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.

CO-SLEEPING

A - 365

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW

Those of you who know me will know that one of my passions is breastfeeding peer support and you will also know that I have volunteered, quite avidly, in this capacity for coming up to almost four years.  Today, however, is very special; I am now OFFICIALLY employed as a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter for my local NHS trust.  I will still be working the 16 hours that I already work during the evenings, but on Mondays and Fridays I will work as a peer supporter which means that Teeny will be doing a day and a half at nursery, although all three of the children were at home with Daddy today. 

 

The job involves me being based in the community supporting women (and their families) in the antenatal and postnatal periods and I literally cannot wait.  It has been difficult sorting out childcare and finances and tax codes and the like (we are, quite frustratingly, no better off financially), but now that everything is pretty much in place I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into the role and to having a job that I will absolutely love.

 

Consequently though today (and for the foreseeable future) things have been and are likely to be a bit chaotic so I imagine there will be lots of last minute photos, photos taken by Daddy or photos taken by me on my phone, but I will try my best to keep up as much I can.

 

Unfortunately today though, these three photos are the only ones I have.

A - 365

So here is A cleaning the inside of the car for me.

 

D - 365

Here D is watching his sister as she shows him how to use the new vacuum to clean where he needs to.



Teeny - 365

Teeny is practicing his standing here; I don't think it will be long now before he is walking.

MR POTATO'S PLAYGROUND

Teeny - 365

KING OF WINDY CASTLE

D - 365

Here you wait (not so) patiently for the Windy Castle ride; you sneak past your brother and sister and get as close to the front of the queue as you can, but thankfully they didn't notice!

JUMPING IN MUDDY PUDDLES

A - 365

Here you are enjoying your surprise trip to Peppa Pig World on what was forecast to be an overcast day with scattered showers.

DADDY, HOLD MY HAND

Teeny - 365

What I love about this photo and the reason I chose to post it on this blog is because you have taken Daddy's hand of your own accord.  I was going post it with a little quote or poem about holding Daddy's hand, but whilst looking for something to accompany it I was struck in the pit of my stomach by the realisation that there will come a time when neither you nor your brother or sister will want to hold my hand.  I don't think I will ever be ready for that day to come and tomorrow I will be grateful that I can hold your hands that little bit tighter and for that little bit longer.

MY DIDDY DINOSAUR AND THE DADDYOSAURUS

D - 365

Dinosaur dress up at Dinosaur Isle.

DINOSAUR FOOD

A - 365

SQUEEEEZE!

Teeny - 365

Oh dear, I can't fit through Mommy!

THE PIED PIPER

D - 365

I have talked a lot on this blog about how my big boy is happiest in the company of men.  Well the lovely man in this photo with D is the partner of my husband's cousin and we literally met him probably about two or three hours prior to this photograph being taken.  My oh my how special he is.  Very few people who do not have children of their own have the way with children that Rich has; he was literally like the Pied Piper.  For virtually the whole time we spent with him he had three children around his ankles and I am sure the only reason he didn't have four is because Teeny cannot quite walk yet.   How lucky Amy, Thomas and Rich are to have found each other.

ON A SWING MADE FOR TWO (OR MORE)

A - 365

Here you are with your sort of cousin, Thomas (he is actually Daddy's cousin's son, but I don't get the labels past cousin so as far as I am concerned he is your cousin).  You have only met Thomas a handful of times (four if I am correct), but in typical fashion you were mothering him from the word go.  Anybody remotely younger than you (and sometimes not even younger than you) gets mothered.  I adore how caring you are and how you are always trying to fix things for everybody, but sometimes I worry that it might be quite smothering for the other child involved.  Thomas, however, just loves the swings and so he was happy for you to join him; in fact so much so than he snuggled right into you for a swing and almost dozed off to sleep.

