Holidays and other whitterings

Dear beautiful girls,

We recently went on a fabulous holiday. We're not into massive crazy foreign travel, or long lazy beach holidays, but we do love getting away. The latest adventure was to Pembrokeshire in South Wales. We often holiday in North Wales which is lovely, but none of us had ever ventured further south.

Some lovely friends recommended Bluestone and we thought we'd take a chance on them....and how right they were! It was truly lovely. Gorgeous cottage in a gorgeous part of the world. You both loved it.

Free swimming was a bonus. P had never swum before, and E not since before you were one. Well both of you took to it like...well...like ducks to water! P was happy floating around and being bounced in the water, and E started nervously, but was soon swimming happily (with arm bands of course) on your own. Jumping in, and being dunked under the water soon followed, all met with whoops of joy and huge smiles. How fabulous!

We were lucky to share our time there with two lots of friends - each with similar aged children to you so E was very entertained. We copied the one set and signed up for an evening called 'Silent World' - a chance to meet snakes, spiders, and similar creatures. An interesting talk from a guy who obviously loved his beasties, and then a chance to handle some! Daddy enjoyed cuddling the constrictor, and we all giggled at a friend who screamed like a girl when his friendly snake gave him rather a close cuddle! I was cuddling P who was struggling a little with the evening drawing in and was less entertained than the rest of us, but having seen Daddy holding the snakes, E got interested. Our friend (the wife of the girly screamer!) was holding a small orange snake, and you slowly walked over to it and looked more closely. First invitations to touch it were declined, but later you decided that you were more interested. Eventually, you were holding the wee snake all on your own, and really interested by it! I have never known you be so up close with animals!! Well done brave girl!

Much fun was had on holiday and we all came home happy...but after a fun-filled week, I can't say we were relaxed. However, we have booked to go again! So next October we'll be back!

So what else is new since I last wrote? Well P, you have taken to solids like a pro! You're loving eating....anything and everything! You're much happier with a spoon than E was, and equally happy feeding yourself. Blowing raspberries into your yoghurt has been discovered as a fun past time already! And you'll even eat my cooking, which is more than E did at your age, so thanks!

Apart from that, loads of fun is had. P is growing up fast and just gorgeous. So chilled out and happy. E is growing up faster and is hilarious! You both make me smile so much, and I feel very very blessed.

Oh and I hope you'll always be as close as you are now. I am told repeatedly that P is E's best friend. Long may it continue my lovely girls.

Love always,
Mummy xxx

Weaning...

Dear P,

Today you are 25 weeks and 4 days old. So time for food, solid food. We kicked E out of her highchair (promoting her to a grown up chair, that is!), chopped up an old shower curtain to protect the floor, bought new bibs, cups and spoons and off we went! You sat happily in the high chair, and munched on some boiled carrot. Fab!

I think you enjoyed it. You certainly held your little chubby hand out for more. I also gave you a rice cake - that was tasty too I think. The idea of pureed apple on a spoon didn't go down so well. Your little face changed when you tasted that, but we'll keep trying.

The move to solids is a bittersweet one for me. I have exclusively breastfed you for 25 weeks and 3 days. That's a long time. Ok so part of me would like my body back, but mostly I have loved it. You took to it straight away, and have never had any problem feeding. I know you're getting enough as you're a big baby - 18lb 8oz at the last weigh in. You've been mostly tracking above the 91st centile in the official red book, which means that less than 9% of babies your age are bigger than you!

I love breastfeeding.

I've been very lucky and had two little girls who have known what to do and have just got on with it. I've met lots of people who have struggled, and been badly let down and misinformed. I've trained as a breast feeding peer supporter (partly with you in utero and partly with you around!) and would love to help just one person to carry on breastfeeding. Equally, I support anyone who chooses to bottle feed. I'd support anyone in their choices....as long as they are informed. It's personal choice, and I could witter about the benefits of breastmilk (for they are many and proven), but I just wish people were better educated. Anyway, mustn't rant.......

So, I fed your big sister till she was 2 years old, and who knows how long I'll continue with you. I'm certainly not ready to stop yet. But food has to come into your diet sometime, and today was that day.

