Ten on Tuesday

Ten on Tuesday

1. Today was my biggest's sport day, well, when I say sports day, think a gaggle of 3 year olds running about, attempting obstacle courses, not entirely sure what they are supposed to be doing. She was a bit young to fully enjoy it, but another 'First' for me as a Mummy today.
Sports day - check.

2. My little one has started walking, and he is fast. He also has an overarm throw on him, which, if continues to improve could pop him on a fast track as a javelin throwing olympian. 
So far his throwing skills have broken two mugs 
( of course they weren't the cheap ones ) and a Denby plate.

3. We went camping a few weeks back with a group of friends, it was a lot of work, and I came home with a throat infection, BUT, it was worth it, and made me very glad of the english countryside and the friends I have who are 'doing life' with us.

4. I have had more energy than usual, so am trying to reduce the price of our weekly shop, I had forgotten how much money you can save when you have energy to cook, and chop stuff, and withstand a visit to a budget supermarket from time to time.

5. I had also forgotten how much I love it when it is warm enough to make the transition from inside to outside without the need to change clothing.

6. Husbando is off with a load of stinky teenagers on a 'Duke of Edinburgh' trip this week. I am yet to decide who drew the short straw, me being with the kids solo for a few days, or him in a field in the rain. ..... jury is still out.

7. I had my eye on a top recently that I liked, was £16, just too expensive for my budget, saw it on the 'sale rail' for £4 - result.

8. I have just had a coffee with a friend who lives on our street, and has the same aged kiddos as me. When we moved here, a little way from my existing network of friends, I prayed for a friend who I 'clicked' with, who also had kids the same age, and whaddya know, she materialised ! 

9.  I always love Glastonbury weekend, I set myself up with some tasty snacks, get my remote and enjoy the festival vibe from the comfort of my dry sofa. Have to say some of the presenters this year did my head in just a teensy bit, I used to love it when John Peel and Jo Whiley just winged it as they went along. Getting a bit old maybe ?!


10.  This little chap was fairly grouchy for most of our camping trip, apart from when eating strawberries.........

Ten on Tuesday

Ten on Tuesday

1.  I hear there are some parents who manage to dress their kids in matching socks EVERY day, and have well hoovered cars. I aspire to such dizzy heights. Our car has it's own micro system, largely started by rice cakes and bread sticks.

2. The sun has come out...it's spring. THANK GOD.

3. My boy mostly says 'this' or 'see'....think I need to start using some more useful words to add to his vocabulary.

4. 2- 4pm.....I dislike those hours. Give me 10am every time.

5. At the moment this is our favourite book..... So funny and is a book long poem, love it.

6. If I was ever to do a PHD it would be research into where socks and teaspoons go. WHERE ARE THEY ALL ?

7. It's 1pm and I need to think of something to do this afternoon. I have had lots of offers from lovely friends of company, but today I lack the energy to hurd/police/play with my small kids whilst simultaneously talking to someone else, so we are going it alone. 

Daddy had a breakfast meeting and one after work too, so it could be a loooong one.

8. Most days we watch Balamory, and every time I look at 'Miss Hooly' and want to climb into the television and give her a restyle. Just call me the fashion police. 

9. World book day - more like 'world dressing up day'......nuff said.

10. I'm thinking give it another week or so and I will be wearing my flip flops - 'FREE THE FEET'....

I like to think my feet will look like this 

the reality will be RATHER different.

Happy Tuesday friends !

Ten on Tuethursday

Ten on Tuesday

I have recently been MIA a bit round here of late. So I am popping my head above the parapit and coming out my hidey hole with a ten on....Thursday.


1. I am currently sat on my sofa fully acknowledging the fact that I have dropped a needle not too far from where my behind is placed.....awaiting the pain of being a human pincushion.

2. Public announcement - We are now a TWO car family, this fact feels very strange. In the absence of the stamina to walk very far, and with nursery drop offs added into the mix, my taxi bill had reached the scary dizzy heights of the price of running a teeny tiny car. I feel very thankful for having a car available to me during the day....... just need to control my urge to go to exciting places which I don't yet have energy for !

3. Little Tyke has started nursery. So far, she seems ok, and I think I am just about coping with the transition. 
I have had most of these feelings about this new regime.......

- Why on earth am I sending her to nursery, she really doesn't NEED to go, why make more work getting her there each day ?
- It's great for her to be at nursery, she gets to do things which I don't always have energy or inclination to do with her.
- There are soooooo many other kids there, all in a smallish room, feel like I am feeding her to the dogs !
- She likes it, it's free, it doesn't seem to be doing her any harm, so why not get three hours with just one child to care for three times a week ?

So I guess I am having all the usual parental deliberations which float about each and every choice we make for them. (Sometimes I wish I hadn't read and studied so much about childhood and education.....ignorance can be bliss !?)

4. The most junior member of our household, is shaping up to be a slightly more tricky customer than his sister when it comes to sleeping. He's not awful at it, but not great either....YAAAAAWN.

