A perfect Saturday - Swimming and SANTA!!

2 weeks ago, on Saturday, was a perfect day.
Now most of our days are pretty special, but this one, in all it's simplicity, seemed absolutely perfect!

I wanted to make a note of it, but already the memory is hazy...there is just so much going on, my mind cannot recall everything I desire it too!

I will try to recall what I can, for I love to look back on our time, even now.

One thing that made this specific Saturday special was swimming with your best friend Sofia. We hadn't swam with her for so long, and as little Miley bounced up and down in grandmas arms from the side lines, spectating; you and I had a whale of a time! We splished and we sploshed, rolling around in the shallows, and  we kicked our legs swimming in the deep. We bounced in the waves that threw us around, and you were just so full of smiles, and so elated I was set to burst! 

There was a sense of guilt I had not taken you swimming on your own with Fifi before now, ( and likewise because Miley was on the sides)... but I enjoyed our moment, and it was amazing! 

After we had got dressed, we were in a rush to get to the shop Thingwall, as I promised you could meet Santa, (you have been learning lots about him and his reindeer and the special job he has) I was unsure of whether you would be shy, scared, or pleased...turns out you two were best buddies!

Honestly Theo, I could not believe the confidence that exuded from you little body...this tiny tot with fine wild curls just tentatively edged his way closer and closer to see the big man in red. Once you had decided things were 'safe' you stomped up to Father Christmas, shook his hand and said "Hi santa!" I was almost crying laughing at your boldness. Perfect! You had bypassed all the other children looking at him, straight up onto his knee, and in no time you were having a (2 year old) chat with him, You told him you had sent a letter for presents, and that baby Milo liked Teletubbies, so could he get him some Teletubbies things?(as he is too young to write a letter) as well as requesting your toys. You stood to the side of him while the other kids sat on his knee, and i sat on the floor with you on my knee so you could watch...

When there was no one left, back up to him you went, shyly singing him songs, jingle bells, little donkey and the mickey mouse club house song 😂 You are so funny! A couple of bags of Haribo and a few high fives later, (and on receiving a full description of sleighs and reindeer antics,) you were content to come away. Milo was hungry  so I fed him on the front seat of the car, and you watched Santa leave the building and get into his car (to take him to his magic sleigh of course) and sang "santa in the car goes brum brum brum" (wheels on the bus tune) all (ride home) long!

Love you, you little nutter xx

Theo, 2 year update x

Well Theo what a little Character you are! A cheeky, chirpy chatterbox! 

Honestly I am sure you now know more words than you don't! 

Daddy was playing with you the other day, and asked you to pass him the 'squid' and you said "no daddy it's an octopus!"

Today I fell about laughing when you came out with "well I suggest..." I swear I could have wet myself! You also have started to say "I suppose" and "what happened?" every now and again.  I chuckle to myself as I am now learning what I must say in abundance!

Your most frequent question is "what's that noise?" The sound track to my day, and because of which, you have now learnt to differentiate between motorbikes, aeroplanes, ambulances, police cars, lawn mowers etc.. you now tell me what they are! 

The other big word is "careful." I realise I must tell you this 100 times a day. You now tell me to "be careful mummy" which is so very sweet!

You are a careful boy though, and gentle in nature although naturally quite heavy handed. You are very loving to you brother though, and know not to be rough as he is only little. You take on tasks with sensible caution, such as the big climbing frames and slides, you are brave and will accomplish them...but "carefully!" Haha!

You went to your first proper birthday party yesterday in a Soft Play Centre, and I was amazed. It was your little friend Charlies birthday (from swimming) and he was 4.  You may have been only half their age but you were definitely braver than some of the big boys! 

There were a couple of bigger girls taking you around the different slides and frames. At first you were apprehensive about going in the under 5's bit without me, however 15 mins in and you were with the bigger girls in the under 12's bit!!! Coming down a 3 story slide on YOUR OWN!!! The other parents were as amazed as me!! I have a thrill seeker on my hands! You had so much fun!

You ate very little real food, but enough cake and sweets to sink a ship...you were happy though :)

You sang and ate sweets all the way home! 

You love singing, namely TV show theme tunes (FiFi and the flower tots, Mickey mouse clubhouse etc) but row row row your boat, wheels on the bus and twinkle twinkle all get a turn. The Hot Dog song is a firm favourite... Complete with dance moves! Mickey mouse has a lot to answer for.... I have had to stop giving you food in 3's such as blue berries, mini cheddar's, carrots and chopped banana ... anything divisible by 3 can be made into Mikey mouse heads...and then you won't eat them!!

You are becoming such a big boy! You have now done 2 poo's on the potty successfully, but little has happened for a while..we will keep trying though!

You are down to have your little trial at pre-school next month (only for 6 hours a week) and I am so not ready to let you go... but you are ready for new adventures, regularly asking for your  "Ee-o" (Sofia) as you want a little friend to play with.

