Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Monday, June 28, 2010

Blogmania is coming!!


Yep! I am participating in Blogmania... a 2 day giveaway extravanganza!  Please keep 15th and 16th September free in your diary and stop by here for a chance to win one of two prize packs worth approximately $100 each!

The theme of my giveaway is:

Toddler Awesome-ness!

There are currently approximately 175 blogs participating in Blogmania and YOU have the opportunity to enter as many giveaways as you possibly can!  On the whole, there will be over $20,000 of prizes.

I am looking for a couple more sponsors so if you are interested, please email me at emmaleehughes@gmail.com.

STAY TUNED!  I will be letting you know who my sponsors are soon!

Number 100 on the list complete (Ollie's first trip to the beach!)

"Paddle in the sea with James and Ollie"



Yesterday we took Ollie to the beach for the very first time.  It wasn't the best day with regards to the weather, but we all had fun.  We had a small paddle in the sea, Ollie dug the sand with his digger and spade, James took him up the sand dunes and then he and James played in the muddy sand (near the water) for ages!  Oh and we collected some shells.


We did not stay long as the weather was dull... grey clouds were coming!  I think we will go back on the next hot and sunny day we have!


To see the rest of the items on my 101 in 1001 list, click here.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Oh and I forgot to mention

...in my catch up post, that I redesigned this blog!  If your viewing in a reader, PLEASE come and look... I'm so pleased with it.

I also redesigned Indiechick Designs... so pop over there and check it out too!!

What we've been up to...

(I am so crap at thinking up post titles!)

Here are our goings-on in point form:
  • James and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary on 26th May.  James and I went to a wonderful little French restaurant called L'Etoile and we were adventurous with our starter... we got frogs legs.  In one word - horrendous.  Never will I EVER eat frogs legs again.  They resembled slimy rubbery calamari/ chicken.  The rest of our meal was delicious fortunately.  James had pigeon followed by a steak... I had french onion soup followed by duck a la'orange. 
  • Ollie moved from his toddler bed into a proper single bed.  The new bed has history behind it and is not really new at all!  It used to be James' bed when he was little and his daddy built it for him.  It's a proper heirloom.  He has slept really well in it now for about 3 weeks and has not yet fallen out! (yes, that is his cot mattress on the floor in the photo... it is no longer there!)

  • Ollie went for his first proper haircut in a hair-salon!  It was so cute.  The lady had him sit in a tractor chair!  It had a steering wheel.  He was so good and sat really still, grinning at himself in the mirror.  He looks so smart and grown-up.  

  • Ollie turned 2!  I posted about his party... everyone had so much fun and it tired him out!  He got wonderful presents, and I can't believe he is TWO YEARS OLD.  It is crazy how fast time goes.
  • Maybe it was post-birthday excitement... but Ollie then went through a 3 day phase of waking up ridiculously early!
  • My due date came on 5th June and I was expecting a very hard day.  It wasn't like that though.  Of course I was filled with sadness and the feeling that something was missing... but I was more full of thoughts of what should be.  My friend Bex brought me over a gorgeous, bright bunch of pink and yellow flowers and my neighbor performed a random act of kindness, that meant more to me than she knows.  My neighbor came over midday with a box full of daffodil bulbs.  She started to plant them for me, and I got stuck in to.  It was only later in the day that I thought to myself, how lovely a thing it was to plant flowers on the baby's due date.  When they come up each year in Spring, I'll remember when we planted them.  I am going to write my neighbor a little card to explain how much it meant to me.  I think she'd like to know.
  • We had a stab at potty training... but after 5 days it seemed as though Ollie is a little too young... and it was stressing him out a little bit.  We put potty training on pause.  In the last week though, Ollie has been wearing his pull-ups but asking for the potty.  Maybe 6 times a day or so.  I figure that's a great start and we will just keep going with him wearing pull-ups but asking for the potty, when he feels like it.  We are in no hurry and he is getting so good at holding it in until I get the potty out for him!
  • We have been spending SO MUCH time outdoors... the weather has been fabulous.... resulting in paddling pool... sand pit and picnics... and a bit of sunburn on my shoulders!  Notice that the handprint in the middle of the sunburn.  That's what happens when you cover a toddler in factor 50... lift him to put him in his pram and forget to put suncream on yourself!  Yep... Ollie's handprint.
  • I managed to smash 3 of our Royal Worcester Jamie Oliver cereal bowls.  Our whole dinner service was a wedding present... and I am so annoyed at myself for being so clumsy!
  • I'm still not pregnant, but it's ok.  I'm feeling positive these days... I'm not feeling so gloomy about it anymore.  I'm not sure why!
  • Oh!! I went to aqua-aerobics and it was FAB!  I'll be going every Monday with my friend Aimee! I will also be starting yoga very soon and in September I will be starting an adult-beginners ballet class!  All part of my plan to be healthier and more relaxed!
Phew...

