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.

Good to go.

Had my 36 weeks midwife appointment on Friday. Not sure if is good new or bad, but according to her baby had dropped. She also stated that as it is my 3rd when they drop labour isn't far away. Hoping that she hangs on a bit until 37 weeks. We are still no ready the house is a state and the nursery needs a good sort out. Baby also doesn't have a name or clothes yet.
Since being told this news every little twinge is being analysed, is this labour?

Counting down the days.

So, I'm now 35 weeks and 3 days or 32 days to go until we get to meet the newest member of our family. Not sure if I've mentioned it but we are having a little girl. It is the first time we have chosen to find out the sex. James is pleased. He commented that because it is a girl he can play with her if it was a boy Penny would have to play with it.
The pregnancy is going well and did seem really fast until now. With 5 weeks to go I'm fat, aching in all places and lazy. Still is isn't as bad as I was with Penny so I am grateful for small things.

Penny's first day at nursery.

Another first in our family this morning. Penny had her first day at nursery. As we both wanted to see her off we dropped James off at school. He went in a lot better this morning, still clingy but giggling with it rather than lots of tears. As normal there was a bottleneck of parents trying to sort their children out, tackling bags, book bags, indoor shoes and coats, myself included. As a result we were 15mins late to nursery,  whoops, nog the ideal start. Anyway, after a quick kiss and cuddle she toddled in with out looking back.
With a child free morning I decided to treat myself to a book and a cream tea in the village. Knickers to the housework.
On pick Pen up, she had had a few teary moments when she had realised that we weren't there. But she said she enjoyed it and played with trains. I think she will be ok when she gets use to it.

First day.

James has now had 2 days at big school. Each morning he has been fine getting ready and doing his new routine.  He is happy until it comes to leaving him. At the moment parents can go in the classroom and help them put their coats and bags away and put their indoor shoes on. Quick kiss goodbye and the tears start. The TAs have to peels him away from us so we can leave. Hopefully, we can start leaving him at the door soon and this might subside. He is absolutely fine minutes later. Penny starts nursery on Monday but I think she will be fine. 

Starting Big School

It is 9.30 in the evening, I'm on my own and sobbing. The reason? My beautiful little boy is starting big school on Thursday. Even though he can drive me to distraction I'm going to miss to insane, random conversations, the constant running commentary which I can barely keep up with, his liveliness and eagerness and energy.
I worry he will find it all too much, the days too long and tiring. That his imagination will be squashed with in confines of school work and getting it right.
I know that I will not be the only one who will miss him. His little mini me follower will feel the same way. I only hope his teacher will grow to love him and his quarks as much as me.

Relief

Last Tuesday was my 12 week scan day. Dad babysat the children while John and I went to our appointment. The relief when I saw a moving little baby on scan was astonishing,  I didn't realised how wind up and worried I was.
Today we told James about the baby. John asked him to guess what was in Mummies tummy. "A baby" he whispered, then bit smiles. Then asked for 2 babies. He said hello to it and confirmed he could hear a very tiny heartbeat. We shown him the scan photos and he chose one to keep. We also talked about what a baby might need and he said he would save his clothes that are too small. At first he wanted a brother, then sister, then back to having 2 babies. At least he is happy about it.

Party and poorly sick.

So this is has been a month of ups and down.
Up-My beautiful little boy has turned 4. Not so little now, but he still loves cuddles and kisses from everyone. He had a small party at home and was truly spoilt with all the gifts he received.  A huge combine, scalextrics, lots of Lego, tractors and jcbs.
Down- I've been really sick with this pregnancy. Even the thought of food is enough to make me run to the bathroom. At 11 weeks it is just starting to ease off.

Drum Roll Please.........

It's a big fat positive. Baby number 3 is on its way and I can't stop smiling. Gone are the previous doubts about money, where to put it and how we will manage. I've gone into doing everything by the book mode. Out goes the coffee, steaming hot baths and sherry. Bring on the gorgeously small baby clothes and let the cooing commence.

I'm I, aren't I?

