‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #12 – {Cinema Date with Isis Mae}

June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #12 – {Cinema Date with Isis Mae}

Saturday morning I was catching up with some blogging before chilling with the family. The weather was not the best so we were planning on a lazy day. Isis was helping me by reading a book that we had been asked to review so after we had finished I thought it would be nice to treat her. I knew that ‘Pitch Perfect 2′ was out at the cinema, and wouldn’t specifically be James’ cup of tea, I’d asked my cousin a day earlier if she fancied it watching it and told me that the reviews she had heard were that it was rubbish. So, I had put it in my ‘won’t bother with that’ pile.

However, Isis absolutely loved the first one, she saw it on DVD with her Mum. I knew that it was a 12A so with Isis being 9, James and I had a brief discussion. We basically decided she would see it on DVD with her Mum anyway probably when it came out and it was a treat to take her out to the cinema for always being so helpful. We decided to go for it, I knew that if there was anything inappropriate I could always have a chat with her if needed.

The film was on at 11:30 am so it would be over lunch time, I didn’t want her to go hungry, I can usually wait until later, but if she started having hunger pangs, it would take away from the fun of watching, so we treated ourselves to some nachos and popcorn. This is very rare at the cinema for us, we have decided that the prices are so extortionate it’s better to eat before or go for an ice-cream afterwards, but this was a treat for Isis.

We loved the movie, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as there wasn’t really much of a plot but we LOVE music, dancing, singing and so we seriously enjoyed it. It was funny, there were a couple of rude parts but they were funny, they weren’t portrayed crudely. It certainly wasn’t anything that would destroy her innocence. The innuendos just went over her head and mostly mine. I’m really rubbish at getting things like that.

Here are a couple of iPhone snaps we popped on Instagram as we didn’t take the big camera with us (wasn’t really that sort of trip) –

just the 2 of us, justus2, quality time, one on one, mummy and daughter dates, cinema, pitch perfect 2, don't call me step mummy, mummy blogger, parent blog, vlog, movie review — toilet selfie after the movie

Later in the afternoon we filmed a review for our YouTube channel if you’d like to watch. It’s just a short clip of what we liked about the movie. If you’re not sure if it’s one to part with your money for then take a peek, we’ll help you decide

If you’ve had any one on one time with any of your littlies this week, from a stolen moment to an outing, feel free to grab the badge (I’m just fixing this now I’m self-hosted, it all went wrong) and link up below, make sure to hashtag on twitter #justus2 and I will be able to find you and retweet…

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.dontcallmestepmummy.com" title="Don't Call Me Step Mummy"><img src="https://dontcallmestepmummy.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/badge-small.jpg" alt="Don't Call Me Step Mummy" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #11 – {Eden’s First Shoes}

March 17, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #11 – {Eden’s First Shoes}

This weeks ‘Just the 2 of Us‘ post marks a very special rite of passage for every Mother and Daughter, our very first shoe shopping expedition. Eden’s feet are so small at nearly 16 months old and still as UK toddler 1 it is really difficult to find footwear that she can wear outdoors. Now she’s walking it feels so unfair for her to be strapped in the buggy whenever we’re out and about, so after a recommendation from a friend we ventured to ‘Paces & Laces‘ a specialist shoe shop for children.

I had checked out their website and saw that they stocked a lot of our favourites for the girls, Lelli Kelly’s, Twinkletoes etc, so figured it was worth checking out even if they didn’t stock anything in Eden’s size. I was so pleasantly surprised.

They had a gorgeous little wooden train in the back room with lots of little carriages for seats. It was such a lovely touch, Eden really enjoyed herself exploring away. There were mirrors everywhere in which she was kissing herself (and making extra cleaning for someone – sorry), and given her teeny size, every little chair was like a mountainous challenge that she had to climb. I was so pleased it had been recommended to us.

