth have finally made an appearance - hooray to toothy pegs!

Hooray also to Lisa's mum in sending some Baby Mum Mum biscuits for Emily.

Here she is enjoying some!

Baby baby

Early on Sunday morning another little girl was born. Congratulations to Lucie and David, they have another beautiful daughter. Elsie I wish you much love and happiness in your life.

This week there should be another little girl arriving and I have to say I'm anxious. My friend Lisa is due any day and I'm pleased she has opted for a home birth using our birthing pool (don't worry she has new liners for it!)

I won't say my first child's birthing was a pleasure nor was it horrible but being in hospital was just the wrong environment for me. I like to be in my own home, sleep in my own bed and eat my own food. Sleep with the lights off (or dimmed real low), and enjoy the silence where you can hear your new baby gently sleep.

Emily's birth was a totally different experience. Not only was she a much bigger baby, but it was a shorter(no morphine required), less exhausting labour and I healed (hey no stitches) in double quick time after the birth. I can only attribute this to the lovely calm environment along with the birthing pool.

Lisa I can only wish you the same for your forthcoming labour. I salute you as you join the ranks of "the home birthers".

Many Happy Returns

Happy 1st Birthday Kalila!

Look I can fly!

Norty McSnorty!

Mommy made me my own Castle!

Then Grace ate some of it!

Then Digi ate some of it!
Then Phoebe ate some of it!
Emily decided to eat the plastic cupsAre you sane?

This horsey made vroom vroooooom noises!

Hello, is it my turn yet?

Aches and pains

Today I feel well and truly crap. Not only do I have a sore throat, sinuses about to explode and crush my eyeballs but for some reason fleas find my flesh tasty and I have about 100 itchy bites all over me. Beware cats and dogs next time I visit I'm coming armed with flea power and spray.

Back to our holiday north, we had a pretty jolly time in old Aberdeen visiting some old and new faces. We visited Shona (Phoebes ex-child minder), Susan and her 1 year old daughter. Kim and her dog Millie. And lots more (see photos below)

This is my brother David and his son Lucas

Phoebe (growing up fast)

This is Ryan (Phoebe's cousin)
This is Scott (Karen and Andy's son) ok he wasn't smiling in this photo but he is a smiley baby!

Emily with her Aunt Yvonne (my sister)
Lana (Amanda and Steve's 2 week old Daughter) she's beautiful like her mother!

Emily with Grandma H
Emily, Phoebe, Sula and Willow (Lorna's dogs)

Lorna and Otto
Phoebe and Emily with Joshua (Carol and Craig's son)
Carol and Craig's new daughter Georgina (cutie pie!)
Emily with Grandad H