Spring

Well spring has barely sprung but the spring cleaning is all but done. I am not entirely sure what possessed me but I have been through the house and cleaned the whole kit and caboodle. I just have to refold clothes in Boo's wardrobe and do a full house steam mop then we are complete. 

There were a few minor areas that weren't working for me one being art materials at Boo's level in the playroom which he kept opening, another being the laundry storage shelves getting crowded and finally hubby's wardrobe becoming a bursting at the seems storage blackhole (I couldn't even work out where things were meant to be)

To rectify this I have rearranged the playroom cupboard so that art materials are high out of Boo's reach, the crafting and wrapping paper which were crowding the laundry are now in this cupboard also, far more logical. And I have moved Christmas things onto the topmost shelves as they are of course least used.

For hubby's wardrobe I have moved things off the floor into the uppermost shelf as they are not currently being used. I have sorted and matched sheets sets and folded them and stored them in the corresponding pillowcase as this makes them near and keeps sets together making the task of making the bed as simple as choosing a sheet set and a doona cover set.

It is so incredibly blissful to start the new season with an organised space. I gave hubby the grand tour and he is thoroughly impressed.

I would love to know how you my lovely readers plan on greeting doing?

In love (cleanliness) and laughter  Andii

Settling in to life with 2

Well it has been 2 weeks since our little girl joined us. Hubby is now back at work leaving Boo, Bean and I to settle into our new normal. Boo is a delightful older brother & mother's help. He will proudly grab me a spit up cloth or a nappy when I mention needing one (often from his own cupboard, I really must put Bean's nappies lower). He is often up for a cuddle with Bean or with Bean and I. He is very proud to be seen out with his sister and is getting used to his new seat in the pram. Boo is also practicing his balancing and climbing particularly at playgroup and is playing around with walking on his toes. In the last week he has also begun to play independently for longer periods doing more complex tasks independently, like shape sorting.

Bean has visited the Child Health nurse where she smiled at mummy's bad jokes.  She is beginning to stay awake for a bit of a cuddle in the early evening before bed and is also getting feeding and sleep fairly well sorted. This last few days she has also begun to be ok with a little bit of tummy time. Bean also slept happily in the pram for playgroup only waking for a quick feed in the middle, which was very helpful. 

 I as a mummy am beginning to remember that getting a feed done in 35 minutes with a new baby is pretty good. I am also beginning to remember that tired and sleepy can lead to a little bit of weepy by the end of the day. 

We have had a week of walking this week as my lovely old car had an overheating issue (when I say old I mean old, my car was made the year I was born, I dream of modern day luxuries like aircon and central locking). As a result of walking we got to catch up with a friend and her boys as I walked past their house and saw they were home on the way to the child health nurse. We also caught the bus a few times which Boo is always a fan of and I had both children asleep in the pram for an hour at one point, unfortunately a bit late in the day for me to use the opportunity for a quiet coffee and cake. 

All in all we are settling in well. What changes have you and your family been adjusting too?

In love and laughter Andii

Housework is Child's play

Recently I did a post on housework and home care inspired by the lovely JL Scott's book At Home with Madame Chic, which I have loaned to my mum as she has so admired my consistently clean house. Since taking on a plan for cleaning and enjoying the task at hand my house has been running really smoothly; the washing is managed, I go to bed at night with clear benches, and a clean space waiting for us when we wake in the morning.

Since first reading JL Scott's book the only thing I have altered about my efforts is how I undertake them. Some days I still do these tasks in a fast and efficient manner, like hanging the washing before playgroup when we have very little time. Generally, however, hubby and I have been working with Boo to get things done.

Ever noticed how children hang around you no matter what you are doing and try to get involved no matter how everyday the task is? Children love to spend time with their parents and are great mimics, they love doing what we do, no matter how boring we may think it is. So to embrace this trait, I have been endeavouring to include Boo in my day and share the load. Boo now unpacks the washing machine, sweeps the floor, hands me pegs, shadows while hubby or I vacuum, sits on the bench while I bake (I want to teach him but he is still a bit too messy with the flour), makes sandwiches and wipes the table. He also helps in the garden, to unpack the dishwasher and puts his plate in. Not always consistently, but most of the time.

