Learning to sew

As the title states I'm trying to teach myself to sew and dressmaking. So far I've managed to create some rather pretty pillow dresses using a pattern for Penny. It has taken a few attempts to get the seams right as I hate them left messy. I've mastered French Seams to keep the inside looking lovely and neat. I have also made aprons with pockets and a fabric box for James. Today make was a pair of shorts again for Penny. I'm quite pleased with them and Penny is a very grateful recipient who tells everyone she meets who has made her pretty clothes. She also helps me wind the bobbin up and does her own sewing by putting pins into fabric.

Nothing to give.

I have nothing to hold
No kisses to give
No cuddles to warm you
I can't dry your tears
I can't make you better
For a short time you were our world
Our future
Our family
Our joy
You were loved for the moment you were there
You will be loved always.

8 months

My little baby is getting more mobile by the day. In the last few weeks she has gone from a wobbly sitting position surrounded by cushions for protection to humping her bottom in a weird shuffle while sitting to get about to realising if she is sitting up and leans forward on to her tummy she can reach things. While she on her tummy she can spin herself round like a parashooter. I think it will only be days before she figures out that if she lifts her tummy up she will be able to crawl. I wonder if she will go backwards like her brother did.
Other news, Penny is back to her normal self, I think the chicken pox wore her out, hence the major tantrums. Luckily she is back to her fun loving self. Today she was mainly wearing her Skye from Paw Patrol costume. She acts like a dog and demands pats, flying and pup treats. She is a funny little thing.

Picnics and The National trust.

James' class invited us to join them on a picnic at Belton House. Despite the horrid rain yesterday they still decided to go ahead with it. This lead me to the dilemma, at nearly £14 entrance fee per person do I pay £30 for a few hours or join the National Trust for the year. Eventually bit the bullet and joined paying £9 per month, we just have to make sure we make the most of it.
So the day was great, it was nice to see James playing with his friends. It was also a good chance for Penny join in as she will be starting the preschool in September. Belton play area has been given a make over since we were there last. The play area is fantastic and huge. There are now toliets and baby changing near it and more importantly a coffee shop. There is also an indoor play area which is ideal when it is wet. I'm looking forward to a Summer of picnics and playing.

Camping in the rain.

Last weekend we had bit of a do at Mums. Katie, lianne, Vic and family all for a BBQ. It was bit of a washout but we stuck it out. The kids were suited and booted up and put outside. The thrill of riding bikes, trikes and tractor down the hill and hopefully stopping kept them entertained most of the weekend. Plus hidden dens, climbing mud banks, toasting marshmallows and walks in the rain splashing in puddle makes an excellent time. For the adults wine, fire, food and good company. There was the added excitement and celebration of not 1, not 2 but 3 engagements. Any reason for champagne.

Teddy bears picnic

Due to havinget the chicken pox Penny and Izzy have missed out on Charles picnic birthday party. After waving Marley and James off and drying Pennys tears we did you next best and had a teddy bears picnic. I've also just dashed out to get an ice cream for us from the ice cream man. Delicious.

UNCLEAN UNCLEAN

The dreaded chicken pox has entered the Metcalf house hold. It started with James who got it from school. Thankfully it only seemed to wear him out rather than make him ill. So lots of cuddles and attention. We though Penny and Izzy has escaped it but 2 days ago we found a spot on Iz and yesterday on Penny. Izzy has it terribly, she is absolutely covered head to toe of red raw spots and blisters. I rang the doctors because it is so bad and they have given her some cream. She is so unhappy and sad at the moment, I feel so sorry for her. Penny is also feeling it, she is worn out but instead of sleeping she doesn't know what to do and melts down into a crying puddle. So lots of cuddles for her as well. Shame it has happened over half term, the only consolation is the weather has been rubbish so we haven't missed our days out. If anyone has any advice how to sooth Izzys spot I would be grateful. Thanks.

Answers at last.