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day

Hi James,
I know you will read this at some point, so I just wanted to say Happy Father's Day.  Ollie is so lucky to have you as his daddy.  You love him so much, and Ollie absolutely adores you.  I think your his best friend!  Ollie and I both love you lots!

Here's a message from Ollie!



Monday, June 14, 2010

Ollie's Birthday Pictures!

Ollie had a wonderful birthday... thank you for all your Happy Birthday wishes to my gorgeous little boy.  My little boy who is not as little as he was, because he is 2 now!

We had a mini-party on Friday at mother and baby group.  The boy on the right is called Dylan and it was his birthday on Saturday also, so we lit the candles twice so they could each have a go!

My last photo of my boy as a 1 year old!

I set up all of Ollie's presents in his room the night before so he would wake up to them.  Little did I know that he would wake up at 5.30am!

Ollie's presents ready and waiting!  The cardboard house is a "paint your own" cardboard house and comes with pens and stickers etc!  

A wooden kitchen, with wooden food... that fits perfectly into his cardboard house!


We got him some Thomas The Tank Engine undies, crayola twistables and colouring book, Play Doh Fun Factory and an Alphabet Book.

The 3 of us ready to go to Fun Works for Ollie's Party!



Unfortunately photos were not really allowed to be taken at Fun Works, but I got this sneaky one of Ollie at the funny mirror.  He had so much fun running around with his friends.




The cupcakes I made were delicious.  I used the same recipe as the cake the day before and I used Betty Crocker vanilla frosting but mixed in Blue Raspberry Lemonade Kool-Aid!!!  Amazing! I made the cupcake toppers myself... if you can't make them out... they have diggers and construction signs on them!

On the way home after the party, wearing Nanny's sunglasses.

Ollie was wiped out after the party so had a little nap before everyone arrived for some food!  His Nanny and Grampa, Grampa Harry and Grandma all came... his cousin Conor came too... and lots of other people!  The house was pretty packed!

All in all a very good day... but I wish I had a better camera.  My camera is pretty crappy, but I am getting a new one for my birthday in July!

Here is a video of Ollie blowing out his candles!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Today is hard...


...because today is the day that my little lost bean should have been due.

It has been 7 months since we lost our baby and it still stings sometimes.  Most days I am fine, but sometimes remembering, or fixing on what date it is, catches me off guard.  I have friends who were due around the same time as I was, and it is so hard seeing them experience everything that I should be experiencing too.

I miss the little baby, I should in the next few days, have been holding in my arms and introducing to Ollie as his new sibling.

I constantly ask myself why it happened to me, but I will never know.

I suppose I will always wonder about what should have been, but I know today will be my biggest milestone and once today is over... I can maybe start to feel a little bit better.

Blog Journal - Day 30

What have I gained from this project?


I'll be visiting all of you and will be announcing the winner on Monday!

Well done to each of you who took part in this project... it was much more fun doing it with you guys than on my own!



Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 29

What is your best feature?