5. I have started doing a teensy bit of cooking again, it feels good, but I am also out of practise. I have made some fairly dubious meals recently.

6. Having the stamina to stand up and do a few dishes and wipe the kitchen surfaces feels good. sad, but true.

7. Anyone else finding it hard not to get into debt to facilitate buying your little ones too many presents for Christmas? 
I am determined not to, but It is much harder than I had anticipated.

8. A wave of realisation has come over me lately, that I am soon to be 33 - THIRTY THREE.....I'm sure I was only 26 a few weeks ago.

9. On bonfire night I realised we got engaged eight years ago ! Our attempts at getting out to a firework display were somewhat hindered by two tired snotty kids, and a set of parents who lacked the energy to be bothered to make it happen  - next year we WILL go........ !

10.  My two little cuties out and about enjoying life.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Today I decluttered our bedroom a little, that's what I like to do when the energy fairy comes to visit ( I slept for 9 hours last night.....woop woop ! )

2.  I've been thinking loads about the old chestnut 'is breast best' ? when it comes to feeding our babies. More on this another time, but It has led me down some interesting routes of enquiry and thinkings.

3. Our little fella is sleeping fairly well, I often sit down and contemplate for a moment how things would be if he wasn't......the thought of this fills me with dread. Thankyou Lord for a baby who is fairly good at sleeping. ( please keep it up little fella - PLEASE )

4. I realised yesterday that I haven't slept in the same bed as Husbando for 3 months now.....we take it in turns to sleep in the same room as the little guy, so the other one can sleep. But seeing as he seems to sleeping fairly well I think it may be time for this arrangement to cease...... ( I quite like having a kingsize bed for half the night though.....oh hang on, what I mean is.....I can't wait to be able to lie next to my beloved once more !)

5. Currently debating which nursery would be a good option for Little Tyke to go to when she's 3. Part of me isn't keen on her going at all, I would love to just have her home with me full time, but I'm not physically able to look after her on my own everyday all day, so that isn't an option. However, I am realising that she is growing up, developing, and a few hours a day at nursery won't do her any harm, and she will probably quite enjoy it. ........ trying not to feel sad at the passing of time, and her growing, but to welcome each new phase and anticipate watching my daughter's personality and talents unfold.

6. I decided after having LT that I would hold off looking into any new treatments for CFS, as I knew I would be too exhausted to investigate and implement them, then have another baby. But now I am contemplating.......there has to be a way to get better from this damned condition. I can't see how a body can suddenly stop functioning properly and there be no way of reversing it. But it all costs money, tests, investigations which the NHS don't fund. Time and money can be wasted with no real benefit, I'm still looking out for that magic ingredient which will put in place the piece of the jigsaw which will restore me to some kind of normal again.

7. Mostly been listening to this




Can't quite put my finger on it, but I find this really uplifting and it make me wanna dance ! 

8. Can it be warm and sunny again please?  Just for a few more than two days in a row, i'm thinking a whole week or two would be perfect. Thankyou Kindly.


9. For the first time in my life I think I may try and loose some weight. I have never tried this before, so am pondering the world of dieting, and kind of thinking that unless I am prepared to make changes permanently to my eating habits then there is very little point in dieting at all, just buy bigger clothes ! I'm not going to loose the weight if I don't intend to keep it off, to me that seems fairly pointless ? It's a whole new world, this dieting business! Getting older and having babies certainly throws a curveball to your metabolism ey. 

( I write this while drinking coffee and eating biscuits........ oh dear. )

10.  I still sometimes get excited by the fact I can now stand up for more than a few minutes without feeling like I may collapse. Seriously enjoying no longer being pregnant, it was perhaps the worst thing I have ever been through. I can't quite believe how exhausted I was, it was a awful. The product is a miracle and I love him, he continues to grow, be healthy and make my heart warm. For that I am thankful. 

Ten on Tuesday

Ten on Tuesday

1. My kids are cute, here is evidence. I love them.

2. Loving this song this week. The way Pink sings has always got under my skin, her vocals are just amazing. If I could sing like anyone, it would be her I think. She has got a whole lot of anger there, but man can she belt it out.



3. You know have a toddler and a baby when you are rocking a car seat with one foot, using one hand to operate a breast pump and the other to fill a duck shaped watering can, all at the same time. Just call me a multitasking mumma extraordinaire ;)

4. Our little chap has recently decided that sleeping for 5 hours in a row is a good plan. This is good news.

5. I think when you produce your second human being, you kind of have to emerge from newborn babyland a little sooner. So I have purchased two new pairs of shoes this week ( aside from the fact that quite literally ALL my footwear had holes in, I felt I needed them ) Granted they spend less time on my feet than my slippers, but they look nice on the shoe rack, and when I do escape the house it's nice to look, well, nice !

6. When someone gives you a £20 voucher for boots as a baby gift, is it wrong to use it to buy yourself perfume.......? the jury is still out on this one, comments appreciated !

