Some of our favourite toys from little G's first year are moving on to new homes - so long, farewell olf friends!
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Out with the old...
Out with the old, in with the new... Grace's birthday haul has seen me searching for storage space high and low. I've said farewell to my oak tv unit and instead swapped it for an Ikea baby proof storage unit to accomodate toys, toot and the Tv remote. So while Matt the Husband sits in a clutter free lounge with his feet up flicking through the channels on a Sunday morning, I'm slaving away relentlessly with our old clutter getting it all listed on eBay to make the most of the free listing weekend. 113 items for sale later and I have developed an RSI.
Some of our favourite toys from little G's first year are moving on to new homes - so long, farewell olf friends!
Some of our favourite toys from little G's first year are moving on to new homes - so long, farewell olf friends!
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Coming of Age
It's official. If motherhood wasn't signal enough for turning the corner and becoming a bona fide adult, then surely doing the grocery shop online is. Thrilling it might not be, my Friday evening has had a very riveting start as I'm sat watching the Channel 4 News and adding goods to a virtual shopping trolley at the same time. Gracie bear has had her supper after nursery and is singing herself to sleep (I can hear her) while Matt the Husband sends a few gallons of water to waste in a bid to get clean in the shower. I don't know if shopping for groceries online is going to be cheaper but it has done a jolly good job of stopping the impulse spends that aren't on the list - usually whatever is reduced in the fridge, maybe some new threads for Grace, probably a bar of choccy and a magazine for me. (Don't tell the Husband).
Evidently I wasn't shopping online when this photo was taken, although it does show I have already benefited from stuffing less goodies popped into the trolley at check out.
Of course, the diet had a rocky weekend with our friends visiting from Wales and the party for Grace (read gluttony). I am back on track as of tomorrow. I did think about taking the dog for a jog this morning when I woke early and of course you and I both know thinking about doing something and doing something are different matters entirely. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. One thing I do know - there will be as Asda van on the driveway at some point between 7 and 9pm. Night all!
Evidently I wasn't shopping online when this photo was taken, although it does show I have already benefited from stuffing less goodies popped into the trolley at check out.
First Birthday - a few pics
The cupcake mountain
The cake that Grandma made
The new playhouse unveiled
Sheli and Grace on the drums...
Laura and Canoe-matt opening pressies with Grace
Grace and Michael playing with Dolly
We took hundreds of pics on the day - some of them are on our flickr link so do take a look!
The cake that Grandma made
The new playhouse unveiled
Sheli and Grace on the drums...
Laura and Canoe-matt opening pressies with Grace
Grace and Michael playing with Dolly
We took hundreds of pics on the day - some of them are on our flickr link so do take a look!
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Birthday Belle: 1 year
Wow! Your birthday has come around so quickly Grace!
It's been a rollercoaster year, I won't lie to you! That said, I have cherished every moment and can't wait for the next. My raison d'être has emerged and I'm so grateful after all these years of searching for the perfect career path and I have found it completely by chance. We've had our ups and downs, our good days and bad, but we have always found patience with oneanother and for the first time in my life I can admit to having real peace - I want for nothing, I long for nothing as little G is here and she is everything I need. Matt the Husband is the same - he rushes home every night after work so we can all enjoy dinner as a family before taking Grace upstairs for bathtime, snuggles and bed.
We know we are very lucky. We are grateful.
Happy birthday little Buzz - we call her that - it's short for Buzzard... She eats anything.
In twelve months Grace has come a long long way... 12 teeth, size 4 nappies and a steadily growing 2 feet 8 inches tall! Weighing in at 21lb 6oz (pre-birthday cake), Grace is going strong. No real signs of movement on the crawling/walking front, although she's jolly good at sliding around on her bottom so she can reach the things she wants. Her favourite fruit is the blueberry, cereal is weetabix and favourite dinner is definately pasta or curry... spicy of course. All this goodness has made her stretch every item of clothing in the wardrobe and she is now reliably into size 2-3 years old, mainly as her legs are so very very long.
We had a wonderful day celebrating, more on that another day when I have more time. For now, Grace - one year old.
My favourite time of day - watching Grace wake up, refreshed, bright as a button and ready to take on the day with cheer...
It's been a rollercoaster year, I won't lie to you! That said, I have cherished every moment and can't wait for the next. My raison d'être has emerged and I'm so grateful after all these years of searching for the perfect career path and I have found it completely by chance. We've had our ups and downs, our good days and bad, but we have always found patience with oneanother and for the first time in my life I can admit to having real peace - I want for nothing, I long for nothing as little G is here and she is everything I need. Matt the Husband is the same - he rushes home every night after work so we can all enjoy dinner as a family before taking Grace upstairs for bathtime, snuggles and bed.
We know we are very lucky. We are grateful.
Happy birthday little Buzz - we call her that - it's short for Buzzard... She eats anything.
