Memory Monday: Nanny & Grandpa

We miss you everyday but you are still here in every smile.

And now we can't go anywhere without someone commenting on those big blue eyes that your great granddaughter has.

I wish you could have met Belle but I know you can see her.

Whenever I look into them eyes I see you both and so you are never far from our thoughts.

Happy Birthday Nanny and Grandpa.

Love Forever Your Granddaughter x

Silent Sunday: eeeek

Not sure about your violin playing baba!

'Saturdads' Group

Friday Giveaway: One for Mummy and One for Baby

I am feeling in a good mood so thought I would do a giveaway.

Not a sponsored Giveaway

No endorsement from any Brands

One off my own back as a thank you to all my lovely readers.

Prize One: Your choice of 3 BipiStuff Bibs (Bandana/Drybib Bibs)
(These are suitable for 0-6 month olds)

Prize Two: Your choice of 2 Pashmina Scarfs

(I can't remember what colours I still have left so please put a few colour preferences down in the comment section below)

To enter simply leave a comment below with what you want to win

Please also feel free to Tweet about this comp mentioning @MummysShoes

Two people will be chosen at random Next Friday the 4th of March

Making a Hat for The Mad Hatters Tea Party

Hat £1.99 from Hobby Craft

Couldn't find a stopwatch so made do with a clock!

There were so many other things I wanted to add like a caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts Card etc but I had one evening to make this so had to make do with what I had lying around the house.

Giorry Bag Review Vlog

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Silent Sunday: Peppa Pig Day

Valentine's

Hubby is quite romantic in his own little ways, he gets me little surprises throughout the year for no reason.  He will take Belle out for the day or go to Cambridge with his friends and he always come back with a little present for me.  He also surprised me with a trip to Paris a few weeks ago.  It was his love of poetry and music that first attracted me to him and he has written me some lovely things in our 5 years together.

Because of all this Valentine's Day doesn't really mean that much to us, we don't need to be told when to show our love, we all know Valentine's Day is a big commercial ploy but I must admit I still enjoy it.  Don't get me wrong, if Feb 14th was taken out of the year I wouldn't miss it one iota, but seeing as it is there I do enjoy it.  I think living in America did it to me, they sure know how to celebrate occasions over there! And I have very fond memories of Valentine's Day at school there and here in the UK too (remember the King's Valentine's Messenger girls, I think there was a message for one of us on every single page one year!!!)

On Sunday we all went over to my Aunty and Uncles for a meal and I had some cupcakes made for mum by the lovely Sal from The Little Cakery.

We all had a wonderful day!

Belle tucking into the cupcakes

Full tummies after a lovely meal!

Some of the gorgeous gifts from my gorgeous mummy. 

She also bakes the best cakes, as all the office will agree!  

She is one of my favourite Valentine's ever!

Yesterday (Actual 'Valentine's Day') was perfect, although it was a working day hubby met me and Belle for lunch and then took the rest of the day off work.  Every year we have been out for a romantic meal, just hubby and I, but this year I could not have asked for a nicer Valentine's Day then having lunch with my little family.

 Lovely card and perfume from hubby

Cute photo frame presents

All ready to meet Daddy for lunch

With her Valentine's Monkey from Grams

Silent Sunday: Chess

DummyGate : Step One

Belle was very late getting her teeth through, her first one came through at 16 months so we were quite lax with allowing her to have her dummy as it helped and comforted her through the teething pains.

Last weekend we decided it was time for her to give up her beloved dummy and so decided to do it in stages.

Step 1: Only for 'Sleep Time'

On Saturday morning when she woke up we went into her room and explained that she had to leave her dummy in her cot because from now on it was only for 'sleep time'.

She quite happily put it down onto her duvet and left it there. That was easy...helped by the enticement of breakfast waiting downstairs.

That was a week ago to the day and she has been amazing! The first day or two she asked for it a couple of times but we explained it was in her bed and she responded well.  The only time she really wants it is when we are in the car and when she is getting tired and grouchy before her nap.

Step one has been a complete success so far. We no longer have to ask her to leave it in her cot, she just does it herself now. Now we just need to decide when to stop 'sleep time dummy'. That, I think, will be a little harder. Perhaps we will have to use the 'dummy fairy' approach à la supernanny

Do you spend too much time online?

I usually despise The Daily Mail and wouldn't give it the time of day to comment however there has been a lot of chatter this morning in the parenting community about this article...

