We've dusted ourselves off!

Funny how things change isn't it. Two years ago I'd be blogging daily. It's nearly 6 months since my last post now. I'm conscious that life passes us by so fast and I always intended this blog to be something Grace could look back at when she was older, curious or possibly nothing better to do than look back and reminisce. 

Fast approaching the 5 year old mark, Grace has started school in reception class, is growing in her independence and is loving every moment she encounters in her own pint size journey. I've grown too, outwards mainly, annoyingly (but hardly surprisingly). I'm on a mission this year to kick start and rejuvenate out love for all things healthy, and possibly even kick the diet coke fancy once and for all. I can try.

We've had a crazy busy few months since the new year rolled in. Launching my own business, enjoying our first Easter break away with Grace and celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary, today as it happens. Never a dull moment. Matt the Husband, now affectionately known as The Patient One or Mr Grumpy Pants, interchangeably, is doing great juggling his balls. Work at the bank, Masters degree in his spare time and being a belter of a grass-cutter cum hoover-upper, life on the street is sweet, so they say.

We moved house on a whim in January, and we are slowly, ever so slowly making our house a home. Langdale Towers, no longer fawlty. (Anyone spotted the likeness to dear old Basil? I'll leave you to rib him about that when you see him).

Grace is blotto as I sit here writing, the dog is knocked out at my feet and  I'm just about to wrap up and bed for the night before I get the munchies and raid the cupboards for a biccie. Night all xx

News just in

Amidst a busy week juggling garden leave with the mad dash of taking Matt the Husband to the station in the morning, I have found time to start potty training the little one. A bit like my life, I've turned my back on the conventional and instead chosen something a little more oooo. Setting aside a few days where I could commit to being home all day to concentrate on things, Grace started out yesterday morning, day one, without a nappy. No nappy, just big girl pants. And instead of getting her to sit on the potty to 'try' every half hour or so, we're going with a method set out in an e-book by Lora Jensen called 3 Day Potty Training....

.... we remind Grace to let us know if she needs a wee or a poo, and we praise her for keeping her big girl pants dry. On repeat. Like every five minutes. Again and again and again. And the minute we see her start to wee, we run the gauntlet to the potty so she can finish (hopefully) on it, followed by praise and the reminder she needs to let us know when she needs a wee so she can go to the potty and keep her big girl pants dry - because wet pants is yucky!

.... we've just finished day two. Thus far, I'm glad to have waders and a shovel in my arsenal. One full wee on the potty (yay!!!) and one dribble. Many on the floor and nothing to report on the poo-bomb. I'm looking forward to day three. Grace definitely seemed to know what was expected. I was a bit miffed when she did a wee in the bath today as we didn't get to practice after the success of her potty-hit before her afternoon nap. Hey ho. All in a days work. Anyway, wish us luck!!

Another new thing for Grace this week is talking on the phone. She likes to phone her Nanny and Grandpa in Norfolk.... tonight Grandpa was asleep, so Grace was telling Nanny about her day, and singing Twinkle twinkle little star.... too cute!

I'll be checking back in with a progress report in a day or two, there's the weekend left to get the potty training under her belt before back to childcare on Monday.... let's go Grace, I've got everything crossed.

If you're interested in the method described, go to Lora's website here

Bloomin' Marvellous

Ha! Bet you thought I was putting pen to paper about the wonderful Mr Bloom again? Not so. As much the thought of Mr Bloom (with his ruddy complexion and dirty fingernails) still makes me want to watch an episode so I can sing along with Margaret the Cabbage and Sebastian the Aubergine (my personal favourite), this is more about watching two children blossom.

Grace and Dimitris were born a blink apart from one another some 22 months ago, and looking back at some old photos from when they were 6 months old makes me sit back and take stock at how much they have changed and developed in that time. Distance means we don't see Dimitris, son of my cousin Christina, as much as we'd like but whenever we do get together it's always fascinating seeing them play and go about their little lives. I want to capture the energy I get from watching them.... if only I could bottle it, taking a sneaky sniff to perk me up when I'm lagging at the office perhaps?

I love their expressions in this sequence. Getting them to stand together now took a bit of bribery (the promise of cake) but getting them to look in the same direction at the same time was impossible. Grace is teething too, hence the hand stuffed into her mouth. The only way we could make her take her hand out was to get them to clap!

At six months old, we just plonked them on the mat together and hey presto - photo! So much easier!

Christina and me, we're 18 months apart and enjoyed family holidays, occasions and time together growing up. Just like Grace and Dimitris are - being so close in age it's interesting - so many difference between them already. Love it, love it! Bloomin' marvellous!