Having Boo participate in the running of the house in this way impacts us as parents in a few ways. Firstly we enjoy the task more; Boo takes such joy and pride in doing these jobs it is hard not to find yourself smiling and enjoying it too. Some jobs take forever like unpacking the washing machine. I could sit and have a cuppa in the time it takes, but it is one of the few jobs he can really do by himself. You have to let go of how you want to do it. With Boo handing me clothes and pegs I end up hanging my washing all over the place rather than grouped by person. This just means a bit more walking around when I bring it in as I sort it and fold it from the line.

Sweeping Leaves with Dad

Boo helping also means I have to pay attention and be aware that he is learning. We have had a broken bowl from unpacking the dishwasher (it was my favourite patterned dessert bowl). But while that was sad, and I told him firmly we need to be gentle or else we break things, I didn't get angry or upset (it took a lot of conscious effort not to) because ultimately if he learns the skill in the long run one bowl is insignificant. Often Boo helping looks like him handing me cutlery, mugs, glasses etc., he will put utensils in the draw and the plates and bowls away with guidance as he can reach these. He will take his own plate from table to kitchen but needs help putting it in the sink or dishwasher. 

Don't get me wrong, this is not every meal of every day, some days he is too tired or frantic to be able to listen and help. Other days I am too tired and impatient or we just don't have time. On a whole I try to make time because as he becomes more independent. With each task he becomes prouder of himself as he knows his own skill. Additionally he gets to be part of the team/family dynamic that exists around keeping our house nice, as it is our house not mummy's house alone. It allows home to be a place where we as a family contribute.

Do you have your children helping around the house? What are their favourite jobs?

Tending to our wheat, they have been telling the Little Red Hen at playgroup.

Love (parenting) and Laughter Andii

A special delivery

Early in the morning before the break of dawn. On a rainy April day a little girl was born. 

After a week of waiting (she was a bit late) our family of 3 became 4 this week with the addition of a baby girl. Bean is a lovely little thing and her brother is rather taken with her. We are all home and well and hope to be settled soon. 

Boo runs to our room at every little squeak and wants to check on her constantly. Luckily for me hubby is home for a couple of weeks so I can rest when she rests, even if Boo needs to play. Though we all 4 got a nice nap this afternoon. 

Daddy admiring the tiny fingers of our little bunny girl

 

Love (Joy) and laughter Andii

Happy Easter

Well here we are at Easter,

Can you believe it is here already!!!

Well at this point I thought we might have a new bubba but instead we are still waiting. However, this means that as Boo is now 18mths it feels like the first Easter where he can fully participate in our traditions and I get to be with him to enjoy it.

Here he is at Easter last year so much smaller than now, in a hand-knitted bunny hat with a cottontail on his suit. He had scrambled eggs for his Easter brekky.

This year it is all about creating and sharing traditions. On Friday we made Hot cross buns with Grandma (my mum), Boo mostly just helped eat them.

And on Easter Sunday we have three main traditions.

The first is of course Easter eggs delivered by the Easter Bunny (or Bilby) to our beds. We are a bit of a fan of Lindt in our house as you can see. The top egg is the smallest I could find for Boo to use in our egg rolling tradition. 

The second tradition is the Easter egg hunt. This year we have set up a super small one for Boo (below) in our lounge, which he excelled at. Hubby is so proud of his speedy egghunting boy. Later there was one for all the adults at mums that Boo was also pretty good at this one we found 73 of 76 mini eggs. 

Mum loves to set them up. We have a rule that you can only collect one egg at a time and then you must return it to the basket before you collect the next egg. Mum also keeps count to ensure we find them all. It usually takes us over half an hour to complete, hubby says more like an hour and there is usually 1 short that we spend 15 minutes looking for.

