This month i will mostly be...

Wearing Nothing...

 I spend all my spare cash on things for my girls, i desperately need to get myself some new clothes. Its getting embarrassing now. The trouble is my boobs, find something that fits them and its baggy all over elsewhere, or the opposite then my boobs bulge out! Grr...

Also everything has to be accessible in some way to feed Séraphine.

Well i have a good excuse as i am soon to be a god-mumma, definitely need a new outfit for that surely?

And a new bra, that actually fits these massive udders!

(my nipples don't look like this though! hahaha)

Reading...

50 shades of grey (when i say reading i mean stealing the odd glimpse when i get two seconds)

Lets face it, who hasn't been reading it? So far I'm up to the beginning of chapter 3.

Its written very well, compelling you to read on. But with this handful that's nearly impossible! 

There's talk of it being turned into a film, who would you cast? For me Ana (Anastasia) would have to be Anne Hathaway, however I'm unsure she could get away with playing a 21yr old student?

I'm un-decided who would be Mr Grey (Christian to you or i), but he'd need to be totally sexy, charming and look awesome in a grey suit. Yummy.

After this book there are two more volumes, thinking i need to purchase...

Making...

So far I've made a pair of booties and a rabbit from an old damaged fleece sleep suit, a sock panda, a cushion for a friends birthday present and two sock animals for a fantastic charity that my friend runs.

Silently screaming...

Séraphine is ill for the first time, bad cold that's making her phlegmy with a nasty cough :( On top of teething and not sleeping. Lydia has been potty trained, she went from nappies to 99% dry in 3wks (including nights) Otherwise she's been getting the night terrors and being a typical terrible 2yr old!! 

All of this concludes to me having only between 2-6hrs sleep each night, last night it was almost 3hrs...whoop! Yuck :( These kids are lucky they're cute.

 

And lastly i will be trying to get on here more.

Things are changing....

        

My beautiful girls :)

I can't help but feel sad, happy and scared all at the same time.

I am (always have been) a terrible worrier, now ask my friends and they'd say i am bubbly, confident and positive. Only a few people know the 'real' me, the side thats easily hurt and upset, the part of me that constantly worries and wants everything to be perfect.

Yes i usually do and say what i like, but i do worry what people think about me, what will happen to me and where i will end up.

This pregnancy has caused a whole new MASSIVE batch of hormones, a fresh batch of bitchyness, moanyness and unhappyness. Not to mention the heartburn, back ache and stress from a very tetchy toddler.

I do love being pregnant again, its great. So different from with Lydia, this time i am worring about moving, money and how all of this will effect Lydia. She is amazing and hugs my belly saying ''Baby'' then kisses it :)

I've been upset about how she will feel, how she will adapt to moving (if we ever move!?!)

Everyone tells me to relax and take it easy.

How can i!?! I have a toddler who acts like a teenager and i'm really stressed out on top of trying to remain ''normal'' to function in everyday life and move.

I wish someone would just come along and sort it all out for me. Someone to assure me Lydia will be fine, its just a phase afterall, someone to get me a new flat and sort out all the shit that comes with moving, someone to give me a wonderfull massage and a day off from everything.

But, i don't believe in god and miracles just don't happen to me.

Rant over and otherwise i am really happy. I have a beautiful happy daughter and she has a sister on her way. I always wanted a sister so she's getting what i always wanted, which is lovely :)

And i've managed to make the baby a few things for when she arrives. A soft play cube, hand stiched with a jingle bell inside. And a sock cat! Meiow....

I have always thought that i would'nt dress my two girls exactly the same. Maybe the same outfit/top but in different colours. However i have printed a vest each for the girls to wear, matching! :)

I've also brought two t-shirts, one each, Lydia's will say 'Big sister' and baby's will say 'Little sister' :) Yey!!!

Review: Thrist Pockets Multi Cloth

Harriet sent us some Thirst Pockets Multi Cloths, just what you need with a messy toddler about the house!

But you don't need a toddler to make a mess as we soon found out, clumsy daddy Justin decided to spill his coke all over the front room floor. Luckily its laminate flooring and i had these to hand!

