That was January 2013

There were finally some quiet times and a chance for walking and spotting Winter colour. I really suffer at this time of year and the blues are hard to fight. Pre- Christmas Winter is a favourite time but January and February can be tough so I'm trying to find magic in the everyday, this is essential now that my life is concentrated on being a Mum and I don't see as many people or do as much socialising.

Party prep for the little one's big day. I love these paper flowers and they are really easy to make. There were also paper chains and a birthday banner and cards and cakes and nibbles to plan. 














It was incredibly special to make my girl her first
birthday cake. There was drama of course, Nanna accidentally turned off the oven and the poor thing (the cake not Nanna) sat inside for ages before I noticed, I feared it was going to be super dry but it kind of worked.......you can hide anything behind pink frosting and buttons. My poor petal was very out of sorts on party day though and didn't enjoy the presents or visitors or food at all. It broke a tiny piece of my heart when we found out the next day that she had tonsillitis. There were lots and lots of cuddles and quiet times on her actual birthday though and she is a little sparky fighter. 

This happened and  it was utterly beautiful to start with and I'd not seen snow like it since I was a child. Ma and Pa walked up to visit us while man was at work (bless em) and we had a lovely day watching the flakes fall and the garden turn to Narnia. We kept turning cbeebies over to the news so we could check how bad it was going to get (a bit too gleefully on my part) and I even escaped for a time to  walk in the park just to take it all in. . . people rushing home in wildly inappropriate clothing, hardy dog walkers tromping about and the world getting quieter and quieter, softly muffled by magic. Man came home early and we enjoyed being holed up together (after he bravely went out for treats).

Teething toddler equalled coffee Mamma. Not enough sleep at the moment so I'm a vegetable in the evenings and not playing at crafting. Hope I get my mojo back soon because my fingers miss tinkering.

Mr and Mrs.

Cross stitched these little fellas for my girls bedroom. By the time she is ten they will just look like portraits of man and I by the way we are going.

Pattern from Sewingseed on Etsy.

That was the year that was.

I'm still finding my feet with the new year and have yet to really get further than a sniff of the air and a squint at the sky. It was with a bittersweet heart that I watched 2012 tick away........the year my daughter was born will go down as one of the big ones, still adventures await and as soon and I've caught my breathe from the chaos and excitement of our first Christams as a little family then I shall face it full on.

Here are some Christmas bits and bobs that I didn't pop up before.............

I love robins yet my feathered friends ignore my bird feeder so I make do with these at Christmas.

Salted caramel thingamabobs, I fought the Christmas eve shoppers for these and I won.

I crafted my girl her very own stocking, every night for a month I was stitch stitching, thinking it wouldn't get finished but it did and I'm bashfully proud of it. All my lovings and hopes and dreams for our future Christmas times are in those stitches. It makes me a bit blurry around the eyes. I adapted some MollieMakes templates.

Outside looking in.

Baby asleep awaiting her first Christmas Day. Bubbles of happiness and bubbles in my glass. Probably only my man is reading this blog but if you stumble upon it then Happy Christmas, may it be merry and  bright.

Juggling

There has been some of this......

and plenty of this.......

Wonderland.

For someone who was organised gift wise back in July the past two weeks, rather bizarrely, became a stressfest. Too many things came to a head and fretted away at my composure. When you're busy busy busy all day with a now walking baby you don't get a proper chance to process your thoughts, so when a 3am feed occurs you snuggle, rock the baby and get back into bed where you CANNOT sleep because of the ticking in your head. There will be open roads now next year as I won't be returning to my job after maternity leave. All my knots are untangled and I find yet again my life has changed and I need to make a new step towards......well something.

Christmas first though........and a chance to rest, play, sparkle and give thanks for all I have.

It's oh so quiet...............

Bambino and I have managed to pick up a cold bug and have felt under the weather. Luckily my little snuffly kiddo has been in terrific spirits even though I've not been as attentive as usual (she might well be enjoying the chance to play with her toys without Mamma getting in on the act). Anyhooooo there has been much staying indoors, reading of books and sofa snuggles. I've also been a big big tea belly but hey, maybe my tea 'thing' can be another post. Rather dramatically I lost my voice for a couple of days and goodness did I miss chattering to my girl. Crafting for crimble has now stepped up a notch and  my man loves to see me stitching and snipping and planning and we've had some lovely cosy evenings with wine and catch ups.

These little chaps cheered up my germy self this week.