ARMS STRETCHED OUT

Teeny - 365

There is so much love and happiness in this photo I feel like my heart might burst; your brother with his arms stretched out tightly around you and you with your arms stretched out to Daddy.  Oh how I love my boys (and my little lady too of course!)

BOUNCY BOUNCY

D - 365

STRIKE A POSE

A - 365

"Mama, you take a photograph and I'll pose!"

UP THE SLIDE

Teeny - 365

Already a dare devil and a thrill seeker this was your new trick today.  Apparently climbing up the slide is more fun than sliding down it.

MALE BONDING

D - 365

Bonding whilst working on the car; anybody would think you were grown men!

WEDDING ATTIRE?

A - 365

Playing dress up with Hannah you tell me you are on your way to a wedding complete with clip on earrings and "clippy cloppy" shoes.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Teeny - 365

Everybody here is revelling in the fact that our summer has finally arrived, but not you!!  You are constantly hot and bothered and by bedtime just unsettled beyond belief; definitely too hot to handle!!

IRON MAN

D - 365

I'm not sure how it happened, but, in typical boy fashion, you seem to have discovered a love of the Avengers and so here you are trying on rocking your new Iron Man shorts.  I rarely buy character clothing even though you always lust after them in the shops, but I couldn't resist today, especially as you needed some more summer clothing anyway.  You were extremely impressed with my purchase and thoroughly appreciative.

SPACE HOPPER

A - 365

I am trying to acquire a little collection of inexpensive outdoor toys for while the weather is nice and as this was £3 in Asda today I thought it would be rude not to buy it.  It looks like you agree!

FIRST DIP

Teeny - 365

Today was your very first dip in the paddling pool and Daddy tells me that you had a ball; splashing around with your big brother and copying all of the things he was doing (which made him extremely proud I would imagine).  I wish I had been here to watch you all having such fun together.

SUNSHINE!

D - 365

Sunshine is one of my little pet names for you and so these rays of sunshine in this photograph are very fitting.  Sunshine for my sunshine!

PADDLING POOL

A - 365

You have been wishing to have the paddling pool out for a while and now that it looks like summer is here to stay (well for a few more days at least) your wish is our command.  Unfortunately I had to go to work so I missed out on all the fun, but Daddy did such a good job at documenting your delight today.

AND HE'S OFF

Teeny - 365

Nappy changes are a real battleground with you at the moment.  After such a slow start at moving around there is no keeping you still now.  As can be seen here I've even stopped fighting to get you dressed properly.

TOP GEAR

D - 365

Well done to you for trying so hard at all of the sports day events today.  Our favourite event has to have been the tricycle race; you went so fast into the turn around the cone that you actually went around on two wheels.  We thought that you were going to come off  for a second, but you managed to control it enough to bring it back down to three wheels and finish the race.  Well done sunshine!

SPORTSMANSHIP

A - 365

For sports day at nursery today you competed in each of your family groups.  It was so cute how afterwards you went straight over to your brother for a congratulatory cuddle.  It's moments like these that cleanse my mind of all of the bickering and teasing and make me think about how amazing it must be to be a twin.

ANDY...

Teeny - 365

...Murray won the men's singles final at Wimbledon today. 

 

Here Teeny can be seen doing his post match interview and analysis.

STRAWBERRY PICKING (2)

D - 365

You were so excited to go to see Auntie Dana today.  She is ALWAYS good fun and happy to get stuck in with whatever you fancy doing; today's fun being picking wild strawberries in her garden.  Here you can be seen inspecting the quality of said strawberries.  They must have been good because it didn't take you long to eat them!

STRAWBERRY PICKING (1)

A - 365

Today, at her request, we took you to see Auntie Dana to help her pick her wild strawberries in the garden.  We actually seem to be having a bit of sunshine at the moment so it was extremely hot outside and I was forced to take cover for a bit in the house with Teeny, but  the heat did not phase you.  You took great delight in picking the strawberries and then eating them with ice cream afterwards.  What a lovely afternoon we all had and how thankful I am for the special friends we have who make Sunday afternoons like this one so possible.

EH-YO

Teeny - 365

Why is it that, even when there are plenty of toys to play with, you (like your brother and sister before you and no doubt millions of other children) love  to play with things you aren't supposed to?  At the moment picking up the phone and saying "eh-yo" into it is one of your favourite things to do .  You aren't yet walking, but your sounds and 'words' are coming on by the day so I suspect that you may well have inherited another of your sister's traits, talking for England!

SAVE FLOPPY

D - 365

Worn out from the heat of the sunshine and the opportunity to play outside until your heart is content you decide to wind down with a story from Auntie Karen.

MANICURE

A - 365

Today we went to see Auntie Karen and so it goes without saying you wanted to have your nails painted.  It is so lovely to see your innocent young hands intertwined with the beautiful hands of somebody so wise and treasured.  I hope to that these hands are forever intertwined.

FRESH START

Since taking time out from posting my 365 project to plan Teeny's naming day and then subsequently going back to work in April I have struggled immensely to find the time to take what I would label 'good' photographs and to then post them regularly.  I think that, in turn, my enthusiasm for this project has waivered somewhat resulting in me posting even less because I feel like I am facing an uphill battle to catch up.

