Bring Me Sunshine

Bring me sunshine, in your smile

Bring me laughter all the while

In this world where we live, there should be more happiness

So much joy you can give, to each brand new bright tomorrow

 

Me and You and Ballet

Lucy over at Dear Beautiful is spending the year celebrating her near ten year relationship with her husband. She has written of how in our joy and excitement to record our children's achievements, fun and faces we forget to record our own relationship and this needs looking at and considering.

I whole heartedly agree with the sentiment that at the foundation of our families is the relationship from which it all started. And all families need strong foundations. Long after children have grown and flown the nest the relationship between the couple remains. 

 

So in this spirit I am linking up with Dear Beautiful in the linky Me and You. A celebration of relationships which support families, relationships which deserve time and attention.
 

Weaning Wednesday Guest Post: Mad Cats and Babies

Another great guest post this week from Karen over at a favourite blog Mad House of Cats and Babies explaining why Baby Led Weaning was the best for this baby and family, and it truly was baby led.

Why we chose baby led weaning?

When my daughter reached weaning age, roughly at about 6 months, my plan had been to start her with some vegetable purees, fruit, baby porridges and then move on to more lumpy textured foods and onto self-feeding as she progressed. Bog standard weaning, you might say. I worked as a nanny for many years, prior to going into paediatric nursing, and have weaned many babies over the years, or helped parents with the weaning process, and I was “old school” in my approach, and had dug my old Annabel Karmel recipes out, with plans to make lots of yummy puree and freeze them. (Some of her recipes are actually yummy, I have adapted a few of them for adults, and her toddler cook book is full of good ideas)

Now and Then

I have had a lot of comments recently from a variety of people regarding my continuing breastfeeding journey with L. 

Lots are along the lines of "Wow you're still feeding her?" L has just turned seven months.

And this has gotten me thinking. I have written before about breast feeding L. And mentioned that we had a bit of a shakey start emotionally as the demands were high and the impact of this hard to cope with. 

Weaning Wednesday Guest Post: Thursday's Child

Mama H blogs over at Thursday's Child Friday's Thoughts, she is a teacher with one girl E who is nearly 2 and another due in March. She is the wonderful photographer who captured my pregnancy which you can read about here.

 

Wondrous weaning - my top ten tips

It's always a treat to be asked to write a guest post and this one is no exception. Weaning is an exciting time in your baby's development but it can also feel a little overwhelming. Who knew food could be a minefield? Those of you who follow me over at Thursday's Child will be no strangers to E, my 20 month old daughter. Weaning her started at 17 weeks: she was not shy off 20lbs by then and drinking 60oz of milk a day. It feels like a distant memory now, but I could do with a refresher as we are expecting our second baby in March next year and the big W will be with us before we know it. Would I change anything next time? Absolutely not, E is a fantastic eater with a hearty appetite. She loves strong flavours and is usually adventurous when it comes to new things. Here are my top ten tips for weaning.

Word of the Week: Expectations

This week I have been a victim of my own expectations. They are self imposed so no sympathy needed, just a kick up the butt is needed. 

Weaning Wednesday: Apples

So starting small and as I mean to go on. A bag if apples was reduced in Sainsburys because of a few bruises. Not an issue for me if they will be mostly mush. I also wanted to poach some slices in cinnamon as I had seen during a weaning course I recently attended. So while L played I did this.

Word of the Week: Organised

Over at The Reading Residence there is a feature called Word of the Week. For me it is helping to focus my energies in specific areas of my life and home that need attention and time. A way of hopefully helping me focus on the things which actually matter and help to get things done. I am a great one for putting stuff off until tomorrow.

Family Photo Friday: January

There are some days when I could just burst with happiness. When the joy and love are just overwhelming. I find myself just watching, desperate to take in every tiny detail and remember it for evermore. 

This holiday has been full of these moments. L sitting in front of the Christmas tree and ripping paper. The poem J wrote me from L, the best present in the world, made me cry. 

 

Picture Book Reading Challenge

I think this might count as a resolution but I want to read more. More for myself as I miss reading and also to L as I am a firm believer in the power, magic and majesty of reading. You would have seen my other posts about books, autumn books, Christmas books, free books and library books. 

I saw this idea over on Pinterest, the home of good ideas, and decided that L and I were up for the challenge. Anne-Marie over at Child-Led Chaos has set herself the challenge to read 300 different picture books with her children this year. You can read about her reasons here.  

New Year New You Style Project

Modern Mummy and An Essex Wife have started a new feature called the New Year New You Style Project. Basically a month of prompts to be interpreted as you wish in your style, a way of helping you refresh your style or giving you a little nudge in a new direction.

 

With the Best of Intentions

Intentions rather than resolutions. I tend to be able to only half heartedly achieve resolutions so this year I am having good intentions. It's not about resolving ro change my life, it's changed plenty over the last 18 months. It's about living with good intentions for myself and my family. 

I intend to surround myself with those who fill our lives with positivity and happiness. I intened to love.

I intend to not sweat the small stuff. My big stuff is so much more important and deserves my full attention. I intend to relax.

I intend to enjoy special times, to record these events for L and our family. I intend to celebrate. 

These are my intentions for 2014. Inspired by my sister I am also going to start a memory jar of happy events or achivements so that this time next year, especially if the day is as dreary as today, we can relive and remember these times. 

As a year 2014 promises much. Maybe more than years which contained weddings and births. This is L's year, a year in which our little girl will, god willing, grow and change and learn. 

Bring it on 2014, we are ready.