I'm sooo proud!

The Dummy Fairy visited little man last night!
This morning we opened an envelope and read a special  letter together. Then we found a special bag for the dummy to go in for the fairy to collect, if he was feeling brave enough.
The minute we finished the letter, little man put his dummy straight in the bag and said 'goodbye dodo!' It was soo cute, and way more than I had expected!

Little man with his letter and dummy ready for the fairy!

So, I have decided that he will have to have the little certificate AND pressie tonight, as I am so impressed!

The Dummy Fairy

Little man had his first visit to the dentist last week and although he has lovely clean teeth, she did say that he needed to give up his dummies, as he was starting to get a slight over-bite.
I had been ready for this day, as from the day he was born, I wanted him to have a dummy instead of his thumb or fingers to comfort him, so that eventually he could give them up.
I sucked my thumb when I was little and it was the worst thing trying to stop. In the end I ended up with braces at the age of 10, with prongs in them to help me stop. This brace was followed by train-tracks and head gear, in total 3 years of pain and misery! Something I vowed I would never want my own children to go through.

Kindly the dentist and the dental nurse suggested that I try using the 'dummy fairy' which had worked well for their other clients over the years.
I had vaguely heard of the dummy fairy, but not really as much as the tooth fairy.
This made my little imagination spark and I started to create a little story about a boy who gets visited by the dummy fairy. I looked on google, to check if my idea had already been done and I didn't really find anything that I had been thinking about, so I got cracking!
I have just finished writing it!
Part of the story had a letter from the dummy fairy, so I have re-created it and added more colour to use with my little man tonight!

The next few nights will put the story into 'real life' with little man!
Think I'm going to need a lot of prayers for the difficult nights ahead, when little man says goodbye to his beloved 'dodo's'!
Wish us luck!

Listography: Top 5 Truths (according to women)

I have so missed taking part in Listography, so when the lovely Kate over at Kate Takes 5 posted this weeks list, I thought I should have another go!

This week it about the Top 5 Truths (according to women).
I think that along my journey to 30, I have managed to pick up a few things - and am sure I have many more to learn in the years to follow ;)

1. What goes around, comes around
I am a great believer in Karma! I have often seen that those who do good are rewarded (be it small recognition or lovely surprises!) and those negative / evil / nasty people will get their comeuppance eventually!!

2. Moderation is key
My Grannie always told me to eat a little of everything you like, as you only have one life (unless you believe otherwise) so you might as well enjoy eating your favourite things and be happy! I've tried so many diets where I've denied myself this and that, and have never managed to stick to any of them - leaving me feeling even worse than before! So, I'm going to stick to my Grannie's plan from now on ;)

3. Age is irrelevant!
I have always had friends of all ages. When I was younger, some of my closest friends were at least 10 years older than me and it never mattered! I also think that when choosing a partner, the older you get, the less age matters. For example my brother's girlfriend is 5 years older than him and you wouldn't know it!
It also applies to the well known saying 'you're as old as you feel' - though on some days I feel about 100, so that isn't always a good thing, heehee!

4. There are different types of friends in your life.
When I was younger, I used to worry a lot about being 'accepted' and 'liked' at school. Then one day, I just stopped worrying and decided that I would be 'me' and people would either like me or then wouldn't and that was fine!
I also found later on, that there are different types of friends;
There your friends for life; people that you meet (sometimes when you're really little) who will always be there for you, who you don't have to see or talk to often, but when you do catch up it's as if you've never been apart.
The 'comet' friends; those who come and brighten your life for a brief time, then fade and drift away again.
'Fair weather friends' who you might see once in a while for a coffee, or comment on their pictures and posts on facebook.
Some you see every week, some once a year, but all have a special place in your life!

5. Everyone is flawed.
We might look at our friends or family and wish that we had their gorgeous wavy hair, or their ability to handle really stressful situations, or their perfectly behaved children etc. The strange thing is that they will be doing exactly the same thing! No one is ever completely satisfied with themselves or their lot in life and will always be looking around and wishing for something else!
So I like to think that 'perfection' is a myth! We all have our strengths (and weaknesses!) and we should try and take a note of them once in a while!

There you have it, my attempt at truths I have learnt so far!
Make sure you check out some other lists over at Kate Takes 5

So grown up!

We were very excited today, as it was little man's very first 'proper' session at Pre-School!

We had a lovely early night last night (which hasn't happened in quite a while, heehee!) so it only took a few minutes to persuade him that he needed to get up and get ready for school :)
Unfortunately, my alarms didn't help again today! I slept through 2 on the radio clock and then the one on my phone didn't go off at all, but oh well, we weren't late thank goodness!

Here he is in his gorgeous little uniform, which I think he called 'unicorn' but the effort was there ;)

he was hiding in this one, heehee!

my yummy grown up boy :)

We had a little taster session last week, where I got to stay too - it was brilliant! I think I had as much fun as little man, heehee!

Neither of us were worried today, i explained that he was going to school and that he could play with all the toys again. That I would go home and then when they had had story and rhyme time I would come back and pick him up.
I got a cuddle and kissey and then I left him happily playing with glittery playdoh!

What was really nice was that I had a little chat with the mum of a little girl we met last week, plus Aiden's old childminder was dropping off a little boy, so I had a chat with her too :)

Well, I have to pop back and get him in a minute, but I've enjoyed my morning of undisturbed computer time and a coffee!

Life has been really up and down!

Wow, I can hardly believe that September has arrived already!
Things have been really up and down at the moment - I feel like I'm on a huge emotional roller coaster!