Justin thought it was ''normal'' kitchen towel so he tore off about 10 sheets and started to mop up the mess, i came and took seven back off him! He only needed three, and he would've used less had he wrung them out in the sink. Needless to say the floor was super sticky so i used another one with some spray cleaner, super clean shiney and dry floor after that! Fab :)

The packet states you can use it all rooms of the house. Kitchen, bathroom, on glass and furniture. So we went on to use them cleaning the toilet, TV, Lydia's messy face and kitchen surfaces including the sink. The next challenge will be the shower.
Not just for cleaning though, you can use them for cooking, i used one sheet whilst making pancakes and eggy bread to soak up the excess oil. Fabulous!

 Another great use i found was when all my tea-towels were wet from the wash and i needed a plate drying, i tore a sheet off and watched it suck up the water. I left this sheet hanging off the tap to use later, it dried up lovely and had no holes!

They're made with Airlaid technology, ''Whats that?'' i hear you ask....

Airlaid is a specific process without water using cellulosic fibres but longer than what we use in conventional papermaking. Instead of mixing fibres with a high amount of water, and spraying the mix on a fabric to get a homogeneous web, the fibres are used dry, air transported and homogeneously laid down on a fabric. As the fibres are not wet, there is a need to add a binder to get a sheet with some resistance. In our case, this binder is a synthetic latex sprayed on both sides of the sheet. The amount of latex is around 15% of total weight.

This binder is not soluble in water which explains the specific property of Airlaid to be strong even when wet.
GP Airlaid is made with 100% virgin pulp called fluff (wood cellulose fibres) by a dry laying process (aerodynamic web formation). Airlaid is very strong, absorbent, offers the feel of cloth, and enables the product to be rinsed and reused.

And an introduction of the product from the company....

Behold…The NBF for Clean Fiends Across the UK

Thirst Pockets Multi Cloth - the innovative new household helper with a split personality.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a brand new product from Thirst Pockets - the Thirst Pockets Multi Cloth. It’s no surprise that this innovative little household helper is having an identity crisis - because it looks like a kitchen towel and performs like a cloth.
If, like us, your cupboards are overflowing with cloths and sponges – there’s the kitchen surface dishcloth, the washing up sponge and dozens of dusters – then you’ll be pleased to hear about the range of jobs that this new cloth can cover. The Thirst Pockets Multi Cloth will polish furniture, clean up the car, scrub the hobs, shine the windows and can wipe up spills.
Imagine how much simpler life will be with a single cloth to meet all your cleaning needs. Its concentrated fibres ensure a cloth-like feel so it doesn’t leave any nasty streaks across shiny surfaces - making it the perfect cleaning partner for your spring clean and beyond.

Versatile Thirst Pockets Multi Cloth can do it all, tackling any job – big or small - from wiping small spills, to cleaning your bathroom and polishing furniture and glass. It’s tough and durable, so much so that in tests it has proved to be the strongest kitchen towel on the market.
Multi Cloth is a hygienic cleaning solution – it performs like a cloth, but because it is disposable it removes the need to have dirty cloths hanging around the home.
The superior quality of Multi Cloth also means it is cost effective, because, compared to normal kitchen towels you have to use less to do more.


So if you need this fantastic product in your life, and lets face it we all DO! Then head down to your local supermarket to grab a pack, RRP £2.39 from Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Asda.

Make it part of your cleaning kit!

Right i'm off to scrub my shower now............



 

Two teenagers already!?!

I am now 18.4wks pregnant and Lydia is 16mths old, two teenagers!

I've got another two scans booked for the 21st of June and the 24th of June, hopefully they'll be able to tell the sex of bambino. Everyone has said to me they think its a boy, we will see (hopefully). We're not fussed either way, they only difference will be the expense if its a boy! We still have all of Lydia's old stuff so another girl would be sorted for everything!!!

I've got two scans because Brighton and Worthing both want to do their own. Worthing is where i am booked into have the birth, a water birth hopefully. And Brighton want me to stay on their records in case i can't make it Worthing on time.

The water pool tour has been booked, that's in September :)

Lydia has been rubbing my belly and saying 'baby, aww'. She also offers to give a kiss or cuddle to me or daddy, not very often but still. And she is such a chatter box, things she says like 'in there', 'rubbish', 'dog', 'shoes', 'bag' etc... And yesterday she copied me and said 'Oh shit', whoopsie! I really need to watch what i say now, cheeky little madam.

We found another play group to go to, its for 0-5yrs which means i can go with the both of them once bambino arrives. The only thing is it doesn't run during term time, but not many do :( Boo!