7. Little Tyke is living up to her name at the moment, the tantrums and shouting of that all important two letter word 'N O ' have reached a peak in our house. Oh it is good to be the one who needs to breastfeed the contented baby when such incidents occur, Husbando it's over to you. ( he spends his days trying to teach unruly teenagers, so is fairly good at dealing with such things ! )

8. Salad, I want to rediscover salad. We need to make friends again, spring is finally here to stay - I hope, so it's about time I got munching on some delicious crunchy leaves. It's one of my favourite things to eat, but didn't mix well with pregnancy, and can take a bit more preparing than a quick bit of toast, but I am determined to consume some soon.

9. We booked our summer holiday this week. 3 nights in the Lake district in one of these....

It's like camping but in a wooden tent with sealed doors......hoping it will be a success. PLEASE GOD let it be nice weather.

We are going with some friends who have kids the same age as us, I'm wondering if maybe this plan was a little ambitious for this summer, but hey, you gotta give these things a go, and at least husbando won't be having to put up a tent on his own while I sit in the car ! In my more energetic state I am fairly competent at putting up tents and all things practical, so it pains me greatly that I have to sit around and watch him do all the hard work. That said, there is something very attractive about watching ones husband work up a sweat completing a practical task ;0)

10. It's April, APRIL. As my lovely man said this morning as he staggered around our room in an attempt to wake up enough to haul his tired self off to work. '...April has kind of taken us by suprise' he's not wrong. It was January last time I checked.

Feel free to leave a comment below.....still in decision about the perfume thing ;)

Ten on Tuesday

I started composing this 'ten' three weeks ago, and am determined that today is the day it will make it into the land of blog....


1.  I have become very sensitive to what I watch recently, I cannot bear tension, murder, pain of any type, anything which involves children suffering or anything too real life which makes me cry. So my viewing interests have narrowed somewhat, this has meant I have developed quite a fondness for nature programmes 'Africa' on BBC is brilliant, and slightly more concerningly a love of 'room 101', I haven't missed one this series.......it's quite good you know ! Listening to Paloma faith argue with Deborah Meedam about the ugliness of UGG boots was quite entertaining don't you know :)

2. I read this interesting article via a blog about a lady who has decided not to spend any money on her child this year....interesting. Though provoking, but also made me wonder what she usually bought him ?! Check it out here mumofone, or for the full article here

3. I have had two short trips to the shops in the last few weeks, shops I can see from my sitting room window, but still have to get a taxi to get to !  One such trip was to next, I realised LT has no clothes for springtime, so decided to pick her up a few bits while I had my head in gear and wasn't totally dazed by the newborn haze. I have found if I buy a few things at the same time, at the start of a season, and think what she needs, rather than a few bits here, and a few bits there, I spend less, and she looks better ! 
It was however a little odd to buy spring attire a few days before it snowed. A friend was exclaiming to me how ridiculous it is that all the shops have spring stock but it's still January and who on earth would buy that kind of thing now.......?.....ahem.......*raises hand like an embarrassed school girl*....meeeeeeee.....!

Thankfully next has lots of chairs I could sit on, and I took various drinks for our little pit stops around the shop....no one wants a collapsing pregnant lady in their shop, so we went for the 'slow and steady' approach to our brief shopping trip.

4. I have started reading the book ' A year of biblical womanhood' by Rachel Held Evans. I read her blog and have been wanting to buy it for a while. It's an interesting and amusing look into what the bible says and doesn't say about Women, how we should dress, how we should mother, how we should or shouldn't speak in church, or be a wife. It's a refreshing read. Has bits of theology in it, and lots of humour as the author guides us through her attempts at putting into practise - quite literally at times, what the Bible says women should 'do/be'. Many of these issues I have spent the past ten or so years pondering, so lots of it isn't really 'new' to me, but it has definitely stirred my thoughts once more, and set me thinking about my life as a Christian woman and how I invest my time and conduct myself. My friend over at 'In the Land of the Living ' is also reading it, she shares some of her thoughts on it beautifully.

5. Willow has started saying .... 'I'm bored mummy'...'lets do something else now' 

So then we do things like this

and this

GIVE ME STRENGTH !

6. *****NEWS FLASH****** We.......have........ got.........a..........tumble. dryer.......oh yes we have. 
It is both an evil overindulgence and a beautiful machine. I have a love hate relationship with it, as for me, along with our dishwasher it signifies so much which is wrong with our western culture and how the divide between my household and most other households in the world is growing. And yet, my friends, I can sit on a chair and receive into my newly purchased washing basket ( see point 10 ) dry clean clothes, with just a bit of folding, they look ironed and everything. 

No hanging required. 

It's a modern day miracle.


7. I love snow and love being outside, so the past ten days have felt a little annoying that I've had to sit like an oversized tired buddah in the house while Husbando and Little tyke have sledged, built snowmen and the like. Maybe next year......... 