In twelve months Grace has come a long long way... 12 teeth, size 4 nappies and a steadily growing 2 feet 8 inches tall! Weighing in at 21lb 6oz (pre-birthday cake), Grace is going strong. No real signs of movement on the crawling/walking front, although she's jolly good at sliding around on her bottom so she can reach the things she wants. Her favourite fruit is the blueberry, cereal is weetabix and favourite dinner is definately pasta or curry... spicy of course. All this goodness has made her stretch every item of clothing in the wardrobe and she is now reliably into size 2-3 years old, mainly as her legs are so very very long.
We had a wonderful day celebrating, more on that another day when I have more time. For now, Grace - one year old.
My favourite time of day - watching Grace wake up, refreshed, bright as a button and ready to take on the day with cheer...
Thursday, 11 August 2011
With furrowed brow
Birthday party planning has come to a standstill. The invite list is complete and I have had all the RSVPs. We're assuming the day will be sunny although the Met Office aren't especially supportive of this assumption. I have yards and yards of home made bunting, charcoal for a barbecue, a cake planned and yet if it piddles down with rain we will all be shoe-horned into the house to play squishy sardines (a rainy day version of dead lions if you're wondering). How on earth I figured I could fit 30 adults and 10 little nippers into the house if the weather was foul I have no idea. I must have been blinded by the Jones's again. My brow is furrowed.
The attempts at cake making have been... and gone... to Grandma's house. We bought silicone cake moulds spelling G R A C E, and we're hoping Grandma can succeed where we failed. Apparently the art of silicone moulds is to let the cake cool before you tip the cake out. Failure to realise this must be why Matt the Husbands efforts popped out looking like they'd had a run in with a combine harvester bless him.
The house this week is gradually coming under control - clean and tidy again after a period of mayhem. We have been concentrating our time on the garden and this has too been stemmed by the weather with both the shed and the play house being one coat of paint and a door knob short. People at the party will think the unfinished look is planned no doubt, that is what I am hoping.
The food is planned and shopping list written - I'm off to the store to accomplish that task after Grace is in bed tonight. Then that's it - planning over, birthday celebrations commence. Our good friends Laura and Canoe-Matt arrrive Friday night from Wales and from then on it's go go go until bed on Sunday. I have my jammies on the bed stand ready.
As you can see from this pic, Grace's teeth are coming through thick and fast - 8 fully in place and 4 more coming through at the moment amidst plentiful drool and doses of calpol. As for her snotty cold and cough, she slept better last night and is on the mend. Tea time this evening should be telling - if she clears the plate we're on the home straight to wellness. Fingers crossed.
So I'm at the end of the first week of frugal living. Enjoyed it and steaming on into week 2 - pleased to have had several NSD's (no spend days) this week and its a great feeling to be making a stance on taking the road to recovery. Money aside, as Grace's first year comes to a close I'm ignoring the budget at this fleeting moment in time and adding a little bottle of bubbly to the list for the party on Sunday. Check!
The attempts at cake making have been... and gone... to Grandma's house. We bought silicone cake moulds spelling G R A C E, and we're hoping Grandma can succeed where we failed. Apparently the art of silicone moulds is to let the cake cool before you tip the cake out. Failure to realise this must be why Matt the Husbands efforts popped out looking like they'd had a run in with a combine harvester bless him.
The house this week is gradually coming under control - clean and tidy again after a period of mayhem. We have been concentrating our time on the garden and this has too been stemmed by the weather with both the shed and the play house being one coat of paint and a door knob short. People at the party will think the unfinished look is planned no doubt, that is what I am hoping.
The food is planned and shopping list written - I'm off to the store to accomplish that task after Grace is in bed tonight. Then that's it - planning over, birthday celebrations commence. Our good friends Laura and Canoe-Matt arrrive Friday night from Wales and from then on it's go go go until bed on Sunday. I have my jammies on the bed stand ready.
So I'm at the end of the first week of frugal living. Enjoyed it and steaming on into week 2 - pleased to have had several NSD's (no spend days) this week and its a great feeling to be making a stance on taking the road to recovery. Money aside, as Grace's first year comes to a close I'm ignoring the budget at this fleeting moment in time and adding a little bottle of bubbly to the list for the party on Sunday. Check!
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Cold Turkey
Well life can be a sod sometimes. The hard drive on the Mac has given up the will to live taking with it all of our photos and my personal files. Shitty crap arse. I don't often swear on here but I am a tad wired and ready to chuck the bloody thing through the window. Luckily the favoured few are on our flickr page so we still have our life in pictures but it's still a bind and I'm angry. Lesson learnt, I will now keep the pics on the memory card as well. GRRRRRRRRRRR! (Angry Mummy!)