Our final tradition is a Scottish one which involves rolling our eggs from the Easter bunny down a hill until they break. You are not allowed to eat them if they don't break. A tip is that Lindt bunnies do not roll and take a fair amount of pelting to break so do try actual Easter eggs.

What traditions do you have in your family? I would love to know.

Write soon

Andii

I am not sponsored in anyway, all opinions are my own

Getting Crafty and Nesty

March has been a busy month full of lists and catch ups but I have found myself a little time to get crafty. I have finished my to do before bubs list about 3 times but always found another thing to add. Below are the highlights of my Crafting and Nesting.

A hot Air Balloon or coloured lamp

I had a white Ikea paper lantern sitting around (for about 4 years) and we have recessed lighting meaning I can't hang it as a light. So I thought I would see if I could turn it into a hot air balloon. Using my school watercolours I created a rainbow hot air balloon, it looks pretty good I think. You can see it featured below in our new playroom.

Cloth nappies for a doll

As we are expecting our little one very soon (I am currently 4 days overdue), last week I made some very simple cloth nappies for my old baby cabbage patch kid Tracy. I am hoping that Boo will be able to play while I change Bean etc. I found the pattern at one little project and just simplified it by using old toweling nappies.

Creating a playroom

Next on the pre-baby list is to create a playroom with a feeding space so Boo can be with us but entertained. Hubby painted the clouds, I made the hot air balloon and TeePee (which finally has a space in our home) and we moved in all the toys on one of the expedits from our lounge. I have also created a box of blankets and play cloths for cubbies, dress ups and snuggles as time progresses.

Lastly Nesting is complete

The house is clean, the play room setup, the cot awaits and my bags are packed now just to have this baby. We are having bubs in with us to start but will hopefully move them in with Boo once we are all settled. Scary and exciting all at once.

What have you been up to this month? 

Any tips or going from one bub to two?

Regards Andii

I am not sponsored in anyway, all opinions are my own and links are provided for your convenience.

Hubby's Birthday Week

Well it is one of my favourite weeks of the year, hubby's birthday week. This year we had 3 days of celebrating meaning I spent most of my week baking Yay!

I also had collected a number of small gifts then looked at my wrapping paper and realised if I got him 2 more gifts I would have enough to wrap him one in each colour of the rainbow. 

Then of course the rainbow theme took off as I realised I had rainbow decorations, place mats and candles.

For Hubby's birthday I sent him to work with a surprise in his bag of an unsweetened chocolate brownie using 90% Cocoa Lindt and this recipe, which was excellent according to him.

I then made these Chocolate muffins with ganache for his colleagues which went down a treat. They have a fairly good texture and are simple but I did not find them fudgey but they were a hit with Hubby's colleagues (he has just moved into a new team so I thought it was a good opportunity for wifely brownie point gathering) 

For his birthday cake I made him an almond meal based chocolate cake again with 90% Cocoa Lindt from Stephaine Alexander's Cooks Companion which I iced with the same chocolate as a base for a Sour Cream Ganache.

Hubby seemed pretty pleased with the whole day. 

From my parents he received an Avengers Carry on suitcase, from Boo, Bean and I he received  a few chocolatey treats with a NZ flavour, a new alarm clock,  Captain America The winter Soldier, Castle Season 6, and a walking elephant which he and Boo both adore.

I spent Thursday making one awful batch of Cinnamon scrolls before using a recipe for Overnight Cinnamon Scrolls which worked well.

We spent our Friday, Hubby's day off, at a local park having a picnic. Seemed a good time to break in my Christmas present. For this I made Homemade Lemonade

A Cous Cous and Haloumi Salad and Sweet and Spicy Chicken. 

Which was all delicious, the park had a toddler area for Boo though he was a touch short for some of them by about half a foot. This is my lovely boys playing together.

Last celebratory bit of the week was my mum dropping in early on Sunday and deciding to take Boo with her out to breakfast which meant hubby and I were able to lie in bed and relax for about 2hours. Complete luxury.