So I'm guessing you'll start to feed from me less. That may not be good. I think the only way I can get away with the amount of cake I eat is because I give my extra calories to you. Feeding an 18lb baby was certainly a good excuse in my head! But I'm kinda addicted to cake (I may have blogged about this before...) and I'm not sure how to give it up!

Anyway, I bet you'll enjoy cake! And chocolate.....not that I'll share mine! Be warned - Mummy doesn't share cake! But for now, it's all new for you...I wonder what new tastes tomorrow will bring....

Love,
Your cake-obsessed Mummy x

There's no such thing as a ....!

Dear E,

Today is your 3rd birthday! Happy Birthday gorgeous girl!

So we had a birthday day out yesterday. Went to Blackpool to the Sea Life Centre. You were quite taken with the fish and sharks...and the wee soft play centre at the end. Much fun. After a nice lunch in Debenhams we went to Coral Island...basically slot machine city! I've never really played on slot machines. Well there was a 10p machine in the bowling alley which I've used, but that was all really. You enjoyed those - and won a little bit too! We also found a ride for you to go on which you loved, and then started winning tickets. Lots of fun games....some more for us than for you, but I think it's safe to say you enjoyed yourself. The day was finished nicely with a Pizza Hut and the obligatory tantrum from the overtired birthday girl!!

Today is your birthday. We got you up to a round of 'Happy Birthday!' and you went off to Men's Breakfast at church with Daddy. I was busy finishing the cakes and present wrapping. You opened your presents when you got back - the highlights being a scooter and a blue guitar...which you played like a rock star!

Then this afternoon was party time. A Gruffalo theme - well, the cake was a Gruffalo. I had spent hours creating a Gruffalo...I hope you liked him! He certainly seemed to go down well with people there. We also had a bouncy castle. You were very excited. You bounced a lot! And I mean more than Tigger...if that's possible.

After the party we came home and opened presents. I think for you the unwrapping is still more exciting that what is inside! Although, having been interested in each present briefly before moving on to the next one to unwrap, you did go back through them all after they were all opened and looked again. I don't think you wanted to go to bed.

Lying next to you in your fairy bed after reading stories (The Gruffalo, and The Gruffalo's Child...obviously!), I remembered where i was three years ago. It was about that time that things started to go a bit wrong in labour, and we started thinking about a C-Section. Scary times. But it was all worth it. I loved you the moment I saw you, and you really are the best thing I ever did...well, now half the best thing I ever did - you have to share that one with your sister.

I hope three is going to be a good age. We never had much terrible-ness about two, so I hope three doesn't herald that start of that! On one hand you're so grown up, we can talk about anything and you seem to be able to do more new things every day, but on the other hand, you're still my baby. You still need cuddles when you're upset, you still need help doing lots of things...and baby girl, I'll always be here when you need me.

Love you more each day. Looking forward to the next leg on our journey together,
Mummy x

Feeling left out

Dear P,

It seems lately I've mostly blogged to and/or about your big sister. Being the youngest is tough. E will always do stuff first, memorably, and without you. But you're always there. Always gorgeous.

You're still the image of your sister at this age, but definitely your own person. She was chilled, you're even more so. Such a happy wee thing. Loads of smiles, giggles and peacefulness.

Your pukiness has lessened - I don't think it was dairy related! But you do still catch me unawares...usually when in a back carry in the sling, or just as we're about to go out! You've also mastered the art of the explodapoo! A talent not every baby possesses I'm sure!! It came in very handy on our recent camping trip. Days were sunny, nights were cold. You and I shared a sleeping bag - and you wore a million layers as well. I don't think you ever felt the cold, but just to be sure, you pooed. Covering yourself from neck to ankles. Every night. Being a mum is so glamorous!

So there we are. I found something to write to you. A post about your bodily emissions! Sorry Baby girl. I love you little one,
Mummy x

Wedding bells...

Dear E,

You've been a bridesmaid twice now, and you're not even three. Here's hoping "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" isn't true for you. Mind you that would save me from having to write Daddy's speech....!

