ASHER'S 3RD BIRTHDAY PARTY

A - 365

D - 365

Teeny - 365

AND GEORGE CAME TOO

Teeny - 365

With the chaos of our days sometimes I am so grateful for this time when you have sleepy night time booby and even on the odd occasion that you wake me for it I really do not mind even when you insist on George Pig joining us.

JUST A LOVELY DAY

A - 365
D - 365

I'm so blessed to have such good friends (not to mention a lovely mother in law, sister in law and nephew) who have taken care of A&D for me on those days I have had to work during the school holidays.  Today they spent the day with my wonderful friend Jade and Zee Zee.  All I ask of anybody who looks after my children is no more than for them to be kept safe, but my expectations always seem to be exceeded and today was no different.  A&D spent a lovely day at Cannon Hill Park and Birmingham Nature Centre and even came home with a little gift each.  I was overwhelmed at the amount of thought and effort that Jade had clearly put in to today and happily they seemed to understand and appreciate that too.  Thankfully Jade even found the time to take some lovely photos for my blog too.

TV

Teeny - 365

I'm really not one of those people who likes to have the television all of the time, but I'm not ashamed to say that sometimes in our tiny house when it is all getting a little bit chaotic and I can feel my patience starting to wear thin a little bit of television is the perfect distraction to allow us to all to calm down and take five.  The other benefit of having the television on is that it provides the perfect opportunity to see just how cute you look sat with your brother and sister huddled up on the sofa and when I watch the three of you sat together like this I have to pinch myself to make sure it is real because sometimes I just can't believe that you are all mine ours.

PULL UPS

D - 365

FOLLOW THE LEADER

A - 365

IN GOOD COMPANY

A - 365
D - 365
Teeny - 365

This morning we went met Auntie Marie and the girls in Kings Heath Park; unfortunately Auntie Maz had to head off early, but Cara wasn't ready to leave and nor were we so she stayed with us for a little while and then we dropped her home on our way back.  You all played so sweetly and had sooooo much fun together that I felt completely privileged to have shared this time with the four of you and we were all a little sad to be dropping Cara home. 

 

Today was so delightful in fact that I am unable to choose any fewer pictures than these to document such a lovely day.

LITTLE HOUSE

Teeny - 365

This afternoon you enjoyed hiding in Skyla and Sebastian's lovely playhouse; opening and closing the door to play peepo with us all kept you entertained for the longest time.

OVERRUN

D - 365

I don't know how it happened, but you always seem to be surrounded by girls.  Occasionally you get a bit tired of it if they are being a bit too "girlish" (that is your sister's word) and I feel bad for you being subjected to dressing up and make up so often because it just really isn't your thing.  When you are outdoors though the fact that you are sometimes outnumbered doesn't phase you in the slightest; you had so much fun with the girls  today (Teeny isn't capable of running around with you yet) and it was the perfect way for you all to spend a late summers morning.

THE GIRLIES

A - 365

It is more than a whole year since you finished pre-school, which is where you met Liv, but despite not getting to see her as often as I am sure you would like, you still have so much fun together. 

 

Liv's mommy was at work today so we took her to the park with us so that you could have a catch up before the end of the summer holidays and that is where this photo was taken.  I just really love it; you look so happy to be in each other's company.

PEEPING

 Teeny - 365

Now I know you are mine so obviously I am not impartial, but I just can not believe that it is possible to look at your gorgeous face and not smile.  My dear boy your smile fills my heart with happiness.

BLOOOOOW!

D - 365

Look at the concentration on  that face!

BIG BUBBLE

A - 365

Desperate to make the most of the last bits of sunshine before Autumn sets in you go out into the garden to make bubbles (which came courtesy of Auntie Karen).

WRITING

Teeny - 365

LAZING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

A - 365
D - 365

Today is our wedding anniversary.  Daddy and I don't often get to do something on our own during the day, but today you both went to Auntie Karen's with Teeny while we went to the bistro at Hotel Du Vin for a delicious Sunday lunch and a glass of fizz.  This isn't a foodie blog and  this post isn't a review so I won't bore you with what we ate, but needless to say the food was amazing, the service perfect and it was ridiculously fantastic value at £22.95 per head for four courses (The Market Table is to die for).  The problem is that eating a large meal and having a cheeky glass of fizz during the day makes me yearn for an afternoon nap which was never going to happen, but thankfully you two were happy to at least snuggle up with me on the sofa when you got home.