I hope you also had a wonderful week. I would love to know what you have been up to.

Andii

Marching March & Glamping

Well we are fast approaching the middle of mad March. In our Family this means 8 birthdays which include hubby's and both of Boo's grandfathers and 1 wedding anniversary, another reason I would like Bean to await arriving until April which is a far quieter month for us.

 Our family have spent the previous weekend Glamping at a lovely educational campsite called Wollangara. I made it through Labour Day Weekend (Vic.) without it becoming labour day, thank you Bean. Hubby has discovered the joy of camping in the simplicity of just being surrounded by nature, sounds odd but it really does wonders for ones sense of wellbeing.

On camp we consumed copious amounts of food and cake as it was a working bee/birthday weekend. Boo had an absolute ball in his new gumboots, chasing chickens, riding in wheelbarrows, being adored by his cousins and being bathed in a large cooking pot. We also had some day visitors including my Grandparents for a sit down Lunch on the Sunday. It was lovely that they were able to come and join us even braving the flying fox across the river which is the Wollangara access point (this was Boo's least favourite thing)

Boo keeping warm of a morning in a snowsuit

A sit down family lunch Glamping style including homemade bunting

The last cake of the camp was a cut your own piece Mum cut the heart out of the centre

I enjoyed spending time with my extended family, helping prep meals, watching hubby enjoy the Australian bush and watching Boo in his adventurous element. I am sooo very proud of the way he wants to help, be with people and trusts that they are there to assist him. He is so willing to play with cousins rarely seen and aunts & uncles infrequently visited as though they were in fact an everyday part of his family life. This just thrills me as it is what I enjoy  most about having such an amazing extended family who warmly welcome and embrace me and mine when we are together as though no time has passed since we were last together. 

Today I also had the lovely experience of visiting a friend and her boys for a BBQ where we sat for a delicious lunch and then had our boys playing out in the yard while we relaxed and chatted. I was also delighted to discover that she too is reading The Wife Drought by Annabel Crabb. So had a lovely discussion about the book (we have both just started) and the international women's day Q&A as well as other political and cultural issues. So nice to share briefly on our children then converse as adults. I am greatly enjoying Annabel's book so far as I do adore her humour, wit, intellect and perspective on life in general.

All links provided are for your convenience and I am not sponsored or affiliated in any way. 

February trip to NZ

Once again it is February meaning it is time for our annual trip to New Zealand. It actually become a tradition by accident that we spend almost every Valentines in NZ. 

So here is a brief history of our visits:

In 2010 we visited for our first Valentines and so I could meet hubby's darling mum. We enjoyed cocktails and a delicious meal at the Matterhorn on Cuba St, Wellington. I also baked hubby the first of many batches of brownies.

In 2011 we visited to celebrate our engagement with hubby's family and friends once again over Valentines. We had the flight from hell boarding in Melbourne at 6:30, remaining on the runway for 3hours for various reasons related to storms, refuelling, the smell of smoke through the cabin and finally a change of staff. Hubby watched all of his movie before we took off (he was concerned he wouldn't see it all as it was so long) we then detoured by air over Sydney, arrived in Auckland where we were given food vouchers and 1hour to change to a plane that would finally take us to Wellington some 10+hours after we left Melbourne. We were very tired travellers that day. We also took our first road trip in New Zealand to do Blackwater rafting in Waitomo  and play at the Playground in Levin

In 2012 we visited once again for Valentines as it now appeared to be tradition, and flights are consistently cheap then :)

2012/2013 Visit Kumara Chips with L&P at Devonport, NZ

2012/2013 we visited in December/January with my maiden aunt, an amusing tidbit as I returned from the trip pregnant with Boo, making her the worst chaperon maiden aunt ever. But our trip was amazing we visited Auckland, Devonport, The Kauri Forests, Te Aroha (means the love, hubby and I were upgraded to the honeymoon cabin and ta-da baby Boo), went caving at Waitomo and caught up with Hubby's family there who had driven to meet us.