You have started for the first time recently to go out on short trips or walks with daddy, to see nanny or on the hill, and you love it. You don't want to come home! Your open mind and little legs want to explore, and I can't hold you back.

You keep asking me to go see the "winos" "muddys" and the "wraffes" again, so I am so glad I bought the zoo pass! I have a feeling there will be many adventures there...we've been 3 times already in a month!

You are so amazing and unbelievably cute, I wish I could bottle up the sound of your laugh and your energy; your little expressions, phrases and body language are just so sweet and funny. I am so proud to be your mummy, I love you so much, you funny little being!

Until next time xxx

A Super Duper 2nd Birthday!

Well this past week has been a busy one to say the least! And there has been weeks of prep work prior to creating the perfect birthday for you! 

Daddy has spent approximately 20 hrs in the Garden building your super duper 'climbing frame house/ meets den/fort with triple swings and a huge wavy slide!' Someone is a lucky boy!!! Nanny and Granddad, Gran D, Auntie Catherine, Mummy and Daddy have all chipped in towards it, and I hope you and Milo will have a good few years of fun out of it! 

Grandma has even donated a cupboard from her bathroom for your cafe' /kitchen/shop and it doesn't look too bad at all after a simple paint job!

We started birthday celebrations the day before your actual birthday, and let you have one present that morning. It was a big dinosaur (Pachyrhinosaurus I think!) It seemed very apt as there is a big dinosaur exhibit on at Chester Zoo at the moment, which is where we were going for the day. 

You just love 'Assaurs!' (Which does indeed sound like Ass holes from your cherub like chops!) 

In honesty I cannot help but smirk to myself every time I hear it, before informing you 'dinosaurs' does in fact start with a D.... but no rush...

My favourite part of our zoo escapade was only 30 mins in... when you just walked up to a Chester Zoo worker in your little yellow raincoat and said "Me at Zoo!.... Anmals...Ephants...Monkeys!" All so excitedly ... I felt so proud of how confident and excited you were.

I Loved how you just wanted to share your excitement..and tell someone you were at the zoo! 

"OOH lovely" said the lady "what are you going to see next...?" 

"Anmals...Assaurs!" You confidently shout! 

I smile and say "Yes Theo, we're going to see some dinosaurs" and watch her knowingly smirk as well.

I am really glad I bought a years membership pass as you really loved it. We will get our moneys worth I am sure as we didn't manage to see half of the animals that are there. There is just so much to see, and your little legs are only so long.

 You kept trying to walk and direct us back to the monkeys...therefore I assume they were your ultimate favourite? Closely followed by the tortoises and turtles. There wasn't anything you did not seem to be fascinated by, asking "A FA?" (What's that) to all the ones you didn't know the names of. You liked the baby 'Bambi' Deer and were eager for us to go to the Bats (brave little thing in the black bat cave!) WE managed to fit in the Febras (Zebras) and Wraffes (Giraffes) which you have always liked, from the pictures of them. You were a little unnerved the closer you got to the Giraffes as I don't think you expected them to be quite so large! 

We had a fab time and there was no tantrums! You were a bit unsure of the dinosaurs, hiding your eyes, but no tears, you were just wary. I think they were just overwhelming in size and to be honest I had no idea how real they would look and appear! I think you are one big brave boy!

I had a great time at the zoo with you, but it's definitely not as easy with 2 babies! Good job Daddy was on hand. Milo was excellent though all things considered. I certainly am learning that for a full day out, feeding stops and bathroom stops with a double buggy and 2 under 2's is hard going! Worth it though!

Wednesday was your actual birthday and I was so glad we didn't try to cram everything in to the one day. We managed to have a relaxed day whilst you did a little present hunt/trail. 

The hunt started in the bathroom (bath toys/crayons, so you could use them in your morning bath) and they then followed through the house; around the lounge, kitchen and into the garden where the big outdoor frame and your 360 spin seesaw was. 

I even dotted presents around the garden, in the swings and in the house and cafe. 

You were really good and wore a blindfold to go outside, and I was so pleased to hear the "Wowee!" Uttered from your overwhelmed little self!

You were over the moon! The present hunt took almost all day as you played with almost everything you opened before moving onto the next, but I love that. You are so gentle with the paper and take it at your own little pace, you don't just rip it off and rush through them, you really take your time. In fact you have over the week said "No don't rip it" and "fix it" too many super-cute times to count!

After a nap Sofia your best friend came round with your presents and a big 2 balloon for you (and helped you open the presents you hadn't got to yet.) She also brought a chocolate Caterpillar cake and you both had lots of fun running around and scoffing your little faces (not with the tea I made for you both mind you!) It was all just too exciting for you both I think!

