My Top 5 Achievements in 2013

I haven't taken part in Listography for a while but I have missed it! This week it's a reflective post on my Top 5 Achievements in 2013. It's been a busy year!

1. Biggest achievement was giving birth to a 10lb 8oz healthy boy with nothing but gas n air and hey, no stitches, need I say more! 

 2. I've survived a year in a new job role which entailed moving councils and working across 2 schools. It was so the right decision for me. I love my job and I've made some really good friends within my workplaces. 

3. I purposely didn't make a resolution last year to diet as that never ends well for me but since giving birth in September, I've lost 3 stone and dropped  2 dress sizes. I have done this through eating clean, healthy, dairy free food and regular exercise. I'm very proud of myself and I look forward to continuing next year.

4. I successfully managed 2 summer holidays abroad with a husband who was in a moon boot with a broken leg and an over excitable 3 year old, all whilst heavily pregnant! 

5. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. We have been together since high school and it was probably seen as one of those 'it'll never last' relationships. But it did and it continues to. It hasn't been easy but nothing worth working for ever is. He thinks I'm an over the top drama queen and I think he's a selfish arse at times but we know each other inside out and still love each other so that must count for something. I've learned a lot about successful love this year and I think that first you need to find love for yourself, I'm still working on this. 

So it's been a productive, hardworking and emotional year. I'm looking forward to watching my boys grow over the coming year and I'm hoping to do a bit of growing myself. Watch this space! 

Hop over to Kate's blog for a catch up and other Listography entries ...

Freedom! - 98/366

We went to our old haunt, Almond Valley Heritage Centre, which has a lovely soft play area for under 2s. He loves the freedom of just being able to run around, slide and jump into the ball pit. It has a lovely calm atmosphere with fibre optic lighting and nature sounds playing.

Listography - 5 Best Things

Kate has given us a broad idea this week of the 5 'best' things. This leaves it quite open to interpretation so I decided to use the same type of 'bests' as Kate.

Here goes . . .

1. Best Meal
I love my food so this was difficult but I think my favourite meal of all time was a pizza in Venice. When I was backpacking I ate a lot of pizza and the Italians (quite rightly) know how to make the best pizzas. But it was probably less about the food and more about the company, the wine and of course the surroundings. One of my best friends and I were on a floating restaurant on the outskirts of Venice drinking red wine and eating a fabulous Quattro Formaggi. Music playing and gondolas floating in the distance. I remember thinking 'this is the best meal ever'.

2. Best Friend
I have lots of really good friends so I am very lucky so I will tell you about my oldest (not in age but as in the friends I've known the longest). Our Mums grew up together and practically lived in each others houses and are still the best of friends today (they live across the road from one another). My 'auntie' Beth had three daughters and I am close to all of them. Leanne (the eldest) has always looked after me and treated me just like her little sister. Michelle (the middle sister) was bridesmaid at my wedding and is closest in age to me. We were always together when we were school aged and we used to have loads of sleepovers together watching scary films and eating junk. She has never forgiven me for telling my mum that she had finished the jar of peanut butter that was found under my bed. She hates the stuff! Then there's The Bairn. She is all grown up and has a wee baby of her own now but Erin (the youngest) has always been 'The Bairn' to me. I hope to see more of my 'cousins' now that I'm living nearer to them. We all now have children of our own and it's likely that Leanne's wee girl Freya and JC will go to the same school to start the 3rd generation of friendship.

3. Best Blog Post
I have no idea on this one but from my stats it looks like THIS ONE is the most popular.

This is actually St Lucia not Dom Rep
but we didn't have a digital camera then!

4. Best Place I've Ever Been
This is a toughie. I have travelled a lot! I think that the holiday I have most enjoyed was the holiday we took to Dominican Republic. It was a beautiful place, the food was amazing and we got engaged on that holiday. It will always be a special place for me.

5. Best iPhone App
Like Kate, I too am a lover of the Instagram app. My most used app would be Facebook because I am never off it. Having Facebook on my phone is just too easy for me so I have become slightly addicted to it.
.

Happy New Year and Blog Birthday!