This morning I took another test which has the tinest of lines so I'm still not sure if I'm pregnant or not. I also think I've got over the shock now, my mind has turned from getting fat to pretty prams and having cleavage again. I think if it turn out negative I would be very dissppointed.

Not sure if to laugh, cry or hide under the bed.

Today, for no reason accept that I felt different, I took a pregnancy test and to my shock/suprise there was the faintest trace of a pink line. Looks like baby number 3 is on there way.
After last years miscarriage I decided that my two gorgeous children were enough. I didn't want to get into the cycle trying, then the months of worrying. However, last month very gradually, broody baby ideas returned. Low and behold within 2 weeks I'm pregnant.
Not sure what to think at the moment selfish me doesn't want to put weight on again after nearly lossing 4 stone, nor are the pregnancy aches and pains or birth appealing. I have also given everything baby related away so will have to start again buying stuff.
I have always wanted three children, three seems complete to me. The idea of having a small baby to cuddle makes me smile.

PS. Not sure how I will manage without my coffee machine.

Where are the Penguins

This is a conversation that James and I had in the car yesterday.

Me: Look it's snowing.
James: Yes, lots of snow (after a moment) Mummy where are the Penguins?
Me: We don't have penguins in this country.
James: But its snowing, Penguins like the snow.
Me: Yes they do but they live far away in different countries.
James: Where are the kangaroos?
Me: Kangaroos like it hot and live in Australia.
James: Can we go?
Me: No sweetie, it is along away on an aeroplane. You can see kangaroo and penguins in a zoo.
James: Do you have to in a plane to go to the zoo?
Me: No we go in the car, there are lots of different animals.
James: Can we go on a plane to the zoo?

Another stone gone.

I've now lost 3 stone in total and even though I look a lot better, bizarrely I'm more uncomfortable and less confident in choosing clothes and wearing them.
I'm still off cake and sugar but I do have a little taste of the cakes I've been making.

John's big 40

On the 10th August John celebrated his 40th birthday. We had a BBQ at home with the family. Despite the dodgy looking rain clouds it kept fine and we had a lovely time.
This was just one of his birthday cakes. He was very lucky and got 2. I made this one and his mum made a lovely chocolate cake with a rubix cube, Dennis the menace and Kermitt the frog on it.
For his prezzie we went to Swindon computer museum,  Wookey Hole and Borwood House to see Tractor Ted.

Baking Crazy.

I don't know whether I'm suffering Bake Off blues or the lack of cake is sending me into a mad baking woman. But I'm in a baking frenzy at the moment. I've cooked jam tarts, tea bread, Victoria sponge, tarte titan, cookies fairy cakes, crispy cakes and cupcakes. I found Nigella's How to be a Domestic Goddess in a charity shop for the bargain price of £2. I'm looking forward to trying some the recipes.

lovely Autumn family day.

I've had the most lovely day. We headed to Belton House, as they had a Halloween trail and it would be the last time we go before they close the outdoor play area.
The sun was shining, the trail was lovely and James enjoyed finding the body parts. We stayed in the play area for ages, Penny was exciting toddling around finding leaves and sticks and going on the slide and enjoying the swings. We threw, collected and kicked leaves around and rode on the little train and saw deers.
We ended the day by having a MacDonalds and the kids had a early night completely exhausted.
Fabulous.

Catching up.

As always my blogging post are sporadic. This is a very brief catch up of our summer.

Great Yarmouth with Grandad.
In September we all had a weekend in Yarmonth with Grandad. We dug on the beach, went to Petits and dug there. Penny enjoyed the slides round, round, round she went, not even stopping to sit down she just walked off the end.

National Trust.
We have tried to go to Belton as often as possible to get our moneys worth from the National Trust card. Both children enjoy the play area, which is also big enough for us to use as well. Looking forward to the new one they are building for next year.

Days out.
We have been lucky enough to go to Norfolk show, Sandringham show, Heckington show and Spilsby. We have visited windmills, the beach, watermills, parks and castles.

A fab Summer, but feeling a little sad knowing that this time next year James will be at school and our random days out are going to be limited.