Given Eden’s teeny size there were only 3 pairs that she could try on. A beautiful pair of pink t-bar dolly shoes, but she must be like her Dad because although one fit beautifully the left shoe was far too wide. This style would not work for our princess, not yet anyway. The lovely owner then presented us with some NOEL boots. There were 2 similar styles and given their small fitting they fit Eden perfectly with the right amount of room to grow. Obviously the owner wanted to make sure she could see Eden walking before selling the shoes to us as making sure the children’s feet are ready for hard soles is priority when buying first shoes. It is better for children to stay barefoot as long as possible, but at nearly 16 months and being unable to join in any festivities outdoors, despite her tiny size, Eden was definitely ready.

It took her a while to get used to having anything on her feet, but eventually she was off and showcasing that yes indeed she could infact walk. This pair had a lovely paisley pattern on them, but I felt although these were maybe the prettier of the 2 styles and the size being exactly the same, for some reason these ones looked bigger on Eden’s feet. I guess like an optical illusion we decided on the simpler design of virtually the same shoe.

I took photos of both of the shoes and text Daddy at home, asking him which one, and then before he replied, knowing what he would say I asked the owner, ‘How much are they?’. I knew that Daddy would automatically choose the cheaper option as I was a little bit torn. I was then informed they were both the same price £47… I double checked with Nanny (James’ Mum) who always likes to buy each of the children’s first pair of shoes, if this would be ok… it was and we purchased Eden’s first shoes extremely happily. I was still so pleased that we had discovered this little gem of a store. I’m a huge fan of shopping small and shopping local, so it thrills me to have such a cute boutique shop that stocks all of our favourites without needing to buy online. The shop also offers a family rewards scheme (which works well when you have as many children as we do) for every £200 accumulated you receive a £15 off voucher. Better than a kick in the teeth as they say, and with all of ours it wouldn’t be too long before we acquire our first voucher.

Our little girl is really growing up. She loved her shoes, wore them all day with no quarms and in the evening as we got her ready for bed, she kept trying to put them back on herself. A very satisfied little girl. One very happy Mummy. A wonderful Mummy and Daughter’s first shoe shopping experience.

(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i[‘GoogleAnalyticsObject’]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,’script’,’//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js’,’ga’);

ga(‘create’, ‘UA-63492824-1’, ‘auto’);
ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’);

If you’ve had any one on one time with any of your littlies this week, from a stolen moment to an outing, feel free to grab the badge and link up below, make sure to hashtag on twitter #justus2 and I will be able to find you and retweet…

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #10

March 10, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #10

This week I have spent a lot of my time being escorted around by my youngest. She is finally walking and has reached the precious part of the process where she will take my finger and lead me around wherever she would like to go. Yesterday Judah, Martina, Eden and I went to meet friends at a soft play centre and I spent almost the entire time being led around, usually away from the play areas towards the food by this little monkey.

I obviously couldn’t capture a photo of this moment without setting up my tripod in the middle of soft play (not a good idea) but it made me realise somehow before this phase passes I am determined to capture a photo of this. Eden is still so small, as you can see from the photo above in comparison to our standard sized cushions, but she is now in age 6-9 months clothes. She is definitely growing. This is helpful as I’m not sure with my back I would be able to walk around with her this way otherwise. I completely missed out on this phase with Judah as I was pregnant with Eden, on crutches and usually bed bound. I would watch as James would walk around with him, but I was never involved in the process. Judah was also very independent and never really wanted to hold anyone’s hand. Eden, is not like this and I can honestly say I LOVE IT!! Probably because I missed out with Judah but I never tire of her reaching for my hand, leading me out of my seat (her little tugs are strong but obviously can’t pull me) and showing me where she would like to go. This is a moment I would look enviously on at friends who were experiencing this phase when I couldn’t barely read a book to Judah nevermind play with him or become involved in his world. I am so glad that I am getting to enjoy this stage with Eden. (I also managed to take Judah down the big slide a couple of times which is something I’m grateful for too) My mobility is slowly coming back and I am so pleased that I can enjoy these times with my littlies before they’re too big to play with Mummy, or don’t have the same time when they’re at school.