A happier family unit this year

I've been offline for a while. With the move and the run up to Christmas I couldn't find the time or inclination to blog. In a way I guess that's a good thing. There was a time when blogging was all the got me through the day. A bit like therapy, I needed the support and outlet it gave me at a time when I felt isolated and overwhelmed with the realisation of how hard motherhood really is, especially in the early days.

We had a wonderful, relaxed Christmas at home with our families close by and it gave me a chance to stop and take stock of just how
far we, as a family, have come in the last year.

Putting on a brave face, this time last year

This time last year I was crying everyday for, what to others, seemed like no reason at all. JC or Grumpinator as he was known at the time, was also crying every day. It seemed like that was all he did although by Christmas the occasional smile was bursting through the pain of colic and reflux. We were living about a 40 minute drive away from both our families and although this really isn't that far, being out of the house was torture for me this time last year and the thought of driving round visiting everyone filled me with dread.


One of the main problems I was having was that I felt like I had nothing to say to anyone. I would be sitting with my family and close friends, who know me as a complete chatterbox and I couldn't think of anything interesting to say at all. I wasn't really interested in hearing about other people, which being quite nosey is unusual behaviour for me. I looked around at my other friends and online at my Facebook friends who had small children of a similar age and was envious of the fun and enjoyment they were getting out of the festive period with their new arrival and wondered what the hell was wrong with me? Why can't I be 'full of joy' and 'overly happy' like all the other mums.

It was a uncomfortable and awful time for me and I didn't make it easy for my friends and family to support me. The turning point really was Christmas day because it had always been my favourite time of year. I realised then that I wasn't well and that I needed to help myself if not let someone else help me. So I did.

October - Just before our move and I was feeling fab! 

I started blogging on New Years Day. I had tried in the past and always got bored and fed up with it but this time was different. I made friends quickly and I found out that I wasn't the only one feeling how I felt. I have made some really good friends this year through blogging and was able to meet some of them at CyberMummy. I started going for counselling with a charity called CrossReach and started feeling better in myself. JC started sleeping through the night which really helped my mood! We went abroad loads this year to Ireland, Czech Republic (twice) and to Florida. I grew closer to my family from spending so much time with them and have a much stronger relationship with my in laws now after spending 2 weeks away with them. I went back to work, an emotional experience but I soon got used to it and now I love working part time. We then moved house to be closer to our families which was a huge step for us. My blog suffered as I started spending more time going out and about with JC on my days off.

My beautiful smiley boy eating his Christmas Dinner!

This Christmas I feel vastly better than I did last year. I wouldn't say I'm back to the old me because I don't think that's possible. Motherhood has changed me and I am still learning to adjust but I love being a mum and I am so proud of my son and what a lovely boy he is becoming. I am excited for the year ahead. I look forward to another year of happiness with my boys, my dogs and my blog. Last year was all about adjustment to family life and motherhood, learning to cook, clean and grow up. This year I will be making sure that I look after myself too. I intend to keep blogging regularly so I hope you stick around to see how my life pans out in the coming year.

If you are a regular reader then thank you so much for your support this year and I hope you keep popping by to say hi. If you are new to my blog then please stick around, it would be lovely to get to know you!

Happy New Year! 

Happy 1st Birthday

Proud Mum and Dad

My first cuddle with him

It's my baby boy's 1st Birthday today! A year ago today at 13.24 he arrived into the world, ready to shake our lives up a bit. As I am sure you already know, we are in Florida at the moment but we fly back today (or technically tomorrow for me). So he will be celebrating his special day with a Ponderosa breakfast, cake at lunch and a 9 hour flight home to Scotland.

I'm full of mixed emotion because I am so happy to be celebrating the first year of his life but I am also a bit sad that it has gone so fast and that I will be returning to work in one weeks time.

I wrote him a little poem for his birthday card and I thought I would share it with you. I am not much of a poet and I hated poetry at school so I am well aware that it isn't great but it's the sentiment that counts . . .

