Mummy & Me - July 2018

Another month is coming to a close, which means it's time for our monthly Mummy & Me pictures! My friend Nicola over at Life Through My Eyes no longer hosts the linky on her blog, but having taken part every month for 2 and a half years I feel like I've got to stick with it now! They are lovely posts to look back at too.

This month has been crazy, with Noah finishing nursery for good and with the weather being glorious, we've been so busy! Most of our photo's during the month have been quick and silly selfie's, just like these two! You'll have to excuse my face on both of these shots but I was being daft, encouraging Ava to do the same! I love how we are all wearing yellow, twinning is winning! That was totally unintentional. Hopefully, we'll have time for some better photographs next month!

Mummy & Me - June 2018

Here we are, at the end of another month! Where is the year going? It's already time for our monthly Mummy & Me post. How gorgeous has June been? Summer has only just officially started but we've had glorious sun for weeks now, we really can't complain about the weather this year! We are in our element when it's sunny so we've had lots of days out this month, we've been to Alton Towers, CBeebies Land, to the seaside,  to the Sealife Centre and to our usual spots like Towneley Park and so on. We've also spent a lot of time outside in the garden, splashing about in the paddling pool and cooling down with ice creams. I wish the weather was like this all year round! 

Anyway, here are the two photo's I've picked for this months post. The first being one of the shots that Noah took of Ava and me on a warm summer afternoon. We'd taken a walk down to a local pond, sat down to have a little rest and to play I spy and he decided he wanted to take some photographs. I think I had about 50 shots of Ava and I and then half a dozen of his feet and random blades of grass. The second photo is a silly selfie that we took after a family meal out for Nick's 32nd Birthday. I can't believe how grown up he looks in the photo!

Mummy & Me - May 2018

May has been a fantastic month, we've had glorious weather here in the UK with lots of bank holidays and family days out. We've just come back from our yearly holiday abroad. Last year we went to Marbella in Spain and stayed in a relations villa with family. Ava was just 11 weeks old at the time, it was her first holiday abroad and Noah's second time. They both love to go on holiday and both travel so well.

This year we decided to go to Puerto Pollensa in Majorca, just the four of us. We booked 11 nights, all inclusive in a 4-star hotel and it was just what we needed!  The location was perfect, the hotel was fantastic, the food was delicious and the weather was stunning! Whilst we were there I celebrated my 30th birthday which really made the big day even more memorable. We came home this weekend and I've had major holiday blues, so much so I'm thinking of booking something else later this year.

With going on holiday I had so many photographs to choose from this month. Nick had taken so many candid shots of the kids and I but I've managed to whittle it down to three. The first is a shot of Ava's first time walking on sand and into the sea. Some children don't like the feel of sand and can be scared of the sea, but not Ava! She's so outgoing and loves to explore and experience new things. The next are two shots of me playing with the children in the pool and baby splash park. We spent so much time in and around the pool, the kids loved it! Oh, what I'd do to be back there right now!

Mummy & Me - April 2018

It's that time of month, it's time for Mummy and me! April has been quite kind to us weather wise, we've had days of glorious sunshine but then days of typical April showers too. We've enjoyed half a dozen family days out, no matter the weather and my favourite pictures of us this month have got to be these ones.

The first picture is just a quick snap at our Grandparents house. We'd stayed for dinner and the kids had been playing in the garden in the sun. It was such a lovely afternoon. The bottom two are candid shots that were taken yesterday at Knowsley Safari Park. One on the steam train, the other on the carousel. Next month we should have some great shots together as we are off to Majorca. We are all so excited! 

Mummy & Me - March 2018

On my Mummy & Me post last month, I wrote how it was a little bit of an emotional one for me. You can read more about that here. I'll be honest and say that this months post is no different. It's an emotional one, in the best kind of way. At the start of March it was Ava's 1st birthday and I still can't quite get my head around it!

March has been one amazing month, we've loved every minute of it. With having such a busy month we've taken so many photo's, it's been quite hard to narrow them down. That being said the first picture for this months Mummy & Me has got to be one from Ava's first birthday party. I've taken similar pictures with Noah over the years, him sat on my lap, with a birthday cake, blowing out the candles (Nov 2015 & Nov 2016) and I love looking back to relive those birthday milestones. I guess it's going to become a little tradition for Ava and I too.