I’m not sure of her expression in this photo but it was the only one I managed to capture without other clambering children in the shot. It’s only £1 for entry on a Monday so the place was heaving. She was so proud of herself being able to get up and down this little area. She’s definitely grown in length recently. People still look on in amazement when she’s walking around (especially when she’s not holding my hand) because she looks so young. I have to point out to them as she’s clambering on and off ride-on toys by herself that she’s a lot older than she looks.

Her new word of the week is cheeky, she says ‘I cheeky’ and it is the cutest sound. She started saying it last night to Daddy when he was putting her to bed and she repeated it for me many times this morning. I feel like I say this every week but it’s dawning on me slowly that she is definitely not a baby anymore. She looks so much like one, and her voice is so quiet you would miss it if you weren’t listening but she is 100% a cheeky toddler. I’ve taken to calling her my ‘punk princess’ as she is so mischievous. Blink and she is doing the very thing you’ve asked her not to. Fully aware of what she’s up to. James and I seem to breed really clever babies, they literally scheme and constantly astound us. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
//
If you’ve had any one on one time with any of your littlies this week, from a stolen moment to an outing, feel free to grab the badge and link up below, make sure to hashtag on twitter #justus2 and I will be able to find you and retweet…

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #9

March 3, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #9

‘Isis Mae, you’re certainly the most busy of all our beautiful children, and managing to grab a stolen moment with you proves difficult sometimes. So, just before bed on Saturday I decided to sneak you out to MacDonald’s for a milkshake. We had already eaten toast for dinner as we’d had a big lunch, but you managed to find room for a snack wrap and a McFlurry’.

Oh, it was nice to be able to sneak away with our eldest on Saturday. She has been so busy with rehearsals for her first ever Pantomime and then the show was on over half term. She has worked so hard since Christmas week when it all began with auditions, and I feel like every spare moment was spent at rehearsals. It was worth it though, she absolutely amazed us. Grandad (James’ Dad) couldn’t stop telling anyone who would listen about how amazing she was once he had been to see her in the show.

I really enjoyed nipping out (when really it was bedtime) just to have a little time just the two of us. She was telling me how glad she was that rehearsals were over. I asked if she would want to be involved in the next one if rehearsals started as early as next week (they don’t by the way, we were being hypothetical). She said that she would go if they started tomorrow, as even though it was hard work, she LOVES being on the stage. I guess as a parent, there’s no better answer really…not that we’re about getting her on the stage, but that she is thoroughly enjoying what she’s doing and sees the reward at the end of her efforts. We work so hard to NOT be the pushy parents, trying to make their children do everything better than everyone else. This is certainly not (as Judah would say) why we get her involved in these extracurricular activities. It’s because she loves it, she thrives on it, and beams from ear to ear after each little achievement, be it a show or an exam. She is learning the art of being satisfied as a result of her own efforts and hard work. Her confidence has come on leaps and bounds from the shy child who would hide in the corner sucking her thumb at the age of five when I met James.

We spent some time on pinterest choosing the things we’d like to do for her Superhero themed 9th birthday party. Check out our party planning board by clicking here. So we’ll be making invites first and then things such as masks and backdrops for our photo booth etc. over the next few weeks. If you’ve seen our instagram feed you’ll have seen we’ve had fun doing nails and hair too this weekend. I love being all girlie with Isis and Shayla, and especially with Isis as she really knows her creative mind and tells me exactly what she wants. She challenges me often. There’s not much that I do outside of the children, laundry, cleaning etc. I work on this blog, we go to church as a family and so, I really treasure the times where we just allow time to sit and be creative playing with nail art or braiding. It’s time to just unwind together and it allows the girls to feel special and pretty. Even though we’re all beautiful in our own way, it’s nice to feel pampered sometimes. Our girls would look gorgeous with scratty hair and dressed in a bin bag, but you can see the difference when they ‘feel’ extra beautiful because we took the time to do these girlie things.

Check out Isis’ amazing stage face and presenting skills on our new YouTube trailer that we filmed on Saturday. We left it unedited and natural so you could see just how much of it is their natural ability and not just clever editing of multiple takes.

