Henry's First Birthday

 

Oh dear, I'm playing major catch up this week. Henry's first birthday was almost exactly a month ago on March 8. It was such a special day and so lovely to see him playing with all his little friends. My mom did such an incredible job with the cake, favours and decorations. That mini burger you see up there, is actually a brownie sandwiched between two pieces of cake, topped with coloured cream cheese. They were HEAVENLY!

I can't quite believe how much he's grown and changed over a single year. He's gone from a newborn to a little boy in just 12 months. It's been amazing to watch him grow and learn new skills; and it's been such a joy to fall even more in love with him with every month.

In other news, I've decided that blogging daily (or even every other day) is not really my style. Managing a restless toddler, and an even more restless bump, leaves me very little time to do the things I used to do in my free time. So this is what I'm going to do: I'll be posting once a week to recap on everything we got up to and then I'll be posting interesting links of a few of my favourite things. 

Some of my favourite blogs have this simple template and I just love being able to read them quickly and at the same time get so much out of the posts.

So without further ado, here are a few of my favourite things:

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Movies & TV: The Wrap's 8 Under-the-Radar Summer Movies.

Music: I am obsessed with The Departed soundtrack on Spotify. (Hot tip: it features the song from the last ever scene of Breaking Bad: Baby Blue by Badfinger.)

Books: Interview with George R.R. Martin in Vanity Fair on how he plans to keep the Game of Thrones TV show from catching up to his books. I'm reading the series now and I'm obsessed!

Food: Jamie Oliver's '15-Minute Meals' cookbook is a god send. Delicious, nutritious, super fast food. The chicken with herb couscous is one of my faves.

Travel: One of my biggest dreams is to go glamping in the UK with all of Henry's cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents.

Blog: I love the Smart, Pretty and Awkward and The Senses Five blogs for inspiring me to follow a similar blog format.

Etsy: Some of the prettiest scarves I ever did see.

Brain Food: Gratitude tops Time's list of things proven to make you happier. I wholeheartedly agree with the entire list.

Science & Tech: I'm loving learning my way around Adobe's Lightroom 5. This tutorial video is a must for beginners.

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FYI, I'm doing the #100happydays photo challenge on Instagram and it's loads of fun. I'm MarsCW if you want to follow or play along!

Have a wonderful week!

Hello 2014 (finally)!

I've let the new year change over without saying a word. It kind of felt appropriate. No doubt, 2013 has been life-changing. And it all started in March when Henry came into our lives. And it's been great ever since.

Our life has changed for the better in so many ways. I'm not one to make resolutions at the start of every new year, but I do sometimes set myself some goals. I felt it was appropriate to let this new year change quietly without any grand declarations, because, for the second year in a row, I am pregnant. And just like at the start of 2013 when I didn't know what life with a baby would be like, this year, I don't know what life with TWO babies will be like, so I don't want to set myself any unrealistic goals. I don't need that kind of pressure.

I'm now well versed in the life of rearing a single child - but two? I have a feeling this will be a whole new adventure.

Wishing all my friends and family all the best in 2014!

10 Months!

I completely skipped posting about your 9th month. But with good reason! We were in London for  your 9th month birthday getting ready to go to Winter Wonderland. What a great way to spend it, right?!

Your 10th month has been a doozy. So many first experiences and fun times. Your first trip to London was definitely the highlight. Spending time with all your cousins, strolling through London, seeing the dinosaurs at the National History Museum, falling asleep through the Science Museum (who wouldn't?) and going on your first ride with Daddy at Winter Wonderland. It was pure magic.

This month has also seen your first trip to the Zoo. You chuckled at watching the panthers fight and couldn't take your eyes off of the seals dipping in and out of the pool and gliding so swiftly under water.  We got you a sweet little stuffed chimp which we decided to call Charlie the Chimp. He makes you laugh and it's just the sweetest thing. We love that you loved the zoo! We'll be going back for sure.

I've said it once but I'll say it again. You're growing loads! You've got four teeth now, with several others on the way (these teething pains are no fun at all). You can stand up unaided for about 5 seconds at a time. So close to walking! But it seems your favourite thing in the whole wide world is being walked around and kicking your football. You never seem to tire of this little hobby.

Your second favourite thing has to be riding on Grandpa and Daddy's shoulders. Never has a sweeter chuckle been heard and a sweeter scrunched up smile ever been witnessed. When you're not slapping Grandpa in the face (or saying 'pappou!' repeatedly), you love to give us big sloppy kisses by opening your mouth wide and going in for a wet one. This is just as lovely as having you climb up our trousers as Daddy and I are trying to do something super important in the kitchen. We often end up with our pyjama bottoms round our ankles. Thanks for that. We often distract you from such shenanigans with a quick game of peek-a-boo and 'Let's scare Mommy'.

I love watching you play on your own. And then you'll quietly turn at me and notice that I've been watching you. It's so cute that you get shy and turn away. You clap your hands so joyfully.

Oh little Henry. You bring so much joy into our lives and you don't even know it!

Happy 10th Month Birthday, Henry!