After your actual birthday we were organising for your Party Weekend! I changed the day from the Saturday to the Sunday after a promise of rain, so Saturday you opened a ton of fabulous presents from Grandma, The Aunties and Gran D (after a morning with Sofia at the madhouse Soft play.) You were spoiled rotten with Peppa pig play sets, and a Dancing Mickey, a big Vroom garage and plenty of other great educational and other fun toys! You are one lucky boy!!

So Sunday was the big party day and I had been ordering all the decor for your party weeks before, as well as making your cake and cupcakes in the day or two before hand. The theme was 'Theo's Round up!' As you are so utterly in love with Woody and Toy story!  All the Family dressed up as Cowgirls/Cowboys and some of your little friends did too! You, Daddy and Milo were all dressed as Woody and you all looked amazing! 

We played pass the parcel and you ate lots of sweets cake and wotsits...despite me making little boxed homemade 'happy meals' for you all... you can't predict the tastes of toddlers!

I hope you had lots of fun!

 There were ball pond balls everywhere by the end of it and all the outdoor toys had been well played with. The space hoppers hopped and the cars were driven, seesaw was spun and bikes had been ridden!

 I was absolutely shattered by party bag time! We gave all your little friends a party bag with sweets, cake, little toy story army men and a play doh set each. We ended the evening with lots of swings in the towel for you and you cackled away laughing, all sugar drunk from marshmallows!

Well that leads us to today after an exhausting few days...I am happy to say I didn't get dressed today! After opening the presents from your party, Daddy took you to Nanny's for a couple of hours this morning whilst me an Milo put some order back into our home. We've been cleaning up from parties and re organising all the cupboards; to now house all your new things!! 

The lounge was like Toy story meets Fisher Price War zone this afternoon!

But we are all now back to full order (if there is any such thing) and I have enjoyed spending the late afternoon outside in our sunny garden..which is now practically as good as the Park! It is Safe to say that Smiley Miley loves the swings as much as you! Gurgling and giggling away as he goes back and forth. In fact he even falls asleep in it! He is such a little dream and you are such a gorgeous and funny boy! I have had great fun 'hiding' in your house with you both...who knew I could fit...never mind the 3 of us...and dolly! What a day! What a week!

I Cannot believe this time 2 years ago I was still just me...we had a rough ride getting you here, and although it still so vivid, it is also a lifetime ago. It is impossible to fathom that you, the wondrous little being I grew/created and will forever continue to nurture, has only been on this earth for two years!! 2 years!?!?! I feel like I have loved you a life time. Theodore, you make me the best version of me. My proudest and happiest moments have all been because of you and your baby brother. You are so full of joy and mischief, you are so full of love. Happy 2nd Birthday my big baby boy! Love you to the moon and back! Welcome to toddler hood...stay happy, inquisitive, caring and kind but most of all, keep enjoying the adventure! Xxx

Letting go....

Today has been tiring, but lovely. We have been swimming with Daddy at Aqua tots, and as usual you were elated to be there. You walked in by yourself today, kicking and splashing, desperate to jump in and go, like the little duck you have become.

Aside from swimming we have played 'village' with all your little people and the cottage, putting policemen to bed and fireman in the bath.. and of course we had the school children running the emergency services! We laughed as I did all the different accents for each person, and you started to gabble away too, making them chat to each other. I love watching your imagination develop.

My definite highlight of today however is your new singing. "Let it gooooo, LET IT GOOOO...." which happened for the first time yesterday, yet today from the kitchen I heard " Let it goooo, LET IT GOOOOO....no do do do anymoooo" (to the tune) ...you just randomly burst into song. It was hilarious! I am both proud and tickled at your funny little ways.

A lot of today was spent rearranging furniture and cupboards, for you and the new baby. We were mostly drilling things to the wall..and moving your room around. Most importantly today, my single bed that I have been sleeping on;  in your room (for 18 months) has been dismantled....and you and getting to have your room all to yourself! Loads more space to play! 

We have made a play area by your bookshelves and  a quiet 'story corner' with a brand new 'chair bed' comfy seat (in case you need me or someone to sleep in with you at any point.)  

Your soft glow moon light is above it with a bookcase. It looks really lovely, and your little face was a picture when I took you up to see it, you were so shocked, with your little hand gestures...followed by "wow" in your tuneful little tone. 

You certainly seemed to like it... and there were no complaints from you at all at bed time. In fact you were quite eager to hop into bed with your milk... so grown up!

As I anxiously ponder over whether to turn off the landing light or not, while you sleep so soundly in your perfect little dreamworld, snuggled in your toddler bed with your favourite toys. It is safe to say you are more ready to grow up, than I am ready to let go of what we have had; just the two of us and our bed time snuggles. I am pretty sure I know who will be getting the better sleep tonight.... night night Theo, my darling boy, my chubby little cherub chops.... Until Morning xx