If you like following vloggers on their journey, please subscribe. The girls know that as it stands we have 0 subscribers to our YouTube channel. It would mean the world to them to know that any subscriptions we had were due to their amazing presenting skills. Isis will be taking some time to film her birthday vlog soon in the lead up to her 9th birthday so you’ll be able to get to know her a little bit better through that. We are so proud of her and all that she’s becoming, she is so helpful with her younger siblings, beautifully creative and a great character to boot.
//
If you’ve had any one on one time with any of your littlies this week, from a stolen moment to an outing, feel free to grab the badge and link up below, make sure to hashtag on twitter #justus2 and I will be able to find you and retweet…

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #8

February 24, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #8

So, this week was difficult as I had a horrendous cough that had me unable to keep any food down all week. Everytime I would cough I’d end up being sick. It’s nearly gone completely now and I have been barely eating so the sickness has stopped now which is great, but it meant that I didn’t really get to do the quality time or going outdoors with the children the way I would want to.

My friends little boy turned one so we went to soft play to hang out with them. Usually when I go to soft play it is very rarely planned, it is usually, oh my goodness, I can’t cope with them, let’s just get out of the house and I would end up at soft play, usually without suitable dress or socks to be able to supervise Judah accurately. Also, he climbs up many things and I need to stay in the baby area with Eden. This time I made sure I had my sweat pants on, and socks and of course we now have Martina with us… if you don’t know who Martina is then click here to read about our wonderful au pair.

So although Martina was somewhere in the soft play with Eden, due to being unwell the rest of the week this was my ‘Just the 2 of Us’ time with Judah. We were able to climb up high and mess around the places where Eden may not want to go or be safe to go. It was so lovely to see his reaction at my joining in. Something he is definitely not used to as I always had the baby with me. I remember trying to go when Eden was first born and he would be putting himself in jeapardy and I was unable to get to him. It was awful, we avoided softplay for a good long while due to this. Now he is happy to independently go off and I can stay with the baby, but it was just so much fun to be able to follow him around.

Now that James can drive, there are often moments where he will be running someone around rather than me and I get to have these little moments with my boy. Eden was having a nap, it was Martina’s day off, and Judah and I were just chilling together and having cuddles, taking selfies for about an hour and a half. It’s lovely to be able to alternate this scenario now rather than me always being the one driving everyone around. Sometimes I feel like I live in the car being the Mum taxi, or even because I was driving James to work. Now, James shares the responsibility with me. It leaves me these moments, just hanging with my baby boy being silly as Mummy and Son should be able to.

It has been amazing having Martina and just having another pair of hands to play with the children. It’s been nice to hug a baby without the other one fighting for my attention because there is someone else who can play with them. Judah has been changing so much and his vocabulary is extensive for a 2 year old. Spending time with him enables me to hear all his new little phrases. ‘Certainly not’ he said to me when I asked him a question this week. Also, Daddy made him a crazy concoction for breakfast as there was no milk for the cheerios. James told Judah just to put it on the kitchen side if he didn’t like it, Judah replied, ‘Daddy I can’t, it is so disgusting, it HAS to go in the bin.’

As I’ve been unwell this week I’ve had lots of cuddles, kisses, snuggles where he has just had to see me on my sick bed. I love when he kisses me sweetly on the cheeks. We definitely have an amazingly sensitive and thoughtful little boy. He is so aware of everything. He really makes you feel special and cared for by the things he says, and his actions. Nothing is expected from him at 2 years old, but he still manages to surprise us daily with his kind and proactive personality.

I love him so much, I desperately wanted to take him to the cinema this week for this post, but I was just too unwell. Next time my little man. It’s great to know that this can be planned in to the diary now with Martina’s help. I really enjoyed running after you though at soft play and hanging out with you. You are fun to be around and I love you very much xxx

ga(‘create’, ‘UA-63492824-1’, ‘auto’);
ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’);

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #7

February 17, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #7

This week we had some friends staying and we only have one car. James was, as usual, mostly at work and I was driving my friend and her family around most of the beginning of the week. It was so lovely to have Martina working with us and know that Judah was happy playing at home. I know what it’s like having two so close in age, so instead of throwing Martina in at the deep end I kept Eden with me as we were running errands.