Its at the Calvary church by the fire station, i was surprised at how big it is inside as it looks tiny from the outside. The group is run by a lovely lady, Katy i think? Now i didn't realise but it is actually a christian group and we're not religious, but there is no harm in going and Lydia is to young to understand anything like that anyway. She can make up her own mind on religion when she's old enough to.

We've only been the once at the moment as of term time, but intend to keep going from now on. Hopefully make a few friends for Lydia and myself :) One lady who i was talking to is also pregnant (with a boy) and due at the end of august, she already has a 2yr old girl.

And a few of the other mums had a couple of children, i was asking them for tips about having a baby and a toddler, so that will be useful :)

Lydia learnt how to go up the stairs and down the slide all by herself, yey!

We've been doing a few indoors activity's to lately. Like painting, drawing and dressing up!

I've learnt how to use my new wrap slings, been practising baby holds with teddy bears and the rucksack back carry with Lydia....

And I've been making lots of things again, mostly recycled old t-shirts into new clothes for Lydia....

If only she'd keep still long enough for me to take a picture! Cushion was made from an old dressing gown, sock bunny from one of Lydia's baby socks and some off cuts, stripy dress from an old t-shirt and green dress was an old vest top of mine :)

Right i best be off now, Lydia is asking for a 'nana' (banana) and i myself am rather hungry to!

Its time to put my boobs away....for now!

Lydia has decided that she's all grown up, her need for Independence has outgrown her love of the boob! At 14mths and 14days old exactly, she decided enough was enough and that she didn't want anymore boobie!

That was 3.3wks ago now.
Am i in pain? have my breasts exploded with the over-load of milk?............

......No is your answer. Why, how? Well let me tell you my secret, I'm pregnant!!! :)

I know that this maybe a large contributing factor to Lydia's weaning, however i am sure the baby is 'using' up the milk. Hence no pain, mastitis, swelling etc.... Not exactly using it as Lydia were, but using the energy and all the goodness that's used to produce it :) Still that's not stopped them from shrinking already! :( From a 36G i am now a 38DD, still a nice handful but not a G!!! Anyways i am sure they will return with the birth of the new baby.

At 13mths old Lydia out-right refused the breast, this would've been when i was around 2wks pregnant and my hormones began to change, her way of telling me. The taste of my milk was changing, the baby was changing it :) After nearly 5days she came back, after i gave her some expressed milk in a sippy-cup, it made her want more boobie!

So now I'm going to be a mum of two! Eeeek!!!!!! Scary but amazing all the same.
I am now 12.5wks pregnant, and already having to wear my maternity clothes. Here is baby....

I'm sure it'll be tough having a newborn and a 21mth old toddler, but we wanted an age gap of around 2yrs. After a few months into being a mum of two i think Lydia will be old enough to do a few hours at a play-school, just as baby begins to be active :)

It feels like such a relief to finally post this! We've known about the pregnancy from 6wks gone and I've had this blog ready since i was 10wks, so eager to post it but desperate to have my scan first. Also it was becoming rather difficult to hide the bump in this gorgeous weather we are having :) Bump at 12.2wks....

Its going to be a BIG baby, lol :) xxx

Mumma's makes....

As you all know I'm a fan of crafts, sewing and creativity of the mind! I'd like to share with you a few things that I've made, and hopefully inspire you do something to :) I love to re-use and recycle old clothing, turn it into something useful and fun :)

Cookery is another passion, some simple recipes to follow in another blog :)

Baby leg warmers ~ So easy to do and addictive to make! I think i made 4pairs for Lydia. I used normal sized women's socks. For small baby's use kids socks, and large baby's use men's socks :)

Here's how i did them (i sew by hand though): http://everythingyourmamamade.com/2008/01/21/make-your-own-baby-leg-warmers/

There are many other tutorials online if you don't get on with this one :)

Beaded toy/dummy holders ~ I made loads of these. Some for friends and some that people brought off me :) Wooden beads are individually knotted for safety whilst in use, extra toy hoop to attach to buggy etc...

Fabric letters & numbers ~ All of these are made using an old cotton summer dress of mine that got ripped, padded using the guts from a pillow i got at the local 99p store!

 

(please ignore that the 4&7 are the wrong way around!)

