Gearing Up For Darcie's First Birthday

Ok Ok so I know its about 12 weeks away BUT I am going to start a  weekly mini series for ideas for 1st Birthdays!

Each week leading up to Darcie's Birthday I will cover one element for her Birthday. The topics I'm hoping to cover are...

Theme Ideas

Invitation Ideas

Decoration Ideas

Cake Ideas

Food Ideas

Party Bag Ideas

Photo Ideas

Birthday Outfit Ideas

Gift Ideas

Final Plans

The Big Day

This should fit nicely in the lead up to Darcie's Birthday, I'm aiming to cover one of these topics every Wednesday!

Anything I haven't covered? Let me know in the comments below!

Mummy B xoxox

Question to all Mummy's (and Daddy's)

Its a question regarding sleep...

Lately Darcie sleep has become a little bit of an issue again, over the last week she has had a few nights where she has simply not been tired enough to go to bed! When I sat and thought about it tonight it occurred to me that on the nights that she has been good and gone to bed at her normal time, (between 6.30-7.00) she only had one nap during the day. On the days that she has had two naps, she has gone to bed as late as 10.30 pm! 

Does this mean that she perhaps needs to stop her afternoon nap? 

She still seems so young to me to be dropping a nap, at what age did my lovely readers drop any naps??

Thanks guys

Mummy B xoxox

Early Mothers Day Gift From My Little Bubs And A Brum Brum For Dadda

Me and Jamie picked up Darcie together this afternoon from nursery and we were in for a little treat!!

Firstly Daddy got a Car!!! Well ok, not an actual car...

But I think Jamie loves it!

Then Mummy got given these....

This is one of the pro's about Darcie being in nursery!! I was thrilled to see what Darcie had been up to today, and yes, even though these didn't really come from Darcie I think its lovely for the Nursery to have done this!

I especially love the poem inside my card that reads...

Sometimes you get discouraged

Because I am so small

And always leave my fingerprints

On the furniture and walls.

But every day I'm growing - 

I'll be grown some day

And all those tiny hand prints

Will surely fade away.

So here's a little hand print

Just so can recall

Exactly how my fingers looked 

When I was very small.

And then we have Darcie's not so tiny little hand print!! It actually did bring a tear to my eye!!

Love you Darcie B

Mummy B xoxox

Gift Ideas For Mothers Day

Mother's Day is fast approaching and thought it may be nice to do a little post on ideas for gifts for those important people in our lives.

This will be my first Mothers Day, so I'm quite excited! Though I don't expect a gift as such (so don't panic Jamie, these are just ideas and not a wish list!!).

Flowers: Flowers are soo lovely to receive,  some people may think it's a slight cop out, but trust me flowers really are a lovely gift (not only for Mothers Day) and will always go down a treat. For me I hardly ever have flowers and so when I do get given them its a really special. The ones pictured below are from Next and are a reasonable price of £26.99.

Personalised Art Work: Something slightly more personalised and meaningful, something any mother would treasure, the next few items I will share are all from Etsy (my go to site for gifts and ideas) and so it may be slightly late now to order from there BUT its good to keep these ideas in mind for next time...

Personalised picture with family name and dates, so sweet! Available HERE price approx. £17.77

Another personalised item from Etsy available HERE, approx. price £31.13

Jewellery: Another wonderful gift, but I think going down the personalised route is especially nice for Mothers Day, especially for first time Mums. Here are a couple of my favourites from Etsy....

 Beautiful Necklace, that can be personalised (the word "family" could be changed to child's name) and is available HERE for approx.  £38.27

A beautiful delicate Family Tree necklace, which could be nice for Mothers with more than one child. Available HERE for approx. £22.55 

Day Out: Sometimes its better have a day out as a family, making memories can be priceless. A day at the cost, forest walk, local attraction, shopping day, spa day... the list is endless.

Don't Forget: A Card! Why not have a go at making one?? Breakfast in bed, essential!!! No chores for Mums. And if your a new Mum, (Partners listen up) a lay in!! Daddies do that morning bottle/routine!!

Whatever the budget, big or small (or even ziltch) make sure she knows she is appreciated and loved, you cant really go wrong then!!

Mummy B xoxox

9 Month Update

Darcie is 9 months old... I will be soon packing her off to school!! 

Over the last few weeks Darcie has changed so much and is becoming more and more independent! Here is a list of updated things that Darcie B can do at the grand old age of 9 months..

Dance - She head bangs and shakes her body, its quite cute, though slightly odd!

"Army" style crawling - I did honestly think she would skip this, but it would appear she has worked out the army style version of crawling, Go Darcie!

Walking - Holding onto things, she has been doing this for quite a few weeks, but has started letting go of my hands, trying to stand un-aided (which she can do for about 5-10 secs lol) and walk just holding one hand, my little daredevil.

Starting to understand no- But tries to be cheeky and is testing her boundaries!

Words - I am pretty sure she has said quite a few words, "Mumma" she always says when she is sad or upset, "Dadda" when she is happy. I'm pretty sure she keeps saying "dog" but sounds more like GOG and only ever says it around Lady. She also keeps making a sound like "oh dear" she even does this thing with her hands like I do when I say "oh dear".

All these things may seem so little and insignificant but with every new little thing she learns makes my heart want to burst with pride. I still find it hard sometimes to believe me and Jamie have been blessed with such a beautiful, loving and extraordinary being.

What We Did Today
Today me and Darcie spent the day with my Dad and Step Mum Sarah (Jamie had work) and had breakfast at High Lodge followed by a walk around the woods....

Within the woods at High Lodge, there is a sound trail which is lots of fun, can't wait for Darcie to be able to join in!!

Love you Darcie B, you truly are remarkable.

Mummy B xoxox

Nursery Ratios.

Deciding to put Darcie into Nursery one to two days a week was an incredibly hard decision to make. Deciding (or in my case having no choice) to go back to work is never easy on a mother.

You have to take into consideration the cost, which is actually is quite expensive, we currently pay around £4.40 an hour and then pay extra for food. 

Then you have to actually find a suitable nursery, one that you feel is right for your child and you.

THEN you have to come to terms with the idea of someone else looking after your child.

Having accepted and now OK with Darcie being in nursery (She absolutely loves her time at nursery!!) the Government have gone and made me slightly nervous again (typical). 

Currently the ratios for carers per child vary depending on age and setting. Ratios for two year old's plus are set to rise from four children per adult to six children per adult and for under ones to rise from three children per adult to four children per adult.

 This idea is to cut the cost of childcare to then in turn encourage more people to go back to work.

But at what cost?

I'm almost certain that if my nursery decided to change their ratios I would not feel comfortable. Having to put Darcie in nursery is a tough enough decision without the worry that she would perhaps be fighting for attention. To me it doesn't seem right to risk the quality of care over trying to cut costs. I know, childcare is expensive but I would rather pay current rates (and more) than risk the quality of care she is receiving.  I know I couldn't cope with four under two's!!!

What do you think on the idea?? 

Mummy B xoxox

TBT Uni Days

Us in our first year of University. We were so young! And we had already been together nearly two years here! 

Mummy B xoxox

My Little Rocker

So the video isn't that great but I think it captures a lovely little moment. Today Jamie picked me up from work and on the way home we were listening to music and I turned around to see my gorgeous little girl laughing her head off head banging to the music! Now the video doesn't capture it right but you can get the idea :)

Mummy B xoxox