Another year done and dusted, and what a year it has been! From my Baby Shower in January to Celebrating Master M's First Christmas in December and everything in between.
I am sharing some of the highlights (and a few lows) of our year: 2014! Enjoy!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!
- Had a growth scan at 32 weeks - our son is going to be a BIG one!
- We had our Maternity photos taken by the lovely Stacey Milich Photography.
- I had a "Giraffe/Blue/Green-theme" Baby Shower - celebrated with my nearest and dearest. Miss B and cousin Paige set up a little Nail Salon for the guests to get pampered. It was a wonderful day - we played games, ate yummy food & opened so many presents! (we were very lucky - Thank you)
- Miss B starts back at school as a Senior - Year 5 (NZ)
- My Grandad (Mum's Dad) passed away two weeks before my due date :( That's his house (left) - he lived there for over 30 years! RIP Grandad. We love you and miss you everyday.
- Got to see my big brother, Jade - who currently lives in Melbourne. Although it was under sad circumstances, it was really good to see him.
- Enjoyed having one-to-one time with Miss B before baby arrives.
- 24 February 2014 - was MY DUE DATE! (Frame (right) belonged to my Grandad x)
- 1st/2nd March - False Labour (NOT NICE)
- We welcomed Master M into our little family on 5th March (9 days overdue), weighing in a whopping 10lb 14oz! You can read about it here: My Labour & Birth Story
- Miss B turned 9 years old - I took her & her friend, Aimee (with 3 day old Master M) to get a Manicure & Pedicure Pamper. We had BBQ dinner & cake with my parents and my partner's parents! It was a great day! Miss B got very spoilt.
- My partner went back to work when Master M was 5 days old - so it was just me and him at home. He was/is such a content, placid little boy! We are truly blessed
- Enrolled in SPACE (Supporting Parents Alongside Children's Education). You can read more about it here. We love SPACE - and have met some amazing new friends!
- At 3 weeks old - I was getting cabin fever so we ventured out and visited my old schools. Everyone absolutely loved Master M! Commenting on how big he is! We also got our family portrait done by Stacey Milich Photography - who did our Maternity Shoot in January.
- Master M & I hosted our first Coffee Group with a couple of Mums & Bubs from our Ante-Natal classes. We meet for Coffee group every month.
- Discharged from Midwives - referred to Plunket. As a thank you gift I made some Personalised Mugs for each of the midwives (there were four), including a coffee sachet and some easter eggs. They LOVED them!
- Master M has a really good routine...sleeps for 3 hours, awake for 1hour! Love my son! Not so cool: 6 weeks immunisations :(
- Had Easter with my partners family! Lovely lunch & lots of chocolate!
- Happy 30th Birthday to my twin brothers. (Master M's first party)
- Master M is smiling and getting a little personality! He is so handsome. Continues to thrive.
- The kids & I went up north to visit my parents for the night.
- Watched Miss B at her school Cross Country - she did really well. I am very proud of her.
- Master M continues to thrive - 3 months old
- Diagnosed with Post-Natal depression - lots of support from Plunket Support Nurse, friends & family
- Mother's Day - I had a lovely day with my two beautiful children. I also went out for lunch with my mum & daughter Miss B (left Master M with Daddy for the first time - we all survived)
- Went to a Baby & Toddler Expo in our city - lots of information and cool giveaways.
- I am really enjoying SPACE - learning a lot about the development of babies, singing songs, & making a craft.
- May 19th - Teacher by trade - Mother by nature Facebook page was created!!! A place where I can share things that I am passionate about (Blog was created a few months later)
- Attended a Sleep & Settling seminar featuring Dorothy Waide - hosted by OHBaby! Got some really great tips from Dorothy - and became friends with another Mum! (Yaye, Theresa)
- Master M's first visit to hospital :( Diagnosis: Colic - however (thankfully) it was a one-off episode.
- Master M is on the move - 1st half roll! (we were pretty excited about it) then rolled from his back to tummy! YAYE!
- Coffee groups & SPACE are AWESOME! Love my new group of friends (Mums & Bubs) - Great bunch of ladies!
- Attended an Introduction to Solids workshop.
- Had my Grandads Memorial Service (unveiling). Said good-bye to Bader Drive (his house) :(
- Getting my craft on at SPACE & at home. Check out DIY Gold Footprint for more details. I have also shared a lot of my crafts on my facebook page.
