New Years : Part One

My friend on Instagram @30_and_healthy recently posted a list of her achievements in 2015 as a more positive spin on New Years resolutions. I love the concept and have decided to blog both an achievements and resolutions post, to look back on 2015 and forward to 2016!

Achievements 

Started diploma in counselling

I am incredibly proud to be a student and am working towards my dream of being a counsellor. It is difficult to balance work, home and studies but it makes each accomplishment that much better!

Passed first essay

In light of this, I passed my first essay! Horray! Here's hoping the rest will follow suit!

Made friends

This applies to both being on my course and via my blog, YouTube and Instagram! I am starting to feel much more connected to the world and its lovely inhabitants! 

Started therapy

This is a biggie! Personal therapy is a requirement for my course and it is incredibly demanding. But my word, I am so much happier for starting it! I feel like I am more able to freely express myself and understand who I am. I ❤️ Therapy! 

Personal growth and change

As an offshoot of therapy I can see many changes in myself, most of which have taken so much work to facilitate but I am so proud of who I am becoming. 

Raised Tom 

Being a mama is really hard and most of the time you do it with no clue really as to what you are doing! I am so proud of the little man Tom is becoming. 

Started blogging and YouTube 

I have flirted with blogging before but was too shy to take it forward. So to commit and start to blog is huge! I often feel that it's not good enough but I am trying to remember that it's baby steps! I am really looking forward to seeing where blogging and YouTube will take me in 2016! 

Planned Mr B's and Tom's birthday

It's a funny one to end with but their birthdays are a month apart and were both big birthdays so I really put in 100% to both! They both went really well and I have treasured memories! But I am looking forward to a bit of an easier year for the next ones!

Do you have any special achievements for 2015? 

Gift Guide : Want, Need, Wear, Read : Husband

Want, Need, Wear, Read : Dad/Husband 

Installment number 2 of. 'Something you want, something you need, something you wear and something you read'. This one is for the man in my life, this is not what I am getting him, maybe some of it ... Ooh mysterious! I don't want to ruin any surprises! 

Want : In a universe where I'm not a student and a part time employee, I would be getting Mr B an Apple iWatch. He is a tech kinda man, and although initially reluctant to join the Apple tribe, is now a fully paid up iMember! I think he will end up with one but maybe a model further on so any early glitches can be worked out. To be honest I kinda want to play with one too! (http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch-sport) 

Need : Mr B is not in the game of needing things, but there is something I can just about consider a need. I am a Cambridge Satchel fan, I am getting mine for my birthday and am so excited! Mr B is an assistant headteacher and goes to work looking ever the professional, but I can't help but think his boring laptop bag lets him down! I am a bag lady (not the Home Alone 2: Lost in New York kind - just love bags), and I think Mr B would look so dapper with a Classic Batchel in black leather. A cross between Don Draper and Steven Hawking, smart and sexy - you can decide which is which! (https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/en-gb/for-him/the-15-inch-classic-satchel/SAT151002NIC10101.html?cgid=gifts-for-him#start=14)

Wear :  Mr B isn't mad on clothes as gifts, much like a child! But he will always receive an amusing set of socks from me. I like to add a touch of whimsey to his look when he is suited and booted, and socks never go out of style! Now I usually go for a multipack of Star Wars or Marvel from ASDA, but I have seen these Pringles Design Socks from ASOS which I think are a game changer! (http://m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-2-Pack-Socks-With-Pringles-Design/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5557795&istCompanyId=6f061ed0-7427-4b6c-bb90-987c0bd08468&istItemId=lawwxpxqi&istBid=tztx&affid=14179&channelref=google+shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=67778836182&utm_content=&utm_campaign=&cvosrc=ppc.google.67778836182&network=g&mobile=1&search=1&content=&creative=53496280341&ptid=67778836182&adposition=1o2&r=2&mk=ab&gclid=CjwKEAiA7MWyBRDpi5TFqqmm6hMSJAD6GLeAfzrl_-fTBK-d3C4YJcLlFQpM-ZZUo0IFp3XQvR6zjRoCNuvw_wcB&un_jtt_application_platform=newPlp&un_jtt_redirect) and I would say the colours are almost festive?!

Read : Mr B doesn't read much unless is Star Wars or Jeremy Clarkson, so it took a while to think of something but then I remembered that the person who deigned the artwork in our house also wrote an adorable Star Wars book! Wookiee The Chew - The House at Chew Corner by James Hance. The style is of the traditional Winnie The Pooh but with a Star Wars twist, which would be lovely for Me B and Tom to enjoy together. I would also recommend looking at the artworks available as there really is something for everyone with a geeky, nostalgia twist! (http://www.jameshance.co.uk/wookiee-the-chew/wtc-book-001-wookiee-the-chew-the-house-at-chew-corner-book) 

I would like to add that I find men and especially Mr B really hard to buy for! And it has taken me a while to gather these ideas! If you have any to add then they would be greatly appreciated! 

