Gerrard Comes to Stay

Look who came to stay today. Its Gerrard the bear. He came for a short holiday in Troon from the lovely Fi at Childcare is Fun. We were super happy to see him and Caleb and I cant wait to have some super adventures over the next few days. Unfortunately today is a horrid day and has revolved around Calebs little cousins arrival into the world so Gerrard has just hung out and had some cuddles.

Check out Gerrards adventures at http://childcareisfun.co.uk/

I think we like him  a lot. 

Here he's hanging out in the landing waiting for Caleb to have his bath. 

New Baby.

I became and auntie today again for the second time. I'm so excited for my sister her hubby and little one. She had a little boy at 10.45am by elective C section. I think he was 9lb 9oz and I'm sure he's gorgeous.

My sister is still in recovery right now as she lost a lot of blood so no visitors and anyway she'd asked for a few days to recover in hospital. I completely get that. I was the same after I had Caleb although I was doing my recovering at home.

I'm a great believer in mums being left to do a bit of recovery and bonding time with their new babies so I look forward to seeing him soon and getting a cuddle.

So happy auntie here.

Halloween Party Friday

Sophie had her first grown up Halloween party last night. A few of the girls in her year hired a venue and a DJ and threw a proper late night dress up disco. A first Sophie didn't want to dress up for it (maybe not so cool when you're 13) but after much persuasion on Thursday I managed to get her to wear a cat outfit we got her last minute in Tescos.

She was happy to be a cat but didn't like the long trousers on the outfit. So yesterday 2 hours before the party we got the sewing stuff out and made it into a hotpants suit. Then she was happy as larry to wear it.

So, come tea time off she trotted all dolled up and here are some of the photos we took.

Personally I think she looks uber cute. As far as I'm aware the party went very well and they all behaved very well. Came home at the right time and all had great fun. Here's some other photos of Sophie and Caleb just messing around. 

Organised? Me? No!

Hah! Well, that may be the case most years but I have today just completed all my Christmas and Birthday Shopping online for our kids and my sisters two. I rule!!!

I went onto Sainsburys online and got Caleb's birthday presents this morning in their better than half price sale. I ordered him a car garage,a JCB some cars and already have him some books. He doesn't have a lot of room in his bedroom and I don't like toys strewn everywhere so I guess that's enough from us as I'm sure he'll get some toys elsewhere. My family are all buying him clothes which he needs and books so that helps too.

Calebs first birthday

Then this afternoon I've been on Argos and other websites and got him his Storio for his Christmas and  some books for it, a dancing Timmy as he loves Timmy time and lots of little extras. I got Sophie a new digital camera, and the superdry jacket she wanted and she wants cash too so that's easy. I got 5 year old nephew a remote control Subaru as he loves them, and new nephew to be cute baby stuff.

Last Christmas

Caleb after Santa had been last year

that face makes it all worth it!

Yay me, now all I have to do it get for hubby and respective grown ups. This, I'm sure even I can do before Christmas.

Not Enough Hours in The Day

Is any other mother of a toddler out there finding it as hard as me to get online these days or generally just catch upon all the stuff we have to do as there's just not enough hours in the day?

This is the first evening I think I've had to sit down and do some writing and catching up for over a week. I need roughly another 24 hours in each day. So I'm setting goals for this month for what I can do in the 24 hours I'm allocated every day in November.

Firstly, I have to try and catch up with more people as I never seem to manage time to just hang out or meet some of the mummies I want to meet and keep saying I will.

Secondly, there's a shed load of stuff needing done around this house before Christmas, including radiators to be taken out and moved (note to self must phone and chase heating engineer), gutters needing cleaned out and fascia boards sanded and painted.

Thirdly, I must start some Christmas shopping and Birthday shopping for Calebs 2nd Birthday on the 20th November which I've been putting off as I've no clue what to get him. We haven't got room for more toys with Christmas around the corner but want something he'll love. (ideas on a postcard please)

And fourthly and finally, make more time for my hubby. He's feeling seriously neglected these days. (when he's here that is)

Feel free to give me a kick up the backside to get on with these things any time you want. Much appreciated.

Calebs 1st Birthday. Small present ideas remember, for this year. 

Walking Talking update.

Yes this is Caleb and yes he's outdoors walking and yes he enjoyed it very much.

His walking is coming on in leaps and bounds. Now we just need him to let go of a hand outdoors and walk by himself that way. Crawling indoors is completely finished with now. Yay Caleb.

Talking wise, he now counts to eleven unaided and is also recognising numbers visually and naming them correctly. He says full and correct sentences and statements. his favourite being at 8am 'mumma, where are you?' in the cutest whisper you've ever heard.

He is probably still a bit small and behind for his age but from this proud mumma, 'the boy done good!!!!!'

Go Caleb. 

My Birthday Online.

Last Friday was my 35th Birthday and I had a lovely day thanks to my family and all my online friends. Social networking really does make special occasion's seem more special somehow.

I must've had 40+ birthday messages through FaceBook and as many from my Twitter family. It really made my day. I'm not huge on birthdays as I get older and also as Hubby and I don't have a lot of spare cash we don't tend to do extravagant presents and this year especially things are tight so we are celebrating next week after payday. (This last month has been one of the toughest ever with our kitchen pipework bursting etc)I have found the last few years though that I look forward to them much more because everyone is so kind sending good wishes.

So what did I do on my birthday? Well, on the Wednesday before my lovely mum ,whom I don't see enough of, took me for a really lovely lunch while Hubby took Caleb for a few hours. Its the first time in 2 years that I've been out for a girlie lunch minus a small person and I had such a fab time. It was great to spend time with my mum who's run ragged all the time running after everyone and sometimes forgets me I feel but this more than made up for it all.

On Friday mum and dad also took Caleb for a few hours and my lovely and heavily pregnant sister took me out for lunch too. It was great to spend some time with her with no kids and especially lovely as her 2nd little boy is due to pop into this world by elective Cesarean next Tuesday 2nd November. She also lent Caleb and Gran and Papa Disney Cars DVD  for the day to keep little bubs happy and turned up with a bag full of her 5 year olds Disney Cars toys for him to borrow and he had great fun. By the time we got back Papa had had him out for a walk and he was sound asleep in the back garden.

Hubby is taking me to a lunch date of my choice next days off and also to buy a prezzie so I can honestly say for someone who doesn't do birthdays, I really enjoyed not doing this one.

Also a huge thank you to everyone for all the lovely birthday wishes too. All in all everyone made the day very special.