Tommorrow is the last day!!!  Well done to all those who stuck it out... you've done me proud :)

I want to know, as your last journal post, what you think you have gained from this... would you do it again.... was it a waste of time... did you learn anything about yourself?



Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 28

"What has been my most luxurious purchase"


Tomorrow I want to know what you think your best feature is!



Monday, June 7, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 27

What am I really good at?


Tomorrow, I want to know what your most luxurious purchase has been!!

As it is nearly the end of this project, I want to let you all know that I will be visiting everyone's blog journals in the next week!  The project's last day is on Thursday and I am thinking about giving you the weekend to catch up on any posts you missed.  I will then be announcing the winner of the blog makeover on Monday! Good Luck and thanks for joining in!




Sunday, June 6, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 26

"What was my most surprising moment?"


Tomorrow, I would like to know what your are best at... whether it be a hobby or a character trait etc.



Saturday, June 5, 2010

Happy Birthday Ollie

My dear, handsome little Ollie,

I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday... I remember the waiting and impatience I felt.... just wanting you to arrive so I could snuggle you.  I remember as you were passed to me for the first time... and I remember your first cry... I remember you lying in the incubator to keep you warm.  I can remember not quite believing that you were finally here.

I have been your mummy now for 2 years, and I am so proud of the boy you are becoming.  Your so polite and so clever.  I grin from ear to ear when I think of everything you have experienced and accomplished since the moment you were born.  Two years have passed by in what seems like the blink of an eye and I have enjoyed every single day with you.

Your not a BABY anymore... your a little boy... and your the most amazing little boy I could ever dream of having... I sometimes can't believe that your mine... how did I get so lucky?

I see you change and grow every single day.  You are small for your age but your personality is HUGE, you are independent, you have no fear and you are my sunshine.  You are not shy, you are so social and friendly.

You gave up your bottles a couple of months ago, and you now sleep in a big boy's single bed!  Your cot has been dismantled. The only thing we have to tackle now is potty training.  We have tried it a couple of times, but you haven't yet been keen!

Your vocabulary has exploded in a matter of weeks and I find it adorable that you only say "night night" in a whisper.  You just recently learnt to say "love you"... which comes out as "luff fu" and it melts my heart every time.

Nearly 2!

You are a typical little boy, in love with all things Thomas The Tank Engine, you also like cars, diggers and trucks.  You insist on taking at least one train to bed with you and you snuggle both the train and your turtle.

I think you have inherited my creativity because you adore drawing (you love pens especially, but your dad and I would rather you didn't use them to draw on the tables, doors and walls), sticking, painting and using glitter.  You have inherited daddy's good looks... you have the same hair colour that he does and people say you are his double (I like to think you have my eyes though).

You are the excitement in our home and we are so so lucky to have you.

I love you my handsome boy xx

Blog Journal - Day 25

What is my dream house?


Tomorrow I would like you to tell me all about your most surprising moment!




Friday, June 4, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 24

What is on your next 7 days to do lists?


Wow!! Less than a week left!  

Tomorrow's question is:
"What is your dream house?"

See ya tomorrow folks!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 23

"What's in my bag?"


You might have noticed that I have posted the remaining topics in the sidebar!  I thought this might make it easier for those who are a bit behind, to know what is coming up and plan ahead.  To be honest, there seems to have been a lot of you fall behind/ drop out!

Tomorrow's question is:
What is on your to-do list for the next 7 days?

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 22

What would I use lottery winnings for?


Only another week left of the Theme-A-Day blog journal!!

Tomorrow's task is:
"Empty your handbag and take a photo!  Simple!"

I think the contents a handbag can tell you a lot about a person, so I can't wait to see what type of people you all are :)


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Blog Journal - Day 21

My 3 Celebrity Crushes


My crushes change from time to time.... I used to be in love with Josh Hartnett and Wentworth Miller... but right now I think the guys above are gorgeous!

Tomorrow's question is:
"If you won the lottery, what would you use the money for?"