Anyway, recently at a family wedding, we were driving from the church to the reception when your little voice piped up from the back. The conversation went a little like this :

E : When's our wedding?
M : We're not having a wedding.
E : When I'm big can we have one?
M : When you're big, if you find a nice man that you love, you can have a wedding darling.
E : I choose Daddy to be a man. I love Daddy.

Cue conversation about Daddy being already married to Mummy and you can't marry him, but how lovely it is that you love him. All went quiet for a while, we started a different conversation in the front, and then your little voice piped up again :
"I want a lady when I'm bigger....not a man."

We did giggle. All we want is for you to be happy little bear.

Love,
Mummy x

A sad day.

Dear girls,

You probably won't remember yesterday, but it was a sad day. Our lovely big black cat, Chewy, was found dead. Run over on the busy road outside. We're very sad. He was about 6 years old, a rescue cat. The biggest, craziest, sweetest cat you could wish for. He was named Chewy as he made a noise like a Wookie on the first night we had him. Chewbacca....Chewy.

He caught all kinds of animals - voles, shrews, mice, birds, rats and even squirrels. Very generous, and always laid out on the dining room floor. Thanks Chew! I know it's cos he loved us, but it was horrid to get up in the morning and find a dead beastie there!

He also ate anything and everything. Nothing was safe in the kitchen unless shut in a cupboard,and it seems the neighbours' kitchens weren't safe either! He often came home with chunks of cheese, or pork chops, or similar....I've never worked out where he stole it from!

P, you won't remember our gorgeous boy, but E might. You made me laugh, little E, when we told you about his passing. I tried to use it as a bit of a road safety lesson, so after we'd ascertained that he'd gone crash bang with a car and he was hurt, you wanted to know if he'd gone in an ambulance to hospital. We explained that cats didn't go to hospital, and told you'd he'd gone to Heaven and wouldn't be coming back. You asked how he'd got to Heaven and who had taken him from our house.....I thought fast, and told you that if you go to Heaven, you just go - no-one takes you. So you made me smile by saying, "I hope he went on the pavement, Mummy."

Rest in peace Chewy cat. Go chase squirrels to your heart's content. We all miss you, especially your fiercest adversary, Monkey.

Imagination and predictions

Dear E,

Your imagination is really whirring at the moment. You love to pretend to go shopping, or to the bank or post office. You pack your bag, find your keys and phone and off you go. Sometimes we have to come with you, other times we're told to stay at home and wait for you. It's lovely to watch...and amusing to see what foibles of Mummy and Daddy you imitate.

We also play "Whatcha doin'?" a lot. A simple game, often played in the car. I'm driving us home from nursery and you ask, "Mummy, whatcha doin'?". I then have to come up with crazy things like 'riding a horse', 'cooking sausages' or 'having a nap'. You enjoy giggling at me and telling me other ideas for what I might be doing.

You also love to tell us what is going to happen. So currently your favourite thing to tell me about is that you're moving to a new house. It's a blue house (obviously, as blue is your favourite colour....bright blue that is, you don't like dark blue!) and it's very nice apparently. We're all coming to live with you there too which is kind.

I did get excited briefly, as I thought maybe you could predict the future. I was enjoying the dream with you of a new house, with rooms for all of us. It also had a big garden apparently, with lots of toys (and believe me darling, if I could get you a house with a big garden and lots of toys, I would!).

But then I thought about your last great prediction.....the baby! From the moment we told you I was pregnant, you were convinced the baby would be a boy. There was no doubt in your mind. You wouldn't accept my gentle nudgings that there was a possibility it would be a girl. Admittedly, we knew then that your predictions weren't 100% perfect as there was no way we were calling the baby Five, which was your chosen name for it! But I did start to believe that I was carrying a boy as you were so convinced. When Phoebe popped out (gosh, I make that sound easy!!), I was so surprised that she was a girl. You took it all in your stride of course and the baby brother Five has never been mentioned again!

So maybe your predictions aren't so great. I'll not hold out too much hope for the new house then!!

Love Mummy x