2014 Hubby took a month off work and we took our darling 3 month old Boo to meet his Kiwi Family. We had a lovely time and had him christened there. My dear friend Phoebe was visiting her partner (my brother in law, yes they met because hubby and I Married) so I was able to have an Aussie Godmother. For our valentines date we left Boo with Nanna and headed to the delightful Roxy Cinema  for lunch at Coco's (delicious) and watched Frozen (delightful). 1 month was a little long but better than the 1 weekend visit we did for Boo's 1st birthday later in the year which was entirely too busy, too short and too tiring.

2015 and finally we make it to our most recent trip, a perfectly length well planned week long visit in which plenty of time was spent with Nanna, all family was seen at least once for most twice and hubby and I managed once again to leave Boo with Nanna and abscond for a date at Coco's before watching that romantic film 'The Imitation Game' at the Roxy. The film was excellent if not exactly the classic choice for a valentines date :)

As occurs on all our NZ visits Whittaker's Chocolate, RJ's liquorice and other NZ specific treats were purchased. Having learnt from our 2012/2013  trip we avoided purchasing L&P and TipTop ice cream because while both are extraordinarily delicious over consumption can occur in epic proportions because hubby and I are children with credit cards on occasion, my aunt also participated in our over consumption. 

We also made sure to consume another NZ peculiarity we wish we got here by ordering Kumara chips (sweet potato chips) when we had Fush and Chups :p

Overall the visit was a delight as has the entire month of February been. In summary I have become slimmer and thus more pregnant looking. Hubby has greatly enjoyed some much needed family time especially with his mum and our little man.

This is Kiwi

 Boo has started playgroup and taken to it like a duck to water, abandoning Kiwi (his lovey toy) within seconds of first arrival without a backward glance for me or Kiwi. I do adore his fearless, adventurous and independent spirit and was especially proud when on our second visit to playgroup after returning from NZ  he managed himself beautifully throughout the session sitting for singing and story. ( a feat he is yet to repeat) 

 Boo's NZ cousins disputed Kiwi's authenticity as he is not brown but we think he is truly fabulous. Kiwi is  a flamboyantly french interpretation from the toy company Moulin Roty, a gift from Boo's grandma that has quickly become a favourite and ever present companion in Boo's  daily life. 

Bean is growing well, if a little round around the tum (all concerns around possible gestational diabetes have now been allayed) as we approach the close of February we are mere weeks from full term and due dates though I hope he/she is happy to stay where they are till playgroup term concludes in the last week of March :)

All links provided are for your convenience and I am not sponsored or affiliated in any way. 

January

Firstly can you believe month 1 of 2015 is over??!

So this month we have had a busy one, once again I think one day I will become accustomed to the idea that all our days will be busy. After our lovely visit to Queenscliff we had a week at home resting. 

During the hot days Boo and I stayed about the house trying to keep cool. During the second week spent many an afternoon on the verandah where I read or listened to the lovely Annabelle Crabbe  or reading a book. Boo was thouroughly entertained and cooled down by a water table, brilliant toy especially once he got the hang of not pouring water through the holes that went on to the verandah. Needless to say a very cool and wet way to spend a day.

Bean and I had a midwife check up and all is going beautifully. Hubby has painted the nursery ceiling and we have assbled the cot. I have also been through and sorted out baby clothes from the stored clothes. I have also cancelled the baby sprinkle as with all the upcoming trips and painting I really won't have time and would much rather spend the time as just the 3 before we become 4. 

I am really excited as one of the things I want to do with my little clan is camp and we have received an invite to a camping birthday on Labour day weekend. ( there are only minor jokes about labour day becoming you know labour day) The best bit is that it is a soft intro for Hubby as it will be glamping in bunk accom with a communal kitchen. I am really excited. 

For the last week of January Boo and I headed back to Queenscliff to stay with my Grandmother while the doors in our house were painted. We had a lovely visit though once again not quite warm enough for a swim. Grandma has declared boo a delightful boy who is welcome back any time. 