This last year has been a whirlwind with tears and laughter too

The good times have been many and they were all because of you

The first six months were tricky and it’s hard for me to say

But I spent most of them crying and trying hard to pray

I hoped to find a cure for colic and take your pain away

But the agony inside you was determined to stay

We gave you the name ‘Grumpinator’ as you were always in a mood

And the only thing the cheered you up was the sight and smell of food

The day we started weaning, the grumping became less

But then along came teething to put my patience to the test

But now you are so happy and it’s so nice to see

That a happier and cheerier boy, there could never be

It’s as though someone scooped out all the pain and replaced it all with joy

You truly are amazing, my sweet adorable boy

Your beautiful smile melts my heart as it stands out from the crowd

To know I helped create you makes me feel so very proud

So as we celebrate your first birthday I just wanted you to know

Just how glad I am to know you and that I love you so.

Happy birthday my wee darling!

Safari Fun at Busch Gardens

Having loads of laughs is what we do best! 

Supersize Me

It's the second week of our holiday in Florida and I am already several inches wider than I was when I got here. It really isn't difficult to gain weight here. Obviously you treat yourself more when you are on holiday but that isn't the only problem. The thing about Florida that I have found is the abundance of good bad food and the lack of good good food.

I will explain . . .

We have been to several restaurants this week and although I haven't been overly conscious of my 'bad' food intake I do try and make sure that JC gets his 5 a day and doesn't eat too much junk. There really isn't much choice for a main meal beyond hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken tenders and pizza. All of which I am sure have enough salt in them to make you float.

The funny moment comes when I ask the waiter if I can have a fruit salad for JC. It's not on the menu but I don't see it as a huge ask. They look at me like I have just asked them for rare oysters with a side of candy floss but as they are so helpful in the U S of A the waiter offers to pop out to the local shop to get some for me! This wasn't a one off and I am extremely surprised by the lack of healthy options available for kids as well as adults.

I saw a little girl about 3 years old today who was shopping with her very overweight mother. I smiled at her then my eyes were drawn to her legs. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor wee soul who could barely walk as her legs were covered in thick rolls of fat. Her feet couldn't fit in her shoes properly and were bulging over the top. It was a hot day and she looked so uncomfortable. I can totally understand why people are overweight living here as the portions are enormous, the food deliciously unhealthy and the access to food is 24hours a day. However, you don't need to eat it all, you don't need to accept what is on the menu, the more people who demand healthier options the more available it will become. Sometimes I feel like the UK is a bit OTT when it comes to healthy eating but I'd rather have that than the supersize mentality that seems to be the norm here.

*disclaimer - this is based on my limited experience of Florida and the restaurants I have visited so I am generalising. There will, I'm sure, be healthier restaurants and not all American children are obese. I did visit a lovely restaurant tonight called Bahama Breeze who served JC with yummy broccoli and fruit salad (alongside some greasy chicken tenders but we will turn a blind eye to that!)

Check out the other weight loss related posts over at Liska's wonderful blog

Florida - It was a slow start!

I'm still in Florida and it's day 5. I was full of the big 'I'll take my laptop and blog everyday' but I maybe underestimated how the heat and jetlag would effect me. It's taken me a while to get sorted but as I am apartment bound today while JC takes an airconditioned nap and hubby goes off to play golf, I thought I would pop by and let you all know how it's going.

It was an extremely slow start. When we arrived at Glasgow airport at 9am Saturday to be told that the flight was delayed until 9.20pm. I had taken almost half a bottle of rescue remedy so I think I handled the news quite well. It was shock followed by anger followed by acceptance and with a call to the taxi driver who dropped us off, we were on our way back home for the day. My in laws stayed at the airport to keep us updated and we came back later on after tea. We did meet an 'infamous' pop duo at the airport! JC wasn't impressed! 

I had been worried about the flight but it went smoothly with JC sleeping the first 5 hours and playing the last 3. We arrived in Flordia on Sunday morning about 1am. It was 4.30am before we got to the villa we are staying in. JC had napped in his buggy and in the car so woke refreshed at 4.30am ready to go. Caitlin (Hubby's cousin) and I walked barefoot around the complex until 8 am and we were eaten by mossies and shattered by the time we eventually came back to the villa for breakfast. At least it gave everyone else a chance to sleep. The first day was spent just round the pool and the resort. 

