January 2018: A Month In Summary

This month has been an interesting one, I started the month on a brand new page as like a lot of people and felt super positive and very excited for all the new challenges of this year.

I wanted to put blogging first this year obviously after all of the important stuff like family etc but I really wanted to focus on it a little more than I did last year, I've got t that point now where Ii really enjoy it as a hobby but I also want to kind of gain something from it. Half way through the month I went in to a proper slump again and just thought Ii wasn't good enough. I really need to get better at having a bit of self belief. I'll give it another go in February..

Family life has been pretty quiet this month, we haven't done a huge amount, mainly down to the horrible weather and illness etc. Also, because of lack of inspiration. I just don't know where to go in this weather. We started the month or year off with a lovely walk on the hills. There has been a lot of staying at home, which I've enjoyed but equally felt really guilty about as I feel I need to constantly find Darcy something to do and I always think she is bored. There has been plenty of cake making and play-doh playing.

Hopefully, February is warmer month! 

Amelia

10 Things I've Learnt Since Becoming A Mum

Since I became pregnant, life became just another learning curve. I absolutely love being a mummy, but there has been some big lessons learnt. I've grown up alot in the last 3 years and I feel like I am properly adulting now!

Patience. Probably one of my biggest lessons in parenthood is patience, you're going to need a lot of it. Especially when your toddler is taking an hour to eat a banana and having a tantrum in the supermarket and every one is watching.

You Could Buy All The Gear In The World But You'd Still Have No Idea. When I was pregnant, I probably had the whole of Mothercare, I thought I'd have it all together and know exactly what I was doing. WRONG. This baby came along and I realised that 50% of the 'gear' I didn't even end up using!!

You Can't Take Too Many Photos. Nope. Never. I have about 100000 photos of Darcy doing the same thing, will I delete them? Absolutely not! You can never have to many and you will cherish each and every one of them forever.

That Gin Is The Cure. You will definitely get to that point in the day where you are not sure how you will go on, well let me tell you... Gin really helps and gives you that lease of life to get you to bedtime. 

You'll Appreciate Time To Yourself On A Whole Different Level. Walking to the shop on your own to get milk just turned in to one of life's little luxuries. Even things you used to hate such as the dreaded food shop, getting to do that on your own is just beautiful!

You Will Be Judged. No matter what you do, there will be those Mummies that give you the look up and down and are secretly judging you, not all of them though but there will even be narky comments, you've just got to learn to ignore them and just do you.

The Days Are Slow But The Years Are Quick. There will be shitty days when you can't wait until bedtime and then the next thing you know its there first birthday and you're wondering where the time went.

Snacks Are The Key. No matter where you go with your toddler, do not I repeat DO NOT forget snacks, they will be so useful when you don't even realise they would be. 

Google Will Become Your Best Friend. As soon as you get pregnant you will Google everything! I always thought that would stop but Darcy is 2 and a half now and its not even slowed down. Google is my best friend but also my worst enemy at the same time.

The World Will Become A Scarier Place. You will become anxious about the world around you, you'll even wonder sometimes why you brought another life in to this scary world, you won't want to let them go. I think It all comes in time, but the news doesn't really help now days.

Amelia 

xxx

8 Tips For Winter Walks With A Toddler

On New Years Day we enjoyed a slightly rare walk out in to the countryside. This is something we really want to do more often this year, it's free and such a lovely way to spend time together, the only downside was simply that it was just sooooo cold! With Darcy at the age she is now I find I don't really need to take much out with me for her anymore, however we did realise when we got there that I forgot a few essentials such as a hat! I mean who forgets a hat in this weather, she did have a coat though!

I've got a few items that I would definitely bring me with me next time.

Warm Clothing. You'd think this one would be pretty obvious, clearly it isn't for me! Definitely hats, gloves and plenty of layers!

Hot Chocolate in a flask. I know this isn't really an essential, but it's something I am going to be bringing next time because I think it'd make everyone feel very cosy and warm.

Snacks. I think snacks are always an essential anyway when you have a toddler but they particularly like to have a snack in there hand whilst walking apparantly?!

I asked some fellow bloggers what their essentials were and here were there answers.