KEEP GOING

Teeny - 365

Now that you are walking there is no stopping you, but just like in this picture you often don't know when to slow down.  Now would be good!

BLACKBERRIES

A - 365
D - 365

In our garden we have a hedge which I absolutely detest, but it is not ours to do anything with so I just tolerate it.  It is also full of horrible scratchy brambles, but a few weeks ago we noticed blackberries growing on a couple of the brambles so despite my dislike for it and the fact that Daddy wanted to cut the hedge we left the brambles to allow the blackberries to grow and ripen.  Today. much to your delight, it was time to pick the blackberries and you were utterly impressed by the fruits of your labour.  Delicious.

SHOVELLING IT IN

Teeny - 365

IN THE DRIVING SEAT...

D - 365

...with your sister running alongside.

IN YOUR FACE

A - 365

BLUE LIGHTS

Teeny - 365

I cannot explain how much you loved this police car of Asher's today.  You spent forever getting in and out of it and "driving" it around his garden.  I think maybe we should ask Father Christmas for one.  What do you think?

TEAM PHOTO

D - 365

You two have taken to "playing football", although I use the term loosely given that it usually means you kicking the ball to each other and your sister dictating when a goal is scored (obviously that would be every time she kicks it to you and never when you kick it to her).  You are getting a little less tolerant of her being in charge though so I fear I may be handing out a lot of red cards soon, but for now here is the post match photograph.

THE NEW MACHINE

A - 365

So here you are with your brother trying out Daddy's new motorbike for size; you look so different from when you were trying out his last one.

 

June 2011

 

OUT OF NOWHERE

Teeny - 365

At boob club today you walked the furthest you have ever walked; a whole eights steps before you plonked yourself on the floor. Then this evening when I turned my back for a few minutes to put the dinner on I looked up over the stair gate on the kitchen door this is where I saw you; this from the child who before today was not capable of walking more than a couple of steps or of climbing on the sofa.

FACE/FOOT

D - 365

I came into your room on my way to bed to kiss you goodnight and this is what I found where your head should have been.

I LOVE TO WATCH YOU SLEEP

A - 365

FLIRTY

Teeny - 365

IN THE SAFEST OF HANDS

D - 365

Just as we are about to leave the park you two go on this rocker together.  You two can bicker with the best of them, but when it matters she has both arms wrapped around you and you instinctively lean into her for reassurance.  As much as she often drives you crazy you would be lost without her.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE



A - 365

I love how you can go to the park everyday (we have been to ALOT of parks over the summer holiday) and you can still have as much fun as you did the first time.  It's a win win situation; you are happy, your brothers are happy and I am happy because you are all having fun burning off energy and to top it off it costs me nothing.

YET ANOTHER STOLEN MOMENT

Teeny - 365

I thought that this project would get easier as the year went by, but I am finding it harder and harder to keep up with and the days when I go to bed and realise that I have missed a photograph somewhere along the line is becoming all the more frequent as are those moments when I really want to blog all of these photographs that I have taken,  but can barely keep my eyelids open.  So here is another hurried, but still sweet picture of you sleeping and you do look so cute when you sleep that those moments, although not the obvious choice for a photograph, are definitely worth recording and sharing.

THE MEADOW

A - 365
D - 365

So today you spent  the morning with some of our favourite people in the whole world while I went to work and Teeny went to nursery. 

 

The place where Auntie Marie took you isn't really a meadow, but that is how it is affectionately known in their house so of course you adopted that name too. 

 

Not only did Auntie Marie plan a lovely morning for you at "The Meadow", she even took some photos for this blog for me.  I did try to chose one each, but they were so lovely that I have ended up sharing them all here and I even resisted the urge to edit them.

 

We are so luck to have such lovely friends.

 

Enjoy these happy memories.