- Created a School Holiday Ideas Jar to keep Miss B occupied during the School Holidays. It was such a great idea and Miss B loved it - have been using it ever since. We would do things together when Master M was having his naps - making sure we had our Mother/Daughter time. (We also do Nail Art every Sunday)
- Bought some drawers at the Salvation Army for $10 so I made some DIY Giraffe-Inspired Drawers for Master M!
- Coffee Groups & SPACE continue! Our babies are growing so fast!
- Starting to get a little community on my Facebook page - which is really great!
- Not cool: 5 months Immunisations - Master M was very brave!
- Big Latch On - I helped organise this event with the Lactation Consultants - we had 20 mums & bubs latch on! Next year we plan to double it!
- My partner turned the BIG 30!! I made him a Beer Cake & gave him some special photos of Master M (like the ones above - in the middle)
- Our favourite song at SPACE is "It's a Rainbow" - SPACE is an amazing programme - I am really enjoying it and so is Master M.
- We went to our first Northland game for the year.
- My nephew turned 1! Woohoo!
- Challenged myself to organise all my photos on my laptop - it was MASSIVE job - I'm going to have to do it again!
- Started #FMSPhotoaday with Fat Mum Slim - See my photos on Instagram @charlene_ttmn
- 24th September - I bit the bullet and made an actual blog for Teacher by trade - Mother by nature! Read my First BLOG Post
- Master M is now 6 months old! CRAZY! Growing too fast my son, slow down. He's moved to a BIG BOY carseat now!
- My partner's FIRST Father's Day - The kids bought him a Warriors shirt (his favourite league team) & we had a lovely BBQ breakfast/lunch with my Dad & brothers
- SPACE & Coffee Groups are THE BEST!
- Master M trying to move around like a worm - it's so cute to watch - later in the month - WE HAVE A CRAWLER (army crawler)
- Miss B dressed up as Red Riding Hood for Book Character Day.
- Master M having solids now - was a slow start however he is getting better and eating more (still breastfeeding)
- First/Second SPACE party! Two of our friends from SPACE turned 1 this month! It was cool to celebrate their special day with them.
- Poor Master M got Bronchiolitis twice this month :( grrr winter grrr
- Miss B loves to bake - Check out the recipe for our Chunky Choc Cookies
- Started 20 Days to Organise & Clean Your Home Challenge with The Organised Housewife. I am so glad that I signed up. It was just what I (& my house) needed!
- Master M got his FIRST TOOTH! (although he had been teething since he was 4 months old)
- FIRST WORD: Mama - makes my heart melt when I hear my son call me Mama! Love him!
- My partner is patiently waiting for him to say Da-da
- We said Good-bye to our cat - Oscar :(
- Miss B's bedroom got a Makeover - looks amazing! See it here.
- My followers got to know a bit more about me 20 Things You Might Know About Me
- Master M crawled on all fours - eek!
- We went on a family walk around Hatea Loop - Check out our pics at Family Day Out
- Joined in on the #TuesdayTen Link Up - Hosted by The Golden Spoon & The Liebers
- Went to another SPACE 1st Birthday: See it - Kids Parties: Cars
- Our babies are getting more active at SPACE - starting to do lots of PLAY e.g. water, sand, playdough, paint, playground.
- Baked some delicious Banana Choc Muffins with Miss B - You must make some - they are really delicious!
- Celebrated my birthday this month - got very spoilt by my family - a tub full of goodies - including new Havaianas! Flowers from friends & a cake from SPACE ladies!
- Lots of SPACE Babies 1st Birthday Parties this month - Master M partied like a ROCKSTAR!
- Christmas Coffee Group - we made cute Christmas trees with our babies handprints
- I made an Advent Calendar for Miss B - See the activities under label - Advent Calendar
- Graduated SPACE (and received a Certificate in PlayCentre Course 1)
- Miss B got a certificate at her school Prizegiving for being a PAL Leader (Physical Activity Leader). Well done Miss B!
- Master M - 9 months old! Crawling, Standing, Lots of talking - Our son is THRIVING!
- First Christmas for Master M & our family of four! Spent the day with both families! Such a great day! See Our Christmas 2014. Master M met Santa. I think Miss B knows he's not real! eek!
- My best friend (and Miss B's GodMother) is back in NZ for a little holiday - so great to have her home.
- My AMAZING partner bought me my first DSLR camera - Canon EOS :) I love it (and I love my partner)
Thank you to everyone that has been a part of our lives and joined me on my blogging journey. I really hope you continue to join me in 2015 - we have a big year ahead - Miss B turning TEN, Master M turning ONE, putting our house on the market and buying a new one (eek). So with only a few hours left in 2014 - I want to wish everyone a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Signing off for 2014