8. Like most parents, when you approach the end stages of pregnancy, the issue of finalising a name comes about..........we kind of decided, then we weren't sure, then I changed my mind, then Husbando suddenly decided that there was only one name we had discussed that he liked. So in a bid for some fresh inspiration incase there is a name lurking somewhere we haven't thought of, I have been looking at some interesting websites about baby names. I found it fascinating to see the 'regional top ten' rather than the national top 100 names, they vary so much....

for example........ 

In some parts of London 'Barbara' is in the top ten for a girl, but not even in the top 100 anywhere else in the UK

'Mason' is top 10 in some parts of the north west but much further down nationwide, some places don't even have Harry or Joshua in their regional top ten, but nationally they are top 5........

I'm not sure if this is even interesting, but in my head it was, for a few minutes anyway ?!


9. Last week I was moaning to husbando about the recent acquisition of two new stretch marks across my once flat and unmarked tummy......bless him, how is a man meant to respond to such a thing ?  His reply was ......

'well love, I think you've done really well only to get two new ones ! ' 

Bless. God loves a try-er !

Although the other evening he didn't do quite so well, when I exclaimed in a ball of emotion, how I am always in bed exhausted and we rarely get to go out together or have much fun cos i'm just sitting around or sleeping. 
I said.....

' it will be ok wont' it love ? We're not going to look at each other in three years time and get divorced because it's all gone wrong are we ?'

his reply was simply, with a big tired sigh...........

' oh no, that would mean I'd have to start all over again, far too much hard work ' !!

He's a tactful guy :)

But we laughed, and laughter is good medicine.


10.  I feel like I have spent more money recently than I ever have.......on stuff like a shoe rack, two new washing baskets, a laundry bin, new pegs and storage boxes.......I think I may have become a little obsessed with our 'household systems' running smoothly. Usually we are very much kind of 'make do with what we have'  kind of people, for example we have used a random £2 plastic bin as a nappy bin for two years, and LT has had a very odd shaped and insufficiently small basket I found somewhere as a dirty clothes basket. We have one proper washing basket, so invariably are left with piles of washing kind of strewn on the stairs in no vessel at all. Husbando pinched the shoe rack to create a computer stand with a few months ago, so our hallway is just a pile of shoes. However, with the imminent arrival of another human into our house, I felt it was time we joined convention and got relevant receptacles for the smooth running of family Deane. Boring and dull, but essential I think..........?!

( we will have finally arrived into some kind of domestic nirvana when we purchase a bread bin......no we don't have one, yes we do need one, but neither of us ever seem to want to spend limited funds on such an item ......one day, my friends, one day )

Ten on Tuesday

I started writing this last monday, a full 8 days later I have finished....who knew things could take so long.

1. I was slightly inspired by the concept of an advent calendar in a fairly non spiritual way this year,  I would get a new music cd every month, rather than a chocolate every day. A new cd daily might be a little too expensive ! The Husbando and I each have a tenner every month we can spend on whatever we like, yeah it's not mega bucks, but it's still like pocket money. He spends his on beer, mine usually goes on a face wash, or a new something for LT like a magazine or other such item to entertain her on a tired day. But this year I am claiming back my £10 for something I enjoy. I need to inject a little more music into my life, I love listening to music and don't do it enough, so in a bid not to loose myself entirely this year to nappies and fatigue, I have made an Amazon wish list.... and at the start of each month Husbando chooses one and it will arrive, on my doormat for me to open and listen to. Kind of a surprise, but one I have chosen ! Stevie Wonder was the choice for January - just lifts my slightly weary spirits a bit. 

2. My friend has started writing a new blog, check it out for some fun tales of homeschooling, book reviews and general views on family life  .......  Land of the Living. She is the lovely friend who has LT for me one day a week, we have been friends for about 13 years, in some ways we are polar opposites, but share so many similar values and shared experiences, I count her to be one of my close friends.....albeit one I don't actually get to spend that much time with.

3. I read the book 'The Help' over Christmas, a bit late to the party I know, but I finally got my hands on a copy and had a little look and see. I really enjoyed it, 

I have to say I found some of it a little long winded, but it was a great read. Back in the days of A-Levels I read quite a few books written by African American women in the midst of the civil rights movement in the sixties, or during the abolition of slavery, so it was different reading a novel from the perspective of white women too. I enjoyed the interwoven characters and the fact the ending wasn't all rosy. Since my carefree days of sixth form I have dipped in and out of what seems to be known as 'womanist prose', Alice Walker is one of my favourite authors, and part of the reason Little Tyke has Alice as her middle name. Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison are also great. If you liked 'The Help' check out these books too. 
Beloved   
The Third life of Grange Copeland 
In search of our mother's gardens 
I know why the caged bird sings

Clearly don't buy them from the tax dodging naughties which are Amazon cos of course as point number one clearly states I never do......*cough cough*

4. Discovered recently that I have very low levels of Vitamin B12, not sure how long they have been like that, so it was nice to make a discovery of one of the many reasons which could be behind why I have such low energy. Alas the treatment was two weeks of injections every other day - ooowwwch they hurt ! So over the festive period I graced the Dr Surgery with my presence three times a week - I know how to have fun ey :) Made me thankful once more for the NHS though, we are so fortunate for the services we get in the UK.