DIRTY FEET

Teeny - 365

You aren't quite walking yet and so I rarely put shoes on you, especially in the warm weather because what's the point.  Today though, while we were at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery's Collection Centre's open day, you decided that you wanted to get down and 'walk around' while holding Daddy's fingers so we obliged.  At the time though we didn't realise quite how dirty the floor was.

STICK INSECT

D - 365

You are usually a little more reluctant that your sister to hold the animals, but not today.  Today you could not wait to hold them and were maybe a little too eager at times.  Bless you my sweet boy.

A TREASURE TROVE

A - 365

Here you with your brother next to a gorgeous old vehicle stored at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery's Collection Centre.  I had never really thought about what museums do with all of the things that they own that is not on display, but today we found out.  Daddy and I took you and your brothers to a (free) open day at the Collections Centre and I can only describe it as a treasure trove.  As well as all of  the amazing collections which are stored there they also had a falconry display and animals from Animalmania and the Minibeast Roadshow as well as a visit from the Lord Mayor. 

We all had a really lovely afternoon, but your particular favourites were the animals and the collections comprising of pretty things and of toys like these ones.

 

Collection Centre Treasures

 

GETTING CLOSER

Teeny - 365

Desperate to catch up with Zee Zee you try to get as close to her as you can and she, on the other hand, is wondering what on earth you are up to.

THREE IN THE BED

A - 365
D - 365

Tonight we made the most of me being around at bedtime.

MAMA'S BED

Teeny - 365

For you our bed is mostly for exploring (unless you are having booby).  As much as I would love for you to just snuggle up with me you rarely do so the fact that you are lying down on our bed for long enough to take this photograph is nothing short of a miracle.

DADDY'S GENES

D - 365

I always think that you are more like my side of the family than your brother and sister; people have always commented that they are like Daddy so by default you are more like me given that you look very little like either of them.  However today when I look at this photo I can clearly see your cousin Olivia in you and she being your Daddy's sister's daughter must mean that you got your daddy's genes too.  Lucky boy.

THIS GUY (OR IN OUR CASE THIS GIRL)

A - 365

IN THE RING

Teeny - 365

This is a really poor quality photograph, but regardless you still look too cute to not post it.

UNAUTHORISED PICTURE

D - 365

We went with Auntie Marie and her gorgeous girls to Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre today so that you could all let off some steam and of course there I was snapping away; well I was snapping away until I spotted the sign telling me I wasn't allowed.  Uh oh!!  Naughty Mommy!!

RUNNING FREE

A - 365

While I was working upstairs and you were playing out in the garden Daddy took today's 365 photo for me.  You are rarely happier than when you are outdoors; you love the space and freedom that it gives you and I think that is clear for all to see.  I wish I could bottle this happiness for you and keep it for you when the going gets tough.  I wish you happiness always.

BOYS CLUB

Teeny - 365

There are only a few weeks or so between you and this lovely little man, but to me he always seems so much more grown up than you.  I adore how you are reaching out to him in this picture and as desperate as I am to for you to stay little if I am honest I know that you won't actually be little for much longer; you are changing and learning new things so quickly at the moment that I cannot even keep up, but one of the things I do look forward to as you grow is to seeing you develop friendships and particularly to watching you two play together in the coming months.  I wonder what mischief you will get up  to together.

WORKING LIKE MOMMY

A - 365
D - 365

So today is one of the days when I work an evening shift from home.  On your way to bed you popped in to see me and as the laptop was on the bed you decided to (pretend to) join me in my work.  If only you could have got hold of my "twirly chair" and earphones then there would really have been no stopping you.

LOVELY HORMONES

Teeny - 365

Sometimes when those nasty teeth wake Teeny late at night and nothing else will do we resort to the magic that is boob.  Judge me if you will, but the release of all those lovely hormones settle a baby in no time and then we all get to go back to sleep quickly and it's the only way (other than the obvious) that you can burn calories while being laid down in bed.

SAVING TIME?

D - 365

I came in to check on you tonight and I found you asleep in your glasses.  I cannot even begin to imagine how you can fall asleep with them on, but you often do and I'm pretty sure you would sleep in them all night if I didn't remove them.  I suppose it would stop you having to fumble around in he morning and  save you some time at least.