Since Penny was a baby she has been blighted by health problems. Small niggling symptoms which come and go. I've been to and from the doctors a number of times for different reason with her, each time feeling like I was wasting the doctor time and they would think I was crazy over barring mother. The problem with our doctors is each time I go I see a different one, with a different problem and a few time I was dismissed with a wave of a hand. However, the last time I went it was because of a night hacking cough which Penny can't seem to get rid off. I happened to mention that she had skin scratches which wouldn't heal because of this the doctor realised the she has eczema and asthma because they go together. I also mentioned the fact that the health visitor thought she might be lactose intolerance as she couldn't tolerance formula when she was tiny. Apparently lactose intolerance is also linked to eczema and asthma. Result. So she not has potions, lotions and inhalers galore and fingers crossed they seem to be working. She cough has stopped therefore she is sleeping better and therefore much happier during the day therefore a happier and less tired mummy. Only downside is we are on a lactose free diet but that is not a problem.

Izzy

My gorgeous baby is now nearly 7 months old. She is such a happy, calm little thing, which is amazing as she has to put up with a lot. You would have thought the novelty would have worn off but no the other 2 are still obsessed with her and won't leave her alone. She has just learn to roll over and I don't think it will be long before she will be wiggling around and exploring.
She loves her food and we are doing the baby lead weaning where we give her the same as we are eating and she feeds herself, sometimes it goes in the right place, often enough it is even where else.
I'm blessed to have such a happy, chilled out baby, a lively, bubbly, brightens your day 3 year old and a bright, clever, thoughtful, relaxed and happy 5 year old.

At last a bit of Sunshine.

It is amazing how a little bit of sun brightens the whole family. I have enjoyed the last few days in the sun. Yesterday I spent the morning at the allotment while Penny was at nursery and Izzy was asleep. Managed to get quite a bit done. I'm feeling quite please with myself as so far, apart from a bit of digging, I've done it all by myself. James has decided he would, like a garden down there, so we pooped down after tea and found him a section and planted some lettuces.
Day Penny, Izzy and I when to Little Acorns followed by lunch at the cafe. Penvy got her haircut, then while we waited for Daddy we watched the ducklings. We also saw a ladybird. Then we all walked to meet James. James planted some seeds in his garden, then we had tea outside followed by John getting the swingball out. Lovely evening I'm now going to end the day with a special coffee followed by a glass of wine in the garden. I'm feeling rather happy and relaxed at the moment. All is good with the world.

Bank holiday

Yesterday we were invited to a BBC at Hollys. What with the sleet, snow, hail of the last few days we wondered if we were going to be inside. However, the sun shone and everyone enjoyed themselves and behaved.
Yesterday morning was also the first time I had left Izzy for 3hours. Normally she is attached to me because I'm  still feeding her and she refused to drink from a bottle. All went well and I enjoyed a sewing machine course. Hopefully I will be soon whizzing up some lovely little dresses for Penny. I one in the picture is a pillow dress.

"I'm a big girl."

On Wednesday my little girl turns 3. Very exciting as since James birthday she knows birthdays mean a special day and cake. As she doesn't have friends as yet, we are doing a few different things.
Today Nanny and Grandad George visited and we had cake. Later Cat Grandma, Marley and Col Col came to play so we had more cake. Tomorrow we are heading to Wheelgate for a fun day out. On Wednesday their will be presents and more cake and Grandma and Grandad Terry are coming for tea.

Easter hols.

Well, as normal the holidays have flown by. Tomorrow James will be back at school and Penny is heading off to nursery for the morning. The house will seem very quiet all of a sudden.
Despite the chaos of Dad accident which upended our Easter plans, we have had a good time and fitted a lot in. The egg hunt at Frampton marsh, day out in Skegness and tractor driving and actifact finding at Dads being some of the highlight. At home we have have been map making, building, plaster Paris making, partying, baking, singing, putting on plays, model making, planting seeds, digging and tent making. We have completely forgot to do any reading for school, but never mind.
I'm going to miss having a full house of noise but looking forward to next weekend away and more adventures.

Tourist day

Today we ventured out to not so sunny Skeggy. Despite the weather we had a lovely time going round the amusements and on the rides. Penny loved the wheel ride, giggling away while she was going round. James liked the 2p machines collecting prizes and tickets. John and just liked being out as a family. Looking forward to sunny weather went we can get on the beach and make sandcastles.

Crocodile

Penny came screaming and running through, announcing we have a crocodile in the kitchen.
Me "It's a stick."
Penny "No, crocodile"
Me "No, it's a stick."
Penny "No scary crocodile."
Me "No, it's a stick, look." (Going to touch it)
Penny "NO NOT NOT,  it's asleep shhhh."

We now have a sleeping pet crocodile/stick we can't move or touch into the middle of our kitchen.