So today I decided that I am going to spend my blogging time each day TRYING to post that day's photographs instead of attempting to catch up with posting the missing photographs.  I have no intention of leaving that gap in this project; I will, over time, go back and fill in the gaps as and when I have an extra few minutes here and there.  If it takes me six months into next year to finish it all then so be it. 

 

I am making no promises, however I am hoping that by doing it this way I will see progress being made and my excitement for this project will return.  Fingers crossed!!

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY SEVEN



 

This is the final photograph in my little series to celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

 

Granted, this isn't the best quality photograph, but I really love it.  It was taken at my lovely mother in law's 70th birthday party, so Teeny would have been 11 days off 13 months old and this is what I call snuggly boob.  It was way past his bedtime and he was tired and so *gasp* he was feeding for comfort, but you know what?  That's ok!! Even though there are plenty of parenting "gurus" who will tell you otherwise I am telling you now that the world will not end if you feed your baby for comfort.  Yes I could have let him cry, but what would that have achieved?  I tell you what a stressed out mommy and a very distressed baby.  This is the beauty of breastfeeding; it can be used to calm a baby who is hungry, tired, teething, feverish......the list is endless.  Mother nature made it that way.  Isn't she clever?

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY SIX

This is the penultimate photograph in my little week long project.

 

 

I wanted to include this photograph because it was taken at Teeny's first birthday/naming day celebrations*  Its really special for me that there is a photograph of me nursing him on his big day.

 

*Photograph taken by our lovely photographer for the day, Nasar Hussain (Cropped and edited by me.  Sorry!)

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY FIVE

And here we have the fifth photograph in my series of seven.

 

This photo of me breastfeeding Teeny (not that you can tell) was taken in line to see Father Christmas at Thomas Land where we had gone as a treat for A&D's fourth birthday.  That's one of the great things about breastfeeding; you can do it completely on the go  which is a necessity when buzzing around a theme park with two (not quite) four year olds.  After all there's "no time to stop Mommy".

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY FOUR

Today's gorgeous photograph, the fourth in my little series of photographs celebrating Breastfeeding Awareness Week, is courtesy of my lovely sister in law

 

 

Breastfeeding doesn't just have to be about baby and Mommy.  It can be something special for Daddy too.

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY THREE

Here is the photograph I have chosen for day three.

This photograph was taken whilst on holiday in Woolacombe last year; Teeny would have been a little over four months old. 

 

A&D were having a fabulous time in the pool, but I had a hungry baby and my choices were to:-

a) have a crying baby in the pool;

b) get out and miss out on all the fun;

c) get everybody out and have two cold and unhappy children to deal with

or

d) feed Teeny whilst in the pool.

 

So for me it was a no brainer and I fed him.  Teeny was satisfied, nobody missed out and A&D stayed in the pool for a while longer until they were ready to leave.  Everybody was happy, nobody around us batted an eyelid and I got a photograph to add to my weird and wonderful places I have breastfed collection.  Perfect!

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY TWO

Here is today's breastfeeding picture in honour of Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

 

 

This is Teeny's first breastfeed; snuggled up on our sofa after a gorgeous water birth at home.  

 

I remember, throughout my pregnancy, looking forward to this moment so much.  What a different feeling to how I felt about breastfeeding with A&D.  It is funny to think now that when I was pregnant with them I knew I should try it and that it would be good for them, but I was very non-committal and not really interested in it. 

 

It is amazing how quickly things can change, believe it or not if you'd have told me four and half years ago that my biggest passion after my family would be supporting families with breastfeeding and birth choice I would have laughed in your face!

BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 2013 - DAY ONE

So today and for the rest of the week, in honour of Breastfeeding Awareness Week which seems to be being celebrated at varying times throughout the month of June, I will be posting a breastfeeding photo per day.

So here is today's...

 

This is one of only two photographs I think I have of me feeding A&D and I think I may have posted it elsewhere on this blog at some point.  My mother in law took both of the photographs I have when A&D were just four days old (I think!) and at the time I hated them because breastfeeding and being a mommy was very new to me and I was oh so very aware of being completely exposed. 

 

How times change, now I am eternally grateful for those two very precious photographs.  I will get my boobs out anywhere (for a baby who needs feeding) and couldn't care less what people think.  Oh how I wish I knew then what I know now.

I THOUGHT MARCH WOULD NEVER END

...I have finished blogging my 365 photos for March. 

This work lark is playing havoc with my blogging!  Hellllllp!

UNINTENTIONAL ABSENCE

I am more than aware that I have fallen really behind with my 365 project.  Actually no I have fallen behind in posting my 365 project because as far as I am aware I have all of the photos I need; what I actually need now is the time to blog them.  Ha more time, isn't that what all of us mommies need?