I hope you are all well and would love to know what were the highlights for you this January? 

Regards Andii 

A new Question

As someone who constantly self evaluates, I often find that in itself  leads to fairly self critical reflection. 

So I wanted to share a new question. I have decided to ask myself if I am proud of who I am? 

This allows that I may slip up or have less than ideal moments but that as a whole I am proud of who I am and what I do. 

I am proud of the way I care for and interact with Boo. I am proud of my home and the way I care for it, of my appearance and taking care about that. I am proud of my role as a wife and mother and that I am always striving to improve.

This week I am concentrating on putting my knife and fork down between mouthfuls and having a glass of water with all meals.

December in review and happy new year

 Hello All!

Baby brain and I are back after a small hiatus to celebrate Christmas, New Year and visit family (Beach Holiday YAY!) Realistically it has only been three weeks but man it feels like longer so  big post today. Soooo because I deal better with plans here is everything in order.

December in Review

Boo is happily careening around, falling and getting up and is totally on board with walking holding your hand which is fantastic. Bean is growing well and I am keeping my size under control so all going well there, currently discussing plans for a small sprinkle for baby number 2 (Bean) which hopefully really low key as we still have everything from Boo. 

Christmas Day

Having begun the day with the traditional stockings, presents and breakfast at my parents. We gave Boo a beautiful Glockenspiel by Choroi which I bought from my mum's business Mercurius Australia (the link goes to the Auris version which is an octave higher). It is fantastic as he can hit any combination of notes and because the scale is pentatonic it never jars your ears or has any off notes. (I am mentioning this by my own choice as I love the company and their products) Darling hubby also bought me a surpriser gift of a picnic basket with real crockery and glasses something I have always wanted.

Can't wait to use it.

I also received a house warming/Christmas gift from my parents that is just amazing as my dad made the board and mum sourced the hooks, plus as you can see we use it

Such a beautiful thing, sorry about the lighting it is night

a close up of the hooks 

Well I got to host my first ever Christmas lunch, and my first Christmas in our house. Lunch went off without a hitch which was nice especially since it was my family (3) plus my mum and dad so nice and small. I served a haloumi, cherry tomato and basil skewer as entree (it seemed appropriately festive in colour). Followed by a main of Roasted Duck breast with a cherry & brandy sauce and accompanying salad of asparagus, zucchini and pistachio, again it seemed festive plus I adore cherries.

 Mains were followed by a white chocolate, nougat and vanilla Ice Cream Pudding topped with raspberry sorbet. Yummm! I also baked fruit mince tarts doing all components from scratch as i know they are one of my dads seasonal favourites.  Tarts recipe was from this Coles recipe and fruit mince was based on this recipe

I substituted dried sour cherries for raisins in my fruit mince and topped with raspberry coulis, so even mum was a fan

Boxing Day - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

On Boxing day morning we had a lovely breakfast of homemade cooked at the table waffles with fruits, cream and Ice Cream at my darling friend Phoebe's house, a perfect start to the day. we then drove the 2 hours to Queenscliff  which Boo kindly slept through so impressive effort Boo. We then had a casual lunch at Grandma's house followed by the more formal seated dinner which this year required a table for 34 which Grandma achieved. I am always impressed at how many we can seat, and how smoothly it goes. I feel blessed to be with a family where we do all get together, celebrate and enjoy each others company throughout the year but Christmas is certainly the highlight. MY homemade gifts went down a treat and even my Grandma was excited about her foot scrub, I know this as she thought she had lost it and was seriously disappointed, it was found again so all good now.