I adore these photo's that were taken on our little holiday to Center Parcs a couple of weeks ago. These pictures show Ava finding her bearings, walking outside for the first time. I think it's lovely that she walked outdoors for the first time whilst we were away. Noah came over to help too, ever the protective big brother.

Last but not least is quite the signature shot of Noah and I. I've lost count of the amount of times that Nick has taken photo's of me holding Noah's hand walking through the woods, sometimes with Ava strapped to my chest or me pushing her in the pram. I never grow old of them though, I treasure them and I'm so grateful that he remembers to take photographs of me and the kids.

Mummy & Me - February 2018

This months Mummy & Me post is a little bit of an emotional one for me, and you can see why when you look at my post from last year. I was overdue and fed up, we were all aching to meet her! That photo on my birth ball with Noah sat on my lap is one of my favourites and I'm so grateful that Nick managed to take it for me.

Fast forward 12 months and Ava turns 1 in just three days time. I still can't get my head around it. It's been the fastest year of my life with chasing after two little ones but one of my best too. She's everything we ever dreamed of and more and has totally completed our family. This is the reason I take part in Mummy & Me every month, it's priceless to look back at all these posts with just a click of the button.

I had quite a few different pictures to choose from this month but I narrowed it down to three. The first one is from last weekend, when we took the kids to the Sealife Centre. It was Ava's first time and she was absolutely mesmerised by all the fish and huge tanks, the Jelly Fish in particular. The second photo is a quick shot of Ava being cheeky, Noah being 4 going on 14 and me doting on them. Last but not least just a quick selfie on a day out with the kids. Noah is such a little poser and so handsome!

Mummy & Me - January 2018

It's time for my first Mummy & Me post of 2018. The photo's I chose for this month aren't anything special, just a quick shot on the park and a couple of selfies but I love them none the less. It's so funny to see how much Ava poses for the camera, especially on selfie mode! She is such a little character! Noah is usually too busy to come and take a photo with me but I did manage to get a couple of snaps.

We've not been getting out and about as much as we usually do because the weather has been awful. We've had snow, rain, hailstone, sleet! When we do get out and about we sure make the most of our time though. I can't wait until it starts warming up and we can have countless family days out with the kids again. Bring on Spring!

Mummy & Me - December

As we near the end of 2017 I feel quite emotional writing my last Mummy & Me post. This time last year I was pregnant with Ava and one of the photo's I used was a picture of me holding Noah, with both of our hands on my bump. Fast forward 12 months and my baby bump is now a nine month old Ava bean and it's honestly been the fastest year of my life. I feel like I've blinked and a whole 365 days have just flown on by. She's well and truly completed our family and I can't remember what life was like before she arrived.

I had half a dozen different photo's to chose from this month, from days out or quick shots whilst we've been at home but I had to go for these three festive pictures. My favourite has got to be the one of Ava giving me a big Christmas kiss whilst we waited to visit Father Christmas. She looked so cute in one of her Christmas dresses, matching headband and fluffy white coat and it was such a lovely afternoon. The other two photo's are a little grainy with them being a front camera selfie but I love them none the less. We were all sat under the tree on Christmas Eve, so excited for the morning ahead! Christmas is always magical when you have a child but having two, it just made it even more memorable. Our first Christmas as a family of four and we've all had the most amazing time!

Mummy & Me - November

Another month has been and gone, it'll be Christmas before we know it! We've had a pretty relaxed kind of month compared to October with us being poorly every other week!

My Mummy and Me photo's for this month had to be photo's that we took on the morning of Noah's birthday party, the day before his 4th birthday! He managed to fall over and give himself a nasty bruise and a black eye whilst at a friends house just a couple of days before his big day. Take a look at that shiner! That being said it didn't phase him and he had the most amazing birthday party, surrounded by all his friends and family. I still can't believe he's 4! 

Mummy & Me - October

There are so many photo's that I could have chose for this months Mummy & Me but I had to go for the photo's from our recent family break to Butlin's. We had such a fantastic time and the kids were so well behaved, none of us wanted to leave! We were actually invited to review their Just 4 Tots breaks so stop by in the next couple of weeks to read all about our thoughts if you are thinking about going yourself.

