Springtime Stylin'

In January I announced the exciting news that Hollybobbs is being sponsored by the fantastic baby clothing brand, The Essential One to attend Britmums Live - the UK's biggest social media conference.

Last week I received some lovely sleepsuits and I couldn't wait to share them! As soon as I saw them go live on The Essential One site I knew I had to have them! I always have a soft spot for bright colours and with spring being pretty wet and dismal thus far I needed something to cheer me up! Adorned with cute sheep and announcing 'I Love Daddy' in bright yellows and blues, they are the epitome of springtime.

To be able to proudly display the eye-catching designs to their full, these sleepsuits button down the back rather than the front. With an extremely wriggly ten month old, this new way of fastening took a while to master, but to be honest it isn't much different - in the end I still have to fight an angry baby and chase him around the room, one foot in, one foot out!

As with anything I've had from The Essential One before, the brushed cotton is super soft and they wash really well. I'm as yet to see a bobbly bit on anything from them! With their soft tissue paper wrapping and special newborn scent in the packaging, the whole experience of receiving an Essential One package is lovely!

They also sent us some matching dribble bibs - with Baby J teething on and off and constantly blowing raspberries, they are much needed! In sunny stripes they add a bit of cheer to any outfit.

Do check out The Essential One - they are a fantastic brand and I cannot recommend them highly enough! Oh and did you know they now do maternity wear? Come back soon for a fab giveaway!

*I have been sent this product for free to review, however all opinions are my own.

Baby J is Ten Months Old

Today Baby J turns ten months old. I can't believe in two tiny months my little man will turn one - a whole year old! This last twelve months have gone by so unbelievably quickly it really doesn't seem almost a year ago I was getting ready to go into hospital. Having two children taking up our time definitely makes the minutes go on fast forward!

Easter Sensory Box

I love my sensory boxes and have creating since H was about six months. With Easter coming I couldn't resist the chance to make a bit of springtime fun during this miserable season.

Me & My Shadow

Lately we seem to be going to the park quite a bit! Most times J sleeps soundly so H gets some mummy time and we can both go on the swings and slides together. At one stage the slide was her favourite, but lately she loves mummy and H swinging side by side together, or mummy giving her a 'big push'!

One day last week, whilst my mum and dad were at an appointment, we walked to their local park and had a quick swing. Baby J was awake so he joined H on the swings and loved being pushed next to her, his smile was a picture!

Although it was bitterly cold, the sun did keep coming out to say hello so I showed H where her shadow was and how she could move it about. She loved watching it dance as she swung her legs and arms about and then chased it around the park.

When the sun went in we learnt about how our shadows only come out to play when the sun comes out, she was most upset when it went bye bye!

The weather may be terrible but we are going crazy being stuck in all day so I am trying my best to get out as much as I can. I want to make the most of these days, I am becoming increasingly aware that they don't last long - soon I will have a toddler and a pre-schooler, the baby days long gone.

Water Bead Play

A few weeks ago I came across the fantastic site, How To Train Up A Child. Filled with tons of play ideas for little ones, it is now my go-to guide for inspiration!

When I saw a post on water beads, lights and eggs, I had to give it a try so I jumped on eBay and ordered away. They arrived quickly but it took me a few days to decide how many water beads  I needed for a good play, so first we tried the eggs and lights out. Today it was the beads' turn!

We pulled out H's sand table and along with the plastic eggs, cups and a couple of spoons, set to play. Unfortunately due to J's tendency to chew anything and everything he had to watch on, much to his frustration.

H loved touching the beads and the first thing she did was start squishing them under her hands.

She then set to work transferring them into plastic cups with the different spoons...

...and then between hands.

However she had the most fun throwing them on the floor, watching them bounce and roll!

Fortunately this isn't a messy activity and can be easily cleared away once they've had enough.

I would definitely recommend this for your toddler, it was great fun, in fact I ordered a load more beads today, ready for some Easter fun!

The C Word

Crash.

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

The words you never want to hear.

The biggest fear.

Cancer.



For as long as I can remember I've had a seemingly irrational fear about my dad's health. With my grandad passing away in his early fifties I always worried the same would happen to my dad. Up until seven years ago my biggest fear was that he wouldn't be alive to walk me down the aisle. It's also a lot to do with why I didn't want to be older when I had children - I knew they may face the same anxiety I went through.