5. I have decided I'm quite fed up of 'news' - always such bad news. And politics.......yawwwwn. I do have a keen interest in politics, but at the moment I just have lost all care for it. I shall for now blame it on the fact that all my 'caring' quota is being used up on being a baby cooker and Mother to a two year old. If i'm still this apathetic in a year or so, someone give me kick up the backside.

6. Getting to that very heavy stage now.......Pregnancy is a blessing, but finding it very tough this time round. ONLY 5 WEEKS TO GO.......feelings of 'hooray' and 'oh my goodness what have we done' flow in equal measure.

7. I have definitely arrived in that adult stage of life where you spend Birthday and Christmas money on new bedroom curtains and duvet set, yes it's true. I realised that over the past 7 years I have spent a LONG time in my bed and looking at our curtains, so it was time for a change. Some cool blues and tranquil whites have now replaced the kind of dark purple theme.....It's the little things in life ey.

8. Over the two weeks Husbando had off work he spent most of his waking hours with Little Tyke, She has always been a real Mummy's girl, but their little relationship has flourished lots recently, and the bond between them is so sweet to see. 
LT has one amazing Daddy it has to be said.

Here she is in the park with Daddy, while I sat on a bench and took some photos.

She was on her way to feed the ducks, dropped the bread on the floor, flock of pigeons descend to eat it, this is her shouting 'That's not for you' she then proceeded to pick up the bread, take it from them, only to deposit it safely with their rightful recipient. That's my girl. A bit bossy, and certainly not afraid of a few hungry pigeons .....

9. Ended last year feeling utter terror at how I would cope with this coming year, but I think I'm starting to feel like it ....might....just....be.....alright. Looking forward to meeting baby number two, while slightly fearful all at the same time. I think I have the emotional stability of a 13 year old girl who just found out Justin Bieber is off the market.

10. Realised last week I hadn't packed a hospital bag, despite having the bits to go in it scattered around the house. I suddenly got the urge to assemble them into some kind of vessel ready to grab when the time comes. Last time Husbando was drying me some trousers with a hairdryer while I was busy contracting in the bedroom as I had nothing I could put on to go to the hospital in......it definitely wasn't the most prepared I've ever been. People keep telling me this baby will come faster that my first, so if that's true I have to get to hospital quick. ( just wait, he'll be late and take hours and days to emerge just to prove us all wrong !)

That's all for now I think. I have composed so many 'posts' to write over recent weeks, all in my head, none of them made it here just yet, but I'm hoping to write a few more soon. 
(To get them out my head if for no other purpose ! )

Ten on Tuesday

This week is a picturey birthday-ey Ten.

There has been a distinct lack of cropping or editing of these birthday snap shots. I have had a bad ass headache on and off for ten days, and the screen time isn't helping.....so here they are, rough and ready. Just like her birthday celebrations, cake and weekend were. Perfect for a 2 year old who doesn't know any different ! 

Cakey cake

 Lovely Grandma

 'Oooooh what's inside'

 Very pleased with her new table

 Her favourite part of birthdays....Balloons !

 Fairy birthday girl

 Bit of 'end of party come down' with an episode of peppa.

The morning after, she woke as a Ladybird.

 Birthday take two......MORE PRESENTS !

Post birthday clear-up-  this was after we'd tidied up, well I say 'we' what I mean is my lovely parents and Husbando.

Ten on Tuesday

1. This morning my Little tyke climbed the stairs with her Wendy figure from bob the builder in her little fingers, and said  'Come on Wendy, lets go, off we .....GO ' She's a cutie pants most of the time, which balances the occasional tantrum beautifully. Here she is with wendy in her box....we don't make her sleep in it, just for cbeebies viewing !

2. This week I feel deeply sad. Two friends are coming up to remembering loosing their children a year ago. I feel heavy and tearful, I can't imagine the deep deep grief they feel. It is a strange mix as it coincides with my little tyke's birthday celebration. Joy and Pain go hand in hand though it would seem.

3. This week I also feel knackered, really knackered. We have made the slightly barmy decision to try and convert our garage into living space. We live in a 3 storey house with kitchen and living space on separate floors. The end result will be wonderful, but my pregnant, chronic fatiguey body doesn't cope too well with additional stress, so this whole thing feels like an extra thing I could do without, but also needed at the same time. 'The end result will be worth the stress' is my mantra for the next few months I think :)

4. My lovely Husbando is 30 soon. I am hoping with everything mentioned in the point above I can manage to provide a memorable birthday celebration, but I figure I'm cooking his baby, so hoping that'll be enough ??!! ( It will won't it ? )

5. Realise I said in a ten a while ago that while pregnant I cope with stress better.......mmmm this is being put to the test this week. Maybe it's different when you have a toddler too ?

