Treading water

I am currently experiencing what must be an almost universal struggle for parents after weeks of summer holidays. Of course we have decided to add a tiny baby to the mix just to make life interesting! Nemo is bouncing off the walls, I try and take them out every day however it is never enough for poor Nemo who has always loved being out and stimulated as much as possible! 

Not one to shy away from a challenge I decided to use the extra time at home to potty train Pebble. Now Nemo was a bit of a nightmare potty trainer, I have hoped that Pebble would be better but now on day 10 of no nappies during the day we have yet to have any success. Honestly between the 3 children (Nemo is still having some nighttime accidents) I feel like I'm drowning in wee and poo! 

It's a bit of a lonely time as well, no groups or school runs means that I can go days without any adult conversation with anyone other than hubby. 

There are a couple of things helping cheer me up- first is my crafting and second is my glass of mummy juice when the children in bed! 

(I can recommend pink gin as both pretty and yummy!) 

I've definitely been on a sewing spree over the last couple of weeks. Pip has gone up another sizing range (so sad to pack away those tiny clothes!) however this has given me an excuse to make more clothes. I had leftover sloth material and Pip had already grown out of the last romper I made for her out of it so I made another! 

(Yes I made is super big this time so it lasts longer!) 

I changed a t shirt pattern to make a dress for Pebble. 

(I even tried to be fancy and do a longer back) 

I also used left over deer fabric from Pebble's dress to make Pip and top and hat. 

My twin nieces are having a Totoro themed party shortly. Pebble has always reminded me of the little girl Mai from the film (hence her Totoro themed first birthday cake).

I was very delighted at the excuse to get a Mai themed outfit for her. Having failed to find a reasonably priced dress and puff sleeve blouse I decided to make some. Thankfully using plain cotton meant the fabric cost me very little. 

First attempt at a blouse so it's a little untidy, I love the Peter Pan collar though. 

Yes it's the same Sally Dress pattern I've used many times before! 

Nemo and Pip are going as Tororo. I bought Nemo a Tororo T-shirt and Pip a Totoro vest however have made Totoro a pair of leggings and a hat (with an attempt at ears!) to go with it. 

I've also made the twins another pair of dresses for their birthday (because my sleep deprived brain lacks any originality!) 

So I couldn't end a blog without some seriously sweet photos of number 3. 

Pip is growing so fast it's scary. She is a little ray of sunshine though, her little eyes light up and go rainbow shaped when she smiles! 

She just adores being sung to and is irrestably cute. She's not too bad during the night but it would be nice to be getting a bit more sleep! Her brother and sister both love her but Nemo in particular is besotted with Pip 

I love this photo of Hubby and his girls all napping! 

Ok so looking at these kind of photos is why I get broody! This is the kind of photo I need to look at the help remedy this! 

Your welcome!! 

  

Fireman Nemo turns 4

*Yes this blog is super late but we went on holiday after Nemo's birthday then I've been have technical issues!*

So it's that time of year again where one my my babies has a birthday and I stress over trying to make a cake that way over pushes the boundaries of my cake making talents.

This time is is my baby boy's 4th birthday. 

Just grown a bit then?!?

It's hard to believe my first born is now no longer a baby, or even a toddler but definately into little boy territory. He's changed so much over the last year, you can have full conversations with him. Nemo is so full of energy it's ridiculous. Parenting Nemo often feels like trying to take a younger Poppy for a walk on a short lead. Like Poppy would always be pulling on the lead and need reminding to heel Nemo is constantly pushing boundaries, wanting to understand things, jumping on things etc! He's so loving and funny and yet I feel like I'm constantly asking him to stop doing things! 

Nemo wants to be a fireman when he grows up. He's decided he wants 10 babies and initially wanted to marry a fireman (girls are ikky of course) however more recently he decided he wants to marry a fire engine instead! 

After last years pirate cake fiasco I said I'd never make a shaped cake and yet my little boy asked for a fire engine cake so here I was doing what I said I'd never do and making a shaped cake. I have to admit the shape was much easier then a boat shape but with 2 children and a newborn I was more pushed for time then I ever have been before. At 2am on the day of Nemo's birthday after I had dropped the last of my green icing on the floor this is the photo I took before retreating to bed!

Wheels falling off and scenery unfinished! 

Well anyway I finished the next day although I didn't do everything I had planned (I wanted to do a fireman and say happy birthday in the puddle of water!) 

So far my collection of my childrens' birthday cakes colection look like this 

Of course now Pip is here it's another cake to make every year! 

Other crafting I did for Nemo's birthday was sewing a hoodie and two pair of shorts in dinosaur and mountain material.

The weather wasn't great on Nemo's birthday but Grandma and Grandad were here and we did make a quick trip to the beach when the weather improved for an hour or two. We got Nemo a second hand fireman bike and a play mobil rocket so he enjoyed playing with those and his other birthday presents.

Being my first baby I am always learning with Nemo however he makes me so proud. He is such a loving and energetic little boy and such a good big brother to his sisters. (Setting aside the battles with Pebble over toys!) 

So happy birthday to my special baby boy! 

(Yes that's Pip wearing Nemo's T-shirt- I had a parenting fail moment) 

Happy birthday Nemo :)