My dad has had ongoing health problems for over a year now. In fact after all he went through last year, we thought things could only get better. How naive we were.

I cannot put into words what you feel when you hear that word. Fear. Crippling oh-my-god-I-can't-breathe fear. Anger. Confusion. More anger. Questions. So many questions - Why? Where? How long?

The thought of losing either of my parents is more than I can bare. It comes to us all, I know, but all my life I have refused to acknowledge this and been petrified of it. I rely on them for so much. They are the ones I turn to for advice, the ones I talk to before anyone else and, apart from my husband, who know me the best. They are my guidance and my safety net and without either one of them I fear I may lose myself.

So here we are. Biopsies. Scans. Tests. Chemotherapy? Radiotherapy? Surgery? Untreatable.

Who the hell knows. Well a week on Thursday we will. We will stand together whatever the result. And inside I will crumble.

Blog/Life Balance

Just lately I have been struggling to get a healthy balance between the time I spend on my blog (which includes tweeting and facebooking) and the time I spend with my family. I often find myself 'nipping' onto Twitter throughout the day, often can't watch a whole TV show without jumping on to see what everyone's up to and just lately Little H has commented a couple of times about me putting my iPad/phone down. Clearly I'm over-doing it.

But I really don't know how to balance it and once again I'm considering whether blogging is the right thing for me. I'm obviously an all-or-nothing person when it comes down to it and really cannot seem to find a balance.

I know a lot of people blog at nap times or on an evening, but I am still one for napping when they do, otherwise I can't last the day in a decent frame of mind, and as Mr H and I eat after the kids are in bed we often don't sit down until 8.30pm and I don't want to spend my only time with him tapping away at the computer.

So I'm putting out a plea for advice - how do you all do it? I know plenty of other bloggers who have much more on their plates than I do, with school runs, looking after many more children or holding down jobs. Some bloggers manage to post daily when at the moment I'm struggling to manage two a week. I am heading to Britmums this summer and certainly don't want to put an end to my blogging now, but when it's affecting my time with the children I just don't know what to do.

A Week In Photos #10 & #11

I missed my photo update last week, so here is a double catch-up!

Glow Eggs

As it is coming up to Easter I gave been gradually collecting a few items together to put together a fun sensory box. Amongst these items were some plastic eggs. A few days ago I came across a fun post on Pinterest via Train Up A Child and decided I HAD to give it a try! It involved water beads, submersible tea lights and said plastic eggs. Unfortunately when the moment arose to have a go I hadn't put the beads in water long enough so we couldn't give them a try quite yet, so I'm saving them for another day.

I dragged H's water table from the garden. It has been sat there unused all winter and after seeing other bloggers use them for indoor play I decided it should go to waste no more. After a quick clean down I filled it with water, then threw in the eggs with the lights inside. I pulled down the blind and let the kids go wild.

They loved it and spent a good hour exploring the lights, splashing around and transferring them from one side of the table to the other. I added some sponges, cups and spoons and they had a great time. I love it now J is old enough to join in these activities and he has so much fun! My kitchen was soaked and so were the children but they absolutely loved it and that's what matters.

 

 

PS Apologies for the grainy images, iPhones don't do well in the dark!

Wiggly Worms!

Last week we were forced to stay inside waiting for a delivery, so had to find entertainment for a stir-crazy toddler! Whilst I was in Wilkinsons a few days before I had picked up some pipecleaners (for a £1 may I add!) with this activity in mind, and this was the perfect opportunity.

Whilst Baby J was napping (I didn't think the sharp wire in the pipecleaners was suitable for him to be trying to chew on) I pulled out an old colander and said pipecleaners and showed Little H how to thread them through the holes. It only took a couple of attempts before she was doing it herself, although of course mummy had to play too!

H loved pulling them out at the end and throwing them all over, pronouncing them wiggly worms!

Mummy had the most fun making pipecleaners animals, though. Can you guess what it is yet??

A Week In Photos #9

In matching suits at Baby J's christening

 

Jasper babysitting Peppa Pig



Fun with pipecleaners



Sibling cuddles



A brave duck!



Weekend away



Enjoying the peace of the Lake District & hubby's birthday!