Broody Broody Broody....

Everyone around me seems to be announcing their pregnancies or giving birth, It's impossible not to be broody especially when my sister in-law has just given birth to a gorgeous little girl!

As I'm sure every mum will know when your child gets to an age were they aren't exactly babies anymore

the whole world seems to ask you when your having another and tell you it's time for another

and it's been no different for me & the girls are no exception, Every other day Issy & Daisie ask me can they have a brother they even have a name for him, why don't I have another everyone else has 3 kids and the excitement from them when I'm bloated after a meal is just soo cute! Daisie is turning 3 in July and will be starting nursery in September.

We started trying for Daisie when Issy was in nursery and I fell pregnant quite quickly  and that was the plan for number #3 when Daisie started nursery too.

It seems like such the perfect age to have another while Issy's at school, Daisie would be at nursery while I'll be at home with baby BUT

As much as I really want another and as much as my womb & heart are begging me My head is screaming 'OH HELL NO' 

I've been a mum since I was 16 and I love every moment of it but as selfish as I may sound I would like at least a year were I can treat myself a little and my body being my own of course If we had another now every penny we get would go towards stuff for baby (most of our money now goes towards the girls)

I'd also like to be driving for atleast a year before we have another (as much as the thought kills me) 

So we can enjoy some days out with the girls and maybe a holiday or two.

While all those thoughts are circling my mind I also have many PRO's to having another now,

When the girls and baby are of an age to be left alone I'll still be of an age to be able to live the life I didn't have in my younger days, I'm not talking clubbing maybe a girly weekend away or something! Without the guilt and worry of leaving the kids behind like I have now.
They would all be of an age were they would be practically begging me to leave them alone just for a night or two. Where as If I put off having another for a few more years there will always be a baby to stop me from enjoying some time away, I have always said I don't want any more once I hit 3O to the point I've considered being sterilized at 3O (I know there's no way my broodiness would allow that) but I'm still set on having 4 children so unless I have twins that little plan I've always had will be going out of the window.

I don't believe their ever is a perfect time to have children, When you feel ready is the most perfect time you'll ever get.

Ah the terrible two's

You've just got to love this stage right?

The terrible two's have recently arrived, I suppose we were quite lucky as more often than not it's usually before they've even turned two that they start.

 Daisie's at that stage were you daren't say the word no or it's a fall to the floor kicking and screaming situation, Bed times a great game of musical beds to play jumping into her sisters bed as she's trying to sleep, she's worked out how to open the bedroom stair gate so she likes to come down and let us know how proud she is that she done it, If she asks for a drink/food it has to be her way and immediately if you've altered it in anyway or ran out of her favourite juice/snack your going to know about it, take something off her shes not meant to have is a throw whatever is near by and then herself to the floor, If she wants it she MUST have it even if her sister had it first

Writing this I realized she might sound like a really spoilt little moo but trust me she is told no
and the naughty step is being introduced now that she understands what its all about

Whens to old?

Recently Andy suggested we get Issy a little more stylish and not so smothered in character stuff like hello kitty, Minnie mouse etc as he's concerned she may get bullied at school, Everyone has the usual black/navy coat, biker jackets, parker jackets and generally really cute stylish coats and there's our little Issy in a pink coat covered in hello kitty's. It's cute but of course having your child bullied is every parents worst nightmare. I'm terrified she may start having other kids call her a baby or comment on the fact her clothes are a bit babyish at times but at the same time I want her to know if she likes and she's happy others opinions really don't matter,  I know shops sell character clothes for older girls but they have more of a stylish design to them and aren't so child like, Of course I don't want to take her childhood away and make her grow up to quickly either, I see plenty of other little girls the same age as Issy looking super cute and very stylish with their little bun doughnuts in, big bows, little bags etc

So I'd like other mummy opinions are we panicking to much? 

she will be 6 in January

I think we should opt for the more stylish designs of characters and not the so toddler looking designs which fixes the problem altogether she's not having her childhood ripped away, she's stylish and she's happy

My potty training tips!

So i'm slowly starting potty training with Daisie now she prefers her pull ups to nappies now :) I know not everyone agrees with them but it works for me and Daisie, she loves the pretty minnie mouse design and she loves being able to check the wetness indicator. 

First off ALL children learn these sort of things at their own time and when they are ready, you will come across other little ones that are trained way before your little one, ones that are trained ages after yours, some trained around the same age as yours etc.. Neither child has a bad parent they each have an awesome parent that waited for them to let them know they were ready rather than pushing it on their little one because someone else's little one is trained.