My absence has been down to a number of things.  The first being that my maternity leave and the holiday I tagged onto it is all over and I gave myself a bit of a baptism of fire by going back to work the first week of the Easter holidays; Teeny and I were then poorly and in between all of that I have been arranging Teeny's first birthday come naming day celebrations.  Well all of those things, other than me being back at work, are now over (can you believe my baby is one already?) so I am hoping to be able to slowly and steadily catch up on my blog. 

 

My days can be more than a little bit manic now that I am back at work so I am finding that a lot more of my photos are being taken on my phone or by my lovely husband on his phone when I ring  him on my way into work full of woe that I don't have a photograph of one or all of the children. 

 

The last photos from my 365 project that I posted were from 23 March and they were posted on 21 April so I have quite  a few photos from between then and now that I need to post so please check back in between to have a look at what I am posting.

 

I'm also planning to write a couple of posts to commemorate Teeny's birthday and naming day, but I am going to wait for the photographs from the photographer for that so please make sure you catch up with those too if you get time.

 

Thank you for reading.

LONG NAILS

Teeny - 99/365

GENTLY DOES IT

D - 99/365

Looking at these photos of you gently transferring these seedlings makes me think about was a sweet natured and sensitive soul you are.   This is one of many things that makes you such a special boy; don't ever change who you are for anybody.

TRANSFER

A - 99/365

We are by no means green fingered in this house, but today you and D finally got round to transferring the Aubretia seedlings into some bigger pots and very impressed you were with your efforts.  I love how you give all you have to all that you do.

IN THE BUCKET

Teeny - 98/365

Instead of playing with the toys that were in the bucket you would rather just play in the bucket, but who am I to argue.  If you're happy I'm happy.

BLAH!

D - 98/365

JOY REFLECTED

A - 98/365

Whilst you were entertaining your brother by playing peekaboo with him (he was in the bucket) I just happened to catch your reflection in the bucket.

BAT

Teeny - 97/365

It would seem that apparently I look better to you when you are hanging upside down.

MODEL BEHAVIOUR

D - 97/365

Check my big boy out working his best model pose in some trousers he was trying on for Teeny's naming day.  So grown up.

MAMA

A - 97/365

Mama is what you call me at the moment (as opposed to Mommy which is what D calls me) and have been doing so for probably about a year now.  I love it; it's so cute and I hope you don't ever stop.  What I love more though is how much you adore your baby brother and are so sensitive to his needs, however I don't think it will be long before you trying to persuade him to call you Mama.

A CURE FOR A GRUMP

Teeny - 96/365

I defy anybody to look at your gorgeous happy face here and not smile.  You light up all of our lives everyday and even though your brother and sister have each other their lives would not be the same without you. 

 

Thank you our dear sweet (baby) boy.  xxxx

PARTY FOOD

D - 96/365

After party playing comes party food and everybody loves party food.  It must have been good food because by the time Daddy got round to taking a photo you'd cleared your plate.  Yum.  Yum.  Yum.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

A - 96/365

I love your expression here.  I'm not sure what you were pointing at because Daddy took you to this party.  I asked Daddy, but of course he can't remember!  Whatever it is you look terrified, but you came home having had a fantastic time so I wonder if maybe you were dramatising slightly.

ME AND MY SHADOW

Teeny - 95/365

LISTENING IN

D - 95/365

Tired from all the playing you have done today and seeing Sophie reading to your sister, you pop yourself onto the  bed next to them and listening in intently.  You can't beat a good book can you son?

LITTLE MISS COUSINS

A - 95/365

Sophie is such a sweetie and despite the age gap between you she is so patient with you and more than happy to entertain you when we visit.  So today I came up to check you weren't driving her mad and this is how I found you; on her bed listening to her reading a Mr Men story to you. 

 

I hope you two always have fun together.  I wonder what antics you will get up to together in years to come...so on second thoughts maybe not TOO. MUCH. FUN.

HAPPY TIRED

Teeny - 94/365

Worn out from all of the excitement of the train journey to the museum and seeing the animals there you snuggle in ready for the journey home. Happy tired like we all were today.

BEARDED DRAGON

D - 94/365

Here is Basil the Bearded Dragon from the Minibeast Roadshow at BMAG today.  What fun you had meeting all of the animals and you were so brave to hold and touch so many of them too. 

 

Just goes to show you don't have to spend lots of money to have an exciting morning out and it was even better that we got to share the excitement with our friends.

SNAKE CHARMER

A - 94/365

Today we went to Minibeast Roadshow at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery with our lovely friends.  They do some lovely activities for children, especially in the school holidays; in fact  I blogged about another visit here.  When we arrived you went off to see what was going on while I paid* and when I turned around I just managed to catch you doing this.  If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I don't think I would have believed it.

*£2 each for you and D.  Bargain!

SO HAPPY......

Teeny - 93/365

......to see your daddy poking his head around the corner, but nowhere as happy as he was to see you my beautiful boy.

ASLEEP?

D - 93/365

Are you asleep son?  What do you think?

BEAUTIFUL DREAMER

A - 93/365

Nomatter how fraught or chaotic our day has been or how challenging I have found you, seeing you sleeping or in your half asleep haze gives me such a warm glow and it makes me want to scoop you up and have you lay in my arms forever.