Saltram walks

I have been so stuck in my head again lately that cleaning and sorting seem to be the only jobs I am capable of. We have been a poorly household and it has been interesting!
I am really looking forward to December to Christmas to decorating the house and just being together.
November. I will be glad to see the back of. It has been a strange month for me. I am ready to get all cosy and enjoy cheesy Christmas movies. I can't wait till belle understands Christmas and gets excited.
Today I am taking the morning to catch up with a very good friend.

My current reads

My readership of blogs varies week by week but I find myself stopping by to some of the same ones now and I thought I would share them with you...

Sunny With a Chance of Sprinkles I cannot remember how I found Chelsea but I love her honesty about juggling a child, school and a relationship. I love the crafts they do together and being reminded to take time out to just enjoy life.

A Sorta Fairytale Blog Mandy is a photographer with amazing skills for capturing her boys. I love them! I love how real life this mum seems too. Makes me feel a little more sane!

Bleubird Vintage I think everyone in blogger land has read James at some point, but I truly love the simplicity of their photos, plans for life. I love the Montessori inspiration for my children too.

Smile and Wave Rachel is a week ahead of me in her third pregnancy and although I have been following for a long time I cannot wait to see what she blogs about over the next 4 months!

C H and O Daddy Is the blog of one of my best friends husband. I love seeing blogging and parenting from a man's point of view. Their 2 boys are older than Belle but Olivia will be the same school year, I love that we have that from a friendship point of view.

Lastly, my sister Improvised Intentions although we see her fairly regularly she also blogs with a different style to me so it makes an interesting read!

Boy love

This week I have been thinking about the logistics of having another child mainly surrounding sleep. I found a good Make your own cot bed blog post that had me intrigued.  We didn't and don't Co sleep with belle and I wonder if that made a difference to our breastfeeding. However we have decided to see how it goes and just know that our little mister is bound to be completely different to our little miss.

But speaking of breastfeeding I have been thinking/worrying about it all again and so far I have only reassured myself to try again and go with the baby rather than my thoughts. Second time breastfeeding is also sometimes easier for some women so fingers crossed thats me!

We have also been thinking about names, it always feels like a huge decision naming a child! I think we will go a bit traditional though.

Back shift evening

I am terrible for routine/monotony and when Andy is on backs you can be sure Isabelle has dinner by 5, bathed by 630 and in bed by 7. I love my evenings to myself when they come round.

Usually we will have visitors/be out once or twice a week so those evenings we have a looser schedule. For the most part now I couldn't be prouder of my little girl's sleep during the night. She wakes up at 5:30 regardless of bedtime. It's a pain but you get used to it!

When I have time to myself I love pinterest! Craft planning/sometimes making. And watching a film - it is almost always from the Twilight saga or a romance. I am a sucker for people falling in love. Being in love. Love in general I guess really!

Sometimes I will have a hot chocolate or actual chocolate if I fancy the treat but I try really hard not to! I have been enjoying natural yoghurt, raisins and shredded coconut recently. Isabelle likes it too so we tend to share a bowl!

These evenings are usually my pamper evenings too, sometimes I will shower and do a hair mask, sometimes I will paint my nails and others I will do a face mask. It is nice not to be cleaning or thinking about anyone else for a change! Honestly though, the evenings when I am alone I still don't like to not be upstairs when Isabelle is. I am such a worrier about that girl.

Oh and now it is getting wintery I am enjoying my electric blanket!

Breathe

We had family stay over the weekend for a couple birthdays. It has been lovely and busy. Isabelle has been a star of course and pretty well behaved, she has her moments but at 14 months I was super proud of her throughout the changes.

She has now been to her first disco and met new friends. It was certainly a weekend of too much food and indulgence - no alcohol for me!

We had a lovely walk with my sister and her boyfriend Sunday morning,  it was good catching up with her. Feels like she has been away too much lately!

Today I have done the cleaning,  I think I am making the most of a clean house whilst I can. I doubt come March it will be a priority! I am still dabbling in selling my crafts and that is giving me something to focus on too

Boy Love

I think I am going to dedicate a Thursday's post to the things I have been collecting for the newest addition to our household - to be inspired, to discover and share!

How can you not love these?!

   

I love the idea of a nautical boys room, so cute with a sophisticated detail.

November

November has had a funny start for me, I have been struggling with lifting Isabelle and my expanding tummy. I have been struggling with my tiredness again. I have been struggling with Isabelle's tantrums - a whole new world of fun!!!

I kinda let it happen for the week. Let it take its course and have a little faith I would come out the other side. I took time to talk with Andy about how I was feeling rather than keep getting myself down about how I felt. It was the sort of week you emerge from feeling thankful, grateful and renewed.

So I have some new goals, new ideas for the current stage Isabelle is at and how I am going to survive this transition to 2 children! Luckily I have family around me so I know I truly know I am not alone.

Who can stay frustrated with cuddles in pyjamas and wellies?!

The time we found out our second child's gender

So March 2014 kinda brings a little fella into this household.

We are delighted and excited. 

Slight contrast from pink though ....

Rain rain

We have had a lot of rain recently,  its been fun trying to find things to do with belle that aren't too expensive or samey.
So we have seen a lot of friends and had a lot of play dates. Which is so good. I love catching up with my friends. I especially love that our children are all similar in age and can be friends too.
Isabelle has been really good with the weather and my tiredness. I honestly don't think she could be better at times :)