6. I have taken to watching University challenge....not sure how I feel about this.

7. We have had lots of questions about bottoms in our house this week, the time was always going to come, but it's amazing how it floors you when your little blonde haired - not quite two year old, asks anatomical questions ! Her Dad's face was a picture when she pointed and said  'ooooooh look, what's that called Daddy? ' I hid my laughter, then composed myself and remembered that I am in fact an adult and gave a very sensible, 'what a good question to ask' kind of answer.........

8. Rain, yes it's grim, but did provide a puddle jumping activity for myself and LT yesterday. ( The fact that the puddle was in tesco carpark and a little black in colour is another story ) It has also meant lots of activities like this which can be done indoors. If only there was a fairy who came to clear up afterwards though !

9. LT and I made a sponge cake on Sunday, it was more tasty than I expected, but definitely not one Mary Berry would be proud of.


10. One of my favourite people had a baby in August, she lives too far away in Cardiff and I reeeeaaallly really wish I could just wander round to hers for a cuppa and give her baby a little squeeeeeze. ( Not to mention a hug for her, a pot of warming stew to eat, and an hour or two of baby duty )


attempting a link up this week with.....
helen  Lucy laura and Esther

Ten on Tuesday

Hi, I wrote this, up to point number 6 yesterday, then my day got a little complicated, and here we are now. Just a quick ten .....

Yes it's actually on a Tuesday this week too !

1. Having written in my last post that I cope with stress better when pregnant, this was put to the test yesterday and have to say, failed. Went to bed feeling very stressed only to be woken at 2am by some fella jet washing the petrol station roof near our house. Woke up a bit strung out and achy this morning.

2. I am getting very well aquainted with back episodes of tweenies these days, breakfast then tweenies seems to have developed as a pattern in our house lately.

3. Our usual usage of taxi has ressumed this past week. Little Tyke loves a taxi ride, have to say my purse isn't so much of a fan. Pricey !

4. Really enjoyed watching lots of the paralympics. Have to say, I had run out of olympic spirit a little so didn't watch as much as the olympics, but really did enjoy it. The closing ceremony was great, especially enjoyed Rihanna's performance of 'hopeless place'. Love that song, It just gets under my skin.
( did attempt to embedd a clip, but there wasn't a good on on youtube - sorry ! )

5. I Found the paralympics made me once again look at my attitude towards disability head on. They also coincided with me deciding weather or not have a nucal scan for this next baby. Will develop my thoughts on this a little more and put them into a post soon. However knowledegable and 'accepting' you are of disability, there is ALWAYS room for growth and contemplation on how we react to, include, and are patient with those different from us in what ever way. Lots of food for thought on this one.

6. I bought myself a very lovely leather jacket recently, It was a bargain on ebay and clearly being sold by someone who maybe didn't realise that a listing which ended at 2pm on a Monday afternoon isn't the  best way to sell something. I did however slightly forget I was pregnant......so not going to get huge amounts of wear out of it this autumn.


7. A trip to the Library is in the plan today, lots of overdue books, kids ones are fair play, but my books ( was going to write Adult book, but that sounds a little odd ey !? ) will be returned a month late with a little more, er, drop and dash.


8. I am still quite amazed by the fact my Little Tyke will soon be two, has size six feet, and can tell me new things everyday. Being a parent is such an amazing thing, but man does it fly past.      ( apart from the 4pm- 6pm slot in each day )
Here she is looking rather serious in her favourite swing at the park. Kids in sunglasses.......entirely ridiculous, but kind of cute anyhow .....

9. LT has started asking for chocolate and cbeebies before breakfast.....do toddlers not know the rules ?!

10. I am already thinking about what I'd like for my birthday which isn't until December.......although this doesn't involve pouring through the Argos catalogue as it did as a child, I do feel a little juvenile in my anticipation of acquiring new things.

Ten on whatever day today is.........

1. This week I have broken one of my never actually spoken out loud rules.............NEVER EVER buy patterned kitchen roll. It should always be plain white. But we have 12 rolls of some brand with an elephant on it, which was massively reduced. Yes it may be super absorbent, but it has an awful pattern on it. Who's kitchen needs another pattern ?! 

2. As I sit in bed and write this, my amazing husbando is unloading the dishwasher and clearing up, the clanging of plates confirms this. I love him. Lots.

3. My little tyke rode on a donkey today, despite feeling a little sorry for the poor mule, it was a sweet moment. Utter thrill and delight on her face was worth the £1.50 I paid to the daylight robber who charged me such a price for a 2 minute ride. But I guess a donkey has got to eat ( what, caviar?!)

4. In the night garden love has reached epic proportions in our house........It is making me a little crazy

5. I cried today reading This today, for many reasons, some of them hormonal, but mostly as I know many people addiction affects ( who doesn't ) and this is such a heart wrenching insight which sees it from both sides. People are broken, and we hurt each other. No one has got it all sorted, and for some, life is one loooong hearbreaking struggle. 

6. On a lighter note, I wore maternity jeans for the first time today, SO comfortable. SO SO COMFORTABLE. Infact, even if your not pregnant, i'd recommend a pair.