The second day we went and did a bit a shopping. I got these really cool sandals called 'Switch Flops'. They are flip flops/sandals that have a velcro decorative top that you can change so that your shoes can always match your outfit. I was sold! They are by Lindsay Philips but I have never seen them before.

On the Tuesday we headed to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon which was a brilliant day. Lots of fun slides and fountains. JC's favourite was the Lazy River and of course any random steps in the park that he could go up and down. 

Yesterday Steven and I took JC to Seaworld. The in-laws have been before and weren't fussy to go back so we went ourselves. It was a great day but the heat got to us a bit. It was just too hot. My highlight of the day was feeding the dolphins. Check me out .  .  .

So I will hopefully get a chance to pop by again and update what we have been up to. I had planned on video blogging everyday but to be honest, I just can't be bothered! I have videoed a lot and taken plenty pics but I don't have the time or energy to sit around editing. 

Anyway, I'm off to have a Mountain Dew and and glazed doughnut! When in Rome . . . 

I'm Back!!!!

I came home after a week away in Czech Republic suffering severely from lack of blogging and tweeting. After unloading the car and putting JC to bed I rushed to the laptop. Imagine my utter horror when I couldn't connect. A week of no internet access already and I am starting to have withdrawal symptoms. Hubby was straight on the phone to Talk Talk but with no success. Finally it restored itself but what an awful customer service experience in the process! 

So how was our trip?

Well the flight out was much harder. Now that he is mobile he is so much harder to manage. Climbing over the chairs, shouting and wanting down to walk and crawl.

When we arrived in Prague my Dad was there to meet us and we then had to drive to the cottage. My Dad lives in Brno, CZ with his wife Barbora and my half brother Danny (he is 3 weeks older than JC). Barbora's mum owns a cottage in a village called Bilkov. The village is really small with nothing more than some cottages and a pub but what else do you need?

One of the impressive features of the cottage is the fact that it has a large pool. JC spent lots of time in the pool and it was so lovely to see him put his swimming lessons into practise. 

It's only a 5 minute drive from the small town of Dačice and a short drive from the UNESCO World Heritage town Telč. We went for a day trip and had a lovely lunch of Goulash soup (my favourite) and a hearty chicken and pasta bake. 

Although it was a holiday the trip was mostly about spending time with family and it was lovely to catch up with Dad, Barbora and Danny. 

It's great to be back, for a fortnight, then I am off to Florida for our big family holiday. I am planning a vlog journal of our trip so that I can keep up my blogging when I am away. It will be JC's first trip to America so I want to record as many memories as possible. 

Thanks for waiting for my return with baited breath! I hope I was worth the wait! 

Reasons 2B Cheerful

I was feeling a little bit grumpy today. I think that I am getting annoyed with myself at the moment because I seem to be searching for something but I don't know what I am looking for. I am in a bit of a state of flux. I was having a bit of a moan about it on twitter today when Michelle from Mummy from the Heart reminded me of her fabulous link up. So here I am with my reasons to be cheerful this week.

                                                                                    1. Fate

We got a reasonable offer on the house today. It's only been on the market for 2 weeks! It's a bit of a miracle that the only viewer that we have had appears to be the right person for the house!

2. Holidays 

My hubby is now off for the summer until the schools go back (and me to work!) in August. We are going to my Dad's in the Czech Republic for a week on Sunday. When we get back, we will have a fortnight at home then we are off to Florida for 2 weeks. The Florida holiday has been planned for a long time (pre- JC). Hubby's parents own a timeshare and we are going with them, hubby's sister and cousin so there will be plenty of us to occupy JC on the flight!

3. Books

I am getting that fire in my belly to read again. Since I got my Kindle for my birthday I have read about 6 books. It's difficult to find the time and I really must try to go to bed earlier! I love lots of different genres but vampire and supernatural fiction is one of my favourites. A fellow blogger and vamp fiction lover over at SusanKMann has recommended some fab books to keep me going until my next Twilight instalment.

Right, I am feeling a bit better about things now. Thanks for the reminder Michelle!