Nappy sacks, perfect for collecting pine cones, sticks, leaves etc. Also for picking up dog mess that others didn't feel that they'd like to clear up themselves. - Sarah

Wellies and waterproofs so you can let the kids run wild knowing that you can just strip off the muddy stuff afterwards - Beth

Some spare clothes for afterwards so they don’t need to worry about getting dirty and can be nice and comfy afterwards -Carly

We live in the countryside and often go on long rambles, even when they were little. We always take ‘stile sweets’ which they get after climbing each stile. It keeps them going and they don’t know what we have as we give them in our pockets so it is a surprise each time - Bec

My camera. I find I get the best photos when my little one is busy exploring rather than posed - Nadia

Hope some of these will help you if you're planning a wintery walk soon!

Amelia

xxx

My 3 Simple Goals For 2018

When it comes to a New Year, I get super excited because it feels like a fresh start. I, however really dislike the term New Years Resolutions as it seems like there is a lot of pressure around it, and to be honest I always break them in the first few days. I'm going to go with the wording '2018 Goals.' I only have a couple of those..

1. To be more organised with time management.. I wouldn't say that I am organised now but I could do with making better use of time. I am really not a morning person but I really need to change that because I waste SOOOOO much time. 

2. Take more time to give myself a bit of self-care. I constantly put off looking after myself, whether that is just simply taking my makeup off and putting moisturiser on and even when I do remember to do it or find the time to do it I rush through it as quickly as possible because I am thinking about the 1000 other things I should be doing. I think finding the time to look after myself a bit will improve my inner happiness and confidence making me a more positive person.

3. Look after my blog. I really have been consistant enough with my one hobby which I think is such a shame. I'll get really in to posting for about a week and forget about it, I'd also like to improve my social media too as it all plays a big part and ties in together. I'd love to interact with other bloggers too but I am still learning how to do this.

Let me know what your goals are for this year as I love seeing other peoples acheivements.

Have an amazing 2018.

Amelia

xxx

Help My Toddler Won't Stop Whinging! 5 Approaches To Whinging

We recently took Darcys dummy away, on Christmas Eve to be exact (we popped it on Father Christmas' plate and he took it to give the babies that needed a dummy) and I don't think I quite anticipated how hard it would be. I just didn't realise how much I used it as a plug which sounds awful but I really did!

She is getting better and 8 days later she is getting used to life without her dummy but wow the kid whines A LOT. Tantrums and the terrible twos are now in full swing without a doubt.

I needed to do some research on how to handle whining and everything that goes with it, because I mean, there is so many approaches. I thought I had found my way as a mum but taking the dummy away took me in to a whole other ball game!

I've made various different Google searches, I've tried a few approaches towards Darcy so far, ignoring her seems most affective, I tried telling her off and I've tried asking her to speak to me properly. 

I decided to ask some fellow bloggers what there approaches towards whining were.

1. I'm quite strict when it comes to whingeing, I won't listen to Pops unless she's speaking to me nicely. It can take a while sometimes but I'm hoping in the long run it will stop it happening! Wish me luck haha. Ayse

2.  I sit in a corner and rock until it’s all over.

I tend to try and reason with her, if that doesn’t work, distract her and if that doesn’t work, ignore. Terry-Ann

3. I stop them in their tracks and always give them two options - both ones that I prefer so it might be "do you want to have the biscuits later or shall we put them in the bin?" Plus, I ALWAYS followed up with any threats like that (biscuits would go in the bin) Sounds very tough but when its unnecessary whinging I cant cope with it (it gets them nowhere in the real world) and I only had to follow through with my promises a couple of times for my kids to know I mean what I say. They are brilliant kids that dont push and totally respect my word whereas their Dad is full of empty threats and it has no effect so the whining continues for him Charlie

4.  I will get down to her level and explain to her that I can’t understand her when she whining so can she talk to me without whining! Normally works. However, if she has been whining all afternoon and I get to a point where I might unleash my inner crazy lady, I stop and just do the same to her and it makes her laugh. End of the whining dilemma! Kelly-Anne

5. Drink. The name Whingewhingewine.co.uk wasn't an accident 😉 in my experience it passes with age... although when my son stops whinging I may have nothing to blog about. He whinges hard. Frances (I think this was possibly my favourite answer!!!)

 LOVED these answers and hopefully it should help some of you with whining children but if it doesnt, Gin helps! I can assure you of this.

Amelia

xxx