7. The 'sorting out' of the Deane house is still plodding on at snails pace, well not snails, cos I actually think they can get around fairly quickly, tortoise maybe ? anyway, today my foxy husbando got on the throwing out and sorting train too. Two more bin bags full, Three more boxes to go into the garage. #weareslowlywinning

8. I have looked in my little tyke's playroom and decided that really, she doesn't need anymore toys for her birthday.......I on the other hand would love a new pair of winter boots, hat scarf and glove set, a few nice maternity tops and well, if we're going down this road, some new make up and a new set of curtains for our bedroom. Wondering if I can get away with any of these things as a birthday purchase for her ? No ? Thought not :(

9. We visited my lovely friend yesterday who looks after LT for me once a week. It was nice to spend time with them again, and weird being in a house which my daughter spends more time in than I do, she knew where things were, I didn't. 


10. Autumn is around the corner, I love Autumn and this year really cannot wait to smell the fresh cold air, hear the fireworks and take some photos of some gorgeous colours.

The time has come

To share this post, it's been brewing for a while....

'Ten' with a difference....

We need to talk about sick. Yes, the gross vommiting kind. You see I haven't done loads of blogging recently because my time is mostly spent being sick, or trying very hard ( with reasonable success I might add ) not to be sick.

This is what I have learnt............

1. Morning sickness, is mostly a lie. In my case it's a kind of 'feel intensely sick day and night' affair. If only it were just in the morning. 

2. I have recently taken to falling asleep in my clothes, the sickness builds as the day progresses and by 7pm I get into bed and lie VERY still, hoping, really really hoping, that some food will stay in. I fully intend to get up and get changed and ready for bed, however the risk of movement induced sickness is too great to risk such a clothing transition. #thingsaregettingdesperate

3. I am quite good at seeming ok, but in reality, if you have spoken to me in the last few months, I will have been checking for receptacles to puke in, and been concentrating hard on NOT puking all over you.

4. Lying very still seems to be the only thing in my life which prevents me feeling awful and actually puking. This is not a solution I can employ on a hour by hour basis, but has worked a little while my long suffering husbando has been off work. For me, pregnancy sickness seems to be very linked to motion of any type. Bleurgh.

5. Ginger biscuits are good, but let me put this one to rest......I found they helped in the early stages of nausea, at the 5 weeks stage, but when you get to the really sick stage, they don't work, and if one more person tries to advise me to eat them as a miracle cure, I might just hit them. ( it's not in my nature to be violent, but you know, hormones change things ! )

6. The more tired I get, the worse it becomes, so yeah, a good excuse to be in bed most of the day.

7. Toilets should at all times be VERY clean. Head in a stinky toilet just makes a nasty thing more nasty.

8.  Be aware of splash back ! If you have drank lots of fluid, it'll come out with force, and splash you right back in the face. Don't say I didn't warn you. Yes I have had sick in my eye, and no, it isn't something I would wish on any body.

9. Don't drink too little however, as the sick will then get stuck in your throat, and then you're really in trouble, it will burn your throat pipe something chronic. Stomach acid is vicious stuff !

10. And lastly I shall leave you with this, the 'you'll feel better when you get to your second trimester ' doesn't wash with me. 

Ten on Tuesday

Yes it really is Tuesday.....how unusual !

This week has been a week around the house, attempting to bring order to some corners of our home ( this has been entirely unsuccessful) and generally catching our breath a little post holiday. While watching the Olympics of course. Neither me nor husbando have been particularly well, so at times it's felt like a bit of a slog. But thanks to McCains oven chips, lots of toast, and a few sunny days with baths in the paddling pool, we are all still alive, clean and fed !

So here goes with what has turned out to be a slightly eclectic ten. See point number 5 for a reason for the distinct lack of photos around here.


1. Little tyke is still enjoying mastering the English Language, my favourite quote was last week as we pulled up to a friends house and she said 'We found it, well done Mummy!' I was a little shocked as I think it was the first time she'd put so many words altogether, and also that there was any question that we wouldn't find the house of a friend we've been visiting for, er, well about 6 years.

2. I have been pondering many things this week, and one of them has been what it means to be a good wife, Or the wife that I think God wants me to be, I want to be, and my husband would like me to be. It raises lots of questions, and if I'm honest I feel I fall very short on this one. When not always very well, and with a toddler to care for, it's easy to just not have anything left mentally, emotionally or physically to give to each other. I know I'm not alone in feeling like this. This week I sat down and just for a few moments brought to mind all the things I love about the lovely Mr Deano, a few moments thought went a long way. I always know he's a good one, but definitely need to remind myself just a little bit more.