SEA SHY

Teeny - 365

We discovered today, on a trip to Compton Bay, that our resident water baby who was born in water, has always loved the bath, shower and swimming pool is definitely not a fan of the sea; every time we took him near it he cried and clung onto us for dear life.  Poor baba, how odd!

SURFER

D - 365

I love this photograph of you.  It is one that I took whilst messing around with a lens I don't tend to use very much and have not quite got the hang of. You were just chilling on the beach at Compton Bay and you remind me of a surfer in your swimmers with that long scruffy hair.  All you need is a surf board and a VW Caravelle or Transporter.  Super cool!

TRITON AND ARIEL

A - 365

After waiting patiently for Daddy to return from his swim and finally getting to join him in the sea again you return scooped up in his arms with both of you smiling from ear to ear despite being hit by a wave and toppling head first into the (not very warm) sea.  I wonder who had more fun.

FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Teeny - 365

From the outside of the train looking in this is what I see; our beautiful boy taking in the world around him and what a wonderful place the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is for him to absorb.

TRAIN DRIVER

D - 365

Just as it was time for us to leave the Isle of Wight Steam Railway the very kind train driver allowed you to go up into his cab complete with his hat to see what he was up to.  How kind it was of him to give you that opportunity; you were absolutely proud as punch!

FIRE!!

A - 365

On our little train journey from  Havenstreet to Smallbrook Junction on the very lovely Isle of Wight Steam Railway we had to stop for the train crew to put out a small grass fire at the side of the track.  As you can see Little Miss was very concerned by the whole incident.

CROSSING THE SOLENT

A - 365

D - 365

Teeny - 365

BEAD OF SWEAT

Teeny - 365

It is less than a five minute drive to Nanny Dot's and by the time we go there today you had fallen asleep and had this bead of sweat rolling down your head.  Sweaty boy!

TOO EXCITED FOR SLEEP

A - 365
D - 365

We're going on holiday to the Isle of Wight tomorrow and you two are far too excited for sleep.  It could be a long night!

FOOD LOVER

Teeny - 365

You are sat in a highchair with a piece of food in each hand and you are my son so why wouldn't you be smiling?

IN THE BAG

D - 365

IN THE TUNNEL

A - 365

CHECK OUT MY DANCE MOVES

Teeny - 365

Thankfully you don't take after your dad when it comes to your skills on the dance floor.

WAITING IN ANTICIPATION

D - 365

Today you went with Daddy and your brother to your friend's fifth birthday party.  You could have come to the disco with us, but you know your own mind and chose to go to the party instead.  Here you wait patiently for the parcel during pass the parcel and as your mommy I can see the excitement in your face.  I am so glad you had a fun time today my sweet boy.

ROOM ON A BROOM FOR A GRUFFALO

A - 365

Today the little lady and I went to The Gruffalo's summer disco at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery whilst all three of my boys went to a birthday party.  It was run to coincide with their A Squash and a Squeeze exhibition which is an exhibition dedicated to Julia Donaldson stories (which we have not been to yet as I am saving it for the October half term). 

 

The disco was £3 per ticket for children and nothing for accompanying adults and was two hours jam packed full of party games, dancing, a fancy dress competition and colouring and even included a drink for the little ones.  My little lady (and her friend who also went) had an amazing time and it was literally the best £3 I have ever spent.  We can't wait for another one!

KISS FOR NANNY

Teeny - 365

ANOTHER GIRL!

D - 365

Aside from your little brother, you seem to spend most of your time surrounded by little ladies and so I think your new cousin came as a teeny bit of a disappointment.  Another girl, I hear you sigh and I think that face says it all.  Nonetheless you are such a sensitive soul that I know that you are growing to love her already.

THE NEWBIE

 

A - 365

Being the mini mommy that you are, you are so happy that your new baby cousin is a girl and were extremely excited to get to meet her today.

FLOWER POWER

Teeny - 365

I love this photograph of you giving me a flower even in spite the fact that I chopped off half of your head.

LOVING LAWSON

D - 365

WITH WILLOW

A - 365