5 Signs You Are Old And A Parent

1. If you were to get time to watch a film (ha!) you no longer relate to the cool you hip protagonist, in fact you think they are a stroppy young thing that needs a good wash. You are no longer Lindsay you are Jamie Lee. And you are ok with it

2. Your 'dream home' no longer includes a bar with Jäger on tap, more likely a playroom and a not too intimidatingly hawt nanny... And gin on tap

3. You dress practically. This doesn't always mean ugly, but an acceptance that there will be stains and choosing clothes that can camouflage accordingly. Also accommodating the 'mum tum'/cake thighs. Life would be easier if there was a uniform of baby grows and dribble bibs for adults 

4. Mum hair. There a few variations of this; scraped up, scraped back, a bit unwashed, very unwashed and hat. Usually accessoried with sick or food. The young mothers seem to magically find time to groom themselves but I'd rather spend five lore minutes in bed and continue my love affair with dry shampoo.

5. All of these points accumulate into my last, and lost fabulous point

NOT GIVING A SINGLE SHIT. 

I think young mums (not just age but mindset, after all I am only 26 *clings onto my youth*) still really care what the wider world thinks of them. I do have my monuments but for the most, other people can do one, the only person I who can judge me is Tom. Tom thinks I'm Beyoncé when we are having a boogie, he thinks I'm Taylor Swift when we sing the Thomas the Tank Engine tune and that I'm Ed Byrne when I pretend he has smelly feet (seriously, this kid is easily amused). Tom doesn't see greasy hair, bags under my eyes, stains on my clothes or my jibber belly, he thinks I'm a bit wonderful and that's all I could want. 

10 Shit Things About Having A Giant Baby...

1. Labour : Now I'm not pretending that any labour is nice, but my perineum would have found a 6lb baby more comfortable shall we say, than a 9lb one. 

2. No one can guess the babies age : Is he a slow toddler? Is he is giant baby? Roll up roll up and take a guess. Many a weird conversation with people on the bus as to how old Tom is, this leads nicely into ...

3. Can he do... : People assume that as your baby is big then they are advanced. "Can he walk yet?" was asked from something stupid like 6 months. The answer is no, he is still a freekin baby!

4. The adorable new born stage passes in a blink. Now I think this applies to all babies but if they stay petite then that new born bit lasts just a tad more *wistful sigh* 

5. You don't get to enjoy half the baby clothes you buy as they are so quickly gown out of. You end up relying on shorts as they adapt with height, no ankle swingers there!

6. Kicking : Tom likes to use his long legs to his advantage and will kick of springboard off me! This leads to many a head but, so that's frickin great 

7. Blame : Big baby = your baby is a brute. Now this winds me up something chronic. In baby groups parents will watch Tom have the toys taken from him as he is large enough that they think he could take them back, but when Tom goes Godzilla on them as he doesn't have the coordination (as he is still little on the inside!) then I get some right looks! Grr

8. No awesome sale bargains : I see so many lovely clothes in the sale, but not for Tom, oh no, apparently every other mother of a toddler has had them!

9. In between sizes : Tom just seems to always end up sitting between sizes for ages! Currently he has outgrown half his 12-18, but some of the 18-24 is too big or long. It's so frustrating when you don't want to buy more clothes that might not fit by the time you leave the shop!

10. The scary realisation that your child will be taller than you. And I mean child. I am 5"3, Tom comes up to my hip. At some point he will be looking down on me on the walk to school! 

So there it is. I think there. Are some nice things about being the mother to a gigantic baby but I will leave that for another day!

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below! 

10 things you do when your baby is going through sleep regression

1. Wildly Google 'sleep regression' in an attempt to find a date on how long it will last and any way of speeding it up

2. Wildly Google 'sleep training', and tell yourself that you will do it, just maybe when you have had some sleep

3. Mentally calculate all the things you could have got done if he had napped properly during the day

4. Wonder if it's his teeth, spend 30 minutes debating if Calpol should be offered, give a teething sachet instead 

5. Sit and scowl at partner peacefully sleeping in the other room

6. Decided that said partner will be doing breakfast duty, even if it is there turn for a lay in

7. Go on Amazon and look at sleep aids, refuse to buy as 'it's just a phase', put in basket just in case

8. WhatsApp any other parents you know who might be up, complaining that you are up

9. Google 'co-sleeping', Google 'co-sleeping risks', Google 'co-sleeping bad habits'. Notice baby is asleep. Silently cheer without moving a single muscle.

10. Stay awake for an extra 20 minutes once they are finally asleep in case they wake up