Not now, Darling, Mummy's Tweeting

Do you think certain parents could take something from it?  It is a worry and I do wonder how healthy it can be for young toddlers to see their parents online so often so in that respect I can see where it is coming from.  Don't get me wrong I am not being self-righteous I am by no means perfect. I am very lucky because Grams has Belle on Tuesdays and Fridays and I do tend to spend some time online on these days from the office. On the other days I may nip on in Belle's nap times with a quick cup of tea but when she is awake I cannot be found online, I'm not even sure how I would find the time anyway! 


But reading this article did make me think and perhaps we need these sometimes so we can do a little health check on our lives.  For example I am guilty of allowing Belle to play with my iPhone a lot when we are out or when she is getting grumpy and this is something I want to cut back on.

Hubby once got an email from someone 'close' to us regarding my blog saying 'if that is what she chooses to do with her time'. There always seems to be some sort of negativity around parents who 'blog'. Why is that? I think it is wonderful that parents have a real life source to get advice from, warts and all.

The emails I get from my readers further confirm this for me. When I get a thank you letter from someone saying I really helped with her little one's colic it makes it so worthwhile! That is the beauty of blogging, it is not glossed up, and it is real. For me I have had amazing opportunities brought to me through Mummy's Shoes but above everything it is something I do in my spare time to hopefully help other mothers and something which I enjoy doing.  All the freebies, events and the fact it brings in a monthly wage has been a bonus but if they were gone tomorrow I would still be here tapping away. 

I am sure there will always be some parents that spend too much time online and perhaps their children get neglected through it but there are bad examples of people in all walks of life.  Who is to say what is right and wrong.  Some parents decide not to be full time mums over a career, some would say that is selfish but then you have those who have to do it for financial reasons. It is no secret that bringing up children and being a full time mum or dad is the hardest job in the world. Just ask anyone who has done both and they will tell you. So perhaps the media need to go a bit easy on those who do decide they want to be there for their children full time and help others in the process.

I think about all the lovely ladies I have met through blogging and I cannot say one of them neglects their child(ren), and yes I have been around their houses in the 'real world' too.  I am sure there are a few out there somewhere that could cut back a little and perhaps take something from that article though?

If you are a parent blogger, why do you blog? There is a wonderful list over on the Tots100 site of what motivates others to write. I say let us take heed of the dangers of too much online time but also draw on the positives too.

Carly's Treasure Tuesday

Foley Teacups
Foley is my mum's maiden name and the surname of my amazing Nanny and Grandpa (Pat & Kitty) who we miss so much and think of everyday.  Foley is also a gorgeous antique make of English Bone China and I am trying to collect it. Look at this gorgeous set I have just managed to get hold of:

For those who know me and my lovely tweeple (twitter people) you will be aware that I am in the middle of organising my belated wedding reception.

I have started a separate personal blog so I can add lots of wedding related things as obviously I don't want all my guests to know exactly what will be there before they arrive.  But I will let you know that there will be lots of gorgeous teacup and saucer sets (that you may even be able to take home with you)

Silent Sunday: Starbucks Babyccino

Are we approaching the Terrible Two's

Belle has just turned 22 months. I find it so hard to believe she will be 2 in a couple months. As all you parents will know time does fly and they are not babies for long!


Belle has grown into such an amazing little girl (of course I am biased).  Her vocabulary amazes us, she is using sentences now and adores her books, trying to read along with us and pointing at words.  She also understands a lot of words in Farsi now too, we have been trying to speak to her more and more in it, although days do sometimes pass when we forget to.  I am a big fan of the Montessori Method which allows children to lead the way with their own learning.  Although BB is a bit young at the moment we already try to make things fun (eg books) and allow her to lead the way, it is basically self-directed learning.  I will be writing another post about this later in more detail for those interested.  Either way I am a very proud mummy.  However the last week has been trying at times as she is really testing the boundaries of what she can and can't do.  


She will ask for a 'WHOLE banana' and if I explain it is nearly dinner time and only give her half she will find it hard to deal with and hence get frustrated and have a bit of a temper tantrum.  She has started to take a dislike to getting dressed in the morning and getting her coat and hat on too. I know it is only a phase and she is learning but it does get hard at times when you are trying to get out the door.


Daddy tried the naughty step with her for the first time the other week when she decided to draw on the wall.  She sat there for a minute, said 'sorry' and we asked "you only draw on what?" to which she replied "PAPER" with excitement! She then picked up the crayon from her easel and did a small dot on the wall again. She turned to me and daddy and said "step?" and ran towards the step!


How can it be that this little angel of ours at a wim decides to cast off her wings and don these little mischievous horns?

Me: "honey, can mummy have her phone please?"

I can't help but smile when I look at that frown for it means you are learning and becoming your own person.  I can't help but smile when you storm away from me as it means you are growing and healthy.  For all the challenging times yet to come I am grateful to have you and that will never change.