Check out Michelle's other entries here . . .

Up and Away - Travelling with a Baby

It has been a whirlwind couple of months in the Grumpinator household. Lots of trips away and fun times. April saw us travelling abroad to the Czech Republic to visit my Dad and we went sailing over the Irish Sea to see my beautiful friends Alana and Peter tie the metaphorical knot. JC was trying to steal his Auntie Alana's limelight in this picture.

Please note he was not in PJ's all day, he wore a beautiful little kilt to match his Daddy's but this picture was taken before he was whisked back by his chauffeurs to the hotel for his nightcap bottle. 

So with all this galavanting I had to become baby-travel savvy and try and really plan for all eventualities. This is no easy task, so I thought I would share some of my wisdom and the advice I got from others about travelling with a wee tot.


* I wrote this post about a month ago, went to publish it and Blogger crashed losing everything from here onwards! I was so disgusted with it that I couldn't rewrite it straight away. I have probably missed out loads of tips and hints but this is what I remember . . .

Planning and Packing

• Write a list of everything you think you need a few weeks before you go and continue to add to it as you remember items you have forgotten. 
• Reclining lightweight pushchair, these are often taken free of charge and can be used right up until you go on the plane. 
• Take enough outfits for 4 days and wash every 3 days.
• Take spare sunhats
• Spray sun lotion/SPF suits
• Take carseat with you, check into hold for free with some airlines or a Trunki Travel seat 4 – 12yrs)
• Take a lightweight fabric baby carrier, great for the airport
• Take pouches of baby food, easy to pack and great for emergencies.
• If you are worried about sourcing baby food/milk/nappies or can't be bothered packing any then investigate using a delivery service (http://www.traveltotsuk.com/) to take the stress out of it for you.
• Take a change mat that you don’t mind putting on the floor as not all placed abroad have baby change facilities.
• Change of clothes for the flight for baby and you
• Take small containers/Tupperware for taking snacks out
• Bring a large backpack to put toys/changing stuff in. Works as hand luggage for the journey and a change bag when you get there. 
• Bring a plastic bib/coverall that can be wiped down with a baby wipe or washed through in the sink.
• Just take one spoon, if you need two you can always wash it!

Security

• Sterilised water can be taken on the plane but it must be in a baby bottle and only enough for the journey. 
• Pushchairs go through the security belt so make sure they don’t fall asleep in it as you will have to disrupt them!
• Don’t wear a belt when you are travelling as it is difficult to remove at security when trying to deal with ten million other things. Wear shoes that are easy to remove for the same reason!

The Flight

• Let the baby suck on either bottle, cup or dummy during take off and landing to help their ears.
• Take clean snacks and baby wipes on the plane
• If the flight is not full when you arrive then you can ask the airline to put a block on the seat next to you so that you can have extra room. 
• Portable DVD players  are good for older kids
• Compartmentalize things into plastic bags to keep yourself organized then if you need one for dirty or wet things you have them in your bag.
• Don’t take spare clothes for the baby just take a warm sleep suit with feet and a spare baby gro.
• Buy some new toys that your wee one has never seen before as they will hold their attention for longer. However, you may find, as we did, that they best toys are the laminated security sheets in the seat pockets! 

At the Hotel

• If you are staying in a hotel then ask for your room to be on the ground floor so that you don't have to carry the pushchair upstairs (not all hotels have working lifts and it gets annoying after 3 flights of stairs). 
• Ask for your room to be at the end of a corridor so that it is quieter as people are not passing your door.
• Position your travel cot in a dark and quiet area of the room. One of my friends puts her baby's travel cot in the bathroom as he gets really disrupted when they sleep in the same room. 
• Most hotels will supply a travel cot but I suggest that you take your own cot bedding (bottom sheet and sleeping bag). 
• Take things from home that are familiar to your baby for the bedtime routine (comforter, book, toy)
• Most hotels will provide food suitable for your baby if you ask them too. We follow a Baby Led Weaning approach so it was easy for us to feed him what we were eating (within reason!) 

If you have any advice or tips to share about travelling then please add a comment as it's great to get new ideas.