Firstly, big thanks to Eurostar for inviting us to the magical town of Avignon in the South of France- and to the Avignon Tourist Board for their advice and generosity too-merci beaucoup!
Oh Wales-it seems so long ago now that we were there but it was literally only a week ago! Luckily, I treated myself to yet another notebook (I have a REAL and pretty consuming obsession with notebooks-and stationery in general)! but this one was a necessity- and meant I could scribble down notes during our lush week away making it easier to reflect back and write this post.
As you get older and perhaps a little wiser (or in my Dad's case, sillier, much, much sillier-it can go both ways) you start to realise what really matters in life.
I think having kids can do that to you, that whirlwind of new love for the kid you made merged with the mammoth overwhelming weight of responsibility (no more spontaneity in life is pretty sobering) and puts everything that came before, and after it, into sharp perspective.
You don't need to have a kid for this I should add. Yay for being wiser without having to actually use your cervix! Life experience, travel, pets, nurturing plants, charity work, whatever it is that takes you out of yourself, can be enlightening,
It got me thinking about all the tiny touching moments that make up the bigger picture, the intricately woven happy-making little things I reflect on right before I go to sleep or if I'm away from my kids, missing them madly, or my zone out to more joyous times when I find the children fighting over toys/films/my affection and I need a happy place pronto.
Peter (and I ) were a bit blown away by the response to his landscape photography when I shared them on the blog recently so thank you to all who viewed, commented and shared. Now, as part of a regular photography feature by Peter, I'm sharing portraits, mostly of our children that I love.
My little boys have really turned a corner recently, a bickering to brotherly love corner that I'm rejoicing about.
Duh duh duh...the truth about going from one to two kids...
A lot of broody friends of one, have been asking me recently what life is like with two kids so I thought I'd write a few things that we've personally found changed for us as a family.
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.
Last night was a big deal for my little family in my little world.
Baby Alexander aged 10 months old, moved out of our bedroom, into his own.
So today was my 20 week scan and if you haven't guessed already...it's a boy! Am totally thrilled as I always imagined myself with two boys (although I appreciate I will be utterly outnumbered in the house and Arsenal might never get turned off the box)!