A special birthday surprise

Here at Chez Mummy, we celebrated Sophia's third birthday last week.  Three-years-old!  It's amazing to think that three years have already passed.  I have seen her grow from a tiny beautiful baby into a gorgeously cheeky and increasingly independent little girl.

My husband and I wanted to do something special for her to mark the start of her third year of life.  So, we decided to take her to her most favourite place in the whole of the big, wide world.

Where was it?

Parenting 'secrets': My Tesco Baby Club guest post

What parenting 'secrets' do you wish you had been told before falling pregnant?  You know, the real truth about having children that only mums and dads know but they don't tell you about when you announce you're expecting your own bundle of joy.

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A three-year-old's birthday bucket list

I know bucket lists tend to be 'things to die before you die'-type of things, but last month I read a newspaper article about the things your child should experience before they turn three-years-old - a type of 'birthday bucket list' if you will.

I have very recently been thinking about that article again. It has struck a chord with me because this week, my little girl (who really isn't so little anymore) turns three-years-old. Three! I'm really not sure where the time has flown; one minute she was a cute, gurgling, smiley baby...

And the next?  The next, she is an increasingly independent, cheeky, beautiful, fabulous little girl.

Sophia - I am so proud that you are my daughter.

So back to this 'birthday bucket list'.  The article, Things kids must try before they're three, appeared in The Sun back in January.  It got me questioning whether or not I've allowed Sophia to embrace enough experiences and have as much fun as possible.

And that made me a bit annoyed. 

Sunny side up

"You are my sunshine.  My only sunshine.  You make me happy when skies are grey..."

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I have welcomed a little sunshine into my life courtesy of Mills and Boon Wannabe.  Namely, a February Sunshine Award.  Thank you kindly sir *doffs cap*.  Apparently, what you need to do to accept this honour is to answer a few questions.  Hmm, doesn't sound too difficult.  Here we go...

A reprimand for mum

The other week, I received a reprimand of sorts.

Just before bedtime, Sophia walked into the living room.

She surveyed the scene; toys strewn across the floor after a day of play.  Putting hands on hips, she said, "Look at this mess."  She paused.  "It's all over!"

Sophia sighed and shook her head.

My husband and I looked at each other and tried hard to stifle our giggles.

"Who's going to tidy the mess up?" I asked.

"Mummy!"  She exclaimed without a moment's hesitation.  And with that she trundled happily off to bed.

I had to ask!

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This post has been linked up to 'Sunday Funny', a weekly linky courtesy of Actually Mummy and Mammasaurus.  Click on the badge below to see funny posts from loads of other bloggers.

Work, motherhood and a Domestic Goddesque

Today I have the pleasure of guest posting over at Domestic Goddesque.  Kelly, the blog's author, has very kindly been featuring a number of bloggers on her blog this week and today is my turn.

Review - MAM Bite and Relax Phase One Mini Teether

"Hello.  Hi.  So good of you to come.  We've been waiting so long to see you.  Come on in.  You are coming aren't you?  Marvellous.  Don't forget to bring your friends..." 

Here at Chez Mummy we've been waiting impatiently for some visitors.  Well, not really visitors.  More like permanent residents.

I am - of course - referring to Dexter's teeth.  Obviously.

At over 10-months-old, Dexter is finally welcoming his first couple of pearly whites.  Okay, they're still mainly under the surface (iceberg-stylee) but the tips have definitely broken through.

And not before time.  Most babies of Dexter's age seem to have a handful of teeth already (although I did find some lovely bloggers who have also had 'late bloomers' in the gnasher department).  He's been teething for months.  Red cheeks, floods of drool - you name it.   I have a couple of teethers but Dexter hasn't been keen to use them.  They are fairly big and, to be honest, a bit big to fit into his baby mouth.

So it was with fantastic timing that those lovely people over at MAM UK dropped a little present through our letterbox - The MAM Bite & Relax Phase One Mini Teether.

Images courtesy of MAM

Little Miss Helpful: A poem

I have a little helper,
She's a helpful little Miss.
A very good daughter,
And, at times, an even better sis'.

She helps me with the vacuuming,
And putting toys away.
Getting things tidy,
To play with them another day.

One Fine Day: "Show Real" Video Challenge!

Welcome to the first ever "Show Real" video challenge!

This is a new, original, video-based linky that I have devised to encourage more bloggers to have a go at creating a video blog post. 

It's easier than you might think, honest. I was a little daunted by the idea of video blogging, or vlogging, when I first began my blog. But, having experimented a few times, I can assure you it can add an extra dimension to your blog posts and can also be lots of fun.

Don't have a video camera? No problem, you can use the video camera on your phone.

Don't have any video editing equipment? If your computer doesn't have Windows Movie Maker or iMovie, you can always use YouTube's video editor.

So, will you have a go?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Life, loves and my first day back in the saddle

I left my children today.  I got them up early, got them dressed and fed...and then left them.

You see, it was my first day back at work since having Dexter.  My first day as a working Mum again in just over 10 months.

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Don't worry about the children, they were fine.  I left them in the very capable hands of my Mother-in-Law.  I knew they would be well looked after and have a fun time, but it didn't stop me feeling bad, feeling guilty.

I had been anxious about my return to work for a little while.  When I say anxious, I mean proper pit-of-your-stomach, gut-wrenching anxious.  How would I cope?  How would my children cope?  Thinking over the most likely weekday routine that would be needed, I understood I would hardly see them during the week.

And that made me cry.