On the down side, my depression and the pregnancy have been really hard to cope with :(
It's been a really tough few weeks:
 I've been really tired and unable to sleep properly at night (due to needing to wee about 12 times!) My dreams are being plagued again by the horrible man in black (he's the manifestation of my depression) who hurts me and even threw me out of a third storey window!
I've been having arguments with hubby about the amount of times he keeps going out, without even thinking about me or little man, and whether we might like to actually spend some time with him.
I haven't managed to get to therapy in a month, due to illness and not being able to face anyone!
I have been having terrible thoughts about being a burden, not wanting to be here anymore, not being able to see past having baby - it's been like seeing a huge black void, there's been nothing there - no future at all.
Tears a plenty!

Thankfully, the last couple of days have been slightly better!
I completely broke down and told everything to mum (she caught me crying the other night) and I think that has helped a lot. I then talked to hubby and explained how things are bad for me at the moment, so he's being a lot more understanding and thinking about discussing our plans together, before he just goes out, which is brilliant!
The man in black seems to have gone away again, which I am so happy about!!!
Finally, I've had some lovely dreams about the baby and plans for next year!

Not everything has been a total disaster though, as even through the bad times, I have still managed to do quite a few things with little man:
We've made paper mache - which was a disaster, but lots of fun, heehee!
Started going swimming on Saturdays with little man, hubby and mum.
Been to the beach twice (I drove there and back the second time, which was 4 hours in total - I felt very proud!)
We've been playing games like matching pairs / the tray game, completing his Charley Bear sticker magazine (which he got as a treat for how well he's been doing with potty training!) we even had a go at little man's Winnie the Pooh CD-ROM games today.

So there we are. I'm now on the upward climb, hoping that things with continue to improve and level out!

Dear Little man

Well, as hard as it is for me to believe, you are now 3 years old!
So many changes have taken place this year!


busy 'working'!

Here's you on your 2nd birthday:


Now look at you on you 3rd!

So grown up!

I can't believe how time had just flown by!

So, what have you done this year?

You've had a go at baking bread, lots of fun with playdoh, drawing, painting and messing around in your sand pit in the garden. Though I must admit, I wish I was braver to do more 'messy' play times with you! (I promise to try harder from now on!)

You are getting so grown up - you'll now have showers, if I sit in the bath with you! You only need a little help now to get dressed (and you like to pick out some of the clothes you wear) and can almost do your sandles without any help at all! You have also recently started potty training and are doing really well, wearing your 'big boy pants' :)

We've had lots of trips out with our friends:

lunches around Alexis, Mandy, Andrea or Katherine's houses

play days with Emerald, Dave and Skye, and Harriet and Rosie - where we've been exploring the lakes, having fun at Krazy Klub, or just playing in the garden.

We've also had lots of fun with family:

Holiday in Wales with Grannie and Grandad, (and me and Daddy of course!)

Day trip to Marwell Zoo with me and Daddy

Day trip to Baslidon Park with ALL the family!

Street Party to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee

Sleep overs at Nanny and Grandad's house, with Sean

Trips to the farm to see Uncle Stuart, Aunty Sarah, Sean and Charlie.

You have some new favourites now - you love playing with Grandad and a puppet called Cow! You still love cars, trucks, puzzles, reading, anything Cars 2 related and blowing bubbles. Since your birthday, you now have a giant trampoline that you adore and a space-hopper that you are actually quite good on!

I'm sure that there are many things that I have forgotten, but at least I have an excuse - baby brain! You are going to become a big brother in December! We have been talking to the 'baby in there' as you call it - deciding that it's currently in my tummy button, which I just LOVE! You have also got a 'baby' in your tummy, as you keep telling everyone to mind your tummy, as we'll hurt your baby! You have decided that you want to have a little sister, though we will have to wait until December to find out!

Here are just a couple of my favourite pictures from the year:

in your den



Fireman 'Sam'

at the lakes



I love your laugh!

on holiday





playing in the garden

my 2 gorgeous boys!

How bad am I?

I just realised that it had been absolutely ages since I have blogged - or even gone near the computer! Bad me!!

I think that since I got my new phone, where I can access facebook, I haven't remembered that e-mails and blogging still require me to get to the computer!!

Anywho, soooo much has happened since I last blogged - so I'll have to do the short version and expand with more posts if needed - with pictures that I can't find at the moment ;)

• Little man is now 3! I can't believe how time flies!! He had a little family outing to the bowling alley and then pizza hut for tea.
• Little man is starting Pre-School in September! I received a letter saying that he has 2 morning and and extra afternoon session a week - I'm soo excited and also really nervous - my little baby is growing up so fast - small sob!
• I have left my job! My depression and the pregnancy have not been getting along together, so something had to give! I'm not really missing work yet, I'm trying to be more useful to everyone around the house instead! Then once baby 2 arrives, I am going to look for lots of help on jobs that would be compatible with my depression!
• Baby 2 is doing really well - I'm now 20 weeks and had my scan this morning :) Just like Little man, this baby was not being 100% cooperative! Little man had his legs crossed and over his head, this baby was lying on his / her tummy! I had to do some jumping (it didn't help) then ended up going for a walk and a drink to nudge baby into turning round, so that the nurse could look properly at her / his heart! We're not finding out if it's a boy or girl!! I've decided girl, whilst everyone else is for boy - probably because ALL of hubby's family are boys ;)

baby at 20 weeks :)

Ok, I can't remember what else has been going on - my brain is so mushy, I am really forgetful at the moment! It can get a little frustrating at times, especially when I'm trying to have a conversation with someone and the words keep escaping me - even the simple ones!!

I am aiming to keep up with my blog a bit better now - especially now I'm a SAHM!