Easter Dramas

I love the holidays. I love having James back at home. So far we have been to the alloment twice. We have now planned potatoes and spring onions. Unfortunately, Dad has taken a tumble off a ladder in the shed while putting up a camera and has broken his shoulder. It should take 6 weeks to heal but he needs to rest it. Hopefully, he will have the sense to ask for help when  he need it and not struggle along like he normally does. I told him to wait till Friday and we would help him with the camera.

Allotment

Last April we were lucky enough to get a plot on the allotment site at the end of our road. It is a quarter size plot and is just the right size for a fair weather gardener like me.
Last year it was a bit hit and miss. We have great success with butternut,  courgettes, peas, strawberries, onions and beetroot. The broad beans, runners, spinach, lettuce and brassicas were poor.
This year I'm hoping to be a bit more organised. So far digging has commenced, shallots and garlic is in and I have grand plans for the rest of the plot. I have even made a diagram. I just need to get the motivation. As much as I like the kids down helping me and enjoy showing them how to plant, sometimes I just need to get on.

Izzie.

Welcome the world

We are delighted to announce the birth of our third (and last) child. A beautiful daughter named Isobel (Izzie) May. Born on the 18th Oct 2015 at 1.30am, weighting a whopping 9.14lb. James, Penny and ourselves are absolutely besotted by her and she is happy, healthy and calm.

Despite being late as she was due on the 13th. when labour started she seemed to be in a great hurry. This is the story of her arrival.
After a month of being on edge because the midwife told us that she was ready and could be due at any time. I decided on the 17th that as a family we needed to get out of the house. The kids were grumpy and I was fed up of being fat. So we venture to the local soft play area to let off some stream. All day I was feeling odd and was having twinges, but this was nothing new as I had been having twinges for the last 6 weeks. However, these felt slightly different. I didn't tell John as he had been putting up with my false alarms for weeks. That evening I decided I would watch Bridget Jones diary. Typically (same happened with Penny) the night I didn't have an early night and sleep things started to happeen. The film finished at midnight, I went to the loo before bed and ping my waters broke. Told John and I rang the hospital, who told me I have better come in to be checked over.

12.10am Rang Dad to ask him to come and pick me up and drive us to the hospital. Told him not to rush as there was no hurry.

12.15am Rang Mum to come and babysit and told her not to rush and there was no hurry.

12.20am I text Katie as she moans she wasn't in the loop to tell her I was in labour.

12.21am Pain starts and I can't move from the bathroom.

12.22am In agony, can't move and contractions are really close together. Still on the toilet.

Things start to get hazy from here on. At some point John calls an ambulance. The person on the end tell him to move me from the toilet get on my back on the floor. Very slowly and by crawling a manage to get to our living room and on the rug.

1ish Dad arrives followed closely by mum. Dad hides in the kitchen. Mums holds my hand as John is still on the phone and having to keep checking if he can see the baby coming.

1.15am. Ambulance people arrive. Yay. There is no drugs (boo) only gas and air.

Anyway, she was born at 1.30 am on the 18th Oct. We had to go to the hospital o be checked over but was back home by 3pm that afternoon. Where we were promptly decended on by masses of family. I went to bed and left them too it.

Proud Parents.

On Friday we had a parents evening for James to see how he was settling in. Both me and John left the school with huge smiles on our faces. We could not be prouder of James how he is flourishing at school. To begin with he was a bit clingy when we would leave him, but within minutes he would be fine and happily playing. For the last week we have been leaving him in the playground so he has to go into the classroom himself. With a little help with a sticker chart at home this has been fuss free and yesterday John barely got a kiss before he was running off.
His teacher is also very pleased. She says she can tell we do a lot with him as his conversation and explanations are excellent. He is always interested in learning and will stop what he is playing to go and do group work. He participates in group work and has started to put his hand up and join in class discussions.
Last week he took in some shells we had picked up at the seaside and he was able to stand at the front of the class and show and describe them. The teacher even changes her afternoon planning so the whole class looked, draw and played with the shells as the children were all interested in them.
He has even volunteered to say a line at the harvest festival, which we were really surprised at as he can be a little timid to begin with until he has found his bearings. Overall we are so chuffed at how he is getting on.
Penny is also making progress at nursery, she is still a little upset at being left. However, when we pick her up she is all smiles and has had a good morning singing, playing in the sand or on the bikes.