For a start, my eldest son Oliver has pretty much (for now at least), got over his most recent bout of jealousy towards his younger brother Alexander, and dare I say it, they're actually playing well together. I even caught Oliver kissing his little wee sibling last night. It was what womb-stirring dreams are made of.
I shall let the pictures do the 'talking'. OK, most of the 'talking'...Baby A turned 1 last Friday and we celebrated as a family (here he is with his great family friend Papu Andy (Grandpa Andy) with his beautiful birthday cake (made by a brilliant professional cake maker, not I, I'm afraid).
I can still refer to him as my baby right? My little darling Alexander is 1 today (Happy 1st birthday baby Alexander-I'm still calling him baby!) and I really can't believe it. I feel a little emotional and might have had a little cry. It actually feels like yesterday I brought him home from hospital, all thick black hair and chubby cheeks.
PMT is of course the aptly named tense period before your ERM actual period.
Lasting for anything from a day (lucky lady) to actual weeks (really) it is truly a pain in the ass (or uterus in this case) for many. Yes some see few pre menstrual symptoms while others have a horrendous old time waiting for Aunt Flipping Flo to arrive.
The folks at PaperShaker kindly asked to compensate me for writing a review of their pretty cards and they must have read my mind as they got in touch right when I needed them, for christening invites and baby thank you cards.
I, like many of you probably read and sadly nodded in recognition at Angela Epstein's piece in the Daily Mail who found that many of her friends merely texted, rather than rang, sent a card or even visited her, when her mother died. A condolence text, really? Shocking.
So little Alexander, nearly 1 years of age has definitely got my curls-big bouncy, terribly cute ringlets of loveliness that paired with those deep brown eyes will no doubt melt a few hearts when he's older. "No, don't leave me, never marry" I wail! Thank goodness he's Greek so will live with until he's at least 30. Phew.
Aw, soft focus pictures of our boys together kissing and cuddling, Oliver our firstborn and heir looking lovingly at his younger brother, our darling baby Alexander. Bless.
Fast forward a year. Oliver realises his brother is sticking around for more than just the photo opp (and he's loud, confident and wants to play with his toys). Like forevs. The adoration is still there, sure it is. But from Alexander to his older brother. A spends his days gazing at Big Bro brimming with love and admiration.
I was kindly invited to a roundtable discussion on Wednesday evening at the Charlotte Street Hotel as part of Colgate's Oral Health Month and WOW did I learn a lot about mine and my kid's teeth and how to keep them 'Simon Cowell looking healthy white and sparkly' (without the veneers of course).
Earlier this month, in a bid to catch the last of August's rays, we headed for a pretty picnic in Bolton Abbey, a place I visited myself many times as a child.
Lucy Heath is a woman trying to master the art of multitasking. A working mother to 2 small boys, Lucy juggles a consultancy job in the housing development industry and a multi award nominated parenting and lifestyle blog capturebylucy.com. Lucy is also a product photographer and wannabe party planner!
Born in Leeds, I spent 11 years in London after university before returning to my Yorkshire roots, yet when I visit Cyprus, I somehow feel I'm home again. In 2010, I flew there solo to meet my folks who were holidaying there, so my father's Mum, my Yiayia (Grandma), could meet my firstborn Oliver. Here are some of my memories of that time there...
Today I'm curating the Story of Mum online tour.
The concept is that as a curator, I select an image from one of the stills from the Story of Mum Gallery that speaks to me and I contribute something myself.
My baby Alexander will be 1 next month and after hormone inducing broodiness through a lot of his first year (sure this is nature's way to help mothers bond with their babies and mostly because A is just so damn cute), I can say I no longer feel the urge to procreate (husband is no doubt wiping his brow as he reads this). You do read my blog don't you Pete? Come on, keep the stats up dude.
So to recap, the Fast Diet was done for 12 weeks then a few more pre holiday (eating normally for 5 days a week, consuming approx 700 calories for 2).
I then lost weight whiles we were on holiday in Portugal (although I did eat cake as the hotel food was too good to say no to and I refuse to diet on holiday) but we walked tonnes, swam all day and I came back fitter and leaner than before we left.
A former teacher and financial services worker turned Online Editor for Poize Magazine, Nigeria's first magazine for and about women entrepreneurs, Tinuke Bernard regards herself as a 'Jack of all trades'. This keen parenting and lifestyle blogger is the mother to a vivacious little girl and a huge coffee enthusiast.