Judah and Martina were able to really bond, playing with play-doh, watching Fireman Sam, Toy Story 3 and he would take a nap on the couch with her. Martina would send me little whatsapp shots of our sleeping little man, or whatever he was up to at the time. Nice, because I didn’t ask for this, but it does help to ease my conscience and know that he is happy. So, I was free to just be with Eden. Sometimes, I forget what it’s like to have just one child with me. To be able to walk around with my baby perched on my hip and have her with me, like my little best pal. Mothers of one child or more will remember this feeling. Little babies are so dependent that you take them with you everywhere. They are pretty much an extension of who you are until they old enough to go to nursery, or you return to work. If you have more than one, you will identify with the fact (especially if you have 2 under 2 or 3 under 3) that this is never quite the same with the second, or subsequent children. Younger siblings pretty much have to fall in line, and get on with it as they are carted around to dance recitals, school runs etc. When Eden was less mobile she would constantly be attached to me in a sling. It was much easier to run around after my death (just) defying toddler. She was so small that when she got to about 10 months I realised that I should probably let her down on the floor more as I felt like I was stunting her progress. I would almost forget she was there as she would just snuggle in and only whinge if she was hungry.

This week it was lovely to be able to have some one on one time with my baby again. We were able to have lots of cuddles, play with toys, sing nursery rhymes. All things we try and squeeze in normally but this time I had lots of moments over a couple of days as my friend needed to run some errands. Even just being able to push the buggy around without constantly checking that I have three other children with me, was just so much more peaceful. I had a little taste of what it will be like when Judah goes to nursery. I don’t want to rush it here in any way. I’m sad that it will all come to an end in September and I will have to start sharing my baby boy with the world, but I know that I will be able to bond with my little girl afresh in new ways. It will be a new season in my Motherhood journey.

Eden turned 15 months this week, so I will be writing her a little letter of how much I’ve seen her change this month. I won’t write it all again on this post. I just loved chatting with my baby girl this week and having lots of cuddles. If you’ve had any one on one time with any of your littlies this week, from a stolen moment to an outing, feel free to grab the badge and link up below, make sure to hashtag on twitter #justus2 and I will be able to find you and retweet…
//

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #6

February 10, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #6

If you follow our ‘Just the 2 of Us’ weekly link up you’ll have seen that a couple of weeks ago Shayla and I messed up our timing and were unable to go and do something fun together. Instead our time was spent doing homework *oops*. When I asked Shayla on Sunday afternoon what she would like to do, she said the same as a couple of weeks ago. She wanted to go to the park, and then go and have a coffee. She says ‘coffee’ but she means hot chocolate. I guess she knows we go to sit in the coffee shop. I wanted to veto Shayla’s request for the park but I thought (very quickly might I add as she was searching my face for a response) you know what, she doesn’t get to go to the park very often. This is obviously somewhere that to her is the most exciting place. She chooses it everytime over the cinema or any other activity. It dawned on me, with her busy first year at school, the cold winter months, and lots of dance lessons, outdoor play has been missing from Shayla’s diary for a while. So, despite the cold, off we went to the park.

I’m not the biggest fan of taking them to the Park for one on one time, as really, I don’t view it as quality time, we don’t really talk, they would just wander around playing on things and I would follow them around. Also, I feel guilty for going somewhere I know they would all want to be, and they would play happily together with just one of them. Now, if I was more physically able, I would probably join in on the park, but that will have to wait til my hips are better. For now though, facilitating her imagination and just being there to catch her if she stumbles is the quality time that Shayla wants… I may want her to chat and pour out her hopes and dreams, but she’s still only 5. Something I’m learning is that even if the children were at a more mature age and could relate to me the way I’m more adept with, doesn’t mean that this is quality time to them. I am still new to this journey of motherhood and I am learning a lot along the way.