Right for my actual tips

1- Make it F.U.N
2 - Don't get stressed over accidents even if it's on your fave rug, these things will happen
3 - Praise as much as you can even if it's just your little one sat on the potty
4 - Make a HUGE fuss 
5 - Let your little one let their teddy/dolly have a go too
6 - Have the potty/toilet seat in the same place so your little one knows where it is
7 - Have a potty in every room your little one tends to be in for a lengthy amount of time



These are my tips so not everyone will agree with them but they are what I've found worked for me and my girls! I will be adding more to the list when I think of some more

They sell potty training books that encourage little ones to have a go on their potty just like the little ones in their book, some make sounds and some also come with stickers

Picking a preschool

So after much consideration I've decided to go ahead with putting Daisie into preschool, I've chosen her nursery and we've been for her taster days. Issy went to the same one and the teachers were there when I was there so I have a lot of trust in them :)

I'm totally undecided on playschool atm 

I'll be going to look at them before I go ahead and sign her up

I'm currently hunting down ofsted reports for the 2/3 I've narrowed it down to and asking others that have their little ones in them. 

I'm getting all excited over the little backpacks and things I can get her :') 

I know someone that works in one but the walk is so far I won't be able to get Issy to school and Daisie to preschool on time :(

What's the main things you look out for when choosing a preschool/nursery?

It's that time again already

I can't believe how quick this year has gone, Today is Issy's last day of being in a reception when she goes back in 6 weeks she will be in year 1!! So now I have the task of stocking up on lots of fresh uniform for the new term, so I've been looking around for the nicest uniform style and good value for money. F&F have really amazing prices on their school uniform bits, the girls tops have a lovely scallop design around the buttons that looks really pretty and I've fallen in love with a pair of shoes coming to ALDI soon.

Any trousers or skirts I buy have to have an adjustable waist, Issy has such a small waist but has really long legs so if they fit in the waist they are to short and if they fit in the leg they are to big round the waist.

Any recommendations on places to buy school uniform from?

Daisie turns 2

My smallest bubba turned two on Monday, so I'm now a mumma of a two and five year old!
We didn't get to do the zoo or aquarium plans that I wanted to do as absolutely everything that could go wrong, did on the run up to her birthday weekend :( so money was super tight (I'm so glad I shopped for her presents early) but we still managed to give her a great birthday party/BBQ and we spent all morning Monday opening presents & playing then we went for lunch and fed the ducks in the afternoon :) which she's now addicted to and asks for ducks ever since so it will be a regular thing to do from now on. I plan to do the zoo/aquarium plans on the first week of the school holidays but I might just change my mind when I see just how choker everywhere gets when its the holidays either way my girls are going some time this year!

Crochet

God do people make this look easy!! My hooks finally arrived today so I gave it a shot, I have a book I got out from the library but it's all so confusing and two balls of wool I got in ready for when my hooks arrived. I'm managing to do the starting stitch with no problem but I'm stuck there :( It doesn't help I haven't picked a granny square pattern I'd like to learn and stuck to it, I keep trying what ever looks easy. My wool seems so small compared to all the tutorials I've watched (I asked if I could crochet with it when I bought it the woman said it's fine to crochet with) I sat with my aunty and she showed me how to get a pattern going but as I'm doing it I'm still ending with the beginning stitch I done that looks like a plait :/  instead of moving outwards I'm still going upwards.

Any recommendations of a simple granny square I could start off with?

My blog layouts/themes/backgrounds/headers

My two most recent blog layout/themes/backgrounds/headers have been done by a wonderful friend of mine who I met online a few years ago, she's become a really great friend we may not swap texts, phone calls or meet up but I know if I ever need an ear to listen she will be there with nothing but supportive words for me!
so this post was to let her know just how much I appreciate her making my layouts for me and give her credit for her work :)

 Please pop by and check out her blog http://butterflieshavesouls.blogspot.co.uk/

2 weeks.....

Can't believe that in two weeks my little Doo bug turns 2!!!!
It doesn't seem that long ago I was getting my stuff together ready to be induced, I'm almost all done just need to get in all the party food, loot bags and the fillings & her cake :) I was thinking of doing a few games but as most of the kids are around the same age as her I don't think they'll quite understand them just yet. I'm so glad I got things in as I saw them as my washing machine broke on me yesterday so I need to spend out on getting another but for now my mum's doing my washing like a diamond, so I can focus on Daisie's birthday, As always I don't think her present pile is big enough :/ although it's more than enough to keep her busy, every year be it Easter,Christmas or Birthdays I never think the girls present piles are big enough then I spend the rest of the year sorting out all the bits that don't get played with.

❤