Month Ten as a Family of Four

I had a Facebook memory shown to me on the 16th February, that this time last year I was 30 weeks pregnant and that’s when my pregnancy began to have a few bumps in the road with my blood pressure. This year? I have a bouncing 10 month old and a threenager keeping me on my toes. So here is my 10 month update on being a family of four; you can read what we got up to last month here.

The Big One

Since we’ve got back from holiday I’ve found parenting really tough. The Big One has been pushing each and every button just by being a typical three year old, I’m not sure if some of it has come from the fact that Daddy has gone back to work or whether we are just settling back down into routine. Though it helped to know that it wasn’t just me, that so many of my friends are going through the same; that I am not alone.

In spite of me being a grumpy Mummy, we have had some lovely times this past month. Mindful that we haven’t got into the kitchen much we’ve been busy looking through the Usbourne First Cook Book which he got for Christmas. First making raisin flapjacks, then getting braver and adapting recipes to include his favourite ever food – chocolate. Then we had to make a cake, where I cheated and helped him whip up Betty Crockers finest chocolate fudge cake. Which he promptly declared a birthday cake.

As well as this I also bought a Mindful Craft box from KenziBox filled with three crafts to do which help with mindful parenting. Something which we’ve both taken stock from, he’s had fun making them and I’ve remembered that even if sometimes I’m tired being an attachment parent, that being an attachment parent is my parenting style. So far we’ve made two out of the three and had a lot of fun doing so. A feelings wheel and a glitter mind jar to calm him during meltdowns. It might help if I remembered to pull out the glitter jar during said meltdowns.

Baby Boy

10 months old and separation anxiety has hit. Alongside the “I am an independent baby” which leads to this:

Yes. The full on pulling up has begun. Anything his little fingers can grasp onto, clawing their way to get him, unsteadily, to his feet. The table. The couch. Our bed. My head as I am lying on the floor. His little baby friends. His brother. Anything is game. That is the game he likes to play all day long, stand up, look pleased as punch. Then shout because he hasn’t quite worked out how to SIT down again.

It’s turning me grey, hovering round him in case he face plants, while trying to remind the Big One that he needs to be gentle.

I’m also becoming more aware that I am parenting differently this time round. Not just on the I am more relaxed front but that I am not the mum who makes rainbow spaghetti at 11pm at night anymore. Sensory activities are in the form of baby wipes and paper and toys he shouldn’t have. I’d love to know some easy activities that you do with your little ones that I can get him involved in.

Brothers

As I said I am making it my mission to try and get a photo of them together each month. This is my February effort….

The Husband and I

Have had a topsy turvy kind of month not knowing if we are coming or going, and now we know.  We are definitely going.  That’s right, it has been decided that we are UK bound once more come the summer after a round of redundancies.  It’s mixed emotions to be honest, while we are excited that we are headed home and for a new challenge, being closer to friends and family.  We are also sad to be leaving Dubai, this place has been our home for the past 3 years.  It’s the place where our Baby Boy was born.  We have seen a lot, lived through a lot, and enjoyed a lot while we’ve been here, making some fantastic friends along the way.

So for the next few months, while we are here, we are planning to work on our Dubai bucket list.  And most importantly, enjoy a good few date nights with the luxury that being out here can bring.

See you next month!