It was actually really nice just following around and making sure she could explore, stretch out her muscles, knowing that if she got stuck I would be there to help her. Climbing around on the climbing ropes showed me that she loves her independence but was looking for me as soon as the route got a bit more treacherous. I loved watching her, she looked very Katniss Everdeen with her braids and natural outdoor abilities. I posted a pic where she looks like she’s drawing back a bow to our Living Arrows page yesterday.

She chose to go along the outside of the ropes and there soon became nothing to hold on to, so I held her hand as she balanced on the ropes. She eventually fell into my arms and I explained that if she’d stayed within the confines of the ropes there would have been ropes to hold on to. That was the architects design. There’s a lesson in that for all of us I’m sure *winks*.

We only stayed at the park for about 20 minutes, then she finally decided that yes, it was a bit cold. She had tried to convince me earlier that she wasn’t cold at all. I made sure that there was nothing left that she wanted to go on, I didn’t want her to feel disappointed if we left. She then went off to pursue a couple more ventures, then decided, ‘yes, I am done now.’ So off we went to Starbucks for a hot chocolate and fruit tea. I’d not been in Starbucks on a Sunday afternoon before, and especially not a cold one. The queue was huge and there weren’t many places to sit. A lady moved her bag though and we had the comfiest seats in the place. Lovely, I could see the envy as Shayla sat down and I queued. That never happens to us though, so we enjoyed the comfy chairs.

I was irritated that I received some texts that needed dealing with whilst we sat in Starbucks. It was a shame that I had my phone with me, but it was urgent and I needed to sort something. I then tried to do the usual parent chat and ask her how school was going, what she was enjoying and she eventually began chattering away about the things we were planning to make next week for her school friends for Valentines Day. Little cutie. In the car on the way home I apologised to Shayla-Rae for needing to deal with my phone at Starbucks and she heartwarmingly replied ‘it’s ok Mummy, I had a nice time with you. You’re still a good Mummy.’ Little sweetheart, I gave her a big kiss and a cuddle when we arrived home then out of the car and back inside to the rest of the clan. It had been lovely to get away together, even if it was only for about an hour and a half. I was so glad that we had found the time.
//
If you’ve had any one on one time with any of your littlies this week, from a stolen moment to an outing, feel free to grab the badge and link up below, make sure to hashtag on twitter #justus2 and I will be able to find you and retweet…

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #5

February 3, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #5

Every Sunday morning and most evenings too you will find my family and I at our local church. I’ve been attending church my whole life, I made a decision to go for myself at 11 years old when I realised what it really meant for me. I haven’t gone to church ‘with’ my parents from the age of 15. I started going to the local church round the corner from where we lived so I could just get involved with the weekly activities and it was somewhere I could take myself.

The church that we attend now has an amazing children’s work, they take them from age 1 and walking so that the parents can enjoy the service without having to worry about the children disrupting. As Eden still isn’t ‘officially’ walking, she does take some steps, but doesn’t walk properly yet, she stays in the service with James and I. We tend to take it in turns going up into the baby area to be with her. She likes the music and claps along, but once anyone starts talking, she’s at an age where she just wants to play so we take her into the baby area where there is a TV link from the service downstairs and she can play happily whilst we listen to the sermon.

It has dawned on me recently that this time just playing with her at church will soon be over. If she is anything like Judah, once she is old enough and goes through into the kids work, that’s it, she will be lost to the system, and wouldn’t want to stay out with us in the baby area even if we wanted her to. They just have so much fun. Judah regularly asks me mid-week if we can go to church, he loves it there, playing, singing, dancing, doing crafts with his friends.

James was unwell this weekend which meant that I was unable to steal any time away one on one with the children as I was playing with them all (check out the video we made on our youtube channel by clicking on the icon to your right). It’s nice to remember that on the rare Sunday’s that there are no other babies up in the baby area, this is one on one time that I get with my little princess. I’m able to just watch her entertaining herself with the toys without having to fight with her brother, or having to teach them how to share. Just to watch her enjoying being on her own, and snuggling into me when she wants without having to fight for attention. To see her clapping happily along to the songs that come on throughout the service. I just love seeing her develop into her own little person before my eyes.