A happy snap of about 3/4 of the table. Photo by Jes

8 of the 9 dogs who were there ours is the lovely black one near the centre,
they like the family got on well all day too. Photo by Jes

We then spent a lovely week doing a variety of family gatherings and outings, sadly it was a little cool for the beach overall but we did take Boo in for a quick dip. He was fine until he was on the dry sand which he hates for some reason so we will work on that. Hubby, Boo and I headed home a day early after a wonderful New Years eve at my Aunty's as while we had a fabulous time we were also exhausted. I felt greatly complimented to hear from my Grandmother, via my mum, that she is amazed and proud of little Boo and what a delight he is which certainly made me feel proud of him and our little family. He certainly had a ball with all the people constantly about and my cousins who were all totally taken with him. (I am the oldest cousin the youngest being 3 years, he is slightly less impressed with Boo than the rest)

Finally to the .....

New Year 2015

So in true Melbourne style after a milder Christmas we have started our New Year with about 5 days of 35C or above, not fun if you are pregnant, or small like boo, or generally adverse to being hot all the time, but oh well lots of sleep and rest was had with multiple cool baths to play in for Boo. So as a constant planner and Domestic Goddess in the making I love any excuse to make a plan, set goals or generally assess and improve oneself. so here are my 2015 Goals some of which are refining current practices such as being present at meals and others are stretching myself such as my habit goals. Overall my focus is on creating quality experiences and uses of my time and focusing on my personal well being and being present with my family. So apart from welcoming Bean to our little clan here are my... 

2015 Goals

Nutrition

This year in Nutrition I will record my food, focus on whole foods (grows in or on the ground etc.)  and drink a glass of water with all meals. This will increase my hydration levels and my accountability about what I eat, i have a friend who is doing this too so that is helping with the accountability too.

Sleep

No Technology in the bedroom, that is no phones, laptops etc. bedrooms are for S's sleep, snuggling and Stories (I had to get reading in there) . I bought darling hubby a wood look alarm clock for Christmas to allow him to leave his phone outside the room and 

keep our space calm and natural looking. I am also a chronic offender of phone browsing and list making before I sleep. This is actually a re-establishing of an older rule we have but have fallen out of living in really small spaces prior to this move. 

Health & Fitness

Create Habits and a Lifestyle that supports me re-establishing and maintaining a healthy weight. I am feeling pretty proud as I have already got a jump on this by managing my nutrtion and fitness through my pregnancy with goal of minimising my weight gain throughout and then having a plan in place for postpartum health and exercise.

Run 5km 2-3 times a week. I used to be someone who ran regularly then through surgery, moving from  school to uni and life generally getting 'busy' (great excuse hey) I fell out of the habit so I am getting a jump on this by walking carrying Boo, and strength training until Bean is born and I am given the all clear to get running. I seriously miss the routine, fresh air and habit of regular running (I was never fast but it makes me happy).

Ways of Being

Sit for all meals  whenever I eat and be present without distractions i.e. phones etc. This means no on the go snacking, no standing in the kitchen nibbling and no car eating. This is a Madame Chic habit that I find does wonders for increasing your enjoyment of meals as well as your experience of satiety. Cinema going will be a challenge for me.

I also want to practice being present with Boo and (when he or she arrives) Bean so am working on only answering calls and text and doing all web browsing blogging etc. while they sleep.

Habits

I am taking the year of my 2 biggest time sucks which are Facebook and Candy Crush a real challenge for me but highly refreshing as a goal as these two are also things I unconsciously find myself doing when i have picked up my phone to do something else.

I am also taking 5 minutes first thing to just breath, have a glass of water etc. before I start my day or open my phone.

Household

Concentrate on saving whenever I shop by always taking a detailed list (I love my shopping list I can be in and out of the supermarket in under 45mins for a weekly shop). I am also taking on asking the question do I need this if I am going off plan and generally researching purchases before I make them to ensure best price and product.

Habitual cleaning which will be working with and adjusting my cleaning schedule so it works for our household. as a quick update this is so far going well and I am loving how easy it is to stay on top of keeping everything clean, especially my beautiful shiny oven.

So there it is the end of 2014 and the plan for 2015, I would love to know others goals and plans and hope i havent bored you but it really helps with my accountability to have it all written down.

Write again soon Andii