3. On a lighter note, it's sunny today, a welcome surprise as Mr Weather man told me to prepare for stormy skies. Bliss.

4. Little Tyke's feet are finally big enough to warrant a pair of crocks, we bought her a pair on holiday and they have just been the best most practical shoe she has. Brilliant for camping and at the beach, then in and out the paddling pool at home and she can take them off herself -She has learnt to do just that when going upstairs. £15 well spent. ( although it's a shame they won't fit her next spring ey ! ) 

5. I haven't been feeling tippady top recently, so my poor camera has been very neglected, hence a lack of 'week in pictures' around here. I keep looking at the summery flowers, and beautiful light and thinking I'm missing lots of lovely shots. Ah well, Autumn will arrive soon enough with it's beautiful colours and interesting shadows, so all is not lost. 

6. This morning before 9am, we had done painting, played in the paddling pool and made a birthday card........... I was very relieved when Daddy emerged to facilitate a little rest for me after such adventures. LT loves painting, and I find it hard to say no to requests for such activities, but it would be nice if the cleaning up fairy came with the pots of paints ey ? 

7.  Every week I discover more things which you can throw in the dishwasher......paint pots and brushes...(.as long as you don't mind any clear plastic items coming out a little 'colourful'), dustpan and brush go in and come out as good as new, and of course all the obligatory plastic toys which got left out in the garden for just a few too many days. I LOVE our dishwasher. 

8. My Brother's girlfriend is a film buff, a proper one who studied it at a university and everything ! She very kindly sent me a package with some films to watch. I requested a few which weren't necessarily english speaking, and were about humanity - but not too sad. So far I have watched  The Day I became a woman  and Blame it on fidel. ( click on the links for a film synopsis ) I think I enjoyed 'blame it on Fidel' the most out of the two. I love films from children's perspective, and this one does it beautifully. With British subtitles the french language kind of adds a beautiful poetry to the film while you watch it, the storyline is really strong. It is a little bit of an arty film, but not too much. I'd definitely recommend watching it, if you're looking for something just a bit different, with a bit of a political history lesson thrown in alongside a fascinating look into the lives of a french family in the 70s.

9. On thursday we head to my parent's house for a family BBQ type gathering. We have two family birthdays to celebrate, and haven't been altogether since Christmas, so I'm really looking forward to it. I love my family, and although at times we are a little stressful when assembled as one, Sometimes being with them serves as a bit of a homing device for me, I kind of come back to myself, my true self. I am blessed with 3 siblings and two parents who are, well, just really nice. I know this is unusual, and I never take it for granted. Bring on the Jesson family shindig. 

10. I painted the windowsill in our kitchen. It has been returned to it's former brilliant white glory. Much better than the stained and dirty look it was sporting.

Ten on .....Friday !

1. I have started keeping my eye out for a toddler bed on ebay, there is a 'thomas the tank' one I know Willow would love that is super cheap, but I just can't bear to have it in the house.....does that make me a bad parent.

2. The rare occasion occurred today that I did some cooking, really fancied a tomato chickeny peppery type casserole. Willow helped me, she tore the peppers and put the potatoes in the pan....... she loved it and so did I. 

3. Galaxy chocolate, lets talk about it. It's delicious, creamy, and did I mention delicious? I would like to meet the person who created it, just to let them know how much I appreciate their creation.

4. Olympics.....wow, how good has it been ?! Still very disappointed not to have been there and experience it all in the flesh, but the tears have flowed which the medal presentations happened, and we've sat on the edge of our seats watching, waiting for the next medal. I like to think I could have been an olympic athlete if I wanted to.....yeah right ! Oh but If I was, I would have done the open water swim or maybe the high jump, definitely not gymnastics or the 400 meters. Just thought you might like to know.

5. We saw Mr tumble on our holiday ! In the world of pre school kids this is fairly exciting. We went to a tiny little bay in Anglesey called Moelfre, mainly to go to an amazing coffee shop which sells delicious cakes. The coffee shop was closed, but Mr tumble was filming, so our journey was not wasted. This isn't the best photo really, but there he is looking out to sea in the background. 

6. With olympic fever sweeping our nation and household It brings to the forefront of my mind, my desire to excersise. I have been limited in what exercise I can do for a long time now, but pre little tyke days I did manage a gentle swim or a short jog, I really miss this, and often worry about my lack of fitness. But at the moment the energy just won't allow it, booooooo. It also keeps me a bit sane, getting out and exercising, even just a walk, so let this point serve as a little prayer, please Lord, a wee bit more energy please to swim a few lengths or a nice walk :)

7. We were passed down a bit bag of peppa pig figures and polley pocket type stuff with a few barbies thrown in there too. I had put most of them away for when little tyke is older, but she found a few of the little 'polly pocket' barbie type dolls, she calls them 'tiny ladies' how cute is that ! But also, how weird are barbies ? Such an odd creation.

8. I'm not sure how many ice creams it is advisable for a nearly 2 year old to eat, but so far I think we are on one a day in our house......dairy and sugar overload - oooops.

9.  Here's my little beauty throwing stones into the shiny sea...... the attempts to throw aren't going too well, actually letting go of the stone seems to be the problem.

10. A lovely friend of ours has given us a set of chest of drawers.......bliss, another place to put some of our ever increasing junk ! Thankyou Jo :)