The four photo's I chose are pretty self explanatory really, showing what we got up to whilst we were there. Lots of exploring and having fun! My favourite picture has got to be the silly selfie of Noah and I, we were just setting off for a day on the Skegness sea front and were so excited! Here's to our next break away!

Mummy & Me - September

I honestly cannot believe I'm writing September's Mummy & Me post already, where did the month go? In fact where did the year go? I love my Mummy and Me photo's this month as I think they sum us up perfectly.

The first two pictures are what the three of us do the best and that's getting out and about outdoors to explore. There's nothing I love more than getting the kids outside and for us all to stretch our legs in the fresh air as a family, come rain or shine! I'm so happy that Nick snapped a few photo's on our recent outing, although I had to ask him to of course! I think these photo's show our personalities pretty well too. First there's Noah being his lovable self by giving me a cuddle and holding my hand. Then there's Ava being a velcro baby, all snuggled into my chest whilst feeding in the sling. Lastly there's me, with my eyes and smile on the kids as always. The third picture, well that's just an every day occurrence and nothing out of the ordinary, a candid photo of a full lap and a full heart.  

Mummy & Me - August

Okay, August has officially been the quickest month of the year, maybe of my life! Seriously, where has this month gone? Another month calls for another Mummy & Me post and here are the photo's I decided to choose. We've had lots of family days out and spontaneous trips this month and I often forget to get photo's of myself with the kids however here are two that I did manage to get, thanks Nick!

The first photo is one that was taken this Friday at a family birthday meal. Ava was exhausted after being passed around from family to family member, being cooed over and smothered in kisses. She does really well with this, better than Noah was at her age (he had stranger and separation anxiety) but her bottom lip does quiver if she can't see me or hasn't been with me for a while. I love cuddles like this, they are only little for such a short amount of time. The second photo was just a quick shot after we'd had a game of bowling, which I lost of course! I'm terrible at bowling! Look how mesmerised both kids are by this Plants VS Zombies game, future gamers or what?!

Mummy & Me - July

How am I writing July's Mummy & Me post already? July has been and gone in the blink of an eye but it's been a great one, full of lots of fun days out and exciting adventures. I chose three very different photo's this month as I adore each one for different reasons.

The photo above was taken this weekend on a long family walk and I just love the expressions on both Noah and Ava's faces, they are such happy children and I look full of pride! The photo's below are both candid shots which Nick took when I was unaware, something I'm very grateful for and something I've been encouraging him to do for a while now. Us Mum's take so many pictures of our children with their Dad's, siblings and other relations but we always tend to be on the other side of the camera! I think the last photo is my favourite this month. I was feeding Ava to sleep, Noah rolled over to cuddle her and fell asleep himself, I think my heart was melting right there and then. Look at them!

Mummy & Me - February

When writing last months Mummy & Me post I was convinced that when it came to my February Mummy & Me that our baby would be here by now and that we'd finally be a family of four! She had other ideas in mind though as I'm currently 5 days overdue. As I type this it's the 25th of February and as the month draws to a close I've decided to go ahead with these two photo's from the February as she may now be born in March! The first photo is a slightly candid photo of myself on the birth ball while having a tender moment and big cuddle from Noah. He insisted on sitting on my knee and I just had to ask Nick to take a photo. It's a photo I'm going to treasure forever and one that I'll be showing both children. The second photo is my bun in the oven who has decided to keep us all waiting by being overdue. Come on little one, we can't wait to meet you! 

Mummy & Me - January

It's 2017, the start of a brand new year of Mummy & Me. I can't believe that it's been almost two years since my friend Nicola over at Life Through My Eye's created this amazing linky and I'm proud to have taken part since the very beginning. 

January is a very important month for us this year as it is probably going to be the last month of us being a family of three. Noah will no longer be my only child and as excited as we are to meet our new addition that thought is so surreal at the same time! Although I've now been pregnant for over 250 days it still doesn't feel real and that's probably down to how fast it's gone by!

It's rather fitting that this month's photo's are of Mummy, Noah and baby bump. Although our baby girl isn't born yet Noah is already showing such endearing moments of affection towards her. He's always talking about his "baby sister" and often asks her to hurry up! On a daily basis he will come over to me and will cuddle or stroke my bump on his own accord and this week he's been telling me how excited he is to meet her! Just think on next months Mummy & Me we might be including our daughter, that's if she decides to show up on time!