Month Eleven as a Family of Four

It feels like no time at all since I was writing our ten month update, and letting you all know our big news.  Yet now it’s time for our 11 month update as a family of four.    The last month has been a whirlwind of starting to get ready to leave our villa as our lease is up, in 2 weeks we will be moving into our serviced apartment (eek) to finish our time here in the sandpit.  I’m not going to lie, it’s been a little crazy and is set to get crazier!

We’ve still managed some fun bits in the month with a trip to Picture People for the first ever UAE Mom Bloggers meet up where I got some lovely shots of me and the boys.

Picture People UAE

The Big One

Has continued to push my buttons, but, I have now made a “blitter jar” to help us when we are dealing with tantrums, it’s helped on so many levels not least by acting as a reminder to me of the way I want to parent when surrounded by the chaos that is a screaming three year old.  That’s not to say it’s always been perfect and we always have those upsets over things that I have no idea about.  You know, like taking the plug out of the bath but not being able to keep the water in….

On a positive note, this month I wanted to introduce a Mummy-Big One date.  For 2 and a half years it was just the two of us, spending all of our time together, doing special things while Daddy was out at work.  Then the Baby burst on the scene and *poof* all of a sudden no more special time alone, there was always a baby who needed feeding, or his nappy changing.  All of a sudden our special time had gone.  This month, for two hours, we recreated that special time and went to make pizza together.  It was lovely to spend some time together without having an ear out for the Baby, or the Baby trying to join in (which is very cute but not always very practical).  What made it even lovelier was at the end when the Big One asked to take the pizza home to share with the Baby.

Jones the Grocer Masterclass

Baby Boy

Still pulling up, still cruising along. Not quite walking yet (thank you for that!) but I don’t think he will be too long.  Which has made for some interesting nappy changes, any tips for nappy changing a baby on the move?

We are having lots of lovely babbling and little conversations. Though I think this picture from Anna Lewis of Sketchy Muma from her Instagram page sums it all up perfectly

A photo posted by Anna Lewis (@sketchymuma) on

Still, Mama won’t be far behind will it? He continues to be the happiest, giggliest baby that I’ve ever met, his little chuckles never fail to make me smile.  Though they quickly stop when he is tired, and recently we have been having nap battles.  Which have pretty much been nap failures!

Brothers

I am failing at taking photos of the two of them, well, I’m failing at taking good photos. I much prefer to take candid shots rather than posed. From a distance capturing the moment, losing the awkward smiles and capturing the essence of childhood. It’s a little bit more difficult when I am trying to get the two of them in shot at once (they like to go in different direction) or when they are in the same place shoving, hair pulling and pushing, that’s just the Baby. Though it rained this month. And to two little boys who haven’t seen much rain in their life, we had utter fascination.

brothers

Though thanks to Picture People I did manage to get a photo of the three of us, which I adore!

The Husband and I

It still hasn’t sunk in, at all, that we are leaving.  We are a mere 2 weeks away from leaving our house, shipping our furniture and moving into a serviced apartment for 2 months yet it still doesn’t feel real that we are leaving!

I’ve managed to cross one thing off my bucket list by going to a ladies night last week, but I definitely need to do a few more because what is not to love, free drinks on a school night?  Yes please!

We haven’t managed a date night this month, but we have managed lots of lovely lunches out with the boys at weekends.  That said I think it is important for couple time so we need to make time to make date nights!

I’ve also been reminded that while my blog is a fantastic hobby that it shouldn’t consume me.   I read this a lot, and I mean a lot, on other blogger’s sites, that it takes a lot to run a successful blog.  That it is all consuming and that it does take a lot of hours.  But it also takes a lot to have a successful marriage.  And a happy family life.  I don’t need to post every day.  I don’t need to join in with every linky.  I don’t need to “up my game”.  I don’t need to be addicted to my phone.  There is a lot I need to do, but to have every evening spent with a laptop, not making much conversation, that is not up there at the top of my to do list.  It’s time for me to work smarter and not have it be at the detriment of my family.

But what is at the top of my list is to have a wonderful weekend in Abu Dhabi in a few weeks, to start really working on our Dubai bucket list and to actually face facts that we are leaving!!

All that said see you next month!

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3 Comments

  1. March 17, 2016 / 10:41 pm

    I love the idea of your date time with the big one. I would love to do something similar with my biggest girl, it is such a change from being together all the time when a baby turns up isn’t it? I hope you enjoy the remainder of your time in Dubai and I hope I’ll be able to meet you at a blogger do one day in the future when you’re back in the UK.
    Natalie.x

    • Laura
      Author
      March 18, 2016 / 7:49 pm

      Most definitely Natalie! I’m going to make sure I’m around! It really is such a big change for them we had a lovely time just the two of us where he had 100% of my attention 100% of the time xx

  2. March 23, 2016 / 12:58 am

    So exciting to be moving back to the UK although I bet you will miss the heat and the sunshine in Dubai. I bet it has been an exciting adventure. I love the idea of these little family updates, such a good idea. x

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