Sock animals, not just monkeys! ~ Abe the monkey was my first attempt at a sock monkey. I was so pleased with the outcome that i decided to get creative! Next came Mr Bunny and then Felix the cat!

Not forgetting my most recent make of Fred the sock-ape! This was lovingly made for my wonderful cousin Sharon of Soft Thistle Photography.

I used more stuffing from the 99p pillow, a washed & dried crisp packet to make the ears crunchy, cotton thread for mouth/nose/shaping of tails etc... and a few heart shaped buttons (sewn on very tightly) for eyes :) Each animal requires nearly 2 socks each, so 1 pair per animal! I've used regular size women's socks, however if you want a smaller one use kids socks and for extra long limbs/tails/ears use over the knee women's socks :)

Get in the £1 shop or Primark for a pack of 5 normal sized women's stripy ones, for only £2!!!!!!! :)

I hand sew again, but here's a machine tutorial to have a go at one yourself: http://www.craftbits.com/project/sock-monkey

I had a look at this to see what components i needed and then just made it up as i went along :)

Taggy blanket ~ Again this was made with fabric from my old dress. All the 'tags' are different, i went on a wild rummage throughout the house to make sure of it! They include ribbon from presents, the annoying loops inside of clothing/dressing-gowns, a strap from an old pair of sandals, strap from an old changing bag, the loop off of a box a toy came in and some ribbon i got in a clearance shop for only 10p for 2metres!!!

The blanket measures about 40cmx30cm. I added an extra long pink loop at the top left corner, this is so it can attach to the buggy/a toy/hoop etc....



The only time i manage to make all these are when Lydia has a nap or if i get a few minutes whilst Justin plays/baths/feeds her! Some projects take an age to complete, lol.

I also make cards, jewellery and print onto clothing!

I hope I've inspired you to get creative today, have lots of fun and please share your comments/pictures about what you make/have made :) Remember not to be a perfectionist, just be the best you can :)

Santall photography were at Lydia's birthday!

As you all know my lovely Lydia has just turned one! We had a little 'pub lunch' party for her at The park view pub, by Preston park.

Amongst our friends were Ian, Jiab & Jasmine. The family behind Santall photography.

Ian very kindly offered to take a few photo's of the birthday girl and her friends. We were very grateful and got on with the posing for the camera! The kids loved it, as you can see....

 Above - birthday girl with Justin (daddy and his mum).

Right - Me, Justin & birthday girl.

Left - Me and my youngest niece Inara.

Right - Lydia's friend  George.

Below - My niece Inara.

Above - Sammy posing and then getting into party mode!

                                             

Below - Birthday girl :)

 

I found the whole experience was good fun, friendly and yet professional. If your in need of a photographer for a special event, then go and have a look on their website. They have lots more beautiful pictures on there. And various packages to suit weddings, birthdays, pregnancy's etc.....

My favorite picture of my little family! :)

We have been given a CD with all the pictures on, making it easy to share them and look at them in full size on the TV or PS3. Its so lovely that we can cherish these photos forever, this has to be one of the best gifts! Thankyou :)

Snow Ja'Vu

This was me, ready to pop this time last year. I was hobbling around in the ice and snow in fear of giving birth early! But dettermind to have a snowy walk around my house! And now.......

One year on, and this is Lydia and I today!

Playing in the snow with my gorgeous girly

I wrapped us both up in preperation to walk around the outside of our house.

She was amazed at her first sight of snow, i don't think she blinked for a while. Hehe.

I love the crunch of fresh snow beneth your feet, its so christmasy and fresh out there now. Really made me all festive, so much so that i started putting up the decorations when we got in :)

I super wrapped Lydia up as i don't want her to catch a cold. She looked like a michellen baby in all her layers!

Lydia's outfit; sleepsuit, catsuit, fleece suit, cow coat, hat (and 2 hoods from suits) and 2 pairs of gloves! Also a buggy snuggle once i put her back down. All cosy and no room for me to get in :( lol

All i could find to wear was 2hoodys and some tracky bottoms! Nice.......

Lydia's favorite part about the snow was when it fell of the trees. She loves trees!

I found a big stick and kept tapping the leafs/branches to make 'mini-avalanches', i got covered in snow but it was priceless hearing her gorgeous little giggle each time i did it :)

All that fun tired her out and she napped for a good few hours when we returneed indoors, excellent! I wish it snowed everyday! Lol ;p xxxx