She’s started saying ‘I want it’ when she sees her lunch prepared now, she follows me around saying ‘I want milk’ if I dare to give her some water in her drinking cup. I love that she is developing her personality, likes, dislikes, identifying her needs, telling me when to change her nappy etc (as if I didn’t already know). My teeny tiny baby is becoming a toddler, and although she’s still in age 3-6 months clothes, I can no longer be in denial. She is growing up.

Part of me can’t wait until I can just stay in the service like all the other adults without babies, but I’m also just trying to appreciate every last that I’m getting to have. I don’t know which Sunday on our own in the baby area will be my last. After the whirlwind Judah and Eden provided, the year of 2 under 2 is so difficult, and I have the utmost respect for all who go through it, I was glad that Eden would be our last baby. I’m really pleased that it all happened the way it did, even if it wasn’t our choice to have them so close together. The time they have together now is brilliant. They of course need complete and utter constant supervision but they entertain each other, and I have to practically be invited to play with them. They are happy playing together and I know that in September Judah will be attending nursery and the year after at school. Then I will have plenty of time with Eden on her own, but in this season where there are always two of them at my side, I will treasure these times in the baby area whilst I still can. Soon they’ll be gone and my toddler will be off enjoying her own children’s service with her siblings and friends. For now, it’s just the two of us, but for how long… who knows?

ga(‘create’, ‘UA-63492824-1’, ‘auto’);
ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’);

Had any quality one on one time with your littlies this week? Feel free to grab the badge and link up below…

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #4

January 27, 2015May 28, 2015 | Alexandra Hodgson

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #4

Shayla-Rae and I were really looking forward to our one on one time this week. With Isis in rehearsal every Sunday until February half-term we have been having some fun on Sunday afternoons. This week, we had planned to set off early to collect her from rehearsal so that we could go for a coffee date together. I love that it was Shayla’s choice to do a coffee date, she had the option of the park, cinema, any thing like that but she wanted to go and sit and have a coffee.

Well, in true Mummy mistake style, we started gathering her things for going back to her ‘other Mummy’s’ and then she informs me she has quite a lot of homework this week. So, our quality time ended up being doing her homework. I have realised that sometimes I don’t plan as well as I would like. We could’ve sorted the homework so much earlier if I’d had my wits about me.

We spent our time cutting, and glueing teddy bears. Shayla practiced writing her name out several times on a page in cursive letters (part of her homework) and I cut out all her teddy bears. She had a sheet with 20 teddy bears, all jumbled up. I cut them out and then she had to stick them in her book in the correct order. This isn’t difficult for Shayla at all, but it was time consuming. As it had got to a time where we wouldn’t be able to go anywhere before collecting Isis, we decided that we would read through her school books instead.

This really wasn’t the quality time that I had been hoping for, or eager to write about so instead above is the photo from that morning where we had gone through the McDonald’s drive thru to get a drink and a muffin whilst Daddy and Judah were in his RugbyTots class. We had managed to steal 10 minutes sitting chilling having breakfast together (Shayla had already had toast, but the blueberry muffin was my breakfast *tut tut*) before the boys came out of their class and we went to church. Eden was asleep in her car seat at the back. We’d bought her a plain bagel incase she woke up, but she did not.

Hoping to have a better quality one on one time this week. It was still nice to do her homework together though and I know those are the moments that are soon forgotten when they’re old and grown. I’ll miss these snatches of time one day all too soon I’m sure.
//
If you’ve managed to catch some one on one time with one of your littlies this week, we’d love to hear about it. Feel free to grab the badge and link up below.

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

Mrs Hodgson

a parenting and lifestyle blog

justus2

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #12 – {Cinema Date with Isis Mae}

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #11 – {Eden’s First Shoes}

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 #10

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #9

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #8

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #7

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #6

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #5

‘Just the 2 of Us’ 2015 – #4