Cold Turkey week one is going well. I'm out of cash this week, but we have everything we need until the end of the week so we're on track. I was dead impressed with our shopping bill and to be honest seeing as we spent less, Grace was simpler to occupy as the trip round the store was quicker. Our weekend was spend-free too - walking both days with the dog, enjoying the fresh air and making the most of what's left of the summer season... we got soaked both days. We loved it though and after five hours even the dog was ready for an early night after a good feed.
My diet is on hold since Matt the Husband has been baking trial batches of goodies for Grace's up and coming birthday party. Shortbread, cake, flapjack. I'm suprised I can still move. I argue this is ok seeing as we spent so many calories walking at the weekend, plus I swam for an hour yesterday while Grandma Potter had Grace, so I'm even stevens. The scales say different, but I'm not bothered... muscle weighs more than fat ha ha ha!!!
Grace has been struck down with a stinker of a cold and her new batch of teeth are coming through thick and fast. She has been very cuddly as she struggles to keep on top of everything, dosed up on calpol and lots of rest. She's sleeping loads but the bags under her eyes tell the true picture. Fingers crossed this episode passes quickly.
Oh and get this - Grace can support her weight leaning against the sofa for a nanosecond. You heard it here first ;0)
That's us for now, keep well friends! x
Cold Turkey week one is going well. I'm out of cash this week, but we have everything we need until the end of the week so we're on track. I was dead impressed with our shopping bill and to be honest seeing as we spent less, Grace was simpler to occupy as the trip round the store was quicker. Our weekend was spend-free too - walking both days with the dog, enjoying the fresh air and making the most of what's left of the summer season... we got soaked both days. We loved it though and after five hours even the dog was ready for an early night after a good feed.
My diet is on hold since Matt the Husband has been baking trial batches of goodies for Grace's up and coming birthday party. Shortbread, cake, flapjack. I'm suprised I can still move. I argue this is ok seeing as we spent so many calories walking at the weekend, plus I swam for an hour yesterday while Grandma Potter had Grace, so I'm even stevens. The scales say different, but I'm not bothered... muscle weighs more than fat ha ha ha!!!
Grace has been struck down with a stinker of a cold and her new batch of teeth are coming through thick and fast. She has been very cuddly as she struggles to keep on top of everything, dosed up on calpol and lots of rest. She's sleeping loads but the bags under her eyes tell the true picture. Fingers crossed this episode passes quickly.
Oh and get this - Grace can support her weight leaning against the sofa for a nanosecond. You heard it here first ;0)
That's us for now, keep well friends! x
Thursday, 4 August 2011
It's flown
A year ago today, I was waddling like a duck and tapping my fingers impatiently on the TV remote, swigging pineapple juice by the pint and hoping something, anything would trigger labour on my due date. Of course she was late - the early surefire sign Grace has genes from the Langers side of the family!
A year on I'm still waddling like a duck as I try to shift the baby-weight (10lbs down since I last mentioned it!!!), but nothing more exciting happening today than a meeting in a steamy office with no air-con while its 27c and thundery outside while Grace is having fun at nursery.
Today is a monumental day for me and Matt the Husband. We are going cold turkey. Not just on food and drink but on everything. See here today is the day we are going to step towards real wealth in a bid to be debt free. I have our family debt on a loop on my screensaver and the numbers scare me! I have cancelled all the unecessary direct debits and memberships we didn't truly need or rarely used. I have even taken little G out of nursery one day a week in an effort to become debt free that little bit quicker - a hard nut to swallow as I firmly believe nursery is valuable for so many reasons. But Grandma's are valuable too so there's an upside to everything.
I've snowballed on a nifty little calculator I found on a website called whatthecost, and it's many months, years, suns and moons until our debt, our mortgage is paid off.
I'm a woman on a mission, and nothing is standing in my way!
Just one bottle of Veuve Clicquot tonight while Matt the Husband is out on a work frolic and we're good. Pronto.
A year on I'm still waddling like a duck as I try to shift the baby-weight (10lbs down since I last mentioned it!!!), but nothing more exciting happening today than a meeting in a steamy office with no air-con while its 27c and thundery outside while Grace is having fun at nursery.
Today is a monumental day for me and Matt the Husband. We are going cold turkey. Not just on food and drink but on everything. See here today is the day we are going to step towards real wealth in a bid to be debt free. I have our family debt on a loop on my screensaver and the numbers scare me! I have cancelled all the unecessary direct debits and memberships we didn't truly need or rarely used. I have even taken little G out of nursery one day a week in an effort to become debt free that little bit quicker - a hard nut to swallow as I firmly believe nursery is valuable for so many reasons. But Grandma's are valuable too so there's an upside to everything.
I've snowballed on a nifty little calculator I found on a website called whatthecost, and it's many months, years, suns and moons until our debt, our mortgage is paid off.
I'm a woman on a mission, and nothing is standing in my way!
Just one bottle of Veuve Clicquot tonight while Matt the Husband is out on a work frolic and we're good. Pronto.
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